cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
More data on post-surgical deaths related to the 1976 Los Angeles doctor slowdown.

Abstract A previous report showed steady decline in the death rate during a ‘doctor slowdown’ (involving essentially the withholding of elective surgery) in Los Angeles County, California—followed by a sharp rise in the death rate as soon as ‘surgery as usual’ was resumed. To determine if this sequence was, in fact, related to post-operative deaths, the actual death certificates for the fortnight after the 1976 slowdown (N = 2574) and those for the corresponding period of 1975 (N = 2663) were examined. Most death certificates, of course, had no indication of surgery done, but comparing deaths associated with surgery in the two periods showed 90 more such deaths in 1976 than in 1975. Separate study of a sample of local hospitals showed withholding of nearly 11,000 elective operations during the slowdown. A widely used average post-operative case-fatality rate for elective surgery of 0.50% would imply avoidance of 55 deaths. The finding of 90 excess deaths associated with surgery in 1976, compared with 1975, therefore, suggests strongly that the sudden rise in the overall Los Angeles County death rate, following the 1976 doctor slowdown, was indeed due, at least in part, to the performance of postponed surgical procedures.
Chemistry of soil aluminum

Abstract Better understanding of soil aluminum has had dramatic effects on the interpretation of many aspects of soil chemistry. Aluminum is a Group III element, metallic in nature, and exhibits both ionic and cuvaient bonding. It is the most plentiful of all metallic cations of the earth's crust. It is released from octahedral coordination with oxygen in minerals by weathering processes. Once released, the trivalent Al ion assumes octahedral coordination with six OH2 groups each of which dissociates a H ion in sequence as pH increases. The resulting hydroxy‐Al ions are absorbed to the cation exchange capacity of the soil. Here they polymerize on charged surfaces and in the interlayers of the clay minerals obstructing both the contraction of the clay lattice and the exchange of cations. Soluble Al is toxic to most plants, and reacts readily with soluble phosphates converting them to relatively insoluble and plant‐unavailable forms. Adsorbed and polymerized aluminum affects actual lime requirements of soil...
Subunit Fusion Confers Tolerance to Peptide Insertions in a Virus Coat Protein

An octapeptide sequence called Flag was inserted into the bacteriophage MS2 coat protein at two different locations and its effects on protein folding and virus assembly were determined. Assays of the translational repressor and capsid assembly functions of the recombinants show that when the peptide is inserted at its N-terminus coat protein folds properly into the form that binds RNA (i.e., the dimer), but is defective for capsid assembly. On the other hand, a recombinant protein which is expected to display the Flag insertion as a surface loop does not fold correctly and, as a consequence, is proteolytically degraded. Genetic fusion of the two subunits of the coat dimer results in a protein considerably more tolerant of these structural perturbations and mostly corrects the defects accompanying Flag peptide insertion. Increased resistance of the single-chain coat protein to urea denaturation indicates that the fused dimer is substantially more stable than wild type. Covalent joining of subunits of oligomers probably represents a general strategy for engineering increased protein stability.
Adding functions to ensure regression converges

Regression fits a curve to data by minimizing a function of the residuals. The process of fitting a family of functions may fail to converge because the family of candidate functions has no minimum. After investigating what functions to add to a family to ensure a minimum exists, four families are examined. The family of polynomials needs no additional functions. Additional functions are found for the families of exponential growth curves, probit curves, and logistic curves. A sufficient condition tells when the minimum is not in the original family.
Empathy's vital role in putting patients first.

Putting patients first means stepping outside of a strictly industrial and technical paradigm, looking at each patient’s care from the patient’s perspective, and letting the patient know that we care.
Energy level clusters for ν2 + ν3 type combination bands of tetrahedral molecules

Clustering of tetrahedral levels is shown to occur in ..nu../sub 2/ + ..nu../sub 3/ type combination bands of spherical top molecules due to Coriolis and vibrational anharmonic interactions. Cluster correlation diagrams are shown for cases where the vibrational splitting is both large and small compared to the Coriolis splitting, and cluster approximations are given for both cases.
PROPERTIES AND ORIGIN OF DPNH DIAPHORASES FROM MYCOBACTERIUM TUBERCULOSIS.

Abstract A series of DPNH diaphorases has been isolated from cell-free extracts of the H37Ra strain of Mycobacterium tuberculosis . These diaphorases are either soluble or can be solubilized by treatment of the DPNH-oxidase particles with either digitonin or with alkaline buffers following lyophilization. Each diaphorase preparation can use more than one electron acceptor (nitro-BT, 5 DCPP, ferricyanide, K 3 , or cytochrome c). This multiplicity of electron acceptors is a reflection of the multiplicity of diapliorases in each preparation and is not due to lack of electron acceptor specificity. The soluble and particulate diaphorases are related. The DPNH-diaphorase activities solubilized from the washed DPNH-oxidizing particles are identical with the soluble DPNH diaphorases found in the original cell-free extract. We conclude that the soluble DPNH diaphorases found in the original cell-free extract are derived from the comminution of the DPNH-oxidase particles during preparation of the cell-free extract. The DPNH-oxidase particles are probably derived from the cytoplasmic membrane as opposed to pre-existing intracellular particles. Evidence is presented suggesting the production of more than one diaphorase with the same electron acceptor specificity, the same enzymatic constants but different physical characteristics.
Political Power and Information: A Cross-Cultural Study1

