cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Reflections on the history of pre-mRNA processing and highlights of current knowledge: A unified picture

Several strong conclusions emerge concerning pre-mRNA processing from both old and newer experiments. The RNAPII complex is involved with pre-mRNA processing through binding of processing proteins to the CTD (carboxyl terminal domain) of the largest RNAPII subunit. These interactions are necessary for efficient processing, but whether factor binding to the CTD and delivery to splicing sites is obligatory or facilitatory is unsettled. Capping, addition of an m(7)Gppp residue (cap) to the initial transcribed residue of a pre-mRNA, occurs within seconds. Splicing of pre-mRNA by spliceosomes at particular sites is most likely committed during transcription by the binding of initiating processing factors and ∼50% of the time is completed in mammalian cells before completion of the primary transcript. This fact has led to an outpouring in the literature about "cotranscriptional splicing." However splicing requires several minutes for completion and can take longer. The RNAPII complex moves through very long introns and also through regions dense with alternating exons and introns at an average rate of ∼3 kb per min and is, therefore, not likely detained at each splice site for more than a few seconds, if at all. Cleavage of the primary transcript at the 3' end and polyadenylation occurs within 30 sec or less at recognized polyA sites, and the majority of newly polyadenylated pre-mRNA molecules are much larger than the average mRNA. Finally, it seems quite likely that the nascent RNA most often remains associated with the chromosomal locus being transcribed until processing is complete, possibly acquiring factors related to the transport of the new mRNA to the cytoplasm.
Altruistic cell death and collective drug resistance

Mol Syst Biol. 8: 627 The Greek myth of Castor and Pollux is a tale about altruism between brothers. Castor and Pollux were twins but they had different fathers. As a son of the god Zeus, Pollux was immortal, but Castor whose father was human, eventually died. Pollux could not bear grief and asked Zeus to share his immortality with his brother or even to give it away and join him in death. Moved by Pollux's altruism, Zeus decided to make them both immortals. In their recent work, Tanouchi et al (2012 examined programmed death in bacterial cells. They show it can too be an altruistic trait, whereby some cells trigger the cell death program and release stress‐relieving substances that increase the chances of survival of other cells within the population. Bacterial drug resistance is a major problem for human health (Taubes, 2008) and recent studies suggest that altruism can play an important role in resistant populations. For example, Lee et al observed that most individual bacteria within an antibiotic‐resistant population can be significantly more sensitive to the antibiotic than the global population (Lee et al , 2010). This paradoxical effect has a surprising explanation: a small number of …
Dynamic hysteresis loops of several core materials employed in magnetic amplifiers

ANY good magnetically soft type of core material is suitable for low- and medium-performance magnetic amplifiers. For these types, the permeability and core loss have only minor effects upon the control characteristic of the magnetic amplifier. If the saturation density is reasonably high and the core loss is reasonably low, then the material probably will be suitable for such amplifiers.
Forget-me-not: Complex floral displays, inter-signal interactions, and pollinator cognition

Flowers are multisensory displays used by plants to influence the behavior of pollinators. Although we know a great deal about how individual signal components are produced by plants and detected or learned by pollinators, very few experiments directly address the function of floral signal complexity, i.e. how the multicomponent nature of these signals benefits plant or pol- linator. Yet, experimental psychology suggests that increasing complexity can enhance subjects' ability to detect, learn and re- member stimuli, and the plant's reproductive success depends upon ensuring that pollinators learn their signals and so transport pollen to other similar (conspecific) flowers. Here we explore functional hypotheses for why plants invest in complex floral dis- plays, focusing on hypotheses in which floral signals interact to promote pollinator learning and memory. Specifically, we discuss how an attention-altering or context-providing function of one signal may promote acquisition or recall of a second signal. Al- though we focus on communication between plants and pollinators, these process-based hypotheses should apply to any situation where a sender benefits from enhancing a receiver's acquisition or recall of information (Current Zoology 57 (2): 215-224, 2011).
Tadpole Behavior and Metamorphosis

Most amphibian species have a complex life cycle; the animal begins life as a larva, then undergoes a metamorphosis to the juvenile adult form. In anuran amphibians (frogs and toads), tadpole behavior is directed toward maximizing growth to achieve a minimum body size to initiate metamorphosis. The principal behaviors engaged in by tadpoles are feeding and predator avoidance. During premetamorphosis, tadpoles feed actively, but as the tadpole metamorphoses, feeding declines. At this time, the stress neuropeptide corticotropin-releasing hormone and the hormone leptin act on feeding control centers in the hypothalamus to inhibit feeding. The level of foraging activity is balanced by predation risk. Upon predator attack, tadpoles secrete alarm pheromones that are detected by conspecifics, leading to rapid freezing behavior. The alarm pheromone causes suppression of the neuroendocrine stress axis, which is permissive for antipredator behavior. Metamorphosis is a period in the anuran life cycle, characterized by dramatic morphological transformation, and accompanied by a transition in ecological niche and behavioral mode. During metamorphosis, the central nervous system undergoes dramatic changes that prepare the animal for its new life style. Metamorphosis is controlled by thyroid hormone, and adrenal corticosteroids synergize with this hormone to promote metamorphosis. Corticotropin-releasing hormone acts as a common neuroregulator of the thyroid and adrenal axes and functions to transduce environmental signals into developmental responses.
Design for Aging: Perspectives on Technology, Older Adults, and Educating Engineers

