cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Modeling event count data in the presence of informative dropout with application to bleeding and transfusion events in myelodysplastic syndrome

In many biomedical studies, it is often of interest to model event count data over the study period. For some patients, we may not follow up them for the entire study period owing to informative dropout. The dropout time can potentially provide valuable insight on the rate of the events. We propose a joint semiparametric model for event count data and informative dropout time that allows for correlation through a Gamma frailty. We develop efficient likelihood-based estimation and inference procedures. The proposed nonparametric maximum likelihood estimators are shown to be consistent and asymptotically normal. Furthermore, the asymptotic covariances of the finite-dimensional parameter estimates attain the semiparametric efficiency bound. Extensive simulation studies demonstrate that the proposed methods perform well in practice. We illustrate the proposed methods through an application to a clinical trial for bleeding and transfusion events in myelodysplastic syndrome. Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Self-tuning Control for a Class of Nonlinear Systems with On-line Compensator Adaptation

Abstract This paper is concerned with adaptive control of discrete-time linear systems having a polynomial input nonlinearity. A new self-tuning control scheme is presented to adaptively implement the suboptimal control law derived in the previous work. By the on-line adaptation of the compensators P(q -1 ) and R(q -1 ) the difficulty of cautiously choosing P(q -1 ) and R(q -1 ) a priori to ensure the stability of the closed loop system is thus circumvented. A simple locally convergent self-tuning algorithm and a globally convergent improved self-tuning algorithm are given which provide an efficient way to the control of this class of nonlinear systems. Simulation results verify the effectiveness of the proposed algorithm.
Circulating peptide prevents preeclampsia

Preeclampsia (PE) is a devastating complication of pregnancy that puts both mother and child at risk for clinical complications. In severe cases, PE can progress to multi-organ dysfunction and death. Characterized by hypertension (high blood pressure) and proteinuria (protein in the urine), the syndrome occurs in up to 8% of pregnancies. Although it is widely accepted that the pathophysiology of PE involves disturbance of normal blood vessel function in the placenta and the development and function of the placenta, the exact mechanisms underlying PE have not been defined. Discovery of the causal mechanisms in PE is urgently needed so that early assessment of risk and therapeutic interventions can be developed. On page [707][1] of this issue, Ho et al. ( 1 ) report breakthrough insights into the mechanisms of PE. They reveal a central role for ELABELA (ELA), a recently discovered circulating peptide ligand, in placental vascular development and PE in mice. [1]: /lookup/doi/10.1126/science.aam6607
Epicardial adipose tissue volume and cardiovascular risk indices among asymptomatic women with and without HIV.

BACKGROUND Mechanisms underlying the heightened myocardial infarction risk among HIV-infected women (versus non-HIV-infected women) remain unclear. Our objectives were to assess epicardial adipose tissue (EAT) volume and its associations among asymptomatic women with and without HIV. METHODS A total of 55 HIV-infected and 27 non-HIV-infected women without known cardiovascular disease who underwent cardiac CT and metabolic/immune phenotyping were included. EAT volume derived from CT was compared among women with and without HIV, and within-group EAT associations were assessed. Next, immune and atherosclerotic plaque parameters were compared among groups stratified by HIV serostatus and high/low EAT (defined in reference to median EAT for each serostatus group). RESULTS Asymptomatic HIV-infected women and age-matched non-HIV-infected women with comparable mean body mass index (28 ±1 versus 29 ±1 kg/m2) had similar median (IQR) volumes of EAT (54 [41-79] versus 65 [41-78] cm3; P>0.05); however, different within-group associations were noted. Markers of monocyte activation/arterial inflammation differed by HIV serostatus/EAT volume subgroup (CXCL10 [P=0.02], sCD163 [P=0.004], sCD14 [P=0.03], Lp-PLA2 [P=0.04]; P for overall ANOVA) and were highest among HIV-infected women with excess EAT (versus HIV-infected women without excess EAT, non-HIV-infected women with excess EAT and non-HIV-infected women without excess EAT). The percentage of segments with non-calcified coronary plaque also differed by HIV serostatus/EAT volume subgroup and was highest among HIV-infected women with excess EAT. CONCLUSIONS Asymptomatic women with and without HIV have similar volumes of EAT, but drivers of EAT may differ between groups. HIV-infected women with excess EAT have highest-level immune activation and the highest percentage of non-calcified plaque. Future studies are needed to determine whether EAT contributes pathogenetically to HIV-associated cardiovascular disease in women.
Early vs. Delayed Introduction of Chinese Characters in Beginning Mandarin Classes: Is the “Early Advantage” Due to More Instructional Hours?

