cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Distortion product otoacoustic emission (2f1–f2) suppression in 3-month-old infants: Evidence for postnatal maturation of human cochlear function?

The complete timeline for maturation of human cochlear function has not been defined. Distortion product otoacoustic emission (DPOAE)-based measures of cochlear function show non-adult-like responses from premature and term-born neonates at high f2 frequencies; however, older infants were not included in these studies. In the present experiment, previously collected DPOAE ipsilateral suppression data from premature neonates were combined with new data collected from adults, term-born neonates, and 3-month-old infants to further examine the time course for maturation of cochlear function. DPOAE suppression tuning curves (STC) and suppression growth patterns were measured in the three age groups at f2=6000 Hz, L1=65, L2=55 dB SPL, with an f2/f1 of 1.2. Results indicate that term-born neonates and 3-month-old infants have non-adult-like STC width, slope on the low-frequency flank, and tip features. However, the two infant groups are not significantly different from one another. Suppression growth patterns fo...
Atrial Septal Defect in an Adult Patient

A 26-year-old woman presented with new-onset diabetic ketoacidosis. She was noted to have a persistent systolic ejection murmur at the left upper sternal border with a prominent split of the second heart sound. Chest radiograph and electrocardiogram suggested right atrial enlargement. Transthoracic echocardiogram revealed right ventricular volume overload, and agitated saline indicated an intracardiac shunt. Transesophageal echocardiogram demonstrated left-to-right shunting across a large atrial septal defect (ASD) (Fig. 1, also see online video). Cardiac magnetic resonance imaging confirmed discontinuity of the intra-atrial septum, representative of a secundum ASD (Fig. 2). Figure 1. Transesophageal echocardiogram, revealing 3 × 2 cm ASD*, with left-to-right shunting on Doppler imaging. Note regurgitant jet directed into the right atrium and right ventricle through open tricuspid valve. Figure 2. Cardiac MRI demonstrating ASD (asterisk), with enlarged right atrium, right ventricle, and pulmonary arteries. ASD is a frequent congenital abnormality, the subtlety of which often results in the delay of diagnosis into adulthood. ASDs account for approximately one third of all cases of congenital heart disease in adults. 75% of ASDs are secundum defects (located centrally, at the fossa ovalis), which are more common in women. Symptoms at presentation are nonspecific and most often include fatigue and exertional dyspnea.1 Long-term complications of uncorrected ASDs include atrial arrhythmias, right ventricular dilatation and failure, pulmonary hypertension, and paradoxical embolism. Percutaneous device closure is standard of care for most secundum ASDs in tertiary medical centers worldwide. The age-related morbidity and mortality associated with ASDs can be mitigated with timely defect closure.2
An assessment of orthogonal defect classification and acceptance sampling in quality assurance

There are several techniques for testing application software for quality assurance. One possible approach is to identify the most critical features of software, and place more emphasis on those, while putting less emphasis on the not-so-critical features. Another approach is to develop a statistical procedure for identifying which test cases to perform, without necessarily identifying which ones are critical, and which are not. Such random selection leads to a more representative sample of the overall features of particular software, and defects identified are presumed to be proportionate with the proportion of defects that would have been identified based on complete exhaustive testing. A third approach is to use the technique of Orthogonal Defect Classification (ODC). This technique is used to develop a model that breaks down all the features of the AUT into categories, then with the aid of standard orthogonal arrays, selects which test cases to run.
Self-Efficacy and Health Status in Patients With Coronary Heart Disease: Findings From the Heart and Soul Study

Objective:To examine the relationship between cardiac self-efficacy and health status, including symptom burden, physical limitation, quality of life, and overall health among outpatients with stable coronary heart disease (CHD). We hypothesized that lower self-efficacy would predict worse health st
Kappa opioid antagonist effects of the novel kappa antagonist 5'-guanidinonaltrindole (GNTI) in an assay of schedule-controlled behavior in rhesus monkeys.

Rationale: Opioid receptors are divided into three types: kappa, mu, and delta receptors. Receptor-selective antagonists are useful experimental tools for evaluation of opioid receptor-mediated processes. 5′-Guanidinonaltrindole (GNTI) was recently developed as a novel kappa-selective antagonist. Objectives: To evaluate the potency, time course, and selectivity of GNTI's opioid antagonist effects in rhesus monkeys in an assay of schedule-controlled responding. Methods: Five rhesus monkeys were trained to respond under a fixed ratio 30 schedule of food reinforcement. The rate-decreasing effects of the kappa agonists U50,488 and U69,593, the mu agonist morphine, and the delta agonist SNC80 were examined alone and after pretreatment with GNTI (0.1 and 1.0 mg/kg i.m.; 1 h to 14 days). Results: U50,488, U69,593, morphine, and SNC80 dose-dependently decreased response rates in this procedure. GNTI produced a dose- and time-dependent antagonism of the rate-decreasing effects of U50,488. The kappa antagonist effects of GNTI had a slow onset and a long duration of action, and peak antagonist effects were observed after 24 h. A higher dose of 3.2 mg/kg GNTI eliminated responding in one monkey and was not studied further. The antagonist effects of GNTI were kappa selective, because 1.0 mg/kg GNTI also antagonized the effects of U69,593, but not those of morphine or SNC80. Conclusions: These results suggest that GNTI is a potent and selective kappa antagonist with a slow onset and long duration of action in rhesus monkeys. Relative to the prototype kappa antagonist nor-binaltorphimine, GNTI may have some advantages as a tool for the study of kappa receptor-mediated processes.
Corrections to the Bethe-Bloch formula for average ionization energy loss of relativistic heavy nuclei Close collisions

