cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Bug Report Classification Using LSTM Architecture for More Accurate Software Defect Locating

Recently many information retrieval (IR)-based approaches have been proposed to help locate software defects automatically by using information from bug report contents. However, some bug reports that do not semantically related to the relevant code are not helpful to IR-based systems. Running an IR-based system on these reports may produce false positives. In this paper, we propose a classification model for classifying a bug report as either helpful or unhelpful using a LSTM-network. By filtering our unhelpful reports before running an IR-based bug locating system, our approach helps reduce false positives and improve the ranking performance. We test our model over 9,000 bug reports from three software projects. The evaluation result shows that our model helps improve a state-of-the-art IR-based system's ranking performance under a trade-off between the precision and the recall. Our comparison experiments show that the LSTM-network achieves the best trade-off between precision and recall than other classification models including CNN, multilayer perceptron, and a simple baseline approach that classifies a bug report based its length. In the situation that precision is more important than recall, our classification model helps for bug locating.
Is Combined Lung-Liver Transplantation Justified? 30-Year Review of UNOS Database

Purpose Combined lung-liver transplantation (LLT) significantly increases the complexity of lung transplantation (LT) due to operative, donor, and recipient factors. The ethics of allocating dual organs to single recipients remains controversial. There is limited information on the short and long term survival of LLT recipients. Methods Review of UNOS database was performed from years 1987-2018. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed adjusting for LLT, age, sex, ischemic time, need for dialysis, and HLA mismatch. Results 30, 110 LTs and 74 LLTs were performed. Median follow up was 42 +/− 44 months for LLT and 51+/−50 months for LT. LLT recipients were younger (40.0 ± 15.1 vs. 54.2 ± 12.9 years, p Conclusion Despite higher recipient acuity, in appropriately selected patients, short and long term survival of LLT is comparable to isolated LT.
Comparing high-dose cisplatin with cisplatin-based combination chemotherapy in definitive concurrent chemoradiation setting for locally advanced head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (LAHNSCC)

Background High-dose cisplatin (Cis) is a preferred systemic agent for concurrent chemoradiation (CRT) in locally advanced head and neck squamous cell cancer (LAHNSCC) patients. As some patients are unable to tolerate Cis, this study compares the toxicity and efficacy of weekly cisplatin-paclitaxel (CP) regimen with Cis. Methods Patients with LAHNSCC receiving definitive chemoradiation either with Cis (Cisplatin-100 mg/m2 q3w x 3) or CP (Cisplatin-20 mg/m2 ; Paclitaxel-30 mg/m2 qw x7) were included. Results Cis and CP groups were comprised of 114 and 111 subjects, respectively. Complete response for Cis versus CP groups was 88% versus 88%, respectively. Median follow-up for the study was 58.5 months. After adjusting for potential treatment selection bias, no significant differences were evident between Cis and CP groups for overall survival (hazard ratios [HR] 0.85, 95% CI 0.59-1.21, P = 0.36), progression free survival (HR 0.88, 95% CI 0.62-1.24, P = 0.46), locoregional control (HR 0.77, 95% CI 0.52-1.15, P = 0.21), and distant control (HR 0.87, 95% CI 0.61-1.23, P = 0.42). Patients in the CP group had less acute and chronic toxicities. Conclusions Weekly CP regimen can serve as an alternative systemic therapy with radiation in patients with LAHNSCC who are not fit for Cis.
Arc of Buhler Pseudoaneurysm Causing Fatal Retroperitoneal Hemorrhage; A Rare Case Report and Discussion of Relevant Literature

Identification of any variant anatomy prior to surgery is as essential as having knowledge of normal anatomy. These surprises bring on many challenges along with as they can be fatal. We encountered a case of patient who succumbed down to an unrecognized rare mesenteric vasculature variant known as “Arc of Buhler” (AOB) which is a persistent embryonic ventral anastomosis between the Celiac trunk and the Superior mesenteric artery. It is usually asymptomatic and found incidentally after evaluation for other pathologies. We herein report a pseudoaneurysm of Arc of Buhler being surgically managed after massive retroperitoneal hemorrhage. Unfortunately, the patient did not survive the procedure and passed away. AOB aneurysms present formidable risks to patients and diagnostic and therapeutic challenges to physicians. They are rare and require high index of suspicion on radiographic imaging. Present case reports underscore the importance of identifying it and treating it regardless of the size.
Implications for patient-provider communication and health self-efficacy among cancer survivors with multiple chronic conditions: results from the Health Information National Trends Survey.

