cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The efficacy of starting postterm antenatal testing at 41 weeks as compared with 42 weeks of gestational age

Postterm antenatal fetal surveillance has traditionally begun at 42 completed weeks of gestation. However, recent data have shown that a significant percentage of cases of perinatal asphyxia occurs between 40 and 42 weeks of gestation. We compared the perinatal outcome of fetuses with antenatal surveillance beginning at 41 weeks to those starting at 42 weeks of gestation. The study groups consisted of 908 patients who began antenatal testing at 41 weeks and 352 who began testing at 42 weeks. Antenatal testing consisted of twice-weekly amniotic fluid assessments and nonstress tests (including evaluation for late and variable decelerations). Between 41 and 42 weeks, the group whose testing started: at 41 weeks had an overall incidence of intrapartum fetal distress of 2.7%, no stillbirths, and no infants with major neonatal morbidity. Patients without antenatal testing who delivered between 41 to 42 weeks did not have a significantly increased incidence of fetal distress (3.3%; p = 0.07). However, this group had a significantly increased -incidence of adverse outcomes ( p p
Entropy-driven polymerization of protein from the E66 strain of tobacco mosaic virus.

Abstract Protein of the tobacco mosaic virus mutant E66 has lysine replacing asparagine of the type strain, vulgare, at position 140. Thus, E66 protein should have one more positive or one less net negative charge than vulgare at pH 6 to 7. To investigate the effect of charge, a comparative study of the polymerization of E66 and vulgare proteins at pH 6.0, 6.2, 6.4, 6.6, and 6.8 at ionic strengths 0.15, 0.10, and 0.05 was made by turbidimetry. Polymerization of E66 protein always proceeded at a lower temperature than vulgare. However, the extent of polymerization was much lower in E66, especially at the higher ionic strengths. Sedimentation velocity results paralleled those from turbidity measurements in that E66 protein polymerizes at lower temperatures than vulgare; the 20 S component is more abundant in E66 protein. Osmotic pressure measurements also show that E66 protein is more polymerized than vulgare, especially at lower pH values. Hydrogen ion titrations of E66 protein were carried out from pH 8 to 5 and back to pH 8 in 0.10 m KCl at three temperatures, 4, 10, and 15 °C. These titrations were reversible when carried out slowly. The isoionic point is near pH 5; thus the charge at pH 7.5 is −3. The reversible titration results were correlated with the aggregates present at the various pH values and temperatures, determined from the areas under the schlieren peaks in sedimentation velocity experiments. It is found that hydrogen ion binding at the three pH values is correlated with the disappearance of the smallest aggregates and is independent of the type of higher polymer formed. To investigate the effect of ionic strength and pH on the characteristic temperature corresponding to an optical density increment of 0.01 by the method used previously for vulgare, two sets of turbidity measurements were carried out. In the first one the ionic strength was changed from 0.025 to 0.15 in increments of 0.025 at pH 6.0 and 6.4. In the other set, the ionic strength was kept constant at 0.10 and the pH changed from 5.9 to 6.7 in increments of 0.1 pH units. When the analysis of these data was carried out, Δ H ∗ = 30 kcal/mol was obtained. For the salting out constant a value of 1.7 was found, compared to 2.2 for vulgare, a result consistent with the fact that E66 should be less hydrophobic than vulgare. The electrical work term ΔWel also turns out to be about one-half that for vulgare, which is expected from the lower net negative charge on E66 protein.
Growth, stabilization, and reactivation of Proterozoic lithosphere in the southwestern United States

Growth of Proterozoic continental lithosphere in the southwestern United States involved assembly of tectonostratigraphic terranes during several pulses of convergent tectonism ca. 1.74, 1.70, and 1.65-1.60 Ga. Prograde metamorphism accompanied orogenic assembly, and peak metamorphic conditions outlasted deformation. Regions now characterized by the highest metamorphic grades underwent slow isobaric cooling and were not uplifted until more than 200 m.y. after assembly. Regions of low metamorphic grade were not uplifted substantially after assembly. We suggest that (1) relatively thin lithospheric fragments were assembled into isostatically stable, "normal" thickness continental lithosphere; (2) assembly did not erase lithospheric-scale heterogeneities; (3) the present juxtaposition of different crustal levels reflects differential uplift related to 1.4-1.1 Ga tectonomagmatic activity; and (4) the boundaries between different lithospheric blocks were repeatedly reactivated from Precambrian through Tertiary time.
Comparisons of metal-ion binding to immobilized biogenic materials in a flowing system

Abstract The binding of Al(III), Cu(II), and Ag(I) to each of 10 biologically generated materials immobilized within a polysilicate matrix has been investigated within a flowing system. The biogenic materials studied included sphagnum peat, a top soil, peat, compost peat, organic peat, peat replacer, dead Chlorella vulgaris (a green algae), and a cultured cell material from the plant Datura innoxia . Breakthrough curves were generated for flow rates of one-sixth bed volume per minute (5.0 ml bed volume). Metal binding was observed to vary with the Lewis acidity of the targeted metal (increasing from hard to soft).
Therapy of relapsing multiple sclerosis. Treatment approaches for nonresponders

