cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Behavioral Cues of Humanness in Complex Environments: How People Engage With Human and Artificially Intelligent Agents in a Multiplayer Videogame.

The development of AI that can socially engage with humans is exciting to imagine, but such ad-vanced algorithms might prove harmful if people are no longer able to detect when they are inter-acting with non-humans in online environments. Because we cannot fully predict how socially intelligent AI will be applied, it is important to conduct research into how sensitive humans are to behaviors of humans compared to those produced by AI. This paper presents results from a behavioral Turing Test, in which participants interacted with a human, or a simple or “social” AI within a complex videogame environment. Participants (66 total) played an open world, interactive video-game with one of these co-players and were instructed that they could interact non-verbally however they desired for 30 minutes, after which time they would indicate their beliefs about the agent, including three Likert measures of how much participants trusted and liked the co-player, the extent to which they perceived them as a “real person”, and an interview about the overall perception and what cues participants used to determine humanness. T-tests, Analysis of Variance and Tukey’s HSD was used to analyze quantitative data, and Cohen’s Kappa and χ² was used to analyze inter-view data. Our results indicate suggest that it was difficult for participants to distinguish between humans and the social AI on the basis of behavior. An analysis of in-game behaviors, survey data and qualitative responses indicate suggest that participants associated engagement in social interactions with humanness within the game.
Teaching and parenting sin fronteras

In this paper, I, an Asian-Indian, transnational, woman faculty, working in a Hispanic serving institution (HSI), at the USA-Mexico border present my testimonio, and write to share how I found the ...
Thermal lensing mitigation for high power laser processing

We have developed an optical model capable of designing and evaluating lenses for high power lasers. The model is used to design two types of optical lenses suited for high power laser applications. A three element objective lens with a focal length of 150mm and NA of 0.2 is capable of achieving diffraction limited performance. However, the performance is greatly compromised when conventional fused silica is used. Both the spot size and waist location are too sensitive to lens temperature variation. To overcome the issue, an athermal lens with both fused silica and CaF2 elements can perform well over a wide range of temperature variation from 20 °C to 300 °C. Similarly, a f-theta lens with a focal length of 200mm, scanning angle of ±18° is designed. Both thermal lensing caused by material as well as environment temperature are analyzed. Overall, the f-theta lens is not as sensitive as the objective due to its small NA. Nevertheless, thermal lensing can still affect the process and needs to be addressed. With a similar approach, an athermal f-theta lens with a combination of fused silica and CaF2 elements can perform well over a wide range of temperature variation from 20 °C to 300 °C.
‘Access necessitates being seen’: Queer visibility and intersectional embodiment within the health information practices of queer community leaders:

Navigating healthcare infrastructures is particularly challenging for queer-identifying individuals, with significant barriers emerging around stigma and practitioner ignorance. Further intersectin...
Confidence Intervals for the Percentage of Even Digits

Suppose a political poll says that 56% of voters approve of the job the president is doing and that .this poll has a margin of error of 3%. The 3% margin of error results from the fact that the poll was taken from a sample of voters. Since not all voters were included, there is some error due to sampling, or sampling error. If all voters had been asked, the polling organization predicts that the percentage would have been in the confidence interval of 53% to 59%. For every 100 polls that report a 95% confidence interval, the polling organization expects that 95 of the confidence intervals will contain the true population percentage. In this activity you will take a “poll” of random digits in order to estimate the percentage that are even.
The Impact of Migration on Children Left Behind in Developing Countries: Outcomes Analysis and Data Requirements

In the research and reports on international migration, relatively little sustained academic scholarship addresses the impacts and implications of migration for youth and children whose families migrate or who themselves migrate to other developing countries. In the international debate on migration, scant attention has been given to children, and few statistics on migration provide data disaggregated by age. The dearth of general information on children left behind is one of the reasons for the lack of appropriate policy responses. There is no global estimate on the number of children who have at least one parent migrating, and the impact of migration and remittances on the children left behind is still notably absent in the economic literature.Policy makers and researchers have focused their attention on migration flowing from developing to industrialized countries (also known as South-North migration), giving almost no attention to flows between developing countries, or the so-called South-South migration. Looking at South-South child migration (the migration of children and youth among developing countries) presents two main difficulties: first, we know little about the mobility of children in general, and secondly, we have very little information on South-South migration. The paper assesses the state of knowledge of existing academic research and empirical evidence on the impact of migration on youth and children in developing countries. It develops a framework matrix for identifying relevant research topics and assesses the status of currently available data. In addressing the impact of migration on children, this paper also examines how migration affects the survival, well-being, and development of children left behind, of forced child migrants, and of children migrating with their parents or migrating alone.
Identifying the “Isms”: Enabling Social Work Students to Confront Their Biases

