cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Bounds on the largest singular value of a matrix and the convergence of simultaneous and block-iterative algorithms for sparse linear systems

We obtain the following upper bounds for the eigenvalues of the matrix A†A. For any a in the interval [0, 2] let and ca and ra the maxima of the caj and rai, respectively. Then no eigenvalue of the matrix A†A exceeds the maximum of over all i, nor the maximum of over all j. Therefore, no eigenvalue of A†A exceeds cara. Using these bounds, it follows that, for the matrix G with entries no eigenvalue of G†G exceeds one, provided that, for some a in the interval [0, 2], we have and Using this result, we obtain convergence theorems for several iterative algorithms for solving the problem Ax=b, including the CAV, BICAV, CARP1, SART, SIRT, and the block-iterative DROP and SART methods.
High-Quality Health Care: The Essential Route To Eliminating Disparities And Achieving Health Equity

In the past decade and a half, the United States has witnessed major advances in the recognition and reporting of health and health care disparities. Now is the time to move beyond describing these disparities to actually eliminating them. Because of the interlocking nature of disparities in health, disparities in health care, and the role of social determinants, there is a need to focus our efforts on one primary goal: achieving health equity by securing access for the entire population to the highest possible quality of health care. Access to high-quality care for populations of color can have the same impact as it has for majority populations: improving population health, improving patients' experiences of care, and reducing health care costs.
Characteristics of Atmospheric Transport Using Three Numerical Formulations for Atmospheric Dynamics in a Single GCM Framework

Abstract This study examines the sensitivity of a number of important archetypical tracer problems to the numerical method used to solve the equations of tracer transport and atmospheric dynamics. The tracers' scenarios were constructed to exercise the model for a variety of problems relevant to understanding and modeling the physical, dynamical, and chemical aspects of the climate system. The use of spectral, semi-Lagrangian, and finite volume (FV) numerical methods for the equations is explored. All subgrid-scale physical parameterizations were the same in all model simulations. The model behavior with a few short simulations with passive tracers is explored, and with much longer simulations of radon, SF6, ozone, a tracer designed to mimic some aspects of a biospheric source/sink of CO2, and a suite of tracers designed around the conservation laws for thermodynamics and mass in the model. Large differences were seen near the tropopause in the model, where the FV core shows a much reduced level of vertic...
An improved floating-random-walk algorithm for solving the multi-dielectric Dirichlet problem

An improved floating-random-walk algorithm for solving the multidielectric Dirichlet problem is outlined. The improvement is achieved by using statistically generated Green's functions that are calculated beforehand and stored as lookup tables. These tables have been used to solve the multidielectric Dirichlet problem for an arbitrary two-dimensional geometry. The improved algorithm is also compared with the conventional floating-random-walk algorithm and is found to be at least two times more efficient. Results are presented for two types of parallel-plate geometries. >
Identification and Characterization of the Flavin:NADH Reductase (PrnF) Involved in a Novel Two-Component Arylamine Oxygenase

Two-component oxygenases catalyze a wide variety of important oxidation reactions. Recently we characterized a novel arylamine N-oxygenase (PrnD), a new member of the two-component oxygenase family (J. Lee et al., J. Biol. Chem. 280:36719-36728, 2005). Although arylamine N-oxygenases are widespread in nature, aminopyrrolnitrin N-oxygenase (PrnD) represents the only biochemically and mechanistically characterized arylamine N-oxygenase to date. Here we report the use of bioinformatic and biochemical tools to identify and characterize the reductase component (PrnF) involved in the PrnD-catalyzed unusual arylamine oxidation. The prnF gene was identified via sequence analysis of the whole genome of Pseudomonas fluorescens Pf-5 and subsequently cloned and overexpressed in Escherichia coli. The purified PrnF protein catalyzes reduction of flavin adenine dinucleotide (FAD) by NADH with a k(cat) of 65 s(-1) (K(m) = 3.2 muM for FAD and 43.1 muM for NADH) and supplies reduced FAD to the PrnD oxygenase component. Unlike other known reductases in two-component oxygenase systems, PrnF strictly requires NADH as an electron donor to reduce FAD and requires unusual protein-protein interaction with the PrnD component for the efficient transfer of reduced FAD. This PrnF enzyme represents the first cloned and characterized flavin reductase component in a novel two-component arylamine oxygenase system.
Development of Monoclonal Antibodies to Pear Psylla (Hemiptera: Psyllidae) and Evaluation of Field Predation by Two Key Predators

