cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The Impurity of Reason

Laurence BonJour's «In Defense of Pure Reason» presents a powerful attack on radical empiricism and a bold defense of the a priori. This paper defends radical empiricism against BonJour's attack and argues that his preferred account of the a priori is subject to numerous difficulties.
Follow-up strategies in the behavioral treatment of overweight.

Abstract Overweight adult subjects were given a 12-week course in self-management training, and then divided into three 12-week follow-up conditions: booster (continued contact plus monitoring), monitoring-only, and no-contact. The dependent variable was the Weight Reduction Ratio. At the end of the first 12-week period, treated subjects lost more weight than a no-treatment group of similar subjects. At the end of the second 12-week period, monitoring-only subjects continued to lose weight, and differed significantly from no-contact subjects. Booster subjects did not differ significantly from either of the other two groups; however, when only those booster subjects who continued with the same therapist were considered, differences between no-contact and booster reached significance. Results are discussed in terms of the contributions of therapist contact and self-monitoring to produce the continued weight losses observed in this study.
A computer model of the house-environment system

An energy-flow computer model of a house is developed which can be made to simulate the changes in temperature of a simple physical model during the 24-hr day. By adjusting parameters (albedo, sun's angles, conduction coefficients, wall dimensions, window dimensions, house orientation, internal heating or air-conditioning, insolation) the computer model is easily altered. It is presumably an easier model to experiment with than physical models. Experimentation with the computer model by architects should help them to maximize useful and minimize detrimental aspects of the external climate in the design of houses.
A Comparison of the Cytoplasmic Changes Induced in the Walker Rat Carcinoma 256 by Different Types and Dosages of Radiation: I. The Golgi Apparatus

The changes in the cytoplasm of both normal and tumor cells induced by radiation have been described by many workers, including Stenstrom, Alter, Kimura, Dustin, Lucas, Spear, Whitman, Ludford, and others (1–8). The present study is an attempt to compare the changes that occur in the Golgi apparatus in the cells of the transplantable rat tumor, Walker 256, after the rat has been treated with radiation of different types and dosages. This tumor was used because it has been fully described cytologically (Earle, 9; Waldschmidt-Leitz, 10; Lewis, 11) and the growth characteristics have been standardized in this laboratory by continued transplantation in our inbred strain of Sloniker white rats. These rats withstand considerable amounts of radiation, and the tumor itself is fairly radioresistant, so that premature death of animals or tumor did not occur in this series. In evaluation of the effects of different types of radiation, test objects have been nearly as varied as methods of irradiation, Ascaris ova, chick fibroblasts, salamander cornea, and many others being used. In the present study we are attempting to follow not only the effect of radiation on various cytologic structures in an animal tumor, but also the effect of radiation of different wavelengths and in different dosages.
New Portable Ambient Aerosol Sampler

The NBS portable ambient aerosol sampler is designed to collect respirable (below 3-µm) and inhalable (below 15-µm) particle size fractions for gravimetric and chemical analyses. The sampler is light, quiet and unobtrusive. We selected the components of the sampler on the basis of size, weight, price, and availability as well as performance. The inlet was intended to maintain constant collection efficiency with respect to wind speed and direction, and to include an impactor to pass particles below 15-µm aerodynamic diameter. The series filter pack was selected to collect particles above 3 µm as well as to collect a separate fine fraction (below 3 µm). The motor-pump and batteries were selected for minimum weight and maximum air pumping capacity. Reported are the sampler design criteria and results of a variety of wind tunnel and laboratory tests performed on the sampler components. We conclude that the 6 L/min, 24-h pumping capacity of the sampler is sufficient to obtain samples that can be analyzed gravi...
Stereo Tracking and Three-Point/One-Point Algorithms - A Robust Approach in Visual Odometry

In this paper, we present an approach of calculating visual odometry for outdoor robots equipped with a stereo rig. Instead of the typical feature matching or tracking, we use an improved stereo-tracking method that simultaneously decides the feature displacement in both cameras. Based on the matched features, a three-point algorithm for the resulting quadrifocal setting is carried out in a RANSAC framework to recover the unknown odometry. In addition, the change in rotation can be derived from infinity homography, and the remaining translational unknowns can be obtained even faster consequently . Both approaches are quite robust and deal well with challenging conditions such as wheel slippage.
Immunoregulatory functions for murine intraepithelial lymphocytes: gamma/delta T cell receptor-positive (TCR+) T cells abrogate oral tolerance, while alpha/beta TCR+ T cells provide B cell help.