Abstract Four approaches may be used to reduce prejudices in students: Exhortation; providing information; intergroup contact; and development of cognitive sophistication. The paper describes a teaching model which focuses on the last approach—development of cognitive sophistication—as a means of preparing social work students for culturally sensitive practice. Developed by the author, the model was offered as a three-hour class unit, descriptively named “Identifying the ‘Isms’”. The unit content was presented in three stages: (a) Bias was defined in a manner such that all students willingly admitted that they were biased against some category of persons, (b) the functions of bias were discussed, and (c) a series of vignettes were given to the class for analysis as to whether bias existed in the situation described and, if it existed, what function it served. Feedback from students suggests that the model is effective in encouraging students to admit and to confront their own biases and in developing stud...
A Bayesian framework for regularized SVM parameter estimation

The support vector machine (SVM) is considered here in the context of pattern classification. The emphasis is on the soft margin classifier which uses regularization to handle non-separable learning samples. We present an SVM parameter estimation algorithm that first identifies a subset of the learning samples that we call the support set and then determines not only the weights of the classifier but also the hyperparameter that controls the influence of the regularizing penalty term on basis thereof. We provide numerical results using several data sets from the public domain.
The Importance of Interdisciplinary Research Training and Community Dissemination

Funding agencies and institutions are creating initiatives to encourage interdisciplinary research that can be more easily translated into community initiatives to enhance health. Therefore, the current research environment calls for interdisciplinary education and skills to create sustained partnerships with community institutions. However, formalized opportunities in both of these areas are limited for students embarking on research careers. The purpose of this paper is to underscore the historical and current importance of providing interdisciplinary training and community dissemination for research students. We also suggest an approach to begin to address the existing gap. Specifically, we suggest embedding a 10-week summer rotation into existing research curricula with the goals of: (1) providing students with a hands-on interdisciplinary research experience, (2) facilitating dialogue between research students and community settings to disseminate science to the public, and (3) sparking collaborations among researchers who seek to create a way to sustain summer program rotations with grant funding.
An innovative approach to fatigue disbond propagation in adhesive joints

An innovative approach to characterize the resistance of adhesively bonded joints to fatigue disbond propagation (FDP) is presented. A constitutive equation, known as the modified crack layer (MCL) model, is employed to extract parameters characteristic of the adhesive joint's resistance to FDP. These parameters are γ', the specific energy of damage, which reflects the fatigue disbond resistance of the adhesive joint and the dissipative characteristic of the joints, β'. Stress-controlled tension-tension fatigue experiments were conducted on lap joints fabricated from aircraft grade aluminum 2024-T3 and 3M structural adhesive. The disbond length was measured periodically along the edges of the bonded area at the four corners and the corresponding number of cycles was recorded. This is in order to calculate the disbond growth rate. The hysteresis loop was also recorded for each measurement from which both the energy release rate, J*, and the change in work, Wi, were determined. It was found that the propose...
Consumption estimates of walleye stocked as fry to suppress fathead minnow populations in west-central Minnesota wetlands

– Fisheries managers throughout the Prairie Pothole Region of Minnesota often use semi-permanent and permanent wetland basins to extensively culture walleye Sander vitreus fry. Waterfowl managers have expressed concern over this practice because of the potential influence that fish have on food resources used by waterfowl during development and migration. It is well known that native fathead minnows Pimephales promelas can have detrimental effects on macroinvertebrates, zooplankton, water clarity, epiphyton, and macrophytes in wetlands. Because walleye commonly become piscivorous as soon as mouth gape allows, walleye fry may suppress fathead minnow populations and improve wetland conditions for waterfowl. In this study, we quantify consumption estimates, specifically predation on fathead minnows, by age-0 and age-1 walleye reared in natural wetland basins. Six wetlands were stocked in mid-May 2001 and 2002 at a rate of 12,000 walleye fry ha–1. Age-0 walleye were sampled bi-weekly from mid-June through mid-September 2001. Age-0 and age-1 walleye were sampled monthly from mid-May through mid-September 2002. A generalised diet shift from zooplankton to fish to macroinvertebrates was observed in 2001, whereas diets of juvenile walleye contained primarily macroinvertebrates in 2002. Stocked walleye quickly reduced fathead minnow populations in 2001 and suppression was maintained throughout 2002. Although walleye consumed primarily macroinvertebrates once prey fish populations became suppressed, consumption estimates of invertebrates by walleye were substantially less than those documented for fathead minnow populations. Thus, stocking age-0 walleye was an effective biomanipulation tool that substantially reduced fathead minnow densities and influenced lower trophic levels in these aquatic communities.
Excimer fluorescence technique for study of polymer-segment mobility: applications to pyrene-labelled poly(methyl methacrylate) and poly(methyl acrylate) in solution☆

Abstract An excimer fluorescence technique for the study of polymer-segment mobility has been developed and applied to pyrene-labelled poly(methyl methacrylate) and poly(methyl acrylate) polymers in solution. The results of the study have been interpreted in terms of Kramers' theory for the crossing of a potential barrier by a particle embedded in a viscous medium. The results show that the internal viscosity has a solvent-independent part and lead to an estimate of the dimensionless internal viscosity parameter introduced by Cerf.
Femoral vessel depth and the implications for groin node radiation.

