cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
CHAPTER 167 – Prostaglandin Mediators

The cyclooxygenase pathway of arachidonic acid metabolism generates a family of evanescent mediators with wide and varied physiological and pathophysiological actions. Understanding the biological role of the prostanoids requires examination of the biosynthetic pathways that lead to their temporal and tissue-specific generation together with the array of signaling pathways activated by their multiple receptors. Arachidonic acid (AA), a 20-carbon unsaturated fatty acid containing four, double bonds (Δ5,8,11,14:C20:4), circulates in plasma in both free and esterified forms and is a natural constituent of the phospholipid domain of cell membranes. AA is mobilized for release by phospholipases (PLs) A 2 , particularly type IV cytosolic (c) PLA 2 , following its calcium-dependent, translocation to the nuclear membrane and the endoplasmic reticulum. Three major groups of enzymes, prostaglandin G/H synthase (PGHS), lipoxygenase, or cytochrome p450, then catalyze the formation of the prostaglandins (PGs) and thromboxane A 2 (TxA 2 ), the leukotrienes, or the epoxyeicosatrienoic acids, respectively. Collectively, these products are known as eicosanoids. A parallel family of free radical, catalyzed isomers, the isoeicosanoids, are formed by direct peroxidation of AA in situ in cell membranes. This chapter focuses on the PGs and TxA 2 , collectively termed the prostanoids.
Contralateral Occlusion Test: The effect of external ear canal occlusion on hearing thresholds.

Abstract Introduction and goals Bedside testing with tuning forks may decrease turnaround time and improve decision making for a quick qualitative assessment of hearing loss. The purpose of this study was to quantify the effects of ear canal occlusion on hearing, in order to decide which tuning fork frequency is more appropriate to use for quantifying hearing loss with the Contralateral Occlusion Test. Methods Twenty normal-hearing adults (forty ears) underwent sound field pure tone audiometry with and without ear canal occlusion. Each ear was tested with the standard frequencies. The contralateral ear was suppressed with by masking. Ear occlusion was performed by two examiners. Results Participants aged between 21 and 30 years (25.6 ± 3.03 years) showed an increase in hearing thresholds with increasing frequencies from 19.94 dB (250 Hz) to 39.25 dB (2000 Hz). The threshold difference between occluded and unoccluded conditions was statistically significant and increased from 10.69 dB (250 Hz) to 32.12 dB (2000 Hz). There were no statistically significant differences according to gender or between the examiners. Conclusion The occlusion effect increased the hearing thresholds and became more evident with higher frequencies. The occlusion method as performed demonstrated reproducibility. In the Contralateral Occlusion Test, 256 Hz or 512 Hz tuning forks should be used for diagnosis of mild hearing loss, and a 2048 Hz tuning fork should be used for moderate hearing loss.
Semi-empirical scaling for ion-atom single charge exchange cross sections in the intermediate velocity regime

We present a semi-empirical scaling law for non-resonant ion–atom single charge exchange cross sections for collisions with velocities from and ions with positive charge . Non-resonant cross sections tend to have a velocity peak at collision velocities with exponential decay around this peak. We construct a scaling formula for the location of this peak then choose a functional form for the cross section curve and scale it. The velocity at which the cross section peaks, v m, is proportional to the energy defect of the collision, , which we predict with the decay approximation. The value of the cross section maximum is proportional to the charge state q, inversely proportional to the target ionization energy I T, and inversely proportional to v m. For the shape of the cross section curve, we use a function that decays exponentially asymptotically at high and low velocities. We scale this function with parameters , where the are the target and projectile atomic numbers. For the more than 100 cross section curves that we use to find the scaling rules, the scaling law predicts cross sections within a little over a factor of 2 on average.
Atomically Thin Layers of Graphene and Hexagonal Boron Nitride Made by Solvent Exfoliation of Their Phosphoric Acid Intercalation Compounds

The development of scalable and reliable techniques for the production of the atomically thin layers of graphene and hexagonal boron nitride (h-BN) in bulk quantities could make these materials a powerful platform for devices and composites that impact a wide variety of technologies (Nature 2012, 490, 192–200). To date a number of practical exfoliation methods have been reported that are based on sonicating or stirring powdered graphite or h-BN in common solvents. However, the products of these experiments consist mainly of few-layer sheets and contain only a small fraction of monolayers. A possible reason for this is that splitting the crystals into monolayers starts from solvent intercalation, which must overcome the substantial interlayer cohesive energy (120–720 mJ/m2) of the van der Waals solids. Here we show that the yield of the atomically thin layers can be increased to near unity when stage-1 intercalation compounds of phosphoric acid are used as starting materials. The exfoliation to predominant...
How to make the most of your human: design considerations for human–machine interactions