The pear psylla, Cacopsylla pyricola (Forster) (Hemiptera: Psyllidae), and related psyllids are important pests of pear (Pyrus spp.) worldwide. Many of these pests are thought to be partially controlled by predatory insects. To improve our understanding of the predator species that attack pear psylla, we developed monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) against this pest for predator gut content studies. Mice were immunized with homogenates of nymphal, adult, and egg stages of pear psylla. A mouse immunized with nymph homogenate showed high activity against all three antigen types and was used for MAb development. From 952 hybridomas screened, 35 showed good activity to pear psylla and low activity against nontarget arthropods. Four MAbs were retained: two from immunoglobulin M (IgM)-secreting hybridomas, both with high activity against all stages of psylla except young eggs, and two immunoglobin G-secreting hybridomas, both with high activity against psylla eggs and gravid adult females. Using one of the IgM-MAbs, pear psylla remains were detected in the predatory bugs Anthocoris tomentosus Pericart (Heteroptera: Anthocoridae) and Deraeocoris brevis (Uhler) (Heteroptera: Miridae) in laboratory feeding trials. Digestion half lives typically exceeded 24 h and were dependent on meal size and predator life stage. Gut content analysis of 970 field-collected D. brevis and Anthocoris spp. showed that the proportion which fed on psylla averaged 59% and that percentage closely tracked the density of pear psylla nymphs during three seasons. The utility of these antibodies for the study of trophic interactions and habitat management in relation to biological control of pear psylla is discussed.
Suction drainage of orthopaedic wounds.

Suction drainage, using silicone rubber catheters, is suggested as a method to provide more complete drainage of orthopaedic wounds. A series of 100 cases has been analyzed. It is our impression that wounds involving medullary bone in which complete hemostasis cannot be achieved by ordinary techniques, and wounds in which a potential dead space exists, should have suction drainage. A more benign and uncomplicated postoperative course can be anticipated if this treatment is used.
Trend and Opportunity Analysis: A Capstone Core MBA Marketing Project

The trend and opportunity analysis project is a capstone MBA core course assignment in which students analyze a broad trend in the macro-environment and make recommendations for a company regarding how it should respond to the trend. The exercise builds student research and analysis skills in addressing ill-structured business problems and helps students develop an appreciation of how trends create marketing opportunities (and threats) for businesses. The project is flexible in both delivery and substance and can be tailored to a variety of audiences and courses. Challenges in administering the exercise include grading and encouraging good research practices.
Quality Assessment of the Ethics Consultation Service at the Organizational Level: Accrediting Ethics Consultation Services.

There has been significant attention to assessing the quality of health care ethics consultation (HCEC) in recent years. These efforts have generally focused on assessing the quality of individual ...
Let's parse to prevent pwnage invited position paper

Software that processes rich content suffers from endemic security vulnerabilities. Frequently, these bugs are due to data confusion: discrepancies in how content data is parsed, composed, and otherwise processed by different applications, frameworks, and language runtimes. Data confusion often enables code injection attacks, such as cross-site scripting or SQL injection, by leading to incorrect assumptions about the encodings and checks applied to rich content of uncertain provenance. However, even for well-structured, value-only content, data confusion can critically impact security, e.g., as shown by XML signature vulnerabilities. This paper advocates the position that data confusion can be effectively prevented through the use of simple mechanisms--based on parsing--that eliminate ambiguities by fully resolving content data to normalized, clearly-understood forms. Using code injection on the Web as our motivation, we make the case that automatic defense mechanisms should be integrated with programming languages, application frameworks, and runtime libraries, and applied with little, or no, developer intervention. We outline a scalable, sustainable approach for developing and maintaining those mechanisms. The resulting tools can offer comprehensive protection against data confusion, even when multiple types of rich content data are processed and composed in complex ways.
Identification of nitrated immunoglobulin variable regions in the HIV-infected human brain: implications in HIV infection and immune response.

HIV can infiltrate the brain and lead to HIV-associated neurocognitive disorders (HAND). The pathophysiology of HAND is poorly understood, and there are no diagnostic biomarkers for it. Previously, an increase in inducible nitric oxide synthase levels and protein tyrosine nitration in the brain were found to correlate with the severity of HAND.1,2 In this study, we analyzed human brains from individuals who had HIV infection without encephalitis and with encephalitis/HAND and compared them to the brains of healthy individuals. We identified the nitrated proteins and determined the sites of modification using affinity enrichment followed by high-resolution and high-mass-accuracy nanoLC–MS/MS. We found that nitrated proteins were predominantly present in the HIV-infected individuals with encephalitis, and, interestingly, the modifications were predominantly located on immunoglobulin variable regions. Our molecular model indicated potential interactions with HIV envelope proteins and changes on the heavy and light chain interface upon the nitration and nitrohydroxylation of these residues. Therefore, our findings suggest a role for these modifications in the immune response, which may have implications in disease pathogenesis.
A Semiquantitative Estimate Method for Reporting Abnormal RBC Morphology

The protocol described is being used in the Grady Memorial Hospital laboratory to evaluate and report RBC abnormalities in peripheral blood smears. After scanning the data of the hematology profile, the technologist selects a suitable oil immersion field (OIF) containing between 200 and 250 red blood cells. If the morphology is normal in this field and in four additional fields, the peripheral blood smear is reported as “normochromic-normocytic.” If abnormal RBCs are seen, each type is counted or estimated as a percentage; certain changes, such as crenation, are not quantitated. The abnormal findings are reconfirmed in four additional OlFs before reporting. Reference values for the rare abnormal RBC found in healthy controls were established by the authors. Furthermore, 180 anemia patients were studied, correlating RBC abnormalities in peripheral blood with disease categories.
Abstract 5292: Identification of antiangiogenic small molecule natural products targeting anthrax toxin receptor 2

