cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Avoiding state-space explosion of predictive metadata with SESH

With growing storage capacities, the amount of required metadata for tracking all blocks in a system becomes a daunting task. On mobile systems, the problem is compounded by a need to make the best use of available resources. Our previous work demonstrated a system software effort in the area of predictive data grouping for reducing power and latency on storage systems. Such efforts can reduce both power consumption and strain on underlying system hardware, while improving performance. Our work utilizes structures similar to prior efforts in prefetching and predictive caching, keeping a fixed number of immediate successors per block. While providing powerful predictive capabilities and being more space efficient in the required metadata than previous strategies, there remains a growing concern of how much data is actually required. We present a novel method of storing equivalent information, SESH, a Space Efficient Storage of Heredity, that is resistant to state-space explosion of predictive metadata, utilizing block-level predictability to reduce the overall metadata storage by up to 99% without loss of information. As a result, we are able to provide a predictive tool that is adaptive, accurate, and robust in the face of workload noise, for a tiny fraction of the metadata cost previously anticipated; in some cases, reducing the required size from 12 GB to less than 150 MB.
Anxiolytic and anti-depressant effects of Boswellia extract on CD1 Mus musculus

Abstract. Frankincense is obtained from the trees of the genus Boswellia and has been used historically for many reasons, including medicinal purposes. Previous research indicates that mice treated with a purified component from frankincense, incensole acetate (IA), had a decrease in anxious behavior during anxiety tests. Boswellia extract can be purchased from General Nutrition Centers (GNC). Since IA has been found to be have antidepressant properties in mice, this study investigated whether the Boswellia extract from GNC, e.g. unpurified IA, would also have anti-depressant/anti-anxiety affect. Sixty CD1 mice, 30 male and 30 female, were treated for approximately 25 days and were tested for the anti-depressant and anti-anxiety effects of Boswellia extract and sertraline (Zoloft®) compared to the control group. Each group of mice was analyzed by three behavioral tests: an open-field test, tail suspension test, and marble-burying test to determine the effects of these drugs. It was found that female mice ...
NITROGEN MINERALIZATION: CHALLENGES OF A CHANGING PARADIGM

Until recently, the common view of the terrestrial nitrogen cycle had been driven by two core assumptions—plants use only inorganic N and they compete poorly against soil microbes for N. Thus, plants were thought to use N that microbes “left over,” allowing the N cycle to be divided cleanly into two pieces—the microbial decomposition side and the plant uptake and use side. These were linked by the process of net mineralization. Over the last decade, research has changed these views. N cycling is now seen as being driven by the depolymerization of N-containing polymers by microbial (including mycorrhizal) extracellular enzymes. This releases organic N-containing monomers that may be used by either plants or microbes. However, a complete new conceptual model of the soil N cycle needs to incorporate recent research on plant–microbe competition and microsite processes to explain the dynamics of N across the wide range of N availability found in terrestrial ecosystems. We discuss the evolution of thinking abou...
Mathematical modelling of energy expenditure during tissue deposition

Predicting the magnitude and rate of weight gain for a given increase of energy intake requires a model of whole-body energy expenditure that includes the energy cost of tissue deposition. Here, I introduce a mathematical framework for modelling energy expenditure that elucidates conceptual problems with the classical Kielanowski method for estimating the efficiencies of body fat and protein deposition. An alternative approach uses the theoretical biochemical efficiencies for protein and fat synthesis in combination with models of energy expenditure that include body fat and protein turnover costs. I illustrate this alternative approach using a simple mathematical model applied to previously published data from growing rats and human infants and compare the simple model results with the classical Kielanowski model. While both models fit the data reasonably well (R2>0.87 in rats and R2>0.67 in infants), the Kielanowski method resulted in parameter estimates that varied widely across experiments, had poor precision, and occasionally produced efficiency estimates greater than 1. In contrast, the new method provided precise parameter values and revealed consistencies across different experiments. The proposed mathematical framework has implications for interpreting studies of animal nutrition as well as providing a roadmap for future modelling efforts.
Broadening the Debate The Pros and Cons of Globalization

Globalization has become an increasingly controversial topic, and the growing number of protests around the world has focused more attention on the basic assumptions of globalization and its effects. The purpose of this literature review is to broaden the boundaries of the debate on globalization and increase our understanding of its influence beyond the economic sphere. The winners and losers resulting from globalization are identified along with empirical evidence of its impact on key areas: equality, labor, government, culture and community, and the environment. The literature indicates that globalization is an uneven process that has had both positive and negative effects. The article presents some of the arguments of various stakeholders in the globalization controversy.
TOTAL ENERGY METHOD FOR SOLIDS AND SOLID SURFACES

