cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Rapid genomic expansion and purging associated with habitat transitions in a clade of beach crustaceans (Haustoriidae: Amphipoda)

Abstract Genome sizes vary by orders of magnitude across the Tree of Life and lack any correlation with organismal complexity. Some crustacean orders, such as amphipods, have genome sizes that correlate with body size, temperature, and water depth, indicating that natural selection may constrain genome sizes due to physiological pressures. In this study, we examine the relationship between genome size, repetitive content, and environmental variables on a clade of sand-burrowing amphipods (Haustoriidae) that are distributed across the Gulf of Mexico and the North Atlantic. We uncover a 6-fold genome size variation within a clade that is less than 7 million years old. Unlike previous studies, we find no correlation between genome size and latitude, but do uncover a significant relationship between genome size and body length. Further, we find that the proportion of repetitive content predicts genome size, and that the largest genomes appear to be driven by expansions of LINE elements. Finally, we find evidence of genomic purging and body size reduction in two lineages that have independently colonized warm brackish waters, possibly indicating a strong physiological constraint of transitioning from surf-swept beaches to protected bays. Significance Statement The evolution of genome size has been a long-standing puzzle in biology. In this work, we find that genome sizes may be driven by different selection regimes following shifts to a new habitat. Dramatic genome size changes can occur rapidly, in only a few million years. Data Availability Statement Raw data sheets have been deposited on Dryad: SUBMITTED. Raw sequence reads are available at from NCBI under Bioproject SUBMITTED.
Utilization of Treated Agricultural Residue Ash as Sodium Silicate in Alkali Activated Slag Systems

This study investigated the influence of rice straw ash (RSA), rice husk ash (RHA), and silica fume (SF) on alkali activated slag (AAS) systems. RSA, RHA, and SF were treated with sodium hydroxide to improve their reactivity in AAS systems. Although addition of SF in AAS systems increased compressive strength, samples containing RSA or RHA had higher compressive strength than those having SF. Treated RSA or RHA further increased compressive strength of AAS samples. It was shown that samples containing treated ash samples had similar compressive strength to those made with sodium silica activator. Therefore, it is suggested that treated ash samples could be used as alternative sources of silica for AAS. Drying shrinkage of AAS samples increased considerably when treated RSA or RHA were used as partial replacement of slag. This could be attributed to higher silica modulus (SiO2/Na2O) ratio of samples containing treated ash, which in turn would lead to a finer pore size structure compared to control samples. However, SF significantly reduced drying shrinkage of AAS. This could be because SF reduces the permeability and porosity of AAS samples.
Outcomes after successful fallopian tube recanalization: A single institution experience: Observational Retrospective study

Abstract Purpose To determine outcomes after successful fallopian tube recanalization (FTR) in women who suffer infertility with documented tubal occlusion on hysterosalpingogram. Methods A retrospective review of consecutive successful FTR procedures from January 2010 to December 2016 was performed. 53 women who had hysterosalpingogram confirmed unilateral or bilateral tubal occlusion from a single tertiary academic medical center and successful FTR were eligible for inclusion. 35 (66.0%) patients had follow up at 12 months after FTR, with 13 conceiving within 1 year of the procedure. Data was collected from the medical record. Complication, conception, and take-home-baby (THB) rates were recorded. The average age of patients was 32.3 years (range 26–42 years). All patients received peri- and post-procedure antibiotics. The study was conducted with institutional IRB approval. Results Average follow-up after FTR was 1335 days. All patients tolerated the procedure well with no immediate complications. One patient had a urinary tract infection a week after FTR. 13 (37.1%) became pregnant after FTR. Of these women, 2 had ectopic pregnancies and 2 patients had spontaneous abortions. The THB rate after FTR for all patients was 25.7%. The THB rate in women who became pregnant after FTR was 69.2%. Of those women who did not become pregnant after FTR, 19 (84.6%) went to assisted reproductive techniques, and of those, 8 (42.1%) became pregnant. Conclusion Infertility affects 8.4% of U.S. women, with tubal disease a major causative factor. In our study, successful FTR led to pregnancy in over a third of the patients with the majority giving birth to healthy babies. Given the success of obtaining pregnancy in combination with a low complication rate, FTR is a viable option in women who suffer from tubal infertility.
Human-machine collaboration framework for structural health monitoring and resiliency

Abstract Post-earthquake damage assessment can be significantly expedited when machine learning (ML) algorithms supported by sensing technologies are used. ML has some limitations when it comes to seismic damage assessment. ML tools require data from each class while training but in the case of seismic structural health monitoring, vibration data are usually available from the undamaged structures. In this paper, a framework called the human-machine collaboration (H-MC) is proposed. The H-MC framework combines the ML tools and human (domain) expertise for damage assessment of real instrumented buildings with only data from undamaged cases. It uses novelty detection as the ML tool and structure-specific analytical model to enable rapid damage detection. Subsequently, the framework is applied to detect damage in real instrumented buildings. The results showed that the H-MC algorithm correctly detected the damaged cases. It also labeled all the undamaged events accurately eliminating false positive detection. Furthermore, it is revealed that the resiliency of a building can be improved when the H-MC method is implemented over traditional field inspection. The proposed framework can be a viable tool for rapid post-earthquake damage assessment which is essential for improving community resiliency.
Characterizing the Distribution of Heterogeneity: Distributed Markov Chain Monte Carlo for Bayesian Hierarchical Models