Does the development of new technologies invariably contribute positively to the daily lives of older adults in the contemporary United States and elsewhere? Eleven years into teaching anthropology to engineers, and five years into co-teaching a course on design for aging called “Engineering for Humanity,” my answer is: Not always, but we can make it so.
Numerical Models of Out-of-Plane Losses of Photonic Crystal Waveguides

Photonic crystals offer considerable promise as means of achieving ultra-compact photonic circuitry. It can be shown that most of the devices common in ordinary planar waveguide circuitry, such as splitters, MMIs and couplers, can be reproduced using photonic crystals, often on a reduced spatial scale.
Chemistry of Doped Colloidal Nanocrystals

Synthetic control over inorganic nanocrystals has made dramatic strides so that a great number of binary and a few ternary or more complex compounds can now be prepared with good control over size and physical properties. Recently, chemists have tackled the long-standing challenge of introducing dopant atoms into nanocrystals, and strategies that apply across diverse compositions are beginning to emerge. In this review, we first briefly summarize the array of characterization methods used to assess doping efficacy for reference throughout the discussion. We then enumerate chemical strategies for doping with illustrative examples from the literature. A key concept is that the reactions leading to growth of the host crystal and to deposition of dopant ions must be balanced to succeed in incorporating dopants during crystal growth. This challenge has been met through various chemical strategies, and new methods, such as postsynthetic diffusion of dopant ions, continue to be developed. The opportunity to deli...
Histamine content of tick attachment sites and the effects of H1 and H2 histamine antagonists on the expression of resistance

The histamine content at attachment sites of Dermacentor andersoni larvae on tick-resistant guineapigs was significantly increased compared with the histamine content of similar sites on animals given an initial, sensitizing, tick infestation. Anti-histamines with specificity for type-1 and type-2 receptors were given individually or concurrently in an attempt to alter the expression of tick resistance. Type-1 or type-2 histamine receptor antagonists given individually did not alter the resistance response, but the concurrent administration of type-1 and type-2 anti-histamines significantly blocked the expression of resistance. None of the above treatment regimens, when given only during an initial infestation, altered the acquisition or subsequent expression of tick resistance.
Seebeck Coefficient of Nanolayer Growth of Anatase TiO2-x/Al-foil by Atomic Layer Deposition

Non-stoichiometric and impurity doped titanium dioxide materials are good candidates for use in high temperature thermoelectric devices. Nanolayers of non-stoichiometric (TiO2-x) thin films were deposited on Al-foil by atomic layer deposition growth method. X-ray diffraction experiments showed anatase phase for these nanolayers. This crystal structure was maintained even after an annealing treatment of 600 °C for 60 minutes under an O2 pressure of ∼ 10 psi. This investigation presents for the first time how Al-foil can be functionalized by manipulating the Seebeck coefficient of these TiO2-x nanolayers.
Acceptability of female condom use among HIV sero-discordant couples

Objective To understand the acceptability of female condom use and explore its influencing factors among HIV sero-discordant couples. Methods A prospective observational study was adopted to investigate the attitude,experience,and willingness to use female condom before and after 3 months among HIV sero-discordant couples in three cities of Shaoyang,Leshan,and Meishan through log records and questionnaire survey from May to December 2013. Results A total of 89 pairs of HIV sero-discordant couples were investigated. The mean age of HIV positive spouses and HIV negative spouses were( 38. 5 ± 8. 6) and( 37. 6 ± 8. 3) years,respectively. Of all the participants,41. 0%( 73 /178) had schooling level at junior middle school. The main job was the peasant( 42. 1%; 75 /178) and the family income was between 2 000 and 2 999 Yuan( 32. 6%; 29 /89). Among the couples,66. 3%( 59 /89) were husbands with HIV infection and 86. 5%( 77 /89) were infected with HIV through heterosexual contact.Before enrollment of the study 44. 9%( 40 /89) had sexual behaviors for 2-3 times a month,86. 5%( 64 /74) consistently used the condom in past 3 months before the study period. During the study period,85. 4% of them used 9 or more female condoms and 58. 4% were willing to accept and continue to use the female condom after the study. Multivariate logistic regression showed that previous experience of compulsive sexual behavior( OR: 5. 82),female spouse infected with HIV( OR: 3. 79),applying lubricant in the penis( OR: 3. 57),fully understanding the techniques after training( OR: 3. 315),marriage period of20 years or more( OR: 2. 85),and experience of negative event when using the female condom for the first time( OR: 7. 14) were the independent positive factors influencing the willingness to use the female condom. Conclusion HIV sero-discordant couples have a certain degree of willingness to accept female condom. The female condom can be taken as an effective measure to prevent the spread of HIV among discordant couples.
Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System State-Added Questions: Leveraging an Existing Surveillance System to Improve Knowledge of Women's Reproductive Health

