cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Designing drugs that encourage spinal cord injury healing

Introduction: Spinal cord injury (SCI) occurs within seconds, but host responses may take years. Although life expectancy has increased, half of the survivors end up as paraplegics, with many indeed as quadriplegics. Host responses may have multiple effects ranging from inhibiting inflammation to preventing repair and regeneration. Efforts seek to translate exciting results from unsatisfactory animal models to humans. Areas covered: The author reviews the current basic and translational research for SCI treatment that: i) limits secondary injury; and ii) enhances endogenous repair and regeneration. The article provides an emphasis on pro-inflammatory factors (TNF-α, high-mobility group B protein 1) that are targeted to encourage healing. Expert opinion: Research in the coming years needs to be directed at therapeutic agents – whether drugs, biologics or biomaterials – that encourage repair and regeneration and, at the same time, limit cell death and axonal lesions. The author believes that the process of ...
Constrained Decentralized Estimation Over Noisy Channels for Sensor Networks

Decentralized estimation of a noise-corrupted source parameter by a bandwidth-constrained sensor network feeding, through a noisy channel, a fusion center is considered. The sensors, due to bandwidth constraints, provide binary representatives of a noise-corrupted source parameter. Recently, proposed decentralized, distributed estimation, and power scheduling methods do no consider errors occurring during the transmission of binary observations from the sensors to fusion center. In this paper, we extend the decentralized estimation model to the case where imperfect transmission channels are considered. The proposed estimator, which operates on additive channel noise corrupted versions of quantized noisy sensor observations, is approached from maximum likelihood (ML) perspective. The resulting ML estimate is a root, in the region of interest (ROI), of a derivative polynomial function. We analyze the natural logarithm of the polynomial within the ROI showing that the function is log-concave, thereby indicating that numerical methods, such as Newton's algorithm, can be utilized to obtain the optimal solution. Due to complexity and implementation issues associated with the numerical methods, we derive and analyze simpler suboptimal solutions, i.e., the two-stage and mean estimators. The two-stage estimator first estimates the binary observations from noisy fusion center observations utilizing a threshold operation, followed by an estimate of the source parameter. The optimal threshold is the maximum a posteriori (MAP) detector for binary detection and minimizes the probability of binary observation estimation error. Optimal threshold expressions for commonly utilized light-(Gaussian) and heavy-tailed (Cauchy) channel noise models are derived. The mean estimator simply averages the noisy fusion center observations. The output variances of means of the proposed suboptimal estimators are derived. In addition, a computational complexity analysis is presented comparing the proposed ML optimal and suboptimal two-stage and mean estimators. Numerical examples evaluating and comparing the performance of proposed ML, two-stage and mean estimators are also presented.
Strength and Coordination in the Paretic Leg of Individuals Following Acute Stroke

The goal of this study was to determine whether acute stroke survivors demonstrate abnormal synergy patterns in their affected lower extremity. During maximum isometric contractions with subjects in a standing position, joint torques generated simultaneously at the knee and hip were measured, along with associated muscle activation patterns in eight lower limb muscles. Ten acute stroke survivors and nine age-match controls participated in the study. For all joints tested, stroke subjects demonstrated significantly less maximum isometric torque than age-matched control subjects. However, the synergistic torques generated in directions different than the direction that was being maximized were not significantly different between the two groups. According to electromyography (EMG) data, it was found that stroke subjects activated antagonistic muscle groups significantly higher than the control group subjects, suggesting that deficits in joint torque may be at least partially attributable to co-contraction of antagonistic muscles. Our findings suggest that a primary contributor to lower limb motor impairment in acute hemiparetic stroke is poor volitional torque generating capacity, which is at least partially attributable to co-contraction of antagonistic muscles. Furthermore, while we did not observe abnormal torque synergy patterns commonly found in the upper limbs, muscle activation patterns differed between groups for many of the directions tested indicating changes in the motor control strategies of acute stroke survivors.
Still a Movement After All These Years? Current Tensions in the Domestic Violence Movement

The domestic violence movement began as a social change movement with dual goals of social change and service provision. Despite concerns about a devolution of the movement into apolitical service provision, few studies have investigated the current status of the movement as a social change movement. Through interviews with advocates, the current study explores the degree to which domestic violence work can still be characterized as a social change movement, illuminates some central tensions within the movement, and lays a foundation for debate among those responding to domestic violence. This research also highlights movement leaders' visions for a reenergized movement.
A SUBLAMINATE MODEL FOR CREEP BUCKLING ANALYSIS OF THICK-- SECTION FRP COMPOSITE STRUCTURES