Abstract This article proposes a distributed Markov chain Monte Carlo (MCMC) algorithm for estimating Bayesian hierarchical models when the panel size is extremely large (in the millions of consumers) and the objects of interest are the distribution of heterogeneity and the parameters that characterize it. Extant distributed MCMC methods are inherently inefficient, statistically and computationally, because they require the estimation of both the consumer-level parameters and the distribution of heterogeneity. The approach we present bypasses the estimation of the consumer-level parameters. The two-stage algorithm is asymptotically exact, has excellent variance properties, retains the flexibility of a standard MCMC algorithm, and is easy to implement. The details of the algorithm depend on the form of the prior imposed on the hierarchical model. All three possibilities for the prior are considered: i) nonparametric, ii) exponential family, and iii) nonexponential family, such as a finite mixture. The first stage constructs an estimator of the posterior predictive distribution of the consumer-level parameters, which is also the distribution of heterogeneity. For a nonparametric prior, a second stage is not needed since, by definition, the common parameters that characterize the distribution of heterogeneity are already known. For the two parametric priors (exponential and nonexponential families) for which the common parameters that characterize the distribution of heterogeneity are desired, the second stage draws auxiliary variables from the posterior predictive distribution before directly drawing the common parameters. The proposed algorithm takes particular advantage of exponential family priors by first reducing the auxiliary variables to the sufficient statistics that parameterize the posterior distribution of heterogeneity before drawing the common parameters. Although both stages are embarrassingly parallel, the second stage is sufficiently fast that a serial implementation may be computationally tractable. By avoiding the extensive computational, memory and network resources related to drawing, storing and communicating consumer-level parameters, the algorithm dominates the single-machine benchmark algorithm in computational and statistical efficiency by several orders of magnitude.
Sleep, Circadian Health and Melatonin for Mitigating COVID-19 and Optimizing Vaccine Efficacy

Over the past sixteen months, more than 4 million lives have been lost to COVID-19, with over 600,000 deaths in the United States alone. In addition to the growing death toll and negative impact on physical and mental health, the pandemic has led to a multitude of secondary ramifications stemming from economic and social devastation on an unprecedented scale. Despite tremendous efforts by scientists, healthcare workers, pharmaceutical companies, government agencies and many other entities, we are still far from the return to normalcy that most hold as a goal. COVID-19 represents a wide spectrum of disease caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus, including asymptomatic carriage, mild respiratory illness, multi-system inflammatory disease, long-hauler chronic autoimmune-type syndrome, respiratory failure and death. A key clinical feature that coincides with greater disease severity, lingering morbidity, and mortality is an uncontrolled and dysregulated inflammatory response to infection (Blanco-Melo et al., 2020). Although there are still areas of uncertainty about duration of immunity to SARS-CoV-2 and long-term health implications, certain factors have already been identified and associated with milder disease and better prognosis (e.g., younger age, female sex, and healthy weight) (Wolff et al., 2021). It is clear that vaccination will play a vital role in overcoming this pandemic. Yet, vaccination alone is not a panacea. Some will still get COVID-19 despite vaccination; others have and will become ill before the vaccine becomes available to them; still others will never be vaccinated, either due to misguided fears or contraindications due to particular medical conditions and allergies. In spite of the extraordinarily rapid development and high efficacy of the current vaccines, new variants or other significant mutations may render them obsolete, and unfortunately, currently approved COVID-19 therapies have only modest efficacy and are not without risk and expense (Callaway, 2021). Thus, it is imperative that we seek to mitigate the negative impacts of COVID-19 with every tool in our arsenal. Many of the risk factors identified to date are not modifiable, such as age, genetics, and others; however, there are some relatively untapped and modifiable factors that we should keep in mind in our fight against COVID-19 (Wolff et al., 2021). Sleep, circadian health and melatonin are three different, albeit related, considerations that may serve to enhance the immune system, boost vaccine efficacy, and exploit vulnerabilities of SARS-CoV-2.
Impact of Parasites on the Immune System of Cattle

