cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Types and associated type families for hardware simulation and synthesis

In this article we overview the design and implementation of the second generation of Kansas Lava. Driven by the needs and experiences of implementing telemetry decoders and other circuits, we have made a number of improvements to both the external API and the internal representations used. We have retained our dual shallow/deep representation of signals in general, but now have a number of externally visible abstractions for combinatorial and sequential circuits, and enabled signals. We introduce these abstractions, as well as our abstractions for reading and writing memory. Internally, we found the need to represent unknown values inside our circuits, so we made aggressive use of associated type families to lift our values to allow unknowns, in a principled and regular way. We discuss this design decision, how it unfortunately complicates the internals of Kansas Lava, and how we mitigate this complexity. Finally, when connecting Kansas Lava to the real world, the standardized idiom of using named input and output ports is provided by Kansas Lava using a new monad, called Fabric. We present the design of this Fabric monad, and illustrate its use in a small but complete example.
Diversity of Methanogens

Methanogens are a phylogenetically distinct group of strictly anaerobic Archaea, characterized by the ability to produce methane as their major metabolic product. They are the only known organisms that produce a hydrocarbon as their catabolic end product. Methanogens thrive in habitats devoid of oxygen, where they play an important role in the degradation of organic matter. These organisms are further characterized by additional similarities: 1) their catabolic substrate range is limited to simple molecules, generally not exceeding two carbons in size, 2) their membranes contain novel lipids not found in most other microorganisms, 3) they lack peptidoglycan containing muramic acid, and 4) they all utilize a very similar catabolic mechanism.
Behavioral validation of a wireless low-power neurostimulation technology in a conditioned place preference task.

Objective Neurostimulation technologies are important for studying neural circuits and the connections that underlie neurological and psychiatric disorders. However, current methods come with limitations such as the restraint on movement imposed by the wires delivering stimulation. The objective of this study was to assess whether the e-Particle (EP), a novel wireless neurostimulator, could sufficiently stimulate the brain to modify behavior without these limitations. Approach Rats were implanted with the EP and a commercially available stimulating electrode. Animals received rewarding brain stimulation, and performance in a conditioned place preference (CPP) task was measured. To ensure stimulation-induced neuronal activation, immediate early gene c-fos expression was also measured. Main results The EP was validated in a commonly used CPP task by demonstrating that (1) wireless stimulation via the EP induced preference behavior that was comparable to that induced by standard wired electrodes and (2) neuronal activation was observed in projection targets of the stimulation site. Significance The EP may help achieve a better understanding of existing brain stimulation methods while overcoming their limitations. Validation of the EP in a behavioral model suggests that the benefits of this technology may extend to other areas of animal research and potentially to human clinical applications.
CoSIMS: An Optimized Trajectory-Based Collision Simulator for Ion Mobility Spectrometry

A new, multithreaded, trajectory method based software platform, CoSIMS, is revealed and compared to reference MOBCAL collision cross sections (CCS). CoSIMS employs various molecular mechanics algorithms to lessen the computational resources required to simulate thousands of buffer gas-ion collisions, including the neglect of London dispersion interactions at long distances and the removal of trajectories that insignificantly contribute to the total CCS via an ellipsoidal projection approximation. The showcased program is used to calculate the collision cross sections of carbon fullerenes, proteins, and DNA strands of various lengths, sizes, and molecular weights, and these are compared against the CCSs calculated by MOBCAL. Through this analysis, it is shown that the application of the aforementioned algorithms enables both faster and more reasonable CCS calculations than MOBCAL for highly elongated molecules such as nucleic acids; for all other molecules, CoSIMS is able to reproduce the CCSs generated by MOBCAL's trajectory method within a few percent. Overall, CoSIMS is able to calculate nearly identical CCSs as MOBCAL in nearly 2 orders of magnitude less CPU time due to the various numerical methods implemented into the software, even when run on a single CPU core.
The vertical distribution and biological transport of marine microplastics across the epipelagic and mesopelagic water column

Plastic waste has been documented in nearly all types of marine environments and has been found in species spanning all levels of marine food webs. Within these marine environments, deep pelagic waters encompass the largest ecosystems on Earth. We lack a comprehensive understanding of the concentrations, cycling, and fate of plastic waste in sub-surface waters, constraining our ability to implement effective, large-scale policy and conservation strategies. We used remotely operated vehicles and engineered purpose-built samplers to collect and examine the distribution of microplastics in the Monterey Bay pelagic ecosystem at water column depths ranging from 5 to 1000 m. Laser Raman spectroscopy was used to identify microplastic particles collected from throughout the deep pelagic water column, with the highest concentrations present at depths between 200 and 600 m. Examination of two abundant particle feeders in this ecosystem, pelagic red crabs (Pleuroncodes planipes) and giant larvaceans (Bathochordaeus stygius), showed that microplastic particles readily flow from the environment into coupled water column and seafloor food webs. Our findings suggest that one of the largest and currently underappreciated reservoirs of marine microplastics may be contained within the water column and animal communities of the deep sea.
Crystal growth, thermoelectric properties, and electronic structure of AgBi 3S 5 and AgSb xBi 3-xS 5 (x = 0.3)

