cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Soccer, concussions, and safety: Perceptions of parents of youth soccer participants.

Abstract Introduction: The rate of concussions in youth soccer is among the highest of all youth sports. Parents play an important role in caring for their children and making decisions regarding whether they should participate in a sport, such as soccer, where concussions are well known. This study examined parental perceptions regarding: (a) coaches’ role in concussion management, (b) heading restriction policies, and (c) overall concussion risk and participation issues. Method: Online surveys were completed by 419 parents of youth soccer players who participated in the largest U.S. youth soccer programs nationwide. Results: Findings indicated 44.5% of the respondents had considered keeping their children from playing organized soccer and 47.2% were concerned about a potential decline in youth soccer participation due to concussions. Nearly 69% of responding parents agreed that heading should be banned for participants 10 years old or younger, while 56.5% thought heading should not be limited for participants 13 or older. Only 35% of parents were very confident about their child’s coach’s ability to properly identify concussions and remove those suspected of a concussion from play. Parents’ socioeconomic status (SES), soccer coaching and playing experience, and previous history of concussion(s) were key predictors of greater perceived risk about concussions. Conclusions: Findings from this study shed light on parents’ perceptions about concussions and related safety issues in youth soccer. Understanding what parents believe about concussions is vital to preserve youth soccer participation and can be used to strengthen education and policies that promote a safer environment for youth sport participants. Practical Applications: Youth soccer coaches can benefit from stronger, comprehensive educational efforts at the league/club level. Additionally, parents of youth athletes who are in the lower SES communities should be targeted to receive concussion safety information and/or interventions that would improve their knowledge, attitude, and practices regarding concussion safety.
Identity Dynamics in Crisis Contexts

Organizations now face more crises, from global pandemics and economic depressions to business catastrophes – all of which can strain operational processes and performance (Wright et al., 2020; Wil...
Mapping the glycosyltransferase fold landscape using interpretable deep learning

Glycosyltransferases (GTs) play fundamental roles in nearly all cellular processes through the biosynthesis of complex carbohydrates and glycosylation of diverse protein and small molecule substrates. The extensive structural and functional diversification of GTs presents a major challenge in mapping the relationships connecting sequence, structure, fold and function using traditional bioinformatics approaches. Here, we present a convolutional neural network with attention (CNN-attention) based deep learning model that leverages simple secondary structure representations generated from primary sequences to provide GT fold prediction with high accuracy. The model learns distinguishing secondary structure features free of primary sequence alignment constraints and is highly interpretable. It delineates sequence and structural features characteristic of individual fold types, while classifying them into distinct clusters that group evolutionarily divergent families based on shared secondary structural features. We further extend our model to classify GT families of unknown folds and variants of known folds. By identifying families that are likely to adopt novel folds such as GT91, GT96 and GT97, our studies expand the GT fold landscape and prioritize targets for future structural studies. Glycosyltransferases (GT) are proteins that display extensive sequence and functional variation on a subset of 3D folds. Here, the authors use interpretable deep learning to predict 3D folds from sequence without the need for sequence alignment, which also enables the prediction of GTs with new folds.
D 0 * → D 0 γ and Other Radiative Decays of Vector Mesons

Using SU(4) as a spectrum generating group the radiative decay rates of the charmed vector mesons and of J(psi) are calculated. With the known decay rates of the old mesons GAMMA(..omega.. ..-->.. ..pi gamma..), GAMMA(phi ..-->.. eta ..gamma..), GAMMA(rho ..-->.. ..pi gamma..), GAMMA(K/sup 0/* ..-->.. K/sup 0/..gamma..) as input one obtains GAMMA(K/sup +/* ..-->.. K/sup +/..gamma..) = 2.6 keV, GAMMA(..omega.. ..-->.. eta ..gamma..) = 220 eV, GAMMA(rho ..-->.. eta ..gamma..) = 4.8 keV, GAMMA(psi ..-->.. chi ..gamma..) = 1.6 keV, GAMMA(D/sup 0/* ..-->.. D/sup 0/..gamma..) = 350 eV and GAMMA(D/sup +/* ..-->.. D/sup +/..gamma..) = 22 eV.
Role for Sodium Channels and Intracellular Sodium in Regulation of the Cardiac Force-Frequency Relation and Contractility

The force of contraction in cardiac muscle is markedly dependent upon the frequency of stimulation (1). In most animal species, an increase in the stimulation frequency leads to an increase in twitch tension amplitude that requires a few minutes to reach a steady-state. Lowering of the stimulation frequency results in an opposite effect with a gradual decrease in twitch tension amplitude. Therefore, over a wide range of stimulation frequencies the force-frequency relation has a characteristic positive shape (2–5). In cardiac Purkinje fibers, twitch tension amplitude increases with increasing stimulation frequency over the range 0.2 to 3 Hz, and up to several minutes is required to reach a new steady-state following a change in rate (5–7).
The Duty to Control the Conduct of Another