There is increasing impetus to begin disease-modifying therapy for relapsing multiple (R-MS) early, before the development of irreversible tissue damage and resultant permanent disability. However, all of the currently-approved therapies for relapsing multiple sclerosis are only partially effective for patients as a group. Treatment failure can be due to noncompliance with therapy, intolerable adverse effects, the development of neutralizing antibodies, or non-responsive disease. Neurologists managing patients on disease-modifying therapy for R-MS must remain vigilant for these issues and take appropriate action when necessary.
Sialylated Lewis x Antigen Bearing Glycoproteins in Human Plasma

Recent studies have shown that antibodies targeting Lewis x (Lex) antigen are a valuable tool in the isolation and identification of glycoproteins in plasma. A focus of this study was to determine whether sialylated Lewis x (sLex) antigen carrying glycoproteins occur in human plasma and whether an antibody targeting this antigen could be used to isolate and identify glycoproteins bearing this antigen. An additional objective was to determine the degree to which proteins conjugated to Lex and sLex antigens are similar in structure. A specific anti-sLex antibody (anti-sLexAb), CHO-131, immobilized in an immunoaffinity column was used to select a set of specific sLex bearing proteins from human plasma, after which they were identified by either of two analytical strategies. One approach was to further resolve the affinity selected proteins by reversed phase chromatography (RPC), tryptic digest the RPC fractions, and identify peptide fragments by MALDI-MS/MS. The second was to tryptic digest the affinity sele...
Breakage properties of some materials in a laboratory ball mill

Abstract Crystalline quartz, silicon carbide, three coals of different rank and a cement clinker were studied in a small laboratory ball mill under standard conditions. The first-order specific rates of breakage and the cumulative primary daughter fragment distributions were determined. Two coals showed a slowing down of breakage rate at fine dry grinds. Anthracite showed an acceleration of grinding rate. Wet grinding was first order in all cases even to very fine grinds. Wet grinding was always faster than dry grinding for a given material but the shapes of the size distributions were the same within experimental variability.
A Tree for a House

Abstract The Craig VanLaanen Treehouse and Woodland Retreat is for children requiring ventilator assistance and who often need wheelchairs. The unique parameters considered in designing a space for these children gave rise to the concept of super-mobility. Working together with a team of volunteer professionals, the designers developed the concept of super-mobility and its relation to the sensory experience of the retreat. A major component of the project is the branching column, which is the tree for the house.
Phase II study of sequentially administered low-dose mitomycin-C (MMC) and irinotecan (CPT-11) in women with metastatic breast cancer (MBC)

Abstract Background Preclinical studies show that mitomycin-C (MMC) followed by irinotecan (CPT-11) is synergistic. Therefore, we evaluated the toxicity and efficacy of sequentially administered low-dose MMC and CPT-11 in patients (pts) with pretreated metastatic breast cancer (MBC). Secondary objective was to evaluate the correlation between MMC-induced topoisomerase I (TOPO I) expression and NAD(P)H:quinone oxireductase 1 (NQO1) genotypes in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) and efficacy or toxicity of the regimen. Design Thirty-two pts received MMC i.v. 6 mg/m2 day 1 and CPT-11 i.v. 125 mg/m2 days 2 and 8 every 28 days for maximum of six cycles. TOPO I expression and NQO1 reductase genotyping in 23 of 32 (72%) pts were assayed by PCR. Results The median time to progression (TTP) was 4.7 months (95% confidence interval 4.0–5.4 months). TOPO I expression was increased 5- to 10-fold and 20- to 30-fold in PBMC at 24 and 168 h, respectively. There was no relationship between these markers and efficacy or toxicity of the regimen. Conclusions Sequential low-dose MMC and CPT-11 was active and tolerable by pretreated MBC pts. Future trials should focus on less pretreated MBC pts and sequential tumor biopsies to test the hypothesis that increased intratumoral expression of TOPO I is related to efficacy.
Bayes estimation for the Pareto failure-model using Gibbs sampling

Bayes estimation of the parameters and the reliability function based on type-1 and type-2 censored samples from a Pareto failure model is considered. The analysis is extended to situations wherein the exact survival times are not available but only the number of deaths in prescribed time intervals is recorded. Bayes calculations can be implemented easily by means of the Gibbs Sampler.
A structural model for phosphorylation control of Dictyostelium myosin II thick filament assembly.

