cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Taking Another Ride on Flopper: Benjamin Cardozo, Safe Space, and the Cultural Significance of Coney Island

This article examines the history and cultural meaning of Coney Island and its amusement parks, as well as Cardozo's biography, in an effort to discover the basis for that feeling of contempt. It shows that a variety of attributes of Coney Island, most notably its embrace of what was, for its day, a robust and open sexuality and carnival spirit, were alien and threatening to Cardozo's Victorian values. It also shows how this clash of values would have naturally inclined Cardozo to think of Coney Island as a dangerous place and led him to Murphy's assumption of risk analysis. It further shows, however, that Steeplechase might have been thought of in a very different way, as a safe space in which park goers were invited to let down their guard and take apparent risks in a safe setting. In so doing, the article explores both the hidden history of the Murphy case and the suppressed alternative reading of law and facts that is similarly hidden by Cardozo's opinion.
Discrete Circuits Support Generalized versus Context-Specific Vocal Learning in the Songbird

Motor skills depend on the reuse of individual gestures in multiple sequential contexts (e.g., a single phoneme in different words). Yet optimal performance requires that a given gesture be modified appropriately depending on the sequence in which it occurs. To investigate the neural architecture underlying such context-dependent modifications, we studied Bengalese finch song, which, like speech, consists of variable sequences of "syllables." We found that when birds are instructed to modify a syllable in one sequential context, learning generalizes across contexts; however, if unique instruction is provided in different contexts, learning is specific for each context. Using localized inactivation of a cortical-basal ganglia circuit specialized for song, we show that this balance between generalization and specificity reflects a hierarchical organization of neural substrates. Primary motor circuitry encodes a core syllable representation that contributes to generalization, while top-down input from cortical-basal ganglia circuitry biases this representation to enable context-specific learning.
The Medicalization of Female Sexual Dysfunction: The Need for Caution

The use of drugs such as Viagra to treat sexual dysfunction in women may be beneficial in a proportion of cases. However, there are a number of barriers to understanding and predicting which women are likely to benefit, and caution is required in approaching this clinical issue. Three relevant issues are discussed: (1) Male-female differences in sexuality. Three complimentary ways in which male and female sexuality differs are considered—women have less need for their sexuality to be influenced by reproductive hormones; their needs for sexual enjoyment and orgasm are not well met by conventional vaginal intercourse; and, as a result of the disjunction between female sexual response and reproduction and a possibly greater propensity for central inhibition of sexual response, women are more susceptible to the repressive effects of social constraints on sexuality; (2) Sex therapy. While conventional forms of sex therapy are well designed to address the particular psychological needs of women as well as men, the interface between psychological processes and physiological response is not well understood. For the same reason, we should expect difficulty in predicting when pharmacological effects on sexual response will be beneficial; (3) When is a sexual problem a sexual dysfunction? It is likely that many cases of impaired sexual response or interest in women are psychologically understandable and hence adaptive reactions to problems in the sexual relationship, and hence not dysfunctions. Until we can distinguish between such adaptive inhibitions of response and those that are maladaptive dysfunctions, we will have difficulty in predicting when pharmacological treatment will be helpful.
Activation of the Erythropoietin Receptor Is Not Required for Internalization of Bound Erythropoietin

Erythropoietin (EPO) is required for the survival and expansion of red blood cell progenitor cells and supports continued differentiation of these committed progenitors to mature red blood cells. After binding to its cognate receptor, EPO promotes receptor homodimerization, activation of receptor-associated JAK2, subsequent receptor tyrosine phosphorylation, and transduction of signal. EPO is also internalized and degraded in lysosomes. The contribution of EPO-induced receptor internalization to modulation of EPO signals has not been determined. To examine this question, we generated a panel of hematopoietic cell lines containing progressively truncated isoforms of the erythropoietin receptor (EPO-R) and determined the rate and extent of EPO internalization and receptor downregulation. We demonstrated that a membrane-proximal domain of the cytoplasmic tail of the EPO-R was the minimal region required for EPO-induced receptor internalization. This cytoplasmic domain is also the minimal domain required for activation of JAK2, a cytosolic tyrosine kinase essential for the function of the EPO-R. However, neither EPO activation of cytosolic JAK2 tyrosine kinase activity nor tyrosine phosphorylation of the EPO-R cytoplasmic tail was required for EPO-induced receptor downregulation. Both functional and nonfunctional cell surface receptor isoforms were internalized equally. These results suggest that, for downregulation of cell surface ligand occupied EPO-R and possibly for signaling receptors of the cytokine receptor superfamily in general, internalization of cell surface ligand occupied receptors may follow a pathway distinct from signaling receptors of the receptor tyrosine kinase (RTK) family.
Control of a Light Emitting Photoprotein by Calcium Channels in a Hydrozoan Coelenterate