INTRODUCTION This paper presents a 3Dmultiscale framework for the creep buckling analysis of thicksection fiber reinforced plastic (FRP) laminated composite structures. In the case of thicksection layered composite structures, classical ply-by-ply analysismethods are often impractical, especially when nonlinearity and time-dependent effects are included. This study introduces a new nonlinear sublaminate method in order to generate a throughthickness 3D effective response of a repeating stacking sequence. The proposed sublaminatemodel is implemented at everymaterial point and can explicitly interface with a displacement-based 3D finite element (FE). A constraint of effective planestress is added to the nonlinear 3D sublaminate in the case of shell FEmodels. Amicromechanical constitutivemodel of a unidirectional lamina that can recognize the constituent of each layer is used. The constitutivemodels for the elastic linear fiber and nonlinear viscoelasticmatrix constituents areperformed at the lowest level of themultiscale framework. The Schapery nonlinear viscoelastic model is used to model the response of the isotropic matrix subcells in the unidirectional layers. Numerical applications of the proposed sublaminate model are presented for creep buckling analysis of thicksection layered composite panel and cylinders under axial compression loads. It is shown that the compressive loading ratio, along with the residual stiffness of the structure after buckling, can affect the creep behavior and the magnitude of the critical time for initiation of unstable response. Furthermore, creep buckling can severely limit the serviceability life of these structures. 46th AIAA/ASME/ASCE/AHS/ASC Structures, Structural Dynamics & Materials Conference 18 21 April 2005, Austin, Texas AIAA 2005-2080
TLR4-mediated induction of TLR2 signaling is critical in the pathogenesis and resolution of otitis media

Otitis media is the most prevalent childhood disease in developed countries. The involvement of Toll-like receptors (TLRs) in otitis media pathophysiology has been implicated by studies in cell lines and association studies of TLR gene polymorphisms. However, precise functions of TLRs in the etiology of otitis media in vivo have not been examined. We investigated the inflammatory response to nontypeable Haemophilus influenzae using a model of otitis media in wild-type, TLR2(- /-) and TLR4(-/ -) mice by gene microarray, qPCR, immunohistochemistry, Western blot analysis and histopathology. Toll-like receptor-2(- /-) and TLR4(- /-) mice exhibited a more profound, persistent inflammation with impaired bacterial clearance compared to controls. While wild-type mice induced tumor necrosis factor-a (TNF) after non-typeable H. influenzae challenge, TLR2(-/-) and TLR4(-/-) mice lack TNF induction in the early phase of otitis media. Moreover, lack of TLR2 resulted in a late increase in IL-10 expression and prolonged failure to clear bacteria. Toll-like receptor-4(-/- ) mice showed impaired early bacterial clearance and loss of TLR2 induction in early otitis media. Our results demonstrate that both TLR2 and TLR4 signalling are critical to the regulation of infection in non-typeable H. influenzae-induced otitis media. Toll-like receptor-4 signalling appears to induce TLR2 expression, and TLR2 activation is critical for bacterial clearance and timely resolution of otitis media.
Utility of Portable Ultrasound in a Community in Ghana

Objective. In many developing countries, access to medical imaging is limited by availability of resources. Portable ultrasound shows great promise to meet the needs in these countries because it is transportable and relatively inexpensive, and it has a wide range of applications. As part of the Ghana Health Mission, SekondiTakoradi, Ghana, we explored the utility of ultrasound in primary care and hospital settings during March 2004. Our objective was to evaluate the clinical utility of a portable ultrasound machine in a variety of physical conditions and multiple clinical scenarios. Methods. Ultrasound examinations were performed at 2 primary care sites and 2 hospitals using a portable ultrasound machine with linear and curved linear phased array transducers. Most ultrasound examinations were musculoskeletal, with the remainder being obstetric, pelvic, breast, vascular, abdominal, and genitourinary examinations. Results. In clinic settings, musculoskeletal ultrasound represented 46% (16) of the ultrasound examinations performed, and 29% (10) of the cases were a combination of abdominal, pelvic, and genitourinary examinations. In hospital settings, abdominal, pelvic, and genitourinary ultrasound examinations combined were 56% (18), and musculoskeletal was 41% (13). Of the 67 ultrasound examinations performed, 81% (54) showed abnormal findings, 81% (54) were considered to add to the clinical diagnosis, and 40% (27) influenced medical care for the patients. Conclusions. This experience shows the usefulness of portable ultrasound examinations performed by a skilled radiologist in a clinical setting in Ghana; the challenge is to address how to best incorporate ultrasound into the current practice of medical professionals in developing countries. Key words: developing countries; Ghana; portable ultrasound.
Mothers of Children with Special Health Care Needs: Documenting the Experience of Their Children’s Care in the School Setting

The numbers of children with special health care needs (CSHCN) have increased in schools. This study was conducted to document mothers’ experiences of the care their CSHCN receive across health care and educational settings. Data were collected during standardized, open-ended, one-on-one interviews with 10 mothers of CSHCN in urban, suburban, and rural areas in a Midwestern state. Interviews were transcribed and content analysis revealed five themes: (a) communication, (b) educational system issues, (c) mother as a caregiver and expert, (d) navigating the system, and (e) strategies and coping. Describing and understanding experiences of mothers of CSHCN is important to developing appropriate supportive interventions.
MicroRNA-17~92 plays a causative role in lymphomagenesis by coordinating multiple oncogenic pathways.