Abstract Corrections to the Bethe-Bloch formula for a average ionization energy loss of relativistic nuclei are calculated by numerically integrating the exact Mott cross section. Results are tabulated in the form of a correction term Φ(β, Z) for nuclei with Z = 6, 12, 26, 36, 52, 60, 75, 80, 92, 104 and 114 and velocities corresponding to β = 0.85, 0.90, 0.95, 0.97, 0.99 and 0.999. These results are compared with closed form corrections obtained from the second and third order Born approximations. Close agreement is found between the corrections from the Mott and third order Born approximations for Z ≤ 60 and β ≥ 0.85.
The role of serotonin in antipsychotic drug action

Recent interest in the role of serotonin (5-HT) in antipsychotic drug action is based mainly upon the fact that antipsychotic drugs such as clozapine, olanzapine, quetiapine, risperidone, sertindole, and ziprasidone are potent 5-HT2a receptor antagonists and relatively weaker dopamine D2 antagonists. These agents share in common low extrapyramidal side effects at clinically effective doses and possibly greater efficacy to reduce negative symptoms. As a group, they also have a superior effect on cognitive function and greater ability to treat mood symptoms in both patients with schizophrenia or affective disorders than typical antipsychotic drugs. The atypical antipsychotic agents vary in their affinities for other types of 5-HT as well as dopamine, muscarinic, adrenergic, and histaminic receptors, some, or all of which, may contribute to their differences in efficacy and side effect profile. Of the other 5-HT receptors which these drugs directly, the 5-HT1a and 5-HT2c receptors are the strongest candidates for contributing to their antipsychotic action and low EPS profile. The 5-HT6 and 5-HT7 receptors may also be of some importance. Stimulation of the 5-HT1a receptor appears to produce many of the same effects as antagonism of the 5-HT2a receptor while antagonism of the 5-HT2c receptor appears to diminish some of the actions of 5-HT2a receptor antagonism. Future antipsychotic drug development can include targeting multiple serotonin receptor subtypes.
The Chemical Form of Mercury in Fish

The primary dietary source of neurotoxic mercury compounds is via the ingestion of methylmercury species accumulated in fish. Methylmercury from fish has been linked to neurological damage (Minamata disease) ([ 1 ][1]) and increased risk of myocardial infarction ([ 2 ][2]). Despite its importance,
Personal Illness Models of Diabetes: Parents of Preadolescents and Adolescents

The purpose of this research was to explore personal illness models of parents of preadolescents and adolescents regarding diabetes mellitus. Personal illness models were defined as the parents' cognitive representations of the disease. Fifty-five parents of children ages 10 to 17 years with a diagnosis of insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus were interviewed using a semistructured questionnaire. Data were content analyzed for common themes. Parents attributed the cause of diabetes to genetics coupled with a viral infection. Most believed the diabetes would last a lifetime but they were hopeful for a cure. Parents requested ongoing education for their children, support groups, counseling, one consistent healthcare provider, and intensive insulin therapy. Parents reported that the major problems caused by diabetes were increased structure of daily routines and that their children with diabetes felt different from healthy peers. Parents' fears about diabetes included long-term complications, early death, and severe insulin reactions.
Validation of a semi-automated human hepatocyte assay for the determination and prediction of intrinsic clearance in discovery

An automated high throughput human hepatocyte assay has been established with a 96-well format using a Tecan Genesistrade mark Workstation. Validation of this assay was performed with nine commercially available compounds and an additional 10 Pfizer compounds with varying hepatic extraction ratios (E(H)) ranging from 0.02 to approximately 1. The incubation conditions in the automated assay are readily and precisely controlled and cell viability of over 80% was achieved in the automated assay further confirming its utility for absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion (toxicity) (ADME (T)) screening. The results of the nine commercial compounds correlate with both manually executed (R(2)=0.97) and literature reported experimental results (R(2)=0.93). Overall, measured E(H)s were within two-fold of the literature values for approximately 90% of the 19 compounds tested. Additionally, good inter- and intra-day reproducibility was observed for all the 19 compounds. In conclusion, an automated and robust assay suitable for simultaneously testing up to 48 compounds with multiple time points has been validated. Throughput of 192 compounds per run can be achieved using 384-well plates to meet increasing needs in drug discovery. Currently, this automated assay is used to support early discovery profiling towards lead optimization of various discovery targets/programs.
Methodology and application of flow cytometry for investigation of human malaria parasites