Bacillus anthracis protective antigen (PA), the B-subunit of the binary anthrax toxin, binds to the cellular receptors capillary morphogenesis gene protein 2 (CMG2) and tumor endothelial marker 8 (TEM8) with high affinity. Both CMG2 and TEM8 are expressed on endothelial cells during angiogenesis. We have shown that wild-type PA inhibits both VEGF-induced and bFGF-induced angiogenesis at moderate but statistically significant levels. Structure-activity studies identified a PA mutant that exhibited markedly enhanced inhibition of angiogenesis and also inhibited tumor growth in vivo. This mutant, PA SSSR , is unable to undergo normal cellular processing and thus, remains bound to the surface receptor. Further mutation of PA SSSR so that it does not bind to these cell surface receptors abolished its ability to inhibit angiogenesis. We conclude that high affinity anthrax receptor ligands, such as PA and PA SSSR , are angiogenesis inhibitors, and that anthrax toxin receptors are useful targets for anti-angiogenic therapy. The long-term goal of our research is to determine the extent to which antrax toxin receptor directed therapeutics can control tumor growth and metastasis. Here we show that in addition to inhibition of subcutaneous lung tumors, PA SSSR can inhibit the growth of orthotopically implanted breast cancer cells and extend survival in this mouse model. We also sought to identify small molecule natural products that can inhibit the interaction with the anthrax toxin receptor CMG2 and to determine their antiangiogenic and antitumor capacity in vivo. This work was based on the hypothesis that small molecule natural products can inhibit CMG2-ECM interactions required for breast cancer angiogenesis. This work leverages the wide variety of chemical entities generated by endophytic fungi, and the ability of other fungal compounds such as fumagillin to provide interesting insights into angiogenesis inhibitors. Following a high-throughput screen of >10,000 natural product extracts, we identified 48 extracts with significant inhibitory activity, of which ∼0.5% exhibited measurable activity. Of these, 9 exhibited 1:1 binding to CMG2 with IC 50 Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 103rd Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2012 Mar 31-Apr 4; Chicago, IL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2012;72(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 5292. doi:1538-7445.AM2012-5292
Interactions of Calcium/Calmodulin-dependent protein kinases (CaMK) and Extracellular-Regulated Kinase (ERK) in monocyte adherence and TNFα production

The circulating monocyte possesses a markedly different functional phenotype relative to the macrophage (Mphi). The adhesive interactions encountered by the monocyte, en route to the inflammatory focus, generate signals that culminate in the expression of a pro-inflammatory Mphi phenotype, marked by enhanced cytokine production. Previously, we demonstrated that calcium and calmodulin are essential for maximal Mphi activation and, in particular, TNFalpha production. These effects are likely to be mediated through signal transduction kinases that require the calcium/calmodulin complex. Here, we investigated the effect of adherence on calcium/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase (CaMK) II and IV activation of the extracellular-signal regulated kinase (ERK) 1/2 cascade and on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced TNFalpha production by human monocytes. Adherence activated ERK 1/2 and led to an 8-fold potentiation in LPS-induced TNFalpha production over similarly stimulated non-adherent cells. Inhibition of CaMK II prior to adherence prevented ERK 1/2 activation and attenuated by up to 40%, the TNFalpha response to subsequent LPS stimulation. CaMK II inhibition after adherence, however, failed to modify cytokine release. Inhibition of CaMK IV, both after adherence and in non-adherent monocytes, significantly inhibited LPS-induced ERK 1/2 activation and abrogated TNFalpha production by up to 75%. These data suggest that the function of CaMK II in TNFalpha production by adherent monocytes occurs during adhesion, is mediated in part by activation of ERK 1/2, and appears to "prime" the monocyte for enhanced cytokine production. CaMK IV, through activation of ERK 1/2, appears to have a direct role in the LPS signal transduction for TNFalpha production.
EYE MOVEMENT PATTERNS AS A FUNCTION OF PREVIOUS TACHISTOSCOPIC PRACTICE.

