cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Applied zooarchaeology: five case studies

Environmental archaeologists have long called for the inclusion of their research into conservation and ecosystem management policy and practice. With increasing public and scholarly concern for th...
Recovery blocks

We give a semantics for Brian Randell's recovery blocks, and show how they can be proved correct. The formalisation is expressed wholly in propositional logic.
Performance in the Medicare Shared Savings Program After Accounting for Nonrandom Exit: An Instrumental Variable Analysis.

Background Accountable care organizations (ACOs) in the Medicare Shared Savings Program (MSSP) are associated with modest savings. However, prior research may overstate this effect if high-cost clinicians exit ACOs. Objective To evaluate the effect of the MSSP on spending and quality while accounting for clinicians' nonrandom exit. Design Similar to prior MSSP analyses, this study compared MSSP ACO participants versus control beneficiaries using adjusted longitudinal models that accounted for secular trends, market factors, and beneficiary characteristics. To further account for selection effects, the share of nearby clinicians in the MSSP was used as an instrumental variable. Hip fracture served as a falsification outcome. The authors also tested for compositional changes among MSSP participants. Setting Fee-for-service Medicare, 2008 through 2014. Patients A 20% sample (97 204 192 beneficiary-quarters). Measurements Total spending, 4 quality indicators, and hospitalization for hip fracture. Results In adjusted longitudinal models, the MSSP was associated with spending reductions (change, -$118 [95% CI, -$151 to -$85] per beneficiary-quarter) and improvements in all 4 quality indicators. In instrumental variable models, the MSSP was not associated with spending (change, $5 [CI, -$51 to $62] per beneficiary-quarter) or quality. In falsification tests, the MSSP was associated with hip fracture in the adjusted model (-0.24 hospitalizations for hip fracture [CI, -0.32 to -0.16 hospitalizations] per 1000 beneficiary-quarters) but not in the instrumental variable model (0.05 hospitalizations [CI, -0.10 to 0.20 hospitalizations] per 1000 beneficiary-quarters). Compositional changes were driven by high-cost clinicians exiting ACOs: High-cost clinicians (99th percentile) had a 30.4% chance of exiting the MSSP, compared with a 13.8% chance among median-cost clinicians (50th percentile). Limitation The study used an observational design and administrative data. Conclusion After adjustment for clinicians' nonrandom exit, the MSSP was not associated with improvements in spending or quality. Selection effects-including exit of high-cost clinicians-may drive estimates of savings in the MSSP. Primary Funding Source Horowitz Foundation for Social Policy, Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, and National Institute on Aging.
Gray Wolf ( Canis lupus ) recolonization failure: a Minnesota case study

During the past few decades, Gray Wolves ( Canis lupus ) have recolonized many areas in the United States and Europe. In many other cases, however, although dispersing wolves reached areas with adequate prey, a population failed to recolonize. Herein, we provide a case study detailing how a wolf pack attempted for three years to recolonize an area 55 km from a long-established population and within 25 km of Minneapolis and St. Paul, Minnesota, but failed. The pack produced three litters of pups and at one time included 11–19 members, but it preyed on livestock and dogs and, consequently, was lethally removed. The history of this pack’s attempt to recolonize an area long devoid of wolves exemplifies the issues that have prevented earlier recolonizations in non-wild lands in Minnesota and elsewhere and that promise to do so well into the future.
Moving and reactive boundary conditions in moving-mesh hydrodynamics

We outline the methodology of implementing moving boundary conditions into the moving-mesh code MANGA. The motion of our boundaries is reactive to hydrodynamic and gravitational forces. We discuss the hydrodynamics of a moving boundary as well as the modifications to our hydrodynamic and gravity solvers. Appropriate initial conditions to accurately produce a boundary of arbitrary shape are also discussed. Our code is applied to several test cases, including a Sod shock tube, a Sedov-Taylor blast wave and a supersonic wind on a sphere. We show the convergence of conserved quantities in our simulations. We demonstrate the use of moving boundaries in astrophysical settings by simulating a common envelope phase in a binary system, in which the companion object is modeled by a spherical boundary. We conclude that our methodology is suitable to simulate astrophysical systems using moving and reactive boundary conditions.
Current Rerouting Improves Heat Removal in Few-Layer WSe2 Devices.

Few-layer (FL) transition metal dichalcogenides have drawn attention for nanoelectronics applications due to their improved mobility, owing to the partial screening of charged impurities at the oxi...
A Recurrent Transformer Network for Novel View Action Synthesis.

In this work, we address the problem of synthesizing human actions from novel views. Given an input video of an actor performing some action, we aim to synthesize a video with the same action performed from a novel view with the help of an appearance prior. We propose an end-to-end deep network to solve this problem. The proposed network utilizes the change in viewpoint to transform the action from the input view to the novel view in feature space. The transformed action is integrated with the target appearance using the proposed recurrent transformer network, which provides a transformed appearance for each time-step in the action sequence. The recurrent transformer network utilize action key-points which are determined in an unsupervised approach using the encoded action features. We also propose a hierarchical structure for the recurrent transformation which further improves the performance. We demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed method through extensive experiments conducted on a large-scale multi-view action recognition NTU-RGB+D dataset. In addition, we show that the proposed method can transform the action to a novel viewpoint with an entirely different scene or actor. The code is publicly available at https://github.com/schatzkara/cross-view-video.
Antiviral Effector RTP4 Bats against Flaviviruses.

