cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Extraction of open-domain class attributes from text: building blocks for faceted search

Knowledge automatically extracted from text captures instances, classes of instances and relations among them. In particular, the acquisition of class attributes (e.g., "top speed", "body style" and "number of cylinders" for the class of "sports cars") from text is a particularly appealing task and has received much attention recently, given its natural fit as a building block towards the far-reaching goal of constructing knowledge bases from text. This tutorial provides an overview of extraction methods developed in the area of Web-based information extraction, with the purpose of acquiring attributes of open-domain classes. The attributes are extracted for classes organized either as a flat set or hierarchically. The extraction methods operate over unstructured or semi-structured text available within collections of Web documents, or over relatively more intriguing data sources consisting of anonymized search queries. The methods take advantage of weak supervision provided in the form of seed examples or small amounts of annotated data, or draw upon knowledge already encoded within human-compiled resources (e.g., Wikipedia). The more ambitious methods, aiming at acquiring as many accurate attributes from text as possible for hundreds or thousands of classes covering a wide range of domains of interest, need to be designed to scale to Web collections. This restriction has significant consequences on the overall complexity and choice of underlying tools, in order for the extracted attributes to ultimately aid information retrieval in general and Web search in particular, by producing relevant attributes for open-domain classes, along with other types of relations among instances or among classes.
Toward effective insight management in visual analytics systems

Although significant progress has been made toward effective insight discovery in visual sense making approaches, there is a lack of effective and efficient approaches to manage the large amounts of insights discovered. In this paper, we propose a systematic approach to leverage this problem around the concept of facts. Facts refer to patterns, relationships, or anomalies extracted from data under analysis. They are the direct products of visual exploration and permit construction of insights together with user's mental model and evaluation. Different from the mental model, the type of facts that can be discovered from data is predictable and application-independent. Thus it is possible to develop a general Fact Management Framework (FMF) to allow visualization users to effectively and efficiently annotate, browse, retrieve, associate, and exchange facts. Since facts are essential components of insights, it will be feasible to extend FMF to effective insight management in a variety of visual analytics approaches. Toward this goal, we first construct a fact taxonomy that categorizes various facts in multidimensional data and captures their essential attributes through extensive literature survey and user studies. We then propose a conceptual framework of fact management based upon this fact taxonomy. A concrete scenario of visual sense making on real data sets illustrates how this FMF will work.
Molecular cloning and characterization of AP-2ε, a fifth member of the AP-2 family

Abstract The mammalian AP-2 family of transcription factors consists of four members, AP-2α, AP-2β, AP-2γ and AP-2δ, which play an important role in regulating gene expression during development and differentiation of multiple organs and tissues. The defining feature of the AP-2 family is a highly conserved carboxy-terminal basic helix-turn-helix domain that is involved in dimerization and sequence-specific DNA-binding. In this report, we use bioinformatics to identify both the mouse and human AP-2e, a fifth member of the AP-2 family. The predicted mouse and human AP-2e proteins consist of 442 amino acids and show a high level of sequence similarity with other AP-2 proteins in the DNA-binding and dimerization domain and weak similarity in the N-terminal activation domain. Northern blot analysis reveals that among the adult mouse tissues examined, AP-2e is highly expressed in skin tissue. The human AP-2e gene maps to chromosome 1p42, consists of seven exons spanning 23 kb and exhibits a genomic structure similar to other AP-2 family members. Human AP-2e mRNA is expressed in human skin and keratinocytes grown in culture. Finally, we show that recombinant AP-2e can bind to AP-2 binding sequences from keratin promoters in electrophoretic mobility shift assays. Our study establishes AP-2e as a novel member of the AP-2 family, and suggests that it may play an important role in skin biology.
Post-translational modifications of the cuticular proteins of Hyalophora cecropia from different anatomical regions and metamorphic stages

Abstract Post-translational modifications are a conspicuous feature of the proteins of vertebrate extracellular matrices such as cartilage. Yet this feature remains virtually unexplored with insect cuticle, a situation this paper begins to remedy. Cuticular proteins were extracted from cuticles of Hyalophora cecropia and separated on isoelectrofocusing and 2D gels. Periodic acid-Schiff reagent stained several proteins from flexible cuticles and a few proteins from rigid cuticles, indicating that some proteins were glycosylated. Elucidation of the specific nature of this glycosylation came from probing electrophoretically separated cuticular proteins blotted onto nitrocellulose with biotinylated lectins. Most major cuticular proteins did not react; minor cuticular proteins and molecules which do not stain with Coomassie blue were found to bind lectins specific for mannose and N -acetylgalactosamine. Limited binding was also detected with lectins specific for N -acetylglucosamine, galactose and fucose. No sialic acid was detected using either lectins or neuraminidase digestion. The amount of glycosylation was greatest in proteins extracted from flexible cuticles. Although several proteins stained with Alcian blue indicating presence of sulfation, 35 S which had been incorporated at low levels in cuticular proteins corresponded to [ 35 S]methionine. No indication of the presence of mammalian-type glycosaminoglycans in insect cuticles was obtained after treatment with chondroitinase or nitrous acid. The functional significance of the modifications detected remains unknown. No evidence for phosphorylated proteins or lipoproteins was found.
Matching words to concepts in two languages: A test of the concept mediation model of bilingual representation

