cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Ongoing comparison of confocal laser endomicroscopy (PCLE) pulmonary images with surgical biopsies for lung cancer diagnosis

Background Probe-based confocal laser endomicroscopy (pCLE) is a new FDA approved tool used for in vivo microscopic imaging of proximal and distal airways including bronchial and alveolar walls, microvessels, and inflammatory cells. Light at 488 nm wavelength is focused via a pinhole-sized aperture incorporated into a flexible probe that fits into the working channel of a standard bronchoscope and reflected back through that aperture to produce an image that can aid in the identification of neoplastic processes. Studies have demonstrated elastin and collagen fibers as having endogenous fluorescence by pCLE. No studies have correlated in vivo imaging by pCLE to pathologic samples obtained during bronchoscopy. This combination could prove diagnostically advantageous to both clinician and pathologist. Design Selected patients undergoing bronchoscopy from 7/17/ 12 to present are subjected to pCLE followed by biopsy. pCLE and bronchoscopy are performed to help determine abnormal bronchial or alveolar changes that warrant a biopsy. We correlate pCLE images with biopsies obtained during bronchoscopy. Patients ranged from 47 to 82 years of age, and biopsies include adeno, squamous cell, poorly differentiated, small cell and metastatic carcinomas. When necessary, immunohistochemistry (IHC) and electron microscopy (EM) are performed for further tumor classification. Studies are ongoing to add additional tumor types. Results/findings By pCLE, differences between normal, inflammation and neoplasia can be recognized. Normal findings consist of organized connective tissue fibers. Inflammatory cells, mostly macrophages, can be recognized within tissue spaces. In neoplastic tissue, a ragged surface can be observed along with disorganization of the collagen/elastin fibers within the bronchi/ alveoli. Differences between squamous (SCC) and adenocarcinomas (ADC) can be suggested on the basis of imaging patterns. SCC shows friability and dense areas of auto fluorescence with dark spots representing tumor groups. ADC shows less fluorescence and gives a mottled appearance to the tissue. ADC with bronchioloalveolar differentiation and a lepidic pattern of growth can be suspected when a studded appearance is noted by pCLE. Disarray of fibers increases with more poorly differentiated carcinomas. Biopsies and pCLE images can be correlated by comparing tissue patterns with images. The use of IHC and ultrastructural evaluation (EM) further support our pCLE and microscopic findings. Conclusions pCLE allows the distinction between benign and malignant tissues, assists in obtaining diagnostic tissue, and recognizes tumor growth patterns. Correlation between biopsies and pCLE can help aid sampling and diagnostic techniques. Larger studies can enhance our understanding of how pCLE can help differentiate tumor types.
What is the nature of the I G J P =0+0+ K 1 0 K 1 0 threshold enhancement?

The I G J P =0+0+ threshold enhancement in the K10K10system has been variously interpreted in terms of a complex scattering length, and in terms of a resonant state called the S*. Despite many experiments, it is presently impossible to objectively decide between these two hypotheses. The poor consistency of the data supporting the resonance interpretation is demonstrated by examining the results of the resonance parametrizations. The weighted average from all such experiments is M0=(1062±5) MeV/c2, Γ0=(97±11) MeV/c2, with χ2 probabilities of 1.4% and 0.1%, respectively. Thus, it appears likely that either the quoted errors are considerably underestimated or that the results of several experiments are incorrect, or perhaps both. In addition, the possible existence of energy-dependent interference effects cannot be excluded.
Therapeutic effect of seretide inhalation on children with asthma

Objective:To observe the efficacy of Seretide in the treatment of children with asthma.Methods:Data of 60 asthmatic cases from Jan 2004 to Dec 2006 were gathered and randomly divided into two groups.One group was treated with seretide and the other with budesonide.The percentage of peak flow was measured before and 1,3 and 6 months after treatment.The times of acute onset of asthma and MEF were analyzed statistically.Results:The percentage of peak flow measured 1,3 and 6 months after treatment were significantly higher than that measured before treatment.The times of acute onset of asthma and MEF were noted with statistical difference.The therapeutic effect of experiment group was better than the control group.Conclusions:Seretide inhalation can bring a satisfactory therapeutic result to children with asthma.
The Use of Web Sites for Direct to Consumer Information on Prescription Drugs: Effects and Implications

This paper looks at the use of Web sites for providing direct-to-consumer information in countries where prescription drug advertising is illegal. The growth of this phenomenon and possible effects are examined using Sweden as a case study.
Patronal Politics: The Emergence of Networks and Constitutions

