cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Rapid non-destructive detection of defects in bulk and epitaxially grown GaN

We present an approach for wafer-level rapid multi-modal defect non-destructive imaging of device-relevant GaN defects with high resolution and high sensitivity. The scanning GaN defects detection system is based on laser pump-and-probe photoluminescence and photothermal measurements that are compared to diode device reliability data from accelerated lifetime testing. This work hypothesis is that defects probed at optical frequencies can reliably predict reliability or performance issues of power electronic devices at near DC frequencies. Imaging, growth, and device data are correlated to validate the proposed multi-modal defect detection approach for detection of GaN defects relevant to power electronic devices.
An Exploratory Study to Assess School Principals’ Knowledge of Child Welfare Policies:

Because schools are a customary location to conduct child abuse and neglect investigative interviews, this study examines survey results from 109 principals in Tennessee to determine if the Title I...
Dramatic HER Suppression on Ag Electrodes via Molecular Films for Highly Selective CO2 to CO Reduction

The carbon dioxide reduction reaction (CO2RR) in aqueous electrolytes suffers from efficiency loss due to the competitive hydrogen evolution reaction (HER). Developing efficient methods to suppress...
Assurance Levels, CPA Fees, and Financial Reporting Quality: Inferences from U.S. Private Firms

Are “full” audits associated with better reporting quality than “limited” reviews and “zero verification” compilations, and if so, at what cost? The answers are important because mandated financial reporting is being challenged globally and recent advances in confirmatory data analytics, the primary procedural basis for reviews, may change the economics of CPA verification services. We use a mid-size CPA firm’s fees to model verification service costs, which we then relate to financial statements of U.S. private firms. Overall, we find CPA fees approximately double for each increase in assurance level, and find that financial reporting quality is statistically indistinguishable between reviews and audits, while both reviews and audits are significantly better than compilations. Debt cost significantly decreases with each additional level of verification, although reviews capture most of the debt cost decrement between compilations and audits. We find both reviews and audits are cost-effective with respect to debt cost for larger debt ranges and we find diminishing marginal returns to full audit procedures beyond confirmatory data analytics per reviews.
Subpopulations of soluble, misfolded proteins commonly bypass chaperones: How it happens at the molecular level

ABSTRACT Subpopulations of soluble, misfolded proteins can bypass chaperones within cells. The scope of this phenomenon and the lifetimes of these states have not been experimentally quantified, and how such misfolding happens at the molecular level is poorly understood. We address the first issue through a meta-analysis of the experimental literature. We find that in all quantitative protein refolding-function studies, there is always a subpopulation of soluble but misfolded and less-functional protein that does not fold in the presence of one or more chaperones. This subpopulation ranges from 8% to 50% of the soluble protein molecules in solution. Fitting the experimental time traces to a kinetic model, we find these chaperone-bypassing misfolded states take months or longer to fold and function in the presence of different chaperones. We next addressed how, at the molecular level, some misfolded proteins can evade chaperones by simulating six different proteins interacting with E. coli’s GroEL and HtpG chaperones when those proteins are in folded, unfolded, or long-lived, soluble, misfolded states. We observe that both chaperones strongly bind the unfolded state and weakly bind the folded and misfolded states to a similar degree. Thus, these chaperones cannot distinguish between the folded and long-lived misfolded states of these proteins. A structural analysis reveals the misfolded states are highly similar to the native state – having a similar size, amount of exposed hydrophobic surface area, and level of tertiary structure formation. These results demonstrate that in vitro it is common for appreciable subpopulations of proteins to remain misfolded, soluble, and evade the refolding action of chaperones for very long times. Further, these results suggest that this happens because these misfolded subpopulations are near-native and therefore interact with chaperones to a similar extent as properly folded proteins. More broadly, these results indicate a mechanism in which long-time scale changes in protein structure and function can persist in cells because some protein’s non-native states can bypass components of the proteostasis machinery. TEASER Near-native, misfolded protein conformations explain why some soluble proteins fail to refold in the presence of chaperones.
Professional interests among residency applicants in psychiatry : a pilot study of autobiographical statements.

Spontaneous declarations of field of interest by 150 applicants to the UCLA Neuropsychiatric Institute—West Los Angeles V.A. Medical Center psychiatric residency program in 1986 were examined. In essays written as part of the National Resident Matching Program, many applicants expressed several areas of interest. About one-third of applicants expressed an interest in research, and about one-quarter expressed interests in teaching, psychotherapy, biological psychiatry, or child psychiatry. Between 5% and 9% expressed interest in community psychiatry, adolescent psychiatry, psychoanalysis, geriatric psychiatry, and chemical dependency, and <5% expressed interest in cross-cultural, emergency, legal, or administrative psychiatry.
Human Skeletal Populations of the Northwestern Plains: a Preliminary Analysis

