cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Public perceptions of who counts as a scientist for controversial science

In an era where expertise is increasingly critiqued, this study draws from the research on expertise and scientist stereotyping to explore who the public considers to be a scientist in the context of media coverage about climate change and genetically modified organisms. Using survey data from the United States, we find that political ideology and science knowledge affect who the US public believes is a scientist in these domains. Our results suggest important differences in the role of science media attention and science media selection in the publics "scientist" labeling. In addition, we replicate previous work and find that compared to other people who work in science, those with PhDs in Biology and Chemistry are most commonly seen as scientists.
Common Bladder Management Treatments for Patients with Neurogenic Bladder

Neurogenic lower urinary tract dysfunction (NLUTD) is the accepted terminology used to describe bladder symptoms and dysfunction with neurogenic bladder (NGB). The patterns of NLUTD are varied and can span benign overactive bladder resulting in simple incontinence to a high-pressure bladder causing urosepsis, hydronephrosis, and renal failure. The degree and type of NLUTD depends upon the etiology underlying NGB, the severity of the disease or injury, and where and how the nervous system is affected. In this chapter, we will summarize common medical and surgical treatments for NLUTD.
Functional Assessment of Vision Restoration.

Despite the many promising therapeutic approaches identified in the laboratory, it has proven extremely challenging to translate basic science advances into the eye clinic. There are many recent examples of clinical trials (e.g., Holz FG, Sadda SR, Busbee B, JAMA Ophthalmology 136:666-677, 2018) failing at the most expensive phase three stage, unable to demonstrate efficacy in the patient population. As a community we must think carefully about how we select what goes into that pipeline. Translating vision restoration therapies from the bench to the bedside involves selecting the most appropriate animal models of retinal degeneration and then moving beyond morphology to deploy appropriate functional tests in vitro, in vivo, and in the clinic. In this review we summarize the functional assays available to researchers, future prospects, and highlight areas in need of further development.
RERTL: Finite State Transducer Logic Recovery at Register Transfer Level

Increasingly complex Intellectual Property (IP) design, coupled with shorter Time-To-Market (TTM), breeds flaws at various levels of the Integrated Circuit (IC) production. With access to IPs at all stages of production, design defects can easily be found and corrected, i.e., knowledge of the Register Transfer Level (RTL) code allows for the option of easy defect detection. However, third-party IPs are typically delivered as hard IPs or gate-level netlists, which complicates the defect detection process. The inaccessibility of source RTL code and the lack of RTL recovery tools make the task of finding high-level security flaws in logic intractable. Upon this request, in this paper, we present an RTL recovery tool suite named RERTL that leverages advanced graph algorithms including Lengauer-Tarjan's dominator tree and Euler tour tree technique to assist in netlist analysis. Supported by RERTL, logical states and their interactions are recovered from the initial design in the format of gate-level netlists. After the recovery of state interaction, RERTL further converts the full design into human-readable RTL. A series of netlist case studies were examined using RERTL covering benign logic structures, designs with accidental defects, and designs with deliberate backdoors. The experimental results show that all of our designs at various complexities were recoverable within seconds.
Coda: Oliver Cromwell and the Legacy of Pan-Protestant Heroism

The transnational legacy of pan-Protestant heroism did not end with the death of Gustavus Adolphus, of course, but the same affiliations, communities of print and belief, and ideological commitments continued to define the literature, and more widely, the worldview of Northern European Protestants, albeit these sentiments were constantly adapting themselves to new circumstances.
Predictors of Primary Graft Dysfunction Following Bilateral Lung Transplantation

Purpose Primary graft dysfunction (PGD) is the leading cause of early morbidity and mortality following lung transplantation, affecting up to 30% of recipients within 72 hours of transplantation1. Published perioperative risk factors include a history of donor smoking2,3 or heavy donor alcohol use4, longer graft ischemic times2, volume of intraoperative fluid administered5, and higher recipient BMI2,3,6. Our aim was to identify additional intraoperative risk factors for PGD after lung transplantation. Methods In this single center, retrospective cohort study evaluating all primary, double lung transplants (DLT) performed at our institution between January 1, 2016 and December 31, 2018, data was collected from several hospital registries as well as our electronic medical record and UNOS data to evaluate donor and recipient demographics as well as intraoperative management strategies that may be associated with PGD. The primary outcome was grade 3 PGD, based on the ISHLT definition. Continuous variables are expressed as medians with range, and categorical variables as n (%). A multivariate regression model was built from our univariate analysis. Results 105 patients underwent primary DLT during the study period; 6 refused research participation. Data from 99 patients was collected and analyzed. Eighteen patients (18%) met criteria for the primary outcome of PGD. Recipient etiology of respiratory failure, intraoperative requirement for inhaled pulmonary vasodilator (IPV), degree of HLA mismatching, and the use of intraoperative blood products were associated with PGD (Table 1). The use of an inhaled pulmonary vasodilator, degree of HLA mismatch and increased red cell transfusion were independently associated with PGD. Conclusion In this retrospective analysis, we identify additional independent perioperative risk factors associated with PGD following double lung transplant. Future efforts will focus on identifying risk factors for massive intraoperative red blood cell transfusion and the need for IPV.
Remote Sensing: Advancing the Science and the Applications to Transform Agriculture