The most important actors in post-Soviet politics are not formal institutions such as “parliament,” “political parties,” or even “the KGB.” Nor are they well-defined social collectivities like “ethnic groups.” They are not even individual politicians, strictly speaking. Instead, the lead roles go to extended and loosely hierarchical networks led informally by powerful patrons. These patrons usually do boast prominent formal titles. They are the presidents and prime ministers of countries, the heads of prestigious state agencies, the owners of corporate megaconglomerates, the elders of “clans,” and the governors of provinces. But these titles, and the organizations to which they refer, do not define their networks. Instead, their networks stretch far beyond and across formal institutional and identity boundaries. Ukraine’s “oligarchs,” formally businesspeople, spread their tentacles throughout society and the state, often claiming clients in all three branches of power through ties of family, friendship, and, of course, finance. The bosses of Russia’s regional machines, formally governors, often controlled major shares of their regions’ economies through kin or crony well into the 2000s. Top Azerbaijani ministers, formally civil servants, manage vast economic empires that often have little to do with their jurisdictions as listed on paper. Even networks frequently referred to as “clans” in Central Asia are neither coextensive with nor actually limited to kinship or ethnicity, a point that is frequently misunderstood by outsiders who take the local slang too literally. The collective “actors” that actually wield the most influence in these countries, then, are precisely these extended informal networks, networks that constitute institutions in their own right – just informal rather than formal ones. These networks are the building blocks of which post-Soviet Eurasia’s power pyramids are made, the stuff of its vertikals of authority, the moving parts in its regime dynamics.
Object-Focused Advice in Reinforcement Learning

In order for robots and intelligent agents to interact with and learn from people with no machine-learning expertise, robots should be able to learn from natural human instruction. Many human explanations consist of simple sentences without state information, yet most machine learning techniques that incorporate human guidance cannot use non-specific explanations. This work aims to learn policies from a few sentences that aren't state specific. The proposed Object-focused advice links an object to an action, and allows a person to generalize over an object's state space. To evaluate this technique, agents were trained using Object-focused advice collected from participants in an experiment in the Mario Bros. domain. The results show that Object-focused advice performs better than when no advice is given, the agent can learn where to apply the advice in the state space, and the agent can recover from adversarial advice. Also, including warnings of what not do to in addition to advice of what actions to take improves performance.
Biomedical and Catalytic Opportunities of Virus-Like Particles in Nanotechnology.

Within biology, molecules are arranged in hierarchical structures that coordinate and control the many processes that allow for complex organisms to exist. Proteins and other functional macromolecules are often studied outside their natural nanostructural context because it remains difficult to create controlled arrangements of proteins at this size scale. Viruses are elegantly simple nanosystems that exist at the interface of living organisms and nonliving biological machines. Studied and viewed primarily as pathogens to be combatted, viruses have emerged as models of structural efficiency at the nanoscale and have spurred the development of biomimetic nanoparticle systems. Virus-like particles (VLPs) are noninfectious protein cages derived from viruses or other cage-forming systems. VLPs provide incredibly regular scaffolds for building at the nanoscale. Composed of self-assembling protein subunits, VLPs provide both a model for studying materials’ assembly at the nanoscale and useful building blocks for materials design. The robustness and degree of understanding of many VLP structures allow for the ready use of these systems as versatile nanoparticle platforms for the conjugation of active molecules or as scaffolds for the structural organization of chemical processes. Lastly the prevalence of viruses in all domains of life has led to unique activities of VLPs in biological systems most notably the immune system. Here we discuss recent efforts to apply VLPs in a wide variety of applications with the aim of highlighting how the common structural elements of VLPs have led to their emergence as paradigms for the understanding and design of biological nanomaterials.
The Isolation of the True Self and the Problem of Impingement: Implications of Winnicott’s Theory for Social Connection and Political Engagement

In this essay, Levine explores some implications of two of Winnicott’s ideas for how we understand social reality and politics: the isolation of the true self and impingement. Levine’s main concerns are (1) the individual’s capacity to negate the external world in order to “exist” in Winnicott’s sense of the term, and (2) the idea based in primitive emotional experience that politics can create reality. Levine places special emphasis on the capacity of the individual to protect his or her original vitality from damaging forms of relating. He then links these damaging forms of relating in politics to the fantasy that the individual or the group has the ability to “create the world,” to the urge to establish facsimiles of holding environments in object relating, and to experience the world as a place where everything is imbued with subjective intent.
Methodological Issues Regarding Cross-Cultural Studies of Judgments of Facial Expressions:

We discuss four methodological issues regarding cross-cultural judgment studies of facial expressions of emotion involving design, sampling, stimuli, and dependent variables. We use examples of rel...
Fast-Scan Cyclic Voltammetry: Chemical Sensing in the Brain and Beyond.

In this review we describe the electroanalytical method known as fast-scan cyclic voltammetry (FSCV), how it has advanced over the years, and in what way(s) it is impacting other sciences. To begin, a brief history will be discussed. The various means to enhance chemical selectivity by manipulating the applied potential will be covered. Some limitations of this electroanalytical method will be highlighted to inform and provide clarity to the scientific community. The intent is to seek out effective solutions to the difficult problems associated with the technique, so that the field will continue to flourish. Rounding out the review, the utility and adaptability of this powerful bioanalytical technique will be addressed, as new frontiers of research are established for FSCV outside the scope of the neuroscience community.
Rituximab Maintenance Therapy Reduces Rate of Relapse of Pancreaticobiliary Immunoglobulin G4-related Disease