Preliminary analysis has been completed on samples of American Indian skeletons from three museums in Wyoming, and special collections from Montana, Wyoming, northern Colorado and western Nebraska. All 84 specimens come from burial sites within the Northwestern Plains geographical region, and cover a temporal span of approximately 5,000 years. Fifty-four cranial and postcranial measure ments, and 47 morphological observations were recorded for each complete specimen; and means and indices were compared among the various regional and temporal samples. Important temporal changes and a few regional differences are suggested by the preliminary results.
Corticosteroids in Acute Stroke

This chapter explores the use of corticosteroids in acute stroke. The use of steroids in acute cerebrovascular disease (ACVD) has received appraisals and criticism through uncontrolled and controlled trials for the past 40 years. Steroids have been tested in a wide and extensive variety of animal models and clinical trials in ischemic stroke, intracranial hemorrhage, and subarachnoid hemorrhage. Evidence indicates that steroids do not reduce morbidity or mortality in these ACVD varieties; however, in the case of SAH, one study showed that high-dose dexamethasone at the induction of anesthesia was associated with reduced postoperative vasospasm. Chronic cerebral vasospasm associated with subarachnoid hemorrhage produces inflammatory infiltrates in the vessel wall. In some studies, high-dose methylprednisolone and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (ibuprofen) reduced vasospasm and provided clinical improvement. Despite the lack of prospective studies corticosteroids are commonly used in isolated or primary central nervous system angiitis and vasculitides associated to systemic disorders. Subtypes of new steroids or lazeroids (21-aminosteroids) have shown, in experimental models, reduction of cerebral edema, neuronal injury, and mortality.
Temperature compensated sapphire resonator for ultra-stable oscillator capability at temperatures above 77 kelvin

We report on the design and test of a whispering gallery sapphire resonator for which the dominant (WGH/sub n11/) microwave mode family shows frequency-stable, compensated operation for temperatures above 77 kelvin. The resonator makes possible a new ultra-stable oscillator (USO) capability that promises performance improvements over the best available crystal quartz oscillators in a compact cryogenic package. A mechanical compensation mechanism, enabled by the difference between copper and sapphire expansion coefficients, tunes the resonator to cancel the temperature variation of sapphire's dielectric constant. In experimental tests, the WGH/sub 811/ mode showed a frequency turn-over temperature of 87 K in agreement with finite element calculations. Preliminary tests of oscillator operation show an Allan deviation of frequency variation of 1.4-6/spl times/10/sup -12/ for measuring times 1 second /spl les//spl tau//spl les/100 seconds with unstabilized resonator housing temperature and a mode Q of 2/spl times/10/sup 6/. We project a frequency stability 10/sup -14/ for this resonator with stabilized housing temperature and with a mode Q of 10/sup 7/. >
The Nebraska Neuropsychological Children’s Battery

For the past 7 years, researchers at the University of Nebraska and elsewhere have been attempting to develop objective neuropsychological test batteries for children that draw on some of the ideas and techniques employed by A. R. Luria. Development of the children’s battery was heavily influenced by the earlier development of the adult Luria—Nebraska Neuropsychological Battery (LNNB) as well as the work done by Lawrence Majovski.
Strategies for Mimicking the Primary Events of Bacterial Photosynthesis: Structure, Function, and Mechanism

Some of the possible implications of the photochemistry of photosynthesis for artificial systems are presented. A major aspect of this paper involves the special conditions required to prevent the undesirable charge recombination via the excited triplet state of the primary donor. If a multi-jump model is operative in the primary events of photosynthesis, then artificial model systems are relatively easy to synthesize. Such systems prevent back reactions via a series of downhill chemical reactions. Each downhill step in energy results in an increase in charge separation distance. The annihilation reactions, even to the less energetic triplet state, involve intermediate states uphill in energy and consequently are greatly diminished. However, if superexchange is a correct explanation of photosynthesis, then model systems have not been developed that properly mimic the natural process. In particular, the triplet back reaction can occur due to the lack of any thermal activation barrier. In nature this downhill back reaction appears to be prevented by carefully balancing the energetics using four molecules in the electron transport system. If this is the case, artificial photosynthesis would also require fine tuning of the coupling and energetics with three or four molecules making duplication more difficult to achieve.
Roots of Hate: Introduction: Anti-Semitism in Europe before the Holocaust

In the months following Nazi Germany's annexation of Austria in March 1938, Nazi persecution of Jews in Austria climbed dramatically. Jewish property was destroyed, persecution and violence against individual Jews became commonplace, and hundreds of Jews were marched off to prisons and concentration camps. These crimes against Jews drew worldwide attention. During the spring and summer of 1938, tens of thousands of Austrian Jews swelled the ranks of Jews seeking to flee pre- Anschluss Germany. In the early summer of 1938, Nazi Germany offered its Jews to the world. At the same time, neighboring Hungary and Yugoslavia closed their borders with Austria, while fascist Italy, which had recently permitted German and Austrian refugees to enter the country, halted Jewish immigration. Belgium, the Netherlands, and Switzerland allowed small numbers of these Jewish refugees to enter; Great Britain instituted a special new visa requirement sorting out Third Reich Jews from other refugees. President Franklin D. Roosevelt, responding to pro-refugee sentiments in the United States, called an international conference on refugees. Delegates from thirty-two countries assembled in the French resort town of Evian-les-Bains between July 6 and July 14, 1938, to discuss ways to help Jewish refugees fleeing the Nazi Third Reich. Many delegates attending the Evian Conference publicly professed their sympathies for the Jewish refugees, and the conference chairman, Myron C. Taylor, a former head of U.S. Steel, invoked a plea to those assembled that governments act and act promptly to address the refugee problem.
Three-dimensional metasurface carpet cloak

