cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Religiousness, religious coping methods, and cognitive test anxiety among African-American college students

ABSTRACTThis study explored the roles of religiousness and religious coping methods in predicting cognitive test anxiety. A convenience sample of 121 African-American students (97 females and 24 males) ranging in age from 18 to 39 (Mage = 20.16), attending a historically Black university completed an online questionnaire assessing demographic information, religiousness, religious coping methods, and cognitive test anxiety. Results showed that negative religious coping methods were significant factors in predicting cognitive test anxiety. These relationships may be pertinent for understanding salient factors that influence cognitive test anxiety in African-American college students.
Fungal Infections From Human and Animal Contact

Fungal infections in humans resulting from human or animal contact are relatively uncommon, but they include a significant proportion of dermatophyte infections. Some of the most commonly encountered diseases of the integument are dermatomycoses. Human or animal contact may be the source of all types of tinea infections, occasional candidal infections, and some other types of superficial or deep fungal infections. This narrative review focuses on the epidemiology, clinical features, diagnosis and treatment of anthropophilic dermatophyte infections primarily found in North America. Other human-acquired and zoonotic fungal infections also are discussed in brief.
Improved Neumann Expansion Method for Stochastic Finite Element Analysis

This paper presents an improved Neumann expansion method for calculating statistical moments of either a structural response or system inverse matrix under stochastic uncertainties in system proper...
Paradoxes of Well-being: A Dramatic Analysis

In recent decades, psychology has taken a turn toward the positive—giving attention to the determinants of the course of human well-being. This means that the customary indices of the progress of individuals or of collectivities such as nations are no longer confined to economic measures or to the absence of social pathologies such as crime and illness. But this research has produced strong evidence of surprising paradoxes—such as a weak relationship between wealth and well-being above a minimal income level, an increase in well-being for old people, and cases in which great troubles, injuries, and deprivations have resulted in remarkable human achievement. An examination of the dramatic context of these paradoxes reveals some order in this complexity.
Statistical Indices for Risk Tracking in Longitudinal Studies

The ability to track a subject’s risk factors and health outcomes over time is one of the main advantages of longitudinal studies over the simpler cross-sectional studies. An important issue of time-trend tracking is to define appropriate statistical indices to quantitatively measure the tracking abilities of variables of interest over time. We review in this paper a number of local statistical tracking indices derived from the conditional distributions, and propose a series of global statistical tracking indices based on the weighted means of the corresponding local tracking indices. We investigate the statistical properties of the new global tracking indices in a simulation study, and demonstrate the usefulness of these tracking indices through their application to a longitudinal study of cardiovascular risk factors for children and adolescents.
Using Financial Investment Measures to Proactively Engage Students in the Introductory Business Statistics Course

ABSTRACTTypically, the core-required undergraduate business statistics course covers a broad spectrum of topics with applications pertaining to all functional areas of business. The recently updated American Statistical Association's GAISE (Guidelines for Assessment and Instruction in Statistics Education) College Report once again stresses the pedagogical importance of topic and application relevancy in an increasingly data-centered world. To this end, only two introductory textbooks have incorporated some financial investment measures (Sharpe ratio and beta coefficient) in the teaching of numerical descriptive measures and simple linear regression analysis, respectively, while a few others include them as real-data application exercises at the end of their respective chapters. Although this latter coverage is in compliance with GAISE College Report recommendations on the importance of using relevant real data applications in the teaching of introductory business statistics, it forgoes an opportunity to ...
Prolegomena to a Study of Hector-Neri Castañeda’s Influence on Artificial Intelligence: A Survey and Personal Reflections

In 1982,1 made the transition from being a professional philosopher to being a professional computer scientist and “intelligence artificer” (to use Daniel Dennett’s happy term)—“professional” in the sense that that is now how I earn my living, though not in the sense that that is how I live my professional life—for my philosophical and artificial-intelligence (AI) research have dovetailed so well that I am hard pressed to say where one leaves off and the other begins. I remember Castaneda telling me at the time that he, too, felt that philosophy and AI were intimately related—that the importance of AI lay in the fact that it filled in—indeed, had to fill in—all the gaps left in abstract philosophical theories; it was in AI that all the ‘I’s were dotted and ‘t’s crossed, since AI programs had to be executable and could not leave anything to be specified at a later time. Thus, for Castaneda, AI would keep philosophers honest, while philosophy could provide AI with ideas and theories to be implemented.
Thermoacoustic Interpretation of Second-Mode Instability

A thermoacoustic interpretation of Mack’s second-mode instability is proposed. It is demonstrated that the fundamental mechanism of second-mode wave growth in hypersonic boundary layers is consiste...
Social Media and U.S. Journalists: Uses and perceived effects on perceived norms and values

This study, based on a representative online survey of 1080 US journalists conducted in 2013, analyses the demographic and organizational predictors of how journalists use social media and how they...
Correcting glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency with a small-molecule activator

Glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) deficiency, one of the most common human genetic enzymopathies, is caused by over 160 different point mutations and contributes to the severity of many acute and chronic diseases associated with oxidative stress, including hemolytic anemia and bilirubin-induced neurological damage particularly in newborns. As no medications are available to treat G6PD deficiency, here we seek to identify a small molecule that corrects it. Crystallographic study and mutagenesis analysis identify the structural and functional defect of one common mutant (Canton, R459L). Using high-throughput screening, we subsequently identify AG1, a small molecule that increases the activity of the wild-type, the Canton mutant and several other common G6PD mutants. AG1 reduces oxidative stress in cells and zebrafish. Furthermore, AG1 decreases chloroquine- or diamide-induced oxidative stress in human erythrocytes. Our study suggests that a pharmacological agent, of which AG1 may be a lead, will likely alleviate the challenges associated with G6PD deficiency.
Settling velocity and size distribution measurement of anaerobic granular sludge using microscopic image analysis

Abstract Settling velocity and size distribution of anaerobic granular sludge samples were studied using microscopic image analysis and settling column experiments. Five granule samples were considered in this study. Three samples were collected at the Top, Middle and Bottom sections of a lab scale upflow anaerobic sludge bed reactor (UASB). Two other granule samples were obtained from industries. This paper aims to establish a method that uses microscopic image analysis and shape factor as a tool to determine the size distribution and settling velocity of anaerobic granules. Image analysis technique was used to calculate the shape factor and equivalent diameter of granules. The equivalent diameter was then used to calculate the theoretical settling velocities based on Allen's formula and estimate size distributions. The results showed that there was a good agreement between the theoretical and experimental mean settling velocity values. Both measured and calculated settling velocities increased with increasing Reynolds number (Re). However, the agreement between measured and calculated values was found to be weaker at higher Re values. Size distribution analyses of the granules have revealed that there was significant difference in the size distribution of granule samples collected at different heights of the lab scale reactor. Overall, granules from the bottom section of the reactor had larger diameter, settling velocity and shape factor than those at the middle and top section granules. Whereas granules collected from the top section exhibited the smallest granular diameter, settling velocity and shape factor.
Polymorphous Light Eruption: a Review

To update readers on the current understandings of polymorphous light eruption (PMLE) in regard to epidemiology, clinical findings, pathophysiology, treatment, and prognosis. PMLE is known to be the most common photodermatosis seen in individuals with light skin types; however, recent evidence shows that it is also commonly observed in individuals with skin of color. Resistance to UV-induced immunosuppression is now known to be an essential part of pathogenesis; this could be secondary to unique cytokine or antimicrobial peptide expressions in these patients. Photohardening, done at the onset of sunny season for patients living in temperate climate, is a commonly used and effective management. PMLE is the most common photodermatosis. Lesions occur within hours after sun exposure, varying from urticarial papules, pinhead papules, to vesicles; they resolve in days to weeks without scarring. Resistance to UV-induced immunosuppression is thought to be an important contributor to the pathophysiology. Management includes photoprotection and photohardening. A 7–10-day course of oral corticosteroids is an appropriate prophylaxis for patients who plan to go to sunny locale for vacation. Though PMLE is chronic, many patients show improvement over years.
Kinetic Control of [AuCl4]− Photochemical Reduction and Gold Nanoparticle Size with Hydroxyl Radical Scavengers

Laser-induced photochemical reduction of aqueous [AuCl4]− is a green synthesis approach requiring no chemical reducing agents or stabilizers; but size control over the resulting gold nanoparticles ...
Abstract 338: Motivating Myosin: 2 deoxy-ATP Induced Structural Alterations That Increase Myosin Activity

When 2-deoxy-ATP (dATP) replaces ATP as the contractile substrate, cardiac myosin binding to actin and the rate of cross-bridge cycling is increased. To understand the structural basis of this we e...
Towards Accurate 3D Human Body Reconstruction from Silhouettes

We propose a novel computer vision system for reconstructing 3D body shapes from 2D images with the goal of producing highly accurate anthropomorphic measurements from a pair of images. We adopt a supervised learning approach that maps silhouette images to 3D body shapes via a convolutional neural network (CNN). We propose three key improvements over previous approaches: (1) Large-scale realistic synthetic data generation, including more realistic variations in segmentation noise and camera viewpoints. (2) A multi-task learning (MTL) approach to predicting multiple outputs such as shape, 3D joint locations, pose angles, and body volume. (3) A new network architecture that additionally takes known body measurements (e.g., height) and per-pixel segmentation confidence as input. Ablation studies show the improvement in accuracy due to the various components of our system. Results demonstrate that our system produces state-of-the-art results on body circumference errors. We also analyze the repeatability of our system in the presence of realistic camera, background, and pose variations. Our system achieves a vertex standard deviation of ~3mm on the [36] CAESAR dataset.
Facilitation of clinical reasoning through case-based learning in OT education

Date Presented 04/05/19 This quantitative study examined clinical reasoning development achieved through case-based learning during one year of an entry-level OT curriculum. Self-Assessment of Clinical Reflection and Reasoning identified statistically significant changes in clinical reasoning skills in total score and 10 individual items based on this instructional method. Results were supported by student feedback regarding the benefits of case formats that promoted reasoning and enriched the learning experience. Primary Author and Speaker: Lynne Murphy Additional Authors and Speakers: Jennifer Radloff
Illicit drug use among college students: The role of social norms and risk perceptions.