WHETHER a person is under a duty to make any effort to control the conduct of another to avoid harm to a third person presents a problem in the law of Torts which is generally treated as one of affirmative obligation. The distinction between misfeasance and mere non-feasance is an old one and, while the line is recognized as shadowy in places, it still affords a practical basis for analysis. Whether given conduct is to be described as the improper performance of proper acts or a failure to perform acts which should have been performed is the orthodox touchstone for deciding many tort cases.' To be sure, this formula is capable of manipulation, and any given set of facts can be compressed to come within the concept of non-feasance or expanded to fit the mould of misfeasance. The trick is a simple one of selecting that point in the series of happenings from which the analysis is to start.2 An accident at a level crossing, for example, may logically be regarded as the result of the mere failure of the engineer to sound a warning or make timely application of his brakes; or it can be regarded as the improper operation of the locomotive. But although the formula is thus superficial and inexact, the basic principles for determining duty are the same in all cases. A sounder basis for analysis is the relationship of the parties. If the conduct of the actor has brought him into a human relationship with another, of such character that sound social policy requires either some affirmative action or some precaution on his part to avoid harm, the duty to act or take the precaution is imposed by law. "Given a relation," says Judge Cardozo with characteristic insight,3
Single nucleotide polymorphism genotyping using allele-specific PCR and fluorescence melting curves.

We present a PCR method for identification of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), using allele-specific primers designed for selective amplification of each allele. Matching the SNP at the 3′ end of the forward or reverse primer, and additionally incorporating a 3′ mismatch to prevent amplification of the incorrect allele, results in selectivity of the allele-specific primers. DNA melting analysis with fluorescent SYBR® Green affords detection of the PCR products. By incorporating a GC-rich sequence into one of the two allele-specific primers to increase the melting temperature, both alleles can be measured simultaneously at their respective melting temperatures. Applying the DNA melting analysis to SNPs in ApoE and ABCA1 yielded results identical to those obtained with other genotyping methods. This provides a cost-effective, high-throughput method for amplification and scoring of SNPs.
A Src family kinase inhibitor improves survival in experimental acute liver failure associated with elevated cerebral and circulating vascular endothelial growth factor levels.

Background and aims: Acute liver failure (ALF) is frequently complicated by cerebral oedema, systemic inflammation and multiorgan dysfunction. Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) may stimulate liver regeneration but it can also be pro-inflammatory, activating endothelial cells and increasing permeability, actions mediated through Src kinase signalling. We therefore examined whether a Src inhibitor could have therapeutic potential in ALF. Methods: Murine ALF was induced with azoxymethane. Liver pathology was graded by a blinded examiner and apoptosis quantified by immunohistochemistry. Cerebral VEGF expression was imaged using VEGF-green fluorescent protein transgenic mice. Circulating and macrophage-secreted VEGF levels were measured. Experimental animals received a Src inhibitor or vehicle controls. Results: VEGF was undetectable in normal plasma but reached a mean of 835 pg/ml at grade III encephalopathy (P<0.001). Ammonia, lipopolysaccharide and interferon-gamma acted synergistically to enhance VEGF secretion by macrophages. Production of VEGF by cerebral cortical astrocytes increased with disease progression. Late treatment with inhibitors of Src or VEGF did not improve liver histology, encephalopathy or survival. However, early use of a Src kinase inhibitor significantly reduced hepatic injury, delayed encephalopathy and allowed 25% of mice to survive an otherwise lethal insult. Conclusion: Systemic and cerebral VEGF levels are significantly elevated during experimental ALF and may be exacerbated by hyperammonemia and macrophage activation. Early use of a Src inhibitor reduced hepatocellular injury and enabled survival, indicating such agents may have some promise in the treatment of ALF.
Viscous effects in rapidly rotating stars with application to white-dwarf models. I, II.

A general approximate numerical technique is proposed for constructing evolutionary sequences of rapidly rotating axisymmetric barytropic equilibrium configurations, with allowance for angular momentum transfer by a nonconstant isotropic viscosity. The principal physical assumption involved is the constancy of the angular momentum per unit mass on cylinders about the axis of rotation. Rapidly rotating nonmagnetic white-dwarf models with a zero-temperature degenerate-electron equation of state are considered as a particular application. The viscosity used in the analysis is that of the degenerate electrons.
Regulation of the visna virus long terminal repeat in macrophages involves cellular factors that bind sequences containing AP-1 sites.

Abstract Visna virus gene expression is highly restricted in monocytes but is induced by monocyte-macrophage differentiation in vivo. Deletion and linker-scanning mutants, gel shift assays, and DNase I footprinting were used to identify sequences in the visna virus long terminal repeat involved in the developmental regulation of gene expression in the U937 monocytic cell line. We found that an AP-1 and an AP-4 binding site were critical for basal activity and that the AP-1 site was required for phorbol ester-inducible gene expression. These results suggest that cellular factors that interact with AP-1 sites are involved in the developmental regulation of visna virus gene expression in macrophages.
Fatty Acid Synthetase from Lactating Rat Mammary Gland II. STUDIES ON THE TERMINATION SEQUENCE

