cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Auditory steady state response deficits are associated with symptom severity and poor functioning in patients with psychotic disorder.

Abstract Objectives Gamma oscillation is important for cortico-cortical coordination and the integration of information across neural networks. The 40 Hz auditory steady-state response (ASSR), which reflects neural synchrony in the gamma band (30–100 Hz), is abnormal in patients with schizophrenia (SZ). The present study used the ASSR at multiple frequencies to examine (1) gamma dysfunction in patients with SZ, schizoaffective (SA), and bipolar disorder (BD) compared with controls, (2) the relationship between ASSR measures and clinical symptom severity, and (3) the relationship between ASSR measures and real-life community functioning. Methods EEG was recorded from 75 controls, 52 SZ, 55 SA, and 89 BD patients during 20–30-40-Hz binaural click trains. ANCOVA was used to compare ASSR measures between groups controlling for age, sex, and education. Associations between ASSR measures, symptom severity, and community functioning were examined using linear regression and Pearson partial correlations. Results ASSR deficits at gamma frequency were observed in all patient groups. SA patients showed additional specific deficit in the 20 Hz ASSR. Severity of manic, depressive, and anxiety symptoms mediated ASSR deficits. Severity of hallucinatory symptom and community functioning, particularly independent living/meaningful activity, were significantly and independently associated with the 40 Hz ASSR. Conclusions SZ, SA and BD patients are likely to share the same abnormalities in neural processes that generate gamma oscillations. 40 Hz ASSR are associated with community functioning across patients and may serve as a biomarker for predicting functional outcome.
The Impact of Beliefs and Actions on the Infusion of Culturally Relevant Pedagogy in Science Teacher Education

Culturally relevant pedagogy has been the subject of much debate and discussion in teacher education even though K-12 classrooms and college campuses are more diverse. In this chapter, we will further examine how teacher beliefs and actions perpetuate the absence of culturally relevant pedagogy in science teaching in US classrooms. The authors discuss specific teaching beliefs and actions that are necessary to infuse culturally relevant pedagogy into teacher education programs for middle and high school science classrooms and close with examples of culturally relevant teaching practices and recommendations to effectively prepare teachers for multicultural science education.
Intraprocedural Thrombotic Events During Percutaneous Coronary Intervention in Patients With Non–ST-Segment Elevation Acute Coronary Syndromes Are Associated With Adverse Outcomes: Analysis From the ACUITY (Acute Catheterization and Urgent Intervention Triage Strategy) Trial

Objectives The purpose of this study was to assess the prognostic impact of intraprocedural thrombotic events (IPTE) during percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). Background Ischemic complications of PCI are infrequent but prognostically important. How often these events are a consequence of intraprocedural complications is unknown, with only limited data assessing the occurrence and importance of IPTE. Methods A total of 3,428 patients who underwent PCI for non–ST-segment elevation acute coronary syndrome in the ACUITY (Acute Catheterization and Urgent Intervention Triage Strategy) trial underwent detailed frame-by-frame core laboratory angiographic analysis. An IPTE, defined as the development of new or increasing thrombus, abrupt vessel closure, no reflow, slow reflow, or distal embolization at any time during the procedure, occurred in 121 patients (3.5%). Results Patients with IPTE had higher in-hospital, 30-day, and 1-year major adverse cardiac event rates than patients without IPTE (25.6% vs. 6.3% in-hospital, 30.6% vs. 9.3% at 30 days, and 37.0% vs. 20.5% at 1 year; p Conclusions Although infrequent among patients undergoing early PCI for moderate and high-risk non–ST-segment elevation acute coronary syndrome, IPTE was strongly associated with subsequent adverse outcomes including death, myocardial infarction, and stent thrombosis.
Viral Genes and Tissue Tropism

A major feature of viral infections is their localization in specific cells and tissues [1]. This specific localization of different viruses into different tissues, as well as to different cells within those tissues, results in distinct patterns of infectious diseases [2]. Recent studies with the mammalian reoviruses and their infection of newborn mice have identified the specific viral protein that determines tropism (the viral hemagglutinin) and have uncovered approaches to alter regions of the hemagglutinin selectively, thereby altering virulence and changing tropism [3].
Computer science: student myths and misconceptions

This paper discusses common myths and misconceptions about the field of computer science. It addresses and attempts to dispel these notions in an effort to provide prospective computer science students and the general public with a more realistic view of the field.
The Bartonian unit stratotype (S. England): Assessment of its correlation problems and potential

Abstract The problems of correlation of strata belonging to the unit Bartonian Stage in its type area of the Hampshire Basin, UK, are reviewed. These problems involve not only correlation outside the Hampshire Basin, through biostratigraphy and magnetostratigraphy, but also within the basin in terms of understanding patterns of facies distributions and reliability of local biostratigraphy. On the basis of a combination of calcareous nannoplankton, dinoflagellate cyst and magnetostratigraphic evidence, the base of the type unit Bartonian lies within Chron C18r. However, no reliable biostratigraphic indicators have yet been found to allow a more precise correlation of the base. It is suggested that more detailed microfossil and palaeomagnetic sampling at key sites could resolve these problems in order to help further the quest for an appropriate Global Stratotype Section and Point (GSSP) for the Bartonian Stage.
Impact of Brief Intervention Workshops on Addiction Provider Knowledge, Skills, Negative Attitudes, and Interest in Implementing Evidence-Based Practices.

