cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Depressive symptoms and viral clearance in patients receiving interferon-α and ribavirin for hepatitis C

Interferon (IFN)-alpha plus ribavirin is an effective treatment for hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection, but is associated with a high rate of depression. Depression has been linked to a worse outcome in multiple medical disorders including viral illnesses. We examined whether increased symptoms of depression during IFN-alpha/ribavirin therapy were associated with a reduced treatment response as assessed by clearance of HCV. Depressive symptoms were evaluated in 102 HCV-infected patients at baseline and after 4, 8, 12, and 24 weeks of pegylated IFN-alpha-2b plus ribavirin therapy using the Zung self-rating depression scale (SDS). Viral clearance was determined at 24 weeks by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Only 34% of subjects (10 out of 29) with a 20-point or greater increase in SDS Index score were HCV PCR negative at 24 weeks, compared to 59% (24 out of 41) of patients with a 10-19 point increase in SDS Index and 69% (22 out of 32) of patients with a less than 10 point increase (chi2=7.6, df=2, p <0.05). In addition, a 20-point or greater increase in SDS Index score during IFN-alpha/ribavirin therapy significantly predicted failure to clear virus when considered alone [crude odds ratio (OR), 3.2; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.3-8.0; p <0.01] or when controlling for other factors that affected IFN-alpha treatment response (adjusted OR, 3.6; 95% CI, 1.3-9.5; p=0.01). These preliminary findings suggest that individuals who experience significant increases in depressive symptoms during IFN-alpha/ribavirin therapy may be less likely to clear virus, highlighting the importance of identifying and treating depressive symptoms in this patient population.
Coccidioidomycosis of prostate gland

Abstract A case of coccidioidomycosis of the prostate is presented, adding another case to the 6 antemortem cases in the English literature since 1940.
Effect of VB and VIB oxides on nucleation parameters in lithium disilicate glass

Abstract It has been proposed that some oxides act as nucleation agents in glass ceramics by reducing the interfacial tension between subcritical nuclei and the glass matrix. Evidence exists for classifying the Groups VB and VIB oxides in this type, which would support their behavior as homogeneous nucleation agents. However, substitution of MoO 3 , Nb 2 O 5 , Ta 2 O 5 , and WO 3 for silica in lithium disilicate glass was shown to cause decreased steady-state nucleation rates and increased induction periods at 733 K, while substitution of V 2 O 5 resulted in inconsequential changes. The effect of differential cooling rates through the glass cross section on crystal density following heat treatment was most apparent in those glasses containing the oxides that most retarded nucleation as a whole. The possible relationships between these effects and the effects of the substituted oxides on the physical properties of the glasses are analyzed; an especially significant link between viscosity and nucleation parameters is postulated.
Coupled-mode analysis of gain and wavelength oscillation characteristics of diode laser phased arrays

The lasing wavelengths and gain characteristics of the modes of phase-locked arrays of channel-substrate-planar (CSP) lasers are presented. The gain values for the array modes are determined from complex coupling coefficients calculated using the fields of neighboring elements of the array. The computations show that for index guided lasers which have nearly planar phase fronts, the highest order array mode will be preferred. The "in phase" or fundamental mode which produces only one major lobe in the far-field radiation pattern, has the lowest modal gain of all array modes. The modal gain differential between the highest order and fundamental modes is less than 10 cm-1for weak coupling between the elements.
Patterns of pain across the acute SCI rehabilitation stay: evidence from hourly ratings.

Cohort. To examine patterns of pain intensity and variability during acute spinal cord injury (SCI) rehabilitation. Large medical university in the Midwestern United States. Data were collected from the medical records of consecutively admitted patients with new (⩽2 months after onset), traumatic (that is, injury resulting from external forces) or non-traumatic (that is, injury resulting from disease processes) SCI. A total of 11 001 hourly pain ratings on 1709 inpatient days were collected from 56 inpatients. Multi-leveling modeling was used to test models of pain intensity, pain variability, diurnal variability and pain medication administration. Pain intensity and variability decreased during the inpatient stay. Compared with those with non-traumatic injuries, those with traumatic injuries had significantly higher pain; those with American Spinal Injury Association Impairment Score (AIS) A scores had a slower decline of pain, while those with AIS D scores had a sharper decline. Pain increased from morning to evening during the latter days of the inpatient stay whereas pain was relatively stable during the early days in the inpatient stay. Those not using a ventilator at admission were significantly less likely to receive a pain medication than those who were, despite no significant differences in pain levels. Pain changes during acute rehabilitation, however, the moderating effect of time suggests that change is not consistent across all injury characteristics. Findings suggest that not only should pain management be individualized but it should also reflect a greater understanding of change over time.
Ice Storage System Controls for the Reduction of Operating Cost and Energy Use