We present a method for the computation of cohesive and structural properties of solids. The method is based on a local orbital description of the wavefunctions, an ab initio pseudopotential construction for the ion-core potential, and a local density treatment of exchange and correlation energies. Key elements of the method include the direct computation in real space of all the matrix elements, a non-iterative evaluation of the total energy and the transferability of the total electronic potential. The combination of these elements allows an accurate, yet less complex, treatment of a wide variety of systems. We shall illustrate the method by considering several prototypical systems: the diamond crystal, the diamond (111) surface, the silicon crystal, and the molybdenum crystal. With respect to the bulk crystalline properties, i.e., the cohesive energy, the lattice constant, the bulk modulus, etc., we obtain state of the art agreement with experiment. With respect to the diamond surface, we have considered several models for the reconstructed 2 x 1 surface. Of the models considered, we find only the undimerized -bonded chain reconstruction has a total energy lower than the relaxed 1 x 1 surface. 38 refs., 9 figs., 5 tabs.
Shiga Toxin Associated Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome

Shiga toxin associated hemolytic uremic syndrome (Stx HUS), a thrombotic microangiopathy, is the most common cause of pediatric acute kidney injury but has no direct treatment. A better understanding of disease pathogenesis may help identify new therapeutic targets. For this reason, the role of complement is being actively studied while eculizumab, the C5 monoclonal antibody, is being used to treat Stx HUS but with conflicting results. A randomized controlled trial would help properly evaluate its use in Stx HUS while more research is required to fully evaluate the role complement plays in the disease pathogenesis.
Genome-wide analysis of DNA methylation changes in human malignancies

DNA methylation is an epigenetic modification of the DNA sequence and thus does not change the genetic code but affects chromosomal stability and gene expression. DNA methylation patterns are heritable and can be passed on to the daughter cell. In this review, we briefly summarize our current knowledge on normal DNA methylation patterns and move on to discuss the current state of the field with respect to altered DNA methylation in cancer. We make a special attempt to address current questions relating to genome-wide DNA methylation patterns. Since DNA methylation is used as a therapeutic target in clinical studies, it is of utmost importance to define potential target sequences that could be used as diagnostic or prognostic markers. We conclude the review by outlining possible scenarios that may explain tumor type-specific DNA methylation patterns described by assays evaluating genome-wide levels of DNA methylation.
Dementia in Parkinson's disease: a post-mortem study in a population of brain donors.

Objective To identify factors associated with dementia in a cohort of Parkinson's disease (PD) brain donors and determine whether its presence may influence the clinical phenotype of the disease. Methods We included 67 consecutive patients with a clinical and pathological diagnosis of PD, who while alive, consented to donate their brains to the University of Miami Brain Endowment BankTM. Dementia and psychiatric complications of PD were diagnosed according to established criteria. Case histories were abstracted and reviewed and comparisons between PD patients with (PD-D, n = 34) and without (PD, n = 33) dementia were made. Results Age at death, age at disease onset and disease duration did not differ significantly between PD-D and PD patients. Other symptoms were similar in both groups. Visual hallucinations and bilateral symptoms at diagnosis were significantly higher in PD-D patients. No association between dementia and overall survival duration was found. Although the frequency of depression and psychosis was higher in the PD patients with dementia no statistical significance was reached. The overall lifetime prevalence of dementia in our group was 50.7%. Conclusions Visual hallucinations and bilateral symptoms were associated with dementia in our cohort of PD brain donors. No association between dementia and survival duration was found. Understanding the influence of dementia on the clinical phenotype of the disease and predicting its development is essential for the successful management of PD. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
A concept for ab initio prediction of cis-regulatory modules.

An important concern in the attempt of understanding the functional code of eukaryotic genes is to elucidate the control structures for regulating gene activation and suppression. One objective in the attempt to understand mechanisms of gene regulation is the elucidation of the regulatory network structure. A preliminary step of a detailed network analysis is identifying the transcription factor binding sites of a regulatory network. Known as cis-regulatory module (CRM), it is understood as part of the genome that comprises a set of short length binding sites. Gene regulatory systems are known to be quite stable during evolution, as compared to relatively frequent replication processes of genes and mutations of the coding sequences. This conservation property of regulatory code can advantageously be used for identifying cis-regulatory modules of potentially co-regulated genes. As the degree of similarity is expected to depend on the phylogenetic distance of homologs or orthologs, we favor an approach that is based on a comparison paradigm. The paper introduces a novel concept for measuring the similarity of cis-regulatory modules which can then be used in an algorithm for comparing regulatory regions. The proposed algorithm searches for pairs of similar modules, and a prototype implementation is applied to human and mouse liver sequences. The results are compared to that of random sequences, and it is shown that a clear decision about co-regulation is possible at this level.
Iterated intracochlear reflection shapes the envelopes of basilar-membrane click responses