The compound AgBi3S5 (I) (synthetic pavonite) and its solid solution AgSbxBi3-xS5 (x = 0.3) (II) were prepared by direct combination of elemental Ag, Bi, Sb, and S. They crystallize in the monoclinic space group C2/m with a = 13.345(3) A, b = 4.0416(8) A, c = 16.439(3) A, and β = 94.158(3)° for I and a = 13.302(4) A, b = 4.0381(11) A, c = 16.388(5) A, and β = 94.347(5)° for II. The Bridgman technique was used to grow bulk crystals of these materials. The crystal structure refinements, physicochemical properties, and thermoelectric properties of these materials are presented. The thermoelectric power for AgBi3S5 and AgSb0.3Bi2.7S5 showed −64 and −98 μV/K, respectively, with room-temperature electrical conductivity of 489 and 260 S/cm. The thermal conductivity for both compounds at room temperature was measured to be very low at ∼1 W/m·K, respectively. Electronic band structure calculations for AgBi3S5 suggest the importance of silver d-states to the charge transport and also indicate the presence of an ind...
Simulated Evolution and Severe Wind Production by the 25–26 June 2015 Nocturnal MCS from PECAN

AbstractThe 25–26 June 2015 nocturnal mesoscale convective system (MCS) from the Plains Elevated Convection at Night (PECAN) field project produced severe winds within an environment that might cus...
Facilitating spin squeezing generated by collective dynamics with single-particle decoherence

We study the generation of spin squeezing in arrays of long-lived dipoles subject to collective emission, coherent drive, elastic interactions, and single-particle relaxation. It is found that not only does single-particle relaxation not necessarily degrade the squeezing generated in the collective dynamics, but the interplay of single-particle and collective effects can in fact facilitate the generation of squeezing in a specific parameter regime. This latter behavior is connected to the dynamical self-tuning of the system through a dissipative phase transition that is present in the collective system alone. Our findings will be applicable to next-generation quantum sensors with an eye towards atomic clocks in cavity-QED setups and trapped ion systems.
Immune responses to porcine epidemic diarrhea virus (PEDV) in swine and protection against subsequent infection

Understanding the immune responses against Porcine epidemic diarrhea virus (PEDV) is important to prevent infection and to design control strategies. We evaluated both systemic and mucosal immune responses to PEDV in pigs and assessed if prior exposure to virus protects against re-infection. Three-week-old pigs were infected with PEDV and immune response in blood, intestine, and mesenteric lymph node (MLN) was evaluated. At 30 dpi, virus exposed pigs were challenged with a field isolate of PEDV and immune response at 5 d post challenge was evaluated. We found that PEDV RNA persists in the intestine even after fecal shedding of the virus was stopped at 28 dpi and pigs previously exposed to PEDV are protected from virus shedding after re-infection. PEDV infection induced both humoral and cell mediated immune response with an increase in PEDV specific IgA and IgG antibodies in intestine and serum. Flow cytometry analysis showed a significantly higher frequency of B cells and lower frequency of T cells at 4 dpi. The frequency of CD4/CD8 double positive (DP) memory T cells was significantly increased in the MLN of challenged animals. These studies may provide further insights into understanding the mucosal immune response to PEDV and its role in protection against disease.
Probing Delocalized Current Densities in Selenophene by Resonant X-ray Sum-Frequency Generation.

Time-resolved, resonant X-ray sum-frequency generation in aligned selenophene molecules is calculated. A wave packet of valence-excited states, prepared by an extreme-ultraviolet pump pulse, is probed by two 12-keV X-ray probe pulses resonant with the Se core-excited states for variable time delays. At these hard-X-ray frequencies, the angstrom wavelength of the X-ray probe is comparable to the molecular size. We thus employ a nonlocal description of the light-matter interaction based on the minimal-coupling Hamiltonian. The wavevector-resolved resonant stimulated sum-frequency-generation signal, obtained by varying the propagation direction of hard-X-ray pulses, can thus directly monitor the transition current densities between core and ground/valence states. This is in contrast to off-resonant diffraction, which detects the transition charge densities.
Effects of COVID-19 pandemic on mental health outcomes in a cohort of early psychosis patients.

Aim To evaluate the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on clinical outcomes, we used data from Electronic Health Records from 128 patients receiving care at a First Episode Psychosis clinic. Methods Rates of admission or emergency room (ER) visits from January 2020 to July 2020 were analysed using difference-in-difference regression. We used the same weeks in 2019 to control for seasonality. Results We found 17 hospitalizations or ER visits between 1 January 2020 and 13 March 2020 (incidence rate: 71.4 events/1000 person-weeks) and 6 between 14 March 2020 and 20 June 2020 (incidence rate: 18.5 events/1000 person-weeks) for an incidence rate ratio of 0.26. The severity of presentation worsened after transition to telemedicine. No signs of significant interruptions of care were found. Conclusions We report that patients have avoided accessing higher levels of care, except in extreme cases. We argue that this is not a sustainable trajectory and that public health actions are required.
3D Visualization of the Podocyte Actin Network using Integrated Membrane Extraction, Electron Microscopy, and Deep Learning