A categorization paradigm was used to investigate the relations between lexical and conceptual connections in bilingual memory. Fifty-one more fluent and less fluent English-French bilinguals viewed category names (e.g., vegetable) and then decided whether a target word (e.g., peas) was a member of that category. The category names and target words appeared in both English and French across experimental conditions. Because category matching requires access to conceptual memory, only relatively fluent bilinguals, who are able to directly access meaning for their second language, were expected to be able to use category information across languages. The performance of less-fluent bilinguals was expected to reflect reliance on lexical-level connections between languages, requiring translation of second-language words. The results provided evidence for concept mediation by more-fluent bilinguals, because categorization latencies were independent of the language of the category name. However, the performance of less-fluent bilinguals indicated that they did not follow a simple lexical translation strategy. Instead, these subjects were faster at categorizing words in both languages when the language of the category name matched the language of the target word, suggesting that they were able to access limited conceptual information from the second language. A model of the development of concept mediation during second language acquisition is described.
Mirex-induced suppression of biliary excretion of polychlorinated biphenyl compounds.

Abstract Isolated perfused rat liver preparations were utilized to study the drug-induced modification of biliary excretion of [ 14 C]4-chlorobiphenyl (1-CB) and [ 14 C]2,4,5-2′,4′,5′-hexachlorobiphenyl (6-CB) and their metabolites. The effect of pretreatment of rats with mirex was compared with that of phenobarbital (PB) and 6-CB by measuring the biliary excretion of 1-CB and the pharmacokinetics of 1-CB and its metabolites in the perfusate of liver preparations obtained from control and treated rats. The biliary excretion of 1-CB metabolites by mirex-pretreated livers was suppressed by 92% of that in control livers. The rate of metabolism of 1-CB by mirexpretreated livers was slightly decreased. However, the suppression of biliary excretion of 1-CB metabolites does not appear to be related either to decreased rate of metabolism or to the rate of bile flow. These conclusions are borne out from the following two observations: first, the metabolites of 1-CB accumulate at increasing concentrations in the perfusate of mirexpretreated livers; secondly, mirex-pretreated livers had elevated bile flows. Biliary excretion of exogenously added metabolites of 1-CB by mirextreated livers was suppressed by 85% of that of control livers. PB and 6-CB pretreatment caused a statistically significant increase in the biliary excretion of 1-CB metabolites. This was accompanied by a slight but statistically nonsignificant increase in the rate of bile flow. Biliary excretion of 6-CB was completely suppressed by mirex pretreatment and was unaffected by PB. These results indicate that while PB-induced modification of biliary excretion of PCBs may be associated with their metabolism, mirex-induced suppression is associated with the transport of otherwise readily excretable metabolites from the hepatocytes into the bile canaliculi.
Oxidative stress is transient and tissue specific during cold acclimation of threespine stickleback

Linkages between cold acclimation and oxidative stress in fishes are unclear and contradictory results have been published. We sought to determine whether oxidative stress occurs during cold acclimation of threespine stickleback (Gasterosteus aculeatus), and, if so, when it occurs and whether it varies among tissues. Fish were warm (20°C) or cold (8°C) acclimated for 9 weeks, and harvested during acclimation. Oxidative stress was assessed in oxidative and glycolytic muscles and liver by measuring levels of protein carbonyls and glutathione, and the activity and transcript levels of superoxide dismutase (SOD). Protein carbonyl levels increased in liver after 1 week at 8°C and then decreased after week 4, and remained unchanged in glycolytic and oxidative muscle. Glutathione levels increased in liver on day 3 of cold acclimation and may minimize oxidative stress later during acclimation. When measured at a common temperature, the activity of SOD increased in oxidative and glycolytic muscles on day 2 of cold acclimation, and on day 3 in liver, and remained elevated in all tissues compared with warm-acclimated animals. When measured at the acclimation temperature, the activity of SOD was significantly higher only at week 9 in oxidative muscle of cold-acclimated stickleback compared with warm-acclimated fish, and remained constant in glycolytic muscle and liver. Increased SOD activity in oxidative muscle may be required to prevent oxidative stress brought about by increased mitochondrial density. In both muscle and liver, SOD activity increased independently of an increase in transcript level, suggesting post-translational modifications regulate SOD activity.
Inaccessible pore volume formation during sulfation of calcined limestones

A mathematical model for transport, reaction and structure evolution in gas-solid reactions with solid product is used to analyze a set of experimental data for the sulfation of calcines derived from three stones of high (>95%) calcium carbonate content. The analysis of the experimental data places emphasis on the formation of inaccessible pore space and its effects on the efficiency of calcined limestones as sorbents for SO2 removal. Our results show that the ultimate capacity of calcined limestones for SO2 uptake is influenced strongly by the formation of inaccessible pore space, which in turn is determined by their pore-size distribution and the connectivity (degree of interaction) of the pores. For the three specimens used in our study, the ultimate conversion (measured experimentally) increased and the inaccessible pore space formed during pore closure (predicted by the mathematical model) decreased with decreasing grain size in the rock precursors, indicating that the morphological texture of the precursors plays a major role in determining the topological features of the pore structure of the resulting calcines.
Hamiltonian threshold graphs

