cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A pathogenic CtBP1 missense mutation causes altered cofactor binding and transcriptional activity

We previously reported a pathogenic de novo p.R342W mutation in the transcriptional corepressor CTBP1 in four independent patients with neurodevelopmental disabilities [1]. Here, we report the clinical phenotypes of seven additional individuals with the same recurrent de novo CTBP1 mutation. Within this cohort, we identified consistent CtBP1-related phenotypes of intellectual disability, ataxia, hypotonia, and tooth enamel defects present in most patients. The R342W mutation in CtBP1 is located within a region implicated in a high affinity-binding cleft for CtBP-interacting proteins. Unbiased proteomic analysis demonstrated reduced interaction of several chromatin-modifying factors with the CtBP1 W342 mutant. Genome-wide transcriptome analysis in human glioblastoma cell lines expressing -CtBP1 R342 (wt) or W342 mutation revealed changes in the expression profiles of genes controlling multiple cellular processes. Patient-derived dermal fibroblasts were found to be more sensitive to apoptosis during acute glucose deprivation compared to controls. Glucose deprivation strongly activated the BH3-only pro-apoptotic gene NOXA, suggesting a link between enhanced cell death and NOXA expression in patient fibroblasts. Our results suggest that context-dependent relief of transcriptional repression of the CtBP1 mutant W342 allele may contribute to deregulation of apoptosis in target tissues of patients leading to neurodevelopmental phenotypes.
Improved energy demand management in buildings for smart grids: The US experience

Abstract Over the last decade, advancements in information technology, communications, and controls drove investments in infrastructures to enable smart grids worldwide. More recently, growing integration of renewable generation in electricity grids around the world presented issues such as unplanned forecast errors, intrahour variability, over generation, and steep ramping of renewable resources. In this chapter, we provide a building-centric view of the smart grid, including descriptions of demand-side activities and their impact, how to facilitate the growing need for flexibility of demand-side resources, and the vision of multiple domains of timescales for which buildings can transact with electricity grid signals. We also give examples of how these concepts have been implemented in buildings and projects around the United States.
Monitoring Insole (MONI): A Low Power Solution Toward Daily Gait Monitoring and Analysis

Gait monitoring and analysis has attracted accumulative attention from the health technology community, with a particular high demand on wearable devices enabling long-term real-time daily gait monitoring. However, the vast majority of existing commercial and emerging technologies use significant electric power, need multiple sensor nodes, and are expensive and complicated to wear. This paper proposes a customized low power, low-cost monitoring insole (MONI) with minimized sensor nodes for real time daily gait monitoring and analysis in an accurate and reliable manner. With one accelerometer positioned at the heel and one at the first metatarsal, key gait features can be extracted and recorded in real-time. Selected gait information will be constructed as personalized daily gait traces to provide a low-power wearable solution for observing user’s gait evolution, which is critical for disease detection at early stages, such as Parkinson’s disease. To minimize the power consumption while efficiently collecting scattered gait information throughout the day, a working-mode management (WMM) algorithm, and an auto activity recognition (AAR) algorithm are developed to intelligently sample the right amount of true walking gait data in real-time. MONI is tested and validated both in the lab (with an accuracy of over 88.74% and a strong correlation intra class correlations (ICC) over 0.83). A pilot study is conducted in the field, suggesting less than 2-mW daily power consumption for 5500 steps of walking for an office worker.
See-Through Teeth, Clearly

The teeth of the deep-sea dragonfish are sharp, hard, stiff, and transparent. Here we compare them to other teeth and their structure, which may determine both light scattering and mechanical behavior of teeth in diverse animals.
Wetting behavior and drainage of water droplets on microgrooved brass surfaces

