cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
3420 Estradiol levels are elevated in older men with diffuse cutaneous SSc and are associated with decreased survival

OBJECTIVES/SPECIFIC AIMS: Our objective was to examine serum E2 levels in dcSSc males in relation to disease characteristics (i.e autoanitbody profile and internal organ involvement) and its impact on survival. METHODS/STUDY POPULATION: We measured serum E2 levels in 83 dcSSc men >50 years old from the University of Pittsburgh Scleroderma Center and healthy controls of similar age. Using statistical modeling, we examined the associations between circulating E2 levels, internal organ involvement, autoantibody profiles, and survival. RESULTS/ANTICIPATED RESULTS: Male dcSSc patients had significantly higher serum E2 levels compared to healthy male controls and compared to dcSSc post-menopausal women of similar age. Male dcSSc patients with high serum E2 levels had significantly more heart involvement and worse survival. Using Cox regression modeling for risk of death, increasing serum E2 levels in anti-Scl-70 antibody positive dcSSc males were associated an increased risk of death. DISCUSSION/SIGNIFICANCE OF IMPACT: DcSSc male patients have higher levels of E2 compared to healthy controls and dcSSc postmenopausal women. Elevated serum E2 levels in dcSSc males >50 are associated with heart involvement and, if anti-Scl-70 antibody positive, worse survival. Our current study expands on our previous work, not only that that E2 exerts pro-fibrotic effects on skin, but also internal organ involvement, overall survival. These data suggest an important role of estrogen imbalance in SSc.
Nox2 Regulates Platelet Activation and NET Formation in the Lung

The mortality rate of patients with critical illness has decreased significantly over the past two decades, but the rate of decline has slowed recently, with organ dysfunction as a major driver of morbidity and mortality. Among patients with the systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS), acute lung injury is a common component with serious morbidity. Previous studies in our laboratory using a murine model of SIRS demonstrated a key role for NADPH oxidase 2 (Nox2)-derived reactive oxygen species in the resolution of inflammation. Nox2-deficient (gp91phox-/y) mice develop profound lung injury secondary to SIRS and fail to resolve inflammation. Alveolar macrophages from gp91phox-/y mice express greater levels of chemotactic and pro-inflammatory factors at baseline providing evidence that Nox2 in alveolar macrophages is critical for homeostasis. Based on the lung pathology with increased thrombosis in gp91phox-/y mice, and the known role of platelets in the inflammatory process, we hypothesized that Nox2 represses platelet activation. In the mouse model, we found that platelet-derived chemokine (C-X-C motif) ligand 4 (CXCL4) and CXCL7 were increased in the bronchoalveolar fluid of gp91phox-/y mice at baseline and 24 h post intraperitoneal zymosan-induced SIRS consistent with platelet activation. Activated platelets interact with leukocytes via P-selectin glycoprotein ligand 1 (PSGL-1). Within 2 h of SIRS induction, alveolar neutrophil PSGL-1 expression was higher in gp91phox-/y mice. Platelet-neutrophil interactions were decreased in the peripheral blood of gp91phox-/y mice consistent with movement of activated platelets to the lung of mice lacking Nox2. Based on the severe lung pathology and the role of platelets in the formation of neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs), we evaluated NET production. In contrast to previous studies demonstrating Nox2-dependent NET formation, staining of lung sections from mice 24 h post zymosan injection revealed a large number of citrullinated histone 3 (H3CIT) and myeloperoxidase positive cells consistent with NET formation in gp91phox-/y mice that was virtually absent in WT mice. In addition, H3CIT protein expression and PAD4 activity were higher in the lung of gp91phox-/y mice post SIRS induction. These results suggest that Nox2 plays a critical role in maintaining homeostasis by regulating platelet activation and NET formation in the lung.
A Perspective on Mathematical Modeling in Human Factors

Abstract This paper reviews, classifies and discusses mathematical models currently used in human factors research. Emphasis is placed on the applicability of formal modeling techniques in various areas of man/machine/environment systems analysis. The need for adopting theories of fuzzy mathematics in human factors is also discussed.
Blood Vitronectin Induces Detrimental Brain Interleukin-6 and Correlates With Outcomes After Stroke Only in Female Mice