Abstract The vertices of a threshold graph G are partitioned into a clique K and an independent set I so that the neighborhoods of the vertices of I are totally ordered by inclusion. The question of whether G is hamiltonian is reduced to the case that K and I have the same size, say r , in which case the edges of K do not affect the answer and may be dropped from G , yielding a bipartite graph B . Let d 1 ≤ d 2 ≤…≤ d r and e 1 ≤ e 2 ≤…≤ e r be the degrees in B of the vertices of I and K , respectively. For each q = 0, 1,…, r −1, denote by S q the following system of inequalities: d j ⩾ j + 1, j = 1,2,…, q , e j ⩾ j + 1, j = 1, 2,…, r −1−1. Then the following conditions are equivalent: 1. (1) B is hamiltonian, 2. (2) S q holds for some q = 0, 1,…, r −1, 3. (3) S q holds for each q = 0, 1,…, r −1.
Cell surface morphology and adhesive properties of normal and virally transformed cells treated with tunicamycin, an inhibitor of protein glycosylation☆

Abstract Normal and virally transformed mouse (3T3) fibroblasts were treated with tunicamycin, a fungal antibiotic that specifically inhibits the synthesis of peptidyl asparaginyl-linked oligosaccharides. All cell lines exhibited changes in cell surface morphology, surface-associated proteins and adhesion to the culture plate in the presence of tunicamycin. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) revealed that treated fibroblasts assumed a spherical shape and were partially detached from the substratum. In addition, the 3T3 cells showed numerous cell surface ruffles. Tunicamycin-treated cells exhibited no marked ultrastructural changes when compared with control cells. There were indications, however, that the rough endoplasmic reticulum was dilated and that there were fewer membrane-bound ribosomes in treated 3T3 cells. Surface iodination of pretrypsinized tunicamycin-treated cells, followed by analysis of the labeled proteins on sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, showed a marked reduction in a cell surface protein, identical or similar to fibronectin. Both tunicamycin-treated 3T3 and transformed 3T3 cells demonstrated a reduction in plating efficiency as shown by attachment assays of viable cells. In addition, treated cells showed a reduction in adhesiveness and a delay in spreading. The latter changes were more pronounced in the virally transformed cell lines. These findings suggest that cell surface glycoproteins, including fibronectin, play a role in determining the surface morphology and adhesive properties of cells.
Metabolic Control and Progression of Retinopathy: The Diabetes in Early Pregnancy Study

OBJECTIVE To evaluate the role of metabolic control in the progression of diabetic retinopathy during pregnancy. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS We conducted a prospective cohort study of 155 diabetic women in the Diabetes in Early Pregnancy Study followed from the periconceptional period to 1 month postpartum. Fundus photographs were obtained shortly after conception (95% within 5 weeks of conception) and within 1 month postpartum. Glycosylated hemoglobin was measured weekly during the 1st trimester and monthly thereafter. RESULTS In the 140 patients who did not have proliferative retinopathy at baseline, progression of retinopathy was seen in 10.3, 21.1, 18.8, and 54.8% of patients with no retinopathy, microaneurysms only, mild nonproliferative retinopathy, and moderate-to-severe nonproliferative retinopathy at baseline, respectively. Proliferative retinopathy developed in 6.3% with mild and 29% with moderate-to-severe baseline retinopathy. Elevated glycosylated hemoglobin at baseline and the magnitude of improvement of glucose control through week 14 were associated with a higher risk of progression of retinopathy (adjusted odds ratio for progression in those with glycohe-moglobin ≥ 6 SD above the control mean versus those within 2 SD was 2.7; 95% confidence interval was 1.1-7.2; P = 0.039). CONCLUSIONS The risk for progression of diabetic retinopathy was increased by initial glycosylated hemoglobin elevations as low as 6 SD above the control mean. This increased risk maybe due to suboptimal control itself or to the rapid improvement in metabolic control that occurred in early pregnancy. Excellent metabolic control before conception may be required to avoid this increase in risk. Those with moderate-to-severe retinopathy at conception need more careful ophthalmic monitoring, particularly if their diabetes was suboptimally controlled at conception.
Neck mass secondary to pedicle ossification after oromandibular reconstruction