Reconsidering the function allocation between automation and the pilot in the flight deck is the next step in improving aviation safety. The current allocation, based on who does what best, makes poor use of the pilot’s resources and abilities. In some cases, it may actually handicap pilots from performing their role. Improving pilot performance first lies in defining the role of the pilot—why a human is needed in the first place. The next step is allocating functions based on the needs of that role (rather than fitness), and then using automation to target specific human weaknesses in performing that role. Examples are provided (some of which could be implemented in conventional cockpits now). Along the way, the definition of human error and the idea that eliminating/automating the pilot will reduce instances of human error will be challenged.
Human white matter and knowledge representation

Understanding how knowledge is represented in the human brain is a fundamental challenge in neuroscience. To date, most of the work on this topic has focused on knowledge representation in cortical areas and debated whether knowledge is represented in a distributed or localized fashion. Fang and colleagues provide evidence that brain connections and the white matter supporting such connections might play a significant role. The work opens new avenues of investigation, breaking through disciplinary boundaries across network neuroscience, computational neuroscience, cognitive science, and classical lesion studies.
Impact of miRNA-mRNA Profiling and Their Correlation on Medulloblastoma Tumorigenesis

Medulloblastoma (MB) is a clinically challenging, childhood brain tumor with a diverse genetic makeup and differential miRNA profile. Aiming to identify deregulated miRNAs in MB, the miRNA expression profile of human MB samples was compared to that of normal cerebellar tissues. As a result, 8 upregulated and 64 downregulated miRNAs were identified in MB samples. Although various algorithms have been developed to predict the interaction between miRNA-mRNA pairs, the complexity and fidelity of miRNA-mRNA remain a concern. Therefore, to identify the signatures of miRNA-mRNA interactions essential for MB pathogenesis, miRNA profiling, RNA sequencing, and ingenuity pathway analysis (IPA) were performed in the same primary human MB samples. Further, when miR-217 was inhibited, a significant upregulation of predicted target genes SIRT1, ROBO1, FOXO3, and SMAD7 in HDMB03 cells was observed, confirming the validity of our approach. Functional analysis revealed that the inhibition of miR-217 in HDMB03 cells suppresses colony formation, migration, invasion, promoted apoptosis, and arrested cell population in S phase, indicating that manipulation of miR-217 may have a therapeutic potential for MB patients. Therefore, our study provides an essential platform for future investigations of specific miRNAs responsible for MB pathogenesis.
Teaching/Learning Strategies for Intervention with People with Neurovisual Impairments

This chapter presents teaching/learning strategies that can be used by occupational therapists (OTs) who provide service for people with neurovisual impairments, i.e., vision impairments related to neurological injury and illness. When to consider integrating people with neurovisual impairments into group interventions that primarily include people with adult-onset eye diseases such as macular degeneration and glaucoma is discussed. When it is probably most essential to provide individual intervention is also discussed. There is a focus on self-management and health promotion models to design and plan both group and individual interventions.
Effects of Prior Conditional Discrimination Training, Symmetry, Transitivity, and Equivalence Testing on the Emergence of New Equivalence Classes

Prior studies have shown that the establishment of equivalence classes using the simple-to-complex protocol significantly enhanced the emergence of other new equivalence classes under the simultaneous protocol (yield). The current experiment showed how those enhancement effects were influenced by each component of the protocol used to establish the initial equivalence classes. Yield during the simultaneous protocol was not improved following the prior establishment of other baseline conditional discriminations alone. The prior establishment of the conditional discriminations plus symmetry testing produced a small increment in yield. The prior establishment of conditional discriminations plus transitivity testing produced a very large increment in yield. The prior establishment of conditional discriminations plus transitivity and symmetry testing, or symmetry, transitivity and equivalence testing (i.e., equivalence class formation) did not produce further increments in yield. Thus, the enhanced emergence of new equivalence classes under the simultaneous protocol was due to prior demonstrations of transitivity rather than to the prior establishment of other equivalence classes. Some possible behavioral processes responsible for these effects are discussed.
Reviving Holistic Development Planning for Sustainable Development

The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development challenges policymakers and other stakeholders to think about their economy in its social, economic and environmental aspects, but also its moving parts and external interactions, its prospects over time and impact on various population groups. Economy-wide assessment is required, leading to revived interest in integrated economic planning. This article describes international organization innovations for undertaking systemic country diagnostics, development finance assessments, and updated modelling tools for comprehensive analyses that can assist in devising national sustainable development strategies and their financing frameworks.
Functional polymers, XL. Syntheses of mono- and di(4-methoxy)benzotriazolesubstituted 2,4-dihydroxyaceto(or benzo)phenones

Eight benzotriazoles and (4-methoxy)benzotriazoles, mono- or di-substituted derivatives of 2,4-dihydroxyaceto(or benzo)phenone were synthesized by azo coupling of (4-methoxy)2-nitrobenzenediazonium chloride with 2,4-dihydroxyaceto(or benzo)phenone followed by reductive cyclization. Pure mono-substituted compounds were very difficult to prepare. Careful selection of thepH for the azo coupling and selection of the proper reagents for the reductive cyclization were essential. All compounds were characterized by their ultraviolet, infrared1H and13C NMR spectra and their elemental analysis. These compounds have both the 2(2-hydroxyphenyl)2H-benzotriazole unit and a 2-hydroxyaceto(or benzo)phenone unit in the same molecule and are effective and useful ultraviolet absorbers.
Electrophotocatalysis with a Trisaminocyclopropenium Radical Dication