Bioluminescence has been studied in representative species of all the major invertebrate phyla, from single cell protozoans to echinoderms (1). Comparison of the various mechanisms underlying light emission in these different animals has revealed that it is often triggered by activation of membrane channels. Consequently, many investigators have sought a better understanding of excitation-effector coupling through electrophysiological studies on the control of cellular luminescence. Of the luminescent systems examined, none has yielded more information about membrane control of light emission than the single celled dinoflagellate Noctiluca. In experiments performed more than 20 years ago by Roger Eckert, it was shown that a propagating action potential in the vacuolar membrane triggered the activation of a large number of intracellular light emitting organelles (2–4). Because the action potential propagated via an intracellular membrane and not the plasma membrane, it was not possible to ascertain the ionic requirements for luminescence or the action potential. This technical limitation of the system prevented a determination of the nature of coupling between ion channel activation and light emission.
Time-series-based nonlinear system identification of strongly nonlinear attachments

Abstract This work introduces a new nonlinear system identification procedure for identifying the dynamics of an otherwise linear mechanical system augmented by strongly nonlinear local attachments directly from measured transient response data. The method employs the proper orthogonal decomposition to extract energy-dependent proper orthogonal modes from the measured time series. Then, using known linear properties, the characteristic frequencies of the system are estimated by applying the Rayleigh quotient, and an estimated frequency-energy plot (FEP) is created by plotting the characteristic frequencies as functions of the mechanical energy in the system. The estimated FEP directly reveals the presence of strongly nonlinear modal interactions, in the form of non-smooth perturbations (spikes) that result from transient resonance captures between different harmonic components of the measured data. The nonlinearity is identified by plotting the estimated characteristic frequencies as functions of a defined characteristic displacement and fitting a frequency equation based on the model of the nonlinearity. The method is demonstrated computationally and experimentally using the response of a cantilevered model airplane wing with a strongly nonlinear attachment connected to its tip.
Assessment methods and resource requirements for milestone reporting by an emergency medicine clinical competency committee.

Background: The Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) introduced milestones for Emergency Medicine (EM) in 2012. Clinical Competency Committees (CCC) are tasked with assessin...
Pursuing parenthood with cystic fibrosis: Reproductive health and parenting concerns in individuals with cystic fibrosis

Background As life expectancy for cystic fibrosis (CF) has increased in recent decades, more individuals with CF are becoming parents. The objectives of this study were to describe the parenting and reproductive health concerns of individuals with CF and to identify the psychosocial and educational needs related to parenthood with CF. Methods Twenty adults with CF, including parents and non-parents, participated in one-on-one, semi-structured interviews about reproductive health and parenting. Questions pertained to reproductive health knowledge, psychosocial adaptation to CF related to fertility and parenthood, parenting concerns in the context of CF, and psychosocial care needs. We performed thematic content analysis on interview transcripts and descriptive statistical analysis on participant demographics and health variables. Results A majority of participants (ten women and ten men, of whom half were parents) described their health as "stable" and "good/fair"; median FEV 1 was 66% predicted (range, 30-105). Participants shared a range of experiences related to reproductive health discussions with CF care providers and expressed concerns about pregnancy, infertility, and adoption. Parents and non-parents expressed concerns about balancing roles as parent and patient, the impact of anticipated health decline and early mortality on children, and communication with children. Participants identified a need for earlier, improved education for potential parents and resources for parents with CF. Conclusions Individuals with CF may not receive sufficient CF-related reproductive health education, and they have wide-ranging concerns about the intersecting roles of patient and parent. Results from this study can provide guidance for CF care providers to improve their understanding and response to the needs of individuals and families affected by CF.
Towards Low Cost Soil Sensing Using Wi-Fi

A farm's soil moisture and soil electrical conductivity (EC)readings are extremely valuable for a farmer. They can help her reduce water use and improve productivity. However, the high cost of commercial soil moisture sensors and the inaccuracy of sub-1000 dollar EC sensors have limited their adoption. In this paper, we present the design and implementation of a system, called Strobe, that senses soil moisture and soil EC using RF propagation in existing Wi-Fi bands. Strobe overcomes the key challenge of limited bandwidth availability in the 2.4 GHz unlicensed spectrum using a novel multi-antenna technique. It maps the propagation time and amplitude of Wi-Fi signals received by different antennas to the soil permittivity and EC, which in turn depend on soil moisture and salinity. Our experiments with USRP, WARP, and commodity Wi-Fi cards show that Strobe can accurately estimate soil moisture and EC using Wi-Fi, thereby showing the potential of a future in which a farmer can sense soil in their farm without investing 1000s of dollars in soil sensing equipments.
Gender Differences in Risk Assessment Among Youth Adjudicated to Juvenile Correctional Facilities

The Indiana Department of Corrections (IDOC) uses the IYAS-RES, a risk assessment tool comprised of the following domains: juvenile justice history; family and living arrangements; peers and social...
Engineering an RNA-based tissue-specific platform for genetic editing through use of a miRNA-enabled Cas12a