Eye movement patterns during a scanning cask were compared for Ss with over 100 hr. practice in tachistoscopic experiments and Ss with no such practice. The task consisted of scanning numeric matrices to determine the frequency of appearance (0–7) of a predesignated digit. The tachistoscopically practiced group scanned more quickly and made significantly fewer fixations per matrix, but made significantly more errors. Both groups showed significant variation in scan time as a function of the particular digit scanned for and as a function of frequency of appearance of the digit being scanned for.
Disruptive Attacks on Video Tactical Cognitive Radio Downlinks

We consider video transmission over a mobile cognitive radio (CR) system operating in a hostile environment where an intelligent adversary tries to disrupt communications. We investigate the optimal strategy for spoofing, desynchronizing, and jamming a cluster-based CR network with a Gaussian noise signal over a slow Rayleigh fading channel. The adversary can limit access for secondary users (SUs) by either transmitting a spoofing signal in the sensing interval, or a desynchronizing signal in the code acquisition interval. By jamming the network during the transmission interval, the adversary can reduce the rate of successful transmission. We show how the adversary can optimally allocate its energy across subcarriers during sensing, code acquisition, and transmission intervals. We determine a worst-case optimal energy allocation for spoofing, desynchronizing, and jamming, which gives an upper bound to the received video distortion of SUs. We also propose cross-layer resource allocation algorithms and evaluate their performance under disruptive attacks.
Optoelectronic properties of Ta 3 N 5 : A joint theoretical and experimental study

A joint theoretical and experimental study of the optoelectronic properties of ${\mathrm{Ta}}_{3}{\mathrm{N}}_{5}$ was conducted by means of ab initio calculations and ellipsometry measurements. Previous experimental work on ${\mathrm{Ta}}_{3}{\mathrm{N}}_{5}$ has not been conclusive regarding the direct or indirect nature of light absorption. Our work found excellent agreement between the optical spectrum computed using the Bethe-Salpeter equation and the measured one, with two prominent features occurring at 2.1 and 2.5 eV assigned to direct transitions between N and Ta states. The computed optical gap, obtained from the ${G}_{0}{W}_{0}$ direct photoemission gap, including spin-orbit coupling, electron-phonon renormalization of the conduction band, and exciton binding energy, was found to be in excellent agreement with measurements. Our results also showed that ${\mathrm{Ta}}_{3}{\mathrm{N}}_{5}$ is a highly anisotropic material with heavy holes in several directions, suggesting low hole mobilities, consistent with low measured photocurrents in the ${\mathrm{Ta}}_{3}{\mathrm{N}}_{5}$ literature.
Aspirin as an antithrombotic agent.

In retrospect, it appears that the earliest glimmers that aspirin might have antithrombotic properties were inherent in anecdotal reports of gastrointestinal bleeding in some patients, such as arthritics, who were consuming large amounts of aspirin. These reports were followed by controlled studies in 1938 which showed gastric hermorrhage [1] or, in 1958, occult blood in the feces, after the ingestion of aspirin [2].
Atomically-thin HfSe 2 transistors with native metal oxides

HfSe 2 is a layered semiconductor relevant for two-dimensional (2D) field effect transistors (FETs), with recent reports of a bulk band-gap comparable to Silicon (E g ∼ 1.1 eV) [1,2] and oxidation into the high-Κ insulator HO2 [1,3]. However, extreme environmental sensitivity has prevented device measurements in samples below bulk (∼ 20 nm) thickness [3]. Here, we present the first systematic study of HfSe 2 devices, including joint computational and spectroscopic elucidation of its electronic band structure, characterization of ambient degradation, and transport measurements down to carefully encapsulated trilayers. Transistors fabricated in inert atmospheres and capped with AlOx are long-term air-stable, with comparable performance to other 2D dichalcogenide semiconductors (I on /I off ∼ 106, current densities ∼30 μA/μm) but offering native integration with high-K HfOx dielectrics.
Thoracic Compression Myelopathy due to Facet Joint Osteophyte

Thoracic compression myelopathy is due to several diseases e.g. trauma, degenerative diseases, spondylolisthesis, and neoplasms primary or secondary. A solitary osteophyte of a faceted joint is a rare cause of compression myelopathy.
Biological basis for human capacitation-revisited.

Background A little more than a decade ago a review entitled 'Biological basis for human capacitation' was published. A primary conclusion of the review was that with all the technological advances that have been made since the first experiments demonstrated the in vivo requirement of capacitation for fertilization, very little progress had since been made, most significantly for human. Objective and rationale The present review was carried out to provide an update on the biological basis for human capacitation. It briefly revisits the original schema, presents a review of the literature that urged research interest in human sperm capacitation and puts under the spotlight the original definition of capacitation balanced against the limitations of experiments in vitro to characterize a complex process that necessarily mandates a female component, and very recent findings in the mouse. It also includes proposed considerations for new thinking regarding capacitation, and progress toward understanding the biology of human capacitation. Search methods The PubMed, Google Scholar and Scopus literature databases were reviewed extensively using inclusive, broad and multispecies search terms without publication date limitation. Outcomes Comprehensive screening of the literature database showed that no papers regarding human sperm capacitation in vivo have been published in the past 20 years. Recent experiments in the mouse have provided compelling and unanticipated data regarding capacitation and in vivo fertilization. Questions were posed and addressed regarding: stimuli for initiation of capacitation, capacitation relative to the cumulus-oocyte complex, comparison between in vivo and in vitro capacitation, and potential species-specific differences in location and timing of capacitation. Wider implications There has been no progress on the in vivo biology of human sperm capacitation since before the turn of the century. Human IVF and its technologies may likely have inhibited, and continue to hold back, any future in vivo experiments that would address one or more questions regarding acquisition of fertilizing capacity in human. The limiting factor for progress in the area is access to funding and human subjects.
Risk Factors of Elder Abuse