Multiple internal reflection of cochlear traveling waves has been argued to provide a plausible explanation for the waxing and waning and other temporal structures often exhibited by the envelopes of basilar-membrane (BM) and auditory-nerve responses to acoustic clicks. However, a recent theoretical analysis of a BM click response measured in chinchilla concludes that the waveform cannot have arisen via any equal, repetitive process, such as iterated intracochlear reflection [Wit and Bell (2015), J. Acoust. Soc. Am. 138, 94-96]. Reanalysis of the waveform contradicts this conclusion. The measured BM click response is used to derive the frequency-domain transfer function characterizing every iteration of the loop. The selfsame transfer function that yields waxing and waning of the BM click response also captures the spectral features of ear-canal stimulus-frequency otoacoustic emissions measured in the same animal, consistent with the predictions of multiple internal reflection. Small shifts in transfer-function phase simulate results at different measurement locations and reproduce the heterogeneity of BM click response envelopes observed experimentally.
Abstract 13861: Trends in Utilization of Mechanical Circulatory Assist Devices in Patients Presenting with ST Elevation Myocardial Infarction

Despite significant controversy about the efficacy, mechanical circulatory support (MCS) is often utilized in patients with cardiogenic shock after ST elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). We aimed to characterize the trends and outcomes following the use of MCS devices in patients presenting with STEMI. Methods: We used the 2003-2011 US Nationwide Inpatient Sample for this study. All admissions with a principal diagnosis of STEMI were identified using standard ICD codes. MCS devices included intra aortic balloon pump or Impella and were identified using ICD procedure codes. Results: Of a total of 372984 admissions with STEMI, we identified 35685 (9.3%) cases that required MCS. Over the study duration, there was a significant increase in the utilization of MCS from 7.6% in 2003 to 10.5% in 2011 (Panel A). This increase in the use of MCS was accompanied by a significant increase in the incidence of cardiogenic shock in the study population (Panel A). Despite an increase in the overall cardiogenic shock incidence, there was a significant increase in the relative utilization of MCS in cardiogenic shock (Panel B) during the study duration. Of all the cardiogenic shock cases, utilization of MCS increased from 48.6% in 2003 to 57.4% in 2009, followed by a small decline to 54.7% in 2011. Among patients with cardiogenic shock, in-hospital mortality rate was 31.5% in patients with MCS as compared to 42.4% in those treated without MCS (p<0.001). Using multivariable hierarchical regression modeling, we found a significant reduction in adjusted in-hospital mortality with MCS, among patients with cardiogenic shock [OR (95% CI): 0.82 (0.77-0.88), p<0.001]. Conclusions: Over the last decade, there has been a significant increase in the utilization of MCS in patients with STEMI. In contrast to the results of the IABP trial, the use of MCS was associated with a significant reduction in in-hospital mortality in this real world nationwide experience. ![][1] [1]: /embed/graphic-1.gif
Virtual Machine Placement via Q-Learning with Function Approximation

While existing virtual machine technologies provide easy-to-use platforms for distributed computing applications, many are far from efficient and not designed to accommodate diverse objectives, which dramatically penalizes their performance. These shortcomings arise from 1) not having a formal optimization framework that readily leads to algorithmic solutions for diverse objectives; 2) not incorporating the knowledge of the underlying network topologies and the communication/interaction patterns among the virtual machines/services, and 3) not considering the time-varying aspects of real-world environments. This paper formalizes an optimization framework and develops corresponding algorithmic solutions using Markov Decision Process and Q-Learning for virtual machine/service placement and migration for distributed computing in time-varying environments. Importantly, the knowledge of the underlying topologies of the computing infrastructure, the interaction patterns between the virtual machines, and the dynamics of the supported applications will be formally characterized and incorporated into the proposed algorithms in order to improve performance. Simulation results for small-scale and large-scale networks are provided to verify our solution approach.
Biochemical and functional characterization of glycosylation-associated mutational landscapes in colon cancer

The molecular basis of aberrant protein glycosylation, a pathological alteration widespread in colorectal cancers (CRC), and the mechanisms by which it contributes to tumor progression remain largely unknown. We performed targeted re-sequencing of 430 glycosylation-associated genes in a series of patient-derived CRC cell lines (N = 31) and matched primary tumor tissues, identifying 12 new significantly mutated glycosylation-associated genes in colon cancer. In particular, we observed an enrichment of mutations in genes (B3GNT2, B4GALT2, ST6GALNAC2) involved in the biosynthesis of N- and Cores 1-3 O-linked glycans in the colon, accounting for ~16% of the CRCs tested. Analysis of independent large-scale tumor tissue datasets confirmed recurrent mutations within these genes in colon and other gastrointestinal cancers. Systematic biochemical and phenotypic characterization of the candidate wild-type and mutant glycosyltransferases demonstrated these mutations as either markedly altering protein localization, post-translational modification, encoded enzymatic activities and/or the migratory potential of colon carcinoma cells. These findings suggest that functionally deleterious mutations in glycosyltransferase genes in part underlie aberrant glycosylation, and contribute to the pathogenesis of molecular subsets of colon and other gastrointestinal malignancies.
DNA-dependent RNA polymerase: inhibition of a mammalian enzyme by methylthioinosine dialdehyde.