Ice storage systems have the reputation of saving cost for operating building cooling plants by appropriately recognizing time-of-use incentives in the utility rate structure. However, many systems can consume more electrical energy than a conventional cooling plant without ice storage. This excess energy problem is illustrated in this paper by a simplified cooling plant model employed in a simulation environment that allows the assessment of the control performance of various conventional and optimal strategies. The optimal control strategy of minimizing operating cost only is introduced and subsequently is modified to allow the simultaneous consideration of operating cost and energy consumption. This proposed optimal control strategy could be valuable if ice storage systems are to stand on their own merits in a deregulated utility environment. Due to the lack of demand charges under real-time pricing, even small energy penalties and their associated excess energy cost may jeopardize the feasibility of the ice storage system.
Do Grief Self-Help Books Convey Contemporary Perspectives on Grieving?

Grief therapy and psychology literatures of the modern Western world conceptualized bereavement and grief as processes to be “worked through” so that other relationships could be pursued. In the last decade or so, however, grief theorists have endorsed the value of attaining new meaning(s) and continuing bonds with our lost loved ones instead of “moving on from,” “letting go of,” or “achieving closure from” them. This article tracks the evolution of thought pertaining to this shift and examines its relevance to grief self-help books that may offer Americans guidance in the ways of grieving.
Evaluation of the SKC DPM cassette for monitoring diesel particulate matter in coal mines.

In a previous study, the efficacy of commercial and prototype impactors for sampling diesel particulate matter (DPM) in coal mines was investigated. Laboratory and field samples were collected on quartz-fiber filters and analyzed for organic and elemental carbon. Coal dust contributed a minimal amount of elemental carbon when commercial cascade impactors and prototype impactors, designed by the University of Minnesota (UMN) and the US Bureau of Mines (BOM), were used to collect submicrometer dust fractions. Other impactors were not as effective at excluding coal dust. The impactors evaluated in that study were either not commercially available or were multi-stage, expensive, and difficult to use for personal measurements. A commercial version of the BOM impactor, called the DPM Cassette, was recently introduced by SKC®. Tests were conducted to evaluate the performance of the DPM Cassette for measuring diesel-source elemental carbon in the presence of coal dust. Bituminous coals from three mines in two different coal provinces were examined. The dust particle diameters were small and the coal dust contained a high percentage of carbon, thereby giving a worst-case condition for non-anthracite coal mines. Results for the DPM Cassette were essentially identical to those obtained by the BOM impactors in a previous study. At a respirable coal dust concentration of 5.46 mg m−3, which is 3.8 times the regulatory limit, the DPM Cassette collected only 34 μg m−3 of coal-source elemental carbon.
A method for estimating wall friction in turbulent boundary layers

We describe a simple method for estimating wall fricti on which uses the fit of velocity data to the boundary layer profile in wall units all the way from the wall to the end of the log region. Two different models for the boundary layer profile are examined, the power -series interpolation scheme of Spalding a nd the Musker profile which is based on the eddy viscosity concept. The accuracy of the new method is quantified using the zero pressure gradient 2 -D turbulent boundary layer data of Osterlund for which independent measurement of wall shear is available. Results show that the new procedure can provide accurate estimates of wall shear with a mean error of about two percent or better. The usefulness of this method is in its ability to provide accurate estimates of wall shear not only based on full velocity profile data but also sparse data points in the velocity profile, including only a single data point.
Hodgkin's Disease Manifesting as Prurigo Nodularis

Prurigo nodularis is an uncommon pediatric cutaneous disorder that is associated with intense pruritus. We report a teenager with prurigo nodularis as the presenting sign of stage IIA Hodgkin's disease, primarily in the mediastinum. The pruritus and associated cutaneous lesions resolved with combination chemotherapy directed at the malignancy. In patients with prurigo nodularis and pruritus of unclear etiology, the possibility of underlying Hodgkin's disease must be considered.
Custom microarray construction and analysis for determining potential biomarkers of subchronic androgen exposure in the Eastern Mosquitofish (Gambusia holbrooki)