Elder abuse is a growing and emergent global public health concern. A better understanding of risk factors of elder abuse could help us develop effective screening methods to identify individuals who are at risk of elder abuse, allocate resources and services to those who are in need of help, and develop preventions and interventions to address the issue. This chapter providesa review of theories for explaining risk factors of elder abuse, describes victim and perpetrator risk factors contributing to elder abuse, and provides implications for future research on risk factors of elder abuse. In particular, to offer a more comprehensive review on risk factors of the issues, this chapter discusses victim and perpetrator risk factors separately.
An Updated, Evidence-Based Clinician’s Guide to the Evaluation and Treatment of West Syndrome

West syndrome (WS) is a rare disorder consisting of developmental regression, hypsarrhythmia, and infantile spasms. Over time, the clinical approach to this frequently debilitating epileptic encephalopathy has evolved considerably; however, the relative rarity of WS has made it challenging to study its evaluation, treatment, and neurodevelopmental outcome. The purpose of this review is to provide the practicing clinician with an evidence-based approach to WS. We focus on recent evidence that informs the clinician of the expected yield of diagnostic testing, including genetic evaluation, and a tiered approach both to the initial treatment and to treatment after relapse. Hormonal therapy or vigabatrin remains the most effective therapies for the treatment of WS, particularly when treatment is initiated promptly. While history, examination, and neuroimaging can identify an etiology for the majority of cases of IS, genetic testing is the highest yield investigation for the remainder of patients.
Nanoscopic imaging of chromatin topology utilizing intrinsic fluorescence from unmodified nucleic acids (Conference Presentation)

Imaging the nanoscale intracellular structures formed by nucleic acids, such as chromatin, in non-perturbed, structurally and dynamically complex cellular systems, will help improve our understanding of biological processes and open the next frontier for biological discovery. Current optical super-resolution fluorescence techniques require exogenous labels that may disrupt cell function and alter the subdiffractional macromolecular structures they are used to visualize. As a means for label-free optical super-resolution imaging, we examined the discovery of stochastic fluorescence switching of unmodified nucleic acids under visible light illumination. Utilizing this phenomenon and a single-molecule photon localization approach we generated subdiffraction-resolution images down to ~20nm using intrinsic fluorescence from nucleic acids. Specifically, the nanoscale organization of interphase nuclei and mitotic chromosomes were imaged. Using such a method for visualization, we performed a quantitative analysis of the DNA occupancy level and a subdiffractional analysis of the chromosomal organization. These experiments demonstrate a new method for visualizing the nanoscopic features of macromolecular structures composed of nucleic acids without the need for exogenous labels.
Adolescent Reproductive and Contraceptive Knowledge and Attitudes and Adult Contraceptive Behavior

Objectives Ineffective and inconsistent contraceptive use is common among adults, perhaps due to limited knowledge about reproduction and unfavorable attitudes toward contraception. Knowledge and attitudes are first developed in adolescence. We test whether adolescent knowledge and attitudes have long-term implications for adult contraceptive behavior. Methods Using the National Longitudinal Survey of Adolescent to Adult Health, our analytical sample (n = 6662) consists of those asked sex and contraception questions at Wave I (1995; students aged 15 and older) and who were sexually active and not pregnant at the time of the Wave IV (2007–2008) survey. We examined whether adolescent attitudes toward contraception, knowledge of condoms and reproduction, and confidence in contraceptive knowledge were predictive of adult contraceptive efficacy and consistency using logistic regression. Results In models adjusted for a range of socioeconomic, demographic, and life course factors, favorable attitudes toward contraception in adolescence increased the odds (aOR 1.21, CI 1.08–1.36) of using more effective methods rather than a less effective or no method of contraception in adulthood, as did more accurate condom knowledge (aOR 1.07, CI 1.00-1.14) and more accurate reproductive knowledge (aOR 1.07, CI 1.00-1.13). Adolescents with more favorable attitudes toward contraception also used contraception more consistently as adults (aOR 1.27, CI 1.14–1.43), as did those with more accurate condom knowledge (aOR 1.10, CI 1.03–1.18). Conclusions Attitudes towards contraception and knowledge about condoms and reproduction acquired during adolescence are predictive of adult contraceptive behavior. Results suggest that comprehensive sex education during adolescence could improve effective contraceptive behavior throughout the life course.
DNA Amplification Fingerprinting of Mycorrhizal Fungi and Associated Plant Materials Using Arbitrary Primers

Plant genetics and, by association, plant breeding, is based on the analysis of inheritance of characteristics and traits, and elucidation of gene expression as related to the genotype and environmental interaction. Biochemistry and molecular biology have impacted these activities through the application of molecular markers. Table 33.1 lists commonly used molecular markers. Initially, molecular markers were based on isozymes (i.e., polymorphic mobility variants of enzymes detected usually in starch gels using activity staining), which are valuable but not numerous enough to cover the extensive regions of genome found in most plants.
Neurodegenerative Diseases: Insights from Drosophila and Mouse Models

