cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Detecting adversaries in Crowdsourcing.

Despite its successes in various machine learning and data science tasks, crowdsourcing can be susceptible to attacks from dedicated adversaries. This work investigates the effects of adversaries on crowdsourced classification, under the popular Dawid and Skene model. The adversaries are allowed to deviate arbitrarily from the considered crowdsourcing model, and may potentially cooperate. To address this scenario, we develop an approach that leverages the structure of second-order moments of annotator responses, to identify large numbers of adversaries, and mitigate their impact on the crowdsourcing task. The potential of the proposed approach is empirically demonstrated on synthetic and real crowdsourcing datasets.
Comparison of inhibition in two timed reaction tasks: the color and emotion Stroop tasks

The authors examined the cross-task consistency of the ability to inhibit the processing of irrelevant information. They compared interference scores on 2 widely used inhibition tasks and found that color word Stroop interference scores correlated with emotion word Stroop interference scores. An examination of physiological reactivity showed that, in general, the color Stroop was more arousing than was the emotion Stroop, most likely due to increased response conflict.
Automating the assignment of diagnosis codes to patient encounters using example-based and machine learning techniques.

Abstract Objective Human classification of diagnoses is a labor intensive process that consumes significant resources. Most medical practices use specially trained medical coders to categorize diagnoses for billing and research purposes. Methods We have developed an automated coding system designed to assign codes to clinical diagnoses. The system uses the notion of certainty to recommend subsequent processing. Codes with the highest certainty are generated by matching the diagnostic text to frequent examples in a database of 22 million manually coded entries. These code assignments are not subject to subsequent manual review. Codes at a lower certainty level are assigned by matching to previously infrequently coded examples. The least certain codes are generated by a naive Bayes classifier. The latter two types of codes are subsequently manually reviewed. Measurements Standard information retrieval accuracy measurements of precision, recall and f-measure were used. Micro- and macro-averaged results were computed. Results At least 48% of all EMR problem list entries at the Mayo Clinic can be automatically classified with macro-averaged 98.0% precision, 98.3% recall and an f-score of 98.2%. An additional 34% of the entries are classified with macro-averaged 90.1% precision, 95.6% recall and 93.1% f-score. The remaining 18% of the entries are classified with macro-averaged 58.5%. Conclusion Over two thirds of all diagnoses are coded automatically with high accuracy. The system has been successfully implemented at the Mayo Clinic, which resulted in a reduction of staff engaged in manual coding from thirty-four coders to seven verifiers.
Leucine-rich Repeat Kinase 2 (LRRK2) Pharmacological Inhibition Abates α-Synuclein Gene-induced Neurodegeneration

Therapeutic approaches to slow or block the progression of Parkinson disease (PD) do not exist. Genetic and biochemical studies implicate α-synuclein and leucine-rich repeat kinase 2 (LRRK2) in late-onset PD. LRRK2 kinase activity has been linked to neurodegenerative pathways. However, the therapeutic potential of LRRK2 kinase inhibitors is not clear because significant toxicities have been associated with one class of LRRK2 kinase inhibitors. Furthermore, LRRK2 kinase inhibitors have not been tested previously for efficacy in models of α-synuclein-induced neurodegeneration. To better understand the therapeutic potential of LRRK2 kinase inhibition in PD, we evaluated the tolerability and efficacy of a LRRK2 kinase inhibitor, PF-06447475, in preventing α-synuclein-induced neurodegeneration in rats. Both wild-type rats as well as transgenic G2019S-LRRK2 rats were injected intracranially with adeno-associated viral vectors expressing human α-synuclein in the substantia nigra. Rats were treated with PF-06447475 or a control compound for 4 weeks post-viral transduction. We found that rats expressing G2019S-LRRK2 have exacerbated dopaminergic neurodegeneration and inflammation in response to the overexpression of α-synuclein. Both neurodegeneration and neuroinflammation associated with G2019S-LRRK2 expression were mitigated by LRRK2 kinase inhibition. Furthermore, PF-06447475 provided neuroprotection in wild-type rats. We could not detect adverse pathological indications in the lung, kidney, or liver of rats treated with PF-06447475. These results demonstrate that pharmacological inhibition of LRRK2 is well tolerated for a 4-week period of time in rats and can counteract dopaminergic neurodegeneration caused by acute α-synuclein overexpression.
Relation between tag position and degree of visualized cerebrospinal fluid reflux into the lateral ventricles in time-spatial labeling inversion pulse magnetic resonance imaging at the foramen of Monro

Time-spatial labeling inversion pulse (Time-SLIP) magnetic resonance imaging allows non-invasive visualization of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) movement. Our study evaluated the sensitivity of the Time-SLIP tag placement on the measurement of CSF reflux from the third ventricle into the lateral ventricles via the foramen of Monro. Multiple Time-SLIP MRI scans were obtained in three healthy volunteers (23–55 years of age) evaluating the observed CSF pulsation and reflux from the third ventricle into the lateral ventricles while varying the placement of the tag. Linear regression was performed to evaluate the effects of tag position on the amount of visualized reflux and pulsation. Variation in the position of the tag relative to the plane of the free margin of the septum pellucidum produced a significant inverse variation in the observed reflux into the lateral ventricles (R2 = 0.74). The further the distance of the top (superior edge) of the tag from the plane of the free margin of the septum pellucidum, the less reflux into the lateral ventricles was observed (P = 0.006). The amount of observed CSF reflux into the lateral ventricles in Time-SLIP MR imaging is dependent on the positioning of the CSF tag with decreasing amount of visualized reflux the further caudal the CSF tag is relative to the free margin of the septum pellucidum.
Determinants of Xenobiotic Transport at Biological Barriers