In the present study, contact angle hysteresis and sliding behavior of water droplets on parallel, periodic microgrooved brass surfaces are investigated experimentally for enhancement of water drainage and compared to that on flat baseline surfaces. The surfaces (a total of 17 microgrooved samples, with a range of groove depth of 22 to 109 μm, pillar width of 26 to 190 μm, and groove width of 103 and 127 μm) are fabricated using a mechanical micromachining process. The wetting state and shape/elongation of deposited water droplets, anisotropy of the contact angle hysteresis, and the drainage behavior of water droplets on the microgrooved surfaces are found to be strongly dependent on the topography of the groove geometry, which is analyzed in detail. The wetting state is found to be Wenzel for microgrooved surfaces with very low aspect ratio (<0.2) and narrow pillars (pillar width to groove width ratio of ≈0.2), and also for the two deepest grooved surfaces of two different sample series, all of which exhibit high contact angle hysteresis. Mechanisms of the advancing and receding motions are identified. The critical sliding angle (the angle from horizontal at incipient motion of the advancing confluence) for the microgrooved surfaces is found to be significantly smaller than for flat surfaces. The sliding angle exhibits significant groove geometry dependence and is found to increase with pillar width and decrease with groove depth. The findings of this study may be useful in a broad range of applications where water retention plays an important role.
Library Cultures of Data Curation: Adventures in Astronomy

Author(s): Darch, Peter T.; Sands, Ashley E.; Borgman, Christine L.; Golshan, Milena S. | Abstract: University libraries are partnering with disciplinary data producers to provide long-term digital curation of research datasets. Managing dataset producer expectations and guiding future development of library services requires understanding the decisions libraries make about curatorial activities, why they make these decisions, and the effects on future data reuse. We present a study, comprising interviews (n=43) and ethnographic observation, of two university libraries who partnered with the Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS) collaboration to curate a significant astronomy dataset. The two libraries made different choices of the materials to curate and associated services, which resulted in different reuse possibilities. Each of the libraries offered partial solutions to the SDSS leaders’ objectives. The libraries’ approaches to curation diverged due to contextual factors, notably the extant infrastructure at their disposal (including technical infrastructure, staff expertise, values and internal culture, and organizational structure). The Data Transfer Process case offers lessons in understanding how libraries choose curation paths and how these choices influence possibilities for data reuse. Outcomes may not match data producers’ initial expectations but may create opportunities for reusing data in unexpected and beneficial ways.
Abstract IA19: Myeloid cell control of tumor immunity

While the success of T-cell checkpoint-targeted immunotherapies is predicated on the induction of an effector T-cell response against tumor antigens by potent antigen-presenting cells (APC), very little is known about the APC composition in human tumors during immunotherapy. APC form a diverse population of dendritic cells (DCs) and macrophages (macs) that share the capacity to capture and present cell-associated antigens to T cells and instruct the repertoire and effector versus regulatory function of T lymphocytes. Despite the key role of APC in tumor immunotherapy, targeting the APC compartment has proved difficult. This is because little is known about the APC molecular changes during tumor response or resistance to immunotherapy. In order to develop ways to modulate tumor APC and promote cancer immunity, we sought to gain a deeper understanding of the molecular and functional diversity of APC in human NSCLC. Using paired mass cytometry analysis of tumor/adjacent tissues, we recently identified major changes in APC and T-cell composition in early non-small lung cancer (NSCLC) lesions (Lavin et al., Cell 2017). More recently, we used cellular indexing of transcriptomes and epitopes by sequencing (CITE-seq) to further measure APC defects in the tumor lesions. CITE-seq analysis of the tumor lesions revealed profound alterations in tumor APC composition including a reduction of cross-presenting DC at the expense of monocyte-derived cells, which correlated with the presence of dysfunctional T cells compared to the adjacent tissue. Accordingly, we found that DC composition and molecular state controlled CD8+ T-cell accumulation at the tumor site and controlled tumor response to checkpoint blockade in preclinical models. Here, I will discuss the strategies we have developed to enhance DC functionality at the tumor site and the challenges that remain. Citation Format: Miriam Merad. Myeloid cell control of tumor immunity [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the AACR Special Conference on Tumor Immunology and Immunotherapy; 2019 Nov 17-20; Boston, MA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Immunol Res 2020;8(3 Suppl):Abstract nr IA19.
An Analysis of the Financial Burden Associated with the Residency Match at the University of South Dakota Sanford School of Medicine.