Drosophila melanogasterprovides a flexible and powerful model to study neurodegenerative diseases. Distinct advantages ofDrosophila asan experimental organism include its small genome, short generation time, and the feasibility of maintaining large numbers of animals in the laboratory, facilitating large-scale mutagenesis screens to isolate genes relevant to any phenotype of interest.Drosophilahas been used extensively to investigate normal development and its genome has been sequenced (Adams et al. 2000), so that there is a substantial amount of information concerning the conservation of both individual genes and gene pathways between flies and humans (Zipursky and Rubin 1994; Yin and Tully 1996; Shubin et al. 1997). In this context, Warrick et al. (1998) used the fly to study disease progression in a class of human neurodegenerative disorders caused by expansion of polyglutamine repeats within the coding region of the corresponding disease-causing protein (Cummings and Zoghbi 2000). While a normal repeat length has no pathological consequence, expansion of the glutamine tract beyond a critical threshold is associated with neurodegeneration. Truncated fragments of both the normal and mutant forms of human ataxin-3 implicated in spinal cerebellar ataxia type-3(SCA3)were directed to the fly’s eye using the GAL4-UAS system for transgene expression (Brand and Perrimon 1993). Targeted expression of the expanded protein led to the generation of nuclear inclusions and late-onset cell degeneration characteristic of SCA3, demonstrating that at least some of the features of cellular pathology in humans are conserved in flies.
MadPad: A Crowdsourcing System for Audiovisual Sampling

MadPad is a networked audiovisual sample station for mobile devices. Twelve short video clips are loaded onto the screen in a grid and playback is triggered by tapping anywhere on the clip. This is similar to tapping the pads of an audio sample station, but extends that interaction to add visual sampling. Clips can be shot on-the-y with a cameraenabled mobile device and loaded into the player instantly, giving the performer an ability to quickly transform his or her surroundings into a sample-based, audiovisual instrument. Samples can also be sourced from an online community in which users can post or download content. The recent ubiquity of multitouch mobile devices and advances in pervasive computing have made this system possible, providing for a vast amount of content only limited by the imagination of the performer and the community. This paper presents the core features of MadPad and the design explorations that inspired them.
Changes in response profiles of taste cells in the brain stem parallel those observed in somatosensory thalamic cells following anesthetization of part of their receptive fields

Previous studies of electrophysiological responses to taste stimuli have revealed that taste cells at all levels of the nervous system are generally multisensitive, i.e. they respond to more than one of the four basic taste qualities (salty, sour, bitter and sweet). The study of the response profiles of taste cells, defined as their relative sensitivities across a variety of taste stimuli, and their organization has formed the basis for all major theories of taste coding. The careful examination of response profiles of taste cells, i.e. their extent and construction, is therefore of great import for our understanding of the operational principles of the gustatory system.
Exploring the Influence of Human Individual Differences on Online Searching Behavior

This paper will discuss research in progress that investigates whether individual characteristics significantly impact information processing and retrieval on the Internet. The goal of this research is to understand how individual users approach and interact with technology in order to access information. In an effort to enhance and support a greater body of users, this study will integrate knowledge about and evaluate behavior in the human search process via Internet technology. This paper will outline the research background and motivation, provide a literature review of the subject area and describe the research design for this investigation into individual differences and online searching behavior.
Principles of bioimage informatics: focus on machine learning of cell patterns

The field of bioimage informatics concerns the development and use of methods for computational analysis of biological images. Traditionally, analysis of such images has been done manually. Manual annotation is, however, slow, expensive, and often highly variable from one expert to another. Furthermore, with modern automated microscopes, hundreds to thousands of images can be collected per hour, making manual analysis infeasible. This field borrows from the pattern recognition and computer vision literature (which contain many techniques for image processing and recognition), but has its own unique challenges and tradeoffs. Fluorescence microscopy images represent perhaps the largest class of biological images for which automation is needed. For this modality, typical problems include cell segmentation, classification of phenotypical response, or decisions regarding differentiated responses (treatment vs. control setting). This overview focuses on the problem of subcellular location determination as a running example, but the techniques discussed are often applicable to other problems.
Intelligence and Delinquency

This is another contribution to the recent International Congress of Criminology in Paris. The author is Associate Professor of Sociology and Director of the Community Service Division of the City College, New York City. He has served as Research Director for the New York State Crime Commission, and is author of a series of research monographs published by the Commission. He is now conducting field studies in gang treatment under a New York City Youth Board grant.-EDIToR.
Abstract TMP97: Demyelination, Cognition and Imaging in a Translational Model of Rat Vascular Cognitive Impairment