Past work has shown that a subset of effector T cells with unique characteristics could abrogate hapten- or antigen-induced tolerance, and the reconstitution of this immune response has been termed contrasuppression. We have studied contrasuppression in a model of oral tolerance (OT) in which adoptively transferred antigen-specific T contrasuppressor (Tcs) cells reverse OT and result in antibody responses to the eliciting antigen. In the present study, we show that murine intraepithelial lymphocytes (IELs) from mice orally immunized with sheep red blood cells (SRBC) contain T cells that exhibit Tcs cell activity. This effect was mediated by CD3+ gamma/delta T cell receptor-positive (TCR+), but not alpha/beta TCR+ T cells, and gamma/delta TCR+ Tcs cells were associated with both the CD4-,CD8+ and CD4-,CD8- (double-negative) IEL fractions. The CD4-,CD8+ gamma/delta TCR+ IELs were further separated into Vicia villosa-adherent and -nonadherent fractions. Adoptive transfer of V. villosa-adherent gamma/delta TCR+ T cells to mice with OT to SRBC resulted in splenic IgA, IgM, and IgG subclass anti-SRBC responses, while V. villosa-nonadherent gamma/delta TCR+ T cells were without activity. The gamma/delta TCR+ IELs did not support in vitro antibody responses in B cell cultures, while alpha/beta TCR+ IELs were effective T helper cells. Further, cytokine production by the gamma/delta TCR+ IELs was examined, and the gamma/delta TCR+ V. villosa-adherent fraction, which possessed contrasuppressor function, contained low levels of IL-5 mRNA and small numbers of IL-5-producing cells when compared with alpha/beta TCR+ IELs and V. villosa-nonadherent gamma/delta TCR+ IELs. Our results now show that mouse IELs contain two distinct types of T cells that function in the immune response, e.g., alpha/beta TCR+ T cells that produce IL-5 and function as helper cells, and gamma/delta TCR+ T cells that restore antibody responses in mice that had been orally tolerized with antigen.
Magnetothermopower of Fe / Cr superlattices

Abstract We report magnetothermopower S(H) measurements at room temperature for sputtered [Fe(32 A) / Cr(x)]30 superlattices with x ≈ 5–50 A. The thermopower in zero field S(H = 0) appears to extrapolate to the known values for Fe and Cr in the x = 0 and large-x limits, respectively, and drops below these values at intermediate x. S follows the same trend with H and x as the magnetoresistance (MR), which shows oscillatory behavior as a function of x, and large field effects for antiferromagnetic Fe interlayer couplings. Both S(H) and the MR saturate when the applied field aligns the magnetization of the Fe-layers parallel to each other, but the thermopower is enhanced by application of a magnetic field, while the resistivity decreases, in accord with expectation.
Using the Short-Wave Infrared for Nocturnal Detection of Combustion Sources in VIIRS Data

Night-time images from the SNPP satellite VIIRS scanning radiometer in visible and infrared spectral bands provide invaluable data for detection and characterization of natural and technological combustion sources on the surface of the Earth, such as forest fires, gas flares, steel mills or active volcanoes. The presence of sub-pixel hot infrared (IR) emission sources can be readily detected at night in 1.6 micron near-infrared M10 channel. Their temperature and radiant heat intensity can be estimated by fitting of the Planck black-body spectral curve to the observed radiances of VIIRS infrared M-channels out to 4 um. VIIRS instrument is sensitive to the IR sources over a wide range of temperatures. This method can discriminate low temperature sources such as volcanoes and forest fires from the high temperature gas flares with 300 m average location error. The processing includes correction for panoramic “bow-tie” effect and filtering of the false detections resulting from sensor bombardment by the cosmic rays, especially at the aurora rings and at the South Atlantic anomaly. False detections can be largely removed by correlating of the observed bright spots in M10 channel with other infrared and the visible day-night band. NGDC NOAA provides global daily detection products for thousands of IR sources as KMZ vector maps and as CSV tables.
Teaching Baccalaureate Nursing Students in Clinical Settings: Development and Testing of the Clinical Teaching Knowledge Test

Seasoned clinical teachers are in short supply and high demand. Although many nursing programs have developed orientation programs for new clinical teachers, many issues arise when students are assigned to health care and community agencies. This study developed and tested the Clinical Teaching Knowledge Test (CTKT), a 40-item multiple-choice test. Items were based on clinical teaching literature and clinical vignettes provided by experienced nursing faculty. A convenience sample ( n = 160) of faculty who taught prelicensure students attending baccalaureate programs completed the second version of the test. Proportion correct index, point biserial correlation, and Kuder-Richardson 20 statistics are reported. Proportion correct indexes less than .75 revealed that items testing legal responsibilities to patients, student–faculty relations, counseling approaches, education theory in clinical teaching, students' legal rights, and nursing administrators' rights and responsibilities challenged participants. Results of future testing may help faculty members plan workshops that foster explorations of areas to improve clinical teaching and provide a stimulus for ongoing conversation and reflection about clinical teaching. Additional testing of the CTKT is necessary.
Gating pore current in an inherited ion channelopathy

