cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Heterodimerization controls localization of Duox-DuoxA NADPH oxidases in airway cells

Duox NADPH oxidases generate hydrogen peroxide at the air-liquid interface of the respiratory tract and at apical membranes of thyroid follicular cells. Inactivating mutations of Duox2 have been linked to congenital hypothyroidism, and epigenetic silencing of Duox is frequently observed in lung cancer. To study Duox regulation by maturation factors in detail, its association with these factors, differential use of subunits and localization was analyzed in a lung cancer cell line and undifferentiated or polarized lung epithelial cells. We show here that Duox proteins form functional heterodimers with their respective DuoxA subunits, in close analogy to the phagocyte NADPH oxidase. Characterization of novel DuoxA1 isoforms and mispaired Duox-DuoxA complexes revealed that heterodimerization is a prerequisite for reactive oxygen species production. Functional Duox1 and Duox2 localize to the leading edge of migrating cells, augmenting motility and wound healing. DuoxA subunits are responsible for targeting functional oxidases to distinct cellular compartments in lung epithelial cells, including Duox2 expression in ciliated cells in an ex vivo differentiated lung epithelium. As these locations probably define signaling specificity of Duox1 versus Duox2, these findings will facilitate monitoring Duox isoform expression in lung disease, a first step for early screening procedures and rational drug development.
Correlation of geoid and depth anomalies over the Agulhas Plateau

Abstract Correlations of geoid anomalies with bathymetry are an important source of information in the compensation of submarine features. We have used this technique to constrain models of the density structure of the lithosphere beneath the Agulhas Plateau, south of Africa. We explain the correlation in terms of a two-layer Airy isostatic model. The plateau is compensated in part by crustal thickening and in part by an underlying layer of anomalously low density mantle. The anomalous mantle layer extends to a depth of about 50 km and has a density 1–2% lower than normal mantle. Crustal thickening alone is insufficient to explain the observed correlation between bathymetry and the geoid. The anomalous mantle region may be the source for the excessive volumes of basalt which have intruded and thickened the crust of the plateau. There is strong evidence that depleted mantle rock is lighter than undepleted mantle rock. A similar model may hold for the Walvis Ridge.
Wage spillovers in public sector contract negotiations: the importance of social comparisons

Abstract We explore the existence of wage spillovers in public sector teacher contract negotiations. We focus on the role that informal social comparisons have in determining wages. Using a combination of survey and administrative data, we estimate the relationships among a district's negotiated salary and the wages negotiated in that district's reference districts. Using panel data and spatial econometrics, we control for observed and unobserved factors that jointly determine salaries in a local labor market to isolate the causal influence of wage spillovers. We find that there are indeed causal relationships among salaries and that union “strength” influences these relationships.
Comparison of methanethiol adsorption on Ag(110) and Cu(110)-chemical issues related to self-assembled monolayers

The adsorption and thermal decomposition of methanethiol (CH 3 SH) on Ag(110) and on Cu(110) surfaces have been investigated by low energy electron diffraction, Auger electron spectroscopy, and temperature programmed desorption methods. On the clean Ag(110) surface, methanethiol nondissociatively adsorbs at 25 K, forming a (2 x 1) overlayer structure and then molecularly desorbs at ∼140 K. On the partially sulfur-covered Ag(110) surface, methanethiol readily decomposes below 240 K, producing CH 4 (g), H 2 S (g), and sulfur atoms on the surface as well as small amounts of carbon. The sulfur overlayer formed by the decomposition of methanethiol exists as a p(3 x 2) ordered structure at the saturation coverage of sulfur. On this fully sulfur-covered Ag(110) surface, the thermal decomposition of methanethiol is completely suppressed. An autocatalytic mechanism involving silver sites activated by neighboring adsorbed sulfur is proposed to explain the sulfur-catalyzed thermal decomposition reaction of methanethiol on Ag(110). In contrast, on the clean Cu( 110) surface, methanethiol decomposes below 320 K, producing CH 4 (g) and C 2 H 6 (g), and leaving sulfur overlayers, either a c(2 x 2) structure at low coverage or a c(8 x 2) structure at high coverage. A complete layer of chemisorbed sulfur suppresses further methanethiol decomposition on both the silver and the copper surfaces.
Superoxide-induced apoptosis of activated rat hepatic stellate cells.

Background/Aims During liver injury, reactive oxygen species (ROS) are produced by the resident macrophages (Kupffer cells) and infiltrating blood cells such as neutrophils. ROS cause transformation of desmin-positive quiescent hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) into the proliferating activated phenotype that expresses α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA). The highly fibrogenic and contractile activated HSCs (aHSCs) produce various cytokines and growth factors, and play important role in the pathophysiology of chronic liver disease. However, apoptotic aHSCs are also observed during active fibrogenesis in the injured liver. Therefore, we investigated the mechanisms of apoptosis of aHSCs in relation to ROS. Methods HSCs, isolated from normal rat liver, were activated in culture and effects of superoxide were determined between subcultures 3 and 5. Results Treatment with superoxide caused apoptosis of aHSCs as determined by flow cytometry, TUNEL assay and DNA laddering analysis. The mechanisms of superoxide-induced apoptosis involved release of cytochrome c, increased Bax expression, increased caspase-3 activity, and hydrolysis of polyADP-ribose polymerase. Superoxide also increased the expression of antiapoptotic Bcl-xL and nuclear translocation of NFκB. Caspase-3 inhibitor (DEVD-fmk) and antioxidants ( N -acetylcysteine, vitamin E and superoxide dismutase) inhibited superoxide-induced apoptosis. Conclusions Superoxide-induced apoptosis of aHSCs may be a novel mechanism of limiting chronic fibrotic liver injury.
The psychosis of schizophrenia: prevalence, response to atypical antipsychotics, and prediction of outcome