Visible-light photocatalysis and electrocatalysis are two powerful strategies for the promotion of chemical reactions. Here, these two modalities are combined in an electrophotocatalytic oxidation platform. This chemistry employs a trisaminocyclopropenium (TAC) ion catalyst, which is electrochemically oxidized to form a cyclopropenium radical dication intermediate. The radical dication undergoes photoexcitation with visible light to produce an excited-state species with oxidizing power (3.33 V vs. SCE) sufficient to oxidize benzene and halogenated benzenes via single-electron transfer (SET), resulting in C-H/N-H coupling with azoles. A rationale for the strongly oxidizing behavior of the photoexcited species is provided, while the stability of the catalyst is rationalized by a particular conformation of the cis-2,6-dimethylpiperidine moieties.
ABCB subfamily (version 2019.4) in the IUPHAR/BPS Guide to Pharmacology Database

The ABCB subfamily is composed of four full transporters and two half transporters. This is the only human subfamily to have both half and full types of transporters. ABCB1 was discovered as a protein overexpressed in certain drug resistant tumor cells. It is expressed primarily in the blood brain barrier and liver and is thought to be involved in protecting cells from toxins. Cells that overexpress this protein exhibit multi-drug resistance [4].
Academic aptitude mediates the relationship between socioeconomic status and race in predicting ImPACT scores in college athletes

Objective: To evaluate the influences of sociodemographic factors, estimated head impact exposure, and academic aptitude on ImPACT scores in college athletes.Methods: Data were reported on 18,886 participants (58% male) from the NCAA/DoD CARE Consortium. Race, SES, concussion history, estimated repetitive head impact exposure (eRHIE), and academic aptitude (SAT or ACT score) were our predictors of interest. Cognition was measured using ImPACT composite scores. We evaluated the mediating effects of academic aptitude on sociodemographic predictors and eRHIE on ImPACT scores. We then evaluated a football-only subsample and added age of first exposure to football (AFE) to the model. Males, females, and football players were analyzed separately using structural equation modeling.Results: Academic aptitude was associated with Black/African American race, SES, and each of the ImPACT composite scores. There were significant indirect effects of Black/African American race and SES on all ImPACT composite scores. Academic aptitude fully mediated SES effects and either fully or partially mediated race effects. Contrary to expectation, greater concussion history and eRHIE predicted better ImPACT scores.Conclusions: Academic aptitude, a stable indicator of premorbid cognitive function, consistently and most strongly predicted baseline ImPACT scores in collegiate student-athletes. Concussion and eRHIE history demonstrated a small positive, but non-significant, relationship with cognitive scores at the time of college athletic participation. This study suggests that attempts to characterize cognitive ability across the lifespan must consider premorbid functioning and sociodemographic variables.
The Tales That Bind Us: Family Stories in Young Children’s Development

Family stories are the tales family members tell about themselves within their family unit. These narratives may be about deceased ancestors as well as living family members of all ages and describe both the ordinary and extraordinary events of their lives. Sharing family stories helps infants and young children develop language. Young children are aided in their social, emotional, and cognitive development as they build family bonds and healthy self-concepts. Through these stories many young children learn about living relatives as well as their deceased ancestors. They strengthen their connections to family members and build a strong sense of self while establishing their place within the family unit. This chapter focuses on the role family stories play in encouraging healthy development in infants and young children and the ways families and teachers can support children in learning through family stories.
Uncertainty quantification of an empirical shell-model interaction using principal component analysis

Recent investigations have emphasized the importance of uncertainty quantification (UQ) in nuclear theory. We carry out UQ for configuration-interaction shell-model calculations in the $1s\text{\ensuremath{-}}0d$ valence space, investigating the sensitivity of observables to perturbations in the 66 parameters (matrix elements) of a high-quality empirical interaction. The large parameter space makes computing the corresponding Hessian numerically costly, so we compare a cost-effective approximation, using the Feynman-Hellmann theorem, to the full Hessian and find it works well. Diagonalizing the Hessian yields the principal components of the interaction: linear combinations of parameters ordered by sensitivity. This approximately decoupled distribution of parameters facilitates theoretical uncertainty propagation onto structure observables: electromagnetic transitions, Gamow-Teller decays, and dark matter-nucleus scattering matrix elements.
A phase II study of durvalumab (MEDI4736) (anti-PD-L1) and trametinib (MEKi) in microsatellite stable (MSS) metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC).

