Searching for Prosociality in Qualitative Data: Comparing Manual, Closed-Vocabulary, and Open-Vocabulary Methods

Although most people present themselves as possessing prosocial traits, people differ in the extent to which they actually act prosocially in everyday life. Qualitative data that were not ostensibly collected to measure prosociality might contain information about prosocial dispositions that is not distorted by self–presentation concerns. This paper seeks to characterise charitable donors from qualitative data. We compared a manual approach of extracting predictors from participants’ self–described personal strivings to two automated approaches: A summation of words predefined as prosocial and a support vector machine classifier. Although variables extracted by the support vector machine predicted donation behaviour well in the training sample ( N = 984), virtually, no variables from any method significantly predicted donations in a holdout sample ( N = 496). Raters’ attempts to predict donations to charity based on reading participants’ personal strivings were also unsuccessful. However, raters’ predictions were associated with past charitable involvement. In sum, predictors derived from personal strivings did not robustly explain variation in charitable behaviour, but personal strivings may nevertheless contain some information about trait prosociality. The sparseness of personal strivings data, rather than the irrelevance of open–ended text or individual differences in goal pursuit, likely explains their limited value in predicting prosocial behaviour. © 2020 European Association of Personality Psycholog

Assessment of cockpit interface concepts for data link retrofit

The problem is examined of retrofitting older generation aircraft with data link capability. The approach taken analyzes requirements for the cockpit interface, based on review of prior research and opinions obtained from subject matter experts. With this background, essential functions and constraints for a retrofit installation are defined. After an assessment of the technology available to meet the functions and constraints, candidate design concepts are developed. The most promising design concept is described in detail. Finally, needs for further research and development are identified

Raznolikost antigena nigerijskih sojeva virusa influence konja H3.

Antigenic variation among three recent isolations of equine-2 H3N8 influenza viruses from Ibadan, Nigeria is reported. Antigenic analysis with panels of monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) and polyclonal antisera indicated that the three viruses were antigenically divergent, although they were all H3N8 subtype related to other equine 2 -viruses isolated between 1963 and 1987. Results of virus protein synthesis investigated by pulse-chase experiments showed heterogeneity among the proteins of the ribonucleoprotein complex and the haemagglutinin glycoproteins, which were not cleaved in tissue culture. The results of this study indicate that equine H3 HAs have evolved by a process of evolutionary divergence and mutational changes, as confirmed by genetic analysis in another study. The results also showed that antigenic variation occurs among equine H3 influenza viruses and that H3 viruses with antigenically different HA molecules could co-circulate in equine populations.Obra|ena je raznolikost antigena tri nova izolata nigerijskih sojeva virusa influence konja H3N8 iz Ibadana u Nigeriji. Analiza antigena s pločama monoklonskih protutijela (mAbs) i poliklonskim antiserumima pokazala je da su tri virusa antigenski različiti, iako su svi bili H3N8 podtipa i srodni s drugim virusima influence konja serotipa A2 izoliranim od 1963. do 1987. Rezultati sinteze virusnog proteina istraženi sa "pulse-chase" pokusima pokazali su heterogenost proteina ribonukleinskog kompleksa i hemaglutininskih glikoproteina, a koji nisu rasli u kulturi tkiva. Rezultati ovog istraživanja naznačuju da su konjski H3 HAs nastali procesom evolucijske divergencije i mutacijama, a to je potvr|eno i genetskim analizama u drugoj studiji. Rezultati tako|er pokazuju da se pojavljuju antigene varijacije među H3 virusima konjske influence i da H3 virusi s antigeno različitim HA molekulama mogu zajedno cirkulirati u populacijama konja

Raznolikost antigena nigerijskih sojeva virusa influence konja H3.