The eastern mosquitofish (Gambusia holbrooki) has the potential to become a bioindicator organism of endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) due to its androgen-driven secondary sexual characteristics. However, the lack of molecular information on G. holbrooki hinders its use as a bioindicator coupled with biomarker data. While traditional gene-by-gene approaches provide insight for biomarker development, a holistic analysis would provide more rapid and expansive determination of potential biomarkers. The objective of this study was to develop and utilize a mosquitofish microarray to determine potential biomarkers of subchronic androgen exposure. To achieve this objective, two specific aims were developed: 1) Sequence a G. holbrooki cDNA library, and 2) Use microarray analysis to determine genes that are differentially regulated by subchronic androgen exposure in hepatic tissues of 17β-trenbolone (TB) exposed adult female G. holbrooki. A normalized library of multiple organs of male and female G. holbrooki was prepared and sequenced by the Illumina GA IIx and Roche 454 XLR70. Over 30,000 genes with e-value ≤ 10-4 were annotated and 14,758 of these genes were selected for inclusion on the microarray. Hepatic microarray analysis of adult female G. holbrooki exposed to the vehicle control or 1 μg/L of TB (a potent anabolic androgen) revealed 229 genes upregulated and 279 downregulated by TB (one-way ANOVA, p 1.5 and < −1.5). Fifteen gene ontology biological processes were enriched by TB exposure (Fisher’s Exact Test, p < 0.05). The expression levels of 17β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase 3 and zona pellucida glycoprotein 2 were validated by quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) (Student’s t-test, p < 0.05). Coupling microarray data with phenotypic changes driven by androgen exposure in mosquitofish is key for developing this organism into a bioindicator for EDCs. Future studies using this array will enhance knowledge of the biology and toxicological response of this species. This work provides a foundation of molecular knowledge and tools that can be used to delve further into understanding the biology of G. holbrooki and how this organism can be used as a bioindicator organism for endocrine disrupting pollutants in the environment.
Density functional study of O2 adsorption on (100) surface of γ-uranium

Chemisorption of the oxygen molecule on the (100) surface of γ-uranium was investigated using the generalized gradient approximation to Density Functional Theory. Dissociative adsorptions of O2 are found to be significantly favored compared to molecular adsorptions. Interstitial adsorptions of molecular oxygen are less probable, as no bound states are found in this case. Only after dissociation of O2 is atomic oxygen diffusion through the surface possible. The O 2p orbitals are found to hybridize with U 5f bands, and some of the U 5f electrons become more localized. A significant charge transfer from the first layer of the uranium surface to the oxygen atoms is found to occur, making the bonding partly ionic. For the most favored site, the dissociative chemisorption energy is ∼9.5 eV, which indicates a strong reaction of uranium surface with oxygen. Spin polarization does not have a significant effect on the chemisorption process. For most of the sites and approaches, chemisorption configurations are almost same for both spin-polarized and non-spin-polarized cases. For the most favored chemisorption sites of oxygen on uranium, paramagnetic adsorption is slightly stronger, by 0.304 eV, compared to magnetic adsorption. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Quantum Chem, 2005
DIRECTLY INTERVENE OR CALL THE AUTHORITIES? A STUDY OF FORMS OF NEIGHBORHOOD SOCIAL CONTROL WITHIN A SOCIAL DISORGANIZATION FRAMEWORK*

Informal social control is a central concept in the contemporary social disorganization literature, and much attention has been directed at examining community characteristics related to variation in the quantity of informal social control across communities. However, considerably less attention has been paid to variation in forms of informal social control. This study examines the extent to which neighborhood characteristics are related to residents’likelihood of using two different forms of informal social control: direct informal social control (i.e., through direct intervention) and indirect informal social control (i.e., through mobilizing formal authorities). Data for this study are based on surveys of residents in 66 neighborhoods. The analysis uses hierarchical modeling to examine whether neighborhood characteristics central to contemporary social disorganization theory have similar effects on these two forms of neighborhood social control. Findings indicate that social ties increase the likelihood of direct informal social control but not indirect informal social control, whereas social cohesion and trust decreases indirect informal social control but does not have a significant effect on direct informal social control. Faith in the police is not found to affect either form of informal social control. These findings are discussed in terms of current issues in contemporary social disorganization theory.
Are prenatal psychological or physical stressors associated with suboptimal outcomes in neonates born to adolescent mothers

Examined whether prenatal psychological stress and/or physical stress were associated with suboptimal neonatal outcomes in a pilot study of adolescent mothers (n=20). The results provide preliminary support for associations between prenatal psychological stress and little evidence for the association between prenatal physical stress and suboptimal neonatal outcomes.
GEOGRAPHICAL VARIATION IN COST OF AIR TRAVEL: ANALYSIS OF THE "DOMESTIC AIRLINE FARES CONSUMER REPORT"

There is significant geographical variability in the cost of American domestic air travel. This variability may be attributable to a number of factors, including scale economies, the average length of trips, airport congestion, and other factors that vary by region. Also, in the post-deregulation environment the cost of air travel may depend on the level of competition in specific spatial markets. Data from Domestic Airline Fares Consumer Report are used to conduct descriptive and statistical analyses of the spatial variability of air travel cost. The ratio of average fare to distance (fare per mile) is used as a general measure of relative cost, which is observed to vary significantly across cities. Two regression analyses seek to identify the factors that drive this variation. The first takes weighted average fares in the 50 largest cities as its dependent variable, whereas the second takes average fares in more than 6,500 origin-destination pairs as its dependent variable. Results of both analyses indi...
Irradiation-Assisted Stress Corrosion Cracking and Grain Boundary Segregation in Heat Treated Type 304 SS

