cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Single-Port Robotic Posterior Urethroplasty Using Buccal Mucosa Grafts: Technique and Outcomes.

Abstract Objective To describe the technique, feasibility and short-term outcomes of buccal mucosa grafts in robotic lower urinary tract reconstruction. Methods We reviewed 9 patients who underwent single-port robotic posterior urethroplasty with buccal mucosa graft from May–December 2019. Variables included patient demographics, diagnosis/etiology, and intraoperative parameters. Intraabdominal or extraperitoneal transvesical approaches are used for the stricture via supraumbilical access, and if necessary, perineal dissection is performed. Cystoscopy identifies the extent of stenosis. Anastomosis is completed with buccal mucosal graft and rectus abdominis, omental or gracilis flaps as needed. Results The mean age was 65.4 years. Robotic urethroplasty with buccal mucosa graft was performed for vesicourethral anastomotic strictures (n=7), urethral strictures (n=4), pubic fistula after robotic posterior urethroplasty (n=1), and anastomotic distraction (n=1). Strictures occurred after prostate cancer treatments (n=8) and trauma (n=1). All patients had prior failed endoscopic interventions: balloon dilatation, resection/incision of bladder neck, internal urethrotomy under direct vision, urethral stents, and posterior urethroplasty. Mean defect length was 3.9 cm. Five of 9 patients had ancillary procedures including rectus abdominis (n=3), omental or gracilis (both n=1) flap harvests. No intraoperative complications occurred. Median operative time was 377 minutes, blood loss was 200 mL, and length of stay was 2 days. Postoperative 30-day complications included urinary tract infection, epididymitis, anemia, recurrent stricture, and small bowel obstruction requiring surgery (all n=1). Median follow-up was 11.7 months. Conclusions Buccal mucosa grafts with ancillary maneuvers such as flap interposition or adjacent tissue transfer in robotic lower tract reconstruction is durable, safe, and comparable to open approaches.
High-resolution in situ analysis of Cas9 germline transcript distributions in gene-drive Anopheles mosquitoes.

Gene drives are programmable genetic elements that can spread beneficial traits into wild populations to aid in vector-borne pathogen control. Two different drives have been developed for population modification of mosquito vectors. The Reckh drive (vasa-Cas9) in Anopheles stephensi displays efficient allelic conversion through males but generates frequent drive-resistant mutant alleles when passed through females. In contrast, the AgNos-Cd1 drive (nos-Cas9) in An. gambiae achieves almost complete allelic conversion through both genders. Here, we examined the subcellular localization of RNA transcripts in the mosquito germline. In both transgenic lines, Cas9 is strictly co-expressed with endogenous genes in stem and pre-meiotic cells of the testes, where both drives display highly efficient conversion. However, we observed distinct co-localization patterns for the two drives in female reproductive tissues. These studies suggest potential determinants underlying efficient drive through the female germline. We also evaluated expression patterns of alternative germline genes for future gene-drive designs.
Effects of process time interval and heat treatment on the mechanical and microstructural properties of direct laser deposited 316L stainless steel

Abstract The mechanical and microstructural properties of 316L stainless steel (SS) fabricated via Direct Laser Deposition (DLD), a laser-based additive manufacturing method, are presented and compared with those of conventionally-built counterparts. Using a Laser Engineered Net Shaping (LENS ® ) DLD system, the time interval between successive layer deposits, or inter-layer/idle time, for fabricating cylindrical specimens vertically-upward was varied by building either one or nine samples per build plate – thus increasing total assembly volume per build. Subsequently, the effect of thermal history, as well as heat treatment, on microstructural (i.e. grain size and morphology) and mechanical (i.e. tensile, compression, and microhardness) properties of DLD parts were investigated. Results indicate that the DLD 316L SS samples produced herein have a higher yield and ultimate tensile strength relative to their cast and wrought forms. Furthermore, the thermal history, microstructural evolution, and mechanical properties of DLD 316L SS are shown to be dependent on the time interval between deposits. Longer local time intervals result in higher cooling rates, leading to finer microstructures, higher/uniform strength and lower elongation to failure. In addition, porosity and less integral metallurgical bonds are found to be more prevalent in locations further upward from the build plate due to reduced laser penetration depths (e.g. previous-layer remelting decreases). Conversely, parts manufactured with shorter time intervals were found to possess a coarser microstructure, lower strength and higher elongation to failure – attributable to lower cooling rates caused by an increased bulk temperature in the part. These results may aid in future design and control of more efficient, constant-power DLD processes – especially with regard to building multiple and/or larger parts; an approach desirable for minimizing small-to-medium lot production times.
Expression of 140‐kDa Neural Cell Adhesion Molecule in Developing Testes In Vivo and in Long‐Term Sertoli Cell—Gonocyte Cocultures