As the prevalence of chronic conditions among women of reproductive age continues to rise, studies assessing the intersection of chronic disease and women's reproductive health status are increasingly needed. However, many data systems collect only limited information on women's reproductive health, thereby hampering the appraisal of risk and protective factors across the life span. One way to expand the study of women's health with minimal investment in time and resources is to integrate questions on reproductive health into existing surveillance systems. In 2013, previously validated questions on women's self-reported reproductive history, use of contraception, and infertility were added to the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) by seven states (Connecticut, Kentucky, Massachusetts, Mississippi, Ohio, Texas, and Utah); all female respondents aged 18-50 years were included in the pool of respondents for these state-added questions. Of 8691 women who completed the questions, 13.2% reported ever experiencing infertility and 59.8% of those at risk for unintended pregnancy reported using contraception at last intercourse. The information garnered from the state-added reproductive health questions can be augmented with the BRFSS core questions on health-related risk behaviors, chronic conditions, and use of preventive services. Expanding existing data collection systems with supplemental questions on women's reproductive health can provide important information on risk factors and outcomes that may not be available from other sources.
High Performance Liquid Chromatographic Analysis of Enantiomeric Composition of Abuse Drugs.

Numerous commonly abused drugs exist in two enantiomeric forms. Identifying the exact enantiomeric form is essential when only one of these two enantiomers is a controlled substance. Enantiomeric composition data may also help the investigation of clandestine laboratory activities. Although generally not as convenient as gas chromatographic methods, liquid chromatographic methods (LC) allow for the selection of larger and hopefully more effective derivatizing groups and the use of an "active" mobile phase. LC-based enantiomeric resolution approaches include derivatization with chiral agents, incorporation of chiral additives in the mobile phase, and the use of chiral stationary phases. Various applications of these approaches are reviewed.Unique detection procedures that were adopted in enantiomeric analysis are also reviewed.
Receptor binding of guinea pig and pig vasoactive intestinal peptides by rat lung.

Guinea pig vasoactive intestinal peptide (gpVIP) differs from other mammalian VIPs in four of its 28 amino acid residues. In the present study, the gpVIP displaced 125I-labelled pig VIP (pVIP) binding by rat lung membranes with 7.7-fold lower potency than pVIP. Degradation of gpVIP by rat lung membranes, assessed by radioimmunoassay and h.p.l.c., was 1.9-fold greater than that of pVIP. This difference in degradation of the two peptides was not large enough to account for the lower receptor-binding potency of gpVIP. The amino acid residues that distinguish pVIP from gpVIP are likely to contribute to the interaction of VIP with receptors and peptide hydrolases in lung membranes.
Wing wear reduces bumblebee flight performance in a dynamic obstacle course

Previous work has shown that wing wear increases mortality in bumblebees. Although a proximate mechanism for this phenomenon has remained elusive, a leading hypothesis is that wing wear increases predation risk by reducing flight manoeuvrability. We tested the effects of simulated wing wear on flight manoeuvrability in Bombus impatiens bumblebees using a dynamic obstacle course designed to push bees towards their performance limits. We found that removing 22% wing area from the tips of both forewings (symmetric wear) caused a 9% reduction in peak acceleration during manoeuvring flight, while performing the same manipulation on only one wing (asymmetric wear) did not significantly reduce maximum acceleration. The rate at which bees collided with obstacles was correlated with body length across all treatments, but wing wear did not increase collision rate, possibly because shorter wingspans allow more room for bees to manoeuvre. This study presents a novel method for exploring extreme flight manoeuvres in flying insects, eliciting peak accelerations that exceed those measured during flight through a stationary obstacle course. If escape from aerial predation is constrained by acceleration capacity, then our results offer a potential explanation for the observed increase in bumblebee mortality with wing wear.
Evolved Human Nature

Aristotle’s function argument stipulated that human flourishing is a matter of expressing human nature excellently. The purpose of this chapter is to describe the evolutionary approach to understanding human nature. I outline the key premises and practices of the major disciplines that contribute to our understanding of human evolution, which explains the specific nature that characterizes our species. These disciplines include evolutionary psychology, anthropology, ethology, archeology, primatology, comparative biology, game theory, and neuropsychology. Obviously, I cannot cover this disciplinary breadth with great depth in this chapter, but it is important to provide an explanation of the key aspects of the theory and research so that the discussion of the specific findings about human evolution in Part II is more comprehensible to the non-specialist. For those with a strong background in the theory and research on human evolution, this chapter is unnecessary.
Interface Aesthetics Effect on Usability: A Comparison of Two Screen Designs

