cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Orthodox Ashkenazi Young Adults’ Knowledge, Experiences, Attitudes, and Beliefs About Genetic Carrier Testing

Background: The Orthodox Ashkenazi Jewish community promotes carrier testing of young adults prior to dating in order to prevent the birth of children affected with genetic diseases. It is unclear how much this young consumer group understands about carrier testing and the testing options available to them, particularly around the inclusion or exclusion of Gaucher disease carrier screening on testing panels. Additionally, little is known about their attitudes toward the use of reproductive technologies to avoid having affected children. Methods: We conducted eight focus groups with 49 Orthodox Ashkenazi young adults. Participants were assigned to groups based on gender and whether or not they had received carrier testing. Audiotapes were transcribed and transcripts analyzed for themes.Results: Most participants expressed trust in Dor Yeshorim's anonymous testing process, but many were unaware of other testing options. Most women were tested through Dor Yeshorim at their Jewish high schools between the age...
On mutual independence

Abstract For any integer N > 1, we construct a probability space and N standard Gaussian random variables X1, X2,…, XN such that P(Xi ∈ Ai for each i ∈ I) = Πi∈IP(Xi∈Ai) holds whenever the sets in {Ai: i ∈ I} are Borel sets but does not hold for all sets {Ai: i ∈ I} for which the indicated probabilities are well defined where I is any subset of {1, 2,…, N} having cardinality at least two. We then extend this result to the case where the random variables can have any diffuse distributions.
Catalytic Oxidative Decomposition of Dimethyl Methylphosphonate over Cu-Substituted Hydroxyapatite

Abstract The oxidative decomposition of dimethyl methyiphosphonate (DMMP) has been studied over Cu-substituted hydroxyapatite catalysts in a flow reactor in the temperature range 373-773 K. By substitution of a portion of the Ca 2+ by Cu 2+ in the hydroxyapatite lattice, the catalytic activity was markedly increased. The composition Cu 2 Ca 8 (PO 4 ) 6 (OH) 2 , herein called Cu2-HA, had the highest activity among these catalysts. All the catalysts showed 100% conversion at the beginning of the reaction, but became deactivated after a period of time. Only CO 2 and H 2 O were produced during the "protection period" of the 100% conversion. With deactivation, CO 2 formation decreased and methanol and dimethyl ether appeared as products. A phosphorus-containing product was not detected in the gas phase. Some condensate of phosphoric acid appeared in the outlet of the reactor after deactivation. Several analytical methods revealed that carbonaceous compounds did not remain on the surface after 773-K oxidative regeneration, but the phosphorus compounds that had accumulated during the reaction were not eliminated. The catalytic activity of Cu-substituted hydroxyapatite was compared to that of conventional supported Pt catalysts. This study suggested that easily made and cheap Cu-substituted hydroxyapatite catalysts could be used as successful alternatives to conventional adsorbents and catalytic systems based on supported noble metals devised for protection against nerve gases in warfare.
Does Stableford scoring incentivize more aggressive golf

A few PGA Tour events have been played using modified Stableford scoring, a format in which the gain to playing a hole below par is greater than the cost of an above-par score on a hole. This artic...
Postpartum Gynaecological Tuberculosis

SummaryBetween 1 January 1951 and 1 July 1990, 11 out of 711 patients (1.5 per cent) with proved gynaecological tuberculosis were found to have developed the disease during pregnancy or within one year of childbirth or abortion. The lesions were invariably unsuspected and the acute form reported in the early literature was never seen. All patients were initially treated with anti-tuberculosis drugs and three later required surgery. One patient subsequently had two and another one successful pregnancy. There were no deaths.
The potential of compile-time analysis to adapt the cache coherence enforcement strategy to the data sharing characteristics

Cache coherence schemes that dynamically adapt to memory referencing patterns have been proposed to improve coherence enforcement in shared-memory multiprocessors. By using only run-time information, however, these existing schemes are incapable of looking ahead in the memory referencing stream. We present a combined hardware-software strategy that uses the predictive capability of the compiler to select updating or invalidating for each write reference. To determine the potential performance improvement that can be achieved with this optimization, three different levels of compiler capabilities are examined. Simulations using memory traces show that with an ideal compiler, this optimization can potentially reduce the miss ratio by 0.4% to 15% compared to an invalidating-only scheme, while reducing the generated network traffic by 13% to 94% compared to an updating-only scheme. In addition, this optimization can potentially reduce the miss ratio by up to 13%, while reducing the generated network traffic by up to 92%, compared to a dynamic adaptive scheme. Furthermore, performance can be potentially improved even with a compiler capable of performing only imprecise array subscript analysis and no interprocedural analysis. >
A distributed global queue transmission strategy for a WDM optical fiber network