Abstract Purpose To examine the prevalence and correlates of college student use of illicit substances including cocaine, designer drugs, and nonmedical use of prescription stimulants and opioids, and to identify how different drug-related perceptions are related to past year use of these substances. Methods Data were analyzed from a cross-sectional anonymous web-based survey among a sample (n = 1345, 81% female) of students attending a mid-sized liberal arts college in the US. Logistic regression models were estimated to assess the relationships between substance-specific descriptive norms, injunctive norms, perceived availability, risk perceptions and past year use of cocaine, designer drugs, prescription stimulants, and opioids, adjusting for current marijuana use, alcohol dependence, sensation seeking, and sociodemographic factors. Findings Past year use of illicit substances ranged from 6% for nonmedical prescription opioids to 21% for nonmedical prescription stimulants. The sociodemographic correlates past year substance use differed by substance type. Descriptive norms (perceptions of peer use) and perceived risk were not consistently related to use of these substances. Current marijuana use was the strongest correlate across substances, and both injunctive norms (perceptions of peer approval) and perceived availability were consistently related to use of each substance. Conclusions Findings suggest that future college student drug prevention efforts should more directly target current marijuana users since they are most at risk of using other illicit substances. Additionally, findings indicate that injunctive norms may be an important consideration for education-focused drug prevention programs. However, findings should be interpreted in light of limitations of the sample, which is predominantly female.
Lenalidomide Immunomodulation with an Allogeneic Myeloma GVAX in a Near Complete Remission Induces Durable Clinical Remissions

Background: Increasing evidence suggests that the depth of response in myeloma (MM) correlates with delayed time to progression1.We have previously shown that lenalidomide (Len) can augment vaccine efficacy to the pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV), Prevnar2.We extend those observations to examine whether vaccinating patients on Len in a near complete remission (nCR) (negative M-spike, IFE positive) could further deepen the clinical response and generate measurable myeloma specific immunity in a small Phase II study. Design: Patients needed to be on a Len-containing regimen and needed to be in one of the following categories for enrollment: 1) in a stable nCR for at least 4 months; 2) converting from IFE negative to IFE positive; or 3) showed signs of early relapse from a nCR to an M-spike <0.3g/dL. Patients would be continued on single agent Len and receive 4 vaccinations consisting of two allogeneic MM lines, H929, U266 admixed with K562 transduced to express GM-CSF as well as PCV. Patients received 3 monthly vaccines and a boost at 6 months. Results: To date 32 patients have been screened: 12 had relapsed and 5 entered into an IFE negative CR during the 4 month observation period; 11 have been enrolled. Median follow-up for the study is 13.9 months. Of the vaccinated patients, category 1: 4 patients: 3 are in a true CR (IFE-),1 lost the original clone and is still in a nCR. Category 2: 2 patients both achieved a true CR. Category 3: 5 patients: 2 stable disease, 3 progressive disease. The overall true CR rate is 54%.of the patients that achieved a CR with a median follow-up of 17.1 months. Laboratory analysis showed that the patients achieving a CR had more central memory CD8 T cells at baseline in the BM and blood, a greater activation phenotype in CD8 cells in the BM and greater tumor specific IFNg production. Interestingly, LAG-3, TIM-3 and PD-1 on CD8 T cells were more expressed in the BM of CR patients. Conclusions: Vaccination in combination with Len appears to durably deepen the clinical response in patients in a nCR whereas patients with early relapse appear less likely to respond. The deepening the clinical response correlates with the development of myeloma-specific immunity. Vaccination of MM patients in nCR in combination with Len shows promising early clinical activity that warrants further investigation as an approach to maintaining durable clinical remissions. 1.Chanan-Khan, A.A., and S. Giralt. 2010. Importance of achieving a complete response in multiplemyeloma, and the impact of novel agents. J Clin Oncol 28:2612-2624. 2. Noonan, K., L. Rudraraju, A. Ferguson, A. Emerling, M.F. Pasetti, C.A. Huff, and I. Borrello. 2012. Lenalidomide-induced immunomodulation in multiple myeloma: impact on vaccines and antitumor responses. Clin Cancer Res 18:1426-1434. Disclosures Noonan: Celgene: Speakers Bureau. Sidorski: Celgene: Speakers Bureau.
Designed Bifunctional Ligands in Cooperative Homogeneous Gold Catalysis

Over the past two decades, homogeneous gold catalysis has experienced exponential development and contributed a plethora of highly valuable synthetic methods to the synthetic toolbox. Metal–ligand ...
Prospective Observational Study of a Racially Diverse Group of Men on Active Surveillance for Prostate Cancer.

