cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Religious dominance and empathy

Why do some religious authorities empathize with outsiders while others espouse xenophobia? This paper argues that church leaders are less likely to display empathy when their religious identity is dominant within the nation. While the overlap of church and nation reinforces antipathy towards outsiders, lower levels of dominance imbue religious networks with empathy. The author develops this argument through a comparison of Catholic discourse on Jews in the Low Countries at the onset of the Holocaust. The analysis reveals that Catholic leaders in the religiously mixed Netherlands were empathetic to Jews while their counterparts in homogeneously Catholic Belgium espoused antisemitism. Moreover, Belgian Catholics displayed less empathy towards Jews than Belgian seculars, while the opposite was true in the Netherlands. Subnational statistical analyses provide suggestive evidence that these different discourses had important consequences. While antisemitic mobilization in the Netherlands was much weaker in Catholic strongholds, this relationship was reversed in Belgium. Analyses of ethnic conflict and religious mediation across the globe confirm the importance of religious dominance outside of the Low Countries. This suggest that it is the interplay of nation and denomination -not something inherent to either of the two- that produces religious empathy and that we need to situate groups in their broader multi-cleavage contexts to further our understanding of intergroup relationships.
The Grey Area: Instagram, Shadowbanning, and the Erasure of Marginalized Communities

This article explores the relationship between censorship and information behavior on the social media platform Instagram. With a specific focus on the practice of shadowbanning, this article researches the implications of this form of censorship on vulnerable and marginalized communities on- and off-line.
A self-assembled cylindrical platform for Plk4-induced centriole biogenesis

The centrosome, a unique membraneless multiprotein organelle, plays a pivotal role in various cellular processes that are critical for promoting cell proliferation. Faulty assembly or organization of the centrosome results in abnormal cell division, which leads to various human disorders including cancer, microcephaly and ciliopathy. Recent studies have provided new insights into the stepwise self-assembly of two pericentriolar scaffold proteins, Cep63 and Cep152, into a near-micrometre-scale higher-order structure whose architectural properties could be crucial for proper execution of its biological function. The construction of the scaffold architecture appears to be centrally required for tight control of a Ser/Thr kinase called Plk4, a key regulator of centriole duplication, which occurs precisely once per cell cycle. In this review, we will discuss a new paradigm for understanding how pericentrosomal scaffolds are self-organized into a new functional entity and how, on the resulting structural platform, Plk4 undergoes physico-chemical conversion to trigger centriole biogenesis.
Trading on Overshooting

This paper presents novel evidence that individual stocks are subject to mispricing amid shocks that permanently shift the long-run relationship between the price and the fundamentals (e.g., book value). When the long-run level of the price-to-fundamentals ratio increases/decreases, the price is expected to rise/drop during the mean shift. Based on higher/lower expected returns, uninformed investors, however, incorrectly infer that the stock is currently undervalued/overvalued and increase the purchases/sales, which causes mispricing. Trading strategies that exploit subsequent reversals of the returns yield significant positive returns. Buying/shortselling closed-end mutual funds with lowest/highest mean shifts of the price-to-NAV ratio produces risk-adjusted returns of 3% to 8% per year. Overreaction to news might not explain these results.
Do Community College Students Benefit from Federal Work-Study Participation?:

BackgroundPrior studies suggest that Federal Work-Study (FWS) participation is positively associated with student learning, persistence, and academic achievement at four-year institutions. Limited ...
From organic chemistry to chemical biology via macromolecules with Hermann Staudinger

Hermann Staudinger was born in Worms, Germany on March 23, 1881 and studied chemistry at University of Halle, Technical University, Darmstadt and Ludwig Maximillian University, Munich. In 1903 when he was only 22 years old, he obtained his PhD in Chemistry with Daniel Vorlaender in Halle. He started his habilitation with J. Thiele at the University of Strasbourg where in 1905, at age 25 he reported the discovery of ketenes. In 1907 at age 26 he discovered the [2 + 2] cycloaddition of ketenes with imines. This reaction remains even today the method of choice for the synthesis of β-lactams the main building block of antibiotics. This reaction is known as the Staudinger synthesis. In 1907 he obtained his habilitation in Strasbourg and moved as a junior faculty to the Technical University in Karslruhe. In Karslruhe he became for the first time interested in polymers. In 1912 he moved as professor of organic chemistry at Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Zurich (ETH Zurich) where in 1919 he discovered the reduction of azides with triphenylphosphine, known as the Staudinger reaction. In 1920, at age 39 and at the pick of his professional career as an organic chemist he published a paper claiming that natural and synthetic polymers are covalently linked macromolecules. He had no support for this concept. In 1953 he received Nobel Prize in chemistry “for his discoveries in the field of macromolecular chemistry.” As seen even from Nobel lecture, his ultimate dream was to bridge between synthetic macromolecules and biology. His dream came through in the year 2000 when Bertozzi, Raines and Kiessling discovered Staudinger ligation, a bioorthogonal reaction that allows chemistry in living systems. His dream did not come through by bridging between synthetic macromolecules and biology but by transforming Staudinger reaction into Staudinger ligation.
A novel ATP1A2 variant associated with severe stepwise regression, hemiplegia, epilepsy and movement disorders in two unrelated patients.