All cattle have parasites. Even low worms burdens, often considered normal, can have an economic impact on productivity. The major effects of parasitism are not from competition for host nutrition, but rather from phenomenon such as damage to host tissues, alteration of physiological functions, host reaction to the parasites, and adverse immune interactions. Consequences of the interactions between the host immune system and parasites can be dramatic. In order to survive in immunocompetent hosts, parasites either modulate or avoid the host immune responses. When parasites actively modulate host immunity, the results can range from the inapparent to severe pathologic changes that compromise the heal th and survival of the animal. The majority of these changes have some adverse effects on productivity. Suppression of host immune responses can increase susceptibility to other parasites as well as bacteria and viruses. Parasite-induced suppression of host immune systems may reduce responses to vaccines, which can be misinterpreted as vaccine failure. A practical consequence of the immune response to parasites is the production of antibodies that can be detected by various techniques. The complex immune interactions and a wide diversity of parasite transmission patterns require more than a cursory consideration to achieve maximum production efficiency. The astute bovine practitioner must consider the overall parasite-host interface in order to develop a more integrated approach to herd health programs.
Boole's probability bounding problem, linear programming aggregations, and nonnegative quadratic pseudo-Boolean functions

George Boole first proposed the union bounding problem, which is a class of probabilistic satisfiability problems. Based on Hailperin's linear programming formulation of the problem, a very large body of research was conducted to provide good bounds by considering a relaxation that is either polynomial dimension in $n$ or is at least polynomially computable. We study monotone linear mappings $\mathcal{L}$ to a lower $N$ dimensional space such that $\mathcal{L}(\mathbb{R}_+^{2^n-1}) \subseteq \mathbb{R}_+^N$ and provide a complete characterization of the cone $L_\mathcal{E}(\mathbb{R}_+^\Omega)$ for three aggregation models from the literature. This characterization leads to strictly improved bounds in two of these cases as a result. We also obtain an $O(n^2)$ dimensional linear program that is equivalent with Hailperin's model. An interesting side result is that there exists a connection between Hailperin's model and the cut-polytope.
Ripples reflect a spectrum of synchronous spiking activity in human anterior temporal lobe.

Direct brain recordings have provided important insights into how high frequency activity captured through intracranial EEG (iEEG) supports human memory retrieval. The extent to which such activity is comprised of transient fluctuations that reflect the dynamic coordination of underlying neurons, however, remains unclear. Here, we simultaneously record iEEG, local field potential (LFP), and single unit activity in the human temporal cortex. We demonstrate that fast oscillations within the previously identified 80-120 Hz ripple band contribute to 70-200 Hz high frequency activity in the human cortex. These ripple oscillations exhibit a spectrum of amplitudes and durations related to the amount of underlying neuronal spiking. Ripples in the macro-scale iEEG are related to the number and synchrony of ripples in the micro-scale LFP, which in turn are related to the synchrony of neuronal spiking. Our data suggest that neural activity in the human temporal lobe is organized into transient bouts of ripple oscillations that reflect underlying bursts of spiking activity.
Mitigating Cognitive Bias through the Use of Serious Games: Effects of Feedback

A serious video game was created to teach players about cognitive bias and encourage mitigation of both confirmation bias and the fundamental attribution error. Multiplayer and single-player versions of the game were created to test the effect of different feedback sources on bias mitigation performance. A total of 626 participants were randomly assigned to play the single player/multiplayer game once or repeatedly. The results indicate the single player game was superior at reducing confirmation bias and that repeated plays and plays of longer duration were more effective at mitigating both biases than a control condition where participants watched a training video.
In situ predatory behavior of Mysis relicta in Lake Michigan

Selectivity coefficients (W’) and predation rates on Lake Michigan zooplankton were determined for Mysis relicta during spring through fall using an in situ method. W’ values indicated the following ranked order of prey preference: Cladocera > copepod copepodites and copepod nauplii > adult diaptomids and cyclopoids. With few exceptions, W’ values for different prey categories remained fairly constant despite greatly changing relative abundances of prey. Predation rates and prey selectivity were similar in most cases to those determined in laboratory studies. Ingestion rates (percent dry body weight · day−1) were correlated to total prey biomass (r = 0.38) and to effective prey biomass (r = 0.85), where the weighting factors were overall mean selectivity coefficients for the different prey categories. This result suggested that seasonally varying composition of prey caused much of the variation in ingestion rates among experiments. Feeding trials performed at the same depth with daytime and nighttime assemblages of zooplankton indicated that Cladocera may escape heavy Mysis predation at night by migrating from the metalimnetic-hypolimnetic interface into the epilimnion.
Isolation and Purification of the Envelope Proteins of Newcastle Disease Virus

A procedure has been developed for the isolation of Newcastle disease virus (NDV) envelope proteins. The two surface glycoproteins and the non-glycosylated membrane protein were solubilized with 2% Triton X-100 and 1 m KCl. Removal of the KCl by dialysis yielded by precipitation a pure preparation of the non-glycosylated membrane protein, which is insoluble in solutions of low ionic strength. The soluble fraction consisting of the two glycoproteins possessed full neuraminidase and hemagglutinating activities. The two glycoproteins could be separated by rate zonal sedimentation in a sucrose gradient containing 1% Triton X-100 and 1 m KCl. Under these conditions, the sedimentation coefficient of the larger glycoprotein, virus protein 1, was 9.3s, and that of the smaller, virus protein 2, was 6.1s. Both hemagglutinating and neuraminidase activities were associated with virus protein 1; virus protein 2 had neither activity. The results suggest that both activities reside on a single NDV glycoprotein. Similar results were obtained previously with another paramyxovirus, simian virus 5. These findings suggest that the association of hemagglutinating and neuraminidase activities with one glycoprotein is a general property of the paramyxovirus group.
Robustness analysis for a neural network based adaptive control scheme