The sections in this article are: 1 Transport at Simple Barriers 1.1 Nonselective Transport 1.2 Diffusion 1.3 Criteria for Diffusion 1.4 Determinants of Permeability 1.5 Unstirred Water Layers 1.6 Solvent Drag 1.7 Diffusive Transport of Weak Electrolytes 1.8 Selective Transport 2 Transport at Complex Barriers 3 Concluding Remarks
Titration of Tryptophan Oxygenase Antigen by Immunoinhibition

Abstract A method for determining tryptophan oxygenase as an antigen by the inhibition of its catalytic activity with an antibody is described. This method does not require a pure antigen to obtain a single antibody against that antigen. Thus, it provides a means of measuring relative amounts of antigen in an enzyme preparation when the enzyme has not been purified to homogeneity. This titration method can also discriminate between the apo and holo forms of tryptophan oxygenase.
Self-Organizing Grammar Induction Using a Neural Network Model

This paper presents a self-organizing, real-time, hierarchical neural network model of sequential processing, and shows how it can be used to induce recognition codes corresponding to word categories and elementary grammatical structures. The model, first introduced in Mannes (1992), learns to recognize, store, and recall sequences of unitized patterns in a stable manner, either using short-term memory alone, or using long-term memory weights. Memory capacity is only limited by the number of nodes provided. Sequences are mapped to unitized patterns, making the model suitable for hierarchical operation. By using multiple modules arranged in a hierarchy and a simple mapping between output of lower levels and the input of higher levels, the induction of codes representing word category and simple phrase structures is an emergent property of the model. Simulation results are reported to illustrate this behavior.
Improvements in method and apparatus for determining minority carrier diffusion length

The constant-magnitude steady-state surface photovoltage (SPV) method for determining the minority carrier diffusion length L is in principle an excellent technique. It has, however, recevied relatively limited use because of practical difficulties in carrying out the required measurements. This paper describes an improved measurement system that virtually eliminates these difficulties and allows a rapid straightforward determination of L. These measurements in silicon monitor wafers have enabled a routine quality control check on many factory processing steps, particularly those that are carried out at high temperature and have the potential for significantly degrading L.
Reproductive Performances of Crossbred and Pure‐Strain Channel Catfish Brood Stocks

Abstract Pure-strain and interstrain (crossbred) channel catfish Ictalurus punctatus were compared for spawning day, spawning rate (percent of replicate pairs that spawned), fecundity, egg size and hatchability, and survival of offspring. Crossbred fish usually spawned earlier (P < 0.05) than pure-strain channel catfish. As 3-year-olds, crossbred fish had higher spawning rates and fecundity than purebred fish, and their output of juveniles (number surviving 45 days in ponds, per kilogram of female parent) was greater. As 4-year-olds, pure-strain fish improved their performances, and crossbreds lost most of their relative advantages. Brood stock derived from crosses of four strains spawned earlier than those from two-strain F2 crosses, but their surviving offspring were no more numerous. The main value of cross-strain breeding is to produce channel catfish that mature earlier in life and spawn sooner in the season than purebreds. Received July 16, 1982 Accepted March 4, 1983
Steady solution for circumferentially moving loads on cylindrical shells

The steady, forced-wave solution is obtained for loads that travel with constant speed on a simply supported circular shell, the motion of which is damped externally by air. Critical speeds are identified above which the waveform, which is a standing wave in moving coordinates, exhibits shorter wavelengths in front of the load than behind it. At supercritical speeds the solution becomes unbounded, because of loss of stability, in the limit of no damping.
A Bivariate Gaussian Model for Unexploded Ordnance Classification with EMI Data

A bivariate Gaussian model is proposed for modeling spatially varying electromagnetic-induction (EMI) response of unexploded ordnance (UXO). This model is proposed for EMI sensors that do not exploit enough physics to warrant using the popular magnetic-dipole model currently commonly used. These two competing models are applied to measured EM61 sensor data at a real UXO site. UXO classification performance using the proposed bivariate Gaussian model is shown to be superior to an approach employing the magnetic-dipole model. Moreover, the bivariate Gaussian model requires no labeled training data, obviates classifier construction, and has fewer model parameters to learn.
A criterion measurement model for health behavior change