Myosin II thick filament assembly in Dictyostelium is regulated by phosphorylation at three threonines in the tail region of the molecule. Converting these three threonines to aspartates (3×Asp myosin II), which mimics the phosphorylated state, inhibits filament assembly in vitro, and 3×Asp myosin II fails to rescue myosin II–null phenotypes. Here we report a suppressor screen of Dictyostelium myosin II–null cells containing 3×Asp myosin II, which reveals a 21-kD region in the tail that is critical for the phosphorylation control. These data, combined with new structural evidence from electron microscopy and sequence analyses, provide evidence that thick filament assembly control involves the folding of myosin II into a bent monomer, which is unable to incorporate into thick filaments. The data are consistent with a structural model for the bent monomer in which two specific regions of the tail interact to form an antiparallel tetrameric coiled–coil structure.
FimW Is a Negative Regulator Affecting Type 1 Fimbrial Expression in Salmonella enterica Serovar Typhimurium

Type 1 fimbriae are proteinaceous surface appendages that carry adhesins specific for mannosylated glycoproteins. These fimbriae are found on most members of the family Enterobacteriaceae and are known to facilitate binding to a variety of eukaryotic cells, including those found on the mucosal surfaces of the alimentary tract. We have shown that the regulation of type 1 fimbrial expression in Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium is controlled, in part, by the products of four genes found within the fim gene cluster: fimZ, fimY, fimW, and fimU. To better understand the specific role of FimW in fimbrial expression, a mutation was constructed in this gene by the insertion of a kanamycin resistance DNA cassette into the chromosome. The resulting fimW mutation was characterized by mannose-sensitive hemagglutination and agglutination with fimbria-specific antiserum. Assays suggested that this mutant was more strongly fimbriate than the parental strain, exhibiting a four- to eightfold increase in fimbrial production. The fimW mutation was introduced into a second strain of Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium, and this mutant was also found to be strongly fimbriate compared to the parental strain. Consistent with the role of this protein as a negative regulator, fimA-lacZ expression in serovar Typhimurium, as well as in Escherichia coli, was increased twofold in the absence of functional FimW. Primer extension analysis determined that fimW transcription is initiated from its own promoter 31 bp upstream of the translation start site. Analysis using a fimW-lacZ reporter indicated that fimW expression in serovar Typhimurium was increased under conditions that select for poorly fimbriate bacteria and low fimA expression. FimW also appears to act as an autoregulator, since expression from the fimW-lacZ reporter was increased in a fimW mutant. FimW was partially purified by fusion with the E. coli maltose-binding protein. Use of this FimW protein extract, as well as others, in DNA-binding assays was unable to identify a specific binding site for FimW in the fimA, fimZ, fimY, or fimW promoter regions. To analyze protein-protein interactions, FimW was expressed in a LexA-based two-hybrid system in E. coli. A significant interaction between FimW and the DNA-binding activator protein, FimZ, was detected using this system. These results indicate that FimW is a negative regulator of serovar Typhimurium type 1 fimbrial expression and may function by interfering with FimZ-mediated activation of fimA expression.
The physics of sand castles: maximum angle of stability in wet and dry granular media

We demonstrate that stability criteria can be used to calculate the maximum angle of stability, m, of a granular medium composed of spherical particles in three dimensions and circular discs in two dimensions. We apply the results to wet granular material by calculating the dependence of m on the liquid content of the material. The results are in good agreement with our experimental data. c 1999 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.
Local spatial modeling of white-tailed deer distribution

Complex spatial heterogeneity of ecological systems is difficult to capture and interpret using global models alone. For this reason, recent attention has been paid to local spatial modeling techniques. We used one local modeling approach, geographically weighted regression (GWR), to investigate the effects of local spatial heterogeneity on multivariate relationships of white-tailed deer distribution using land cover patch metrics and climate factors. The results of these analyses quantify differences in the contributions of model parameters to estimates of deer density over space. A GWR model with local kernel bandwidth was compared to a GWR model with global kernel bandwidth and an ordinary least-squares regression (OLS) model with the same parameters to evaluate their relative abilities in modeling deer distributions. The results indicated that the GWR models predicted deer density better than the traditional ordinary least-squares model and also provided useful information regarding local environmental processes affecting deer distribution. GWR model comparisons showed that the local kernel bandwidth GWR model was more realistic than the global kernel bandwidth GWR model, as the latter exaggerated local spatial variation. The parameter estimates and model statistics (e.g., model R 2 ) of the GWR models were mapped using geographic information systems (GIS) to illustrate local spatial variation in the regression relationship and to identify causes of large-scale model misspecifications and low estimation efficiencies. © 2005 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
Sternocleidomastoid myofascial flap for head and neck reconstruction

Background. The use of the sternocleidomastoid (SCM) muscle in the repair of soft tissue defects arising after surgery for neoplasms of the head and neck has been a subject of controversy. We describe a variant of the SCM muscle flap called the “SCM myofascial flap” and report our experience with this flap in head and neck reconstruction. Methods. Six patients underwent head and neck reconstruction with the SCM myofascial flap. The head and neck defects included partial laryngeal, pharyngeal defects, and concave soft tissue neck defects after resection. Results. Follow-up of the patients ranged from 6 to 91 months. In the case of laryngeal and pharyngeal reconstruction, all had a good voice and were able to eat by mouth without aspiration. Two of the four patients were decannulated. The only complication was a laryngocutaneous fistula. Conclusion. We have used this flap with success, in soft tissue augmentation and in laryngeal and pharyngeal reconstruction following tumor resection. The technique and the results of our experience are discussed. We believe that in selected cases, the SCM myofascial flap is ideal for reconstruction of head and neck defects. © 1994 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Temperature and Heat Flow Measurements From an Insulated Concrete Bermed Wall and Adjacent Floor