Abstract Purpose : To quantify, based on pretreatment computer tomographic measurements, potential groin node depths, which will aid in optimal treatment planning for patients requiring groin node radiation. Methods and Materials : The pretreatment computer tomographic scans of 50 gynecologic cancer patients were reviewed to determine the distance of each femoral vessel beneath the overlying skin surface, as an indicator of potential groin node depth. Correlative data regarding height and weight were obtained from patient medical records, and were used to calculate the Quetelet index, defined as (weight in kg)/(height in m)2. Treatment parameters of 5 patients who failed prophylactic groin radiation in a recently published study were assessed to determine if underdosage represented a possible cause of failure. Results : Individual femoral vessel depths ranged from 2.0 to 18.5 cm. When the depths of all four femoral vessels were averaged in each patient, the mean “4-vessel average” depth for this patient population was 6.1 cm. The median Quetelet index for the group was 25.6, and there was a strong correlation between femoral vessel depth and patient Quetelet index. Recalculation of doses provided to the 5 patients failing prophylactic groin radiation in the Gynecologic Oncology Group study showed that all had received potential tumor doses 30%. Conclusion : While surgery is often indicated in the management of patients with potential groin node metastases, the role of prophylactic groin radiation should not be rejected. Data from this study may aid in the optimal design and implementation of groin node radiotherapy.
Thermal Inactivation of Escherichia coli O157:H7 in Cooked Turkey Products

Survival of Escherichia coli O157:H7 when heated in commercial-type turkey products was determined. Thermal death times (TDT) were determined at 52-60 degrees C in ground turkey with no additives, 3% fat; ground turkey with no additives, 11% fat; turkey ham batter, 11% fat; turkey frank batter, 17% fat; and turkey sausage batter, 31% fat. Mean D52-values ranged from 44.9 to 116 min; D55-values from 6.63 to 39.4 min; D57-values from 2.20 to 11.7 min; D60-values from 0.68 to 5.86 min. At all temperatures, survival of E. coli O157:H7 was greater in formulated products than in turkey meat with no additives. Greatest survival occurred in the turkey frank batter. Using our z-value data, times to provide a 5 D kill of E. coli O157:H7 in turkey franks cooked at 60 degrees C, 65.6 degrees C, or 71 degrees C would be 26, 3.1, or 0.37 min, respectively.
Agent Smith: a real-time game-playing agent for interactive dynamic games

The goal of this project is to develop an agent capable of learning and behaving autonomously and making decisions quickly in a dynamic environment. The agent's environment is a fast-paced interactive game known as Unreal Tournament 2004. Unreal allows for a spectator to watch the agent as it performs its tasks and even to enter the game and challenge the agent.The agent's behavior is controlled by a rule-based system, which looks at multiple high-level conditions, such as whether the agent is weak, and determines single high-level actions, such as whether to head for the nearest known healing source. Using an evolutionary computation approach, in which the behavior is evolved over a number of generations, the agent learns increasingly better strategies for its environment.Through the work in this project, we are exploring several research questions, including the development of successful vocabulary of high-level conditions and actions for the rule set, the challenges of rapid decision making, and the trade-offs between hand coding a rule set and using the evolutionary process to hone a rule set.
The impact of ulcerative colitis on the long-term outcome of patients with primary sclerosing cholangitis

Summary Background The impact of ulcerative colitis (UC) on the outcome of primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC) outcome remains unclear. Aim To investigate whether the presence of UC is associated with a worse clinical of associated PSC. Methods A total of 222 patients with PSC (167 with UC and 55 without UC) seen and followed at a single centre from 1985 to 2011 were included. Clinical and demographic variables were obtained and patients were followed until the date of their last clinic visit. Results The median age at presentation of PSC with associated UC was 38 vs. 47 years without UC (P < 0.001). At presentation, median serum bilirubin (2.1 vs. 4.5, P < 0.001) and the Mayo PSC Risk Score (0.95 vs. 1.69, P < 0.001) were lower in those with UC vs. those without UC. A total of 55 of 167 (32.9%) patients with PSC-UC developed colon neoplasia in contrast to 1 of the 55 (1.8%) patients with PSC. (P < 0.001) On proportional hazards analysis, UC (hazard ratio (HR) = 0.90 [95% confidence interval (CI): 0.60–1.34, P = 0.60] was not associated with death or orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT), when adjusting for gender, Mayo risk score and year of PSC diagnosis; whereas the revised Mayo risk score [HR = 5.08, 95% CI: (2.62–9.86), P < 0.001] was associated with a greater risk of OLT or death. Conclusions Primary sclerosing cholangitis often is recognised at an early stage in patients with concurrent ulcerative colitis; ulcerative colitis has no impact on long-term prognosis in terms of liver-related outcomes when adjusted for the severity of liver disease.
From fate to tragedy: The changing meanings of life, death, and AIDS