A recently developed approach to the control of uncertain nonlinear systems uses a neural network to improve upon dynamic inversion. In the proposed architecture, the neural network adaptively cancels inversion errors through online learning. Asymptotic stability of the closed-loop system is guaranteed based on Lyapunov analysis. In this sense, the control scheme is similar to more traditional adaptive control techniques. This approach does not account for unmodeled dynamics, however, since it assumes precise knowledge of the plant order. In this paper, singular perturbation arguments are employed to show robustness to unmodeled dynamics at the plant input. The theoretical result is illustrated using a simplified nonlinear model of the longitudinal dynamics of an air-to-air missile.
Periodic Focusing Systems

The fundamental principles of charged particle beam dynamics as discussed in previous chapters can be applied to almost every beam transport need. Focusing and bending devices for charged particles are based on magnetic or electric fields which are specified and designed in such a way as to allow the application of fundamental principles of beam optics leading to predictable results.
Expansion of gallery forest on Konza Prairie Research Natural Area, Kansas, USA

To determine the dynamics of the spatial extent of gallery forest on Konza Prairie Research Natural Area (KPRNA), aerial photographs taken over a 46 year time frame were digitized into an ARC-INFO Geographic Information System (GIS). A Global Positioning System (GPS) was used to collect ground control points to co-register the photographs for each year. Gallery forest areas for the three major drainage boundaries (Kings Creek, Shane Creek, and White Pasture) were analyzed to assess the uniformity of change in the landscape system. Results indicated that the total gallery forest area on KPRNA has increased in area from 157 ha in 1939 to over 241 ha in 1985. During this time, there was an increase in the total number of patches and a decrease in the mean size of forest patches. However, the rate of increase was not consistent over this time period, nor was it uniform from one drainage basin or stream order to another. Detailed spatial analysis of the forested area with a geomorphology and digital elevation model of Konza Prairie showed that in 1985, 58% of the forest was on alluvial/colluvial soil, yet only 15% of that soil type was forested. In addition, over 70% of the forest was on the 0–15% slope interval, but only 15–20% of that slope interval was forested. These results may be attributed to a variety of factors such as changing management practices (i.e., frequency of fires and herbicide spraying) and the temporal constraints on extent to which the gallery forest can expand across the landscape.
Accuracy and calibration of infrared signal-direction discriminator

Vehicle positioning in infrared vehicle-to-infrastructure communication systems can be realized with the aid of signal-direction discrimination. The coming direction of the infrared signal can be acquired with high precision by comparing the sgnal strengths received by different receiving modules in the signal-direction discriminator, provided that all the receiving modules together with their amplification circuits have the same characteristics. This can be fulfilled by a careful calibration. In this paper, the results of two different calibration methods are compared in order to obtain the coming direction of the signal with high accuracy for the aforementioned application.
Does hip implant positioning affect the peak external adduction moments of the healthy knees of subjects with total hip replacements

After unilateral total hip replacement (THR) for hip osteoarthritis (OA), knee OA incidence or progression is common. The contralateral knee is at particular risk, and some have speculated that abnormal THR-hip biomechanics contributes to this asymmetry. We investigated the relationships between operated-hip joint geometry or gait variables and the peak external knee adduction moments—an indicator of knee OA risk—in 21 subjects with unilateral THRs. We found that the peak adduction moment was 14% higher on the contralateral versus the ipsilateral knee (p = 0.131). The best predictors of ipsilateral knee adduction moments were superior-inferior joint center position and operated-hip peak adduction moment (adj R2 = 0.291, p = 0.017). The sole predictor of the contralateral knee adduction moment was the medial-lateral hip center position (adj R2 = 0.266, p = 0.010). A postoperative medial shift of the hip center was significantly correlated with a lower postoperative contralateral/ipsilateral knee adduction moment ratio (R = 0.462, p = 0.035). Based on these relationships, we concluded that implant positioning could influence the biomechanical risk of knee OA progression after THR. Although implant positioning decisions are necessarily driven by other factors, it may be appropriate to assess individual THR candidate's knee OA risk and adjust perioperative management accordingly. © 2013 Orthopaedic Research Society. Published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Orthop Res 31:1187–1194, 2013
Improved microcalcification detection for breast tomosynthesis using a penalized-maximum-likelihood reconstruction method