Background & Aims IgG4–related disease (IgG4-RD), a multi-organ fibroinflammatory syndrome, typically responds to steroids. However, some cases are steroid resistant, and pancreaticobiliary IgG4-RD commonly relapses after steroid withdrawal. Rituximab induces remission of IgG4-RD, but the need for and safety of maintenance rituximab treatment are unknown. We compared outcomes of patients with pancreaticobiliary IgG4-RD treated with or without maintenance rituximab therapy. Methods We performed a retrospective study of patients with pancreaticobiliary IgG4-RD treated with rituximab at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota, from January 2005 through December 2015. The cohort was divided into patients who received only rituximab induction therapy (group 1, n = 14) and patients who received rituximab induction followed by maintenance therapy (group 2, n = 29). We collected data on recurrence of IgG4-RD symptoms and findings, as well as information on evaluations, treatment, and adverse events. Results Median follow-up times were similar between group 1 (34 mo) and group 2 (27 mo) (P = .99). Thirty-seven patients (86%) were in steroid-free remission 6 months after rituximab initiation. A higher proportion of patients in group 1 had disease relapse (3-year event rate, 45%) than in group 2 (3-year event rate, 11%) (P = .034). Younger age, higher IgG4 responder index score after induction therapy, and increased serum levels of alkaline phosphatase at baseline or after rituximab induction were associated with relapse. Infections developed in 6 of 43 patients, all in group 2 (P = .067 vs group 1); all but 1 occurred during maintenance therapy. Conclusions In a retrospective study of patients with pancreaticobiliary IgG4-RD, we found rituximab maintenance therapy prolongs remission. Relapses are uncommon among patients receiving maintenance therapy, but maintenance therapy may increase risk of infection. Patients with factors that predict relapse could be candidates for rituximab maintenance therapy.
State Poison Pill Endorsement Statutes and the Market for Corporate Control

This paper provides evidence that poison pill endorsement statutes, and to a lesser degree, other constituency statues, harm shareholders. Exploiting the variation in such laws at the state level, I show that a ﬁrm incorporated in a state with either a poison pill endorsement or other constituency statute has a 1.3% lower expected likelihood of receiving a bid, a large difference considering the typical likelihood of receiving a bid is about 5%. I also show that conditional on receiving a bid, the wealth effect around bid announcement is 2% to 3% lower with a diminished likelihood that other bidders challenge the initial bid for ﬁrms incorporated in a state with a pill endorsements statute. This suggests that poison pill endorsement statutes lead to a less competitive market for corporate control. If Delaware’s success in attracting ﬁrm charters is a result of its permissive stance towards managers in change of control situations, the results of this paper support the “race to the bottom" view in the literature.
On the function of Erdős and Rogers

In 1930, Frank Ramsey published a seminal paper “On a problem of formal logic”[13] beginning a new area of research known today as Ramsey theory (for a comprehensive introduction to Ramsey theory see, e.g.,[9]).
P47: AMPK activation by nitrite and metformin increases glut-4 mediated glucose uptake and normalizes pulmonary venous hypertension in a rat model of severe metabolic syndrome

Metabolic syndrome is associated with decreased bioavailability of nitric oxide (NO) and has recently been defined as a risk factor for the development of pulmonary venous hypertension in both humans and animal models. Nitrite, an endogenous circulating oxidation product of NO, has been recognized as an important signaling molecule that regulates blood flow and blood pressure, and exhibits therapeutic efficacy in pre-clinical models of pulmonary hypertension (PH). Nitrite NO 2 - is formed from the reduction of nitrate NO 3 - by oral commensal bacteria and nitrate has recently been reported to improve metabolic syndrome in the eNOS knock out mouse, however, the mechanism for this effect are unknown. In the current study we evaluated the effects of nitrite, the immediate product of nitrate metabolism, on metabolic syndrome in a genetic rat model of severe obesity, diabetes and spontaneously hypertension (ZSF1). Nitrite supplementation (50 and 100 mg/L in drinking water) significantly reduced fasting blood glucose and glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c) levels and improved glucose tolerance compared with untreated ZSF1 rats. Nitrite administration had no effect on β-cell mass and plasma insulin levels. We therefore measured the effect of nitrite on insulin sensitivity and glucose metabolism in skeletal muscle, the primary site for insulin-stimulated glucose utilization. Compared with untreated ZSF1 rats, chronic nitrite treatment significantly increased AMPK phosphorylation and membrane translocation of GLUT-4, key regulators of glucose uptake in skeletal muscle. Similar effects were observed in human skeletal muscle cells in culture obtained from normal and obese volunteers. We next developed a novel model of pulmonary hypertension (PH) in the ZSF1 rats using a single treatment with the VEGF inhibitor sugen (100 mg/kg). The ZSF1 rats developed significant pulmonary venous hypertension after 14 weeks. Both nitrite and the canonical AMPK activator metformin normalized pulmonary pressures in this model. Thus, our observations indicate that chronic oral therapy of nitrite improves glucose metabolism, via the AMPK-glut 4 signaling pathway, and improves PH associated severe metabolic syndrome. Disclosure Nothing to disclose.
Two ABC Transporters and a Periplasmic Metallochaperone Participate in Zinc Acquisition in Paracoccus denitrificans