Ion channelopathies are inherited diseases in which alterations in control of ion conductance through the central pore of ion channels impair cell function, leading to periodic paralysis, cardiac arrhythmia, renal failure, epilepsy, migraine and ataxia. Here we show that, in contrast with this well-established paradigm, three mutations in gating-charge-carrying arginine residues in an S4 segment that cause hypokalaemic periodic paralysis induce a hyperpolarization-activated cationic leak through the voltage sensor of the skeletal muscle Na(V)1.4 channel. This 'gating pore current' is active at the resting membrane potential and closed by depolarizations that activate the voltage sensor. It has similar permeability to Na+, K+ and Cs+, but the organic monovalent cations tetraethylammonium and N-methyl-D-glucamine are much less permeant. The inorganic divalent cations Ba2+, Ca2+ and Zn2+ are not detectably permeant and block the gating pore at millimolar concentrations. Our results reveal gating pore current in naturally occurring disease mutations of an ion channel and show a clear correlation between mutations that cause gating pore current and hypokalaemic periodic paralysis. This gain-of-function gating pore current would contribute in an important way to the dominantly inherited membrane depolarization, action potential failure, flaccid paralysis and cytopathology that are characteristic of hypokalaemic periodic paralysis. A survey of other ion channelopathies reveals numerous examples of mutations that would be expected to cause gating pore current, raising the possibility of a broader impact of gating pore current in ion channelopathies.
Lateral competition for cortical space by layer-specific horizontal circuits

The cerebral cortex constructs a coherent representation of the world by integrating distinct features of the sensory environment. Although these features are processed vertically across cortical layers, horizontal projections interconnecting neighbouring cortical domains allow these features to be processed in a context-dependent manner. Despite the wealth of physiological and psychophysical studies addressing the function of horizontal projections, how they coordinate activity among cortical domains remains poorly understood. We addressed this question by selectively activating horizontal projection neurons in mouse somatosensory cortex, and determined how the resulting spatial pattern of excitation and inhibition affects cortical activity. We found that horizontal projections suppress superficial layers while simultaneously activating deeper cortical output layers. This layer-specific modulation does not result from a spatial separation of excitation and inhibition, but from a layer-specific ratio between these two opposing conductances. Through this mechanism, cortical domains exploit horizontal projections to compete for cortical space.
NGC 3081: Surface Photometry and Kinematics of a Classic Resonance Ring Barred Galaxy

This paper presents a detailed photometric and kinematic study of the well-known Seyfert 2 galaxy NGC 3081, one of the best examples of a resonance ring barred galaxy in the sky. Improved optical images compared to previous studies reveal that NGC 3081 is a classic R1R galaxy, a type that shows a distinctive outer ring/pseudoring pattern at large radii that can be linked to orbit families at the outer Lindblad resonance (OLR). Together with an exceptionally strong inner ring and a blue nuclear ring, NGC 3081 has the rare distinction of having all four of the main types of resonance rings that have been predicted by test-particle models of barred spirals. Near-infrared imaging of NGC 3081 reveals clear old rings connected to the inner ring and the R1 outer ring. Objective comparison of the B- and H-band positions of the inner ring indicates no significant difference in shape, major-axis position angle, or major-axis radius between the two passbands, in spite of the different stellar populations each band emphasizes. Imaging Fabry-Perot interferometry provides an intriguing picture of star formation in the galaxy and of the dynamics of the system. Hα emission is strong in the inner ring and is confined to a bounded elliptical annulus of diffuse emission whose ellipticity increases from the inner edge to the outer edge. A few H II regions are connected to the strong R1-type outer ring, particularly just off the major axis of the inner ring where "dimples," typical of the R1 morphology, are found. There is bright emission in an oval zone in the inner 10'' radius, but no enhancement of emission is associated with the blue-light nuclear ring. Since most of the emission is connected with the intrinsically oval inner ring and the bright center, the global dynamics of the galaxy are uncertain. Nevertheless, using a combination of the gravitational potential derived from the H-band light distribution and a simple halo model, we estimate the pattern speed and the location of all major resonances in the disk of NGC 3081. We find that NGC 3081 fits extremely well into recent ideas of barred galaxy dynamics.
A rapid, large-scale method for purification of the metallo-carboxypeptidase inhibitor from potato tubers

A rapid, large-scale procedure has been developed for the preparation of metallo-carboxypeptidase inhibitor (CPI) from potatoes. The inhibitor is extracted with 80% ethanol from partially cooked potato tubers. After the ethanol is removed and the salts are dialyzed away, the inhibitor is isolated in pure form by chromatography on sulfopropyl Sephadex. Ten pounds of potatoes yields 250 mg pure inhibitor, representing over 40% recovery. Commercial mashed potato flakes contain about 0.02% carboxypeptidase inhibitor and can be utilized as a starting material in the procedure described to yield over 70 mg inhibitor from a pound of flakes.
Interleukin‐6 Chaperones in Blooda