152Background: Monotherapy with immune checkpoint blockade (ICB) is ineffective for patients (pts) with MSS mCRC. Novel approaches to modulate the tumor microenvironment (TME) are needed. Here, we ...
Regional-Scale Greenhouse Gas Utilization Strategies for Enhanced Shale Oil Recovery and Carbon Management

Recent advances in shale oil development have largely outpaced efforts to manage associated greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions that pose significant environmental risks. In this work, we explore opport...
Ciliopathic micrognathia is caused by aberrant skeletal differentiation and remodeling

Abstract Ciliopathies represent a growing class of diseases caused by defects in microtubule-based organelles called primary cilia. Approximately 30% of ciliopathies can be characterized by craniofacial phenotypes such as craniosynostosis, cleft lip/palate and micrognathia. Patients with ciliopathic micrognathia experience a particular set of difficulties including impaired feeding and breathing and have extremely limited treatment options. To understand the cellular and molecular basis for ciliopathic micrognathia, we utilized the talpid2 (ta2), a bona fide avian model for the human ciliopathy Oral-Facial-Digital syndrome subtype 14 (OFD14). Histological analyses revealed that the onset of ciliopathic micrognathia in ta2 embryos occurred at the earliest stages of mandibular development. Neural crest-derived skeletal progenitor cells were particularly sensitive to a ciliopathic insult, undergoing unchecked passage through the cell cycle and subsequent increased proliferation. Furthermore, whereas neural crest-derived skeletal differentiation was initiated, osteoblast maturation failed to progress to completion. Additional molecular analyses revealed that an imbalance in the ratio of bone deposition and resorption also contributed to ciliopathic micrognathia in ta2 embryos. Thus, our results suggest that ciliopathic micrognathia is a consequence of multiple, aberrant cellular processes necessary for skeletal development, and provide potential avenues for future therapeutic treatments.
Trust in an Autonomous Guidance System for a Planetary Rover Task

Crewed deep space missions will increasingly rely on collaborations between astronauts and autonomous systems. Autonomous intelligent systems on board the spacecraft may perform some tasks traditionally done by ground control (e.g, planning, information transfer, decision support) without any communication delays. The human crew should be able to establish a functional level of trust in such systems. In order to assess trust in autonomous systems, we performed an experiment using a task that required participants to drive a lunar rover to a series of set locations. Subjects had to navigate the rover around terrain obstacles without getting stuck or running out of battery. Subjects were provided navigational assistance and trust in that guidance was measured via self-reported trust in the guidance in a post experiment questionnaire. A 2×2 between-subjects experimental design was used: 1) The primary independent variable was the source of the navigational assistance, either an autonomous system or a human (analogous to a ground controller). 2) To isolate subjective perceptions of the two systems from the objective guidance quality, the second independent variable was the source of the guidance as briefed to the subject (perceived autonomous vs. perceived human). The autonomous guidance used a Markov decision process based upon an accurate, but reduced resolution, hazard map. When human guidance was provided, the same conducive research assistant sat in the adjacent room (mimicking the role of a ground controller) and provided directions with a thumb-stick while using the same hazard map. Additionally, we tested control subjects who were provided no guidance and could be compared against both guidance systems. Results found that perceived guidance source did not change subject self-reported trust or task performance. These results suggest that, in terms of self-assessment and task performance, subjects are agnostic to guidance source and type on this task.
Shareholder Primacy and the Moral Obligation of Directors

The fiduciary obligations of corporate directors is one of the most written about and important topics in corporate law. Increasingly, critics of American capitalism have urged that corporations, and implicitly corporate directors, act in a more socially responsible fashion and thus eschew the notion of shareholder primacy is the exclusive guide to a director’s fiduciary duty. On this view, directors must consider the effect of their actions on “stakeholders” other than shareholders and be guided by morality – do the right thing – when making business judgments. When directors move away from shareholder primacy, however, decision-making becomes more difficult and problematic. This article analyzes the arguments that underpin a rejection of shareholder primacy, alternatives to shareholder primacy, and the utility of morality as a guide for directors making business judgments.
Erysichthon Gets Fed: A Menu in Mary Zimmerman’s Metamorphoses

Scholarly attention to the Erysichthon scene in Mary Zimmerman’s Metamorphoses has been rather limited, but the scene is notable for Zimmerman’s innovation on both Ovid and his translator David R. Slavitt. Zimmerman designs a full course for Erysichthon, who has been stricken with an eternal hunger, to eat; this course has precedent neither in Ovid nor Slavitt. This is a notable addition considering Zimmerman’s often faithful rendition of her source text. I argue that Erysichthon’s menu puts a lighthearted spin on what is usually read as a very serious story; moreover, this menu situates Zimmerman’s Erysichthon among the Ovidian episodes she adapts in her play, which maintains a humourous tone. Erysichthon’s meal has far-reaching implications not only for contemporary reception of Ovid’s Erysichthon but for Ovidian reception as a field.
Obituary: Anton Kris.