Background and Purpose- Women have worse stroke outcomes than men, especially after menopause. Few studies have focused on female-specific mechanisms, other than hormones. We investigated the role of the blood protein VTN (vitronectin) after ischemic stroke in mice. Methods- Adult male and female VTN knockout and wild-type littermates and C57BL/6 mice received a middle cerebral artery occlusion and the injured brain tissue analyzed 24 hours to 3 weeks later for cell loss and inflammation, as well as neurological function. Blood VTN levels were measured before and after stroke. Results- Intravenously injected VTN leaked extensively from bloodstream into brain infarct and penumbra by 24 hours after stroke. Strikingly, VTN was detrimental in female, but not male, mice, as shown by reduced brain injury (26.2±2.6% versus 13.4±3.8%; P=0.018; n=6 and 5) and forelimb dysfunction in female VTN knockout mice. Stroke increased plasma VTN 2- to 8-fold at 24 hours in females (36±4 versus 145±24 μg/mL; P 0.99; n=10 and 7), and returned to control levels by 7 days. Individually variable VTN levels at 24 hours correlated with stroke-induced brain injury at 7 days only in females. VTN promoted stroke-induced microglia/macrophage activation and leukocyte infiltration in females. Proinflammatory IL (interleukin)-6 greatly increased in the striatum at 24 hours in wild-type mice but was increased ≈60% less in female (739±159 versus 268±111; P=0.02; n=7 and 6), but not male (889±178 versus 1179±295; P=0.73; n=10 and 11), knockout mice. In individual wild-type females, plasma VTN levels correlated with striatal IL-6 expression at 24 hours. The female-specific effect of VTN-induced IL-6 expression following stroke was not due to gonadal hormones, as shown by ovariectomy and castration. Lastly, intrastriatal injection of IL-6 in female mice immediately before stroke reversed the VTN knockout phenotypes of reduced brain injury and microglia/macrophage activation. Conclusions- VTN plays a novel sexually dimorphic detrimental pathophysiological role in females and might ultimately be a therapeutic target to improve stroke outcomes in women.
Mediating Effects of Social Support on Caregiver Burden and Quality of Life for Compound and Noncompound Caregivers

This study sought to explore the mediating effect of informal social support on the relationship between caregiver burden and quality of life among compound and noncompound caregivers. Parents (N =...
Dual Language Development of Chinese 3- and 4-Year-Olds: Associations with the Family Context and Teachers’ Language Use

Research findings: This study examined the dual language development and experience of the understudied Chinese dual language learners (DLLs). Twice in the preschool/pre-k year (about 4 months apar...
COVID-19 Associated Pulmonary Aspergillosis in Mechanically Ventilated Patients.

BACKGROUND: COVID-19 associated pulmonary aspergillosis (CAPA) occurs in critically ill COVID-19 patients. Risks and outcomes remain poorly understood. METHODS: A retrospective cohort study of adult mechanically ventilated COVID-19 patients admitted to five Johns Hopkins hospitals was conducted between March and August 2020. CAPA was defined using composite clinical criteria. Fine and Gray competing risks regression was used to analyze clinical outcomes and multilevel mixed-effects ordinal logistic regression was used to compare longitudinal disease severity scores. RESULTS: Amongst the cohort of 396 people, 39 met criteria for CAPA. Compared to those without, patients with CAPA were more likely to have underlying pulmonary vascular disease (41% vs 21.6%, p=0.01), liver disease (35.9% vs 18.2%, p=0.02), coagulopathy (51.3% vs 33.1%, p=0.03), solid tumors (25.6% vs 10.9%, p=0.017), multiple myeloma (5.1% vs 0.3%, p=0.027), corticosteroid exposure during index admission (66.7% vs 42.6%, p=0.005), and had a lower BMI (median 26.6 vs 29.9, p=0.04). People with CAPA had worse outcomes as measured by ordinal severity of disease scores, requiring longer time to improvement (adjusted odds ratio 1.081.091.1, p<0.001), and advancing in severity almost twice as fast (subhazard ratio, sHR 1.31.82.5, p<0.001). People with CAPA were intubated twice as long as those without (sHR) 0.40.50.6, p<0.001) and had a longer hospital length of stay [median (IQR) 41.1 (20.5, 72.4) vs 18.5 (10.7, 31.8), p<0.001]. CONCLUSION: CAPA is associated with poor outcomes. Attention towards preventative measures (screening and/or prophylaxis) is warranted in people with high risk of developing CAPA.
A pilot study on exertional tasks with physiological measures designed for the assessment of military concussion.

Background Guidelines for clinicians treating military concussion recommend exertional testing before return-to-duty, yet there is currently no standardized task or inclusion of an objective physiological measure like heart rate variability (HRV). Methodology & results We pilot-tested two clinically feasible exertional tasks that include HRV measures and examined reliability of a commercially available heart rate monitor. Testing healthy participants confirmed that the 6-min step test and 2-min pushup test evoked the targeted physiological response, and the Polar H10 was reliable to the gold-standard electrocardiogram. Conclusion Both tasks are brief assessments that can be implemented into primary care setting including the Polar H10 as an affordable way to access HRV. Additional research utilizing these tasks to evaluate concussion recovery can validate standardized exertional tasks for clinical use.
Ineffectiveness, Poor Coordination, and Corruption in Humanitarian Aid: The Syrian Refugee Crisis in Lebanon

Corruption attracts scholar attention due to its harsh impact on people and institutions, especially in nonprofit organizations traditionally associated with altruistic intents. Although many scandals have shaken the third sector, rare are the studies that offer a true understanding of how corruption occurs. Our research provides insights into the corruption phenomenon in the context of the Syrian refugee crisis in Lebanon. The findings show the powerlessness of public institutions, the chaotic working environments of humanitarian organizations, managerial malpractices, and inefficiencies in projects, all leading to unethical choices and to corrupt behaviors perpetrated by humanitarian agencies. The theoretical model that we propose brings new understanding of the relationships between nonprofit management, coordination, and corruption in the aid sector. On the practical front, it offers suggestions to public policy makers and practitioners about preventing corruption even during crisis situations.
A Market-Driven Nominal GDP Targeting Regime

Central banks have recently done a dreadful job of stabilizing the path of nominal expenditures. The adverse demand shock of 2008–9 led to a severe recession in the United States and Europe. Monetary policy could be greatly improved with a regime of “targeting the forecast,” or setting policy so that the expected growth in nominal GDP is equal to the central bank’s target growth rate. This goal could be accomplished by setting up a nominal GDP futures market and then adjusting the monetary base to stabilize nominal GDP futures prices. The market, not central banks, would set the level of the monetary base and short-term interest rates under this sort of policy regime. Modest adjustments in such a regime could address many previous criticisms of futures targeting.
A Nomogram Predicting Early Cervical Cancer Distant Recurrence.