Evidence was obtained correlating the susceptibility of Type-304 stainless steel (SS) to irradiation-assisted stress corrosion cracking (IASCC) and grain boundary segregation. IASCC susceptibility was measured in constant extension rate tensile (CERT) tests, and grain boundary segregation was demonstrated by Auger Electron Spectroscopy and HNO/sub 3//Cr/sup +6/ corrosion tests. 24 tabs., 7 figs., 7 tabs.
Biological Control of Japanese, Oriental, and Black Turfgrass Ataenius Beetle (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae) Larvae with Entomopathogenic Nematodes (Nematoda: Steinernematidae, Heterorhabditidae)

Several strains or species of entomopathogenic nematodes-Steinernema carpocapsae Weiser (All), S. feltiae (= bibionis ) (Filipjev) (Biosys strains 27 and 980), S. glaseri (Steiner), and Heterorhabditis bacteriophora (= heliothidis ) Poinar (HP88)—were tested in the field for control of Japanese beetle, Popillia japonica Newman; Oriental beetle, Anomala orientalis Waterhouse; or black turfgrass ataenius, Ataenius spretulus (Haldeman) larvae. A spring field trial against A. orientalis , in which half of the plots were aerated to assist in nematode dispersal in soil, showed no significant differences between control plots and those treated with H. bacteriophora (HP88) or S. carpocapsae (All). A fall field trial in which half of the plots were dethatched before nematode application (to enhance nematode-larva contact) also showed no significant differences between plots treated with S. feltiae and control plots. Four other fall field trials with S. carpocapsae, S. feltiae, S. glaseri , and H. bacteriorphora against Japanese beetle larvae showed a range of 0-81% control. The greatest mortality of P. japonica larvae occurred with S. glaseri at 24.7 × 109 per ha. A field trial with S. carpocapsae against A. spretulus showed 94% mortality at a 24.7 × 109 per ha rate.
Bone matrix proteins: their function, regulation, and relationship to osteoporosis

Bone is a unique tissue composed of numerous cell types entombed within a mineralized matrix each with its own unique functions. While the majority of the matrix is composed of inorganic materials, study of the organic components has yielded most of the insights into the roles and regulation of cell and tissue specific functions. The goal of this review will be to describe some of the major known organic components of the bone matrix and discuss their functions as currently perceived. The potential usefulness of bone matrix protein assays for diagnosing the status of bone diseases and our current understanding of how these proteins could be related to diseases such as osteoporosis will also be reviewed.
Unstable flow of molten polymers: A second site of melt fracture

Instability in melt flow initiates within capillaries for some samples of the two types of polymers linear polyethylene and copolymers of tetrafluoroethylene and hexafluoropropylene. This behavior contrasts with a previously described instability which initiated at capillary inlets. The instability initiating within capillaries results, initially, in fine-scale surface roughness and, ultimately, in slip or plug flow. Instabilities initiating at both sites appear to result from elastic failure or melt fracture at critical elastic strains of about 5 units. Data supporting these conclusions were obtained from capillary flow and flow birefringence, and rotational viscometry.
Perceptions of Social Loafing in Online Learning Groups: A study of Public University and U.S. Naval War College students

Social loafing research has spanned several decades and fields of study. Research has provided support for both the existence of social loafing and its antecedents within the laboratory, classroom, and work place. Studies regarding the perceptions of social loafing and its effects in the online learning environment, however, are largely non-existent. This study surveyed 227 online learning students who were participating in online learning groups. The study seeks to determine whether the perception of social loafing exists within online learning groups. In addition, several psychosocial factors identified in face-to-face environments are analyzed to determine their impact in online learning groups. Evidence supports both the perception of social loafing in online learning groups as well as similarities between social loafing antecedents in face-to-face groups and those in the online learning environment.
New Understanding of RFID Adoption and Infusion in Retail Supply Chain

Information technology adoption and infusion research has yielded many models in which different determinants have been investigated; however, Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) as an emerging technology has not been studied well from a supply chain perspective. Using the TechnologyOrganization-Environment (TOE) framework, we develop a theoretical model for RFID adoption and infusion. We include the development status of technology, which is an important factor in adoption decisions, but has been ignored in IS literature. By adding maturation of technology as one of determinants of adoption and infusion, the new model is more general and robust than previous adoption models of RFID in literature. We propose to empirically test the model with a large sample size covering the retail supply chain.
Metamorphic synchrony and aggregation as antipredator responses in American toads