Abstract Pathogenic variants in ATP1A2, a gene encoding the α subunit of the Na,K-ATPase, cause familial hemiplegic migraine type 2 (FHM2). In contrast, pathogenic variants in ATP1A3, an ATP1A2 paralog, cause alternating hemiplegia of childhood (AHC), a severe neurodevelopmental disorder with infantile onset hemiplegic attacks, seizures, dystonia, chorea and developmental delay. Despite high sequence homology with ATP1A3, ATP1A2 variants rarely associate with severe phenotypes resembling those linked to ATP1A3. Here we describe two unrelated patients with infantile onset hemiplegic attacks, refractory epilepsy, movement disorders, abnormal eye movements and truncal ataxia with a shared de novo variant in ATP1A2, c.2438T > A (p.Met813Lys). The variant is not found in population databases, is predicted to be damaging by in silico analysis, and affects a highly conserved residue. Both patients experienced severe attacks with unilateral cerebral edema followed by sustained, stepwise regression. This report highlights the need to sequence ATP1A2 in the workup of patients with features of AHC that do not fulfill AHC diagnostic criteria.
A Scalable Framework for Telehealth: The Mayo Clinic Center for Connected Care Response to the COVID-19 Pandemic

Background: The Mayo Clinic Center for Connected Care has an established organizational framework for telehealth care delivery. It provides patients, consumers, care teams, and referring providers ...
Prevalence of bovine viral diarrhea virus in young purebred beef bulls in Kansas

Bovine viral diarrhea virus (BVDV) causes severe economic losses in the cattle industry worldwide. To mitigate risk of these losses, BVDV should be considered when formulating beef cattle biosecurity programs. It is important to have accurate prevalence estimates for specific populations being tested when developing risk assessments as part of a biosecurity program. The objective of this study was to determine the prevalence of BVDV infection in young (10 months-two years of age), purebred beef bulls for sale in the state of Kansas. Serum samples from young, purebred beef bulls were submitted to the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) for brucellosis testing as part of the Kansas state requirements for the sale of breeding bulls. All serum samples (2,520) collected between January 1, 2001 and December 31, 2001 were tested for BVDV using an indirect immunoperoxidase monolayer assay. A total of 17 serum samples tested positive for BVDV, corresponding to a prevalence of 0.67% (95% CI; 0.35-0.99%) in this population. Therefore, although uncommon, young purebred beef bulls may be a source of infection for BVDV.
Comprehensive Genetic Analysis of DGAT2 Mutations and Gene Expression Patterns in Human Cancers

DGAT2 is a transmembrane protein encoded by the DGAT2 gene that functions in lipid metabolism, triacylglycerol synthesis, and lipid droplet regulation. Cancer cells exhibit altered lipid metabolism and mutations in DGAT2 may contribute to this state. Using data from the Catalogue of Somatic Mutations in Cancer (COSMIC), we analyzed all cancer genetic DGAT2 alterations, including mutations, copy number variations and gene expression. We find that several DGAT2 mutations fall within the catalytic site of the enzyme. Using the Variant Effect Scoring Tool (VEST), we identify multiple mutations with a high likelihood of contributing to cellular transformation. We also found that D222V is a mutation hotspot neighboring a previously discovered Y223H mutation that causes Axonal Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease. Remarkably, Y223H has not been detected in cancers, suggesting that it is inhibitory to cancer progression. We also identify several single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) with high VEST scores, indicating that certain alleles in human populations have a pathogenic predisposition. Most mutations do not correlate with a change in gene expression, nor is gene expression dependent on high allele copy number. However, we did identify eight alleles with high expression levels, suggesting that at least in certain cases, the excess DGAT2 gene product is not inhibitory to cellular proliferation. This work uncovers unknown functions of DGAT2 in cancers and suggests that its role may be more complex than previously appreciated.
A Neural Network Approach to Adaptive Inference of Frequency Droop Curves in Power Systems with Solar PV Plants

The provision of frequency droop (FD) curves is imperative in supporting communication-free grid operations, distinctly for power systems with utility-scale solar photovoltaic (PV) power plants. Besides, system compliant frequency/voltage excursions at PV power plant point of interconnection (POI) exert a high level of inherently stochastic dependence and parameter uncertainty, partially due to the PV power plant site-specific spatio-temporal meteorological conditions. Hence, a site-dependent variable FD has been modeled through controlled lab environment simulations with a real-time digital simulator, i.e., RTDS, and derived from integrating site-specific operating conditions imposed by PV-site steady-state loading levels during different hours of the day. The adaptive FD curve replicates close to linear FD droop deviations curve at each stable (reference) operating condition. For a more accurate characterization, this paper incorporates an additional layer of artificial intelligence, in recognition of the non-linearity of PV plant adaptive frequency droop curves. The results reflect on the effectiveness of a supervised machine learning approach, i.e., single neural networks (SNN) in the realization of the nonlinear adaptive frequency droop curve from the utility-scale solar PV power plant operation in a power system.
Should We Stop Using Gastric Residual Volumes