Background: Psychosis is a defining feature of schizophrenia consisting of formal thought disorder, delusions, and hallucinations. Although psychosis is present in the majority of patients with schizophrenia, the prevalence, responsiveness to atypical antipsychotic drug therapy, and prediction of outcome of individual psychotic symptoms in a population of well-diagnosed patients with schizophrenia have not been conclusively established. Methods: This paper examined the prevalence, responsiveness to the atypical antipsychotic olanzapine, and relationship to outcome of individual psychotic symptoms using data from a previously reported large multicenter, double-blind clinical trial of olanzapine (mean daily dose at endpoint = 13.6 ± 6.9 mg/day). Results: The most frequently reported psychotic symptoms at baseline were delusions (65%), conceptual disorganization (50%), and hallucinations (52%), and the majority of patients (68%) experienced from one to three symptoms. Additionally, with olanzapine treatment there were significant improvements (p < .001) in baseline to endpoint Positive and Negative Symptom Scale (PANSS) psychotic item scores, with the largest effect sizes observed for hallucinatory behavior, unusual thought content, suspiciousness/persecution, and delusions. During the acute phase of the trial, quality of life was correlated significantly with baseline conceptual disorganization (p = .038) and unusual thought content (p = .023), and time spent in the hospital was correlated with unusual thought content (p = .005). Conclusions: The implications of these for the clinical management of schizophrenia are discussed.
Ridge regression and direct marketing scoring models

Abstract The objective of a direct marketing scoring model is to pick a specified number of people to receive a particular offer so that the response to the mailing is maximized. This paper shows how ridge regression can be used to improve the performance of direct marketing scoring models. It reviews the key property of ridge regression—it can produce estimates of the slope coefficients having smaller mean squared error than ordinary least squares models. Next, it shows that ridge regression can be used to reduce the effective number of parameters in a regression model. Thus, ridge regression can be used as an alternative to variable subset selection methods such as stepwise regression to control the bias-variance tradeoff of the estimated values. This means that direct marketers can include more variables in a scoring model without danger of overfitting the data. Ridge regression estimates are compared with stepwise regression on direct marketing data. The empirical results suggest that ridge regression provides a more stable way of moderating the model degrees of freedom than dropping variables.
Validity of the Arizona Heart Institute Cardiovascular Risk Factor Questionnaire

An 11-item questionnaire to ascertain the incidence and significance of major risk factors for atherosclerotic cardiovascular diseases was used to survey a nationwide television audience. Of 250,000 responses, 131,603 were complete and suitable for inclusion in the validity study of the questionnaire. Results of factor analysis and stepwise multiple regression analysis indicate that the questionnaire is a valid instrument for predicting the risk of developing atherosclerotic heart disease.
Eyewitness accuracy: A general observational skill?

One hundred and twenty subjects observed a videotaped scenario of a purse-snatching and, 26 min later, were asked to identify the thief from a line-up of subjects. The 60 subjects who performed difficult observational tasks during the interval between witnessing and recalling were better at making correct identifications than were 60 subjects who engaged in easy observational tasks during the same interval. Subjects who excelled as observers in a battery of general observational tests also tended to be more accurate in recalling details of the crime scene.
Soil respiration of Alaskan tundra at elevated atmospheric carbon dioxide concentrations

CO2 efflux from tussock tundra in Alaska that had been exposed to elevated CO2 for 2.5 growing seasons was measured to assess the effect of long- and short-term CO2 enrichment on soil respiration. Long-term treatments were: 348, 514, and 683 μll−1 CO2 and 680 μll−1 CO2+4°C above ambient. Measurements were made at 5 CO2 concentrations between 87 and 680 μll−1 CO2. Neither long- or short-term CO2 enrichment significantly affected soil CO2 efflux. Tundra developed at elevated temperature and 680 μll−1 CO2 had slightly higher, but not statistically different, mean respiration rates compared to untreated tundra and to tundra under CO2 control alone.
A Summary of Mass Flux Measurements in Solid 4 He

