cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Ethnicity, acculturation, and the importance of product attributes

This investigation examined the relationship between subcultural group membership and the importance of various product attributes in purchase decisions. Subcultural group membership was defined on the basis of Hispanic ethnicity and level of assessed acculturation. The results indicate that cost considerations such as price and the availability of credit best distinguish these groups. This is particularly meaningful, given that these results persist even when income level is statistically controlled. The second major purpose of the investigation was to test the appropriateness of the traditional progressive learning model of acculturation within the specific buyer behavioral context of product attribute importance. The findings clearly indicate support for this model.
New regimes of magnetic reconnection in collisionless plasmas.

An implicit particle-in-cell code has been used to study collisionless magnetic reconnection of a current sheet. The reconnection process is found to occur in three distinct stages: (1) early spontaneous reconnection fed by the free energy of an initial anisotropy in the electron component; (2) coalescence of the resulting small-scale filaments of electron current, accompanied by electron jetting; and (3) oscillatory flow of electrons through the magnetic $X$ point, superposed on continuing nonlinear growth of ionmediated reconneciton. The time evolution of stage 3 is strongly dependent on $\frac{{M}_{i}}{{m}_{e}}$.
The chemistry of pyrazine and its derivatives. X. The mono- and diacylation of tetramethylpyrazine

By the use of sodium amide in liquid ammonia or phenyllithium in ether as the condensing agent it has been possible to synthesize a series of ketones containing the pyrazine ring with the structure, RCOCH2C4N2(CH3)3 where R is alkyl, aryl or heterocyclic. Also, under appropriate conditions, tetramethylpyrazine has been diacylated to give three diketones of the type (2-RCOCH2)-(6-R' COCH2)C4N2(CH3)2-3, 5.
Dehydroepiandrosterone and Biologics in the Treatment of Systemic Lupus Erythematosus

Our understanding of the immune system in health and disease has greatly increased over this past decade. An outgrowth of this burgeoning knowledge has been the discovery of novel strategies to treat a variety of autoimmune diseases. As a result, significant advances have been made in the treatment of arthritis with a half-dozen new treatments approved between September, 1998 and November, 1999. Although no new therapies have been approved for the treatment of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), this decade has witnessed an unprecedented amount of activity in drug development for this disease. This article specifically addresses the current status of drug development in the area of hormonal and biologic therapies for SLE.
Contralateral embolization of intima after transfemoral aortic valve replacement.

An 88-year-old woman with a history of breast cancer and aortic stenosis presented with heart failure. Echocardiogram showed severe aortic stenosis and valve area of 0.5 cm2. Due to her comorbidities, she was deemed to be at high risk for valve surgery and was evaluated for transcatheter aortic
From Triads to Catalysis: Johann Wolfgang Döbereiner (1780–1849) on the 150th Anniversary of His Death

The Time: May 7, 1999. The Place: The auditorium (Dobereiner-Horsaal) (Figure 1) of the Chemical Institute of the Friedrich-Schiller-Universitat Jena, the famous German university founded in 1558, which numbered among its faculty the illustrious philosophers Johann Gottlieb Fichte, Georg Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel, and Friedrich Wilhelm Joseph von Schelling; the writer and critic Friedrich von Schlegel; and the dramatist and poet (Johann Christoph) Friedrich Schiller, whose name the university now bears [1].
Kyphoplasty is not a nonpharmacologic management option for the minimization of fracture risk in osteoporosis

Kyphoplasty is not a nonpharmacologic management option for the minimization of fracture risk in osteoporosis
Population genetic structure of the Baird's pocket gopher, Geomys breviceps, in eastern Texas

Abstract. The Baird's pocket gopher (Geomys breviceps) is a solitary, fossorial rodent found throughout areas of Texas, Arkansas, Oklahoma, and Louisiana. These rodents are highly modified morphologically for an underground lifestyle, often resulting in limited vagility and isolated populations. Despite these unique characteristics, little is known about the population genetics of pocket gophers. We used mitochondrial and microsatellite data and performed a series of population genetic analyses to better understand the population structure and gene flow among a series of G. breviceps localities. Population genetic analyses supported high levels of gene flow among localities within 2 km of each other, with decreasing levels as distance between localities increased. Findings suggest that 2–3 localities function as one genetic cluster, resulting in a total of 3–4 total genetic clusters observed in this study. Results also suggest that the Baird's pocket gopher is capable of moving at least 2 km, but further ...
Honest begging: expanding from Signal of Need