In this paper we explore the use of a penalized maximum likelihood (PML) based reconstruction method to improve the image quality and microcalcification detectability in digital breast tomosythesis (DBT) To evaluate performance, a human observer psychophysical study was performed with computer simulated images The simulation used realistic structured breast models derived from CT scans of surgical mastectomy specimens giving sufficient statistical variability in terms of breast background structural noise Sensitivity and specificity of microcalcification detectability measured with PML reconstruction was compared to that obtained with the filtered back projection (FBP) method for simulated breast tomosynthesis images An observer study conducted using localized receiver operating characteristic (LROC) analysis showed significantly better sensitivity and specificity using the PML reconstruction method for simulated mean glandular dose levels of 1.0 mGy for a 5 cm compressed breast This study suggests that MC detection accuracy is improved using PML reconstruction technique and that it might be feasible to reduce the imaging dose of DBT using this technique.
Cryoclastic origin of particles on the surface of Enceladus

Analogous to volcanic deposits on Earth, we can infer eruption characteristics on Enceladus from the relationship between particle size and distance from the vent. We develop a model in which ice particles feeding plumes are accelerated by the gas. We consider two cases: drag-limited and collision-limited acceleration, which link particle size to exit velocity. After being ejected at the vent, particles follow ballistic trajectories. We fit the model to observations of particle size on the surface inferred from modeled VIMS data collected by the Cassini spacecraft. We obtain a relationship between gas temperature and characteristic acceleration length, whereby lower gas temperatures require longer acceleration lengths. The model shows that the large size of particles on the surface is consistent with the size of particles observed with the CDA and VIMS instruments at heights of Cassini flybys, and the size of particles that reach escape velocity and are found in Saturn's E-ring.
Daily walking and the risk of incident functional limitation in knee osteoarthritis: an observational study.

Objective Physical activity is recommended to mitigate functional limitations associated with knee osteoarthritis (OA). However, it is unclear whether walking on its own protects against the development of functional limitation. Methods Walking over 7 days was objectively measured as steps/day within a cohort of people with or at risk of knee OA from the Multicenter Osteoarthritis Study. Incident functional limitation over 2 years was defined by performance-based (gait speed 28 of 68) measures. We evaluated the association of steps/day at baseline with developing functional limitation 2 years later by calculating risk ratios adjusted for potential confounders. The number of steps/day that best distinguished risk for developing functional limitation was estimated from the maximum distance from chance on receiver operating characteristic curves. Results Among 1,788 participants (mean age 67 years, mean body mass index 31 kg/m(2) , 60% women), each additional 1,000 steps/day was associated with a 16% and 18% reduction in incident functional limitation by performance-based and self-report measures, respectively. Walking Conclusion More walking was associated with less risk of functional limitation over 2 years. Walking >6,000 steps/day provides a preliminary estimate of the level of walking activity to protect against developing functional limitation in people with or at risk of knee OA.
What is Good Style? Reader Reactions to German Text Samples

Esslin's and Willett's books provided a helpful introduction. For a complete list of all secondary literature on Brecht see K.-D. Peterson, Bertolt Brecht Bibliographie, Bad Homburg, 1968. An excerpt from Brecht's testimony during the hearings of the House Committee on Un-American Activities as well as a number of excellent essays can be found in Brecht: A Collection of Critical Essays, edited by Peter Demetz (Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey: Prentice-Hall, 1962). A number of records are easily found in audio libraries. Lotte Lenya sings Berlin Theater Songs by Kurt Weill. (Columbia LP ML 5056). Aufstieg und Fall der Stadt Mahagonny. With Lotte Lenya. (Columbia LP 3L 243). Die Dreigroschenoper. With Lotte Lenya. (Columbia LP 02L-257). The Threepenny Opera. New York Production. (MGM 3121). Several Brecht films have been made. Dreigroschenoper. 1931, G. W. Papst. Brecht sued Papst for the right to control the treatment of the film version of the Dreigroschenoper and lost the case. Kuhle Wampe. 1932, Slatan Dudow. Brecht helped Dudow with this film. It was banned in sslin's and Willett's books pr vided a helpful introuction. For a complete list of all secondary literatu e on recht see K.-D. Peterson, Bertolt Brecht Bibliographie, ad Homburg, 1968. n excerpt from Brecht's testimony during the heargs of the House Committee on Un-American ctivities s well as a number of excellent essays can be found in recht: A Collection of Critical Essays, edited by Peter emetz (Englewood Cliffs, New Jers y: Pr ntice-Hall, 962). number of reco ds a e easily found in audio libraries. ot e Lenya sings Berlin Theater Songs by Kurt Weill. 1933.
A radial growth precipitation test and its comparison with certain other serological tests for the detection of antibody in bovine sera to Mycoplasma agalactiae subsp. bovis

A radial growth precipitation test is described for measuring antibody to Mycoplasma agalactiae subsp. bovis. The test is quantitative and appears to depend on the production of soluble antigen by growing organisms. When compared with indirect haemagglutination, complement fixation and inhibition of film production, for measuring antibody to M. agalactiae subsp. bovis in bovine sera, it was found to have a sensitivity comparable to that of the complement fixation test.
Perceptions of self-oriented and other-oriented help-providers

