cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Spectral Graph Wavelets for Structural Role Similarity in Networks

Nodes residing in different parts of a graph can have similar structural roles within their local network topology. The identification of such roles provides key insight into the organization of networks and can also be used to inform machine learning on graphs. However, learning structural representations of nodes is a challenging unsupervised-learning task, which typically involves manually specifying and tailoring topological features for each node. Here we develop GraphWave, a method that represents each node’s local network neighborhood via a low-dimensional embedding by leveraging spectral graph wavelet diffusion patterns. We prove that nodes with similar local network neighborhoods will have similar GraphWave embeddings even though these nodes may reside in very different parts of the network. Our method scales linearly with the number of edges and does not require any hand-tailoring of topological features. We evaluate performance on both synthetic and real-world datasets, obtaining improvements of up to 71% over state-of-the-art baselines.
Productivity in piece-rate labor markets: Evidence from rural Malawi

Abstract Piece-rate compensation is a common feature of developing country labor markets, but little is known about how piece-rate workers respond to incentives, or the tradeoffs that an employer faces when setting the terms of the contract. In a field experiment in rural Malawi, we hired casual day laborers at piece rates and collected detailed data on the quantity and quality of their output. Specifically, we use a simplified Becker-DeGroot-Marschak mechanism, which provides random variation in piece rates conditional on revealed reservation rates, to separately identify the effects of worker selection and incentives on output. We find a positive relationship between output quantity and the piece rate, and show that this is solely the result of the incentive effect, not selection. In addition, we randomized whether workers were subject to stringent quality monitoring. Monitoring led to higher quality output, at some cost to the quantity produced. However, workers do not demand higher compensation when monitored, and monitoring has no measurable effect on the quality of workers willing to work under a given piece rate. Together, the set of worker responses that we document lead the employer to prefer a contract that offers little surplus to the worker, consistent with an equilibrium in which workers have little bargaining power.
Effects of electronic excitation in 150 keV Ni ion irradiation of metallic systems

We use the two-temperature model in molecular dynamic simulations of 150 keV Ni ion cascades in nickel and nickel-based alloys to investigate the effect of the energy exchange between the atomic and the electronic systems during the primary stages of radiation damage. We find that the electron-phonon interactions result in a smaller amount of defects and affect the cluster formation, resulting in smaller clusters. These results indicate that ignoring the local heating due to the electrons results in the overestimation of the amount of damage and the size of the defect clusters. A comparison of the average defect production to the Norgett-Robinson-Torrens (NRT) prediction over a range of energies is provided.
Evidence-Based Thresholds for the Volume-Value Relationship in Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis: Outcomes and Economies of Scale.

Abstract Objectives Increased surgeon and hospital volume has been associated with improved patient outcomes and cost effectiveness for adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS). However, no evidence-based thresholds that clarify the volume at which these strata occur exist. The objective of this study was to establish statistically meaningful thresholds that define high-volume surgeons and hospitals performing spinal fusion for AIS from those that are low volume with respect to length of stay (LOS) and cost. Methods Using 3,224 patients undergoing spinal fusion for AIS from an administrative database, we created and applied four models using stratum-specific likelihood ratio (SSLR) analysis of a receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve. We generated four sets of thresholds predictive of adverse outcomes, namely, increased cost and LOS, for both surgeon and hospital volume. Results For both LOS and cost, surgeon volume produced the same strata with low volume identified as 0–5 annual surgeries and high as greater than 5. LOS and cost decreased significantly (p Conclusions Our study of risk-based volume stratification established a direct volume-value relationship for surgeons and hospitals performing fusion for AIS. A meaningful threshold for low- and high-volume surgeons was established at 5 annual surgeries, but no consensus or clinically meaningful conclusion was reached for hospitals, although the threshold approached 10–15 annual surgeries. This analysis should aid patients, surgeons, and administration reach value-based decisions in the optimal delivery of pediatric spinal fusion for AIS.
The multiplicity of belonging: Pushing identity research beyond binary thinking

To date, research has primarily used a singular identity framework for investigating how social identity shapes behavior. Thus, research has also largely ignored the role that having multiple, simu...
Comparing the efficacy of benzodiazepines and serotonergic anti-depressants for adults with generalized anxiety disorder: a meta-analytic review.

Introduction: Generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) is a common form of anxiety disorder. Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs), and...
Eclectic Psychotherapy: Psychological Perspectives

Eclectic psychotherapy refers to the practice of psychotherapy that is not limited to one form or theoretical orientation of psychotherapy. Rather, the therapist can use any procedure or technique that he/she believes is best suited for the treatment of the individual patient. In several surveys of clinical psychologists, an eclectic viewpoint was reported to be the most popular orientation. At the same time, it can be noted that eclectic psychotherapists differ widely from each other and use a variety of combinations of procedures.
A brief review of recent developments in data reconciliation and gross error detection/estimation

This paper presents a brief review of the status of the field of data reconciliation. Techniques to perform gross error detection are outlined. A recently published theory on equivalency of gross errs and its impact on the ability to identify instrument bias and leak is outlined. Finally, a small review of the field of sensor location is performed.
Domain Engineering and Phase Transformations

Since high piezoelectricity was found in Pb(ZrxTi1−x )O3 or PZT [1], PZT ceramics have become the most successful piezoelectric materials in practical applications over the past 50 years. Currently, PZT materials are widely used in commercial applications such as actuators, transducers, and sensors. This technical dominance results from high longitudinal electromechanical coupling (k33) and piezoelectric d33 coefficients, in addition to a composition that is adjustable over a wide range of B-site stoichiometry and substituents. Such adaptability of composition offers capability in property control for a broad range of applications.
Some statistical properties of an index of multiple traits.