Overt soliciting for parental resources, primarily food, is often explained as having evolved to express the fitness gain a signaling offspring would derive from a favorable parental response. This Signal of Need model makes 4 unheralded assumptions: 1) that parents’ life-history objective is egalitarian; 2) that contemporaneous siblings participate nepotistically; 3) that dependent young can assess their own reproductive value from internal sources; and 4) that the morphological and behavioral signals we call ‘‘begging’’ are essential for transferring such cryptic information reliably. We review 2 parsimonious alternative types of honest begging. First, if the life-history assumption is relaxed, solicitation signals may be positively correlated with reproductive value, obviating the nepotism assumption. According to this Signal of Quality logic, solicitation signals can be seen as typical handicaptype advertisements of personal merit. Second, by relaxing the assumptions concerning cryptic fitness information entirely, solicitation signals might be purely proximate Signals of Hunger, with parents basing their overriding life-history decisions on nonsignal information streams (ecological costs of foraging plus offspring cues already in the public domain). These 3 hypotheses are easily testable, along with existing models that do not require parents to have complete control over resources.
Deposition of Aerosols on a Charged Polystyrene Surface

A study was made of the decrease in the concentration of coal and fluorescent pigment aerosols in a polystyrene chamber. Losses to the walls of the plastic chamber were as high as 85% for coal (75% for fluorescent pigment) in a 20-minute period. Wall loss rates decreased with increasing humidity. These losses were shown to be due to the electrostatic attraction between the charged aerosol and the natural charge on the plastic surface. Difference in the wall loss rate constant, βe, was attributed to the variation of mobility distribution between the coal and fluorescent pigment aerosols. Areas of positive and negative charges on the plastic surface were mapped. Preliminary investigation of the electrostatic charge on coal particles has indicated that the median charge is about 40 to 200 elementary electronic charges.
Fibular and iliac crest osteomuscular free flap reconstruction of the oral cavity.

A method for reconstruction of oral cavity soft tissues using segmentally or axially supplied free muscle flaps harvested as a unit with their bone components is presented. Both fibular/soleus and iliac crest/internal oblique free flaps are documented, and the pros and cons of each donor site are presented. Twenty-one patients, 17 with cancer or osteoradionecrosis and 4 with benign or congenital conditions of the mandible, have undergone this operation. Ten bone grafts were simultaneously embedded with osseointegrated implants. All free flaps except one survived and resulted in a smoothly mucosalized oral lining. Six patients have had their implants successfully uncovered, all of whom are wearing prostheses. Four other patients are using tissue-borne prostheses
DOES REPRODUCTIVE SITE CHOICE IN A NEOTROPICAL FROG MIRROR VARIABLE RISKS FACING OFFSPRING

For organisms whose juvenile stages develop in discrete habitats, the strategy adults use to select patches directly impacts reproductive success. In most environments, the magnitude of juvenile mortality risks varies spatially and temporally among patches, often at several scales. Little is known, however, about how closely adults track such variation in site quality and how the predictability of risks facing juveniles influences the strategy adults adopt. I addressed these questions in a three-year study of Edalorhina perezi, an iteroparous frog that reproduces in forest pools in the southwestern Amazon Basin. Using observations and experiments, I quantified the spatial and temporal variation in direct and indirect mortality risks facing tadpoles at 18–34 pools. Data on larval risks were compared with observations of adult pool choice, including nest distribution and movement trends. Direct risks, pool drying and insect predation, accounted for 95% of estimated tadpole mortality. The indirect effect of tadpole density on mortality was small, slightly increasing tadpole drying risk. When pool risks were combined, persistent pools were predictably lower in risk early and late in the rainy season, while ephemeral pools were slightly advantageous midseason. At the population level, site choice shifted seasonally from persistent to ephemeral pools. Nonetheless, three lines of evidence suggest that adults were sensitive to local variation in larval risks. First, movement patterns were consistent with yearly changes in predation risk. Second, adults favored newly formed pools, which had lower predator densities and were likely to be more productive. Third, adults favored pools without recent reproductive activity. Whether fixed or flexible, the selective advantage for observed site choice was not evident during the last 50 d of the rainy season, when a majority of adults used ephemeral pools at a time when persistent pools appeared favorable for tadpoles. This study suggests that E. perezi responds to variation in juvenile risks at several scales when selecting reproductive sites. Yet adults appeared to be strikingly imperfect at tracking risk. Errors could arise due to cues that differ in their reliability or if adults shift from risk-sensitive to risk-prone strategies. Moreover, the behavior of conspecifics may constrain optimal site choice. Corresponding Editor: D. N. Reznick.
Shear lag solution for structurally attached active sensors

Piezoelectric wafer active sensors (PWAS) have been used as actuators in structural health monitoring system of beams, plates, and truss elements. This paper presents a shear lag solution for the transfer of stress and strain between a structurally attached piezoelectric wafer active sensor and the support structure. We will derive a shear lag solution not limited to the low frequency approximation, i.e., a generic solution. Both the low frequency approximation and the generic solution will be applied to the computation of PWAS-structure tuning curves.
Neighborhood Diversity Framework for Municipalities