SummaryDNA-dependent RNA polymerase(s) from the Ehrlich ascites tumor was inhibited by the periodate oxidation product of β-D-ribosyl-6-methylthiopurine. The inhibitions of RNA synthesis was correlated with inhibition of protein synthesis.
Layered Structure Oxides for Fatigue Free Ferroelectric Applications

SrBi 2 (Ta x Nb 1−x ) 2 O 9 (SBTN) layered structure oxides have been investigated for possible fatigue free ferroelectric thin film applications. High quality stoichiometric thin films of these oxides have been fabricated, across the solid solution range, using the technique of pulsed laser ablation SBTN thin films with a composition close to x=0.4 showed excellent ferroelectric properties and no fatigue up to 10 10 switching cycles. Typically, these films showed a 2P r value of 22 μC/cm 2 , an E c of 60 kV/cm and a resistivity close to 5 × 10 12 Ω-cm. The ferroelectric properties of these films were found to depend on the orientation. Predominantly c-axis oriented films have been fabricated on MgO (100)/Pt (100) substrates. By comparison, the c-axis oriented films were found to exhibit similar P r values but significantly lower E c values (by 15 kV/cm) and a higher resistivity. The fatigue free behavior of these layered structure oxides has been ascribed to the absence of any volatile species in their sublattice exhibiting polarization (i.e., the perovskite-like units in the layered structure).
Anelastic Creep Phenomena in Thin Metal Plated Cantilevers for MEMS

During the past several years, we have developed high displacement sensitivity tunneling accelerometers using surface micromachining and metal electroplating techniques. These devices consist of a Au tunneling tip fabricated below a 1-2 μm thick metal cantilever beam of electroplated Ni or Au. A thin film of e-beam evaporated Au on the underside of the cantilever serves as the tunneling counter electrode. In operation, a 100mV bias is applied across the tunneling gap. A larger turn-on voltage is also applied between the cantilever and a control electrode, located on the substrate, to deflect the cantilever and maintain a constant tunneling current of 1 or 10 nA. Typical deflections of the end of 100 μm-long and 250 μm-long cantilevers are 0.5μm during operation. We have observed that the turn-on voltage decreases over time for most devices with a larger drop observed for the Au cantilevers. In all cases, the initial decay of the turn-on voltage was almost completely recoverable after the device was turned off for 24 hrs. This decay was not found to be strongly dependent on the magnitude of the tunneling current, but could be significantly reduced by pre-stressing the cantilever before operation. Finally, a vacuum anneal at 100°C influences the measured temperature dependence of the turn-on voltage. The observed effects appear to be consistent with fatigue and creep phenomena in the cantilevers. These effects are reversible at room temperature and are dependent on the stress and temperature history of the devices. A comparison is made between metal plated and all-Si structures.
Development of type 2 diabetes mellitus in the obese adolescent: a growing challenge.

ABSTRACT Objective To describe the metabolic phenotype of type 2 diabetes mellitus in youth and possible metabolic defects leading to its development with particular emphasis on fatty liver. Methods We present data gathered from studies performed in obese adolescents across the spectrum of glucose tolerance to assess both alterations in insulin sensitivity and secretion. Discussion regarding treatment options is presented using the data from the Treatment Options for Type 2 Diabetes in Adolescents and Youth (TODAY) study. Results As the number of children with obesity continues to grow, the health implications of the condition are becoming increasingly evident. An unprecedented phenomenon rarely seen before has emerged: type 2 diabetes mellitus. At the time of diabetes diagnosis, cardiovascular disease may already be present, even in young adults. The progression from normal glucose tolerance to type 2 diabetes in adults occurs through an intermediate phase of altered glucose metabolism known as impaired glucose tolerance or prediabetes. Previous studies from our group and others reported a high prevalence of impaired glucose tolerance among children and adolescents with marked obesity. Cross-sectional studies demonstrate that impaired glucose tolerance in obese youth is associated with severe insulin resistance, β-cell dysfunction, and altered abdominal and muscle fat partitioning. We end briefly by discussing the current data available on treatment of this condition from the TODAY study, the largest clinical trial ever performed in youth with type 2 diabetes. Conclusion The observed rapid progression of the glucose homeostasis alterations in adolescents underlines the importance of focusing attention on the earliest stages of the disease before the onset of any alterations in glucose tolerance. (Endocr Pract. 2012;18:791-795)
Analysis on the Current Situation of Cold Chain Logistics

The paper describes the connotation of the cold chain logistics and the current situation of cold chain logistics in Chinese food industry and points out the problems existing in the development of Chinese cold chain logistics and its trends.
Control Effect of Tuberculosis in Ruoergai County,2003-2009

Objective By analyzing prevention practice of tuberculosis(TB) in Ruoergai county,to evaluate the effect of Directly Observed Treatment Short-Course(DOTS) in remote poverty counties and the influencing factors.Methods Totally 1 982 clinic cases and 578 TB cases were collected and analyzed.Results The average visiting rates of clinic patients was 402.9/105 and the prevalence of TB cases was 117.5/105,both showed a declined trend.Negative rate of new cases was 95.3% at the end of 3 months treatment,and the negative rate of retreated smear-positive patients after 3 months' treatment was 85.7%.The overall average cure rate was 76.3%.The completed treatment rate of new smear positive tuberculosis was 6.9%,and the loss late was 7.3%.Conclusion TB is under control in Ruoergai;nevertheless,long-term prevention mechanism is to be established,and management on patients should be improved;sources of infection are to be further controlled and moreover,the loss rate should be decreased.
Binding of zinc to amino acids and serum proteins in vitro.

