cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Validation of Hearing Loss Prediction Tool for Cisplatin Chemotherapy and Radiation in Head and Neck Cancer Treatment.

Importance Hearing loss affects up to 88% of patients undergoing head and neck cancer treatment; however, there are few validated models to predict this outcome. A predictive posttreatment model for hearing loss will allow clinicians and patients to make well-informed decisions about treatment with cisplatin-based chemotherapies and radiotherapy. Objective To validate a previously created predictive model for objective hearing outcomes and to assess barriers to using the prediction nomogram in general practice for patients newly diagnosed with head and neck cancer. Design, setting, and participants This cohort study includes an evaluation of 105 patients (208 ears) and interviews with 6 clinicians. The patients were treated at a high-volume tertiary care hospital. Patient participants were newly diagnosed with head and neck cancer and treated at Siteman Cancer Center from July 1, 2018, to December 31, 2019, with radiotherapy both with and without cisplatin-based chemotherapy. Additionally, the clinicians involved in the care of patients with head and neck cancer were interviewed to assess implementation strategies. Exposures Radiotherapy with and without cisplatin-based chemotherapy. Main outcomes and measures Hearing defined by the audiometric pure-tone average of 1, 2, and 4 kHz. Results A total of 105 patients (208 ears; mean [SD] age, 61 [11] years; 82 men [78%]) were compared with the development cohort to assess the similarities and differences in case mix. All patients underwent radiation therapy, 50 (48%) received cisplatin-based chemotherapy, and 67 (64%) had a surgical resection. The mean (SD) cochlear dose of radiation was 13 (12) Gy, and the mean (SD) total cisplatin dose was 238 (83) mg/m2 for those undergoing cisplatin therapy. A calibration curve demonstrated that predicted and observed posttreatment pure-tone average were not significantly different. The model predicted a posttreatment pure-tone average greater than 35 dB (a common threshold for hearing aid consideration) with a sensitivity of 73% and specificity of 67% with an area under the curve of 0.71, showing good discrimination. Clinician interviews suggest the nomogram requires careful integration into patient counseling to clarify risks and benefits for treatment. Conclusions and relevance The findings of this cohort study confirm this model's ability to predict posttreatment hearing outcomes in a unique population of patients. This model has the potential to inform pretreatment counseling and posttreatment hearing evaluations for this patient population.
Pre-pandemic Ageism Toward Older Adults Predicts Behavioral Intentions During the COVID-19 Pandemic.

Objectives During the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, older adults have been disproportionately affected by high rates of health complications and mortality. Reactions toward older adults included a mix of prosocial behaviors and ageist responses, consistent with the history of positive and negative views and treatment of older adults in the United States. Methods In a two-part study (n = 113, Mage = 18.49, SD = 0.50; range 18-19), we examined whether pre-pandemic ageism among undergraduates predicts prosocial behavioral intentions toward older adults both specific to COVID-19 and in general. Results Pre-pandemic ageism toward older adults predicted less intentions to help older adults generally and specific to COVID-19. Whereas viewing older adults as incompetent predicted greater intentions to help specific to COVID-19. Discussion These results reflect the complexity of predicting helping behaviors and suggest that even supportive behaviors toward older adults during the COVID-19 pandemic may be rooted in negative ageist stereotypes. Implications and directions for future research are discussed.
Making it Work, or Not: A Longitudinal Study of Career Trajectories Among Online Freelancers

Online freelancing is growing rapidly. However, despite this rapid growth, we have a limited understanding of online freelancers' long-term experiences and evolution, or how online freelancing influences freelancers' broader career goals. To address this gap, we interviewed a set of online freelancers at two time periods, two and a half years apart. We found that long-term engagement with online freelancing involves a unique set of financial, emotional, relational, and reputational burdens that represent the overhead of maintaining an online freelancing career. We found that this overhead influenced online freelancers' participation and perceptions of online freelancing over time, as well as the strategies some freelancers employed to manage their careers. Our findings further highlight how online freelance platforms can afford unique career development opportunities over a longer period of time, including career exploration and transition, entrepreneurial training and reputation, and skills transfer. Based on our findings, we present policy and design implications to increase the sustainability and accessibility of online freelancing.
Sensory and choice responses in MT distinct from motion encoding

Macaque area MT is well known for its visual motion selectivity and relevance to motion perception, but the possibility of it also reflecting non-sensory functions has largely been ignored. Manipulating subjects9 temporal evidence weighting revealed multiple components of MT responses that were, surprisingly, not interpretable as behaviorally-relevant modulations of motion encoding, nor as consequences of readout of motion direction. MT9s time-varying motion-driven responses were starkly changed by our strategic manipulation, but with timecourses opposite the subjects9 temporal weighting strategies. Furthermore, large choice-correlated signals were represented in population activity distinctly from motion responses (even after the stimulus) with multiple phases that both lagged psychophysical readout and preceded motor responses. These results reveal multiple cognitive contributions to MT responses that are task-related but not functionally relevant to encoding or decoding of motion for psychophysical direction discrimination, calling into question its nature as a simple sensory area.
Geographical work at the boundaries of climate change