Researchers in the field of health behavior change have traditionally relied on a univariate criterion measure to evaluate the efficacy of an intervention. Such measures have superficial face validity but suffer from a number of problems: (a) lack of precise definitions; (b) poor statistical power; and (c) a lack of meaningfulness for some aspects of the problem. As an alternative, a theoretical model is developed that attempts to define more appropriate multivariate sets of dependent variables for the study of health behavior change. The model involves three separate constructs: Positive Evaluation Strength, Negative Evaluation Strength, and Habit Strength. The pattern of change for each construct is described across four stages of change: Precontemplation, Contemplation, Action, and Maintenance. For each construct, two thresholds are proposed representing the ability of the environment to modify the construct. Four tests of the model are provided from existing data sets. First, a structural model analysis was used to test if the proposed measurement model adequately fits the data. Second, a dynamic typology approach produced profiles of change that are consistent with the model. Third, a time series analysis provided support for the assumed model. Fourth, longitudinal, five-wave panel design was employed to test if the relation between the two cognitive variables (Pros and Cons) and the behavioral measure (Habit Strength) was consistent with the model. Implications for alternative intervention strategies are discussed.
Isotopic Constitution of Uranium

THE analysis of uranium rays from the volatile hexafluoride by Dr. Aston1 has shown a single line at atomic weight 238. The element appeared to be simple to at least two or three per cent, but its properties were not favourable for study in the gas discharge. As uranium is of great importance for the subject of radioactivity, the spark source described in NATURE of April 6 (135, 542) was tried with uranium metal and gold as electrodes, and also with an electrode made by packing a nickel tube with pitchblende. It was found that an exposure of a few seconds was sufficient for the main component at 238 reported by Dr. Aston ; but in addition on long exposures a faint companion of atomic weight 235 was also present. With two different uranium electrodes it was observed on eight photographs, and two photographs with the pitchblende electrode also showed the new component. The relative intensity could be only roughly estimated on account of the irregularity of the spark, but it appeared to be less than one per cent of the intensity of the main component.
Photosensitized reactions of 1-cyclohexenyl carbinols

Abstract Dimethyl-1-cyclohexenylcarbinol ( 1a ) affords a mixture of methylcyclohexane (8%). methylenecyclohexane (2%). 1-methylcyclohexanol (5%). isopropylidenecyclohexane oxide (10%). and 2-(1-hydroxycyclohexyl)-2-propanol (20%) upon UV irradiation in aqueous t-butyl alcohol with m -xylene as the photosensitizer. Under the same conditions 1-cyclohexenylmethanol ( 1b ) yields methylenecyclohexane oxide (trace), cyclohexylmethanol (20%). and 1-hydroxymethyl-1-cyclohexanol (25%). Possible pathways to these various products are proposed.
Data-partitioning using the Hilbert space filling curves: Effect on the speed of convergence of Fuzzy ARTMAP for large database problems

The Fuzzy ARTMAP algorithm has been proven to be one of the premier neural network architectures for classification problems. One of the properties of Fuzzy ARTMAP, which can be both an asset and a liability, is its capacity to produce new nodes (templates) on demand to represent classification categories. This property allows Fuzzy ARTMAP to automatically adapt to the database without having to a priori specify its network size. On the other hand, it has the undesirable side effect that large databases might produce a large network size (node proliferation) that can dramatically slow down the training speed of the algorithm. To address the slow convergence speed of Fuzzy ARTMAP for large database problems, we propose the use of space-filling curves, specifically the Hilbert space-filling curves (HSFC). Hilbert space-filling curves allow us to divide the problem into smaller sub-problems, each focusing on a smaller than the original dataset. For learning each partition of data, a different Fuzzy ARTMAP network is used. Through this divide-and-conquer approach we are avoiding the node proliferation problem, and consequently we speedup Fuzzy ARTMAP's training. Results have been produced for a two-class, 16-dimensional Gaussian data, and on the Forest database, available at the UCI repository. Our results indicate that the Hilbert space-filling curve approach reduces the time that it takes to train Fuzzy ARTMAP without affecting the generalization performance attained by Fuzzy ARTMAP trained on the original large dataset. Given that the resulting smaller datasets that the HSFC approach produces can independently be learned by different Fuzzy ARTMAP networks, we have also implemented and tested a parallel implementation of this approach on a Beowulf cluster of workstations that further speeds up Fuzzy ARTMAP's convergence to a solution for large database problems.
Stabilization of plutonium(III) in the Preyssler polyoxometalate.

The Na+ ion encapsulated within the Preyssler heteropolyoxoanion, [NaP5W30O110]14−, was exchanged with Pu(III) under hydrothermal conditions to obtain [Pu(III)P5W30O110]12− (abbreviated [PuPA]12−) with hybrid electrochemical properties resulting from the combination of the key redox behaviors of the Pu cation and the P−W−O anion. The electroanalytical chemistry of this two-center, multielectron redox system in a 1 M HCl electrolyte shows that Pu(III) is oxidized to Pu(IV) at the half-wave potential, E1/2, of +0.960 V versus Ag/AgCl, which is 0.197 V more positive than the corresponding electrode potential for the Pu(III) aqua ion also in 1 M HCl, indicating the stabilization of the trivalent Pu cation by its encapsulation in the Preyssler polyoxometalate (POM). This effect is uncommon in actinide−POM chemistry, wherein electrode potential shifts of the opposite nature (to more negative values), leading to the stabilization of the tetravalent ions by complexation, are renowned. Moreover, in cyclic voltamme...
An experimental study of the kinetics of spherical agglomeration in a stirred vessel