We experimentally demonstrate a three-dimensional ultra-thin metasurface carpet cloak can cover on an arbitrary-shaped object and make it undetectable by the visible light owing to the phase control capability of the metasurface.
Recent Perspectives on the Regression Discontinuity Design

The regression discontinuity design was originally proposed in 1960 as a powerful alternative to randomized experiments. It has been little used since. Over the past decade, however, the design has been increasingly and successfully employed by economists in a variety of studies. In this paper, the fundamentals of the regression-discontinuity are discussed. Recent advances are emphasized.
Tight knot values deviate from linear relations

Applications of knots to the study of polymers have emphasized geometric measures on curves such as ‘energy’1,2,3,4 and ‘rope length’5,6,7, which, when minimized over different configurations of a knot, give computable knot invariants related to physical quantities8. In DNA knots, electrophoretic mobility appears to be correlated with the average crossing number of rope-length-minimizing configurations9, and a roughly linear empirical relation has been observed between the crossing number and rope length10. Here we show that a linear relation cannot hold in general, and we construct infinite families of knots whose rope length grows as the 3/4 power of the crossing number11. It can be shown that no smaller power is possible12,13,14.
High depth resolution for profiling carbon by the reaction

Abstract The standard nuclear reaction for profiling carbon in the surface and near-surface regions, the 12C(d, p) 13C reaction, suffers from a relatively poor depth resolution due to the low stopping powers of deutrons and protons. A reaction involving alpha particle would provide larger stopping power, but mass systematics cause the Q values for such reactions as the (d, α) or (p, α) to be negative for carbon. Although the 12 C( 3 He, α 0 ) 11 C reaction has a positive Q value of 1.857 MeV, the low value results in the situation that at backward angles the energy of the observed alpha particles is lower than that of the elestically scattered 3He particles and that the protons from the competing (3He, p) reaction may interfere. However, it is shown in this paper that this reaction provides a reasonable method od high-depth resolution profiling of carbon provided that a magnetic spectrometer is utilized. Examples are given of profiling carbon in cases of both implantation and diffusion distributions. The improved depth resolution generally allows clear separation of the ubiquitous thin surface layer of carbon from the near surface distributions.
Effects of walnut consumption on plasma fatty acids and lipoproteins in combined hyperlipidemia

BACKGROUND Epidemiologic studies show an inverse relation between nut consumption and coronary heart disease. OBJECTIVE We determined the effects of walnut intake on plasma fatty acids, lipoproteins, and lipoprotein subclasses in patients with combined hyperlipidemia. DESIGN Participants sequentially adhered to the following diets: 1) a habitual diet (HD), 2) a habitual diet plus walnuts (HD+W), 3) a low-fat diet (LFD), and 4) a low-fat diet plus walnuts (LFD+W). RESULTS In 13 postmenopausal women and 5 men ( +/- SD age 60 +/- 8 y), walnut supplementation did not increase body weight despite increased energy intake and the LFD caused weight loss (1.3 +/- 0.5 kg; P < 0.01). When comparing the HD with the HD+W, linoleic acid concentrations increased from 29.94 +/- 1.14% to 36.85 +/- 1.13% and alpha-linolenic acid concentrations increased from 0.78 +/- 0.04% to 1.56 +/- 0.11%. During the LFD+W, plasma total cholesterol concentrations decreased by 0.58 +/- 0.16 mmol/L when compared with the HD and by 0.46 +/- 0.14 mmol/L when compared with the LFD. LDL-cholesterol concentrations decreased by 0.46 +/- 0.15 mmol/L when compared with the LFD. Measurements of lipoprotein subclasses and particle size suggested that walnut supplementation lowered cholesterol preferentially in small LDL (46.1 +/- 1.9% compared with 33.4 +/- 4.3%, HD compared with HD+W, respectively; P < 0.01). HDL-cholesterol concentrations decreased from 1.27 +/- 0.07 mmol/L during the HD to 1.14 +/- 0.07 mmol/L during the HD+W and to 1.11 +/- 0.08 mmol/L during the LFD. The decrease was seen primarily in the large HDL particles. CONCLUSIONS Walnut supplementation may beneficially alter lipid distribution among various lipoprotein subclasses even when total plasma lipids do not change. This may be an additional mechanism underlying the antiatherogenic properties of nut intake.
Linking genetic diversity and morphological disparity: biodiversity assessment of a highly unexplored family of harvestmen (Arachnida : Opiliones : Neopilionidae) in New Zealand