PURPOSE/OBJECTIVE(S) Distant recurrence is the most common cause of treatment failure in locally advanced cervical cancer (LACC) following chemoradiation (CRT). We explored risk factors and developed a clinical nomogram predicting distant recurrence within 6 months of CRT completion. MATERIALS/METHODS This was a retrospective case-control study of LACC patients treated with definitive CRT at a tertiary academic center from 1997-2020. Patients underwent FDG-PET at initial staging and approximately 3 months post treatment and had ≥ 3-month clinical follow-up. Patients were prescribed 50.4 Gy external beam radiation (EBRT) to the pelvic ± para-aortic (PA) lymph nodes (PA if involved on PET staging); both brachytherapy and cisplatin were delivered concurrently with EBRT. Patients who developed distant recurrence within 6 months were designated as cases and all others as controls. The dataset was randomly divided into 2/3 training and 1/3 testing. Binary logistic regression was applied to training data to determine significant predictor variables. Continuous variables were also assessed as categorical variables with cut points determined by Youden's method. Patients with missing data for significant predictors were excluded (110 training, 54 testing). The best model was defined by highest c-statistic and was applied to the testing data set. RESULTS 514 patients were identified of whom 45 (9%) developed distant recurrence within 6 months of CRT completion (15 biopsy proven, 30 clinically determined); 44 (98%) identified on 3 month post treatment PET. The dataset was divided into training (20 cases, 214 controls) and testing (10 cases, 106 controls). Age, treatment duration, histology (87% squamous), cervix SUVmax, pre/post squamous cell antigen did not differ across cases and controls in both training and testing data. Logistic regression applied to training data showed histology grade (poorly vs well/mod differentiated), PET positive lymph nodes (pelvic/para-aortic vs none) and PET initial tumor volume (≥50 vs < 50 cm3) had the most predictive multivariate beta coefficients (1.2, P = 0.025; 1.2, P = 0.016; 1.3, P = 0.028 respectively) with an overall c-statistic of 0.76. In the nomogram, each variable was assigned one point resulting in a total score range of 0-3 points, with higher scores indicating increasing risk. 3 points carried 29% positive predictive value (PPV), and 0 points indicated 100% negative predictive value (NPV) (Table 1). This nomogram was applied to the testing data and showed c-statistic 0.82 and 3 points PPV of 27% and 0 points NPV of 100%. CONCLUSION More than a quarter of LACC patients with poorly differentiated histology, PET positive lymph nodes, and initial primary tumor volume greater than 50 cm3 experience distant recurrence within 6 months of completing CRT.
Parameter Analysis of Lunar Surface Navigation Utilizing Dilution-Of-Precision Methodology with Lunar Orbiters

With the NASA Vision for Space Exploration focusing on the return of astronauts to the Moon and eventually to Mars, architectures for new navigation concepts must be derived and analyzed. One such concept, developed by the Space Communications Architecture Working Group (SCAWG), is to place a constellation of satellites around the Moon. Previously completed analyses examined the performance of multiple satellite constellations and recommended a constellation oriented as a Walker polar 6/2/1 with a semimajor axis (SMA) of 9250 km. One requirement of the constellations that were examined was that they have continuous access to any location on the lunar surface. In this report, the polar 6/2/1 and polar 8/2/1, with equal SMAs, are examined in greater detail. The dilution-of-precision (DoP) methodology is utilized to examine the effects of longitude surface points, latitude surface points, elevation requirements, and modified failure modes for these two constellations with regard to system availability. Longitude study results show that points along a meridian closely approximate the results of a global set of data points. Latitude study results show that previous assumptions with regard to latitude spacing are adequate to simulate global system availability. Elevation study results show that global system availability curves follow a reverse sigmoid function. Modified failure mode study results show that the benefits of reorienting a failure mode constellation depend on the type of navigation system and the length of the integration period being used.
A conceptual framework for studies of durability in composite materials

This chapter presents the fundamental considerations in treating durability of composite materials with fibrous reinforcement. General concepts underlying irreversibility in stress–strain behavior are addressed and the associated dissipative mechanisms are discussed. Particular focus is placed on fatigue, for which a conceptual framework for interpretation of the roles of fibers, matrix, and fiber/matrix interface, introduced by the author in a 1981 paper, is described. The extension and variation of the baseline framework, called the fatigue life diagram, to general cases of loading and fiber architecture are treated. Finally, guidelines are offered for modeling changes in material response and consequent loss of functionality under different fatigue conditions.
Localization of structural variations distinguishing I-Ak-related molecules to the alpha 1 and beta 1 domains.