Historically, examinations of the inhibition of malaria parasite growth/invasion, whether using drugs or antibodies, have relied on the use of microscopy or radioactive hypoxanthine uptake. These are considered gold standards for measuring the effectiveness of antimalarial treatments, however, these methods have well known shortcomings. With the advent of flow cytometry coupled with the use of fluorescent DNA stains allowed for increased speed, reproducibility, and qualitative estimates of the effectiveness of antibodies and drugs to limit malaria parasite growth which addresses the challenges of traditional techniques. Because materials and machines available to research facilities are so varied, different methods have been developed to investigate malaria parasites by flow cytometry. This review is intended to serve as a reference guide for advanced users and importantly, as a primer for new users, to support expanded use and improvements to malaria flow cytometry, particularly in endemic countries.
Expression and purification of full-length mouse CARM1 from transiently transfected HEK293T cells using HaloTag technology

Coactivator-associated arginine methyl transferase 1 (CARM1) is a protein arginine methyltransferase (PRMT) family member that functions as a coactivator in androgen and estrogen signaling pathways and plays a role in the progression of prostate and breast cancer. CARM1 catalyzes methylation of diverse protein substrates. Prior attempts to purify the full-length mouse CARM1 protein have proven unsatisfactory. The full-length protein expressed in Escherichia coli forms insoluble inclusion bodies that are difficult to denature and refold. The presented results demonstrate the use of a novel HaloTag™ technology to purify full-length CARM1 from both E. coli and mammalian HEK293T cells. A small amount of CARM1 was purified from E. coli; however, the protein was truncated on the N-terminus by 10–50 amino acids, most likely due to endogenous proteolytic activity. In contrast, substantial quantities of soluble full-length CARM1 were purified from transiently transfected HEK293T cells. The CARM1 from HEK293T cells was isolated alongside a number of co-purifying interacting proteins. The covalent bond formed between the HaloTag and the HaloLink resin allowed the use of stringent wash conditions without risk of eluting the CARM1 protein. The results also illustrate a highly effective approach for purifying and enriching both CARM1-associated proteins as well as substrates for CARM1’s methyltransferase activity.
RAGE: A Novel Target for Drug Intervention in Diabetic Vascular Disease

At high levels as seen in diabetes, glucose reacts with and forms adducts (advanced glycation end products; AGEs) on macromolecules including proteins and DNA, eliciting cellular dysfunction and leading to vascular disease. The major means is through cellular receptors; the best characterized is the receptor for advanced glycation end products (RAGE). Accumulation of both AGE/RAGE in addition to other identified ligands of RAGE, including S100/calgranulins, is the hallmark of this receptor in disease pathogenesis. Blockade of ligand-receptor interaction directly at the protein level, or transgenetically, prevents development of micro vascular (nephropathy) and macro vascular (atherosclerosis/restenosis) disease in small animal models. Furthermore, allelic variants of RAGE exist that alter the protein function and gene expression, which may further affect disease outcome. In conclusion, RAGE is a target for drug development to prevent vascular disease in diabetic and nondiabetic subjects.
Vibrational frequencies and structural determinations of tert-butylacetylene

Abstract The normal mode frequencies and corresponding vibrational assignments of tert-butylacetylene (TBA) are examined theoretically using the Gaussian 98 set of quantum chemistry codes. All normal modes were successfully assigned to one of the nine types of motion (CC stretch, CC stretch, CH stretch, CCC bend, CCC bend, CCH bend, HCH bend, CH3 rock, and CH3 twist) utilizing the C3v symmetry of the molecule. Calculations were performed at the Hartree–Fock, B3LYP, and MP2 levels of theory using the standard 6-311G∗∗ basis. Theoretical results were successfully compared against available experimental data.
The effect of conjugate photoelectron impact ionization on the pre-dawn ionosphere

Abstract Theoretical calculations using photoelectron fluxes measured by a soft particle spectrometer on ISIS-2 as input data show that impact ionization by photoelectrons arriving from the sunlit conjugate region is insignificant in the ionization balance of the nighttime ionosphere.
Is cognitive dysfunction a complication of adjuvant chemotherapy in the older patient with breast cancer

For a number of years, patients have anecdotally reported changes in memory and concentration problems after receiving chemotherapy for breast cancer. Neuropsychological studies have been performed to seek objective evidence as to the existence and extent of this phenomenon; however, these studies were primarily performed in younger women and there is sparse data regarding the impact of adjuvant chemotherapy on an older woman's cognition. The objective of this paper was to evaluate the current literature in order to propose ways to overcome methodological limitations of studies to consider whether chemotherapy-associated cognitive dysfunction exists in older patients and if so, who is at risk. A systematic review of relevant literature was performed including study design, mean age of participants, treatment received, neuropsychological tests employed, timing of assessments, definition of cognitive impairment, and results. The literature primarily consists of small studies, which lack a prospective longitudinal design, vary in design measures, and exclude older patients who are at greatest risk for cognitive impairment. Since aging is the number one risk factor for breast cancer, future studies of the neuropsychological impact of chemotherapy should include older patients.
Conformational stability and flexibility of the ala dipeptide in free space and water: Monte Carlo computer simulation studies†