In Opiliones, one of the largest orders within the class Arachnida, with more than 6000 described species, sexual dimorphism can be widespread and exaggerated. This great variety of forms of gender-based dimorphism suggests that sexual selection may play an important role in the diversification of some lineages. It also impacts species identification, assignment of females to described species and biodiversity assessments. Here we use DNA-sequence-based species discovery methods (the Poisson Tree Processes model with Bayesian support values, bPTP, and the Generalized Mixed Yule–Coalescent approach, GMYC, accounting for phylogenetic uncertainty) to shed light on the morphological disparity displayed in several species of neopilionid harvestmen from New Zealand. Both species delimitation analyses recovered many clades that coincide with our prior assignment of morphospecies, based solely on males, and allowed us to assign females and juveniles to these species as well as to identify putative new species and to assign some unidentified species to genera. Several genetic species, particularly Forsteropsalis inconstans and Pantopsalis cheliceroides-listeri, showed complex morphological disparity in the size and shape of the male chelicerae, but also in the general size and coloration patterns of the males. The systematic implications of our results and a possible ecological explanation for the exaggerated traits are discussed. Following our findings, the following taxonomic action is taken: Forsteropsalis nigra is considered a junior synonym of F. inconstans (new synonymy).
Getting the stories straight: allowing different voices to tell an ‘effective history’ of special education law in the United States

Traditional historical narratives can serve to mask injustices that exist beneath a celebratory surface of statistics, legislative enactments, and judicial decision-making that may present an impression of continuous progress. With this understanding, this article adopts a framework applying Foucault's distinction between ‘traditional’ and ‘effective’ history to examine the legal foundations of special education in the United States. The ultimate goal of this article is to challenge the assumption that ‘societies follow a developmental pathway, away from superstition, prejudice and cruelty, and in the direction of greater enlightenment and humanity.’ The comparison of ‘traditional’ and ‘effective’ historical narratives is necessary to illustrate some basic—and perhaps flawed—assumptions inherent in traditional narratives.
Molecular biomarker profile of EGFR copy number, KRAS and BRAF mutations in colorectal carcinoma

Anti-EGFR therapy is approved by US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) as mono-therapy or as part of combination chemotherapy for metastatic colorectal carcinoma. Monoclonal anti-EGFR antibodies cetuximab and panitumumab have shown benefits for those patients with wild-type KRAS gene. Patients with KRAS mutation in codon 12 or 13 are unresponsive to targeted anti-EGFR therapy. Mutations of BRAF, the main downstream target gene of KRAS, also negatively impact the patients’ response to the therapy. On the contrary, EGFR gene amplification in colon cancer predicts a better response to anti-EGFR therapy. The correlation of EGFR amplification with KRAS and BRAF mutation status is not only of academic interests but also of clinical importance. Previous studies have shown that EGFR mutation is mutually exclusive with KRAS and BRAF mutations in lung cancer. However, there is limited data on colorectal cancer so far. In this study, 28 colorectal cancer samples are tested for KRAS and BRAF mutations by PCR and for EGFR gene copy number by fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH). EGFR high-copies, KRAS mutation and BRAF mutation are found in 15 (54%), 13 (46%) and 3 (11%) samples, respectively. A mutually-exclusive pattern is seen between KRAS mutations (13 positive samples) and BRAF mutations (3 positive samples). However, high EGFR high copy number is not "mutually-exclusive" with KRAS or BRAF mutations. Six samples with KRAS mutations and 2 with BRAF mutation show "co-existing" high EGFR copy number. These account for 29% of total cases tested. Five cases are triple negative for EGFR, KRAS and BRAF alterations. The results from our study indicate that high EGFR copy number with concurrent KRAS or BRAF mutations is quite common in colon cancer and the therapeutic response with anti-EGFR agents in this patient population requires further investigation.
A Response to Dr. Albers’s Review of Ancient Sins . . . Modern Addictions

In this article, the author of Ancient Sins . . . Modern Addictions responds to the review of the book by Dr. Robert Albers, continuing the discussion on the nature of sin as addiction.
Exploring the process of convergent adaptation in technology-based science curriculum construction

As a core complex systems process, understanding the dynamics of individual or group adaptation can provide valuable information for constructing professional development strategies that can increase chances of instructional success. This paper reports on an exploratory study that identifies indicators of convergent vs. non-convergent adaptation between two cases of teachers working together on a technology-based curriculum construction activity and explores the relationship between group characteristics and adaptation processes. We have used the complex systems concept of adaptation as a lens for understanding how and why some teachers are better able to adapt to the educational program requirements. The results show that processes of convergence and nonconvergence influenced adaptive outcomes, and that the more similar the teaching characteristic index (TCI) number was between group members, the more likely it was that group dynamics would result in convergent adaptive outcomes.
Human genetic disorders, a phylogenetic perspective.