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) have been broadly implicated in cancer, but their exact function and mechanism in carcinogenesis remain poorly understood. Elevated miR-17∼92 expression is frequently found in human cancers, mainly due to gene amplification and Myc-mediated transcriptional upregulation. Here we show that B cell-specific miR-17∼92 transgenic mice developed lymphomas with high penetrance and that, conversely, Myc-driven lymphomagenesis stringently requires two intact alleles of miR-17∼92. We experimentally identified miR-17∼92 target genes by PAR-CLIP and validated select target genes in miR-17∼92 transgenic mice. These analyses demonstrate that miR-17∼92 drives lymphomagenesis by suppressing the expression of multiple negative regulators of the PI3K and NFκB pathways and by inhibiting the mitochondrial apoptosis pathway. Accordingly, miR-17∼92-driven lymphoma cells exhibited constitutive activation of the PI3K and NFκB pathways and chemical inhibition of either pathway reduced tumour size and prolonged the survival of lymphoma-bearing mice. These findings establish miR-17∼92 as a powerful cancer driver that coordinates the activation of multiple oncogenic pathways, and demonstrate for the first time that chemical inhibition of miRNA downstream pathways has therapeutic value in treating cancers caused by miRNA dysregulation.
Does participation in an alcohol administration study increase risk for excessive drinking

It has long been thought that research protocols involving alcohol administration may exacerbate problem drinking in alcoholic subjects following their participation in such a study. However, recent studies suggest that involvement in an alcohol administration study does not, in fact, have a negative impact on subsequent drinking behavior. In the present study, 27 non-treatment-seeking alcohol-dependent subjects and 32 social drinkers participated in an alcohol administration study designed to investigate the effects of repeated doses of alcohol on craving, mood, and alcohol-seeking behavior. The volume of alcohol administered to the subjects was calculated in such a way that their blood alcohol concentration would reach a peak of 0.08 g/dl midway through testing. Before their release, alcohol-dependent subjects were given feedback regarding their level of alcohol consumption and provided with information about the potential harmful effects of their drinking behavior. Percentage of days abstinent (PDA), drinks per drinking day (D/DD), and percentage of heavy drinking days (PHDD, defined as >or=4 drinks per occasion for females and >or=5 drinks per occasion for males) were recorded for the 6 weeks preceding laboratory testing and for the 6 weeks following participation in the study. The alcohol-dependent subjects exhibited a significant increase of 24% in PDA during the poststudy period compared to the prestudy period. They also decreased their D/DD by 2.4 drinks per occasion, and decreased their PHDD by 21.6%. There were no differences in PDA or D/DD for the social drinkers between pre- and poststudy periods. There was, however, a small but significant increase of 3.5% in PHDD for the social drinkers following laboratory testing. These data suggest that participation in an alcohol administration study does not put alcoholic subjects at risk for increased alcohol consumption following study participation. In fact, participation in such studies may actually precipitate at least a temporary decrease in alcohol consumption, especially when paired with a brief intervention session. Thus, non-treatment-seeking alcoholics can be safely included in alcohol administration studies to provide results that are most relevant to the population of interest.
Teacher Beliefs and Student Learning

The study of teacher beliefs has received much attention in recent years, occasioned by a growing interest in reflective teaching. Though this research is refreshing in that it breaks from the behaviorism of process-product work, the practical implications of studies of teacher beliefs may not be obvious. There are likely connections between a better understanding of teacher beliefs and the design of quality programs of teacher education. But this connection, if it exists, still misses something — something that was not missing in N. L. Gage’s criterion of effectiveness paradigm. This “something” is student learning. The object in education is the learning of students, not the cognitions of teachers.
Timing optimization of MOS combinational networks

The authors extend their MOS network optimization algorithm, SYLON-REDUCE, to perform timing optimization. Since optimization is performed in a technology-specific domain, the results should more closely reflect the actual improvement in the delay of the network. They also propose a delay model that takes into account the largest number of serially-connected transistors, as well as the number of fanouts, of each gate in the network. Using this delay model seems to generally yield the best results. The authors' algorithm allows the number of transistors in a cell to increase during resynthesis, though it almost always finds a smaller network. Their results compare favorably with those of SYLON-DREAM and MIS. >
Production of a Roll-off Equipped Harwarder for Forest Biomass Utilization

Abstract Detailed time-and-motion studies were conducted on a harvesting system that included roll-off bins and bunks used in conjunction with a Timbco harwarder at two study sites in western Montana. Data from these studies were used in multiple regression analysis to develop production equations for total cycle time for each of the seven processes involved in harvesting round- wood products and woody biomass. Independent variables used to create these production equations included distance traveled, piece size, number of pieces, and a site term. Comparisons were made between developed equations from this study and other published equations. Using standardized variables, production rates (tons/hour) of the observed processes were developed. Forest managers can apply these equations to determine the cycle time for a process and, when paired with tons per cycle, the production rate of the roll-off and hook-lift system can be determined and compared to other roundwood and biomass harvesting and treatment op...
Profiling Children For Sports Participation

A profile of a child prior to participation in sports should be directed toward the specific demands of the sport. Medical, orthopedic, and fitness factors should be carefully evaluated so that intervention can be developed that will reduce the possible adverse effects of participation and, secondarily, improve performance. A child should not be excluded from sports unless specific risk-to-benefit ratios are firmly established.
Regulation of atrial autonomic receptors in experimental cyanotic heart disease.