Monte Carlo determinations of the intramolecular thermodynamics of the Ala dipeptide in the C7, C5, αR, and PII conformations are reported. The calculations are carried out in the quasiharmonic approximation, with intramolecular entropies determined from the covariance matrix of the atomic displacements. The free energy of transition from C7 to C5, αR, and PII are found to be endergonic and dominated by the intrinsic energy of disrupting the intramolecular hydrogen bond in the C7 conformation. These results are combined with previous estimates of the free energy of hydration of the Ala dipeptide in water computed from liquid state Monte Carlo simulations using the probability ratio method. The net free energy of C7, αR, and PII are found to be similar, and it is thus reasonable to expect that all three forms are thermally populated at ambient temperature. The intermolecular carbonyl-water hydrogen bond in C5, αR, and PII competes successfully with the intramolecular NH…OC interaction in C7.
Short-rotation forestry research in the United States☆

Abstract In 1978 the United States Department of Energy initiated the Short Rotation Woody Crops Program∗ to create a technical information base and improve wood energy supplies. This national program focused on tree selection, management systems, equipment needs, economics, and nutrient requirements. Close spacing and successive coppice ratations are critical to the short-rotation concept. Twenty-five species have been selected for use in various parts of the country. Woody biomass productivity rates from 382 nationwide, short rotation, intensive-culture research tests averaged 5·6 Mg/ha/yr. Increases of at least 125% are expected through additional research. BIOCUT, a microcomputer based cost-accounting model, has been developed to analyze short-rotation systems. Harvest and transportation costs represent 50% of total production costs. Forage harvesting equipment is needed. Chunk cutting of wood bolts requires two-thirds less energy than chipping. Future efforts of this national program should focus on coppice regeneration, harvesting techniques, and economic evaluation of multihectare monoculture viability tests.
LaneLok: an improved Hough transform algorithm for lane sensing using strategic search methods

The lane sensing function detects and estimates the location of road and lane boundaries and is a core function of the Highway Driver's Assistant project within the Intelligent Vehicle Highway System program. The previously developed Hough Transform algorithm for lane sensing was improved significantly by embedding the knowledge of the road geometry and by reducing the area of the transform space. A modified Sobel edge- operator was also developed for detecting edges in the dark to light transition areas. The computational processing time was reduced from 30 seconds/image to 3 seconds/image on a VAX 8600 computer by using temporal knowledge of vehicle motion. The algorithm's improved performance was checked successfully on over 800 images of highway scenes.© (1991) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Prevention of a molecular misdiagnosis in galactosemia.

Purpose: The polymerase chain reaction is generally used for mutational analysis of the galactose-1-phosphate uridyl transferase (GALT) gene in the diagnosis of galactosemia. This method is problematic when used in families of Ashkenazi Jewish descent. Methods: We amplified the GALT gene from leukocyte DNA followed by allele specific oligonucleotide hybridization, DNA sequencing and Southern Blot analysis to determine the mutant alleles causing galactosemia in a representative Jewish family. Results: The proband's diagnosis of galactosemia was confirmed by high levels of erythrocyte galactose-1-phosphate, absence of erythrocyte GALT activity and impaired total body oxidation of galactose to expired CO2. Initial molecular analysis of GALT alleles in the family showed homozygosity for a K285N missense mutation in the proband, homozygosity for N314D in the mother and heterozygosity for N314D and K285N in the father. These results contradicted Mendelian logic. Southern blot hybridization with GALT cDNA proved the presence of a complex 5 kb GALT deletion in the proband and her mother's DNA enabling a corrected genotype. Conclusions: Since a deletion of the GALT gene is a common mutation causing galactosemia among Ashkenazim Jewish families, this deletion should be suspected and tested for by genomic hybridization or by using primers specific for the 5 kb deletion.
The TSC1 Tumor Suppressor Hamartin Interacts with Neurofilament-L and Possibly Functions as a Novel Integrator of the Neuronal Cytoskeleton

Tuberous sclerosis complex, an autosomal dominant disease caused by mutations in either TSC1 or TSC2, is characterized by the development of hamartomas in a variety of organs. The proteins encoded by TSC1 and TSC2, hamartin and tuberin, respectively, associate with each other forming a tight complex. Here we show that hamartin binds the neurofilament light chain and it is possible to recover the hamartin-tuberin complex over the neurofilament light chain rod domain spanning amino acids 93-156 by affinity precipitation. Homologous rod domains in other intermediate filaments such as neurofilament medium chain, alpha-internexin, vimentin, and desmin are not able to bind hamartin. In cultured cortical neurons, hamartin and tuberin co-localize with neurofilament light chain preferentially in the proximal to central growth cone region. Interestingly, in the distal part of the growth cone hamartin overlaps with the ezrin-radixin-moesin family of actin binding proteins, and we have validated the interaction of hamartin with moesin. These results demonstrate that hamartin may anchor neuronal intermediate filaments to the actin cytoskeleton, which may be critical for some of the CNS functions of the hamartin-tuberin complex, and abolishing this through mutations in TSC1 or TSC2 may lead to certain neurological manifestations associated with the disease.
Siblings and pediatric chronic illness: a review of the literature.