There is increasing evidence that many, perhaps all, cytokines have a soluble form of their receptor in the systemic circulation at all times. There is also evidence that endogenous antibodies to some cytokines, including IL-6, are also found in blood. Initially these findings were evaluated in vitro, and associated with inhibiting the respective effects of those cytokines. However, it is now becoming clear that the in vivo effects are paradoxically the reverse of what is seen in vitro. As we have explained here for IL-6 it is evident that many or all of these molecules that bind and/or associate with IL-6 maintain this molecule in the systemic circulation and constitute a reservoir of masked, but potentially active IL-6. The mode of regulation of the biological activity of these IL-6-associated complexes remains unknown, but needs to be uncovered in order to pharmacologically exploit many of the potentially beneficial effects or to prevent any potential pathological effects.
Bucherer—Bergs reaction

Formation of hydantoins from carbonyl compounds with potassium cyanide (KCN) and ammonium carbonate [(NH4)2CO3] or from cyanohydrins and ammonium carbonate. It belongs to the category of multiple component reactions (MCRs).
Peer Effects, Social Networks, and Intergroup Competition in the Workplace

Using weekly data for defect rates (proportion of defective output) for all weavers in a Chinese textile firm during a 12 months (April 2003 - March 2004) period, we provide some of the first rigorous evidence on the presence and nature of peer effects in the manufacturing workplace. First, a worker is found to put in more effort and improve her performance when she is working with more able teammates. Second, by exploiting the well-documented fact that an exogenouslyformed strong divide between urban resident workers and rural migrant workers exists in firms in Chinese cities, we provide novel evidence on the interplay between social networks (urban resident group and rural migrant group) and peer effects. Specifically, we find that a worker puts in more effort when she is working with more able outgroup teammates but not when working with more able ingroup teammates, pointing to intergroup competition as a powerful source of the peer effects. Such peer effects across the social network, combined with the presence of incentive to outperform teammates at this firm, are largely consistent with recent experimental evidence on the important role that group identities play in facilitating altruistic behaviors.
Designing Distributed Diagnosers for Complex Continuous Systems

Wear and tear from sustained operations cause systems to degrade and develop faults. Online fault diagnosis schemes are necessary to ensure safe operation and avoid catastrophic situations, but centralized diagnosis approaches have large memory and communication requirements, scale poorly, and create single points of failure. To overcome these problems, we propose an online, distributed, model-based diagnosis scheme for isolating abrupt faults in large continuous systems. This paper presents two algorithms for designing the local diagnosers and analyzes their time and space complexity. The first algorithm assumes the subsystem structure is known and constructs a local diagnoser for each subsystem. The second algorithm creates the partition structure and local diagnosers simultaneously. We demonstrate the effectiveness of our approach by applying it to the Advanced Water Recovery System developed at the NASA Johnson Space Center.
Analysis of spatial relationships among geomorphic, petrographic and structural characteristics of the dartmoor tors

The granite tors of Dartmoor are characterized by using the regional spatial patterns of 21 geomorphic, petrographic, and structural variables. The data were derived from topographic maps, field measurement, and laboratory analysis of rock samples collected in the field. Identification of spatial patterns and comparison of patterns between variables were made on contour maps generated from the data using ARC/INFO. Three tor types—summit tors, valleyside tors, and spur tors—are semiquantitatively characterized using these data and procedures. The three types of tors are distinguished with respect to variations in relative relief, joint spacing and joint type, rock texture, grain size, and composition. Summit tors have the highest relative relief (mean: 125·7 m), contain the most potassium feldspar (>30 per cent), and have the most widely-spaced primary vertical (>300 cm) and secondary horizontal joints (> 10 cm). The rocks are the most megacrystic (> 15 per cent) and the coarsest grained. Plagioclase is also abundant in summit tors. Valleyside tors have the lowest relative relief (mean: 72·9 m) and the most widely-spaced horizontal joints (primary, 60-200 cm; secondary, > 10 cm). Grain size, vertical joint spacing, and quartz and potassium feldspar abundances are intermediate. The shapes of valleyside tors are controlled by horizontal joints and the rocks are either very feebly magcrystic or equigranular in texture. Spur tors have intermediate relative relief (mean: 115·4 m), the narrowest joint spacing (vertical joints, < 200 cm, 50-75 cm; horizontal joints <60 cm, < 10 cm) and the finest grain. In addition, the rocks are feebly magacrystic.
Emergence of Complex Spatio-Temporal Order in Nonlinear Field Theories

We investigate the emergence of time-dependent nonperturbative configurations during the evolution of nonlinear scalar field models with symmetric and asymmetric double-well potentials. Complex spatio-temporal behavior emerges as the system seeks to establish equipartition after a fast quench. We show that fast quenches may dramatically modify the decay rate of metastable states in first order phase transitions. We discuss possible applications in condensed matter systems and in inflationary cosmology.
Attention, similarity, and the identification-categorization relationship.