Bats harbor diverse viruses and manifest distinct antiviral immune responses. Recently in Cell Host & Microbe, Boys et al. demonstrated that bat receptor transporter protein 4 (RTP4) is an innate antiviral effector that inhibits flavivirus replication, revealing an evolutionary arms race between flaviviruses and their hosts.
Young adults' stigmatizing perceptions about individuals with skin cancer: the influence of potential cancer cause, cancer metaphors, and gender.

Objective: This study examined the influence of three potential predictors of stigmatising cancer perceptions: the controllability of the cancer cause, metaphors used to describe the cancer experie...
The Phenomenon of Marina Abramovic as a Re-Enactment of the Passions of the Contemporary Elite

Abstract: The article focuses on the work of Marina Abramovic — arguably one of the most celebrated artists in the world today. The article pays particular attention to the idea of transgression that plays a critical role in Abramovic’s art works. It examines an unwarranted and unexamined connection that Abramovic and many other contemporary artists make between transgression and transcendence that shapes the contemporary view of art among practitioners, audiences, and critics. Finally, the article also analyses the reason why Abramovic’s works that involve pain and suffering find enormous appeal among elite audiences.
Supporting the Professional Development of Science Teacher Educators through Shadowing.

Despite calls for more attention to the preparation of those who prepare teachers, there have been few examples of institutionally sanctioned and structured learning opportunities created to equip faculty with the knowledge and skills necessary to become effective teacher educators. In this paper, we describe a cross-disciplinary and collaborative initiative that involves shadowing of colleagues as a means of supporting the professional learning of science teacher educators. We illustrate the unique affordance of this model and highlight our professional learning across multiple dimensions: cognitive, practical, relational, and emotional. We illustrate how shadowing can support the learning of faculty at different career stages and from different disciplinary backgrounds and entry points to teacher education through a series of vignettes of shadowing in a variety of course contexts. Finally, we offer considerations for the transferability of our model to other institutions and contexts, and how further research conducted in the context of shadowing could help deepen our understanding of the knowledge base of science teacher educators and how this knowledge is developed.
Individual and social determinants of COVID-19 vaccine uptake.

COVID-19 has had a devastating impact and efforts are being made to speed up vaccinations. The growing problem of vaccine hesitancy may affect the uptake of COVID-19 vaccine. We examined the individual, communication and social determinants associated with vaccines uptake. Data come from a nationwide online probability-based panel of 1012 representative adults in the United States and the survey was conducted before the vaccines were available. People under the federal poverty level and racial and ethnic minorities were oversampled. Our outcome variables of interest were likelihood of vaccinating self and likelihood of vaccinating people under one’s care (such as children) measuring behavioral intentions. Independent variables included perceptions of risk, exposure to different media for COVID-19 news, political party identification, confidence in scientists and social determinants of health. Logistic regression analysis was used to ascertain the effects of independent variables on the two outcome variables. The results indicated that 68 and 65% agreed to get the vaccine for themselves and people under their care, respectively. Risk perceptions (severity of and susceptibility to COVID-19) were significantly associated with vaccine uptake. People who relied on “conservative” news outlets, Republicans, and who had low confidence in scientists are least likely to vaccinate self or children. Non-Hispanic Blacks and those with least schooling were also less likely to receive vaccine for themselves or people in their care. Our study identified race/ethnicity, risk perceptions, exposure to different media for COVID-19 news, party identification and confidence in scientists as factors that would be affecting COVID-19 vaccine uptake. The good news is that these are addressable through strategic public health communications, but a lot of work remains to be done with some urgency.
No Walk in the Dog Park: Drafting Animal Cruelty Statutes to Resolve Double Jeopardy Concerns and Eliminate Unfettered Prosecutorial Discretion

This article evaluates animal abuse and cruelty laws throughout the United States. It demonstrates that, although an emerging trend treats animals more like humans and less like property in some criminal cases and statutes, the laws of many states still adhere to the traditional view of animals as property, causing unique charging and sentencing issues that must be clarified in order to bring predictability and consistency to the law. In the article, Professor Serafino explores the option of creating a new paradigm in this area, in which animals are treated as a hybrid category of "living property," "legal personhood," or some other type of entity entitled to equal protection, and in which animal cruelty statutes serve greater purposes than to protect property or enforce desirable moral character principles. She also discusses whether the injury of each and every animal can or should constitute a separate offense, and outlines the extent to which double jeopardy principles may apply to bar sentences on multiple counts. She argues that, by failing to legislate in this area, forty-one states have effectively allowed prosecutors unfettered discretion to charge defendants in these cases however they chose. Finally, she explores the challenges faced by courts and legislatures as they grapple with situations of abuse involving multiple animals, providing a comparative analysis of how this issue is being handled in various jurisdictions across the country.
Cox-sMBPLS: An Algorithm for Disease Survival Prediction and Multi-Omics Module Discovery Incorporating Cis-Regulatory Quantitative Effects.

