cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Privacy is Dead: The Birth of Social Media Background Checks

For years employers have used social networking sites (SNS) such as Facebook, Twitter, MySpace, Google, and LinkedIn to dig up incriminating evidence on prospective or current employees. Now credit reporting agencies (CRA) may conduct “social media background checks” on employees as well. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has given companies, like Social Intelligence, the stamp of approval to rummage around the Internet for anything a potential job candidate has done or said online in the past seven years. Both CRAs and employers must comply with the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA).This article addresses the legal ramifications of social media background checks and the difficulty in applying the FCRA to this new employment practice. A careful review of important provisions governing the FCRA and federal cases that have interpreted the statute illustrate the difficulty in holding CRAs liable for inaccurate or negligent reporting. This article focuses on the application of the FCRA to CRAs, employers, and SNSs. Additionally, the article will look at ways employees are contributing to an invasion of their own privacy. The social media background check practice may prove to be troublesome and detrimental to employees. The author proposes that the practice should be abolished as the risk of harm to employees outweighs the potential benefits to employers.
Nexus security: governance, innovation and the resilient city

Nexus security is a compound mix of ideas: reconciling human needs and wants with access to multiple resources; diversity of access to those resources and services; resilience in the face of weather- and climaterelated variability; resilience likewise in the face of infrastructure failure; and the personal, individual sense of belonging. At the level of Systems Thinking there is a very close relationship between resilience in the behavior of natural (ecological) systems and resilience in the social dynamics of governance within communities, where such resilience establishes the viability of these communities over centuries, which in turn entails successful stewardship of the man-environment relationship. We use insights from this cross-system mapping — across natural, built, and human systems — to assess, first, the role of city governance in achieving nexus security (or not) and, second, the role of technological innovations in serving the same purpose. More specifically, eight principles, covering resilience and diversity of access to resources and services, are used to gauge security-enhancing features of city buildings and infrastructure. Case studies include new designs of resilient office blocks, nutrient (nitrogen and phosphorus) recovery systems for sanitation and wastewater treatment, and the reconstruction of urban parks for the provision of ecosystem services. Throughout the paper, matters of risk in the face of meteorological variability are prominent. We do not conclude, however, that the presence of risk implies nexus insecurity.
Length of smoking deprivation moderates the effects of alcohol administration on urge to smoke.

Abstract Although smoking deprivation is often used in laboratory studies to induce urges to smoke cigarettes, the optimal length of deprivation has not been established. Previous research showed that overnight abstinence from cigarettes led to high baseline urge to smoke that potentially masked alcohol's acute effects on urge to smoke (Kahler et al., 2012). The current study examined whether alcohol's effects on smoking urge were more pronounced when a shorter length of smoking deprivation was used (i.e., 3 h instead of overnight abstinence). Using a balanced placebo design for alcohol administration, we found that participants experienced a significant increase in self-reported urge to smoke when administered alcohol after a 3-h smoking deprivation (n = 32), whereas this effect was smaller and nonsignificant when smokers were required to be abstinent overnight (n = 96). Research on factors that heighten smoking urges may find stronger effects if a 3-h deprivation is used compared to using overnight abstinence.
Leptin deficiency, not obesity, protects mice from Con A-induced hepatitis

Leptin-deficient ob/ob mice are protected from Con A-induced hepatitis. However, it is unclear whether leptin deficiency or obesity itself is responsible for this protection. To address this question, wild-type (WT) obese mice with high serum leptin levels were generated by injection of gold thioglucose (WT GTG). Both Con A-injected WT and WT GTG mice developed hepatitis, whereas no hepatic damage was observed in ob/ob mice. Moreover, TNF-alpha and IFN-gamma levels as well as expression of the activation marker CD69 were elevated in liver mononuclear cells of WT and WT GTG mice, but not in ob/ob mice following administration of Con A. The liver of WT and WT GTG mice had the same percentage of NK T cells, a lymphocyte population involved in Con A-induced hepatitis. This population decreased equally in both WT and WT GTG mice after Con A injection. In contrast, the liver of ob/ob mice contained 50% less NK T cells compared to WT and WT GTG mice. Furthermore, no decrease in NK T cells was observed in Con A-injected ob/ob mice. We conclude that leptin-deficiency, not obesity, is responsible for protection from Con A-induced hepatitis.
Adult Glioma Incidence Trends in the United States, 1977-2000

Department of Epidemiology, The University ofTexas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston,Texas.Address for reprints: Kenneth R. Hess, Ph.D., De-partment of Biostatistics and Applied Mathematics,The University of Texas M. D. Anderson CancerCenter, 1515 Holcombe Boulevard, P.O. Box 0447,Houston, TX 77030; Fax: (713) 563-4242; E-mail:khess@mdanderson.orgReceived July 7, 2004; accepted July 30, 2004.
Product quality vs service quality in the mobile industry: Is there a dominant driver of customer intention to switch providers?