A unified quantitative approach to modeling subjects' identification and categorization of multidimensional perceptual stimuli is proposed and tested. Two subjects identified and categorized the same set of perceptually confusable stimuli varying on separable dimensions. The identification data were modeled using Sbepard's (1957) multidimensional scaling-choice framework. This framework was then extended to model the subjects' categorization performance. The categorization model, which generalizes the context theory of classification developed by Medin and Schaffer (1978), assumes that subjects store category exemplars in memory. Classification decisions are based on the similarity of stimuli to the stored exemplars. It is assumed that the same multidimensional perceptual representation underlies performance in both the identification and Categorization paradigms. However, because of the influence of selective attention, similarity relationships change systematically across the two paradigrns. Some support was gained for the hypothesis that subjects distribute attention among component dimensions so as to optimize categorization performance. Evidence was also obtained that subjects may have augmented their category representations with inferred exemplars. Implications of the results for theories of multidimensional scaling and categorization are discussed. In their 1956 classic, A Study of Thinking, Bruner, Goodnow, and Austin marveled at the capacity of people to discriminate stimuli and to identify them as unique items. At the same time they stressed the importance of categorization, the process by which discriminably different things are classified into groups and are thereby rendered equivalent. In one sense the processes of identification and categorization seem diametrically opposed, the former dealing with the particular and the latter with the general. Yet similar principles may underlie subjects' identification and categorization of multidimensional stimuli, and performance in these tasks may be highly related. Indeed, the present research renews the issue explored previously by Shepard, Hovland, and Jenkins (1961) and Shepard and Chang (1963)namely, Do the principles of stimulus generalization underlying identification performance also underlie categorization performance? Furthermore, given knowledge of performance in an identification paradigm, can one predict performance in a categorization paradigm using the same set of stimuli?
Avoiding Common Pitfalls in Qualitative Data Collection and Transcription

The subjective nature of qualitative research necessitates scrupulous scientific methods to ensure valid results. Although qualitative methods such as grounded theory, phenomenology, and ethnography yield rich data, consumers of research need to be able to trust the findings reported in such studies. Researchers are responsible for establishing the trustworthiness of qualitative research through a variety of ways. Specific challenges faced in the field can seriously threaten the dependability of the data. However, by minimizing potential errors that can occur when doing fieldwork, researchers can increase the trustworthiness of the study. The purpose of this article is to present three of the pitfalls that can occur in qualitative research during data collection and transcription: equipment failure, environmental hazards, and transcription errors. Specific strategies to minimize the risk for avoidable errors will be discussed.
Performance of Pervious Concrete on Runoff Reduction in Grand Forks, ND

The use of pervious concrete as an alternative to other urban hydrology practices is becoming more common in areas where runoff reduction is necessary in a limited amount of space. A portion of permeable pavement was introduced into a parking lot at Mallview Apartments located in Grand Forks, North Dakota. The purpose of the study was to determine the percentage of runoff reduction the permeable pavement contributes to the 17.8 ha drainage area. A comparison of the model to determine the runoff reduction for different storm intensities of 24-hour duration was carried out. Another objective was to complete field measurements of the current infiltration rates of the permeable pavement to use in the calibration of the model. The Stormwater Management Model (SWMM) was used to run the simulations on the two models: post-development with the Low Impact Development (LID) and post-development without the LID. The American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) procedure for in place pervious concrete infiltration rates was used to perform the field measurements. The 2-year return period simulation produced a runoff reduction of 8.7% and the average infiltration rate was found to be 43.8 cm per hour. Runoff reduction percentages decreased with increasing return period, however, infiltration percentages increased with increasing return period.
Using supported video exemplars for the professional development of preservice elementary school teachers

The use of videotaped episodes of elementary mathematics classrooms for professional development is not new. However, without appropriate support, preservice teachers may find it difficult to hone in on the underlying features of the targeted practices displayed in the swift-moving action of the classroom being observed. The focus in this study is to investigate the benefits of including scaffolding supports directly into the software that facilitates the viewing of the videotape episodes to enhance preservice teachers' understanding of the teaching of mathematics. The data indicate that the preservice teachers who used the software product, MathStore, were able to develop significant insight into specific aspects of the teaching and learning process.
MATERNAL LABOR SUPPLY AND THE AVAILABILITY OF PUBLIC PRE‐K: EVIDENCE FROM THE INTRODUCTION OF PREKINDERGARTEN INTO AMERICAN PUBLIC SCHOOLS

In the 1980s and 1990s, many states began to provide funding for prekindergarten programs for the first time. This paper takes advantage of the staggered timing in program funding to investigate the effect that increased availability of prekindergarten programs has on the labor supply of mothers with four year olds. I find that mothers with a four year old and no younger children were significantly more likely to be in the labor force and employed once prekindergarten became available, and that these effects were largest for single, low-educated mothers and married, college-educated mothers. Mothers with a four year old and other younger children were also significantly more likely to be in the labor force and employed, although these effects were smaller in magnitude and not significant for specific subpopulations.
A stochastic Newton algorithm with data-adaptive step size

A stochastic Newton algorithm for adaptive filtering which is a generalization of the so-called normalized least mean-square algorithm is proposed. Expressions for the expected value of the algorithm weight error vector and second moment of the weight error-vector norm are derived, and have been verified by computer simulation. Experimental results which demonstrate the improved convergence of the algorithm over the algorithm after a large number of iterations are given. >
86Rubidium Release: A Rapid and Sensitive Assay for Amphotericin B