Knell and West (2017) found an advantage for the early introduction of Chinese characters in beginning Mandarin. This advantage may be because the group experiencing early character instruction had more instructional hours dedicated to character instruction.
Mechanistic Analysis and Economic Benefits of Fiber-Reinforced Asphalt Mixtures

AbstractFatigue cracking and permanent deformation (rutting) are major distresses that occur in flexible pavements. One of the most significant solutions to prolong the fatigue life as well as rutt...
First-order necessary conditions in locally Lipschitz multiobjective optimization

In this paper, some nonsmooth analogues of the Burachik–Rizvi regularity conditions are introduced for a nonsmooth multiobjective optimization problem with equality and inequality constraints and w...
Space and Symmetry

If a convex polyhedron has υ vertices, e edges, and/faces, then υ ‒ e + f = 2. This simple but elegant theorem is known as Euler’s Formula, even though Descartes had stated the equation over 100 years before Euler gave the result in 1752. A polyhedron is convex if all the vertices not on any given face lie on one side of the plane containing that face. To prove the famous formula, imagine that all the edges of a convex polyhedron are dikes, exactly one face contains the raging sea, and all other faces are dry. We break dikes one at a time until all the faces are inundated, following the rule that a dike is broken only if this results in the flooding of a face. Now, after this rampage, we have flooded f ‒ 1 faces and so destroyed exactly f ‒ 1 dikes. Noticing that we can walk with dry feet along the remaining dikes from any vertex P to any other vertex along exactly one path, we conclude there is a one-to-one correspondence between the remaining dikes and the vertices excluding P. Hence, there remain exactly υ ‒ 1 unbroken dikes. So e = (f υ 1) +(υ υ 1) and we have proved Euler’s Formula.
Non-utility of sepsis scores for identifying infection in surgical intensive care unit patients.

Abstract Background The Sequential Organ Failure Assessment (SOFA) and quick SOFA (qSOFA) scores replaced the Systemic Inflammatory Response System (SIRS) criteria for defining sepsis, and are often utilized to identify infection, however remain understudied in surgical populations. Methods Daily SOFA, qSOFA, and SIRS scores were prospectively collected in a surgical/trauma intensive care unit (ICU), comparing scores between patients with and without new infection. Multivariable analysis controlled for ICU type and pre-existing infection. Results Scores were recorded for 1942 patient-days, including 1385 (71%) with no infection, 439 (23%) with existing/treated infection, and 120 (6.2%) with new infection. Scores were globally elevated, with 98% having SOFA score ≥2, 82% with qSOFA score ≥2, and 92% meeting ≥2 SIRS criteria. Neither univariate nor multivariate analysis revealed a correlation between SOFA, qSOFA, or SIRS score and infection. Conclusion No scores correlated with new infection, potentially related to increased existing inflammation in this population. Summary The Sequential Organ Failure Assessment (SOFA) and quick SOFA (qSOFA) have replaced the Systemic Inflammatory Response System (SIRS) criteria for sepsis, however are not well investigated in surgical populations or for identifying infections, as they are often used in practice. In this study, neither daily SOFA, qSOFA, nor SIRS criteria correlated with new infection in a population of critically ill surgical patients. Scores were globally elevated in non-infected patients, potentially related to high levels of existing inflammation in this population.
Scanning electron microscopy in food science and technology.

Publisher Summary This chapter gives a brief study of electron microscopy instruments like scanning electron microscope (SEM) and transmission electron microscopes (TEM) used to determine chemical composition of selected micro–areas and various objects. The chapter covers the introduction of physics of the instrument and its construction principles, description of design limitations, reasons for design choices, and detailed discussions of the major components. Principles and applications involve the parameters in the evaluation of any microscopy system, localization of information, and transformation and display of that information. Process of preparing a specimen are cleaning and fixation, dehydration, mounting on a stub, coating, and examination, freeze drying, and freeze–etching and other miscellaneous ancillary techniques are used. Applications in microbiology involve sample preparation, morphology of microorganisms, and storage of cereals. SEM used as an application in plant investigation to review several aspects of plant anatomy and physiology that are important to plant growth. The chapter concludes with a detailed study on foods and food product where SEM is used in processing of cereal grains, smalting, brewing, and sanitation which is efficient for better production of food products.
USDA Forest Service Experimental Forests and Ranges : Research for the Long Term

Experimental Forests and Ranges (EF&Rs) have provided and continue to provide scientific information for the management of National Forests, industrial and private lands. In accordance with federal authority 4062.01 of the Forest Service Manual, section 4000 provisions of the Organic Administration Act of 1897 (16 USC 551), and the Forest and Rangeland Renewable Act of 1978 (16 USC 1643) the Secretary of Agriculture has the authority to establish experimental forests and ranges. The major objective is that experimental forests and ranges be used for conducting applied research that serves as a basis for the management of forests and rangelands.
Cam-Clay plasticity. Part IX: On the anisotropy, heterogeneity, and viscoplasticity of shale

Abstract We investigate three aspects of material behavior in this ninth installment of the Cam-Clay series, namely, anisotropy, heterogeneity, and viscoplasticity. The main focus of the paper is creep in shale and how this time-dependent deformation behavior may be quantified across the scales, from nanometers to millimeters. Recognizing the highly heterogeneous nature of shale, we adopt a simplified representation of this material as a mixture of softer matter representing organics and clay, and harder matter representing the inorganic rock matrix. Due to the presence of bedding planes in the rock matrix, anisotropy in both the elastic and inelastic responses is assumed; however, the superimposed softer matter may be taken to be isotropic unless experimental evidence indicates otherwise. Viscoplasticity is considered for the first time in this series of work, in which both the Duvaut–Lions and Perzyna formulations are utilized. The two viscoplastic formulations are shown to predict very similar time-dependent deformation responses. The framework is used to interpret the results of multiscale triaxial laboratory creep tests in organic-rich Barnett shale. Time-dependent strain localization in the form of dilative shear bands is also shown to result from loading with varying strain rates, as well as from creep processes that accommodate the multiscale heterogeneity of shale.
Physiological Motion Reduction Using Lagrangian Tracking for Electrode Displacement Elastography.