Cancer survivors with multiple chronic conditions experience significant challenges managing their health. The six core functions of patient-centered communication (PCC)—fostering healing relationships, exchanging information, responding to emotions, managing uncertainty, making decisions, and enabling patient self-management—represent a central component to facilitating a survivor’s confidence to manage their health that has not been investigated in cancer survivors with multiple chronic conditions. Nationally representative data across two iterations of the Health Information National Trends Survey (HINTS) were merged with combined replicate weights using the jackknife replication method. Adjusted linear regression examined the association between PCC and health self-efficacy in a sample of breast, colorectal, and prostate cancer survivors and by multiple chronic conditions. 53.9% reported that providers did not always respond to their emotions and 48.9% reported that they could not always rely on their providers to help them manage uncertainty. In the adjusted linear regression models, there was a significant positive association between PCC and health self-efficacy (β = 0.2, p = 0.01) for the entire sample. However, the association between PCC and health self-efficacy was attenuated in cancer survivors with multiple chronic conditions (β = 0.1, p = 0.53). PCC alone is not enough to improve a cancer survivor’s confidence in their ability to manage their health in the presence of multiple chronic conditions. Cancer survivors with multiple chronic conditions need ongoing support, in addition to PCC, that render them prepared to manage their health after cancer.
MELPF version 1: Modeling Error Learning based Post-Processor Framework for Hydrologic Models Accuracy Improvement

Abstract. This paper studies how to improve the accuracy of hydrologic models using machine-learning models as post-processors and presents possibilities to reduce the workload to create an accurate hydrologic model by removing the calibration step. It is often challenging to develop an accurate hydrologic model due to the time-consuming model calibration procedure and the nonstationarity of hydrologic data. Our findings show that the errors of hydrologic models are correlated with model inputs. Thus motivated, we propose a modeling-error-learning-based post-processor framework by leveraging this correlation to improve the accuracy of a hydrologic model. The key idea is to predict the differences (errors) between the observed values and the hydrologic model predictions by using machine-learning techniques. To tackle the nonstationarity issue of hydrologic data, a moving-window-based machine-learning approach is proposed to enhance the machine-learning error predictions by identifying the local stationarity of the data using a stationarity measure developed based on the Hilbert–Huang transform. Two hydrologic models, the Precipitation–Runoff Modeling System (PRMS) and the Hydrologic Modeling System (HEC-HMS), are used to evaluate the proposed framework. Two case studies are provided to exhibit the improved performance over the original model using multiple statistical metrics.
Impact of Nonlinearity in an MUTC Photodetector on an RF-Modulated Frequency Comb

We calculate the impact of nonlinearity in an MUTC photodetector on an RF-modulated frequency comb, taking into account bleaching (gain saturation). An RF-modulated frequency comb is characterized by a distinct IMD2 n and IMD3 n and hence a distinct OIP2 n and OIP3 n for each comb line n.
Acetylthiostearates – mass spectroscopy and NMR characterization

Oleic and linoleic acids are common fatty acids in commodity vegetable oils. Their modification into sulfur-containing molecules can be a route for producing biobased lubricants. We investigated mo...
Nascimento e reconstrução da igualdade nos Estados Unidos

The United States was born of a normative and political aspiration asserted in its declaration of independence. The document did not simply contain a list of reasons for ending colonialization, but established equality as key ideal which remained imbedded in the nation’s ethos and is central for the U.S. representative democracy. Despite the normative statements of human rights, the status of the United States was deeply tainted because the framers of the Constitution retained protections for the institution of slavery. But many other legal and cultural anomalies also existed from the inception of nationhood, including the subjugation of women and the retention of propertied privileges as qualifications for voting and obtaining political offices. Amendments that were made to the Constitution after the Civil War (1861-1865) significantly advanced the rule of law but simultaneously required greater sincerity in abiding to the founding testament. Reconstruction in the United States was achieved through amendment of the original Constitution rather than the enactment of a new document. The ratification of the three new legal instruments, known as the Reconstruction Amendments, codified the Declaration’s statement of rights and equality. Liberty alone was no answer to the problem of slavery. The post-Civil War amendments also prohibited the unequal treatment of persons and created new guarantees of the franchise. The judiciary, which was responsible for interpreting the new constitutional provisions, showed itself to be a conservative institution that reined in reconstruction and thereby diminished the effect of the new guarantees of equality.
Expressing a Z-disk nebulin fragment in nebulin-deficient mouse muscle: effects on muscle structure and function

Nebulin is a critical thin filament-binding protein that spans from the Z-disk of the skeletal muscle sarcomere to near the pointed end of the thin filament. Its massive size and actin-binding property allows it to provide the thin filaments with structural and regulatory support. When this protein is lost, nemaline myopathy occurs. Nemaline myopathy causes severe muscle weakness as well as structural defects on a sarcomeric level. There is no known cure for this disease. We studied whether sarcomeric structure and function can be improved by introducing nebulin’s Z-disk region into a nebulin-deficient mouse model (Neb cKO) through adeno-associated viral (AAV) vector therapy. Following this treatment, the structural and functional characteristics of both vehicle-treated and AAV-treated Neb cKO and control muscles were studied. Intramuscular injection of this AAV construct resulted in a successful expression of the Z-disk fragment within the target muscles. This expression was significantly higher in Neb cKO mice than control mice. Analysis of protein expression revealed that the nebulin fragment was localized exclusively to the Z-disks and that Neb cKO expressed the nebulin fragment at levels comparable to the level of full-length nebulin in control mice. Additionally, the Z-disk fragment displaced full-length nebulin in control mice, resulting in nemaline rod body formation and a worsening of muscle function. Neb cKO mice experienced a slight functional benefit from the AAV treatment, with a small increase in force and fatigue resistance. Disease progression was also slowed as indicated by improved muscle structure and myosin isoform expression. This study reveals that nebulin fragments are well-received by nebulin-deficient mouse muscles and that limited functional benefits are achievable.
Demonstration of an Analog IC Function Maintenance Strategy, Including Direct Calibration, Built-in Self-test, and Commutation of Redundant Functional Blocks