The relationship between climate and society hasbeen dynamic throughout human history and pre-history, a relationship that has been variouslyelemental, creative and fearful. The relationshiphas now taken a more intimate turn. Human actions,globally aggregated, are changing the compositionof the atmosphere, which alters the functioning ofthe climate system. Future climates will not be likepast climates. We have often worried about thispossibility and now the knowledge claims of sciencehave offered new reasons to be concerned. Humanityis now firmly embedded within the functioning ofthe climate system, whilst at the same time the
Synthesis and characterization of a new Sn-incorporated CoAl-layered double hydroxide (LDH) and catalytic performance of Co-spinel microcrystallites in the partial oxidation of methanol

Abstract M(II)AlSn-LDHs with M(II) being Mg, Ni or Co were synthesized by a coprecipitation method. The influence of Sn on the thermal transformations and redox properties were investigated in detail using XRD, TG/DTA, SEM, TPR, 119 Sn-MAS NMR and UV-visible diffuse-reflectance (DR) spectroscopy methods. Some of these samples calcined at 450°C were tested as catalysts in the partial oxidation of methanol (POM) reaction. In this paper we discuss briefly the effect of Sn-incorporation on the structural features and reducibility of CoAl-LDH. The catalytic performance of Co-spinel microcrystallites derived from CoAl-, and CoAlSn-LDHs was also evaluated.
Enzymatic deacylation of mono- and dibutyryl derivatives of cyclic adenosine 3',5'-monophosphate by extracts of rat tissues.

Abstract Cell-free extracts of several rat tissues contained N6-butyryl amidohydrolase and O2'-butyryl esterase activities for the deacylation of [3H]butyryl-labeled N6, O2'-dibutyryl cyclic AMP, N6-monobutyryl cyclic AMP, and O2'-monobutyryl cyclic AMP. The highest rates of deacylation were in the soluble cytoplasm of all tissues; cyclic AMP phosphodiesterase activities were also highest in the same cell compartment. Since rates of cyclic AMP phosphodiesterase and 5'-AMP 5'-nucleotidase activities were from one to two orders of magnitude greater than those of the deacylases, deacylation is clearly the rate-limiting process in the catabolism of butyryl derivatives of cyclic AMP to adenosine. Despite these relatively low rates of deacylation, they are sufficiently high to produce, even when operating minimally, amounts of cyclic AMP far greater than could be produced endogenously, even under hormonal stimulation. It is concluded that dibutyryl cyclic AMP could serve as a source of intracellular cyclic AMP and of biologically active monobutyryl cyclic AMP.
Accuracy issues in modeling superplastic metal forming

The utility of finite element modeling in optimizing superplastic metal forming is dependent on accurate representation of the material constitutive behavior and the frictional response of the sheet against the die surface. This paper presents work conducted to estimate the level of precision that is necessary in constitutive relations for finite element analysis to accurately predict the deformation history of actual SPF components. Previous work identified errors in SPF testing methods that use short tensile specimens with gauge length-to-width ratios of 2:1 or less. The analysis of the present paper was performed to estimate the error in predicted stress that results from using the short specimens. Stress correction factors were developed and an improved constitutive relation was implemented in the MARC finite element code to simulate the forming of a long, rectangular tray. The coefficient of friction in a Coulomb friction model was adjusted to reproduce the amount of material draw-in observed in the forming experiments. Comparisons between the finite element predictions and the forming experiments are presented.
Dendritic Cells and B Cells: Unexpected Partners in Th2 Development

Although we have known for decades that B cells contribute to immune responses by secreting Ab, it is now clear that they are more than simply factories for Ig production, and they also play key roles as modulators of T cell-dependent immunity. Indeed, the evidence showing that Ag-presenting and cytokine-producing B cells can alter the magnitude and quality of CD4 T cell responses continues to grow. In this article, we review the data showing that B cells, working in partnership with dendritic cells, regulate the development of Th2 cells and the subsequent allergic response.
Ethanol Produces Corticotropin‐Releasing Factor Receptor‐Dependent Enhancement of Spontaneous Glutamatergic Transmission in the Mouse Central Amygdala