Conclusions: Development of a firm neck mass after treatment of head and neck cancer often indicates recurrent tumor. Heterotopic ossification has not been previously reported as a potential etiology of neck masses after fibula free flap oromandibular reconstruction in the head and neck surgery literature. The radiographic incidence of this phenomenon is high, while the clinical incidence of neck masses secondary to heterotopic ossification is low. Heterotopic ossification can be distinguished from recurrent tumor on the basis of physical examination, radiographic assessment, and/or fine needle aspiration biopsy. Awareness of heterotopic ossification should be included in the differential diagnosis of patients with a neck mass who have undergone fibula free flap reconstructions. Review of a patient database of 520 consecutive fibula free flaps between 1995-2010 revealed sixtysix patients who had postoperative CT scans of the neck available for radiographic review. Of the 66 patients who had postoperative CT scans available for radiologic assessment, 43/66 (65%) showed heterotopic ossification of the fibula periosteum. In an effort to elucidate risk factors for heterotopic ossification, statistical analysis was used to interpret the data. There was no difference in frequency of males and females between in patients with heterotopic ossification (p = 0.4). The mean ages of patients with radiographic evidence (58.3 years) of ossification and those without radiographic evidence of ossification (63.2 years) were not shown to be significantly different with Student’s t-test (p = 0.89). There was also a significant difference (p = 0.004) between post-operative time to CT scan between patients with and without evidence of heterotopic ossification on CT scan. Similarly, a Pearson’s chisquare test was performed to compare frequency of ossification between patients with scans less than 180 days post-operatively and scans after 180 days post-operatively. Patients with scans later than 180 days post-operatively were more likely to have evidence of heterotopic ossification (p = 0.007). The fibula osteocutaneous flap is perhaps the most widely used vascularized bone flap for reconstruction of segmental mandibular defects. Once the extirpative part of the surgery is completed and the fibula flap has been elevated, the composite bone and soft tissue graft from the leg is then harvested. A subperiosteal dissection protects the pedicle and preserves the periosteal plexus (see Figure 1). The unused pieces of the fibular bone are then excised and discarded. The proximal periosteum that was dissected off of the discarded fibula is allowed to drape over the peroneal vessels.
Experimental evaluation of rainbow trout Oncorhynchus mykiss predation on longnose dace Rhinichthys cataractae

Laboratory and in-stream enclosure experiments were used to determine whether rainbow trout Oncorhynchus mykiss influence survival of longnose dace Rhinichthys cataractae. In the laboratory, adult rainbow trout preyed on longnose dace in 42% of trials and juvenile rainbow trout did not prey on longnose dace during the first 6 h after rainbow trout introduction. Survival of longnose dace did not differ in the presence of adult rainbow trout previously exposed to active prey and those not previously exposed to active prey (v 2 = 0.28, P = 0.60). In field enclosures, the number of longnose dace decreased at a faster rate in the presence of rainbow trout relative to controls within the first 72 h, but did not differ between moderate and high densities of rainbow trout (F2,258.9 = 3.73, P = 0.03). Additionally, longnose dace were found in 7% of rainbow trout stomachs after 72 h in enclosures. Rainbow trout acclimated to the stream for longer periods had a greater initial influence on the number of longnose dace remaining in enclosures relative to those acclimated for shorter periods regardless of rainbow trout density treatment (F4,148.5 = 2.50, P = 0.04). More research is needed to determine how predation rates will change in natural environments, under differing amounts of habitat and food resources and in the context of whole assemblages. However, if rainbow trout are introduced into the habitat of longnose dace, some predation on longnose dace is expected, even when rainbow trout have no previous experience with active prey.
Redox tuning of mononuclear rhenium(III) complexes containing substituted nitrile andpara-substituted triphenylphosphine ligands

A series of oxorhenium(V) complexes of general formula ReOCl3[(4-RC6H4)3P]2 was prepared and converted into rhenium(III) complexes of general formula ReCl3(MeCN)[(4-RC6H4)3P]2. Replacement of the coordinated acetonitrile in the complex ReCl3(MeCN)(Ph3P)2 by a series ofpara-substituted benzonitriles yielded complexes of general formula ReCl3(4-RC6H4CN)(Ph3P)2. The voltammetric behavior of these oxorhenium(V) and rhenium(III) complexes was characterized. For all three classes of compounds, reversible one-electron oxidations and reductions were observed. The redox potentials were correlated with the pKa of the substituted phosphine and with the Hammett-Taft constants for both the phosphine and benzonitrile substituent.
How (not) to code a finite state machine

The standard advice for those coding a finite state machine is to use a while loop, a case statement, and a state variable. This is usually bad advice! The reasons for this are explored here, and better advice is formulated.
Epidemiological Link Between Low Cholesterol and Suicidality: A Puzzle Never Finished

AbstractA substantial body of evidence shows an association between an increased risk of suicide and naturally low or therapeutically lowered serum cholesterol. The nature of the association, however, remains unclear. The interrelationships of cholesterol, cholesterol-lowering medications, depressive disorders, and the risk of suicide are more likely to be multi-directional. On the one hand, low cholesterol may have direct effects on mood and suicidal behaviors. On the other hand, psychological conditions and the medications for treatment may influence eating and exercise habits, and subsequently cholesterol levels. There is also likelihood that cholesterol might be a bystander of the association between suicide and other factors. Overall, the association not only represents a public health concern, is indeed a scientific challenge. The aim of this contribution is to comprehensively update and critically review the epidemiological evidences. Efforts have been made to explain the discrepant results from pr...
Terahertz Pioneer: Michael Bass “The THz Light at the End of the Tunnel”

As a young man growing up in the Bronx, NY, in the 1950s, Michael Bass was able to take full advantage of the museums and other unique multi-cultural offerings of a major metropolis. The extensive New York City subway system cost a nickel a ride, and the trip from the Bronx to the American Museum of Natural History on 83rd street in Manhattan, took less than an hour. Michael found himself visiting the museum frequently and developing an early interest in science. While attending the prestigious Stuyvesant High School, a public secondary school then on 15th street in Manhattan—which boasts four Nobel laureates as alumni—Michael remembers being very impressed by an exhibit at the United Nations building in NYC in the spring of 1955. The exhibit was part of the U.S. “Atoms for Peace” initiative. There he saw a functional cloud chamber, which focused his science interests on physics. In 1956 he enrolled in Carnegie Institute of Technology (now Carnegie Mellon University) in Pittsburgh, PA, to formalize a career in science.
Toll-like receptor signaling links dietary fatty acids to the metabolic syndrome.