As service-dominant logic is being proposed and tested in several industries, this study extends the investigation of this theory and provides insights for both researchers and practitioners under the context of the mobile industry. This study advances the understanding of customer switching intention by assessing the relative strength of product quality and service quality in terms of mobile provider switching behavior. This study develops the proposed research model that integrates previous validated constructs contextualized to the mobile industry and employs partial least square – structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) to analyze the corresponding survey data and test the model fit. The results strongly support the hypotheses related to quality and its antecedents. The analysis results also suggest that overall mobile provider service quality and customer intention to switch mobile products significantly influence customer intention to switch providers. However, the overall product quality does not significantly influence customer intention to switch mobile products. This research contributes to the debate of goods-dominant and service-dominant logic by empirically supporting the dominance of service quality within the context of one industry, the mobile industry. In addition, this paper discusses the implications of the findings and presents future research directions.
Chemical defense of a primitive Australian bombardier beetle (Carabidae):Mystropomus regularis

The Australian bombardier beetle,Mystropomus regularis, sprays a mixture of quinones (1,4-benzoquinone, 2-methyl-1,4-benzoquinone, 2-ethyl-1,4-benzoquinone) and hydrocarbons (principallyn-pentadecane). The defensive fluid ist generated explosively in two-chambered glands, and is ejected audibly and hot (maximal recorded temperature = 59°C).Mystropomus is a member of the paussoid lineage of bombardiers. In common with other members of the group, it has a pair of elytral flanges (flanges of Coanda), associated with the gland openings, that serve as launching guides for anteriorly-aimed ejections of spray. It is argued thatMystropomus may be the least derived of flanged paussoids, and the closest living relative of the most primitive of extant bombardiers (Metriini).
Yield and Deformation in Biaxially Stressed Multilayer Metallic Thin Films

Multilayer thin films of CuNb, CuNi, and CuNbNi with 20 nm individual layer thicknesses were fabricated by magnetron sputtering on oxide coated silicon wafers. The mechanical properties of the films were measured using bulge testing and nanoindentation. Elastic and plastic properties were determined for freestanding films in both square and rectangular window geometries. A finite element model of the window was used to determine the yielding behavior to account for stress concentrations in the membranes. The initial yield in a pressurized membrane, on the order of 400-500 MPa, is approximately one-half of the flow stress inferred from nanoindentation hardness results between 1.9 GPa and 3.4 GPa, and is a result of microscale yielding prior to uniform deformation in these high strength systems.
Effects of alternate-day feeding of dried distiller’s grain plus solubles to forage-fed beef cows in mid- to late gestation

Forty-six nonlactating beef cows were used to examine effects of dried distiller's grains plus solubles (DG) supplementation strategies to cows fed grass hay during mid- to late gestation on BW, ultrasound body composition characteristics, concentrations of serum NEFA and urea, feeding behavior, and calf birth weight. Cows were assigned to dietary treatments in a completely randomized design: 1) control, where hay was fed each day of the week (CON), 2) both hay and DG fed daily during the week (DG7), 3) hay fed daily but DG fed 3 d of the week (DG3), and 4) hay fed 4 d of the week alternating with DG fed on the remaining 3 d (DGA). Hay was offered ad libitum on days it was fed. The DG were fed at 0.40% of BW when offered daily and 0.93% of BW when offered 3 d per week (Monday, Wednesday, and Friday). Feed intake was monitored continuously over the 84-d feeding period. Hay intake and total DMI were reduced (P 0.05) were observed among treatments for change in BCS, intramuscular fat, rib fat, or rump fat from d 1 to 84. On a day when DG7, DG3, and DGA all received DG (Friday), DGA had reduced (P 0.05) were observed in calf birth weights among treatments. The alternate-day feeding strategy reduced hay and total intake, altered concentrations of serum urea and NEFA, and altered feeding behavior compared with other supplementation methods.
Vitamin K-dependent carboxylase: Effect of detergent concentrations, vitamin K status, and added protein precursors on activity

Activity of the rat liver microsomal vitamin K-dependent carboxylase has been studied at various concentrations of detergent. The activity which could be solubilized by 0.25% Triton X-100 was low but could be greatly increased if vitamin K-deficient rats were given vitamin K a few minutes before they were killed. At higher concentrations of Triton, more activity was solubilized and this effect was not seen. In vitro carboxylation of endogenous microsomal proteins was decreased by 80-90% if vitamin K was administered 1 min before rats were killed, but the amount of assayable prothrombin precursor was decreased by only 20%. Decarboxylated vitamin K-dependent rat plasma proteins were not substrates for the carboxylase and did not influence peptide carboxylase activity significantly. Purified microsomal prothrombin precursors did, however, stimulate carboxylation of peptide substrate and were used as a substrate for the carboxylase in a preparation from precursor depleted vitamin K-deficient rats.
Laser-induced breakdown plasma-based sensors