Early enteral nutrition support is an important component in the management of critically ill patients. However, gastrointestinal tolerance and gastric motility are frequently impaired in this population. Intolerance of enteral nutrition may present clinically as vomiting, aspiration, and abdominal distension. Concerns for the association between gastrointestinal intolerance and the development of ventilator-associated pneumonia have historically led to close monitoring of patients’ tolerance of enteral feeding using various metrics. The measurement of gastric residual volumes (GRV) is the most commonly used surrogate marker for gastrointestinal intolerance in intensive care units. As the name implies, GRV is the volume of enteral formula remaining in a patient’s stomach after cessation of enteral nutrition at various, predetermined time intervals. Despite the logical rationale, there is increasing evidence that monitoring gastric residual volumes may not improve patient outcomes in the critically ill. In this review, we will describe the components of normal gastric motor physiology and review abnormal physiology and dysfunction observed during critical illness. Finally, we will examine the evidence that both supports and refutes the routine use of gastric residual volumes and suggest specific recommendations about the future utilization of this practice.
Chronic illness in the workplace: stigma, identity threat and strain.

Chronic illness affects a large and growing number of workers in the United States and globally. Stigmatization (devaluation) at work based on chronic illness may be stressful for individuals and therefore may lead to negative psychological consequences (i.e. strains). In order to better understand stressful experiences of stigma for workers with chronic illnesses, a model of stigma-related identity threat (perceptions that one is at risk of being treated negatively at work because of chronic illness) was tested on a sample of 203 working adults with chronic illnesses. The following variables related to workers' perceptions of chronic illness-related identity threat: workers' boundary flexibility (flexibility in managing their work and life), their meta-perceptions of devaluation (perceptions of others' devaluation of them based on illness) and their job self-efficacy (feelings of confidence related to performing their job). In turn, perceptions of identity threat related to both feelings of psychological strain and (lower levels of) perceived work ability. Surprisingly, neither stigma centrality (how fundamental illness is to one's identity) nor supervisor support related to workers' identity threat perceptions. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Sensor-based control of robotic manipulators using a general learning algorithm

A practical learning control system is described which is applicable to the control of complex robotic systems involving multiple feedback sensors and multiple command variables during both repetitive and nonrepetitive operations. In the controller, a general learning algorithm is used to learn to reproduce the relationship between the sensor outputs and the system command variables over particular regions of the system state space. The learned information is then used to predict the command signals required to produce desired changes in the sensor outputs. The learning controller requires no a priori knowledge of the relationships between the sensor outputs and the command variables, facilitating control system modification for specific applications. The results of two learning experiments using a General Electric P-5 manipulator are presented. The first involved learning to use the video image feedback to position the robot hand accurately relative to stationary objects on a table, assuming no knowledge of the robot kinematics or camera characteristics. The second involved learning to use video image feedback to intercept and track objects moving on a conveyor. In both experiments, control system performance was found to be limited by the resolution of the sensor feedback data, rather than by control structure limitations.
Brain damage due to episodic alcohol exposure in vivo and in vitro: furosemide neuroprotection implicates edema-based mechanism

Adult rats intubated with a single dose of ethanol (alcohol; approximately 5 g/kg) for 5 to 10 successive days incur neurodegeneration in the entorhinal cortex, dentate gyrus, and olfactory bulbs accompanied by cerebrocortical edema and electrolyte (Na+, K+) accumulation. The brain damage is not lessened by cotreatment with the NMDA receptor antagonist MK-801; also, as reported elsewhere, MK-801 as well as non-NMDA receptor and Ca2+ channel antagonists are not neuroprotective in a similar, but more compressed, intoxication protocol. However, cotreatment with the electrolyte transport inhibitor/diuretic furosemide reduces alcohol-dependent cerebrocortical damage by 75-85% while preventing brain hydration and electrolyte elevations; olfactory bulb neurodegeneration is not attenuated. In parallel in vitro studies, rat organotypic entorhinal/hippocampal slice cultures exposed to alcohol (50-200 mM) 15 h/day for 6 days, mirroring episodic intoxication in vivo, demonstrate concentration-related release of the cytotoxic indicator, lactate dehydrogenase. Analogous to the in vivo findings, furosemide blocks this alcohol-induced in vitro cytotoxicity. Our results showing neuroprotection by furosemide indicate that brain edema and swelling are essential events in the brain damage induced by episodic alcohol exposure. Furosemide and related agents might be useful as neuroprotective agents in alcohol abuse. We suggest that the neurodegeneration is elicited in part by edema-dependent oxidative stress, but the regional selectivity of the damage may be best explained by physical (mechanical) compression of the limbic cortex against the adjacent tympanic bulla and subsequent neuronal cytoskeletal collapse. A scheme for these apparently nonexcitotoxic metabolic and mechanical pathways initiated by repeated alcohol exposure is proposed.
The TPS Theorem Proving System