This study evaluated the impact of Motivational Interviewing (MI) and Screening, Brief Intervention, and Referral to Treatment (SBIRT) workshops on posttraining knowledge, skills, negative attitude...
How Visual Sensory Cues Influence Reactions on Social Media: An Abstract

The use of social media has been increasing at a phenomenal pace over the last few years, with over 2.3 billion people worldwide being on social media in 2016 (Stephen et al. 2017). While different types of pictures are posted, the two most common types of pictures posted are pictures of people and food (Shaw 2015). Would being pictured next to a healthy versus unhealthy food item influence the impressions other users form of the pictured person as well as their online reactions toward the image overall? We examine the behavioral, managerial, and ethical aspects of this phenomenon.
FIBERBOTS: an autonomous swarm-based robotic system for digital fabrication of fiber-based composites

Construction is a labor-intensive industry that relies on dependent processes being completed in series. Redesigning fabrication processes to allow for parallelization and replacing workers with mobile multi-robot construction systems are strategies to expedite construction, but they typically require extensive supporting infrastructure and strictly constrain fabricable designs. Here we present Fiberbots, a platform that represents a step toward autonomous, collaborative robotic fabrication. This system comprises a team of identical robots that work in parallel to build different parts of the same structure up to tens of times larger than themselves from raw, homogeneous materials. By winding fiber and resin around themselves, each robot creates an independent composite tube that it can climb and extend. The robots’ trajectories are controlled to construct intertwining tubes that result in a computationally derived woven architecture. This end-to-end system is scalable, allowing additional robots to join the system without substantially increasing design complexity or fabrication time. As an initial demonstration of system viability, a structural case study was performed. The robots constructed a 4.5 m-tall tubular composite structure in an outdoor environment in under 12 h. While further improvements must be made before this can be used in industry or in truly cooperative settings, this is the largest known demonstration of on-site construction with multiple, homogeneous mobile robots. This work offers a scalable step forward in autonomous, site-specific fabrication systems.
Placial analysis of events: a case study on criminological places

The contrast of space and place has long been an active topic of scholarly discussions in many disciplines. While spatial analysis enjoys a multitude of quantitative methods, the study of place rem...
Creating Resilient Interventions to Food Waste: Aligning and Leveraging Systems and Design Thinking

Food waste interventions often end up shifting waste instead of reducing it. Lake, McFarland, and Vogelzang suggest efforts to ameliorate the food waste crisis could be better served through integrating theories and tools from systems thinking and design thinking. They analyse several systemic influences on food change and then recommend ten practical strategies for fostering and supporting change agents. Lake et al. suggest these ten intervention strategies will help change agents uncover and leverage the otherwise hidden interconnections between social, economic, and political systems. These strategies may open opportunities to address the underlying factors contributing to food waste and yield more inclusive, effective, and sustainable change.
Co-designing for Community Oversight: Helping People Make Privacy and Security Decisions Together

Collective feedback can support an individual's decision-making process. For instance, individuals often seek the advice of friends, family, and co-workers to help them make privacy decisions. However, current technologies often do not provide mechanisms for this type of collaborative interaction. To address this gap, we propose a novel model of Community Oversight for Privacy and Security ("CO-oPS"), which identifies mechanisms for users to interact with people they trust to help one another make digital privacy and security decisions. We apply our CO-oPS model in the context of mobile applications ("apps"). To interrogate and refine this model, we conducted participatory design sessions with 32 participants in small groups of 2-4 people who know one another, with the goal of designing a mobile app that facilitates collaborative privacy and security decision-making. We describe and reflect on the opportunities and challenges that arise from the unequal motivation and trust in seeking support and giving support within and beyond a community. Through this research, we contribute a novel framework for collaborative digital privacy and security decision-making and provide empirical evidence towards how researchers and designers might translate this framework into design-based features.
Overhead-Performance Tradeoff for MISO Broadcast Channels With Zero-Forcing Precoder

By applying a rate-distortion approach, we investigate the relationship between the amount of overhead and the system performance from an information-theoretic point of view. Though the purpose of rate-distortion theory is to find a lower bound on lossy source coding problems, the concepts of distortion and rate can be extended to communication performance measures and the quality of feedback overhead, respectively. In this article, we study the overhead-performance tradeoff for a downlink MU-MISO channel system with limited feedback. The required feedback bits for characterizing the channel state information is represented as a function of tolerable rate loss. The proposed method to derive this tradeoff is valid for any number of transmit antennas and users, and can help in designing practical systems where the impact of channel feedback overhead cannot be neglected. Comparing the obtained rate-distortion curves with vector quantization, it can be concluded that, for each user, by feeding back different numbers of bits for different channel power gains, the optimal performance can be achieved.
Gender in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis diagnosis: time to address unconscious bias