Abstract Homogeneous preparations of fatty acid synthetase from mammary glands of lactating rats were used to prepare an antiserum and a γ-globulin fraction was isolated from the antiserum. The antiserum and the γ-globulin fraction were shown to be specific against the fatty acid synthetase multienzyme complex. Addition of the γ-globulin to homogenate fractions of lactating rat mammary glands, resulted in complete inhibition of synthesis, from acetate, of fatty acids of all chain lengths. These results show that the multienzyme complex is an obligatory enzyme for the synthesis of all chain length fatty acids in the mammary glands of lactating rats. The fatty acid synthetase from mammary gland produces almost exclusively palmitic acid from malonyl-CoA when acyl-CoA derivatives of chain length C2 to C8 were used as starters. Butyryl-CoA was found to be the most efficient starter, having the highest Vmax and the lowest Km of all acyl-CoA derivatives tested. The specificity of the thioesterase activity associated with the synthetase was also studied with acyl-CoA derivatives as model substrates. Activity was maximal for palmityl and stearyl thioesters, but some activity was indicated with thioesters of chain length C2 to C8. The chain length specificity of thioesterase activity was quite similar to that reported for the pigeon liver enzyme, despite the fact that the liver and mammary gland synthetases produce different chain length fatty acids in homogenate or tissue slice preparations, and presumably, therefore, in vivo. The results are discussed in relation to possible mechanisms for termination of growth of the carbon chain in fatty acid synthesis.
Jacobi SVD algorithms for tracking of nonstationary signals

In this paper we consider the algorithm for SVD updating based on Jacobi rotations. In order to overcome the tradeoff between accuracy and updating rate intrinsic in the original algorithm, we propose two schemes which improve the overall performance when the rate of change of the data is high. In the "variable rotational rate" scheme, the number of Jacobi rotations per update is dynamically determined. In the "variable forgetting factor" approach, the effective width of the observation adjusts to the data nonstationarity. The former scheme ensures closeness to convergence at all times, while the latter adapts the response to data variation. We consider applications of the SVD updating algorithm to speech processing of segmentation, adaptive parameter estimation, and glottal closure detection.
Design of a Compliant Double-Helical Spatial Platform for Use as an Endoscopic Device

Compliant mechanisms are flexible devices that transform an input force to a displacement through elastic deformation. Advantages of using compliant mechanisms are that they are monolithic devices that contain flexible members that can undergo large deflection, have fewer joints, have increased reliability, increased precision and have fewer components compared to rigid-body mechanisms.© 2010 ASME
Peregrinations on cold fusion

Attention is focused on the possibility of resonance-enhanced deuteron Coulomb barrier penetration. Because of the many-body nature of the interactions of room-temperature deuterons diffusing through a lattice possessing deuterons in many of the interstitial positions, the diffusing deuterons can resonate on the atomic scale in the potential wells bounded by the ascending walls of adjacent Coulomb barriers and thereby penetrate the Coulomb barriers in a fashion vastly underestimated by two-body calculations in which wells for possible resonance are absent. Indeed, perhaps the lack of robust reproducibility in cold fusion originates from the narrowness of such transmission resonances.
TARIFFS, INTEREST-RATES, AND THE TRADE BALANCE IN THE WORLD-ECONOMY

Abstract A two-commodity intertemporal framework is used to show that, in contrast to the conventional wisdom, both permanent and temporary tariffs may worsen the trade balance of a large country. For a temporary tariff the key condition for this result is a low intertemporal elasticity of substitution in consumption. When a temporary tariff worsens the trade balance the world real interest rate must fall if the tariff-imposing country is running a deficit and rise if it is running a surplus. Temporary tariffs can only worsen the trade balance of a surplus country when international differences in tastes are important.
The Effect of Photorefractive Keratectomy on the Corneal Endothelium

Purpose: ^The authors prospectively investigated the effect of excimer laser photorefractive keratectomy (PRK) for myopia on the corneal endothelium. Methods: Quantitative computer-assisted morphometric analysis of central and peripheral corneal endothelial cells was performed on 142 myopic eyes before and at 3 months, 1 year, and 2 years after PRK. The mean age of the subjects was 37 years (range, 21-66 years). Ninety-one (64%) of them had a history of contact lens wear. Mean attempted correction was -3.9 diopters (range, -1.6 to -6.0 diopters). Results: The mean preoperative endothelial cell density was 2660 cells/mm2 centrally and 2776 cells/mm2 peripherally. There was no change in central endothelial cell density at any of the postoperative examinations. The peripheral cell density decreased 4.1 % ( P = 0.003) at 3 months and 6.2% ( P = 0.0001) at 1 year. However, the peripheral cell density was not significantly different from the preoperative value at 2 years. The peripheral coefficient of variation of cell size was 7.8% lower 2 years postoperatively than it was preoperatively, and this improvement was attributable to cessation of contact lens wear after PRK. The decrease in peripheral endothelial cell density at 1 year correlated with the amount of attempted correction, but there was no correlation between attempted correction and the change in central or peripheral endothelial cell density 2 years postoperatively. Conclusion: For the correction of up to 6.0 D of myopia, PRK causes no detectable changes in central corneal endothelial cell density, but it does cause a transient, modest loss of peripheral corneal endothelial cells at 1 year. Variations in endothelial cell shape caused by contact lens wear resolve after PRK.
Spacelab 3 drop dynamics experiments