Hazel (1943) defined a selection index that maximizes the correlation, RIH, between the index, I=ΣbiXi and its aggregate genetic value, H=Σaigi, where the bi's are the derived coefficients of the observed traits, Xi, the ai's are their relative economic values and the gi's are their respective breeding values. This is called an optimum index. The expected value of the index is not H but rather K=Σbigi. The ratio of RHI/RKI is always less than or equal to 1.0. With selection on I, the ratio of the change in K to the change in H is the true heritability of the indez, that is, h I 2 =Δ(K)/ΔH. This is not the same as R IH 2 , which serves only as the predictor of the change in H with selection on I. If the index, I, itself is considered as a unit trait, studies can then be made of correlated response in I when selection is based only on a single trait in the index. I is then called a performance index. This approach provides for additional insight into the question of the failure of selection to make gains in total performance over many generations.
Meliorism at the Millennium: Positive Molecular Eugenics and the Promise of Progress Without Excess

In a volume of elegant essays entitled Democracy and DNA: American Dreams and Medical Progress, the belletrist physician Gerald Weissmann identifies the application of genomics to molecular medicine as the most lasting and powerful expression of the century-old social movement called meliorism (Weissmann, 1996). This social movement was inspired by the conviction that the quality of human life can be improved through our own intelligent efforts. From a melioristic standpoint, raising people with less than species-typical capabilities to normal and raising normally functioning people to new heights of capability are equally enhancing. As a correlative benefit, human suffering occasioned by current lacks in human understanding and achievement could abate under such a program. Yet, enhancing humans’ capabilities is more directly a melioristic goal than relieving their suffering.
Hepatocellular carcinoma among US and non-US-born patients with chronic hepatitis B: Risk factors and age at diagnosis

Background Risk factors for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) have not been well characterized among African immigrants with chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection. We conducted a case-control study to identify demographic and clinical factors associated with HCC among a diverse cohort of patients with chronic HBV infection seen in a large academic health setting. Methods We identified a total of 278 patients with HCC and chronic HBV seen at two medical centers in a 14-year span from January 2002 to December 2015. These cases were age- and sex-matched in a 1:3 ratio with 823 non-cancer control subjects with chronic HBV. Conditional logistic regression was used to estimate the odds of HCC by race, with black race stratified by African-born status, after adjusting for diabetes, HIV or HCV coinfection, alcohol misuse and cirrhosis. Results Of the 278 HCC cases, 67% were 60 years of age or older, 78% were male, 87% had cirrhosis and 72% were Asian. HIV infection was present in 6% of cases. Only 7% (19 of 278) of HCC cases were black, of whom 14 were African immigrants. The median age at HCC diagnosis was 44 years in Africans. Notably, nearly all (93%) of the African-born patients with HCC were diagnosed at an age younger than 60 years compared with 52% of Asian cases (P<0.001). The main factors independently associated with greater odds of HCC overall were Asian race (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 3.3, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.9–5.5) and cirrhosis (aOR 19.7, 95% CI 12.2–31.8). Conclusion African immigrants accounted for a small proportion of HBV-associated HCC cases overall compared with Asians but appeared to have greater likelihood of early-onset HCC. Optimal strategies for HCC prevention in these key subroups with chronic HBV warrant further study.
Pediatric ventricular assist devices: Bridge to a new era of perioperative care

Pediatric ventricular assist devices (VADs) are evolving as a standard therapy for end stage heart failure in children. Major recent developments include the increased use of continuous flow (CF) devices in children and increased experience with congenital heart disease (CHD) and outpatient management. In the current and future era anesthesiologists will encounter more children presenting for VAD implantation, subsequent procedures and heart transplantation. Successful perioperative management requires an understanding of the interaction between the patient's physiology and the device and a framework to troubleshoot problems. This review focuses on CF devices, VAD support for CHD and perioperative management of pulsatile and CF devices in the pediatric population.
Tree regeneration following wildfires in the western US: a review