The advent of highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) and quantitative viral load assays has revolutionized the care of HIV-infected patients. However, this paradigm shift has also had unexpec...
Numerical Simulation of Autoresonant Ion Acceleration

Computational and analytic studies of the Autoresonant Acceleration proposal for collective ion acceleration are presented. Linear theory is reviewed, the electrostatic well depth is estimated nonlinearly, and an electron beam envelope equation is derived and solved. Two-dimensional numerical simulation results are given. Together, these calcualtions demonstrate unneutralized electron beam equilibrium in a diverging magnetic guide field, the behaviour of large amplitude slow cyclotron waves in the beam, and the acceleration of test ions over short distances in the wave troughs. In addition, the computer simulations point up the need for improved understanding of the linear theory of radially inhomogeneous noneutral beams and for methods of suppressing radial modulation at the diode-waveguide interface.
A retarded boy with seizures precipitated by stepping into the bath water

This report describes the unusual case of a boy with partial deletion in the proximal region of a long arm of chromosome 2 and reflex epilepsy. Seizures with identical onset were precipitated predictably by two independent triggers, micturition and immersion of the feet in tepid or hot water. A seizure precipitated by immersion could be reproduced under video and EEG monitoring. The EEG seizure onset was in the central midline region.
Congestive cardiomyopathy with segmental wall motion abnormalities and a non‐uniform pattern of fibrosis

A case of congestive cardiomyopathy in a 46-year-old smoker with single-vessel right coronary artery disease is presented. Segmental contraction abnormalities were present in the anterior wall. Pathologic analysis showed diffuse fibrosis consistent with a cardiomyopathy in areas of abnormal contraction and normal muscle in areas of normal contractility. Segmental wall motion abnormalities have been reported but none with microscopic studies of areas of both abnormal and normal contractility.
Cost-benefit Analysis of Polysomnography versus Clinical Assessment Score-15 (CAS-15) for Treatment of Pediatric Sleep-disordered Breathing:

ObjectiveTo determine the cost of medical care using the Clinical Assessment Score-15 (CAS-15) scale versus polysomnography (PSG) for children with sleep-disordered breathing in terms of benefit.St...
PROPERTIES AND EFFECTS OF NONPETROLEUM OILS

ABSTRACT Legislative history of water pollution control has not included detailed scientific definitions of what is meant by the rather inclusive term “oil.” Because of the publicity surrounding spills of crude or petroleum-derived oils, little attention has been focused on non-petroleum oils. Approximately 5% of the oil spills reported to the Environmental Protection Agency are nonpetroleum oils. Their physical and chemical properties and adverse environmental effects are strikingly similar to the behavior of petroleum oil in the aquatic environment. This paper presents a comparative analysis of the properties and effects of petroleum versus nonpetroleum oils. Their similarities prove that these oils should be treated as one entity regardless of their origin. Finally, additional guidelines are presented to provide a more broadly applicable distinction between oil and other hazardous materials for enforcement purposes.
Process modeling and optimization of PECVD silicon nitride coated on silicon solar cell using neural networks

Abstract The process of plasma enhanced chemical vapor deposition silicon nitride films coated on silicon solar cells as antireflection layers is modeled and optimized using neural networks. This neural network model is built based on the robust design technique with process input–output experimental data. The input parameters selected are as substrate temperature, SiH 4 and NH 3 flow rates, and RF power; while the output parameters are deposition rate, refractive index, and short circuit current. This model can then be applied to predict the input–output relationships of the process. Optimal operating conditions of this process can be determined using this model.
Visual analog rating of mood by people with aphasia

AbstractBackground:Considerable attention has been given to the identification of depression in stroke survivors with aphasia, but there is more limited information about other mood states. Visual analog scales are often used to collect subjective information from people with aphasia. However, the validity of these methods for communicating about mood has not been established in people with moderately to severely impaired language.Objective:The dual purposes of this study were to characterize the relative endorsement of negative and positive mood states in people with chronic aphasia after stroke and to examine congruent validity for visual analog rating methods for people with a range of aphasia severity.Methods:Twenty-three left-hemisphere stroke survivors with aphasia were asked to indicate their present mood by using two published visual analog rating methods. The congruence between the methods was estimated through correlation analysis, and scores for different moods were compared.Results:Endorsement...
Parenting Practices and the Early Socialisation of Relational Aggression among Preschoolers.