Positioning techniques using the effects of acoustic-radiation pressure were used during the Spacelab 3 flight to carry out classical fluid dynamics experiments on liquid drops freely suspended in microgravity. Quantitative results dealing with the equilibrium shapes of acoustically rotated drops, with the response to the radiation pressure forces, and finally with the experimental measurement of surface tension have been obtained.
Low Oxygen Tension During Incubation Periods of Chondrocyte Expansion Is Sufficient to Enhance Postexpansion Chondrogenesis

To determine whether low oxygen (O(2)) tension during expansion affects the matrix density, as well as quantity, of cartilage formed, and to determine whether application of low O(2) tension during incubation periods alone is sufficient to modulate chondrogenic expression, rabbit chondrocytes expanded at either 21% O(2) or 5% O(2) were analyzed for glycosaminoglycan (GAG) and DNA content, total collagen, and gene expression during expansion and postexpansion aggregate cultures. When cultured as aggregates at 21% O(2), chondrocytes expanded at 5% O(2) produced cartilage aggregates that contained more total GAG, GAG per wet weight, GAG per DNA, and total collagen than chondrocytes expanded at 21% O(2). Less of an effect on GAG and collagen content was observed when aggregate culture was performed at 5% O(2). Real-time polymerase chain reaction analysis of COL2A1 expression showed upregulated levels of type IIA (an early marker) and IIB (a late marker) during expansion and elevated levels of type IIB during aggregate culture in chondrocytes expanded in low O(2). The application of low O(2) tension during incubation periods of chondrocyte expansion enhances the ultimate cartilage matrix density and quantity, and this enhancement can be achieved through the use of an O(2) control incubator.
SOCIAL WORK IN DOMICILIARY CARE

The title of this paper is a very broad one, far too broad to cover here. There are so many facets to be considered and so many diverse groups in the community needing a service that a full day seminar would be needed to cover the role and the specific contribution of the social worker in all areas.
Automated Self-Assembly of Large Maritime Structures by a Team of Robotic Boats

We present the methodology, algorithms, system design, and experiments addressing the self-assembly of large teams of autonomous robotic boats into floating platforms. Identical self-propelled robotic boats autonomously dock together and form connected structures with controllable variable stiffness. These structures can self-reconfigure into arbitrary shapes limited only by the number of rectangular elements assembled in brick-like patterns. An $O(m^{2})$ complexity algorithm automatically generates assembly plans which maximize opportunities for parallelism while constructing operator-specified target configurations with $m$ components. The system further features an $O(n^{3})$ complexity algorithm for the concurrent assignment and planning of trajectories from $n$ free robots to the growing structure. Such peer-to-peer assembly among modular robots compares favorably to a single active element assembling passive components in terms of both construction rate and potential robustness through redundancy. We describe hardware and software techniques to facilitate reliable docking of elements in the presence of estimation and actuation errors, and we consider how these local variable stiffness connections may be used to control the structural properties of the larger assembly. Assembly experiments validate these ideas in a fleet of 0.5 m long modular robotic boats with onboard thrusters, active connectors, and embedded computers.
Application of a flame dictionary method in turbulent premixed flame modeling

Abstract The construction of a flame dictionary of flame speeds and preheat thicknesses for a given reaction will be discussed. Once the entries of the dictionary have been established, they can be accessed by researchers and programmers to be used in different combustion applications. An application of the flame dictionary for turbulent combustion in a circular cylinder is given.
Differentiation of interstitial cells and sertoli cells in fetal guinea pig testes

Smooth endoplasmic reticulum appears in interstitial cells and Sertoli cells of 22–24d testes of fetal guinea pigs before the beginning of morphological differentiation of the male reproductive tract at 29d (Price et al., '67), and before the appearance of demonstrable 3β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase, an enzyme important in steroid biosynthesis, in the interstitial cells at 29d (Ortiz et al., '66). This enzyme has not yet been demonstrated in the Sertoli cells. The smooth reticulum of the interstitial cells increases in amount, filling the cells with tubules by 27d, and later forming some fenestrated cisternae which are occasionally seen in whorls. In Sertoli cells, the tubular reticulum shows signs of degeneration at 26d. After this time the cisternal endoplasmic reticulum in these cells increases in amount and by 45d is predominantly smooth-surfaced. Yet it is never as prominent as the smooth reticulum of the interstitial cells. Scattered clusters of ribosomes or polyribosomes are seen on the surface of the tubular reticulum of these differentiating cells. These polyribosomes become more widely spaced as the smooth-surfaced areas increase and may be associated with the production of smooth membranes. Smooth endoplasmic reticulum is known to play a role in the production of steroid hormones, and therefore the extensive development of smooth reticulum in fetal interstitial cells is consistent with experimental evidence that implicates these cells as the chief source of steroid hormones governing male reproductive tract differentiation.
Hoarding and neonatal irradiation

Swiss albino mice, half treated with (300-r) irradiation on day of birth and half untreated were run in a hoarding test. The treated Ss hoarded 49% less than the controls. This finding was opposite of the expectation. Irradiation also reduces body weight and this effect persists into adulthood. The association between hoarding and activity and emotionality was also investigated. Hoarding performance was unrelated to activity or fear.
Genetic analysis and fine-mapping of a dwarfing with withered leaf-tip mutant in rice