Here we provide a summary and brief review of some of the work done with solid 4He at the University of Massachusetts Amherst below a sample pressure of 28 bar. The motivation for the work has been to attempt to pass 4He atoms through solid 4He without directly applying mechanical pressure to the solid itself. The specific technique chosen is limited to pressures near the melting curve and was initially designed to provide a yes/no answer to the question of whether or not it might be possible to observe such a mass flux. The thermo-mechanical effect and direct mass injection have been separately used to create chemical potential differences between two reservoirs of superfluid 4He connected to each other through superfluid-filled Vycor rods in series with solid 4He, which is in the hcp region of the phase diagram. The thermo-mechanical effect is a more versatile approach. And, in a particular symmetric application it is designed to provide a mass flux with little or no net increase in the density of the solid. Our observations, off but near the melting curve, have included: (1) the presence of an increasing DC flux of atoms through the solid-filled cell with decreasing temperature below ≈650 mK and no flux above this temperature; (2) the presence of a flux minimum and flux instability in the vicinity of 75–80 mK, with a flux increase at lower temperatures; (3) the temperature dependence of the flux above 100 mK and the dependence of the flux on the net driving chemical potential difference provide interesting insights on the possible mechanism that leads to the flux above 100 mK. The most recent data suggest that whatever is responsible for the flux in solid 4He, at least for T>100 mK, may be an example of a Bosonic Luttinger liquid.
Membrane insertion of betaine/GABA transporter during hypertonic stress correlates with nuclear accumulation of TonEBP.

Abstract MDCK cells stably transfected with betaine/GABA transporter tagged with EGFP (EGFP–BGT) were used to study plasma membrane insertion of EGFP–BGT. Adaptive response to hypertonicity requires nuclear migration of TonEBP. Confocal microscopy showed that after 6 h hypertonicity, the nuclear/cytoplasmic ratio of TonEBP fluorescence was increased to 2.4 compared to 1.4 in isotonic controls (P
Preliminary study of magnetic resonance imaging characteristics in 8- to 16-year-olds with mania.

ABSTRACT Objective To examine magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) characteristics in children and adolescents with mania according to DSM-III-R criteria. Method A convenience sample of consecutively referred 8− to 16-year-old manic ( n = 10) and normal ( n = 5) subjects were assessed using the Schedule for Affective Disorders and Schizophrenia for School-Age Children-Present Episode Version, the Children's Global Assessment Scale, and the Family History-Research Diagnostic Criteria. MRI scans were obtained from unsedated subjects using a 1.5 T MR scanner to acquire T 1 -weighted coronal and sagittal images and T 2 -welghted axial images. Images were assessed by blind clinical interpretation, ratings of T 2 -weighted deep white matter hyperintensities and petalia, and computer-assisted volumetric analysis of ventricular and cerebral volumes. Results Eight of 10 manic subjects and all 5 controls completed the scans. Scans of 4 manic subjects and 1 control subject showed ventricular or white matter abnormalities by clinical interpretation. Significant findings were positive correlations between increasing age and both right and left ventricular volumes. Two of the 8 manic subjects and no controls had confluent subcortical hyperintensities. Conclusions: MRI brain scanning was feasible in 8− to 16-year-olds. Preliminary findings from clinical interpretations and structured ratings suggest structural differences between young manic and normal subjects. Investigations of larger samples are needed to better characterize the differences. J. Am. Acad. Child Adolesc. Psychiatry , 1995, 34, 6:742–749.
A centrifuge head for back-and-forth centrifugation to improve specimen infiltration by viscous plastics.

For embedding of small pieces of tissue a special centrifuge head was designed for back-and-forth centrifugation of the tissue to speed up infiltration of the tissue by a viscous plastic which is poorly miscible with the solvent used for dehydration. The centrifuge head was designed in such a way that the tube holders flip between two positions with a difference in orientation of close to 180° by varying the speed. This way the tissue moves back and forth in the centrifuge tube with the surfaces of the pieces of tissue being exposed continuously to virtually fresh plastic. This way a steep concentration gradient solvent-plastic is constantly maintained at the surface of the tissue. This centrifugation—infiltration procedure is also useful whenever plastics of high viscosity are used even when the plastic and the solvent used for dehydration are easily miscible.
An Intersection Collision Warning System Using Wi-Fi Smartphones in VANET

Intersection collision warning system has been widely studied with the progress in wireless communication technology and positioning devices, which are now increasingly available on smart phones. In this paper, we present an Intersection Collision Warning (ICW) system using Wi-Fi smart phones with built-in GPS receivers for vehicular ad-hoc networks. In the system, smart phones first retrieve safety-related information, i.e., location, moving direction and velocity, via onboard GPS receivers and then periodically exchange the information using standard wireless communication between vehicles to compute the probability of potential collision and issue warnings when necessary. Simulation results show that our ICW system can significantly reduce the probability of collisions.
Composite-particle structure of pion-nucleus amplitudes

The structural properties of scattering amplitudes which involve composite particles are applied to pion absorption on and elastic scattering from nuclei. The reactive parts, as opposed to the initial and final state parts, of the amplitudes for these processes are identified and the constraints upon their structure are investigated. These constraints are used to determine the modifications, in various models for pionic interactions, which are necessary to avoid double-counting dynamics already accounted for in the nuclear states. The previously known decomposition of the elastic pion-nucleus scattering amplitude into the contributions from scattering and true absorption is derived in a general context. We go on to point out the structural features of both of these parts of the elastic amplitude which are required in order not to duplicate nuclear dynamics.
Transitional cell carcinoma of the bladder in young adults: Presentation, natural history and outcome