Laser Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy (LIBS) is dependent on the interaction between the initiating Laser sequence, the sampled material and the intermediate plasma states. Pulse shaping and timing have been empirically demonstrated to have significant impact on the signal available for active/passive detection and identification. The transient nature of empirical LIBS work makes data collection for optimization an expensive process. Guidance from effective computer simulation represents an alternative. This computational method for CBRNE sensing applications models the Laser, material and plasma interaction for the purpose of performance prediction and enhancement. This paper emphasizes the aspects of light, plasma, and material interaction relevant to portable sensor development for LIBS. The modeling structure emphasizes energy balances and empirical fit descriptions with limited detailed-balance and finite element approaches where required. Dusty plasma from partially decomposed material sample interaction with pulse dynamics is considered. This heuristic is used to reduce run times and computer loads. Computer simulations and some data for validation are presented. A new University of Memphis HPC/super-computer (~15 TFLOPS) is used to enhance simulation. Results coordinated with related effort at Arkansas State University. Implications for ongoing empirical work are presented with special attention paid to the application of compressive sensing for signal processing, feature extraction, and classification.
Antisense oligonucleotide to AT1 receptor mRNA inhibits central angiotensin induced thirst and vasopressin

Antisense oligodeoxynucleotides (AS-ODN) to AT1 receptor mRNA inhibit high blood pressure in Spontaneously Hypertensive Rats (SHR) when injected into the brain. The effect is presumably through inhibition of the actions of brain angiotensin II (Ang II). Central injection of Ang II elicits several physiological responses including release of vasopressin and motivation to drink. The angiotensin II type-I (AT1) receptor is located in brain regions which have been implicated in mediating these effects. Therefore we hypothesized that AS-ODN to AT1 mRNA would inhibit the drinking and AVP response to central administration of Ang II in adult male SHR. AS-ODN were constructed to bases +63 to +77 (15-mer) of the AT1 receptor RNA. 24 h after AS-ODN treatment (50 μg/4 μl) (intracerebroventricularly, i.c.v.), the drinking response to Ang II (50 ng, i.c.v.) was significantly reduced in the SHR (P<0.05). The drinking response to Ang II (i.c.v.) was also reduced in the Sprague-Dawley rats (P<0.05). There was no reduction of water intake in the control animals treated with scrambled ODN (SC-ODN). Repeated injection of AS-ODN did not produce a greater reduction in drinking response. Arginine vasopressin (AVP) release to central Ang II was significantly decreased after AS-ODN treatment when compared to vehicle (P<0.05) and to SC-ODN injections (P<0.05). Radioligand binding assays of the hypothalamic block after AS-ODN treatment showed a significant decrease of AT1 receptor binding (P<0.05). The results show that the antisense inhibition of brain AT1 receptor gene expression decreases the Ang II induced drinking and AVP release responses.
Diagnosing the Intercept Parameters of the Exponential Drop Size Distributions in a Single-Moment Microphysics Scheme and Impact on Supercell Storm Simulations

In this study, power-law relations are developed between the intercept parameter N0 of the exponential particle size distribution and the water content for the rain, hail, graupel, and snow hydrometeor categories within the Milbrandt and Yau microphysics scheme. Simulations of the 3 May 1999 Oklahoma tornadic supercell are performed using the diagnostic relations for rain only and alternately for all four precipitating species,andresultsarecomparedwiththosefromtheoriginalfixed-N0single-anddouble-momentversionsof the scheme. Diagnosing N0 for rain is found to improve the results of the simulation in terms of reproducing the key features of the double-moment simulation while still retaining the computational efficiency of a singlemoment scheme. Results more consistent with the double-moment scheme are seen in the general storm structure, the cold-pool structure and intensity, and the number concentration fields. Diagnosing the intercept parameters for all four species, including those for the ice species, within the single-moment scheme yields even closer agreement with the double-moment simulation results. The decreased cold-pool intensity is very similar to that produced by the double-moment simulation, as is the areal extent of the simulated storm. The diagnostic relations are also tested on a simulated squall line, with similar promising results. This study suggests that, when compared with traditional fixed intercept parameters used in typical single-moment microphysics schemes, results closer to a double-moment scheme can be obtained through the use of diagnostic relations for the parameters of the particle size distribution, with little extra computational cost.
Wave propagation and localization in disordered periodic laminated materials

Longitudinal plane wave motions and wave localization in layers of a materially periodic laminated media are investigated in this paper. Some basic discussions about wave dispersion are introduced. Numerical results are presented for free wave motion in the laminated media using the finite element method. The effect of material parameter imperfections on wave localization is studied statistically using Monte Carlo simulation. Wave localization is shown to be a fundamental feature of high frequency dynamic behavior of randomly-disordered periodic systems, regardless of the strength of coupling.
Absorption of vitamin K from the colon in the newborn infant

Summary We have shown that the effects on thecoagulation defects of the newborn of vitamin K administered rectally are comparable to those obtained by intramuscular administration of the same dose. These results provide suggestive evidence that vitamin K which is synthesized by colonic bacteria can be utilized by the host.
Variability in dental caries prevalence between male and female foragers from the Late/Final Jomon period: Implications for dietary behavior and reproductive ecology

Objectives This study documents sex differences in dental caries prevalence among Late to Final Jomon period (4000 through 2300 BP) foragers from Japan and interprets the results within behavioral, dietary, and reproductive context. Methods The presence/absence of carious lesions was recorded from ∼1600 Late/Final Jomon period teeth. Frequencies and mean numbers of carious teeth were compared between males and females according to age, tooth group, and region using Fisher's exact and t tests. Results Significantly greater frequencies of carious molar teeth were observed in females compared to males in each age group. Few differences were observed between older and younger females as well as between females from high and low density regions. Significantly greater prevalence of cariogenic molars were, however, observed between females in Age Group 3 from a high compared to low density region. Significantly greater average numbers of carious molar teeth were found in females compared to males, with no significant differences in mean number of carious teeth between age groups. Conclusions Differences in carious teeth between the sexes likely reflect behavioral and dietary variation for males and females. Limited differences in caries prevalence and mean number of carious teeth between female age groups and regions of varying population density suggests that reproductive factors played a minor role in dental caries variation between males and females. Am. J. Hum. Biol., 2011. © 2010 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Noise-induced elevations of plasma endothelin (ET-3).