Although actin stress fibers are abundant in cultured cells, little is known about these structures in vivo. In podocytes of the kidney glomerulus, much evidence suggests that mechanobiological mechanisms underlie injury, with changes to actin stress fiber structures potentially responsible for pathological changes to cell morphology. However, this hypothesis is difficult to rigorously test in vivo due to challenges with visualization. We therefore developed the first visualization technique capable of resolving the three-dimensional (3D) podocyte actin network with unprecedented detail in healthy and injured podocytes, and applied this technique to reveal the changes in the actin network that occur upon podocyte injury. Using isolated glomeruli from healthy mice as well as from three different mouse injury models (Cd2ap-/-, Lamb2-/- and the Col4a3-/- model of Alport syndrome), we applied our novel imaging technique that integrates membrane-extraction, focused ion bean scanning electron microscopy (FIB-SEM), and deep learning image segmentation. In healthy glomeruli, we observed actin cables that link the interdigitating podocyte foot processes to newly described actin structures located at the periphery of the cell body. The actin cables within the foot processes formed a continuous, mesh-like, electron dense sheet that incorporated the slit diaphragms required for kidney filtration. After injury, the actin network was markedly different, having lost its organization and presenting instead as a disorganized assemblage of actin condensates juxtaposed to the glomerular basement membrane. The new visualization method enabled us, for the first time, to observe the detailed 3D organization of actin networks in both healthy and injured podocytes. Shared features of actin condensations across all three injury models further suggested common mechanobiological pathways that govern changes to podocyte morphology after injury.
Information Lawfare: An Underutilized Instrument of National Power

The U.S. legal system is known as the envy of the world. Yet law as an instrument of national power has been woefully understudied. Traditional academic frameworks for studying the instruments of national power do not consider the full potential of law to be used as a weapon of war between states, a concept known as “Law-fare.” Meanwhile, U.S. adversaries understand that law can be a potent weapon, both to achieve concrete military objectives and to win battles in the information domain, and have wielded it against the U.S. As war escalates in the information domain, information law-fare will be a critical piece of any party’s strategy. Through a case study of the U.S.’s strike that killed Iranian Major General Soleimani in January 2020, this short article demonstrates how information law-fare can be used, and why the U.S. must develop its offensive and defensive law-fare capabilities. This paper won a prize in the 2020 Air Force Judge Advocate General School's National Security Law Writing Competition.
Optimal CMS System on TDA3 Processor

Replacing the traditional automobile side and in-cabin mirrors with a camera mirror system (CMS) poses unique system challenges on latency, imaging, functional safety and LED flicker. This paper introduces various CMS configurations and describes an optimal solution using TI’s TDA3 automotive system-on-chip (SOC). The paper proposes an efficient method for LED flicker mitigation, HDR image handling, aspherical emulation for the lens and end-to-end safety concept. The resulting solution is demonstrated to achieve 1 MP @60fps with < 100ms camera to display latency using only 35% loading of overall TDA3 SOC.
Impacts of Regional Lockdown Policies on COVID-19 Transmission in India in 2020

Abstract Objective To assess the impact of non-pharmaceutical interventions (NPIs) on the first wave of COVID transmission and fatalities in India. Methods We collected data on NPIs, using government notifications and news reports, in six major Indian states from March to August 2020, and we matched these with district-level data on COVID related deaths and Google Mobility reports. We used a district fixed effect regression approach to measure the extent to which district-level lockdowns and mobility restrictions helped reduce deaths in 2020. Results In most states, COVID deaths grew most rapidly only after the initial lockdown was lifted. District-level NPIs were associated with a statistically significantly lower COVID death count in three out of five sample states (district analysis was not possible in Delhi) and in the aggregate. Interventions that were most associated with slowing fatalities were temple closures, retail closures, and curfews. Discussion Outside of Maharashtra (the first state struck) the first fatality wave appears to have been delayed by the national lockdown. India’s NPIs, however incomplete, were successful in delaying or limiting COVID-19 deaths. Even with incomplete compliance, limiting mass gatherings in face of incipient viral waves may save lives.
Near Real-Time Loadplan Adjustments for Less-than-Truckload Carriers

Abstract We design and implement decision support technology to assist dispatchers in the daily management of loadplans in less-than-truckload service networks. The freight volume that enters a service network on the day of operations deviates from the forecast freight volume used to create the loadplan. These deviations cause inefficiencies when the capacity on planned freight paths is no longer sufficient and delays result in missed service promises. Near real-time loadplan adjustments, i.e., rerouting freight on alternate paths, can improve on-time performance without incurring additional cost (e.g., without purchasing additional capacity). The problem of identifying effective alternate freight paths is modeled on a time-expanded network and computationally efficient heuristics are developed for its solution in order to ensure that there is sufficient time to put the adjusted loadplan in place. We demonstrate the practical viability and value of these heuristics in a computational study using real-life data from a large LTL carrier. The results show that on-time performance can be improved without increasing cost, i.e., by rerouting freight and using existing capacity in the service network.
Remembering and the prefrontal cortex