Bacteria must acquire the essential element zinc from extremely limited environments, and this function is performed largely by ATP binding cassette (ABC) transporters. These systems rely on a periplasmic or extracellular solute binding protein (SBP) to bind zinc specifically with a high affinity and deliver it to the membrane permease for import into the cytoplasm. However, zinc acquisition systems in bacteria may be more complex, involving multiple transporters and other periplasmic or extracellular zinc binding proteins. Here we describe the zinc acquisition functions of two zinc SBPs (ZnuA and AztC) and a novel periplasmic metallochaperone (AztD) in Paracoccus denitrificans. ZnuA was characterized in vitro and demonstrated to bind as many as 5 zinc ions with a high affinity. It does not interact with AztD, in contrast to what has been demonstrated for AztC, which is able to acquire a single zinc ion through associative transfer from AztD. Deletions of the corresponding genes singly and in combination show that either AztC or ZnuA is sufficient and essential for robust growth in zinc-limited media. Although AztD cannot support transport of zinc into the cytoplasm, it likely functions to store zinc in the periplasm for transfer through the AztABCD system.
Stepping Up Human Beige Fat Cell Production.

Beige fat cells hold significant promise for reducing obesity and metabolic disease. Su et al. (2018) present a robust method to produce human beige adipocytes from pluripotent stem cells via the generation of an expandable intermediary population of mesenchymal progenitor cells.
Abstract TMP5: Social Media Campaign with Traditional Community Consultation for Successful Exception from Informed Consent Approval - the SEGA Trial Experience

Introduction/Background: Patients with severe stroke deficits due to large vessel occlusion are unable to provide consent and thus routinely excluded from emergency research participation – breachi...
110th Anniversary: Theory of Activity Coefficients for Lithium Salts in Aqueous and Nonaqueous Solvents and in Solvent Mixtures

On the basis of work by Bernard and Blum [Bernard, O.; Blum, L. Binding Mean Spherical Approximation for Pairing Ions: An Exponential Approximation and Thermodynamics. J. Chem. Phys. 1996, 104, 474...
Ultra-high thermal stability perarylated ionic liquids as gas chromatographic stationary phases for the selective separation of polyaromatic hydrocarbons and polychlorinated biphenyls.

Ionic liquids (ILs) are well-known in the field of separation science for their unique selectivity when used as stationary phases in gas chromatography (GC). While a significant amount of knowledge has been attained in correlating structural features of an IL to separation selectivity, developments in producing IL-based stationary phases suitable for high temperature GC studies have lagged behind. Column bleed is a result of the stationary phase undergoing volatilization/decomposition at high temperatures and is undesirable in separations coupled to GC/MS. It has been well-known that traditional classes of ILs with long alkyl side chain substituents are susceptible to Hofmann elimination at elevated temperatures. In this study, a new class of IL stationary phases containing perarylated cations exhibiting improved thermal stability are introduced. These ILs were used to prepare wall-coated open tubular columns with high column efficiency and produced very low bleed at temperatures up to 350 °C. Their unique chemical structures provide stronger π-π interactions compared to many commercially-available stationary phases. To exploit the unique interactions provided by these stationary phases, the separation of two classes of environmentally hazardous aromatic compounds, namely, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), was examined. Both classes of compounds contain structural isomers with high boiling points that are often challenging to separate. The perarylated sulfonium and phosphonium IL-based stationary phases exhibited excellent thermal stability as well as unique selectivity toward isomers of PAHs as well as toxic PCB analyte pairs.
Responding to Covid-19 — A Once-in-a-Century Pandemic?

Responding to Covid-19 Bill Gates writes that in any crisis, leaders have two equally important responsibilities: solve the immediate problem and keep it from happening again. In the case of the Co...
Urban versus Rural Residence and Outcomes in Older Patients with Breast Cancer.

Background: A total of 20% of the U.S. population resides in rural areas, yet is served by 3% of oncologists, and 7% of nononcology specialists. Access to care issues can be compounded by lower socioeconomic status (SES) in rural areas, yet this issue is unexplored among older patients with breast cancer. Methods: Using Surveillance Epidemiology and End Results-Medicare, 109,608 patients diagnosed at ≥65 years with breast cancer between 2000 and 2011 were identified. Residence status was combined with Federal Poverty levels: urban (high, medium, and low poverty) and rural (high, medium, and low poverty). Five-year overall survival (OS) and healthcare utilization [HCU: visits to primary care provider (PCP), oncologist, nononcology specialist, and emergency department (ED)] were examined using urban/low poverty as reference. The residence, HCU, and mortality association was examined using mediation and moderation analyses. Results: Median age was 76 years; 12.5% were rural, 15.6% high poverty. Five-year OS was 69.8% for rural and 70.9% for urban. Both urban- and rural/high-poverty patients had a 1.2-fold increased mortality hazard. Rural/high-poverty patients had a higher rate of PCP [year 1 (Y1): incidence rate ratio (IRR) = 1.23; year 2 (Y2)–year 5 (Y5): IRR = 1.19] and ED visits (Y1: IRR = 1.82; Y2–Y5: IRR = 1.43), but lower nononcology specialist visit rates (Y1: IRR = 0.74; Y2–Y5: IRR = 0.71). Paucity of nononcology specialist visits mediated 23%–57% of excess mortality risk. The interaction between residence/SES and paucity of nononcology specialist visits accounted for 49%–92% of excess mortality risk experienced by rural/high-poverty patients versus urban/low poverty. Conclusions: Urban–rural residence mortality differences among older patients with breast cancer are highly predicated by poverty level. Impact: Rural/high-poverty patients demonstrate less use of nononcology specialists compared with urban/low poverty, with disparities moderated by specialist use.
FAMILY AFFLUENCE RELATIONSHIP TO SPORTS SPECIALIZATION IN YOUTH ATHLETES