ABSTRACT The capacity to edit genomes using CRISPR-Cas systems holds immense potential for countless genetic-based diseases. However, one significant impediment preventing broad therapeutic utilization is in vivo delivery. While genetic editing at a single cell level in vitro can be achieved with high efficiency, the capacity to utilize these same biologic tools in a desired tissue in vivo remains challenging. Non-integrating RNA virus-based vectors constitute efficient platforms for transgene expression and surpass several barriers to in vivo delivery. However, the broad tissue tropism of viral vectors raises the concern for off-target effects. Moreover, prolonged expression of the Cas proteins, regardless of delivery method, can accumulate aberrant RNAs leading to unwanted immunological responses. In an effort to circumvent these shortcomings, here we describe a versatile RNA virus-based technology that can achieve cell-specific activity and self-inactivation by combining host microRNA (miRNA) biology with the CRISPR-Cas12a RNA-guided nuclease. Exploiting the RNase activity of Cas12a, we generated a vector that self-inactivates upon delivery of Cas12a and an accompanying CRISPR RNA (crRNA). Furthermore, we show that maturation of the crRNA can be made dependent on cell-specific miRNAs, which confers cell-specificity. We demonstrate that this genetic editing circuit delivers diminished yet sufficient levels of Cas12a to achieve effective genome editing whilst inducing a minimal immunological response. It can also function in a cell-specific manner thereby facilitating in vivo editing and mitigating the risk of unwanted, off-target effects.
Resonant-coherent excitation of channeled ions.

A first-principles calculation of the resonant-coherent excitation of planar-channeled hydrogenic ions is presented. The interplay between coherent interaction with the periodic crystal lattice potential and inelastic electron-electron collisions is shown to be crucial in both intraionic transitions and electron loss from the ion. The magnitude of resonant-coherent excitation is predicted to oscillate with the amplitude of the oscillations of the ion trajectory. Good agreement is found with experiments.
Efficacy of quality improvement and patient safety workshops for students: a pilot study.

While the Association of American Medical Colleges encourages medical schools to incorporate quality improvement and patient safety (QI/PS) into their curriculum, medical students continue to have limited QI/PS exposure. To prepare medical students for careers that involve QI/PS, the Institute for Healthcare Improvement chapter at an allopathic medical school and school of allied health professions initiated self-directed learning by offering student-led workshops to equip learners with skills to improve the quality and safety of healthcare processes. In this prospective cohort study, workshops were hosted for medical students between 2015 and 2018 on five QI/PS topics: Process Mapping, Root-Cause Analysis (RCA), Plan-Do-Study-Act (PDSA) Cycles, Evidence Based Medicine (EBM), and Patient Handoffs. Each workshop included a hands-on component to engage learners in practical applications of QI/PS skills in their careers. Change in knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors was assessed via pre- and post-surveys using 5-point Likert scales, and analyzed using either the McNemar test or non-parametric Wilcoxon signed-rank test. Surveys also gathered qualitative feedback regarding strengths, future areas for improvement, and reasons for attending the workshops. Data was collected from 88.5% of learners (n = 185/209); 19.5% of learners reported prior formal instruction in these topics. Statistically significant improvements in learners’ confidence were observed for each workshop. Additionally, after attending workshops, learners felt comfortable teaching the learned QI/PS skill to colleagues (mean pre/post difference 1.96, p < 0.0001, n = 139) and were more likely to pursue QI/PS projects in their careers (mean pre/post difference 0.45, p < 0.0001, n = 139). Lastly, learners demonstrated a statistically significant increase in knowledge in four out of five skills workshop topics. Few medical students have formal instruction in QI/PS tools. This pilot study highlights advantages of incorporating an innovative, student-directed modified ‘flipped classroom’ methodology, with a focus on active experiential learning and minimal didactic instruction.
A Survey on Reinforcement Learning for Combinatorial Optimization.

This paper gives a detailed review of reinforcement learning in combinatorial optimization, introduces the history of combinatorial optimization starting in the 1960s, and compares it with the reinforcement learning algorithms in recent years. We explicitly look at a famous combinatorial problem known as the Traveling Salesperson Problem (TSP). We compare the approach of the modern reinforcement learning algorithms on TSP with an approach published in 1970. Then, we discuss the similarities between these algorithms and how the approach of reinforcement learning changes due to the evolution of machine learning techniques and computing power. We also mention the deep learning approach on the TSP, which is named Deep Reinforcement Learning. We argue that deep learning is a generic approach that can be integrated with traditional reinforcement learning algorithms and optimize the outcomes of the TSP.
Capillary Instability in Nanowire Geometries

In this study, we present atomistic simulations and theoretical analyses that reveal a capillary instability that is intrinsic to wetting geometries characteristic of the vapor–liquid–solid mechanism for nanowire growth. The analysis establishes a transition between axisymmetric and tilted wetting configurations that occurs when the triple line geometry satisfies Young’s force-balance condition. The intrinsic nature of the instability is anticipated to be linked to the phenomenon of nanowire kinking in response to changes in environmental conditions, such that the current results may have broad implications for the design of experimental strategies for controlled growth of crystalline nanowires with complex geometries.
The Biogeography of Polyploid Ferns Across Space and Time