Abstract Minimally invasive treatments such as microwave ablation (MWA) have been growing in popularity for extending liver cancer survival rates in patients, when surgery is not an option. As a non-ionizing, real-time alternative to contrast-enhanced computed tomography, electrode displacement elastography (EDE) has shown promise as an imaging modality for MWA. Despite imaging efficacy, motion artifacts caused by physiological motion result in unintended speckle pattern variance, thereby inhibiting consistent and accurate ablated region visualization. To combat these unavoidable motion artifacts, a Lagrangian deformation tracking (LDT) approach based on freehand EDE was developed to track tissue movement and better define tissue properties. For validating LDT efficacy, a spherical inclusion phantom as well as seven in vivo data sets were processed, and strain tensor images were compared with identical time sampled images estimated using a traditional Eulerian approach. In vivo results revealed greater consistency among visualized LDT strain tensor images, with segmented ablated regions exhibiting standard deviation reductions of up to 98% when compared with Eulerian strain tensor images. Additionally, Lagrangian strain tensor images provided Dice coefficient improvements up to 25%, and success rates improved from approximately 50% to nearly 100% for ablated region visualization.
Channel, Mode and Power Optimization for Non-Orthogonal D2D Communications: A Hybrid Approach

The increasing traffic demand in cellular networks has recently led to the investigation of new strategies to save precious resources like spectrum and energy. Direct device-to-device (D2D) communication becomes a promising solution if the two terminals are located in close proximity. In this case, the D2D communications should coexist with cellular transmissions, so they must be carefully scheduled in order to avoid harmful interference impacts. In this paper, we outline a novel framework encompassing channel allocation, mode selection and power control for D2D communications. Power allocation is done in a distributed and cognitive fashion at the beginning of each time slot, based on local information, while channel/mode selection is performed in a centralized manner only at the beginning of an epoch, a time interval including a series of subsequent time slots. This hybrid approach guarantees an effective tradeoff between overhead and adaptivity. We analyze in depth the distributed power allocation mechanism, and we state a theorem which allows to derive the optimal power allocation strategy and to compute the corresponding throughput. Extensive simulations confirm the benefits granted by our approach, when compared with state-of-the-art distributed schemes, in terms of throughput and fairness.
Water Free Cleaning Solution: Environmental Durability of Electrodynamic Screen (EDS) Films in Water-Free Cleaning of Solar Collectors

The energy output of photovoltaic power plants is greatly diminished by soiling. The current methods available to clean the solar panels require copious amount of deionized water, trained manual labor and/or robotic parts and thus are not practical for scaling up, not cost effective and are unfeasible especially in areas that have scarce water resources. The Electrodynamic Screen (EDS) film is a novel, anti-soiling, self-cleaning technology that charges the dust particles electrostatically, repels them off the surface by Coulomb force and removes them by a sweeping motion of the travelling electric field generated by the three phase design. The environmental durability, stability and operational efficiency of the EDS films made with either reflective silver electrodes or silver nanowire electrodes protected by zinc oxide is discussed. Development of a screen printable hybrid ink using silver nanowires and zinc oxide is discussed. Results from environmental durability tests including complete water immersion, high temperatures and UV exposure are discussed.
In-Situ Assembled VS4 as a Polysulfide Mediator for High-Loading Lithium–Sulfur Batteries

A unique three-dimensional (3D) hybrid architecture configured with vanadium tetrasulfide (VS4) nanomediators uniformly anchored in a reduced graphene oxide scaffold (VS4@RGO) is fabricated as a su...
Hsp90-interacting Co-chaperones and their Family Proteins in Tau Regulation: Introducing a Novel Role for Cdc37L1.

Abstract Tau is a microtubule-associated protein that serves as a promoter of microtubule assembly and stability in neuron cells. In a collective group of neurodegenerative diseases called tauopathies, tau processing is altered as a result of gene mutations and post-translational modifications. In particular, in Alzheimer’s disease (AD) or AD-like conditions, tau becomes hyperphosphorylated and forms toxic aggregates inside the cell. The chaperone heat shock protein 90 (Hsp90) plays an important role in the proper folding, degradation, and recycling of tau proteins and tau kinases. Hsp90 has many co-chaperones that aid in tau processing. In particular, a few of these co-chaperones, such as FK506-binding protein (FKBP) 51, protein phosphatase (PP) 5, cell division cycle 37 (Cdc37), and S100A1 have family members that are reported to affect Hsp90-mediated tau processing in either a similar or an opposite manner. Here, we provide a holistic review of these selected co-chaperones and their family proteins and introduce a novel Hsp90-binding Cdc37 relative, Cdc37-like-1 (Cdc37L1 or L1) in tau regulation. Overall, the proteins discussed here highlight the importance of studying family proteins in order to fully understand the mechanism of tau pathogenesis and to establish drug targets for the treatment of tauopathies.
Comparative Performance of Lateral Wall and Perimodiolar Cochlear Implant Arrays.