Abstract The kinetics of spherical agglomeration in a stirred vessel was investigated using sands, dispersed in agitated carbon tetrachloride and agglomerated with calcium chloride aqueous solutions, as a model system. The effects of stirring speed, baffles, solids loading, particle size and bridging liquid concentration were studied. It was found that agglomerate growth could be described by first-order kinetics, at least for the initial part of the process which is of most interest from the point of view of industrial applications. Particle aggregation and the relatively high solids concentrations used apparently accounted for this “restricted-in-space” behaviour. Empirical correlations were developed to relate the parameters in the kinetics equations to the experimental conditions.
N-slit interferometer for secure free-space optical communications: 527 m intra interferometric path length

The N-slit interferometer is demonstrated to function with an intra interferometric propagation path length of 527.33 m. Interferograms representing several interferometric characters, corresponding to N = 2, 3, 4, and 5, were recorded at the interferometric plane located at the end of an open air propagation range. Interferometric computations, based on the application of Dirac's notation, were successfully used to predict the structure and divergence of the propagating interferograms. These measurements were carried out during an unusual mild-temperature, low-humidity, summer night in northern Alabama. In the laboratory, at an intra interferometric propagation path length of 7.235 m, the N-slit interferometer was also used to successfully detect the intrusion of microscopic fibers into the intra interferometric propagation path. These experiments led to the detection of diffraction patterns superimposed over the interferograms.
Notes for a Critique of the ‘Metaphysics of Race’:

Two questions frame this response to Amin’s article ‘The Remainders of Race’. It first introduces an epistemological question that recognizes the impossibility of separating ontology and epistemology in modern thought and asks why contemporary studies of racial subjugation so infrequently consider the concept of race’s onto-epistemological function. The second, methodological, question necessarily follows. Acknowledging that ‘the what of race’ cannot be separated from the ‘how of race’ makes it crucial to ask why the former is no longer considered in most analyses of the latter. There follows a mapping of the context of emergence of political-symbolic strategies that carve out racial difference and cultural difference as human (moral) attributes. The article shows that, rather than an extraneous notion or a referent of a natural (god-given) human attribute, the concept of race is the modern ethico-political device that refigures the workings of scientific universality in political and ethical texts. What ...
Shortest paths in the plane with polygonal obstacles

We present a practical algorithm for finding minimum-length paths between points in the Euclidean plane with (not necessarily convex) polygonal obstacles. Prior to this work, the best known algorithm for finding the shortest path between two points in the plane required O(n2 log n) time and O(n2) space, where n denotes the number of obstacle edges. Assuming that a triangulation or a Voronoi diagram for the obstacle space is provided with the input (if is not, either one can be precomputed in O(n log n) time), we present an O(kn) time algorithm, where k denotes the number of “islands” (connected components) in the obstacle space. The algorithm uses only O(n) space and, given a source point s, produces an O(n) size data structure such that the distance between s and any other point x in the plane (x) is not necessarily an obstacle vertex or a point on an obstacle edge) can be computed in O(1) time. The algorithm can also be used to compute shortest paths for the movement of a disk (so that optimal movement for arbitrary objects can be computed to the accuracy of enclosing them with the smallest possible disk).
Social and academic intelligences: a multitrait–multimethod study of their crystallized and fluid characteristics

Abstract The purposes of the present study were: (1) to replicate previous research on social intelligence that shows social intelligence to be multidimensional in nature and distinguishable from academic intelligence, (2) to extend prior research by assessing whether the crystallized/fluid distinction commonly discussed in the academic intelligence literature was applicable to the domain of social intelligence, and (3) to explore whether a hierarchical model of social and academic intelligences was consistent with the data. One hundred and sixty-nine university students completed verbal, pictorial and self-report measures of four constructs: social knowledge (hypothesized to reflect crystallized social intelligence), social inference (hypothesized to reflect fluid social intelligence), crystallized academic and fluid academic intelligences. In addition, other-report measures were collected for these constructs in this multitrait–multimethod study. Confirmatory factor analyses replicated previous research, documenting that the four trait constructs showed convergent and discriminant validities. Similar analyses also extended prior research by showing that the crystallized/fluid distinction might be applicable in the social intelligence domain (although the evidence was stronger for crystallized social intelligence than fluid social intelligence) and that a hierarchical model fits the data well.
Relationships of self‐perceived communication competence and communication apprehension with willingness to communicate: A comparison with first and second languages in Micronesia

Research involving communication apprehension (CA) and related constructs such as self‐perceived communication competence (SPCC) and willingness to communicate (WTC) has been conducted in a wide variety of cultures. In general, relationships among these variables have been found to be quite similar across cultures, even when substantial mean differences have been observed. An exception to this pattern was an extremely high (r = .80) correlation between SPCC and WTC observed, in a study conducted in Micronesia (Burroughs & Marie, 1990). Other relationships observed in the study were generally consistent with those found in other cultures. Since this study involved individuals in a context where they were forced to communicate in a second language much of the time, and the data were collected in that second language, it was suspected this anomaly was what produced the aberrant finding. The present study obtained data from the same population but referenced the participants' first languages and was administe...
Nontargeted Elucidation of Metabolic Pathways Using Stable-Isotope Tracers and Mass Spectrometry