This paper comments on a recent article by Daniel L. Schacter (1987) that reviewed the function of the frontal lobes in remembering. Schacter concluded that the frontal lobes are involved in spatiotemporal contextual processing of memorial information, and that this aspect of context is processed in a relatively automatic fashion. The present paper supports Schacter’s contention that the frontal lobes are involved in the temporal context of memory, but their role in the spatial context is questioned, given its limited empirical support. It is, instead, suggested that structures in the medial temporal lobe region, primarily the hippocampus, may play a more critical role in processing spatial contextual memory.
A Mathematical Analysis of Short-term Responses to Threats of Terrorism

A terror threat information model capturing the uncertainty in timing and location of terror attacks is developed to create a mathematical framework for analyzing counterterrorism decision making. Using this framework two important defensive mechanisms, warnings and the deployment of physical resources are studied. Warnings are relatively inexpensive to issue but their effectiveness suffers from false alarms. Physical deployments of trained security personnel can directly thwart attacks but are expensive and need to be targeted to specific locations. By structuring the tradeoffs faced by decision makers in a formal way we try to shed light on an important public policy problem. We show that the interaction between the use of warnings and physical defenses is complex and significant.
How valuable is formal science training to science journalists

The science writing community in the United States increasingly privileges formal science training as part of a science journalist’s ‘tool kit.’ This article asks if existing research supports the argument that such formal training offers attributes critical to a science writer’s work and finds that the answer is no. In studies of journalists generally, as well as a very small number of studies of science writers specifically, newsroom socialization and number of years on the job are more important predictors of journalists’ levels of knowledge and their attitudes about professional behaviors than is the nature or extent of the their formal education. The article closes by posing a set of research questions that may permit a better understanding of the possible role of education in the work of science journalists.
Development of a sapphire optical wall shear stress sensor for high-temperature applications

This paper presents the development of the first sapphire micromachined wall shear stress sensor for high-temperature applications utilizing geometric moire optical transduction. A folded tether floating element structure is employed to extend the linear operating range of the sensor. Picosecond pulsed laser micro-machining processes are developed for patterning of mechanical structures in sapphire, and a four-channel alumina fiber array with sapphire optical fibers is used to interrogate the moire fringe. Platinum thin-film gratings and a stainless steel package enable a theoretical maximum operating temperature in excess of 800°C, and initial dynamic calibration in differential mode demonstrates a shear stress sensitivity of 76.8 µV/Pa at 1.128 kHz.
Working Well-The Texas Demonstration to Maintain Independence and Employment: 18-month outcomes

Uninsured working adults with chronic mental, behavioral and physical health conditions may have greater difficulty in accessing needed health care due to health care costs and crowded public health systems. Untreated medical conditions can lead to poorer health, which is linked to loss of employment and eventual applications for and receipt of federal benefits such as Supplemental Security Income and Social Security Disability Insurance (SSI/SSDI). The Working Well study was designed to determine whether a coordinated set of health benefits and employment supports could help low-income, working adults maintain their employment and remain independent of publicly funded disability assistance. Patients from the Harris County Hospital District, a large public health system providing indigent care in the Houston metroplex, were recruited and randomized to the intervention (N = 904) and control (N = 712) groups. The Working Well case management intervention included health naviga- tion, employment/vocational supports, expedited appointments, free medications, and no co-pays for medical visits. Participant outcomes were measured through surveys, health claims data, and state agency employment data. Intervention group participants reported greater access to care, greater likelihood of outpatient medical visits and less likelihood of receiving SSI/SSDI benefits. These findings suggest that public health care systems can provide disability prevention programs, improve access to care and reduce reliance on publicly funded disability assistance.
An Investigation of the Use of Modulus Measurements to Detect Stress Corrosion Cracking in 304 Stainless Steel

Abstract An investigation to determine the usefulness of continuous modulus measurements in the detection and study of stress corrosion cracking has been carried out. Modulus measurements were made using a modified composite piezoelectric oscillator with a specially designed sample. Samples of 304 stainless steel were tested in different environmental solutions. Results indicated a good correlation between stress corrosion cracking and a decrease in modulus.
Long-range interactions in free-free transitions

The soft-photon approximation for bremsstrahlung derived some time ago by Low and extended by Feshbach and Yennie to allow for resonances is further generalized, in the framework of nonrelativistic scattering theory, to apply to the case where the scattering potential has a long-range Coulomb tail. The derivation is based on an asymptotic evaluation of the matrix element in configuration space in which electric-dipole, magnetic-dipole, and electric-quadrupole components of the particle-field interaction are accounted for. The $M1$ and $E2$ contributions give rise to retardation corrections, of order $\frac{v}{c}$, to the leading $E1$ term. The Coulomb tail has the effect of introducing certain factors into the approximate bremsstrahlung amplitude which depend logarithmically on the photon frequency. The result obtained here has an immediate application to the problem of Coulomb scattering in a low-frequency laser field and provides a generalization of earlier work based on the electric-dipole approximation.
Investigation of the structure and elemental composition of group components of petroleum residua by IR spectroscopic methods