Purpose of review Dietary saturated fatty acids (SFAs) have been implicated in promoting the metabolic syndrome and atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease. Recent evidence suggests that SFAs promote the metabolic syndrome by activating Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4). Here we examine emerging molecular evidence that SFAs directly engage pathways of innate immunity, thereby promoting inflammatory aspects of the metabolic syndrome.
Iron chelation with a deferoxamine conjugate in hemorrhagic shock.

Oxygen-derived radicals are cytotoxic, highly reactive molecules that contribute to cellular death and injury in hemorrhagic shock. Iron released into the plasma in hemorrhagic shock may contribute to cellular damage by catalyzing lipid peroxidation of cell membranes. Deferoxamine (DFO) chelation of transitional metal ions prevents formation of these radicals and may diminish reperfusion injury. The conjugation of DFO to pentastarch (PS) decreases DFO toxicity and extends its half-life making it a potentially useful resuscitative fluid. A porcine hemorrhagic shock model was used to evaluate the effects of five resuscitative fluids on survival and hepatic function. Swine (11–16 kg) underwent splenectomy, liver biopsy, and placement of arterial and venous catheters. Awake animals were bled at 1 ml/kg/min to a MAP of 45 mm Hg, maintained for 1 hr, and resuscitated over 30 min with one of five fluids: Lactated Ringer's (LR); LR + free DFO 2.5 mg/ml (LR + DFO) (n = 6); 5% PS in LR (PS) (n = 6); 5% PS + free DFO (PS + DFO) 7.5 mg/ml (n = 6); 5% PS/DFO conjugate (7.5 mg/ml) in LR (n = 6). LR and LR + DFO received 3 ml/ml shed blood; PS, PS + DFO, and PS/DFO received 1 ml/ml shed blood. No shed blood was returned to the animals. There were no significant differences between groups in MAP, HR, CVP, and T pre- and post-resuscitation. No LR lived to sacrifice at 24 hr. Thirty-three percent of LR + DFO and PS + DFO animals died within minutes of receiving the free DFO containing resuscitative fluid, presumably from acute DFO toxicity. All other animals survived to sacrifice at 24 hr. Aspartate aminotransferase (AST) levels at 24 hr were significantly lower (P < 0.05) for the PS/DFO animals compared to all other groups and there was no significant difference between the baseline and 24-hr AST level for the PS/DFO group (P < 0.05). Serum iron levels were significantly decreased in all DFO groups post-resuscitation, and iron levels in the PS/DFO and PS + DFO groups remained decreased at 24 hr (P < 0.05). Malonyldialdehyde (MDA), a marker of lipid peroxidation, was measured in liver homogenates in the PS and PS/DFO groups. The PS animals showed a 72.5 ± 32.9% increase from baseline MDA levels at 24 hr, but PS/DFO conjugate animals were essentially identical at baseline and 24 hr (−1.6 ± 14.1%, P < 0.001). These data suggest that iron chelation with a deferoxamine-hetastarch conjugate limits lipid peroxidation and may diminish reperfusion injury.
The Public Offender Counseling Inventory An Instrument for Assessing Counseling Outcomes in Prisons

The Public Offender Counseling Inventory was developed to assess counseling outcomes in prisons. The instrument was written to be relevant to the special needs of inmates. The Public Offender Couns...
Environmental, Social, and Psychological Experiences of Asian American Undergraduates: Examining Issues of Academic Persistence

A total of 160 Asian Americans (55 Chinese, 13 Filipino, 27 Japanese, 32 Korean, 15 Pacific Islander, and 18 Vietnamese) completed a series of standardized instruments assessing their environmental, social, and psychological experiences as undergraduates. The purpose of this study was threefold: to provide a composite of student experiences; to investigate the interrelationships of comfort in the university environment, social support, and self-beliefs; and to examine the influence of these constructs on the academic persistence decisions of Asian American undergraduates. Overall, social support variables were the strongest predictors of academic persistence. Research-derived implications for university personnel and professional counselors are provided.
Electrophysiological actions of somatostatin (SRIF) in hippocampus: an in vitro study.