A review of work on the origin and phylogenetic relationships of six systems of allopolyploid homosporous ferns and their progenitors serves as the basis for assessing the history and status of ideas relating to the biogeography of polyploid ferns. The likely dates of origin for the polyploids from recent analyses provide a historical context not previously available, making possible rigorous tests of hypotheses about the history of polyploids, especially the origin, distribution, and duration of polyploid ferns as lineages. Insularity figures prominently in developing an understanding of polyploid fern biogeography. The origin and persistence of polyploid ferns is enhanced by the empty niche space and high disturbance on Darwinian islands. In addition, the greater precinctiveness of polyploid ferns related to larger spore size is likely a selective advantage on islands, consistent with the number of high polyploids encountered among ferns on oceanic islands. Though recently originated polyploid ferns usually have identifiable progenitors with which they are partially sympatric, the rate of expansion of these ferns beyond the range of their progenitors varies. In two cases from Austral regions, long-term persistence and divergent speciation have been demonstrated in widespread polyploids and polyploid lineages with unknown diploid progenitors, though the general consensus is that polyploids do not persist in the long term.
The heart as a spring, the measurement of myocardial bounce to assess left ventricular function on cardiac MR

Little has been reported on the left ventricular myocardial distension (bounce) and its utility to assess cardiac function. The purpose of this study is to determine whether myocardial bounce at end diastole is reproducibly visualized by blinded observers and to determine whether it corresponds to systolic and diastolic function. 144 Consecutive cardiac MR exams between September and December 2017 were selected for analysis. The bounce was graded by two blinded observers, and the change in LV diameter pre and post bounce was measured. The bounce was defined as the rapid change in LV volume that occurs at the end of diastole during atrial contraction just prior to systolic ejection. Inter-reader agreement was summarized using Cohen’s kappa. Spearman’s rank correlation coefficient was used to evaluate associations between bounce grade and cardiac physiology parameters. Overall agreement was good with unweighted kappa = 0.69 (95% CI 0.60–0.79). Bounce grade was significantly correlated with the average change in LV diameter before and after the bounce (Spearman’s rho = 0.76, p < 0.001). Median diameter changes were 0.0, 1.9, and 4.2 mm in grades 0 (no bounce), 1 (small bounce), and 2 (normal), respectively. The bounce lasted 8 to 12 ms in all patients. Bounce grade was significantly correlated with LV EF (Spearman’s rho = 0.43, p < 0.001). Median EF was 44%, 51%, and 58% in grades 0, 1, and 2, respectively. Of the 87 patients who had E/A ratio or E/e′ ratio measured, bounce grade was also significantly correlated with E/A ratio (r = − 0.24, p = 0.034) and E/e′ ratio (r = − 0.24, p = 0.022), with lower grades having higher ratio values on average (Table 4). Of the 15 patients with a bounce grade of 0 by one or both readers and EF ≥ 50%, 8 had E/A ratio measurements and 7 had E/e′ ratio measurements. The E/A ratio values ranged from 1 to 2.7 (median 1.5). The E/e′ ratio values ranged from 4.8 to 9.6 (median 7.7). The simple observation of a normal myocardial bounce during cine loop review of cardiac MR exams was predictive of normal diastolic and systolic cardiac function. Lack of myocardial bounce was highly associated with both systolic and diastolic dysfunction. The subpopulation of patients with loss of myocardial bounce and normal ejection fraction appear to represent patients with early diastolic dysfunction. Further studies with more diastolic dysfunction MRs are needed to examine this relationship. This study suggests changes to the myocardial bounce seen on cardiac MR may be a simple useful tool for detecting cardiac dysfunction. This study is not to replace, but rather aid the clinical diagnosis and management of both diastolic and systolic dysfunction.
Permutation Encoding for Text Steganography: A Short Tutorial.

We explore a method of encoding secret messages using factoradic numbering of permuted lists of text or numeric elements. Encoding and decoding methods are provided, with code, and key aspects of the correctness of the methods are formally proven. The method of encoding is simple and provides a working example of using textual and numeric lists as a stenagographic channel. Given the ubiquity of lists, such channels are already present but are often unused.
Protective Buffering and Deception as Moderators of Relational Turbulence among Military Couples

Research suggests that relational uncertainty corresponds with circumscribed communication, yet prior studies have not investigated the related constructs of falsifying information (deception) and ...
Abstract MP96: High Sedentary Activity Mediates the Association of Acculturation and Obesity in Mexican-American Adults: the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 2007-2010