A new distributed global queueing strategy and medium access protocol that users employ to schedule their transmissions to avoid receiver collisions is introduced for an optical fiber network. The network uses wavelength division multiplexing (WDM) for the data channels. The medium access control utilizes TDMA on the control channel to allow users to implement a global reservation scheme to send data packets. The data channels operate under a distributed demand assignment scheme that allows receiver collision-free operation and efficient scheduling. An analytical solution is obtained via equilibrium point analysis (EPA). It was shown that the maximum throughput obtained is approximately 42% which exceeds the maximum throughput of ALOHA based medium access protocols. The delay is shown to be relatively constant for a wide range of operation.
Siblicide in the spotted hyena: analysis with ultrasonic examination of wild and captive individuals

Integrated field and laboratory studies of long-lived, large-bodied mammals are rare but offer unique opportunities to elucidate the behavioral ecology of these animals. Here, we used this approach to examine whether siblicide in spotted hyenas (Crocuta crocuta) is obligate or facultative. First, we tested predictions of obligate and facultative hypotheses by using ultrasonography to compare litter size before and after parturition and identify potential causes of litter reduction. Second, we compared litter size and composition between wild and captive hyenas to assess variation in offspring sex ratios. Third, we used demographic data to compare survivorship among litters of various sizes and compositions. Fourth, we compared sex ratios within twin litters born in the wild under conditions of high population density and intense feeding competition with those born when population density and intensity of feeding competition were reduced. Our data were inconsistent with the obligate siblicide hypothesis. Litter reduction occurred during roughly one-third of pregnancies in both wild and captive hyenas, and all such reductions among captives were due to fetal resorptions or stillbirths. Litter sizes and compositions differed little between wild and captive hyenas. However, sex ratios in twin litters varied in the wild with intensity of feeding competition. In conjunction with captive data, longterm study of a wild hyena population under varying environmental conditions suggests facultative siblicide is most likely to occur when feeding competition is most intense, thus offering an ecological explanation for earlier conflicting reports on siblicide in this species. Key words: Crocuta, hyenas, siblicide, sibling rivalry, siblings. [Behav Ecol]
Population ecology and prey consumption by fathead minnows in prairie wetlands: importance of detritus and larval fish

The fathead minnow Pimephales promelas occurs in high densities in wetlands of the prairie pothole region (PPR) of North America, but food resources sustaining these populations are poorly known. We assessed population dynamics and prey consumption of fathead minnow populations in three PPR wetlands for 2 years. Fish density peaked at 107 fish per m 2 for all age classes combined. Larval and juvenile fish dominated these populations in terms of abundance and accounted for 83% of total prey consumption. Detritus dominated fish diets, representing 53%, 40% and 79% of diet mass for larval, juvenile and adult fish respectively. Detritus consumption was positively related to minnow density and negatively related to invertebrate abundance, but only for adult fish. Seasonal production:biomass ratios were unrelated to proportions of detritus in the diet for all ages of fish, indicating that detritus is an important food resource capable of meeting metabolic demands and sustaining fish growth in high-density populations. Detritus consumption may also weaken links between abundance of invertebrate prey and minnows, promoting dense fish populations with strong, consistent influences on wetland ecosystems.
Minimizing Offset for Latching Voltage-Mode Sense Amplifiers for Sub-Threshold Operation

This paper examines latch style voltage mode sense amplifiers for operation in the sub-threshold region, where VDD<VT. We show that the offset gets worse relative to strong inversion as technology scales. Furthermore, increasing the sizes of devices in the sense amplifier does not yield the reduction of input referred offset according to 1/(WL)0.5 that is achieved for strong inversion operation. We analyze the source of the offset and propose circuit level operating principles for minimizing its impact in subthreshold SAs. This design methodology will optimize sub- VT SAs for more robust ultra low power operation.
Reproductive history in relation to plasma hormone levels in healthy post-menopausal women.

Abstract Objectives: We sought to examine the relationship between reproductive history and measures of selected gonadotrophins and steroid hormones among post-menopausal women. Previous studies have suggested that there is a negative correlation between parity and post-menopausal serum estrogens, which may be a mechanism by which pregnancies protect women from the development of breast cancer. Methods: We analyzed women who experienced a natural menopause within the Healthy Women Study cohort both 1 and 8 years after menopause. Lifetime reproductive history was obtained and blood was assayed for estrone, estradiol, androstenedione, testosterone, follicle stimulating hormone (FSH), and luteinizing hormone (LH) at 1 year post-menopause and for many of these steroid hormones at 8 years post-menopause. Also at 8 years post-menopause, a hip bone mineral density measure was obtained. Results: Age at menopause related to a modest increase in estrone at 1 year but a decrease in estrone and estradiol at eight years. Adjustment for body mass index (BMI), oral contraceptive use, alcohol use, cigarette smoking, and education had little impact on these findings. There were no other internally consistent relationships between reproductive variables and steroid hormones or hip-bone mineral density. Conclusions: These observations do not support the hypothesis that parity acts to diminish endogenous levels of post-menopausal estrogens.
Atypical Hallervorden-Spatz disease with preserved cognition and obtrusive obsessions and compulsions.