When viewed from the perspective of time, human genetic disorders give new insights into their etiology and evolution. Here, we have correlated a specific set of Alu repetitive DNA elements, known to be the basis of certain genetic defects, with their phylogenetic roots in primate evolution. From a differential distribution of Alu repeats among primate species, we identify the phylogenetic roots of three human genetic diseases involving the LPL, ApoB, and HPRT genes. The different phylogenetic age of these genetic disorders could explain the different susceptibility of various primate species to genetic diseases. Our results show that LPL deficiency is the oldest and should affect humans, apes, and monkeys. ApoB deficiency should affect humans and great apes, while a disorder in the HPRT gene (leading to the Lesch-Nyhan syndrome) is unique to human, chimpanzee, and gorilla. Similar results can be obtained for cancer. We submit that de novo transpositions of Alu elements, and saltatory appearances of Alu-mediated genetic disorders, represent singularities, places where behavior changes suddenly. Alus' propensity to spread, not only increased the regulatory and developmental complexity of the primate genome, it also increased its instability and susceptibility to genetic defects and cancer. The dynamic spread not only provided markers of primate phylogeny, it must have actively shaped the course of that phylogeny.
Tobacco addiction as a marker of age at onset of schizophrenia.

Schizophrenia is a heterogenous disorder, with diversity in symptoms, course, prognosis, and probably etiology. The timing of its onset (is., early vs. late) not only predicts outcome of illness, but also corresponds to fundamental neurochemical and neuroendocrine distinctions. There is recent evidence that early age at onset of schizophrenia is associated with more prominent negative symptoms, which are associated with decreased dopaminergic functions in the limbic system. Since addictive behaviour may be related to decreased dopamine activity in the mesolimbic reward circuitry, we predict a higher prevalence of tobacco addiction in patients with an earlier age at onset of schizophrenia. To investigate this hypothesis, we studied the association of cigarette smoking to age at onset of illness in a sample of 142 chronic schizophrenic inpatients, 73 ofwhom were smokers. We found that patients who smoked had a significantly earlier age at onset of psychiatric illness as compared to the nonsmokers (p <. 01)....
Nutritional effects of fat on carbohydrate metabolism.

Abstract Obesity is commonly associated with elevated plasma levels of free fatty acids (FFAs). High levels of FFA have emerged as a major link between obesity and insulin resistance/type 2 diabetes (T2DM). Thus, acute and chronic elevations of plasma FFAs produce insulin resistance in skeletal muscle and liver. In skeletal muscle, FFA-induced insulin resistance is associated with accumulation of intramyocellular triglyceride and diacylglycerol, and with activation of protein kinase C (the β and δ isoforms). It is suggested that FFAs interfere with insulin signalling via PKC-induced serine phosphorylation of the insulin receptor substrate-1. In the liver, FFAs cause insulin resistance by interfering with insulin suppression of glycogenolysis. In β-cells, FFAs potentiate glucose-stimulated insulin secretion acutely and chronically. It is postulated that this prevents the development of T2DM in most (>80%) obese insulin-resistant people who have FFA-mediated insulin resistance. Elevated levels of FFA also seem to activate a pro-inflammatory and pro-atherogenic pathway (the IκB/NFκB pathway) and may be responsible, at least in part, for the increase in atherosclerotic vascular disease seen in patients with T2DM. As increased plasma levels account for up to 50% of insulin resistance in obese patients with T2DM, lowering of plasma FFAs could be a new and promising approach to the treatment of T2DM.
Does Relational Aggression Clarify or Confuse the Study of Sex Differences in Aggression

Dr. Cote provides an interesting review of the development of sex differences in physical and non-physical aggression and begins to propose mechanisms by which such sex differences emerge including biological, evolutionary, and social factors. Until recently, the finding that significant sex differences exist in the prevalence of different forms of psychopathology was underutilized in etiological research. Fortunately, there has been a bit of a paradigm shift such that understanding sex differences is now a main aim of many studies, and one that has even drawn support from funding agencies such as the National Institute of Health in the US. The study of sex differences in aggression has been greatly influenced by the emergence of the constructs indirect aggression, social aggression and relational aggression, which are relatively synonymous. Before one can build a developmental model of aggression that has, at its premise, the assumption that boys are more likely to engage in physical aggression and girls are more likely to engage in relational aggression, at least two issues need to be resolved. The first is whether relational aggression occurs more frequently in girls than in boys. Although there may be some debate, as evident in Dr. Cote’s review as to the point in development when reliable sex differences in physical aggression emerge, there is very strong evidence that such sex differences are consistently found beginning at some point in the first 4–5 years of life and that they increase in magnitude with age. Data are not as consistent in revealing sex differences in relational aggression. In some studies girls are reported to be more relationally aggressive (e.g., Crick and Grotpeter 1995), whereas in other studies boys are reported to exhibit higher levels of relational aggression than girls (e.g., McEvoy et al. 2003; Tomada and Schneider 1997). In still other studies, the association between relational aggression and impairment has been stronger for boys than for girls (Crick Eur J Crim Policy Res (2007) 13:201–203 DOI 10.1007/s10610-007-9047-2
Tear cytokines in acute and chronic ocular allergic inflammation.