Wildfires, like many disturbances, can be catalysts for ecosystem change. Given projected climate change, tree regeneration declines and ecosystem shifts following severe wildfires are predicted. We reviewed scientific literature on post-fire tree regeneration to understand where and why no or few trees established. We wished to distinguish sites that won’t regenerate to trees because of changing climate from sites where trees could grow post fire if they had a seed source or were planted, thus supporting forest ecosystem services for society and nature, such as timber supply, habitat, watershed protection, and carbon storage. Our literature review showed that little to no post-fire tree regeneration was more common in low-elevation, dry forest types than in high-elevation forest types. However, depending on the region and species, low tree regeneration was also observed in high elevation, moist forests. Regeneration densities varied by species and seedling densities were attributed to distances to a seed source, water stress or precipitation, elevation, slope, aspect, and plant competition. Our findings provide land managers with two primary considerations to offset low tree regeneration densities. First, we supply a decision support tool of where to plant tree seedling in large high severity burned patches. Second, we recommend possibilities for mitigating and limiting large high severity burned patches to increase survival of trees to be sources of seed for natural regeneration. Few or no tree seedlings are establishing on some areas of the 150+ forest fires sampled across western US, suggesting that forests may be replaced by shrublands and grasslands, especially where few seed source trees survived the wildfires. Key information gaps on how species will respond to continued climate change, repeated disturbances, and other site factors following wildfires currently limit our ability to determine future trends in forest regeneration. We provide a decision tree to assist managers in prioritizing post-fire reforestation. We emphasize prioritizing the interior of large burned patches and considering current and future climate in deciding what, when, and where to plant trees. Finally, managing fires and forests for more seed-source tree survival will reduce large, non-forested areas following wildfires where post-fire management may be necessary.
Repair-independent functions of DNA-PKcs protect irradiated cells from mitotic slippage and accelerated senescence

ABSTRACT The binding of DNA-dependent protein kinase catalytic subunit (DNA-PKcs, also known as PRKDC) to Ku proteins at DNA double-strand breaks (DSBs) has long been considered essential for non-homologous end joining (NHEJ) repair, providing a rationale for use of DNA-PKcs inhibitors as cancer therapeutics. Given lagging clinical translation, we reexamined mechanisms and observed instead that DSB repair can proceed independently of DNA-PKcs. While repair of radiation-induced DSBs was blocked in cells expressing shRNAs targeting Ku proteins or other NHEJ core factors, DSBs were repaired on schedule despite targeting DNA-PKcs. Although we failed to observe a DSB repair defect, the γH2AX foci that formed at sites of DNA damage persisted indefinitely after irradiation, leading to cytokinesis failure and accumulation of binucleated cells. Following this mitotic slippage, cells with decreased DNA-PKcs underwent accelerated cellular senescence. We identified downregulation of ataxia-telangiectasia mutated kinase (ATM) as the critical role of DNA-PKcs in recovery from DNA damage, insofar as targeting ATM restored γH2AX foci resolution and cytokinesis. Considering the lack of direct impact on DSB repair and emerging links between senescence and resistance to cancer therapy, these results suggest reassessing DNA-PKcs as a target for cancer treatment.
Critics and the Slippery Terrain of Latinx Art

When E. Carmen Ramos organized Our America: The Latino Presence in American Art (2013) at the Smithsonian American Art Museum in Washington, DC, art holdings of Latinx artists at the institution were minimal and unbalanced. The museum lacked works by foundational figures; entire groups like
A Daily Work Report Based Approach for Schedule Risk Analysis

The Critical Path Method (CPM) has been the dominant scheduling method for the past several decades. Most State Departments of Transportation (DOTs) in the U.S. currently apply CPM to estimate project duration for major and complex projects. The method, however, has limitations, and one of them is its poor ability to analyze schedule risks. While previous studies have identified various factors that cause uncertainties in schedules, the estimated duration from CPM is deterministic. To quantify schedule risks, the Program Evaluation Review Technique which uses three-point estimates for activity duration and Monte Carlo Simulation (MCS) based methods that assign uncertainties to work activities through the probability distributions of activity durations have been limitedly used in the industry. After running the simulation thousands of times, the probability distribution of the total project duration can be developed to assist risk analysis, such as determining a schedule contingency for the project. In current practices, the use of the MCS method is still limited due to various reasons. One of the most challenging issues is the difficulties in estimating the probability distributions of activity durations objectively. This study aims to leverage historical digital daily work report (DWR) data available in the DOTs’ databases to determine the probability distributions of the production rates of work activities then estimate the distributions of activity durations when quantities of the activities are provided. Since the DWRs record the daily accomplished quantity of each work item in the construction phase, the actual production rates of the work items can be calculated to obtain a more accurate and realistic duration estimate for a future project. DWR data collected from a DOT were used to conduct a case study that demonstrates the value of this new approach for schedule risk analysis.
Amino Acid Prevalence of HIV-1 pol Mutations by Direct Polymerase Chain Reaction and Single Genome Sequencing

Abstract The presence of many highly unusual HIV-1 mutations at a minority variant threshold by next-generation sequence (NGS) may indicate that a high proportion of variants at or just above the t...
Activity Measures in Pediatric Athletes: A Comparison of the Hospital for Special Surgery Pediatric Functional Activity Brief Scale and Tegner Activity Level Scale:

Background:In young athletes, patient-reported activity level is frequently used to determine return to the same level of sport after treatment.Purpose:To evaluate the validity and score distributi...
Ex-vivo Sensitivity of Plasmodium falciparum to Common Anti-malarial Drugs: The Case of Kéniéroba, a Malaria Endemic Village in Mali.