Background The development of high-throughput techniques has enabled profiling a large number of biomolecules across a number of molecular compartments. The challenge then becomes to integrate such multimodal Omics data to gain insights into biological processes and disease onset and progression mechanisms. Further, given the high dimensionality of such data, incorporating prior biological information on interactions between molecular compartments when developing statistical models for data integration is beneficial, especially in settings involving a small number of samples. Results We develop a supervised model for time to event data (e.g., death, biochemical recurrence) that simultaneously accounts for redundant information within Omics profiles and leverages prior biological associations between them through a multi-block PLS framework. The interactions between data from different molecular compartments (e.g., epigenome, transcriptome, methylome, etc.) were captured by using cis-regulatory quantitative effects in the proposed model. The model, coined Cox-sMBPLS, exhibits superior prediction performance and improved feature selection based on both simulation studies and analysis of data from heart failure patients. Conclusion The proposed supervised Cox-sMBPLS model can effectively incorporate prior biological information in the survival prediction system, leading to improved prediction performance and feature selection. It also enables the identification of multi-Omics modules of biomolecules that impact the patients' survival probability and also provides insights into potential relevant risk factors that merit further investigation.
Submental Island Flap After Prior Contralateral Neck Dissection: A Case Series and Technical Considerations.

Objectives The submental island flap is a dependable workhorse in head and neck reconstruction. However, the viability of this flap has not been established for oral cavity reconstruction when a contralateral neck dissection has already been performed in an earlier surgical setting. The aim of this study is to highlight technical considerations and outcomes of this approach with a small case series. Methods Three cases of oral cavity reconstruction with a submental island flap elevated in the context of a prior contralateral neck dissection are presented. Results In all cases, a doppler was used to identify the maintenance of the submental perforator in the neck opposite the previous neck dissection. In 2 cases, level IA was included within the dissection field of the previous neck dissection. Additionally, the old neck scar was included within the skin paddle of the submental island flap in 2 cases. In all cases, excellent healing of the flap was observed without partial or complete loss. Conclusions The submental island flap appears to be a reliable reconstruction when a previous contralateral neck dissection has been performed, even when level IA was included in the prior dissection.
Abnormal acoustic wave velocities in basaltic and (Fe,Al)‐bearing silicate glasses at high pressures

We have measured acoustic VP and VS velocities of (Fe,Al)-bearing MgSiO3 silicate glasses and an Icelandic basalt glass up to 25 GPa. The velocity profiles of the (Fe,Al)-bearing and basaltic silicate glasses display decreased VP and VS with minima at approximately 5 and 2 GPa, respectively, which could be explained by the mode softening in the aluminosilicate networks. Our results represent the first observation of such velocity softening extending into the chemically complex basaltic glass at a relatively low transition pressure, which is likely due to its degree of polymerization, while the Fe and Al substitutions reduce sound velocities in MgSiO3 glass. If the velocity softening in the basaltic and silicate glasses can be used as analogs for understanding melts in Earth's interior, these observations suggest that the melt fraction needed to account for the velocity reduction in the upper mantle low-velocity zone may be smaller than previously thought.
Interpolation methods in the design and analysis of slot arrays

Particular attention is given to the design and analysis of compound slot arrays, the design of arrays of hybrid elements, and an array design with three control parameters. >
Factors Affecting the Release by Dilute Acid of Hidden Prototropic Groups in Carbonylhemoglobin

Abstract A ferrohemoglobin, horse COHb, titrated with acid and back-titrated with base in the absence of air and with more rapid mixing (⅕ sec) than in earlier work, exhibits much more complex unmasking behavior (prototropic groups) than previously reported for the ferri form, Hb+. The numbers and kinds of groups liberated by exposure to acid depend not only on pH, but on salt concentrations, and on time of exposure as well. Under mild conditions of denaturation, all the groups unmasked appear to be remasked so rapidly at higher pH that a meaningful back titration curve has not been obtained. With more severe treatment, regeneration and remasking are manageably slower, and it is clear that masked basic groups, including (but not solely) imidazoles, appear. Loss of α helix, when brought about by mild acid treatment, is recovered at higher pH values which depend on the severity of the denaturation process. With the most severe treatment, about 24 groups titrating at pH g 3 are unmasked; about half of these appear to be imidazole. The number is in fair agreement with that recently calculated by Tanford and Nozaki for ferrihemoglobin. Evidence is presented that exposure of the ferroprotein to low pH (below 3) produces results (unmasked groups, regenerability of Cotton effects, and Soret band absorption) which are quantitatively different from those accompanying the maximum attainable degree of unfolding at longer times at higher pH. The pH and time of exposure to acid may determine whether unfolding of the ferroprotein occurs with or without detachment of the prosthetic group.
Hausdorff dimension and doubling measures on metric spaces