It is hypothesized that the degree of political power is functionally related to the number of structural levels at which politically relevant information is stored and retrieved within a political system. “Political power” is measured by the degree of control intensity over warfare, adjudication, appointment, wealth, and human labor; while hierarchically structured “political teams” are viewed as the units that store and vertically transmit information. The hypothesis is tested cross-culturally, and the results reported in the study. The evidence strongly supports the hypothesis. In addition, partial correlations are computed in order to control for diffusion, data quality, and coding inaccuracy.
Subsidized RED: an active queue management mechanism for short-lived flows

In heavily congested networks, RED using parameters that provide the best link utilization produces poor response times. In this work, we devise and study the performance of a simple active queue management mechanism called Subsidized RED (SubRED) targeted at short-lived flows or fragile flows (e.g. most HTTP flows) to keep link utilization high while reducing the average flow response time. Our simulation studies have compared the performance of RED and SubRED for a network with HTTP traffic at offered loads less, close to, and more than the link capacity. Simulations show that a subsidy given to a flow provides significantly better performance in terms of HTTP request-reply delays without sacrificing the link utilization. The new scheme is very simple to implement. Combined with our cost-effective flow table based implementation, SubRED does not impose an excessive resource overhead.
Exposure to shift work as a risk factor for diabetes.

Using telephone survey data from 1111 retired older adults (≥65 years; 634 male, 477 female), we tested the hypothesis that exposure to shift work might result in increased self-reported diabetes. Five shift work exposure bins were considered: 0 years, 1-7 years, 8-14 years, 15-20 years, and >20 years. Shift work exposed groups showed an increased proportion of self-reported diabetes (χ2 = 22.32, p 0.50).
Disgusted, Embarrassed, Annoyed: Affective Associations Relate to Uptake of Colonoscopy Screening

Background Uptake of colorectal cancer screening is lower than desired. Screening decision making research has traditionally focused on benefits and barriers to screening. This study examines the relation of affective associations with screening (feelings and emotions associated with screening) to colonoscopy screening uptake.
Two redox-active β-carotene molecules in photosystem II

Photosystem II (PS II) contains secondary electron-transfer paths involving cytochrome b559 (Cyt b559), chlorophyll (Chl), and β-carotene (Car) that are active under conditions when oxygen evolution is blocked such as in inhibited samples or at low temperature. Intermediates of the secondary electron-transfer pathways of PS II core complexes from Synechocystis PCC 6803 and Synechococcus sp. and spinach PS II membranes have been investigated using low temperature near-IR spectroscopy and electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopy. We present evidence that two spectroscopically distinct redox-active carotenoids are formed upon low-temperature illumination. The Car+ near-IR absorption peak varies in wavelength and width as a function of illumination temperature. Also, the rate of decay during dark incubation of the Car+ peak varies as a function of wavelength. Factor analysis indicates that there are two spectral forms of Car+ (CarA+ has an absorbance maximum of 982 nm, and CarB+ has an absorbance ma...
Control of Nafion/Poly(vinylidene fluoride-co-hexafluoropropylene) Composite Membrane Microstructure to Improve Performance in Direct Methanol Fuel Cells

The structure of Nafion/poly(vinylidene fluoride-co-hexafluoropropylene) composite membranes was controlled by solvent casting under an applied electric field. The field-induced structural changes caused the membranes to display an enhanced water uptake, proton conductivity, and methanol permeability in comparison to solvent cast membranes prepared without an applied field. Although both methanol permeability and proton conductivity are enhanced by the applied field, the permeability increase is relatively lower than the proton conductivity improvement, which results in enhanced proton/methanol selectivity and improved direct methanol fuel cell (DMFC) performance. The experimental evidence suggests that the ordered arrangement of Nafion domains at the micrometer scale and the limiting swelling of Nafion at the nanometer scale are two main reasons for the improved selectivity. The electric-field-processed membranes show comparable or better performance than commercial Nafion 117 in DMFCs, depending on the operating conditions.
Characteristics of poliomyelitis and other enteric viruses recovered in tissue culture from healthy American children.