In 2006, the National Malaria Control Program in Mali recommended artemisinin-based combination therapy as the first-line treatment for uncomplicated malaria. Since the introduction of artemisinin-based combination therapy, few reports are available on the level of resistance of Plasmodium falciparum to the most common anti-malarial drugs in Mali. From 2016 to 2017, we assessed the ex-vivo drug sensitivity of P. falciparum isolates in Kenieroba, a village located in a rural area of southern Mali. We collected P. falciparum isolates from malaria-infected children living in Kenieroba. The isolates were tested for ex-vivo sensitivity to commonly used anti-malarial drugs, namely chloroquine, quinine, amodiaquine, mefloquine, lumefantrine, dihydroartermisinin, and piperaquine. We used the 50% inhibitory concentration determination method, which is based on the incorporation of SYBR® Green into the parasite’s genetic material. Plasmodium falciparum isolates were found to have a reduced ex-vivo sensitivity to quinine (25.7%), chloroquine (12.2%), amodiaquine (2.7%), and mefloquine (1.3%). In contrast, the isolates were 100% sensitive to lumefantrine, dihydroartermisinin, and piperaquine. A statistically significant correlation was found between 50% inhibitory concentration values of quinine and amodiaquine (r = 0.80; p < 0.0001). Plasmodium falciparum isolates were highly sensitive to dihydroartermisinin, lumefantrine, and piperaquine and less sensitive to amodiaquine (n = 2), mefloquine (n = 1), and quinine (n = 19). Therefore, our data support the previously reported increasing trend in chloroquine sensitivity in Mali.
Constitutional Shapeshifting: Giving the Fourth Amendment Substance in the Technology-Driven World of Criminal Investigation

For the first hundred years of the Fourth Amendment’s life, gains in the technology of surveillance were modest. With the advent of miniaturization and ever-increasing sophistication and capability of surveillance and detection devices, the Supreme Court has struggled to adapt its understanding of “search” to the constantly evolving devices and methods that challenge contemporary understanding of privacy. In response to surveillance innovations, the Court has taken varying positions, focusing first on property-based intrusions by government, then shifting to privacy expectations, and, more recently, resurrecting the view that a trespass to property can define search. This article surveys this constitutional odyssey, noting the inadequacies of each phase’s approach. It then suggests a re-conceptualization of search doctrine better designed to align constitutional protection with the moving target of investigative techniques. The view of privacy, central to the Fourth Amendment, is recast as a broader, and more representative, normative component rather than a simple risk-assessment. Investigative motive or intent, which only intermittently has played a part in the definition of search, is proposed as a constant factor within search analysis. And trespass doctrine, only recently back from the dead, is broadened and refocused to emphasize invasiveness more generally. With candid recognition of the weaknesses and difficulties inherent in all of these modes of analysis, the article makes the case for taking up the hard job of conforming the language, tradition, and popular expectations of constitutional protection to the realities of an ever changing surveillance landscape.
Impact of race and socioeconomic status on breast cancer outcomes within the AJCC staging system.

e18565Background: The persistent racial and socioeconomic status (SES) disparities in breast cancer outcomes are partially attributed to propensity towards more aggressive cancers or presentation a...
Smart Meter Data Compression and Reconstruction Using Deep Convolutional Autoencoders

Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI) enables utilities to gather vast amount of smart meter (SM) data, which can facilitate demand-side control, fault detection, and system monitoring. However, due to the bottlenecks caused by the burdensome data transmission and storage, taking full advantage of SM measurements is challenging. In response to this problem, this paper presents a deep convolutional autoencoder (DCA)-based data compression method to significantly reduce the volume of SM data while providing an efficient way to restore the original data for various power system applications. The temporal-spatial correlations within SM data are exploited in our method to enhance DCA performance. Further, a sensitivity analysis is conducted to obtain a tradeoff between the data compression ratio and reconstruction error. The proposed method has been tested and verified using real utility data.
A class of reasonably tractable partially observed discrete stochastic games

Stochastic games under partial information are typically computationally intractable even in the discrete-time/discrete-state case considered here. We consider a problem where one player has perfect information. The main problem is that the information state for the player with imperfect information is a function over the space of probability distributions (a function over a simplex), and so infinite-dimensional. However, in the problem form here, the payoff is only a function of the terminal state of the system, and the initial information state is either linear or a sum of max-plus delta functions. In this case, the information state and state-feedback value functions belong to finite-dimensional sets. Thus the computational tractability is greatly enhanced.
Optimal Control of Transient Flows due to Valve Operations