OBJECTIVE The physical shape of cochlear implant (CI) arrays may impact hearing outcomes. The goal of this study was to compare post-operative speech and melody perception between patients with lateral wall (LW) and perimodiolar (PM) electrode arrays across a range of lengths and manufacturers. STUDY DESIGN Retrospective chart review. SETTING Tertiary Care Hospital. PATIENTS 119 adult patients with post-lingual hearing loss who underwent cochlear implantation. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES A total of seven different electrodes were evaluated including 5 different LW electrodes (CI422 [Cochlear American], 1J [Advanced Bionics], Medium [Med El], Standard [Med El], Flex28 [Med El]) and 2 PM electrodes (Contour [Cochlear American], MidScala [Advanced Bionics]). Speech perception outcomes (n = 119 patients) were measured by Consonant-Nucleus-Consonant (CNC) scores collected 3, 6, 12 and 24 months after implantation. Melody perception outcomes (n = 35 CI patients and n = 6 normal hearing patients) were measured by Melodic Contour Identification (MCI). RESULTS CNC scores increased over time after implantation across all array designs. PM designs exhibited higher CNC scores compared to LW electrodes, particularly 6-months after implantation. Pre-operative pure tone averages did not correlate with post-operative CNC scores. PM arrays outperformed LW electrodes in terms of MCI scores. CONCLUSIONS The physical shape of cochlear implant electrode arrays may impact hearing performance. Compared to LW designs, PM arrays appear to offer superior speech perception during the first 6 months after implantation, with performance equalizing between groups by 24 months. Compared to LW designs, PM arrays also appear to afford superior melody perception.
sciCAN: Single-cell chromatin accessibility and gene expression data integration via Cycle-consistent Adversarial Network

The booming single-cell technologies bring a surge of high dimensional data that come from different sources and represent cellular systems from different views. With advances in single-cell technologies, integrating single-cell data across modalities arises as a new computational challenge and gains more and more attention within the community. Here, we present a novel adversarial approach, sciCAN, to integrate single-cell chromatin accessibility and gene expression data in an unsupervised manner. We benchmarked sciCAN with 3 state-of-the-art (SOTA) methods in 5 scATAC-seq/scRNA-seq datasets, and we demonstrated that our method dealt with data integration with better balance of mutual transferring between modalities than the other 3 SOTA methods. We further applied sciCAN to 10X Multiome data and confirmed the integrated representation preserves information of the hematopoietic hierarchy. Finally, we investigated CRSIPR-perturbed single-cell K562 ATAC-seq and RNA-seq data to identify cells with related responses to different perturbations in these different modalities.
Background: Complex Numbers and Linear Algebra

We start by setting some notation. The natural numbers {1, 2, 3, 4,...} will be denoted by ℕ, and the integers {..., −3, −2, −1, 0, 1, 2, 3,...} by ℤ. Complex numbers will be introduced later. We assume familiarity with the real numbers ℝ and their properties, which we briefly summarize here. The basic algebraic properties of ℝ follow from the fact that ℝ is a field.
Progenitor Cells of the Adult Human Subcortical White Matter

Publisher Summary Oligodendrocyte progenitor cells (OPCs) seem to be extraordinarily widespread in the adult mammalian brain. The principal class of OPCs in adult rodents is a bipotential astrocyte-oligodendrocyte progenitor cell designated the O-2A progenitor, by virtue of its generation in vitro of oligodendrocytes and type 2 astrocytes, the latter comprising the traditionally recognized fibrous astrocytes of the white matter. OPCs may be specifically targeted and isolated from the white matter. This chapter outlines basic strategies for isolating OPCs from the adult white matter, using either fluorescence-activated cell sorting (FACS) or a higher-yield, less-specific alternative immunomagnetic isolation (MACS). Adult-human white-matter progenitor cells (WMPCs) give rise to multipotential neurospheres. Nonetheless, the very existence of multipotential progenitors scattered throughout the white-matter parenchyma forces one to reconsider understanding of both the nature and incidence of neural stem cells in the adult brain, and challenges the conception of the supposed rarity of adult neural progenitor and stem cells. In doing so, they point to an abundant and widespread source of cells that may be used both as a target for pharmacological induction and as a cell type appropriate for therapeutic engraftment to the diseased adult brain.
Relationship Between Scores on the Wear Attitude Inventory and Selected Physical Fitness Scores.

Abstract Form A of the Wear Attitude Inventory, the 50-yard dash and the 600-yard run-walk, were administered to one randomly selected physical education class of eighth grade boys in each of six junior high schools to obtain a total of 240 scores. The group means compared favorably with previously reported values for each of the three variables. On the basis of correlation coefficients among the three variables, the conclusion was advanced that no significant relationship existed between attitudes toward physical education as measured by an attitude inventory and the ability to perform the selected physical fitness items.
Universal quantum walks and adiabatic algorithms by 1D Hamiltonians