Two studies were conducted to assess the relationship between an individual's self-described motivation for being a help-provider (i.e., a lawyer in Study 1 and a physi-cian in Study 2) and college undergraduates' perceptions of, and desire to seek assis-tance from, that help-provider. The major findings were incongruent with the notion inferred from the helping literature that altruistically motivated help-providers would be consistently evaluated more favorably than, and preferred over, egoistically moti-vated help-providers. Specifically, whereas the other-oriented help-providers were rated as more likable, honest, and less devious than the self-oriented help-providers, the self-oriented help-providers were rated as more ambitious, competent, and as earning more money than the other-oriented help-providers. Moreover, although the participants' “desire to hire” a particular help-provider was found to be associated with: (1) their perceptions of the help-provider's characteristics (Studies 1 and 2), (2) their own self-reported characteristics (Study 1), and (3) their anticipated affective state prior to seeking assistance (Studies 1 and 2), no clear relation was found in either study between the help-provider's motivation and the participants' desire to seek assistance from that help-provider. In contrast to the ambivalence demonstrated in response to the altruistically and egoistically motivated professional help-providers in Studies 1 and 2, participants in a preliminary study of perceptions of “everyday” helpers demonstrated a clear preference for altruistically motivated assistance (al-though these participants' evaluations were found to be influenced by the closeness of the relationship between the helper and recipient, the type of help provided, the participants' gender, and the gender of the helper-recipient dyad). Considered to-gether, the pattern of results suggests the broad range of situational and individual difference variables that may affect perceptions of, and reactions to, self-oriented and other-oriented help-providers.
Gender, place, and method of suicide

Background The goal of the study was to investigate whether women use less lethal methods in committing suicide than men. A related objective was to determine whether place of committing suicide influences method of suicide.
CAN LANGUAGE TEACHING BE IMPROVED

Author's summary.— What of the bilingual method? Examination of the objection based on the fear of “intervention” by the mother tongue. The need for well-trained teacher-specialists. Suggestions as to ways in which instruction might be improved.
Oxidant-Mediated Repression of Mitochondrial Transcription in Diabetic Rats

Abstract Diabetes-associated mitochondrial dysfunction is recognized, but the underlying mechanisms are unknown. Using isolated liver mitochondria from streptozotocin-induced diabetic Sprague-Dawley rats, we showed that diabetes can result in a > 95% loss in mitochondrial transcriptional capacity. Decreased transcription correlated well with both disease status, as indicated by serum lipemia and ketone levels, and with increased resistance of the mitochondrial transcription system to oxidative stress imposed by the hydrophilic AAPH [2,2′-azobis-(2-amidino-propane) hydrochloride] or the hydrophobic AMVN [2,2′-azobis-(2,4,-dimethyl-valeronitrile)]. The onset of AAPH- or AMVN-induced lipid peroxidation was also delayed; this suggests that liver mitochondrial membranes from diabetics have increased resistance to peroxyl radical-mediated lipid peroxidation. Lipid peroxidation induced endogenously was increased, however, suggesting a state of increased oxidative stress likely exists in vivo. Furthermore, changes in the rate of lipid peroxidation occurring during the propagation phase were also affected by diabetes. This implies possible changes in lipid composition or structure. Analysis indicated that the factors protecting mitochondria from lipid peroxidation differ from those involved in protecting the transcription system, and that both are independent of free radical scavenger levels. These results suggested that diabetes alters mitochondrial exposure and/or response to reactive species and provided clues to the role of oxidant stress in the development of diabetes-associated mitochondrial dysfunction. Copyright © 1997 Elsevier Science Inc.
Isolation and Partial Characterization of a Porcine Parotid Hormone that Stimulates Dentinal Fluid Transport

A parotid hormone (PH-A beta) has been isolated and purified from porcine parotid glands. The biological effect of the hormone is the stimulation of a dentinal fluid transport (DFT) in molar teeth of rats. The method for purifying the PH-A beta includes: extraction at pH 7 and 5, ultrafiltration through Amicon membranes, ion exchange chromatography on carboxymethyl cellulose, gel filtration on Sephadex G-50, and preparative electrophoresis in polyacrylamide gel. The PH-A beta is characterized as a glycoprotein having a molecular weight of 8100 and containing 2% hexose. The amino acid composition suggests a molecule rich in glycine (46%) and proline (27.7%). Alanine, glutamic acid, arginine, serine, aspartic acid, leucine, and lysine account for the remaining 26% of the residues. The isoelectric point is pH 7.50. The partial N-terminal amino acid sequence was determined to be: NH2-Ala-Pro-Pro-Gly-Ala-Arg-Pro-Pro-Pro-Gly-Pro-Pro-Pro-Pro-Pro-Pro-(Glu)-(Pro)-?-(Pro)-(Pro)-Arg-(Pro)-(Pro)-(Pro)-Gly-(Gly)-(Gly). A 5.5 X 10(7)-fold increase in DFT activity has been achieved relative to the crude gland extract. As little as 9.7 pg PH-A beta are effective in stimulating DFT. The significance of the PH-A beta appears to be the maintenance of a functional DFT within teeth to allow the avascular dental tissues to meet their high metabolic requirements.
DNA synthesis in Escherichia coli in the presence of cyanide