The structural variations that distinguish the A molecules encoded by wild-derived H-2 complexes which express Ak-related molecules have been localized into the alpha 1 and beta 1 domains by radiochemical sequence analyses of tryptic peptides. The A alpha subunits of B10.STC90 (Akv1) and W12A (Akv2) differ from those of B10.BR (Ak) in two adjacent tryptic peptides spanning positions 43 to 71 in the alpha 1 domain. The A beta subunit of W12A differs from that of B10.BR in two peptides spanning positions 26 to 29 and 95 to 106. Isoleucine and leucine residues present at positions 28 and 95, respectively, in the B10.BR A beta subunit are not found in the corresponding positions in W12A A beta subunits. Both of these A beta sequence variations are in the beta 1 domain. B10.STC90 A beta subunits are identical to those of W12A except for a structural variation in the beta 1 domain affecting the HPLC retention time of a peptide spanning positions 49 to 63. These results suggest that these A molecules are encoded by closely related class II gene alleles which have diversified by the accumulation of discrete mutations within the exons encoding the alpha 1 and beta 1 domains of the A molecule. Our previous functional analyses of these minor variant A molecules have demonstrated that they are readily distinguished with A molecule-specific alloreactive T lymphocytes. Together, these findings suggest that minor structural variations in the alpha 1 and beta 1 domains of the A molecule can dramatically modify the allodeterminants recognized by alloreactive T lymphocytes.
General Multicomponent Rate Model for Column Liquid Chromatography

For the modeling of multicomponent liquid chromatography, the column is divided into the bulk-fluid phase and the particle phase. The anatomy of a fixed-bed axial flow chromatography column is given in Fig. 3.1. To formulate a general rate model, the following basic assumptions are required.
Challenges of Embedded Computer Vision in Automotive Safety Systems

Vision-based automotive safety systems have received considerable attention over the past decade. Such systems have advantages compared to those based on other types of sensors such as radar, because of the availability of lowcost and high-resolution cameras and abundant information contained in video images. However, various technical challenges exist in such systems. One of the most prominent challenges lies in running sophisticated computer vision algorithms on low-cost embedded systems at frame rate. This chapter discusses these challenges through vehicle detection and classification in a collision warning system.
Invited Address: Applying Formal Methods to Cryptographic Protocol Analysis

Protocols using encryption to communicate securely and privately are essential to the protection of our infrastructure. However, since they must be designed to work even under the most hostile conditions, it is not easy to design them correctly. As a matter of fact, it is possible for such protocols to be incorrect even if the cryptographic algorithms they use work perfectly. Thus, over the last few years there has been considerable interest in applying formal methods to the problem of verifying that these protocols are correct. In this talk we give a brief history of this area, and describe some of the emerging issues and new research problems.
Geotechnology of waste management

1. Forms of Waste 2. Index Properties 3. Clay Minerals 4. Compressibility and Settlement 5. Shear Strength 6. Hydraulic Properties 7. Site Investigation 8. Site Selection 9. Ground Modification and Compaction 10. Liners 11. Leachate Generation and Collection 12. Caps 13. Foundation and Slope Stability 14. Gas Management 15. Regulations Governing Solid Waste Disposal.
Web Search Fundamentals

Search engines are the new guides to information. The rapid growth of the Web has provided the information fodder for the search engine to become the single most used reference source in many developed countries. What is a search engine? How does a search engine work? How can Web site designers attract search engines? Because search engines are the source of potentially valuable information, these have become important personal, business, and research questions. The chapter offers three perspectives on the Web search engine: the searcher view on using search engines to find information, the search engine view of how search engines work, and the site designer view on how to influence search engines to find a site and the intended information and how to build a searchable Web site. Keywords: content; indexing; proximity search; retrieval; search engine; tags
Spinally mediated opioid antidiarrheal effects.

To assess the role of opioid receptors in the spinal cord in regulation of functions of the intestinal mucosa in a secretory model, we evaluated the ability of i.t. administered mu (PL017), delta (DPDPE) and kappa (U50,488H) selective opioid agonists to inhibit diarrhea produced in mice by an injection of prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) (200 micrograms/mouse, i.p.). I.t. PL017 and DPDPE inhibited diarrhea in a dose-related fashion. U50,488H had only minimal antidiarrheal effects. The i.t. doses of PL017 and DPDPE required to inhibit diarrhea were higher than the doses required to produce antinociception and inhibit gastrointestinal transit. Spinally administered PL017 and DPDPE were considerably less potent in the diarrhea model than after i.c.v. administration but far more effective than after peripheral (s.c.) dosing. The antidiarrheal effects of spinally administered opioids were antagonized by concurrently administered naloxone. These data indicate that opioid chemosensitive sites in the spinal cord can modulate diarrhea produced by PGE2, and that the receptor specific opioids, PL017 and DPDPE, and to a lesser extent U50,488H, all possess antidiarrheal activity when administered i.t.
Assessing Differences in Children With Learning Disabilities and Normally Achieving Students With a New Measure of Creativity