Safety in numbers serves as an antipredator defense strategy in many organisms, as aggregation can reduce the probability of predation for individual group members. It has long been suggested that some organisms are under selective pressure to synchronize vulnerable life stages with conspecifics, but there have been very few experimental tests of this hypothesis. Furthermore, the role of aggregation of conspecific animals within cohorts during vulnerable life stages is poorly understood. Previous studies indicate that predation pressure may select for synchronous metamorphosis and the subsequent formation of metamorphic aggregations in North American toad species. In a series of laboratory experiments, I demonstrated that 1) Bufo americanus tadpoles in the presence of a predator exhibit higher levels of aggregation than tadpoles maintained in the absence of predator stimuli, and 2) B. americanus exposed to predator chemical cues metamorphose more synchronously than control tadpoles. I also found that toads at the climax of metamorphosis exhibit higher levels of aggregation than pre-metamorphic individuals. These results support the hypothesis that predation pressure has played a role in selection for life stage synchrony, and that aggregation serves as an antipredator defense in animals with synchronous transitions.
New Modeling Approach for Current-Mode Control

Constant on-time current-mode control has been widely used to improve light-load efficiency, because it can reduce the switching frequency to save switching-related loss. Therefore, an accurate model for constant on-time control is indispensable to system design. However, available models for constant on-time control are unable to provide accurate physical insight and predict the system response, especially the possible sub-harmonic oscillation in the V2 type implementation. This paper introduces a new modeling approach for constant on-time control. The inductor, the switches and the PWM modulator are treated as a single entity and modeled based on the describing function method. The fundamental difference between constant on-time control and peak current-mode control is analyzed using the proposed model. The new modeling approach can be extended to other current-mode controls as well. A simple equivalent circuit representation is proposed for easy understanding of current-mode control. Simulation and experimental results are used to verify the proposed model.
The Interests of Competing Elites: Fighting over Protectionism and "Free Markets" in Philippine Sugar

Although scholars often view the Philippines as still dominated by rural agrarian elites, this image is increasingly a distortion. Urban industrial, commercial, and financial elites are becoming more and more dominant, both economically and culturally. In this article, I describe a conflict between the sugar and the food processing industries, in which the former advocated that sugar be protected from imports and the latter argued in favor of a "free market" in sugar. The defeat suffered by the once-influential sugar industry illustrates the extent to which dominance has shifted in the Philippines and also how the rhetoric of the free market reflects the interests of an emerging dominant reference group. As dominant economic interests become less restricted by national borders, they will increasingly demand the ability to import raw materials, export labor, and move goods and capital in and out at lower cost. Debates about the relative merits of protectionist versus free market policies are less about principles for maximizing social welfare and more about which segment of elites has the power and standing to press its interests most effectively.
Monitoring through Tissue the De-gelation of Alginate Gels by Different De-gelling Agents

Alginate gels are widely used for drug delivery and implanted devices. The rate at which these gels break down is important for controlling drug release. However, it is challenging to monitor the gel through tissue due to optical scattering and tissue autofluorescence. Herein we describe a method to detect through tissue the gelation and de-gelation processes of alginate gel using magnetically modulated optical nanoprobes (MagMOONs). The MagMOONs are fluorescent magnetic microspheres coated with a thin layer of opaque metal on one hemisphere. The metal layer prevents excitation and emission light from passing through one side of the MagMOONs, which creates an orientation-dependent fluorescence intensity. These magnetic particles also align in an external magnetic field and give blinking signals when they rotate to follow the magnetic field modulation. The blinking signals from these MagMOONs are distinguished from background autofluorescence and can be tracked on a single particle level in the absence of tissue, or by averaging an ensemble of particles through tissue. When these MagMOONs are dispersed in alginate gel, they become sensors for the detection of either the gelation with the addition of a multivalent cation (Ca2 + , Cu2 + ) or the de-gelation as de-gelling agents like ammonium chloride, sodium citrate, or alginate lyase are added. Herein the release of copper ion as an antimicrobial from the gel can be tracked. Our method also can potentially be applied to detect bacterial biofilm formation and other biosensors and drug delivery systems based on enzyme-catalyzed breakdown of gel components.
Delight or Distraction: An Exploratory Analysis of Sabbath-Keeping Internalization:

Internalization of religious motivation is associated with increased subjective well-being. However, much of the work on internalization focuses on widespread, low-cost religious practices. We propose that distinctive, high-cost, and meaningful Christian practices, such as Sabbath keeping, may be related to the internalization of religion—and thus increased well-being—when they occur within a community. Using a factor-cluster approach to develop an instrument to measure the internalization of Sabbath keeping among Seventh-day Adventists, we found a positive relationship between deeper internalization and higher subjective well-being. Importantly, the relationship between internalization of Sabbath-keeping practice and well-being was only weakly meditated by a more general measure of religious internalization, suggesting separate contributions of internalization for distinctive high-cost practices and widespread low-cost practices.
Entrepreneurial Marketing: A Construct for Integrating Emerging Entrepreneurship and Marketing Perspectives