Abstract The addition of cyanide to an exponentially growing culture of Escherichia coli causes an immediate, but spontaneously reversible, inhibition of DNA synthesis. The small amount of DNA which is synthesized appears to be the product of the chromosomal replication fork. However, a substantial number of single-strand interruptions persist in the newly synthesized DNA, so that covalent linkage to the preformed DNA does not occur for many minutes. Since the presence of cyanide causes a shift from DPN to DPNH, it is suggested that the DPN-linked joining activity in these cells is inhibited because of the lowered DPN concentration.
Lifetime History of Depression, Type 2 Diabetes, and Endothelial Reactivity to Acute Stress in Postmenopausal Women

Background Coronary heart disease is a major cause of mortality in women and persons with diabetes. Mental stress and major depressive disorder have both been associated with coronary heart disease. Endothelial functioning is a clinically meaningful manifestation of CHD that is detectable in its earliest stages.
Management of Alveolar Air Leaks After Pulmonary Resection

Air leaks are a common problem after pulmonary resection and can be a source of significant morbidity and mortality. Air leaks are associated with prolonged hospital stays, and infectious and cardiopulmonary complications, and they occasionally require reoperation. Despite reasonably robust literature on the topic, the optimal approaches to manage postoperative air leaks remain controversial. We used available literature and expert consensus to formulate suggestions regarding the preferred approaches to both routine and prolonged alveolar air leaks. This review summarizes our findings.
Mesomorphic Transition Metal Complexes. 4. Dithiene Complexes of Ni, Pd, and Pt.

Abstract A rational synthesis of transition metal dithiene complexes with mesophorphic properties is reported. In addition to the nickel complexes described earlier, we have now obtained the Pd and Pt congerers. While the Ni and Pt complexes show, depending on the length of the para-n-alkyl chains, smectic or nematic mesophases, the Pd complexes have no mesomorphic properties at all. We suggest that the reason for the absence of a mesophase in the Pd complexes is caused by the formation of dimers.
Steps toward computer analysis of nucleotide sequences

Advances in recombinant DNA technology have allowed the isolation of large numbers of biologically interesting fragments of DNA. Concomitant improvements in methods for nucleic acid sequencing have led many investigators to characterize their clones by sequencing them. This has resulted in the accumulation of such large amounts of sequence data that computer-assisted methods, with programs directed toward the manipulation of nucleic acid sequences, have become indispensable during the collection and analysis of that data.
The nature of antioxidant defense mechanisms : a lesson from transgenic studies

Reactive oxygen species (ROS) have been implicated in the pathogenesis of many clinical disorders such as adult respiratory distress syndrome, ischemia-reperfusion injury, atherosclerosis, neurodegenerative diseases, and cancer. Genetically engineered animal models have been used as a tool for understanding the function of various antioxidant enzymes in cellular defense mechanisms against various types of oxidant tissue injury. Transgenic mice overexpressing three isoforms of superoxide dismutase, catalase, and the cellular glutathione peroxidase (GSHPx-1) in various tissues show an increased tolerance to ischemia-reperfusion heart and brain injury, hyperoxia, cold-induced brain edema, adriamycin, and paraquat toxicity. These results have provided for the first time direct evidence demonstrating the importance of each of these antioxidant enzymes in protecting the animals against the injury resulting from these insults, as well as the effect of an enhanced level of antioxidant in ameliorating the oxidant tissue injury. To evaluate further the nature of these enzymes in antioxidant defense, gene knockout mice deficient in copper-zinc superoxide dismutase (CuZnSOD) and GSHPx-1 have also been generated in our laboratory. These mice developed normally and showed no marked pathologic changes under normal physiologic conditions. In addition, a deficiency in these genes had no effects on animal survival under hyperoxida. However, these knockout mice exhibited a pronounced susceptibility to paraquat toxicity and myocardial ischemia-reperfusion injury. Furthermore, female mice lacking CuZnSOD also displayed a marked increase in postimplantation embryonic lethality. These animals should provide a useful model for uncovering the identity of ROS that participate in the pathogenesis of various clinical disorders and for defining the role of each antioxidant enzyme in cellular defense against oxidant-mediated tissue injury.
Introduction to the emerging technology track