1. IR and UV spectroscopy have been used to study the chemical structure of the constituent components of petroleum residua. 2. IR spectroscopy has also been used to study the elemental composition of these materials. 3. Analogous constituent components (fractions) of the petroleum residua that were investigated had identical chemical composition and similar chemical structure.
Effects of feeding and temperature on uptake, elimination and metabolism of benzo(a)pyrene in the bluegill sunfish (Lepomis macrochirus)

Abstract Bluegill sunfish (Lepomis macrochirus) were exposed to [14C]benzo(a)pyrene (BaP) in a flow-through system to examine the effects of temperature and feeding regime on BaP uptake and elimination and extent of biotransformation within the fish. The rate of uptake of BaP at 23°C was twice as fast in fish fed during aqueous exposure than in those denied food; however, the rate of elimination of radioactivity was 10 times greater in the fed fish. BaP was rapidly metabolized to polar and nonpolar metabolites, although 40 to 50% of the radioactivity in the fish appears to be covalently bound to cellular constituents. The rate of conversion of BaP to polar metabolites was also accelerated by feeding. Because animals in nature usually have food available, care must be exercised in using, applying, and extrapolating results of laboratory experiments in which food is withheld. Temperature is an environmental variable that had a significant effect on the uptake, elimination, and metabolic fate of organic contaminants. Both BaP uptake (5.8-fold) and 14C elimination rates (3.6-fold) at 13°C were lower than in fed fish exposed at 23°C. The metabolite profiles indicate that biotransformation of BaP is also much slower at the colder temperature.
Modeling damage in unidirectional ceramic-matrix composites

Abstract This paper extends the modified shear-lag model developed previously to analyze the damage progression within a unidirectional fiber-reinforced ceramic-matrix composite subject to quasi-static loading. The damage mechanisms considered in this paper are matrix cracking, fiber/matrix interfacial debonding, interfacial slip and fiber failure. Crack density is determined analytically through the introduction of a ‘critical matrix strain energy’. A priori knowledge of the composite's ‘proportional limit’ yields a complete closed-form stress/strain solution. The influence of the interfacial shear stress, the interfacial bond strength and the composite proportional limit on the progression of matrix cracking and interfacial debonding are reported. The unloading behavior, including stress/strain hysteresis, is also modeled in terms of interfacial frictional slip within debonded regions.
Magnetization and electrical-transport investigation of the dense Kondo system CeAgSb2

Of the dense Kondo materials in the class $\mathrm{Ce}T{\mathrm{Sb}}_{2}$ (where $T=\mathrm{Au}$, Ag, Ni, Cu, or Pd), $\mathrm{Ce}\mathrm{Ag}{\mathrm{Sb}}_{2}$ is special due to its complex magnetic ground state, which exhibits both ferromagnetic and antiferromagnetic character below an ordering temperature ${T}_{O}\ensuremath{\sim}9.8\phantom{\rule{0.3em}{0ex}}\mathrm{K}$. To further elucidate a description of this magnetic ground state, we have carried out a systematic study of single crystalline $\mathrm{Ce}\mathrm{Ag}{\mathrm{Sb}}_{2}$ by magnetic, electrical magneto-transport, and Shubnikov-de Haas (SdH) studies. We have constructed the magnetic phase diagram based solely on magnetoresistance data. Here, depending on the orientation of the magnetic field $H$, either ferromagnetic or antiferromagnetic ordering occurs below ${T}_{O}$. At zero field the temperature-dependent resistivity below ${T}_{O}$ is most consistent with antiferromagnetic order, based on the transport theory which includes magnon scattering. The crystal-field-effect theory applied to the susceptibility data yields splitting energies from the ground state to the first and second excited states of $53\phantom{\rule{0.3em}{0ex}}\mathrm{K}$ and $137\phantom{\rule{0.3em}{0ex}}\mathrm{K}$, respectively. Based on different models to determine the Kondo temperature ${T}_{K}$, we can obtain both low-temperature and high-temperature estimates for ${T}_{K}$ of $\ensuremath{\sim}23\phantom{\rule{0.3em}{0ex}}\mathrm{K}$ and $\ensuremath{\sim}65\phantom{\rule{0.3em}{0ex}}\mathrm{K}$, respectively. In the Fermi surface studies, the measurements show very small Fermi surface sections, not predicted by band-structure calculations, and the SdH amplitudes are very sensitive to field direction.
Conversion of Escherichia coli pyruvate oxidase to an ‘α-ketobutyrate oxidase’