We describe the case of an adult female with Hallervorden-Spatz disease (HSD), "eye-of-the-tiger" sign on cranial magnetic resonance imaging scan, and two mu- tations in the pantothenate kinase 2 (PANK2) gene. Symp- tomatic presentation included stuttering dysarthria, dys- tonic posturing, increased limb and axial muscle tone, choreoathetosis, stereotyped motor behaviors, and obses- sive- compulsive symptomatology since adolescence. Exten- sive neuropsychological testing at 40 and 44 years of age revealed a relatively normal IQ and stable cognitive pattern overall. This case demonstrates that HSD patients who survive into middle age should not be assumed to have a progressive dementia. In such cases, atypical behavioral problems such as persistent obsessions and compulsions may be present instead. © 2005 Movement Disorder Society
Device specific modelling of the nonlinear joint transform correlator using LCLV

Introduces a real-time nonlinear device such as a liquid crystal light valve (LCLV) which serves as a detector as well as a nonlinear threshold device. Unlike other previous methods, no optic-to-electronic-to-optic conversion is necessary, since the function of the square law detector is performed by the LCLV as required by joint Fourier transform. Nonlinearity was introduced via an optically addressable spatial light modulator in the joint transform correlator in an attempt to improve the relatively poor cross-correlation peak power as compared to the DC power. The nonlinearity was modeled using a curve-fitting technique and then the whole system was modeled in a computer. The simulation results are compared with the experimental results. >
Forest canopy height from the Multiangle Imaging SpectroRadiometer (MISR) assessed with high resolution discrete return lidar

In this study retrievals of forest canopy height were obtained through adjustment of a simple geometricoptical (GO) model against red band surface bidirectional reflectance estimates from NASA's Multiangle Imaging SpectroRadiometer (MISR), mapped to a 250 m grid. The soil-understory background contribution was partly isolated prior to inversion using regression relationships with the isotropic, geometric, and volume scattering kernel weights of a Li-Ross kernel-driven bidirectional reflectance distribution function (BRDF) model. The height retrievals were assessed using discrete return lidar data acquired over sites in Colorado as part of the Cold Land Processes Experiment (CLPX) and used with fractional crown cover retrievals to obtain aboveground woody biomass estimates. For all model runs with reasonable backgrounds and initial b/r (vertical to horizontal crown radii) values b2.0, root mean square error (RMSE) distributions were centered between 2.5 and 3.7 m while R2 distributions were centered between 0.4 and 0.7. The MISR/ GO aboveground biomass estimates predicted via regression on fractional cover and mean canopy height for the CLPX sites showed good agreement with U.S. Forest Service Interior West map data (adjusted R2=0.84). The implication is that multiangle sensors such as MISR can provide spatially contiguous retrievals of forest canopy height, cover, and aboveground woody biomass that are potentially useful in mapping distributions of aboveground carbon stocks, tracking disturbance, and in initializing, constraining, and validating ecosystem models. This is important because the MISR record is spatially comprehensive and extends back to the year 2000 and the launch of the NASA Earth Observing System (EOS) Terra satellite; it might thus provide a ~10-year baseline record that would enhance exploitation of data from the NASA Deformation, Ecosystem Structure and Dynamics of Ice (DESDynI) mission, as well as furthering realization of synergies with active instruments.
The Influence of Neighborhood Poverty During Childhood on Fertility, Education, and Earnings Outcomes

Previous studies attempting to estimate the relative importance of family, neighborhood, residential stability, and homeownership status characteristics of childhood environments on young adult outcomes have: (1) treated these variables as though they were independent, and (2) were limited in their ability to control for household selection effects. This study offers advances in both areas. First, it treats the key explanatory variables above as endogenously determined (sometimes simultaneously so). Second, to deal both with this endogeneity and the selection problem, instrumental variable estimates are computed for how childhood average values of neighborhood poverty rate relate to fertility, education and labor market outcomes in later life. The paper analyzes data from the US Panel Study of Income Dynamics (PSID) that are matched with Census tract data, thereby permitting documentation of a wide range of family background and contextual characteristics. For children born between 1968 and 1974, data are...
Multi-Agent Cooperative Transactions for E-Commerce

E-Commerce is a distributed computing environment with dynamic relationships among a large number of autonomous service requesters, brokers and providers. With the increasing automation of e-commerce applications, we will see the use of software agents that cooperate to perform business transactions. Multi-agent cooperative transactions are different in their requirements both from conventional atomic transactions executed under centralized control and from nested transactions executed under hierarchical control. Cooperative transactions require peer-to-peer protocols based on inter-agent communication. In this paper, we develop a cooperative mulit-agent transaction model that includes peer-to-peer protocols for commit control and failure recovery. The significance and feasibility of this approach have been demonstrated in a prototype implemented at HP Labs, using our dynamic agent infrastructure.
Changes in Erythrocyte Membrane Trans and Marine Fatty Acids between 1999 and 2006 in Older Americans