The present study examines parents' responses to their young children's relationally aggressive behaviour and compares these with the responses regarding children's overtly aggressive behaviour. Parents' beliefs about discipline strategies for addressing relational versus overt aggression at home and at school are also examined. Additionally, links between parenting (specific to both aggression and general characteristics) and children's aggressive behaviour and adjustment are explored. Findings suggest that parents have more specific rules about, and are more likely to discipline, overt aggression than about relational aggression. Parents are more supportive of discipline for overt aggression than of that for relational aggression in school; parents also believe that their children should be relatively independent in coping with relational victimisation at school. Implications and suggestions for future research are discussed.
Sexual dimorphism floral microRNA profiling and target gene expression in andromonoecious poplar (Populus tomentosa).

Although the molecular basis of poplar sex-specific flower development remains largely unknown, increasing evidence indicates an essential role for microRNAs (miRNAs). The specific miRNA types and precise miRNA expression patterns in dioecious plant flower development remain unclear. Here, we used andromonoecious poplar, an exceptional model system, to eliminate the confounding effects of genetic background of dioecious plants. This system, combined with high-throughput sequencing and computational analysis, allowed us to characterize sex-specific miRNAomes from female and male flowers. Comparative miRNAome analysis combined with quantitative real-time PCR revealed the expression patterns of 27 miRNAs in poplar flower and showed that the targets of these miRNAs are involved in flower organogenesis, Ca2+ transport, phytohormone synthesis and metabolism, and DNA methylation. This paper describes a complex regulatory network consisting of these miRNAs expressed in sex-specific flower development in a dioecious plant. The conserved and novel miRNA locations were annotated in the Populus trichocarpa genome. Among these, miRNA Pto-F70 and 4 targets are located in the sex-determination regions of chromosome XIX. Furthermore, two novel miRNAs, Pto-F47 and Pto-F68, were shown for the first time to be regulatory factors in phytohormone interactions. To our knowledge, this report is the first systematic investigation of sex-specific flower-related miRNAs and their targets in poplar, and it deepens our understanding of the important regulatory functions of miRNAs in female and male flower development in this dioecious plant.
Reversal of phenol and naphthalene effects on ciliate chemoattraction.

In an effort to address research needs in the area of rapid screening tests for aquatic toxicology, the authors engaged in a study of pollutant effects on protozoan chemoattraction. Among pollutants tested were metals and hydrocarbons. To ascertain whether inhibition observed after brief exposures to certain concentrations of the pollutants were irreversible, they examined the possibility of nullifying the inhibitory effect by removing protozoa from the toxicants after short exposures. Earlier work showed that inhibitory effects of metals could be removed, and they report here the nullification and reversibility of effects of phenol and naphthalene on certain ciliates.
Two-loop corrections to the cosmological constant☆

Abstract The two-loop contributions to the induced cosmological constant are computed in a matterless Einstein theory of gravity expanded about a Minkowski background with no cosmological term present in the classical action. The regularization scheme independent cancellation of the contribution to one-loop order is found not to occur to two-loop order.
Preconditioning with Ginkgo biloba (EGb 761®) provides neuroprotection through HO1 and CRMP2

Ginkgo biloba/EGb 761® (EGb 761) is a popular and standardized natural extract used worldwide for the treatment of many ailments. Although EGb 761 is purported to have a plethora of benefits, here, we were interested to study the neuroprotective properties of EGb 761 and its components and determine whether nuclear factor E2 (Nrf2)/heme oxygenase 1 (HO1) induction of the collapsin response mediator protein 2 (CRMP2) pathway contributes to neuroprotection. Mice were pretreated with EGb 761 or one of its constituents (bilobalide, ginkgolide A, ginkgolide B, and terpene free material [TFM]) for 7days and then subjected to transient middle cerebral artery occlusion (tMCAO) and 48 h of reperfusion. All components except TFM significantly reduced infarct volumes and neurologic deficits. Next, we examined the antioxidant and neuritogenic properties of EGb 761 in primary neurons. Compared with vehicle-treated cells, pretreatment with EGb 761 significantly enhanced the survival of neurons exposed to tertiary butylhydroperoxide (t-BuOOH), hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), and N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA). Bilobalide and ginkgolide A also protected cells against NMDA-induced excitotoxicity. Immunofluorescence and Western blot analysis showed that EGb 761 pretreatment significantly increased the protein expression levels of Nrf2, HO1, GAPDH, β-actin, CRMP2, and histone H3 during t-BuOOH-induced oxidative stress. These findings suggest that EGb 761 not only has antioxidant activity but also neuritogenic potential. Demonstrating such effects for possible drug discovery may prove beneficial in stroke and ischemic brain injury.
Asymmetric synthesis of a highly soluble ‘trimeric’ analogue of the chiral nematic liquid crystal twist agent Merck S1011

The Sharpless asymmetric dihydroxylation has been utilised to synthesise a new glassy chiral dopant with large helical twisting power (β) and remarkable solubility in nematic liquid crystal hosts. Values of β range between +30.7 and +47.7 μm−1 in five different nematic hosts. A 26% mixture in E7 is homogenous indefinitely and induces a room-temperature blue phase.
The effect of verapamil on the gastrocnemius and soleus muscles of the cat in vivo