Escherichia coli pyruvate oxidase (PoxB), a lipid-activated homotetrameric enzyme, is active on both pyruvate and 2-oxobutanoate ('alpha-ketobutyrate'), although pyruvate is the favoured substrate. By localized random mutagenesis of residues chosen on the basis of a modelled active site, we obtained several PoxB enzymes that had a markedly decreased activity with the natural substrate, pyruvate, but retained full activity with 2-oxobutanoate. In each of these mutant proteins Val-380 had been replaced with a smaller residue, namely alanine, glycine or serine. One of these, PoxB V380A/L253F, was shown to lack detectable pyruvate oxidase activity in vivo; this protein was purified, studied and found to have a 6-fold increase in K(m) for pyruvate and a 10-fold lower V(max) with this substrate. In contrast, the mutant had essentially normal kinetic constants with 2-oxobutanoate. The altered substrate specificity was reflected in a decreased rate of pyruvate binding to the latent conformer of the mutant protein owing to the V380A mutation. The L253F mutation alone had no effect on PoxB activity, although it increased the activity of proteins carrying substitutions at residue 380, as it did that of the wild-type protein. The properties of the V380A/L253F protein provide new insights into the mode of substrate binding and the unusual activation properties of this enzyme.
Reflux Esophagitis: Sequelae and Differential Diagnosis in Infants and Children Including Eosinophilic Esophagitis

Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is a common condition in infants and children and has many clinical mimics. Most pediatric pathology departments process many mucosal biopsies from the proximal gastrointestinal tract to evaluate the presence or absence of reflux esophagitis. Since this subject was last reviewed in the 1997 edition of Perspectives in Pediatric Pathology devoted to gastrointestinal diseases in children (Dahms BB. Reflux esophagitis and sequelae in infants and children. In: Dahms BB, Qualman SJ, eds. Gastrointestinal Disease. Perspectives in Pediatric Pathology, vol. 20. Basel: Karger, 1997;14–34), progress in the field has allowed recognition of additional presenting symptoms and treatments of GERD. Histologic criteria for diagnosing reflux esophagitis have not changed. However, the entity of eosinophilic esophagitis has emerged since 1997 and has been defined well enough to allow it to be distinguished from reflux esophagitis, with which it was probably previously confused. Refinements (though not simplification!) in the definition of Barrett esophagus are still in evolution. This review will summarize these newer concepts and briefly review the standards of diagnosis of reflux esophagitis.
Depth resolved photothermal OCT detection of macrophages in tissue using nanorose.

Application of photothermal Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT) to detect macrophages in ex vivo rabbit arteries which have engulfed nanoclusters of gold coated iron oxide (nanorose) is reported. Nanorose engulfed by macrophages associated with atherosclerotic lesions in rabbit arteries absorb incident laser (800nm) energy and cause optical pathlength (OP) variation which is measured using photothermal OCT. OP variation in polydimethyl siloxane tissue phantoms containing varying concentrations of nanorose match values predicted from nanoparticle and material properties. Measurement of OP variation in rabbit arteries in response to laser excitation provides an estimate of nanorose concentration in atherosclerotic lesions of 2.5x109 particles/ml. OP variation in atherosclerotic lesions containing macrophages taking up nanorose has a different magnitude and profile from that observed in control thoracic aorta without macrophages and is consistent with macrophage presence as identified with RAM-11 histology staining. Our results suggest that tissue regions with macrophages taking up nanorose can be detected using photothermal OCT.
Infectious Soyabean Diseases of World Importance

Abstract The most important diseases of soyabeans are reviewed. Bacterial blight (Pseudomonas syringae) and bacterial pustule (Xanthomonas ampelina) are widespread. Anthracnose (Colletotrichum truncatum) causes considerable damage in warmer regions. Charcoal rot (Macrophomina phaseolina) tends to occur when growing conditions are adverse and can be controlled by good agronomic practices. Diaporthe spp. cause pod and stem blight and stem canker which can be controlled by disease-free seed, good cultural practices and fungicides where necessary. Pythium spp. attack soyabeans at the seedling stage. Thanatephorus cucumeris causes various symptoms. Soyabean rust (Phakopsora pachyrhizi) is a serious disease in the East and has been reported to occur in the Caribbean. Mildews are caused by Peronospora manshurica and Microsphaera diffusa. Leaf spot diseases are Cercospora sojina, Septoria glycines and Pleosphaerulina sojicola. Virus diseases and nematodes are also discussed.
Thermodynamics of PuCl4 from transpiration data

The free energy change for the reaction PuCl3(s) + 12Cl2(g) = PuCl4(g) in the temperature range 400–750° was determined from transport in chlorine carrier gas. The molar free energy of reaction may be represented by the relation ΔF = 37700 − 28·3 T(cal.), where T denotes degrees Kelvin. The standard free energy, enthalpy and entropy of formation of PuCl4 are estimated.
Effects of infrared laser damage to the Euglena photoreceptor on the control of flagellar motility