Temperature distributions and heat flows in a bermed concrete wall and concrete floor have been recorded for two years at the Iowa State University Energy Research House. Annual variations are correlated using a third-order Fourier technique. The results for the wall show the importance of interior insulation, exterior insulation near the top, and vertical heat conduction. Seasonal heat transfer through the wall is comparable to that for a well-insulated frame wall of the same surface area above grade. Floor heat-loss is nearly constant but is larger in summer than in winter. Diurnal variation in bermed wall heat flux is caused primarily by changes of indoor air temperature and shows negligible correlation with ambient temperature fluctuations. An analytical model has been developed to predict the soil temperatures adjacent to the bermed wall and floor. Results from the model agree well with the data correlations.
Animal transgenesis: an overview

Transgenic animals are extensively used to study in vivo gene function as well as to model human diseases. The technology for producing transgenic animals exists for a variety of vertebrate and invertebrate species. The mouse is the most utilized organism for research in neurodegenerative diseases. The most commonly used techniques for producing transgenic mice involves either the pronuclear injection of transgenes into fertilized oocytes or embryonic stem cell-mediated gene targeting. Embryonic stem cell technology has been most often used to produce null mutants (gene knockouts) but may also be used to introduce subtle genetic modifications down to the level of making single nucleotide changes in endogenous mouse genes. Methods are also available for inducing conditional gene knockouts as well as inducible control of transgene expression. Here, we review the main strategies for introducing genetic modifications into the mouse, as well as in other vertebrate and invertebrate species. We also review a number of recent methodologies for the production of transgenic animals including retrovirus-mediated gene transfer, RNAi-mediated gene knockdown and somatic cell mutagenesis combined with nuclear transfer, methods that may be more broadly applicable to species where both pronuclear injection and ES cell technology have proven less practical.
Decentralized L 1 adaptive control for large-scale systems with unknown time-varying interaction parameters

This paper presents the decentralized L 1 adaptive controller for a class of large-scale systems with unknown time-varying interaction parameters. The design of decentralized L 1 adaptive controller uses the states from decentralized identifiers. The L 1 adaptive controller for each subsystem ensures uniformly bounded transient and asymptotic tracking for subsystem's input and output, simultaneously. The performance bounds between the closed-loop adaptive system and the closed-loop large-scale reference system can be systematically reduced by increasing the adaptation rate. Simulation results are provided to validate the effectiveness of the proposed control scheme.
Reduction of Ion Energies From a Multicomponent $Z$ -Pinch Plasma

This paper studies the expanding plasma dynamics of ions produced from a 5J Z-pinch xenon light source used for extreme ultraviolet (EUV) lithography. Fast ion debris produced in such plasmas cause damage to the collector mirror surface. Because of the great degree of erosion and the change in surface roughness properties, the reflectivity of EUV light at 13.5 nm drops drastically. Reducing ion energies and stopping the ion flux are a potential solution toward the success of EUV lithography. Ion energies are measured in kiloelectronvolt range using a spherical sector electrostatic energy analyzer. Preliminary computational work indicates that the observed high energies of ions are probably resulting from Coulomb explosion initiated by pinch instability. Mixed fuel experiments are performed using a mixture of Xe, N2, and H2. The average energy of the expelled Xe ions is significantly decreased if the mobile lighter gas species are present in the main fuel. The magnitude of the Xe ion signal is reduced as well. This reduction in the quantity of heavy ions and their energy could greatly extend the lifetime of the collector optics used in EUV lithography.
Measurement of the parameters in the thermoelectric figure of merit

Some of the more effective methods for measuring such important parameters of thermoelectric materials as Seebeck coefficient, thermal conductivity, and electrical resistivity are described.
SUMMARY OF THE WORKSHOP ON ACTIVE GALAXIES AND QUASARS

The paper reports highlights of discussions carried out at the Tenth Texas Symposium on Relativistic Astrophysics concerning BL Lacertae objects and quasars and their relationship to active galactic nuclei. The discussions considered X-ray, optical and radio observations of active galaxies and quasars showing features which may be interpreted as jets or beams, and X-ray and VLBI observations of core-jet structures exhibiting apparent supraluminal expansion. Attention was also given to the properties of the energy source in the center of the active galaxies and quasars, the nature of quasar emission line regions, the production of the continuum in quasars and active galactic nuclei, and evidence for the association of quasars and BL Lac objects with galaxies.
Model-based diagnosis directed by heuristic search

The diagnostic methodology presented is motivated by an application related to offline diagnosis of a rocket engine. The problem of diagnosing devices offline with a fixed set of measurements is addressed. A diagnostic algorithm is presented which combines the advantages of model-based techniques based on constraint suspension and of search directed by heuristic expert knowledge. The algorithm enumerates all faults and fault combinations which are possible given a fixed set of measurement data in order of their likelihood. Expert knowledge is incorporated into a qualitative model-based framework in order to compensate for the lack of sufficient data. The resulting diagnoses are therefore uncertain but represent a best guess consistent with all available data. >
Estimating the Effects of Foreclosure Counseling for Troubled Borrowers