Abstract The endothelins (ETs) are a novel family of peptides which participate in hemodynamic homeostasis. Elevated levels of circulating ETs are evident in several stress related conditions and are associated with a variety of vascular pathophysiologics. The purpose of the current study was to test the possibility that plasma concentrations of endothelin increase following noise exposure using radioimmunoassay (RIA). No difference in plasma endothelin was detected in rats subjected to brief noise exposure (30 min of 100 dB SPL broad-band noise) compared to control animals. Statistically significant elevations in plasma endothelin (ET-3) were measured in animals exposed to prolonged noise exposure (90 min and 72 h of 100 dB SPL broad-band noise). These results suggest that hemodynamic alterations, and potential vascular pathophysiologies accompanying prolonged exposure to noise are mediated by endothelin.
Effects of γ-hydroxybutyric acid on spatial learning and memory in adolescent and adult female rats

gamma-hydroxybutyric acid (GHB) has been reported to disrupt spatial learning and memory in adolescent male rats. The present study was undertaken to determine the effects of GHB on the acquisition of spatial memory in adolescent female rats, and to investigate age specificity of the behavioral impairments. Adolescent female rats were subjected to repeated GHB or saline administrations, and tested in the Morris water maze. Compared to age-matched saline controls, adolescent GHB-treated rats took significantly longer and swam greater distances to find the hidden platform. In the probe trial, GHB-treated adolescent rats spent less time in the target quadrant than saline-treated controls. There was no difference in either the swim speed or in the visual task performance between GHB-treated and saline-treated rats. To test for ontogenic specificity of the behavioral responses, adult female rats were treated with GHB and tested behaviorally in two separate experiments using a 6-day learning protocol (Experiment 1) and a 16-day learning protocol (Experiment 2). In the 6-day spatial learning and memory task, adult saline-treated rats failed to learn the task, and GHB did not alter the latency to find the platform, or performance in the probe trial. In the second behavioral protocol, a modified version of the memory task was used to test adult animals. The number of test days was increased from 6days to 16days. Adult saline-treated females learned the task in the 16-days protocol. But unlike adolescent female rat, GHB in adult rats had minimal effects on reference memory even when they had learned the spatial memory task. Performances in the probe trial by adult GHB-treated rats and saline controls were similar. Together, these data suggest that GHB impairs spatial learning specifically in adolescent female rats.
Truncated deoxynivalenol-induced splenic immediate early gene response in mice consuming (n-3) polyunsaturated fatty acids

Abstract Expression profiling has previously revealed that acute exposure to the common foodborne mycotoxin deoxynivalenol (DON) induces a large number of immediate early genes in murine lymphoid tissues that potentially affect immune function. The purpose of this study was to test the hypothesis that consumption of (n-3) polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) found in fish oil interferes with DON-induced immediate early gene expression. Mice were fed AIN-93G diet containing 1% corn oil (CO) plus 6% oleic acid (control) or a diet containing 1% CO, 2% fish oil enriched in the (n-3)-PUFAs docosahexaenoic and eicosapentaenoic acid and 4% oleic acid. After 12 weeks, the mice were gavaged orally with 25 mg/kg DON and the kinetics of immediate early gene expression in spleen monitored over 8 h by real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Deoxynivalenol was found to readily induce expression of cytokines (IL-1α, IL-1β, and IL-6 and IL-11), chemokines (MCP-1, MCP-3, CINC-1 and MIP-2), components of the activator protein-1 (AP-1) transcription factor complex (c-Fos, Fra-2, c-Jun and JunB), as well as two hydrolases (MKP1, CnAβ). Expression of these genes was transient, peaking within 2–4 h and declining thereafter, with the single exception being IL-11 that was elevated at 8 h. (n-3)-PUFA consumption significantly suppressed DON-induced expression of IL-1α, IL-6, IL-11, MCP-1, MCP-3, MIP-2 and Fra-2 at 8 h. In contrast, mice fed (n-3)-PUFA exhibited significant increases in MKP1 and CnAβ expression. Taken together, these data suggest that dietary supplementation with (n-3)-PUFAs prematurely truncated cytokine, chemokine and transcription factor expression responses to DON that may impact its previously described capacity to disrupt immune function including immunoglobulin A (IgA) production. Since expression of many of these genes has been linked to mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) activation, enhanced expression of MKP1, a negative MAPK regulator in (n-3)-PUFA-fed mice might contribute to this suppression.
Monitoring DNA immobilization and hybridization on surfaces by atomic force microscopy force measurements.