Purpose: The natural history and prognosis of bladder cancer in young patients is not well defined. We analyzed our experience with such patients.Materials and Methods: The medical records of 74 patients presenting with transitional cell carcinoma of the bladder at 40 years and younger were reviewed and compared with those of 75 patients diagnosed with bladder transitional cell carcinoma at 65 years old and older.Results: Median followup was 28.1 months (range 1 to 155) and 34.7 (range 1 to 178) in young and old patients, respectively. Initial stage distribution was similar with 80% of patients presenting with superficial disease. No difference was observed in the disease-free progression or disease-free recurrence rate among the groups in patients initially presenting with stage Ta, Tis or T1 tumors. A significantly higher proportion of older versus younger patients underwent cystectomy (54% versus 23%). We did not observe a difference in pathological stage distribution or the rate of extravesical diseas...
Factors determining stability of bacteriochlorophyll monolayers

This study identifies the important chemical and physical factors determining the integrity of bacteriochlorophyll monolayers; these must be known if this pigment is to be used for model systems of the in vivo photosynthetic process. Spread monolayers of bacteriochlorophyll were subjected to variation of pH, temperature, subphase composition, incident light flux and atmospheres of various composition. Results were consistent with intuitive prediction as well as the known behavior of monolayers of chlorophyll a. Minimal decomposition was noted under conditions of darkness, presence of reducing agents either in the subphase or as an integral part of the monolayer, subambient temperatures, inert atmospheres and alkaline subphase pH. Major products arising from oxidative decomposition were 2′-desvinyl chlorophyll a, bacteriopheophytin, methyl bacteriopheophorbide and 10-hydroxy-bacteriochlorophyll a.
The ontogeny of cold tolerance in the gall fly, Eurosta solidagensis

Abstract The lower lethal temperature of many insects indicates an overwintering flexibility as a result of either extensive supercooling or production of cryoprotectants. Ontogenetically, the gall fly ( Eurosta solidagensis ) utilizes both means of seasonal cryoprotection. All stages except third instar larvae demonstrate supercooling points well below the lowest temperature normally experienced by that particular stage. The third instar larvae exhibit a high supercooling point but are well protected by a cryoprotectant system consisting of glycerol, sorbitol, and trehalose. Glycerol is accumulated, possibly from triglyceride sources, during early autumn and reaches plateau levels (0·6 M) by early winter. Sorbitol synthesis is delayed until freezing exposures and reaches a plateau with glycerol at 0·3 M. It is not until mid-winter that peak trehalose levels are reached (300 mg %). All cryoprotectant levels are a reflection of haemolymph concentrations. Laboratory acclimation experiments further quantify these results. Trehalose synthesis is time and temperature dependent and appears to be affected by developmental processes.
Long-range disorder and metastability in amorphous silicon

Abstract Possible changes in the long-range disorder in hydrogenated amorphous silicon (a-Si:H) in association with light-induced defect creation (the Staebler–Wronski effect) have been investigated by combining measurements of the thermopower and conductivity activation energy differences with that of the conductance 1/ f noise. There is no observed change in the long-ranged disorder after twenty hours exposure to heat-filtered white light for a series of n-type-doped a-Si:H films.
The Drosophila melanogaster stranded at second (sas) gene encodes a putative epidermal cell surface receptor required for larval development

Several lethal mutations were identified previously in the 84BD interval of the Drosophila melanogaster third chromosome (Lewis et al., 1980; Cavener et al., 1986b). We have examined the l(3)84Cd complementation group and found that mutants exhibit novel cuticular defects and die during larval development. The lethal phase occurs during the first larval molt or subsequently during the second instar larval stage; hence, we have named the gene stranded at second (sas). There are no apparent effects on the rate of development of embryos or first instar larvae. Second instar larvae which survive the molt exhibit a marked reduction in growth and eventually die as small second instar larvae. Incomplete penetrance in some weak sas alleles can yield fertile adults. In addition to the lethal phenotype, a segmentally repeated pattern of tanned spots is found within the ventral setal belts of mutant larvae. The position of the spots is always either between the fourth and fifth row of setae (cuticular projections) or between the first and second row of setae. The spots are adjacent to the muscle attachment sites in the setal belt region. Another common larval phenotype is the abnormal tanning of the ventral surface of the pharynx. The sas gene was cloned, and both the cuticular tanning and the larval lethal phenotypes were complemented by P-element-mediated transformation with a genomic DNA-cDNA construct. Three major sas transcripts are expressed throughout development in cuticle secreting epidermal tissues. The sas transcripts show stage- and tissue-specific patterns of expression with switches in transcript patterns occurring at the molts. The inferred 1348-amino-acid sequence suggests that sas encodes a cell surface protein which functions as a receptor. The putative extracellular region contains four tandem repeats of a cysteine-rich motif which is similar to a cysteine pattern present in procollagen and in thrombospondin. Following this region are at least three copies of a fibronectin type III class repeat. The short (35 amino acids) intracellular domain contains a sequence (NPXY) that has been implicated in endocytosis via coated pits.
Branch Retinal Vein Occlusion and Quadratic Variation in Arteriovenous Crossings