Starting in 2008, the number of homeowners losing their homes to foreclosure began increasing dramatically. Given that troubled borrowers may not fully understand their options for modifying their mortgage, lenders and policymakers have reacted to rising foreclosure filings by increasing the use of third-party default counseling programs. However, the existing literature on mortgage default counseling provides little convincing evidence on the effectiveness of counseling on borrower outcomes. This study employs multiple identification strategies to assess the impact of counseling on receipt of loan modifications and keeping one’s home. We find evidence of negative selection into counseling; however, once this negative selection is controlled for, counseling is consistently found to increase the probability that borrowers will receive a modification. We also find some evidence that counseling reduces the probability that a borrower will lose his or her home to foreclosure. Moreover, among borrowers who received a loan modification, those who were counseled were less likely to subsequently default. Lastly, we consistently find that when a homeowner receives counseling is an important determinant of his or her final outcome: those who receive counseling when current or in the early stages of default are much more likely to receive a modification or keep their homes than those who receive counseling when seriously delinquent.
BDNF upregulation rescues synaptic plasticity in middle-aged ovariectomized rats

Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) has emerged as a possible broad-spectrum treatment for the plasticity losses found in rodent models of human conditions associated with memory and cognitive deficits. We have tested this strategy in the particular case of ovariectomy. The actin polymerization in spines normally found after patterned afferent stimulation was greatly reduced, along with the stabilization of long-term potentiation, in hippocampal slices prepared from middle-aged ovariectomized rats. Both effects were fully restored by a 60-minute infusion of 2 nM BDNF. Comparable rescue results were obtained after elevating endogenous BDNF protein levels in hippocampus with 4 daily injections of a short half-life ampakine (positive modulator of α-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazolepropionate [AMPA]-type glutamate receptors). These results provide the first evidence that minimally invasive, mechanism-based drug treatments can ameliorate defects in spine plasticity caused by depressed estrogen levels.
Spatial patterns of flow and their modification within and around a giant kelp forest

We present findings from two sets of measurements that quantified currents around and over the full extent of a giant kelp (Macrocystis pyrifera) forest located at Mohawk Reef, Santa Barbara, California. Velocities were damped inside this 200-m X 300-m forest, but not to the extent reported for larger (kilometer-scale) kelp beds, suggesting that alongshore currents may play a greater role in exchange than has often been assumed. Secondary flow features that bear on the performance of forest organisms were observed, including a region along the forest’s outer boundary where velocities exceeded incident speeds by up to 200%. An offshore current on the order of 1 cm s−1 developed within the kelp bed, likely due to pressure gradients established across the forest coupled with topography. Wake recirculations that might have facilitated leeward retention of waterborne subsidies were not apparent. Calculations suggest that kelp beds can interact with (and thus potentially filter) substantial portions of impinging waters; in our study, 40–90% of arriving waters entered the upstream end, and 20–70% reached the center of the forest. Seasonal changes in the size and density of the forest modified the levels of flow damping and filtration. The sum of these effects suggests potential influences on organisms throughout the forest community.
Memory Efficient Decoder Architectures for Quasi-Cyclic LDPC Codes

In this paper, we first propose parallel turbo-sum-product (PTSP) and turbo-shuffled-sum-product (TSSP) decoding algorithms for partly parallel decoder architectures of quasi-cyclic (QC) low-density parity-check (LDPC) codes. Our proposed algorithms not only achieve faster convergence and better error performance than the sum-product (SP) decoding algorithm, but also need less memory in implementation. Then we propose a partly parallel decoder architecture based on our PTSP algorithm and implement it using FPGA. Our PTSP decoder architecture achieves significantly higher throughput and requires less memory than previously proposed decoder architectures with the same FPGA and LDPC code. Finally, to further reduce the memory requirement, we also propose a partly parallel decoder architecture based on our TSSP algorithm.
First Experience Memories: Contexts and Functions in Personal Histories

Personal histories are a primary form of organization in autobiographical memory. They organize temporally distributed experience into thematically-related “streams”. First experience stories are a useful source for identifying the kinds of histories commonly constructed in our society. Two types of histories are examined: histories of skill development and relationship histories. The primary function of first experience memories is structural: they organize histories into distinctive units and establish their causaltemporal sequence. First experiences are also utilized in retrospective and prospective evaluations of self and experience. Some histories are more culturally salient than others. Memories of firsts associated with those histories can indicate the extent to which personal meaning is derived from cultural models, and whether that is a deforming or informing influence. Study of personal histories can provide useful clues about the respective contributions of memory and narrative in organizing experience.
Three Restructurings with Trusts and Partnerships

This case involves the assessment of three reorganizations involving the formation of master limited partnerships: (1) Mesa Petroleum, (2) Pillsbury's spinoff of Burger King Real Estate, and (3) the formation of Boston Celtics LP. The supporting technical note is "Corporate Restructuring and the Master Limited Partnership" (UVA-F-0723).
History of Personality and Intelligence Theory and Research