Systems level tools for the quantitative analysis of metabolic networks are required to engineer metabolism for biomedical and industrial applications. While current metabolomics techniques enable high-throughput quantification of metabolites, these methods provide minimal information on the rates and connectivity of metabolic pathways. Here we present a new method, nontargeted tracer fate detection (NTFD), that expands upon the concept of metabolomics to solve the above problems. Through the combined use of stable isotope tracers and chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry, our computational analysis enables the quantitative detection of all measurable metabolites derived from a specific labeled compound. Without a priori knowledge of a reaction network or compound library, NTFD provides information about relative flux magnitudes into each metabolite pool by determining the mass isotopomer distribution for all labeled compounds. This novel method adds a new dimension to the metabolomics tool box and provides a framework for global analysis of metabolic fluxes.
ATP Hydrolysis at One Site Drives the Dissociation of ATP-Binding Cassette Nucleotide-Binding Domains

Typical ATP Binding Cassette (ABC) transporters are membrane proteins that couple the energy from ATP hydrolysis to transport of an extended variety of substrates, including nutrients, toxins, peptides and even ions. Basically they are formed by two transmembrane domains and two nucleotide binding domains (NBDs). Currently, there are two main models to explain the conformational changes that occur in the NBDs in response to ATP binding and hydrolysis: a switch-model that proposes NBDs association/dissociation, and a constant-contact model with the NBDs always in contact during the transport cycle. Recently, using Luminescence Resonance Energy Transfer (LRET) and the NBD model MJ0796 (M. jannaschii NBD), we found complete dissociation of ATP-induced NBD dimers following ATP hydrolysis. However, it is still unknown if dissociation requires ATP hydrolysis by one or both sites in the NBD dimer. Here, we used LRET to study heterodimers formed by a normal (acceptor-labeled) and a catalytically defective (MJ0796-E171Q; donor-labeled) NBD. Rapid mixing experiments in a stop-flow chamber showed that NBD heterodimers with one functional and one inactive site dissociate at a rate undistinguishable from that of dimers with two hydrolysis-competent sites (∼0.1 s−1). These results indicate that one ATP hydrolysis event is sufficient to elicit dimer dissociation. Comparison with the rates of hydrolysis of normal dimers and heterodimers strongly suggests that in the dimers with two hydrolysis-competent sites, the two ATPs are hydrolyzed “simultaneously”, before NBD dissociation takes place. Additional LRET experiments forming heterodimers with mutants of ATP-interacting residues suggest an important role of the electrostatic balance for the dimer stability. Thus, charge changes after ATP hydrolysis might be destabilizing the dimer interface and promoting NBD dissociation. This work is supported by CPRIT grant RP101073.
Structure of rapidly quenched Al-Mn.

We report electron-microscopy and high-resolution x-ray-scattering measurements of rapidly quenched ${\mathrm{Al}}_{6}$Mn. The electron-diffraction pattern shows icosahedral symmetry. Peaks in the x-ray-diffraction pattern can be indexed to a mixture of fcc Al and a phase whose reciprocal lattice is described by a sum of icosahedral vectors. The half-width of the sharpest x-ray peak is 0.01 ${\mathrm{\AA{}}}^{\ensuremath{-}1}$. A comparison is made with current theories of quasicrystalline order.
Analysis of heparan sulfate from the Engelbreth-Holm-Swarm (EHS) tumor

The size of the heparan sulfate chains from the Engelbreth-Holm-Swarm (EHS) tumor heparan sulfate proteoglycan (PG) was measured by several techniques in order to resolve uncertainty about their size and the chains were chemically characterized for comparison with other basement membrane heparan sulfate PGs. Heparan sulfate size was determined by gel filtration (Mr = 5.5 - 6.0 x 10(4], by equilibrium sedimentation centrifugation (Mw = 6.8 x 10(4], and by end group analysis (Mn = 7.1 x 10(4]. A higher molecular weight (HMW) (Mw = 2.13 x 10(5] calculated from scattering measurements may reflect chain-chain interactions. Forty percent of newly synthesized chains eluted on gel filtration as a lower molecular weight (LMW) shoulder and in vivo turned over faster than the larger species. A large heparan sulfate PG was present after 4 hours of in vivo 35SO4 labeling in both a low density form and a high density, slightly smaller form with large heparan sulfate chains (Mr approximately 8.0 x 10(4]. Heparan sulfate PG of intermediate size (Kav = 0.3-0.65, Sepharose CL-4B) and of smaller size (Kav = 0.75, CL-4B) were found predominantly as high density species. These PGs contained chains (Mr = 3.5 x 10(4) and Mr = 1.2 x 10(4), respectively) which were partially sensitive to chondroitinase ABC (CABC) and may include a hybrid heparan sulfate/chondroitin sulfate PG. Heparan sulfate chains, possibly intracellular degradation products, were also found. Heparan sulfate chains were normal in N-sulfation (58% of hexosamine residues) and in iduronate content (approximately 30%). N-sulfation started within two disaccharides of the linkage region. The EHS heparan sulfate was unusually low in O-sulfation (10% of the total sulfation) and no 6-O sulfated, N-acetylated glucosamine residues adjacent to N-sulfated block regions were found.
Micromagnetic theory of non-uniform magnetization processes in magnetic recording particles