Abstract The effects of verapamil on the force of contraction of soleus and gastrocnemius muscles of the cat were examined in vivo. The rapid intra-arterial administration of verapamil (100–800 μg/kg) produced a dose-dependent increase in the contractile force of soleus and gastrocnemius muscles stimulated supramaximally via their nerves. Verapamil also potentiated twitch tension in d-tubocurarine-treated, directly stimulated soleus preparations. This agent had no effect, however, on the contractile force of 14- to 16-day chronicaly denervated, directly stimulated soleus muscle. Verapamil (400 μg/kg, i.a.) also produced a significant increase in muscle action potential duration while having no effect on amplitudes, rise times or resting membrane potential. It is concluded that verapamil acts directly on innervated skeletal muscle to increase muscle force and it is suggested that the probable site of action is at the muscle membrane.
Specific [3H] UK14, 304 binding in human cortex occurs at multiple high affinity states with alpha2-adrenergic selectivity and differing affinities for GTP

Abstract [3H]UK14,034 is a full agonist at α2-adrenergic receptors. Although the characteristics of the binding of the partial α2-adrenergic agonists in postmortem human brain were known, the binding of [3H]UK14,304 had not been studied in this issue. Multi-site binding of this radiolabel had been reported in other tissues and guanosine triphosphate (GTP) had been shown to reduce [3H]UK14,304 binding. We now report that [3H]UK14,304 labels at least 2 specific binding sites in human brain that both have the characteristics of an α2-adrenergic binding site. GTP decreases agonist binding at both of these sites, but with different potencies at each site.
Adiabatic Thermal Changes in Barium Titanate Ceramic at Low Temperatures

The adiabatic thermal changes at 4\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{}K in barium titanate ceramic show a heating effect whether the the electric field is applied or removed. An interpretation of these result is that the polarization process is thermodynamically irreversible. The large temperature dependence of the dielectric constant at 4\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{}K may be understood as a result of the thermodynamically irreversible polarization. Quantitative results are given as to the temperature rise as a function of electric field strength and as a function of temperature.
Fluorescence-Dip Infrared Spectroscopy of Jet-Cooled 5-Hydroxytropolone

Ground-state infrared spectra of the syn and anti conformers of jet-cooled 5-hydroxytropolone (5-HOTrOH) monomer have been recorded free from interference from one another using a fluorescence depl...
Enhancement of 7-methoxyresorufin O-demethylation activity of human cytochrome P450 1A2 by molecular breeding

Abstract Alkylresorufins are model substrates for cytochrome P450 (P450) 1A2. The ability of human P450 1A2 to catalyze 7-methoxyresorufin O -demethylation was improved by screening of random mutant libraries (expressed in Escherichia coli ) on the basis of 7-methoxyresorufin O-demethylation. After three rounds of mutagenesis and screening, the triple mutant E163K/V193M/K170Q yielded a kcat > five times faster than wild type P450 1A2 in steady-state kinetic analysis using either isolated membrane fractions or purified, reconstituted enzymes. The enhanced catalytic activity was not attributed to changes in substrate affinity. The kinetic hydrogen isotope effect of the triple mutant did not change from wild type enzyme and suggests that C–H bond cleavage is rate-limiting in both enzymes. Homology modeling, based on an X-ray structure of rabbit P450 2C5, suggests that the locations of mutated residues are not close to the substrate binding site and therefore that structural elements outside of this site play roles in changing the catalytic activity. This approach has potential value in understanding P450 1A2 and generating engineered enzymes with enhanced catalytic activity.
Folklore in the Junior College Library

Many community colleges are located near rural areas where significant folkloric research could be done. Community college librarians may be pleasantly surprised to find many of the standard folkloric resources on their reference shelves. In addition, folklorists may be professors of English, anthropology, history, sociology, art, or music, who carry out research in folklore in addition to their primary areas of investigation. Community colleges should be able to offer courses in folklore without adding faculty or purchasing additional library resources. The article also contains a working bibliography.
Regulation of intracellular cyclooxygenase levels by gene transcription and protein degradation

Cyclooxygenases-1 and -2 (COX-1 and -2) catalyze the committed step in prostaglandin formation. Each isozyme subserves different biological functions. This is, at least in part, a consequence of differences in patterns of COX-1 and COX-2 expression. COX-1 is induced during development, and COX-1 mRNA and COX-1 protein are very stable. These latter properties can explain why COX-1 protein levels usually remain constant in those cells that express this isozyme. COX-2 is usually expressed inducibly in association with cell replication or differentiation. Both COX-2 mRNA and COX-2 protein have short half-lives relative to those of COX-1. Therefore, COX-2 protein is typically present for only a few hours after its synthesis. Here we review and develop the concepts that (a) COX-2 gene transcription can involve at least six different cis-acting promoter elements interacting with trans-acting factors generated by multiple, different signaling pathways, (b) the relative contribution of each cis-acting COX-2 promoter element depends on the cell type, the stimulus and the time following the stimulus and (c) a unique 27 amino acid instability element located just upstream of the C-terminus of COX-2 targets this isoform to the ER-associated degradation system and proteolysis by the cytosolic 26S proteasome.
The differential influence of colocalized and segregated dual protein signals on neurite outgrowth on surfaces.