A new analog subsystem maintenance strategy is presented that can be used to improve the accuracy, reliability, yield, and testability of analog and mixed-signal ICs. This scheme is a generally applicable design approach that combines hybrid redundancy, direct subcircuit parameter adjustment (calibration), and on-chip analog function verification (built-in self-test). Improvements are realized in a system-transparent fashion through careful function block commutation. The cost is a moderate die area increase. This design strategy is applicable to a wide range of moderately complex analog functions. An example analog function is used here to illustrate this new maintenance approach. Experimental data demonstrate the capabilities of this new approach to analog IC design for testability.
Inhibitory KIR-Ligand Interactions and Relapse Protection Following HLA Matched Allogeneic Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation for Acute Myelogenous Leukemia

Killer immunoglobulin-like receptor (KIR) and KIR-ligand (KIRL) interactions play an important role in natural killer cell mediated graft versus leukemia effect (GVL) after hematopoietic stem cell transplant (HCT) for AML. Mathematically accounting for KIR-KIRL interactions may identify donors with optimal NK cell mediated alloreactivity and GVL. In this retrospective study of 2359 donor recipient pairs (DRP) who underwent unrelated donor (URD) HCT for AML, KIR-KIRL interaction scores were determined. Relapse risk was significantly reduced in donor-recipient pairs (DRP) with higher inhibitory KIR-KIRL interaction and missing KIRL (mKIR) scores, with HR=0.86 (P=0.01) & HR=0.84 (P=0.02) respectively. This effect was not observed with activating KIR-KIRL interactions. The inhibitory KIR-KIRL (iKIR) interaction score components were summed to give an inhibitory-missing ligand (IM-KIR) score, which if it was 5 as opposed to <5, was also associated with a lower relapse risk, SHR 0.8 (P=0.004). Acute and chronic graft vs. host disease (GVHD), survival, GRFS and relapse free survival were not significantly different. However, TRM was increased among those with IM-KIR=5, HR, 1.32 (P=0.01). Among those with HLA matched DRP, anti-thymocyte globulin recipients with IM-KIR=5, had a lower relapse rate HR, 0.61 (p=0.001), however TRM was increased in these patients with a HR, 1.49 (p=0.034). This study demonstrates that unrelated DRPs with high inhibitory KIR content scores confer relapse protection, albeit with increased TRM. Clinical trials utilizing donors with a higher iKIR content in conjunction with novel strategies to reduce TRM should be considered for URD HCT recipients with AML to optimize clinical outcomes. HighlightsInhibitory and missing KIR-KIRL interactions, both individually and collectively are predictive of relapse following URD HCT for AML. Amongst 8/8 HLA matched donor recipient pair relapse reduction was observed in those undergoing in vivo T cell depletion with ATG. TRM is increased in patients with greater magnitude of inhibitory and missing KIR-KIRL interactions.
Feature engineering of material structure for AI-based materials knowledge systems

This tutorial introduces systematically the foundational concepts undergirding the recently formulated AI (artificial intelligence)-based materials knowledge system (AI-MKS) framework. More specifically, these concepts deal with features engineering the heterogeneous material internal structure to obtain low-dimensional representations that can then be combined with machine learning models to establish low-computational cost surrogate models for capturing the process–structure–property linkages over a hierarchy of material structure/lengths scales. Generally referred to as materials knowledge systems (MKS), this framework synergistically leverages the emergent AI/ML (machine learning) toolsets in conjunction with the modern experimental and physics-based simulation toolsets employed currently by the domain experts in the materials field. The primary goal of this tutorial is to present to the domain expert the foundations needed to understand and take advantage of the impending opportunities arising from a synergistic integration of AI/ML tools into the current materials innovation efforts while identifying a specific path forward for accomplishing this goal.
The Rationalization of Political Corruption

Corrupt officials sometimes rationalize their unethical actions as a psychological defense mechanism, presenting them in an alternative, morally neutral, context. However, there have been no systematic studies of such public sector rationalization. This article presents new data showing that those who engage in corrupt acts attempt to excuse themselves by obfuscating the negative consequences of their decisions. This contrasts with earlier findings that business managers tend to justify corruption in a different way, by highlighting own good intentions. Implications for future research and for anti-corruption efforts follow.
Two TonB-dependent transporters in Methylosinus trichosporium OB3b are responsible for uptake of different forms of methanobactin and are involved in the canonical 'copper switch'.