Purpose of review Elevated levels of inflammatory cytokines have been reported in tears from ocular allergic disease states. The purpose of this review is to assimilate recent research contrasting tear cytokine concentrations in non-allergic subjects versus subjects with acute (seasonal allergic conjunctivitis) and chronic (giant papillary conjunctivitis, vernal keratoconjunctivitis, atopic keratoconjunctivitis) ocular allergic inflammation to discover whether the cytokine profiles could provide useful insight into disease mechanisms and therapeutic targets. Recent findings Recent studies have revealed distinct differences in the cytokine/chemokine concentrations in tears between the various manifestations of ocular allergy. The acute (seasonal allergic conjunctivitis) and iatrogenic (giant papillary conjunctivitis) forms of ocular allergic inflammation are characterized by an overall lack of significant cytokine changes in tears compared with chronic disease (vernal keratoconjunctivitis, atopic keratoconjunctivitis). Chronic ocular allergic inflammation produces increased concentrations of T helper 1 and 2, and proinflammatory cytokines as well as chemokines. However, vernal and atopic keratoconjunctivitis portray distinct differences in the patterns of tear cytokines/chemokines expressed. Summary The plethora of increased cytokines and chemokines in vernal and atopic keratoconjunctivitis compared with non-allergic, seasonal allergic conjunctivitis and giant papillary conjunctivitis provides a new perspective into the complex inflammatory processes occurring on the ocular surface in chronic disease. The ability to measure multiple cytokines in tears, combined with knowledge obtained from in-vitro analysis of the individual and combined effects of these cytokines on various conjunctival cells (i.e. mast cells, epithelial cells, fibroblasts) has facilitated further understanding of specific processes contributing to maintenance of inflammation and progression of vision-threatening disease and paved the way toward new therapeutic targets.
From Standing Out to Being Just One of the Gang: Guidelines for Selecting Inclusive Picture Books

This article synthesizes findings from existing research on inclusive literature that portrays characters with disabilities. They present teachers with a meaningful and easy-to-remember acronym (I AM NOT THE DISABILITY) to highlight the key criteria in quality inclusive picture books. The expectation is that teachers will consider these criteria while selecting books for planning lessons and for classroom libraries. While inclusive classrooms are not a universal trend in education across the world, this article explores the value of addressing the social stigma often associated with physical disabilities while developing awareness among educators and other adults about appropriate representation of individuals with disabilities.
Plaques of rhinoviruses in human diploid cells.

Discussion and ConclusionsThe lack of a uniform and reproducible plaque assay for rhinoviruses (now totaling about one hundred types) has handicapped characterization of these important human pathogenic agents. Different procedures involving variations in the optimal cell culture, composition of the overlay medium and incorporation of anti-inhibitor and/or enhancing substances (e.g., DEAE dextran and Mg++ ions) have been described by various workers. In an attempt to develop a simple and reproducible procedure for plaquing a substantial number of rhinoviruses, we found the following conditions to be optimal for plaque formation by all 16 rhinoviruses that have been tested: (1) fully grown WI-38 cell monolayers in prescription bottles; (2) an overlay medium consisting of HCAEM containing 10% newborn calf serum and 0.7% Ionagar No. 2; (3) double agar overlay technique with the second overlay (containing neutral red) added 6 days after the first; and (4) incorporation of 25 μg/ml of DEAE dextran to the first...
Bupivacaine and Triamcinolone May Be Toxic To Human Chondrocytes: A Pilot Study

Background Intraarticular injections of corticosteroids combined with local anesthetics are commonly used for management of chronic pain symptoms associated with degenerative joint diseases and after arthroscopic procedures. Several studies suggest chondrotoxicity of local anesthetics whereas others report chondroprotective and cytotoxic effects of corticosteroids on cartilage. Given the frequency of use of these agents, it is important to know whether they are in fact toxic.
Eddy Current Probe Evaluation: Experimental Measurements and System Interaction

Eddy current testing is often considered an old and mature technology. However, the state of the art technology cannot meet the new stringent demands that the US Government has imposed on inspection of new aircraft engines under a program called ENSIP (engine structural integrity program). These demands require substantial improvements both in inspection sensitivity and speed — for instance, crack detection capability must improve by a factor of 3 over what is currently possible. In order to meet the new goals, all aspects of an eddy current inspection system must be addressed from probe selection and mechanical scanning noise to system electronics and signal processing. It has previously been shown [1,2] that imaging techniques provide improved flaw detection capability and also may be used to optimize system performance. This paper describes work that combines imaging with probe measurements to analyze eddy current probes and system performance from a practical point of view. Slightly different designs of a specific type of probe have been examined to evaluate differences in the designs and to determine how well the probe construction method is controlled. Parameters were calculated from electric measurements on the probes and plotted in an attempt to explain their significance and to provide a method for selection of probes with superior qualities. The probe/system interaction was also analyzed in order to learn why some probes with good electric properties did not perform well in the eddy current system. Finally, images were created and used to evaluate the impact of different imaging parameters on inspection performance.
Recovery of extinction responding in rats following discontinuation of reinforcement of alternative behavior: A test of two explanations