When the area of the stigma of Euglena was irradiated with an infrared laser beam at a dose too low to cause permanent loss of motility, a reduction in flagellar motility was observed only when the external medium contained less than 1 mM Mg2+. At these low Mg2+ concentrations, the laser caused a decrease in flagellar frequency and a tendency for the flagellar waveform to shift towards that taken during reversed swimming. This suggests that the effect of the laser irradiation was to deplete the cells of Mg2+. After the laser pulse the reversal response remained sensitive to the wavelength of the illuminating light. In white light (420-700 nm) 60% of the Euglena showed a reversed waveform; in orange light (530-700 nm) this increased to 90%. This shows that the photoreceptor was not destroyed by the laser irradiation. These experiments were performed on cells that had been impaled on a microelectrode. If direct electric current was passed into the laser-irradiated cells, the current necessary to cause flagellar arrest was 2 to 4 times less than that for cells not laser irradiated. It is concluded that an internal Mg2+ store is present in the Euglena, localized in the area of the paraflagellar swelling; and that the laser irradiation eliminates this Mg2+ store, but at the power used it does not destroy the ability of the stigma-paraflagella to control the flagellar activity.
A Novel Two-Step Hierarchical Quantitative Structure–Activity Relationship Modeling Work Flow for Predicting Acute Toxicity of Chemicals in Rodents

BackgroundAccurate prediction of in vivo toxicity from in vitro testing is a challenging problem. Large public–private consortia have been formed with the goal of improving chemical safety assessme...
Occupational medicine practice: One specialty or three?

Objective: To characterize education, practice, and skills of occupational physicians and to evaluate subgroups within the profession. Methods: The data for the baseline surveys of the occupational medicine practice research project were collected for a national sample of occupational physicians using paper or on-line instruments. Three subgroups were defined a prioriinjury care, clinical specialist, and management/population. Results: Occupational medicine seems to include three distinct subgroups, which differ in characteristics such as patient volume, relevant clinical skills, and income source. Nevertheless, many commonalities were present across all three groups, such as emphasis on communication, OSHA, and workers compensation. Musculoskeletal and workers compensation care were most important, although there were highly significant differences among the three subgroups. Conclusions: Planning for education, certification, and organization of services should acknowledge the distinctions among the three subgroups.
Calcifying pseudoneoplasm of the cerebellopontine angle: case report.

Background and importance Calcifying pseudoneoplasms are rare tumors of the neuraxis. To our knowledge, this is only the second reported case in the literature of calcifying pseudoneoplasm of the cerebellopontine angle. The etiology and natural history of these neoplasms are not well understood. This case report provides a thorough review of the histology and potential origins of calcifying pseudoneoplasm. Clinical presentation A 34-year-old previously healthy man presented with a 6-month history of progressive worsening headaches, fatigue, tinnitus, dizziness, and blurry vision. Neurological examination was notable for tongue deviation, tongue atrophy, and left uvula deviation. Computed tomography (CT) scanning showed a 3.3 × 3.5 cm densely calcified posterior fossa mass appearing to arise from the occipital bone. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) revealed a 4.3 × 2.9 × 2.9 cm left posterior fossa enhancing mass with the margin tip from the left occipital condyle. A transcondylar approach was used to resect the lesion. The mass was found to have eroded through the bone into the foramen magnum. Histopathological examination confirmed the diagnosis of calcifying pseudoneoplasm of the cerebellopontine angle. Conclusion Calcifying pseudoneoplasms should be considered in the differential diagnosis of calcified cerebellopontine angle tumors. Histopathologic diagnosis is extremely important in the characterization of these lesions in order to direct the course of appropriate management. An inaccurate diagnosis of a malignant tumor can result in potentially harmful and unnecessary therapies, as prognosis for these lesions is generally favorable.
111In-labeled eosinophils: localization of inflammatory lesions and parasitic infections in mice.

Abstract Based upon recent development of practical isolation techniques for eosinophils, labeling and in vivo imaging of eosinophils has been achieved. Isolation of cells was performed utilizing a Percoll density gradient. The eosinophils were subsequently labeled by a modified 111In-oxine method. Migration of eosinophils in response to intradermal ear-pinna injections of SEA (soluble schistosoma egg antigen). S. mansoni eggs, E. coli, and turpentine was followed with gamma-ray camera imaging from 4 to 48 h. Maximal localization, determined by Gamma 11 data processing, occurred by 4-h post-injection of radiolabel. SEA and S. mansoni eggs provided a greater stimulus for localization than E. coli or turpentine. Neutrophils did not preferentially accumulate. Tissue distribution of labeled eosinophils was greatest in the spleen, followed by liver and bone. 111In-labeled-eosinophil scans are sensitive to parasitic infections, although somewhat nonspecific.
Total Cost Differentials in the Nonprofit Sector

Previous work has looked at wage differentials between the nonprofit and for-profit sectors, without including the cost of fringe benefits in calculating these differentials. This article uses new data to examine the determinants of total compensation in the nonprofit, for-profit, and governance sectors. A significant negative effect from nonprofit status is found.
Synthesis and biological activity of 2-desamino and 4-deoxy analogs of 5,10-dideazatetrahydrofolic acid (DDATHF)

Abstract Either the 2-amino or the 4-oxo group of the potent GAR formyl-transferase inhibitor 5,10-dideazatetrahydrofolic acid (DDATHF) was replaced with a hydrogen atom and their biological activity evaluated.
A Power Analytic Investigation of Research in Adult Education: 1970-1982.