The basis for cell-cell adhesion in the seminiferous epithelium of the developing testis is doubtless critical in supporting events that are essential for the onset and maintenance of normal spermatogenesis. In this study, we applied immunoblotting and immunolocalization approaches for the following reasons: 1) to ask whether neural cell adhesion molecule (NCAM) underlies cell-cell interactions in vivo, as we previously showed for cells in vitro, 2) to characterize the isoform or isoforms of NCAM expressed during testicular development, and 3) to study NCAM expression in long-term Sertoli cell-gonocyte cocultures and to compare and contrast this pattern of expression with that in vivo. Our findings indicate that NCAM is found ubiquitously at cell-cell interfaces within the seminiferous cord from birth through day 10 and thereafter is restricted to interstitial cells. Moreover, only polysialic acid-negative 140-kDa NCAM is expressed in the testis or in coculture, an isoform whose properties are compatible with the concept of NCAM as both a direct modifier of cell function and an indirect influence on cell responses mediated by other external factors. In addition, we found that germ cells, potentially gonocytes or Type A spermatogonia, persist in long-term cocultures maintained for 15 days after isolation from 5-day-old rat pups and that NCAM continues to be expressed at high levels in these cultures. This observation is in marked contrast to our observation that NCAM gradually decreases and eventually disappears in vivo by postnatal day 15. Thus, our findings indicate that 140-kDa NCAM is prominent in neonatal testes but is down-regulated by as yet unidentified mechanisms thereafter. Our findings also indicate that down-regulation of NCAM fails to occur in hormone- and serum-free Sertoli cell-germ cell cocultures.
Methods and technologies to improve efficiency of water use

The competition for existing freshwater supplies will require a paradigmatic shift from maximizing productivity per unit of land area to maximizing productivity per unit of water consumed. This shift will, in turn, demand broad systems approaches that physically and biologically optimize irrigation relative to water delivery and application schemes, rainfall, critical growth stages, soil fertility, location, and weather. Water can be conserved at a watershed or regional level for other uses only if evaporation, transpiration, or both are reduced and unrecoverable losses to unusable sinks are minimized (e.g., salty groundwater or oceans). Agricultural advances will include implementation of crop location strategies, conversion to crops with higher economic value or productivity per unit of water consumed, and adoption of alternate drought-tolerant crops. Emerging computerized GPS-based precision irrigation technologies for self-propelled sprinklers and microirrigation systems will enable growers to apply water and agrochemicals more precisely and site specifically to match soil and plant status and needs as provided by wireless sensor networks. Agriculturalists will need to exercise flexibility in managing the rate, frequency, and duration of water supplies to successfully allocate limited water and other inputs to crops. The most effective means to conserve water appears to be through carefully managed deficit irrigation strategies that are supported by advanced irrigation system and flexible, state-of-the-art water delivery systems. Nonagricultural water users will need to exercise patience as tools reflecting the paradigmatic shift are actualized. Both groups will need to cooperate and compromise as they practice more conservative approaches to freshwater consumption.
Culpability Attributions towards Juvenile Female Prostitutes

This study addresses a gap in the research literature concerning predictors of culpability attributions towards juvenile female prostitutes (JFPs). Three hundred undergraduate participants read a vignette describing a JFP and responded to a series of measures. Results supported a causal pathway whereby stronger perceiver sexism predicted stronger negative affective evaluations of, and weaker empathic reactions toward, the JFP. Stronger negative affective evaluations and weaker empathic reactions, in turn, predicted stronger culpability attributions toward the JFP. Also, participants who were provided information about the JFP's extensive victimisation history and coercion into the trade, relative to participants who were not provided this information, attributed lesser culpability to the JFP. Finally, stronger culpability attributions toward the JFP related to weaker recommendations of restorative justice (i.e. counselling/mental health services for the JFP) and stronger recommendations of retributive justice (i.e. incarceration for the JFP). Study implications, limitations, and directions for future research are discussed. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. 'Stronger negative affective evaluations and weaker empathic reactions, in turn, predicted stronger culpability attributions' Key Practitioner Message * Stronger perceiver sexism predicts stronger negative evaluations of, and weaker empathic reactions towards a juvenile female "prostitute." * Stronger negative evaluations of, and weaker empathic reactions towards a girl in the sex trade in turn predict stronger culpability attributions towards her. * Provision of information about a prostituted youth's victimisation history and coercion into prostitution mitigates culpability attributions toward her. * Public education that highlights juvenile prostitution as a form of child sexual exploitation may be critically important to minimising punitive social cognitions about survivors of the commercial sex trade. Language: en
Distributed scalable collaborative filtering algorithm