To explore further the origin and clinically observed regional variation of branch retinal vein occlusion, we studied fluorescein angiograms of 42 patients (42 eyes) with branch retinal vein occlusion and a control population of 126 consecutive patients. In a statistically significant percentage of crossings, the artery was anterior to the vein in those areas of the retina clinically predisposed to branch retinal vein occlusion. Thirty-nine of the 42 patients with branch retinal vein occlusion sites had artery-anterior-to-vein crossings (P = .002), whereas 183 of all 266 arteriovenous crossings in these same eyes were similarly positioned. The artery lay anterior to the vein in significantly more temporal retinal crossings (337 of 457) than nasal retinal crossings (89 of 149; P = .002). Similarly, significantly more superotemporal quadrant crossings (164 of 209) than inferotemporal quadrant crossings (173 of 248) had the artery anterior to the vein (P = .0045). These results suggested that variation in the pattern of arteriovenous crossings may have a role in the clinical distribution of branch retinal vein occlusion.
Patients with triple negative breast cancer: Is there an optimal adjuvant treatment?

Chemotherapy is the mainstay of adjuvant treatment for triplenegative breast cancer (TNBC), and is highly effective in preventing breast cancer recurrence and improving survival. Triple-negative tumors, by definition, lack expression of estrogen receptor (ER) and HER2, the established markers used to select patients for adjuvant endocrine therapy or trastuzumab therapy, respectively. For these reasons, optimizing adjuvant chemotherapy for TNBC has been a high priority. Large clinical trials have attempted to define the optimal adjuvant chemotherapy regimens. Most of these studies included patients based on clinical stage, and irrespective of tumor hormonereceptor or HER2 status. Retrospective subset analyses have attempted to characterize outcomes for patients defined by tumor ER and/or HER2 status. However, such analyses were in almost all cases post hoc subset examinations, and have frequently lacked power to rigorously characterize outcomes in TNBC, as opposed to other types, of breast cancer. In addition, many such retrospective studies have reported on outcomes by ER status or by HER2, but have not always specified TNBC cancers (i.e. ER negative and HER2 negative) as a distinct subset. Such methodological problems have meant that it has been hard to define the optimal adjuvant chemotherapy regimen by breast cancer subset, particularly for older clinical trials. The Early Breast Cancer Trialists’ Collaborative Group has demonstrated that both anthracyclines and taxanes are effective adjuvant chemotherapeutic agents in hormone-receptor negative breast cancers, with anthracycline-based regimens conferring modest benefits over non-anthracycline, CMF-type regimens, and taxane-based regimens being superior to non-taxane alternatives [1]. Large, multicenter clinical trials such as ECOG 1199 and NSABP B-30 have proven the benefit of sequential chemotherapy regimens – anthracycline/cyclophosphamide followed by taxane eincluding hormone-receptor negative tumors [2,3]. US Oncology group trial 9735, a comparison of AC vs TC chemotherapy, showed a survival advantage for the inclusion of the taxane among patients with ER negative breast cancer [4].
Neuronal cell migration in C. elegans: regulation of Hox gene expression and cell position

In C. elegans, the Hox gene mab-5, which specifies the fates of cells in the posterior body region, has been shown to direct the migrations of certain cells within its domain of function. mab-5 expression switches on in the neuroblast QL as it migrates into the posterior body region. mab-5 activity is then required for the descendants of QL to migrate to posterior rather than anterior positions. What information activates Hox gene expression during this cell migration? How are these cells subsequently guided to their final positions? We address these questions by describing four genes, egl-20, mig-14, mig-1 and lin-17, that are required to activate expression of mab-5 during migration of the QL neuroblast. We find that two of these genes, egl-20 and mig-14, also act in a mab-5-independent way to determine the final stopping points of the migrating Q descendants. The Q descendants do not migrate toward any obvious physical targets in wild-type or mutant animals. Therefore, these genes appear to be part of a system that positions the migrating Q descendants along the anteroposterior axis.
Sustained Attention Across the Life Span in a Sample of 10,000 Dissociating Ability and Strategy

Normal and abnormal differences in sustained visual attention have long been of interest to scientists, educators, and clinicians. Still lacking, however, is a clear understanding of how sustained visual attention varies across the broad sweep of the human life span. In the present study, we filled this gap in two ways. First, using an unprecedentedly large 10,430-person sample, we modeled age-related differences with substantially greater precision than have prior efforts. Second, using the recently developed gradual-onset continuous performance test (gradCPT), we parsed sustained-attention performance over the life span into its ability and strategy components. We found that after the age of 15 years, the strategy and ability trajectories saliently diverge. Strategy becomes monotonically more conservative with age, whereas ability peaks in the early 40s and is followed by a gradual decline in older adults. These observed life-span trajectories for sustained attention are distinct from results of other life-span studies focusing on fluid and crystallized intelligence.
Structure of barium perchlorate trihydrate