Remote sensing has proven to provide agriculture with many different assessments for crop vigor and productivity. The continual evolution of remote sensing instrumentation and platforms has provided new opportunities to use these tools in the assessment of agricultural systems. The application of remote sensing to quantify the spatial variation in production fields across the Midwest over multiple years has revealed there are three stability zones: the high yielding stable zone, the low yielding stable zone, and the unstable zone. These are derived using a combination of thermal images to detect areas of water stress and the normalized difference vegetative index to assess crop vigor and efficiency of light capture. Development of tools using remote sensing coupled with artificial intelligence and machine learning can transform agriculture through the ability to identify variable areas within fields but also determine the potential adaptive strategies to increase the profitability for each field while reducing the environmental impact through more efficient use of nutrients and pesticides. Development of new tools using remote sensing fulfills the vision of integrating many sources of information into decision making at the field and farm scale.
A single unified model for fitting simple to complex receptor response data.

The fitting of complex receptor-response data where fractional response and occupancy do not match is challenging. They encompass important cases including (a) the presence of "receptor reserve" and/or partial agonism, (b) multiple responses assessed at different vantage points along a pathway, (c) responses that are different along diverging downstream pathways (biased agonism), and (d) constitutive activity. For these, simple models such as the well-known Clark or Hill equations cannot be used. Those that can, such as the operational (Black&Leff) model, do not provide a unified approach, have multiple nonintuitive parameters that are challenging to fit in well-defined manner, have difficulties incorporating binding data, and cannot be reduced or connected to simpler forms. We have recently introduced a quantitative receptor model (SABRE) that includes parameters for Signal Amplification (γ), Binding affinity (Kd), Receptor activation Efficacy (e), and constitutive activity (eR0). It provides a single equation to fit complex cases within a full two-state framework with the possibility of incorporating receptor occupancy data (i.e., experimental Kds). Simpler cases can be fit by using consecutively reduced forms obtained by constraining parameters to specific values, e.g., eR0 = 0: no constitutive activity, γ = 1: no amplification (Emax-type fitting), and e = 1: no partial agonism (Clark equation). Here, a Hill-type extension is introduced (n ≠ 1), and simulated and experimental receptor-response data from simple to increasingly complex cases are fitted within the unified framework of SABRE with differently constrained parameters.
Four-Dimensional Paleomagnetic Dataset: Plio-Pleistocene Paleodirection and Paleointensity Results From the Erebus Volcanic Province, Antarctica

A fundamental assumption in paleomagnetism is that a geocentric axial dipole (GAD) geomagnetic field structure extends to the ancient field. Global paleodirectional compilations that span 0 - 10 My...
Progress in Helping Children Who are Deaf or Hard of Hearing Achieve Their Potential

* Abbreviations: CELF — : Clinical Evaluation of Language Fundamentals DHH — : deaf or hard of hearing MTL — : mean turn length MLUm — : mean length of utterance in morphemes TALI — : technology-assisted language intervention TAU — : treatment as usual Helping children who are deaf or hard of hearing (DHH) achieve their academic potential has been a priority in the United States since at least 1864, when President Abraham Lincoln signed the charter for what is now Gallaudet University, saying it would provide deaf people “a fair chance in the race of life.”1 Since that time, arguments have raged about how to best educate children who are DHH. Well-known examples include the Milan Congress of 1880, which passed a controversial resolution banning the use of sign language in schools2–4; the Babbidge Report commissioned by Congress in 1965 that stated, “The American people have no reason to be satisfied with their limited success in educating deaf children”5; and multiple recent articles in Pediatrics that have debated how to educate children who are DHH.6–9 With >150 years of often angry arguments about the “best way” to educate children who are DHH, it is refreshing and encouraging to read the article in this issue of Pediatrics by Meinzen-Derr et al,10 who demonstrate … Address correspondence to Karl R. White, PhD, Director, National Center for Hearing Assessment and Management, Emma Eccles Jones Endowed Chair in Early Childhood Education, Professor of Psychology, Utah State University, 2615 Old Main Hill, Logan, UT 84322. E-mail: karl.white{at}usu.edu
Use of mHealth for cardiovascular disease in low- and middle-income countries with low peace: systematic review and recommendations

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the leading cause of death globally, with a disproportionately high rate in low- and middle-income countries (LMIC). Humanitarian agencies should seek innovative methods to alleviate CVD. The goal of this paper is to review evidence on the effectiveness of mobile health (mHealth) as a means for CVD care in fragile environments. A systematic method using PRISMA standards was conducted using three bibliographic databases. Descriptive analysis was applied, and a quality assessment was conducted using the Cochrane risk of bias tool, Cochrane qualitative appraisal tool, and Newcastle-Ottawa quality assessment. The databases yielded 2,732 citations after duplicates were removed, with 111 suitable for detailed screening based on our criteria. Six met the inclusion criteria: three randomised control trials, two qualitative studies, and one cohort study. There is potential to improve patient health using mHealth as an adjunct to CVD care.
Reconstituting T cell receptor selection in-silico