Copper is an important component of methanotrophic physiology as it controls the expression and activity of alternative forms of methane monooxygenase (MMO). To collect copper, some methanotrophs secrete a chalkophore or copper-binding compound called methanobactin (MB). MB is a ribosomally synthesized post-translationally modified polypeptide (RiPP) that, after binding copper, is collected by MbnT, a TonB-dependent transporter (TBDT). Structurally different forms of MB have been characterized, and here we show that different forms of MB are collected by specific TBDTs. Further, we report that in the model methanotroph, Methylosinus trichosporium OB3b, expression of the TBDT required for uptake of a different MB made by Methylocystis sp. strain SB2 (MB-SB2), is induced in the presence of MB-SB2, suggesting that methanotrophs have developed specific machinery and regulatory systems to actively take up MB from other methanotrophs for copper collection. Moreover, the canonical "copper-switch" in Ms. trichosporium OB3b that controls expression of alternative MMOs is apparent if one of the two TBDTs required for MB-OB3b and MB-SB2 uptake is knocked out, but is disrupted if both TBDTs are knocked out. These data indicate that MB uptake, including the uptake of exogenous MB, plays an important role in the copper switch in M. trichosporium OB3b and thus overall activity. Based on these data, we propose a revised model for the "copper-switch" in this methanotroph that involves MB uptake. IMPORTANCE In this study, we demonstrate that different TonB-dependent transporters (TBDTs) in the model methanotroph Methylosinus trichosporium OB3b are responsible for uptake of either endogenous MB or exogenous MB. Interestingly, the presence of exogenous MB induces expression of its specific TBDT in M. trichosporium OB3b, suggesting that this methanotroph is able to actively take up MB produced by others. This work contributes to our understanding of how microbes collect and compete for copper, and also helps inform how such uptake coordinates the expression of different forms of methane monooxygenase. Such studies are likely to be very important to develop a better understanding of methanotrophic interactions via synthesis and secretion of secondary metabolites such as methanobactin and thus provide additional means whereby these microbes can be manipulated for a variety of environmental and industrial purposes.
Influences of rare copy number variation on human complex traits

The human genome contains hundreds of thousands of regions exhibiting copy number variation (CNV). However, the phenotypic effects of most such polymorphisms are unknown because only larger CNVs (spanning tens of kilobases) have been ascertainable from the SNP-array data generated by large biobanks. We developed a new computational approach that leverages abundant haplotype-sharing in biobank cohorts to more sensitively detect CNVs co-inherited within extended SNP haplotypes. Applied to UK Biobank, this approach achieved 6-fold increased CNV detection sensitivity compared to previous analyses, accounting for approximately half of all rare gene inactivation events produced by genomic structural variation. This extensive CNV call set enabled the most comprehensive analysis to date of associations between CNVs and 56 quantitative traits, identifying 269 independent associations (P
Is Implementing ERP Like Pouring Concrete Into a Company? Impact of Enterprise Systems on Organizational Agility

Literature is divided on whether enterprise systems promote or hinder organizational agility. To the best of our knowledge, this paradox has never been rigorously theoretically analyzed nor empirically investigated. This paper seeks to address this paradox by leveraging upon innovation assimilation literature and knowledge based and capabilities based views of organizations. We propose a theoretical framework of the effects of ERP assimilation on agility. We also theorize that the dynamic capability of systems agility not only has a direct effect on organizational agility, but also moderates the effect of ERP assimilation levels on agility. We validate the proposed framework by conducting a cross-sectional survey across 215 organizations. The results shed light on one part of the dilemma: higher ERP assimilation levels positively influence organizational agility and validate the proposed model. Moreover, systems agility acts as a critical enabler by amplifying the net positive impact of ERP assimilation on organization agility - in addition to having a strong direct effect.
Core glycan in the yeast multicopper ferroxidase, Fet3p: A case study of N-linked glycosylation, protein maturation, and stability

Glycosylation is essential to the maintenance of protein quality in the vesicular protein trafficking pathway in eukaryotic cells. Using the yeast multicopper oxidase, Fet3p, the hypothesis is tested that core glycosylation suppresses Fet3p nascent chain aggregation during synthesis into the endoplasmic reticulum (ER). Fet3p has 11 crystallographically mapped N-linked core glycan units. Assembly of four of these units is specifically required for localization of Fet3p to the plasma membrane (PM). Fet3 protein lacking any one of these glycan units is found in an intracellular high-molecular mass species resolvable by blue native gel electrophoresis. Individually, the remaining glycan moieties are not required for ER exit; however, serial deletion of these by N → A substitution correlates with these desglycan species failure to exit the ER. Desglycan Fet3 proteins that localize to the PM are wild type in function indicating that the missing carbohydrate is not required for native structure and biologic activity. This native function includes the interaction with the iron permease, Ftr1p, and wild type high-affinity iron uptake activity. The four essential sequons are found within relatively nonpolar regions located in surface recesses and are strongly conserved among fungal Fet3 proteins. The remaining N-linked sites are found in more surface exposed, less nonpolar environments, and their conservation is weak or absent. The data indicate that in Fet3p the N-linked glycan has little effect on the enzyme's molecular activity but is critical to its cellular activity by maximizing the protein's exit from the ER and assembly into a functional iron uptake complex.
A 14-3-3 mode-1 binding motif initiates gap junction internalization during acute cardiac ischemia.