When one is seeking an expansion proof for a theorem of higher-order logic, not all necessary substitution terms can be generated by unification of formulas already present, so certain expansion options [5] are applied, and then a search for a p-acceptable mating [2] is made, using Huet's higher-order unification algorithm [8] to generate all remaining substitution terms. The expansion options consist of quantifier duplications and projective and primitive substitutions (such as
Rewritable holographic memory

With a photorefractive crystal sitting on top of silicon, a read/write compact holographic memory module is a potential competitive data storage technique. The main advantages of a holographic memory are to store more data with smaller silicon area and lower cost than the traditional silicon Dynamic Random Access Memory (DRAM), and to readout data with faster access time than the magnetic storage.
Refined Bounds for Instance-Based Search Complexity of Counting and Other #P Problems

We present measures for bounding the instance-based complexity of AND/OR search algorithms for solution counting and related #Pproblems. To this end we estimate the size of the search space, with special consideration given to the impact of determinism in a problem. The resulting schemes are evaluated empirically on a variety of problem instances and shown to be quite powerful.
Host–Bacterial Symbiosis in Health and Disease

All animals live in symbiosis. Shaped by eons of co-evolution, host-bacterial associations have developed into prosperous relationships creating mechanisms for mutual benefits to both microbe and host. No better example exists in biology than the astounding numbers of bacteria harbored by the lower gastrointestinal tract of mammals. The mammalian gut represents a complex ecosystem consisting of an extraordinary number of resident commensal bacteria existing in homeostasis with the host's immune system. Most impressive about this relationship may be the concept that the host not only tolerates, but has evolved to require colonization by beneficial microorganisms, known as commensals, for various aspects of immune development and function. The microbiota provides critical signals that promote maturation of immune cells and tissues, leading to protection from infections by pathogens. Gut bacteria also appear to contribute to non-infectious immune disorders such as inflammatory bowel disease and autoimmunity. How the microbiota influences host immune responses is an active area of research with important implications for human health. This review synthesizes emerging findings and concepts that describe the mutualism between the microbiota and mammals, specifically emphasizing the role of gut bacteria in shaping an immune response that mediates the balance between health and disease. Unlocking how beneficial bacteria affect the development of the immune system may lead to novel and natural therapies based on harnessing the immunomodulatory properties of the microbiota.
"Just do what you can (…) make it work!" Exploring the impact of rapid population growth on police organizations in western North Dakota

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to examine how rapid population growth resulting from the oil boom affects police organizations in western North Dakota. Design/methodology/approach – Using face-to-face interviews with 101 police personnel working in eight law enforcement agencies, this study explores how rapid population growth affects police organizations (in general), police resources, and the work environment of police organizations located in four counties in western North Dakota. Resource dependency theory and contingency theory provide a theoretical framework for understanding how changes in the communities (external environment) have led to changes within police organizations in this region. Findings – Rapid population growth resulting from the oil boom in western North Dakota has required police agencies to make changes in the way that they are structured and function. In addition, the rapid increase in population has also strained police organizations’ resources. Research limitations/impli...
Outcomes of extremely preterm infants after delivery room cardiopulmonary resuscitation in a population-based cohort

To describe the relationship of delivery room cardiopulmonary resuscitation (DR-CPR) to short-term outcomes of extremely preterm infants. This was a cohort study of 22 to 27+6/7 weeks gestational age (GA) infants during 2005 to 2011. DR-CPR was defined as chest compressions and/or epinephrine administration. Multivariable logistic regression was used to estimate odds ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) associated with DR-CPR; analysis was stratified by GA. Of the 13 758 infants, 856 (6.2%) received DR-CPR. Infants 22 to 23+6/7 weeks receiving DR-CPR had similar outcomes to non-recipients. Infants 24 to 25+6/7 weeks receiving DR-CPR had more severe intraventricular hemorrhage (OR 1.36, 95% CI 1.07, 1.72). Infants 26 to 27+6/7 weeks receiving DR-CPR were more likely to die (OR 1.81, 95% CI 1.30, 2.51) and have intraventricular hemorrhage (OR 2.10, 95% CI 1.56, 2.82). Adjusted hospital DR-CPR rates varied widely (median 5.7%). Premature infants receiving DR-CPR had worse outcomes. Mortality and morbidity varied by GA.
Secure communications in ATM networks

High-speed networking technology and standards have progressed dramatically in the past few years and much attention is now focused on deployment efforts, such as the North Carolina Information Highway (NCIH) [7], and applications. With this shift in emphasis, concerns have been raised about information security. Examples of abuse of the Internet abound and unfortunately ATM networks are subject to many of these same abuses. This is of subtanstial concern when thinking about extending the reach of public data networking to broad segments of society.
A CMOS optical sensor array for tissue absorption and scattering parameter extraction using multi-distance near infrared spectroscopy