Each T cell receptor (TCR) gene is created without regard for which substances (antigens) the receptor can recognize. T cell selection culls developing T cells when their TCRs (i) fail to recognize major histocompatibility complexes (MHCs) that act as antigen presenting platforms or (ii) recognize with high affinity self-antigens derived from healthy cells and tissue. While T cell selection has been thoroughly studied, little is known about which TCRs are retained or removed by this process. Therefore, we develop an approach using TCR gene sequencing and machine learning to identify patterns in TCR protein sequences influencing the outcome of T cell receptor selection. We verify the trained models classify TCRs from developing T cells as being before selection and TCRs from mature T cells as being after selection. Our approach may provide future avenues for studying the relationship between T cell selection and conditions like autoimmune diseases.
#Neurosurgery: A Temporal and Content Analysis of Academic Neurosurgery on Twitter.

BACKGROUND: Social media has become ubiquitous in modern medicine. Academic neurosurgery has increased adoption to promote individual and departmental accomplishments, engage with patients, and foster collaboration. We sought to quantitatively evaluate the adoption of one of the most used social media platforms, Twitter, within academic neurosurgery. METHODS: A quantitative and qualitative analysis of Twitter use across 118 academic neurosurgery departments with residency programs in the United States was performed in March 2019 and March 2021. We collated Twitter handles, Doximity residency ranking (a peer-determined ranking system), geographic location, and Twitter demographics (tweets, followers, likes, and tweet content) from before and after the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. Tweet content was characterized by reviewers over a predetermined 6-month period. Linear regression and parametric/nonparametric tests were used for analysis. RESULTS: Departmental accounts grew 3.7 accounts per year between 2009 and 2019 (R2 = 0.96), but 43 accounts (130%) were added between 2019 (n = 33) and 2021 (n = 76). This growth, coinciding with the COVID-19 pandemic, changed the model from linear to exponential growth (R2 = 0.97). The highest-ranking programs based on Doximity were significantly more likely to have an account (P < 0.001) and have more followers (P < 0.0001). Tweet content analysis revealed prioritization of faculty/resident activity (mean 49.9%) throughout the quartiles. CONCLUSIONS: We demonstrate rapid uptake in Twitter use among U.S. academic neurosurgical departments, accelerated by COVID-19. With the impact of COVID-19, it is clear that there will be continued rapid adoption of this platform within neurosurgery, and future studies should explore the outcomes of peer collaboration, patient engagement, and dissemination of medical information.
Size-independent peak external quantum efficiency (>2%) of InGaN red micro-light-emitting diodes with an emission wavelength over 600 nm

Red micro-light-emitting diodes (μLEDs) have been generated significant interest for the next generation μLEDs displays. It has been shown that the external quantum efficiency (EQE) of AlInGaP red μLEDs markedly decreases as the size goes to very small dimension. Here, we demonstrate size-independent peak EQE of 611 nm InGaN red μLEDs. Packaged μLEDs show a peak EQE varied from 2.4% to 2.6% as the device area reduces from 100 × 100 to 20 × 20 μm2. These results demonstrate the promising potential for realizing high efficiency red μLED with very small size using InGaN materials.
Rotational spectroscopy of vibrationally excited N2H+ and N2D+ up to 2.7 THz

Abstract Terahertz absorption spectroscopy was employed to extend the measurements on the pure rotational transitions of N 2 H + , N 2 D + and their 15 N-containing isotopologues in the ground state and first excited vibrational states for the three fundamental vibrational modes. In total, 91 new pure rotational transitions were observed in the range of 0.7–2.7 THz. The observed transition frequencies were fit to experimental accuracy, and the improved molecular parameters were obtained. The new measurements and predictions reported here will support the analysis of high-resolution astronomical observations made with facilities such as SOFIA and ALMA where laboratory rest frequencies with uncertainties of 1 MHz or smaller are required for proper analysis of velocity resolved astrophysical components.
Presenting Qualitative Data

After all the data have been collected and the analysis has been completed, the next major task for qualitative researchers is to re-present the study in the form of a paper or a lecture. The challenge of converting mounds of data and analysis can be quite overwhelming even for the experienced researcher. To help you with your efforts at presenting qualitative research in your papers and in your talks, I ask you to consider the following ideas: Openness, Data as Star, Juxtaposition, and Data Presentation Strategies. Creative Commons License This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-Share Alike 4.0 License. This article is available in The Qualitative Report: http://nsuworks.nova.edu/tqr/vol2/iss3/5 Presenting Qualitative Data by Ronald J. Chenail The Qualitative Report, Volume 2, Number 3, December, 1995 After all the data have been collected and the analysis has been completed, the next major task for qualitative researchers is to re-present the study in the form of a paper or a lecture. The challenge of converting mounds of data and analysis can be quite overwhelming even for the experienced researcher. To help you with your efforts at presenting qualitative research in your papers and in your talks, I ask you to consider the following ideas: Openness, Data as Star, Juxtaposition, and Data Presentation Strategies.
Short Certification of Secure RSA Modulus