Abstract Recent micromagnetic results are discussed from a unified point of view. Emphasis is placed on a reorientation of the focus of micromagnetic theory towards a dynamical treatment of the magnetization processes in non-uniformly magnetized particles. The theory requires merely the knowledge of the micromagnetic energy functional and the prescription for the dynamical evolution equations. It is demonstrated that the dynamical aspects are especially important during irreversible switching. In the micromagnetic calculations of this paper the Landau-Lifshitz equations are taken as the evolution equations for irreversible switching. The distinction of reversible and irreversible processes leads to a rigorous definition of the notion of switching field. This yields a generalization of the classical nucleation field. In this context it is also necessary to carefully distinguish between equilibrium magnetization configurations and transient magnetization configurations. The latter magnetization states represent the non-linear dynamical generalizations of the classical nucleation modes. It is demonstrated from first principles that both the equilibrium states and the transient states can be described in simple topological terms for a wide range of magnetic particles as used in magnetic recording technology.
A validation study of the thinking styles inventory: Implications for gifted education

This study examined internal and external validity of the Thinking Styles Inventory (TSI) developed by Sternberg and Wagner (1991) within the framework of Sternberg's (1988) theory of mental self‐government. Participants were 96 adolescent students who were in a summer residential program at the time of testing. The results provide evidence of the external discriminant validity, but only lend partial support to the internal validity of the instrument, suggesting the need to theoretically clarify the relationships between and among posited thinking styles as well as empirically test the validity of these thinking styles measures. Implications of thinking styles for gifted education are discussed.
B-Type Natriuretic Peptide in Organic Mitral Regurgitation Determinants and Impact on Outcome

Background— B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) activation observed in cardiac diseases is a predictor of poor outcome; however, in organic mitral regurgitation (MR), BNP determinants and prognostic value are unknown. Methods and Results— We prospectively enrolled 124 patients with chronic organic MR (aged 63±15 years, 60% males) in whom we measured BNP level and simultaneously quantified MR degree, left ventricular (LV) remodeling, and left atrial (LA) volumes and analyzed long-term outcome. Baseline BNP level (54±67 pg/mL, median 31 pg/mL) was associated univariately with multiple clinical and echocardiographic characteristics, but in multivariate analysis, independent determinants of BNP, beyond age and sex (both P≤0.01), were LV end-systolic volume index, LA volume, atrial fibrillation, and symptoms (all P<0.02). Conversely, MR degree was not independently associated with BNP. During follow-up, patients with high versus low BNP (≥31 versus <31 pg/mL) displayed lower survival rates (at 5 years, 72±10% ver...
IL-4-dependent CD86 expression requires JAK/STAT6 activation and is negatively regulated by PKCδ

CD86 expression is up-regulated in activated monocytes and macrophages by a mechanism that is not clearly defined. Here, we report that IL-4-dependent CD86 expression requires activation of ERK1/2 and JAK/STAT6 but is negatively regulated by PKCdelta. PMA differentiated U937 monocytic cells when stimulated with IL-4 increased CD11b and CD86 expression by 52- and 98-fold, respectively. PMA+IL-4 treatment also induced a synergistic enhancement of ERK1/2 activation when compared to the effects of PMA and IL-4 alone. Use of the mitogen or extracellular kinase (MEK) inhibitor, PD98059, completely blocked up-regulation of CD11b and CD86 demonstrating the importance of MEK-activated ERK1/2. JAK inhibition with WHI-P154-abrogated IL-4-dependent CD11b and CD86 up-regulation and inhibited STAT6 tyrosine phosphorylation. Importantly, CD11b and CD86 expression were not reliant on IL-4-dependent activation of phosphatidylinositol 3'-kinase (PI 3-kinase). Blockade of PKCdelta activation with rottlerin prevented CD11b expression but lead to a 75- and 213-fold increase in PMA and PMA+IL-4-dependent CD86 expression, respectively. As anticipated, increasing PKCdelta activity with anti-sense reduction of CD45 increased CD11b expression and reduced CD86 expression. Likewise, rottlerin prevented nuclear localization of activated PKCdelta. We conclude from these data that IL-4-dependent CD11b expression relies predominantly on enhanced activation of ERK1/2, while IL-4-dependent CD86 expression utilizes the JAK/STAT6 pathway.
Erythropoietin-producing Wilms' tumor.