Collaborative filtering (CF) based recommender systems have gained wide popularity in Internet companies like Amazon, Netflix, Google News, and others. These systems make automatic predictions about the interests of a user by inferring from information about like-minded users. Real-time CF on highly sparse massive datasets, while achieving a high prediction accuracy, is a computationally challenging problem. In this paper, we present a novel design for soft real-time (less than 10 sec.) distributed co-clustering based Collaborative Filtering algorithm. Our distributed algorithm has been optimized for multi-core cluster architectures using pipelined parallelism, computation communication overlap and communication optimizations. Theoretical parallel time complexity analysis of our algorithm proves the efficacy of our approach. Using the Netflix dataset (100M ratings), we demonstrate the performance and scalability of our algorithm on 1024-node Blue Gene/P system. Our distributed algorithm (implemented using OpenMP with MPI) delivered training time of around 6s on the full Netflix dataset and prediction time of 2.5s on 1.4M ratings (1.78µs per rating prediction). Our training time is around 20× (more than one order of magnitude) better than the best known parallel training time, along with high accuracy (0.87±0.02 RMSE). To the best of our knowledge, this is the best known parallel performance for collaborative filtering on Netflix data at such high accuracy and also the first such implementation on multi-core cluster architectures such as Blue Gene/P.
Capitalism, Caste, and Con-games in Aravind Adiga’s The White Tiger

While most critics read Aravind Adiga's The White Tiger as a critique of capitalism and poverty, the novel's deep interest in slumming and passing reveals a darker endorsement of libertarian ideologies. The problem with the novel's central trope, the class masquerade, is that it functions simultaneously as a critique of caste identitarianism that also aligns the novel with anti-reservation politics in India. As a result, the novel is better understood as the intersection of neoliberal narratives of poverty alleviation ("poverty capital") and libertarian narratives of individual uplift, even if that uplift is morally tainted.
Dammed Rivers of the World: Symposium Rationale

H. B. N. Hynes (1970, 1975) has eloquently established stream ecology as a fundamental subdiscipline of limnology. In general terms he describes a river as an expression of the valley through which it flows; production of carbon in lotic habitats is greatly influenced by input of allochthonous nutrients and detritus from the drainage basin. The degree of heterotrophy and/or autotrophy in stream communities is a function of this allochthonous input and the extent of canopy development, which influences the amount of solar energy reaching primary producer biomass in the water. A natural river system may be conceptually perceived as an ecological continuum in which the P/R ratio (i.e., the relationship between community production and respiration) changes from much less than unity in heavily canopied reaches of small headwater tributaries to slightly greater than unity in the slow, meandering areas of the river near its mouth. This idea is being developed in collaborative, holistic studies in very different geographical areas for the purpose of defining more satisfactory methods of quantifying ecological processes and providing ultimate comparative data on lotic ecosystems (Cummins, 1975; this volume).
A modified system for predicting σ formation

A new method is proposed for predicting the ō-phase susceptibility of high-temperature superalloys. It is based on modifications of previous methods which involve electron-vacancy correlations. A calculated critical electron-vacancy number unique to each residual matrix composition is compared to the total electron-vacancy concentration (NV) for the residual matrix. The new method has been applied to experimentally determined residual matrix compositions (i.e. the composition of a matrix after all early precipitates have formed) of nickel-and cobalt-base superalloys. The modification exhibits a greater range of applicability to various austenitic alloy compositions than do current electron-vacancy tools.
Long Time Behavior of Unsteady Flow Computations

This paper addresses a specific issue of time accuracy in the calculations of external aerodynamic problems. The class of problems that is discussed here consists of inviscid compressible subsonic flows. These problems are inherently governed by a convective equation. This is readily seen by linearizing the Euler equation which results in a convective wave equation for the pressure. A key mathematical issue that is not well understood in literature for these problems is the long time behavior of the solution. This is an important aspect if one desires transient calculations of problems governed by the Euler equations or its derivatives such as the small disturbance equations or the potential formulations of the gust problem. In particular, difficulties arise for two-dimensional problems. In two dimensions the time decay rate of solutions of the wave equation is known to be rather slow. This applies to the convective wave equation as well. The consequences are rather severe if one focuses on the time accuracy of solutions of problems governed by the Euler equations.
Nonfatal Accident Compensation and the Common Law at the Turn of the Century

We investigate the de facto operation of the employer liability system around the turn of the century with evidence on Michigan workers' nonfatal accident compensation from 1896 to 1903. The results show that the impact of the common-law defenses on accident payments was filtered through a settlement bargaining process affected by legal costs and private information. The probability of receiving compensation rose when the accident was severe enough to raise the worker's expected court award higher than his legal costs. Workers in larger firms and with greater tenure were also more likely to receive compensation. The fellow servant defense may have been less effective for larger employers, while the contributory negligence defense was less effective against experienced workers. On the other hand, employers might have been using accident payments as implicit fringe benefits to lower monitoring costs and to cut employee turnover. Copyright 1995 by Oxford University Press.
Detection of Intra-cellular protein-protein interactions: Penicillin interactive Proteins and Morphogene Proteins