Personality theory has been aimed primarily at developing an inclusive description of persons, while intelligence theory has been aimed at a more specific question: What is a person’s cognitive potential to adapt to environmental demands? Both subdisciplines developed within the context of individual-differences research, especially in their early history. Individual-differences research has been contrasted with studies in what often has been labeled experimental or hardcore psychology, characterized by controlled experiments with independent and dependent variables. Individual-differences research used primarily correlational procedures and descriptive statistics. It is obvious from a review of the history of psychology that the “two psychologies” differentiation (Cronbach, 1957) did not accurately characterize all of psychological research, although there was a fairly pervasive methodological split at one time. As personality theory evolves, it would be expected to increasingly integrate data from all branches of psychology and other disciplines into an inclusive scientific model of persons. This is the challenge that this chapter addresses.
Computer-Assisted Technologies for Collecting and Summarizing Behavioral Data

Abstract Since the inception of behavioral psychology, basic and applied researchers have relied on machine-assisted technologies for collecting and summarizing behavioral data. Early researchers used cumulative recorders attached to microswitches in nonhuman operant chambers to record behavior. Later translations of these technologies resulted in human operant devices such as the Lindsley plunger to describe the effects of environmental manipulation on simple human performance. Despite such laboratory advances, field-based research remained relegated to paper-and-pencil techniques until the proliferation of mobile device and laptop applications in the 1990s. The ubiquity of smart-phone technologies has since revolutionized the ways in which behavioral psychologists can discreetly, yet accurately, collect and summarize data. This chapter delves deep into the literature regarding the best practices of behavioral data collection and how advances in computer-assisted technologies can render quality measurement both efficient and psychometrically sound. Exemplary computer-assisted data technologies are reviewed and best practice recommendations are provided.
Genetic Analysis of Differences in Oviposition Preferences of Heliothis virescens and H. subflexa (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae)

Heliothis virescens (F.) is a polyphagous pest on cotton, soybean, and tobacco and H.subflexa is a monophagous nonpest on Physalis spp. Oviposition choices of the reciprocal F1 hybrids or these two species were compared with those of the parental strains to determine Sex linkage, quantify niche breadth, and rank host preferences. Strains of H.virescens, H.subflexa , and the reciprocal F1 hybrids (SVoand VSo) were each, offered a choice of four plants on which to oviposit (cotton, soybean, tobacco, and Physalis angulata ). Host preferences were ranked based on the proportion of eggs laid on each host H.virescens overwhelmingly preferred tobacco, H.subflexa preferred Physalis , and SVo and VSo preferred tobacco. There were no significant differences among strains in their responses to cottOn and soybean. Because SVo and VSo had similar patterns of preference across hosts, there was no indication or Sex linkage. Niche hreadth, a measure of the degree of specialization, was calculated for each strain. Under greenhouse conditions, H.cirescens had the narrowest ovipositional niche and H.subflexa and the hybrids had broader niches and were similar to each other. When a novel host ( Oenothera sp.) was offered to the strains, there was 110 difference in the responses among strains nor were there changes in preference ranks or diet breadth. The hybrid, despite a major genetic reorganization relative to the parents, did not behave in an unpredictable way.
On the optimal control and relaxation of nonlinear infinite dimensional systems

In this paper we study optimal control problems for infinite dimensional systems governed by a semilinear evolution equation. First under appropriate convexity and growth conditions, we establish the existence of optimal pairs. Then we drop the convexity hypothesis and we pass to a larger system known as the « relaxed system ». We show that this system has a solution and the value of the relaxed optimization problem is equal to the value of the original one. Next we restrict our attention to linear systems and establish two « bang-bang » type theorems. Finally we present some examples from systems governed by partial differential equations.
An UJT-controlled pulse microcalorimeter heating circuit

We have constructed a heating circuit based on a unijunction transistor (UJT) oscillator which delivers reproducible energy pulses of about 4.5 J to a microcalorimeter. The device was used to determine heats (enthalpies) of solution of several homologous, linear alkanes in glacial acetic acid so as to provide correction factors to convert heats of hydrogenation determined in acetic acid into heats of hydrogenation of the pure liquid alkene to the liquid alkane. This paper treats the relationship between our data and those in the literature. Because heat of solution is a function of the mole ratio of solute to solvent, it is necessary for this ratio to be the same in heat of solution studies as it was in the hydrogenation studies one wishes to correct.
"It's ugly, but there it is."