Physicians have long incorporated gender into their diagnostic algorithms of pulmonary disease in an effort to use available clinical clues when a single confirmatory diagnostic test does not exist. Gender is thought to be a relevant patient characteristic in phenotyping lung disease with a female predominance noted in patients with adult-onset asthma and male predominance in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF).1 2 Gender also may be of prognostic value in individual patients; severity of asthma is associated with female sex and increased mortality in interstitial lung disease (ILD) with male gender.2 3 While gender may increase diagnostic confidence, if the strength of the gender and disease association is not based on rigorously validated data, inaccurate diagnosis or underdiagnosis may result. In an earlier era, the failure to diagnose COPD in women was associated with gender bias when formally studied.4 More recently, the stereotype of the male smoker with lung cancer has been upended by the surprising data demonstrating higher lung cancer incidence rates in young women as compared with young men, not explained by differences in cigarette smoking.5 In this issue, Dr Assayag and colleagues investigate the role of gender in making a confident diagnosis of IPF, and conclude there is evidence for bias when …
The Good in a Technological Society

According to Aristotle, all natural things seek their own good. The human person is no exception, but for him the good coincides with both pleasure and happiness — man finds pleasure in doing that which is good, and in the exercise of his faculties he finds happiness.
Pressure Attenuation During High-Frequency Jet Ventilation: An In Vitro Study

Background: High-frequency jet ventilation (HFJV) is commonly used for premature infants with respiratory failure. However, pressure attenuation across different HFJV settings and endotracheal tubes (ETT) has not been adequately described. Therefore, we sought to investigate and quantify pressure attenuation utilizing an in vitro model. Methods: The HFJV ventilator was configured in tandem with the conventional ventilator and connected to an ASL 5000 lung model. The lung model was used to simulate four infant scenarios (weight 0.5, 1, 2, and 4kg) with corresponding ETT ID (2.5, 3.0, 3.5 and 4.0 mm), respiratory compliance (0.5, 1, 2 and 5 mL/cm H2O/kg) and resistance (50 to 200 cm H2O/L/s). The conventional ventilator was controlled throughout experiment on PC-IMV, PIP 20 cm H2O, PEEP 10 cm H2O, frequency 2 (breaths/min), TI 0.5 seconds and FIO2 0.21. Measurements were taken at combinations of HFJV PIP (20, 30 and 40 cm H2O) inspiratory time (0.02, 0.026 and 0.034 ms), frequency (360 and 420 breaths/min) which were applied to all lung model and corresponding ETTs. Pproximal was measured at the LifePort ETT adapter and Pdistal via the pressure sensor embedded within 3-D printed neonatal trachea model, precisely at the ETT outlet. For each combination of settings 1-minute of pressure samples were recorded at 100 Hz. Pressure attenuation (Patt%) was calculated as: Patt% = [(Pproximal - Pdistal)/ Pproximal] x100. Patt% was quantified for each simulated infant scenario. Linear regression analysis was utilized to quantify the relationship between Patt% and Pproximal. Results: Patt% was linearly related to Pproximal (y = 1.285 + 27.249; R2 = 0.950, P Conclusions: In an in vitro model, pressure attenuation was linearly related to Pproximal, with attenuation increasing as the HFJV PIP was increased.
Practical Automatic Lightweight Nondeterminism and Flaky Test Detection and Debugging for Python

A critically important, but surprisingly neglected, aspect of system reliability is system predictability. Many soft-ware systems are implemented using mechanisms (unsafe languages, concurrency, caching, stochastic algorithms, environmental dependencies) that can introduce unexpected and unwanted behavioral nondeterminism. Such nondeterministic behavior can result in software bugs and flaky tests as well as causing problems for test reduction, differential testing, and automated regression test generation. We show that lightweight techniques, requiring little effort on the part of developers, can extend an existing testing system to allow detection and debugging of nondeterminism. We show how to make delta-debugging effective for probabilistic faults in general, and that our methods can improve mutation score by 6% for a strong, full differential test harness for a widely used mock file system.
We Were Taught to Colonize with Literature: A Pedagogical Memoir

In this paper, the author invokes autobiography (a genre she typically uses with students and teachers) to instead listen critically to the power dynamics in her own practice as a humanities teacher/teacher educator. Key-words: literature; autobiography; teacher education.
The Dangers of Hypothetical Statutory Jurisdiction (Even When Jurisdiction Exists)

Colloquium essay arguing that the Hypothetical Statutory Jurisdiction poses dangers even when federal courts in fact have jurisdiction. Also examines how and whether Hypothetical Statutory Jurisdiction is a legal fiction.
Two-port, exteriorized uterus, fetoscopic meningomyelocele closure has fewer adverse neonatal outcomes than open hysterotomy closure.