The goals and purposes of neighborhood diversity have changed over the past several decades, yielding multiple approaches by municipalities to achieve diversity. This article examines applications ...
The semantics of prosody: acoustic and perceptual evidence of prosodic correlates to word meaning

This investigation examined whether speakers produce reliable prosodic correlates to meaning across semantic domains and whether listeners use these cues to derive word meaning from novel words. Speakers were asked to produce phrases in infant-directed speech in which novel words were used to convey one of two meanings from a set of antonym pairs (e.g., big/small). Acoustic analyses revealed that some acoustic features were correlated with overall valence of the meaning. However, each word meaning also displayed a unique acoustic signature, and semantically related meanings elicited similar acoustic profiles. In two perceptual tests, listeners either attempted to identify the novel words with a matching meaning dimension (picture pair) or with mismatched meaning dimensions. Listeners inferred the meaning of the novel words significantly more often when prosody matched the word meaning choices than when prosody mismatched. These findings suggest that speech contains reliable prosodic markers to word meaning and that listeners use these prosodic cues to differentiate meanings. That prosody is semantic suggests a reconceptualization of traditional distinctions between linguistic and nonlinguistic properties of spoken language.
Does fluency of face description imply superior face recognition

While viewing a set of 10 standard portraits, independent judges used a checklist, composed of facial features, each with several appropriate descriptive adjectives, to construct verbal descriptions of the faces. Subjects also briefly viewed the standard portraits and used the checklist to construct verbal portraits from memory. Subjects’ accuracy of description was assessed by comparing their responses to composite descriptions derived from the judge’s concordant responses. In the final phase of the study, subjects’ recognition memory for faces was measured on a completely new set of faces. Correlational analysis revealed no association between describing ability and recognition memory performance. Further analysis indicated that better describers might be slightly better recognizers, but the effect was weak. Two earlier studies also failed to demonstrate a relationship between recognition ability and describing ability.
Chord distributions for shape matching

Abstract A shape matching method based on concepts tied to integral geometry is studied. The method consists of computing the distribution of random chords over the figures to be matched and comparing them by means of the Kolmogorov-Smirnov test. A simplified form of the procedure for matching figures to a circle yields a test for circularity. It is generalized to obtain a statistical test for shape matching and then modified to produce a dissimilarity measure between shapes. The circularity test is performed on 30 shapes and compared to two other circularity measures found in the literature. Experiments are also performed using the matching procedures.
Clientelism Versus Social Learning: The Electoral Effects of International Migration

Most research on the effects of international migration on democratic institutions in sending countries focuses on how emigration changes the civic and democratic values of those left behind. Little attention has been given to how the additional income provided by migrant remittances alters the incentive structure of the political actors involved and how this will affect political outcomes. This paper develops a voting model that accounts for the effect of higher income through remittances and shows that its expected effects on voter turnout patterns differ in important ways from those of improved civic values. Taking these predictions to the data, it is shown that, for the case of Mexican municipal elections over the year 2000–2002 period, the empirical evidence strongly supports the notion that international remittances had a positive effect on electoral competitiveness in Mexico by reducing the clientelistic power of the formerly dominant state party (Institutional Revolutionary Party). This result is robust to the use of instrumental variables.
A novel protein-processing domain in Gli2 and Gli3 differentially blocks complete protein degradation by the proteasome.

The proteasome usually completely degrades its target proteins, but it can also degrade a handful of proteins in a limited and site-specific manner. The molecular mechanism for such limited degradation is unknown. The repressor forms of Gli2 and Gli3 transcription factors are generated from their full-length proteins through limited proteasome-mediated protein degradation. In this study, we have taken advantage of the fact that Gli3 is efficiently processed, whereas Gli2 is not, and identified a region of ∼200 residues in their C termini that determine differential processing of the two proteins. This region, named processing determinant domain, functions as a signal for protein processing in the context of not only Gli2 and Gli3 protein sequences but also a heterologous hybrid protein, which would otherwise be completely degraded by the proteasome. Thus, the processing determinant domain constitutes a novel domain that functions independently. Our findings explain, at the molecular level, why Gli2 and Gli3 are differentially processed and, more importantly, may help understand a probably general mechanism by which the proteasome degrades some of its target proteins partially rather than completely.
Self-normalizing methods of photoelectron holography applied to As/Si(111)