A new assay for amphotericin B has been devised with use of the release of a radioactive potassium analogue (86rubidium; 86Rb) from Candida parapsilosis. The 86Rb-release assay is rapid, highly sensitive, and reproducible. Amphotericin B levels of 0.06-2.0 mug/ml can be measured in serum, whereas as little as 0.015 mug of amphotericin B/ml can be detected in spinal fluid. The greater sensitivity of the assay in spinal fluid as compared with that in serum may be the result of binding of the amphotericin molecules by serum components, thus decreasing the amount of amphotericin free to interact with the fungal membrane.
Brome Mosaic Virus RNA Syntheses In Vitro and in Barley Protoplasts

The RNA replicase extracted from Brome mosaic virus (BMV)-infected plants has been used to characterize the cis-acting elements for RNA synthesis and the mechanism of RNA synthesis. Minus-strand RNA synthesis in vitro requires a structure named stem-loop C (SLC) that contains a clamped adenine motif. In vitro, there are several specific requirements for SLC recognition. We examined whether these requirements also apply to BMV replication in barley protoplasts. BMV RNA3s with mutations in SLC were transfected into barley protoplasts, and the requirements for minus- and plus-strand replication were found to correlate well with the requirements in vitro. Furthermore, previous analysis of replicase recognition of the Cucumber mosaic virus (CMV) and BMV SLCs indicates that the requirements in the BMV SLC are highly specific. In protoplasts, we found that BMV RNA3s with their SLCs replaced with two different CMV SLCs were defective for replication. In vitro results generated with the BMV replicase and minimal-length RNAs generally agreed with those of in vivo BMV RNA replication. To extend this conclusion, we determined that, corresponding with the process of infection, the BMV replicases extracted from plants at different times after infection have different levels of recognition of the minimal promoters for plus- and minus-strand RNA syntheses.
Manuka Oil and Phoebe Oil are Attractive Baits for Xyleborus glabratus (Coleoptera: Scolytinae), the Vector of Laurel Wilt

Abstract Redbay ambrosia beetle, Xyleborus glabratus Eichhoff, is a native of Southeast Asia recently established in coastal forests of Georgia, SC and Florida. It vectors a wilt fungus, Raffaelea sp., lethal to redbay trees, Persea borbonia L. Spreng, and certain other Lauraceae. No practical monitoring system exists for this beetle so we conducted studies to identify host attractants and develop lures. Volatiles were collected from redbay wood and bark by steam distillation, direct solvent extraction, and dynamic headspace sampling with a Poropak Q cartridge. Steam, methanol, and pentane extracts were tested as baits in trapping trials but were not attractive to X. glabratus. Major constituents in Poropak aerations identified by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry included α-pinene, β-pinene, δ-3-carene, eucalyptol, p-cymene, α-copaene, terpinene-4-ol, linalool, calamenene, and nonanoic acid. We assayed several of these compounds (including eucalyptol, p-cymene, terpinene-4-ol, linalool, nonanoic acid,...
Impact Of SCM Practices Of A Firm On Supply Chain Responsiveness And Competitive Advantage Of A Firm

Today’s supply chains are expected to respond rapidly, effectively, and efficiently to changes in the marketplace to sustain, succeed and create competitive advantage in this increasingly global marketplace by focusing on time, flexibility, and speed of response. The focus of this study is the supply chain responsiveness construct and a firm’s practices to respond to customer’s demands and constantly changing market conditions to create competitive advantage. This research conceptualizes three dimensions of supply chain responsiveness and develops a reliable and valid instrument for measuring this construct. The study further tests the relationships between supply chain management (SCM) practices, supply chain responsiveness, and competitive advantage using structural equation modeling based on 294 responses from industry professionals in the manufacturing and supply chain area. Research findings point out that higher level of SCM practices can lead to improved supply chain responsiveness and enhanced competitive advantage of a firm. Also supply chain responsiveness can have a direct positive impact on competitive advantage of a firm.
Beyond the Cephalic Index

This paper analyzes the production and reception of UNESCO’s Statements on Race from 1950, 1951, and 1964 to track the consolidation of a scientific consensus on the biological significance of race. The race statements played a key role in the establishment of the postwar liberal antiracist orthodoxy, and their history illuminates broader dynamics in the production of scientific scripts intended to influence political debates. The consensus was rooted in the synthesis of physical anthropology and population biology but depended on a parallel strengthening of antiracist social norms in the international community. As much as race, conflicts over the race statements were disputes over scientific authority—over who, if anyone, should be authorized to speak for science. Because international civil servants and activist scientists had to negotiate disciplinary, national, and international politics to achieve an acceptable consensus, a close reading of this history reveals the importance of shifting political a...
Antagonism of Serotonin Agonist-Elicited Increases in Serum Corticosterone Concentration in Rats