An optical sensor array has been integrated on a 2.25mm2, 180nm CMOS chip for Frequency Domain Near Infrared Spectroscopy (fdNIRS). The individually addressable sensor array enables concurrent measurements as required in multi-distance fdNIRS. The changes in amplitude and phase at multiple distances from the source are measured to specifically calculate the absorption and scattering coefficients of the tissue. Each sensor in the 4-channel array consists of a 22THzΩ transimpedance amplifier to detect light modulated at 110MHz followed by a heterodyned architecture along with amplitude and phase detection circuitry based on pulse width modulation and zero-crossing detection. The sensor draws less than 40mA of current from a 1:8V power supply. An FPGA based counter is used to resolve time delays with a 20ns resolution corresponding to a 0.288° phase resolution. The 0 - 360° phase detector has a maximum measured linearity error of <;2.5%. The amplitude detector has a maximum measured linearity error of <;6.5% for modulation depths between 20% and 80%. Sensor performance is measured using a homogeneous tissue phantom to observe the change in phase and amplitude with maximum linearity error of <;60;8%.
Specific activity of alpha-L-fucosidase in sera with phenotypes of either low, intermediate, or high total enzyme activity and in a fucosidosis serum.

The quantity of α-l-fucosidase activity in human serum is determined by heredity. An individual may inherit either low, intermediate, or high serum enzyme activity. An enzyme-linked immunoabsorbent assay has been developed that can detect 0.3 ng of α-l-fucosidase protein. Enzyme protein in serum of 102 individuals ranged from 20 to 835 ng/ml. The group included individuals with low, intermediate, and high enzyme activity. The specific activity of α-l-fucosidase within this group was statistically the same (mean±SD=11,002±1051 U/mg). Thus, individuals with low and intermediate enzyme activity in serum had lower amounts of enzyme protein with the same specific activity as in individuals with high enzyme activity. Fucosidosis is a rare inherited disease in which α-l-fucosidase activity in tissues and body fluids is low or absent. The concentrations of enzyme protein in sera of a fucosidosis patient and parents were 76, 565, and 604 ng/ml, respectively, and the specific activities of enzyme were 1316, 8938, and 8858 U/mg, respectively. Thus, the fucosidosis serum probably contained a structurally altered enzyme with reduced catalytic activity. The somewhat low specific activities in the parents suggested that their sera contained both structurally altered and normal protein.
Vascular Reactivity to Phenylephrine and Angiotensin II in Hypertensive Rats Associated with Insulin Resistance

Previous reports suggest that when rats are fed a carbohydrate-enriched diet they develop hyperinsulinemia associated with elevated blood pressure. The purpose of this study was to assess the vascular reactivity of fructose-treated rats to various pressor agents. Male Sprague Dawley rats (n=24) were used for this study and were divided into two equal groups. One of the groups was fed normal rat chow and served as the control group, whereas the other group was fed a fructose-enriched diet for four weeks. Mean blood pressure was elevated in the fructose-treated rats at the end of the second week of fructose treatment and remained elevated for the remainder of the study. At the end of the second and fourth weeks of fructose treatment, six rats from each group were used to assess both in vivo and subsequently in vitro vascular reactivity to various pressor agents. The jugular vein and carotid artery were cannulated under anesthesia. Twenty four hours after recovery from surgery pressor responses to angiotensi...
Effect of temperature and leaf age on growth versus moulting time of a generalist caterpillar fed plantain (Plantago lanceolata)

. 1 The simultaneous effects of daytime temperature (20°C versus 30°C) and leaf age (new versus intermediate-aged) on a generalist insect herbivore were examined. Fourth-instar Spilosoma congrua caterpillars were tested on plantain (Plantago lanceolata), one of this lepidopteran species’host plants, for which the major defensive chemicals, iridoid glycosides (aucubin and catalpol), could be quantified. 2 Cool temperature depressed amount of food eaten, amount of frass, and consumption and growth rates, and increased the proportion of time spent in the non-feeding period (from head-capsule slippage to ecdysis). 3 Average iridoid glycoside concentration was 2.8% dry weight (d.w.) in new leaves and 1.6% d.w. in intermediate-aged leaves. When fed new leaves, the caterpillars had a higher efficiency of conversion of ingested food to biomass and a higher growth rate than those fed intermediate-aged leaves. Furthermore, the proportion of time spent in the non-feeding period was prolonged by a diet of intermediate-aged leaves. 4 A second experiment showed that the percentage dry weight of aucubin, catalpol and total iridoid glycosides increased over 24 h in incubated, excised leaves, which meant that the caterpillars in the first experiment experienced somewhat higher iridoid glycoside concentrations than the levels in fresh leaves. 5 Overall, these results indicate that this generalist should prefer new plantain leaves over older leaves even though new leaves contain higher concentrations of iridoid glycosides.
9.5.1 Functional Architecture's Mental Roadblocks and Other Things Your Mother Didn't Tell You