Background Ethanol (EtOH) modulation of central amygdala (CeA) neurocircuitry plays a key role in the development of alcoholism via activation of the corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF) receptor (CRFR) system. Previous work has predominantly focused on EtOH × CRF interactions on the CeA GABA circuitry; however, our laboratory recently showed that CRF enhances CeA glutamatergic transmission. Therefore, this study sought to determine whether EtOH modulates CeA glutamate transmission via activation of CRF signaling. Methods The effects of EtOH on spontaneous excitatory postsynaptic currents (sEPSCs) and basal resting membrane potentials were examined via standard electrophysiology methods in adult male C57BL/6J mice. Local ablation of CeA CRF neurons (CRFCeAhDTR) was achieved by targeting the human diphtheria toxin receptor (hDTR) to CeA CRF neurons with an adeno-associated virus. Ablation was quantified post hoc with confocal microscopy. Genetic targeting of the diphtheria toxin active subunit to CRF neurons (CRFDTA mice) ablated CRF neurons throughout the central nervous system, as assessed by quantitative reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction quantification of CRF mRNA. Results Acute bath application of EtOH significantly increased sEPSC frequency in a concentration-dependent manner in CeA neurons, and this effect was blocked by pretreatment of co-applied CRFR1 and CRFR2 antagonists. In experiments utilizing a CRF-tomato reporter mouse, EtOH did not significantly alter the basal membrane potential of CeA CRF neurons. The ability of EtOH to enhance CeA sEPSC frequency was not altered in CRFCeAhDTR mice despite a ~78% reduction in CeA CRF cell counts. The ability of EtOH to enhance CeA sEPSC frequency was also not altered in the CRFDTA mice despite a 3-fold reduction in CRF mRNA levels. Conclusions These findings demonstrate that EtOH enhances spontaneous glutamatergic transmission in the CeA via a CRFR-dependent mechanism. Surprisingly, our data suggest that this action may not require endogenous CRF.
Susceptibility of mast cell-deficient W/Wv mice to Cryptosporidium parvum.

Abstract Mast cell-deficient W/Wv infant mice were similar to normal mice in their susceptibility to and recovery from infection with the intestinal protozoan Cryptosporidium parvum. W/Wv adult mice were significantly more susceptible to primary infection than were normal adult mice, but both groups recovered at a similar rate.
Cigarette smoke and protein synthesis in the lung

Abstract In vivo exposure of lung to cigarette smoke results in depression of protein synthesis by pulmonary tissue. Lungs from sham control rats synthesize protein at a rate of 0.97 ± 0.16 nmole proline/mg DNA/min. Pulmonary protein synthesis during exposure to 45–60 puffs of smoke is inhibited 60–80%. The constituent of smoke which inhibits protein synthesis is not significantly removed by either Cambridge filters which absorb particulate matter or charcoal filters which absorb many gases. Carbon monoxide is not removed by either type of filter. At the level present in cigarette smoke CO produces a protein inhibitory effect comparable to that of smoke. Thus, CO may be a component in cigarette smoke which interfers with pulmonary protein synthesis.
Ultrasonic attenuation of surface acoustic waves in superconducting zinc

The attenuation of 90-MHz elastic surface waves propagating in both 3 000 and 10 000 \AA{} films of zinc has been measured as a function of temperature from 3 to 0.38 K. The surface acoustic waves were generated and detected by using a surface-acoustic-wave device with interdigital transducers plated onto a $Y\ensuremath{-}Z$ cut lithium-niobate substrate. Utilizing the experimental results, in the BCS theory, energy gaps of $2\ensuremath{\Delta}(0)$ equal to 4.17\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.20 and 3.81\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.20 in units of ${k}_{B}{T}_{c}$ were calculated for the 3 000 and 10 000 \AA{} films, respectively. The transition temperatures for the 3 000 and 10 000 \AA{} films were 1.5\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.01 and 1.31\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.01 K, respectively.
Central nervous system mediation of pituitary adrenal rhythmicity.

Abstract Evidence favoring the view that there is a dissociation between the two aspects of pituitary adrenal operation, the stress and the rhythm modes, is as follows 1) it is possible to abolish rhythmic function by anterior hypothalamic lesions without altering the responses to stress; 2) during maturation of the rat CNS, the stress response appears prior to weaning while pituitary-adrenal rhythm appears after weaning; 3) appropriate neuropharmacologic treatment can block circadian rhythm without altering the stress response; 4) responsiveness to ether or immobilization may be independent of the diurnal rhythm; 5) the stress response to a very strong stimulus, such as immobilization, habituates while the circadian rhythm does not. On the other hand there is some evidence in favor of interdependence between the two modes of operation: 1) input channels for stress and rhythm may overlap since strong synchronizers of rhythm, such as food and water restriction and light can become stress stimuli; 2) steroid feedback can alter the timing of the circadian rhythm; 3) circadian variation has been observed in the responses to certain stimuli; 4) neurotransmitters which are prominently implicated in the circadian rhythm also appear involved in the stress response.
Free surface on a simple fluid between rotating eccentric cylinders. Part I: Analytical solution

Abstract The steady motion of a simple fluid between vertical cylinders which rotate about non-concentric axes is solved by means of domain perturbations. The theory is developed as a perturbation of the rest state in powers of the angular frequency ω of the inner cylinder, and the solution is carried out to O (ω 2 ). The stress is expanded in a series of Rivlin-Ericksen tensors. At the second order only one material parameter, the climbing constant, enters the analysis. A procedure is developed for predicting the shape of the free surface on the fluid. Secondary motions generated by the eccentricity are shown to appear at the second order.
The effects of computerized versus paper-and-pencil administration on measures of negative affect

Abstract Computer-administered versions of personality tests were examined for differences from the identical tests in standard paper and pencil formats. It was hypothesized that, when measuring negative affect via computer terminals, significant differences would be found relative to a paper-and-pencil control group, particularly in those individuals identified as computer anxious. Undergraduate student volunteers (N = 97) were administered a written version of the Computer Anxiety Rating Scale (CARS; Heinssen, Glass, & Knight, 1987) prior to being assigned to one of the two conditions. Subjects were then administered the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI; Beck, 1967) and Spielberger's State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI; Spielberger, Gorsuch, & Lushene, 1970). In support of the hypotheses, a multivariate analysis of variance (MANOVA) revealed significant differences between computer and control conditions on the personality inventories. Mean differences were found across administration conditions for the Beck and State Anxiety inventories. Further analyses revealed that the correlation between BDI and CARS scores was significantly greater in the computer versus the control condition. This suggests that computer anxiety may artificially inflate negative affect scores during computer administration.
Mutations affecting cooperative DNA binding of phage HK022 CI repressor.