Background: Higher levels of acculturation are associated with both higher leisure-time physical activity (LTPA), and higher obesity rates. However, few studies have examined associations of acculturation with other types of activity. Moreover, the extent to which these activities mediate relationships between acculturation and obesity is unknown. We examined associations of acculturation with four types of activity (moderate-vigorous LTPA, moderate-vigorous work- and transportation-related physical activity, and sedentary activity), and we tested whether these types of activity mediate the acculturation-obesity association among Mexican-American (MA) adults. Methods: We used cross-sectional data from 1,982 NHANES 2007-2010 MA participants aged 20+ years. Multinomial logistic regression (MLR) models were used to estimate associations of acculturation (based on nativity and length of residence in the US) with type of activity. Structural equation modeling was used to quantify the extent to which the four types of activity mediate the association of acculturation with obesity (BMI≥30 kg/m2). Results: Foreign-born (FB) MAs had lower mean minutes per week of LTPA and sedentary activity but higher mean minutes of work and transportation activity, compared to US-born MAs. After adjusting for age, age2, gender, education and employment status in the MLR analyses, FB MAs living in the US < 10 years were significantly less likely to perform recommended levels of LTPA (≥150 minutes/week) (Relative Risk Ratio (RRR): 0.67; 95% Confidence Interval (CI): 0.49, 0.92), but they were less likely to be sedentary (RRR: 0.15; 95% CI: 0.08, 0.26) and more likely to engage in high transportation- (RRR: 1.57; 95% CI: 1.12, 2.22) and work-related activities (RRR: 1.57; 95% CI: 1.02, 2.40) than US-born MAs. Adjusted MLR analyses also showed that FB MAs living in the US ≥ 10 years were more likely to perform high transportation activity (RRR: 1.37; 95% CI: 1.04, 1.81) and less likely to engage in high sedentary activity (RRR: 0.27; 95% CI: 0.22, 0.35) than US-born MAs. FB MAs living in the US < 10 years and ≥ 10 years were both less likely to be obese compared to US-born MAs in sociodemographic-adjusted models. Sedentary activity was the strongest mediator of the acculturation-obesity association, accounting for 19.2% and 31.3% of the total effect of acculturation on obesity among FB MAs living in the US <10 years and ≥10 years, respectively, compared to US-born MAs. The direct effect of acculturation on obesity (i.e., independent of all measured mediators and confounders) remained significant for both FB MAs living in the US <10 years and those living in the US ≥10 years, compared with US-born MAs. Conclusions: These findings suggest higher sedentary activity may account for a substantial portion of the negative impact of acculturation on obesity. However, the mediation results suggest other factors also play a role.
Genetic evidence that cholera toxin substrates are regulatory components of adenylate cyclase.

Abstract Cholera toxin, using [32P]NAD+ as substrate, specifically radiolabels at least two proteins in plasma membranes of wild type S49 mouse lymphoma cells. The toxin-specific substrates are detectable by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis as bands corresponding to molecular weights of 45,000 and a doublet of 52,000 to 53,000. Membranes of two other cell types exhibit similar patterns of radiolabeled bands specifically produced by incubation with cholera toxin: the "uncoupled" variant S49 cell, which possesses adenylate cyclase activity unresponsive to hormones, and the HTC4 rat hepatoma cell, which lacks detectable catalytic adenylate cyclase activity but contains components of the cyclase system necessary for regulation by guanyl nucleotides and NaF. Little or no toxin-specific radiolabeling is observed in membranes of a fourth cell type, the adenylate cyclase activity-deficient S49 variant, which functionally lacks components of the cyclase system involved in cholera toxin action and regulation by guanyl nucleotides and NaF. The toxin-specific labeling pattern is not observed in membranes prepared from wild type S49 cells previously treated with cholera toxin in culture. One or both of the toxin substrates thus appears to be involved in regulation of adenylate cyclase by guanyl nucleotides and fluoride ion.
FAR INFRARED POLARIZATION OF DUST CLOUDS

The recently observed 10µ polarization of the Orion Nebula and the Galactic Center suggests that far infrared polarization may be found in these objects. Estimates are made of the degree of far infrared polarization that may exist in the Orion Nebula. The effects of radiation transfer are briefly considered and it is concluded that polarization observations over a range of wavelengths will be useful in deducing the optical depth structure of dust clouds.
The gödel-tarski translations of intuitionistic propositional formulas

The Godel-Tarski operation that prefixes the necessity symbol to every subformula is a sound and faithful translation of intuitionistic propositional logic into modal logic S4. We characterize modal formulas equivalent in S4 to Godel-Tarski translations of intuitionistic propositional formulas. It would be interesting to obtain a similar characterization for intuitionistic predicate formulas.
The Heterogeneity of Catalyst Surfaces for Chemisorption

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses the heterogeneity on oxide surface, heterogeneity on metal surfaces, and presents evidence from the earlier literature. The current analysis forces the conclusion that, at a prescribed condition of temperature and pressure the slow processes of chemisorption or interaction with the surface by a reactant that can be demonstrated and measured at such a condition can have little significance in a rapid catalytic reaction, which may occur under the condition specified. It is the processes of rapidly occurring desorption, which are significant. To this extent, the measurements of slow processes of chemisorptions are not significant for catalytic reactions occurring rapidly at the given temperature and pressure. They may well be significant for catalytic actions at higher temperatures. It is apparent that small variations in operational techniques can produce relatively large variations in the distribution of centers of activity and variability in performance of catalysts produced from a given set of operations may well be the index of a pronounced heterogeneity of surface.
Enumeration of hydroxyl groups of sugars and sugar alcohols by aqueous-based acetylation and matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry.