A dwarf mutant of rice (Oryza sativa L.) by mutagenesis of ethylene methylsulfonate (EMS) treatment from Nipponbare was identified. The mutant exhibited phenotypes of dwarfism and withered leaf tip (dwl1). Based on the internode length of dwl1, this mutant belongs to the dm type of dwarfing. Analysis of elongation of the second sheath and alpha-amylase activity in endosperm showed that the phenotype caused by dwl1 was insensitive to gibberellin acid treatment. Using a large F2 population derived from a cross between the dwl1 and an indica rice variety, TN1, the DWL1 gene was mapped to the terminal region of the long arm of chromosome 3. Fine-mapping delimited it into a 46 kb physical distance between two STS markers, HL921 and HL944, where 6 open reading frames were predicted. Cloning of DWL1 will contribute to dissecting molecular mechanism that regulates plant height in rice, which will be beneficial to molecular assisted selection of this important trait.
Integrated Traffic–Communication Simulation Evaluation Environment for IntelliDrive Applications Using SAE J2735 Message Sets:

Vehicle-to-vehicle and vehicle-to-infrastructure communications made possible by IntelliDrive will enable new transportation applications and services. To understand and quantify potential benefits from Intelli-Drive applications, these applications should be evaluated before fielddeployment. An IntelliDrive simulation environment was developed; itreplicated precise vehicular movements, incorporated IntelliDrive wireless communications based on wireless access in vehicular environments-dedicated short-range communication standards, and simulated real IntelliDrive message sets defined in the Society of Automotive Engineers J2735 standard. A case study of a prototype lane changing advisory algorithm revealed that communication delays were not likely to be a significant factor and showed maximum delays of only 55 ms for the basic safety message (BSM) and 1.3 ms for the a la carte message (ACM). The probability of successful communication can affect evaluation results. For example, for a lane changing advisor...
Stock Market Reaction to Information Technology Investments in the USA and Poland: A Comparative Event Study

This study compares the stock market reaction to announcements of information technology in Poland, an emerging and transition economy, with the USA, a mature developed economy. Based on the results, there appears to be a significant difference in stock market reaction. Overall, the stock market reactions to the announcements of information technology are more favorable for companies located in Poland. In this context, investors react especially positive when Polish service companies announce IT investments. The results of this study are particularly important for economies in the catch-up process.
Does stimulus rate matter when performing somatosensory evoked potentials for coma patients

It is unclear whether the rate of stimulation for somatosensory evoked potentials (SEPs) can influence the presence or absence of cortical responses to median nerve stimulation in comatose patients. If so, this could affect how SEPs are performed and interpreted for prognostication in coma. Our objective was to determine how frequently our comatose patients had absent median nerve SEP responses at 3 Hz stimulation, but present responses at 1 Hz stimulation, and to report outcomes of these patients. We reviewed SEP recordings in 639 comatose patients over a 9-year period. All had stimulation at 3 Hz and 1 Hz. This is a retrospective review. There were seven patients who had absent median nerve SEP responses at 3 Hz stimulation bilaterally, but had present responses at 1 Hz on one or both sides. Six of the seven died. One 16-year-old patient with traumatic brain injury awoke, but had moderate disability. Stimulation rate is an important determinant of presence or absence of cortical responses in about 1% of comatose patients. It is unclear whether such patients have a different outcome that those with absent responses at both rates of stimulation.
Environmental epigenomics and disease susceptibility

The Keystone symposium on ‘Environmental Epigenomics and Disease Susceptibility' was held in late March 2011 at the Grove Park Inn Resort in Asheville, North Carolina, USA. The meeting helped to define the developing field of ‘environmental epigenetics' and the research presented established its role in disease aetiology and susceptibility.
Nitrogen effects on yield and malting quality of barley genotypes under no-till

Conservation practices, such as reduced tillage and improved fertilizer use, are desirable from an environmental perspective and may yield economic benefits if production and quality are not impaired. This study was conducted to determine the effects of two N fertilization levels, 45 and 90 kg ha −1 (50 and 100% of normal grower rates), on yield and malting quality of spring barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) under no-till management. The study was conducted in 1986 and 1987 on a Palouse silt loam (fine-silty, mixed mesic Pachic Ultic Haploxeroll (...)
The nature of records from ultra-low frequency ballistocardiographic systems and their relation to circulatory events

Abstract 1. (1) The general characteristics of normal human displacement (D), velocity (V), and acceleration (A) ballistocardiograms from an ultra-low frequency (ULF) system have been described. 2. (2) Detailed time and amplitude measurements were made on the records (D, V, and A) obtained from 100 normal subjects from 20 to 39 years of age and some of the results reported. 3. (3) The possible role of certain general physical properties of the circulatory system in the origin of the ULF ballistocardiogram was briefly considered. 4. (4) The temporal relationship of human ULF ballistocardiograms (D, V, and A) to various mechanical events in the cardiac cycle was discussed. Tentative views were expressed concerning the origin of some of the waves of normal ballistocardiograms. 5. (5) The design, construction and performance of a practical and convenient ULF ballistocardiographic system, based on the differential-pendulum principle, is described in an appendix.
Comparative flexibility, extension, and conformation of some simple polysaccharide chains