Over forty studies published between 1970 and 1995 are reviewed to identify the extent and nature of risks to siblings of chronically ill children, and the factors that may increase or lower the risks. A considerable amount of research is available in this area within the United States, but is relatively understudied elsewhere. About 60% of the studies reported an increase in sibling risk, while 30% reported no risk; and 10% had positive and negative outcomes. Interventions need to focus on the entire family system.
Living polymerization with well-defined alkylidene catalysts

Alkylidene complexes of the type Mo(CH-t-Bu)(NAr)(OR)2 (Ar = 2, 6-diisopropylphenyl; OR = O-t-Bu, OCMe2(CF3), OCMe(CF3)2, etc.) can be prepared from a “universal precursor”, Mo(CH-t-Bu)(NAr)(triflate)2(1, 2-dimethoxyethane),1 which can be prepared in three high-yield steps from ammonium dimolybdate.2 These complexes serve as initiators for the ring opening metathesis of norbornenes and substituted norbornadienes,3 or for the polymerization of acetylenes to give polyenes,4 all in a living manner. The organic polymer can be cleaved upon treatment with an aldehyde. Norbornenes that contain a variety of organic or inorganic functionalities can be polymerized to give essentially monodisperse homopolymers and block copolymers. Recently chiral catalysts have been prepared that will polymerize norbornenes and norbornadienes stereoselectively to give all cis isotactic polymers.5 Molybdenum catalysts also have been found that will cyclopolymerize dipropargyl derivatives or substituted phenylacetylenes in a living manner.6 The stereospecific synthesis of all cis, or all trans, tactic polynorbornadienes and polynorbornenes will be discussed in detail, including a proof of tacticity.7
Relationship of Adverse Events to Serum Drug Levels in Patients Receiving High-Dose Azithromycin for Mycobacterial Lung Disease

We treated 39 elderly human immunodeficiency virus-noninfected patients with Mycobacterium avium complex and/or Mycobacterium abscessus lung disease with azithromycin (600 mg daily), given initially as monotherapy. Adverse events occurred in 33 of 39 patients (85%) receiving azithromycin alone, most commonly gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms (32 of 39, or 82%) and hearing impairment (10 of 39, or 26%). Twenty-four of 39 patients (62%) required a lower dose or withdrawal of the drug. The mean serum level in patients who required a dose reduction because of hearing impairment was 0.8 +/- 0.4 microg/mL, and that in patients whose reduction was necessitated by GI symptoms was 0.7 +/- 0.4 microg/mL; in comparison, the mean serum level was 0.3 +/- 0.16 microg/mL in patients with no adverse events (P = .004 and .003, respectively). Decreasing the daily dose to 300 mg resulted in resolution of most adverse events. Serum levels with monotherapy were comparable to levels after the addition of other antituberculous drugs that included rifampin or rifabutin. Thus, a 300-mg rather than 600-mg daily dose of azithromycin is better tolerated by elderly patients, and serum levels appear unaffected by other antituberculous agents, including rifampin.
On Semiparametric EV Models with Serially Correlated Errors in Both Regression Models and Mismeasured Covariates.

. We consider inference for a semiparametric regression model where some covariates are measured with errors, and the errors in both the regression model and the mismeasured covariates are serially correlated. We propose a weighted estimating equations-based estimator (WEEBE) for the regression coefficients. We show that the WEEBE is asymptotically more efficient than the estimators that neglect the serial correlations. This is an interesting new finding since earlier results in the statistical literature have shown that the weighted estimation is not as efficient as the unweighted estimation when the measurement errors and serially correlated errors of the regression models exist simultaneously (Biometrics, 49, 1993, 1262; Technometrics, 42, 2000, 137). The proposed WEEBE does not require undersmoothing the regressor functions in order to make it attain the root-n consistency. Simulation studies show that the proposed estimator has nice finite sample properties. A real data set is used to illustrate the proposed method.
Some Remarks on Some Second-orderHyperbolic Differential Equations

We are concerned with the almost automorphic solutions to the second-order hyperbolic differential equations of type u(s) + 2B u(s) + Au(s) = f(s) (*), where A, B are densely defined closed linear operators acting in a Hilbert space H, and f : R |—> H is a vector-valued almost automorphic function. Using invariant subspaces, it will be shown that under appropriate assumptions, every solution to (*) is almost automorphic.
A Community-Based Criminology Of The Environment:

Federal, state and local governments' ability to promulgate effective environmental legislation is increasingly under attack by multinational corporations and free trade agreements. Efforts to move capital around the globe unimpeded come at a cost to ecosystems, local economies and democracies. Although it is imperative to continue the struggle to prom ulgate effective and ecologically grounded environment legislation, it is equally important to acknowledge the significance of building strong restorative local ecnomies grounded in their ecosystems. This paper examines the environmental issues surrounding free trade, its impact on attenuating environmental legislation, and strategies for rebuilding local infrastructure designed to circumvent the hegemonic and umipeded flow of global capital.
Governance Tools Addressing the Welfare Issue in the United States

This article examines the importance of governance tools in dissolving welfare issues in the United States. An important point made by the authors is that, by adopting a governance approach, policy makers and practitioners benefit from more flexibility to move and adjust to evolving social issues; this approach is faster and more efficient than the traditional government paradigm originally permitted. The question for the next generation of policy makers is to determine what governance tools are appropriate for addressing this growing poverty epidemic. The goal of each tool should be to place the power in the hands of individuals familiar with welfare problems and solutions.
Molecular Diagnostics in Pediatric Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia.

Abstract Remarkable progress has been made in identifying the molecular lesions involved in the pathogenesis of pediatric acute lymphoblastic leukemia. Efforts to clone the genes involved in chromosomal translocations have led to the isolation of a number of novel proto-oncogenes. The biochemical characterization of the encoded products has helped to elucidate important regulatory pathways involved in cellular differentiation, proliferation, or control of cell death, and has helped to define how alterations in these pathways contribute to leukemogenesis. In addition, these efforts have led to the development of molecular-based assays for the identification of the specific molecular lesions. Clinical application of these assays has rapidly led to the realization that molecular lesions can identify distinct patient subgroups with predictable clinical features and responses to therapy. In this review, the emerging role of molecular diagnostics in the clinical management of pediatric patients with acute lymphoblastic leukemia is discussed. (Mol Diagn 1996 Jun;1(2):139-151)
A hybrid approach to content analysis for automatic essay grading

We present CarmelTC, a novel hybrid text classification approach for automatic essay grading. Our evaluation demonstrates that the hybrid CarmelTC approach outperforms two "bag of words" approaches, namely LSA and a Naive Bayes, as well as a purely symbolic approach.
A Transmitter Modulating Device for the Study of the Kennelly-Heaviside Layer by the Echo Method

The importance is emphasized of sending out "peaks" of very short duration and proper spacing for the study of the radio reflections from the ionized layer in the upper atmosphere by the echo method, and objections to modified alternating-current modulation are pointed out. A method is outlined for modulating the transmitter, based on the sudden pulses of plate-current which occur in an unbalanced multivibrator circuit. The application of this method to the transmitter is described and its effectiveness illustrated by typical recorded signals.
Performance of Parallel Decentralized Sensor Network with Decision Feedback

In most previous studies, distributed sensor networks are typically assumed to be memory less. In this paper, we consider a distributed sensor network with feedback at both the sensor level as well as at the fusion center. Specifically, we analyze (1) a local feedback system (LFS), where the most recent local decision is fed back to its corresponding local sensor; (2) a local and global feedback system 1 (LGFS1) where the most recent local decision is fed back to its corresponding local sensor and the most recent global decision is fed back to the fusion center, and (3) a local and global feedback system 2 (LGFS2), where the most recent global decision is fed back to all the local sensors and to the fusion center in addition to the local decision being fed back to its corresponding local sensor. For all the cases, we derive the decision rule and compare the global probability of error using simulations. We show that in an error-free channel, any form of feedback improves GPE performance relative to no feedback system. However, feeding the global decision back to local sensors not only drains resources but also provides the worst performance among feedback schemes
Blind Deconvolution De-noising for Helicopter Vibration Data

Critical aircraft assets are required to be available when needed, while exhibiting attributes of reliability, robustness and high confidence under a variety of flight regimes, and maintained on the basis of their current condition rather than on the basis of scheduled maintenance practices. New and innovative technologies must be developed and implemented to address these concerns. Condition based maintenance (CBM) requires that the health of critical components/systems be monitored and diagnostics/prognostic strategies be developed to detect and identify incipient failures and predict the failing component's remaining useful life (RUL). Typically, vibration and other key indicators on-board on aircraft are severely corrupted by noise thus curtailing our ability to accurately diagnose and predict failures. This paper introduces a novel blind deconvolution de-noising scheme that employs vibration model in the frequency domain and attempts to arrive at the true vibration signal through an iterative optimization process. Performance indexes are defined and data from a helicopter are used to demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed scheme.
Provenance Data in Social Media