Ba(ClO4)2.3H2O, Mr = 390.28, hexagonal, P63/m, a = 7.277 (2), c = 9.656 (1) A, V = 442.9 (1) A3, Z = 2, F(000) = 368, D chi = 2.93 g cm3, lambda(Mo K alpha) = 0.71069 A, T = 295 K, mu = 52.60 cm1, 456 unique reflections, R = 0.023. The barium atoms in this structure are coordinated by six water oxygens, O(3), at 2.919 (1) A and by six perchlorate oxygens, O(2), at 3.026 (2) A in a slightly distorted icosahedral arrangement, the average Ba-O separation thus being approximately 2.97 A. The perchlorate ion just fails to have regular tetrahedral geometry within the experimental error, and has an average Cl-O bond length of 1.433 (6) A. Consistent with hydrogen bonding delineated on the basis of least-squares-refined hydrogen-atom positions, each axial [O(1)] perchlorate oxygen is hydrogen bonded to three water molecules and each trigonal [O(2)] perchlorate oxygen is hydrogen bonded to two water molecules; thus each perchlorate ion is hydrogen bonded to nine water molecules. Conversely, each water molecule [O(3)] oxygen is hydrogen bonded to six perchlorate ions to two through axial [O(1)] oxygens and to four through trigonal [O(2)] oxygens.
Medicaid, the States and Health Care Reform

Health care reform in the US is relying extensively on Medicaid for achieving universal health coverage. This article addresses the question of whether Medicaid is an appropriate foundation for reducing the ranks of the uninsured, given its dependence on economic conditions and the vulnerability of state budgets, along with the ever-changing preferences of governors and legislators. This article assesses the effects of the ebb and flow of Medicaid policy-making on at‐risk populations and what this implies for the Affordable Care Act. By establishing a nationwide income floor at 133% of the Federal Poverty Level, the legislation eliminates eligibility inequities across the states. However, it is argued that when state budgets are strained, as they undoubtedly will be when the reform bill is fully implemented, local officials will downsize benefit packages, raise co-payments, mandate more managed care, and reduce provider payments, negatively affecting the availability, scope, and quality of services.
Azimuth modulation of backscatter from SeaWinds and ERS scatterometers over the Saharo-Arabian deserts

Saharo-Arabian deserts includes large expanses of sand dunes called ergs. These dunes are formed and constantly reshaped by prevailing winds. We use backscatter (/spl sigma//sup 0/) measurements observed at various azimuth angles from SeaWinds scatterometer (QSCAT) and ERS scatterometer (ESCAT) to determine the /spl sigma//sup 0/ azimuthal modulation over the sand dunes. A second order harmonic equation is used to model the /spl sigma//sup 0/ measurements as a function of azimuth angle and provides similar results for both sensors. Images of the magnitudes of the model harmonics show many small-scale linear features corresponding to the large dune fields in the ergs. The images of the phases of the two harmonics are coherent with the large scale topography of the area. Most ergs exhibit isophase related to the general orientation of large- and small-scale features of the sand surface.
Improved signal copy with partially known or unknown array response

Blind adaptive algorithms extract signals that overlap in time and frequency by exploiting their temporal structure, but ignore any available spatial (array response) data. On the other hand, direction-finding based methods compute the signal copy weights using estimates of the signal directions, but ignore information about signal structure. In this paper, we present two simple iterative techniques that attempt to incorporate both temporal and spatial information in estimating the signal waveforms received by an array of sensors. The first technique assumes an initial blind signal estimate is available, and uses least-squares to approximate the array response and refine the signal estimate. The second method is applicable to digitally modulated signals, and uses bit decisions made on an initial signal estimate to recompute the signal copy weight vectors. A theoretical performance analysis of both algorithms is conducted for the high SNR case, and some representative simulation results are included. >
Imputing diagnoses for genetic epidemiologic studies without face-to-face interviews

Studies of diseases in families help clarify contributions of genetic and cultural factors in the development of psychiatric illnesses. Since not all family members can be evaluated due to inaccessibility, refusal, or death, information is obtained from relatives regarding these non-interviewed individuals, and diagnoses are assigned. When standardized interviews are used, family history reports are reliable and valid. Relatives are able to correctly report the absence of disorders in family members, and affected individuals are often identified as ill. Factors which influence the accuracy of family reports include diagnosis under study, severity of illness, relationship of informant and subject, sex of informant and subject, comorbid illnesses in subject, diagnosis of informant, and number of informants. These factors can be adjusted given a study population to maximize the predictive value of family history reports.
Circadian Rhythms in the Mouse: A Connections Map