Abstract Binding of zinc to amino acids and serum proteins was studied in vitro. Following incubation of zinc-65 with pooled native human serum in vitro, ultrafiltrable zinc was determined to be 2 to 8 per cent of the total serum zinc, when the zinc:albumin molar ratio was varied from 0.33 to 2.5. Under similar conditions 0.2 to 1.2 per cent of zinc was ultrafiltrable when predialyzed serum was used. In physiological concentrations, additions of amino acids to predialyzed serum increased ultrafiltrable zinc-65 severalfold. Histidine, glutamine, threonine, cystine, and lysine showed the most marked effects in this regard. It is suggested that the amino acid-bound fraction of zinc may have an important role in biologic transport of this element. By means of starch-block electrophoresis of predialyzed serum, the stable zinc content was determined to be highest in the albumin fraction although smaller concentrations of zinc were found in the gamma, beta, and alpha globulins as well. Our results obtained by using 65 Zn-incubated predialyzed serum, however, indicated a difference in the behavior of exogenous zinc as compared with the endogenous zinc bound to various serum proteins. In vitro studies with the use of predialyzed albumin, haptoglobin, ceruloplasmin, alpha-2 macroglobulin, transferrin, and IgG, incubated with zinc-65, revealed that zinc was bound to all the above proteins and that the binding of zinc to IgG was electrostatic in nature. Whereas amino acids competed effectively with albumin, haptoglobin, transferrin, and IgG for binding of zinc, a similar phenomenon was not observed with respect to ceruloplasmin and alpha-2 macroglobulin, suggesting that the latter two proteins exhibited special binding property for zinc.
Association Between Unconventional Natural Gas Development in the Marcellus Shale and Asthma Exacerbations.

Importance Asthma is common and can be exacerbated by air pollution and stress. Unconventional natural gas development (UNGD) has community and environmental impacts. In Pennsylvania, UNGD began in 2005, and by 2012, 6253 wells had been drilled. There are no prior studies of UNGD and objective respiratory outcomes. Objective To evaluate associations between UNGD and asthma exacerbations. Design A nested case-control study comparing patients with asthma with and without exacerbations from 2005 through 2012 treated at the Geisinger Clinic, which provides primary care services to over 400 000 patients in Pennsylvania. Patients with asthma aged 5 to 90 years (n = 35 508) were identified in electronic health records; those with exacerbations were frequency matched on age, sex, and year of event to those without. Exposures On the day before each patient’s index date (cases, date of event or medication order; controls, contact date), we estimated activity metrics for 4 UNGD phases (pad preparation, drilling, stimulation [hydraulic fracturing, or “fracking”], and production) using distance from the patient’s home to the well, well characteristics, and the dates and durations of phases. Main Outcomes and Measures We identified and defined asthma exacerbations as mild (new oral corticosteroid medication order), moderate (emergency department encounter), or severe (hospitalization). Results We identified 20 749 mild, 1870 moderate, and 4782 severe asthma exacerbations, and frequency matched these to 18 693, 9350, and 14 104 control index dates, respectively. In 3-level adjusted models, there was an association between the highest group of the activity metric for each UNGD phase compared with the lowest group for 11 of 12 UNGD-outcome pairs: odds ratios (ORs) ranged from 1.5 (95% CI, 1.2-1.7) for the association of the pad metric with severe exacerbations to 4.4 (95% CI, 3.8-5.2) for the association of the production metric with mild exacerbations. Six of the 12 UNGD-outcome associations had increasing ORs across quartiles. Our findings were robust to increasing levels of covariate control and in sensitivity analyses that included evaluation of some possible sources of unmeasured confounding. Conclusions and Relevance Residential UNGD activity metrics were statistically associated with increased risk of mild, moderate, and severe asthma exacerbations. Whether these associations are causal awaits further investigation, including more detailed exposure assessment.
Aquifer and surface-water ostracodes in Quaternary paleowetland deposits of southern Nevada, USA

A diverse assemblage of Late Quaternary continental ostracodes (Class Crustacea) belonging to at least 15 genera and 40 species (including 11 new species and one new genus, Plicocandona, described here) was found in sediments of former groundwater discharge deposits located in valleys of southern Nevada, U.S.A. The fossiliferous deposits are located in Las Vegas, Coyote Springs, Indian Springs, Sandy, and Pahrump Valleys. The ostracodes include species that were probably living in wetmeadow, seep, flowing-spring, stream, and wetland environments, and include aquifer species. Those environments indicate a higher level of effective moisture than occurs today during several episodes of the Late Pleistocene to Early Holocene, from ~140 to ~9 ka. The ostracode assemblages are significant to our understanding of regional paleohydrology and also contribute to the growing knowledge of aquifer taxa diversity and biogeography.
Age at onset and gender of schizophrenic patients in relation to neuroleptic resistance.