Social media shatters the barrier to communicate anytime anywhere for people of all walks of life. The publicly available, virtually free information in social media poses a new challenge to consumers who have to discern whether a piece of information published in social media is reliable. For example, it can be difficult to understand the motivations behind a statement passed from one user to another, without knowing the person who originated the message. Additionally, false information can be propagated through social media, resulting in embarrassment or irreversible damages. Provenance data associated with a social media statement can help dispel rumors, clarify opinions, and confirm facts. However, provenance data about social media statements is not readily available to users today. Currently, providing this data to users requires changing the social media infrastructure or offering subscription services. Taking advantage of social media features, research in this nascent field spearheads the search for a way to provide provenance data to social media users, thus leveraging social media itself by mining it for the provenance data. Searching for provenance data reveals an interesting problem space requiring the development and application of new metrics in order to provide meaningful provenance data to social media users. This lecture reviews the current research on information provenance, explores exciting research opportunities to address pressing needs, and shows how data mining can enable a social media user to make informed judgements about statements published in social media. Table of Contents: Information Provenance in Social Media / Provenance Attributes / Provenance via Network Information / Provenance Data
The Supreme Commander: The War Years of General Dwight D. Eisenhower

In North Africa, on the beaches at Normandy, and in the Battle of the Bulge, Dwight David Eisenhower proved himself as one of the world's greatest military leaders. Faced with conciliating or disagreeing with such stormy figures as Churchill, Roosevelt, and DeGaulle, and generals like Montgomery and Patton, General Eisenhower showed himself to be as skillful a diplomat as he was a strategist. Stephen E. Ambrose, associate editor of the General's official papers, analyzes his subject's decisions in The Supreme Commander, which Doubleday first published in 1970. Throughout the book Ambrose traces the steady development of Eisenhower's generalcy--from its dramatic beginnings through his time at the top post of Allied command. The New York Times Book Review said of The Supreme Commander, "It is Mr. Ambrose's special triumph that he has been able to fight through the memoranda, the directives, plans, reports, and official self-serving pieties of the World War II establishment to uncover the idiosyncratic people at its center. ... General Dwight Eisenhower comes remarkably alive. ...[Ambrose's] angle of sight is so fresh and lively that one reads as if one did not know what was coming next. It is better than that: One does know what's coming next--not only the winning of a war but the making of a general--but the interest is in seeing how." This study of Eisenhower's role in the world's biggest war is absorbing as reading and invaluable as a reference. Stephen E. Ambrose was Director Emeritus of the Eisenhower Center, Boyd Professor of History at the University of New Orleans, and president of the National D- Day Museum. He was the author of many books, most recently "The Mississippi and the Making of a Nation: From the Louisana Purchase to Today." His compilation of 1,400 oral histories from American veterans and authorship of over 20 books established him as one of the foremost historians of the Second World War in Europe. He died October 13, 2002, in Bay St. Louis, Mississippi.
Getting involved early in the software development process

The author notes that in the last few years there has been much talk about the changing role of the technical communicator from writer to information developer: a user advocate who is involved early enough in the planning phase to help create more usable products and information instead of merely reporting about them. She suggests meaningful ways that information developers can contribute during early phases of the software development process and describes, from her recent experiences, the ways that this changing role affects the process itself. She also describes the support necessary from management to make early involvement possible. >
Respiration Rates of Larval Cope's Gray Tree Frogs (Hyla chrysoscelis) Across a Range in Temperatures

Abstract Understanding ecophysiological/bioenergetic responses to elevated temperatures is vital to assessing future impacts on amphibian health and demographics. There is, however, a dearth of data concerning thermal influences on the energetics of larval amphibians, including measures of respiration rates which underlie other bioenergetic processes. We therefore measured respiration rates across a range of temperatures (18.3–30°C) in wild-caught larval Cope's Gray Tree Frog (Hyla chrysoscelis), a species widespread throughout the eastern and southeastern United States. Temperature and body size significantly affected respiration rates in a linear fashion. The Q10 calculated across the range of exposure temperatures was 1.72 for absolute respiration rates (mg O2/min) and 1.76 for mass-adjusted rates (mg O2/g min), suggesting less than a doubling of respiration rates over a 10°C increase in temperature. Our data, when considered with the limited data for other amphibians, suggest there are substantial spe...
Influence of Dimethyl Sulfoxide (DMSO) on the Percutaneous Absorption of Salicylic Acid and Sodium Salicylate From Ointments

Dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO), 15 percent by weight, was incorporated into selected ointment bases containing 10 percent salicylic acid or 11.6 percent sodium salicylate. Percutaneous absorption was studied by determining salicylate blood levels in New Zealand white rabbits at regular intervals for 8 hr. following application of the ointment to the shaved intact skin and confinement by a specially designed bandage. DMSO in hydrophilic ointment and hydrophilic petrolatum produced more rapid drug absorption and higher salicylate blood levels than the control systems. Polyethylene glycol ointment and a polyoxyethylene (20) stearyl ether gel with DMSO did not produce any significant change in the absorption pattern. The salicylate blood levels obtained from percutaneous absorption of sodium salicylate in hydrophilic ointment containing DMSO were lower than with control systems. In the case of hydrophilic petrolatum, there were no significant differences in absorption patterns of sodium salicylate with or without DMSO. Sodium salicylate did not appear to be absorbed from polyethylene glycol ointment whether or not DMSO was included.
A statistical fMRI model for differential T2* contrast incorporating T1 and T2* of gray matter