Publisher Summary There are, at present, no general methods for the detection and measurement of protein–protein interactions in the intact cell. Current emphasis on this subject is the measurement of such interactions in vitro outside the cell. This chapter describes a method that exploits the occurrence of salt-bridges formed by interacting proteins in their specific associations. The method applies to intra-cellular interactions in the intact cell including membrane proteins that normally can only be solubilized at the expense of their normal interactions. Salt bridges are ion pairs within hydrogen bonding distances and can be converted to covalent links by the gaseous reagent cyanogen (C 2 N 2 , N ≡C–C≡N, ethanedinitrile). C 2 N 2 has been demonstrated to be a salt-bridge specific reagent and in a carbodiimide-like mode to generate covalent bonds. This is depicted in the chapter. The modified proteins, in this study are the penicillin interactive proteins of Gram (+) and Gram (−) bacteria and the other morphogene proteins (MGPs) that interact with them. They are isolated by reverse-phase liquid chromatography (RPLC) following the fluorescence/spectroscopic (F/S) label. The proteins are unambiguously identified by computer-based analysis of matrix assisted laser desorption/ionization time of flight (MALDI-TOF) generated data from the tryptide and chymotryptide maps. The F/S labeled active site peptide is also identified. Those that do not have salt bridges or hydrogen-bonded carboxylate carbinol associations must remain undetectable by this technique. However, these early results show a high specificity and a significant fraction of the expected interactions. This technique also provides a means of identifying each covalently linked, inter-protein salt-bridged site through identification of the peptide component contributed by each protein of the linked pairs and/or multimers. This is an aspect of this study.
Lennox–Gastaut Syndrome

A 28-year-old mentally retarded male resident of a group home had a documented medical history indicating that he had “shakes” when he was 12 months old that required “shots.” His charted information identified a past medical history of frequent spells during his childhood that responded to “steroids” and eventually ceased. His development had been normal after the “spells”; however, he had a notable loss of cognitive function and was severely delayed in his development. He was diagnosed with epilepsy after developing episodes where he would “become rigid” and abruptly fall to the ground, which often resulted in injury. Sometimes there would be a sudden jerk prompting him to drop to the floor. “Grand mal” seizures became prominent. He also developed daily episodes of staring. He was brought for an opinion regarding treatment by his group home managers and was diagnosed with epilepsy that quickly became resistant to multiple AEDs. The ketogenic diet was instituted, but he was unable to maintain compliance with the food restrictions. Seizures and “pseudoseizures” were reported based upon bizarre “behaviors” and jerking that would occur despite being fully conscious. This prompted his group home to introduce behavioral modification techniques with “time-outs” and food deprivation. MRI demonstrated mild atrophy. A routine EEG (Fig. 5.1) revealed the following:
Dimensions of adolescent psychopathology

A factor-analytic study of parent ratings of 253 male and female adolescents between the ages of 13 and 17 referred for psychiatric and delinquent problems is reported. Parents rated their children on the Adolescent Form of the Louisville Behavior Checklist. One hundred thirty-seven items were intercorrelated and subjected to a principal component factor analysis and nine factors were rotated to varimax solution. The nine factors were named: Egocentric-Exploitive, Destructive-Assaultive, Social Delinquency, Academic Disability, Adolescent Turmoil, Apathetic Isolation, Neuroticism, Dependent-Inhibited, and Neurological or Psychotic Abnormality. A second-order analysis revealed two broad-band Internalizing and Externalizing dimensions. The factors were shown to be similar to but different from DSM III categories as well as from other factor-analytic studies of adolescents. This study indicates that much research will be required before a consensus can be reached on the basic dimensions of psychopathology of adolescence.
Trace Fear Conditioning in Mice

In this experiment we present a technique to measure learning and memory. In the trace fear conditioning protocol presented here there are five pairings between a neutral stimulus and an unconditioned stimulus. There is a 20 sec trace period that separates each conditioning trial. On the following day freezing is measured during presentation of the conditioned stimulus (CS) and trace period. On the third day there is an 8 min test to measure contextual memory. The representative results are from mice that were presented with the aversive unconditioned stimulus (shock) compared to mice that received the tone presentations without the unconditioned stimulus. Trace fear conditioning has been successfully used to detect subtle learning and memory deficits and enhancements in mice that are not found with other fear conditioning methods. This type of fear conditioning is believed to be dependent upon connections between the medial prefrontal cortex and the hippocampus. One current controversy is whether this method is believed to be amygdala-independent. Therefore, other fear conditioning testing is needed to examine amygdala-dependent learning and memory effects, such as through the delay fear conditioning.
Wireless applications for hospital epidemiology

Nosocomial (i.e., hospital-acquired) infections are a major cause of morbidity and mortality in the United States and throughout the world. Therefore, understanding, mediating, and limiting contagious infections are important problems, even in clinical settings. Contact networks of healthcare workers and patients provides a vehicle for modeling the spread of infection, enabling analytical and simulation-based studies. The contact network models are based on geographic maps of hospitals and records of social contact between health care workers and patients. Wireless technology can help in both, geolocating healthcare workers and patients in a hospital and in capturing a record of physical proximity among these agents. As a step towards this goal we have implemented a low-cost wireless system to instrument hand-hygiene events; this system can track the use of hand hygiene dispensers before healthcare workers enter or exit patient rooms.
The meaning of community-based care for frail Mexican American elders