Altered phosphorylation and trafficking of connexin 43 (Cx43) during acute ischemia contributes to arrhythmogenic gap junction remodeling, yet the critical sequence and accessory proteins necessary for Cx43 internalization remain unresolved. 14-3-3 proteins can regulate protein trafficking, and a 14-3-3 mode-1 binding motif is activated upon phosphorylation of Ser373 of the Cx43 C-terminus. We hypothesized that Cx43Ser373 phosphorylation is important to pathological gap junction remodeling. Immunofluorescence in human heart reveals the enrichment of 14-3-3 proteins at intercalated discs, suggesting interaction with gap junctions. Knockdown of 14-3-3τ in cell lines increases gap junction plaque size at cell–cell borders. Cx43S373A mutation prevents Cx43/14-3-3 complexing and stabilizes Cx43 at the cell surface, indicating avoidance of degradation. Using Langendorff-perfused mouse hearts, we detect phosphorylation of newly internalized Cx43 at Ser373 and Ser368 within 30 min of no-flow ischemia. Phosphorylation of Cx43 at Ser368 by protein kinase C and Ser255 by mitogen-activated protein kinase has previously been implicated in Cx43 internalization. The Cx43S373A mutant is resistant to phosphorylation at both these residues and does not undergo ubiquitination, revealing Ser373 phosphorylation as an upstream gatekeeper of a posttranslational modification cascade necessary for Cx43 internalization. Cx43Ser373 phosphorylation is a potent target for therapeutic interventions to preserve gap junction coupling in the stressed myocardium.
Fisher Information in an Order Statistic and its Concomitant

Let (X, Y) have an absolutely continuous distribution with parameter θ. We suggest regularity conditions on the parent distribution that permit the definition of Fisher information (FI) about θ in an X-order statistic and its Y-concomitant that are obtained from a random sample from (X, Y). We describe some general properties of the FI in such individual pairs. For the Farlie-Gumbel-Morgenstern parent with dependence parameter θ, we investigate the properties of this FI, and obtain the asymptotic relative efficiency of the maximum likelihood estimator of θ for Type II censored bivariate samples. Assuming (X, Y) is Gumbel bivariate exponential of second type, and θ is the mean of Y, we evaluate the FI in the Y-concomitant of an X-order statistic and compare it with the FI in a single Y-order statistic.
Corticofugal modulation of frequency processing in bat auditory system

Auditory signals are transmitted from the inner ear through the brainstem to the higher auditory regions of the brain. Neurons throughout the auditory system are tuned to stimulus frequency, and in many auditory regions are arranged in topographical maps with respect to their preferred frequency. These properties are assumed to arise from the interactions of convergent and divergent projections ascending from lower to higher auditory areas1; such a view, however, ignores the possible role of descending projections from cortical to subcortical regions2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10. In the bat auditory system, such corticofugal connections modulate neuronal activity to improve the processing of echo-delay information11,12, a specialized feature. Here we show that corticofugal projections are also involved in the most common type of auditory processing, frequency tuning. When cortical neurons tuned to a specific frequency are inactivated, the auditory responses of subcortical neurons tuned to the same frequency are reduced. Moreover, the responses of other subcortical neurons tuned to different frequencies are increased, and their preferred frequencies are shifted towards that of the inactivated cortical neurons. Thus the corticofugal system mediates a positive feedback which, in combination with widespread lateral inhibition, sharpens and adjusts the tuning of neurons at earlier stages in the auditory processing pathway.
Regulation of Extracellular Protease Production in Bacillus cereus

Both sporulation and protease production can be inhibited by growing Bacillus cereus T in a medium containing a high concentration of a mixture of amino acids. Mutants selected for the ability to sporulate in this inhibitory medium were found to produce high levels of protease in the normal and inhibitory media. Comparison of the mutant and wild-type enzymes by gel electrophoresis and heat inactivation suggested that they were identical. One of the mutants proved to be a purine-requiring auxotroph. Reversion to prototrophy resulted in the loss of the capacity to sporulate in the inhibitory medium and loss of the ability to produce large amounts of protease. Mutants capable of producing high levels of protease and of sporulating in the inhibitory medium were also found when selecting for a purine, pyrimidine, or lysine requirement or for the capacity to sporulate in the presence of a high concentration of glucose. Protease production could be considerably delayed in the purine auxotrophs or completely inhibited in the pyrimidine auxotrophs by growing the cells in a medium containing the inhibitory mixture of amino acids plus hypoxanthine for the former or a pyrimidine for the latter. The fact that a variety of metabolic alterations could lead to excessive protease production suggested that a common catabolic or biosynthetic intermediate was involved in the control of the production of this enzyme(s).
Visceral Larva Migrans Induced Eosinophilic Cardiac Pseudotumor: A Cause of Sudden Death in a Child

A case of fatal cardiac larva migrans in a 10-year-old boy is described. The autopsy findings were quite dramatic, with a bosselated, sessile polypoid mass involving the left ventricular myocardium and protruding into the ventricular lumen. The precise morphologic characterization of the zoonotic ascarid larva was impaired by advanced resorption of the larva by an inflammatory infiltrate. Nonetheless, morphometry of the larval remnants strongly suggested the raccon ascarid, Baylisascaris procyonis, as the causative agent.
The acute convulsant effect of MPTP is dependent on intracerebral MPP