Background:Specializing in a single sport while excluding others, also known as sports specialization, is increasing in prevalence in the United States. The effect of socioeconomic status (SES) on ...
Private Investment in Public Education: Boon or Boondoggle?:

This article investigates two aspects of corporate involvement in public education: commercialization of public schools and use of private companies to deliver instructional services or to manage s...
CNS-Native Myeloid Cells Drive Immune Suppression in the Brain Metastatic Niche through Cxcl10

Summary Brain metastasis (br-met) develops in an immunologically unique br-met niche. Central nervous system-native myeloid cells (CNS-myeloids) and bone-marrow-derived myeloid cells (BMDMs) cooperatively regulate brain immunity. The phenotypic heterogeneity and specific roles of these myeloid subsets in shaping the br-met niche to regulate br-met outgrowth have not been fully revealed. Applying multimodal single-cell analyses, we elucidated a heterogeneous but spatially defined CNS-myeloid response during br-met outgrowth. We found Ccr2+ BMDMs minimally influenced br-met while CNS-myeloid promoted br-met outgrowth. Additionally, br-met-associated CNS-myeloid exhibited downregulation of Cx3cr1. Cx3cr1 knockout in CNS-myeloid increased br-met incidence, leading to an enriched interferon response signature and Cxcl10 upregulation. Significantly, neutralization of Cxcl10 reduced br-met, while rCxcl10 increased br-met and recruited VISTAHi PD-L1+ CNS-myeloid to br-met lesions. Inhibiting VISTA- and PD-L1-signaling relieved immune suppression and reduced br-met burden. Our results demonstrate that loss of Cx3cr1 in CNS-myeloid triggers a Cxcl10-mediated vicious cycle, cultivating a br-met-promoting, immune-suppressive niche.
Photodynamic therapy for choroidal melanoma: What is the response rate?

Abstract To determine the response rate of choroidal melanoma following primary photodynamic therapy, we conducted a meta-analysis of published studies. A total of 7 studies reporting photodynamic therapy as primary treatment of choroidal melanoma in 162 patients with a mean tumor height of 2.8 mm (1.4 to 4.2) were identified. Forty-six percent of tumors were amelanotic, 48% were fully pigmented, and 6% had partial pigmentation. The photodynamic therapy parameters in all studies included 10-minute intravenous infusion of verteporfin (6 mg/m2), but varied in number of sessions (1 to 3), fluence (1× to 19×), and number of spots (single or multiple). The response was defined as tumor regression (partial or total) or lack of growth after initial treatment. The response to photodynamic therapy was predominantly observed as regression (126 [78%]). Overall response rate was 80% (mean) with a wide range among studies (58%–100%) over a period of 50 months (mean) with variable follow-up (range, 1–156 months). None of the studies reported progression- or recurrence-free survival; however, the recurrence rate was not related to the follow-up duration. Favorable prognostic factors were smaller size and lack of pigmentation. The overall response rate of 80% suggests that photodynamic therapy may be an effective primary treatment for small choroidal melanoma, especially in cases without pigmentation. Artifacts in study design (inclusion criteria and outcome measure) may have contributed to the variable observed response rate. Further studies with uniform inclusion criteria, standardized treatment parameters, well-defined outcome measures, and long follow-up are needed.
Prescription medications for insomnia are associated with suicidal thoughts and behaviors in two nationally representative samples

Study Objectives:Z-drugs (eszopiclone, zolpidem, and zaleplon) are commonly used for insomnia but are also associated with suicide risk. However, it is unclear if this association is unique to Z-dr...
Debates that Future Work Should Consider

This chapter provides guidance to future writers or scholars who may want to investigate debated topics in the NBA by providing five topics that may be of interest.
HISTORIA Y ÉTICAS: APUNTES PARA UNA HERMENÉUTICA DE LA ALTERIDAD

This essay is based on the assumption that all interpretative science results from a social operation and thus responds to determinations of place and origin. Consequently, it is impossible to separate the results of this intellectual operation from the social dimension that makes it possible. On the basis of this brief reflection, I wish to cali attention to the frequently forgotten links that exist between knowledge and power through a dialogue among representatives of the three traditions which, openly or otherwise, comment upon and take ethical positions regarding the practice of interpretation: contemporary hermeneutics, the philosophy of liberation in Latin America, and postcolonial theory. The ultimate objective of this essay corresponds to the urgent need to continue efforts to think in terms of a situational, critical, and consciously participatory type of history.
The Effect of Bid Rigging on Prices: A Study of the Highway Construction Industry