There are several concepts that are critical to effective development of a functional architecture that tend to be challenging to the new practitioner, even when they are experienced engineers. They are seldom discussed in the exiting literature addressing what functional architecture is and how to do modeling as part of it. This paper provides the most important of these points as seen both in the classroom and in practice.
Interleukin-2-induced lymphoproliferative responses

Interleukin-2 (IL-2) is capable of both stimulating an in vitro lymphoproliferative response and augmenting non-major-histocompatibility-complex-(MHC)-restricted cytotoxicity. However, there are conflicting reports about the phenotypes of responding cells. In the present studies, we determined phenotypes of Ficoll/Hypaque-separated peripheral blood mononuclear cells stimulated with 50, 100 or 1000 U/ml IL-2; analyses were performed after 1, 3 and 5 weeks. With all concentrations, there was a progressive increase in CD3+ cells; after 3–5 weeks more than 90% of the cells reacted with this antibody. However, the proportions of CD4+ and CD8+ cells proved to be a function of the IL-2 concentration. Cultures containing 50 U/ml or 100 U/ml favored the expansion of the CD4+ subset. By contrast, in cultures stimulated with 1000 U/ml, CD8+ cells predominated. At baseline, CD8+ cells comprised 28±2%; after 3 weeks, this value increased to 51±5%. In addition, the proportion of CD56+ (Leu19, NKH-1) cells depended on the amount of IL-2. At 50 U/ml, there was no appreciable change in CD56+ cells. However, at 1000 U/ml, CD56+ cells increased from 17±1% (day 0) to 39±4% (3 weeks). This increase was primarily due to an expansion of the CD3+ CD56+ subset (non-NMC restricted cytotoxic T cells). By contrast, natural killer (NK) cells, as measured by the CD16 antibody, steadily declined at all IL-2 concentrations.
Contractile behavior of smooth muscle actin-containing osteoblasts in collagen-GAG matrices in vitro: implant-related cell contraction.

Abstract The contraction of connective tissue cells may facilitate their production and maintenance of extracellular matrix architecture and can benefit healing through wound closure. However, aberrant cell contraction can result in pathological contracture. Implants may stimulate this process leading to contracture of the surrounding fibrous capsule. In the case of compliant porous matrices used for tissue engineering the cell contraction may cause the constriction of pores and the distortion of the implant. The objective of this study was to determine if osteoblasts expressed a specific muscle actin, α -smooth muscle actin (SMA), that could provide for their contraction. Immunohistochemistry revealed the presence of SMA in some cells in all of three human and three canine trabecular bone specimens. The majority of the cells of an osteoblastic cell line, MC3T3-E1, also expressed this actin isoform in two-dimensional culture and when seeded into a collagen-glycosaminoglycan (GAG) matrix. These SMA-containing cells were found to cause contraction of the collagen-GAG analog of extracellular matrix. These findings demonstrate that osteoblasts can display contractile behavior that might help to explain the mechanism by which they impart architecture to bone matrix, including that at implant interfaces. An understanding of this process could also guide the development of matrices for bone tissue engineering.
Self-assembled hybrid nanoparticles for cancer-specific multimodal imaging.

A layer-by-layer (LbL) polyelectrolyte deposition strategy is used to prepare multifunctional nanoparticles (MFNPs) with multimodal imaging capabilities. Alternating treatment of hybrid silica nanoparticles (NP0) containing a luminescent [Ru(bpy)3]Cl2 core and anionic monolayer coating of the Gd−(siloxylpropyl)diethylenetriamine tetraacetate (Gd−DTTA) complex with cationic Gd(III)−DOTA oligomer 1 and anionic poly(styrene sulfonate) (PSS) led to the deposition of multilayers of 1 and PSS via electrostatic interactions. This LbL deposition technique offers a superb strategy for the assembly of hybrid nanoparticles with imbedded luminophores and very high MR relaxivities. The PSS-terminated multilayered nanoparticles can be noncovalently functionalized with targeting peptides that carry positive charges under physiological conditions via electrostatic interactions to lead to cancer-specific MFNPs for optical and MR imaging of HT-29 human colon cancer cells. The generality of this approach should allow the de...
MMP-8 is the predominant collagenase in healing wounds and nonhealing ulcers.

Abstract Background.The initial cleavage of collagen by collagenase represents the rate-limiting step in the degradation of this central extracellular matrix protein. Chronic nonhealing ulcers, especially pressure ulcers, typically contain elevated levels of collagenolytic activity. However, there have been no detailed attempts to identify the source of these collagenases and their activity either in normal healing wounds or in chronic nonhealing ulcers. Materials and Methods.Levels of the matrix metalloproteinases, MMP-1 and MMP-8, and the tissue inhibitor of matrix metalloproteinases, TIMP-1, were measured in fluids and tissues of healing human wounds and nonhealing ulcers by ELISA. Relative MMP-1 and MMP-8 levels were also analyzed by substrate preference in a functional assay. Results.The patterns of the collagenases MMP-1 and MMP-8 in healing wounds were distinct, with MMP-8 appearing in significantly greater amounts than MMP-1. Chronic nonhealing ulcers were characterized by significantly higher levels of MMP-1 and MMP-8, and lower levels of TIMP-1, than in healing wounds. Levels of both MMP-1 and MMP-8 varied greatly in chronic ulcers, although MMP-8 was always the predominant collagenase present in these wounds. Interestingly, these collagenases were present almost exclusively in their inactive forms in healing wounds, whereas nonhealing ulcers possessed significant levels of the active forms of these enzymes. Conclusions.These results clearly demonstrate that the neutrophil-derived MMP-8 is the predominant collagenase present in normal healing wounds and suggest that overexpression and activation of this collagenase may be involved in the pathogenesis of nonhealing chronic ulcers. In addition, excessive collagenolytic activity in chronic ulcers is made possible, partly because of the reduced levels of the inhibitor, TIMP-1.
Ion-Pair Cationization Process in Liquid Secondary Ion Mass Spectrometry