DNA immobilization and hybridization was carried out on Au substrates that were modified with mercaptopropanoic acid and then treated with aluminum(III) solution. The positively charged Al(III) film can be used to immobilize both ds-DNA and ss-DNA. Atomic force microscopy (AFM) was used to monitor the process by force measurements between a negatively charged silica tip and the substrates while immersed in dilute electrolyte. Surface hybridization of ss-DNA produces an increase in the surface charge and surface potential of the substrates, which is reflected by the increasing repulsive force as determined from AFM force−separation curves. A single-base mismatch was detectable in surface hybridization. The AFM force measuring technique was also employed to investigate the interaction of Ru(phen)32+ with ss-DNA and ds-DNA. The force measurement results showed that there is a small interaction between Ru(phen)32+ and ss-DNA, which was ascribed to the electrostatic binding of Ru(phen)32+ to the ss-DNA surface...
Parallelization of software pipelines using the mpififo Tool

Software pipelines are often used in scientific applications in fields such as bioinformatics. Unix pipes allow processes in the pipeline to concurrently execute and communicate without disk I/O on a single shared-memory node. However, a significant number of CPU-bound, memory-bound, and I/O-bound software pipelines could benefit from the distribution of work across multiple nodes. Rewriting applications to use MPI is often time consuming. mpififo is an MPI-based tool that allows for the easy distribution of the processes in a pipeline across multiple nodes. This paper describes the design of mpififo, and presents an example of its use in a bioinformatics application. mpififo is available for download at https://bitbucket.org/nathanweeks/mpififo.
SYNTHESIS, STRUCTURES, AND ELECTROCHEMICAL PROPERTIES OF NICKEL COMPLEXES OF MACROCYCLIC N2S2 AMINOTHIOETHERS

Macrocyclic complexes derived from the template synthesis of the cis-dithiolate nickel(II) complex [1,5-bis(mercaptoethyl)-1,5-diazacyclooctanato]nickel(II), I, and [N,N‘-bis(2,2-dimethyl-2-mercapt...
Markov tracking for agent coordination

Partially observable Markov decision processes (POMDPs) axe an attractive representation for representing agent behavior, since they capture uncertainty in both the agent's state and its actions. However, finding an optimal policy for POMDPs in general is computationally difficult. In this paper we present Markov Tracking, a restricted problem of coordinating actions with an agent or process represented as a POMDP Because the actions coordinate with the agent rather than influence its behavior, the optimal solution to this problem can be computed locally and quickly. We also demonstrate the use of the technique on sequential POMDPs, which can be used to model a behavior that follows a linear, acyclic trajectory through a series of states. By imposing a "windowing" restriction that restricts the number of possible alternatives considered at any moment to a fixed size, a coordinating action can be calculated in constant time, making this amenable to coordination with complex agents.
Supervisory Attitudes Toward the Legitimacy of Influencing Subordinates

This study attempts to relate attitudes about the legitimacy of influencing subordinates' behavior and attitudes to certain organizational variables. It is felt that the concept of legitimacy of influence is an important one to explore in the superior-subordinate relationship and in different organizational contexts.
Tissue extract thromboplastin: quantitation, fractionation and characterization of protein components.

Abstract Bovine brain and lung tissue thromboplastins were extracted with absolute ethanol into an ethanol soluble lipid fraction and an insoluble protein fraction. The lipid fraction functioned as a partial thromboplastin, while the protein fraction was devoid of activity. The protein fraction was further purified by deoxycholate extraction and column chromatography on Bio-Gel A-1.5 m in the presence of deoxycholate. Through this procedure, residual lipids in the protein fraction were removed. The sedimentation coefficient in the presence of 0.1% SDS was 2.9. The molecular weight as determined by SDS gel electrophoresis was 56,000. Protein aggregates with molecular weights greater than 1.5 million occurred in the absence of the detergents or bile salts. The purified protein, after addition of phospholipid, regained clotting activity. Recombination of the protein and the lipid fractions was achieved in ethanol. Recombination was also achieved in imidazole buffered saline at pH 7.2 in the presence of 0.025% deoxycholate. The recombined material had full thromboplastic activity. The protein components isolated from brain and lung tissue had similar biochemical and biological characteristics. Combining lung lipids with brain protein and brain lipids with lung protein gave essentially the same results observed when the recombined protein and lipids were derived from the same tissue source.
Ultrafast method for mapping local functional connectivity hubs in the human brain

Brain networks with energy-efficient hubs might support the high cognitive performance of humans and a better understanding of their organization is of relevance not only for studying normal brain development and plasticity but also neuropsychiatric disorders. Here we propose an ultra-fast method to map the distribution of the functional connectivity density (FCD) in the human brain. The method was tested in 972 subjects from a large repository of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) time series collected in resting conditions. Consistently across research sites, a region located in the ventral precuneus was the area with the highest FCD, which suggest that this is a prominent functional hub in the brain. In addition regions located in the paracentral lobule, cuneus, inferior parietal, and posterior cingulate cortices had localized high FCD, suggesting that these regions also include prominent functional connectivity hubs.
Novel Chemistry for Surface Engineering in Mems