Antigenic variation among three recent isolations of equine-2 H3N8 influenza viruses from Ibadan, Nigeria is reported. Antigenic analysis with panels of monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) and polyclonal antisera indicated that the three viruses were antigenically divergent, although they were all H3N8 subtype related to other equine 2 -viruses isolated between 1963 and 1987. Results of virus protein synthesis investigated by pulse-chase experiments showed heterogeneity among the proteins of the ribonucleoprotein complex and the haemagglutinin glycoproteins, which were not cleaved in tissue culture. The results of this study indicate that equine H3 HAs have evolved by a process of evolutionary divergence and mutational changes, as confirmed by genetic analysis in another study. The results also showed that antigenic variation occurs among equine H3 influenza viruses and that H3 viruses with antigenically different HA molecules could co-circulate in equine populations.Obra|ena je raznolikost antigena tri nova izolata nigerijskih sojeva virusa influence konja H3N8 iz Ibadana u Nigeriji. Analiza antigena s pločama monoklonskih protutijela (mAbs) i poliklonskim antiserumima pokazala je da su tri virusa antigenski različiti, iako su svi bili H3N8 podtipa i srodni s drugim virusima influence konja serotipa A2 izoliranim od 1963. do 1987. Rezultati sinteze virusnog proteina istraženi sa "pulse-chase" pokusima pokazali su heterogenost proteina ribonukleinskog kompleksa i hemaglutininskih glikoproteina, a koji nisu rasli u kulturi tkiva. Rezultati ovog istraživanja naznačuju da su konjski H3 HAs nastali procesom evolucijske divergencije i mutacijama, a to je potvr|eno i genetskim analizama u drugoj studiji. Rezultati tako|er pokazuju da se pojavljuju antigene varijacije među H3 virusima konjske influence i da H3 virusi s antigeno različitim HA molekulama mogu zajedno cirkulirati u populacijama konja

On the minimum order of kk-cop win graphs

We consider the minimum order graphs with a given cop number. We prove that the minimum order of a connected graph with cop number 3 is 10, and show that the Petersen graph is the unique isomorphism type of graph with this property. We provide the results of a computational search on the cop number of all graphs up to and including order 10. A relationship is presented between the minimum order of graph with cop number $k$ and Meyniel's conjecture on the asymptotic maximum value of the cop number of a connected graph

Evaluation of Targeted Influenza Vaccination Strategies via Population Modeling

Background Because they can generate comparable predictions, mathematical models are ideal tools for evaluating alternative drug or vaccine allocation strategies. To remain credible, however, results must be consistent. Authors of a recent assessment of possible influenza vaccination strategies conclude that older children, adolescents, and young adults are the optimal targets, no matter the objective, and argue for vaccinating them. Authors of two earlier studies concluded, respectively, that optimal targets depend on objectives and cautioned against changing policy. Which should we believe? Methods and Findings In matrices whose elements are contacts between persons by age, the main diagonal always predominates, reflecting contacts between contemporaries. Indirect effects (e.g., impacts of vaccinating one group on morbidity or mortality in others) result from off-diagonal elements. Mixing matrices based on periods in proximity with others have greater sub- and super-diagonals, reflecting contacts between parents and children, and other off-diagonal elements (reflecting, e.g., age-independent contacts among co-workers), than those based on face-to-face conversations. To assess the impact of targeted vaccination, we used a time-usage study\u27s mixing matrix and allowed vaccine efficacy to vary with age. And we derived mortality rates either by dividing observed deaths attributed to pneumonia and influenza by average annual cases from a demographically-realistic SEIRS model or by multiplying those rates by ratios of (versus adding to them differences between) pandemic and pre-pandemic mortalities. Conclusions In our simulations, vaccinating older children, adolescents, and young adults averts the most cases, but vaccinating either younger children and older adults or young adults averts the most deaths, depending on the age distribution of mortality. These results are consistent with those of the earlier studies

Identifying the genetic basis of antigenic change in influenza A(H1N1)

Determining phenotype from genetic data is a fundamental challenge. Influenza A viruses undergo rapid antigenic drift and identification of emerging antigenic variants is critical to the vaccine selection process. Using former seasonal influenza A(H1N1) viruses, hemagglutinin sequence and corresponding antigenic data were analyzed in combination with 3-D structural information. We attributed variation in hemagglutination inhibition to individual amino acid substitutions and quantified their antigenic impact, validating a subset experimentally using reverse genetics. Substitutions identified as low-impact were shown to be a critical component of influenza antigenic evolution and by including these, as well as the high-impact substitutions often focused on, the accuracy of predicting antigenic phenotypes of emerging viruses from genotype was doubled. The ability to quantify the phenotypic impact of specific amino acid substitutions should help refine techniques that predict the fitness and evolutionary success of variant viruses, leading to stronger theoretical foundations for selection of candidate vaccine viruses