The administration of 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP) to C57 black mice causes an acute seizure syndrome the severity of which is dose dependent; there is also a good correlation between the seizure inducing potential of MPTP and the neostriatal dopamine (DA) depletion caused by MPTP. The simultaneous administration of MPTP and MAO B inhibitors attenuates both epileptiform phenomena and neostriatal DA depletion. On the contrary diethyldithiocarbamate (DDC) exacerbates both responses. All these pharmacological manipulations are known to affect the accumulation of 1-methyl-4-phenylpyridinium ion (MPP+) the main metabolite of MPTP. Thus the present data support the hypothesis of a strict dependence of the epileptiform phenomena on the presence of MPP+. Furthermore the tight correlation existing between the severity of epileptic events and DA depletion suggests that the acute excitotoxic syndrome may contribute to the long-term toxicity of MPTP. *On leave from the Department of Neurology, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy.
Estimating plot-level tree structure in a deciduous forest by combining allometric equations, spatial wavelet analysis and airborne LiDAR

Object-oriented classification methods are increasingly used to derive plant-level structural information from high-resolution remotely sensed data from plant canopies. However, many automated, object-based classification approaches perform poorly in deciduous forests compared with coniferous forests. Here, we test the performance of the automated spatial wavelet analysis (SWA) algorithm for estimating plot-level canopy structure characteristics from a light detection and ranging (LiDAR) data set obtained from a northern mixed deciduous forest. Plot-level SWA-derived and co-located ground-based measurements of tree diameter at breast height (DBH) were linearly correlated when canopy cover was low (correlation coefficient (r) = 0.80) or moderate (r = 0.68), but were statistically unrelated when canopy cover was high. SWA-estimated crown diameters were not significantly correlated with allometrically based estimates of crown diameter. Our results show that, when combined with allometric equations, SWA can b...
Toxicity effects of organosulfur compounds on anaerobic microbial metabolism

Four classes of organosulfur compounds were tested for their effects on anaerobic microbial activity as indicated by rates of lactate degradation, nitrate or sulfate reduction, and methanogenesis. Each class consisted of five to eight chemically related compounds that were added concurrently to anaerobic cultures established with an oily sludge inoculum. Effects on anaerobic activities were evaluated at different amounts of the chemicals and were concentration dependent in all cases. Thiophenes and thiols inhibited microbial activity under methanogenic conditions at ≥5 mmol/L; the former compounds had less effect under nitrate-reducing conditions, and the latter had less effect under sulfate-reducing conditions. Thiophenic acids did not influence most microbial processes at the lower concentrations tested (≤0.50 mmol/L). Aromatic sulfides were inhibitory to microbial activity under all three conditions at ≥5 mmol/L and had a greater effect on electron acceptor reduction than lactate oxidation. We conclude that the inhibitory effect of organosulfur compounds on microbial metabolism could potentially influence the assessment of anaerobic biodegradation activities in either the laboratory or anoxic environments.
Predicting Residential Exposure to Phthalate Plasticizer Emitted from Vinyl Flooring: A Mechanistic Analysis

A two-room model is developed to estimate the emission rate of di-2-ethylhexyl phthalate (DEHP) from vinyl flooring and the evolving gas-phase and adsorbed surface concentrations in a realistic indoor environment. Because the DEHP emission rate measured in a test chamber may be quite different from the emission rate from the same material in the indoor environment the model provides a convenient means to predict emissions and transport in a more realistic setting. Adsorption isotherms for phthalates and plasticizers on interior surfaces, such as carpet, wood, dust, and human skin, are derived from previous field and laboratory studies. Log-linear relationships between equilibrium parameters and chemical vapor pressure are obtained. The predicted indoor air DEHP concentration at steady state is 0.15 microg/m3. Room 1 reaches steady state within about one year, while the adjacent room reaches steady state about three months later. Ventilation rate has a strong influence on DEHP emission rate while total suspended particle concentration has a substantial impact on gas-phase concentration. Exposure to DEHP via inhalation, dermal absorption, and oral ingestion of dust is evaluated. The model clarifies the mechanisms that govern the release of DEHP from vinyl flooring and the subsequent interactions with interior surfaces, airborne particles, dust, and human skin. Although further model development, parameter identification, and model validation are needed, our preliminary model provides a mechanistic framework that elucidates exposure pathways for phthalate plasticizers, and can most likely be adapted to predict emissions and transport of other semivolatile organic compounds, such as brominated flame retardants and biocides, in a residential environment.
Variable range hopping conduction in semiconductor nanocrystal solids