An empirical study was conducted to examine whether the redesigned version of an online interactive visual analytics platform has a positive effect on perceived usability. 8 participants took part in the experiment, completed 8 tasks and answered follow-up interviews. The results show that the effect on perceived usability is positive, and it provides insights of participants' attitude toward the correlation between aesthetics and usability. Limitations and future work are addressed after the discussion.
Teaching for tomorrow: An exploratory study of prekindergarten teachers’ underlying assumptions about how children learn

ABSTRACTThis study investigated eight prekindergarten teachers’ underlying assumptions about how children learn, and how these assumptions were used to inform and enact instruction. By contextualizing teachers’ knowledge and understanding as it is used in practice we were able to provide unique insight into the work of teaching. Participants focused on children’s ability to remember information, frequently through engagement and repetition. Teachers also anticipated what children would be learning in the early elementary years and taught that content, yet they did not necessarily expect children to remember the information, or even know if children learned the information. Implications for the design of both preservice and in-service teacher education are discussed. This includes helping teachers develop a strong foundational understanding of how children learn, establishing the pedagogical content knowledge relevant to teaching advanced symbol systems like literacy, and shifting pedagogical reasoning abo...
Explicit solution and stability of linear time-varying differential state space systems

Linear time-varying (LTV) systems naturally arise when one linearizes nonlinear systems about a trajectory. In contrast the linear time-invariant (LTI) cases which have been thoroughly understood in the analysis and synthesis technologies, many features of the LTV systems are still limited and not clear. This paper addresses the problems of solution and stability of a general unforced LTV differential state space system. Unlike most of the work based on the Lyapunov theory, numerical simulations, or specific constraint systems, the paper proposes the spectral decompositions of the LTV systems by employing extended eigenpairs and with simple mathematical derivation. The spectral decompositions reveal the mechanisms of inherent characterization in general LTV systems, rather than a particular class. Moreover, a novel set of auxiliary equations is developed for guiding and obtaining the extended eigenpairs of its system matrix which completely characterize the LTV systems. The solutions to perform the commutative systems and the second-order systems with companion form are straightforward. The proposed innovative thinking provides a novel guided way to analyze the LTV systems. These findings are easily extended to LTI cases. Examples from the literature demonstrate the effectiveness and the superiority of the proposed approaches when compared with other methods. The proposed results may be of great interest in both for scientific research and application.
Writing and the Modern Stage: Theater beyond Drama by Julia Jarcho (review)

Julia Jarcho's Writing and the Modern Stage: Theater beyond Drama argues that writing plays a constitutive role on the modern experimental stage by pointing beyond the dramatic present to what this present cannot contain. Jarcho offers a powerful rejoinder to theatre theorists who celebrate performance's priority over dramatic and other forms of textuality.
Development of Domain Analysis to Predict Multi-Axial Flexible Airfield Pavement Responses Due to Gear and Environmental Loadings

Flexible pavement design procedures use maximum mechanistic strains to predict service life via empirical transfer functions. The conventional method of using predefined point locations for potenti...
Low Energy Ar Ion Bombardment of (001) Si: Defects and Surface Morphology

The interaction of low energy Ar+ ions with several surface defect structures on (001) Si has been investigated using molecular dynamics simulation. The simulations suggest that ions with energy less than 20 eV selectively displace surface atoms without causing bulk damage, and that the displacement energies for different defect structures is different. The most important effect of ion bombardment on surface morphology is the increased formation rate of single adatoms, which may lead to smoother surfaces by enhanced coarsening at typical epitaxial temperatures. Simulations results also imply that the migration component of adatom diffusion is not significantly enhanced by ion bombardment at typical epitaxial temperatures (600 – 800 K).
Calcium Channel Blockers and Renin Secretion

The renin-angiotensin system plays a central role in salt and water balance and in the regulation of arterial blood pressure. The level of activity of this system is determined primarily by the rate at which the granulated juxtaglomerular cells (JG cells) secrete renin into the blood. Physiologically, renin secretory rate is controlled by a number of first messengers: afferent arteriolar transmural pressure or some function of it, such as stretch (the baroreceptor mechanism); solute transport in the macula densa segment of the nephron (the macula densa mechanism); catecholamines released from the renal nerves and the adrenal medulla (the β-adrenergic mechanism); extracellular concentrations of many organic and inorganic substances including angiotensin II, vasopressin, K+, and Mg2+ [24, 36, 68]. In addition to these physiological first messengers, a number of pharmacological agents affect renin secretion [36]. This review concerns the renin secretory effects of calcium-channel blockers.
The Importance of the Fractional Curve