SummaryRectal swabs from 1566 healthy American children who had no contact with clinically recognized cases of poliomyelitis were tested in monkey kidney tissue cultures. Among the 31 cytopathogenic agents which were recovered, 5 were poliomyelitis virus (three Type 2 and two Type 3), one was a group B Coxsackievirus, and 25 belonged to a hitherto unidentified group of enteric viruses. This new group of human enteric or HE viruses is antigenically unrelated to the so-called “orphan viruses” recovered in tissue culture by Melnick and by Steigman et al., from the stools of patients with suspected nonparalytic poliomyelitis. 22 of (these 25 new viruses belong to 3 distinct serologic types (8 were Type 1, 11 Type 2 and 3 Type 3). The HE 1, HE 3 and the 3 unclassified strains were neutralized by human gamma globulin while the HE 2 virus was not. The HE 1 and HE 2 strains produced neither paralysis nor any significant lesions after intraspinal injection in cynomolgus monkeys. The 5 poliomyelitis viruses were al...
‘I could not but smile’: the comic Crusoe and the subversion of Puritan self-production

Common critical portraits of Robinson Crusoe have drawn the island denizen as inventive economic profiteer, industrious political leader, unscrupulous colonizer, faithful Puritan pilgrim, and as the archetypal modern self that must confront the limits and potential of a modern world. If Crusoe cannot finally embody all of these variously conceived selves, I argue that he is decidedly none of them, and that the presence of the comic in Crusoe divorces subject from selfhood. Using Peter Burger's definition of the comic as a ‘form of perception that sees through social and ideational order’ and renders such order impotent, I suggest that Crusoe undergoes a process of comic dismemberment whereby the permutation of self produced by Puritan spiritual autobiography is exposed as a mute object. Reading early nonfictional Puritan narrative as a textual intervention designed to order the intractable sphere of experience, I claim that this order depends on the fabrication of a notional self that must become a produc...
Head Trauma and Mid-Frequency Hearing Loss

Numerous reports in the literature associate head trauma with high-frequency hearing losses, often mimicking "4K notches" attributed to noise exposure. We have observed that some patients with a positive history for head trauma may show midfrequency notches in their audiometric configurations.
Optimizing Bone-Graft Nasal Reconstruction: A Study of Nasal Bone Shape and Thickness

Nasal reconstruction may best be carried out with bone grafting in certain cases of loss of structural support. In order to optimize both the aesthetic and functional results of bone-graft nasal reconstruction, we studied the shape and thickness of the normal human nasal bone. Sixty Caucasian skull nasal bones were measured by width throughout their length at three planes of depth. Seventeen Caucasian cadaver nasal bones were examined to determine the thickness of the bone throughout its length at three sagittal planes. The results showed that the nasal bone was widest at the nasofrontal suture (14 mm), narrowest at the nasofrontal angle (10 mm), and then widened again to a maximum width of 12 mm about 9 to 12 mm inferior to the nasofrontal angle. The nasal bone was thickest superiorly at the nasofrontal angle (average 6 mm) and progressively thinned toward the tip. It was 3 to 4 mm thick in the critical area where screws are most commonly placed for fixation (5 to 10 mm inferior to the nasofrontal angle). From these data, three-dimensional models of the normal nasal bone shape were formulated and used in clinical bone-graft cases.
CROSS-SECTIONAL GEOMETRICAL PROPERTIES AND BONE MINERAL CONTENTS OF THE HUMAN RADIUS AND ULNA

The mechanical strength of the human radius and ulna depends on their geometrical and material properties. This study quantifies the cortical bone cross-sectional properties of the adult radius and ulna (cross-sectional area, thickness, centroids, area moments of inertia and section moduli) using computerized tomographic (CT) scanning coupled with image processing along the lengths of eight human cadaveric forearms. Bone mineral mass and apparent ash density were also quantified at serial locations. Sites of significant variation of selected geometric and mineral properties along the length of each forearm bone were determined. Our results show that interpolation of CT measurements made at 10 and 30% of the radial length in the radius and 30 and 90% of the radial length in the ulna can provide approximate geometric values over the 10-90% region. This information can be used to develop a protocol using the fewest sites to clinically assess changes in forearm bone geometry. Regression analyses did not show significant linear relationships between geometric properties and apparent cortical ash density. Thus, CT derived geometric properties are not helpful in estimating the extent of changes in bone density. Area moment of inertia results suggest that the junction of the middle and distal third of the radius, and the ulnar shaft region may have increased vulnerability to fractures. The former is likely due to the change in moment of inertia values, whereas the latter is due to the relatively small magnitude of cross-sectional moments along the ulnar shaft as compared to the proximal or distal ends. This is consistent with fracture patterns observed clinically when a single forearm bone is fractured: Galeazzi fracture of the radius and nightstick fracture of the ulna.
Dynamics of emergent urban hierarchy

Abstract An urban hierarchy is modeled as arising from a set of critical productivity threshold levels determined by patterns of nonlinear external and internal economies. This hierarchy can be characterized by a fractal dimensionality. Nonlinear business-cycle oscillations can arise, and their entrainment across levels of the hierarchy can trigger a critical leap across a new threshold and the emergence of a new level of the hierarchy. The interacting particle system model and the self-organizing criticality model are presented as competing alternative explanations for the trigger mechanisms of this critical entrainment.
Math Learning Disability and Math LD Subtypes Evidence from Studies of Turner Syndrome, Fragile X Syndrome, and Neurofibromatosis Type 1