I’m Wenbo Mao, I work for HP Labs at Bristol, and I will be talking about Off-line Public Key Validation (PKV). First I’ll introduce: what PKV is, and then Off-line PKV, and the problem with RSA. Then we offer a new solution, and actually the new solution is a protocol. Then that protocol is made into an off-line one, so that just one party must run it, which makes it easier and more efficient. I will not talk about the protocol in detail, that’s all in the paper. Here I’ll be discussing more the protocol’s security properties.
Catalytic Surface Effect on Ceramic Coatings for an Aeroassisted Orbital Transfer Vehicle

Surface catalytic efficiencies of glassy coatings were determined from a reaction boundary layer computation and arc-jet data. The catalytic efficiencies of the various coatings examined are discussed in terms of their reaction-rate constants. These constants are a function of the wall temperature (1290 K to 2000 K). In addition, the advantage of a thermal protection system for a bent biconic, aeroassisted orbital transfer vehicle with a low surface catalytic efficiency is discussed.
Revelator Game of Inquiry: A Peircean Challenge for Conceptual Structures in Application and Evolution

In unpublished manuscripts from Peirce"s last decade, he emphasizes his dialogic and interactive view of logic-as-semeotic, exemplified by the Existential Graphs. Recently published research of these manuscripts solidly supports the project of creating a game for instituting his pragmatic methodology to demonstrate his full semeotic logic. Revelator is my conception of that game, to pursue Peirce"s ideas for improving the economy of inquiry. Revelator"s design somewhat resembles many well-known games, such as bridge, chess, crossword puzzles, and even poker, but its core purpose is to reveal complex relations among the conditional propositions, by which players represent their conjectures as plays in the game. The game design invites the application and evolution of Conceptual Structures technology to aggregate, integrate, and display the complex logical behaviorof these propositions. Plays are treated as rule-defined agents that can adapt in complex conceptual environments to form multi-agents, promoting the emergence of collaboratively formulated and selected models of possible knowledge (or robust hypotheses). Peirce"s full vision of a dynamic logic continues to challenge Conceptual Structures to become an engine of inquiry.
Application of the ‘Oaxaca decomposition’ to probit estimates: The case of unions and fringe benefit provision

Abstract Using several standard approaches this paper presents estimates of the effect of unions on benefit provision consistent with those in the literature. A new estimation approach is then presented which embodies several advantages and amounts to an Oaxaca decomposition performed on two probit equations. The resulting estimates depart sharply from those in the literature suggesting unions may have far less direct influence on benefits than originally thought.
The DAL7 promoter consists of multiple elements that cooperatively mediate regulation of the gene's expression.

Abstract Expression of the allantoin system genes in Saccharomyces cerevisiae is induced by allophanate or its analog, oxalurate. This work provides evidence for the involvement of distinct types of cis-acting elements in the induction process. The first element was found to have the properties of an upstream activation sequence (UAS). This element was localized to a 16-base-pair (bp) DNA fragment containing a short 5-bp sequence that occurred repeatedly in the upstream region of DAL7. When present in two or more copies, the 16-bp fragment supported high-level beta-galactosidase production in a CYC1-lacZ expression vector; there was, however, no response to the allantoin pathway inducer. The second element had the properties of a negatively acting element or upstream repression sequence (URS). This element was localized to a 16-bp DNA fragment containing an 8-bp sequence that was repeated four times in the upstream region of DAL7. A fragment containing the 8-bp repeated sequence placed adjacent to the UAS-containing fragment mediated inhibition of the ability of the UAS to support lacZ expression regardless of whether inducer was present. A third element, designated an upstream induction sequence (UIS), was required for response to inducer. The UIS was localized to a small DNA fragment containing an approximately 10-bp sequence that was repeated twice in the upstream region of DAL7. When a fragment containing the 10-bp repeated sequence was placed adjacent to these UAS and URS elements, the construction (UIS-UAS-URS) supported normal oxalurate-mediated induction of beta-galactosidase synthesis. These data are consistent with the suggestion that multiple, cis-acting elements participate in the induction process.
Importance sampling simulation techniques applied to estimating false alarm probabilities

An upper bound on the estimation variance and a lower bound on the improvement ratio (IR) are derived for importance sampling (IS) simulations with multidimensional input processes. Not only can the runs needed for some accuracy and the IR be obtained, but also various suboptimum IS parameters. Simulation and numerical results indicate that this bounding technique is tight and applicable to non-Gaussian clutters. >
Sentimental Journey: The Diary of Margaret Miller Davidson

This article is based on a diary of Margeret Miller Davidson (1823-1938) who during her short, sickly life produced a body of poetry and a diary.Â Washington Irving saw to it that her poetry was published after her death. Her diary is transcribed in this article.
Measurement of accommodation in dim light and in darkness by means of the Purkinje images.