One procedure which has been used to supplement extinction in order to produce faster and more complete response suppression is to provide reinforcement for some alternative response which is incompatible with the response undergoing extinction. When reinforcement for the alternative behavior is discontinued, however, substantial recovery of the original response has often been observed. The present set of experiments demonstrated that such recovery is best accounted for by a “response prevention” hypothesis rather than by a “discriminative cue” hypothesis. High-frequency reinforcement of alternative behavior during the first half of an extinction phase seems similar in effect to procedures which physically prevent rats from emitting the response programmed for extinction.
Morphometry of the prostate. I: Distribution of tissue components in hyperplastic glands

Abstract Objectives. Morphometry, or quantitative image analysis, offers greatpromise in characterizing the various histologic types of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), but to date, a systematic study of the tissue components is lacking. Thus we employed morphometry to examine the distribution of primary BPH tissues throughout whole human prostates. Methods. The prostate glands of 20 men with BPH were removed for low-volurne carcinoma and subjected to a uniform, comprehensive, systematic quantification of the primary BPH tissue components using the technique of digitization and point-count morphometry. Results. We found the following average volumes among the 20 glands: epithelium, 19.9% (S.D. 5.1%, range 11.7% to 30.8%); fibromuscular stroma, 50.4% (S.D. 9.4%, range 32.2% to 74.4%); glandular lumina, 29.7% (S.D. 8.9%, range 11.9% to 47.5%). Within the individual prostates, we found symmetry in primary BPH tissue distribution, except that the outer prostate was on average 25% richer in epithelium than the inner prostate (p Conclusions. Major differences in primary tissue composition may separate differenthyperplastic prostates. Primary BPH tissues are rather symmetrically distributed within individual prostates. Quantitative histologic differences between prostates, potentially important in clinical decision-making, may be accurately diagnosed by morphometry of radially oriented biopsy specimens.
Using Disguised Clinical Case Material

When, why, and how clinicians decide to write about clients are ethical concerns. There are risks and potential clinical ramifications as well as responsibilities for how these decisions are made. On the basis of 141 interviews with psychoanalysts who have published in 3 major national and international psychoanalytic journals, the author explores decisions about whether to only disguise the client's material or whether, in addition, to ask consent outlines and some of the clinical consequences. The author concludes that clinicians need to individualize their decision making based on the particular client and the nature of the therapeutic relationship and offers ways to go about making these judgments.
Caffeine tolerance and choice in humans.

Thirty-two healthy subjects with histories of moderate caffeine consumption abstained from dietary caffeine throughout the study. Subjects were stratified into two groups based on several factors including caffeine preference, which was assessed using a caffeine versus placebo choice procedure. Subsequently, subjects received either caffeine (300 mg t.i.d.) or placebo (placebo t.i.d.) for 18 consecutive days, and thereafter were exposed again to a caffeine versus placebo choice procedure. The study documented tolerance development to the subjective effects of caffeine: after chronic dosing, administration of caffeine produced significant subjective effects in the chronic placebo group but not in the chronic caffeine group. The study also provided indirect evidence for tolerance development: during chronic dosing, the chronic caffeine and placebo groups did not differ meaningfully on ratings of mood and subjective effect. When subjects were categorized into caffeine choosers or nonchoosers, caffeine choosers tended to report positive subjective effects of caffeine and negative subjective effects of placebo. Nonchoosers, in contrast, tended to report negative subjective effects of caffeine. Chronic caffeine did not alter the reinforcing effects of caffeine as assessed by caffeine versus placebo choice, possibly because the relatively short duration of caffeine abstinence in the placebo condition was not sufficient to result in maximal withdrawal effects after termination of the relatively high caffeine dose. This study provides the clearest evidence to date of complete tolerance development to a CNS effect of caffeine in humans.
Social Closeness and Decision Making: Moral, Attributive and Emotional Reactions to Third Party Transgressions

Decisions involving moral vectors are inherently social. This paper investigates social closeness to others as one of the important factors that mediate our evaluations of moral infractions. The influence of social closeness on participants’ third-party evaluations of moral transgressions was measured across development. Participants’ intentional attributions, punitive sentiments, moral judgments, and emotional reactions were measured using responses to hypothetical vignettes that describe socio-moral transgressions involving theft. Participants’ attribution judgments, punitive decisions, and emotional reactions differed when their social relationship with the perpetrator (Study One), and alternatively with the victim (Study Two), of the transgression was varied. Evidence is provided for the supposition that morality is a construct of social cooperative exchange and that social closeness influences socio-moral evaluations and judgments.
Rocking of slender rigid bodies allowed to uplift