During chronic hypoxemia, left ventricular beta-adrenergic receptor density is decreased and a dissociation occurs between increased chronotropic and decreased inotropic responses to chronically elevated sympathetic tone. To determine whether this dissociation was related to alterations in autonomic receptor populations in the right atrium, we studied right atrial cholinergic and beta-adrenergic receptors in chronically hypoxemic newborn lambs and in normoxemic controls. Heart rate response was determined by infusing isoproterenol at 0.1 or 0.5 microgram.kg-1.min-1. Muscarinic receptors were quantified with [3H]quinuclidinyl benzilate and beta-adrenergic receptors with [125I]iodocyanopindolol. Competition with ICI 118,551 was used to determine beta 1- vs. beta 2-receptor subtypes. In the hypoxemic lambs, isoproterenol resulted in a lesser percentage increase in heart rate (hypoxemic, 46 +/- 6% vs. control, 89 +/- 17%, P less than 0.05); however, because baseline heart rate was higher in the hypoxemic lambs (213 +/- 7 vs. 177 +/- 12 beats/min, P less than 0.05), maximal heart rate responses were similar (310 +/- 7 vs. 326 +/- 6 beats/min, NS). There was no change in receptor density or affinity of either muscarinic or beta-adrenergic receptors and no change in the proportion of beta 1- vs. beta 2-receptor subtypes. Thus the dissociation between the chronotropic and inotropic responses to chronic hypoxemia may be in part secondary to a differential regulation of beta-adrenergic receptors between the left ventricle and the right atrium.
Evaluation of Bacillus thuringiensis for Controlling Indianmeal Moths (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) in Farm Grain Bins and Elevator Silos

Tests were conducted over a five-state area to evaluate the effectiveness of Bacillus thuringiensis for controlling Indianmeal moths, Plodia interpunctella (Hubner), in stored grain. Infestations in wheat were reduced 50–60%; in corn, infestations were reduced >80%. Dust and wettable powder (WP) formulations were equally effective. Treatment of grain in the auger as it was elevated into the bin gave uniform distribution of both formulations. Application by raking the formulations into the surface layer of filled bins gave acceptable distribution of the dust, but poor distribution of the WP. Control was not as good with rake-in application of the WP to wheat. Spray volume had no effect on distribution or efficacy of WP treatments, but a reduced volume of 326 ml/m2 was easier to apply than the current label rate of 815 ml/m2.
Extent of Resistance to Organophosphorus Insecticides in Field Populations of the Green Peach Aphid (Homoptera: Aphididae) Infesting Flue-Cured Tobacco in Virginia

Field strains of Myzus persicae (Sulzer), collected from flue-cured tobacco fields throughout south-central Virginia, were tested for resistance to acephate, disulfoton, malathion, microencapsulated methyl parathion, and monocrotophos. Aphids were exposed to residues of the insecticides on the upper leaf surfaces of potted tobacco plants. Concentration regressions showed that acephate resistance was present in field-collected strains but was not widespread. Of five field strains tested, one was ca. 6- and 13-fold more resistant to acephate than a laboratory (reference standard) strain at the LC50 and LC90 levels, respectively. Four strains exhibited slightly greater inherent tolerance to acephate than the reference. None of the field strains tested were resistant to disulfoton, malathion, methyl parathion, and monocrotophos.
Performance of a Novel Semi-Closed Gas Turbine Refrigeration Combined Cycle

A thermodynamic performance analysis was performed on a novel cooling and power cycle that combines a semi-closed gas turbine called the High Pressure Regenerative Turbine Engine (HPRTE) with an absorption refrigeration unit. Waste heat from the recirculated combustion gas of the HPRTE is used to power the absorption refrigeration cycle, which cools the high-pressure compressor inlet of the HPRTE to below ambient conditions and also produces excess refrigeration depending on ambient conditions. Two cases were considered: a small engine with a nominal power output of 100kW, and a large engine with a nominal power output of 40 MW. The cycle was modeled using traditional one-dimensional steady-state thermodynamics, with state-of-the-art polytropic efficiencies and pressure drops for the turbo-machinery and heat exchangers, and curve-fits for properties of the LiBr-water mixture and the combustion products. The small engine was shown to operate with a thermal efficiency approaching 43% while producing 50% as much 5°C refrigeration as its nominal power output (roughly 50 tons) at 30 °C ambient conditions. The large engine was shown to operate with a thermal efficiency approaching 62% while producing 25% as much 5°C refrigeration as its nominal power output (roughly 20,000 tons) at 30 °C ambient conditions. Thermal efficiency stayed relatively constant with respect to ambient temperature for both the large and small engine. It decreased by only 3–4% as the ambient temperature was increased from 10 to 35 °C in each case. The amount of external refrigeration produced by the engine decreased sharply in both engines at around 35 °C, eventually reaching zero at roughly 45°C in each case for 5°C refrigeration. However, the evaporator temperature could be raised to 10°C (or higher) to produce external refrigeration in ambient temperatures as high as 50°C.© 2003 ASME
Exploring the Severity of Dependence Scale (SDS) as a possible measure of nicotine dependence