We construct a family of time-independent nearest-neighbor Hamiltonians coupling eight-state systems on a 1D ring that enables universal quantum computation. Hamiltonians in this family can achieve universality either by driving a continuous-time quantum walk or by terminating an adiabatic algorithm. In either case, the universality property can be understood as arising from an efficient simulation of a programmable quantum circuit. Using gadget perturbation theory, one can demonstrate the same kind of universality for related Hamiltonian families acting on qubits in 2D. Our results demonstrate that simulating 1D chains of spin-7/2 particles is BQP-hard, and indeed BQP-complete because the outputs of decision problems can be encoded in the outputs of such simulations.
Diversity and Status of Butterflies in Lowland Districts of West Nepal

This paper is an outcome of the studies made in four districts (Dangdeukhuri, Banke, Bardia and Surkhet) of western Terai in different months of various years. Altogether 85 species categorized into 64 genera and 10 families have been reported with their status categories based on national status list. The process of urbanization has altered valuable natural habitats of many of the rare species especially in Banke and Dangdeukhuri districts. Monitoring process under the established regulation and thorough investigations in many unexplored areas of this region have been felt essential so to design suitable conservation measures to butterflies of this region. Key words: Biodiversity; western terai; butterflies; unexplored; habitats Journal of Natural History Museum Vol. 23, 2008 Page 92-97
A new index of income inequality: The B measure

Abstract This paper presents a new measure of income inequality that allows more weight to be given to inequality in the lower end of the income graduation. The measure is non-parametric and based only on the underlying Lorenz curve.
The polymerization of furan on surfaces

Furan is a monomer that has but a single conformation and therefore represents a promising candidate for studies of adsorption polymerization with molecules in controlled orientation. It has been adsorbed on a well-characterized carbon black at known surface concentrations and then polymerized. Spontaneous polymerization occurs to some extent, but irradiation with high-energy electrons or γ-rays or the introduction of tin tetrachloride vapors initiates a more complex polymerization. The polymerization of furan in the solid (glassy) state has been accomplished for the first time, using γ-ray irradiation. As in the case of γ-ray-initiated polymerization of liquid furan or adsorbed furan, this polymerization occurs after several hours at room temperature. All the various radiation-initiated polyfurans that have been studied are rather similar in composition. Molecular weights are low, and infrared absorption occurs in the same regions. Furan vapor polymerizes on the surface of aqueous perchloric acid. This polymer, after isolation from acid-free water, is slightly cross-linked and has a high concentration of primary hydroxyl groups. It has the composition expected for a cationically polymerized furan after acid hydrolysis. Furan ist ein Monomeres, das nur eine einzige Konformation besitzt; deshalb scheint es eine vielversprechende Substanz fur die Untersuchung der Polymerisation nach Adsorption der Molekule in vorgegebener Orientierung zu sein. Furan wurde in bekannter Oberflachenkonzentration an gut analysiertem Rus adsorbiert und danach polymerisiert. Bis zu einem gewissen Grad erfolgte eine spontane Polymerisation, aber durch Bestrahlung mit energiereichen Elektronen, durch Einwirkung von Gammastrahlen oder durch Zinntetrachlorid-Dampfe wurde eine komplexere Polymerisation initiiert. Furan wurde erstmalig in festem (glasartigem) Zustand durch die Einwirkung von Gammastrahlen polymerisiert. Wie bei der durch Gammastrahlen initiierten Polymerisation von flussigem oder adsorbiertem Furan erfolgt auch diese wahrend einiger Stunden bei Zimmertemperatur. Die verschiedenen, durch Gammastrahlen-Initiierung hergestellten Polyfurane zeigten ziemlich ahnliche Zusammensetzung. Die Molekulargewichte sind niedrig, und die Infrarot-Absorptionsbanden liegen im gleichen Bereich. Furan-Dampfe polymerisieren auf der Oberflache von wasriger Perchlorsaure. Das nach der Isolierung aus saurefreiem Wasser erhaltene Polymere ist etwas verzweigt und besitzt eine hohe Konzentration an primaren Hydroxylgruppen. Es zeigt die nach einer sauren Zersetzung zu erwartende Zusammensetzung eines kationisch polymerisierten Furans.
Networks of exchange in The Franklin's Tale

The narrative of The Franklin's Tale is based on a series of overlapping systems of reciprocal exchange, exchanges of marriage, of promises, and of money. For Claude Levi-Strauss, orders of exchange regulating kinship are the fundamental elements of social systems, and they operate like the laws of a language; the psychoanalytic theory of Jacques Lacan adopts structuralism in claiming that each individual subject's unconscious as well as traditional contingent societies are structured like a language. Chaucer's tale is an idealized representation of social harmony governed by an ethic of ‘truthe,’ but at the same time it reveals the tensions that emerge from its effort to construct an ideology that will contain the social and economic interests it dramatizes. Even without their knowledge or conscious intent, the narrator and his characters participate in the production of a collective fiction reconciling competing forms of exchange.
Themes and Variations in Validity Theory

Should the Standards reflect the perspective that construct validity is central to all validation efforts? Is the construct-/content-/criterion-related categorization of validity evidence now obsolete? Should the definition of validity include consideration of the consequences of test use?
Stimulus-dependent differences in superoxide anion generation by normal human eosinophils and neutrophils