The present study examined whether indicators of math learning disability are observed in 5- and 6-year-olds with neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1) and in 5- to 6-year-old girls with Turner syndrome or fragile X syndrome. Data from 14 girls with Turner syndrome, 9 girls with fragile X syndrome, and 11 children with NF1 were compared to data from control participants matched on age, sex, IQ score, and grade level. The results indicate that girls with fragile X syndrome or Turner syndrome are significantly more likely to have specific math difficulties relative to their control group, with a larger effect size demonstrated by the group with Turner syndrome. Young children with NF1 had a heterogeneous profile not suggestive of specific math disability. The results are discussed in terms of their implications for understanding math disability subtypes and the identification of math difficulty in the early school years.
An overview of dexterous manipulation

Presents an overview of research in dexterous manipulation. We first define robotic dexterous manipulation in comparison to traditional robotics and human manipulation. Next, kinematics, contact types and forces are used to formulate the dexterous manipulation problem. Dexterous motion planning is described, which includes grasp planning and quality measures. We look at mid- and low-level control frameworks, and then compare manipulation versus exploration. Finally, we list accomplishments in the different areas of dexterous manipulation research, and highlight important areas for future work.
A Self-Localization Method for Wireless Sensor Networks

We consider the problem of locating and orienting a network of unattended sensor nodes that have been deployed in a scene at unknown locations and orientation angles. This self-calibration problem is solved by placing a number of source signals, also with unknown locations, in the scene. Each source in turn emits a calibration signal, and a subset of sensor nodes in the network measures the time of arrival and direction of arrival (with respect to the sensor node's local orientation coordinates) of the signal emitted from that source. From these measurements we compute the sensor node locations and orientations, along with any unknown source locations and emission times. We develop necessary conditions for solving the self-calibration problem and provide a maximum likelihood solution and corresponding location error estimate. We also compute the Cramer-Rao bound of the sensor node location and orientation estimates, which provides a lower bound on calibration accuracy. Results using both synthetic data and field measurements are presented.
Outcome after abnormal exercise echocardiography for patients with good exercise capacity ☆: Prognostic importance of the extent and severity of exercise-related left ventricular dysfunction

Abstract Objectives We sought to define the prognostic implications of the extent and severity of exercise echocardiographic abnormalities in patients with good exercise capacity. Background The exercise capacity of patients with known or suspected coronary artery disease (CAD) is of prognostic importance, as is the extent of exercise-related left ventricular (LV) hypoperfusion or dysfunction. Methods We examined the outcomes of 1,874 patients with known or suspected CAD (mean age 64 ± 10 years, 64% men) who had good exercise capacity (≥5 metabolic equivalents [METs] for women, ≥7 METs for men) but abnormal exercise echocardiograms and analyzed the potential association between clinical, exercise and echocardiographic variables and subsequent cardiac events. Results Multivariate predictors of time to cardiac death or nonfatal myocardial infarction (MI) were diabetes mellitus (risk ratio [RR] 1.88; 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.2 to 3.0), history of MI (RR 2.44; 95% CI 1.6 to 3.6) and an increase or no change in LV end-systolic size in response to exercise (RR 1.61; 95% CI 1.1 to 2.5). Using echocardiographic variables that were of incremental prognostic value, we were able to stratify the cardiac risk of the study population; cardiac death or nonfatal MI rate per person-year of follow-up was 1.6% for patients who had a decrease in LV end-systolic size in response to exercise (n = 1,330) and 1.2% for patients who did not have any severely abnormal LV segments immediately after exercise (n = 868). Conclusions In patients with good exercise capacity, echocardiographic descriptors of the extent and severity of exercise-related LV dysfunction were of independent and incremental prognostic value. Stratification of patients into low- and higher risk subgroups was possible using these exercise echocardiographic characteristics.
Diversified redundancy in the measurement of Euler angles using accelerometers and magnetometers

Euler angle determination plays an important role in control of aerial vehicles. Euler angles can be determined based on the measurements of the projections of earth magnetic field and gravity on the three body axes of the vehicle. The proposed approach utilizes seven methods to compute the Euler angles and each of these methods employs a different subset of the six measurements. The capability of computing the Euler angles in multiple ways provides a diversified redundancy required for fault tolerance. This diversified redundancy can be also used to separate the desired measurement from extraneous interferences and to identify sensor failures.
A Minimum Sphere Covering Approach to Pattern Classification

In this paper we present a minimum sphere covering approach to pattern classification that seeks to construct a minimum number of spheres to represent the training data and formulate it as an integer programming problem. Using soft threshold functions, we further derive a linear programming problem whose solution gives rise to radial basis function (RBF) classifiers and sigmoid function classifiers. In contrast to traditional RBF and sigmoid function networks, in which the number of units is specified a priori, our method provides a new way to construct RBF and sigmoid function networks that explicitly minimizes the number of base units in the resulting classifiers. Our approach is advantageous compared to SVMs with Gaussian kernels in that it provides a natural construction of kernel matrices and it directly minimizes the number of basis functions. Experiments using real-world datasets demonstrate the competitiveness of our method in terms of classification performance and sparsity of the solution.
Virtual reconstruction of archaeological vessels using convex hulls of surface markings