Strong shaking of structures during large earthquakes may result in some cases in partial separation of the base of the structure from the foundation. A simplified problem of this type, the dynamic response of a rocking rigid block allowed to uplift, is examined here. Two foundation models are considered: the Winkler foundation and the much simpler ‘two-spring’ foundation. It is shown that an equivalence between these two models can be established, so that one can work with the much simpler two-spring foundation. Simple solutions of the equations of motion are developed and simplified methods of analysis are proposed. In general, uplift leads to a softer vibrating system which behaves non-linearly, although the response is composed of a sequence of linear responses. As a result the apparent rocking period increases with the amount of lift-off. The corresponding apparent ratio of critical damping decreases, in general, with the amplitude of the response. Compared to the case without lift-off, the response of the system may increase or decrease because of the uplift, depending on the excitation and the parameters of the system.
Vena Cava Interruption after Pulmonary Embolectomy

Abstract Interruption of the inferior vena cava for thromboembolism is occasionally appropriate following either pulmonary embolectomy or other cardiac operation performed through a median sternotomy. Experience has shown that simple extension of the sternotomy incision to the umbilicus is a quick and practical means of obtaining good exposure for caval interruption.
The intraocular Po2 and electroretinogram of the trout as affected by temperature and ventilatory flow

Abstract 1. 1. Electroretinograms recorded in vivo from dark-adapted rainbow trout remain constant over the temperature range 3–17°C and deteriorate at higher temperatures. 2. 2. The maintenance of a normal ERG during hypoxic stress induced by a decreased ventilatory flow was correlated with arterial and intraocular Po2. 3. 3. Increased c-wave amplitude has been associated with hypoxia-induced retinomotor activity in the teleost.
Use of lexical and syntactic techniques in recognizing handwritten text

The output of handwritten word recognizers (WR) tends to be very noisy due to various factors. In order to compensate for this behaviour, several choices of the WR must be initially considered. In the case of handwritten sentence/phrase recognition, linguistic constraints may be applied in order to improve the results of the WR. This paper discusses two statistical methods of applying linguistic constraints to the output of an WR on input consisting of sentences/phrases. The first is based on collocations and can be used to promote lower ranked word choices or to propose new words. The second is a Markov model of syntax and is based on syntactic categories (tags) associated with words. In each case, we show the improvement in the word recognition rate as a result of applying these constraints.
Regulation of calcium efflux from isolated rat parotid cells.

Abstract Calcium efflux from isolated rat parotid acinar cells was studied with 45 Ca. Carbachol, phenylephrine, substance P, monobutyryl cyclic AMP and iso-proterenol stimulated 45 Ca efflux. It is suggested that carbachol, phenylephrine and substance P mobilize the same pool of cellular Ca. This suggestion is based on two observations. Firstly, combinations of any two of these three agonist at saturating concentrations result in no more 45 Ca efflux than eitheragonist alone. Secondly, stimulation of 45 Ca efflux by any one of the three agonist prevents further stimulation of 45 Ca efflux by the same or one of the other two agonists. The pool of calcium mobilized by isoproterenol or monobutyryl cyclic AMP is different from the pool mobilized by carbachol. This conclusion is based on the observations that stimulation of 45 Ca efflux by a saturating concentration of carbachol did not inhibit stimulation of 45 Ca efflux by isoproterenol. Furthermore the effect of a saturating concentration of isoproterenol on 45 Ca efflux is additive with that caused by a saturating concentration of carbachol. The effect of carbachol, phenylephrine and substance P on 45 Ca 2+ efflux did not require extracellular Ca 2+ .
Critical Events or Critical Conditions: The 1999 Women’s World Cup and the Women’s United Soccer Association

In the wake of the 1999 Women’s World Cup final, a women’s professional league was formed, and play commenced with much fanfare in 2001. Attendance for the tournament had been stellar, and the final between China and the United States garnered a phenomenal television rating. It was with much optimism that the WUSA (Women’s United Soccer Association) was launched. However, despite a strong first season, attendance and television ratings declined, and the league folded after three years of play. This essay seeks to analyze the failure of the WUSA in the face of the wild success of the 1999 World Cup. Strategically, the league suffered from saturation of the market (locations in major sports markets with a plethora of other sporting options) and a marketing strategy that seemed to outreach the demand for women’s professional soccer (reliance on corporate sponsorship rather than grassroots approaches). Culturally, I will argue that the success of the 1999 World Cup final had more to do with expressions of nat...
Relativistic Hartree theory of finite nuclei: The role of the quantum vacuum

Abstract One-baryon-loop fluctuation contributions to the vacuum energy are included in relativistic Hartree calculations of closed-shell nuclei. These corrections decrease the nuclear scalar density by approximately 15% in the nuclear interior and may be observable in medium-energy proton-nucleus scattering. Their omission could significantly distort empirically determined neutron densities.