Cooperative protein-DNA interactions play critical roles in gene regulation in all organisms. Among the best-studied cooperative interactions is that of phage λ repressor, which binds cooperatively to two adjacent operators. Similar cooperative interactions are also shown by several other lambdoid phage repressors, including HK022 CI repressor, which we study here. This protein has a much higher degree of cooperativity than seen with λ repressor, and previous evidence has suggested that cooperativity may play roles in HK022 gene regulation that have no parallel in λ. We have isolated several cooperativity or Coop− mutations in HK022 cI. These mutant proteins were partially defective in vivo for binding to two adjacent operators, but normal or nearly so for binding to a single operator. Two mutations showed mutual suppression, in that the double mutation had wild-type behavior. Analysis of several purified mutant proteins showed that they were also defective for cooperative binding in vitro. Unexpectedly, the mutant proteins showed an altered pattern of in vitro binding to DNA at non-operator sites. Several of them also increased the rate of specific repressor cleavage. We propose a conformational model in which the various functions of the wild-type protein are carried out by differing conformations; these conformations are normally in balance, and the mutations perturb this balance.
Medicare Costs and Surgeon Supply in Hospital Service Areas

OBJECTIVE: To quantify the correlates of variations of Medicare per beneficiary costs at the hospital service area level and determine whether physician supply and the specialty of physicians has a significant relationship with cost variation. BACKGROUND: The American Medical Association Masterfile data on physician and surgeon location, characteristics and specialty; Census derived sociodemographic data from 2006 ZIP code level Claritas PopFacts database; and Medicare per beneficiary costs from the Dartmouth Atlas of Health Care project. METHODS: A correlational analysis using bivariate plots and fixed effects linear regression models controlling for hospital service area sociodemographics and the number and characteristics of the physician supply. Data were aggregated to the Dartmouth hospital service area level from ZIP code level files. RESULTS: We found that costs are strongly related to the sociodemographic character of the hospital service areas and the overall supply of physicians but a mixed correlation to the specialist supply depending on the interaction of the proportion of the physician supply who are international medical graduates. The ratio of general surgeons and surgical subspecialists to population are associated with lower costs in the models, again with difference depending on the influence of international medical graduates. There is a strong association between higher costs and the local proportion of physician supply made up of graduates of non-US or Canadian medical schools and female graduates. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that strategies to reduce overall costs by changing physician supply must consider more than just overall numbers.
DYPLAS, a finite element dynamic elastic-plastic large deformation analysis program

Abstract DYPLAS is a computer program designed to compute the response history of general three-dimensional structures subjected to transient thermal and mechanical loadings. The analysis considers nonlinearities arising from material behavior as well as from large deformations that may occur in the structure. Elastic-plastic behavior with isotropic hardening is included by means of incremental relations of the Prandtl-Reuss type combined with a variant of the ‘plastic strain-total strain’ method. Reduction of the constitutive relations to the case of generalized plane stress is also presented. Spatial discretization is achieved by applying the displacement formulation of the finite element method. In order to achieve reasonable computational time, the number of computational points used in the algorithm for numerical integration over the volume of each finite element required minimization; a triangular, flat-plate bending element is cited as an example for which this minimization was achieved satisfactorily. An explicit scheme is used for computation of dynamic response. With this scheme, formation of a global stiffness matrix is not needed. Consequently, the usual limitations arising from bandwidth or problem size are completely eliminated.
Epitope tagging for tracking elastin-like polypeptides

Elastin-like polypeptides (ELPs) are a class of biocompatible, non-immunogenic and crosslinkable biomaterials that offer promise for use as an injectable scaffold for cartilage repair. In this study, an oligohistidine (His(6)) epitope tag was incorporated at the N-terminus of an ELP using recombinant DNA techniques to permit tracking without compromising on material biocompatibility. His(6)-tagged ELPs were successfully detected by Western blot analysis and quantified by ELISAs following digestion with trypsin. The mass of His(6) tagged ELP fragments freed from a crosslinked ELP hydrogel after digestion with trypsin correlated highly with hydrogel weight loss, providing evidence of the tag's capability to enable tracking of enzymatic degradation of the ELP hydrogel. The His(6) tag also facilitated recognition of crosslinked ELPs from background staining of articular cartilage. These results suggest that the His(6) epitope tag has the potential to track ELP scaffold loss independently of newly formed tissue mass for evaluating matrix remodeling in vivo.
Purification of a 38-kDa Protein from Rabbit Reticulocyte Lysate Which Promotes Protein Renaturation by Heat Shock Protein 70 and Its Identification as δ-Aminolevulinic Acid Dehydratase and as a Putative DnaJ Protein