Tony Kris, scholar, clinician, mentor and friend, died on 11 March 2021. When you would see Tony and in greeting him ask, “How are you?”, his standard reply was, “Could be worse, probably will be.”...
Amyloid-Intercalated Graphene Oxide Membranes for Enhanced Nanofiltration

ABSTRACT We report on fast pressure-driven nanofiltration of strong GO membranes intercalated by protein amyloid fibrils. We investigate the effect of protein amyloid fibril loading on membrane properties including the membrane stability, microstructure, reflux rate, permeance, rejection rate and fouling resistance. With increasing amyloid fibrils, the membrane becomes smooth and resilient and can be reused for many times with little disintegration. Microstructure analysis shows that amyloid fibrils enable expansion of the interlayer spacing between GO sheets, leading to around 100% increase in average water permeance of the 100 nm thick membrane (15.6 L⋅m−2⋅hr−1⋅bar−1) compared to the neat GO membrane (8.8 L⋅m−2⋅hr−1⋅bar−1). The hybrid membranes display improved moderate ion rejection (44 - 51 %) of heavy metal salts and high molecular rejection (> 97%) of organic dyes. Antifouling performance is evaluated in terms of flux recovery ratio and fouling ratios. The incorporation of amyloid fibrils enable GO membranes to change from irreversible fouling to reversible fouling and the hybrid membrane exhibits significantly enhanced flux recovery (> 95%). A possible nanofiltration mechanism is proposed to explain the observations.
Discontinuous Space Vector Pulse Width Modulation for Six Switch Converter with Independent Control of Phase Voltages and Switching Device Stress Alleviation

Along with high efficiency at increased operating frequencies, high power density has become a critical consideration in many applications of power electronic converters. High power density is more readily obtained by reduce components counts in the power electronic converters. The six-switch converter is one of such converters with reduced component count. With this converter however, there are issues of interdependence of phase voltages, unbalance and increased stresses on the switching devices and DC bus voltage underutilization. This paper presents a discontinuous PWM method that addresses these issues and thereby makes the reduction in switch count without the need to overdesign the switching device rating. An algorithm is presented that ensures independent control of phase voltages. With the aid of three zero vector partitioning parameters, voltages are injected to the reference signals that alleviates the unbalance in the switching stresses of the devices. Moreover, the zero vector partitioning parameters are also used for discontinuous PWM generation. The linear region DC bus voltage utilization is improved with the method. The case of over modulation of the converter is also explored. The over modulation scheme is obtained by the determination of a reference voltage location parameter.
Stable transformation of Theobroma cacao L. and influence of matrix attachment regions on GFP expression

We describe a protocol for Agrobacterium-mediated genetic transformation of Theobroma cacao L. using cotyledonary explants from primary somatic embryos (SEs) and A. tumefaciens strain AGL1. Transgenic plants carrying the visible marker, gene green fluorescent protein ( EGFP), the selectable marker gene neomycin phosphotransferase II ( NPTII), the class I chitinase gene from cacao ( Chi), and tobacco nuclear matrix attachment regions (MARs) in different combinations were successfully produced via regeneration of secondary SEs. The presence of the Chi gene or MARs did not influence the number of transgenic plants produced compared to the marker genes alone. However, the inclusion of MARs contributed to increased mean GFP expression in the population of transgenics. Additionally, the presence of MARs reduced the occurrence of gene silencing and stabilized high levels of GFP expression in lines of transgenic plants multiplied via reiterative somatic embryogenesis. Ninety-four transgenic plants were acclimated in a greenhouse and grown to maturity. Detailed growth analysis indicated that there were no differences in various growth parameters between transgenic and non-transgenic SE-derived plants. Seeds produced from two genetic crosses with one of the transgenic lines were analyzed for EGFP expression-a near-perfect 1:1 segregation was observed, indicating that this line resulted from the insertion of a single locus of T-DNA.
Using MPI: Portable Parallel Programming with the Message-Passing Interface

This book offers a thoroughly updated guide to the MPI (Message-Passing Interface) standard library for writing programs for parallel computers. Since the publication of the previous edition of Using MPI, parallel computing has become mainstream. Today, applications run on computers with millions of processors; multiple processors sharing memory and multicore processors with multiple hardware threads per core are common. The MPI-3 Forum recently brought the MPI standard up to date with respect to developments in hardware capabilities, core language evolution, the needs of applications, and experience gained over the years by vendors, implementers, and users. This third edition of Using MPI reflects these changes in both text and example code. The book takes an informal, tutorial approach, introducing each concept through easy-to-understand examples, including actual code in C and Fortran. Topics include using MPI in simple programs, virtual topologies, MPI datatypes, parallel libraries, and a comparison of MPI with sockets. For the third edition, example code has been brought up to date; applications have been updated; and references reflect the recent attention MPI has received in the literature. A companion volume, Using Advanced MPI, covers more advanced topics, including hybrid programming and coping with large data.
Caveolae on the move.