The last decade has witnessed the proliferation of techniques and technologies for minimally invasive spinal surgery (MIS). Many of these methods have now been effectively applied to treat spinal deformities, with the end result being that modern MIS surgeons have had to develop an understanding of traditional deformity principles. It cannot be overstated that deformity surgeons have spent the past 70 years developing an understanding of the principal tenets and goals of surgical intervention. This level of understanding, while continually in evolution, has been the result of tireless research, with the primary goal of improving patient outcomes. Needless to say, the application of MIS techniques should be applied with these principles foremost in mind. Examples of these tenets would include achieving a successful arthrodesis, respect for neural tissues, not stopping a fusion at the apex of a curve, and restoration/maintenance of coronal and sagittal balance.
Integration of Satellite and 5G Networks

The articles in this special section focus on the integration of satellite and 5G networks. This is an important topic to help advance the technologies to support the 5G communications. It is expected that satellites will provide the necessary coverage for effective means to reach areas beyond terrestrial coverage, to passengers in trains, aircrafts, and vessels, and cover urban areas; provide resilience as an integral part of the 5G ecosystem; and be ideal for high-reliability applications. For these reasons, this issue is a humble contribution to advancing this technology.
New Fronts in the Culture Wars? Religion, Partisanship, and Polarization on Religious Liberty and Transgender Rights in the United States:

Beginning in the 1960s, the United States experienced religious and partisan conflict over cultural issues such as abortion that was described as a “Culture War.” Recent, highly salient battles ove...
Electric-field control of magnetism

Over the past three years, my colleagues and I have embarked on an exciting journey into electric-field control of magnetism, parts of which we describe in this article. What we present to you is something that we believe is extremely exciting from both a fundamental science and applications perspective, and has the potential to revolutionize our world. Needless to say, this will require a lot of new innovations, both in the fundamental science arena as well as translating scientific discoveries into real applications. We hope this article will help spur more research in electric-field control of magnetism within the broad materials community.
A two-stage supply chain in a price-and-time dependent market with demand leakage and producing curve

ABSTRACTWe consider a decentralized supply chain that a manufacturer wholesales a product to a retailer who sells the product on a price-and-time dependent market with a two-stage strategy over the...
A societal provenance analysis of the First World War service records held at the National Archives of Australia

This article offers a societal provenance analysis of the First World War personal service records held at the National Archives of Australia as Commonwealth Records Series B2455. It describes the ...
Implementing movement at the workplace: Approaches to increase physical activity and reduce sedentary behavior in the context of work

The purpose of this article is to highlight approaches to increase movement, physical activity (PA), and cardiorespiratory fitness, and reduce sedentary behavior (SB) in the context of the workplace. A deliberate strategy that will enable the successful promotion of movement at the workplace includes a business plan and rationale, an organizing framework, prioritization of interventions that are known to generate outcomes, and alignment of programmatic solutions with strong program design principles. Recommended principles of design include leadership, relevance, partnership, comprehensiveness, implementation, engagement, communications, being data-driven, and compliance. Specific evidence-based intervention examples are presented in the context of a socio-ecological framework including the individual, group, communications environment, physical environment, and policy domains. Increased movement at the workplace, as a result of promoting PA and reducing SB, generates important health outcomes across physical, mental, social, and economic domains and these benefits extend across the individual and organizational levels.
Band offset determination for amorphous Al2O3 deposited on bulk AlN and atomic-layer epitaxial AlN on sapphire

Valence and conduction band offsets of atomic layer deposition (ALD) Al2O3 deposited on bulk AlN crystals were determined using x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy to be ΔEV = 0.75 eV and ΔEC = −1.45 eV, with a measured energy gap of the Al2O3 film of 6.9 eV. In addition, crystalline AlN deposited by atomic layer epitaxy on sapphire was evaluated, resulting in a valence band offset of ΔEV = −0.75 eV and a conduction band offset of ΔEC = 3.25 eV due to the wider bandgap of the crystalline Al2O3 substrate compared to amorphous ALD Al2O3. Both heterojunctions exhibited type-II behavior and similar valence band offsets.
Perceived Motor Competence Mediates the Relationship Between Gross Motor Skills and Physical Activity in Youth With Visual Impairments

Children with visual impairments typically demonstrate lower levels of motor competence, physical activity, and perceived motor competence compared to their peers without visual impairments. Stodde...
Electrostatic Complementarity of T-Cell Receptor-Alpha CDR3 Domains and Mutant Amino Acids Is Associated with Better Survival Rates for Sarcomas