Objective: The age at onset of schizophrenia for males has usually but not always been reported to be less than that for females. Early onset has also been associated with poor response to neuroleptic treatment and worse long-term outcome. The authors compared age at onset in neuroleptic-resistant and -responsive schizophrenic patients to determine whether the gender difference in age at onset is related to response to neuroleptic treatment. Method: The subjects were 322 patients with schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder who were consecutively admitted to a university hospital-based research program. Results: Analysis of variance showed significant relationships between age at onset and both gender and longterm responsivity to neuroleptic drugs. The mean ages at onset in the neuroleptic-responsive men (mean=21.2 years, SD=6.1, N=75), neuroleptic-resistant men (mean=19.4 years, SD=4.7, N=119), and neuroleptic-resistant women (mean=20.1 years, SD=6.3, N=77) were fairly similar, whereas that of the neuroleptic-responsive women (mean=24.2 years, SD=8.7, N=51) was significantly greater than for all other groups. A simple effects model indicated that male and female neuroleptic-resistant patients did not differ significantly in mean age at onset, whereas male and female neuroleptic-responsive patients did. The effect of gender and neuroleptic responsivity on age at onset was related to schizophrenic subtype. Conclusions: These results confirm previous data indicating neuroleptic resistance is associated with early onset. The finding that the difference in age at onset between males and females is smaller in neurolepticresistant patients than in neuroleptic-responsive patients suggests that neuroleptic-resistant patients differ premorbidly as well as after onset of illness. (Am J Psychiatry 1997; 154:475‐482)
A Review of A Companion to the Anthropology of Religion

Unlike the venerable Oxford Companion series, which “combine the functionality of a subject dictionary with the breadth and scope of an encyclopedia” (http://ukcatalogue.oup.com/category/academic/s...
Plateaus, Dips, and Leaps: Where to Look for Inventions and Discoveries During Skilled Performance

The framework of plateaus, dips, and leaps shines light on periods when individuals may be inventing new methods of skilled performance. We begin with a review of the role performance plateaus have played in (a) experimental psychology, (b) human–computer interaction, and (c) cognitive science. We then reanalyze two classic studies of individual performance to show plateaus and dips which resulted in performance leaps. For a third study, we show how the statistical methods of Changepoint Analysis plus a few simple heuristics may direct our focus to periods of performance change for individuals. For the researcher, dips become the marker of exploration where performance suffers as new methods are invented and tested. Leaps mark the implementation of a successful new method and an incremental jump above the path plotted by smooth and steady log–log performance increments. The methods developed during these dips and leaps are the key to surpassing one's teachers and acquiring extreme expertise.
Access to Care and Depression among Emergency Department Patients

Abstract Background The prevalence of depression among patients in the emergency department (ED) is significantly higher than in the general population, making the ED a potentially important forum for the identification of depression and intervention. Concomitant to the identification of depression is the issue of patient access to appropriate care. Objective This study sought to establish prevalence estimates of potential barriers to care among ED patients and relate these barriers with symptoms of depression. Methods Two medical students conducted brief surveys on all ED patients ≥ 18 years on demographics, perceived access to care, and depression. Results A total of 636 participants were enrolled. The percentage of participants with mild or greater depression was 42%. The majority of patients reported experiencing some barriers to care, with the most prominent being difficulty finding transportation, work responsibilities, and the feeling that the doctor is not responsive to their concerns. Higher depression scores were bivariately associated with higher overall barriers to care mean scores ( r = 0.44; p Conclusions Across all barriers analyzed, there was a greater incidence of depression associated with a greater perception of barriers. These barriers may be used as potential targets for intervention to increase access to health care resources.
The Janus Face of Auditory Learning: How Life in Sound Shapes Everyday Communication

Human communication is rooted in sound. The frequency-following response (FFR) reveals the integrity of sound processing in the brain and characterizes sound processing skills in a diverse group of listeners spanning a gamut from expertise to disorder. These neurophysiological processes are shaped by life experiences, for better or worse. Here two lifelong experiences are juxtaposed—music training (a model of expertise) and low socioeconomic status (a model of disorder)—with an emphasis on how FFR studies reveal their combined influences on everyday communication skills. A view emerges wherein the auditory system is an integrated, but distributed, processing circuit that interacts with other modalities, cognitive systems, and the limbic system to shape auditory physiology. Objective indices of auditory physiology, such as the FFR, therefore can be thought of as measures of “whole brain” auditory processing that recapitulate the past by revealing the legacy of prior experiences and predict the future by elucidating their consequences for everyday communication.
Identification and Quantification of Intravenous Therapy Drugs Using Normal Raman Spectroscopy and Electrochemical Surface-Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy.