We reported recently that a rabbit reticulocyte 66-kDa protein (termed RF-hsp 70 by our laboratory and p60 and hop by others) functions as a hsp 70 recycling protein and markedly enhances the renaturation of luciferase by hsp 70 (Gross, M., and Hessefort, S. (1996) J. Biol. Chem. 271, 16833-16841). In this report, we confirm that the ability of RF-hsp 70 to promote the conversion of hsp 70. ADP to hsp 70.ATP, thus enhancing the protein folding activity of hsp 70, is caused by the purified 66-kDa protein and not by a trace DnaJ/hsp 40 protein contaminant. To determine the relationship between RF-hsp 70 and the DnaJ/hsp 40 heat shock protein family, which also enhances protein renaturation by hsp 70, we purified a 38-kDa protein from rabbit reticulocyte lysate based upon its ability to stimulate renaturation of luciferase by hsp 70. Partial amino acid sequencing of this 38-kDa protein has indicated, unexpectedly, that it is the enzyme delta-aminolevulinic acid dehydratase (ALA-D) and that it does not contain detectable sequences corresponding to the DnaJ/hsp 40 protein family. In addition, immunoblot analysis with a polyclonal antibody made to HeLa cell hsp 40 (from StressGen) confirms that our purified ALA-D contains no hsp 40, although hsp 40 is present in relatively crude rabbit reticulocyte protein fractions. Rabbit reticulocyte ALA-D is about as active in converting delta-aminolevulinic acid to porphobilinogen and as Zn2+-dependent as ALA-D purified from other sources. Rabbit reticulocyte ALA-D stimulates the renaturation of luciferase by hsp 70 up to 10-fold at concentrations that are the same as or less than that of hsp 70, and it has no renaturation activity in the absence of hsp 70. The renaturation effect of ALA-D is additive with that of RF-hsp 70 at limiting or saturating concentrations of each, and, unlike RF-hsp 70, ALA-D does not promote the dissociation of hsp 70.ADP in the presence of ATP. The renaturation-enhancing effect of ALA-D may be caused by a region near its carboxyl terminus which has sequence homology to the highly conserved domain of the DnaJ protein family, which is similar to the sequence homology between this domain and a carboxyl-terminal region in auxilin, a DnaJ-like protein that requires this region for its hsp 70-dependent function (Ungewickell, E., Ungewickell, H., Holstein, S. E. H., Lindner, R., Prasad, K., Barouch, W., Martin, B., Greene, L. E., and Eisenberg, E. (1995) Nature 378, 632-635).
The fine structure of the Golgi tendon organ.

The Golgi tendon organ (GTO) has a capsule composed of cells confluent with the perineural epithelial sheath surrounding the Ib afferent nerve. Fluids of the capsule lumen are isolated from extra-capsular fluids by the capsule wall; its tight-fitting collars form seals through which collagen bundles enter and leave the proximal and distal ends of the fusiform capsule. The capsule lumen between the sealed capsule openings, is divided into longitudinal compartments by delicate processes of septal cells. Collagen bundles spiral down through the longitudinal axis of the GTO. As they descend through the lumen, the bundles are distinctly separated from each other by fluid-filled spaces. These collagen bundles divide, twist, and regroup over short longtiudinal distances and unmyelinated axons interwine among them. Compartments which are densely filled with collagen are not innervated. Axon profiles appear in four forms: (I) myelinated branches of Ib axon, (II) unmyelinated axons surrounded by Schwann cell processes and basal lamina, (III) axons covered only by basal lamina, and (IV) axons with bare surfaces. We postulate that increased tensile forces on the collagen bundles caused by muscle contraction tighten the braided collagen bundles thereby squeezing and distorting the axon terminals. The proposed mechanical events are consistent with known discharge characteristics of Ib axons.
A Bayesian model averaging approach to analyzing categorical data with nonignorable nonresponse

In many surveys, the goal is to estimate the proportion of the population with a certain characteristic of interest. This estimation problem is often complicated by survey nonresponse and the difficulty in modeling the nonresponse mechanism. In this paper, a new method is developed for analyzing categorical data with nonresponse when there is uncertainty about ignorability, which incorporates the idea that there are many a priori plausible ignorable and nonignorable nonresponse models. A class of saturated submodels of the full, nonidentifiable likelihood, containing models which have mixtures of ignorable and nonignorable components is considered, and Bayesian averaging is used to incorporate model uncertainty. This approach is then extended by using uniform priors on model components which do not fit into the partition structure. This method is illustrated using data from the 2000 Accuracy and Coverage Evaluation Survey. A simulation study is used to evaluate the performance of this method and to compare it to other popular nonignorable Bayesian models. The results of the simulation study show that the proposed method generates point estimates which can have reduced mean squared error, and credible intervals which are often, on average, narrower, and which contain the true value of the parameter more frequently, as compared to other nonignorable models, and hence provides a better method for quantifying the additional uncertainty due to the missing data.
Quasiperiodic anisotropic XY model.