A qualitative, collective case study research design integrated in-depth interviewing and participant observation to identify how a theoretically sampled collection of frail Mexican American elders socially constructed the meaning of community-based care they received. Analysis revealed extensive variance in how Mexican American cultural identity systems attribute meaning to the eldercare context. The strong intertwined presence of cultural themes involving Latino/Hispanic familism, gender identity constructs, and religious belief systems demonstrated the importance for service providers to take minority cultures into consideration in the development of more consumer-directed eldercare policies and programs.
The preparation and photochemistry of 6-azido-4,5,7-trifluoroindole in toluene. Evaluation of a new reagent for photoaffinity labelling

Abstract 6-Azido-4,5,7 trifluoroindole 1 was synthesized and its photochemistry examined. Although photolysis of 1 at 25° invariably leads to tars, photolysis at −196° in frozen toluene produced a benzylic CH insertion adduct in 70–80% isolated yield. The data suggests that 1 and its derivatives may be useful in photoaffinity labelling at low temperature.
Density dependent effective interactions and recollections of the Rutgers-Princeton years

The density-dependent effective interactions given by the new Brown-Rho (new- BR) scalings and chiral three-nucleon force V3N are compared with the empirical density- dependent force of the Skyrme interactions. The new-BR scaling is based on a Skyrmion- half-Skyrmion model where nuclear matter is treated as a Skyrmion matter for density smaller than a transition density n1/2 ≊ 0.32 fm−3 while a half-Skyrmion matter for density greater. In this model, the meson mass, nucleon mass and meson-nucleon coupling are all scaled with density, making the resulting two-nucleon interaction density dependent. By integrating out a participating nucleon over the Fermi sea, Holt, Kaiser and Weise have obtained an effective three-nucleon force 3N which is also a density-dependent two-nucleon interaction. The equation of state for symmetric nuclear matter given by the new-BR-scaled V2N, 3N, and (unscaled-V2N + a Skyrme-type density-dependent force) are all found to be closely similar to each other.
INTELLIGENT SYSTEMS: KNOWLEDGE ASSOCIATION AND RELATED DEDUCTIVE PROCESSES

Important to the performance of intelligent systems is the ability of its members to deduce conclusions as responses from premisses received as knowledge during different time periods. Two types of knowledge associations are established for combing knowledge structures received during different time periods into fewer coherent structures. The knowledge system used has the graphs for a general automaton as a formal way of storing knowledge in a computer. Basic types of arguments arising from the natural deductive processes are identified and established as valid through the procedures for formal logic.
Hydrogen chloride and aerosol ground cloud characteristics resulting from space shuttle launches

Airborne measurements of gaseous HCl, gaseous and aerosol HCl, particulates, relative humidity and temperature were obtained in ground clouds produced during three Space Shuttle launches. Partitioning of HCl between HCl aerosol and gaseous HCl was investigated as the solid rocket exhaust cloud diluted with ambient air to evaluate the conditions under which aerosol formation occurs in the troposphere in the presence of hygroscopic HCl vapor. Equilibrium predictions for aqueous HCl aerosol formation generally agree with the measured HCl partitioning over HCl concentrations from 0.5 to 36 ppm. HCl concentration dispersion within four cloud segments at time t (min) was evaluated using the expression C = C(0) (t to the alpha power) where C(0) varied from 145 to 2250 ppm and alpha varied from -1.14 to -1.73. Aerosol fallout from the exhaust clouds was measured with time by monitoring HCl concentrations and aerosol distributions 100 m below the cloud as it drifted away from the launch site. Significant amounts of HCl were found to be removed by fallout of particles in the 80-220 micron diameter range up to 30 min after launch.
Scalable and flexible transport networks for inter-datacenter connectivity

We provide an overview of the underlying drivers for capacity growth and discuss technologies and emerging management models (e.g., SDN) to actualize and manage this capacity in terrestrial long haul and subsea links.
Goal lattices for sensor management

A new methodology for quantifying the relative contribution of specific sensor actions to a set of mission goals is presented. The mission goals are treated as a set, and an ordering relationship is applied to it leading to a partially ordered set which can be represented as a lattice. At each layer in the lattice, each goal's value is computed as the sum of the (higher) goals in which it is included and its value is apportioned among the (lower) goals which it includes. A system designer is forced to make a zero-sum apportionment of each goal's value among those goals which it includes. The net result of this methodology is a quantifiable measure of the contributing value of each real type of sensor action to the system of goals, leading to more effective allocation of resources. While applied here to sensor scheduling, the method has applications to other decision making processes as well.
PARTITIONING GRAPHS OF BOUNDED TREE-WIDTH

The paper discusses vertex partitions and edge partitions of graphs of bounded tree-width into graphs of smaller tree-width. The rst part of the paper proves the existence of several kinds of such partitions. The second part, which has a Ramsey-theoretic character, shows that some of the results of the rst part are close to being best possible. The last section of the paper presents a result on partitioning graphs of bounded tree-width into star-forests.
Forms and characteristics of China's corruption in the 1990s: Change with continuity