It is well recognized that controlling surface forces is one of the key issues in the design, fabrication, and operation of microelectromechanical systems (MEMS). In this report we present a novel strategy for the efficient assembly of organic monolayers onto silicon surfaces to control surface energy. This is achieved by the reaction between an alcohol functional group and a chlorinated Si surface. The resulting molecular monolayers are thermally and chemically stable. Surface adhesion energy on silicon is reduced by a factor of 40 by the monolayer coating and friction coefficient of the coated surface is only 0.013. The coatings are successfully demonstrated in adhesion reduction in a model MEMS structure: cantilever beam array (CBA). Polycrystalline beams with length up to 1.5 mm can be released.
Osmium tetroxide catalyzed hydroxylation of hindered olefins

Abstract Osmium tetroxide catalyzed hydroxylation of sterically hindered olefins proceeds efficiently with trimethylamine N-oxide as oxidizing agent in the presence of pyridine.
Thermal optical analysis and differential scanning calorimetry of chemically crosslinked polyethylene

Abstract Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and thermal optical analysis (TOA) were applied as part of a series of characterization methods to solid chemically crosslinked polyethylene insulation. The DSC was used to study the melting and recrystallization. The ΔH of fusion has a lower value than expected. The TOA shows premelting behavior and is more sensitive to crystalline charges, on cooling, than DSC.
Use of topical sunscreen and the risk of malignant melanoma

Abstract PURPOSE: Prior epidemiological studies suggest that the use of sunscreen preparations is associated with increased risk of cutaneous malignant melanoma (CMM) although the data are conflicting. A meta-analysis was performed to evaluate this suspected association. METHODS: A protocol was developed for a meta-analysis examining the association between frequent sunscreen use versus non-use and the development of CMM. Data from observational studies were pooled using a general variance based meta-analytic method employing confidence intervals. The outcome of interest was a summary relative risk (RRs) reflecting the risk of melanoma associated with sunscreen use versus non-use. Sensitivity analyses were performed when necessary to explain any observed statistical heterogeneity. RESULTS: Eleven case-control studies enrolling 9,067 patients were combined in a meta-analysis. This yielded a RRs of 1.11 (CI = 0.37–3.32), a non-statistically significant result, (i.e. no association between sunscreen use and melanoma risk). Since the data were found to be heterogeneous, i.e. Q = 42.0 (p CONCLUSIONS: The available epidemiological data do not support the existence of a relationship between topical sunscreen use and an increased risk of CMM.
Dynamics of a piecewise non-linear system subject to dual harmonic excitation using parametric continuation

Abstract The dynamic behavior of piecewise linear and/or non-linear vibratory systems subject to a single harmonic excitation has been recently analyzed by using a one- or multi-term harmonic balance (or Galerkin’s) method, piecewise linear techniques, analog simulation and direct numerical integration (digital simulation). Instead, this paper proposes to utilize the technique of parametriccontinuationto study the steady state response and global dynamics of a two-degree-of-freedom piecewise non-linear system with backlash or multi-valued springs and impact damping. The physical system is under the influence of a mean load and is subject to a dual harmonic external excitation, where the second frequency is either twice or three times the fundamental excitation frequency. The effects of various parameters such as impact damping, mean and alternating loads, the piecewise stiffness ratios and the relative phase between the excitation harmonics on the system response are thoroughly examined. System or excitation parameter regimes that exhibit sub-harmonic, super-harmonic quasi-periodic and chaotic solutions are obtained efficiently and systematically by using the proposed scheme. This investigation also clarifies the differences between viscous and non-linear impact damping models, which have been proposed earlier in the literature for studying clearance non-linearities. Limited experimental data validate our modelling strategy. Finally, selected predictions from this technique match very well with a multi-term harmonic balance method and with direct numerical integration, wherever applicable.
Mars Observer to be discussed

In 1990, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) plans to launch a mission to conduct remote sensing studies of Mars during the course of an entire Martian year. The prospect of this Mars Observer mission, together with recent advances in knowledge about the planet, led the Planetology Section to organize a session called “New Perspectives on Remote Sensing of the Surface of Mars,” which will be held Wednesday, May 21, at the 1986 AGU Spring Meeting in Baltimore, Md.
keV neutron capture and transmission measurements on 50Cr, 52Cr, 53Cr, 54Cr, 60Ni and V

Abstract Neutron capture and transmission measurements were performed on vanadium and enriched samples of 60Ni, 50Cr, 52Cr, 53r, 54Cr with an experimental resolution of 0.6 ns • m-1. The capture measurements cover the energy range 0.1 to 200 keV while the transmission measurements extend to over 300 keV. Parameters are extracted for both s-wave and l > 0 resonances. The s-wave and p-wave strength functions, potential scattering radii, average capture cross sections and resonance absorption integrals are determined. The radiation width is found to vary widely among the s-wave resonances of each nucleide, and a positive correlation has been observed between the radiation widths and the reduced neutron widths.
Characterization of engraftable hematopoietic stem cells in murine long-term bone marrow cultures.