RATIONALE The properties of carbohydrates are determined in part by the number and stereochemical arrangement of their hydroxyl groups. To facilitate their analysis, rapid methods are needed to identify and enumerate hydroxyl groups in sugars and polyalcohols, especially methods that are water-based. METHODS The present report details the results of an alternative method for identification and enumeration of hydroxyl groups in aqueous media. It employs vinyl acetate to selectively derivatize hydroxyl groups in analytes, followed by analysis of the reaction mixtures by matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF-MS). RESULTS The method has been applied to several single and multi-component mixtures of monosaccharides and polyalcohols. The O-acetylated products were analyzed without chromatographic separation or purification by MALDI-TOF-MS. The mass spectra revealed consecutive ion peaks that are separated by 42 mass units as a consequence of displacement of one hydroxyl hydrogen by one acetyl group. CONCLUSIONS A rapid and aqueous-based method is described to enumerate the hydroxyl groups in carbohydrates. The number of ion peaks due to derivatized products is determined by MALDI-TOF-MS, and corresponds to the number of free hydroxyl groups in the analyte. The method is applicable to both single and multi-component mixtures. Published 2011. This article is a US Government work and is in the public domain in the USA.
Lipopolysaccharide-induced interleukin 8 production by human whole blood is enhanced by epinephrine and inhibited by hydrocortisone

To determine the effect of epinephrine and hydrocortisone on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced interleukin 8 (IL-8) production, human whole blood was stimulated with LPS in the presence or absence of these stress hormones. Epinephrine caused a dose-dependent increase in LPS-induced IL-8 production, which was mediated exclusively via beta-adrenergic receptors, as reflected by the facts that beta (but not alpha) receptor blockade reversed the epinephrine effect and beta (but not alpha) receptor stimulation reproduced the epinephrine effect. Further, elevating cellular cyclic AMP (cAMP) concentrations, a known effect of beta-adrenergic stimulation, by addition of dibutyryl cAMP also enhanced LPS-induced IL-8 production. Epinephrine-induced upregulation of IL-10 production masked an even more pronounced stimulating effect of this hormone on IL-8 synthesis, as indicated by the finding that the extent of IL-8 upregulation was greater in the presence of anti-IL-10 than in the absence of anti-IL-10. Hydrocortisone dose-dependently inhibited LPS-induced IL-8 production and reversed epinephrine-induced enhancement of IL-8 production. Epinephrine and hydrocortisone have opposite effects on IL-8 production, which may be relevant for the understanding of endogenous and therapeutic stress hormone influences on IL-8 mediated inflammation.
Improved physical fitness correlates with improved cognition in multiple sclerosis.

Abstract Objective To determine whether there is an association between improvements in objective measures of physical fitness and performance on cognitive tests in people with multiple sclerosis (MS). Design Post hoc correlational analysis in which people demonstrating physical improvement were compared with those not demonstrating physical improvement. Setting Individuals with MS residing in the community. Participants Adults with clinically confirmed MS (N=88) who participated in a controlled trial of a telephone-based health promotion intervention, chose to work on exercise, and completed the pre- and postintervention assessments. Interventions Participants were measured for strength (isokinetic dynamometer), aerobic fitness (bicycle ergometer), and cognition (Paced Auditory Serial Addition Test [PASAT], Trail Making Test [TMT]) at baseline and 12 weeks later. Change in fitness was calculated by subtracting each participant's baseline score from the outcome score, and then transforming the difference to a z score. Individuals with a z score ≥1 on any fitness measure were placed in the physically improved group (n=25). All others were in the physically not improved group (n=57). Main Outcome Measures TMT, PASAT. Results After controlling for covariates (age, sex, ethnicity, education, disease activity, MS type), there was a significant group-by-time interaction, suggesting that cognitive functioning changed over time based on level of fitness. Participants in the physically improved group demonstrated improved performance on measures of executive functioning after 12 weeks of exercise. Conclusions The results of this study lend support to the hypothesis that change in fitness is associated with improved executive functioning in people with MS.
High-Order fuzzy approximation by fuzzywavelet type and neural network operators

Here are studied, in terms of fuzzy high approximation to the unit, several basic sequences of fuzzy wavelet type operators and fuzzy neural network operators. These operators are fuzzy analogs of earlier studied real ones. The produced results generalize earlier real ones into the fuzzy setting. Here, the high-order fuzzy pointwise convergence with rates to the fuzzy unit operator is established through fuzzy inequalities involving the fuzzy modulus of continuity of the Nth-order (N ≥ 1) H-fuzzy derivative of the engaged fuzzy number valued function. At the end, we present a related Lp result for fuzzy neural network operators.
Hypoplastic aberrant left subclavian artery in a dog with a persistent right aortic arch