Abstract In contrast to the conventional wisdom that marketization is essential for reducing corruption, the sources of corruption are many and complex. This paper focuses on recent patterns of China's corruption to see how new and different, if not more, corruption has occurred despite the gradual shrinking of non-market elements in the economy. The further market reforms in the 1990s do not reduce corruption so much as they merely alter its characteristics. Corruption is a kind of behaviour which responds to political and economic changes and hence whose forms vary with social climates. Such a complex issue requires comprehensive treatments and it is naive to assume that a market economy alone could free China from corruption.
Reactive scattering using a mixed quantum-classical paradigm

Abstract A method for performing reactive scattering calculations using mixed quantum/classical dynamics is described. The wavefunction is decomposed into a time-dependent SCF product form. Reactive degrees of freedom are treated quantum mechanically and the rest are treated classically. The wave packet in the quantum degree of freedom is only followed in one arrangement channel to minimize the size of the numerical grid. Parts of the packet that move into other arrangement channels are absorbed using negative imaginary optical potentials. Two variants of the method are tested on the collinear T + HT → TH + T reaction where they give qualitatively correct predictions of tunneling probabilities near threshold.
Estimating the soil heat flux in an upland drainage basin / Evaluation du flux de chaleur du sol sur un bassin versant montagneux

Abstract The surface soil heat flux is a small but possibly significant component of the energy budget, and should not be summarily dismissed, for example in the preparation of evaporation estimates. The actual measurement of surface flux is difficult, and requires more instrumental sophistication than is justified by the importance of the flux, but the method proposed here makes it possible to estimate the surface heat flux from sparse data collected with simple instrumentation. A homogeneous conductor model is used to compute thermal diffusivity from soil and air temperatures over a one-year period, and the calibrated model then provides a full temperature profile and values of the surface heat flux. For the upland drainage basin considered here (altitude 500–600 m, well vegetated peaty soils and a latitude of 52°) the summer soil heat flux on a daily time scale is between 1 and 4 per cent of the net radiation.
Contemporary Neuroscience Humanizes: A Look at Cortical Bilateral Asymmetry and How It Got That Way

Exciting research that has surfaced from a host of neuroscience laboratories is presented, and the assumption that they have little to offer human science considered. This includes the sensory substitution work of Bach-y-Rita (1967), as well as the phantom pain hypothesis of Ramachandran (2011). These studies are considered atop the theoretical and meta-analytical work in the field of neuropsychiatry by McGilchrist (2009). McGilchrist's inquiry into split-brain patients has resuscitated the once-dubious debate regarding hemispheric differences in the brain. By considering the latter in light of the evidence of neuroplasticity, global differences in right- or left-brain preference may be understood as analogous and reciprocally influential to patterns of thinking. This dynamic relationship between experience and the brain requires a reconsideration of the status of neuroscience as an exclusively reductive enterprise. Indeed, the laboratories seem to be producing results that have become increasingly diffic...
Mouse monoclonal antibodies against bromelain-treated mouse erythrocytes: Reactivity with erythrocytes of various species of animals and idiotypes

Abstract Spleen and peritoneal cells from unimmunized BALB/c mice were cultured in the presence of LPS for 24 hr and fused to produce hybridomas secreting antibodies against bromelain-treated mouse erythrocytes (BrMRBC). Three clones from spleen cells and eight clones from peritoneal cells were isolated and characterized further. All the monoclonal antibodies had IgMκ isotype. Their reactivities against untreated and bromelain-treated erythrocytes from various species were assessed by hemolysis and indirect radioimmunoassay; all the clones had similar antigen specificities. On the isoelectric focussing patterns of light chains, they were separated into two groups, two and nine clones, and all the light chains in each group showed identical patterns. The two groups shared no common idiotope detectable by anti-idiotype antibodies prepared by immunization of rabbits with the monoclonal antibodies, but all the antibodies in each group shared common idiotopes. In each group, one antibody had a unique idiotope different from any other antibody, but eight antibodies in a group shared another identical idiotope. These findings suggest the restricted heterogeneity of anti-BrMRBC antibodies in the mouse.
Hereditary Fuchs' Dystrophy

We studied 102 individuals from 25 families in which at least one member was known to have Fuchs' endothelial dystrophy. We used slit-lamp examination, corneal pachymetry, and specular microscopy. We also examined pathology records which contained 79 cases of penetrating keratoplasties done solely for phakic Fuchs' dystrophy between 1940 and 1978. Although there was a marked predominance of females in our review of pathology records, our clinical study provided a more even sex distribution. There was a close correlation between the number of expected and observed affected first-degree relatives based on an autosomal-dominant mode of inheritance. We observed a fairly typical corneal pattern, beginning as a circumscribed area of central or paracentral cornea guttata, and thereafter expanding more horizontally than vertically with progression of severity. Fuchs' dystrophy appears to be a true corneal dystrophy with autosomal-dominant inheritance, a high degree of penetrance, and variable expressivity, with generally increased severity among females.
The origins of Onsager's key role in the development of linear irreversible thermodynamics

Onsager discovered a deep underlying symmetry in the thermodynamic description of irreversible processes for which he was awarded the 1968 Nobel Prize in chemistry. After a brief sketch of irreversible thermodynamics and its history, this paper describes Onsager's path to his discovery. It is primarily based on an interview with Onsager a few months before his death, with some details from Onsager's Nobel address. When asked to rank his work, he placed this work at the top.
Administration of dendritic cells transduced with antisense oligodeoxyribonucleotides targeting CD80 or CD86 prolongs allograft survival.