Transient flow in pipeline caused by valve operations can be reduced by operating the valve in a proper manner. In this paper, a systematic approach to determine this optimal operation is presented. This approach leads to an optimal control problem which is formulated and solved in order to yield the optimal feedback gain. A clear advantage of such approach is that this obtained optimal feedback gain could be applied to set up a closed-loop valve control system which is less sensitive to the disturbances and to the uncertainties of the system modeling. Causing minimum fluid transient, this valve controller may optimally change the flow rate to any feasible desired value within a specific time period. The implementation of this optimal valve control system is also presented. The effects of the weighting factors on the penalties are also studied.
An Ontology-Driven Framework for Data Transformation in Scientific Workflows

Ecologists spend considerable effort integrating heterogeneous data for statistical analyses and simulations, for example, to run and test predictive models. Our research is focused on reducing this effort by providing data integration and transformation tools, allowing researchers to focus on “real science,” that is, discovering new knowledge through analysis and modeling. This paper defines a generic framework for transforming heterogeneous data within scientific workflows. Our approach relies on a formalized ontology, which serves as a simple, unstructured global schema. In the framework, inputs and outputs of services within scientific workflows can have structural types and separate semantic types (expressions of the target ontology). In addition, a registration mapping can be defined to relate input and output structural types to their corresponding semantic types. Using registration mappings, appropriate data transformations can then be generated for each desired service composition. Here, we describe our proposed framework and an initial implementation for services that consume and produce XML data.
Aryl-nitration of poly(phenylene oxide) and polysulfone.: Structural characterization and gas permeability

Abstract The gas permeability and permselectivity of unmodified and aryl nitrated poly(phenylene oxide) and polysulfone are reported for CO 2 , CH 4 , O 2 and N 2 . Aryl nitration decreases the permeability for all the gases, but increases the permselectivity of both polymers for either O 2 /N 2 or CO 2 /CH 4 gas pair. These results are related to changes in packing density, torsional mobility and interchain attractions due to the polar nitro group.
Intellectual, Neuropsychological, and Achievement Outcomes in Children Six to Eight Years After Recovery from Haemophilus influenzae Meningitis

Twenty-four grade school children who had sustained an earlier episode of Haemophilus influenzae type b meningitis were tested, along with a group of 24 school-aged siblings. Evaluations consisted of tests of IQ, academic achievement, and neuropsychological skills. Parents completed forms rating each child's behavioral adjustment and temperament. Available school-administered standardized achievement tests were also obtained. Information relating to the episode of meningitis was extracted from the medical charts of each child who had had meningitis in order to investigate the relationship of these parameters to developmental outcome. Results showed that, compared with nearest-age siblings, children who had had meningitis scored lower on performance IQ and full-scale IQ. The group that had had meningitis also performed more poorly on several neuropsychological tasks. However, the groups did not differ in verbal IQ, and they performed comparably on all academic measures. Significant behavioral adjustment problems were absent from both groups, and there were no notable differences in temperament. Although findings support the existence of postmeningitis sequelae, the selective nature of the deficiencies observed indicate that prognosis for children in the age range examined may be better than that suggested by earlier studies.
A Comparison of Female and Male Probationers

Abstract A majority of women convicted of crimes are sentenced to probation. Although proportionately more women than men receive probation, little is known about female probationers. The current study is one of the few to compare the backgrounds and case outcomes of women probationers with those of men. Statewide probation discharge data were used to examine differences between male and female probationers on their individual characteristics, offense and sentencing variables, and case outcomes and to explore the effect of gender on case outcomes. A number of gender differences were identified across the probationer, sentencing and case outcome variables examined. In addition, gender had a statistically significant influence on both new arrests and technical violations, after controlling for other variables such as age, race, income, prior involvement in the criminal justice system, conviction offense and sentence length.
Ironing Out Ocean Chemistry at the Dawn of Animal Life

New data change the picture of how the iron, oxygen, and sulfur contents of the ocean evolved.
Simplicial and categorical comma categories

We consider four categories: the category of diagrams of small categories indexed by a given small category O, the (comma) category of small categories over O, the category of diagrams of simplicial sets indexed by O, and the category of simplicial sets over the nerve of O. Fritsch and Golasinski claimed that these four categories have equivalent homotopy categories but, in fact, their proof contains an error and the homotopy categories are not equivalent with the weak equivalences they use in the comma categories. We show here that the correct weak equivalences are the ``weak fibre homotopy equivalences'' defined by Latch. We also construct a model category structure on the category of simplicial sets over NO in which the weak equivalences are the weak fibre homotopy equivalences.
Optimization of Mechanical Supports for Large Superconductive Magnets

Load-bearing thermal insulators are often required in the construction of cryogenic dewars. Superconducting magnets in some cases also require the extensive use of mechanical struts anchored in the low-temperature region on one end, while the other end of the strut rests on room temperature frames. One such extreme example occurs in the design of superconductive solenoids for use as energy storage magnets. Since the cost of a cold structure would be excessive, it is necessary to support such solenoids in bedrock (which is cost free except for minor excavation charges) by means of epoxy-fiberglass struts. As an example, one large unit requires that 14 × 106 metric tons of force be transmitted from 1.8 K conductors to room temperature rock surfaces as efficiently as possible.
Comparison of corneal power, astigmatism, and wavefront aberration measurements obtained by a point-source color light-emitting diode-based topographer, a Placido-disk topographer, and a combined Placido and dual Scheimpflug device.