ABSTRACTBackground: The time to first cigarette (TTFC) of the day is an emerging single-item indicator of nicotine dependence due to its robust associations with indices of physical dependence. However, it is unclear if this measure adequately captures other dimensions of dependence. The Severity of Dependence Scale (SDS) is a brief questionnaire used to assess psychological aspects of dependence that has not yet been extensively applied to smoking research. Methods: We examined associations between the SDS and TTFC among 255 smokers during the baseline session of a cessation trial. We also examined associations of the SDS and TTFC with biobehavioral dependence indices, quitting behaviors, and cognitive-affective variables and compared the relative contributions of both measures in predicting these variables. Results: TTFC was unrelated to SDS total score, but was related to individual SDS items. TTFC, but not SDS, was correlated with indices of physical dependence (e.g., cigarettes per day [CPD], carbon ...
Application of Complete Process Feed-water Control in 9F Natural Gas Unit

Two SEIMENS 9F natural gas combined circulation units with single shaft are configured in a power plant in Zhejiang province.Each unit has 2 100% feed-water pumps,which are shared by high pressure and intermediate pressure system.This design makes technic more simply and decreases the project invest.Meanwhile,the automatic control of feed-water system is more difficult,because of the high coupling.Based on the commissioning work,the article narrates the method of complete process feed-water control in detail,and brings forward another control strategy for energy saving.
Effect of Moderately Intense Perioperative Glucose Control on Renal Allograft Function: A Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial in Renal Transplantation

Recipient diabetes accounts for ~34% of end stage renal disease in patients awaiting renal transplantation and has been linked to poor graft function. We conducted a single center, open label, randomized controlled trial to determine if moderately intense glucose control during allograft reperfusion would reduce the incidence of poor graft function. Adult diabetics undergoing deceased donor renal transplant were randomized to moderately intense glucose control (n=30) or standard control (n=30). The primary outcome was poor graft function (dialysis within seven days of transplant or failure of serum creatinine to fall by 10% for three consecutive days). Recipients with moderately intense glucose control had less poor graft function in the intention to treat (43.3% vs. 73.3%, P =0.02) and per protocol analysis (43.2% vs 81%, P <0.01). Recipients with moderately intense control also had higher GFR at 30 days after transplant in the per-protocol and intention to treat analyses. There were no episodes of severe hypoglycemia in either group and no differences in mortality, seizures, stroke, graft loss or biopsy-proven rejection. Moderately intense glucose control at the time of allograft reperfusion reduces the incidence of poor graft function in diabetic renal transplant recipients and improves glomerular filtration rate at 30 days. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.
The parental brain: A neural framework for study of teaching in humans and other animals

Parenting, conceptualized as a specific form of teaching, may inform mentalistic, culture-based, and functional definitions. Combined brain-imaging, hormone-measurement, and cognitive-behavioral analyses indicate the importance of mentalization circuits. These circuits appear to function according to culture, and cross animal species. Further, these approaches shed light on sex differences through work on fathers as well as mothers, are affected by psychopathology, and may be amenable to treatment in ways that may be applied to optimize teaching.
The Effect of Written Posted Instructions on Collection of Clean-Catch Urine Specimens in the Emergency Department.

Abstract Background Urinalysis testing is frequently ordered in the emergency department (ED), but contamination of urine specimens limits the interpretation of results. The mid-stream, clean-catch (MSCC) procedure for urine specimen collection is recommended to decrease contamination rates, but without instructions this procedure has poor compliance. Objective To evaluate the effectiveness of written instructions alone, we analyzed the rate of specimen contamination, defined by presence of squamous epithelial cells (SECs) and culture results, in the ED after posting information on the MSCC procedure. Methods Instructions in simple English for the MSCC procedure were posted in all patient-accessible restrooms in the ED. Frequency of contamination, defined microscopically as > 5 SECs per high-powered field or through growth of mixed or non-pathologic flora on urine culture, was determined over a 3-month period for comparison to historical controls from the previous year. Results During the intervention period, 754 urinalyses were sent, with 392 contaminated specimens (51.98%), and 193 urine cultures were sent, with 77 contaminated results (39.8%). Historical controls from the previous year yielded 827 urinalyses sent, with 430 contaminated (51.99%), and 251 urine cultures, with 125 contaminated results (49.8%). The difference between groups was not significant for urinalysis ( p = 0.99) or urine culture ( p = 0.13). Conclusions A poster-based educational intervention with instructions on MSCC procedure failed to decrease contamination rates in this ED-based study. Possible explanations include poor compliance with MSCC technique in the ED, or poor efficacy of this technique at decreasing contamination rates. These results may indicate that other efforts are necessary to improve urine collection methods.
A conjoint analysis of inpatient satisfaction ratings in Indonesia