The state of focus of the eye in dim light and in total darkness was investigated by photographing the Purkinje images of a double aperture placed over a high speed flash lamp. Measurement of the photographed images showed that all subjects, when viewing a dim scene, remained focused for far vision. By subjective test, however, these subjects were myopic under the same conditions of dim light. The experimental results thus favor the theory that “night myopia” is a result of the aberrations of the eye and is not due to accommodation. The flash photographs taken in total darkness showed that three subjects remained focused for far vision; the fourth subject sometimes accommodated, by amounts varying between 0.5 and 1.5 diopter.
Discussion of paper by S. S. Prasad and A. Tan “The Jovian ionosphere”

The electron density of the Jovian hydrocarbon ion layer due to CH$sub 3$ photoionization has been overestimated by approximately a factor of 7 and is insignificant when compared with the Pioneer 10 results. (AIP)
FIRST RECORD OF BRANCHINECTA CAMPESTRIS (ANOSTRACA) FROM CALIFORNIA AND CASUAL OBSERVATIONS OF MALES OF ARTEMIA CLASPING FEMALES OF BRANCHINECTA

ABSTRACT Brachinectacampestris Lynch, 1960, is added as the eighteenth species of Anostraca (Branchiopoda) recorded from California. Males of Artemia franciscana Kellogg, 1906, were observed to clasp females of B. campestris and maintain amplexus in all but one instance despite attempts by the females to dislodge them. The latter observation suggests that males of Artemia may have more control over mating than males of other anostracans, where studies indicate that females frequently free themselves from amplecting males and select males on the basis of morphological characters. This apparent difference in control over mate selection by males of Artemia may, if true, help explain the low degree of morphologic divergence observed among males of sibling species in this genus.
Crystal morphology of mixtures of tripalmitin and butterfat

Blends of butterfat and tripalmitin are of interest for use as moisture barriers in edible films. Tripalmitin was blended with butterfat in the ratios 100:0, 90:10, 80:20, and so on through to 10:90 and 0:100. Crystal morphologies of squash and smear preparations were determined by polarizing light microscopy. Samples were stored at 19–22°C and re-examined after 6 d and after 30 d. Morphology was strongly dependent on composition and the presence of a coverslip. Morphology was less dependent on polymorphic form and age. Barrier properties depend more strongly on morphology than on polymorphic form.
Effect of renal vein constriction on the localization of immune complexes in the kidney

Effect of renal vein constriction on the localization of immune complexes in the kidney. To determine the effect of renal venous constriction on the localization of immune complexes in the kidney, we performed unilateral renal venous constriction in 19 male albino rabbits 7 days after they were given an i.v. bolus (250 mg/kg) of bovine serum albumin (BSA) to induce the development of serum sickness nephritis. The rabbits were sacrificed on day 12 after BSA administration. Renal histology was evaluated by (1) light microscopy, with semiquantitative grading and enumeration of glomerular nuclei and (2) fluorescent microscopy. Six rabbits were nonresponders and did not exhibit nephritis. The remaining 13 rabbits had differential degrees of severity of nephritis between the control and experimental kidneys as assessed by light microscopy (in 7 rabbits) and by fluorescent microscopy (in 12 and in 9 rabbits when examined for deposits of IgG and C3, respectively). In all instances, the experimental kidney (with the constricted vein) showed less severe alterations. The degree of protection appeared to correlate with the degree of renal venous constriction, as manifested by tubulo-interstitial changes [r s = 0.77, P Effet de la constriction de la veine renale sur la localisation des complexes immuns dans le rein. Afin d'etudier l'effet de la constriction de la veine renale sur la localisation des complexes immuns dans le rein, une constriction veineuse unilaterale a ete realisee chez 19 lapins mâles, albinos, sept jours apres qu'ils aient recu une injection i.v. unique (250 mg/kg) de serum albumine bovine (BSA) afin de determiner le developpement d'une nephrite de la maladie serique. Les animaux ont ete sacrifies le douzieme jour apres l'administration de BSA. L'histologie renale a ete etudiee par (1) la microscopie photonique, avec evaluation semiquantitative et un denombrement des noyaux glomerulaires, et (2) la fluorescence. Six parmi ces lapins n'ont pas fait de nephrite. Parmi les 13 lapins restants des differences de degre dans la severite de la nephrite ont ete constatees entre les reins controles et experimentaux comme en temoignent la microscopie photonique (7 lapins) et la fluorescence (12 et 9 lapins chez lesquels ont ete etudies, respectivement, les depots d'IgG et de C3). Dans tous les cas, le rein experimental (celui dont la veine avait subi une constriction) montre des modifications moindres. Le degre de protection parait etre correle avec le degre de constriction de la veine renale, lui-meme traduit par des modifications tubulointerstitielles (r s = 0.77, P
A series of unfortunate events