Background In utero closure of meningomyelocele using an open hysterotomy approach is associated with preterm delivery and adverse neonatal outcomes. Objective This study compared the neonatal outcomes in in utero meningomyelocele closure using a 2-port, exteriorized uterus, fetoscopic approach vs the conventional open hysterotomy approach. Study Design This retrospective cohort study included all consecutive patients who underwent in utero meningomyelocele closure using open hysterotomy (n=44) or a 2-port, exteriorized uterus, fetoscopic approach (n=46) at a single institution between 2012 and 2020. The 2-port, exteriorized uterus, fetoscopic closure was composed of the following 3 layers: a bovine collagen patch, a myofascial layer, and a skin. The frequency of respiratory distress syndrome and a composite of other adverse neonatal outcomes, including retinopathy of prematurity, periventricular leukomalacia, and perinatal death, were compared between the study groups. Regression analyses were performed to determine any association between the fetoscopic closure and adverse neonatal outcomes, adjusted for several confounders, including gestational age of Results The fetoscopic closure was associated with a lower rate of respiratory distress syndrome than the open hysterotomy closure (11.5% [5 of 45] vs 29.5% [13 of 44]; P=.037). The proportion of neonates with a composite of other adverse neonatal outcomes in the fetoscopic group was half of that observed patients in the open hysterotomy group; however, this difference did not reach statistical significance (4.3% [2 of 46] vs 9.1% [4 of 44]; P=.429). Here, regression analysis has demonstrated that fetoscopic meningomyelocele closure was associated with a lower risk of respiratory distress syndrome (adjusted odds ratio, 0.23; 95% confidence interval, 0.06–0.84; P=.026) than open hysterotomy closure. Conclusion In utero meningomyelocele closure using a 2-port, exteriorized uterus, fetoscopic approach was associated with a lower risk of respiratory distress syndrome than the conventional open hysterotomy meningomyelocele closure.
Case Study of a Rare Incidence of a Leiomyosarcoma Mass Occluding the Distal Femoral Vein

This is a case study of a 47-year-old Caucasian male whose chief concern was left lower leg swelling for 1 month. A unilateral lower extremity venous duplex examination was performed. The results c...
Changes in taste perception and eating behavior after bariatric surgery-induced weight loss in women

Objective Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB) surgery causes greater weight loss than laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding (LAGB). We tested the hypothesis that RYGB has weight loss-independent effects on taste perception, which influence eating behavior and contribute to the greater weight loss. Methods Subjects were studied before and after ∼20% weight loss induced by RYGB (n = 17) or LAGB (n = 10). The following have been evaluated: taste sensitivity for sweet, salty and savory stimuli, sucrose and monosodium glutamate (MSG) preferences, sweetness palatability, eating behavior, and expression of taste-related genes in biopsies of fungiform papillae. Results Weight loss induced by both procedures caused the same decrease in: preferred sucrose concentration (−12 ± 10%), perceived sweetness of sucrose (−7 ± 5%), cravings for sweets and fast-foods (−22 ± 5%), influence of emotions (−27 ± 5%), and external food cues (−30 ± 4%) on eating behavior, and expression of α-gustducin in fungiform papillae (all P values <0.05). RYGB, but not LAGB, shifted sweetness palatability from pleasant to unpleasant when repetitively tasting sucrose (P = 0.05). Neither procedure affected taste detection thresholds nor MSG preferences. Conclusions LAGB and RYGB cause similar alterations in eating behaviors, when weight loss is matched. These changes in eating behavior were not associated with changes in taste sensitivity, suggesting other, as yet unknown, mechanisms are involved.
Fibroblast Growth Factors in Development

Fibroblast growth factors play a key role in a variety of developmental processes, including branching morphogenesis of the invertebrate tracheal system and vertebrate lung, as well as the cell movements of gastrulation. Keywords: fibroblast growth factor; tracheal system; lung; gastrulation
Development of Receptive Field Properties

Some elements of the organization of the visual system are present at birth. There is very substantial development over the first 4 weeks of age in parallel with the large increase in the number of synapses during this period, and there is a further refinement of visual properties over the next 3 months or so. These ages apply to the cat and are different in the primate, but the same general sequence of events occurs in both. The elements of a system of orientation columns are there at birth, but the selectivity of individual cells within this system of columns develops after birth. Some cells are definitely responsive to direction of movement at birth. On the other hand, the input from the two eyes to the cortex initially overlaps, and only segregates into eye-specific columns after birth. Sensitivity to disparity develops over the same period as segregation of ocular dominance. Acuity improves as the size of the center of the receptive fields of the sustained cells gets smaller, and the eyeball gets larger. Movement sensitivity improves as the temporal properties of the movement cell system improves. The development of physiological properties therefore tallies with the development of psychophysical properties. In both cases, most properties, with the exception of stereopsis, exist at birth, but substantial refinement and tuning occurs postnatally.
Filter synthesis using multi-dimensional search techniques

An investigation is made of the use of multidimensional search techniques as an alternate to the usual methods of filter synthesis. The method is applicable to both active and passive filter configurations. In the passive case, the results obtained from applying these techniques provide an entirely new set of filter realizations which have not appeared in previously published tables. >
A Distributed Signal Detection Theory Model: Implications to the Design of Warnings