While sarcoma immunology has advanced with regard to basic, and even some applied topics, this disease has not been subject to more recent immunogenomics approaches. Thus, we assessed the immune receptor recombinations available from the cancer genome atlas (TCGA) sarcoma database via tumor sample exome and RNASeq files. Results indicated that recovery of T-cell receptor-alpha recombination reads (TRA) correlated with a better survival rate, with the expression of T-cell biomarkers, and with tumor sample apoptosis signatures consistent with the longer patient survival times. Furthermore, samples representing TRA complementarity determining region-3 (CDR3) net charge per residue (NCPR) based complementarity with the corresponding sarcoma mutanome had a better survival rate, and more granzyme expression, than samples lacking such complementarity. By specifically using RNASeq-recovered TRA CDR3s and related NCPR assessments, three genes, TP53, ATRX, and RB1, were identified as being key components of the mutanome-based complementarity. Thus, these genes may represent key immune system targets for soft tissue sarcomas. Also, several key results from above were reproduced with a pediatric osteosarcoma dataset, work that led to identification of MUC6 mutations as potentially linked to a strong immune response. In sum, TRA CDR3s are likely to be important prognostic indicators, and possibly a beginning tool for immunotherapy development strategies, for adult and pediatric sarcomas.
COVID-19 vaccine perceptions in New York State's intellectual and developmental disabilities community.

Abstract Background People with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) are at disproportionate risk for severe COVID-19 outcomes, particularly those living in congregate care settings. Yet, there is limited data on vaccine perceptions in the disability community. Objective To explore COVID-19 vaccine perceptions in individuals with IDD, their family members, and those who work with them, to inform a statewide vaccine information and messaging project. Methods A national survey, adapted in five languages for the IDD community, was distributed to a convenience sample of IDD organizations throughout New York State. Constructs included vaccine intention, reasons for vaccine hesitancy, and trusted sources of vaccine information. Zip code data were used to map respondent location and vaccine preferences. Results Of n = 825 respondents, approximately 75% intended to or had received the vaccine across roles (i.e., people with developmental disabilities, family members, direct care workers) and racial/ethnic groups. Greater vaccine hesitancy was reported in younger individuals and those making decisions on behalf of a person with IDD. Concerns included side effects and the swiftness of vaccine development. Black and Hispanic participants had heightened concerns about being an “experiment” for the vaccine. Trusted sources of information included healthcare providers and family members. Respondents who intended to/received the vaccine were dispersed throughout the state. Conclusions Vaccine preferences in this New York State disability community sample align with national data. Identified concerns suggest the need for community education that addresses misperceptions. Age and race differences in perspectives highlight the need for tailored education, delivered by trusted messengers.
Magnetically Triggered Release of Active TGF-B from Spin Vortex Microdiscs

Abstract Transforming Growth Factor-β (TGF-β) has been implicated in a variety of cellular functions, including control of cell cycle, cell proliferation, extracellular matrix formation, and even stem cell differentiation. TGF-β is also a contributor for combinatorial cellular responses, including cellular senescence, cellular apoptosis, and tumor progression. As a result, spatial and temporal control of TGF-β delivery has the potential to lead to greater control over cell signaling while minimizing the potential for undesirable off-target effects. We recently reported magnetically triggered release of active TGF-β from TGF-β Latent Complex conjugated to high-specific absorption rate (SAR) magnetic nanoparticles via magnetic hyperthermia; here we redirected our approach to spin vortex discs. Planar, gold-coated Permalloy (Ni80Fe20) microdiscs (∼2.0 µm diameter, 70 nm thick) were fabricated via standard lithography techniques and thin-film deposition. The discs were then bioconjugated with latent TGF-β via gold-thiol conjugation chemistry, and shear stress on the attached latent TGF-β was induced via magnetic actuation of the discs. This magnetic actuation was achieved via application of a spatially uniform dual pulsating magnetic field (∼1 mT) using two perpendicular pairs of Helmholtz coils at a frequency of 20 Hz for 1 hour. Preliminary results of the bioconjugated discs shown here indicate a significant increase in the release of active TGF-β compared to the baseline passive release. Further studies will focus on investigating non-invasive remote activation and direction of TGF-β by a magnetic field, as well as investigating the potential of expanding this work to other growth factors that exist in latent and active forms.
Pipeline embolization of MCA aneurysms in the M2-M4 segment: Dual center study and meta-analysis

Abstract Objective Flow diversion of distal MCA aneurysms in the M2-M4 segments with Pipeline embolization device is promising, but further study is needed. Here, we seek to quantify the safety and efficacy of Pipeline embolization in the M2-M4 region in a dual-center cohort and comprehensive meta-analysis. Methods Clinical and angiographic data of eligible patients was obtained from participating centers. A systematic review was performed with searches of Pubmed, Scopus, Embase, and the Cochrane Library for articles from inception to May 2021. 86 studies were identified in systematic review. Of these, 7 studies with 46 aneurysms met the inclusion criteria and were aggregated with 8 aneurysms from our dual-center cohort for analysis. Results In our dual-center cohort, complete occlusion was observed in 88% (7/8) of aneurysms, and no patients experienced hemorrhagic or thromboembolic complications. Clinical outcomes were reported for 100% (54/54) of aneurysms included in meta-analysis and angiographic follow-up was available for 91% (49/54). The overall rate of complete aneurysm occlusion was 80% (95% CI, 69% - 91%), and the overall rate of clinical complication was 9% (95% CI, 2% - 16%). Conclusion Pipeline embolization of cerebral aneurysms of the M2-M4 segments of the MCA was reasonably effective and safe in a small group of selected patients, but further study is needed to validate these preliminary results.
A Determination of the Association of Competition and Regulation With Hospital Strategic Orientation