Purpose To evaluate and compare the performance of a point-source color light-emitting diode (LED)–based topographer (color-LED) in measuring anterior corneal power and aberrations with that of a Placido-disk topographer and a combined Placido and dual Scheimpflug device. Setting Cullen Eye Institute, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas USA. Design Retrospective observational case series. Methods Normal eyes and post-refractive-surgery eyes were consecutively measured using color-LED, Placido, and dual-Scheimpflug devices. The main outcome measures were anterior corneal power, astigmatism, and higher-order aberrations (HOAs) (6.0 mm pupil), which were compared using the t test. Results There were no statistically significant differences in corneal power measurements in normal and post-refractive surgery eyes and in astigmatism magnitude in post-refractive surgery eyes between the color-LED device and Placido or dual Scheimpflug devices (all P > .05). In normal eyes, there were no statistically significant differences in 3rd-order coma and 4th-order spherical aberration between the color-LED and Placido devices and in HOA root mean square, 3rd-order coma, 3rd-order trefoil, 4th-order spherical aberration, and 4th-order secondary astigmatism between the color-LED and dual Scheimpflug devices (all P > .05). In post-refractive surgery eyes, the color-LED device agreed with the Placido and dual-Scheimpflug devices regarding 3rd-order coma and 4th-order spherical aberration (all P > .05). Conclusions In normal and post-refractive surgery eyes, all 3 devices were comparable with respect to corneal power. The agreement in corneal aberrations varied. Financial Disclosure Drs. Wang, Koch, and Weikert are consultants to Ziemer Ophthalmic Systems AG. Dr. Koch is a consultant to Abbott Medical Optics, Inc., Alcon Surgical, Inc., and i-Optics Corp.
Two Listeria monocytogenes Vaccine Vectors That Express Different Molecular Forms of Human Papilloma Virus-16 (HPV-16) E7 Induce Qualitatively Different T Cell Immunity That Correlates with Their Ability to Induce Regression of Established Tumors Immortalized by HPV-16

Two recombinant Listeria monocytogenes (rLm) strains were produced that secrete the human papilloma virus-16 (HPV-16) E7 protein expressed in HPV-16-associated cervical cancer cells. One, Lm-E7, expresses and secretes E7 protein, whereas a second, Lm-LLO-E7, secretes E7 as a fusion protein joined to a nonhemolytic listeriolysin O (LLO). Lm-LLO-E7, but not Lm-E7, induces the regression of the E7-expressing tumor, TC-1, established in syngeneic C57BL/6 mice. Both recombinant E7-expressing rLm vaccines induce measurable anti-E7 CTL responses that stain positively for H-2D(b) E7 tetramers. Depletion of the CD8+ T cell subset before treatment abrogates the ability of Lm-LLO-E7 to impact on tumor growth. In addition, the rLm strains induce markedly different CD4+ T cell subsets. Depletion of the CD4+ T cell subset considerably reduces the ability of Lm-LLO-E7 to eliminate established TC-1 tumors. Surprisingly, the reverse is the case for Lm-E7, which becomes an effective anti-tumor immunotherapeutic in mice lacking this T cell subset. Ab-mediated depletion of TGF-beta and CD25+ cells improves the effectiveness of Lm-E7 treatment, suggesting that TGF-beta and CD25+ cells are in part responsible for this suppressive response. CD4+ T cells from mice immunized with Lm-E7 are capable of suppressing the ability of Lm-LLO-E7 to induce the regression of TC-1 when transferred to tumor-bearing mice. These studies demonstrate the complexity of L. monocytogenes-mediated tumor immunotherapy targeting the human tumor Ag, HPV-16 E7.
On Some Continuous Properties in Language

Publisher Summary Many systematic phenomena in language are reflected in behavioral continua, rather than in discrete categories. This chapter is concerned with the impact of such systematic statistical phenomena on the form of linguistic description. If linguistic grammars are allowed to exploit the descriptive power of non-categorical rules, more candidate grammars will be available for each set of facts: such proliferation of candidate descriptions reduces the empirical import of universal linguistic theory. Furthermore, if human language is defined in terms of a set of statistical principles, then the definition of a possible language cannot be sharply drawn; rather, one can only describe a universally likely language. The chapter explores two examples of probabilistic properties of language, one a phenomenon of English and the other true of all languages. In each case, the chapter demonstrates that the phenomenon can be explained as the result of the interaction of categorical linguistic structures with a particular perceptual process, the processing of propositional relations.
Playing the Odds: A New Response to Lucretius's Symmetry Argument

: Most commentators have assumed that Lucretius's symmetry argument against the fear of death is flawed. There remains, however, dispute as to what the flaw is. After establishing what I understand the target of Lucretius's argument to be (a desire for a longer life as such), I argue for a novel interpretation of what the flaw is, namely, that extending one's life into the time before one was actually born would be an uncertain bet for one who wanted to extend his life, whereas extending one's life beyond the time one actually dies is a sure bet. This account of what the flaw is has the particular merit of relying only on simple concepts used in everyday reasoning and thus can explain why Lucretius's argument gains no traction even in the absence of sophisticated philosophical analysis.
Remodeling of the airway smooth muscle cell: are we built of glass?