This study investigates the creative abilities of children with learning disabilities by employing a new measure designed to assess creativity without the use of verbal or analytic skills. Sixteen normally performing and 16 children with learning disabilities were administered this task and a control task of verbal fluency. The children with learning disabilities scored significantly higher on the nonverbal but not the verbal control task.
Transgender Men: A Demographic Snapshot

ABSTRACT Male-to-female transgender men are frequently underrepresented in research on transgender issues. This article presents the results of a study examining the demographics of transgender men in the United States and Canada between September and October 2005. Three hundred and twenty-one self-identified transgender men responded to an online survey inquiring about geographic locale, employment, gender terminology, support services, significant relationships, and transition status. Results indicate that a majority were under 35, employed full or part time, and had at least some college or graduate school education. Most men had not experienced service refusal, homelessness, or lack of relational support systems.
Corrections to correlations for shell-side mass-transfer coefficients in the hollow-fiber membrane (HFM) modules

Mass-transfer correlations for the shell-side mass-transfer coefficients in hollow-fiber membrane (HFM) modules have been published by several authors. The uneven distribution of shell-side flow is due to the random packing of fibers in the module. The results of different authors give apparently conflicting results. This work provides an approach to estimating empirical correlations for HFM shell-side mass transfer. This approach is then applied to explain several literature observations and to offer corrections to earlier published correlations. The dependence of the Sherwood number on both the Reynolds number and the packing fraction are considered. Further work on the packing fraction dependence is required.
Endovascular repair of an internal mammary artery aneurysm in a patient with Loeys-Dietz syndrome

Loeys-Dietz syndrome is a condition that predisposes the development of central and peripheral arterial aneurysms and dissections. The standard approach for treatment of these lesions has been open repair. We present the case of a 34-year-old woman with a previous history of multiple open aortic repairs who presented with a right large internal mammary artery aneurysm. The patient was successfully treated with endovascular coil embolization. This case report demonstrates the feasibility of using endovascular interventions to treat unusual aneurysms in patients with Loeys-Dietz syndrome.
Human-swarm interactions based on managing attractors

Leveraging the abilities of multiple affordable robots as a swarm is enticing because of the resulting robustness and emergent behaviors of a swarm. However, because swarms are composed of many different agents, it is difficult for a human to influence the swarm by managing individual agents. Instead, we propose that human influence should focus on (a) managing the higher level attractors of the swarm system and (b) managing trade-offs that appear in mission-relevant performance. We claim that managing attractors theoretically allows a human to abstract the details of individual agents and focus on managing the collective as a whole. Using a swarm model with two attractors, we demonstrate this concept by showing how limited human influence can cause the swarm to switch between attractors. We further claim that using quorum sensing allows a human to manage trade-offs between the scalability of interactions and mitigating the vulnerability of the swarm to agent failures.
Partition identities and a theorem of Zagier

In the study of partition theory and q-series, identities that relate series to infinite products are of great interest (such as the famous Rogers-Ramanujan identities). Using a recent result of Zagier, we obtain an infinite family of such identities that is indexed by the positive integers. For example, if m = 1, then we obtain the classical Eisenstein series identity Σλ≥1 odd (-1)(λ-1)/2qλ/(1-q2λ)=q Πn=1∞ (1-q8n)4/(1-q4n)2 If m = 2 and (·/3;) denotes the usual Legendre symbol modulo 3, then we obtain Σλ ≥1 (λ/3) qλ/(1-q2λ=q Πn=1∞ (1-qn)(1-q6n)6/(1-q2n)2(1-q3n)3 We describe some of the partition theoretic consequences of these identities. In particular, we find simple formulas that solve the well-known problem of counting the number of representations of an integer as a sum of an arbitrary number of triangular numbers.
Reflection absorption infrared spectroscopy and kinetic studies of the reactivity of ethylene on Pt(111) surfaces

Abstract The chemistry of ethylene on Pt(111) single-crystal surfaces has proven quite complex because it involves the simultaneous occurrence of several reactions, namely molecular desorption, dehydrogenation to ethylidyne, HD exchange within the adsorbed molecules, and hydrogenation to ethane. Reflection absorption infrared spectroscopy (RAIRS) has been used here in conjunction with isothermal kinetic measurements to identify the possible intermediates involved in each of those reactions, and to follow their thermal chemistry on the platinum surface. All vinyl, ethyl and ethylidene moieties were prepared by thermal decomposition of their corresponding iodides and characterized by RAIRS. The experimental data available to date favors the formation of ethylidene as an intermediate in the conversion of ethylene to ethylidyne, but the complexity of the kinetics of that reaction, which changes significantly with changing surface coverages, makes the final proof of this mechanism quite difficult. In addition, a side ethylene-ethyl equilibrium which starts at temperatures below those required for the formation of ethylidyne is responsible for HD exchange in ethylene. Finally, the hydrogenation of ethylene to ethane also involves an ethyl intermediate, but only occurs at the ethylene high coverages needed for the transition of the di-σ strongly bonded species to a weak π configuration. The relevance of the reactions seen under vacuum to the high-pressure catalytic hydrogenation of ethylene is briefly discussed.
Integrins in renal development