Abstract Objective To evaluate the risk upgrading of active surveillance (AS), we reviewed the outcomes of African American men (AA) after electing AS. AS is the standard of care for men with low-grade prostate cancer (PCa). AA are known to have more advanced PCa features and are more likely to die from PCa, thus subsequent disease progression for AA on AS is unclear. Methods A prospectively maintained AS database from the Southeast Louisiana Veterans Administration Medical Center, New Orleans, Lousiana was queried. We identified men with low- and very low-risk PCa (Gleason 3 + 3, PSA Results From a total of 274 men on AS (70% AA), 158 men met inclusion criteria (104 AA [66%]). All patients underwent at least 2 biopsies, and 29% underwent 3 or more biopsies. The median follow-up was 2.7 years. At 3 years on AS protocol, 57% AA and 61% Caucasians demonstrated no evidence of upgrading or treatment. No significant difference was observed between upgrading or progression to treatment when comparing racial groups. Seven (4%) patients in this cohort died from non PCa-specific causes, but no patients demonstrated metastasis or death from PCa over the course of study. Conclusion AA men with low-risk PCa can be safely followed with the same AS protocol as non-AA men. Further analysis with longer follow up is ongoing.
Implementing Clinical Counseling on Outdoor Activity within Pediatric Primary Care Clinics

There is a national movement to promote community health and well being by getting children and families to be more active outside in underutilized public green spaces. Pediatricians at the Children’s …
Build location effect on the single-track pore characteristics formed with the laser powder bed fusion process

Abstract The presence of location-specific property in the laser powder bed fusion (LPBF) process impedes the part qualification desired for different applications. This study uses keyhole porosity as a parameter to evaluate the variability induced by the horizontal build location and height. Single tracks with 195 W laser power and four scan speeds: 200 mm/s, 400 mm/s, 600 mm/s, and 800 mm/s are fabricated inside hollow cylinder samples. The samples are fabricated at the center and four corners of the build platform. Besides, the same models are also fabricated at different build heights of 6.60 mm, 56.6 mm, and 107 mm at each location. Micro-CT is used to measure the pore characteristics such as the number, volume, diameter, and depth of the pores formed inside the single tracks. The results show that the build location has a noticeable effect on the porosity, with the horizontal location being more significant than the build height. The pore number and volume are the highest for the single tracks formed at a corner away from the build chamber window and towards the dispenser. Moreover, micrographs of the longitudinal section of the single tracks are acquired to study 2D pore characteristics. The comparison between the micrographs and micro-CT suggests that for the same pore the CT measurement gives slightly smaller pore sizes compared to the micrographs.
A Rare Case of Methamphetamine-Induced Lung Injury During the Ongoing COVID-19 Pandemic

Methamphetamine-induced lung injury is a very rare entity and is poorly understood due to the paucity of available literature. It can present with respiratory failure, often requiring immediate ventilatory support and conservative management. Secondary bacterial infection can result from smoking contaminated crystalline methamphetamine. Although there is growing evidence for the use of steroids in acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), the literature is limited regarding cases of non-cardiogenic pulmonary edema due to meth use. We present a case of ARDS due to methamphetamine use, which dramatically resolved with ventilatory support. A low threshold to investigate drug-induced lung injury in suspicious cases can limit unnecessary utilization of resources during the ongoing coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic.
Assembly of the Cardiac Pacemaking Complex: Electrogenic Principles of Sinoatrial Node Morphogenesis

Cardiac pacemaker cells located in the sinoatrial node initiate the electrical impulses that drive rhythmic contraction of the heart. The sinoatrial node accounts for only a small proportion of the total mass of the heart yet must produce a stimulus of sufficient strength to stimulate the entire volume of downstream cardiac tissue. This requires balancing a delicate set of electrical interactions both within the sinoatrial node and with the downstream working myocardium. Understanding the fundamental features of these interactions is critical for defining vulnerabilities that arise in human arrhythmic disease and may provide insight towards the design and implementation of the next generation of potential cellular-based cardiac therapeutics. Here, we discuss physiological conditions that influence electrical impulse generation and propagation in the sinoatrial node and describe developmental events that construct the tissue-level architecture that appears necessary for sinoatrial node function.
German Jewish Soldiers and the Celebration of Yom Kippur in Wartime: Patriotic Images and Jewish Aspirations

One of the enduring themes in German Jewish history has been the deep-seated desire of Jews to be fully accepted as equals by other Germans, including the right to worship freely. Their conscription and voluntary service in the military during both the Franco-Prussian War (1870-1871) and World War I (1914-1918), provided an opportunity for Jews to demonstrate their fealty to the nation. Moreover, their requests for Jewish military chaplains were granted, enabling them to celebrate their traditional High Holy Days services. This article tells the story of Jewish religious worship on Yom Kippur during both wars as depicted by German artists. We examine contemporaneous accounts of the scenes depicted, and find that while some were accurate with respect to venue and mood, the most popular images of throngs of Jewish soldiers worshiping on open air battlefields were fictionalized images of events that never took place. These pictorial images, exaggerated, romanticized, and idealized, portrayed Jews as patriotic Germans, fully engaged with the wartime goals of the German government while practicing their unique forms of worship. German Jews and Jews throughout the diaspora clung to these images which became widely available on postcards, lithographs, and cloth wall hangings. They continued to be proudly displayed in Jewish homes as symbols of Jewish patriotism, until the end of World War I when blatant antisemitism falsely blamed the Jews for Germany’s defeat.
Ground-0 Axioms vs. First Principles and Second Law: From the Geometry of Light and Logic of Photon to Mind-Light-Matter Unity-AI&QI