This paper examines the effect of multimarket contact in afirst price sealed bid government procurement auction market. It investigates whether bidprices in the highway construction industry are related to conditions that favor the formation of a cartel.Repeated contacts among firms are found to have a significantly positive effect on the winning low bidwhich leads to higher profit. Further, rivalry among few firms tends to exacerbate the multimarket effect.The results in this study additionally support the recent theoretical predictions that collusion isbetter sustainable during economic downturns.
WATER-GASOLINE FUELS -- THEIR EFFECT ON SPARK IGNITION ENGINE EMISSIONS AND PERFORMANCE

Single-cylinder engine tests, an analytical engine cycle simulation, and automobile tests were employed to study the effects of supplementing gasoline with water for use in spark ignition engines. Factors examined include: the method of water addition (both water-in-gasoline emulsions and direct manifold water addition), antiknock characterisitics with water additione, MBT spark requirement, indicated engine efficiency, engine cooling requirement, exhaust emissions, volumetric efficiency, lean operating limit, smoke level, exhaust temperature, and vehicle driveability. Among the negative aspects of water addition were increased hydrocarbon emissions and decreased vehicle driveability. Also, the polyoxyethylene type of emulsifier used in the water-in-gasoline emulsions, gave poor fuel stability and caused a rapid buildup of engine deposits. However on the positive side, water-gasoline fuels have higher octane ratings and decrease nitric oxide emissions.
Rabbit antiserum to human B-cell alloantigens: II. Mechanism of inhibition of stimulation in the mixed lymphocyte response

Abstract The process by which a rabbit antiserum to human B-cell alloantigens blocks stimulation in the mixed lymphocyte response (MLR) was investigated. A functional mammalian Fc region was necessary for the antiserum to be inhibitory, since F(ab′)2 fragments failed to inhibit and a chicken antiserum with similar specificity to the rabbit anti-B-cell serum did not effectively block the response. Immune elimination of the stimulating cell population possibly via antibody dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity (ADCC) or phagocytosis by macrophages was suggested by the observation that the addition of aggregated IgG to the MLR reduced the level of inhibition. It was also found that the number of immunoglobulin positive cells decreased in cultures treated with intact rabbit anti-B-cell serum, but not the corresponding F(ab′)2 fragments, whether the cells were from a single individual or an allogeneic cell mixture. ADCC appears to be involved in the blocking process, as demonstrated by the marked reduction in MLR suppression when the MLR was initiated in the absence of ADCC effector cells. Removal or inhibition of monocytes in the MLR partially restored the response in experiments where the stimulator cells were pretreated with the antiserum, but not when the antiserum was present throughout the MLR.
A Brief Overview on Using Technology to Engage Students in Mathematics

Incorporating and using technology in the teaching of mathematics can encourage students to become active participants in the classroom. This paper gives a brief overview of several technologies that can be used to enhance student learning and motivate students to become engaged in the learning process. The technologies discussed include graphing calculators and computer-based tools such as presentation software (PowerPoint) and computer/web-based instruction and practice. Appropriate use of technology will get more students thinking and reasoning mathematically; but, technology in and of itself is not a panacea that will resolve all studentsâ€™ struggles.
Effect of Branched-Chain Keto-acids and Dietary Protein Content on the Activity of Branched-Chain Amino Acid Transferase in Rat Tissues

Rats fed branched-chain keto-acids in place of branched-chain amino acids exhibited increased specific activity of branched-chain amino acid transferase (BATase) in muscle, intestine, brain and liver as compared with controls fed sufficient diet to achieve comparable weight gain. This increase was observed whether or not methionine and phenylalanine were also replaced by their N-free analogues. Kidney BATase was unaffected. Rats fed a protein-free diet exhibited higher BATase specific activity in kidney, brain, liver and intestine than rats fed diets containing 6% casein; but little change in specific activity in these organs was seen as casein intake was progressively increased from 6% to 18%. Muscle BATase specific activity was the same between 0 and 18% dietary casein. The results show that branched-chain keto-analogues augment BATase in several tissues, including muscle. In contrast, varying casein intake from 6% to 18% had little effect, although protein-feeding augments BATase in some organs.
Comprehensive Cardiac Magnetic Resonance Imaging