Photoelectron holography requires a large data set covering a wide energy range. Changes in experimental conditions and sample surface regeneration during the course of measurement are often unavoidable or necessary, which can result in variations in measured intensity that must be normalized out before data processing. This normalization procedure can introduce a significant error, resulting in image degradation. To eliminate this problem, two methods of intensity self-normalization are introduced, one based on branching ratio measurements and the other based on logarithmic derivative measurements. The As-on-Si(111) system is chosen as a test case for these methods. Both the As and Si core levels are used to reconstruct the three-dimensional atomic structure for the top three atomic layers. The results from these two methods are mutually consistent and in good agreement with other available experimental and theoretical results. This paper also contains an analysis in regard to the use of an inner potential to account for surface refraction. Images are generated without refraction for an estimate of its effect on image quality. Similar analyses are carried out for the proper use of energy and angular window functions in the holographic transform, and for the effect of scattering phase shift that has been a major problem for direct data inversion.
What is fallback ?: metrics needed to assess telemetry tag effects on anadromous fish behavior

Telemetry has allowed researchers to document the upstream migrations of anadromous fish in freshwater. In many anadromous alosine telemetry studies, researchers use downstream movements (“fallback”) as a behavioral field bioassay for adverse tag effects. However, these downstream movements have not been uniformly reported or interpreted. We quantified movement trajectories of radio-tagged anadromous alewives (Alosa pseudoharengus) in the Ipswich River, Massachusetts (USA) and tested blood chemistry of tagged and untagged fish held 24 h. A diverse repertoire of movements was observed, which could be quantified using (a) direction of initial movements, (b) timing, and (c) characteristics of bouts of coupled upstream and downstream movements (e.g., direction, distance, duration, and speed). Because downstream movements of individual fish were almost always made in combination with upstream movements, these should be examined together. Several of the movement patterns described here could fall under the traditional definition of “fallback” but were not necessarily aberrant. Because superficially similar movements could have quite different interpretations, post-tagging trajectories need more precise definitions. The set of metrics we propose here will help quantify tag effects in the field, and provide the basis for a conceptual framework that helps define the complicated behaviors seen in telemetry studies on alewives and other fish in the field.
Mental Development and Learning Disorders in Children with Single Suture Craniosynostosis

Abstract Objective: This study examined the global intellectual development and presence/absence of learning disorders in children with nonsyndromic metopic, sagittal, and unilateral coronal synostosis who had early surgery (under 1 year of age), late surgery (over 1 year of age), or no surgery to correct the synostosis across three time periods. Design: The design was longitudinal. Children were assessed at initial team evaluation, 1 year after surgery or initial evaluation if surgery was not performed, and annually thereafter. Participants: Participants included 84 consecutively evaluated patients. Seventy-two children were evaluated at Time 1 (T1), 8 months; 57 at Time 2 (T2), 21 months; and 39 at Time 3 (T3), 50 months. Data on learning disorders or mental retardation were available on 34 children who were school age. Main Outcome Measures: The Mental Development Index from the Bayley Scales of Infant Development was the main outcome measure for T1 and T2. The General Cognitive Index from the McCarthy...
Ethical issues with use of drone aircraft

This analysis is aimed at identifying the ethical issues related to a variety of types of Drone aircraft as they are currently deployed in recreational, civilian/commercial and military arenas. A series of examples will be examined in order to attempt to identify the ethical problems that we confront recreational, civilian/commercial and military uses of drones. In order to carry out the ethical analysis I will first survey how drone aircraft create ethical problems and how humans play an important role in how ethical issues emerge for drones. After the identification of the ethical issues with the types of drones we can next move on to how drone aircraft may function in the future and what ethical issues may arise for the future development and deployment of autonomous drones.
Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors

ACE inhibitors have achieved widespread usage in the treatment of cardiovascular and renal disease. ACE inhibitors alter the balance between the vasoconstrictive, salt-retentive, and hypertrophic properties of angiotensin II (Ang II) and the vasodilatory and natriuretic properties of bradykinin and alter the metabolism of a number of other vasoactive substances. ACE inhibitors differ in the chemical structure of their active moieties, in potency, in bioavailability, in plasma half-life, in route of elimination, in their distribution and affinity for tissue-bound ACE, and in whether they are administered as prodrugs. Thus, the side effects of ACE inhibitors can be divided into those that are class specific and those that relate to specific agents. ACE inhibitors decrease systemic vascular resistance without increasing heart rate and promote natriuresis. They have proved effective in the treatment of hypertension, they decrease mortality in congestive heart failure and left ventricular dysfunction after myocardial infarction, and they delay the progression of diabetic nephropathy. Ongoing studies will elucidate the effect of ACE inhibitors on cardiovascular mortality in essential hypertension, the role of ACE inhibitors in patients without ventricular dysfunction after myocardial infarction, and the role of ACE inhibitors compared with newly available angiotensin AT1 receptor antagonists.
Functional Retinotopy of Monkey Visual Cortex