Summary The second reported case of an erythropoietin-producingWilms' tumor is presented. Although uncommon, the relationship must be considered in the evaluation of a child with unexplained polycythemia.
Von Willebrand factor, ADAMTS-13, and thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura

For a disease with <80 years of history, clinical and basic research into thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP) has been significantly accelerated since the identification of unusually large von Willebrand factor (VWF) multimers and deficiency of ADAMTS-13 ( A Disintegrin And Metalloproteinase with Thrombo Spondin-1-like domains) as the potential cause. The VWF-cleaving metalloprotease ADAMTS-13 has since been extensively characterized and its biological action tested in vitro and in vivo. There have also been considerable efforts to understand the interaction between ADAMTS-13 and its substrate VWF, as well as its biological regulation. This review focuses on recent advances in our understanding of the biology of VWF cleavage by ADAMTS-13 and how this newly gained knowledge will eventually help the clinical management of patients with TTP. This review also discusses the potential for ADAMTS-13 as a therapeutic drug for thrombotic conditions other than TTP.
Three-year outcome after balloon aortic valvuloplasty. Insights into prognosis of valvular aortic stenosis

BACKGROUND To identify predictors of long-term outcome after balloon aortic valvuloplasty, we analyzed data on 674 adults (mean age, 78 +/- 9 years; 56% were women) undergoing this procedure at 24 clinical centers who had a mean initial increase in aortic valve area of 0.3 cm2. METHODS AND RESULTS Baseline data included clinical, echocardiographic, and catheterization variables. Follow-up data included mortality, cause of death, rehospitalization, 6-month echocardiography, and functional status. Kaplan-Meier curves and log-rank tests were used to evaluate survival in subgroups. Multivariate Cox regression models were used to identify independent predictors of survival. Overall survival was 55% at 1 year, 35% at 2 years, and 23% at 3 years, with the majority of deaths (70%) classified as cardiac by an independent review committee. Rehospitalization was common (64%), although 61% of survivors at 2 years reported improved symptoms. Echocardiography at 6 months (n = 115) showed restenosis from the postprocedural valve area of 0.78 +/- 0.31 cm2 to 0.65 +/- 0.25 cm2 (P CONCLUSIONS Long-term survival after balloon aortic valvuloplasty is poor with 1- and 3-year survival rates of 55% and 23%, respectively. Although survivors report fewer symptoms, early restenosis and recurrent hospitalization are common.
Excess volumes and compressibilities derived from dielectric-constant measurements for liquid mixtures of Ar, CH4, and C2H6 from 115 to 130 K at pressures to 35 MPa

Abstract Measurements of dielectric constant have been used to determine excess volumes and changes in isothermal compressibility on mixing for binary and ternary mixtures containing nearly equal mole fractions of Ar, CH4, and C2H6. Temperatures studied were 115, 120, 125, and 130 K with pressures from near bubble pressure to 35 MPa. There is good agreement with other results at lower temperatures, where previous studies have been conducted. In addition to tabular presentations, dielectric constants and derived VE's are given in terms of correlating equations along isotherms. At low pressures the contributions of both VE and ΔκM to the corresponding mixture properties are found to increase markedly with either increasing temperature or decreasing pressure. The dependencies on both temperature and pressure are reduced at higher pressures. A modified hard-sphere equation of state, with two binary mixing-rule deviation parameters, has been used to fit VE for each binary pair. Predictions of ΔκM and the ternary VE's generally are in good agreement with the experimental results. The model is poor for mixtures containing argon at the highest temperatures and lowest pressures, where pure argon behaves like an expanded liquid.
Zero Sound in Classical Liquids

Starting from a zero-sound approach, a calculation of the spectral function of the current-current correlation, which is valid at short wavelengths and high frequencies, is given for classical liquids. The theory is used to explain results of neutron inelastic scattering in liquid argon.
Effect of Thickness and Hydrophobic Polymer Content of the Gas Diffusion Layer on Electrode Flooding Level in a PEMFC

The effect of thickness and wetproof level of the gas diffusion layer on electrode flooding and cell performance was investigated. Three types of gas diffusion media were tested: SGL SIGRACET carbon papers, with and without a microporous layer, and Toray TGPH carbon paper without a microporous layer. Overall, it was found that SGL carbon paper with the microporous layer gave the best fuel cell performance even at low air stoichiometries. It was also found that adding poly(tetralluoroethylene) (PTFE) to the gas diffusion layer could enhance gas transport and water transport when a cell operates under flooding condition, but excessive PTFE loading could lead to a high flooding level in the catalyst layer. It is our opinion that a combination of hydrophobic pores for gas transport and hydrophilic pores for liquid water transport within the macroporous layer is needed. It is also our opinion that the optimal ratio of hydrophobic and hydrophilic pores depends on the pore size and its distribution. Finally, it was observed that without the microporous layer, thinner gas diffusion materials were more sensitive to liquid water accumulation than the thicker ones.
In vitro fusion and separation of sea urchin primary mesenchyme cells

Time-lapse videomicroscopy of cultured primary mesenchyme cells from mesenchyme blastulae of the sea urchin Lytechinus pictus demonstrates the dramatic ability of these cells to undergo cell fusion and cell separation. Although this plasticity of cell associations is presumed to play a role in the formation of the syncytial cables that secrete the larval skeleton, the surfaces of these cells must be specialized for fusion and cell separation.
Quantitative Determination of the Protein Catalytic Efficiency for the Retinal Excited-State Decay in Bacteriorhodopsin.