Over the last several years, national programs to lower the content of industrially produced (IP) C18:1 and C18:2 trans fatty acids in foods have been implemented, but whether this has resulted in lower blood trans fatty acid levels is unknown. Likewise, an increased perception of the health benefits of fish oils rich in EPA and DHA may have resulted in an increase in consumption and blood levels of these fatty acids. To explore these issues, we analyzed the changes in RBC fatty acid composition between the 7th (1998–2001) and 8th (2005–2007) examination cycles in a random sample of the Framingham Offspring cohort. This was a retrospective cohort study of 291 participants from whom blood was drawn at both examinations and for whom complete covariate data were available. Overall, the proportion of trans fatty acids in RBC changed by −23% (95% CI: −26 to −21%). RBC EPA+DHA proportions increased by 41% (95% CI: 31 to 52%) in 38 individuals who were taking fish oil supplements at examination 8, but in 253 participants not taking fish oil, the proportion of RBC EPA+DHA did not change. In conclusion, in a random subsample of Framingham Offspring participants with serial observations over 6.7 y, the proportion of trans fatty acids in RBC decreased. Those of EPA+DHA increased in people taking fish oil supplements. These changes could potentially translate into a lower risk for cardiovascular disease.
Metabolic studies with I131 labeled thyroid compounds: distribution and excretion of radiodiiodotyrosine in human beings.

PREVIOUS studies of the metabolism of labeled thyroidal substances (1, 2, 3, 4, 5) have suggested that thyroxine is slowly metabolized to at least two substances—inorganic iodide and diiodotyrosine. The further fate of the inorganic iodide liberated from the catabolism of thyroxine is well known, but that of diiodotyrosine is not. Earlier studies dealing with large doses of diiodotyrosine in human subjects indicated that it was decomposed to iodide, since urinary excretion of iodide rose greatly after the administration of diiodotyrosine (6). On the other hand, Salter (7) listed values for the concentration of diiodotyrosine in both erythrocytes and serum of normal persons and of those having various thyroid disorders. The possibilities that diiodotyrosine may exist as a free amino acid in the blood or that it may be accumulated or secreted by the thyroid, merit a reinvestigation of the metabolism of diiodotyrosine in man. We have, therefore, prepared diiodotyrosine in radioactive form (labeled with I131)...
The Metabolism of Trichomonas vaginalis: The Glycolytic Pathway*

SUMMARY. Three enzymes of the glycolytic pathway, hitherto not identified in Trichomonas vaginalis, have been studied: phosphoglucomutasse, α-glycerophosphate dehydrogenase, and lactic dehydrogenase. The identification of seven phosphorylated glycolytic intermediates is reported. The operation of glycolysis in T. vaginalis is postulated from enzymatic as well as chemical studies.
Construction and Evaluation of Recombinant Virus Vaccines for Lassa Fever

The first clinical and pathological descriptions of Lassa fever were reported in 1970 as a result of a program to investigate the prevalence of certain virus infections among missionaries in West Africa (Frame et al., 1970). The index patient was a nurse working in a mission hospital in Lassa, Nigeria. She developed a persistent fever, was transferred to Bingham Memorial Hospital in Jos, Nigeria, and died on the 14th day of illness. A second nurse, who cared for the index patient on the day of admission to the hospital in Jos, developed a febrile illness 9 days later. The clinical course of this illness paralleled that of the index case in that the patient maintained a high fever, developed a severe sore throat, facial edema, and macular rash, and died on the 11th day of illness. A third nurse who had contact with the first two patients became ill 1 week after the second patient died. As her condition deteriorated similarly to the first two patients, she was transferred to Presbyterian Hospital in New York City. Upon the administration of supportive therapy, including fluid and electrolyte replacement and regimens of tetracycline, chloramphenicol, and chloroquine, this patient gradually recovered over the next several weeks. The clinical and epidemiological observations associated with these three cases suggested a new viral hemorrhagic fever not previously reported in Africa.
Consumption of Bifidobacterium animalis subsp. lactis BB-12 impacts upper respiratory tract infection and the function of NK and T cells in healthy adults.

SCOPE Probiotics can modulate immunity and reduce upper respiratory tract infections (URTI) in humans; however few studies have examined both outcomes in the same trial. The goal of the current study was to investigate the effect of Bifidobacterium animalis subsp. lactis BB-12, on natural killer (NK) and T-cell function in conjunction with self-reported cold/flu outcomes in healthy adults. METHODS AND RESULTS In a randomized, partially blinded, four-period crossover study, healthy adults (n = 30) were recruited, and received four treatments for 4 weeks in a random order: (i) yogurt smoothies alone (YS); smoothies with BB-12 added (ii) before (PRE) or (iii) after (POST) yogurt fermentation, or (iv) BB-12 capsule (CAP). NK- and T-cell function was assessed at baseline and after each treatment. Incidence and severity of cold/flu infection was quantified using self-reported URTI questionnaires. Participants on YS, PRE, or CAP treatments had elevated IL-2 secretion and NK-cell cytotoxicity, concurrently with fewer days with URTI. However, the POST treatment did not change immune outcomes or the severity of URTI. CONCLUSION The timing of BB-12 addition to yogurt smoothies in relation to the fermentation process influenced the impact of BB-12 on immune function and cold/flu severity in young healthy adults.
A State under Review: Israel and the Universal Periodic Review of the Human Rights Council