Abstract The role of eosinophils in allergic and hypersensitivity diseases has yet to be fully established and remains limited by techniques to isolate the eosinophil in high purity. Consequently, most studies that evaluate and characterize eosinophil function are conducted with isolates from patients with hypereosinophilia. There is, however, evidence to suggest that isolates from such patients do not represent normal function. Now, with new techniques to isolate and purify eosinophils from normal subjects without eosinophilia, metabolic function of the normal eosinophil can be assessed. To accomplish this, granulocytes from healthy volunteers were separated by continuous density Percoll gradients into populations of purified eosinophils (90.3 ± 1.9%) and neutrophils (98.2 ± 0.4%). Superoxide (O 2 − ) generation was measured with a microassay of superoxide dismutase-inhibitable cytochrome c reduction in response to several soluble and particulate agonists. Normal eosinophils generated significantly more O 2 − in response to either phorbol myristate acetate or calcium ionophore A23187 than their matched neutrophil fractions. In contrast, differences in granulocyte response to zymosan and chemotactic peptide, N -formyl-methionyl-leucyl-phenyalanine, were dependent on the presence of cytochalasin B (CB) in the reaction. N -formyl-methionyl-leucyl-phenyalanine-stimulated eosinophils generated less O 2 − in the absence of CB but similar amounts in the presence of CB, compared to neutrophils. Activation by zymosan in the presence of 10% autologous serum generated similar amounts of O 2 − in all the cell populations when CB was present; however, in the absence of CB, neutrophils produced less O 2 − when they were compared to eosinophils. Therefore, normal eosinophils respond differently to some activators, compared to neutrophils, and these differences may prove significant as the contribution of eosinophils to inflammation becomes established.
High-pressure structure of gallium nitride: Wurtzite-to-rocksalt phase transition.

High-pressure energy-dispersive x-ray-diffraction studies were carried out on the III-V compound gallium nitride to 70 GPa using a synchrotron x-ray source. A pressure-induced first-order phase transition from a wurtzite structure to a rocksalt structure was observed to begin at a pressure of 37 GPa.
Template supercoiling by a chimera of yeast GAL4 protein and phage T7 RNA polymerase

Fusion of the DNA-binding domain of yeast GAL4 protein to the amino terminus of bacteriophage T7 RNA polymerase yields a chimera that retains the characteristics of its components. The presence of the GAL4 peptide allows the chimeric enzyme to anchor itself on the DNA template, and this anchoring in turn drives the formation of a supercoiled DNA loop, in linear or circular templates, when RNA synthesis at the polymerase site forces a translocation of the DNA relative to the site. Nonspecific interaction between the chimeric enzyme and DNA appears to be sufficient to effect supercoiling during transcription. Transcription by the chimeric polymerase is strictly dependent on the presence of a T7 promoter; thus it provides a tool in vitro and in vivo for specifically supercoiling DNA segments containing T7 promoter sequences.
More on Gonococcal Dermatitis

IN A recent communication from this center, 1 a benign form of gonococcemia was described. The principal manifestations of the syndrome as observed in 14 young adults were a characteristic hemorrhagic vesiculopustular eruption, arthralgia, and bouts of fever. Organisms morphologically similar to the gonococcus were identified in smears from the skin lesions in six of seven patients, but cultures from these areas were sterile. Moreover, no person in the series had a positive blood culture. Therefore, the concept that the exanthem resulted from bacterial embolization accompanying transient bacteremia remained speculative. Since our original report was submitted for publication, 12 additional cases of gonorrhea with dermatitis have become available for review: two from Great Britain, 2 four from Denmark, 3 and six more from Houston hospitals. Eleven of the 12 patients were female, a finding confirming the previous observation that the syndrome is predominant among the gentle sex. 1 It is
Investigation into the Competitive and Site-Specific Nature of Anion Adsorption on Pt Using In Situ X-ray Absorption Spectroscopy

In situ X-ray absorption spectroscopy along with electrochemical measurements (CV and RDE) and previously published EQCN data provide further understanding of the nature of chloride poisoning on different faces/sites of carbon supported platinum clusters (1−2 nm) in acidic medium (HClO4). Chloride is shown to adsorb in 3-fold sites on the Pt(111) faces at the investigated Cl− concentrations (10−3 and 10−2 M). Atop chloride was found to be present within a narrow potential range (0.4−0.7 V RHE) when compressed adlayers of Cl− are formed on the Pt(111) faces forcing some Cl− to exist in atop/bridged sites. The interplay of anionic (Cl−, Br−, OH−, and HSO4−) adsorption on the different surfaces of Pt are also considered. For example O/OH can easily displace atop chloride on the edges/corners but not the Cl− at the Pt(111) sites, and therefore Cl− dramatically raises the overpotential for water activation at the Pt(111) sites. Chloride also drastically alters the ORR causing an increase of the overpotential b...
Metabolic rate and endothermy in sphinx moths