The kidney develops from direct interactions between the ureteric bud and the metanephric mesenchyme. The ureteric bud gives rise to the collecting system and the metanephric mesenchyme to the nephrons. The complex process of renal development which occurs between these embryologically distinct structures is mediated by numerous factors, including the communication of cells with their surrounding extracellular matrix. Integrins are the principal cellular receptors for extracellular matrix proteins, and they play a role in organ and tissue development. In this review we focus on how integrins regulate renal development.
The effects of boron additives on the oxidation behavior of carbons

Abstract Impregnation of graphite with aqueous solutions of boric oxide or with organo-borates has been found to result in marked reduction in the rate of oxidation of the graphite in dry or moist air between 600 and 1000°C. At these temperatures, the additives probably form a glassy oxide residue which blocks active sites on the graphite surface.
Straightchain geolipids of deep-sea sediments: Comparison of two extraction procedures

Abstract The effects of carbonate demineralization with acid upon geolipid extraction yields were assessed in samples of Pleistocene and Miocene deep-sea sediments. Distributions of free and bound geolipids were similar in extracts from demineralized and intact sediment. Although amounts of n -alkanes were not affected, n -alkanoic acids and n -alkanols experienced losses as a result of demineralization. The biogenic carbonates in these old but nonlithified sediments evidently harbor low concentrations of lipid material, and demineralization of sediments is not recommended for routine use without prior testing.
Exogenous testosterone and social experience each enhance the development of aggressive behavior in Cyprinodon variegatus

The combined effects of testosterone and social experience from the time of hatching on development of aggressive behaviors in Cyprinodon variegatus were investigated. Social experience was defined as a rearing condition allowing visual, tactile, chemosensory, and auditory contact with zero, three, or 15 additional conspecifics. Behaviors were videotaped once weekly from 3 weeks to 4 months post-hatching, using the focal animal method, and an ethogram was constructed. At 3 months post-hatching, half the fish were injected once with testosterone propionate (2 μg/g b. w., i. p., vehicle-Ringer's solution) and the other half were injected with Ringer's isotonic saline solution. Testosteronetreated subjects showed significantly greater frequencies and durations of behaviors that may be related to aggression than did saline controls. Two weeks after the treatments, a round-robin tournament was conducted between testosterone- and saline-treated fish from each rearing condition. Testosterone-treated fish won significantly more encounters than did saline-treated subjects over all rearing conditions. Furthermore, significantly more aggressive acts were displayed by fish raised in the groups of 16 and the groups of four than did the Isolates. Although the number of aggressive acts exhibited by the group of 16 was greater than the group of four, the difference was not statistically significant.
An ideational parser

Recent parsers have extended the variety and difficulty of natural language constructs recognizable by a computer. However, one shortcoming of existing parsers is that as the complexity of the sentences recognized increases, the computational complexity increases quadratically. One reason for this computational explosion is that much if not most of the control information is embedded in the parser.A different approach, referred to as an ideational parser, is proposed. Although the design for this parser was motivated by the manner in which people might use language, it is not necessarily intended to be a model for human cognition. The control information, for the most part, is removed to the lexicon, and the words are considered operators in the formation of a mental picture rather than as operands to the parser. The parser mechanism is detailed with an example parse and a typical conversation is given in the appendix.Two primary benefits of the ideational parser are 1) an improved, simpler control mechanism and 2) the ability to acquire new knowledge which is automatically stored in the same format as the given knowledge.
An Evolutionary Perspective on Adult Female Germline Stem Cell Function from Flies to Humans

The concept that oogenesis continues into reproductive life has been well established in nonmammalian species. Recent studies of mice and women indicate that oocyte formation is also not, as traditionally believed, restricted to the fetal or perinatal periods. Analogous to de novo oocyte formation in flies and fish, newly formed oocytes in adult mammalian ovaries arise from germline stem cells (GSCs) or, more specifically, oogonial stem cells (OSCs). Studies of mice have confirmed that isolated OSCs, once delivered back into adult ovaries, are capable of generating fully functional eggs that fertilize to produce healthy embryos and offspring. Parallel studies of OSCs recently purified from ovaries of reproductive-age women indicate that these cells closely resemble their mouse ovary-derived counterparts, although the fertilization competency of oocytes generated by human OSCs awaits clarification. Despite the ability of OSCs to produce new oocytes during adulthood, oogenesis will still ultimately cease with age, contributing to ovarian failure. The causal mechanisms behind these events in mammals are unknown, but studies of flies have revealed that GSC niche dysfunction plays a critical role in age-related oogenic failure. Such insights derived from evaluation of nonmammalian species, in which postnatal oogenesis has been studied in depth, may aid in development of new strategies to alleviate ovarian failure and infertility in mammals.
Changes in Earth programs at NSF

Three programs within the Earth Sciences Division of the National Science Foundation (NSF) have changed names to more accurately reflect the programs supported by them, according to James F. Hays, division director. In addition, the division has two new programs: continental lithosphere and instrumentation and facilities. The seismology and deep earth structure program is now the seismology program; the environmental geosciences program will now be called the surficial processes program. The scope of these two programs has not been changed.
A Riemannian four vertex theorem for surfaces with boundary