The purpose of this paper is to critically explore the construct of entrepreneurial marketing (EM). This term is used as an integrative conceptualization that reflects such alternative perspectives as guerrilla marketing, radical marketing, expeditionary marketing, disruptive marketing and others. Seven core dimensions of EM are identified, and an underlying theoretical foundation based on resource advantage theory is proposed. A conceptual model is introduced of key factors surrounding the phenomenon of entrepreneurial marketing. Conclusions and implications are drawn for theory and practice, and priorities are proposed for continuing research.
A macroeconomic model of Russian transition

We present a model in which capital assets can only be owned by members of a relatively small politically connected elite (‘the oligarchs’), each member of which faces a given risk of being expropriated, and we investigate the implications of such an imperfection of property rights for the transition to a market economy. At the start of the transition, the oligarchs are long on local capital assets but short on safe deposits abroad. This causes a depression phase characterized by acute liquidity constraints and large capital outflows at the same time. As the oligarchs acquire enough safe deposits, the economy enters a recovery phase, still accompanied by capital outflows. The model can parsimoniously explain both the steep decline suffered by the Russian economy in the first stage of its transition to a market economy and the subsequent turnaround. The decline could be avoided by allowing foreigners to own some domestic capital assets, but home-country oligarchs may not be able credibly to collectively commit to such a reform.
PRESENTATION OF THE PALEONTOLOGICAL SOCIETY MEDAL TO ARTHUR J. BOUCOT

The annual presentation of the Society's Medal is a major event. This year's medalist is known worldwide to most in the profession, at least by reputation. There are doubtless few who have not encountered either the man—an inveterate attender of national and international meetings and congresses—or one or more of his numerous publications. Few actively engaged in work with brachiopods or with Silurian-Devonian biostratigraphy and paleoecology have not collaborated with him over the years or encountered him during his peripatetic field work wherever there is a Silurian-Devonian outcrop. Boucot came from a Philadelphia family that valued academic and professional achievement, and with the encouragement received as a child from his mother, one might have predicted his ultimate contributions to paleontology and evolution. When he was very young, his mother took an elementary geology course at the Wagner Free Institute of Science and encouraged his interest in geology. At the age of five Boucot collected and recognized from a picture in his mother's textbook a brachiopod that turned out to be a Late Devonian spiriferid. During a year at Pennsylvania State College, where his mother was completing her premedical requirements and Art was about 10, he was encouraged in fossil collecting by Frank M. Schwartz and in mineral collecting by Arthur Honess. From 1935 through 1938 he took an elementary course in Physical and Historical Geology, taught by Benjamin F. Howell, at the Wagner Free Institute of Science (his “diploma” hangs on his office wall). Despite a promising beginning, Art was a freshman dropout from the University of Pennsylvania who went to work as a crystal finisher for RCA in 1942. A childhood enthusiasm for mineralogy had been encouraged by Samuel G. Gordon, curator of the mineral collection at the Philadelphia Academy of Natural Sciences. Appropriately, Boucot's first published papers were …
The Great Sidetrack War: In Which Downtown Merchants and the Philadelphia North American Defeat the Pennsylvania Railroad, 1903–19041

On November 21, 1903, the Pennsylvania Railroad announced that its north-south through trains would no longer enter Broad Street Station in downtown Philadelphia and would stop instead at West Philadelphia. Nor would the company sell tickets from that station to downtown. These schedule changes, which seemed minor to the company and were intended to reduce congestion in the central city, threatened downtown merchants and manufacturers who worried that buyers would shift to more accessible cities. Philadelphia had been sidetracked, the North American reported. The result was an eruption of boycotts, protests, and petitions that pitted nearly every local trade association against the railroad. Encouraged by the North American's editorials, partisan reporting, and stinging cartoons, the protesters forced the Pennsylvania to back down, and in March 1904, through trains returned to Broad Street. The newspaper cloaked this local business dispute in the language of antimonopoly, linking the fears of small businessmen to national anti-railroad concerns. The sidetrack episode also helped launch modern corporate public relations, as the Pennsylvania—stung by this threat to corporate autonomy—soon hired Ivy Lee as its first publicity agent.
Detection of Normal and Aberrant Chromosomes in Chicken Embryos and in Tumor Cells