1. The rate of increase in thoracic temperature was strongly dependent on ambient temperature during pre-flight -warm-up in the sphinx moths,Hyles euphorbia andDeilephila elpenor (Figs. 1, 2). 2. The duration of pre-flight warm-up at 19–21 ° C was not correlated with mean body weight (0.3–3.5 g) in 13 species of sphinx moths (Kg. 3). 3. The mean rates of oxygen consumption during uninterrupted free flight forH. euphorbia andD. elpenor were 55 and 60 ml O2/g/hr respectively, regardless of air temperature at 15 and 22 ° C (Table 1, Fig. 4). 4. Thoracic temperature of sphinx moths of 13 species in free flight in the field usually ranged from 38 to 43 ° C, being independent of mean body weight (Fig. 5) but strongly correlated with weight-relative wing area (Fig. 6). 5. These data, which give no indication of regulation of heat production during warm-up or during flight, are in marked contrast with numerous previous publications on endothermy in moths.
Predicting reduction in tension following alcohol consumption in a stressful situation with the alcohol expectancy questionnaire

The present study was designed to extend the research designed to evaluate the validity of the subscales of the Alcohol Expectancy Questionnaire. Other previous behavioral studies had investigated the Global Positive subscale as a predictor of alcohol effects (Sher, 1985) and the tension reduction scale as a predictor of choosing an alcoholic beverage (Corcoran & Parker, 1991). While Brown, Goldman, Inn, and Anderson (1980) do not distinguish between different classes of expectancies, current theory (see Kirsch, 1985) highlights the distinction between response expectations (expectation of nonvolitional effects, exemplified in Sher's study) and outcome expectancies (expectations for particular reinforcers given a specific behavior, as in Corcoran and Parker's study). The present study was an investigation of the AEQ Tension Reduction Scale as a predictor of tension reduction in a stressful situation. The results do not lend support to the scale as a predictor of effects from drinking alcohol or expecting to drink alcohol. Results are discussed in terms of potential for future research, and theoretical and practical implications for the AEQ.
Detection of mobile targets on the plane and in space using heterogeneous sensor networks

Detection of targets moving within a field of interest is a fundamental service Wireless Sensor Network (WSN) service. The WSN's target detection performance is directly related to the placement of the sensors within the field of interest. In this paper, we address the problem of deterministic sensor deployment on the plane and in space, for the purpose of detecting mobile targets. We map the target detection problem to a line-set intersection problem and derive analytic expressions for the probability of detecting mobile targets. Compared to previous works, our mapping allows us to consider sensors with heterogeneous sensing capabilities, thus analyzing sensor networks that employ multiple sensing modalities. We show that the complexity of evaluating the target detection probability grows exponentially with the network size and, hence, derive appropriate lower and upper bounds. We also show that maximizing the lower bound on the probability for target detection on the plane and in space, is analogous to the problem of minimizing the average symbol error probability in two-dimensional and three-dimensional digital modulation schemes, respectively, over additive white Gaussian noise. These problems can be addressed using the circle packing problem for the plane, and the sphere packing problem for space. Using the analogy to digital modulation schemes, we derive sensor constellations from well known signal constellations with low average symbol error probability.
Evaluation of Bioassays to Monitor Surface Microlayer Toxicity in Tropical Marine Waters

Bioassays were developed, using embryos of: coral, Montastraea faveolata;graysby, Epinephelus cruentatus;grou- per, Epinephelus adscensionis x gruttatus (hybrid); queen conch, Strombus gigas; rock-boring urchin, Echinodermata lucunter; spotted seatrout, Cynoscion nebulosus; variegated urchin, Lytechinus variegatus; winged pearl oyster, Pteria colymbus; and yellowtail snapper, Ocyurus chrysurus.Relative sensitivities and precison of various species-endpoint combina- tions were evaluated using three reference toxicants: copper, sodium dodecyl sulfate, and Dibromt. The 24-h P. colymbus embryo test had the best overall sensitivity and exhibited a high degree of precision. However, oyster embryos were difficult to obtain and did not aggregate at the air-water interface. There- fore, the P. colymbus embryo test was deemed unsuitable for use as a bioassay for monitoring sea-surface microlayer (SSML) toxicity. Tests based on normal development of L. variegatus to the early pluteus 3 stage and percent normal-live C. nebulosus larvae at 48 h were relatively sensitive and exhibited good replicability and repeatability. The L. variegatus urchin embryo test was also found to be highly reproducible. The results of this comparative study indicated that L. variegatusand C. nebulosus were suitable surrogates for coral-reef species in toxicity assessments of the SSML.
Oxytocin Receptors and Prostaglandin Release in Rabbit Amniona

Besides stimulating uterine myometrial and mammary myoepithelial cell contraction, oxytocin (OT) causes the release of prostaglandins (PGs) from uterine endometrium/decidua and amnion cells. Lacking information about OT receptors eliciting PG release, we don't know how they are related to OT receptors involved in smooth muscle contraction. The amnion offers great potential for characterizing OT receptors associated with PG release, as the amount of iodinated OT antagonist ([125I]OTA) bound to rabbit amnion membranes during labor is among the greatest of any tissue yet studied, reaching about 10 pmol/mg membrane protein. The relative affinities of several OT analogues for binding sites on amnion membranes are the same as those on decidual membranes. There are differences in the ligand profile between amnion and myometrium, but they could be due to the additional presence of vasopressin receptors on myometrial membranes. An increase in the sensitivity of PGE2 release from amnion cells in culture to OT and analogues accompanies the rise in OT receptor concentration at the end of gestation. Increases in [125I]OTA binding in vivo can be mimicked with cultured amnion cells by addition of agents that elevate intracellular cAMP levels. Based on the time course and inhibition of the increase with cycloheximide, cAMP might induce OT receptor gene expression. The increase also is reflected by a marked elevation in the covalent labeling of a 50-kDa electrophoretic band with a photoactivated derivative of [125I]OTA. Because of the homogeneity of cell types in the amnion, the ease of culturing amnion cells, and the high concentration of OT receptors that can be induced, this tissue should be very useful in characterizing OT receptors associated with PG synthesis.
Effects of nucleotide analogues on Euplotes aediculatus telomerase processivity: evidence for product-assisted translocation.