A distributed signal detection theory model is employed to analyze the effectiveness of warnings under different operating conditions. In particular, the following two cases are examined: the warning on a product is always present, and the warning on a product is administered selectively. The comparative effects of warning versus no warning are described. It is established that selectivity always increase effectiveness. Furthermore, the implications of intermittent hazard versus continuous hazard are discussed.
Wafer bonding using parylene and wafer-level transfer of free-standing parylene membranes

This paper describes the development of a wafer bonding technology utilizing a thin Parylene film and its application as a wafer-level freestanding Parylene membrane transfer method. First, a low-temperature (/spl sim/230C/spl deg/) and simple polymer bonding process utilizing very thin (/spl sim/4000/spl Aring/) Parylene intermediate layer has been developed and characterized. Parylene bonding has been performed at 230/spl deg/C in a vacuum of /spl sim/0.15 mTorr under 800 N force on a 4" wafer. The pull-tests on Parylene bonded samples indicate a 3.6 MPa bonding strength. A 1 /spl mu/m-thick Parylene membrane with or without patterns has been successfully transferred over to the device wafer at the wafer-level. This transferred thin film seals over patterns on the device side of a second wafer spanning 10 mm-long and 28 /spl mu/m-deep square-shaped trenches. A yield of more than 65% across a 4" wafer has been achieved. Fluidic micro-channels and flat-surface electrostatic actuators have been successfully fabricated using this method.
Novel molecules related to MHC antigens

Several types of molecules related to classical class I and II antigens of the MHC have been recently discovered. At the same time we have learnt more about the functions of non-classical (class Ib) antigens. This has shed light on the possible evolutionary origins and the likely roles that these molecules may play in the immune response.
Modulation of the hyperpolarization‐activated current (Ih) by cyclic nucleotides in guinea‐pig primary afferent neurons.

1. Whole-cell patch-clamp recordings were made from dissociated guinea-pig nodose and trigeminal ganglion neurons in culture to study second messenger mechanisms of the hyperpolarization-activated current (Ih) modulation. 2. Prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) and forskolin modulate Ih in primary afferents by shifting the activation curve in the depolarizing direction and increasing the maximum amplitude. 3. The cAMP analogues, RP-cAMP-S (an inhibitor of protein kinase A (PKA)) and SP-cAMP-S (an activator of PKA), both shifted the activation curve of Ih to more depolarized potentials and occluded the effects of forskolin. These results suggest that Ih is modulated by a direct action of the cAMP analogues. 4. Superfusion of other cyclic nucleotide analogues (8-Br-cAMP, 8-(4-chlorophenylthio)-cAMP and 8-Br-cGMP) mimicked the actions of forskolin and PGE2, but dibutyryl cGMP, 5'-AMP and adenosine had no effect on Ih. 8-Br-cAMP and 8-Br-cGMP had similar concentration response profiles, suggesting that Ih has little nucleotide selectivity. 5. The inhibitor peptide (PKI), the catalytic subunit of PKA (C subunit) and phosphatase inhibitors (microcystin and okadaic acid) had no effect on forskolin modulation of Ih. 6. These results indicate that Ih is regulated by cyclic nucleotides in sensory neurons. Positive regulation of Ih by prostaglandins produced during inflammation may lead to depolarization and facilitation of repetitive activity, and thus contribute to sensitization to painful stimuli.
Effect of initial excess density and discharge on constant flux gravity currents propagating on a slope

The effect of the upstream conditions on propagation of gravity current over a slope is investigated using three-dimensional numerical simulations. The current produced by constant buoyancy flux, is simulated using a large eddy simulation solver. The dense saline solution used at the inlet is the driving force of the flow. Higher replenishment of the current is possible either by a high inflow discharge or high initial fractional density excess. In the simulations, it is observed that these two parameters affect the flow in different ways. Results show that the front speed of the descending current is proportional to the cube root of buoyancy flux, \((g_o^{\prime } Q)^{1/3}\), which agrees with the previous experimental and numerical observations. The height of the tail of the current grows linearly in the streamwise direction. Formation of a strong shear layer at the boundary of mixed upper layer and dense lower layer is observed within the body and the tail of the current. Over the tail of the current far enough from the inlet, the vertical velocity and density profiles are compared to the ones from an experimental study. Distance from the bed to the point of maximum velocity increases with an increase in inflow discharge, while it remains practically unchanged with increasing initial fractional excess density in the simulations. Even though the velocity profiles are in good agreement, some discrepancies are observed in fractional excess density profiles among experimental and numerical results. Possible reasons for these discrepancies are discussed. Generally, gravity current type of flows could be expressed in layer-integrated formulation of governing equations. However, layer integration introduces several constants, commonly known as shape factors, to the equations of motion. The values of these shape factors are calculated based on simulation results and compared to the values from experiments and to the favorably used ‘top hat’ assumption.
Permutation Analysis of Data with Multiple Binary Category Choices

In many studies, respondents may mark all answers that apply when responding to a multiple-choice question, i.e., a cafeteria or multiple-response question. One exact and two approximate permutation methods are described to analyze multiple-response questions. The methods provide the probability, under the null hypothesis, that the multiple binary responses do not differ among specified groups.
When size is not everything: determining the relative importance of two asymmetries influencing contest outcome.