The quasiperiodic anisotropic XY model in one-dimensional exhibits ordered and disordered phases with cantor spectra which we characterize in terms of the exponent \ensuremath{\delta} and the f(\ensuremath{\alpha}) curve. The transition to the long-range-order phase is signaled by a nonanalyticity in \ensuremath{\delta} in addition to the singular behavior of the long-range correlation function. Based on our numerical results, we conjecture that f(\ensuremath{\alpha}) is a smooth function in the disordered phase, becoming discontinuous in the ordered phase. At a special point in the ordered phase, the system exhibits a pointlike spectrum with localized states.
Ecological Scale of Bird Community Response to Piñon-Juniper Removal

Pinon (Pinus spp.) and juniper (Juniperus spp.) removal is a common management approach to restore sagebrush (Artemisia spp.) vegetation in areas experiencing woodland expansion. Because many management treatments are conducted to benefit sagebrush-obligate birds, we surveyed bird communities to assess treatment effectiveness in establishing sagebrush bird communities at study sites in Utah, Nevada, Idaho, and Oregon. Our analyses included data from 1 or 2 yr prior to prescribed fire or mechanical treatment and 3 to 5 yr posttreatment. We used detrended correspondence analysis to 1) identify primary patterns of bird communities surveyed from 2006 to 2011 at point transects, 2) estimate ecological scale of change needed to achieve treatment objectives from the relative dissimilarity of survey points to the ordination region delineating sagebrush bird communities, and 3) measure changes in pre- and posttreatment bird communities. Birds associated with sagebrush, woodlands, and ecotones were detected on our surveys; increased dissimilarity of survey points to the sagebrush bird community was characterized by a gradient of increased juniper and decreased sagebrush cover. Prescribed fires burned between 30% and 97% of our bird survey points. However, from 6% to 24% cover of pinon-juniper still remained posttreatment on the four treatment plots. We measured only slight changes in bird communities, which responded primarily to current vegetation rather than relative amount of change from pretreatment vegetation structure. Bird communities at survey points located at greater ecological scales from the sagebrush bird community changed least and will require more significant impact to achieve changes. Sagebrush bird communities were established at only two survey points, which were adjacent to a larger sagebrush landscape and following almost complete juniper removal by mechanical treatment. Our results indicate that management treatments that leave residual woodland cover and are not adjacent to extensive sagebrush stands are unlikely to establish sagebrush birds.
The role of the unfolded state in hairpin stability

The effects of a T3S mutation on the stability of a 3:5 β-hairpin forming peptide (YITNSNGTWT) are investigated. Molecular dynamics simulations in explicit water indicate that the wild-type peptide forms a stable hairpin whereas the T3S mutant does not, in agreement with the experimental data. Thermodynamic integration calculations for the mutation of Thr to Ser suggest that the free-energy changes in the folded state are small, but the corresponding changes in the unfolded state are large and favorable. One of the main reasons for the difference appears to be the formation of a stable cluster involving the Tyr1 and Ser3 hydroxyl groups and their interaction with the C-terminal carboxylate group, which was observed after unfolding of the T3S mutant. Further analysis of the side-chain preferences of Thr and Ser indicate that the corresponding cluster in the wild-type peptide is unstable due to the high preference of the Thr χ1 dihedral for g+ states, which appeared to be incompatible with formation of a stable cluster. The results suggest that one should consider the nature of the unfolded state when attempting to fully explain the effects of mutations on hairpin stability.
Studies on submaxillary saliva in cystic fibrosis.

Summary A method has been described for the construction of an appliance to be used in the collection of submaxillary saliva from children with cystic fibrosis and from control children. The data accumulated by reflex stimulation indicate a slightly lower flow rate in children with cystic fibrosis as compared with that of the controls. The sodium, chloride, and potassium concentrations are comparable when analyzed on the basis of flow. Hydrogen ion concentrations were found to be similar in both groups. The children with cystic fibrosis showed a significant elevation in calcium and total nitrogen content. A major difference associated with submaxillary saliva was the presence of a turbid secretion from patients with cystic fibrosis as compared with a clear transparent secretion from control children under conditions of reflex stimulation. It is possible that precipitation of the insoluble material observed in these secretions could, over a period of time, result in the widespread obstruction of the salivary ductules as seen in histologic sections of the glands. Comparable results, as described under reflex stimulation, were obtained under conditions of parasympathomimetic stimulation for all constituents studied. The results suggest that there may be an important relationship existing between the elevated calcium and nitrogen content and the insolubility phenomenon which has been seen in all children with cystic fibrosis under physiologic stimulation.
THE SOMATIC ANTIGEN OF A PHAGE-RESISTANT VARIANT OF PHASE II SHIGELLA SONNEI