Classical understanding of airway lumen narrowing in asthma has held that the isometric force generated by airway smooth muscle (ASM) must be at every instant in a static mechanical equilibrium with the external load against which the muscle has shortened. It has been established recently, however, that this balance of static forces does not apply in the setting of tidal loading as occurs during breathing and must give way to the broader concepts of (1). the perturbed contractile state that exists far from static equilibrium conditions and (2). mechanical plasticity of the ASM cell. Here we describe the hypothesis that the well-established static contractile state, the newly-elaborated perturbed contractile state, as well as the remarkable mechanical plasticity of the ASM cell, are all subsumed under a rubric that is at once surprising, unifying and mechanistic. The specific hypothesis suggested is that the ASM cell behaves as a glassy material [Phys. Rev. Lett. 87 (2001) 148102]. A glass is a material that has the disordered molecular state of a liquid and, at the same time, the rigidity of a solid. If the hypothesis is true, then the ability of the ASM cytoskeleton (CSK) to deform, to flow and to remodel would be determined by an effective temperature-called the noise temperature-representing the level of jostling (i.e. molecular noise or agitation) present in the intracellular microenvironment. The abilities of the CSK to deform, to flow and to reorganize represent basic biological processes that underlie a variety of higher cell functions. If supported by the data, therefore, this integrative hypothesis might have implications in medicine and biology that go beyond the immediate issues of smooth muscle shortening and its role in asthma.
Antigen presenting function of class II MHC expressing pancreatic beta cells

Class II major histocompatibility complex (MHC) gene expression in the mouse is generally limited to thymic epithelium and bone marrow-derived cells such as B lymphocytes and cells of the macrophage/dendritic cell lineage (MO/DC). Class II-bearing B lymphocytes and MO/DC possess antigen presenting cell (APC) function; that is, they can stimulate T lymphocytes reactive to either antigen plus MHC or foreign MHC alone. To assess whether non-bone-marrow-derived cells can acquire APC function and elicit graft rejection through expression of class II, we studied transgenic pancreatic islet beta cells that express a foreign class II (I-E) molecule. In vivo, grafts of I-E+ transgenic islets into I-E- naive hosts are not rejected unless the host is primed by an injection of I-E+ spleen cells. In vitro, the I-E+ beta cells are unable to stimulate T lymphocytes reactive to I-E plus a peptide antigen. Paradoxically, they induce antigen specific unresponsiveness in the T cells. We propose that expression of class II on non-lymphoid cells may serve as an extrathymic mechanism for maintaining self tolerance.
Electrophoretic light scattering using sinusoidal electric fields

Abstract The theory of three types of dynamic light-scattering experiments applied to colloidal dispersions subjected to an external sinusoidal field is presented. The first-order and second-order heterodyne autocorrelation functions for the scattered light are calculated. The classical correlation experiments are compared with the more recent technique of phase analysis light scattering. For the case of electrophoresis of colloidal particles in a sinusoidal electric field, it is shown that determination of the first moment of the change in the phase of the scattered light is preferable to the correlation methods.
Major element variations in basalts and diabases from the North Arm Mountain Massif, Bay of Islands ophiolite: implications for magma chamber processes at mid-ocean ridges

Abstract The major element compositions of aphyric diabases from the North Arm Mountain Massif range from primitive basalts to highly evolved ferrobasalts. From modeling of these compositional variations, it is clear that the diabases have undergone highly variable (~ 10 to ~ 90%) increments of crystallization at low pressures. The dominant minerals inferred to have crystallized from the liquids that formed these diabases are olivine, plagioclase, and clinopyroxene, the same minerals that dominate the underlying cumulate gabbroic and ultramafic rocks. The projection of these compositions onto pseudo-liquidus phase diagrams suggests that the primary magma(s) from which this North Arm suite was produced were generated by melting at 10–25 kbar (or greater) pressure. There is no indication in the major element variations of these diabases of the operation of high-pressure crystal factionation processes, which is not surprising because low-pressure fractionation processes will effectively mask evidence for earlier high-pressure processes. It is suggested that the tapping of intercumulus liquid from crystal mush areas and the tapping of discrete, fractionated magmas within the roof zone of magma chambers is a method of producing a wide variety of magma compositions from a single magma chamber in which the majority of the chamber may be actively convecting and therefore remain relatively uniform in composition.
An okadaic acid-induced model of tauopathy and cognitive deficiency