Serum corticosterone and adrenocorticotropin (ACTH) concentrations are increased in rats by numerous direct-acting and indirect-acting serotonin receptor agonists. Antagonism of these increases by serotonin receptor antagonists has been useful in verifying their serotonergic nature and in defining central vs. peripheral sites of action. In addition, the use of agonists and antagonists with selectivity toward particular subtypes of serotonin receptors helps elucidate the identity of receptors that mediate agonist-elicited increases in serum corticosterone concentration. At least two serotonin receptor subtypes, 5-HT1A and 5-HT2/ 1C receptors, appear capable of mediating increases in serum corticosterone concentrations. The use of 8-hydroxy-2-(di-n-propylamino)tetralin (8-OH-DPAT) and quipazine as agonists at these receptors, respectively, provides a convenient means of assessing central serotonin receptor-blocking efficacy of newly developed serotonin receptor antagonists in rats. Data from studies in humans are beginning to appear, suggesting that neuroendocrine markers in humans will also be useful in characterizing serotonin receptor antagonists clinically.
Self-system therapy for distress associated with persistent low back pain: A randomized clinical trial

AbstractObjective: Persistent low back pain (PLBP) is associated with vulnerability to depression. PLBP frequently requires major changes in occupation and lifestyle, which can lead to a sense of failing to attain one’s personal goals (self-discrepancy). Method: We conducted a clinical trial to examine the efficacy of self-system therapy (SST), a brief structured therapy for depression based on self-discrepancy theory. A total of 101 patients with PLBP and clinically significant depressive symptoms were randomized either to SST, pain education, or standard care. Results: Patients receiving SST showed significantly greater improvement in depressive symptoms. Reduction in self-discrepancy predicted reduction in depressive symptoms only within the SST condition. Conclusions: Findings support the utility of SST for individuals facing persistent pain and associated depression.
Radioimmunoassay for Rat Luteinizing Hormone with Antiovine LH Serum and Ovine LH-131I∗:

SummaryA highly sensitive and specific radioimmunoassay for rat LH has been developed utilizing antiovine LH serum and ovine LH for iodination. Estimates of the LH potency of pituitary preparations...
Extracting Kinetic Information from Complex Gas–Solid Reaction Data

We develop an approach for extracting gas–solid kinetic information from convoluted experimental data and demonstrate it on isothermal carbon dioxide splitting at high-temperature using CoFe2O4/Al2O3 (i.e., a “hercynite” cycle based on Co-doped FeAl2O4) active material. The reaction kinetics equations we derive account for competing side reactions, namely catalytic CO2 splitting on and O2 oxidation of doped hercynite, in addition to CO2 splitting driven by the oxidation of oxygen-deficient doped hercynite. The model also accounts for experimental effects, such as detector dead time and gas mixing downstream of the reaction chamber, which obscure the intrinsic chemical processes in the raw signal. A second-order surface reaction model in relation to the extent of unreacted material and a 2.4th-order model in relation to CO2 concentration were found to best describe the CO generation of the doped hercynite. Overall, the CO production capacity was found to increase with increasing reduction temperature and C...
Snarks, Hypohamiltonian Graphs and Non-Supereulerian Graphs

A graph G is hypohamiltonian if it is not Hamiltonian but for each $$v\in V(G)$$vźV(G), the graph $$G-v$$G-v is Hamiltonian. A graph is supereulerian if it has a spanning Eulerian subgraph. A graph G is called collapsible if for every even subset $$R\subseteq V(G)$$R⊆V(G), there is a spanning connected subgraph H of G such that R is the set of vertices of odd degree in H. A graph is reduced if it has no nontrivial collapsible subgraphs. In this note, we first prove that all hypohamiltonian cubic graphs are reduced non-supereulerian graphs. Then we introduce an operation to construct graphs from hypohamiltonian cubic graphs such that the resulting graphs are 3-edge-connected non-supereulerian reduced graphs and cannot be contracted to a snark. This disproves two conjectures, one of which was first posed by Catlin et al. in [Congr. Num. 76:173---181, 1990] and in [J. Combin. Theory, Ser B 66:123---139, 1996], and was posed again by Li et al. in [Acta Math. Sin. English Ser 30(2):291---304, 2014] and by Yang in [Supereulerian graphs, hamiltonicity of graphs and several extremal problems in graphs, Ph. D. Dissertation, Universite Paris-Sub, September 27, 2013], respectively, the other one was posed by Yang 2013.
Connections Between Cold Air Pools and Mountain Valley Fog Events in Salt Lake City

The aim of this study is to investigate the connection between cold air pools and fog events in Salt Lake City, Utah, United States. Statistical analyses are conducted using soundings and reported automated surface observing system data from Salt Lake International Airport for the last eighteen cold seasons (October to March, during 1997–2015). A Chi-square test of independence is performed on identified cold air pool, and fog events to determine whether the two events are correlated. Conditional probabilities are then computed to investigate the occurrence of fog, given the presence of a cold pool. These probabilities are compared against that of random fog generation in the mid-winter. It is concluded that the dependence between cold air pools and fog events is statistically significant. The presence of a cold pool makes the formation of fog more likely than random generation.
Experiences with a Reversible Vas Device