Realistic polymer chain models are developed for several polysaccharides to illustrate, using perspective drawings of representative chain conformations, the wide range of configuration, extension, and flexibility found in chains of the polysaccharide class. A method for incorporating the gauche or exo-anomeric effect into polysaccharide conformational energy functions is described, and a novel measure of directional correlation and pseudohelical persistence is utilized to help distinguish the differences in chain configuration observed among the polysaccharides compared.
Transformation of Clay Minerals by Calcium Hydroxide Attack

Calcium hydroxide was allowed to react with various clays, other silicates, and quartz at slightly elevated temperatures for several months. The reaction products were examined by X-ray diffraction, DTA, and electron microscopy, and were shown to be poorly-crystallized calcium silicate hydrates of the tobermorite family, and calcium aluminate hydrates. Quaternary phases were not detected, but some isomorphous substitution probably occurred. The extent of reaction was shown to be such that under appropriate conditions almost all of the clay mineral was decomposed. Electron micrographs of the reacted materials indicated that attack occurred from the edges of the particles, and in general the remaining unattacked portion of the clay did not suffer appreciable loss of crystallinity. It was postulated that the reaction involved progressive dissolution of the mineral at the edges of the particles in the strongly basic environment maintained by calcium hydroxide solution, followed by separate precipation of the reaction products. In these experiments the calcium silicate hydrate generated by the reaction between lime and quartz was uniformly calcium silicate hydrate gel (CSH (gel)); reaction with kaolinite and montmorillonite produced either CSH (gel) or calcium silicate hydrate (I) (CSH (I)) depending on the conditions of the reaction. At 60°C the alumina-bearing phase was tricalcium aluminate hexahydrate; at lower temperature the phase produced was a hexagonal material closely resembling 4CaO.Al2O3.13H2O (C4AH13) but retaining a constant 7.6A basal spacing regardless of its state of wetness or dryness. It was found that under appropriate conditions the formation of CSH(I) resulted in as effective a cementation as did the formation of CSH (gel).
Impact of bone morphogenetic proteins on frequency of revision surgery, use of autograft bone, and total hospital charges in surgery for lumbar degenerative disease: review of the Nationwide Inpatient Sample from 2002 to 2008.

Abstract Background context Bone morphogenetic proteins (BMPs) were developed with the goal of improving clinical outcomes through the promotion of bony healing and reducing morbidity from iliac crest bone graft harvest. Purpose To complete a population-based assessment of the impact of BMP on use of autograft, rates of operative treatment for lumbar pseudoarthrosis, and hospital charges. Study design Nationwide Inpatient Sample (NIS) retrospective cohort assessment of 46,452 patients from 2002 to 2008. Patient sample All patients who underwent lumbar arthrodesis procedures for degenerative spinal disease. Outcome measures Use of BMP, revision surgery status as a percentage of total procedures, and autograft harvest in lumbar fusion procedures completed for degenerative diagnoses. Methods Demographic and geographic/practice data, hospital charges, and length of stay of all NIS patients with thoracolumbar and lumbosacral procedure codes for degenerative spinal diagnoses were recorded. Codes for autograft harvest, use of BMP, and revision surgery were included in multivariable regression analysis. Results The assessment found 46,452 patients from 2002 to 2008 undergoing thoracolumbar or lumbar arthrodesis procedures for degenerative disease. Assuming a representative sample, this cohort models more than 200,000 US patients. There was steady growth in lumbar spine fusion and in the use of BMP. The use of BMP increased from 2002 to 2008 (odds ratio [OR], 1.50; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.48–1.52). Revision procedures decreased over the study period (OR, 0.94; 95% CI, 0.91–0.96). The use of autograft decreased substantially after introduction of BMP but then returned to baseline levels; there was no net change in autograft use from 2002 to 2008. The use of BMP correlated with significant increases in hospital charges ($13,362.39; standard deviation±596.28, p Conclusions There was an overall decrease in rates of revision fusion procedures from 2002 to 2008. Introduction of BMP did not correlate with decrease in use of autograft bone harvest. Use of BMP correlated with substantial increase in hospital charges. The small decrease in revision surgeries recorded, combined with lack of significant change in autograft harvest rates, may question the financial justification for the use of BMP.
An efficient parallel algorithm for solving n-nephron models of the renal inner medulla

A parallel algorithm for solving the multinephron model of the renal inner medulla is developed. The intrinsic nature of this problem supplies sufficient symmetry for a high-level parallelism on distributed-memory parallel machines such as the iPSC/860, Paragon, and CM-5. Parallelization makes it feasible to study interesting models such as the rat kidney with 30,000 nephrons. On a high-end work station, one can study systems with 100 nephrons, while on a 32-node iPSC/860 or Paragon we can handle more than 1000 nephrons.A nearly perfect speedup is achieved by even distribution of load and minimizing the cost of communication.
Cancer-related disparities: weathering the perfect storm through comprehensive cancer control approaches