Positive-ion fast atom bombardment (FAB) or liquid secondary ion mass spectra (LSIMS) typically provide the molecular mass of the organic sample M via the presence of a dominant protonated molecule (M+H)+ in the mass spectrum. In addition to the proton transfer reaction, cationization processes result in the formation of ions (M+Met)+, in which the metal is derived from metal salts present in the sample as impurities or purposefully added as promoters to the sample solution. Group I metal salts (lithium, sodium, and potassium salts are popular, but rubidium and cesium salts can also be used) result in cationized ions (M+Li)+, (M+Na)+, and (M+K)+. These ions provide multiple confirmations of the molecular mass M of the sample compound. Cationization reactions (as generalized Lewis acid/base reactions) are encountered not only in FAB and LSIMS but also in other desorption ionization methods of mass spectrometry, including field desorption (FD) mass spectrometry. Traditionally, cationization is considered to be the result of the addition of one singly charged metal ion to the neutral sample molecule. If the initial charge state of the metal ion is that of Met2+ or Met3+, the cationized form of the sample molecule observed in the mass spectrum is usually the singly charged species (M+Met)+, and an electron reduction must have occurred. For incorporation of two metal cations, there is always a concomitant loss of hydrogen to form, as an example, (M+2Met-H)+. Recent studies have re-examined the details of the cationization process. For instance, recent work has shown that when the organic sample molecule contains a nitro substituent, a cationization process can occur to form a singly charged ion that contains two alkali ions, viz., (M+2Met)+. The present work highlights yet another form of the cationization reaction.
Condition of sparingly soluble substances in gels: Part I. Silver chromate in gelatine

Changes in the conductivity and colour of silver chromate in gelatine solution have been studied. It is observed that by suitable adjustment of the (i) temperature of the experiments, (ii) pH of gelatine, (iii) concentration of the reactants (AgNO3 and K2CrO4) and (iv) amount of gelatine, the conductivity may (a) not decrease at all till the colour remains yellow, (b) decrease sometime after the colour change or (c) not change at all in spite of the colour change.
Physician perspectives on the importance of facts men ought to know about prostate-specific antigen testing

OBJECTIVE: To determine physicians’ rating of the importance of key facts men ought to know about prostate-specific antigen (PSA) screening and whether there are differences by specialty.
EPIREFLECTIONS VERSUS BIREFLECTIONS FOR TOPOLOGICAL FUNCTORS

Abstract In this paper it is proved that if T: A → X is a topological functor satisfying certain conditions, then there is a Galois Connection between the class of bireflective subcategories of A and the class of epireflective subcategories of A that are not bireflective and that are contained in the subcategory of separated objects of A. In general such a correspondence is not bijective.
Reoperation rates after laparoscopic fundoplication.

Introduction Current literature on redo antireflux surgery has limitations due to small sample size or single center experiences. This study aims to evaluate the reoperation rate of laparoscopic fundoplication in a large population database.
Design of a Mission Operations Center at the Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory

The Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory (JHU/APL) is dedicated to solving critical challenges as set forth by the NASA. JHU/APL participates fully in the nation's formulation of space science and exploration priorities, providing the needed science, engineering, and technology, including the production and operation of unique spacecraft, instruments, and subsystems.
Perfectionism, marital satisfaction, and contributing factors to sexual dysfunction in men with erectile disorder and their spouses

The relationship among perfectionism, marital satisfaction, and male sexual functioning was examined. Thirty-two men with DSM-III-R erectile disorder participated. Of this group, 18 men had spouses who were able/willing to participate in their assessment. Subjects completed the Multidimensional Perfectionism Scale (MPS) as well as the Dyadic Adjustment Scale (DAS), a measure of marital satisfaction. Additionally, physician ratings of organic contribution to the sexual dysfunction as well as clinician ratings reflecting the degree to which dysfunctional males' sexual difficulties were due to psychogenic factors were assigned. Psychogenic ratings were significantly positively correlated with overall MPS scores, whereas organic ratings were not. No significant group differences were detected on any measure among those whose spouses participated and those who did not have spouses or whose spouses were unable/unwilling to participate. In addition, for the subset of this sample that included dysfunctional men and their spouses (n=18), results indicated that DAS scores for both dysfunctional men and their spouses were unrelated to clinician psychogenic ratings and physician organic ratings with the exception of a significant positive relationship between men's DAS scores and their organic ratings. It was revealed that women's, but not men's, total MPS scores were negatively related to both their own and their partner's DAS scores. Implications of these findings for the treatment of sexual dysfunction are discussed.
Food Practices Among Sephardic Immigrants in Contemporary France: Dietary Laws in Urban Society