Abstract Objective The purpose of this study is to examine Indonesian men and women׳s satisfaction rating of the different attributes associated with the location, convenience, accessibility, and affordability of inpatient care and how the ratings differ across clusters of individuals. Methods The empirical work of this study is based on using the 2007 Indonesian Family and Life Survey. A conjoint analysis is used to examine Indonesian men and women׳s satisfaction rating of the above-mentioned attributes. Results Indonesians who utilizes the inpatient care are responsive to the type, cost, quality, and location of the inpatient care even though individuals in different clusters attach different importance to the different attributes associated inpatient care. Conclusion There is a pressing need for sound policies that seek to reduce the cost of treatment and consultation, to improve the quality of care facility, to build more care facilities, and to improve public transport infrastructure. Priority should be given to patients who visited facilities located outside their province of residence. Efforts to enhance the quality of inpatient care should focus on public facilities and facilities located in Sumatra.
Gene expression profiling of U2AF2 dependent RNA-protein interactions during CD4 + T cell activation

CD4 T cell activation is a central component of the mammalian adaptive immune response and is underscored by a dramatic change in the gene expression profile in these cells. The changes in gene expression that occur during T cell activation are regulated in multiple ways including post-transcriptionally by complexes of RNA-binding proteins. Recently, our study explored the role of the RNA-binding protein U2AF2 and its interacting proteins in mediating posttranscriptional changes in constitutive and alternative splicing during T cell activation. First, we used RNA-seq to identify the global changes in gene expression and splicing that occur with T cell activation. Next, we used RIP-seq to identify the specific genes bound to U2AF2 during T cell activation. After identification of the protein interacting partners of U2AF2, we used splicing sensitive microarrays to measure the effects on global gene expression of using siRNAs to knock down a sampling of these proteins. Finally, we used RIP-chip to measure the effects of the same siRNA knockdown on the transcripts specifically bound to U2AF2. Here we provide the experimental details and analysis of the gene expression data for each of these techniques, which have been deposited into Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) with the Superseries ID: GSE62923.
Stuart Ostrow: Experiments in Independence

Stuart Ostrow (b. 1932) who served as an apprentice to Frank Loesser and as Vice-President and General Manager of Frank Music Corporation and Frank Productions, Incorporated, helped bring several of Loesser’s shows to the stage. In 1973 he established the Stuart Ostrow Foundation’s Musical Theatre Lab, the first non-profit, professional workshop for original musical theatre and hence the one that introduced the concept of workshop development for new musicals. The Robber Bridegroom (1975) is one show to have originated in the Lab.
Reduced Gelatinization, Hydrolysis, and Digestibility in Whole Wheat Bread in Comparison to White Bread

Wheat, an important crop in North Dakota and the United States, is often used for bread. Health concerns related to chronic diseases have caused a shift toward consumption of whole wheat bread. There has been some indication that the rate and amount of starch digestibility of whole wheat breads may be lower than for their refined flour counterparts. This research investigated the components of whole wheat bread that may reduce starch digestibility and impact nutritional quality. Six formulations of flour were used, which included two refined flours, two whole wheat flours, and two whole wheat flours with added starch. The starch was added to whole wheat flours to increase the starch level to that of the refined flour so that we can determine whether or not the dilution of the starch in whole wheat bread was a factor in lowering the estimated glycemic index (eGI) of whole wheat bread. White and whole wheat flours and breads were evaluated for chemical composition, baking quality by AACC International Appro...
From subjects to objects: Knowledge in International Relations theory:

There has been a resurgence of interest in the role of scientific knowledge and expertise in International Relations, but it is not clear what the theoretical value-added of this work is. This article places recent work on scientific knowledge and expertise in a longer-term perspective. The history shows that knowledge has played an important role in International Relations theory since Carr and Morgenthau, but that thinking has been trapped within a simple conceptual framework centered on tracing how knowledge shapes the beliefs and interests of international subjects. This mode of theorizing first entered International Relations via Mannheim and has been further developed by Foucauldian and practice-based approaches since the 1990s. Outlining the history of knowledge from Carr through Haas to the present makes it possible to identify the distinctive contribution of recent work: whereas International Relations has focused on how knowledge shapes subjects such as states and international organizations, re...
Reconstructing the Farm: Life Stories of Dutch Female Farmers