Vol′berg and Konyagin have proved that a compact metric space carries a nontrivial doubling measure if and only if it has finite uniform metric dimension. Their construction of doubling measures requires infinitely many adjustments. We give a simpler and more direct construction, and also prove that for any α > 0, the doubling measure may be chosen to have full measure on a set of Hausdorff dimension at most α. Let (X, ρ) be a compact metric space. Vol’berg and Konyagin proved in [VK] that (X, ρ) carries a nontrivial doubling measure μ (there exists Λ ≥ 1 so that μ(B(x, 2r)) ≤ Λμ(B(x, r)) for all x ∈ X and r > 0) if and only if (X, ρ) has finite uniform metric dimension (in each ball B(x, 2r), there exist at most N points with mutual distances at least r). Here B(x, r) = {y : ρ(x, y) 0, there exists a doubling measure on X that has full measure on a set of Hausdorff dimension at most α. Also we observe that a doubling measure may be concentrated on a countable set even when X is a set on the real line of positive length. Some ideas have been adapted from [FKP], [VK] and [T]. 1. Theorems and examples Assume, from now on, that (X, ρ) is a compact metric space of finite uniform metric dimension and that diam X < 1. For each k ≥ 0, let Sk = {xk,j : 1 ≤ j ≤ J(k)} be a maximal 10−k-net on X (points in Sk having mutual distances at least 10 −k, and points outside Sk having distances less than 10−k to Sk), satisfying S0 ⊆ S1 ⊆ · · · ⊆ Sk ⊆ Sk+1 ⊆ · · · . Note that S0 has only one point x0,1. For each k ≥ 0, let {Tk,j : 1 ≤ j ≤ J(k)} be a partition of Sk+1 satisfying Sk+1 ∩B(xk,j , 10−k/2) ⊆ Tk,j ⊆ Sk+1 ∩B(xk,j , 10−k). (1.1) Received by the editors October 24, 1996. 1991 Mathematics Subject Classification. Primary 28C15; Secondary 54E35, 54E45.
School Library Media Specialist Collaboration with Special Education Personnel in Support of Student Learning

Objective – The objective of this study was to identify factors for effective collaboration between school library media specialists and special education personnel in support of student learning. Methods – A review method was used to examine illustrative studies of collaboration. Results – The analysis revealed studies that represented a variety of methodologies: survey, observation, interview, action research, and participatory ethnography. The review identified cross-study factors that facilitate collaboration between school library media specialists and special educators: shared knowledge via cross-training and regular professional interaction, effective communication skills, and effective educational team planning and co-teaching of meaningful learning activities. Conclusion – The study concluded that school library media specialists and special education personnel need to share their knowledge and expertise about the effective use of appropriate resources and services for students with special needs.
Comparision of Soluble Reduced Nicotinamide Adenine Dinucleotide Oxidases from Cells and Spores of Clostridium botulinum

Green, J. H. (Michigan State University, East Lansing), and H. L. Sadoff. Comparison of soluble reduced nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide oxidases from cells and spores of Clostridium botulinum. J. Bacteriol. 89:1499–1505. 1965.—The properties of purified reduced nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NADH2) oxidases from cells and spores of Clostridium botulinum 62-A have been studied to determine whether they are the same or different proteins. The spore NADH2 oxidase was very heat-stable, whereas the vegetative enzyme was readily denatured at 70 C. The spore oxidase exhibited less affinity for the substrate than did the vegetative protein, but possessed a tightly bound cofactor. Atabrine was a noncompetitive inhibitor for both enzymes, but was less inhibitory to the spore NADH2 oxidase. The enzymes could be separated from each other by gel filtration or chromatography on a diethylaminoethyl-cellulose column. The molecular weight of the spore oxidase was estimated to be 200,000 or greater, whereas that of the vegetative enzyme was 100,000 or less. Neither NADH2 oxidase would cross-react with its heterologous antibody in a precipitation reaction. The conclusion drawn from this investigation is that the two NADH2 oxidases are distinctly different proteins.
The effect of diet and fasting on the serum bilirubin concentration in the rat.

An increase in the total serum bilirubin concentration has been demonstrated in the congenitally jaundiced (Gunn) rat during partial or complete caloric deprivation. This suggests that the enzyme uridine diphosphate-glucuronyl transferase, which is deficient in these mutant rats, is not involved in the hyperbilirubinemia of fasting. Fasting also increased the total serum bilirubin in normal rats and in rats with obstructive jaundice. A high fat diet produced a decrease in the total serum bilirubin; this effect may be the result of an increase in the caloric intake rather than a specific effect of dietary fat.
Rising BRIC and Changes in Sub-Saharan Africa's Business Cycle Patterns

This paper assesses the extent to which Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA)'s business cycle is synchronized with that of the rest of the world (RoW). SSA's business cycle has not only moved in the same direction as that of the RoW, but has also gradually drifted away from the G7 in favor of the BRIC. Trade with the BRIC has been the strongest driver of this shift. As fiscal policy stances in SSA and the BRIC are not synchronized, they have not caused output correlation. Also, financial openness, which is at an early stage in SSA, has acted as a neutral force.
Getting PrEPared for HIV Prevention Navigation: Young Black Gay Men Talk About HIV Prevention in the Biomedical Era.