A DETERMINATION OF THE ASSOCIATION OF COMPETITION AND REGULATION WITH HOSPITAL STRATEGIC ORIENTATION By Kathleen B. Heatwole, Ph.D. A dissertation submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy at Virginia Commonwealth University Medical College of Virginia Campus, Virginia Commonwealth University, 2006 Director: Dr. Michael McCue, D.B.A., Professor, Department of Health Administration This research study examines the influence of two major forces, competition and regulation, on the strategic orientation of hospitals. This is a particularly relevant subject, as the effectiveness of competition versus the effectiveness of regulation in the health care market has been called one of the Bellwether issues in health care policy, and the most controversial and far reaching philosophical battle facing the health care industry. Even after three decades of research and debate, there is still no consensus on how the hospital industry responds to either a competitive environment or a regulated environment. There continues to be significant variation across the country on which model provides the environmental context for hospitals, and there is no resolution of the issue on the horizon. It is clear that the dichotomy of a competitive environment or a regulated environment and the wide variation from market to market will continue to be significant factors influencing the development of hospital strategies. Developing strategies that provide an appropriate fit with the particular environmental context is a critical aspect of the success of an organization. This study provides a unique perspective on the subject, with an examination of the relationship between the level of competition in the market and the level of regulation in the market, and whether these dimensions influence hospital strategic orientation. Porter's strategic orientation typology is used as the model for hospital strategy, and the theoretical framework combines the legitimacy seeking elements of institutional theory and the resource and cost control elements of resource dependency theory. The findings of this study indicate an association between a competitive environment and a differentiation orientation. As competition decreases, there is a greater likelihood of association with cost inefficiency. The results also indicate that in the absence of CON or as CON decreases, there is a greater likelihood of cost inefficiency. Although this study provides a timely analysis of a very controversial topic, it is clear that additional research efforts are needed on this critical issue that impacts every hospital in the country.
Historical Fluctuations of Lake Victoria and Other Lakes in the Northern Rift Valley of East Africa

This paper describes the fluctuations of Lakes Victoria, Stefanie, Turkana and Naivasha over the last two centuries. A chronology of Lake Victoria back to 700 A.D. is also developed. These chronologies are based mainly on oral traditions of the local peoples, as described in various historical sources, and on reports of European visitors, settlers and explorers. In some cases actual historical levels have been reported. The historical fluctuations are meshed with the modern record to provide a picture of the fluctuations in lake levels until the late twentieth century.
Correlated Data Inference

In this paper we examine undesired inferences in distributed XML documents. An undesired inference is a chain of reasoning that leads to protected data of an organization or an individual, using only intentionally disclosed information. We propose a framework, called Ontology guided XML Security Engine (Oxsegin), to detect and prevent undesired inference attacks. Oxsegin uses the Correlated Inference Algorithm to detect sensitive associations that may exist at a lower security levels. The system operates on the DTD’s of XML documents to identify data associations and the corresponding security classifications. Oxsegin uses an ontological class-hierarchy to identify associations with two or more conflicting classifications. A Security Violation Pointer (SVP) is assigned to a set of tags that contribute to the conflicting classification. The likelihood of a detected security violation is measured by a confidence level coefficient attached to the SVPs.
The EURO: Expectations and Performance

This paper examines the creation of the euro and its operation since then. It also examines the benefits and costs arising from the creation of the euro and its present and expected relative importance, especially in relation to the US dollar and the Japanese yen.
The Langer-Giedion Syndrome: Report of a 22-Year-Old Woman

A 22-year-old woman with the Langer-Giedion syndrome and delayed puberty is presented. Pertinent features include a bulbous nose, sparse hair, protruding ears, multiple cartilaginous exostoses, cone-shaped phalangeal epiphyses, short stature, microcephaly, and mental retardation. She is the oldest patient thus far described with this condition, and is compared to the ten previously published cases. The clinical course of patients with the Langer-Giedion syndrome and the possibility of malignant change in the exostoses have not been established.
DART: directed automated random testing

Testing with manually generated test cases is the primary technique used in industry to improve reliability of software-in fact, such testing is reported to account for over half of the typical cost of software development. I will describe directed automated random testing (also known as concolic testing), an efficient approach which combines random and symbolic testing. Concolic testing enables automatic and systematic testing of programs, avoids redundant test cases and does not generate false warnings. Experiments on real-world software show that concolic testing can be used to effectively catch generic errors such as assertion violations, memory leaks, uncaught exceptions, and segmentation faults. From our initial experience with concolic testing we have learned that a primary challenge in scaling concolic testing to larger programs is the combinatorial explosion of the path space. It is likely that sophisticated strategies for searching this path space are needed to generate inputs that effectively test large programs (by, e.g., achieving significant branch coverage). I will present several such heuristic search strategies, including a novel strategy guided by the control flow graph of the program under test.
Glucose-sensitive membranes containing glucose oxidase: activity, swelling, and permeability studies.