Life Stories of Dutch Female Farmers Marisa Turesky Brandeis University Abstract My research asks: what are the lived experiences of female farmers in a Dutch agricultural community like the Netherlands? Although popular culture portrays most female farmers as uneducated individuals of lower socioeconomic status, the six women who I interviewed in the Netherlands over the course of a short ethnographic research study present life stories that complicate this stereotype. In my conversations with female farm owners in the Netherlands, it emerged that a patriarchal paradigm appears to persist in industrial, conventional agriculture, seeming to encourage larger numbers of women to own more small-scale farms. While there is substantial existing research on rural women’s historical roles in farming, I add additional layers to this work, through my analysis of the personal experiences of a small sample of women farmers in the contemporary Netherlands. These women, who consider farming their lifestyle, discuss their inspiration, challenges, successes, and passion for their chosen occupation. In attempting to balance traditional roles of labor versus domesticity, these women actively challenge the gender binary through experiences in motherhood and business ownership.
Feeding Neptune: Food and nutrition in the Catalan-Aragonese fleet, 1282–1302:

During the War of the Sicilian Vespers (1282–1302) the Crown of Aragon developed a system to provide food for the crews of the Catalan-Aragonese fleet. This was no small undertaking as even when th...
Pulsed Hydrogen-Deuterium Exchange Illuminates the Aggregation Kinetics of α-Synuclein, the Causative Agent for Parkinson's Disease.

α-Synuclein (aS) forms toxic intermediates ranging from small oligomers and protofibrils to large amyloid fibrils. Understanding the time course of aS fibril formation and the role played by its regions is critical for therapeutic intervention. Here, we used pulsed hydrogen–deuterium exchange and mass spectrometry (HDX-MS) for the first time to probe kinetic intermediates of the full aS aggregation in vitro, achieving kinetic snapshots containing spatially resolved protein information about critical stages. Monitoring the resultant mass shifts shows distinct binomial abundances for two main exchange profiles: one that represents a fast-exchanging, solvent-accessible species and another with a more protected nature. We show using a series of proteolytic peptides from the full protein that self-association is most pronounced in the non-amyloid-β-component region and less so for either terminus. The N-terminus, however, shows a minor protected population at mid- and late times, whereas the C-terminus shows p...
The general protected invasion theory: Sex biases in parental and alloparental care

The biases towards eusociality, female workers and maternal care in haplodiploid versus diploid insects may result from the relatively low probabilities that rare mutant, partially dominant alleles promoting these behaviours will be lost by genetic drift in haplodiploid populations (Reeve, 1993). A generalization of this 'protected invasion' theory also predicts that parental and alloparental care will tend to be associated with the homogametic sex in diploid populations if the Y chromosome of the heterogametic sex is absent or largely inert. Sex differences in (allo)parental care (i.e. either parental or alloparental care) should increase with increased asymmetry between the sexes in the fraction of behaviour-influencing loci occurring on their characteristic sex chromosomes. The theory explains the strong predisposition towards female (allo)parental care in mammals, a contrasting tendency towards male (allo)parental care in birds, the propensity for joint male and female (allo)parental care in termites, and biases towards female cooperation in social spiders. The theory also explains the apparent rarity or absence of alloparental care in marsupials, an intriguing consequence of preferential paternal X-chromosome inactivation in this taxon. Thus protected invasion theory possibly provides new insights into the relationship between social structure and the genetic system. The theory does not compete with ecological or kin-selective hypotheses for the advantages of (allo)parental care; indeed, such advantages must exist for protected-invasion biases to operate.
Metanoia and the Market

If investors randomly switch between being rational and irrational, then eventually the market will be half rational and half irrational, even if all investors start off rational, no matter how low the switching probability is. Thus, mispricings can persist even with continued volume between two fundamentally identical investments. Multiple survey results for hypothetical investment scenarios support this metanoia model. In addition, the dynamics of a large market discrepancy in HSBC shares from 1992-1999 are consistent with metanoia. In short, the law of one price will be violated so long as there is any probability of switching: identical assets will have different prices.
Creating an ethically-sound model of decision-making by managed care organizations providing care to children.

Managed care systems are characterized by a number of inherent tensions. First, tension exists between the needs of the patient and the provider who may or may not have a financial incentive not to refer the patient for subspeciality care. Second, tension exists between the patient and admin istrators of the managed care organization (MCO). Finally, tension exists between balancing the needs of the patient with those of the larger needs of society. Provision of care to one patient could mean that the needs of another patient may not be met in the future. This article will compare the Canadian and American approaches to addressing the needs of chronically-ill children in managed care settings and propose criteria for making medical decisions affecting this population.
Expressive Form: A Conceptual Approach to Computational Design

With the increased use of computers, architecture has found itself in the midst of a plethora of possible uses. This book combines theoretical enquiry with practical implementation offering a unique perspective on the use of computers related to architectureal form and design. Notions of exaggeration, hybrid, kinetic, algorithmic, fold and warp are examined from different points of view: historical, mathematical, philosophical or critical. Generously illustrated, this book is a source of inspiration for students and professionals.
Crossed Tracks: Mesolimulus, Archaeopteryx, and the Nature of Fossils