Telomerase is a unique ribonucleoprotein that reverse transcribes a defined region of its RNA subunit onto the ends of eukaryotic chromosomes. The product of telomerase, telomeric DNA, is typically a G-rich repeated sequence, (TTTTGGGG)n in the ciliate Euplotes aediculatus and (TTAGGG)n in humans. Telomerase can extend oligonucleotide primers in vitro in a processive fashion. We used dNTP analogues to study the structure−activity relationship between substrate nucleotides and processivity of telomerase from E. aediculatus. Several analogues, including 2‘-deoxyuridine triphosphate (dUTP), 2‘-deoxyinosine triphosphate (dITP), and 7-deaza-2‘-deoxyguanosine triphosphate (7-deaza-dGTP), were good substrates for telomerase with Km and Vmax values near those of the natural substrates, dTTP and dGTP. However, telomerase processivity was affected with these substrates, decreasing in the order dUTP > 7-deaza-dGTP > dITP. Telomerase did not completely reverse transcribe the template when dITP was the substrate, and ...
Assessment of Scales as a Means of Aging Dover Sole

Abstract Analysis of scales taken at the times of tagging and recapture from 74 Dover soles Microstomus pacificus collected off Oregon demonstrated that scales were inadequate aging structures for this species. This contradicted earlier work that used marginal growth of scales and age–length observations as indirect validation methods. Errors in scale-age determinations were found for fish assigned scale ages of 5 years and greater. For female Dover soles, the probability of increment (“annulus”) formation was greater for younger than for older fish. Relationships between expected scale age and actual age indicated that maximum longevity of this species off Oregon may be in the range of 48–52 years, in contrast to the maximum scale age of 28 observed for this species.
Comment on Flathman Difficulties With Flathman's Moderation Thesis

Professor Flathman's main aim in this interesting paper is to set forth what we might call the “moderation thesis.” It holds that there may be occasions when the best thing to do, all things considered, is to violate a right – at least if the violation takes the form of what Flathman calls “civil encroachment” or “civil non-enforcement.” Moreover, it would be desirable, in a society whose practices include rights, for this belief to be generally accepted, so that those who engaged with good reason in “civil encroachment” would receive the sympathetic support of the community. Let me begin by trying to explain the source of the problem to which this thesis is a response. As Flathman notes, rights have a discretionary character: if I have a right to do or to have something, it is up to me whether to do it or to have it. Having a right, I am entitled to make a choice. Since we cannot say, in advance, what choice I will make, we cannot say, in advance, what will be the state of the world after I make it. But since it seems plain that some states of the world are more desirable than others, it will always be possible that the consequences of my choice will be worse, on the whole, than the consequences of some other choice that I might have made but did not. To moderate rights is apparently to act in ways that redress or compensate for the undesirable results of their exercise.
Influence of electronic structure on superconducting properties of complex crystals: Theory and application to Nb3Sn

Abstract A thermodynamic theory valid for complex crystalline superconductors is applied to Nb 3 Sn. It is shown how the structure of the Eliashberg equation and the solution is altered by density of states fine structure. One important implication is that the current method of inversion of tunneling data can be only approximate.
Key aspects for an adequate immunoglobulin therapy of primary immunodeficiencies.

Over the last two decades we have learned some things about adequate immunoglobulin therapy in immune deficiency. However, there is still a lack of understanding about many of the aspects of this form of treatment as, for example, autoimmunity. There is convincing evidence showing that immunoglobulin therapy in immune deficiency is not a mere passive transfer of antibodies to simply neutralize pathogens. For a basic scientist or an immunologist viewpoint, immunoglobulin is a complex pharmacological component, a therapeutic pool of natural polyspecific, polyreactive antibodies from several thousand healthy donors. This large repertoire of reliable origin may explain the immunomodulatory functions in an autoimmune situation. Autoimmunity is one of the most important immune dysregulations present in primary immune deficiency. The pathogenesis of autoimmunity in immune deficiency is, for the most part, unclear. Treatment with high-dose immune globulin (IVIG) and/or steroids can be helpful. Controlled trials have proved that the administration of high-dose IVIG is adequate to treat patients with persistent primary immune thrombocytopenia (ITP), a common acquired autoimmune disorder characterized by decreased platelet count. Moreover, in the past decades, replacement IVIG therapy has become the standard of care in patients with primary and secondary antibody defects. Attention is turning more progressively to the increasing number of patients on this therapy and diversity of physicians who care for them. In the Symposium organized on the occasion of the XIV Congress of the European Society for Immunodeficiencies (ESID), which took place in Istanbul, Turkey on 13 October 2010, all these particularly relevant aspects of immunoglobulin therapy in the treatment of immune deficiency were focused upon.