Abstract Biomedical HIV prevention strategies, such as pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) and post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP), represent new opportunities to reduce critically high HIV infection rates among young black men who have sex with men (YBMSM). We report results of 24 dyadic qualitative interviews (N=48), conducted in Los Angeles, CA, exploring how YBMSM and their friends view PrEP and PEP. Interviews were analyzed using a grounded theory approach. Participants had widely divergent levels of knowledge about these prevention methods. Misconceptions and mistrust regarding PrEP were common, and concerns were expressed about PrEP-related stigma and the potential for gossip among peers who might assume a person on PrEP was HIV-positive. Yet participants also framed PrEP and PEP as valuable new options within an expanded “tool kit” of HIV prevention strategies that created possibilities for preventing new HIV infections, dating men with a different HIV status, and decreased anxiety about exposure to HIV. ...
Serotyping of Chlamydia I. Isolates of Ovine Origin

Eight chlamydial isolates of ovine origin were tested in a plaque reduction system using homologous and heterologous rooster antisera. The eight isolates could be separated into two separate immunotypes. Type 1 included isolates associated with ovine abortion and one agent recovered from the feces of an apparently normal sheep. Type 2 isolates were associated with polyarthritis and conjunctivitis. These two serotypes were not cross-reactive with several chlamydiae of avian origin. Further application of the plaque reduction test may provide a useful means of typing chlamydiae.
Bioavailability and Interaction of Vitamin A and Vitamin E in Ruminants

Recent interest in antioxidant vitamins and animal nutrition has resulted in the investigation of feeding levels of vitamin E which are considerably higher than NRC requirements. Relatively high levels of vitamin E are required to improve animal product quality such as extending beef color stability and minimizing off-flavors in milk due to lipid oxidation. Concerns regarding a negative effect of vitamin A on vitamin E utilization and the suitability of currently used standard activity values for vitamin E supplements for ruminants have been raised. High dietary levels of vitamin A have depressed vitamin E utilization in most animals studied. In the dairy cow, 675,000 IU of vitamin A acetate per head per day is required to significantly depress vitamin E utilization. This is approximately 10-fold greater than the highest levels currently fed to dairy or beef cattle and therefore should not cause a practical problem. Synthetic and naturally derived alpha-tocopherol, and their ester forms, are commonly used as vitamin E supplements. These various forms give rise to isomer differences, ester differences and formulation differences that can affect their absorption and subsequent utilization. The current research indicates that the commonly used standard activity values based on a value of 1.00 IU per mg of all-rac-alpha-tocopheryl acetate are probably too low for the ruminant. The roles of isomeric forms and gastrointestinal tract absorption have not been completely resolved regarding their effects on the bioavailability of vitamin E supplements.
Heavy Higgs Bosons in the Weinberg-Salam Model

We search for a systematic way to characterize the low-energy sensitivity of the minimal Weinberg-Salam model to a heavy-Higgs-boson sector. We find that it is convenient to view this theory as the regulated version of a nonlinear $\ensuremath{\sigma}$ model coupled to an $\mathrm{SU}{(2)}_{L}\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}\mathrm{U}(1)$ Yang-Mills theory. Within this framework, ${M}_{H}$ acts as the regulator. Using the symmetry properties of the nonlinear theory, along with a power-counting analysis, we are able to classify low-energy observables according to their sensitivity to ${M}_{H}$. We find that, at one loop, the greatest sensitivity is logarithmic. An illustration of these ideas is provided by a calculation of the one-loop, ${M}_{H}$-dependent corrections to the natural relation $\frac{{M}_{W}}{{M}_{Z}}$ $cos\ensuremath{\theta}=1$. Finally, we discuss other possible applications of this technique.
Dirofilaria immitis: Depression of Endothelium-Dependent Relaxation of Canine Femoral Artery Seen in Vivo Does Not Persist in Vitro

In heartworm-infected dogs, circulating filarial factors appear to be responsible for the seasonal depression of endothelium-dependent responses seen in the in vivo femoral artery. The effect of heartworm infection on vascular responses of the femoral artery in vitro, when the vessel is not constantly exposed to circulating factors, is unknown. Experiments were designed to test the hypothesis that in vivo exposure to circulating filarial factors leads to changes in the magnitude and mechanism of endothelium-dependent relaxation that are demonstrable in vitro. Rings of femoral artery from heartworm-infected and noninfected control dogs were suspended in muscle baths, and dose-response relationships to endothelium-dependent (methacholine) and -independent (sodium nitroprusside) vasodilators were done. To determine the mechanism of relaxation, dose-response relationships were also done in the presence of an inhibitor of nitric oxide synthase (L-NAME), an inhibitor of guanylate cyclase (methylene blue), or an inhibitor of cyclooxygenase (mefenamic acid). Heartworm infection did not depress endothelium-dependent relaxation of the femoral artery in vitro. Furthermore, the mechanism of relaxation in heartworm and control femoral artery is identical. These data suggest that the effect of circulating filarial factors that alter the magnitude and mechanism of relaxation in systemic vessels in heartworm-infected dogs rapidly disappears in their absence. This results has important bearing on the dynamics of heartworm-induced pathophysiological changes during infection and could influence the nature and chronology of responses to therapy.
Beneficial effects of salts on an acid-catalyzed condensation leading to porphyrin formation