Organisms leave a variety of traces in the fossil record. Among these traces, vertebrate and invertebrate paleontologists conventionally recognize a distinction between the remains of an organism’s phenotype (body fossils) and the remains of an organism’s life activities (trace fossils). The same convention recognizes body fossils as biological structures and trace fossils as geological objects. This convention explains some curious practices in the classification, as with the distinction between taxa for trace fossils and for tracemakers. I consider the distinction between “parallel taxonomies,” or parataxonomies, which privileges some kinds of fossil taxa as “natural” and others as “artificial.” The motivations for and consequences of this practice are inconsistent. By comparison, I examine an alternative system of classification used by paleobotanists that regards all fossil taxa as “artificially” split. While this system has the potential to inflate the number of taxa with which paleontologists work, the system offers greater consistency than conventional practices. Weighing the strengths and weaknesses of each system, I recommend that paleontologists should adopt the paleobotanical system more broadly.
Chronic subdural cortical stimulation for phantom limb pain: report of a series of two cases

Phantom limb pain is a complex, incompletely understood pain syndrome that is characterized by chronic painful paresthesias in a previous amputated body part. Limited treatment modalities exist that provide meaningful relief, including pharmacological treatments and spinal cord stimulation that are rarely successful for refractory cases. Here, we describe our two-patient cohort with recalcitrant upper extremity phantom limb pain treated with chronic subdural cortical stimulation. The patient with evidence of cortical reorganization and almost 60 years of debilitating phantom limb pain experienced sustained analgesic relief at a follow-up period of 6 months. The second patient became tolerant to the stimulation and his pain returned to baseline at a 1-month follow-up. Our unique case series report adds to the growing body of literature suggesting critical appraisal before widespread implementation of cortical stimulation for phantom limb pain can be considered.
MicroRNAs in Stem Cells and Cancer Stem Cells

Cancer is currently a leading cause of death worldwide, taking millions of lives yearly. Estimates indicate that this tragic trend will continue and even increase over time (GLOBOCAN 2008 v2.0, http://globocan.iarc.fr). Currently, lung, liver, colon, and breast cancers are responsible for the majority of cancer deaths (Int J Cancer 132:1133–1145, 2013) and so a concerted effort is being made to find the mechanisms underlying carcinogenesis, disease progression, and chemotherapeutic resistance in order to uncover novel pathways that may be targeted by anticancer therapies. Evidence increasingly supports the hypothesis that cancers arise from stem cells as much as healthy tissues do. However, cancer stem cells are able to evade the growth programs imposed on normal stem cells, leading to disease. Specifically targeting cancer stem cells might prove to be an effective therapeutic strategy since this would eliminate the source of new cancer cells. Unfortunately, cancer stem cells are able to enter a dormant state in which they are resistant to standard therapies. Recent findings have indicated that microRNAs are critical regulators of many aspects of stem cell biology including entry and maintenance of the dormant state. Here, we discuss evidence supporting the cancer stem cell theory and how targeting of microRNA-dependent pathways might be used to coax cancer stem cells out of dormancy and into the path of chemotherapeutics.
Figure-Ground Modulation in the Human Lateral Geniculate Nucleus Is Distinguishable from Top-Down Attention.

Summary Nearly all of the information that reaches the primary visual cortex (V1) of the brain passes from the retina through the lateral geniculate nucleus (LGN) of the thalamus. Although the LGN's role in relaying feedforward signals from the retina to the cortex is well understood [ 1 , 2 ], the functional role of the extensive feedback it receives from the cortex has remained elusive [ 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 ]. Here, we investigated whether corticothalamic feedback may contribute to perceptual processing in the LGN in a manner that is distinct from top-down effects of attention [ 7 , 8 , 9 , 10 ]. We used high-resolution fMRI at 7 Tesla to simultaneously measure responses to orientation-defined figures in the human LGN and V1. We found robust enhancement of perceptual figures throughout the early visual system, which could be distinguished from the effects of covert spatial attention [ 11 , 12 , 13 ]. In a second experiment, we demonstrated that figure enhancement occurred in the LGN even when the figure and surrounding background were presented dichoptically (i.e., to different eyes). As binocular integration primarily occurs in V1 [ 14 , 15 ], these results implicate a mechanism of automatic, contextually sensitive feedback from binocular visual cortex underlying figure-ground modulation in the LGN. Our findings elucidate the functional mechanisms of this core function of the visual system [ 16 , 17 , 18 ], which allows people to segment and detect meaningful figures in complex visual environments. The involvement of the LGN in this rich, contextually informed visual processing—despite showing minimal feedforward selectivity for visual features [ 19 , 20 ]—underscores the role of recurrent processing at the earliest stages of visual processing.