Abstract We present an in vitro micropatterning approach in which the density and spatial presentation of two separate protein layers can be independently controlled to form cell stripe assays through (1) the simultaneous application of microcontact printing (μCP) and microfluidic network (μFN) patterning to generate alternating stripes of pure single protein layers or (2) through μCP onto a pre-adsorbed homogeneous protein layer to generate alternating single and dual protein stripes. This approach enabled the creation of choice boundaries in which protein–protein interactions were limited and the effects of spatially segregated or colocalized dual protein signals on model primary neuronal behavior could be readily interrogated and compared on both glass and tissue culture polystyrene substrates. Dorsal root ganglion (DRG) cell body attachment was dictated largely by non-specific cell adhesion interactions and interactions between the guidance molecules laminin and aggrecan were insufficient to explain aggrecan inhibition on neurite outgrowth. The presentation of a specific laminin epitope stabilized by interactions with aggrecan and destabilized by μCP was a strong predictor of neurite promoting activity. These observations provide evidence that aggrecan is intrinsically inhibitory and that laminin–aggrecan interactions do not diminish laminin growth promoting properties.
The Nuclear Exosome and Adenylation Regulate Posttranscriptional Tethering of Yeast GAL Genes to the Nuclear Periphery

Summary GAL genes and other activated yeast genes remain tethered to the nuclear periphery even after transcriptional shutoff. To identify factors that affect this tethering, we designed a plasmid-based visual screen. Although many factors affected GAL tethering during transcription, fewer specifically affected posttranscriptional tethering. Tw o of these, Rrp6p and Lrp1p, are nuclear exosome components known to contribute to RNA retention near transcription sites (dot RNA). Moreover, these exosome mutations lead to a substantial posttranscriptional increase in polyadenylated GAL1 3′ ends. This accompanies a loss of unadenylated (pA−) GAL1 RNA and a loss of posttranscriptional gene-periphery tethering, as well as a decrease in dot RNA levels. This suggests that the exosome inhibits adenylation of some GAL1 transcripts, which results in the accumulation of pA− RNA adjacent to the GAL1 gene. We propose that this dot RNA, probably via RNP proteins, contributes to the physical tether linking the GAL1 gene to the nuclear periphery.
Soft planar shadows using plateaus

This paper presents an algorithm for rapidly creating and rendering soft shadows on a plane. It has the advantages of rapid generation on current hard-ware, as well as high quality and a realistic feel on a perceptual level. The algorithm renders the soft shadow to a texture. It begins with a hard drop shadow, then uses the object's silhouette edges to generate penumbrae in a single pass. Though the shadows generated are physically inaccurate, this technique yields penumbrae that are smooth and perceptually convincing.
Mantle geochemistry: big lessons from little droplets.

How does Hawaii look deep below the surface? Like viewing an object at a different magnification, studies of minuscule inclusions in volcanic rocks on the surface provide a fresh perspective on the question.
Maximum likelihood estimation of the double exponential jump-diffusion process

The double exponential jump-diffusion (DEJD) model, recently proposed by Kou (Manage Sci 48(8), 1086–1101, 2002) and Ramezani and Zeng (http://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=606361, 1998), generates a highly skewed and leptokurtic distribution and is capable of matching key features of stock and index returns. Moreover, DEJD leads to tractable pricing formulas for exotic and path dependent options (Kou and Wang Manage Sci 50(9), 1178–1192, 2004). Accordingly, the double exponential representation has gained wide acceptance. However, estimation and empirical assessment of this model has received little attention to date. The primary objective of this paper is to fill this gap. We use daily returns for the S&P-500 and the NASDAQ indexes and individual stocks, in conjunction with maximum likelihood estimation (MLE) to fit the DEJD model. We utilize the BIC criterion to assess the performance of DEJD relative to log-normally distributed jump-diffusion (LJD) and the geometric brownian motion (GBM). We find that DEJD performs better than these alternatives for both indexes and individual stocks.
Effect of binge eating on treatment outcomes for smoking cessation.