Genetic and biochemical experiments over the past decade have facilitated the construction of a viable working model for the molecular mechanisms that generate the circadian rhythm in Mus musculus . The basic mechanism consists of two intertwined transcription-translation negative feedback loops. One, the "positive loop," controls the rhythmic expression of a Per-Arnt-Sim (PAS)-domain-containing positive transcription factor, BMAL1 (also called MOP3). The other, the "negative loop," controls the transcription of mPeriod 1 and 2 and mCryptochrome 1 and 2, two families of genes that encode repressor proteins. The loops are intertwined because the proteins mPeriod and mCryptochrome directly repress transcription mediated by the CLOCK:BMAL1 heterodimer, whereas CLOCK:BMAL1 drives transcription of the mPeriod and mCryptochrome genes, as well as that of Rev-erb-alpha , a repressor of Bmal1 expression. Mutations, including the tau mutation in hamsters [encoding Casein kinase I ϵ (CkIϵ)], have identified essential functions for other proteins in the timekeeping mechanism. The master pacemaker for circadian rhythms in mice is located in the suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN) of the hypothalamus. Light cycles can synchronize molecular rhythms in the SCN by stimulating the release of glutamate and the neuropeptide pituitary adenylate cyclase-activating polypeptide (PACAP) from melanopsin-containing retinal ganglion cells. This results in increased transcription of mPeriod genes and a shift in the phase of the clock. This Pathway Map of the murine circadian mechanism describes the individual known components of the mouse circadian clock and their mutual interactions. Science Viewpoint R. N. Van Gelder, E. D. Herzog, W. J. Schwartz, P. H. Taghert, Circadian rhythms: In the loop at last. Science 300 , 1534-1535 (2003). [Abstract] [Full Text]
Physician perspectives on end-of-life care: factors of race, specialty, and geography.

Objectives: To describe physicians' end-of-life practices, perceptions regarding end-of-life care and characterize differences based upon physician specialty and demographic characteristics. To illuminate physicians' perceptions about differences among their African-American and Caucasian patients' preferences for end-of-life care.Design and methods: Twenty-four African-American and 16 Caucasian physicians (N = 40) participated in an in-person interview including 23 primary care physicians, 7 cardiologists, and 10 oncologists. Twenty-four practices were in urban areas and 16 were in rural counties.Results: Physicians perceived racial differences in preferences for end-of-life care between their Caucasian and African-American patients. Whereas oncologists and primary care physicians overwhelmingly reported having working relationships with hospice, only 57% of cardiologists reported having those contacts. African-American physicians were more likely than Caucasian physicians to perceive racial differences in their patients preferences for pain medication.Significance of results: Demographic factors such as race of physician and patient may impact the provider's perspective on end-of-life care including processes of care and communication with patients.
Pseudoreversibility condition for minimizing radiation loss at discontinuities of coupled waveguides

A design condition is derived for lossless discontinuities of coupled waveguides by finding solutions, which satisfy time reversibility of guided modes. The derived condition is used as a bound for minimizing radiation loss. Even when there is strong coupling between guided modes, the radiation loss can be minimal. A comparison between different grating designs in a 2 /spl times/ 2 backward coupler demonstrates that two coherently coupled gratings can significantly reduce radiation loss, as compared to a single grating.
Fourteen nucleotides in the second complementarity-determining region of a human heavy-chain variable region gene are identical with a sequence in a human D minigene

Abstract A sequence of 14 nucleotides in one human diversity (D) minigene (D2) is identical with a sequence in complementarity-determining region 2 (CDR2) of one human gene for the variable region of the heavy chain of immunoglobulin. The finding that nucleotide segments present in a D minigene can appear in CDR2 raises the possibility that other minigene segments may be involved in the generation of antibody diversity and complementarity or that nucleotide segments may move from one CDR to another by a gene conversion mechanism.
Misinterpretations of Garden-Path Sentences: Implications for Models of Sentence Processing and Reanalysis

Theories of sentence comprehension have addressed both initial parsing processes and mechanisms responsible for reanalysis. Three experiments are summarized that were designed to investigate the reanalysis and interpretation of relatively difficult garden-path sentences (e.g., While Anna dressed the baby spit up on the bed). After reading such sentences, participants correctly believed that the baby spit up on the bed; however, they often confidently, yet incorrectly, believed that Anna dressed the baby. These results demonstrate that garden-path reanalysis is not an all-or-nothing process and that thematic roles initially assigned for the subordinate clause verb are not consistently revised. The implications of the partial reanalysis phenomenon for Fodor and Inoue's (1998) model of reanalysis and sentence processing are discussed. In addition, we discuss the possibility that language processing often creates “good enough” structures rather than ideal structures.
3D data classification based on mid-level geometric features

This paper introduces an approach to classify robot environments based on planar segments extracted from 3D data. In a preprocessing step, point data from a 3D range sensor is transformed to planar patches, i.e. raw data is transformed to a mid level geometric representation. This step allows for a robust, simple and straightforward feature extraction. The features are fed into a learning algorithm, resulting in binary classification into two different types of indoor environments, hallways and office spaces. The main contribution of this paper is to demonstrate the robustness of using mid-level geometric features. Tested on multiple learning algorithms with standard parameters, this approach achieves promising results.
Evaluation of Milkweed Floss as an Insulative Fill Material