We prove that every metric of constant curvature on a compact surface M with boundary 8M induces at least four vertices, i.e., local extrema of geodesic curvature on a connected component of 8M if, and only if, M is simply connected. Indeed, when M is not simply connected, we construct hyperbolic, parabolic, and elliptic metrics of constant curvature on M with only two critical points of geodesic curvature on each component of ∂M. With few exceptions, these metrics are obtained by removing the singularities and a perturbation of flat structures on closed surfaces.
Object X-Rays for Cutting Holes in Composite Overset Structured Grids

An efficient method to determine the inside/outside status of arbitrary points with respect to given objects is described. The surface geometry of given 3-D objects is converted into high-resolution planar compact structured data sets. The structure employed in the compact data sets facilitates extreme efficiency in accessing object pierce-point information. Object conversion is a one-time pre-process. The resulting compact data sets can be used for chimera hole-cutting purposes for either static applications, or for unsteady moving body applications which require repeated execution of hole-cutting operations.
STUDIES ON THE MODE OF SPREAD OF B. ENTERITIDIS MOUSE TYPHOID INFECTION : IV. THE RELATIVE VIRULENCE OF SMOOTH, MUCOID, AND ROUGH STRAINS.

1. Single cell mouse strains of B. enteritidis from smooth-susceptible colonies were, under the various conditions tested, of the same high degree of virulence. 2 year old cultures, strains obtained both in interepidemic and epidemic periods, and "reverted" strains from variant colonies showed the same degree of pathogenicity. 2. Single cell strains from variant smooth, mucoid,and rough phage-resistant colonies were definitely less virulent than the usual smooth-susceptible strains. The loss of virulence in each instance resulted apparently from contact with bacteriophage which rendered the individual cells incapable of multiplication in the animal tissues. 3. A reduction of virulence was induced experimentally when washed cultures of the highly pathogenic smooth-susceptible cells were exposed to bacteriophage and thus rendered incapable of multiplication in the inoculated animals.
Religious Beliefs, Attributional Styles, and Adherence to Correctional Orientations

Grasmick and colleagues contend that religious fundamentalism and dispositional attributional styles provide a context for understanding attitudes toward punitiveness among the general public. The present study examined the relationships among religion, attributional style, and the orientations of punitiveness and diversion in a sample of juvenile justice personnel. The findings failed to provide support for a positive relationship among religion, dispositional attribution, and a punitive orientation. A strict interpretation of the Bible and societal attribution was predictive of attitudes toward punitiveness and diversion. However, these effects of religion and societal attribution varied in their directions and association with specific correctional responses. The results have implications for the clarification of sociocultural factors underlying juvenile justice decision making.
Effect of Breaking Waves on the Transport of Heat and Vapor Fluxes from the Ocean

One way of studying the complex subject of atmospheric surface-layer over the ocean during high-sea states is the consideration of the waves as moving drag objects for the wind. The resultant transport equations for the momentum, temperature, humidity, and micro-water droplets fields are treated as inter-coupled fields. In this study, we have found that the micro droplets produced by breaking waves is a major source of atmospheric moisture and latent heat from the ocean. Field data reduced by the present model gives highly consistent results. During high-sea states, the vertical energy flux from the ocean was found to be more than four times larger than the existing formulation, in which the effect of water droplets was not taken into consideration.
Relation of infants' performance on Piaget scales between twelve and twenty-four months and their Stanford-Binet performance at thirty-one months.

WACHS, THEODORE D. Relation of Infants' Performance on Piaget Scales between Twelve and Twenty-four Months and Their Stanford-Binet Performance at Thirty-one Months. CHILD DEVELOPMENT, 1975, 46, 929-935. 23 infants, taking part in a longitudinal study on experience and cognitive-intellectual development, were tested at 3-month intervals between 12 and 24 months on the Uz gris-Hunt scale, a Piaget-based scale of infant development. At 31 months, the infants were administered the Stanford-Binet. The relationship between each of the Piagetian abilities tapped by the Uzgiris-Hunt scale and subsequent Binet performance were analyzed. Results indicated that each of the subscales of the Uzgiris-Hunt scale was significantly correlated with subsequent Binet scores. Of the 8 subscales, object permanence correlated the most strongly with Binet performance:.
Separate enzymes catalyze the final two steps of coenzyme A biosynthesis in Brevibacterium ammoniagenes: purification of pantetheine phosphate adenylyltransferase.