(2009). A State under Review: Israel and the Universal Periodic Review of the Human Rights Council. Israel Journal of Foreign Affairs: Vol. 3, No. 2, pp. 117-132.
The Formation and Growth of Nanoscale Particles by Rapid Condensation of A Sputtered Vapor

Some factors influencing the formation, growth and convective transport of the particles by the rapid condensation of a vapor produced by high pressure sputtering in an inert gas are discussed.
Locke's Influence on Jefferson's "Bill for Establishing Religious Freedom"

Thomas Jefferson's "Bill for Establishing Religious Free dom," written in 1779 and passed in a modified form by the Virginia legislature in 1786, is one of the most important sources of this nation's founding principles outside the Constitution. In Jefferson's eyes, the bill was a crucial part of "a system by which every fibre would be eradicated of ancient or future aristocracy; and a foundation laid for a government truly republican."1 He considered it one of the three greatest accomplishments of his life, along with the writing of the Declaration of Independence and the founding of the University of Virginia.2 The leading principles of the bill are religious freedom and the separation of church and state. These principles, drawn by Jef ferson "in all the latitude of reason and right,"3 are now widely regarded as essential components of free government. The bill also teaches that God seeks to extend religion not by force, or even by faith, but rather "by its influence on reason alone."4 This novel conception of the deity was the centerpiece of Jefferson's nonsectarian theology, which he developed in public documents such as the Declaration of Independence, and his "rational" ver sion of Christianity, which he set forth in private writings and
By What Right

Unless an instructional program is based upon characteristics of the learner, it may not work. The range of individual learning styles poses problems for program developers. To what extent can the ...
Theoretical Evaluation of Spin-Dependent Auger De-Excitation in Mn2+-Doped Semiconductor Nanocrystals

A quantitative method for analysis of fast Mn2+-centered Auger processes in Mn2+-doped semiconductors is introduced. Analytical expressions have been derived that describe the Coulomb (″direct″) and exchange (″sp–d″) contributions to Mn2+-electron Auger de-excitation rate constants. All of the quantities in these expressions can be calculated using existing electronic structure methods without the computational expense of multireference approaches. Using time-dependent density functional theory to generate input parameters, these expressions have been applied to calculate Auger de-excitation rate constants in Mn2+-doped CdS nanocrystals. The results of these calculations agree well with experiment. Analysis reveals that the large rate constants for Auger de-excitation in Mn2+-doped semiconductors are primarily attributable to effective s–d exchange coupling.
The intergenerational consequences of retiree healthcare premiums: what is the evidence?

The purpose of this research is to examine the association between the unfunded OPEB liability and current expenditures for state governments as a measure of intergenerational equity. The research hypothesizes that states use the money to provide a higher level of current services than would be possible if the retiree healthcare premiums were fully funded. The results indicate that the current generation is receiving services but deferring the burden of paying for a portion of the services to future generations. This study is among the first to investigate the OPEB liability as a source of financing for current-period services for state governments.
A Curriculum on Care for Complex Patients: Resident Perspectives.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES Caring for patients with a challenging mix of medical, psychological, and social problems may easily overwhelm residents. We developed a month-long "Care for Complex Patients" curriculum for second-year residents to improve their ability to care for this group of patients by increasing their understanding of why the care is complex and by building communication, teamwork, and resource management skills. METHODS Surveys and focus groups were used to assess the impact of the curriculum. Quantitative and qualitative methods were used to evaluate responses. RESULTS Between 2008 and 2010, 24 residents completed our rotation. Eighty-three percent completed the pre-curriculum and post-curriculum surveys. Residents' self-ratings significantly improved in all 11 complex care management skills, and residents reported increased confidence when working with patients whose care was complex. Residents were surprised to learn about all the community resources and began using these resources when providing care for these patients. Despite rating themselves improved, a large number of residents still rated themselves as not competent in many of the skills. CONCLUSIONS A curriculum for residents focused on education in 11 key skill areas in the care of complex patients led to increased self-confidence and willingness to provide complex care. However, 1 month of training is an insufficient amount of time to help most learners achieve self-assessed ratings of capable and competent in using these key skills when caring for complex patients.
Test equipment development for fan output efficiency

In order to overcome the problem of complicated process and lower efficiency in the axial-flow fan output efficiency measurement,a practical and new type measurement method based on truss structure was proposed.Output efficiency can be determined only by parameters of torque and rotation rate.The input and output mathematical model was established.Techniques including design principles and algorithm etc.were also introduced for the test device.Actual application shows that the technique is valid.Comparing it with other methods,this technologies integrated in this equipment has the merit of simple mechanics and high working efficiency.
Malaria transmission of anopheles sinensis in Xiangshan Peninsula