Les pratiques culinaires et la consommation d'aliments chez les Juifs sefarades en France repondent a une logique de diglossia qui est souvent a l'oeuvre chez les minorites qui cherchent l'integration a la societe englobante tout en voulant preserver des aspects de leur culture initiale. Le systeme d'alimentation est a la fois systeme de communication et systeme de classification et d'identification sociales. L'observance des manieres de table est en relation avec les niveaux d'emancipation a l'egard de la religion ou des mariages mixtes par exemple. Les Juifs sefarades francais pratiquent une endo-cuisine ou le repas rituel est gardien de l'identite sociale et de l'histoire
Truncated sequential sign tests for location shift

A truncated sequential sign test for location shift is studied when the null or target location has been estimated from a prior, fixed sample. If the randomness of the target is ignored then the test is shown to be strongly anticonservative, the degree being proportional to the ratio of the truncation point to the fixed sample size. The test is distribution-free under the hypothesis of no shift enabling exact Type I errors and null expected samples sizes to be calculated and compared to a modified Brownian motion approximation. A Monte Carlo power study shows that the test compares favorably with thr test against a Xnown target. An abbreviated table of critical values is given.
DUST CHARACTERISTICS OF MASSIVE STAR-FORMING SITES IN THE MID-INFRARED

Four massive star-forming regions were imaged in the mid-infrared with the MIRAC3 instrument: W51 IRS 2, Mon R2, DR 21, and S140. We obtained high spatial resolution (~1'') images at several wavelengths from 7.8 to 13.2 μm with the circular variable filter, as well as narrow-band continuum images at 12.5 and 20.6 μm toward each region. In each massive star-forming region, one or more sources show deep silicate absorption. For at least two of the massive star-forming regions, W51 IRS 2 and Mon R2, the absorbing material is highly localized and may be circumstellar material in disks or shells. The silicate absorption occurs at least as often around massive young stars as around young stars of lower mass (which are more often observed). The estimated optical depths of the silicate features are consistent with those predicted by radiative transfer models toward ultracompact H II regions, but substantially higher than observed toward T Tauri stars and other low-mass young stellar objects. There is no consistent correspondence between silicate absorption and either the dust color temperature or the 12.5 μm opacity. In W51 IRS 2, the two previously known mid-infrared sources have been resolved into at least six subsources. Infrared counterparts are newly reported for two radio-continuum sources in S140. Also, new mid-infrared sources have been detected in both W51 IRS 2 and S140. We suggest that the infrared source in the southwest of DR 21 may not be self-luminous, but may instead be heated by the three nearby radio continuum sources. The gas density in the ring at Mon R2 supports the blister scenario for the IRS 1 H II region.
Energy placement of the D− dangling-bond transition in a-Si:H from photocapacitance and photocurrent spectroscopies

Abstract The characteristic gap — state distribution in a-Si:H was measured by photocapacitance transient spectroscopy and steady-state photoconductivity on p-n junction diodes. The results yield a peak placement of 0.8–0.9 eV for the D− transition of the silicon dangling-bond defect and a value of ∼30 A 2 for the square of the average optical matrix element for this transition.
Nurses' knowledge of wound irrigation and pressures generated during simulated wound irrigation

Abstract Objective: Our objective was to describe nurses' knowledge of wound irrigation and their ability to produce appropriate irrigation pressures established by the US Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) during simulated procedures. Subjects and setting: A convenience sample of 28 registered nurses and licensed practical nurses from a university medical center in the Northwest United States comprised the subjects. Methods: Participants were asked to complete a demographic data sheet and a questionnaire related to wound irrigation and to perform 2 simulated wound irrigations. The questionnaire developed for the study contained 9 questions about general knowledge of wound irrigation and 9 questions about wound irrigation technique. A device to measure the pressures generated by the participants during simulated wound irrigation was developed and calibrated using a transducer calibrated by the National Institute of Science and Technology. Results: Participants' scores were high on items querying general knowledge of wound irrigation but lower on questions relating to irrigation technique. Thirteen participants achieved irrigation pressures within the guidelines established by the AHRQ, 14 fell below the guidelines, and 1 produced pressures exceeding the guidelines. Conclusion: The majority of nurses participating in this small study had some difficulty answering questions relating to wound irrigation technique. In addition, performance on simulated irrigation showed that the majority were not able to generate pressures in the recommended range. Nursing professionals and educators should be aware of these knowledge and performance issues and incorporate educational content and experiences in nursing programs designed to aid nurses in improving wound irrigation practice. (J WOCN 2000;27:296-303.)