Caveolae deliver simian virus 40 (SV40) to a new compartment called a caveosome, where the virus is sorted for transport to the smooth endoplasmic reticulum (ER). This pathway bypasses other endocytic organelles, and early steps may be shared by lipid rafts and certain glycosylphosphatidylinositol (GPI)-linked proteins.
Positing, Fitting, and Selecting Regression Models for Pooled Biomarker Data

Pooling biospecimens prior to performing lab assays can help reduce lab costs, preserve specimens, and reduce information loss when subject to a limit of detection. Because many biomarkers measured in epidemiological studies are positive and right-skewed, proper analysis of pooled specimens requires special methods. In this paper, we develop and compare parametric regression models for skewed outcome data subject to pooling, including a novel parameterization of the gamma distribution that takes full advantage of the gamma summation property. We also develop a Monte Carlo approximation of Akaike's Information Criterion applied to pooled data in order to guide model selection. Simulation studies and analysis of motivating data from the Collaborative Perinatal Project suggest that using Akaike's Information Criterion to select the best parametric model can help ensure valid inference and promote estimate precision. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Sunscreen use in patients with cutaneous lupus erythematosus.

Dear Editor, Because ultraviolet (UV) radiation is a well-documented environmental trigger, cutaneous lupus (CLE) patients are advised to engage in photoprotective practices, including sunscreen use. Despite numerous studies demonstrating the efficacy of sunscreens,1,2 CLE patients have not fully embraced sunscreen use. Daily sunscreen use was reported only in 23.1% of CLE patients in Ireland.3 Our group previously found that 59% of CLE patients used sunscreen “often” or “always,” although those terms were not defined.4 The reasons for suboptimal sunscreen use in CLE patients are not clear.
Second World War spending and local economic activity in US counties, 1939–58

Studies of the development of local economies often point to large-scale Second World War military spending as a source of economic growth, even though spending declined sharply after demobilization. We examine the relationship between war spending per capita and the changes in economic activity in US counties between 1939 before the war and a period several years after the war. In the longer term counties receiving more war spending per capita during the war experienced greater population growth, but growth in per capita measures of economic activity showed little relationship with per capita war spending.
Interaction-controlled HPLC for block copolymer analysis and separation.

An interaction-controlled HPLC technique has been developed to analyze homopolymer precursors in block copolymer systems that are not easily identified by size exclusion chromatography (SEC) and to obtain block copolymers that are homopolymer-free and compositionally narrower than the as-synthesized ones. We demonstrate that a “single peak” in SEC does not necessarily mean that the block copolymers are free of homopolymers (due to limitations in the SEC analysis of block copolymers) and propose to employ the interaction-controlled HPLC strategy for rigorous analysis and purification of block copolymers in terms of their chemical heterogeneity.
Developmental Trajectories of Substance Use Among Sexual Minority Girls: Associations With Sexual Victimization and Sexual Health Risk

PURPOSE: To examine mechanisms underlying the development of sexual health risk behaviors in sexual minority girls (SMGs) and its association with sexual victimization. METHODS: Data were drawn from the Project on Human Development in Chicago Neighborhoods cohorts, aged 15 and 18 years (N = 391; 54 SMGs). RESULTS: Sexual minority girls reported more sexual victimization and steeper positive trajectories of substance misuse over time than heterosexual girls. Growth in alcohol use during adolescence mediated the link between SMG status and past year number of partners, whereas growth in marijuana use mediated the link between SMG status and self-reported sexually transmitted diseases (STDs). Adding unwanted sexual experiences to the models resulted in a reduction of significance in the direct or indirect effects from SMG status on the sexual health outcomes. Unwanted sexual experiences emerged as a robust predictor directly and indirectly related to past-year number of partners via growth in alcohol use. Unwanted sexual experiences also directly predicted STD history. CONCLUSIONS: The increased risk of SMGs for alcohol and marijuana during adolescence, higher rates of sexual partners, and STD diagnosis may also be linked to their significant risk for sexual victimization. Findings highlight the importance of preventive interventions targeting victimization of SMGs. Language: en
Maximum Gaussianity models for hyperspectral images

A traditional linear-mixing model with a structured background used in the hyperspectral imaging literature often assumes Gaussianity of the error term. This assumption is often questioned, but to the best of our knowledge, we are not aware of a definite answer on how well such a model may reflect the real hyperspectral images. One difficulty is in the correct identification of the background signatures. The lack of Gaussianity in the error term might be due to missing one of the significant background signatures. In this paper, we investigate this issue using an AVIRIS hyperspectral image. We obtain the projections of the pixel spectra on the orthonormal basis system obtained through the singular value decomposition, and then we measure their Gaussianity using three different methods. We identify the subspace for the structured part of the model based on two criteria - the contribution to the image variability and non-Gaussianity of the marginal distribution. The subspace orthogonal to the structured part of the model forms the subspace of residuals, which is then investigated for multivariate Gaussianity. The resulting model forms a reasonable approximation of the hyperspectral image, and can be successfully used in a variety of applications such as unmixing and target detection. At the same time, it is clear that further improvements are possible by better modeling of the error term distribution.
How Internal Stakeholders View Partnership Implications for Future Federal-Sector Labor-Management Relations