A systems biology approach uncovers cell-specific gene regulatory effects of genetic associations in multiple sclerosis

Genome-wide association studies (GWAS) have identified more than 50,000 unique associations with common human traits. While this represents a substantial step forward, establishing the biology underlying these associations has proven extremely difficult. Even determining which cell types and which particular gene(s) are relevant continues to be a challenge. Here, we conduct a cell-specific pathway analysis of the latest GWAS in multiple sclerosis (MS), which had analyzed a total of 47,351 cases and 68,284 healthy controls and found more than 200 non-MHC genome-wide associations. Our analysis identifies pan immune cell as well as cell-specific susceptibility genes in T cells, B cells and monocytes. Finally, genotype-level data from 2,370 patients and 412 controls is used to compute intraindividual and cell-specific susceptibility pathways that offer a biological interpretation of the individual genetic risk to MS. This approach could be adopted in any other complex trait for which genome-wide data is available

Abstracts

Abstracts of papers about Giuseppe Verdi and his works, presented at joint meetings of the AIVS and Greater NY Chapter of the American Musicological Society, 1979-81 (Hepokoski, Lawton, Chusid, Hornick, Nádas, Tomlinson, Garrison, Powers), at the 1982 national meeting of the American Musicological Society (Harwood), and at an NEH-sponsored summer seminar at NYU in 1980 (Beams, Cole, Cordell, Davis, Fry, King, Mason, McCauley, Town)

Pediatric renal transplantation under tacrolimus-based immunosuppression

Background. Tacrolimus has been used as a primary immunosuppressive agent in adult and pediatric renal transplant recipients, with reasonable outcomes. Methods. Between December 14, 1989 and December 31, 1996, 82 pediatric renal transplantations alone were performed under tacrolimus-based immunosuppression without induction anti-lymphocyte antibody therapy. Patients undergoing concomitant or prior liver and/or intestinal transplantation were not included in the analysis. The mean recipient age was 10.6±5.2 years (range: 0.7-17.9). Eighteen (22%) cases were repeat transplantations, and 6 (7%) were in patients with panel-reactive antibody levels over 40%. Thirty-four (41%) cases were with living donors, and 48 (59%) were with cadaveric donors. The mean donor age was 27.3±14.6 years (range: 0.7-50), and the mean cold ischemia time in the cadaveric cases was 26.5±8.8 hr. The mean number of HLA matches and mismatches was 2.8±1.2 and 2.9±1.3; there were five (6%) O-Ag mismatches. The mean follow-up was 4.0±0.2 years. Results. The 1- and 4-year actuarial patient survival was 99% and 94%. The 1- and 4-year actuarial graft survival was 98% and 84%. The mean serum creatinine was 1.1±0.5 mg/all, and the corresponding calculated creatinine clearance was 88±25 ml/min/1.73 m2. A total of 66% of successfully transplanted patients were withdrawn from prednisone. In children who were withdrawn from steroids, the mean standard deviation height scores (Z-score) at the time of transplantation and at 1 and 4 years were - 2.3±2.0, -1.7±1.0, and +0.36±1.5. Eighty-six percent of successfully transplanted patients were not taking anti-hypertensive medications. The incidence of acute rejection was 44%; between December 1989 and December 1993, it was 63%, and between January 1994 and December 1996, it was 23% (P=0.0003). The incidence of steroid-resistant rejection was 5%. The incidence of delayed graft function was 5%, and 2% of patients required dialysis within 1 week of transplantation. The incidence of cytomegalovirus was 13%; between December 1989 and December 1992, it was 17%, and between January 1993 and December 1996, it was 12%. The incidence of early Epstein- Barr virus-related posttransplant lymphoproliferative disorder (PTLD) was 9%; between December 1989 and December 1992, it was 17%, and between January 1993 and December 1996, it was 4%. All of the early PTLD cases were treated successfully with temporary cessation of immunosuppression and institution of antiviral therapy, without patient or graft loss. Conclusions. These data demonstrate the short- and medium-term efficacy of tacrolimus-based immunosuppression in pediatric renal transplant recipients, with reasonable patient and graft survival, routine achievement of steroid and anti- hypertensive medication withdrawal, gratifying increases in growth, and, with further experience, a decreasing incidence of both rejection and PTLD