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disease that causes cognitive and behavioral deterioration in the elderly. Neurofibrillary tangles (NFTs) are one of the pathological hallmarks of AD that has been shown to correlate positively with the severity of dementia in the neocortex of AD patients. In an attempt to characterize an in vivo AD tauopathy model, okadaic acid (OA), a protein phosphatase inhibitor, was microinfused into the right lateral dorsal hippocampus area of ovariectomized adult rat. Cognitive deficiency was seen in OA-treated rats without a change in motor function. Both silver staining and immunohistochemistry staining revealed that OA treatment induces NFTs-like conformational changes in both the cortex and hippocampus. Phosphorylated tau as well as cyclin-dependent kinase 5 (cdk5) and its coactivator, p25, were significantly increased in these regions of the brain. Oxidative stress was also increased with OA treatment as measured by protein carbonylation and lipid peroxidation. These data suggest that the unilateral microinfusion of OA into the dorsal hippocampus causes cognitive deficiency, NFTs-like pathological changes, and oxidative stress as seen in AD pathology via tau hyperphosphorylation caused by inhibition of protein phosphatases.
Amorphous Ceramic Material as Sulfur-Tolerant Anode for SOFC

The amorphous LaMoO material was investigated as a sulfur-tolerant anode for solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs), which was obtained by reducing the ionic conductor La 2 Mo 2 O 9 in the SOFC anodic atmosphere. The performance of the amorphous anode was assessed using the electrolyte-supported cells with a 300 μm thick La 0.8 Sr 0.2 Ga 0.83 Mg 0.17 O 3-δ disk as the electrolyte and SrCo 0.8 Fe 0 .2 O 3-δ as the cathode. A single cell with the LaMoO anode achieved a maximum power density of 1.49 and 0.86 W/cm2 in dry H 2 at 900 and 800°C, respectively. Essentially, no decay in cell performance was observed over 100 h in both pure H 2 and H 2 containing 20 ppm H 2 S, indicating that the amorphous material is a potential sulfur-tolerant anode. The degradation of the LaMoO anode in a higher concentration of H 2 S was likely due to its chemical reaction with H 2 S.
Seed yield components, oil content, and fatty acid composition of two cultivars of moringa (Moringa oleifera Lam.) growing in the Arid Chaco of Argentina

Abstract Moringa oleifera Lam. (M. pterygosperma Gaertn [Moringaceae]) is a fast-growing small tree native to the sub-Himalayan tracts of Northern India. The recognition that moringa oil has value in cosmetics has increased interest in cultivating it for seed-oil. The experimental trials were conducted in a semi-commercial moringa plantation in the subtropical northwestern region of Argentina, considering the similar climate conditions to the plant native region. Pods per tree, seeds per pod, weight of seed per pod, kernel weight, kernels oil content and fatty acid composition of PKM-1 and African cultivars were determined. One individual, E4-9, a PKM-1 plant, had significantly (P
Altruism Versus Self-Interest: Sometimes a False Dichotomy

In the moral philosophy of the last two centuries, altruism of one kind or another has typically been regarded as identical with moral concern. When self-regarding duties have been recognized, motivation by duty has been sharply distinguished from motivation by self-interest. Accordingly, from Kant, Mill, and Sidgwick to Rawls, Nagel, and Gauthier, concern for our own interests, whether long-term or short-term, has typically been regarded as intrinsically nonmoral. So, for example, although Thomas Nagel regards both prudence and altruism as structural features of practical reason, he identifies only the latter as a moral capacity, prudence being merely rational, long-term egoism. Similarly, John Ravvls and David Gauthier contrast self-interest and other nontuistic interests—interests that are independent of others' interests—with moral interest. We are morally permitted, no doubt, to act out of self-interest within certain constraints, but such acts can have no intrinsic moral worth. Pursuit of our own interests out of duty (if there is such a duty) does have intrinsic moral worth, but such pursuit, by hypothesis, cannot be motivated by self-interest. Self-interested pursuit of our own interests as such, no matter how realistic, farsighted, temperate, honest, or courageous, cannot be intrinsically moral. And this remains the case even if self-interest motivates us to perform other-regarding acts: only those other-regarding acts that are (appropriately) motivated by others' interests count as moral, because only such acts are altruistic.
Resistance of squash varieties to the pickleworm and the value of resistance to insecticidal control.

Sixteen varieties of squash were tested for resistance to pickleworm, Diaphania nitidalis (Stoll). differences were very distinct between the more resistant and the more susceptible varieties. The more resistant varieties were Butternut 23, Summer Crookneek, Early Prolific Straight neck, and Early Yellow Summer Crookneek. The more susceptible varieties were Cozini, Black Zucchini, Caserta, Zucchini, Short Cocozelle, and Benning Green Tint Scallop. Tests with insecticides showed that better control could be obtained on resistant than on susceptible varieties. The peel and interior fruit portions of seven varieties were analyzed for amino acids and carbohydrate materials. There was no clear evidence of correlation between chemical composition and resistance. Galacturonic acid occurred only in the most resistant variety, Butternut 23, suggesting that further study should he made regarding the influence of this compound.