It was previously found that by removing the negative charge of Asp85 in bacteriorhodopsin (bR), either by protonating it (as in deionized bR) or by mutation to Asn, the decay time of the retinal excited state increases from 0.5 ps to either 1.5 or 10 ps. The two decay components result from the presence of all-trans and 13-cis,15-syn (13-cis) retinal isomers in the modified retinal protein. To quantitatively determine the protein catalysis for the primary process in native bR, we need to determine which decay component results from the excited state of the all-trans isomer (present in the native bR). It is known that the all-trans isomer absorbs at longer wavelength than the 13-cis isomer in blue bR. In this communication, we report the results of pump−probe experiments using 100 fs laser pulses. Probing is carried out at 490 nm, where the excited state in both isomers absorbs. It is found that the ratio of the amplitudes of the two decay components in blue bR changes with variation of the excitation wav...
Pulmonary vascular impedance in microembolic pulmonary hypertension: Effects of synchronous high-frequency jet ventilation

Increased intrathoracic pressure (ITP) during conventional mechanical ventilation may interfere with the adaptation of right ventricular function to pulmonary hypertension. We studied the effects of synchronous cardiac cycle-specific high frequency jet ventilation (HFJV) in 10 anesthetized dogs before and after embolization of the pulmonary artery with 150-200 microns glass beads. The delivery of the jet was synchronized with early systole, late systole, early diastole and late diastole of the cardiac cycle. Right and left ventricular pressures (Prv and Plv) and pulmonary arterial pressures (Ppa) were measured by transducer-tipped catheters and pulmonary blood flow by an ultrasonic flow probe. Right ventricular end-systolic and end-diastolic volumes (rvESV and rvEDV) were estimated from the thermodilution curve obtained with a Swan-Ganz catheter equipped with a fast response thermistor. Pulmonary hypertension caused significant increases in heart rate (89 +/- 7 to 152 +/- 8 beats/min), rvEDV (80 +/- 7 to 131 +/- 23 ml), diastolic transmural Prv (2 +/- 1 to 5 +/- 1 mm Hg), and rv peak dP/dt (652 +/- 151 to 1035 +/- 160 mm Hg/s). The spectrum of pulmonary vascular input impedance was displaced towards higher frequencies, input resistance was increased and characteristic impedance decreased. The latter change contributed to a relative decrease in the pulsatile component of right ventricular power output. Cardiac output remained unchanged (2.1 +/- 0.2 to 1.9 +/- 0.1 L/min, P NS). Non of these measurements was affected by the timing of the increase in ITP to specific instants in the cardiac cycle compared to apneic periods at any level of pulmonary hypertension. We conclude that in acute microembolic pulmonary hypertension 1 degree a decrease in characteristic impedance contributes to the adaptation of right ventricular function to increased afterload and 2 degrees synchronous cardiac cycle-specific HFJV has no detectable hemodynamic effect.
Sex stratification in the workplace: Male-female differences in economic returns to occupation

Abstract Employing data from the 1974–1977 NORC General Social Surveys, I investigate differences in the earnings attainment of currently employed white men and women age 25 to 64. I focus special attention on the explanatory effects of job characteristics other than those traditionally employed in prestige and status-defined earnings models. The results, based on a multivariate regression analysis and a regression standardization procedure, suggest that a nontrivial portion of the earnings gap between men and women is due to women's concentration in jobs which are low-paying and heavily female and because women are less likely than men to exercise authority in their jobs or to control the means of production. Including these factors in an earnings model statistically increases women's earnings as a percentage of men's by over 7%, accounting for approximately 13% of the earnings gap. Net of these job characteristics, gender differences in industry distribution are not substantively important in explaining why women earn less than men, accounting for only 0.4% of the earnings gap. When single women's earnings are adjusted to take account of their occupational concentration, 10% of the male-single female earnings gap is explained, providing preliminary evidence that the job characteristics I specify are not mere proxies for work experience. Including job characteristics as measures of the context of employment thus usefully extends the human capital and prestige or statusdefined models traditionally employed in explanations of the male-female earnings differential.
Theoretical and experimental evidence for using impact modulation to assess bolted joints

This paper investigates the feasibility of extending the application of impact modulation from crack detection to the assessment of bolted joints. To support this effort, both theoretical and experimental evidence of the effectiveness of impact modulation to detect changes in bolt torque are presented. First, a nonlinear, single degree of freedom model is used to verify the correlation between changes in the nonlinear coefficient that represents the nonlinear contact forces present at a bolted interface and the amplitude of the sidebands generated in impact modulation testing. Next, a finite element representation of a two-beam, one-bolt assembly is presented to study effects not captured by the single degree of freedom model. Results of impact modulation simulations using the finite element model revealed that the amplitude of the sidebands in the response spectra depends not only on the nonlinearity present at the bolted interface, but also on other test parameters including impact amplitude and location, probing force amplitude and frequency, and sensor location. These findings are corroborated with experiments in which impact modulation was performed on a two-beam, one-bolt assembly similar to the assembly used in the simulations. Finally, impact modulation testing was conducted on the two-beam, one-bolt assembly using different bolt torque levels to demonstrate the method’s sensitivity to changes in bolt torque. A modulation index based on the amplitudes of the sidebands in the response spectrum was developed to quantify the results of the impact modulation testing. Results showed that the magnitude of the modulation index increased as the bolt torque decreased. The rate of change in the modulation index was largest when the bolt torque was $$<$$ 20 % of its maximum value.