Objective To understand the potential capacity of malaria transmission of anopheles sinensis in Xiangshan Peninsula.Methods An investigation method for capacity of local vector transmission was used for quantitative calculation of anopheles sinensis biting rate,human blood index,man-biting habit and expected life of infectivity,etc,and then the vector capacity and basic reproduction rate of anopheles sinensis was obtained according to the formula of CarrettJones.ResultsThe basic reproduction rate of local anopheles sinensis were 1.22 on average,with the highest of 4.16 in July.Conclusions Both vectorial capacity and basic reproduction rate of local anopheles sinensis were relative high,and the basic reproduction rate from July to September were higher than critical level,which indicated a relative strong malarial transmission capacity and outbreak of malarial disease.
In Vitro Chemotherapeutic Testing of Urologic Tumors

AbstractWe studied 20 transitional cell tumors of the bladder and 25 adenocarcinomas of the kidney in vitro to determine their chemotherapeutic sensitivity. The different sensitivity patterns among the individual tumors were demonstrated. Identical drug sensitivity patterns could be identified in the primary and metastatic sites, and in tumor tissue removed from the primary and metastatic deposits in the same patient. Human renal adenocarcinoma maintained in the athymic mouse demonstrated identical chemotherapeutic sensitivity patterns in vitro and in vivo. Our data would support that these in vitro chemotherapy studies may assist in the selection of agents to use in human tumorbearing hosts.
Summary: Biobehavioral Perspectives in Coronary Arteriosclerosis

The influence of behavioral processes on arteriosclerosis is evident in pathogenesis of the basic process, management of clinical manifestations, and prevention of arteriosclerotic cardiovascular disease. Recent progress in all these areas has come from interdisciplinary research in which the interactions between physiological and behavioral processes have been explored. Basic neurobiologic studies have indicated mechanisms whereby behavioral processes influence metabolic and hemodynamic processes. Principles of behavior analysis have revealed basic determinants of human behavior in reduction of cardiovascular disease. Development approaches toward behaviors related to cardiovascular disease have achieved some success in reducing incidence of addictive cigarette smoking in youngsters. Finally, comprehensive community programs for control of cardiovascular risk factors have been successful in reducing incidence of cardiovascular disease. Thus, the record shows that a substantial proportion of our recent progress in basic knowledge, management, and prevention of arteriosclerotic cardiovascular disease has been the result of progress in biobehavioral research.
Contrastive perspectives on cleft sentences

This study examines the use of cleft sentences in J. K. Rowland’s Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone and the Norwegian and Spanish translations of this novel, finding that clefts are most frequent in the Norwegian translation and least frequent in the Spanish translation, with the English original somewhere in between. The results are consistent with earlier findings that frequency in cleft usage differs considerably across languages which have this structure and that these differences cannot be attributed solely to information-stuctural properties of clefts in the three languages or to differences in structural properties such as word order or intonational flexibility.
The Political Economy of Commercial Policy

Abstract This chapter surveys research on the demand for protectionism as well as theoretical and empirical work on the (i) electoral mechanisms, the (ii) lobbying institutions, and the (iii) legislative bargaining that affect its supply. A recent trend is mutual feedbacks between commercial policy on the one hand and economic conditions and political institutions on the other. Areas ripe for more exploration include informational lobbying, the role of the media, firm-level analysis of lobbying and more realistic approaches to labor markets.
Congenital Optic Nerve Anomalies

Congenital optic nerve anomalies often lead to significant visual impairment. Their prevalence is rising with an increasing ability to diagnose and classify each specific malformation. These anomalies are associated with several neurologic, systemic, and ophthalmologic features which may predict a patient's prognosis and help physicians identify treatment plans. Here, we briefly review congenital optic nerve anomalies, their unique presentations, and clinical considerations.
Unstable Angina/Non-ST-Elevation Myocardial Infarction in the Elderly

Ischemic heart disease is the leading cause of morbidity and mortality for adults in the Western world. Approximately 1.4 million patients are admitted to US hospitals for unstable angina and non-ST-elevation myocardial infarction (UA/NSTEMI) (1). Of patients admitted to US hospitals for MI, 37% are 75 years of age or older (2). When compared to younger patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS), elderly patients are more likely to have medical and cardiac co-morbidities and atypical symptoms complicating initial diagnosis. Elderly patients are more likely to have adverse outcomes associated with ACS, with 60% of MI-related deaths occurring in the population 75 years of age or older (2). Despite the burden of risk in elderly patients, evidence-based therapies are under-used in this age group (3, 4, 5).
On the optimality of channel inversion with diversity

Asymptotic comparisons of ergodic channel capacity at high SNR are provided for optimal power and rate adaptation and channel inversion over fading channels with general distributions, as well as the capacity of the equivalent AWGN channel. We present closed-form expressions for the high-SNR capacity difference gaps among these capacities. Based on these expressions it is shown that the presence of space diversity or multi-user diversity make channel inversion arbitrarily close to achieving optimal capacity at high SNR with sufficiently large number of antennas or users. In addition, for the case of low SNR, it is shown that a variant of channel inversion can be made close to the optimal scheme, and provide better capacity under fading than the equivalent AWGN channel. Numerical results are shown to corroborate our analytical results.
The CPT Code