Correspondence: Y. Brandt, Department of Biology, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN 47405, U.S.A. (email: ybrandt@indiana.edu). Studies of fighting behaviour in fish have repeatedly shown that the larger contestant in pairwise contests is much more likely to win than is the smaller contestant, even when the difference in size is subtle (Turner & Huntingford 1986; Enquist et al. 1990; Ribowski & Franck 1993). Body size is an important asymmetry in determining contest outcome across a wide range of taxa, because larger contestants are physically stronger and thus can inflict more damage upon their opponents (Maynard Smith 1982; Riechert 1998). Yet in a study of contests staged between male cichlid fish Tilapia zillii, Neat et al. (1998) found that larger contestants won only 58% of all contests. They found a much better predictor of contest outcome: contestants with relatively larger testes won 88% of all contests. Based on P values obtained from a multiple logistic regression analysis, they concluded that relative testes weight was a good predictor of fight outcome while relative body weight was not. Here I argue three points. (1) Neat et al. have misinterpreted the results of their experiment, having based their conclusion upon statistical significance (P values). In contrast, comparing the regression coefficients reveals that, compared with testes weight, relative body weight may be less important, as important, or even many times more important in predicting contest outcome. Thus, while Neat et al. have demonstrated that relative testes weight plays a role in determining contest outcome, their data do not support the conclusion that relative body weight bears little influence on contest outcome. (2) Neat et al.’s experiment was predisposed to reveal an effect of testes size, but far less likely to reveal an effect of body size, on contest outcome. Their study had very low statistical power for detecting the effect of body size, because contestants were paired such that their body size
Adhesion of Plasticized Polyvinyl Butyral) to Glass

Abstract A study of safety glass provides a good example of the interplay among the many physical properties involved in “adhesion”, and the relationship between adhesion and performance. This work demonstrates the value of applying known fundamentals to practical problems. An idealized model of a windshield fracture event is described in terms of interactions among mechanical responses of the interlayer, the fracture characteristics of the glass and the high speed, low angle peel behavior. Data on the surface energies of glass, polyvinyl butyral) and water show that at thermodynamic equilibrium a stable system comprising glass, water and polyvinyl butyral) phases, an aqueous phase must lie between the glass and PVB. The potassium salts are shown to be effective because they are deliquescent and give solutions at equilibrium with the water in the PVB at water contents of ∼0.40% or higher. The greater the amount of salt at the interface and the higher the water content of the sheeting during lamination, th...
High energy 13.9 nm table-top soft X-ray laser operating at 2.5 Hz repetition rate

We have demonstrated table-top generation of λ = 13.9 nm laser pulses with 7 µJ energy at 2.5 Hz repetition rate from nickel-like ions in a laser-created plasma that will enable new applications of coherent soft x-ray light on a table-top.
Maternal behavior in the rabbit: Effects of androgen treatment during gestation upon the nest-building behavior of the mother and her offspring☆

Abstract Female New Zealand White rabbits mated to Purdue-Dutch belted males were treated with testosterone propionate from Day 17–29 of gestation. While there was no apparent effect on gestation and maternal behaviors of injected mothers, the hybrid offspring showed anatomical and behavioral masculinization. Adult hybrid offspring were gonadectomized and treated with estradiol and progesterone to induce nest-building behavior. Ninety per cent of the control females built maternal nests as compared to only 11% of the female offspring of mothers treated with high levels of testosterone during gestation. None of the control males built maternal nests. Testosterone propionate apparently influences the organization of CNS structures mediating maternal-nest building in the adult rabbit. The similarity of these results to the findings concerned with the role of the androgen in the development of sexual behavior are discussed.
Membrane-type 1 Matrix Metalloproteinase Regulates Macrophage-dependent Elastolytic Activity and Aneurysm Formation in Vivo

During arterial aneurysm formation, levels of the membrane-anchored matrix metalloproteinase, MT1-MMP, are elevated dramatically. Although MT1-MMP is expressed predominately by infiltrating macrophages, the roles played by the proteinase in abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) formation in vivo remain undefined. Using a newly developed chimeric mouse model of AAA, we now demonstrate that macrophage-derived MT1-MMP plays a dominant role in disease progression. In wild-type mice transplanted with MT1-MMP-null marrow, aneurysm formation induced by the application of CaCl2 to the aortic surface was almost completely ablated. Macrophage infiltration into the aortic media was unaffected by MT1-MMP deletion, and AAA formation could be reconstituted when MT1-MMP+/+ macrophages, but not MT1-MMP+/+ lymphocytes, were infused into MT1-MMP-null marrow recipients. In vitro studies using macrophages isolated from either WT/MT1-MMP-/- chimeric mice, MMP-2-null mice, or MMP-9-null mice demonstrate that MT1-MMP alone plays a dominant role in macrophage-mediated elastolysis. These studies demonstrate that destruction of the elastin fiber network during AAA formation is dependent on macrophage-derived MT1-MMP, which unexpectedly serves as a direct-acting regulator of macrophage proteolytic activity.
Artificial insemination and fertility in Turkeys