The statistical analysis procedures used by adult education researchers have become more sophisticated over the last decade. However, critics have charged that researchers have failed to examine the technical adequacy of their work. In this study, the methodological soundness of adult education research was examined through a power analysis of the statistical tests used in volumes 21-32 of Adult Education. For each of the 1666 statistical tests reported, power estimates were obtained for three levels of hypothesized effect size. The results indicate that the power of statistical tests appearing in the adult education research literature is low when researchers are interested in finding small and medium effects. Many studies are being conducted with little chance of making a correct rejection of the null hypothesis. These findings are consistent with results obtained from similar analyses conducted in related fields, and point to ways in which researchers can increase the power of their statistical tests.
IgG aggregates of different sizes stimulate or suppress Ig secretion by human lymphocytes in vitro.

The regulatory effects of IgG aggregates on Ig productionin vitro by human peripheral blood lymphocytes were shown to be highly dependent on the aggregate size and the degree of mitogenic stimulation. Covalently linked oligometers of IgG were prepared with dimethylsuberimidate cross-linking and chromatographic separation; larger aggregates were prepared by heating (63°C) and preparative zonal ultracentrifugation. The storage and culture conditions used were shown to preserve the stability of aggregate sizes. Although both positive and negative regulatory effects were seen with cells isolated directly from blood, more predictable dose-related effects were seen if cells were vigorously washed, possibly due to the removal of IgG or natural immune complexes bound by the cellsin vivo. Some preparations of small IgG oligomers produced marked stimulation of Ig production, especially in cells cultured without mitogen or with suboptimal pokeweed mitogen doses. Aggregates containing six or more IgGs suppressed Ig production, especially when cells were stimulated by mitogen at optimal concentrations.
Serine/threonine protein kinases and calcium-dependent protease in senescent IMR-90 fibroblasts

Abstract Three enzymes relevant to signal transduction were compared in replicating, quiescent and senescent human diploid fibroblasts (HDF). These were Ca2+-dependent thiol protease (calpain), cAMP-dependent protein kinase (Pk-A), and calcium/phospholipid-dependent protein kinase C (Pk-C). The amounts of these enzymes in quiescent HDF were slightly greater or the same as in replicating HDF. In contrast, senescent HDF exhibited higher Pk-C, Pk-A and proteolytic activities than did either replicating or quiescent cells. While the elevated protein kinase activities could be accounted for by the larger size of senescent cells relative to younger cells, the increased calpain activity exceeded this size differential. Immunoblotting studies with antisera to both Pk-C and calpain demonstrated increased enzyme concentrations in parallel with the increased activities. Photolabeling cell extracts with an analog of cAMP, 8-N3-[32P]cAMP provide an estimates of Pk-A concentration. By this criterion, senescent HDF have more Pk-A molecules than do young cells that are either replicating or quiescent. Only the type I isozyme of Pk-A (Pk-A-I) was observe in any of these cells. Photolabeling with 8-N3[32P]cAMP demonstrated more degradative fragments of the Pk-A regulatory subunit (RI) in senescent cells also. This is a logical consequence of the increased calpain activity in senescent cells, since RI is a substance for calpain. These results imply that senescent cells do not fail to enter S phase owing to inadequate concentrations of Pk-A or Pk-C. Rather, the increased quantities of these enzymes in senescent cells may reflect aberrations elsewhere along signal transduction pathways that coordinate cell size with cell proliferation.
Self-classification by subjects using Toman's birth-order categories.

Toman (1969, 1970) suggests that certain aspects of personality involving interaction with other persons are largely determined by family constellation (birth order + sex of siblings). He presents descriptions of various personalities based on this hypothesis. In the present study it is hypothesized that, if these descriptions are accurate, then persons who read them should be able to classify themselves into one of Toman's categories. To rest this hypothesis, 102 girls in four undergraduate educational psychology classes at Purdue University were asked to read these descriptions and to identify which one best described them. All labels referring to politics, religion, sibling configuration, and birth order were omitted. They also listed the sex and age of each of their siblings. Data indicated that 16 Ss could be unambiguously classified as oldest sister of brothers (OSB), 12 as youngest sister of brothers (YSB), 12 as youngest sister of sisters (YSS), and 8 as oldest sister of sisrers (OSS) . Of these, 13 identified themselves correctly; chance level would allow about 12 correct responses. Following Toman's procedures (1970, p. 46), the remaining students were placed into one of the categories on the basis of which configuration predominated in their situation. The six only children were excluded. Of the remaining 96 students, 27 identified themselves correctly (chance level = 24). These results seem to indicate that Toman's descriptions are not accurate to the extent that they allow a person reading them to identify himself. Part of the shortcomings of these descriptions can perhaps be attributed to inherent lack of self-knowledge. Another difficulty appears to be social desirability, since 42 selected the older-sisters-of-brothers category, whereas only 12 selected younger-brother-of-sisters. In addition, it seems possible that Toman's descriptions rely almost entirely upon model~ng and positive sibling interactions, whereas in reality there is likely to be some ncgatlve modeling and aversive interaction (Leventhal, 1970).