During the last two decades extraordinary progress in developing and using effective cancer prevention strategies, early detection interventions, and cancer treatments has been made. This progress has resulted in an overall decline in mortality rates for all cancers combined. Nonetheless, cancer is the second most common cause of death in the United States. Although cancer is a diagnosis that many survive, cancer experiences across populations may vary considerably. These differences in cancer experiences have created an unequal disease burden that presents distinct professional and moral challenges to our nation. Many cancer control plans suggest specific strategies that prioritize eliminating cancer-related disparities. This article describes certain cancer-related disparities in the United Sates and gives several examples of how communities and disenfranchised populations are using comprehensive cancer control (CCC) approaches to eliminate these disparities. One or two interventions are highlighted in each example.
The multigrid method in solid mechanics: Part II—Practical applications

No proportionality is observed between the total number of operations to convergence and the problem size. Despite such behaviour, the multigrid algorithm proves to be an effective matrix equation solver for solid mechanics problems. It is orders of magnitude faster than a direct factorization method, and yields converged solutions several times faster than the Jacobi preconditioned conjugate gradient method
Epilepsy and epileptiform EEG: association with autism and language disorders.

The relationship between epilepsy, language, behavior, and cognition is not well understood. Developmental and acquired disabilities such as autistic spectrum disorders, Landau-Kleffner Syndrome, electrical status epilepticus in sleep, and developmental dysphasias have been associated with epileptiform abnormalities. These disorders share many common features and raise important questions regarding this intricate relationship. This article reviews these disorders and discusses the proposed interaction between epileptiform abnormalities and cognitive dysfunciton. Diagnostic and treatment issues will also be reviewed. MRDD Research Reviews 2000;6:300–308. © 2000 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Non-Mendelian Inheritance of Paralogs of 2 Cytoskeletal Genes in the Ciliate Chilodonella uncinata

Recognition of the role of non-Mendelian inheritance is on the rise, particularly as epigenetic phenomena are shown to shape the transformation of genomes into phenotypes. Ciliates provide a model system in which to explore the role of epigenetics because ciliates have both a germ line (micronuclear) and somatic (macronuclear) genome within every cell. In the ciliate Chilodonella uncinata, the macronucleus is extensively fragmented such that many genes end up on their own chromosomes. Hence, it is possible to track the fate of unlinked genes within macronuclei of C. uncinata. Here we demonstrate that the pattern of inheritance in isolates of C. uncinata is complex and involves both Mendelian transmission between micronuclei and macronuclei and epigenetic phenomena. The macronuclei from 2 isolates of C. uncinata and their progeny share identical rDNA loci and 2 identical beta-tubulin paralogs, yet have different actin paralogs and some beta-tubulin paralogs that are not shared. We propose a model in which all the divergent paralogs are present in the ciliate micronuclei. Under this model, different paralogs are retained in developing macronuclei following conjugation. We further speculate that an epigenetic mechanism, such as RNA interference, is involved in selective retention of specific paralogs within lines. This system allows the exploration of epigenetic phenomena that shape somatic genomes and provides parallels to studies of the development of somatic nuclei within animals.
Participation, managerial decision-making, and situational variables.

Abstract Two hundred and three senior managers, first and second-line supervisors and student leaders from 16 organizations reported on their decision behavior. The research has three distinct features: a) it presents a five-fold typology of decision behavior on a continuum of subordinate influence which can vary from delegation at one end of the scale, to decisions made by the leader without explanation to his subordinate, at the other end; b) the measuring scales use realistic organizational problems for the purpose of assessing decision-making and participation; c) the decision-making preferences of different groups of leaders are compared and related to situational variables. Significant relationships were found between decision behavior and six of the seven situational variables. The implication of these findings for the literature on participation is discussed.
NGF induction of NGF receptor gene expression and cholinergic neuronal hypertrophy within the basal forebrain of the adult rat

Chronic infusion of nerve growth factor (NGF) into the forebrain of the adult rat produced increases in NGF receptor (NGF-R) mRNA hybridization, NGF-R immunoreactivity, choline acetyltransferase (ChAT) mRNA hybridization, and neuronal hypertrophy, when compared with vehicle infusion or noninfused rat brain. In situ hybridization showed NGF induction of NGF-R gene expression, documented by increases in the number of NGF-R mRNA-positive cells within the medial septum, diagonal band, and nucleus basalis magnocellularis. NGF also produced hypertrophy of ChAT mRNA-positive neurons. These results suggest that NGF produces cholinergic neuronal hypertrophy through induction of NGF-R gene expression within the basal forebrain.
Multiphoton-detachment cross sections for H-