The temperature and electrical field dependent conductivity of $n$-type CdSe nanocrystal thin films is investigated. In the low electrical field regime, the conductivity follows $\ensuremath{\sigma}\ensuremath{\sim}\mathrm{exp}﻿[\ensuremath{-}({T}^{*}/T{)}^{1/2}]$ in the temperature range $10lTl120\text{ }\text{ }\mathrm{K}$. At high electrical field, the conductivity is strongly field dependent. At 4 K, the conductance increases by 8 orders of magnitude over one decade of bias. At a very high field, conductivity is temperature independent with $\ensuremath{\sigma}\ensuremath{\sim}\mathrm{exp}﻿[\ensuremath{-}({E}^{*}/E{)}^{1/2}]$. The complete behavior is very well described by variable range hopping with a Coulomb gap.
Acute renal failure after cerebral arteriography in a diabetic patient

A case of acute renal failure after cerebral arteriography with iodinated contrast material in a patient with diabetes and azotemic nephropathy is described. A review of the literature concerning acute renal failure after radiographic contrast material is included. The main risk factors reported in the literature appear to be the presence of diabetic nephropathy and the administration of fairly large doses of iodinated contrast material. Azotemic patients should be kept well hydrated and receive doses of less than 50 cc/m2 of body surface area when studied with such materials. Careful monitoring of urinary output and serum creatinine and ready access to dialytic therapy will aid in the detection and subsequent treatment of this problem.
Sources of self-esteem: From theory to measurement and back again

Abstract According to some conceptions, self-esteem possesses a moral dimension; according to others, it does not. According to some, the realism of the self-evaluation matters; according to others, it does not. For some investigators, narcissism is just high self-esteem; for others, narcissism involves internal conflicts within one's self-evaluation, which is strongly dependent on admiration extracted from other people. The best known procedure for measuring self-esteem has been a 10 question survey introduced by Rosenberg in 1965. Along with other insensitivities and biases, the Rosenberg scale fails to respond to the different high-level values or “sources” that are constitutive of self-esteem for different individuals. A person's self-esteem can be contingent on internal sources (such as independent thinking, productive projects, and moral commitments), or on external sources (such as fame, wealth, physical appearance, or the approval of peers). A study reported here investigated the relationships among global explicit self-esteem (as assessed with the Rosenberg scale), reliance on internal sources of self-esteem (measured with the Self-Esteem Sentence Completion Instrument), reliance on several external sources (via the External Sources of Self-Esteem scale), and narcissistic tendencies (as per the Narcissistic Personality Inventory). The participants were 97 undergraduate college students enrolled in psychology courses. Rosenberg and NPI scores displayed different patterns of correlation with various subscales of the ESOSES, raising the prospect that profiles of various external sources will enable us to differentiate between self-esteem and narcissism. Meanwhile, scores on the SESCI were not significantly related to any other variable, except for a mild negative correlation with the success recognition subscale of the ESOSES—an outcome that raises both theoretical and measurement questions about internal sources. Contrary to frequent assumptions of direct rivalry, reliance on internal sources of self-esteem may be largely independent of reliance on external sources. At the same time, however, more work obviously needs to be done on measuring internal sources of self-esteem, both explicit and implicit.
The Demand and Supply of Mortgage Funds and Mortgage Loan Terms

The supply of and demand for residential mortgages has been the subject of much discussion in the literature. Many of these studies have used single equation, partial adjustment models with the price specified as the contract rate. In this study, two of the assumptions that underlie these previous studies are tested empirically. First, the proper specification of the price of mortgage funds is tested by using both the contract rate alone and all of the terms of the mortgage as the price. Second, the speed of adjustment in the mortgage market is examined by estimating the model in both the instantaneous adjustment and partial adjustment forms. Both of these tests are carried out using a simultaneous equation rather than a single equation model. The empirical results indicate that the contract rate along with the loan initiation fees, the loan-to-value ratio and the maturity is the better specification of price and that the partial adjustment model performs better than the instantaneous model in the mortgage market.
Incorporation of Microfield Distortion into Rapid Effective Property Design

It is advantageous to use analytical effective property approximations during the initial stages of the design and development of new multiphase solids. Materials of this class are typified by microscopic second-phase particles suspended in a binding matrix. Such approximate methods are ideal since they require minimal computational effort, thus allowing one to perform rapid analyses for large numbers of multiphase solid combinations controlling parameters like the volume fractions and phase contrasts. Afterwards, when the number of feasible microstructural design combinations has been sufficiently narrowed down, one can perform further in-depth studies, applying computationally intensive numerical simulations, or more involved laboratory tests, to a reduced set of design alternatives. However, a limitation of approximate methods is that they do not provide much quantifiable information about the internal stress and strain fields in the material. Clearly, during material design development, when selecting...
New Type of Oscillatory Magnetoresistance in Metals

The magnetoresistive properties of a thin sodium wire have been studied at 1\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{}K in transverse magnetic fields (${H}_{T}$) up to 60 000 gauss. This study was undertaken in order to determine whether magnetoresistive oscillations of the de Haas-van Alphen type could be detected in the vicinity of 60 000 gauss. Although no such oscillations were found, the magnetoresistance for ${H}_{T}$ below 15 000 gauss exhibited a completely new type of oscillatory phenomena. These new oscillations are periodic in $H$ with a decreasing amplitude in increasing magnetic fields, whereas the de Hass-van Alphen oscillations would be periodic in ${H}^{\ensuremath{-}1}$ with an increasing amplitude in increasing magnetic fields. The period of these new oscillations is in excellent agreement with the period of the oscillatory behavior predicted theoretically by Sondheimer for the magnetoresistance due to surface scattering of thin metallic films in ${H}_{T}$. From this period, a value for the electronic momentum was obtained. The significance of these new oscillations is discussed.
Stereo- and Regioselective Glycosylations to the Bis-C-arylglycoside of Kidamycin