As healthcare has evolved, documentation and coding have become increasingly complicated. With the increasing complexity came a requirement for standardized tracking of procedures across healthcare entities. Resultantly, the American Medical Association (AMA) developed and published the Current Procedural Terminology (CPT) code, which has become the standard language across providers, hospitals, and healthcare payers for documenting procedures and services. By providing a standardized code set, consistent communication is enhanced to improve patient safety. Today, the CPT code set is divided into three categories that describe commonly procedures performed, measure the performance of quality measures, and track new and emerging practices. The creation and change of the code set is standardized and accessible to allow fair change and maintenance of the code set across the healthcare community.
Anticoagulation and Continuous Renal Replacement Therapy (CRRT)

Vascular access is one of the most important features in any extracorporeal therapy with data by Hackbarth suggesting optimal size and location effects on CRRT circuit patency. The choice of anticoagulation continues to be the style of practice with options of none (not advisable), heparin, citrate, and now prostacyclin. Comparison data of heparin to citrate suggest similar CRRT circuit life but with less risk of complications in the citrate arm.
Estimation of blood pressure from non-invasive data

Blood pressure (BP) is one of the most important physiological parameter that can provide crucial information for health care. The widely used cuff based technology is not very convenient or comfortable as it occludes the blood flow in the arteries during the time of measurement. In past, Phonocardiogram (PCG), Electrocardiogram (ECG) and Photoplethysmogram (PPG) signals have been used to predict the BP values. In this paper, we propose to estimate the blood pressure from PPG using Multi Task Gaussian Processes (MTGPs) and compare with Artificial Neural networks (ANNs). Both MTGPs and ANNs are evaluated on the clinical data obtained from MIMIC Database. The performance of the proposed method is found to be comparable or better than the existing methods of computing BP from non-invasive data.
Interaction of Gamma Rays and X-Rays with Matter

Gamma rays are electromagnetic radiation either emitted from a nucleus or an annihilation reaction between matter and antimatter. X-rays are electromagnetic radiation emitted by charged particles (usually electrons) in changing atomic energy levels or in slowing down in a Coulomb force field. X-rays and gamma rays have identical properties, only differing in their origin. The two used to be distinguishable by energy of the particle, but now linear accelerators are able to produce high-energy X-rays that have the same or higher energy as gamma rays. The practical range of photon energies emitted by radioactive atoms extends from a few thousand eV up to over 7 MeV. On the other hand, linear accelerators are able to produce more energetic photons. The energy ranges of X-rays in terms of generating voltage are given in Table 3.1.
Membrane Position Dependency of the pKa and Conductivity of the Protein Ion Channel.

The dependency of current–voltage characteristics of the α-hemolysin channel on the channel position within the membrane was studied using Poisson–Nernst–Planck theory of ion conductivity with soft repulsion between mobile ions and protein atoms (SP-PNP). The presence of the membrane environment also influences the protonation state of the residues at the boundary of the water–lipid interface. In this work, we predict that Asp and Lys residues at the protein rim change their protonation state upon penetration to the lipid environment. Free energies of protein insertion in the membrane for different penetration depths were estimated using the Poisson–Boltzmann/solvent-accessible surface area (PB/SASA) model. The results show that rectification and reversal potentials are very sensitive to the relative position of channel in the membrane, which in turn contributes to alternative protonation states of lipid-penetrating ionizable groups. The prediction of channel position based on the matching of calculated rectification with experimentally determined rectification is in good agreement with recent neutron reflection experiments. Based on the results, we conclude that α-hemolysin membrane position is determined by a combination of factors and not only by the pattern of the surface hydrophobicity as is typically assumed.
Arctic Ice Gouging and Ice Keel Turbates

Distinctive surficial morphology (Fig. 1) and stratification are generated when sea-ice keels are driven along the seabed in the Beaufort Sea (Fig. 2). The morphology consists of linear ice-gouge furrows that criss-cross extensive shallow shelves in overlapping patterns (Fig. 3). Intense ice gouging in the Arctic is associated with the stamukhi zone [Reimnitz and Barnes, 1974], where sea-ice ridges form and are grounded on the shelf between 15–50 m water depth. Ice gouges in the Beaufort Sea typically are incised 1 m into the sea floor with maximum incisions over 4 m deep, relief of over 7 m and densities greater than 200 km-2 [Barnes et al., 1984]. The orientations and terminations of ice gouges indicate oblique uphill scouring as well as strong shore-parallel movement. Sea-floor morphology linked to studies of ice motion at Barrow, Alaska (Fig. 4) support the idea that gouging occurred during ice break-up [Shapiro and Barnes, 1991]. In contrast, investigations of ice-gouge terminations off Canada indicate ice-push events resulted from ice motion in response to storms during freeze-up [Hequette et al.,1995].
Birefringent π-Phase-Shifted Fiber Bragg Gratings for Sensing at 1000 °C Fabricated Using an Infrared Femtosecond Laser and a Phase Mask