Without the geometry of light and logic of photon, observer-observability forms a paradox in modern science, truth-equilibrium finds no unification, and mind-light-matter unity is unreachable in spacetime. Subsequently, quantum mechanics has been shrouded with mysteries preventing itself from reaching definable causality for a general purpose analytical quantum computing paradigm. Ground-0 Axioms are introduced as an equilibrium-based, dynamic, bipolar set-theoretic unification of the first principles of science and the second law of thermodynamics. Related literatures are critically reviewed to justify the self-evident nature of Ground-0 Axioms. A historical misinterpretation by the founding fathers of quantum mechanics is identified and corrected. That disproves spacetime geometries (including but not limited to Euclidean and Hilbert spaces) as the geometries of light and truth-based logics (including but not limited to bra-ket quantum logic) as the logics of photon. Backed with logically definable causality and Dirac 3-polarizer experiment, bipolar quantum geometry (BQG) and bipolar dynamic logic (BDL) are identified as the geometry of light and the logic of photon, respectively, and wave-particle complementarity is shown less fundamental than bipolar complementarity. As a result, Ground-0 Axioms lead to a geometrical and logical illumination of the quantum and classical worlds as well as the physical and mental worlds. With logical resolutions to the EPR and Schrodinger's cat paradoxes, an analytical quantum computing paradigm named quantum intelligence (QI) is introduced. It is shown that QI makes mind-light-matter unity and quantum-digital compatibility logically reachable for quantum-neuro-fuzzy AI-machinery with groundbreaking applications. It is contended that Ground-0 Axioms open a new era of science and philosophy—the era of mind-light-matter unity in which human-level white-box AI&QI is logically prompted to join Einstein's grand unification to foster major scientific advances.
A polyphase power supply and peristalaltic flow accelerator system using a One Atmosphere Uniform Glow Discharge Plasma (OAUGDP)

Summary form only given. In the University of Tennessee Plasma Sciences Laboratory, we developed an apparatus to simultaneously generate a One Atmosphere Uniform Glow Discharge Plasma (OAUGDP), and effect peristaltic flow acceleration of atmospheric air. Lorentzian momentum transfer from plasma ions can accelerate the embedded neutral gas to several tens of meters per second using paraelectric effects, and potentially to hundreds of meters per second using peristaltic flow acceleration. Peristaltic flow acceleration requires a polyphase power supply to excite the OAUGDP at progressive voltage phase angles on successive linear electrode strips. This excitation produces a traveling wave analogous to the "moving" lights on a theatre marquee, which accelerates the ions and neutral gas to velocities that may approach Mach one. We used LabView/spl copy/ software and data acquisition CAD to generate four polyphase sinusoidal signals, each with a phase angle 45/spl deg/ greater than that preceding. These four signals are fed into four power amplifiers, the outputs of which each drive the primary of a transformer. The transformers are capable of operating at kilohertz frequencies and have a high voltage secondary winding capable of 5-6000 Vrms with a center-tapped ground. The outputs of the four secondary windings provide eight phases separated by 45/spl deg/. The flow accelerator panel consists of 24 parallel continuous electrode strips and three complete phase periods. The operating frequency range is usually 3-10 kHz, the width of each electrode is 0.5 mm, and the distance between two adjacent electrodes is 1 cm. The system is designed to operate without tracking (surface sparking) when operated in normal air, and may accelerate gas flows to a velocity of over 100 m/s. If the system operation is successful, peristaltic flow acceleration should find many applications in subsonic plasma aerodynamics.
The Hume Literature, 2003

This bibliography covers the Hume literature for 2003. Once again, I encourage readers of Hume Studies to supply additions, corrections, or bibliographical information still missing from any previous listings. I am grateful to all who have contributed additions or corrections to previous bibliographies, and again thank Frederic Brahami for his help with this year's French Hume literature. For the Hume literature prior to 1986, the reader should consult Roland Hall's authoritative Fifty Years of Hume Scholarship: A Bibliographic Guide (Edinburgh: Edinburgh University Press, 1978), which covers the period 1925 to 1976, and also lists significant earlier work on Hume. Hall's bibliographies in Hume Studies supplement that work. They appeared from 1978 to 1988 and cover the Hume literature for the years 1977 to 1985. My bibliographies depart from Hall's practice in that they do not list items published in Hume Studies. Articles and reviews that appeared in Hume Studies from 1975 through 1993 (Volumes 1-19) were comprehensively indexed in the November 1993 issue. Subsequent November issues include an index for that year. The next bibliography, which will cover the Hume literature for 2004, will appear in the November 2005 issue of Hume Studies. I invite readers to send notices or offprints of their articles, reviews, editions, anthologies, and dissertations to the addresses listed at the bottom of this page. The following abbreviations of journal titles are used here:
Phenotypes of pleiotropic-negative sporulation mutants of Bacillus subtilis.