BACKGROUND The expression of costimulatory molecules on antigen-presenting cells is crucial in determining T-cell immune responses. We examined the effects of transduction with high-affinity antisense oligodeoxyribonucleotides (ODNs) designed to target the mRNA of CD80 or CD86 on the phenotype and function of dendritic cells (DCs). MATERIALS AND METHODS DCs were propagated from C57BL/10 (B10; H2b) bone marrow cells in granulocyte macrophage-colony stimulating factor and interleukin (IL)-4, and transduced with anti-CD80 or anti-CD86 antisense ODNs (base-mismatched ODNs as controls). The effect of antisense ODN on phenotype was examined by flow cytometry. The allostimulatory function of DCs was assessed by mixed leukocyte reaction and cytotoxic activity in vitro, and the influence on allograft survival was assessed in vivo. RESULTS ODNs were effectively incorporated by DCs, which were enhanced by the presence of lipofectamine. Antisense ODNs targeting CD80 or CD86 mRNA specifically suppressed the expression of CD80 or CD86 in DCs and inhibited their capacity to elicit the proliferative responses, donor-specific cytotoxic T-lymphocyte activity in C3H (H2k) spleen T cells. This was associated with decreased IL-2, but elevated IL-4 production, and an increase in T-cell apoptosis. In contrast with the administration of control DCs into C3H recipients that exacerbated rejection of B10 cardiac allografts, injection of DCs transduced with anti-CD80 or CD86 antisense ODN significantly prolonged the survival of heart allografts. CONCLUSION Transduction with antisense ODN targeting CD80 or CD86mRNA is a feasible and effective approach to modify DCs that renders them tolerogenic by inducing T-cell hyporesponsiveness and apoptosis. This may lead to the development of new therapeutic strategies in transplantation.
Trait-impulsivity moderates the relationship between rumination and number of major depressive episodes among cigarette smokers

Background. Despite the high prevalence of major depression among cigarette smokers, little is known about biobehavioral mechanisms that increase smokers' susceptibility to depression. Aims. The present study examined whether trait-impulsivity would moderate the relationship between rumination and number of past major depressive episodes (MDEs) among smokers (N = 128). Method. Data were derived from baseline screening questionnaires and structured diagnostic interviews of two studies examining emotional responses of smokers with a history of major depression compared with smokers without depression histories. Results. As predicted, the interaction between rumination and trait-impulsivity was a significant predictor of MDE recurrence (β = 0.259, p = 0.001, R 2 change = 0.063). Post hoc analyses tested rumination's association with past MDEs among those with high and low levels of impulsivity. Rumination predicted the number of diagnosed past MDEs among those with high levels of impulsivity (β = 0.408, p = ...
Does invasion of oligohaline tidal marshes by reed grass, Phragmites australis (Cav.) Trin. ex Steud., affect the availability of prey resources for the mummichog, Fundulus heteroclitus L. ?

Reed grass (Phragmites australis (Cav.) Trin. ex Steud.) has invaded large areas of tidal marsh along the lower Connecticut River and often occurs as a monoculture. Tidal marsh invertebrates (snails, amphipods and isopods) were common to abundant in reed grass-dominated regions, as well as in areas covered by typical tidal marsh vegetation at four sampling stations set up along the salinity gradient. This finding suggests that reed grass marshes provide suitable physical habitat and usable food resources for these semiaquatic detritus/algae feeders. Mummichogs (Fundulus heteroclitus L.) were caught on the high marsh during daylight high tides using Breder traps and an analysis of their gut contents was made. When daylight tides were high enough to cover the marsh surface, mummichogs moved up onto the marsh and fed extensively on marsh invertebrates, both in reed grass marshes and reed grass-free marshes. Such foraging appears to represent a direct trophic link between the marshes and adjacent estuarine waters. Even when tides were not high enough to flood the marsh surface, mummichogs moved into the tidal creeks that course through reed grass marshes and largely reed grass-free marshes and foraged there. With respect to macroinvertebrate populations and mummichog foraging, the reed grass marshes appear to be functioning in essentially the same ways as nearby marshes not invaded by this plant, at least in the short term.
Biosynthesis of polyunsaturated fatty acids by the australian field cricket, Teleogryllus commodus