Vascular ring anomalies (VRA) are relatively uncommon cardiovascular disorders in canine patients. The most common VRA is a persistent right aortic arch (PRAA) with a left ligamentum arteriosum, however various other vascular anomalies resulting in tracheoesophageal compression have also been reported. We report a case of a dog with a PRAA and left ligamentum arteriosum with a hypoplastic aberrant left subclavian artery resulting in asymmetric cervicobrachial circulation. Selective angiography and ECG-gated multi-detector computed tomography were utilized in the evaluation of these defects. The case presented represents a unique vascular anomaly of the aortic arch not previously described in veterinary medicine.
Molecular modeling of vapor-deposited polymer glasses

We have investigated the properties of vapor-deposited glasses prepared from short polymer chains using molecular dynamics simulations. Vapor-deposited polymer glasses are found to have higher density and higher kinetic stability than ordinary glasses prepared by gradual cooling of the corresponding equilibrium liquid. In contrast to results for binary Lennard-Jones glasses, the deposition rate is found to play an important role in the stability of polymer vapor-deposited glasses. Glasses deposited at the slowest deposition rate and at the optimal substrate temperature are found to correspond to the ordinary glasses that one could hypothetically prepare by cooling the liquid at rates that are 4–5 orders of magnitude slower than those accessible in the current simulations. For intermediate-length polymer chains, the resulting vapor-deposited glasses are found to be highly anisotropic. For short chains, however, the glasses are isotropic, showing that structural anisotropy is not a necessary condition for formation of stable glasses by physical vapor deposition.
Nitrogen fixation in subarctic streams influenced by beaver (Castor canadensis)

Nitrogen fixation was measured in four subarctic streams substantially modified by beaver (Castor canadensis) in Quebec. Acetylene-ethylene (C2H2 → C2H4) reduction techniques were used during the 1982 ice-free period (May–October) to estimate nitrogen fixation by microorganisms colonizing wood and sediment. Mean seasonal fixation rates were low and patchy, ranging from zero to 2.3 × 10−3 µmol C2H4 · cm−2 · h−1 for wood, and from zero to 7.0 × 10−3 µmol C2H4 · g AFDM−1 · h−1 for sediment; 77% of all wood and 63% of all sediment measurements showed no C2H2 reduction. Nonparametric statistical tests were unable to show a significant difference (p > 0.05) in C2H2 reduction rates between or within sites for wood species or by sediment depth. Nitrogen contributed by microorganisms colonizing wood in riffles of beaver influenced watersheds was small (e.g., 0.207 g N · m−2 · y−1) but greater than that for wood in beaver ponds (e.g., 0.008 g N · m−2 · y−1) or for streams without beaver (e.g., 0.003 g N · m−2 · y−1). Although mass specific nitrogen fixation rates did not change significantly as beaver transform riffles into ponds, the nitrogen fixed by organisms colonizing sediment in pond areas (e.g., 5.1 g N · m−2 · y−1) was greater than that in riffles (e.g., 0.42 g N · m−2 · y−1). The annual nitrogen contribution is proportional to the amount of sediment available for microbial colonization. We estimate that total nitrogen accumulation in sediment, per unit area, is enhanced 9 to 44 fold by beaver damming a section of stream.
A self-organizing neural system for learning to recognize textured scenes

A self-organizing ARTEX model is developed to categorize and classify textured image regions. ARTEX specializes the FACADE model of how the visual cortex sees, and the ART model of how temporal and prefrontal cortices interact with the hippocampal system to learn visual recognition categories and their names. FACADE processing generates a vector of boundary and surface properties, notably texture and brightness properties, by utilizing multi-scale filtering, competition, and diffusive filling-in. Its context-sensitive local measures of textured scenes can be used to recognize scenic properties that gradually change across space, as well as abrupt texture boundaries. ART incrementally learns recognition categories that classify FACADE output vectors, class names of these categories, and their probabilities. Top-down expectations within ART encode learned prototypes that pay attention to expected visual features. When novel visual information creates a poor match with the best existing category prototype, a memory search selects a new category with which classify the novel data. ARTEX is compared with psychophysical data, and is bench marked on classification of natural textures and synthetic aperture radar images. It outperforms state-of-the-art systems that use rule-based, backpropagation, and K-nearest neighbor classifiers.
Developmental defects of the tympanic plate: case reports and review of the literature.

Abstract A complete otoscopic examination should be performed in all patients seeking treatment of temporomandibular disorders. The presence of a bulge in the external auditory meatus that disappears with mouth opening may suggest the persistence of the foramen of Huschke. The clinicion should rule out the presence or history of infection, trauma, or neoplasm before ascribing the etiology of a defect to a developmental aberration.
Self-dual sector of QCD amplitudes.