The operations of primary visual cortex generate continuous representations of orientation, ocular dominance, and retinotopy that, to fit in two dimensions, organize at separate but overlapping scales (e.g., 20–500 μm, 200 μm to 5 mm, and 2–33 mm). Where their scales overlap, these organizations interact; iso-orientation contours cross ocular dominance columns at right angles, and ocular dominance columns distort retinotopy near the V1/V2 border. To explore these interactions, we developed an optical technique for visualizing retinotopy in vivo that allows us to analyze it in relation to ocular dominance and orientation patterns. Our results show local retinotopic distortions in every region of macaque V1 that we examine, including regions far from the V1/V2 border. They also show a consistent relation between local axes of distortion and ocular dominance slabs, which they intersect at angles of ∼90°. A further correlation is provided by retinotopic maps from New World primates that show less distortion (9 vs 60%) in two species characterized by an absence of pronounced ocular dominance columns. Retinotopic maps from these New World primates also revealed an unexpected tilt of the vertical midline representation that diverged from the V1/V2 border by an angle of ∼20°. Overall, these results suggest a general tendency for slab-based organizations to distort retinotopy by representing the same part of space more than once in adjacent slabs.
An Expanded Framework to Determine Physical Activity and Falls Risks Among Diverse Older Adults

Falling is a major health-related risk among older adults due to injuries, disability, and even death. Although physical activity (PA) can prevent falls, most older adults are inactive due to limited motivation. The purpose was to examine a motivational framework whereby the stages of change (SOC) and PA mediated the relations between the theory of planned behavior constructs and falls risks among 172 diverse older adults (M age = 72.36). The participants were assessed using standardized scales. Based on the path analysis, the hypothesized framework fit the sample data. The SOC and perceived control had significant path coefficients for PA (.48 and .43, respectively), and PA was linked to falls risks (-.54). Subjective norm was mostly associated with the SOC followed by attitude and perceived control. The variance explained in the SOC, PA, and falls risks were 28%, 59%, and 29%, respectively. Health promoters can use the proposed framework to promote PA and decrease falls risk.
Squamous-cell carcinomas of the lung: emerging biology, controversies, and the promise of targeted therapy

Squamous-cell carcinomas of the lung (SQCLCs) are defined by unique clinicopathological and molecular characteristics that have evolved substantially over time. Historically, these neoplasms were the most common subtype of non-small-cell lung cancers and were regarded as central tumours with high molecular complexity without targetable genetic abnormalities. Today, the incidence of SQCLCs is surpassed by adenocarcinomas of the lung with a shift towards peripheral squamous tumours. Differential responses to cytotoxic and biological treatments have reshaped our approach to standard therapies. Additionally, evidence of unique biology has emerged with the discovery of SOX2 amplification, NFE2L2 and KEAP1 mutations, PI3K pathway changes, FGFR1 amplification, and DDR2 mutations. These discoveries have ushered in a new era of targeted therapeutic agents for patients with this disease. This Review draws attention to the distinct clinical and pathological characteristics of SQCLCs, summarises present experience with existing cytotoxic and targeted therapies, and discusses emerging treatments based on new insights into the biology of this disease.
Embryonic mesenchymal cells share the potential for smooth muscle differentiation: myogenesis is controlled by the cell's shape.

Undifferentiated embryonic mesenchymal cells are round/cuboidal in shape. During development, visceral myogenesis is shortly preceded by mesenchymal cell elongation. To determine the role of the cell9s shape on smooth muscle development, undifferentiated embryonic mesenchymal cells from intestine (abundant visceral muscle), lung (some visceral muscle) or kidney (no visceral muscle) were plated under conditions that maintained cell rounding or promoted elongation. Regardless of their fate in vivo, all the cells differentiated into smooth muscle upon elongation as indicated by the expression of smooth muscle-specific proteins and the development of membrane potentials of −60 mV and voltage-dependent Ca2+ currents, characteristic of excitable cells. Smooth muscle differentiation occurred within 24 hours and was independent of cell proliferation. Regardless of their fate in vivo, all the round cells remained negative for smooth muscle markers, had membrane potentials of −30 mV and showed no voltage-activated current. These cells, however, differentiated into smooth muscle upon elongation. The role of the cell9s shape in controlling smooth muscle differentiation was not overcome by treatment with retinoic acid, TGF-beta1, PDGF BB or epithelial-conditioned medium (all modulators of smooth muscle differentiation). These studies suggest that the mesenchymal cell shape plays a main role in visceral myogenesis.
On the anomalous diurnal variation of air‐conductivity and potential‐gradient at the Huancayo Magnetic Observatory

Some anomalous features of atmospheric electricity at the Huancayo Magnetic Observatory and a tentative explanation of them have been briefly described by GISH [see 1 of “References” at end of paper], who also outlined, in a memorandum dated January 27, 1941, the reasons for the present investigation as follows: “It is desirable that tests be made of the proposed explanation of the following extraordinary aspects of atmospheric electricity at the Huancayo Magnetic Observatory: “(a) The type of diurnal variation in potential-gradient and air-conductivity, which is especially remarkable for the large and abrupt change in the magnitude-of those elements during an hour centering, roughly, at 07h and which is especially common in the dry season. “(b) The small average value of the air-earth current which i s certainly less than one-half what one would expect at a station whose altitude is 3.3 km above sea-level. “(c) The relatively small value of the ratio of positive to negative conductivity which is often less than unity at night.”
Urban Government in France Municipal Policy-Making in the Centralized State