Abstract Objective Long-term bone marrow cultures (LTBMC) are a potential source of hematopoietic stem cells (HSC) for transplantation. Previous reports indicate that feeding LTBMCs induces hematopoietic progenitor cycling, and other studies link HSC cycle phase with engraftability. Our study was initiated to further characterize LTBMC engraftability and determine if a cycle phase–related engraftment defect affects HSC from LTBMCs. Materials and Methods Competitive repopulation of lethally irradiated BALB/c females was used to examine engraftability of LTBMCs under "fed" or "unfed" conditions at 3 to 5 weeks culture. Tritiated thymidine suicide was used to determine the cycle status of HPP-CFC and CFU-S from LTBMCs. Results Total cell number in LTBMCs decreases from input. Quantitatively, both fed and unfed 3-, 4-, or 5-week cultures compete strongly with fresh marrow for 2 and 8 weeks, but not 6 months, after transplantation. Short-term engraftable HSCs expand between 3 and 5 weeks of culture. Clonal assays indicate no peak in S-phase of CFU-S at 24 and 48 hours after feeding, and fluctuation in both content and cycle status of HPP-CFC after feeding. Conclusions Our LTBMCs engraft in all conditions, and the level of engraftment capability does not correlate with cell-cycle phase of CFU-S or HPP-CFC, or with time from feeding. Although the total cell number decreases from input, the proportion of short- and intermediate-term engrafting HSC in whole LTBMCs approximates that of fresh marrow and expands from 3 to 5 weeks in culture, whereas long-term engraftable HSCs are decreased in culture.
Prototyping mediators to project performance

The prototyping approach has been considered to be a more effective systems development methodology than the traditional systems development life cycle approach. Prototyping provides a framework for meaningful social interaction between system users and developers. This research examines the social contextual factors that determine the performance of information system projects and addresses the social perspectives of system development methodologies within the prototyping development framework. This study suggests that the full mediators of the prototyping approach were organizational technology learning and user-IS interaction effectiveness. Organizations should use prototyping in situations where these mediators are important to the development process and are not achieved through other organizational practice.
Increasing the Diameter of Cylindrical and Spherical Supramolecular Dendrimers by Decreasing the Solid Angle of Their Monodendrons via Periphery Functionalization

The synthesis of three generations of self-assembling monodendrons based on an internal AB3 3,4,5-trisubstituted benzyl ether repeat unit containing an AB2 3,4-bis[p-(n-dodecan-1-yloxy)benzyloxy]benzyl ether monodendron [(4-3,4)12G1-X] attached on the periphery and the structural analysis of the corresponding supramolecular dendrimers by X-ray diffraction (XRD) experiments are described. The results from these experiments are compared with data reported previously from our laboratory on three generations of monodendrons based on the same internal AB3 repeat unit containing an AB3 3,4,5-tris[p-(n-dodecan-1-yloxy)benzyloxy]benzyl ether monodendron [(4-3,4,5)12G1-X] on the periphery (Percec, V.; Cho, W.-D.; Mosier, P. E.; Ungar, G.; Yeardley, D. J. P. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 1998, 120, 11061). In both series of monodendrons, the solid angle of the monodendron increases with the increase of the generation number. As a result, the increase in the diameter of the cylindrical and spherical supramolecular dendrimers is...
Screening for Vitamin D Deficiency: Is the Goal Disease Prevention or Full Nutrient Repletion?

In this issue, the USPSTF recommendation statement and evidence review report insufficient evidence for or against testing for vitamin D deficiency. The editorialists urge practitioners to measure ...
Transient expression of GABAA receptor subunit mRNAs in the cellular processes of cultured cortical neurons and glia.

In this study, we have studied by in situ hybridisation histochemistry the expression and intracellular distribution of the GABAA receptor subunit mRNAs in cultured neurons obtained from postnatal day 1-3 rats in order to determine how neurotransmitter receptor expression may be regulated during development of the nervous system. In postnatal cortical cells, we found that GABAA receptor subunit mRNAs coding for alpha2, alpha5, beta2, beta3 and gamma2 subunits were transiently expressed in the cellular processes and growth cones after 1-3 days in culture. These observations indicate that GABAA receptor subunit mRNAs are transported (or trafficked) into the cellular processes of early postnatal cortical cells. These selective localisations were rarely observed after 5 days in culture and only in cells which had not made cell-to-cell contact. The localisation of subunit mRNAs in the processes was more effectively maintained up to 5 days or even longer if cell-to-cell contact was avoided by culturing the cells at low density or by inhibiting neurite sprouting pharmacologically with the GABA receptor channel antagonist TBPS. Finally, immunocytochemistry revealed the expression of GABAA receptors in the growth cones of pyramidal neurons in culture. Thus, the expression of mRNA correlates to the expression of protein. These results suggest that the selective trafficking of GABAA receptor subunit mRNAs during synaptogenesis may be regulated by synapse formation and/or glial-neural communication.
Synthesis of a pH-Sensitive Nitrilotriacetic Linker to Peptide Transduction Domains To Enable Intracellular Delivery of Histidine Imidazole Ring-Containing Macromolecules