This paper presents a 3D computer vision method that assists the tedious procedure of manually reconstructing ceramic vessels from fragments unearthed in an archaeological excavation. This computational method relies on vessel surface markings combined with expert feedback (via the archaeologist) to form a generic model of a vessel that the excavated fragments might have originated from. Prior expert information (i.e., the generic vessel model) is usually based on a host of factors ranging from historical knowledge from the period in question to the provenience of the excavation, etc. The generic model need not be exactly identical to the excavated vessel, but rather within the allowable class (i.e., within a geometric transformation of it in most of its parts). The ceramic vessels we deal with here have surface markings. We exploit the 3D convex hull associated with the surface markings as they are preserved under the allowable set of transformation (between the generic expert model and the excavated vessel). We align these using a novel set of discrete cross weighted moments. The morphing transformation (affine or higher order morphing function) is computed from these corresponding convex hulls and their corresponding vertices, and distance error metrics are introduced to access the fitness of the alignment of a fragment to a given vessel. The methods are tested on a subset of ceramics excavated from Independence National Historical Park (INHP) created through 3D scanning of prospective generic bowls and their pieces.
Overview of Chemical-Looping Reduction in Fixed Bed and Fluidized Bed Reactors Focused on Oxygen Carrier Utilization and Reactor Efficiency

A model-assisted comparison of two types of chemical-looping (CL) reactors (fixed bed and fluidized bed), with the same oxygen carrier loading and fuel capacity, is carried out to examine performance and efficiency of CL Reducers, operating with methane as the feedstock and nickel oxide as the oxygen carrier. The study focuses on the reduction step of chemical-looping combustion (CLC), for which the reactor efficiency and fuel utilization are crucial in terms of economics and carbon capture efficiency. Process models (a three phase dynamic model for bubbling fluidized beds and a two dimensional homogeneous model for fixed beds) and reaction kinetics developed and validated in previous studies are used. A fluidized bed chemical-looping combustion Reducer is compared to a fixed bed equivalent reactor, scaled-up from a smaller experimental reactor, constrained to bed height to reactor diameter ratios that prohibit excessive temperature and pressure drops across the bed. Through a detailed comparison, CLC operated in the fluidized bed reactor is shown to deliver superior performance, i.e., uniform temperature and pressure distribution; high methane conversion (＞ 95%) and carbon dioxide selectivity (＞ 95%) sustained for longer reduction periods; negligible carbon formation (＜ 2 mol% C basis); and better efficiency in oxygen carrier utilization.
Enhancer Control of Local Accessibility to V(D)J Recombinase

We have studied the role of transcriptional enhancers in providing recombination signal sequence (RSS) accessibility to V(D)J recombinase by examining mice carrying a transgenic human T-cell receptor (TCR) delta gene minilocus. This transgene is composed of unrearranged variable (Vdelta and Vdelta2), diversity (Ddelta3), joining (Jdelta1 and Jdelta3), and constant (Cdelta) gene segments. Previous data indicated that with the TCR delta enhancer (Edelta) present in the Jdelta3-Cdelta intron, V(D)J recombination proceeds stepwise, first V to D and then VD to J. With the enhancer deleted or mutated, V-to-D rearrangement is intact, but VD-to-J rearrangement is inhibited. We proposed that Edelta is necessary for J segment but not D segment accessibility and that J segment inaccessibility in the enhancerless minilocus resulted in the observed V(D)J recombination phenotype. In this study, we tested this notion by using ligation-mediated PCR to assess the formation of recombination-activating gene (RAG)-dependent double-strand breaks (DSBs) at RSSs 3' of Ddelta3 and 5' of Jdelta1. In five lines of mice carrying multicopy integrants of constructs that either lacked Edelta or carried an inactivated Edelta, the frequency of DSBs 5' of Jdelta1 was dramatically reduced relative to that in the wild type, whereas the frequency of DSBs 3' of Ddelta3 was unaffected. We interpret these results to indicate that Edelta is required for Jdelta1 but not Ddelta3 accessibility within the minilocus, and we conclude that enhancers regulate V(D)J recombination by providing local accessibility to the recombinase. cis-acting elements other than Edelta must maintain Ddelta3 in an accessible state in the absence of Edelta. The analysis of DSB formation in a single-copy minilocus integrant indicates that efficient DSB formation at the accessible RSS 3' of Ddelta3 requires an accessible partner RSS, arguing that RSS synapsis is required for DSB formation in chromosomal substrates in vivo.
Feeling Unsure A Universal Lived Experience

Feeling unsure is a universal experience of health and quality of life. The purposes of this research study were to discover the structure of the lived experience of feeling unsure, to add to the body of knowledge on the phenomenon of feeling unsure, and expand the humanbecoming school of thought. The Parse research method was used to guide this study and answer the question, What is the structure of the lived experience of feeling unsure? Participants were 10 individuals living with chronic heart failure in the community. The processes of dialogical engagement, extraction-synthesis, and heuristic interpretation were used. The central finding of this study was the following structure: The lived experience of feeling unsure is discomforting trepidation with unassuredness-assuredness, as vigilantly anticipating possibles with treasured alliances arises with moments of acquiescence. New knowledge extended the theory of humanbecoming and enhanced understanding of the experience of feeling unsure.
Null-balance transducer for isometric force measurements and length control of single heart cells