Milkweed, a perennial plant that can adapt to adverse soil conditions, is being developed as an alternative crop. Fiber characterization and potential market iden tification are critical to its development. The most promising commercial use for milkweed floss is as a loose fill for jackets and comforters. The purpose of this research was to evaluate milkweed floss as an insulative fill material and to compare its per formance to other insulators. Seven identical jackets were constructed using different fill materials matched on a per unit weight basis. The insulation (clo) values for the jackets were measured using a standing, heated manikin in an environmental chamber. Thickness (loft), compression, resiliency, and hand were also measured. Several per formance characteristics were evaluated before and after cleaning. The results show that milkweed floss blended with down has insulative properties similar to down. Down is superior to milkweed floss in loftiness and compressibility, which influence product...
Amplicon Melting Analysis with Labeled Primers: A Closed-Tube Method for Differentiating Homozygotes and Heterozygotes

Background: Common methods for identification of DNA sequence variants use gel electrophoresis or column separation after PCR. Methods: We developed a method for sequence variant analysis requiring only PCR and amplicon melting analysis. One of the PCR primers was fluorescently labeled. After PCR, the melting transition of the amplicon was monitored by high-resolution melting analysis. Different homozygotes were distinguished by amplicon melting temperature (Tm). Heterozygotes were identified by low-temperature melting of heteroduplexes, which broadened the overall melting transition. In both cases, melting analysis required 1 min and no sample processing was needed after PCR. Results: Polymorphisms in the HTR2A (T102C), -globin [hemoglobin (Hb) S, C, and E], and cystic fibrosis (F508del, F508C, I507del, I506V) genes were analyzed. Heteroduplexes produced by amplification of heterozygous DNA were best detected by rapid cooling (>2 °C/s) of denatured products, followed by rapid heating during melting analysis (0.2– 0.4 °C/s). Heterozygotes were distinguished from homozygotes by a broader melting transition, and each heterozygote had a uniquely shaped fluorescent melting curve. All homozygotes tested were distinguished from each other, including Hb AA and Hb SS, which differed in Tm by <0.2 °C. The amplicons varied in length from 44 to 304 bp. In place of one labeled and one unlabeled primer, a generic fluorescent oligonucleotide could be used if a 5 tail of identical sequence was added to one of the two unlabeled primers.
Learning the semantics of multimedia queries and concepts from a small number of examples

In this paper we unify two supposedly distinct tasks in multimedia retrieval. One task involves answering queries with a few examples. The other involves learning models for semantic concepts, also with a few examples. In our view these two tasks are identical with the only differentiation being the number of examples that are available for training. Once we adopt this unified view, we then apply identical techniques for solving both problems and evaluate the performance using the NIST TRECVID benchmark evaluation data [15]. We propose a combination hypothesis of two complementary classes of techniques, a nearest neighbor model using only positive examples and a discriminative support vector machine model using both positive and negative examples. In case of queries, where negative examples are rarely provided to seed the search, we create pseudo-negative samples. We then combine the ranked lists generated by evaluating the test database using both methods, to create a final ranked list of retrieved multimedia items. We evaluate this approach for rare concept and query topic modeling using the NIST TRECVID video corpus.In both tasks we find that applying the combination hypothesis across both modeling techniques and a variety of features results in enhanced performance over any of the baseline models, as well as in improved robustness with respect to training examples and visual features. In particular, we observe an improvement of 6% for rare concept detection and 17% for the search task.
The dosimetric impact of prostate rotations during electromagnetically guided external-beam radiation therapy

Purpose To study the impact of daily rotations and translations of the prostate on dosimetric coverage during radiation therapy (RT). Methods and Materials Real-time tracking data for 26 patients were obtained during RT. Intensity modulated radiation therapy plans meeting RTOG 0126 dosimetric criteria were created with 0-, 2-, 3-, and 5-mm planning target volume (PTV) margins. Daily translations and rotations were used to reconstruct prostate delivered dose from the planned dose. D95 and V79 were computed from the delivered dose to evaluate target coverage and the adequacy of PTV margins. Prostate equivalent rotation is a new metric introduced in this study to quantify prostate rotations by accounting for prostate shape and length of rotational lever arm. Results Large variations in prostate delivered dose were seen among patients. Adequate target coverage was met in 39%, 65%, and 84% of the patients for plans with 2-, 3-, and 5-mm PTV margins, respectively. Although no correlations between prostate delivered dose and daily rotations were seen, the data showed a clear correlation with prostate equivalent rotation. Conclusions Prostate rotations during RT could cause significant underdosing even if daily translations were managed. These rotations should be managed with rotational tolerances based on prostate equivalent rotations.
Bottom-Up Hierarchical Image Segmentation Using Region Competition and the Mumford-Shah Functional

This paper generalizes the methods in a previous paper in Pan, Y. et al, (2006) in two ways. First, a more comprehensive analysis of the initialization problem of the Chan-Vese models is given. Second, the image segmentation method proposed in Pan, Y. et al. (2006) is improved by applying bimodal curve evolution with region competition. The improved method maintains the advantages of the previous method. It is efficient, stable in the presence of strong noise and able to handle complicated images. It outperforms the previous method for images with weak edges. Experimental results in this paper demonstrate these improvements