Comment on Billiau et al, page [1648][1] Cytokine levels are broadly deranged in patients with hemophagocytic syndromes. Untangling the “Who, What, Where, When, and Why” of these abnormalities will be essential to understanding this fatal disorder. The profound elevation of multiple serum
Dibutyryl guanosine cyclic monophosphate causes proliferation of interleukin-2-dependent T-cells in the presence of suboptimal levels of interleukin-2

Abstract The effect of dibutyryl guanosine cyclic monophosphate (db-cGMP) on proliferation of an interleukin-2 (IL-2)-dependent T-cell line was investigated. Dibutyryl cGMP added to HT-2 cell cultures without IL-2 or in the presence of an optimal IL-2 concentration (60 U/ml) had no effect on proliferation. The same amount of db-cGMP (10 −5 M) added to cultures in the presence of suboptimal amounts of IL-2 (3–6 U/ml) produced significant increases in proliferation. In contrast, db-cAMP caused substantial inhibition of HT-2 cells cultured with IL-2. Similar effects were observed using human T-cell blasts produced after 72 h stimulation with phytohemagglutin. These results suggest that cyclic GMP may play a role in the cellular response of IL-2 responsive cells to IL-2.
Pin1 regulates turnover and subcellular localization of β-catenin by inhibiting its interaction with APC

Phosphorylation on a serine or threonine residue preceding proline (Ser/Thr-Pro) is a key regulatory mechanism, and the conformation of certain phosphorylated Ser/Thr-Pro bonds is regulated specifically by the prolyl isomerase Pin1. Whereas the inhibition of Pin1 induces apoptosis, Pin1 is strikingly overexpressed in a subset of human tumours. Here we show that Pin1 regulates beta-catenin turnover and subcellular localization by interfering with its interaction with adenomatous polyposis coli protein (APC). A differential-display screen reveals that Pin1 increases the transcription of several beta-catenin target genes, including those encoding cyclin D1 and c-Myc. Manipulation of Pin1 levels affects the stability of beta-catenin in vitro. Furthermore, beta-catenin levels are decreased in Pin1-deficient mice but are increased and correlated with Pin1 overexpression in human breast cancer. Pin1 directly binds a phosphorylated Ser-Pro motif next to the APC-binding site in beta-catenin, inhibits its interaction with APC and increases its translocation into the nucleus. Thus, Pin1 is a novel regulator of beta-catenin signalling and its overexpression might contribute to the upregulation of beta-catenin in tumours such as breast cancer, in which APC or beta-catenin mutations are not common.
PVD Ti-films for plasma-facing first walls – Part II: Surface analytical observations during Ti gettering in TCSU

Abstract Ti gettering was successfully employed in the Translation, Confinement, and Sustainment (TCSU) experiment with dramatic reduction in plasma impurities and fuel recycling rates. Prior to Ti gettering in TCSU, the effect of process parameters on deposited films was studied by carrying out deposition experiments in a test chamber and using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS). During the 1st Ti gettering campaign in TCSU, the evolution of TCSU first wall surface chemistry was monitored using X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS).
The Influence of Al2O3 Particulate Reinforcement on Cyclic Stress Response and Fracture Behavior of 6061 Aluminum Alloy

The cyclic stress response characteristics and cyclic fracture behavior of aluminum alloy 6061 discontinuously reinforced with particulates of Al2O3 are presented and discussed. The 6061/Al2O3 composite specimens and the unreinforced 6061 aluminum alloy were cyclically deformed using tension-compression loading under constant total strain amplitude control. Both the composite and the unreinforced alloy exhibited softening to failure from the onset of cyclic deformation. The degree of softening was observed to increase at the elevated test temperature for both the composite and the unreinforced counterpart. The intrisic micromechanisms controlling the stress response characteristics during fully-reversed cyclic straining are highlighted and rationale for the observed behavior is discussed. The cyclic fracture behavior of the composite is discussed in terms of the competing influences of intrinsic microstructural effects, deformation characteristics arising from a combination of mechanical and microstructural contributions, cyclic stress response, and test temperature.
Search and rescue in collapsed structures: engineering and social science aspects

This paper discusses the social science and engineering dimensions of search and rescue (SAR) in collapsed buildings. First, existing information is presented on factors that influence the behaviour of trapped victims, particularly human, physical, socioeconomic and circumstantial factors. Trapped victims are most often discussed in the context of structural collapse and injuries sustained. Most studies in this area focus on earthquakes as the type of disaster that produces the most extensive structural damage. Second, information is set out on the engineering aspects of urban search and rescue (USAR) in the United States, including the role of structural engineers in USAR operations, training and certification of structural specialists, and safety and general procedures. The use of computational simulation to link the engineering and social science aspects of USAR is discussed. This could supplement training of local SAR groups and USAR teams, allowing them to understand better the collapse process and how voids form in a rubble pile. A preliminary simulation tool developed for this purpose is described.
A direct derivation of the REML likelihood function

The original derivation of the widely cited form of the REML likelihood function for mixed linear models is difficult and indirect. This paper derives it directly using familiar operations with matrices and determinants.
Analysis of the multidimensional effects in biofilms