The phenotypic properties of representatives of the five genetic classes of pleiotropic-negative sporulation mutants have been investigated. Protease production, alkaline and neutral proteases, was curtailed in spoA mutants, but the remainder of mutant classes produced both proteases, albeit at reduced levels. The spoA and spoB mutants plaqued φ2 and φ15 at high efficiency, but the efficiency of plating of these phages on spoE, spoF, and spoH mutants was drastically reduced. Antibiotic was produced by the spoH mutants and to a degree by some spoF mutants, but the other classes did not produce detectable activity. The spoA mutants were less responsive to catabolite repression of histidase synthesis by glucose than was the wild type. Severe catabolite repression could be induced in spoA mutants by amino acid limitation, suggesting that the relaxation of catabolite repression observed is not due to a defect in the mechanism of catabolite repression. Although others have shown a perturbation in cytochrome regulation in spoA and spoB mutants, the primary dehydrogenases, succinate dehydrogenase and reduced nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide dehydrogenase, leading to these cytochromes are unimpaired in all mutant classes. A comparison of the structural components of cell walls and membranes of spoA and the wild type is made. The pleiotropic phenotypes of these mutants are discussed.
Magnetic, Fluorescent, and Copolymeric Silicone Microspheres

Silicone microspheres are exceedingly difficult to make. Here, polydimethylsiloxane microspheres (≈1 μm diameter) are synthesized using ultrasonic spray pyrolysis, the first demonstration of a scalable synthetic procedure for crosslinked silicone microspheres. This continuous, aerosol process is also used to directly produce fluorescent, magnetic, and copolymeric derivatives; the potential biomedical applications of these microspheres are explored.
Testing and Application of Biomonitoring Methods for Assessing Environmental Effects of Noxious Algal Blooms.

A major goal of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Biomonitoring research program is to produce test methods to assess environmental effects of anthropogenic activities in marine waters (Phelps et al., 1987). In support of EPA Region II involvement in the “Brown Tide Comprehensive Assessment and Management Program” (Minei, 1989), we are evaluating biomonitoring methods for application in marine waters having a history of noxious algal blooms. Activities associated with two methods are in their initial development phases. A third activity involves the use of an established biomonitoring method in the Peconic Bays system of Long Island, New York. This area has had repeated “brown tide” bloom events since 1985, with devastating impacts on shellfish and eelgrass populations (Bricelj et al., 1987; Cosper et al., 1987).
TRAFD1 (FLN29) Interacts with Plekhm1 and Regulates Osteoclast Acidification and Resorption

Plekhm1 is a large, multi-modular, adapter protein implicated in osteoclast vesicle trafficking and bone resorption. In patients, inactivating mutations cause osteopetrosis, and gain-of-function mutations cause osteopenia. Investigations of potential Plekhm1 interaction partners by mass spectrometry identified TRAFD1 (FLN29), a protein previously shown to suppress toll-like receptor signaling in monocytes/macrophages, thereby dampening inflammatory responses to innate immunity. We mapped the binding domains to the TRAFD1 zinc finger (aa 37-60), and to the region of Plekhm1 between its second pleckstrin homology domain and its C1 domain (aa 784-986). RANKL slightly increased TRAFD1 levels, particularly in primary osteoclasts, and the co-localization of TRAFD1 with Plekhm1 also increased with RANKL treatment. Stable knockdown of TRAFD1 in RAW 264.7 cells inhibited resorption activity proportionally to the degree of knockdown, and inhibited acidification. The lack of acidification occurred despite the presence of osteoclast acidification factors including carbonic anhydrase II, a3-V-ATPase, and the ClC7 chloride channel. Secretion of TRAP and cathepsin K were also markedly inhibited in knockdown cells. Truncated Plekhm1 in ia/ia osteopetrotic rat cells prevented vesicle localization of Plekhm1 and TRAFD1. We conclude that TRAFD1, in association with Plekhm1/Rab7-positive late endosomes-early lysosomes, has a previously unknown role in vesicle trafficking, acidification, and resorption in osteoclasts.
Chern-Weil theory for certain infinite-dimensional Lie groups

Chern–Weil and Chern–Simons theory extend to certain infinite-rank bundles that appear in mathematical physics. We discuss what is known of the invariant theory of the corresponding infinite-dimensional Lie groups. We use these techniques to detect cohomology classes for spaces of maps between manifolds and for diffeomorphism groups of manifolds.
Charles Hiroshi Garrett, Struggling to Define a Nation: American Music and the Twentieth Century