An ultrasensitive, optical-fiber-based force transducer was developed to measure the microscopic force of contraction of single heart cells. The original design permits approximately 1% shortening of cell length to occur during twitch contractions. It is shown that the shortening can be reduced significantly by adding a piezoelectric bimorph actuator and closed-loop control. As a result, the effective stiffness of the transducer can be increased by a factor of about 100, and cell shortening reduced to approximately 0.01%. For the force probes typically used, this is equivalent to a movement of less than 20 nm for a typical value of 100 nN peak cell force in single frog ventricular cells. The gain in stiffness is obtained without sacrificing sensitivity, although at the expense of frequency response. The design permits control of cell length and is applicable to studies of the mechanical stiffness of cardiac cells. >
The Lateral Line System is Not Necessary for Rheotaxis in the Mexican Blind Cavefish (Astyanax fasciatus)

Synopsis Fish resist being swept downstream by swimming against a current. Mexican blind cavefish (Astyanax fasciatus) exhibit this innate behavior, rheotaxis, without the aid of vision, but it has been debated whether this ability requires sensing flow with the lateral line system. We tested the role of the lateral line by comparing swimming in a flow chamber in a group of cavefish with a compromised lateral line with a control group. Consistent with previous studies, we found that cavefish orient toward flow and more frequently swim upstream at a higher flow speed. We found that these responses to flow were indistinguishable between fish with compromised and functioning lateral line systems. Rheotaxis was also unaltered by exposing fish to varying degrees of turbulence. These results suggest that the sensing of flow is unnecessary for rheotaxis in cavefish. It appears that tactile stimuli provide a sufficient means of executing this behavior in fish and that rheotaxis may not be a major function of the lateral line system.
Regulation of Genes for Enzymes Along a Common Nitrogen Metabolic Pathway

We have characterized the multigene families encoding glutamine synthetase (GS) and asparagine synthetase (AS) in Pisum sativum. The isolated GS and AS genes have been used as probes to study the expression of individual members of these gene families during various aspects of plant development. These studies have shown that chloroplast GS2 and cytosolic GS are encoded by homologous nuclear genes which are differentially expressed in vivo (18,19). The nuclear gene for chloroplast GS2 is regulated by light, phytochrome, and photorespiration (4). In contrast, two nearly identical genes for cytosolic GS (GS3A and GS3B) are expressed at highest levels in developmental contexts where large amounts of nitrogen are mobilized in plants (22). Analysis of transgenic tobacco plants containing the pea GS promoters fused to a GUS reporter gene has shown that the genes for chloroplast GS2 and cytosolic GS3A are expressed in distinct cell types (5). These transgenic experiments have demonstrated that the chloroplast GS2 and cytosolic GS3A isoforms serve distinct, non-overlapping roles in plant nitrogen metabolism. Parallel studies on the gene family for plant AS have shown that peas contain two AS genes (AS1 and AS2) (20). The AS1 gene shows a dramatic dark-induced expression, which reflects the role of asparagine as the preferred nitrogen transport compound in dark-grown plants (20). Both AS1 and AS2 are expressed coordinately with genes for cytosolic GS during germination and nitrogen-fixation (20). Our combined studies on the gene families for GS and AS should uncover the molecular basis for the coordinate regulation of genes for enzymes along a common nitrogen metabolic pathway in plants.
Formative Assessment of Collaborative Teams (FACT) Development of a Grade-Level Instructional Team Checklist

Professional Learning Communities (PLCs) have become increasingly popular in schools. PLCs are groups of teachers, administrators, parents, and students who collaborate to improve their practices a...
Toward a Phenomenology of Forensic Psychotherapy: A Commentary on Polizzi and Draper

This piece is a commentary on the article by Polizzi and Draper (2013), elaborating a phenomenological hermeneutic of clinical forensics. First, it analyzes their depiction of the concepts of reduction, the given and the manifest, and the event. Second, it discusses their application of these ideas to clinical forensics, particularly with respect to issues of the openness/closedness of the client and therapist and their context.
Estimate of Deflections

In most structures, the primary concern is that the structure should have adequate strength. Deflections are mostly of secondary concern. The calculations of deflections are important, however, because excessive deflections may hinder the operation of moving parts or the closing of doors or they may cause the cracking of a plaster-finished ceiling. Also, deflection control is needed to limit the lateral deflection (drift) of tall buildings. In fact, the simple plastic theory is valid only when the deflections at the collapse load (P-Δ effect) are small.
Using Transplants to Measure Accumulation Rates of Epiphytic Bryophytes In Forests of Western Oregon

Abstract We sought a simple and effective transplant method that could be used to measure biomass accumulation rates of epiphytic bryophytes. Trials were carried out in the Pseudotsuga menziesii-dominated forests of western Oregon. We tested multiple transplant methods over a 13-month period while comparing accumulation rates of Antitrichia curtipendula (Hedw.) Brid. and Isothecium myosuroides Brid. among an old-growth stand, a young stand, and a recent clearcut. In our study area, Antitrichia is considered to be an old-growth associate while Isothecium is a more ubiquitous species. Methods tested included containment in net bags, containment in hairnets, and directly tying mats to substrates. Three sizes of transplants were tested with both natural and inert artificial substrates. Transplants of approximately five g enclosed in plastic net bags and tied to either natural or artificial substrates worked well for our purposes. Only minor differences were found in mean accumulation rates between the old gro...
Examining the reliability of ADAS-Cog change scores.