The prevailing view of urban government in France is strongly influenced by a number of assumptions about the impact of administrative centralization on local political processes. This paper examines these assumptions and provides some empirical evidence on urban policy-making which challenges the utility of administrative models of urban government. A different approach to the study of urban political processes is then proposed, based on the results of a larger body of research conducted by the author and on the work of a number of students of organizational behavior in France.
Emergent faces in crystal etching

The time development of emergent faces in crystal etching is investigated. We present and discuss a novel computational approach, based on an intuitive geometrical derivation, for predicting an etched shape given an initial polygonal (mask) shape and a diagram of etch rate as a function of orientation. A two-dimensional geometric model is derived which determines the etched shape as a function of time. The model is both intuitive and easy to implement manually or by computer. Because the model is intuitive in nature, some results can be obtained from only partial information. In addition, the model is a first step in the transition from analysis to design. Rather than predicting the etched shape for a given original shape, often what is desired is the original mask shape needed to produce a particular etched shape. This inversion process is carried out for some special cases. The concepts of equilibrium or eigen shapes (Eshapes), limit shapes, and time scaling are introduced. Model predictions are compared with experimental results. The extension from two dimensions to three is also introduced. >
Insulin resistance in rheumatoid arthritis: disease-related indicators and associations with the presence and progression of subclinical atherosclerosis

Objective Systemic inflammation and insulin resistance (IR) are linked, yet the determinants of IR and its impact on atherosclerosis in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) are incompletely understood. The aim of this study was to explore the prevalence of IR in RA and non-RA populations and investigate whether the associations of IR with measures of atherosclerosis differ between these groups. Methods IR was quantified using the homeostatic model assessment of IR (HOMA-IR), and was compared between RA patients and demographically matched non-RA controls. Differences in the associations between the HOMA-IR index and the Agatston coronary artery calcium (CAC) score, ultrasound-determined intima-media thickness (IMT) of the common carotid artery (CCA) and internal carotid artery (ICA), and focal plaque in the ICA/carotid bulb were compared according to RA status. Results Among the 195 RA patients and 198 controls studied, average HOMA-IR levels were higher in the RA group by 31%, and were consistently higher in the RA group regardless of stratification by demographic or cardiometabolic risk factors. While the HOMA-IR index was strongly and significantly associated with C-reactive protein (CRP) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) levels in the control group, the association was weaker in the RA group. Among RA patients, higher HOMA-IR levels were associated with rheumatoid factor (RF) seropositivity in men and women, and prednisone use in women only. Before adjustment, higher HOMA-IR levels were associated with all assessed measures of subclinical atherosclerosis in the control group only; associations were diminished and lost statistical significance after adjustment for cardiovascular risk factors. Among the RA patients, neither baseline nor average HOMA-IR levels were significantly associated with change in any of the atherosclerosis measures over an average of 3.2 years of followup. Conclusion Although IR was higher in RA patients than in non-RA controls, higher levels may not independently impart additional risk of atherosclerosis.
A varying threshold method for ChIP peak-calling using multiple sources of information

Motivation: Gene regulation commonly involves interaction among DNA, proteins and biochemical conditions. Using chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) technologies, protein–DNA interactions are routinely detected in the genome scale. Computational methods that detect weak protein-binding signals and simultaneously maintain a high specificity yet remain to be challenging. An attractive approach is to incorporate biologically relevant data, such as protein co-occupancy, to improve the power of protein-binding detection. We call the additional data related with the target protein binding as supporting tracks. Results: We propose a novel but rigorous statistical method to identify protein occupancy in ChIP data using multiple supporting tracks (PASS2). We demonstrate that utilizing biologically related information can significantly increase the discovery of true protein-binding sites, while still maintaining a desired level of false positive calls. Applying the method to GATA1 restoration in mouse erythroid cell line, we detected many new GATA1-binding sites using GATA1 co-occupancy data. Availability: http://stat.psu.edu/~yuzhang/pass2.tar Contact: yuzhang@stat.psu.edu
Diffusing capacity predicts long-term survival after lung resection for cancer.