Abstract Aspects of testicular fatty acid biochemistry from the Australian field cricket, Teleogryllus commodus, are reported. Over 10% of the phospholipid fatty acids were C20 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs), with nearly 6% arachidonic acid (20:4). The testes and ovaries accumulated a large proportion of label from radioactive arachidonic acid that was injected into the hemocoel (about 30%). Specificity in the uptake was shown by comparison to a similar study with labelled stearic acid, in which only 1.5% of the radioactivity was taken up by testes. Sixty percent of the radioactivity taken up by testes from [3H]20:4 was incorporated into phospholipids and 30% into triacylglycerols. Fat body of males and females incorporated 27% of the [3H]20:4 into phospholipids and 68% (males) or 55% (females) into triacylglcyerols. Radioactivity from [1-14C]acetate was incorporated into testicular linoleic acid and eicosatrienoic acid, but not eicosatetraenoic acid, suggesting the de novo biosynthesis of both 18:2 and a C20 PUFA by this species. Label from injected [U-14C]linoleic acid was recovered mostly as linoleic acid, with a small portion of the recovered radioactivity in eicosatrienoic acid, but not eicosatetraenoic acid. Very little label from injected linoleic acid occurred as monounsaturated or saturated fatty acids, indicating only slight, if any, β-oxidation of 18:2 to acetate and subsequent lipid synthesis.
Simulation Methodologies in Experimental Research on Negotiations by Representatives

This paper reviews recent experimental (primarily social-psychological) research on intergroup conflict resolution with an emphasis on methodology. Specifically, it focuses on the creation of conflict forces and representational role obligations in simulations. The resulting typologies clarify the numerous strategies used by investigators. The paper calls for a systematic evaluation of these strategies as researchers appear to be unaware of their potential impact. It is also argued that selected arrangements described would help to enhance simulations to be congruent with a model of intergroup bargaining processes.
Prevention of post-ischemic brain lipid conjugated diene production and neurological injury by hydroxyethyl starch-conjugated deferoxamine

Abstract Hydroxyethyl starch conjugated deferoxamine (DFO) was administered to rats following resuscitation from 6.5 min cardiac arrest (CA) in an attempt to prevent the iron-catalyzed production of oxygen free radicals which may lead to neurologic injury and ultimately death following restoration of spontaneous circulation (ROSC). Brain conjugated dienes were analyzed spectrophotometrically 4 and 24 hr following ROSC, and were found to be significantly elevated when compared to non-ischemic controls. Hydroxyethyl starch-DFO treated rats demonstrated no increased conjugated diene production at either period. Neurologic injury was significantly less in drug treated rats surviving 24 or 72 hours when compared to controls. While mortality was similar in drug treated or control rats for the first 24 hours following ROSC, delayed mortality (days 1–10) was significantly less in drug treated animals, presumably as a result of neurologic protection afforded by post-ischemic drug administration. Administration of DFO conjugated to hydroxyethyl starch appears to modulate the neurologic injury which occurs during brain ischemia and reperfusion.
A Mathematical Theory for LES Convergence

Abstract Practical simulations of turbulent processes are generally cutoff, with a grid resolution that stops within the inertial range, meaning that multiple active regions and length scales occur below the grid level and are not resolved. This is the regime of large eddy simulations (LES), in which the larger but not the smaller of the turbulent length scales are resolved. Solutions of the fluid Navier-Stokes equations, when considered in the inertial regime, are conventionally regarded as solutions of the Euler equations. In other words, the viscous and diffusive transport terms in the Navier-Stokes equations can be neglected in the inertial regime and in LES simulations, while the Euler equation becomes fundamental. For such simulations, significant new solution details emerge as the grid is refined. It follows that conventional notions of grid convergence are at risk of failure, and that a new, and weaker notion of convergence may be appropriate. It is generally understood that the LES or inertial regime is inherently fluctuating and its description must be statistical in nature. Here we develop such a point of view systematically, based on Young measures, which are measures depending on or indexed by space time points. In the Young measure (ξ)x,t, the random variable ξ of the measure is a solution state variable, i.e., a solution dependent variable, representing momentum, density, energy and species concentrations, while the space time coordinates, x, t, serve to index the measure. Theoretical evidence suggests that convergence via Young measures is sufficiently weak to encompass the LES/inertial regime; numerical and theoretical evidence suggests that this notion may be required for passive scalar concentration and thermal degrees of freedom. Our objective in this research is twofold: turbulent simulations without recourse to adjustable parameters (calibration) and extension to more complex physics, without use of additional models or parameters, in both cases with validation through comparison to experimental data.
Determinants of teacher implementation of youth fitness tests in school-based physical education programs.

Background: Millions of American children are participating in fitness testing in school-based physical education (PE) programs. However, practitioners and researchers in the field of PE have questioned the need for regular or mandatory youth fitness testing. This was partly because a significant improvement in youth fitness and physical activity (PA) levels has not been demonstrated since the implementation of such tests in the 1950s. Therefore, there is a need to understand fully the role of youth fitness testing in school-based PE programs. Purposes: Given that no data are available to enrich our understanding of the determinants of teacher use of youth fitness tests in PE programs in the USA, this study aimed to identify variables that influence teachers’ use of fitness tests, guided by the theoretical model of Ronis, Yates, and Kirscht for determinants of a repeated behavior (i.e., use of fitness tests in this study). Participants: Full-time PE teachers (n = 325) from 10 states in the USA participate...