The purpose of this study was to estimate and examine ways to improve the reliability of change scores on the Alzheimer's Disease Assessment Scale, Cognitive Subtest (ADAS-Cog). The sample, provided by the Alzheimer's Disease Neuroimaging Initiative, included individuals with Alzheimer's disease (AD) (n = 153) and individuals with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) (n = 352). All participants were administered the ADAS-Cog at baseline and 1 year, and change scores were calculated as the difference in scores over the 1-year period. Three types of change score reliabilities were estimated using multivariate generalizability. Two methods to increase change score reliability were evaluated: reweighting the subtests of the scale and adding more subtests. Reliability of ADAS-Cog change scores over 1 year was low for both the AD sample (ranging from .53 to .64) and the MCI sample (.39 to .61). Reweighting the change scores from the AD sample improved reliability (.68 to .76), but lengthening provided no useful improvement for either sample. The MCI change scores had low reliability, even with reweighting and adding additional subtests. The ADAS-Cog scores had low reliability for measuring change. Researchers using the ADAS-Cog should estimate and report reliability for their use of the change scores. The ADAS-Cog change scores are not recommended for assessment of meaningful clinical change.
A randomized factorial trial of disulfiram and contingency management to enhance cognitive behavioral therapy for cocaine dependence.

Abstract Background This study evaluated the extent to which the addition of disulfiram and contingency management for adherence and abstinence (CM), alone and in combination, might enhance the effects of cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) for cocaine use disorders. Methods Factorial randomized double blind (for medication condition) clinical trial where CBT served as the platform and was delivered in weekly individual sessions in a community-based outpatient clinic. 99 outpatients who met DSM-IV criteria for current cocaine dependence were assigned to receive either disulfiram or placebo, and either CM or no CM. Cocaine and other substance use was assessed via a daily calendar with thrice weekly urine sample testing for 12 weeks with a one-year follow-up (80% interviewed at one year). Results The primary hypothesis that CM and disulfiram would produce the best cocaine outcomes was not confirmed, nor was there a main effect for disulfiram. For the primary outcome (percent days of abstinence, self report), there was a significant interaction, with the best cocaine outcomes were seen for the combination of CM and placebo, with the two groups assigned to disulfiram associated with intermediate outcomes, and poorest cocaine outcome among those assigned to placebo and no CM. The secondary outcome (urinalysis) indicated a significant effect favoring CM over no CM but the interaction effect was not significant. One year follow-up data indicated sustained treatment effects across conditions. Conclusions CM enhances outcomes for CBT treatment of cocaine dependence, but disulfiram provided no added benefit to the combination of CM and CBT.
Association of Left Atrial Local Conduction Velocity With Late Gadolinium Enhancement on Cardiac Magnetic Resonance in Patients With Atrial Fibrillation

Background— Prior studies have demonstrated regional left atrial late gadolinium enhancement (LGE) heterogeneity on magnetic resonance imaging. Heterogeneity in regional conduction velocities is a critical substrate for functional reentry. We sought to examine the association between left atrial conduction velocity and LGE in patients with atrial fibrillation. Methods and Results— LGE imaging and left atrial activation mapping were performed during sinus rhythm in 22 patients before pulmonary vein isolation. The locations of 1468 electroanatomic map points were registered to the corresponding anatomic sites on 469 axial LGE image planes. The local conduction velocity at each point was calculated using previously established methods. The myocardial wall thickness and image intensity ratio defined as left atrial myocardial LGE signal intensity divided by the mean left atrial blood pool intensity was calculated for each mapping site. The local conduction velocity and image intensity ratio in the left atrium (mean±SD) were 0.98±0.46 and 0.95±0.26 m/s, respectively. In multivariable regression analysis, clustered by patient, and adjusting for left atrial wall thickness, conduction velocity was associated with the local image intensity ratio (0.20 m/s decrease in conduction velocity per increase in unit image intensity ratio, P <0.001). Conclusions— In this clinical in vivo study, we demonstrate that left atrial myocardium with increased gadolinium uptake has lower local conduction velocity. Identification of such regions may facilitate the targeting of the substrate for reentrant arrhythmias.
Effect of ACh on electrical and mechanical activity in guinea pig coronary arteries