The development of membranes that swell in response to glucose is reported. The membranes may prove to be useful in glucose monitoring or glucose-dependent insulin delivery. The polymers were synthesized by the radiation-induced polymerization of frozen solutions containing hydroxyethyl methacrylate, N,N-dimethylaminoethyl methacrylate, tetraethylene glycol dimethacrylate, ethylene glycol, water, and glucose oxidase. The polymers were hydrogels, with water contents in the range of 60–90%, depending on the pH or glucose concentration. Changes in swelling and permeability of the hydrogel were caused by exposure to glucose solutions. The gluconic acid formed by the glucose oxidase catalyzed oxidation of glucose in the membrane lowered the pH of the system and thus caused the changes in the membrane. The retention of enzyme activity by the membranes in vitro and in vivo is also reported. The large differences in properties among membranes made with different chemical formulations suggest that glucose-sensitive membranes with performance characteristics needed for an artificial pancreas may be an achievable goal.
Effect of infrared salt crystals on the spectra of copolyether-urethane-urea films

Abstract The casting of copolyether-urethane-urea films onto NaCl crystals led to major disturbances in the copolymer morphology due to the dissolving of the inorganic salt into the polymer casting solution. These disturbances appear to be caused primarily by a salt-urea segment interaction. The urea amide I band at 1635 cm −1 appears to be a sensitive indicator of such changes in these copolymers.
Urban and rural medical systems in Pakistan

Abstract Available medical systems and forms of treatment in Pakistan range from traditional medicine to religious healers, homeopathic dispensaries, aryuvedic infirmaries, tibbi medical establishments, modern hospitals and specialized clinics. Traditional medicine and religious healers are more common in the rural areas, while more modern forms of treatment are characteristic of urban areas. Modern hospitals and clinics offer the broadest range of diagnostic and treatment techniques in a wide range of specialities. Homeopathy is practiced either as a “hobby” without charges or as a service with minor charges. This system is based on the doctrine of similic similibus curante , which implies that disease can be cured by drugs which produce the same pathological effects symptomatic of a disease in a healthy person. The aryuvedic system is so old that Sanskrit is used in prescriptions. Most practitioners of Aryuvedic medicine, known as Vaids , either left Pakistan after 1947 or have adopted other professions. The tibbi , or unani system of medicine has been practiced since the early Greek period, with extensions developed by Persians, Arabs, and Mughals, and is now a part of the Muslim culture in Pakistan. This paper is an attempt to examine the medical geography of these varied forms of treatment in Pakistan. Sind Province, situated at the southern extremity of Pakistan on the mouth of the Indus, has been selected as an area for some comparisons.
A sodium and potassium-stimulated adenosine triphosphatase from cardiac tissues. I. Preparation and properties.

Abstract In recent years attention has been given to an adenosine triphosphatase (ATPase), which has been implicated in active cation transport across membranes. This enzyme system has been extensively studied in crab nerve (Skou 1957 1960), red blood cell membranes (Post 1959; Dunham and Glynn 1961) and cerebral tissues (Jarnefelt 1961; Aldridge 1962; Schwartz et al 1962; Skou 1962). The present report is concerned with the preparation and some properties of an active sodium and potassium-dependent ATPase from heart muscle.
Haitian Creole: Surface phonology

In this paper we restrict ourselves to the dialect of the proletariat of Port-au-Prince. Accordingly, we have nothing to say about the differences between this dialect and others, but it is worth mentioning that our sketch of the phonology does apply in general to other dialects. The variations we ignore are largely subphonemic. Further, we have omitted any reference to the so-called ‘Gallicizing’ dialect or dialects and thus exclude from the system the segments /y o œ Ч/, which occur sporadically in the speech of some individuals.
Non-Borel summable Φ4 theory in zero dimension: A toy model for testing numerical and analytical methods

The exact analytical solution for the generating functional of the zero-dimensional Φ4 theory with degenerate minima is obtained in the whole complex coupling parameter plane for testing purposes. The efficiency and precision of different computing tools, proposed in non-Borel summable field theories to obtain approximate solutions in both perturbative and nonperturbative regimes, are analyzed. Furthermore, a new resummation approach is proposed in order to successfully deal with factorially divergent series. It provides a representation of the generating function in terms of an unambiguously defined Laplace–Borel integral. On the other hand, a recent approach called the generalized Borel transform is shown to be an accurate and robust technique to capture non perturbative contributions in the coupling parameter. An extension of this approach to path integrals is proposed.