Objective The application process for residency positions is a costly endeavor. This study aims to quantify the financial expenses incurred by University of South Dakota Sanford School of Medicine (USD SSOM) class of 2016. Our hope is that this study will prepare future students of USD and other smaller programs for the financial burdens associated with the match. This data should be used to guide financial decision making by medical students from USD or by regional students from medical programs that desire to apply to residency programs not offered at their home institution. Methods A 10-item online survey was administered in April of 2016 via the USD Sanford School of Medicine email listserv to the graduating MD class of 2016. The survey asked respondents about the number and cost of away-rotations completed, interviews attended, second-look days attended after the interview, preferences for interviewing during an away-rotation, the specialty the applicant matched into, and number on each applicant's rank list that he/she matched. Results The survey had a 68.3 percent response rate. The mean number of away-rotations completed, interviews attended, and second-look days attended were 1.3, 12.1, and 0.1 per applicant respectively. The mean costs of attendance to away-rotations, interviews, and second-look days were $1,690.63, $4,881.88, and $24 per applicant, respectively. The total mean collective cost of away-rotations, interviews, and second-look days was $6,596.51 per applicant. Conclusions The process of applying to residencies among the graduating MD class of 2016 is a costly endeavor. Attendance of interviews for residency positions is the most costly part of the residency application process. Although the financial burden associated with applying to residency programs is high, increasing competition for graduate medical education positions may only drive the cost further.
Cutting force and stability prediction for inserted cutters

Abstract This paper presents an approach for inserted end/face mill force and stability predictions using a reverse engineering approach. Structured light scanning is implemented to identify the spatial coordinates of the points that define the multiple insert cutting edges. These points are analyzed to extract the cutting edge radius and angle values, which are then incorporated in a time domain simulation that predicts cutting force and tool/workpiece deflection for user-selected operating parameters. Good agreement between predicted and measured cutting forces is first demonstrated. The process stability is then predicted using the validated force model and measured structural dynamics. Observations about the stability dependence on insert geometry are finally presented for a selected end mill.
Additive manufacturing/3D printing of polymer nanocomposites: structure-related multifunctional properties

Abstract Additive manufacturing, primarily known as 3D printing, produces physical objects or parts by adding material often layer by layer, and sometimes at various stages of manufacturing. The mechanisms to add material, the thickness of each layer, and the quality and performance of the resulting part are governed by both the process and the material used during the manufacturing. Polymers have primarily been an integral material in 3D printing. Although, it has recently been shown that ceramics and metals can also be 3D printed, polymers remain a significant part of the 3D printing industry and the vast majority of 3D printing processes use polymer materials. This chapter gives a summary of polymer 3D printing and additive manufacturing. The primary focus of this chapter is on 3D printing techniques that provide more functional parts by improving the materials employing nanotechnology—specifically using polymer-graphene nanocomposites. It is also shown that there is an explosion of interest in improving the properties of polymer-based printing materials by creating polymer composites via the introduction of continuous fibers, short fibers, and other fillers, and nanofibers. In addition, polymer nanocomposite materials, employing nanomaterials such as carbon nanotubes (CNTs) and graphene nanosheets (GNSs) to improve mechanical, thermal, electrical, and biocompatibility properties as compared with their polymer composites counterparts are also explained. Therefore, in this chapter, a general description of a few of the most important considerations is provided in the context of 3D printing of polymers. First, the general approach and associated properties are explained for 3D printing of standard polymers. Second, 3D printing of continuous fiber polymer composites is explained. Third, 3D printing of standard polymers when reinforced by nanomaterials and especially graphene nanosheets (GNSs) to produce nanocomposites, by 3D printing, and associated properties is explained as compared with those without nanomaterials reinforcements. Fourth, a 3D printing of ceramic nanocomposites is explained employing a preceramic polymer reinforced by various nanomaterials.
Lane Detection Based on DeepLab