Evaluation of cardiac structure, function and tissue characterization with cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (CMR) provides a unique window into the patient with cardiovascular disease. Currently, CMR provides the most accurate assessment of biventricular function, volumes and mass. In addition, CMR visualizes myocardial tissue perfusion, edema and fibrosis, which are vital to identifying areas of myocardial ischemia or infarction. CMR's unique tissue characterization ability allows for the evaluation of cardiac masses, infiltrative cardiomyopathies and pericardial diseases. Echocardiography remains the mainstay of diagnosis for valvular heart disease, however, CMR does have a role in the evaluation of stenotic and regurgitant valves. For patients with congenital heart disease, CMR provides excellent visualization of the structural abnormalities as well as information about blood flow and the presence of shunts. CMR takes advantage of the different electromagnetic spins of hydrogen protons when exposed to a magnetic field. A major advance in CMR stemmed from the development of a magnetic resonance (MR) sequence called steady-state free procession (SSFP) cine imaging, which offers excellent signal-to-noise and contrast-to-noise ratios, as well as fast image acquisition.1 The strength of the magnet influences the imaging quality. Most clinical CMR studies are currently performed at 1.5 Tesla (T). Using a higher field strength of 3T allows for improved signal-to-noise ratios (SNR) for myocardial perfusion, late gadolinium enhancement and angiography. However, using SSFP cine imaging for cardiac function is limited at 3T due to off-resonance artifacts.2 In addition, cardiac gating may be more problematic at higher fields.
Frequency diverse array radar receiver architectures

Frequency diverse array radar utilizes the principle of superposition to cohere energy, in a novel fashion, to achieve range dependent spatial patterns. While the theory for transmit spatial patterns has been developed, the need for efficient receiver design architectures persists. This paper investigates three basic receive chain architectures for their spatial patterns and design complexity in a benign environment with a single point target. Additionally, we provide a closed-form expression of a receive pattern for a full-band, coherent frequency diverse array architecture.
Galactose-induced cataract in rat: Raman detection of sulfhydryl decrease and water increase along an equatorial diameter.

Raman spectroscopy shows that maturation of galactose cataract greatly increases the water signal (at 3417 cm−1) which is correlated with the imbibition of water in the lens. The maximum water: protein ratio (expressed as Raman intensity ratio I3417:I2936) occurs at the peripheral cortex (i.e.≈4·7), which is much higher than the ratios found in Emory cataract (≈0·3) and in cac-strain mouse cataract (≈0·5). It is demonstrated that Raman measurement of the intensity ratio I3417:I2936 is a more sensitive way to reflect increase of water in cataract, compared to water concentration (percentage of wet weight of the lens). The small decrease in the sulfhydryl profile along an equatorial diameter is attributed to the concentration decrease in glutathione. There is no spectroscopic evidence for extensive disulfide bond formation associated with galactosemic cataractogenesis in rat. There is an increase in the tyrosine I832:I858 ratio (normal 1·74; cataract 3·43), indicating a strengthening of the phenolic hydrogen bond, a change which has been found in Raman spectra of all cataracts studied. A comparison of the Raman spectra of normal lenses and mature cataracts reveals no change in conformation of the protein backbone.
Visual Expertise: Insights Gained by Comparing Professional Populations

Professionals whose careers depend on visual skills typically demonstrate superior performance on career-related tasks; farmers better determine the sex of day-old chicks (Biederman & Shiffrar, 1987), and bank tellers better detect counterfeit currency (Klein, Gadbois, & Christie, 2004). Perceptual expertise has implications for learning and malleability, but the interpretation of expertise benefits is not straightforward. Complications arise, in part, because standard methodologies typically compare professionals to laypersons, raising concerns about confounding differences (e.g., motivation, speed/accuracy tradeoff, self-selection). Additionally, the mechanisms responsible for improvement may be ambiguous (e.g., enhanced sensory discrimination vs. improved strategies). To account for these issues, we analyzed performance across different professional groups on tasks related and unrelated to their careers. We assessed two groups of visual search experts (radiologists, airport security screeners), one group of facial symmetry experts (orthodontists), and one non-professional group (university participants). As expected, the professional groups demonstrated superior accuracy for career-related tasks (radiologists and airport security screeners for search, orthodontists for facial symmetry), and additional comparisons provided further insight. To evaluate potential differences in motivation, we compared performance on a task unrelated to the professionals’ expertise—temporal order judgment—and found no accuracy differences between professionals and non-professionals. Relatedly, comparisons between professional groups minimized speed/accuracy tradeoff concerns; professionals were slower on all tasks but only showed enhanced accuracy for career-relevant tasks. To elucidate whether benefits arose from self-selection or experience, we compared early- versus late-career individuals within the same profession and found differences related to amount of experience. Finally, we explored the nature of experts’ improvements and found evidence supporting superior top-down strategy selection (search professionals choose more effective strategies) as well as bottom-up stimulus-specific processing (orthodontists revealed enhanced symmetry discrimination for faces only). By comparing different types of experts on multiple tasks, we can better inform the nature of visual expertise.
Variation in the efficacy of several predator gut content immunoassays.

Abstract Five different immunoassay formats were examined for their ability to detect a minute quantity of prey remains in predator guts. The convergent lady beetle, Hippodamia convergens Guerin-Meneville, that had consumed either one or five pink bollworm, Pectinophora gossypiella (Saunders), eggs was evaluated by the following immunoassays: three variations of enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), a dot blot, and a Western blot. Sandwich ELISA, dot blot, and Western blot were the most sensitive immunoassays based on the proportion of individual predators scoring positive for prey remains. The direct ELISA and indirect ELISA were ineffective at detecting prey in the predators. The advantages and disadvantages of each immunoassay format are discussed.
Conditions affecting the early thymineless death occurring after ultraviolet irradiation of Escherichia coli B3.