Abstract Addition of one of a variety of salts to the room temperature, two-step, one flask reaction at 0.1 M forming tetraphenylporphyrin (TPP) gave yield increases of up to 2-fold. Among 21 insoluble salts, 12 gave increased yields, 6 had no effect, and 3 gave diminished yields. The salts that gave increases encompassed diverse cations but were restricted to the anions Cl − , Br − , I − , and Ph 4 B − while SO 4 2− , F − , or BF 4 − did not give improved yields. All 7 soluble tetraalkylammonium or tetraphenylphosphonium salts (F − , Cl − , Ph 4 B − , PF 6 − , or HSO 4 − counterions) that were surveyed gave yield increases of > 1.5 fold. Thus a 10 −1 M pyrrole-benzaldehyde condensation catalyzed with 10 −2 M BF 3 ·O(Et) 2 in CH 2 Cl 2 containing 0.1 equiv of NaCl (5.85 mg/10 mL CH 2 Cl 2 ) or 0.0031 equiv of benzyltributylammonium chloride (Bu 3 BzlNCl) (based on [benzaldehyde]) gave ∼50% yield compared with ∼25% in the reaction without salt. The pyrrole-aldehyde condensation is much faster in the presence of salt, as measured by the rate of disappearance of benzaldehyde and the rate of formation of the porphyrin. Yield increases in the presence of salt were observed with catalysis by BF 3 ·O(Et) 2 , BF 3 ·2H 2 O, and CF 3 CO 2 H. Significant salt effects also were observed with BF 3 ·O(Et) 2 or CF 3 CO 2 H in the solvent diethyl ether, but the maximum yield was 15%. A survey of nine aldehydes showed yield improvements of up to 2-fold in six cases in the presence of salt. During the pyrrole-aldehyde reaction in CH 2 Cl 2 either in the presence or absence of soluble salts, the medium becomes heterogeneous (measured by nephelometry). The addition of water to BF 3 ·O(Et) 2 in CH 2 Cl 2 also yields a heterogeneous medium; in the presence of salt this medium affords twice the yield of porphyrin as that formed in the absence of salt. 11 B NMR and 19 F NMR experiments failed to unveil any new species formed by interaction of chloride-containing salts with BF 3 ·O(Et) 2 . The complexity of the reaction medium, as well as insufficient information about the nature of the pyrrole-aldehyde condensation, preclude an assignment of mechanisms underlying the salt effects. However, a rank ordering of salts in the porphyrin reaction does not correlate with their desiccative power, and the generality of the salt effects is at odds with the selective anion templating of tetrapyrrolic macrocycles. Irreversible features of the pyrrole-aldehyde condensation have been identified via exchange experiments during the course of the reaction and 13 C NMR labeling experiments. The improved reaction conditions can be used for preparative-scale syntheses, as 720 mg tetraphenylporphyrin (47% yield) was obtained from a 100 mL-scale reaction with 0.1 M reactants at room temperature.
From awareness to connectedness: the design and deployment of presence displays

Computer displays can be helpful for making users aware of the remote presence of friends and family. In many of the research projects that have explored the use of novel displays, the real goal is to improve a user's sense of connectedness to those remote loved ones. However, very few have leveraged a user-centered design process or empirically studied the effects of using a display on users' sense of awareness and connectedness. In this paper, we present our multi-phase, user-centered design process for building displays that support awareness and connectedness: Presence Displays, which are physical, peripheral awareness displays of online presence of close friends or family. We present evidence, from a 5-week long field study, that these displays provide significantly better awareness of and connectedness to a loved one, than a traditional graphical display of online presence.
Temperature dependence of inhomogeneous broadening : On the meaning of isosbestic points

An isosbestic point in the temperature dependence of an absorption spectrum is commonly viewed as a sign of interconverting chemical or structural species. Here I explore an alternative microscopic origin of temperature-independent absorbance in inhomogeneously broadened spectra: While the equilibrium probability of observing a particular frequency generally changes with the magnitude of thermal fluctuations, the weight of at least one frequency is insensitive to small changes in temperature. The range of temperature accessible to aqueous solutions at ambient pressure is sufficiently small that such insensitivity would appear in experiments as an isosbestic point. This mechanism depends only on the continuity of equilibrium distributions, not on the presence of multiple components. Even the simplest model of a single solute species in a fluctuating environment exhibits isosbestic points, van't Hoff behavior, and, with appropriate dependence of transition frequency on configuration, multiple absorption peaks.
A study of HLA-DR2 associated HLA-Dw/LD specificities.