The contractile and intracellular responses to acetylcholine (ACh) were measured in isolated segments of the guinea pig circumflex coronary artery. ACh (10(-5) M) led to hyperpolarization of the membrane in the presence or absence of the H1-receptor agonist 2-(2-aminoethyl)pyridine (AEP). This hyperpolarization was associated with relaxation of vessels precontracted with AEP. Hyperpolarization and relaxation were abolished after complete removal of the endothelium. Less endothelial coverage was required to obtain a relaxation with ACh (10(-5) M) than with bradykinin (BK, 10(-7) M). BK did not initiate hyperpolarization. A23187 (10(-8) to (10(-5) M) did not relax vessels precontracted with AEP. Three muscarinic antagonists were compared and the following order of potency was obtained: atropine greater than pirenzapine greater than AFDX116. Although atropine (10(-7) M) reduced the ACh (10(-5) M)-induced hyperpolarization by 83%, this same concentration of pirenzapine had no effect on hyperpolarization. Oxyhemoglobin (10(-5) M) significantly reduced relaxation to nitroglycerine but not ACh. Methylene blue (10(-5) or 5 x 10(-5) M) inhibited relaxation to submaximal but not maximal concentrations of ACh. In vessels precontracted with elevated potassium, ACh (10(-5) M) caused contraction rather than relaxation. The onset and time to peak hyperpolarization with carbachol was more rapid with luminal as opposed to adventitial application of drug. It is concluded that relaxation and hyperpolarization with ACh in the coronary artery are mediated via the endothelium. The results are compatible with the hypothesis that relaxation is initiated by both endothelial-derived relating factor stimulation of guanylate cyclase activity and hyperpolarization of the smooth muscle.
Aldose Reductase Acts as a Selective Derepressor of PPARγ and the Retinoic Acid Receptor

Histone deacetylase 3 (HDAC3), a chromatin-modifying enzyme, requires association with the deacetylase-containing domain (DAD) of the nuclear receptor corepressors NCOR1 and SMRT for its stability and activity. Here, we show that aldose reductase (AR), the rate-limiting enzyme of the polyol pathway, competes with HDAC3 to bind the NCOR1/SMRT DAD. Increased AR expression leads to HDAC3 degradation followed by increased PPARγ signaling, resulting in lipid accumulation in the heart. AR also downregulates expression of nuclear corepressor complex cofactors including Gps2 and Tblr1, thus affecting activity of the nuclear corepressor complex itself. Though AR reduces HDAC3-corepressor complex formation, it specifically derepresses the retinoic acid receptor (RAR), but not other nuclear receptors such as the thyroid receptor (TR) and liver X receptor (LXR). In summary, this work defines a distinct role for AR in lipid and retinoid metabolism through HDAC3 regulation and consequent derepression of PPARγ and RAR.
Reasons to quit and barriers to quitting smoking in US young adults

Background Young adulthood provides an enormous opportunity to alter trajectories of smoking behaviour for a large public health impact. Objective The purpose of this study was to examine correlates of perceived barriers to quitting smoking and reasons to quit in a sample of young adult current and former smokers. Methods This study used data from the 2011 National Young Adult Health Survey, a random-digit-dial cellphone survey. Participants were US young adult current smokers aged 18-34 (n = 699) and young adults who were either current smokers who had made a quit attempt in the past-year (n = 402) or former smokers (n = 289). Correlates of barriers to quitting smoking and reasons for quitting smoking were assessed using bivariate and multivariable analyses. Results More than half of current smokers identified 'loss of a way to handle stress' (59%) and 'cravings or withdrawal' (52%) as barriers to quitting. Female gender, daily smoking and intention to quit remained significantly associated with endorsing 'loss of a way to handle stress' as a barrier to quitting in multivariable analyses. The two most popular reasons for quitting smoking were physical fitness (64%) and the cost of tobacco (64%). Conclusion These findings highlight barriers to cessation and the reasons that young smokers give for quitting. This information may be helpful to physicians as they counsel their young adult patients to quit smoking.
Magnetic Properties of Dysprosium Single Crystals

Single crystals of metallic dysprosium have been grown by the Bridgman method and their magnetic properties have been determined in different crystallographic directions of the hexagonal close-packed structure. Below the N\'eel point of 178.5\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{}K the individual magnetic moments are aligned perpendicular to the ${c}_{0}$ axis. The moments are aligned in an antiferromagnetic manner from 178.5\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{}K down to 85\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{}K and in a ferromagnetic manner below 85\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{}K. Measurements with the field parallel and perpendicular to the ${c}_{0}$ axis reveal magnetic anisotropy at all temperatures. Below 110\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{}K magnetic anisotropy is also observed in the basal plane. The direction of easy magnetization is along an ${a}_{0}$ axis. In the ${c}_{0}$ direction the crystals are extremely "hard" magnetically, the magnetization curves being linear as in the case of a paramagnetic material. The saturation moments follow the ${T}^{2}$ law.
Women in Materials : a Collaborative Effort between Simmons College and the Cornell Center for Materials Research

The Women in Materials program, supported by the National Science Foundation, is a collaboration between Simmons College, a predominately undergraduate women's college, and the Cornell Center for Materials Research. For the past four years, this program has provided unusual curricular and research opportunities for undergraduate women at Simmons College. This program demonstrates a successful model for enhancing undergraduate science and technology preparation through collaboration between primarily undergraduate institutions and NSF-supported Materials Research Science and Engineering Centers. © 2006 Materials Research Society.