Abstract A general multidimensional, multispecies, heterogenous biofilm model is developed using the balance equations. Multidimensional effects are studied by taking limiting scenarios towards lower dimensional analogs, as well as studying the effects of changing biofilm surface geometries. Error maps are developed suggesting when single-dimensional models give an accurate representation of biofilm growth, and when multidimensional effects are substantial. A porous media model is studied, where the bacteria Pseudomonas aeruginosa is modeled to grow in a packed porous bed of spheres. It is found that under most circumstances, single-dimensional models predict very similar growth rates as compared to their multidimensional analogs. However, under some conditions the multidimensionality can have a significant effect in the model’s predictions. To the authors’ best knowledge, this is the first work which develops error maps detailing multidimensional effects of biofilm growth.
Disruption of lipid rafts enhances activity of botulinum neurotoxin serotype A

Botulinum neurotoxin serotype A (BoNT/A), one of seven serotypes of botulinum neurotoxin, is taken up by neurons of the peripheral nervous system. Within the neurons it catalyzes cleavage of the synaptosomal-associated protein having a mass of 25 kDa, SNAP-25, thereby blocking neurotransmission. BoNT/A has been shown to interact with SV2, as well as gangliosides that are often found in lipid rafts. Lipid rafts are microdomains that can be found on the outer leaflet of the plasma membrane and are enriched in cholesterol and glycosphingolipids. To determine whether lipid rafts are needed for BoNT/A activity, those associated with the plasma membranes of murine N2a neuroblastoma cells were disrupted using either methyl-β-cyclodextrin or filipin. Disruption of cholesterol-containing lipid rafts by either reagent did not prevent the action of BoNT/A on N2a cells, in fact activity was enhanced. While our results indicate that disruption of lipid rafts enhances BoNT/A activity, disruption of clathrin-dependent endocytosis appeared to be inhibitory.
The process-dissociation approach two decades later: Convergence, boundary conditions, and new directions

The process-dissociation procedure was developed to separate the controlled and automatic contributions of memory. It has spawned the development of a host of new measurement approaches and has been applied across a broad range of fields in the behavioral sciences, ranging from studies of memory and perception to neuroscience and social psychology. Although it has not been without its shortcomings or critics, its growing influence attests to its utility. In the present article, we briefly review the factors motivating its development, describe some of the early applications of the general method, and review the literature examining its underlying assumptions and boundary conditions. We then highlight some of the specific issues that the methods have been applied to and discuss some of the more recent applications of the procedure, along with future directions.
Rapid Associative Encoding in Basolateral Amygdala Depends on Connections with Orbitofrontal Cortex

Certain goal-directed behaviors depend upon interactions between basolateral amygdala (ABL) and orbitofrontal cortex (OFC). Here we describe neurophysiological evidence of this cooperative function. We recorded from ABL in intact and OFC-lesioned rats during learning of odor discrimination problems and reversals. During learning, rats with ipsilateral OFC lesions exhibited a marked decline in the proportion of ABL neurons that fired differentially during cue sampling both before and after reversal and in the proportion of neurons that reversed odor preference when the odor-outcome associations were reversed. This decline appeared to reflect a loss of rapid flexibility in cue selectivity that characterized activity in intact rats. In addition, lesioned rats had fewer neurons that fired in anticipation of the predicted outcome during a delay period after responding but before outcome delivery. These findings support a role for OFC in facilitating the encoding of information about expected outcomes in ABL.
Stratigraphic relationships within Martian polar cap deposits

It is found that layered ice and dust deposits accumulate on the smooth and banded terrains of the north and south polar cap deposits of Mars, while erosion exposes these layers on the equator-facing slopes of layered terrain. The stripping of layers occurs in areas of strong and multidirectional wind, forming striped terrain. Also noted is the production of steep scarps with crescentic planform by local wind scour, in frequent association with dune fields positioned immediately downwind. Unconformities, which are common within layered deposits in areas of complex topography at the north pole, indicate that deposition episodes of 5-10 layers alternate with the slight erosion of pole-facing trough walls. It is suggested that poles may migrate poleward, replacing the relief increase by depositional infilling when they near the poles.
Self-sustaining status epilepticus after brief electrical stimulation of the perforant path.

We examined the duration of intermittent perforant path stimulation (PPS) needed to induce self-sustaining status epilepticus (SSSE) in rats. Seven-minute PPS did not induce SSSE. Some rats receiving 15 min and all animals after 30 min PPS developed SSSE that continued for hours. The animals killed 3 days after SSSE showed extensive neuronal damage. Those which were allowed to survive for 6 weeks after SSSE displayed spontaneous seizures.
Individualization is dead, long live individualization! Reforms of reporting practices for fingerprint analysis in the United States