Relaxation parameter estimation and brain activation detection are two main areas of study in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI). Relaxation parameters can be used to distinguish voxels containing different types of tissue whereas activation determines voxels that are associated with neuronal activity. In fMRI, the standard practice has been to discard the first scans to avoid magnetic saturation effects. However, these first images have important information on the MR relaxivities for the type of tissue contained in voxels, which could provide pathological tissue discrimination. It is also well-known that the voxels located in gray matter (GM) contain neurons that are to be active while the subject is performing a task. As such, GM MR relaxivities can be incorporated into a statistical model in order to better detect brain activation. Moreover, although the MR magnetization physically depends on tissue and imaging parameters in a nonlinear fashion, a linear model is what is conventionally used in fMRI activation studies. In this study, we develop a statistical fMRI model for Differential T2(*) ConTrast Incorporating T1 and T2(*) of GM, so-called DeTeCT-ING Model, that considers the physical magnetization equation to model MR magnetization; uses complex-valued time courses to estimate T1 and T2(*) for each voxel; then incorporates gray matter MR relaxivities into the statistical model in order to better detect brain activation, all from a single pulse sequence by utilizing the first scans.
moz regulates Hox expression and pharyngeal segmental identity in zebrafish

In vertebrate embryos, streams of cranial neural crest (CNC) cells migrate to form segmental pharyngeal arches and differentiate into segment-specific parts of the facial skeleton. To identify genes involved in specifying segmental identity in the vertebrate head, we screened for mutations affecting cartilage patterning in the zebrafish larval pharynx. We present the positional cloning and initial phenotypic characterization of a homeotic locus discovered in this screen. We show that a zebrafish ortholog of the human oncogenic histone acetyltransferase MOZ (monocytic leukemia zinc finger) is required for specifying segmental identity in the second through fourth pharyngeal arches. In moz mutant zebrafish, the second pharyngeal arch is dramatically transformed into a mirror-image duplicated jaw. This phenotype resembles a similar but stronger transformation than that seen in hox2 morpholino oligo (hox2-MO) injected animals. In addition, mild anterior homeotic transformations are seen in the third and fourth pharyngeal arches of moz mutants. moz is required for maintenance of most hox1-4 expression domains and this requirement probably at least partially accounts for the moz mutant homeotic phenotypes. Homeosis and defective Hox gene expression in moz mutants is rescued by inhibiting histone deacetylase activity with Trichostatin A. Although we find early patterning of the moz mutant hindbrain to be normal, we find a late defect in facial motoneuron migration in moz mutants. Pharyngeal musculature is transformed late, but not early, in moz mutants. We detect relatively minor defects in arch epithelia of moz mutants. Vital labeling of arch development reveals no detectable changes in CNC generation in moz mutants, but later prechondrogenic condensations are mispositioned and misshapen. Mirror-image hox2- dependent gene expression changes in postmigratory CNC prefigure the homeotic phenotype in moz mutants. Early second arch ventral expression of goosecoid ( gsc ) in moz mutants and in animals injected with hox2-MOs shifts from lateral to medial, mirroring the first arch pattern. bapx1 , which is normally expressed in first arch postmigratory CNC prefiguring the jaw joint, is ectopically expressed in second arch CNC of moz mutants and hox2-MO injected animals. Reduction of bapx1 function in wild types causes loss of the jaw joint. Reduction of bapx1 function in moz mutants causes loss of both first and second arch joints, providing functional genetic evidence that bapx1 contributes to the moz- deficient homeotic pattern. Together, our results reveal an essential embryonic role and a crucial histone acetyltransferase activity for Moz in regulating Hox expression and segmental identity, and provide two early targets, bapx1 and gsc , of moz and hox2 signaling in the second pharyngeal arch.
Unconventional processive mechanics of non-muscle myosin IIB

Proper tension maintenance in the cytoskeleton is essential for regulated cell polarity, cell motility, and division. Non-muscle myosin IIB (NMIIB) generates tension along actin filaments in many cell types, including neuronal, cardiac, and smooth muscle cells. Using a three-bead optical trapping assay, we recorded NMIIB interactions with actin filaments to determine if a NMIIB dimer cycles along an actin filament in a processive manner. Our results show that NMIIB is the first myosin II to exhibit evidence of processive stepping behavior. Analysis of these data reveals a forward displacement of 5.4 nm and, surprisingly, frequent backward steps of −5.9 nm. Processive stepping along the long pitch helix of actin may provide a mechanism for disassembly of fascin-actin bundles. Forward steps and detachment are weakly force-dependent at all forces, consistent with rate-limiting and force-dependent ADP release. However, backward steps are nearly force-independent. Our data support a model in which NMIIB can readily move in both directions at stall, which may be important for a general regulator of cytoskeleton tension.