Abstract INTRODUCTION Avian cells, including those of Gallus domesticus, contain numerous chromosomes. Most of these are very small and, therefore, difficult to characterize on strictly morphological grounds. Cytologists conducting studies from 1906 to 1957 reported diploid chromosome numbers from 12 to 80 for the chicken (Brant, 1952; Loyez, 1906; Yamashina, 1944). Given the difficulties of bird karyology and inadequate techniques, the field of avian cytogenetics was slow to develop. Fundamental genetic questions easily answered for species such as Drosophila melanogaster (fruit fly) remained unanswered for birds, including the chicken. It is only within the last 15 or so years that significant breakthroughs have been made (Abbott and Yee, 1976; Bloom, 1978, 1979a,b). What are these basic genetic questions and why are they important in poultry genetics and breeding? In his historic work of 1949, Genetics of the Fowl, Professor F. B. Hutt discussed the importance and potential contribution to poultry genetics . . .
Cell cycle arrest and morphological alterations following microinjection of NIH3T3 cells with Puraα

Levels of Pur alpha, a protein implicated in control of both DNA replication and gene transcription, fluctuate during the cell cycle, being lowest in early S phase and highest just after mitosis. Here we have employed a new video time-lapse technique enabling us to determine the cell cycle position of each cell in an asynchronous culture at a given time and to ask whether introduction of Pur alpha protein at specific times can affect cell cycle progression. Approximately 80% of all NIH3T3 cells injected with Pur alpha were inhibited from passing through mitosis. Cells injected with Pur alpha during S or G2 phases were efficiently blocked with a 4N (G2 phase) DNA level, as determined by quantitative DNA photometry of individual cells. Of the cells injected with Pur alpha during G1 phase, 40% experienced a rapid cell death characterized by extreme cellular fragmentation. Of those G1 injected cells which remained viable, approximately equal numbers were arrested with either 2N or 4N DNA levels. Cells arrested by Pur alpha in G2 phase grew to cover a large surface area. These results link fluctuations in Pur alpha levels to aspects of cell cycle control.
Metal-dependent expression of ferritin and lactoferrin by respiratory epithelial cells

Increased availability of catalytically active metal has been associated with an oxidative injury. The sequestration of transition metals within intracellular ferritin confers an antioxidant functi...
Implementation effect analysis of Global Fund for Tuberculosis Control Project on designated hospital in Wenzhou City of Zhejiang Province

[Objective] To analyze the implementation effect of the Global Fund for tuberculosis( TB) control project on designated hospital,and provide basis and recommendation for TB control in Wenzhou City of Zhejiang Province. [Methods] According to the data from the National TB Management Information System,quarterly reports of project were collected and analyzed. [Results] The X-ray check rate and sputum test rate of newly diagnosed patients both reached more than 97%. The registration rate of active pulmonary TB and smear-positive TB were 71. 45 per 100 000 and 26. 41 per 100 000. A total of 1 393 new smear-positive pulmonary TB cases were detected. The completion of case finding target for new smear-positive pulmonary TB was 119. 67%. The cure rate and treatment success rate for new smear-positive cases were 88. 08% and 90. 52%. And 1 657 cases have accepted psychological support. The psychological support rates were 36. 05%. A total of 39 361 person times for TB cases received free liver function test,and the test rate was 100%. [Conclusion] This project was implemented well in Wenzhou,and obtained good achievement. The discovery of new smear-positive patients,treatment outcome,psychological support and free liver function test for TB patients have reached the project requirements.
Epidemiological characteristics of measles before and after supplementary immunization in Fengtai District of Beijing

[Objective] To analyze the changes of epidemiological characteristics of measles before and after supplementary immunization in Fengtai District of Beijing,evaluate the effect of supplementary immunization,and provide the basis for measles elimination plan.[Methods]The distribution characteristics of time,regional and population of measles before and after supplementary immunization in 2010 were analyzed by descriptive epidemiology.[Results]During 2008-2010,a total of 1 086 cases of measles were reported.The incidence rates of measles have decreased significantly after supplementary immunization.The average incidence rate was 21.5/lakh during 2008-2010,and it reduced to 0.6/lakh in 2011.Cases were dispersedly reported in urban and rural areas,and most of them were floating population.30.1% of patients were children under 12 months,and 55.5% were people over 15 years old.[Conclusion]The initial supplementary immunization of measles vaccine has great effect in Fengtai District,and the epidemiological characteristics of measles have changed significantly.In order to achieve the goal of measles elimination,it is necessary to carry out the special measures in key population to consolidate achievement.
Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus: Interstate Spread of Nosocomial Infections with Emergence of Gentamicin-Methicillin Resistant Strains