We provide an action for self-dual Yang-Mills theory which is a simple truncation of the usual Yang-Mills action. Only vertices that violate helicity conservation maximally are included. One-loop amplitudes in the self-dual theory then follow as a subset of the Yang-Mills ones. In light-cone gauges this action is almost identical to previously proposed actions, but in this formulation the vanishing of all higher-loop amplitudes is obvious; the explicit perturbative $S$-matrix is known. Similar results apply to gravity.
An autonomic hypothesis for hypothalamic obesity

Abstract An etiologic classification for obesity is presented and the mechanisms for hypothalamic obesity reviewed under the framework of an Autonomic Hypothesis. This hypothesis integrates the reciprocal rise in activity of the vague nerve and reduced activity of the sympathetic nervous system to explain the metabolic features observed in the syndrome of hypothalamic obesity.
Highly-efficient purification of native polyhistidine-tagged proteins by multivalent NTA-modified magnetic nanoparticles.

A new bis-nitrilotriacetic acid (NTA) chelate with catechol anchor was synthesized and immobilized on superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles. When loaded with Ni(II), these bis-NTA-immobilized nanoparticles were shown to bind polyhistidine (His × 6-tagged) fusion proteins in their native, folded conformations that commercial microbeads failed to bind under identical conditions. Control experiments with a mono-NTA chelate immobilized on iron oxide nanoparticles indicate a similarly high affinity for His × 6-tagged native proteins, suggesting that the high density of the mono-NTA chelate presented by the nanoparticles allows the binding of the His × 6-tag to more than one Ni-NTA moiety on the surface. This study shows that the multivalency strategy can be utilized to enhance the binding of His × 6-tagged proteins in their native, folded conformations. We further demonstrated the selective purification of His × 6-tagged proteins from crude cell lysates by using the Ni(II)-loaded iron oxide nanoparticles....
Minimizing Chlorine Use: Assessing the Trade‐offs Between Cost and Chlorine Reduction in Chemical Manufacturing

Summary A mathematical model ofthe material and energy flows in the chemical manufacturing industries was used to evaluate trade-offs between cost and chlorine use in chemical manufaduring. The model was also used to assess the impact that new technologies could have on chlorine use. Although the cost data in the model were subject to considerable uncertainty, the results did provide general guidance in choosing chemical manufacturing technologies that reduce chlorine use in a cost-effective way More significant, the modeling demonstrates that material flow data can play a critical role in assessing the environmental implications of industrial systems.
Comparing the Precision 2009 and 2012 Light Curves of the Precontact W Uma Binary V1001 Cassiopeia

A 2012 follow up to the analysis of 2009 observations is presented for the very short period (~0.43 days) precontact W UMa binary (PCWB) V1001 Cassiopeia. Its short period, similar to the majority of W UMa binaries, and its distinct EA light curve make it a very rare and interesting system for continuing photometric investigation. Previous photometric VRI standard magnitudes give a K4 spectral type. Our solutions of light curves separated by some three years give approximately the same physical parameters. However, the spots have radically changed in temperature, area, and position. While only one dark spot was used to model the first curves, two hot spots are now needed. This affects the overall shape of the light curve, especially in the secondary eclipses in B and V. Additional eclipse timings now show that the orbital period is changing. We conclude that spots are very active on this solar-type dwarf system and that it may mimic its larger cousins, the RS CVn binaries. The conclusion is that analysis now needs to be directed at the continuous time evolution of PCWBs.
Fragmentation Resistant Measures of Chipped Stone Abundance and Size: Results of an Experimental Investigation of the Impact of Cattle Trampling on Surface Chipped Stone Scatters

AbstractThis study reports on the execution of a controlled experiment designed to address the impacts of cattle trampling on surface scatters of chipped stone found in Great Plains contexts. A key focus of the experiment’s design is an evaluation of the relationship between trampling duration and substrate compaction on the severity of artifact breakage. Results indicate that post-depositional artifact fragmentation can significantly distort common analytical approaches found within the archaeological literature. Namely, measures of artifact abundance, raw material proportions, and average artifact dimensions are all affected by the impacts of trampling fragmentation. Beyond a consideration of key variables in the process of trampling fragmentation and its effects on analysis, this study outlines analytical means to identify and control for this bias. Tell-tale indicators of trampling damage are described and prescriptive measures designed to mitigate against the effects of trampling are evaluated. Resul...
Children's Encoding of the Sense Impressions Evoked by Words:

Recall by 128 8- and 10-yr.-old children was tested on a release from proactive inhibition task. Each of five trials consisted of presentation of two words to be remembered, a distracting task, and an interval for recall. Words on Trials 1 to 4 were selected from one of two categories of sense impression: round, e.g., head, balloon, or white, e.g., snow, napkin. Words on Trial 5 were selected from the alternate category. In one condition the name of the sense-impression category was given immediately prior to the presentation of words to be remembered. In a second condition the category name was not provided. Recall on Trial 5 increased only for children who received the category cue. Thus, while children may not spontaneously encode the sense impressions evoked by words, they can be induced to do so.