Experience with the Brodie reversible intravas device (RIVD) made of polypropylene is described. After the usual exposure the lumenl of the vas is dilated and the RIVD placed in the testis end of the vas through an incision. It is secured with a suture outside the vas. The device can be removed through a small linear incision. Vas continuity is not interrupted. This device has been inserted into 13 male volunteers and left in place 5-15 months. Sperm counts were done at monthly intervals. 10 patients were sterile and 3 patients were never sterile. The device eroded through 1 vas on each of the 3 nonsterile patients. In 1 patient an inflammatory reaction occurred on 1 side with digestion of the device. Among 9 patients from whom the device had been removed 6-13 months previously none has had sperm in his semen. The device is still retained by 1 patient. It is thought that theoretically the device is excellent however it is probably too large thus causing necrosis of the vas. When the device is removed the vas undergoes scarring and atrophy and becomes completely occluded.
Polymers in the gut compress the colonic mucus hydrogel.

Colonic mucus is a key biological hydrogel that protects the gut from infection and physical damage and mediates host–microbe interactions and drug delivery. However, little is known about how its structure is influenced by materials it comes into contact with regularly. For example, the gut abounds in polymers such as dietary fibers or administered therapeutics, yet whether such polymers interact with the mucus hydrogel, and if so, how, remains unclear. Although several biological processes have been identified as potential regulators of mucus structure, the polymeric composition of the gut environment has been ignored. Here, we demonstrate that gut polymers do in fact regulate mucus hydrogel structure, and that polymer–mucus interactions can be described using a thermodynamic model based on Flory–Huggins solution theory. We found that both dietary and therapeutic polymers dramatically compressed murine colonic mucus ex vivo and in vivo. This behavior depended strongly on both polymer concentration and molecular weight, in agreement with the predictions of our thermodynamic model. Moreover, exposure to polymer-rich luminal fluid from germ-free mice strongly compressed the mucus hydrogel, whereas exposure to luminal fluid from specific-pathogen-free mice—whose microbiota degrade gut polymers—did not; this suggests that gut microbes modulate mucus structure by degrading polymers. These findings highlight the role of mucus as a responsive biomaterial, and reveal a mechanism of mucus restructuring that must be integrated into the design and interpretation of studies involving therapeutic polymers, dietary fibers, and fiber-degrading gut microbes.
Larval settlement preferences of Acropora palmata and Montastraea faveolata in response to diverse red algae

Settlement specificity can regulate recruitment but remains poorly understood for coral larvae. We studied larvae of the corals, Acropora palmata and Montastraea faveolata, to determine their rates of settlement and metamorphosis in the presence of ten species of red algae, including eight species of crustose coralline algae, one geniculated coralline and one encrusting peyssonnelid. Twenty to forty percent of larvae of A. palmata settled on coralline surfaces of Hydrolithon boergesenii, Lithoporella atlantica, Neogoniolithon affine, and Titanoderma prototypum, whereas none settled and metamorphosed on Neogoniolithon mamillare. Larvae of M. faveolata had 13–25 % settlement onto the surface of Amphiroa tribulus, H. boergesenii, N. affine, N. munitum, and T. prototypum, but had no settlement on the surface of N. mamillare, Porolithon pachydermum, and a noncoralline crust Peyssonnelia sp. Some of these algal species were common on Belizean reefs, but the species that induced the highest rates of larval settlement and metamorphosis tended to be rare and primarily found in low-light environments. The shallow coral, A. palmata, and the deeper coral, M. faveolata, both had increased larval settlement rates in the presence of only a few species of red algae found at deeper depths suggesting that patterns of coral distribution can only sometimes be related to the distribution of red algae species.
Aerosolization of Ebola Virus Surrogates in Wastewater Systems.

Recent studies have shown that Ebola virus can persist in wastewater. We evaluated the potential for Ebola virus surrogates to be aerosolized from three types of wastewater systems: toilets, a lab-scale model of an aeration basin, and a lab-scale model of converging sewer pipes. We measured the aerosol size distribution generated by each system, spiked Ebola virus surrogates (MS2 and Phi6) into each system, and determined the emission rate of viruses into the air. The number of aerosols released ranged from 105 to 107 per flush from the toilets or per minute from the lab-scale models, and the total volume of aerosols generated by these systems was ∼10–9 to 10–7 mL per flush or per minute in all cases. MS2 and Phi6, spiked into toilets at an initial concentration of 107 plaque-forming units per milliliter (PFU mL–1), were not detected in air after flushing. Airborne concentrations of MS2 and Phi6 were ∼20 PFU L–1 and ∼0.1 PFU L–1, respectively, in the chambers enclosing the aeration basin and sewer models....