The scene: a small meeting room in a Santa Barbara bed-and-breakfast. Seven puzzled editors scratching their heads, trying to figure out just what was different about the cover of the latest issue of the American Journal of Physiology-Cell Physiology . Sudden enlightenment—an ugly hyphen appearing
Neutrophilic inflammation promotes bacterial growth during Tuberculosis

Nitric oxide is generally assumed to protect from tuberculosis by inhibiting the growth of Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb), thereby preventing tissue damage. In contrast, we report that nitric oxide protects the host by repressing a neutrophil recruitment cascade that requires IL-1, CXCR2 and 12-lipoxygenase (12-LOX)-derived eicosanoids. Inhibition of the neutrophil recruitment alone enables the susceptible NOS2 KO mice to control Mtb growth, suggesting that neutrophilic inflammation, not an intrinsic anti-bacterial defect, drives susceptibility. By using a library of bacterial transposon mutants as reporters of host derived stress conditions, we show that granulocytic inflammation generates a nutrient-replete growth-permissive environment for Mtb which obviates the need for essential virulence factors, including the siderophore, mycobactin, and the virulence-related lipid, phthiocerol dimycocerosate, that are otherwise indispensable for establishing infection. A similar inflammatory pathway promotes TB in humans, as human genetic polymorphism that increases 12-LOX expression is associated with TB risk. The concentration of 12-LOX products correlates with neutrophil numbers and bacterial burden in the bronchoalveolar lavage of patients with pulmonary tuberculosis. We propose that Mtb exploits the inflammatory response to preferentially replicate at sites of tissue damage that promote contagion.
Low-Grade B-Cell Lymphoma Presenting as a Uvular Mass:

Uvular enlargement may occur acutely as a result of infection, allergy, or trauma. Squamous cell carcinoma may present as a progressively enlarging uvular mass. Primary MALT (mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue) lymphoma of the uvula and a neuroendocrine tumor of the parapharyngeal space presenting as a uvular mass have each been previously described in the literature. Here we present a case of low-grade B-cell lymphoma presenting as a uvular mass in a 55-year-old patient with progressive throat swelling and dysphagia.
Transcriptome profiling reveals mechanisms for the evolution of insect seasonality

Rapid evolutionary change in seasonal timing can facilitate ecological speciation and resilience to climate warming. However, the molecular mechanisms behind shifts in animal seasonality are still unclear. Evolved differences in seasonality occur in the European corn borer moth (Ostrinia nubilalis), in which early summer emergence in E-strain adults and later summer emergence in Z-strain adults is explained by a shift in the length of the termination phase of larval diapause. Here, we sample from the developmental time course of diapause in both strains and use transcriptome sequencing to profile regulatory and amino acid changes associated with timing divergence. Within a previously defined quantitative trait locus (QTL), we nominate 48 candidate genes, including several in the insulin signaling and circadian rhythm pathways. Genome-wide transcriptional activity is negligible during the extended Z-strain termination, whereas shorter E-strain termination is characterized by a rapid burst of regulatory changes involved in resumption of the cell cycle, hormone production and stress response. Although gene expression during diapause termination in Ostrinia is similar to that found previously in flies, nominated genes for shifts in timing are species specific. Hence, across distant relatives the evolution of insect seasonality appears to involve unique genetic switches that direct organisms into distinct phases of the diapause pathway through wholesale restructuring of conserved gene regulatory networks.
Incidence and characterization of acute kidney injury after acetaminophen overdose.

Abstract Purpose Acute kidney injury (AKI) occurs in 2–10% of patients with acetaminophen (APAP) overdose. Elevation in creatinine (SCr) typically occurs 2 to 5 days after ingestion, with a mean peak on day 7, and normalization over a month. However, it remains unclear whether renal impairment occurs without hepatotoxicity. We hypothesized that APAP-associated acute renal failure occurs in patients with and without severe liver dysfunction after APAP overdose. Materials and methods We retrospectively evaluated all patients admitted to the Medical Intensive Care Unit at a tertiary hospital and received acetylcysteine between June 2009 and December 2014. Of the 303 patients meeting these criteria, 139 of these patients received acetylcysteine for APAP overdose. Of these patients, 138 had Model for End-Stage Liver Disease (MELD) Scores on Day 1 of admission. Using a modified MELD (m-MELD) score, only containing total bilirubin and international normalized ratio not the SCr, the median m-MELD score was calculated. Patients with m-MELD scores below the median were compared to those with scores above the median (low m-MELD score 2.9). Results Baseline demographics were similar in the two groups with the exception of more hypertension in the low m-MELD group (24 vs 7%; P= .02). Time to admission was shorter in the low m-MELD group (7.9 ± 9.3 vs. 25.7 ± 29.2 hours; P= .001). The mean admission APAP level was 96.9 (±119) μg/mL in the low compared to 52.3 (±85.3) μg/mL in the high m-MELD group (P= .012). Day one SCr (1.2 ± 0.9 vs 2.7 ± 2.2 mg/dL; P Conclusions Mean day one SCr, maximum change in SCr, and lack of renal failure resolution were higher in patients with higher m-MELD scores. However, patients with low m-MELD scores presented much earlier than patients with high m-MELD scores and 26% developed AKI.
Role of charge transport and trapping in the reliability of submicron polysilicon thin film transistors