Small vessel disease and/or atherosclerosis produce microvascular and parenchymal inflammation in white matter and results in vascular cognitive impairment (VCI). We have performed bilateral caroti...
Fulfilling U.S. Commitment to Refugee Resettlement: Protecting Refugees, Preserving National Security & Building the U.S. Economy Through Refugee Admissions, a Report of the Syrian Refugee Resettlement Project, an Initiative of the Harvard Immigration and Refugee Clinical Program

At a time when the U.S. refugee admissions program is under serious threat and the world's displaced population is at its highest, this Report sets forth extensive recommendations regarding the United States' role in protecting refugees and compliance with its commitments under domestic and international law that together safeguard people fleeing persecution and fearing return to torture. The Report also identifies key national security reasons for supporting and enhancing the refugee program in keeping with U.S. foreign policy priorities. Additionally, the Report provides an in-depth discussion of the robust, multistep security-assessment mechanisms already in place for screening refugees; offers viable policy solutions to improve the integration of resettled refugees through enhanced collaboration among government agencies, private resettlement agencies, and sponsors involved in domestic resettlement; and demonstrates the positive economic impact of refugee resettlement in the United States. Drawing on the perspectives of longtime domestic refugee resettlement experts, the Report also provides fresh insights into how public-private partnerships function in refugee resettlement and the ways in which they can be strengthened.
The role of values in scientific theory selection and why it matters to medical education

In this paper, I argue that the role of values in theory selection is an important issue within medical education. I review the underdetermination argument, which is the idea within philosophy of science that the data serving as evidence for theories are by themselves not sufficient to support a theory to the exclusion of alternatives. There are always various explanations compatible with the data, and we ultimately appeal to certain values as our grounds for choosing one theory over another. I explore some of the ways contemporary feminist philosophers have chosen to grapple with the problem of underdetermination and proposed solutions to systematize how values might be incorporated into theory choice, drawing primarily from the work of Helen Longino and Elizabeth Anderson. I conclude by discussing how value-laden inquiry should be incorporated within medical education to promote reflection towards medicine's normative underpinnings.
Addressing Decision Making in Progesterone Treatment for History of Preterm Delivery.

Introduction The United States ranks 27th among nations worldwide for infant mortality with a rate of 6.1 deaths per 1,000 live births. The majority of perinatal morbidity and mortality is related to preterm birth, defined as delivery prior to 37 weeks' gestation. Among the risk factors for preterm birth is prior preterm birth, which is associated with a 1.5- to 2.0-fold increase in risk. At the present time, there is only one Food and Drug Administration approved treatment for the prevention of preterm birth among women with a history of prior spontaneous premature delivery, intramuscular 17-α-hydroxyprogesterone caproate (17-OHP), administered once weekly from 20 to 36 weeks' gestation. However, many eligible pregnant patients decline this therapy. Methods This was a prospective, cohort study involving patients who were identified as candidates for 17-OHP treatment at their first obstetric visit and asked to complete a short survey regarding their history of preterm birth. Those patients who consented to a follow-up phone call were asked to participate in a focus group discussion regarding their experience with progesterone and the health care system. Results During the 1-year study period, 55 progesterone candidates were identified, 43 accepted treatment, 7 refused, and 5 either initiated prenatal care too late to receive injections or did not follow-up. Those who accepted treatment appeared to cope better with treatment side effects, and/or had traumatic emotional reactions regarding their prior premature birth outcomes. Women who declined treatment often cited pain with injection, had fatalistic beliefs regarding their care, and/or had personal concerns related to full-term pregnancy. Discussion Maternal health care providers should always discuss the implications of prematurity at the time of the index premature delivery and again at the first prenatal visit of the subsequent pregnancy. Providers need to be prepared to employ various techniques for patient counseling and education. Small changes in office practice, like having fewer care providers involved in patient care or providing distractions for children, may make the difference between a patient who is open or closed to treatment options.
Normative Patterns of Marital Decision Making Power and Influence in Mexico and the United States: A Partial Test of Resource and Ideology Theory*

A series of hypotheses regarding the effect selected resource and ideological variables will have on normative patterns of decision making and influence are tested with data from 266 conjugal pairs...
Preparation and Characterization of Flowerlike Y2(OH)5NO3·1.5H2O and Y2O3 and Their Efficient Removal of Cr(VI) from Aqueous Solution

A simple sonochemical procedure was developed to synthesize the flowerlike yttria precursor Y2(OH)5NO3·1.5H2O. Y2O3 with the same morphology was readily obtained by calcination of the precursor. The microstructures and morphologies of the products were characterized by X-ray powder diffraction (XRD), X-ray photoelectron spectra (XPS), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM), and field-emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM). The as-obtained Y2O3 and its precursor were found to be effective sorbents for the removal of Cr(VI) ions in water treatment, as a result of the novel hierarchical structures and high specific surface areas of these two materials.
Use and Reported Helpfulness of Cannabinoids Among Primary Care Patients in Vermont