The object of this track is to provide a forum for discussing the development, implementation, use and application of emerging technologies. These are technologies which have not yet developed a mature set of researchers, practitioners, or a community of practice. We also use the term, and the Track, to nurture topics and emerging fields which may become full Tracks of their own in the future. This year the track consists of a major cluster of papers on Restructuring the Electric Power Industry, and a set of three minitracks which explore special features of software and systems.This is the fourth year for a strong cluster of papers on Restructuring the Electric Power Industry: Emerging Issues, Methods and Tools. This topic is intended to encourage a cross-disciplinary look at issues associated with the world-wide movement to restructure electric power systems. The disciplines which converge on this topic include computer science, economics, game theory, risk management, marketing, financial management and others. The topic is growing in importance and will continue to be researched and debated in the coming years. Special research emphasis is focused on new tools and methodologies to support the transition and the resulting impacts on institutional change.The three special minitracks deal with a variety of key issues in developing software. The Software Process Improvement Minitrack examines several approaches, and the results, when process improvement mechanisms are applied to software development. Another minitrack explores advances in Software Specification and Verification, and a third continues the research on Errors and Risks in computer systems, with special emphasis on the very popular and common spreadsheet systems.We wish to express our thanks and appreciation to all the people who have worked so hard to make this part of the conference a success and this compendium of formal papers a part of the literature. The minitrack chairs must exercise creativity, reliability, and dogged perseverance to bring all the loose ends together at the right time.What results from this process are papers that describe established research projects, as well as new developments in the field. On the following pages, the minitrack coordinators provide a brief summary and overview of the papers in their sections in their Introduction to the Minitrack. We would like to extend our special thanks and appreciation to the reviewers who provided valuable insight and comments.
Brief Hospital Treatment Plans for Persons With Borderline Personality Disorder: Perspectives of Inpatient Psychiatric Nurses and Community Mental Health Center Clinicians

Despite growing recognition of the challenges inherent in helping persons with borderline personality disorder, systematic investigation of caring for this population in specific treatment situations is lacking. In this study, an innovative hospital treatment program for persons with borderline personality disorder was evaluated. Using an interpretive phenomenological approach, a team of researchers analyzed data from in-depth, individual interviews with inpatient psychiatric nurses and community mental health center clinicians (n = 13) and thereby identified a constitutive pattern, the paradoxes of helping. At a time when innovation in caring for persons with this disorder is sought, an examination of these paradoxes will help identify those practices to be abandoned, those to be extended, and those to be preserved.
Contact mechanics of graded coatings

The main interest of this study is in the fracture initiation in graded coatings under sliding contact loading. The structural component under consideration is a metallic substrate bonded to a metal/ceramic coating with continuously varying thermo-mechanical properties. The coating is 100% ceramic at the free surface and 100% metal at the interface. It is assumed that the thickness variation of the shear modulus of the coating is exponential and the Poisson's ratio is constant. The loading is provided by a sliding rigid stamp subjected to constant normal and tangential forces and the underlying elasticity problem is two-dimensional. On the contact area, it is also assumed that the conditions of Coulomb friction prevail. The objective of the study is to obtain a series of analytical benchmark solutions for examining the influence of such factors as material inhomogeneity constants, the coefficient of friction and various length parameters on the critical stresses that may have a bearing on the fatigue and fracture of the coating.
Cholinergic Deficiency in Alzheimer's Disease: Pathogenic Model

The following is a brief review of genetic and risk factors of the neuropathology, role of oxidative and inflammatory processes, patterns of involvement and spread, relationship of apolipoprotein E4 genotype with cholinergic function, and symptom expression in Alzheimer's disease.
Characterization and comparative analysis of sequence-specific amplified polymorphisms based on two subfamilies of IRRE retrotransposons in Iris missouriensis (Iridaceae)

DNA markers based on transposable-element polymorphisms are potentially useful alternatives to anonymous fragment-length polymorphisms (AFLPs). We developed the retrotransposon sequence-specific amplified polymorphism (retrotransposon SSAP) technique for the angiosperm Iris missouriensis (Iridaceae) in order to evaluate its use in generating population-genetic markers. Our cloning strategy identified two groups of long-terminal repeat retrotransposons of the IRRE family. Primers homologous to conserved regions of these elements generated repeatable and polymorphic markers. In comparison, the AFLP protocol failed to produce useful markers in our hands in this species. To investigate the distribution and evolutionary tempo of the two retrotransposons, we developed a phylogeny of representative species of subgenus Limniris based on chloroplast sequence. Sequences of both groups of retrotransposons were widespread in Limniris, but we also found evidence of substantial sequence and copy-number evolution since the divergence of I. missouriensis from other Limniris species. We corroborated these results with quantitative real-time PCR estimates of relative copy number. Importantly, the geographic structure of retrotransposon SSAP was strikingly different for the two groups of retrotransposons, indicating that different mutational dynamics and/or selective pressures govern their distribution. Although these primers should be useful for population-genetic studies of Iris missouriensis and other Limniris species, our findings reinforce the need for caution in evaluating transposable-element markers used to analyze the relatedness of populations or cultivars, as very different conclusions may be reached depending on the sequence amplified.