The performance and reliability of submicron polysilicon TFTs (thin-film transistors) depend largely on the gate insulator and the interface between the active polysilicon layer and the gate insulator. Submicron TFTs with 10-nm gate oxides using both conventional thermal oxides and PECVD (plasma enhanced chemical vapor deposited) oxides have been fabricated starting with various treated polysilicon and amorphous silicon (a-Si) active layers. A model based on quantum-mechanical tunneling of carriers from polysilicon asperities into the poly-oxide as a function of the electric field at the injector, as determined by the radius of the asperities, is applied to the data. The results of the model are consistent with the data. Lattice imaging electron microscopy (TEM), ellipsometry, and electrical capacitance have been implemented to determine poly-Si TFT parameters. Constant-current-stress and dark-ramp I-V techniques have been used to electrically characterize the submicron poly-Si TFTs. >
Flow of a fluid-solid mixture: Normal stress differences and slip boundary condition

Abstract In this paper, using mixture theory we study the flow of a dense suspension, composed of solid particles and a fluid; the emphasis is on the influence of the slip boundary condition and the effect of normal stress differences. Very little work has been done considering both the slip at the walls and the normal stress effects in the frame of a two-component flow. In this paper, the stress tensor for the solid component is modeled as a nonlinear fluid which not only includes the viscous effects but also the normal stress effects; the fluid constituent is modeled as a viscous fluid. We look at the flow between two flat plates.
UNSTEADY STOKES FLOW FOR A VIBRATING CANTILEVER UNDER A FREE-SURFACE

Vibration of a thin, rectangular-cross-section beam submerged in a viscous, quiescent fluid undergoing small amplitude oscillations is studied using a Boundary Element (BE) approach in which the free-surface is modeled through a stress-free boundary condition. The Stokes approximation is used where nonlinear convective terms are negligible and the problem is formulated in Fourier and Laplace transform space when appropriate. Results are expressed in terms of nondimensional hydrodynamic force and its components, namely added mass and damping coefficients. Several parametric studies are conducted to evaluate the effects of depth of submergence, frequency and the amplitude of oscillations on the hydrodynamic functions. The results are compared with the classical solution for a vibrating lamina in an infinite fluid as the limit case and with a recent study using Smoothed Particle Hydrodynamics (SPH) analysis in the presence of a freesurface.
Thermal power envelope for IoT modules

IoT space is very dynamic and there is a multidimensional matrix of end-customer use-cases possible with the same module. A simple spec of Tcasemax and Thermal Design Power (TDP) will no longer suffice for an accurate design of the system complexity. The basic principle in this paper is to create a standard temperature and power envelope based on two broad classification of use cases: Application Processing Only (AP) and Application + Communication Processing (AP+CP). The final curves will change based on the thermal limiters, the type of thermal solution used, stack-up details, etc. All analysis is done using a systematic system engineering approach.
A pluripotent stem cell-based model for post-implantation human amniotic sac development

Development of the asymmetric amniotic sac—with the embryonic disc and amniotic ectoderm occupying opposite poles—is a vital milestone during human embryo implantation. Although essential to embryogenesis and pregnancy, amniotic sac development in humans remains poorly understood. Here, we report a human pluripotent stem cell (hPSC)-based model, termed the post-implantation amniotic sac embryoid (PASE), that recapitulates multiple post-implantation embryogenic events centered around amniotic sac development. Without maternal or extraembryonic tissues, the PASE self-organizes into an epithelial cyst with an asymmetric amniotic ectoderm-epiblast pattern that resembles the human amniotic sac. Upon further development, the PASE initiates a process that resembles posterior primitive streak development in a SNAI1-dependent manner. Furthermore, we observe asymmetric BMP-SMAD signaling concurrent with PASE development, and establish that BMP-SMAD activation/inhibition modulates stable PASE development. This study reveals a previously unrecognized fate potential of human pluripotent stem cells and provides a platform for advancing human embryology. Early in human embryonic development, it is unclear how amniotic sac formation is regulated. Here, the authors use a human pluripotent stem cell-based model, termed the post-implantation amniotic sac embryoid, to recapitulate early embryogenic events of human amniotic sac development.
The effects of construal level on types of creative agreements

Negotiators create value by changing issues at the table. They could add new issues in addition to an existing issue. Or they could unbundle the existing issue by altering certain components of the...
Human ovarian granulosa cell culture: determination of blood cell contamination and evaluation of possible culture purification steps *

Objective To determine the degree of blood cell contamination in GC preparations; to assess techniques of GC purification; and to determine possible effects of contaminating cells and purification techniques on cultured GC in terms of steroid hormone production. Design Contamination of GC by white blood cells was assessed by Wright’s stain and immunohistochemistry. Purification was attempted by: (1) Ficoll density centrifugation (to remove polymorphonuclear leukocytes [PML]); (2) incubation in tissue culture plastic dishes (to remove adherent monocyte/macrophages); and (3) incubation in the presence of high salt (to remove lymphocytes). Results Ficoll density centrifugation reduced PML to 2% of total cells, incubation in plastic dishes reduced monocyte/macrophage contamination from 6% to 7% down to Conclusion These results indicate that the human GC culture system is more complex than is often assumed, and methods that remove a majority of these white blood cells are presented.