1. The electrophysiological actions of somatostatin (somatotropin release inhibiting factor; SRIF) were investigated in thein vitro hippocampal slice preparation. Intracellular recordings were obtained from pyramidal neurons in area CA1 in slices of hippocampus from guinea pigs and rabbits. 2. Somatostatin, applied via micropressure ejection to CA1 pyramidal-cell somata, was primarily excitatory. The effects, however, were quite variable, with nearly all cells displaying pronounced tachyphylaxis. A majority of cells was depolarized by SRIF, but hyperpolarizations or biphasic depolarization/hyperpolarization responses were also recorded. Only minimal conductance changes were associated with the SRIF-induced voltage changes. 3. Depletion of SRIF, by injection of the intact animal with cysteamine several hours before preparing slices, resulted in no obvious abnormalities in hippocampal slice electrophysiology. 4. Our results obtained with application of exogenous SRIF are consistent with the concept that SRIF acts as an excitatory neurotransmitter/neuromodulator in hippocampus. However, our attempts to demonstrate endogenous SRIF action have thus far been unsuccessful.
Ritual feasting and empowerment at Yanshi Shangcheng

Abstract This study concerns ritual feasting at the site of Yanshi Shangcheng, an Erligang (early Shang) urban center in the middle Yellow River valley of northern China. The related rituals of divination, sacrifice, and feasting are often framed as elite practices in this region. Quantitative analysis of ceramics and contextual analysis of archaeological finds from an elite palace and a potters’ neighborhood are applied to the question of whether Yanshi elites held a monopoly on ritual feasting. Dominant statistical findings support a picture of exclusionary elite feasting that contrasts with potters’ simpler foodways. However, “statistical outliers” and strong contextual evidence demonstrate that Yanshi potters were also conducting ritual feasts. Using a feasting typology that includes a range of feasting types from large-scale elite feasting to small-scale community feasts and symbolic feasting, this paper argues that Yanshi elites conducted large-scale feasting while Yanshi potters practiced community-based and household feasts that were empowering to their group. A trend in augmenting social power of artisans can be seen through time at Yanshi and also through the Shang dynasty.
A survey of finite semifields

Abstract The first part of this paper is a discussion of the known constructions that lead to infinite families of semifields of finite order.The second part is a catalog of the known semifields of finite order. The bibliography includes some references that concern the subject but are not explicitly cited.
Schauta radical vaginal hysterectomy.

The vaginal radical hysterectomy was initially described by the surgeon Anton Pawlik [1], but it was popularized by the Austrian Frederik Schauta [2], who described this surgical treatment option for patients with cervical cancer. The procedure was associated with a decreased postoperative mortality when compared with the abdominal route that was championed by Wetheim [3]. Schauta's technique was eventually modified by Peham and Americh [4] and Stockel [5]. As pelvic lymphadenectomy became incorporated into the surgical treatment of this disease, however, the vaginal approach gave way to the abdominal radical hysterectomy, which allowed for both procedures to be performed through one incision. To counter this return to the abdominal approach, the extraperitoneal pelvic lymphadenectomy was introduced into the management scheme, but this still required multiple incisions. The laparoscopic lymphadenectomy was introduced by Dargent in 1987 [6]. This allowed the vaginal approach to be used without sacrificing the benefits of a minimally invasive approach. Over time, the extent of the laparoscopic dissection expanded, and now, many perform the entire procedure laparoscopically.
In memoriam: Geoffrey Louis Zubay, 1931-2014. Pioneer in cell-free gene expression studies and molecular genetics.

After the seminal discovery of the double-helical structure of DNA [1], and the deciphering of the genetic code [2], there was rush to understand the mechanisms regulating the expression of the genes encoded within the DNA. One of the early pioneers in the development of cell-free systems that allowed the molecular dissection of the regulatory components that determine how and whether genes are expressed was Geoffrey Zubay, who passed away on February 5, 2014, at the age of 82. Zubay's coupled transcription–translation system revolutionized the study of gene expression and helped usher in the emerging field of molecular genetics.
Strontium adsorption and desorption reactions in model drinking water distribution systems

Divalent cationic strontium (Sr 2+ ) adsorption to and desorption from iron corrosion products were examined in two model drinking water distribution systems (DWDS). One system was maintained with chlorine-disinfected drinking water and the other with the same water with secondary chloramine disinfection. Flow conditions simulated primary transmission lines (constant flow) and residential mains (periods of stagnation). Accumulation of Sr 2+ to iron corrosion products in model DWDS was independent of disinfection type. Adsorption and desorption mechanisms are discussed. X-ray adsorption near edge structure (XANES) spectroscopy and linear combination fitting determined Sr 2+ was primarily associated with iron oxyhydroxide corrosion products. At the end of the desorption study, the amount of Sr 2+ remaining in iron corrosion products equilibrated to approximate levels observed at the end of the constant flow adsorption experiments. These results suggest that enhanced iron corrosion product loading of Sr 2+ during stagnation could be short lived under constant flow conditions. Differences between adsorption and desorption based on disinfection type (chlorine versus chlorine plus chloramine) cannot be used to control Sr 2+ desorption.
High-intensity bessel-gauss beam enhancement cavities

An enhancement cavity design with significant intensity gain from the mirror surfaces to the focus and larger than millimeter sized apertures in the cavity mirrors is presented. A continuous-wave version of the cavity is demonstrated.
Reductions by titanium(II) as catalyzed by titanium(IV).