Introduction: While cannabis has been medically legal in Vermont since 2004 and recreationally legal since 2018 there has been minimal published research regarding the use and practices in the adul...
Distilling Institutions? On the Principal Components of Liberal and Other Measures of Governance

This paper applies principal component analysis to the institutional dimensions which underlie Economic Freedom of the World and Worldwide Development Indicators in an exploratory manner to shed additional light on earlier literature. Using the data together, the first four principal components roughly correspond to, respectively, good governance, weak liberalizations, illiberal democracies, and the institutional environment of Latin American. Results from the exercise speak to methodological concerns regarding the inclusion of the size of government in measures of economic freedom, while identifying one dimension of institutions (weak liberalizations) that is nonobvious and conceptually useful. This exercise suggests that interpretations of similar analysis should be altered considerably.
Provider, Staff, and Patient Perspectives on medical Visits Using Clinical Video Telehealth: A Foundation for Educational Initiatives to Improve Medical Care in Telehealth

Clinical Video Telehealth (CVT) use is increasing and allows geographically separated care; however, this separation may affect participants behaviors. Using semi-structured in-depth interviews, we asked CVT nurse practitioners (NP), staff and patients at a VA Medical Center about perspectives on how CVT effects communication and identified three themes. They remarked on the complexity of scheduling appointments, local barriers to care, and acutely ill patients. NPs discussed how CVT altered sensory collection during the physical exam and differences in building provider-patient relationships. Patients perceptions mirrored these themes. NPs identified how CVT requires different workflow, behaviors, and use of their senses. Patients expressed similar concerns with CVT.
Single Crystal Structure of Terfenadine Form I

Terfenadine, C32H41NO2, 1, contains an α,α-diphenyl-4-piperidinomethanol moiety, which is related to the H1-receptor blocking activity, facilitating its prior use as an antihistamine drug. In addition to its bioactivity, terfenadine is useful as a model, small-molecule crystalline solid for studying several material properties. Despite a history of therapeutic use, the absence of a crystal structure has limited current studies of the physicochemical behavior of this material. In the present manuscript, the elusive X-ray crystal structure of 1 was solved and refined at 296 K using single crystals grown from a co-solvent mixture of acetonitrile:methanol:ethanol (0.50:0.25:0.25). Terfenadine crystallizes in the monoclinic space group P21/n, and exhibits a chair conformation of the piperidine ring and a gauche conformation of the n-butyl chain. Hydrogen bonds between O–H⋯O and O–H⋯N, along with weak van der Waals interactions between C16–H16B⋯H16B’–C16’ and C2–H2⋯H16A–C16A were confirmed using Hirshfeld-Surface analysis. Differential scanning calorimetry and X-ray powder diffraction confirmed that the crystal structure reported herein was that of the most thermodynamically stable monotropic polymorph of terfenadine (form I). The elusive single crystal structure of terfenadine is solved and refined. Characterization using differential scanning calorimetry and powder X-ray diffraction confirms the structure to be the thermodynamically most stable polymorph (form I).
The intentions of undergraduate business students to someday be an organization's top executive: Implications for business school leadership education

Abstract Business schools have an important role to play in students' career leadership development. This study examines factors influencing business students' intentions to someday be a top executive (CEO). Using the theory of planned behavior, we find intentions to someday be a CEO are driven by students’ behavioral, normative and control beliefs regarding the CEO position. We also find that female students report lower CEO intentions as well as lower behavioral, normative and control beliefs regarding the CEO position. The impact of gender on CEO intentions is mediated by behavioral and control beliefs. Implications for leadership development activities in and out of the classroom for students during their important “impressionable years” are discussed.
Inclusions and exclusions: racial categorizations and panethnicities in higher education

Research concerned with race in higher education often utilizes terms like Asian American, AAPI, API, APA, and APIDA interchangeably, with a limited grounding in theories of racial formation and pa...
Identifying contributing factors influencing pediatric nurses' and health professionals' self-reported collaborative practice behaviors.

Abstract Purpose In this study, we examined the influence of interprofessional American Heart Association (AHA) resuscitation courses on pediatric health care professionals' (N = 218) self- reported collaborative practice behaviors (CPBs) and examined differences in CPBs between nursing, medicine, and respiratory therapy. Design and methods A mixed methods explanatory design was utilized with a sample of pediatric nurses, nurse practitioners, physicians, and respiratory therapists. Data were collected using the Interprofessional Collaborative Competency Attainment Survey (ICCAS) and two open-ended questions. Data analysis included: exploratory factor analysis, paired t-tests, mixed effects modeling and directed content analysis. Inferences were made across quantitative and qualitative data. Results Statistically significant improvement in mean CPB scores was demonstrated by all professions (t (208) = −12.76; ρ Conclusions Participation in an interprofessional AHA course significantly increased mean self-reported CPB scores. Changes in mean CPB scores were sustained over 6 weeks upon return to clinical practice. Practice implications Future research focused on CPBs of front-line health care professionals can provide an accurate portrayal of an interprofessional team and can inform how collaborative practice is established in everyday clinical practice.