Errors in intravenous (IV) drug therapies can cause human harm and even death. There are limited label-free methods that can sensitively monitor the identity and quantity of the drug being administered. Normal Raman spectroscopy (NRS) provides a modestly sensitive, label-free, and completely noninvasive means of IV drug sensing. In the case that the analyte cannot be detected within its clinical range with Raman, a label-free surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) approach can be implemented to detect the analyte of interest. In this work, we demonstrate two individual cases where we use NRS and electrochemical SERS (EC-SERS) to detect IV therapy analytes within their clinically relevant ranges. We implement NRS to detect gentamicin, a commonly IV-administered antibiotic and EC-SERS to detect dobutamine, a drug commonly administered after heart surgery. In particular, dobutamine detection with EC-SERS was found to have a limit of detection 4 orders of magnitude below its clinical range, highlighting t...
Intelligent Interfaces for Mission-critical Systems

Although expert Systems continue to develop at a rapid pace, human experts still make most of the important decisions in our society. When these experts make a mistake, society is often quick to cry foul. Experimental work in the behavioral sciences, however, has shown that humans often commit errors for the same reasons that make them superior to artificial Systems to begin with, i.e., because they have acquired a wealth of problem-solving heuristics and intuitions that work well in general but are rarely optimal in a specific problem context. In this chapter, we describe some recent work on the development of intelligent interfaces that can anticipate the circumstances of human errors arising from naturally formed heuristics, or cognitive illusions, and provide appropriate feedback and training to eliminate them. The approach involves identifying the conditional probabilities relating objective events to subjective impressions of event probabilities and determining whether the decision making strategy implied by these conditional probabilities is suboptimal.
Botox and Thumb MCP Radial Collateral Ligament Reconstruction.

Background We report the use of botulinum toxin to aid in the treatment of chronic radial collateral ligament insufficiency of the thumb. Case Description Treatment included autograft tendon reconstruction and cast immobilization. Six weeks postoperatively, prior to hand therapy, the patient underwent an ultrasound-guided botulinum neurotoxin A injection into the adductor pollicis muscle to negate its deforming forces on the reconstruction. The patient made an excellent recovery and 1 year postoperatively was pain free and had a stable radial collateral ligament (RCL) upon examination. Literature Review The outcomes of RCL repair and reconstruction are unpredictable, in part, due to the strong opposing forces of the adductor pollicis. Clinical Relevance The use of Botox injection may enhance the outcomes of RCL repair or reconstruction by neutralizing the deforming forces of the adductor muscle.
Social Costs for Wannabes: Moderating Effects of Popularity and Gender on the Links between Popularity Goals and Negative Peer Experiences.

Youth in early adolescence are highly concerned with being popular in the peer group, but the desire to be popular can have maladaptive consequences for individuals. In fact, qualitative work suggests that youth with high popularity goals who are nonetheless unpopular have negative experiences with their peers. However, little quantitative work has examined this possibility. The purpose of the current study was to examine if popularity goals were linked with physical (e.g., being hit) and relational (e.g., being excluded) victimization and peer rejection, particularly for individuals who strived for popularity but were viewed by their peers as unpopular. Late elementary and early middle school participants (N = 205; 54% female) completed self-reports of popularity goals and peer nominations of popularity and peer rejection. Teachers reported on students’ experiences of relational and physical victimization. Peer nominated popularity and gender were moderators of the association between popularity goals and negative peer experiences. Consistent with hypotheses, girls who were unpopular but wanted to be popular were more likely to experience peer rejection and relational victimization. Unexpectedly, boys who were unpopular but did not desire to be popular were more likely to be rejected and relationally victimized. The findings suggest that intervention and prevention programs may benefit from addressing the social status goals of low status youth in a gender-specific manner.
Genetic Predictors of Response to Acupuncture for Aromatase Inhibitor-Associated Arthralgia Among Breast Cancer Survivors.

Objective To evaluate the associations between polymorphisms in two genes, catechol-O-methyltransferase and T-cell leukemia/lymphoma 1 A, and acupuncture-mediated pain reduction among breast cancer survivors with aromatase inhibitor-associated arthralgia. Design, setting, and subjects Biospecimens were obtained from 38 patients enrolled in a clinical trial of acupuncture for aromatase inhibitor-associated arthralgia in postmenopausal hormone receptor-positive breast cancer survivors. Methods We used polymerase chain reaction to genotype the rs4680 (Val158Met) and rs4633 (His62His) variants in the catechol-O-methyltransferase gene and rs2369049 (A > G) and rs7158782 (A > G) variants in the T-cell leukemia/lymphoma 1 A gene. Response to acupuncture was defined by 30% reduction in end-of-treatment average pain, measured by the Brief Pain Inventory. We used Fisher exact tests to evaluate associations between genotype and treatment response. Results Among participants, all six (15.8%) subjects who expressed AA in locus rs4680 responded to acupuncture. In a combined analysis, the 18 (47.4%) subjects with the responder genotype at either rs4680 (AA) or rs2369049 (GG or AG) were significantly more likely to respond to acupuncture than those without (77.8% vs 45.0%, P = 0.039). Conclusions Specific genetic variations at loci rs4680 and rs2369049 are associated with response to acupuncture-type intervention for management of arthralgia. These results serve as a proof of concept for applying a precision medicine framework to the study of cancer pain management.
Bursting and oscillations in a biophysical model of hippocampal region CA3: implications for associative memory and epileptiform activity