A methicillin-resistant strain of Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA, phage type 84/85) was introduced into City of Memphis Hospital by a burn patient who had recently been treated for MRSA bacteremia in another institution 500 miles distant. Despite prompt recognition of the problem and institu tion of isolation procedures, six other patients developed secondary colonization during the ensuing six months, and five of these experienced clinically significant infections with MRSA. Three of the patients originally infected with MRSA, as well as two additional patients, subsequently developed colonization with staphylococcal strains of phage type 84/85 that were resistant to both methicillin and gentamicin (MRGRSA). Spread of the staphylococcal strains was most likely accomplished primarily via passive transfer from person to person. The hydro therapy unit, which became contaminated with both MRSA and MRGRSA, may have played a secondary role. As illustrated by this outbreak, patients carrying potentially dangerous bacterial strains should be identified and informed of the problems posed by such carriage. It may be imprudent to admit such patients to hospitals that are free of the potential pathogen. The outbreak described here exemplifies a number of potential problems associated with control of nosocomial staphylococcal infections: (a) interhos pital spread of methicillin-resistant strains; (b) secondary patient-to-patient intrahospital spread; and (c) emergence of even more resistant strains, possibly associated with selective pressures exerted by widespread use of broad-spectrum antimicrobial agents.
Virgil's Eclogues and the Art of Fiction: A Study of the Poetic Imagination

Many scholars have seen ancient bucolic poetry as a venue for thinking about texts and textuality. This book reassesses Virgil's Eclogues and their genre, arguing that they are better read as fiction - that is, as a work that refers not merely to itself or to other texts but to a world of its own making. This makes for a rich work of art and an object of legitimate aesthetic and imaginative engagement. Increased attention to the fictionality of Virgilian poetry also complicates and enriches the Eclogues' social and political dimensions. The book offers new interpretations of poems like Eclogues 5 and 9, which, according to traditional allegorical readings, concern Julius Caesar and the confiscation of lands under Octavian, respectively. It shows how the Eclogue world stands in a less stable relation to reality; these poems challenge readers at every turn to reimagine the relationship between fiction and the real.
The Suburban Church: Modernism and Community in Postwar America

“A Happy Home” proclaims the cover of the 1957 Lutheran Church of the Good Shepherd in Moorhead, Minnesota bulletin, as a photograph projects the postwar American suburban ideal of a smiling, young...
Effects of Pentachlorophenol (PCP) on Secretion of Interferon Gamma (IFNγ) from Human Immune Cells

Pentachlorophenol ( PCP) is an environmental pollutant due to its use as an insecticide, fungicide, herbicide, and disinfectant. PCP has been found in human blood and urine samples. Exposure to PCP...
Innate immune signaling and regulation in cancer immunotherapy

A pre-existing T cell-inflamed tumor microenvironment has prognostic utility and also can be predictive for response to contemporary cancer immunotherapies. The generation of a spontaneous T cell response against tumor-associated antigens depends on innate immune activation, which drives type I interferon (IFN) production. Recent work has revealed a major role for the STING pathway of cytosolic DNA sensing in this process. This cascade of events contributes to the activation of Batf3-lineage dendritic cells (DCs), which appear to be central to anti-tumor immunity. Non-T cell-inflamed tumors lack chemokines for Batf3 DC recruitment, have few Batf3 DCs, and lack a type I IFN gene signature, suggesting that failed innate immune activation may be the ultimate cause for lack of spontaneous T cell activation and accumulation. With this information in hand, new strategies for triggering innate immune activation and Batf3 DC recruitment are being developed, including novel STING agonists for de novo immune priming. Ultimately, the successful development of effective innate immune activators should expand the fraction of patients that can respond to immunotherapies, such as with checkpoint blockade antibodies.
An energy-efficient near/sub-threshold FPGA interconnect architecture using dynamic voltage scaling and power-gating

The rapid development of the Internet-of-Things requires hardware that is both low-energy and flexible, and a near/sub-threshold FPGA is a very promising solution. In the design of near/sub-threshold FPGAs, the biggest challenge is reducing global interconnect energy, which is the most energy-consuming part in the entire FPGA. Dynamic voltage scaling is an effective technique in reducing energy, but it is not widely used in FPGA interconnects because of the high area overhead of separately provisioning the buffers in the switch boxes to support different voltages on different paths. A low-swing interconnect, which removes buffers, allows this technique to be applied to the FPGA interconnects. In this paper, we propose a novel low-swing FPGA interconnect architecture that integrates dynamic voltage scaling and power-gating techniques with custom tool support. While the power-gating technique is widely used in existing designs for reducing leakage energy of idle drivers and buffers, we also apply power-gating to configuration bitcells in switch boxes, because it is a dominant energy consumer in near/sub-threshold. Including the energy overhead of voltage regulators, our work achieves a 10.1% energy saving in active circuits, 27.0% – 91.3% in idle circuits, and 19.0% – 53.1% in the entire FPGA on average, compared to an already optimized base case that only uses low-swing interconnect but no dynamic voltage scaling or power-gating. In addition, our dynamic voltage scaling allows us to adjust the delay of the low-swing FPGA interconnect from 0.14µs to 0.43µs or adjust its energy per operation from 5.5pJ to 35.7pJ when implementing the MCNC benchmarks at 0.6V.