OBJECTIVES: Predictors of long-term survival for patients with lung cancer assist in individualizing treatment recommendations. Diffusing capacity (DLCO) is a predictor of complications after resection for lung cancer. We sought to determine whether DLCO is also prognostic for long-term survival after lung resection for cancer. METHODS: We assessed survival among patients in our prospective database who underwent lung resection for cancer between 1980– 2006. Potential prognostic factors for all-cause mortality were evaluated by computing average annual hazard rates, and variables significantly associated with survival were included in multivariable Cox modelling. Multiple imputation was used to address missing values. RESULTS: Among 854 unique patients, there were 587 deaths. The median follow-up time from surgery was 9.6 years. Predictors of survival included age, stage, performance status, body mass index, history of myocardial infarction, renal function and DLCO. On univariate analysis, the hazard ratio increased incrementally compared with those with a DLCO of ≥80% (70–79%, 1.12; 60–69%, 1.29; <60%, 1.35). On multivariable analysis, DLCO was an independent predictor of long-term survival for all patients (corrected for all other important covariates; HR 1.04 per 10-point decrement; 95% CI 1.00–1.08; P= 0.05). Its prognostic ability for long-term survival was above and beyond its influence on operative mortality.
Notes on Obsidian Sources of the Southern Sierra Madre Occidental

Recent fieldwork has identified a previously unknown obsidian source area in southern Zacatecas and northern Jalisco. Evidence of prehistoric use of surface gravel and nodule outcrops in the Huitzila-La Lobera source area includes raw-material extraction and the production of cores, large blade blanks, rough bifaces, and other artifacts. Unusual variability in color is characteristic of the sources and includes a banded variety described as “rainbow” obsidian. Characteristics of this source area are compared to the Llano Grande obsidian source area in Durango. Implications for understanding the distribution of obsidian from sources in the Sierra Madre Occidental to the cultures of the north Mesoamerican frontier are presented and discussed.
Alternative end points for trauma studies: A survey of academic trauma surgeons.

Introduction Changing the epidemiology of trauma makes traditional end points like 30-day mortality less than ideal. Many alternative end points have been suggested; however, they are not yet accepted by the trauma community or regulatory bodies. This study characterizes opinions about the adequacy of accepted end points of studies of trauma and the appropriateness of several novel end points. Methods An electronic survey was administered to all members of the American Association for the Surgery of Trauma. Questions involved demographics, research experience, appropriateness of proposed study end points, and the role of nontraditional, surrogate, and composite end points. Results Response rate was 16% (141 of 873) with 74% of respondents practicing at Level 1 Trauma Centers. The respondents were very experienced, with 81% reporting >10 years of practice at the attending level and 87% actively involved in research. The majority of respondents rated the following end points favorably: 24-hour survival, 30-day survival, and time to control of acute hemorrhage with approval rates of 82%, 78%, and 76%, respectively. Six-hour survival, intensive care unit-free survival, and days free of multiorgan failure were rated as appropriate or very appropriate less than 66% of the time. Only 45% of respondents judged the currently used end points of trauma to be appropriate. More than 80% respondents disagreed or strongly disagreed that there was no role for of surrogate or composite endpoints in research of trauma resuscitation. Conclusion There is strong interest in finding efficient end points in trauma research that are both specific and reflect the changing epidemiology of trauma death. The alternative end points of 24-hour survival and time to control of acute hemorrhage had similar approval rates to 30-day mortality.
Effect of Candidatus Liberibacter asiaticus infection on susceptibility of Asian citrus psyllid, Diaphorina citri, to selected insecticides.

BACKGROUND: In the present investigation, the effect of Candidatus Liberibacter asiaticus (Las), a bacterium considered to be responsible for causing huanglongbing (HLB) disease in citrus, on the physiology of its vector, the Asian citrus psyllid (ACP) Diaphorina citri Kuwayama, was determined. Specifically, the effects of Las infection on the susceptibility of ACP to selected insecticides were determined. Furthermore, total protein content and general esterase activity were quantified in Las-infected and uninfected ACP to gain insight into the possible mechanism(s) responsible for altered susceptibility to insecticides owing to Las infection. RESULTS: LC50 values were significantly lower in Las-infected than in uninfected ACP adults for chlorpyrifos and spinetoram. Furthermore, there was a general trend towards lower LC50 values for three other insecticides for Las-infected ACP; however, the differences were not statistically significant. Total protein content (μ gm L −1 ) was significantly lower in Las-infected (23.5 ± 1.3 in head + thorax; 27.7 ± 1. 9i n abdomen) than in uninfected (29.7 ± 2.1 in head + thorax; 35.0 ± 2.3 in abdomen) ACP. Likewise, general esterase enzyme activity (nmol min −1 mg −1 protein) was significantly lower in Las-infected (111.6 ± 4.5 in head + thorax; 109.5 ± 3.7 in abdomen) than in uninfected (135.9 ± 7.5 in head + thorax; 206.1 ± 23. 7i n abdomen) ACP. CONCLUSION: Susceptibility of ACP to selected insecticides from five major chemistries was greater in Las-infected than in uninfected ACP. The lower total protein content and reduced general esterase activity in Las-infected than in uninfected ACP may partly explain the observed higher insecticide susceptibility of Las-infected ACP. c � 2010 Society of Chemical Industry
Variation Analysis of Tooth Engagement and Loads in Involute Splines