The cobalt(III) complexes, [(NH3)5CoBr]2+ and [(NH3)5CoI]2+ are reduced by Ti(II) solutions containing Ti(IV), generating nearly linear (zero-order) profiles that become curved only during the last few percent of reaction. Other Co(III)–Ti(II) systems exhibit the usual exponential traces with rates proportional to [Co(III)]. Observed kinetics of the biphasic catalyzed Ti(II)–Co(III)Br and Ti(II)–Co(III)I reactions support the reaction sequence:with rates determined mainly by the slow Ti(IV)–Ti(II) ligand exchange (k1 = 9 × 10−3 M−1 s−1 at 22 °C). Computer simulations of the catalyzed Ti(II)–Co(III) reaction in perchlorate–triflate media yield relative rates for reduction by the proposed active [Ti(II)(H2O)n−1]2+ intermediate; kBr/kI = 8.
Effect of Education and Legislation on Bicycle Helmet Use in a Multiracial Population

Objective: To observe the effect of new legislation and a boroughwide bicycle helmet educational campaign on bicycle helmet use in a multiracial population. Design: A prospective observational study. Observations were made at randomly selected sites in Queens (study group) and Brooklyn (control group), NY, in May 1994, before a New York State law affecting both boroughs was enacted and before a bicycle helmet educational campaign was conducted in Queens. Variables observed included age, sex, race, and whether the child was wearing a bicycle helmet while riding. A bicycle helmet campaign was conducted in late May 1994. New York State bicycle helmet law was effected on June 1, 1994, requiring all children aged 1 to 14 years to wear helmets while riding their bicycles. Follow-up observations were made at the same sites in July or August 1994. Setting: Queens County, New York, which is the most racially diverse county in the United States, according to 1990 census data. Participants: Cross-sectional observations of children aged 1 to 14 years made at randomly selected sites. Interventions: A boroughwide bicycle helmet educational campaign conducted in May 1994 in Queens. Results: The overall use of helmets increased from 4.7% (13/276) to 13.9% (44/316) ( P P =.10) in the control group during the same period. Conclusions: In a multiracial population, a statistically significant ( P Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med. 1997;151:41-44
Effects of temperature and pressure gradients on catalyst pellet effectiveness factors—I

The dusty gas model is used to establish the effects of temperature and pressure gradients on catalyst pellet effectiveness factors for reaction systems in which species molecular weights and transport coefficients are indistinguishable and Σνi = 0. For this class of reactions, the total molar flux of species i is shown to be expressible simply as Ni = −cD ∇ϰi in terms of the molar concentration, the Bosanguet diffusivity, and the mole fraction gradient. The effects of temperature and pressure gradients are reflected only in variations in molar concentration and diffusivity. Furthermore, the temperature-pressure relationship is shown to be given by the thermal transpiration equation for a pure gas. Typical numerical results are reported for first order reactions in spherical pellets under diffusive conditions ranging from the Knudsen through the bulk diffusion regimes. The variation in diffusion regime is shown to be controlled by an additional parameter α, the Knudsen to bulk diffusion ratio. Comparisons are made with the classical Weisz-Hicks nonisothermal pellet solutions based on Ni = −Deff∇ci. For highly exothermic reactions, effectiveness factors are 18% lower in the Knudsen regime and 30% higher in the bulk diffusion regime than are the Weisz—Hicks values. For highly endothermic reactions with a significant diffusion limitation, the effectiveness factors are 30% lower than the Weisz—Hicks values. The classical Damkoehler relationship for pellet temperature rise is shown to apply in the Knudsen regime, with the maximum dimensionless center temperature given by (1 + β), where β is the heat of reaction parameter. This temperature is accompanied by a maximum dimensionless center pressure of (1 + β)12. In the bulk diffusion regime, the maximum center temperature is shown to be increased by the additional term β2/4. This additional temperature rise accounts for the 42% increased bulk diffusion effectiveness for highly exothermic reactions.
Brief Report: Attachment Security in Infants At-Risk for Autism Spectrum Disorders

Little is known about attachment security and disorganization in children who are at genetic risk for an Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) prior to a possible diagnosis. The present study examined distributions of attachment security and disorganization at 15-months of age in a sample of infant siblings of older children with (ASD-sibs; n = 51) or without (COMP-sibs; n = 34) an ASD. ASD-sibs were not more or less likely to evince attachment insecurity or disorganization than COMP-sibs. However, relative to COMP-sibs, the rate of B1–B2 secure subclassifications was disproportionately larger in the ASD-sib group. Results suggest that ASD-sibs are not less likely to form secure affectional bonds with their caregivers than COMP-sibs, but may differ from COMP-sibs in their expression of attachment security.
Anglo-Indian English: A nativized variety of Indian English

The speech of native speakers of Indian English has generally been neglected in studies of English in South Asia. This article describes a variety of Indian English used by a section of the Anglo-Indian community in Madras, South India. A comparison of this variety to available descriptions of “General” or “Educated” Indian English shows that the two are substantially similar, but that the Anglo-Indian variety differs in two features: deletion of/h/ (h-dropping) and the distribution of r-lessness. The community shows classbased variation in the phonological feature of h-dropping and in one syntactic feature: auxiliary movement in questions. Sources for features of Anglo-Indian English are discussed, including possible inheritance from both standard and non-standard BrE dialects as well as transfer from Tamil, the likely substrate Indian language for this section of the Anglo-Indian community.(South Asia, Indian English, language variation)
Daily changes of amino acids in soybean leaflets are modified by CO2 enrichment