Abstract HLA-Dw2 and Dw12 are both associated with HLA-DR2; however, these specificities account for only 86% (161/188) of the DR2 + haplotypes in our North American Caucasian panel. In an attempt to identify new DR2 associated antigenic clusters, we have generated four primed lymphocyte (LD) typing (PLT) reagents in haploidentical familial combinations against DR2 + Dw blank haplotypes. These reagents were positively restimulated by 11 of 16 DR2 + Dw blank cells tested, with good discrimination from Dw2 and Dw12 + cells, thus identifying a new antigenic cluster provisionally termed LD-MN2. We have compared the LD-MN2 specificity with the specificity LD-5a defined by two DR2 + HTCs, BAS and REM, (Layrisse, Caracas) which have been included in the pre-1984 Workshop Cluster DB9. Although none of our DR2 + cells gave typing responses to these two HTCs defining LD-5a, PLT studies did indicate an interrelationship between these specificities and with the specificity tb24 defined with the HTC, FJO (Betuel). The LD-5a HTCs, four LD-5a heterozygous cells, and two additional HTCs (WJR-Hansen, Seattle and FJO/tb24-Betuel, Lyon) significantly restimulated the anti-MN2 PLT reagents, though usually not as strongly as the MN2+ cells. MN2+ cells primed against the LD-5a HTCs were restimulated by only the LD-5a + cells. Dw2 + cells primed against FJO were restimulated by some, but not all MN2 + cells. These results suggest that MN2, tb24, and LD-5a share some determinants, not shared with most cells which type as Dw2 and Dw12, though differing by other stimulatory determinants. These studies emphasize the necessity of studying new antigenic clusters by both PLT and HTC methodologies as well as testing different ethnic groups.
Ultrasonic encoding of diffused light: From optical imaging to light focusing in turbid media

In optical scattering media such as biological tissue, light propagation is randomized by multiple scattering. Beyond one transport mean free path, where photon propagation is in the diffusive regime, direct light focusing becomes infeasible. The resulting loss of light localization poses serious challenge to optical imaging in thick scattering media. Ultrasound modulated optical tomography (UOT) combines high optical contrast and good ultrasonic resolution, and is therefore an ideal imaging modality for soft biological tissue. A variety of detection techniques have been developed in UOT in an effort to discriminate the ultrasonically encoded diffused light as the imaging signal. We developed a photorefractive crystal based detection system, which has the ability to image both the optical and acoustic properties of biological tissues. With the improved photorefractive crystal based detection, tissue-mimicking phantom samples as thick as 9.4 cm can be imaged. We further exploit the virtual source concept in UOT and combine it with optical time reversal to achieve diffusive light focusing into scattering media. Experimental implementation of this new technology is presented.
Phylogenetic analysis of threatened and range-restricted limestone specialists in the land snail genus Anguispira

Conservation laws often apply at the level of “species,” yet species designations in many taxa were made using qualitative descriptions of a small number of morphological characters. This makes management of these groups challenging, especially when new taxonomically ambiguous populations are discovered. We used mtDNA sequence data (portions of 16S and cytb) to assess phylogenetic patterns within the limestone specialists in the land snail genus Anguispira, a group that includes highly range-restricted endemics and a newly discovered population of unclear affinities. Limestone mining is increasing in the Cumberland Plateau region (USA) where these snails live; the lack of phylogenetic information makes conservation management around these mines problematic. We found support for some aspects of traditional taxonomies: Anguispira picta, cumberlandiana, and alabama appear to be monophyletic groups, with the possible exception of one disjunct population of alabama. However, A. cumberlandiana columba appears to be more closely related to the widespread generalist A. alternata, a species than our data suggest is not monophyletic. In addition, the carinate shell (a highly flattened form with pinched edges, an adaptation to life in rock crevices) appears to have evolved just once in the genus. Last, both mtDNA data and quantification of shell morphology indicate that a newly discovered population appears to form a diagnosable monophyletic group. If corroborated by further analyses, this group may warrant elevation to the status of species.
Three-dimensional features of a Mach 2.1 shock/boundary layer interaction

2D particle image velocimetry was used to study the three-dimensionality of the shock-boundary layer interaction generated by a small 20° compression ramp in a low aspect ratio continuously operated wind tunnel. High-resolution data were taken in four streamwise-wallnormal planes: three planes located in the sidewall boundary layer and one near the tunnel centerline. The incoming boundary layer was found to show three-dimensionality, with significant overshoot in the velocity profiles observed near the sidewall. The size of the wedge influenced the interaction, which was weaker than that observed in the case of a large compression wedge. The flow turning angle was ≈8° near the tunnel centerline and changed significantly across the span. Measurements behind the compression wedge in the centerline plane showed that both velocity and turbulence properties were nearly fully recovered ≈14δ behind the compression corner. The shock angle varied with spanwise position, and a multi-shock structure was observed in the sidewall planes. The size of the interaction decreased in the sidewall boundary layer. Non-monotonic variations in both velocity and turbulence profiles across the sidewall planes suggest the presence of significant spanwise flows, possibly corner vortices.
The localized corrosion of Al at engineered Cu islands

Arrays of engineered copper islands on an aluminum thin-film matrix have been employed to investigate the role of copper in localized corrosion of Al-Cu alloys. When exposed to dilute NaCl solutions, the engineered samples corrode with a morphology similar to that observed in second-phase particles in real alloys. In-situ fluorescence microscopy allows the observation of oxygen reduction at copper islands during corrosion of the underlying aluminum thin-film matrix. The spacing between engineered copper islands was found to strongly influence the corrosion rate of the surrounding matrix.
Influence of Learning on Taste Preferences

Further discussion of the Schnorr and Brookshire study of the preference between distilled water and tap water, with comments and suggestions.
A biological window on psychological development.