— Exposure of the thymine requiring bacterium Escherichia coli strain B3 to ultraviolet light (u.v.) prior to incubation in the absence of thymine shortens the lag period normally observed before the onset of death due to lack of thymine. Culture conditions promoting synthesis of new kinds of enzymes at the time of thymineless challenge after u.v. irradiation enhance this effect. The effect can be reversed either by the addition of thymine or photo-reactivation. Possible mechanisms for these phenomena are discussed.
Parental Confirmation and Affection as Mediators of Family Communication Patterns and Children's Mental Well-Being

Abstract This study examined the extent to which parental confirmation and affection mediate the associations among family communication patterns (i.e., conversation and conformity) and young adult children's mental well-being (i.e., self-esteem, perceived stress, and mental health). Participants included 567 young adult children from both first-marriage and postdivorce families. Results supported most of the hypothesized relationships among family conversation and conformity orientations, parental confirmation and affection, and young adult children's mental health and well-being. No significant differences emerged in the associations among mothers' and fathers' communication behaviors and children's well-being. Finally, hierarchical regression analyses revealed that parental confirmation and affection partially mediates the effects of conversation orientations, and fully mediates the effects of conformity orientations, on young adult children's self-esteem and perceived stress. For mental health symptom...
Reconstructing 1/2 BPS space-time metrics from matrix models and spin chains

Using the anti-de Sitter/conformal field theories (AdS/CFT) correspondence, we address the question of how to measure complicated space-time metrics using gauge theory probes. In particular, we consider the case of the 1/2 Bogomol'nyi-Prasad-Sommerfield geometries of type IIB supergravity. These geometries are classified by certain droplets in a two-dimensional spacelike hypersurface. We show how to reconstruct the full metric inside these droplets using the one-loop N=4 super Yang-Mills theory dilatation operator. This is done by considering long operators in the SU(2) sector, which are dual to fast rotating strings on the droplets. We develop new powerful techniques for large N complex matrix models that allow us to construct the Hamiltonian for these strings. We find that the Hamiltonian can be mapped to a dynamical spin chain. That is, the length of the chain is not fixed. Moreover, all of these spin chains can be explicitly constructed using an interesting algebra which is derived from the matrix model. Our techniques work for general droplet configurations. As an example, we study a single elliptical droplet and the hypotrochoid.
Three‐dimensional structure of the human transglutaminase 3 enzyme: binding of calcium ions changes structure for activation

Transglutaminase (TGase) enzymes catalyze the formation of covalent cross-links between protein-bound glutamines and lysines in a calcium-dependent manner, but the role of Ca2+ ions remains unclear. The TGase 3 isoform is widely expressed and is important for epithelial barrier formation. It is a zymogen, requiring proteolysis for activity. We have solved the three-dimensional structures of the zymogen and the activated forms at 2.2 and 2.1 Å resolution, respectively, and examined the role of Ca2+ ions. The zymogen binds one ion tightly that cannot be exchanged. Upon proteolysis, the enzyme exothermally acquires two more Ca2+ ions that activate the enzyme, are exchangeable and are functionally replaceable by other lanthanide trivalent cations. Binding of a Ca2+ ion at one of these sites opens a channel which exposes the key Trp236 and Trp327 residues that control substrate access to the active site. Together, these biochemical and structural data reveal for the first time in a TGase enzyme that Ca2+ ions induce structural changes which at least in part dictate activity and, moreover, may confer substrate specificity.
Magnetic spectrographs and beam analyzers

Abstract A brief discussion is given of some of the magnetic spectrographs and spectrometers in use today for studies of charged-particle nuclear reactions. The need for new instruments with improved resolving power, higher accuracy, larger solid angle, and better signal-to-background ratio is acknowledged. Possible improvements in the design of time-tested spectrographs and beam analyzers, as well as entirely new approaches, are discussed.
A method of determining phase centers and its application to electromagnetic horns

Abstract A method of locating the phase center of any radiating system from the expression of its radiating field is formulated. This method is then applied to electromagnetic horns of different dimensions and flare angles. It is believed that the results and discussions presented in this paper will be useful in the design and positioning of the feeding horn such that the paraboloidal reflector will produce a desirable radiation pattern.
Efficient frontiers in estate planning

Abstract This article explores the nature of the efficient frontier in probabilistic estate planning for 16 different estate plans by considering as random variables ages at death, rates of return on assets, and borrowing rates on debts. The simulation considers two couples, one middle aged, the other elderly. Two 16 × 16 matrices, one for each couple, are used to record and compare the results of every simulation. That comparative data, in conjunction with the coefficient of variation based efficient frontier, contain useful information for couples who, consistent with their levels of risk, desire to maximize the net present value of assets passing to their heirs. The efficient frontier is shown to be a function of three factors: assumptions, ages of the estate owners, and the discount rates of the heirs. Because of the instability shown in the efficient frontier, estate planners and estate owners must carefully examine not only the estate plans which fall on the efficient frontier but also those estate plans which fall just off that frontier.