Lane detection is an important part of car autopilot. It helps the vehicle to stabilize itself in the lane, avoid risks, and determine the direction of driving. In this paper, we propose a neural network approach to detect lanes in different conditions. We also collect 1761 frames of front-view pictures from driving recorders, preprocess them with ROI analysis as training and testing data. Resulted models have overall high accuracy over tests.
Considering the Role of Life Cycle Analysis in Holistic Food Systems Research Policy and Practice

Researchers use life cycle assessment (LCA) to evaluate the environmental impacts of foods, providing useful information to other researchers, policy-makers, consumers, and manufacturers. However, LCA is ill-equipped to account for desirable, often normatively valued, characteristics of food systems, such as redundancy, that could be considered more sustainable from a resilience perspective. LCA’s requirement of a functional unit also causes methodological bias favoring efficiency over resilience and other difficult-to-quantify properties. This efficiency bias results in favorable evaluations of conventional production techniques and plant-based foods since they typically have the lowest impacts per unit of output when compared to alternative agriculture systems and animal-based foods. Such research findings may drive policy-makers as well as consumers to prefer the more efficient options, with the possible outcome of diminishing resilience. This research and policy commentary explains why complementary assessment methodologies are necessary for comprehensive sustainability assessments that support researchers, policy-makers, and other relevant stakeholders in decision-making for food systems sustainability. In addition to LCA, researchers examining food systems sustainability issues should consider integrating other frameworks and methods such as life cycle sustainability assessments, sustainable materialism, backcasting and scenario building, and food systems assessments to help generate a holistic understanding of the systems being analyzed.
Peridynamic correspondence model for finite elastic deformation and rupture in Neo-Hookean materials

Abstract This study considers finite elastic deformation and rupture in rubber-like materials under quasi-static loading conditions by employing the bond-associated weak form of peridynamics with nonuniform horizon. The weak form of peridynamic equilibrium equation is derived based on the Neo-Hookean material model with slight compressibility. The nonlocal deformation gradient tensor is computed in a bond-associated domain of interaction using the PD differential operator. This approach is free of oscillations and spurious zero energy modes that are commonly observed in the PD correspondence models. Also, it permits the direct imposition of natural and essential boundary conditions. Its fidelity for predicting large deformation is established by comparison with those of finite element analysis of a rubber sheet with a hole under stretch. Also, its validity for predicting damage is demonstrated through simulations of experiments concerning progressive damage growth and final rupture in polymers undergoing large elastic deformation.
Misdiagnosis of community-acquired pneumonia in patients admitted to respiratory wards, Penang General Hospital.

Introduction Pneumonia continues to be as one of the top causes of hospitalisations and deaths in Malaysia despite the advancement in prevention and treatment of pneumonia. One of the possible explanations is the frequent misdiagnosis of pneumonia which had been reported elsewhere but such data is not available locally. Objectives This is an audit project aiming to evaluate the proportion of misdiagnosis among hospitalised communityacquired pneumonia (CAP) patients in the Respiratory wards of Penang General Hospital based on their initial presentation data, and their associated outcomes. Methods We reviewed the medical notes and initial chest radiographs of 188 CAP patients who were admitted to respiratory wards. Misdiagnosis was defined as cases which lack suggestive clinical features and/or chest radiograph changes. In-hospital mortality and length of stay (LOS) were the outcomes of interest. Results The study found that 38.8% (n=73) of the hospitalised CAP patients were misdiagnosed. The most common alternative diagnosis was upper respiratory tract infection (32.8%, n=24). There was no statistical difference between misdiagnosis and CAP patients in the demographic and clinical variables collected. In terms of outcomes, misdiagnosed patients were discharged earlier (mean LOS= 3.5±3.28 days vs. 7.7±15.29 days, p=0.03) but the in-hospital mortality difference was not statistically significant (p=0.07). Conclusions One third of our CAP admissions were misdiagnosed. Although initial misdiagnosis of CAP in our study did not show any increase in mortality or morbidity, a proper diagnosis of CAP will be helpful in preventing inappropriate prescription of antibiotics and unnecessary admission.
Reward-related eating, self-regulation, and weight change in pregnancy and postpartum: the Pregnancy Eating Attributes Study (PEAS).