The effects of CO2 enrichment on plant growth and on nitrogen partitioning were examined using soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr. cv. Clark] leaflets. Plants were grown from single seeds in matching controlled environment chambers. Continuous ambient CO2 partial pressures were from 38 to 40 Pa and elevated CO2 treatments were 68 to 70 Pa. Total above ground biomass, total leaf area and specific leaf weight of soybean were increased 78%, 58% and 33%, respectively, in response to CO2 enrichment when measured 25 days after sowing. Total chlorophyll (a+b) was 25% greater in third trifoliolate soybean leaflets in response to CO2 enrichment but total soluble protein did not differ between treatments. These and other measurements indicated that soybean plants were nitrogen sufficient in this study. Variations of total soluble amino acids were observed in soybean leaflets and these were enhanced by CO2 enrichment when measurements were performed mid-day. However, concentrations of total amino acids were similar in both CO2 treatments by end of the photoperiod. Glycine was lower in the elevated compared to the ambient CO2 treatment suggesting that rates of photorespiration were diminished by elevated CO2. Alanine increased 20% in response to CO2 enrichment. Overall, changes of soluble amino acids in response to CO2 enrichment were smaller than in other crop species and a temporal shift occurred in the daily accumulation of amino acids in soybean leaflets.
Process simulation, design and manufacturing of a long fiber thermoplastic composite for mass transit application

Abstract Long fiber thermoplastics (LFTs) have witnessed rapid growth in thermoplastics matrix composites, mainly due to developments in the automotive and transportation sector. In LFTs, pelletized thermoplastic polymer matrix is reinforced with long glass or carbon fibers (3–25 mm) are processed by extrusion-compression molding. The current work focuses on the applied science and manufacturing of E-glass/polypropylene (E-glass/PP) LFT composite material. Process simulation was conducted to evaluate the flow of fiber filled viscous charge during the compression molding of the LFT composite. Studies on optimum charge size and placement in the tool, press force, temperature of mold, shrinkage and warpage were also conducted. The flow pattern of the molten charge in the mold and the resulting fiber orientation predicted by process simulation are verified experimentally. The studies have been applied for a mass transit/transportation component namely, a LFT battery box access door for form-fit-function to replace a heavy metal door. Weight reduction of 60% was achieved using 40% weight percent E-glass/PP LFT over the metal design.
A more rational approach to the problem of an elastoplastic thick-walled cylinder

Abstract A new incremental theory has been developed for solving the problem of partially yielded thick-walled cylinders. Incremental stresses and strains are directly used as variables, hence numerical differentiation in the evaluation of stresses and strains is not required. The stresses and strains in all principal directions can be computed at the same time from governing equations for each increment of loading. Since the consideration of loading history is involved, the present theory is particularly suitable for predicting stress and strain distribution of a thick-walled cylinder subjected to nonproportionate loading.
The ACCORD (Action to Control Cardiovascular Risk in Diabetes) Lipid Trial What we learn from subgroup analyses

Atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease is increased severalfold in most patients with type 2 diabetes, particularly patients who are older and have other risk factors (1,2). These associated risk factors include hypertension, obesity, and dyslipidemia. Diabetic dyslipidemia, which has also been called atherogenic dyslipidemia (a term that describes the lipid abnormalities in people with insulin resistance, metabolic syndrome, and type 2 diabetes), is characterized by elevated plasma triglyceride (TG) levels, low levels of HDL cholesterol, and smaller cholesterol ester–depleted LDL (3). Despite the fact that statins, which mainly lower blood levels of LDL cholesterol, have the same relative effectiveness in type 2 diabetic patients as in nondiabetic subjects, absolute rates of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease events remained higher in patients with diabetes who participated in all of the statin trials (4,5). These findings have raised interest in the use of combination therapy, particularly the combination of a statin plus a drug that would lower plasma TG levels and raise plasma HDL cholesterol levels. ACCORD (Action to Control Cardiovascular Risk in Diabetes) was specifically designed to determine the effects of intensive treatment of blood glucose, and either blood pressure (ACCORD Blood Pressure) or plasma lipids (ACCORD Lipid), on atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease outcomes in patients with type 2 diabetes who were at high risk of such an outcome (6). The ACCORD Lipid trial tested the hypothesis that treatment of patients with type 2 diabetes with fenofibrate to increase plasma HDL cholesterol levels and reduce plasma TG concentrations, on the …
An efficient algorithm used for full-field optical coherence tomography

Abstract An efficient algorithm for computing optical coherence tomography is presented, which is based on the discrete differences of a time/depth sequence of interferograms. The existing multiple-step phase-shift algorithms, including those solved from Carre and Hariharan equations as well as circular-step algorithm proposed by Dubois et al., are analyzed and compared with the proposed algorithm. The analytical and experimental results show the computational efficiency of the new algorithm outperforms others. The simulations also demonstrate that the algorithm based on derivatives of four phase-shifted images is less sensitive to the phase-shift noise comparing to traditional 4-step phase-shift-based algorithm.