1. A phage-resistant variant of Phase II Shigella sonnei has been isolated and the type-specific antigen from it has been obtained. 2. The antigen of the variant microorganism, II/3, 4, 7, differs from that of the parent Phase II bacillus in serological specificity and in chemical make-up. 3. Although the antigen of Phase II Sh. sonnei inhibits all T phages to which the bacillus is susceptible, that of the variant fails to inhibit T3, T4, and T7.
Liquid hydrogen slosh waves excited by constant reverse gravity acceleration of geyser initiation

The requirement to settle or to position liquid fuel over the outlet end of the spacecraft propellant tank before main engine restart poses a microgravity fluid behavior problem. Resettlement or reorientation of liquid propellant can be accomplished by providing the optimal acceleration to the spacecraft such that the propellant is reoriented over the tank outlet. In this study slosh wave excitation induced by the resettling flowfield during the course of liquid reorientation with the initiation of geyser for liquid-filled levels of 30, 50, 65, 70, and 80 percent have been studied. Characteristics of slosh waves with various frequencies excited are discussed. Slosh wave excitations will affect the fluid stress distribution exerted on the container wall and shift the fluid mass distribution inside the container, which imposes the time-dependent variations in the moment of inertia of the container. This information is important for the spacecraft control during the course of liquid reorientation.
Effect of annealing atmosphere and temperature on the properties of Cd 2 SnO 4 thin films

Cadmium stannate (Cd 2 SnO 4 , CTO) thin films were prepared by radio frequency (RF) magnetron sputtering deposition followed by annealing at 550∼650 °C in Ar, air, Ar/4% H 2 and Ar/CdS at atmospheric pressure. The crystallization onset of the amorphous as-deposited CTO thin films occurs at 550 °C, with highly crystallized single phase Cd 2 SnO 4 obtained at 600 °C and above. Electron mobility increases with the annealing temperature (T A ) and reaches mobilities of ∼70, ∼69 and ∼56 cm2V−1s−1 for samples annealed at 650 °C in air, Ar and Ar/CdS respectively. Although the samples annealed in Ar/CdS shows relatively lower mobility, the high carrier density ∼6.6×1020 cm−3 (annealed at 650 °C) leads to a very low resistivity ∼1.7×10−4 Ω cm and a high optical bandgap ∼3.6 eV due to Moss-Burstein shift. The resistivity of the samples annealed in air or Ar is limited by much lower carrier density.
Structurally induced supermodulus effect in superlattices

It is suggested that the ``supermodulus effect'' observed for composition-modulated superlattices arises from the presence of the structurally disordered solid interfaces and not necessarily from electronic structure effects.
Optimized method of measuring directed electron velocities using the incoherent regions of laser scattering.

With the presumption that a shifted Maxwellian velocity distribution adequately describes the electrons in a flowing plasma, a method with optimum signal to noise resolution to measure directed velocity is described. The lowest velocity that can be determined by this method is shown to depend on the electron random thermal velocity. The basic diagnostic system is outlined and consists of a ruby laser source and two detectors set 180° from each other and both set at 90° with respect to the incident laser beam. Simplified analysis compared to standard peak shift detection techniques is seen to be possible using optimization techniques. This proposed method is shown to be superior in SNR for plasma temperature below 7.2 eV.
Dendritic spine detection using curvilinear structure detector and LDA classifier

Dendritic spines are small, bulbous cellular compartments that carry synapses. Biologists have been studying the biochemical pathways by examining the morphological and statistical changes of the dendritic spines at the intracellular level. In this paper a novel approach is presented for automated detection of dendritic spines in neuron images. The dendritic spines are recognized as small objects of variable shape attached or detached to multiple dendritic backbones in the 2D projection of the image stack along the optical direction. We extend the curvilinear structure detector to extract the boundaries as well as the centerlines for the dendritic backbones and spines. We further build a classifier using Linear Discriminate Analysis (LDA) to classify the attached spines into valid and invalid types to improve the accuracy of the spine detection. We evaluate the proposed approach by comparing with the manual results in terms of backbone length, spine number, spine length, and spine density.
Regulation of alternative splicing by local histone modifications: potential roles for RNA-guided mechanisms

The molecular mechanisms through which alternative splicing and histone modifications regulate gene expression are now understood in considerable detail. Here, we discuss recent studies that connect these two previously separate avenues of investigation, beginning with the unexpected discoveries that nucleosomes are preferentially positioned over exons and DNA methylation and certain histone modifications also show exonic enrichment. These findings have profound implications linking chromatin structure, histone modification and splicing regulation. Complementary single gene studies provided insight into the mechanisms through which DNA methylation and histones modifications modulate alternative splicing patterns. Here, we review an emerging theme resulting from these studies: RNA-guided mechanisms integrating chromatin modification and splicing. Several groundbreaking papers reported that small noncoding RNAs affect alternative exon usage by targeting histone methyltransferase complexes to form localized facultative heterochromatin. More recent studies provided evidence that pre-messenger RNA itself can serve as a guide to enable precise alternative splicing regulation via local recruitment of histone-modifying enzymes, and emerging evidence points to a similar role for long noncoding RNAs. An exciting challenge for the future is to understand the impact of local modulation of transcription elongation rates on the dynamic interplay between histone modifications, alternative splicing and other processes occurring on chromatin.
Tetracyano isoindigo small molecules and their use in n-channel organic field-effect transistors