A detailed biophysical model of hippocampal region CA3 was used to show how septal cholinergic and GABAergic modulation, through three distinct mechanisms, interacts with intrinsic and synaptic conductances to influence population behavior. A dissection of each mechanism demonstrates a continuum of population firing activity ranging from fully-synchronized behavior to a mixture of repetitive bursting and oscillations in reduced subsets of neurons, ideal for forming accurate associations during a learning and recall task. Rhythmic modulation (GABAergic) is shown to play a role in the formation of place fields and the model’s capacity for learning sequence information. Such modulation is also shown to account for the phase precession of place units relative to the theta rhythm as an organism passes through the associated place field of the cell.
Some Remarks on Zawadowski’s Theory of Preordered Quantifiers

According to Barwise and Cooper [1], the words ‘all’ and ‘some’ are only two of many quantifier words and phrases in natural language, including ‘one’, ‘most’, ‘at least seven’, ‘the’, ‘both’, etc. Quantifier words (determiners, specifiers; hereafter, just ‘quantifiers’) occur naturally in quantifier phrases in which the quantifier is combined with a restrictive description, as in ‘ all electrons’, ‘many intelligent logicians’, ‘most students of Polish’, etc. Barwise and Cooper provide a compositional formal semantics for these generalized quantifiers. As the extension of the quantifier phrase ‘most students of Polish’, in a model with domain D and in which S is the set of all students of Polish, they give the family F of all and only those subsets D* ⊆ D that could truly be said to contain most of the elements of S. The claim that most students of Polish are male would then be true in the model iff M ∈ F, where M is the set of males.
Low-Income Housing and Crime: The Influence of Housing Development and Neighborhood Characteristics:

This study examines the distribution of crime across various types of low-income housing developments and estimates the main and interactive effects of housing development and neighborhood characte...
Conventional Polyethylene in Total Hip Arthroplasty in Young Patients: Survivorship, Wear Analysis, and Clinical Outcomes Between 15 and 20 Years

Abstract Background Total hip arthroplasty (THA) remains a successful procedure for most patients. However, there is a paucity of information regarding the long-term performance of conventional polyethylene (CPE) bearings in young patients undergoing THA. Methods After accounting for incomplete follow-up of a prospective cohort of 123 THAs in patients ≤50 years, we performed a retrospective review of 101 hips in 84 patients (82.1%) with an average 17.1-year follow-up (14.7-19.6 years). Outcomes of interest included linear and volumetric wear, clinical outcome scores, implant survivorship, and patient mortality. Wear rates were calculated using Martell Software. Results Wear analysis revealed median linear and volumetric wear rates of 0.106 mm/y (confidence interval, 0.079-0.133) and 43.58 mm3/y (confidence interval, 33.4-53.75). The modified Harris hip scores improved by 36 points while University of California, Los Angeles activity scores improved by 2.0 points at 15-year follow-up (P Conclusion Because CPE was commonly used in THA over the last 25 years, it is important to understand its implications on the growing revision burden. Significant concerns exist with regard to the long-term durability of CPE bearings in young, moderately active patients 15 years after THA. These patients should be followed closely for wear-related problems. Our results should be used as a comparison when evaluating the outcomes of more modern bearing surface combinations.
Design of a multi-agent, fiber composite digital fabrication system

Swarm-based fabrication of interwoven composite tubes via a fully autonomous, cooperative system can help create architectural-scale structures in effective and efficient ways, including in remote environments.
Properties of Groups

The algebraic theory of groups is a vast subject with applications in many fields. Our interest in group theory is as a tool for using symmetry to predict properties of chemical systems. In this chapter we give some of the elementary properties of groups that will be used in subsequent chapters. We show how the terminology of group theory is used to describe the symmetry of molecules and (briefly) crystals.
Restrictive Lung Disease

Restrictive lung disease (RLD) is highly prevalent and frequently disabling and is caused by a myriad of both pulmonary and extrapulmonary conditions. It is defined as a reduction of total lung capacity (TLC) below the 5th percentile of the predicted value, with a preserved one second forced expiratory volume to forced vital capacity ratio (FEV1/FVC). Diagnosis therefore requires the use of less commonly available lung volume tests. The diffusion capacity of carbon monoxide (DLCO) can help distinguish between RLD due to intrinsic lung disease, in which DLCO is frequently reduced, and extrapulmonary restriction, in which DLCO is preserved. Because of the difficulty in diagnosis and variety of etiologies, the clinical impact of RLD is not well understood. Patients with RLD are thought to be at risk for exaggerated postoperative pulmonary complications, although the degree of risk has not been well studied. Underlying restrictive deficits may be worsened by perioperative atelectasis, loss of inspiratory muscle tone during anesthesia, pulmonary edema, or postoperative pneumonia.