Abstract We have discovered that the final two steps in coenzyme A biosynthesis in Brevibacterium ammoniagenes are catalyzed by distinct enzymes, readily separated by DEAE sepharose anion exchange chromatography. This is in contrast to mammalian tissues in which these two reactions are catalyzed by a single bifunctional enzyme (Worrall, D.M.,and Tubbs, P.K. (1983) Biochem. J. 215, 153-157) and Bakers yeast in which these two activities have been identified as part of a multifunctional complex (Bucovaz, E. T., Rhoades, J. L., and Tamowski, S. J. (1980) Fed. Proc. 39 (6), 142). The pantetheine phosphate adenylyltransferase has been purified to homogeneity and found to exist as a trimeric protein of molecular mass ∼108 kDa. Of other nucleoside triphosphates tested as substrates, only 2′-deoxy-ATP showed measurable activity, being 27% that of ATP.
Aymmetric synthesis of (R) - and (S)-citramalate in high enantiomeric purity

Abstract An asymmetric synthesis of both isomers of dimethyl 2-acetoxycitramalate in over 96% enantiomeric excess is described.
A Blast from the Past

PRESENTATION Common complaints tend to be explained by common conditions, but sometimes that assumption is wrong. A 56-yearold man presented with cough, skin lesions, and left knee pain. Five months earlier, he had developed a cough that occasionally produced blood-tinged sputum. A smoker, he was told he had bronchitis, for which he received courses of levofloxacin, inhaled bronchodilators, and inhaled corticosteroids; this was followed by a course of amoxicillin. There was no noticeable improvement, and 5 weeks prior to presentation at The University of Illinois at Chicago, his left knee became painful and swollen. At the same time, he developed skin lesions that a dermatologist diagnosed as acne; he was treated with doxycycline for 3 weeks. When his skin worsened to the point that he thought it embarrassing, he presented for a second opinion.
Investigation of sit-to-stand and stand-to-sit in an above knee amputee

The objective of this pilot study is twofold: 1) to extract key factors/features in sit-to-stand and stand-to-sit (STS) performed by an above knee (AK) amputee; 2) to propose a convenient way to quantify symmetry. One male unilateral transfemoral amputee participated in the pilot study. The subject was instructed to rise in a comfortable and natural manner and conduct a series of sit-to-stand, stand-to-sit. We simultaneously measured kinematics, kinetics and muscle activities. Principal component analysis (PCA) was used to reduce the dimension and identify modes and a convenient index of STS symmetry (slope of the major axis of the error ellipse) is proposed using the insole pressure sensors. Based on the preliminary results it is recommended that kinematics and kinetics in both the sagittal and frontal planes be considered for an AK amputee performing STS. The information might be useful for further research on amputee STS.
Precipitate strain relief via point defect interaction: models for SiO2 in silicon

Abstract Precipitation in the solid state is often accompanied by a volume mismatch, creating strain which inhibits precipitation. For the SiO 2 Si system, this strain, if unrelieved, is large enough to prevent precipitation altogether. The strain is usually assumed to be relieved via emission or absorption of point defects. Here, we suggest a model in which only one species of point defect is involved and the emission/absorption relieves the strain only partially. We generate a Gibbs free energy equation in two variables and by monitoring the atom movements during precipitation, are able to derive two relationships: an expression for the critical radius and, more importantly, a direct correlation between strain and point defect supersaturations. We use this approach to study three systems: SiO2 strain relief via interstitial emission, vacancy absorption and carbon absorption. Finally, the importance of the strain/supersaturation relationship is emphasized by noting its impact upon nucleation rates. Even small point defect supersaturations can eliminate nucleation and must therefore be considered carefully in studies of precipitation.
Determination of bound-electronic and free-carrier nonlinearities in ZnSe, GaAs, CdTe, and ZnTe

We extend the application of the Z-scan experimental technique to determine free-carrier nonlinearities in the presence of bound electronic refraction and two-photon absorption. We employ this method, using picosecond pulses in CdTe, GaAs, and ZnTe at 1.06 μm and in ZnSe at 1.06 and 0.53 μm, to measure the refractive-index change induced by two-photon-excited free carriers (coefficient σr,), the two-photon absorption coefficient β, and the bound electronic nonlinear refractive index n2. The real and imaginary parts of the third-order susceptibility (i.e., n2 and β, respectively) are determined by Z scans with low inputs, and the refraction from carriers generated by two-photon absorption (an effecitve fifth-order nonlinearity) is determined from Z scans with higher input energies. We compare our experimental results with theoretical models and deduce that the three measured parameters are well predicted by simple two-band models. n2 changes from positive to negative as the photon energy approaches the band edge, in accordance with a recent theory of the dispersion of n2 in solids based on Kramers–Kronig transformations [ Phys. Rev. Lett.65, 96 ( 1990); IEEE J. Quantum Electron.27, 1296 ( 1991)]. We find that the values of σr are in agreement with simple band-filling models.
Effect of Proof‐Testing Soda‐Lime Glass in Heptane

Soda-lime glass was proof-tested in heptane using three unloading rates. Observed after-proof strength distributions shifted toward weaker strengths as the rate of unloading decreased. The theoretical implications of the results are discussed.
Effects of student and school factors on five measures of school disorder

Although concern about school disorder has increased dramatically in recent years, little systematic attention has been given to its measurement or to separating its diverse causal influences. Measures used in research have included self-reported victimization, fear, delinquency, misconduct, and school-recorded incident rates. In this paper I explore the effects of several major dimensions of school climate and individual student characteristics on five different measures of school disorder. I examine survey responses from 4,640 middle school student, using MANCOVA. Schools vary significantly on all five measures of disorder: both student characteristics and school climate variables provide significant explanatory power for each. Patterns of results vary, however, for different measures of disorder. For example, between-school effects are much stronger for students' misconduct than for more serious offending. Implications for research and policy on school disorder are discussed.