In 1993, the Clinton-Gore administration launched a comprehensive effort to reinvent the federal government. Labor-management partnership glued the various pieces of the reinvention blueprint together. The perceptions of two sets of pivotal stakeholders in the partnership effort mandated by Executive Order 12,871, partnership council representatives and the surrounding federal workforce, are examined. Council representatives viewed partnership as achieving some process effectiveness, which correlates with perceptions of the labor relations climate and partnership impacts. Although a sizable percentage of the federal workforce appeared largely unaware of partnership activities, many perceived a positive impact on labor-management relations. Significant differences existed between union and management council representatives. These findings have implications for the future of federal-sector labor-management cooperation, particularly in light of recent policy developments in the Department of Homeland Securi...
An immersed boundary energy-based method for incompressible viscoelasticity

Incompressible viscoelastic materials are prevalent in biological applications. In this paper we present a method for incompressible viscoelasticity in which the elasticity of the material is described in Lagrangian form (i.e. in material coordinates), and Eulerian (spatial) coordinates are used for the equations of motion and to enforce the incompressibility condition. The elastic forces are computed directly from an energy functional without the use of stress tensors, and the immersed boundary method is used to communicate between Lagrangian and Eulerian variables. The method is first applied to a warm-up problem, in which a viscoelastic incompressible material fills a two-dimensional periodic domain. For this problem, we study convergence of the velocity field, the deformation map, and the Eulerian force density. The numerical results indicate that the velocity field and deformation map converge strongly at second order and the Eulerian force density converges weakly at second order. Incompressibility is well maintained, as indicated by area conservation in this 2D problem. Finally, the method is applied to a three-dimensional fluid-structure interaction problem with two different materials: an isotropic neo-Hookean model and an anisotropic fiber-reinforced model.
Cultural Ethos and the Development of Excellence

The gifted have been found in all societies throughout recorded time (Ziv). Their general needs and attributes have remained the same from culture to culture. However, their careers in each society vary greatly in response to the particular values, goals, structure and lifestyle of the culture they inhabit. This paper explores the gifted-societal interaction in two very different cultures to determine the role various societal ethos play in the careers of its gifted. It also explores how each society's treatment of its gifted affects its own ongoing development.
Isolation of three collagenous components of probable basement membrane origin from several tissues

Abstract Fractionation of pepsin-solubilized collagens from several human tissues has shown that substantial quantities of collagen-like protein remain in solution under conditions leading to the precipitation of Type I, II, and III collagens. Characterization of the more soluble collagens has led to the isolation of three unique collagenous components each of which exhibit compositional features indicative of their origin from basement membranes. One of these has an apparent molecular weight of 55,000 daltons and appears to originate in endothelial basement membranes. The other two components (A chain and B chain) are somewhat larger than collagen α chains and appear to be derived from the collagen of epithelial and smooth muscle basement membranes, respectively.
New algorithm for detecting smaller retinal blood vessels in fundus images

About 4.1 million Americans suffer from diabetic retinopathy. To help automatically diagnose various stages of the disease, a new blood-vessel-segmentation algorithm based on spatial high-pass filtering was developed to automatically segment blood vessels, including the smaller ones, with low noise. Methods: Image database: Forty, 584 x 565-pixel images were collected from the DRIVE image database. Preprocessing: Green-band extraction was used to obtain better contrast, which facilitated better visualization of retinal blood vessels. A spatial highpass filter of mask-size 11 was applied. A histogram stretch was performed to enhance contrast. A median filter was applied to mitigate noise. At this point, the gray-scale image was converted to a binary image using a binary thresholding operation. Then, a NOT operation was performed by gray-level value inversion between 0 and 255. Postprocessing: The resulting image was AND-ed with its corresponding ring mask to remove the outer-ring (lens-edge) artifact. At this point, the above algorithm steps had extracted most of the major and minor vessels, with some intersections and bifurcations missing. Vessel segments were reintegrated using the Hough transform. Results: After applying the Hough transform, both the average peak SNR and the RMS error improved by 10%. Pratt's Figure of Merit (PFM) was decreased by 6%. Those averages were better than [1] by 10-30%. Conclusions: The new algorithm successfully preserved the details of smaller blood vessels and should prove successful as a segmentation step for automatically identifying diseases that affect retinal blood vessels.
Pulse pressure and risk for myocardial infarction and heart failure in the Elderly