N,N′-Dihexyl-6,6′-dicyanoisoindigo, N,N′-didecyl-5,5′,6,6′-tetracyanoisoindigo, N,N′-dihexyl-5,5′,6,6′-tetracyanoisoindigo, and N,N′-dihexyl-5,5′,6,6′-tetracyanothienoisoindigo have been synthesised in moderate yields by the reaction of corresponding di and tetrabromo species with CuCN, with microwave heating leading to higher yields and fewer side products for the tetrasubstituted species. Di- and tetracyano substitution anodically shifts the molecular reduction potential relative to the unsubstituted cores by ca. 0.4 and 0.8 V, respectively, with the resultant values for the tetracyano derivatives (−0.58 to −0.67 V vs. FeCp2+/0) suggesting the possibility of air-stable electron transport. All the synthesised cyano derivatives operate in n-channel OFETs, while the tetrabromothienoisoindigo derivative functions in a p-channel transistor. The tetracyanothienoisoindigo derivative exhibits the highest field-effect electron mobility values – up to 0.04 and 0.09 cm2 V−1 s−1 in spin-coated and inkjet-printed devices respectively – and OFETs incorporating this compound have been shown to operate in air without significant degradation of their mobility values in the saturation regime.
Some cardinal function relationships between CP(X) and finite powers of a space X

Abstract New bounds for the spread and hereditary density of the finite powers of the domain space X are obtained in terms of CP(X), the space of continuous real-valued functions with the topology of pointwise convergence. Sharp bounds are found for spaces X that include: spaces with a Gδ-diagonal, topological vector spaces, and Lindelof homogeneous spaces. Corollaries of these will give bounds on the spread and hereditary Lindelof degree of CP(X)2.
Body-temperature maintenance as the predominant function of the vanilloid receptor TRPV1

Agonists of the transient receptor potential vanilloid type 1 (TRPV1), such as capsaicin, cause pain and a drop in body temperature (hypothermia). Conversely, antagonists of TRPV1 block pain behaviors in rodent models of inflammation, osteoarthritis and cancer. Efforts that evaluate TRPV1 antagonists in on-target challenge models have uncovered that TRPV1 blockade elicits an increase in body temperature (hyperthermia) from rodents to primates, revealing the intimate relationship between the role of TRPV1 in pain and body-temperature maintenance. This evolutionarily conserved function of TRPV1 in body-temperature maintenance became a hurdle for clinical development of one antagonist, AMG 517. However, several other TRPV1 antagonists are currently being evaluated in the clinic and soon-to-be-published results should shed light on the potential of managing antagonist-induced hyperthermia while developing them as therapeutics.
Correlated movement of hair bundles coupled to the otolithic membrane in the bullfrog sacculus.

Abstract High-speed imaging with a CMOS camera was used to track the motion of multiple hair bundles of the bullfrog sacculus. To maintain the natural degree of intercell coupling, the overlying otolithic membrane was left intact atop the in vitro preparation. Effects of an incoming mechanical signal were mimicked by laterally deflecting the membrane with a glass probe at physiological amplitudes. The motion evoked in the underlying hair bundles was found to be highly phase-locked, yielding an entrained response across hundreds of cells. We imaged significant portions of the saccular epithelium, up to 40 × 350 μ m 2 , and observed a high degree of correlation over those scales.
Pharmacological analysis of heartbeat in Drosophila

Analysis of the mechanisms underlying cardiac excitability can be facilitated greatly by mutations that disrupt ion channels and receptors involved in this excitability. With an extensive repertoire of such mutations, Drosophila provides the best available genetic model for these studies. However, the use of Drosophila for this purpose has been severely handicapped by lack of a suitable preparation of heart and a complete lack of knowledge about the ionic currents that underlie its excitability. We describe a simple preparation to measure heartbeat in Drosophila. This preparation was used to ask if heartbeat in Drosophila is myogenic in origin, and to determine the types of ion channels involved in influencing the heart rate. Tetrodotoxin, even at a high concentration of 40 microM, did not affect heart rate, indicating that heartbeat may be myogenic in origin and that it may not be determined by Na+ channels. Heart rate was affected by PN200-110, verapamil, and diltiazem, which block vertebrate L-type Ca2+ channels. Thus, L-type channels, which contribute to the prolonged plateau of action potentials in vertebrate heart, may play a role in Drosophila cardiac excitability. It also suggests that Drosophila heart is subject to a similar intervention by organic Ca2+ channel blockers as the vertebrate heart. A role for K+ currents in the function of Drosophila heart was suggested by an effect of tetraethylammonium, which blocks all the four identified K+ currents in the larval body wall muscles, and quinidine, which blocks the delayed rectifier K+ current in these muscles. The preparation described here also provides an extremely simple method for identifying mutations that affect heart rate. Such mutations and pharmacological agents will be very useful for analyzing molecular components of cardiac excitability in Drosophila.