Individualization, the claim to be able to reduce the potential donor pool of a forensic trace to a single source, has long been criticized. This criticism was echoed by a 2009 U.S. National Research Council report, which called such claims unsupportable for any discipline save nuclear DNA profiling. This statement demanded a response from those disciplines, such as fingerprint analysis, that have historically designated ‘individualization’ one of their approved testimonial conclusions. This article analyses three serial responses to this challenge by the U.S fingerprint profession. These responses posited new terms for testimonial reports or modified the definition of individualization. The article argues that these reforms have yet to ‘fix’ individualization and that all three reforms suffered semantic and conceptual difficulties. The article concludes by suggesting that these difficulties may be traced to the insistence on retaining, and somehow justifying, the term and concept ‘individualization’, instead of developing new terms and concepts from a defensible reasoning process.
De novo enzymes: from computational design to mRNA display

Enzymes offer cheap, environmentally responsible and highly efficient alternatives to chemical catalysts. The past two decades have seen a significant rise in the use of enzymes in industrial settings. Although many natural enzymes have been modified through protein engineering to better suit practical applications, these approaches are often insufficient. A key goal of enzyme engineers is to build enzymes de novo - or, 'from scratch'. To date, several technologies have been developed to achieve this goal: namely, computational design, catalytic antibodies and mRNA display. These methods rely on different principles, trading off rational protein design against an entirely combinatorial approach of directed evolution of vast protein libraries. The aim of this article is to review and compare these methods and their potential for generating truly de novo biocatalysts.
Pokeweed antiviral protein: Ribosome inactivation and therapeutic applications

Pokeweed antiviral protein (PAP) is a ribosome-inactivating protein (RIP) that inactivates ribosomes by the removal of a single adenine from ribosomal RNA. The studies summarized in our review concern the nature and application of this novel therapeutic agent. We describe how researchers continue to elucidate the structure and biologic activity of RIPs. Pokeweed antiviral protein is among the RIPs that have been conjugated to selective monoclonal antibodies for the treatment of several human cancers and viral diseases. Clinical trials using PAP immunotoxins for the treatment of leukemia have been particularly encouraging.
Structure-conformation-activity studies of glucagon and semi-synthetic glucagon analogs

Examination of glucagon structure-activity relationships and their use for the development of glucagon antagonists (inhibitors) have been hampered until recently by the lack of high purity of semisynthetic glucagon analogs and inadequate study of full dose-response curves for these analogs in sensitive bioassay systems. Recently a number of highly purified glucagon fragments and semi-synthetic analogs have been prepared and their full dose-response activities examined over a wide concentration range using the hepatic membrane adenylate cyclase assay, the hepatic membrane receptor binding assay, and glycogenolytic activity in isolated rat hepatocytes. The results of these studies have enabled us to identify and dissociate the structural (and in some cases conformational) features of glucagon important for binding from those most responsible for biological activity (transduction). Key findings in these studies were the observation that: (1) the C-terminal region of glucagon is primarily of importance for hormone binding to receptors; (2) glucagon 1-21 and glucagon 1-6 have low potency, but are essentially fully active glucagon derivatives; and (3) highly purified glucagon 2-29 ([1-des-histidine]-glucagon), [1-N alpha-carbamoylhistidine]-glucagon and [1-N alpha-carbamoylhistidine, 12-N alpha-carbamoyllysine]-glucagon are all partial agonists. These and other findings led us to synthesize several semisynthetic analogs of glucagon which were found to possess no intrinsic biological activity in the hepatic adenylate cyclase assay system, but which could block the effect of glucagon (competitive inhibitors) in activating adenylate cyclase in this system. Two of these highly purified analogs [1-des-histidine][2-N alpha-trinitrophenylserine, 12-homoarginine]-glucagon and [1-N alpha-trinitrophenylhistidine, 12-homoarginine]-glucagon were quite potent glucagon antagonists (inhibitors) with pA2 values of 7.41 and 8.16 respectively. The latter compound has also been demonstrated to decrease dramatically blood glucose levels of diabetic animals in vivo. These results demonstrate that glucagon is a major contributor to the hyperglycemia of diabetic animals. Examination of the known and calculated conformational properties of glucagon provide insight into the structural and conformational properties of glucagon and its analogs most responsible for its biological activity. Consideration of these features and the mechanism of glucagon action at the membrane receptor level provide a framework for further developing glucagon analogs for theoretical and therapeutic applications.
Fluoride ion cleaning of gas turbine components using PTFE grease

An improved method for fluoride ion cleaning (FIC) utilizing the thermal decomposition of polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) powder was developed and applied to oxide scales on narrow deep cracks formed on the surface of gas turbine blades during service exposure. This method is characterized by directly filling-up the cracks with PTFE grease. The results of this improved method were compared with the conventional method. When processed in an FIC reactor using PTFE powder, the surface oxides in the cracks filled with PTFE grease were much better reduced and cleaned than those of unfilled. The difference was more evident at the deep and narrow crack tips, and was well attributed to the wetting and the subsequent capillary action of melted PTFE on the oxide surface in the cracks during the process.
Super-resolution surface mapping using the trajectories of molecular probes

Surface characterization of soft materials in situ is challenging due to the importance of non-covalent interactions. Now, a new chemical imaging method is reported that generates images of surface interactions by combining many molecular probe trajectories.