A good book makes us think, and the best scholarly books challenge our ways of thinking. When the subject of a book is cultural contestation, the work challenges us doubly. And that is what Charles...
Adaptive Robustification of Uncertain Control Systems

Linear control design uses some "nominal" plant as the object of design. Fixed linear controllers then attempt to maintain some performance in spite of the uncertainty usually existen in real, world. When the plant parameters are expected to vary within large ranges, gain scheduling is used to switch the gain values as a predetermined function of some monitored parameters. In the presence of large and, possibly time-varying, uncertainties, these controllers may result in poor behavior or even in total divergence. Various adaptive techniques have been conceived to cope with uncertainty. However, real-time identification of plant parameters may be too slow to allow for a solution in fast environments such as flight control. Simple adaptive control techniques have been developed for uncertain systems. These techniques utilize the stabilizability property of the plant to be controlled and automatically tune the control gains. The stability and performance are maintained in spite of the large variations in plant parameters. The simple adaptive controller will continuously tune the controller gains as a function of the monitored performance (in particular, the difference between the desired output and the actual plant output, namely the tracking error). Thus, the adaptive gains increase only at those moments when high gains are required to maintain the performance, and may decrease immediately afterwards. The adaptive controller acts to fit the right gains at the right time as a function of the changing need. This way, during regular times the control system is almost unaffected by adaptation, but it is strongly supported during difficult times.
Pulse parameter dependence on transition position and epoch duration [pulse generators and sampling oscilloscopes]

The pulse parameters of amplitude and transition duration are dependent on the epoch duration and transition occurrence instant of the pulse transition in the epoch. The primary explanations for the observed variations are the pulse aberrations and settling behavior of both the pulse generator and the measurement instrument (sampling oscilloscope). Measurement results are included for two pulse generators and two sampling oscilloscopes.
Objective fall risk detection in stroke survivors using wearable sensor technology: a feasibility study

American Heart Association (AHA) Scientist Development Grant [0930324N]; University of Arizona, Laurence B. Emmons Research Grant [5330000]
Levels of human equilibrative nucleoside transporter-1 are higher in proliferating regions of A549 tumor cells grown as tumor xenografts in vivo

Abstract 3'-Fluoro-3'-deoxythymidine (FLT) has been proposed for positron emission tomography (PET)-based identification of tumor chemosensitivity that is mediated by the human equilibrative nucleoside transporter-1 (ENT1). ENT1 facilitates transport of FLT into cells and elevated levels of FLT are associated with both larger FLT-PET signals and increased response to nucleoside-based chemotherapies. FLT-PET is also used as a measure of tumor proliferation. The present study examined the extent to which ENT1 levels vary in a proliferation-dependent manner in tumor cells in vivo . Methods The human adenocarcinoma cell line A549 was used to establish tumor xenografts in nude mice. FLT uptake was measured in vivo using PET, and further examined ex vivo using autoradiography. FLT uptake patterns were compared to immunohistochemical (IHC) analysis of ENT1 and the proliferation markers Ki67 and BrdU. Results Regional differences in FLT uptake matched differences in IHC proliferation markers. All cells stained for ENT1, but the staining intensity was twice as high for Ki67 + cells than for Ki67 − cells. Conclusions Under in vivo conditions, proliferating regions of tumors show increased FLT uptake and higher ENT1 levels than nonproliferating tumor regions.
Gross Dissection of the Stomach of the Lobster, Homarus Americanus

The stomach of the American lobster (Homarus americanus) is located in the cephalothorax, between the rostrum and the cervical groove. The anterior end of the stomach is defined by the mouth opening and the posterior end by the bottom of the pylorus. Along the dorsal side of the stomach lies the stomatogastric nervous system (STNS). This nervous system, which contains rhythmic networks that underlie feeding behavior, is an established model system for studying rhythm generating networks and neuromodulation 1,2. While it is possible to study this system in vivo 3, the STNS continues to produce its rhythmic activity when isolated in vitro. In order to study this system in vitro the stomach must be removed from the animal. This video article describes how the stomach can be dissected from the American lobster. In an accompanying video article4 we demonstrate how the STNS can be isolated from the stomach.
Toward Version 7 of the World Professional Association for Transgender Health's Standards of Care

ABSTRACT This article reviews the history of the development of the World Professional Association for Transgender Health's (WPATH) Standards of Care (SOC) (formerly the Harry Benjamin International Gender Dysphoria Association). In considering the next revision of the SOC, a number of articles were commissioned to examine various parts of the current WPATH SOC and review the literature pertaining to those sections. These papers were designed to (a) review the evidence (and provide us with references); (b) point out where research is lacking and needed; and (c) make possible recommendations (significant and cosmetic) to the SOC based upon new evidence. This article reviews the process of developing Version 7 of the SOC and introduces the first set of articles pertaining to epidemiology, cultural considerations, nomenclature, and diagnoses.
The association between legal charge and psychiatric diagnosis in a competency-to-stand-trial population