Introduction This study investigated the effect of binge eating on smoking cessation outcomes. Methods Participants (n = 186) reported binge eating status at baseline and at a 6-week postquit evaluation during a larger clinical trial for smoking cessation. Binge eating was defined with a single self-report questionnaire item from the Dieting and Bingeing Severity Scale. Participant groups defined by binge eating status were compared on abstinence rates. Results Among participants, 22% reported binge eating at baseline, 17% denied binge eating at baseline but endorsed binge eating by 6 weeks, and 61% denied binge eating at both timepoints. Participants who reported binge eating prior to or during treatment had lower quit rates at 6-week postquit and at the 24-week follow-up point than those without binge eating; the groups did not differ at the 12-week follow-up point. The group that experienced an emergence of binge eating reported significantly more weight gain than the other groups. Conclusions These results suggest that treatments addressing problematic eating behaviors during smoking cessation are warranted.
Significance of time-reversal symmetry for time-resolved measurements of hydrogenic and other atomic observables

Time-resolved measurements of atomic observables are analyzed using a Liouville space formulation and a Hermitian unit tensor base. This approach makes it possible to distinguish cleanly the symmetries of a formation and/or excitation process completed by time $t=0$, a time evolution under experimental control between $t=0$ and $t=t$, and a measurement at $t=t$, even for hydrogenic observables. Each observable is labeled by a time-reversal quantum number, allowing exploration for the first time of the close relationship between time-reversal symmetry and the time evolution of atomic observables. The experimental reconstruction of atomic observables (at $t=0$) from subsequent time-resolved measurements of the anisotropy and polarization of emitted electric dipole photons is discussed. Hydrogenic observables are stressed and the use of strong fields is included, thus generalizing Fano and Macek's approach.
Young’s modulus of single-walled carbon nanotubes

We report in detail that unlike other materials, carbon nanotubes are so small that changes in structure can affect the Young’s modulus. The variation in modulus is attributed to differences in torsional strain, which is the dominant component of the total strain energy. Torsional strain, and correspondingly Young’s modulus, increases significantly with decreasing tube diameter and increases slightly with decreasing tube helicity.
Studies on phosphorylcholine-specific T cell idiotypes and idiotype-specific immunity.

Abstract Because of the restricted heterogeneity of idiotypes generated in the course of antiphosphorylcholine (PC) ∗ immune responses and the availability of idiotype-specific probes, we studied idiotypic and anti-idiotypic murine T cells in the PC system. PC-specific helper activity was assayed in mice expressing varying levels of humoral HOPC-8 (H8) idiotype and inhibited with both conventional anti-H8 antiserum produced in A/He mice and a monoclonal anti-H8 reagent obtained from a hybridoma. Our results using the conventional anti-H8 indicate that T cell receptors bearing H8 idiotypic determinants are produced in the absence of circulating H8 antibody, and that H8 idiotype expression by T and B cells in the same mouse may not show parallel expression of idiotypes. The monospecific anti-H8 Ig could suppress H8-positive B cell responses but was incapable of inhibiting PC-specific T cells. The implications of these findings are discussed. Furthermore, we demonstrate that immunization with purified anti-PC idiotype generates T cells which regulate the proliferation of idiotype-bearing myeloma cells.
Effect of particle non-sphericity on satellite monitoring of drifting volcanic ash clouds

Volcanic eruptions loft gases and ash particles into the atmosphere and produce effects that are both short term (aircraft hazards, interference with satellite measurements) and long term (atmospheric chemistry, climate). Large (greater than 0.5mm) ash particles fall out in minutes [Rose et al, 1995], but fine ash particles can remain in the atmosphere for many days. This fine volcanic ash is a hazard to modem jet aircraft because the operating temperatures of jet engines are above the solidus temperature of volcanic ash, and because ash causes abrasion of windows and airframe, and disruption of avionics. At large distances(10(exp 2)-10(exp 4) km or more) from their source, drifting ash clouds are increasingly difficult to distinguish from meteorological clouds, both visually and on radar [Rose et al., 1995]. Satellites above the atmosphere are unique platforms for viewing volcanic clouds on a global basis and measuring their constituents and total mass. Until recently, only polar AVHRR and geostationary GOES instruments could be used to determine characteristics of drifting volcanic ash clouds using the 10-12 micron window [Prata 1989; Wen and Rose 1994; Rose and Schneider 1996]. The NASA Total Ozone Mapping Spectrometer (TOMS) instruments aboard the Nimbus-7, Meteor3, ADEOS, and Earth Probe satellites have produced a unique data set of global SO2 volcanic emissions since 1978 (Krueger et al., 1995). Besides SO2, a new technique has been developed which uses the measured spectral contrast of the backscattered radiances in the 330-380nm spectral region (where gaseous absorption is negligible) in conjunction with radiative transfer models to retrieve properties of volcanic ash (Krotkov et al., 1997) and other types of absorbing aerosols (Torres et al., 1998).
Using opportunistic face logging from smartphone to infer mental health: challenges and future directions

We discuss the opportunistic face logging project that collected 5811 opportunistic photos using the front-facing camera from the smartphones of 37 participants over a 10-week period. We present our experiences using computer vision and human labeling approaches on the photos to assess mental health of the participants. Finally, we discuss our insights, challenges, and future directions.
Experiments in social computation

Human subjects perform a computationally wide range of tasks from only local, networked interactions.