Birefringent π-phase-shifted Bragg gratings for multi-parameter sensing at temperatures ∼1000 °C are written inside a standard single mode silica optical fiber (SMF-28) with infrared femtosecond pulses and a special phase mask one half of which is shifted with respect to the other by 5/4 of the mask period. The birefringence is caused by the presence of light-induced sub-wavelength periodic planar nanostructures in the fiber core, whose orientation is controlled by the laser polarization, and is maximized when the laser pulse polarization is aligned perpendicular to the fiber core. The birefringence can reach ∼4.2 × 10−4 at room temperature at the 1.5 × 10−4 level after 100 h annealing at 1000 °C. Erasure and rewriting of the planar nanostructures inside fiber Bragg gratings by changing the laser pulse polarization is demonstrated.
Continuous pulse oximetry and respiratory rate trends predict short-term respiratory and growth outcomes in premature infants.

To examine the correlation between interval vital signs recorded by nursing staff and continuous monitor recordings, and to determine whether aggregated monitor recordings can better predict impending escalation of respiratory support in premature infants. Preterm infants on noninvasive respiratory support or room air (RA) were prospectively enrolled. Nursing-and monitor-recorded pulse oximetry (SpO2) and respiratory rates (RR) data were recorded daily. Ninety four infants were recruited with median gestational age of 32 weeks and birth weight of 1848 g. > 3 × 106 data points were analyzed over 2204 patient days. Median events/day recorded was 8 (nursing) and 1424 (monitor) per infant. We did not find a strong correlation between monitor- and nursing events of tachypnea (RR > 70) and hypoxia (SpO2 5%/day (p 30%/day (p < 0.0001) were more likely to require an increase in respiratory support within next 3 days. Monitor-recorded hypoxia and tachypnea were also associated with poor weight gain. Monitor-recorded trends for tachypnea and oxygen saturations < 90% were able to predict short-term respiratory outcomes, and were associated with growth outcomes. This study emphasizes the potential for monitor-recorded data to augment clinical decision making at the bedside.
Major changes in tree community composition and structure over 86 years in an old-growth beech-maple-hemlock forest1

Old-growth forests dominated by shade-tolerant tree species are among the plant communities most likely to be in equilibrium. However, the assumption that these forests show long-term stability has rarely been tested. In this study, we resurveyed plots established 86 yr before in an old-growth beech-maple-hemlock forest in northeast Ohio to examine changes in tree community composition, diversity, and structure. Species richness and diversity remained constant from 1932 to 2018, but we found dramatic shifts in the relative abundances of species and the size structure of populations. Fagus grandifolia remained the most frequent and abundant tree species in the forest, while changing dramatically in size structure; larger Fagus grandifolia trees died and were replaced by large numbers of root suckers, increasing the overall stem density of the forest by 50%. Tsuga canadensis declined in frequency and stem density, shifted away from smaller size classes, and had almost no saplings. Plots dominated by Tsuga canadensis in 1932 showed the greatest magnitude of compositional change over time, shifting toward dominance by Acer saccharum, which along with Acer rubrum, increased greatly in frequency, stem density, and basal area. Eight species including Castanea dentata and Sassafras albidum were lost from the plots. In sum, Fagus grandifolia and Acer saccharum are displacing Tsuga canadensis in this stand. Tree diseases, pests, and deer herbivory likely contributed to these compositional shifts. Given the time scale of the directional changes we observed, even relatively undisturbed communities such as old-growth forests might be best viewed as not in equilibrium.
CryoEM structure of the Vibrio cholerae Type IV competence pilus secretin PilQ

Natural transformation is the process by which bacteria take up genetic material from their environment and integrate it into their genome by homologous recombination. It represents one mode of horizontal gene transfer and contributes to the spread of traits like antibiotic resistance. In Vibrio cholerae, the Type IV competence pilus is thought to facilitate natural transformation by extending from the cell surface, binding to exogenous DNA, and retracting to thread this DNA through the outer membrane secretin, PilQ. A lack of structural information has hindered our understanding of this process, however. Here, we solved the first ever high-resolution structure of a Type IV competence pilus secretin. A functional tagged allele of VcPilQ purified from native V. cholerae cells was used to determine the cryoEM structure of the PilQ secretin in amphipol to ~2.7 A. This structure highlights for the first time key differences in the architecture of the Type IV competence pilus secretin from the Type II and Type III Secretin System secretins. Based on our cryoEM structure, we designed a series of mutants to interrogate the mechanism of PilQ. These experiments provide insight into the channel that DNA likely traverses to promote the spread of antibiotic resistance via horizontal gene transfer by natural transformation. We prove that it is possible to reduce pilus biogenesis and natural transformation by sealing the gate, suggesting VcPilQ as a new drug target.