The relationship between legal charge and psychiatric diagnosis in a competency-to-stand-trial population was examined in 390 consecutive admissions to the Yale-New Haven Psychiatric Court Clinic. Eight mutually exclusive groups of psychiatric diagnoses and seven categories of legal charge were used. A chi-square analysis was significant (X 2=59.50,P<0.05) in showing an interaction. It appears the defendants with organic brain syndrome and alcohol abuse diagnoses may commit relatively more assaults and sexual offenses, and defendants with substance abuse or mental retardation diagnoses commit relatively more robberies and larcenies.
Hydrophilic modification of polymeric membranes by low temperature H2O plasma treatment

We previously reported that complete and permanent hydrophilic modification of asymmetric polysulfone (PSf) membranes is achieved via low temperature H2O plasma treatment. Here, we have extended these results to polyethersulfone (PES) and polyethylene (PE) membranes to investigate the role of membrane material (composition) and structure (degree of asymmetry) in the modification. Contact angle (CA) measurements confirm that H2O plasma treatment affords improvement in the wettability of PSf, PES, and PE membranes and XPS results show that H2O plasmas chemically modify all three membrane materials similarly. Differences in the degree and permanence of the hydrophilic modification, however, were observed for PE membranes. Furthermore, environmental SEM images display differences in the depth of hydrophilic modification for PES and PE membranes. Overall, we demonstrate that the extent and permanence of hydrophilic modification of polymeric membranes can be correlated to the mechanisms of interaction between the polymer and reactive species generated in the plasma and the degree of penetration of these species through the porous structure.
Enzymatic sulfation of a large molecular weight glycoprotein associated with pig brain membranes

Abstract Pig brain membranes catalyze the transfer of [ 35 S]sulfate from 3′-phosphoadenosine 5′-phospho[ 35 S]sulfate into two macromolecular endogenous acceptors. Several operational enzymatic properties of the sulfotransferase activity have been defined. An apparent K m = 0.65 μm for 3′-phosphoadenosine 5′-phosphosulfate has been determined for the pig brain in vitro sulfotransferase system. Direct proof for the absolute requirement of the 3′-phosphate moiety of 3′-phosphoadenosine 5′-phosphosulfate is presented. The nucleotide end product, 3′,5′-ADP, is a potent competitive inhibitor of the pig brain sulfotransferase activity. One of the major products enzymatically labeled during incubation with 3′-phosphoadenosine 5′-phospho[ 35 S]sulfate is a membrane-bound glycoprotein of high molecular weight. The sulfated glycoprotein appears to be an integral membrane glycoprotein, requiring 1% Triton X-100 for extraction. An 35 S-labeled oligosaccharide, released by mild base treatment, contains O -sulfate ester groups and at least one N -acetylneuraminic acid residue. The sulfated glycoprotein has an apparent molecular weight of 198,000. Under the same in vitro conditions [ 35 S]sulfate is also incorporated into a membrane-associated 35 S-labeled proteoglycan having the properties of heparan sulfate. The 35 S-labeled proteoglycan is electrostatically bound to the pig brain membranes, and can be readily extracted with 1 m NaCl.
Regeneration in cereal tissue culture: a review.

This review examines the literature on successful establishment of regenerable cell cultures in the economically important cereal crops. Some of the major trends and strategies for the establishment of in vitro cultures that express totipotency are discussed as well as current approaches. It is apparent that in cereal tissue culture, not all cells express totipotency. Generally the auxin 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D) is critical for the production of regenerable callus; however, the addition of cytokinin can be significant. Meristematic cells from immature tissues are the targets for plant growth regulator action. Some genotypes produce embryogenic cultures, while others are recalcitrant to in vitro manipulation. Regeneration occurs either by somatic embryogenesis or adventitious bud and shoot development with subsequent rooting. In these meristematic tissues, plastids are at the undifferentiated proplastid stage of development. The development of a white, nodulated embryogenic callus in somatic embryogenesis and the formation of green buds during organogenesis suggest divergent modes of plastid differentiation during morphogenesis. Plant growth regulators may be involved with inducing or directing different pathways of plastid differentiation. Genotypic differences in morphogenesis may be due to differences in endogenous hormone levels. Technical Article no. 24703 from the Texas Agric. Exp. Stn.
Dendritic spine changes associated with normal aging.

Abstract Given the rapid rate of population aging and the increased incidence of cognitive decline and neurodegenerative diseases with advanced age, it is important to ascertain the determinants that result in cognitive impairment. It is also important to note that much of the aged population exhibit ‘successful’ cognitive aging, in which cognitive impairment is minimal. One main goal of normal aging studies is to distinguish the neural changes that occur in unsuccessful (functionally impaired) subjects from those of successful (functionally unimpaired) subjects. In this review, we present some of the structural adaptations that neurons and spines undergo throughout normal aging and discuss their likely contributions to electrophysiological properties and cognition. Structural changes of neurons and dendritic spines during aging, and the functional consequences of such changes, remain poorly understood. Elucidating the structural and functional synaptic age-related changes that lead to cognitive impairment may lead to the development of drug treatments that can restore or protect neural circuits and mediate cognition and successful aging.