Synopsis Large‐type White turkey hens from a flock with a record of low “fertility” (live embryos at 7 to 10 days’ incubation) were distributed randomly into four groups of 50 hens each and were given treatments involving antibiotic and inseminations on a weekly or fortnightly schedule. During the first 5 weeks of the experiment, semen was introduced, via a plastic tube, at least 5 cm. into the oviduct of all birds in each group. Irrespective of the type of treatment, there was a significant rise in “fertility” in all groups. This was sustained for a 4‐week period, with the highest “fertility” occurring in the group inseminated weekly. When shallow insemination was used with two groups, “fertility” over a second 4‐week period was lowest in these two groups. Since percentage infertile eggs could account for the major share of the decline in percentage live embryos, it is postulated that the low live embryo percentage existing previously in the flock resulted from insufficient numbers of spermatozoa being i...
A probabilistic multicommodity-flow solution to circuit clustering problems

Circuit clustering plays a fundamental role in hierarchical designs. identifying strongly connected components in the circuits can significantly reduce the complexity of the design and improve the performance of the design process. However, there hm not been a clear objective function for circuit clustering. In this paper, we present a new clustering metric based on the random graph model and the ratio cut(Wei891 concept, A probabilistic, multi-commodity flow based algorithm is proposed and tested under the new clustering metric. Experimental results show that this algorithm generates promising results with respect to the proposed metric. Extensions and directions for future work are also proposed. An intuitive notion of a cluster is that it is part of the circuit which is significantly “more complex” or “denser” than the rest of the circuit. This intuitive understanding was often formulated by either connectivity or graphdensity models[Gar90] and realized by local approximations. In this paper, we present a new clustering metric based on random graph modcl[Bol85] and the concept of ratio cut[Wei89]. This metric has a natural analogy to certain communication problems. In a communication system composed of hosts and links, each host communicates to every other host with identical demand 5 Suppose WC use nodes and edges to represent hosts and links, and flows on edges to represent communications, the scenario transforms to a uniform multi-commodity flow problem[Iri67][Ona71]. The objective is to increase demand f as much as possible. As we keep increasing f, some of the edges become saturated. These saturated cdgcs form a bottlcncck of communication and thus prescribes a potential clustering of the communication system. In certain cases, these bottlenecks generate optimal clusterings in terms of the proposed metric. Meanwhile, clustering is often distinguished from partitioning as a constructive method. A good clustering algorithm must effectively identify the size and location of each cluster. In this regard, the Kemighan-Lin[Ker70] based algorithm cannot give satisfactory solution since neither the sizes nor the number of clusters are known a
Noninvasive fireground assessment of carboxyhemoglobin levels in firefighters.

Objectives. Carboxyhemoglobin (COHb) levels can be estimated by chemical analysis of exhaled alveolar breath. Such noninvasive measurement could be used on the fireground to screen both firefighters (FFs) andvictims. The purpose of this study was to assess the feasibility of using a hand-held carbon monoxide (CO) monitoring device to screen for CO toxicity in FFs under field conditions. Methods. Informed consent was obtained from all participants. Using a hand-held breath CO detection device, COHb readings were collected at baseline, andthen as FFs exited burning buildings after performing interior fire attack andoverhaul with self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA) during live-fire training. Ambient CO levels were occasionally measured in interior areas where the FFs were working to assess the degree of CO exposure. Results. Baseline COHb readings of 64 FFs ranged from 0% to 3% (mean 1%, median 1%). One hundred eighty-four COHb readings were collected during training exercises. The mean andmedian COHb ...
The isotopic composition of lead from St. Helena and ascension islands

The isotopic rempositions of lead from 7 volcanic rocks from St. Helena and 7 volcanic rocks from Ascension Island are presented. The St. Helena leads are the most radiogenic volcanic lead samples analyzed to date. A graphical presentation relating the parameters μ2, μ2 and T1 for a two-stage lead evolution model is given. It is suggested that both the U/Pb ratio and Th/U ratio of the upper mantle source of the St. Helena voleanic rocks were fractionated prior to several hundred m.y. ago.
TSLP directly impairs pulmonary Treg function: association with aberrant tolerogenic immunity in asthmatic airway