Intracellular delivery of functional macromolecules using peptide transduction domains (PTDs) is an exciting technology with both experimental and therapeutic applications. Recent data indicate that PTD-mediated transduction occurs via fluid-phase macropinocytosis involving an intracellular pH drop to ∼5. Nitrilotriacetic acid (NTA)-coordinated metals avidly bind hexahistidine-tagged macromolecules, including peptides and proteins. Histidine’s imidazole ring has a pKa of 6, making this an attractive target for the biological pH drop of PTD-mediated macropinocytotic delivery. The objective of this study was to develop a pH-sensitive PTD delivery peptide (NTA3-PTD). We demonstrate the in vitro function of this novel peptide by delivering fluorescently labeled peptides (1.6 kDa) and functional enzymes, β-galactosidase (119 kDa) and Cre recombinase (37 kDa). Furthermore, the NTA3-PTD peptide was able to deliver functional Cre recombinase in an in vivo mouse model.
Microstructural studies of crystallization of a Zr-based bulk metallic glass

Abstract The evolution of the microstructure of a Zr 52.5 Ti 5 Cu 17.9 Ni 14.6 Al 10 alloy during isothermal annealing near the glass transition temperature was studied by transmission electron microscopy (TEM), small-angle neutron scattering (SANS), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). In situ SANS experiments show that an interference maximum develops with isothermal annealing, which is attributed to decomposition in the undercooled liquid state. In agreement with these results, TEM observations show the formation of structural inhomogeneities in the glassy alloy in the early stages of annealing, which are correlated with the partially crystalline microstructure in the later stages. The TEM and XRD data show that finally two nanocrystalline phases form after long-term annealing as a result of the decomposition process in the early stages. Direct evidence for decomposition was obtained using Z-contrast imaging technique that showed a systematic variation of the Zr concentration between the two nanocrystalline phases.
Effects of Overtraining on Acquisition and Reversal of Place and Response Learning

Five groups of rats were given 0, 25, 50, 75, and 100 overtraining trials in a T-maze to determine the effects on the acquisition and reversal of place and response habits. Increasing overtraining produced more response than place learners, but there was no facilitative effect in reversal learning with increased overtraining, nor was there a differential effect on the ease of reversal of place or response learning.
Development of NMDA NR2 Subunits and Their Roles in Critical Period Maturation of Neocortical GABAergic Interneurons

The goals of this research are to (1) determine the changes in the composition of NMDA receptor (NMDAR) subunits in GABAergic interneurons during critical period (CP); and (2) test the effect of chronic blockage of specific NR2 subunits on the maturation of specific GABAergic interneurons. Our data demonstrate that: (1) The amplitude of NMDAR mediated EPSCs (EPSCs(NMDAR) ) was significantly larger in the postCP group. (2) The coefficient of variation (CV), τ(decay) and half-width of EPSCs(NMDAR) were significantly larger in the preCP group. (3) A leftward shift in the half-activation voltages in the postCP vs. preCP group. (4) Using subunit-specific antagonists, we found a postnatal shift in NR2 composition towards more NR2A mediated EPSCs(NMDAR) . These changes occurred within a two-day narrow window of CP and were similar between fast-spiking (FS) and regular spiking (RSNP) interneurons. (5) Chronic blockage of NR2A, but not NR2B, decreased the expression of parvalbumin (PV), but not other calcium binding proteins in layer 2/3 and 4 of barrel cortex. (6) Chronic blockage of NR2A selectively affected the maturation of IPSCs mediated by FS cells. In summary, we have reported, for the first time, developmental changes in the molecular composition of NMDA NR2 subunits in interneurons during CP, and the effects of chronic blockage of NR2A but not NR2B on PV expression and inhibitory synaptic transmission from FS cells. These results support an important role of NR2A subunits in developmental plasticity of fast-spiking GABAergic circuits during CP.
Mental representation of social relationships : dimensions, laws, or categories ?

The study of social relationships lies at the heart of the social sciences, but psychologists' understanding of the cognitive structures that support them remains in the hinterlands. Two studies supported the proposal that social relationships are represented by a small number of implicit categorical forms in contrast with accounts proposing dimensional representations or formally specifiable laws. Discrete forms based on 2 of Alan Fiske's (1991, 1992) relational models predicted prototypicality ratings defined over a comprehensive field of hypothetical relationships better than corresponding dimensions of communality and authority and 3 laws of complementarity and symmetry propounded by D. J. Kiesler (1983), J. S. Wiggins (1979), and G. Bateson (1979). In addition, "competition" between the orthogonal dimensions was observed, strengthening the argument for categoriality.
Origins of landmark encoding in the brain

The ability to perceive one's position and directional heading relative to landmarks is necessary for successful navigation within an environment. Recent studies have shown that the visual system dominantly controls the neural representations of directional heading and location when familiar visual cues are available, and several neural circuits, or streams, have been proposed to be crucial for visual information processing. Here, we summarize the evidence that the dorsal presubiculum (also known as the postsubiculum) is critically important for the direct transfer of visual landmark information to spatial signals within the limbic system.