Perturbation theory is applied to the evaluation of the multiphoton-detachment cross sections of ${\mathrm{H}}^{\mathrm{\ensuremath{-}}}$ in a number of approximations. The zero-range plane-wave approximation is the simplest, as its effective dipole matrix element is reducible to a recursive differentiation, and it is applied to the one- to seven-photon-detachment processes. Improvements on this are made in the bound state by means of a short-range potential model and a dynamic screening representation, and in the continuum wave functions with the use of the best previously calculated e-H(1s) singlet scattering phase shifts. The dynamic screening parameters are adjusted to give a good fit of the resulting one-photon cross section to its correct well-known value, and the accurate phase shifts effectively include all the important correlation effects in the free-free amplitudes. These improved wave functions are used for the evaluation of the two- and three-photon generalized detachment cross sections by explicitly carrying out all intermediate state sums. Our best \ensuremath{\sigma}${\mathrm{^}}_{2}$ and \ensuremath{\sigma}${\mathrm{^}}_{3}$ are estimated to be accurate to order 5%. The present theoretical results are compared with other calculations and recent measurements, revealing areas of agreement as well as certain discrepancies.
Effect of TBCD and its regulatory interactor Arl2 on tubulin and microtubule integrity

Assembly of the α/β tubulin heterodimer requires the participation of a series of chaperone proteins (TBCA-E) that function downstream of the cytosolic chaperonin, CCT, as a heterodimer assembly machine. TBCD and TBCE are also capable of acting in a reverse reaction in which they disrupt native heterodimers. Homologs of TBCA-E exist in all eukaryotes, and the amino acid sequences of α- and β-tubulin isotypes are rigidly conserved among vertebrates. However, the efficiency with which TBCD effects tubulin disruption in vivo depends on its origin: bovine (but not human) TBCD efficiently destroys tubulin and microtubules upon overexpression in cultured cells. Here we show that recombinant bovine TBCD is produced in HeLa cells as a stoichiometric co-complex with β-tubulin, consistent with its behavior in vitro and in vivo. In contrast, expression of human TBCD using the same host/vector system results in the generation of TBCD that is not complexed with β-tubulin. We show that recombinant human TBCD functions indistinguishably from its non-recombinant bovine counterpart in in vitro CCT-driven folding reactions, in tubulin disruption reactions, and in tubulin GAP assays in which TBCD and TBCC stimulate GTP hydrolysis by β-tubulin at a heterodimer concentration far below that required for polymerization into microtubules. We conclude that bovine and human TBCD have functionally identical roles in de novo tubulin heterodimer assembly, and show that the inability of human TBCD to disrupt microtubule integrity upon overexpression in vivo can be overcome by siRNA-mediated suppression of expression of the TBCD regulator Arl2 (ADP Ribosylation Factor-like Protein 2).
ESR spectra of the Cu2+, Ag2+, and Au2+ ions

Abstract Cu 2 + , Ag 2 + , and Au 2 + in their 2 Σ g + ground states have been observed in solid neon matrices at 4 K via X-band electron-spin-resonance (ESR) spectroscopy. The g and hyperfine tensor components of each cation have been interpreted in terms of the orbital characteristics of the unpaired electron.
REGULATION AND LOCALIZATION OF COLONY-STIMULATING FACTOR-1 MRNA IN CULTURED RAT DENTAL FOLLICLE CELLS

Abstract Cultured dental follicle cells from rat mandibular molars transcribe colony-stimulating factor-1 (CSF-1) mRNA as determined by reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction. In turn, the CSF-1 mRNA appears to be translated, as seen by immunoperoxidase staining. Interleukin 1α (IL-1α) stimulates increased transcription of the CSF-1 gene in a concentration- and time-dependent manner. Moreover, CSF-1 itself has an autocrine effect on transcription of the CSF-1 gene. Because others have shown that in vivo injection of CSF-1 accelerates tooth eruption and because the dental follicle is required for eruption to occur, this study demonstrates the possible relation between CSF-1 and the follicle; namely, the source of CSF-1 for tooth eruption might be the dental follicle. In turn, regulation of gene expression for CSF-1 by IL-1α and CSF-1 may play a part in signalling the onset of tooth eruption.
Micropuncture retrieval of epididymal sperm with in vitro fertilization: Importance of in vitro micromanipulation techniques

Abstract Objectives To evaluate the importance of in vitro micromanipulation techniques, specifically intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI), for the fertility treatment of men with congenital absence of the vas deferens (CAV) or other unreconstructable male reproductive tract obstruction. Methods Results using ICSI during in vitro fertilization (IVF) were compared to previously published results of IVF alone and IVF with other micromanipulation techniques at the same infertility center. Main outcome parameters evaluated were: fertilization rate per oocyte, clinical pregnancy rate, and ongoing pregnancies and deliveries. Results IVF with ICSI yielded a fertilization rate per oocyte of 140 of 312 (45%) and a clinical pregnancy rate of 14 of 27 (52%) per cycle of sperm and egg retrieval. Ongoing pregnancies or deliveries have occurred for 13 of 27 (48%) cycles with ICSI. These results were better than our previously published results of IVF alone or in conjunction with the micromanipulation techniques of subzonal insertion (SuZI) or partial zona dissection (PZD) that yielded a 119 of 631 (19%; P P P Conclusions Epididymal sperm retrieval should be performed only when micromanipulation is available in conjunction with IVF to maximize chances of fertilization and subsequent pregnancies. The use of ICSI for epididymal sperm appears to maximize chances of pregnancy for couples with surgically unreconstructable obstructive male infertility.