Background: Even though thymic stromal lymphopoietin (TSLP) has been implicated in the development of allergic inflammation, its influence on immune tolerance mediated by regulatory T cells (Treg) have not been explored. We aimed to dissect the influence of TSLP on immunosuppressive activities of Treg and its potential consequences in human allergic asthma. Methods: In vitro culture system was utilized to study the effects of TSLP on human Treg. The functional competency of pulmonary Treg from a cohort of 15 allergic asthmatic, 15 healthy control, and 15 non-allergic asthmatic subjects was also evaluated by suppression assays and flow cytometric analysis. Results: Activated pulmonary Treg expressed TSLP-R and responded to TSLP-mediated activation of STAT5. TSLP directly and selectively impaired IL-10 production of Treg and inhibited their suppressive activity. In human allergic asthma, pulmonary Treg exhibited a significant decrease in suppressive activity and IL-10 production compared to healthy control and non-allergic asthmatic counterparts. These functional alterations were associated with elevated TSLP expression in bronchoaveolar lavage fluid (BAL) of allergic asthmatic subjects. Furthermore, allergic asthmatic BAL could suppress IL-10 production by healthy control pulmonary Treg in a TSLP-dependent manner. Conclusions: These results provide the first evidences for a direct role of TSLP in the regulation of suppressive activities of Treg. TSLP mediated inhibition of Treg function might present a novel pathologic mechanism to dampen tolerogenic immune responses in inflamed asthmatic airway.
Volume Properties for the Wideband Ambiguity Function

It is shown that the volume under the wideband ambiguity function is close to the square of the signal energy. The ambiguity volume is asymptotically conserved as the signal approaches the narrowband case. The narrowband ambiguity volume is a lower bound for the volume of the wideband ambiguity function.
Role of antibiotics in sinusitis.

Purpose of review Sinusitis is a leading reason for outpatient antibiotic use, but symptoms are nonspecific. We review potential methods that might enhance the ability to appropriately prescribe antibiotics. Recent findings The evidence base for antibiotic use in acute rhinosinusitis is strongest in studies with stringent entry criteria. In less restrictive studies antibiotics and placebo perform equally. Bacteria from nasopharyngeal swabs in adults correlate with sinus cultures. A recent study showed that antibiotics shortened the duration of acute rhinosinusitis (ARS) symptoms in children. Tellingly, over 2000 children with symptoms were screened to enroll less than 10% who fulfilled the study's stringent criteria. In chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS), two grade 1 studies on efficacy of long-term macrolide therapy showed conflicting results. Odontogenic sinusitis is underappreciated and frequently fails to grow on culture because of presumed difficulty in growing anaerobes. Summary There is currently no grade 1 evidence to support antibiotic use in CRS; however, studies to date have not been conducted in patients with isolated purulent sinusitis. Future use of cultures to direct antibiotic therapy, such as nasopharyngeal swabs in adults with ARS or endoscopically guided cultures, may aid in targeting antibiotic therapy more effectively.
A Stellar Spectral Flux Library: 1150-25000 A ˚

A stellar spectral flux library of wide spectral coverage and an example of its application are presented. The new library consists of 131 flux-calibrated spectra, encompassing all normal spectral types and luminosity classes at solar abundance, and metal-weak and metal-rich F-K dwarf and G-K giant components. Each library spectrum was formed by combining data from several sources overlapping in wavelength coverage. The SIMBAD database, measured colors, and line strengths were used to check that each input component has closely similar stellar type. The library has complete spectral coverage from 1150 to 10620 Afor all components and to 25000 Afor about half of them, mainly later types of solar abundance. Missing spectral coverage in the infrared currently consists of a smooth energy distribution formed from standard colors for the relevant types. The library is designed to permit inclusion of additional digital spectra, particularly of non-solar abundance stars in the infrared, as they become available. The library spectra are each given as Fl versus l, from 1150 to 25000 Ain steps of 5 A ˚. A program to combine the library spectra in the ratios appropriate to a selected isochrone is described and an example of a spectral component signature of a composite population of solar age and metallicity is illustrated. The library spectra and associated tables are available as text files by remote electronic access.
An EHF Coplanar Monolithic Single Balanced Mixed using Mott Diodes

A 30 GHz monolithic low noise balanced mixer has been developed using an integrated "bow tie" antenna/WG transition and low parasitic Mott diodes. The diodes and mixer circuit were developed on General Electric grown MBE material and were fabricated using a plated air bridge technology. Measurements on the diode at DC and RF showed that the zero bias junction capacitance was 0.025 pF and the series resistance was 10 Ohms. A conversion loss of 6 dB was measured at 30 GHz with a 1 GHz IF.
Simulation-based comparisons of Tahoe, Reno and SACK TCP

This paper uses simulations to explore the benefits of adding selective acknowledgments (SACK) and selective repeat to TCP. We compare Tahoe and Reno TCP, the two most common reference implementations for TCP, with two modified versions of Reno TCP. The first version is New-Reno TCP, a modified version of TCP without SACK that avoids some of Reno TCP's performance problems when multiple packets are dropped from a window of data. The second version is SACK TCP, a conservative extension of Reno TCP modified to use the SACK option being proposed in the Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF). We describe the congestion control algorithms in our simulated implementation of SACK TCP and show that while selective acknowledgments are not required to solve Reno TCP's performance problems when multiple packets are dropped, the absence of selective acknowledgments does impose limits to TCP's ultimate performance. In particular, we show that without selective acknowledgments, TCP implementations are constrained to either retransmit at most one dropped packet per round-trip time, or to retransmit packets that might have already been successfully delivered.