In explorations toward the total synthesis of the antitumor anthrapyran natural product kidamycin, the regioselective introduction of aminosugars angolosamine and vancosamine as C-arylglycosides has been accomplished onto hydroxylated anthrapyran aglycones. Specifically, the 9,11-dihydroxylated anthrapyran A undergoes sequential glycosylations with angolosamine synthon B and vancosamine synthon C to regio- and stereoselectively afford bis-C-glycoside D corresponding to the C-glycoside pattern of kidamycin.
Crystal Structures of Pasteurella multocida Sialyltransferase Complexes with Acceptor and Donor Analogues Reveal Substrate Binding Sites and Catalytic Mechanism.

Sialyltransferases are key enzymes involved in the biosynthesis of biologically and pathologically important sialic acid-containing molecules in nature. Binary X-ray crystal structures of a multifunctional Pasteurella multocida sialyltransferase (Delta24PmST1) with a donor analogue CMP-3F(a)Neu5Ac or CMP-3F(e)Neu5Ac were determined at 2.0 and 1.9 A resolutions, respectively. Ternary X-ray structures of the protein in complex with CMP or a donor analogue CMP-3F(a)Neu5Ac and an acceptor lactose have been determined at 2.0 and 2.27 A resolutions, respectively. This represents the first sialyltransferase structure and the first GT-B-type glycosyltransferase structure that is bound to both a donor analogue and an acceptor simultaneously. The four structures presented here reveal that binding of the nucleotide-activated donor sugar causes a buried tryptophan to flip out of the protein core to interact with the donor sugar and helps define the acceptor sugar binding site. Additionally, key amino acid residues involved in the catalysis have been identified. Structural and kinetic data support a direct displacement mechanism involving an oxocarbenium ion-like transition state assisted with Asp141 serving as a general base to activate the acceptor hydroxyl group.
The study of the conformation and interaction of two tachykinin peptides in membrane mimicking systems by NMR spectroscopy and pulsed field gradient diffusion.

Pulsed-field gradient diffusion has been used to study the binding of two tachykinin peptides, (Tyr 8 )-substance P (SP) and (Tyr 0 )-neurokinin A (NKA) to two membrane-mimicking micelles, dodecylphosphocholine, and sodium dodecylsulfate. The structure of these peptides bound to the micelles have also been studied by using two-dimensional nmr and restrained simulated annealing calculations. No major difference in the structures of each peptide in the two micellar media was found. The difference between the micelle-bound structure of (Tyr 8 )SP and that of SP was also minor. The longer helical conformation on the C-terminus for (Tyr 0 )NKA was observed, compared with that for NKA. The relationship between the difference in the biological potencies of (Tyr 8 )SP and SP and the differences in their structure, especially the interaction of the side chains of the two aromatic residues, and the difference in their binding affinities to membrane was discussed. In addition, differences between the result of restrained molecular dynamics simulations of (Tyr 8 )SP in the presence of an explicit micelle and the present results were observed and discussed. © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Biopoly 50: 555-568, 1999
Children's adjustment problems in families characterized by men's severe violence toward women: does other family violence matter?

Abstract Objective This research examined whether additional forms of family violence (partner-child aggression, mother-child aggression, and women's intimate partner violence [IPV]) contribute to children's adjustment problems in families characterized by men's severe violence toward women. Methods Participants were 258 children and their mothers recruited from domestic violence shelters. Mothers and children completed measures of men's IPV, women's IPV, partner-child aggression, and mother-child aggression. Mothers provided reports of children's internalizing and externalizing behavior problems; children provided reports of their appraisals of threat in relation to interparent conflict. Results After controlling for sociodemographics and men's IPV: (1) each of the additional forms of family violence (partner-child aggression, mother-child aggression, and women's IPV) was associated with children's externalizing problems; (2) partner-child aggression was associated with internalizing problems; and (3) partner-child aggression was associated with children's threat appraisals. The relation of mother-child aggression to externalizing problems was stronger for boys than for girls; gender differences were not observed for internalizing problems or threat appraisals. Conclusions Men's severe IPV seldom occurs in the absence of other forms of family violence, and these other forms appear to contribute to children's adjustment problems. Parent-child aggression, and partner-child aggression in particular, are especially important. Systematic efforts to identify shelter children who are victims of parental violence seem warranted. Practice implications Men's severe IPV seldom occurs in the absence of other forms of family violence (partner-child aggression, mother-child aggression, and women's IPV), and these different forms of family violence all contribute to children's adjustment problems. Treatment programs for children who come to domestic violence shelters should address these different forms of family violence, especially parent-child aggression.