Involute spline couplings are used to transmit torque from a shaft to a hub or other rotating component. In theory, all teeth of the spline share the load equally. In practice, due to manufacturing variations, the teeth are unequally loaded. A new model for tooth engagement, based on statistics, predicts that the teeth engage in a sequence, determined by the individual clearances. As the shaft load is applied, the tooth pair with the smallest clearance engages first, then deflects as the load increases, until the second pair engage. The two engaged pairs deflect together until the third pair engage, and so on, until the full load is reached. The statistical model predicts the average number of teeth which will engage for a specified load, plus or minus the expected variation. It also quantitatively predicts the load and stress in each engaged pair. Critical factors in the model are the stiffness and deflection of a single tooth pair and the characterization of the clearance. Detailed finite element analyses were conducted to verify the tooth deflections and engagement sequence. This model has led to a simple closed-form solution that has been implemented in a spreadsheet to allow designers to predict the load in spline teeth based upon the characteristics of the spline.
Dance and Media Technologies

uring the last decade a small but burgeoning group of people in the international community of choreographers, performers, and media artists began to experiment with computer-assisted work linking dance and new technologies. A mail list was put in place (http://art.net/-dtz/), and a growing network of collaborative media projects triggered contentious internet debates about emerging definitions of "virtual" or "digital" dance. The strong interest among dancemakers in new media hardly came as a surprise, since dance-on-film and videodance had attracted considerable attention in the 80s, especially as choreographers, companies, researchers, and teachers began to use video as a vital means of documenting/promoting work or analyzing existing choreographies. Furthermore, some scholars and software programmers had published tools (LabanWriter, LifeForms) that attracted attention in the field of dance notation and preservation as well as among choreographers (e.g., Merce Cunningham) who wanted to utilize the computer for the invention and visualization of new movement possibilities.
Interstitial cystitis: Unexplained associations with other chronic disease and pain syndromes

Objectives. To determine the prevalence of concomitant disease in individuals with interstitial cystitis and to compare these results to the general population. Methods. We used a questionnaire-based study evaluating 12 disease processes and a survey of interstitial cystitis characteristics. The population was 2,405 individuals with interstitial cystitis who responded to the initial survey and an additional 277 individuals who were randomly selected and individually contacted. Results. Allergies, irritable bowel syndrome, and sensitive skin were the most common diseases in the interstitial cystitis population. In comparison to the general population, individuals with interstitial cystitis are 100 times more likely to have inflammatory bowel disease and 30 times more likely to have systemic lupus erythematosus. In addition, allergies, irritable bowel syndrome, sensitive skin, and fibromyalgia have an increased association with interstitial cystitis. Conclusions. Interstitial cystitis has, as yet, an unexplained association with certain other chronic disease and pain syndromes.
Adjuvant treatment of malignant melanoma with DTIC + estracyt or BCG

Eighty-two patients with invasive malignant melanoma and no distant metastases were prospectively randomized following their surgical treatment to 1) observation; 2) chemotherapy with Dacarbazine (DTIC) 200 mg/M2 I.V. daily X 5 every 4 weeks and Estracyt 15 mg/kg orally daily for 1 year; and 3) immunotherapy with TICE BCG 1 ml to an area of scarification near the primary site, every 4 weeks for 1 year. At a median follow-up of 73.4 months 31 patients (38%) have relapsed. There was no significant difference in survival according to the treatment, but a weak effect on the course of the disease by either of the treatment protocols cannot be ruled out due to the small sample of patients. Survival and disease-free interval varied significantly according to the histologic status of the regional nodes. The estimated 5-year disease-free rate of patients with negative nodes was 85% and for those with positive nodes it was 35% (P less than 0.0001).
The role of information in the cop-robber game

We investigate the role of the information available to the players on the outcome of the cops and robbers game. This game takes place on a graph and players move along the edges in turns. The cops win the game if they can move onto the robber's vertex. In the standard formulation, it is assumed that the players can ''see'' each other at all times. A graph G is called cop-win if a single cop can capture the robber on G. We study the effect of reducing the cop's visibility. On the positive side, with a simple argument, we show that a cop with small or no visibility can capture the robber on any cop-win graph (even if the robber still has global visibility). On the negative side, we show that the reduction in cop's visibility can result in an exponential increase in the capture time. Finally, we start the investigation of the variant where the visibility powers of the two players are symmetrical. We show that the cop can establish eye contact with the robber on any graph and present a sufficient condition for capture. In establishing this condition, we present a characterization of graphs on which a natural greedy pursuit strategy suffices for capturing the robber.