The articles in this special issue of Developmental Psychobiology were presented in May 2005 at an international institute on developmental science hosted by the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Conducted annually at one of the participating universities, these meetings are intended to foster collaboration and build consensus on specific theoretical, methodological, and analytical issues faced by developmentally oriented researchers. The overall goal of the 2005 meeting, titled “Integrating Biology and Developmental Science,” was to identify different ways by which a developmental study of psychological phenomena in their joint biological and behavioral aspects may shed new light on their organization in the individual. The six contributions to this special issue illustrate how a biological window on developmental processes can further this scientific endeavor. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Dev Psychobiol 50: 1–3, 2008.
Molecular biology of prostate-cancer pathogenesis.

AbstractPurpose of reviewThe genetic and molecular basis of prostate-cancer pathogenesis is reviewed.Recent findingsSeveral genetic loci have been found that are associated with hereditary predisposition to prostate cancer, but they account for a small fraction of all cases. A number of suppressor g
Experience With the Bailez Technique for Laparoscopic Access in Children

ABSTRACTPurpose: We describe a variation of the Hasson technique for laparoscopic access.Materials and Methods: All laparoscopic procedures performed in children and completed between September 1999 and May 2002 at 2 institutions were reviewed retrospectively. All access to the peritoneal cavity was accomplished in the same manner using the following approach—a small semicircumferential incision was made in the inferior part of the umbilicus, and the umbilical skin was dissected to expose the area of the umbilical scar where the peritoneum and the skin meet. At this point the peritoneum was opened under direct vision without an incision. A blunt trocar was then easily introduced into the peritoneal cavity without forceful manipulation. The rest of the procedure was accomplished as usual.Results: Seventy-seven laparoscopic procedures were completed in 77 patients (mean age 4.8 years, range 1 month to 17.75 years). Patient weight ranged from 8 to 66 kg. The procedures included diagnostic laparoscopy for und...
Slurry sampling for graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry

Slurry preparations are an effective way to introduce solids into the graphite furnace. Ultrasonic agitation keeps samples mixed prior to analysis. Several aspects of the ultrasonic slurry sampling approach are discussed including contamination concerns, analyte partitioning, and the effect of particle size. In addition, sample preparation strategies for slurry preparations of non-powdered materials are reviewed. The suitability of this method for assessing homogeneity is demonstrated.
Settling and diffusion of aerosol particles in small airways during breath holding.

A discussion and evaluation of the analysis describing deposition of aerosal particles due to Brownian motion and gravitational sedimentation during breath holding periods is presented. Analytic results are compared with published experimental data describing exponential recovery of aerosol with breath-holding time. Mathematical solutions for deposition with different types of assumed initial conditions are compared. Coupled simultaneous effects of diffusion with gravitational sedimentation are considered and the validity of various approximation schemes for the analysis of deposition is discussed.
Iron limitation of a springtime bacterial and phytoplankton community in the Ross Sea: implications for vitamin B12 nutrition

The Ross Sea is home to some of the largest phytoplankton blooms in the Southern Ocean. Primary production in this system has previously been shown to be iron limited in the summer and periodically iron and vitamin B12 colimited. In this study, we examined trace metal limitation of biological activity in the Ross Sea in the austral spring and considered possible implications for vitamin B12 nutrition. Bottle incubation experiments demonstrated that iron limited phytoplankton growth in the austral spring while B12, cobalt, and zinc did not. This is the first demonstration of iron limitation in a Phaeocystis antarctica-dominated, early season Ross Sea phytoplankton community. The lack of B12 limitation in this location is consistent with previous Ross Sea studies in the austral summer, wherein vitamin additions did not stimulate P. antarctica growth and B12 was limiting only when bacterial abundance was low. Bottle incubation experiments and a bacterial regrowth experiment also revealed that iron addition directly enhanced bacterial growth. B12 uptake measurements in natural water samples and in an iron fertilized bottle incubation demonstrated that bacteria serve not only as a source for vitamin B12, but also as a significant sink, and that iron additions enhanced B12 uptake rates in phytoplankton but not bacteria. Additionally, vitamin uptake rates did not become saturated upon the addition of up to 95 pM B12. A rapid B12 uptake rate was observed after 13 min, which then decreased to a slower constant uptake rate over the next 52 hours. Results from this study highlight the importance of iron availability in limiting early season Ross Sea phytoplankton growth and suggest that rates of vitamin B12 production and consumption may be impacted by iron availability.