Abstract OBJECTIVES We sought to determine whether pulse pressure (PP), a measure of arterial stiffness, is an independent predictor of the incidence of coronary heart disease (CHD), congestive heart failure (CHF) and overall mortality among community-dwelling elderly. BACKGROUND Current hypertension guidelines classify cardiovascular risk on the basis of elevated systolic blood pressure (SBP) or diastolic blood pressure (DBP) without considering their combined effects. Recent studies suggest that PP is a strong predictor of cardiovascular end points, but few data are available among community elderly. METHODS The study sample included 2,152 individuals age ≥65 years, who were participants in the Established Populations for Epidemiologic Study of the Elderly program, free of CHD and CHF at baseline and still alive at one year after enrollment. Blood pressure was measured at baseline. Incidence of CHD, incidence of CHF and total mortality were monitored in the following 10 years. RESULTS There were 328 incident CHD events, 224 incident CHF events and 1,046 persons who died of any cause. Pulse pressure showed a strong and linear relationship with each end point. After adjusting for demographics, comorbidity and CHD risk factors, a 10-mm Hg increment in PP was associated with a 12% increase in CHD risk (95% confidence interval [CI], 2% to 22%), a 14% increase in CHF risk (95% CI, 5% to 24%), and a 6% increase in overall mortality (95% CI, 0% to 12%). While SBP and mean arterial pressure (MAP) also showed positive associations with the end points, PP yielded the highest likelihood ratio chi-square. When PP was entered in the model in conjunction with other blood pressure parameters (SBP, DBP, MAP or hypertension stage, respectively), the association remained positive for PP but became negative for the other blood pressure variables. The effect of PP persisted after adjusting for current medication use and was present in normotensive individuals and individuals with isolated systolic hypertension but not in individuals with diastolic hypertension. CONCLUSIONS Elevated PP is a powerful independent predictor of cardiovascular end points in the elderly.
The micro-controller system for remote control of the functions of radio-communication system with CTCSS and cell-call signaling

In this article, the micro-controller system is presented for remote control of the functions of the base station of the radio-communication system from the dispatcher's terminal. The functions under control are e.g. scanning channels, receiving and transmitting, encoding/decoding of CTCSS and selective call signals.
Utilization of VAS satellite data in the initialization of an oceanic cyclogenesis simulation

A series of experiments was performed to test various method of incorporating Visible Infrared Spin Scan Radiometer Atmospheric Sounder (VAS)-sounding data into the initial conditions of the Penn State University/National Center for Atmospheric mesoscale model. The VAS data for this ocean-cyclogenesis case consist of 110 irregularly distributed temperature and humidity soundings located over the North Pacific Ocean and apply at approximately 1200 GMT 10 November 1981. Various methods of utilizing VAS data in the initial condition of a mesoscale model were evaluated.
Models of harmful algal blooms: conceptual, empirical, and numerical approaches.

Author Posting. © The Author(s), 2010 This is the author's version of the work. It is posted here by permission of Elsevier B.V. for personal use, not for redistribution. The definitive version was published in Journal of Marine Systems 83 (2010): 105-107, doi:10.1016/j.jmarsys.2010.06.008.
Acquired Von Willebrand Factor Abnormalities in Adults with Congenital Heart Disease: Dependence Upon Cardiopulmonary Pathophysiological Subtype:

Hemostasis is often abnormal in adults with con genital heart disease, and von Willebrand factor abnormalities have been reported in this patient population. We sought to determine the prevalence, type, and severity of the von Wil lebrand factor abnormality, and its relationship to three patho physiological variables; cyanosis, pulmonary vascular disease, and turbulent blood flow. This prospective study comprised 76 unoperated congenital heart disease patients aged 20 to 68 years (mean = 34 years). There were 44 cyanotic and 32 acyanotic patients. Twenty-seven cyanotic and 6 acyanotic pa tients had pulmonary vascular disease, 31 cyanotic and 16 acyanotic patients had turbulent blood flow, and 11 patients were acyanotic without pulmonary vascular disease or turbu lent flow. The largest plasma von Willebrand factor multimers were relatively decreased or absent in 77% of cyanotic versus 41 % of acyanotic patients (p < .001); in 76% of patients with, versus 51 % without, pulmonary vascular disease (p < .029);...
Colorado tick fever. II. The behavior of Colorado tick fever virus in rodents.

Studies on the ecology of Colorado tick fever (CTF) virus in western Montana (1) have shown that several species of rodents which serve as hosts for immature stages of the vector tick, Dermacentor andersoni, may be involved in maintenance and distribution of this virus in nature. The golden-mantled ground squirrel (Citellus lateralis tescorum) was found to be the main carrier of virus, and in areas populated by this species, virus could be isolated also from Columbian ground squirrels (Citellus columbianus columbianus), chipmunks (Eutamias amoenus), one pine squirrel (Tamiasciurus hudsonicus richardsoni) and one deer mouse (Peromyscus maniculatus). Preliminary observations on 2 ground squirrels and 1 deer mouse suggested long-persisting viremia of high titer in these rodents (1). In order to gather more detailed information on this subject and to determine the species of rodents responsible for dissemination of CTF virus in nature, more quantitative studies were conducted. This paper describes the behavior of CTF virus in experimentally infected Columbian and golden-mantled ground squirrels, chipmunks and deer mice.