Reward-related eating is hypothesized to underlie risk for weight gain in obesogenic environments, but its role is unknown during pregnancy and postpartum when weight change is normative, but excess weight gain and weight retention are common. This study examined associations of self-reported reward-related eating, self-regulation, and the home food environment with excessive gestational weight gain (GWG) and postpartum weight change. Participants in the Pregnancy Eating Attributes Study observational cohort were enrolled at ≤12 weeks pregnancy and followed through 1-year postpartum (458 recruited; 367 retained through delivery). Participants completed four measures of reward-related eating—Modified Yale Food Addiction Scale, Power of Food Scale, Multiple Choice Procedure, and a Reinforcing Value of Food Questionnaire; two measures of self-regulation—Barratt Impulsiveness Scale and Delay of Gratification Inventory; and a Home Food Inventory. Measured weight and skinfolds were obtained. Multinomial logistic and multiple linear regression analyses estimated associations of reward-related eating, self-regulation, and home food environment with excessive GWG, gestational fat gain, postpartum weight change, and percent of GWG retained. Excessive GWG was associated with food reinforcement intensity, but not with any other measure of reward-related eating, self-regulation, or home food environment. Greater gestational fat gain was associated only with higher Multiple Choice Procedure. Postpartum weight change and percent of GWG retained were associated with greater delay of gratification and obesogenic home food environment, but not with any measure of reward-related eating or with impulsivity. Findings do not support the hypothesis that self-reported reward-related eating is associated with weight outcomes in pregnancy and postpartum but indicate a relation of delay of gratification with postpartum weight retention. Further research using both surveys and objective measures of reward-related eating is needed to advance our understanding of the relation of reward-related eating with weight changes during this critical period of a woman’s life.
Pandemic Reemergence and Four Waves of Excess Mortality Coinciding With the 1918 Influenza Pandemic in Michigan: Insights for COVID-19.

The global influenza pandemic that emerged in 1918 has become the event of reference for a broad spectrum of policymakers seeking to learn from the past. This article sheds light on multiple waves of excess mortality that occurred in the US state of Michigan at the time with insights into how epidemics might evolve and propagate across space and time. We analyzed original monthly data on all-cause deaths by county for the 83 counties of Michigan and interpreted the results in the context of what is known about the pandemic. Counties in Michigan experienced up to four waves of excess mortality over a span of two years, including a severe one in early 1920. Some counties experienced two waves in late 1918 while others had only one. The 1920 wave propagated across the state in a different manner than the fall and winter 1918 waves. The twin waves in late 1918 were likely related to the timing of the statewide imposition of a three-week social distancing order. Michigan's experience holds sobering lessons for those who wish to understand how immunologically naive populations encounter novel viral pathogens.
The United States and Eurasia in Historical Perspective

Eurasia has stood at the center of American foreign-policy concerns since the founding of the republic in 1776. The European balance of power played a central role in the birth of the nation and its expansion across North America in the nineteenth century. In the twentieth, shaping the balance of power first in East Asia, then in Europe, and finally in Eurasia as a whole became, and remains to this day, vital to American security and prosperity.
Christian Arab nationalism between ideology and pragmatism the Greek Orthodox Patriarch Of Antioch Gregorios IV in the First World War

Whether for his political choices or his philanthropic activities, Gregorios IV Haddad, the Patriarch of Antioch and the Whole East 1906–1924, is still remembered as a strong supporter of Arabism. ...
Including Emotional Intelligence in Pharmacy Curricula to Help Achieve CAPE Outcomes.

The importance of emotional intelligence (EI) for effective teamwork and leadership within the workplace is increasingly apparent. As suggested by the 2013 CAPE Outcomes, we recommend that colleges and schools of pharmacy consider EI-related competencies to build self-awareness and professionalism among students. In this Statement, we provide two examples of the introduction of EI into pharmacy curricula. In addition, we provide a 4-phase process based on recommendations developed by EI experts for structuring and planning EI development. Finally, we make 9 recommendations’ to inform the process of including EI in pharmacy curricula.
The Generalized Hessenberg Representation and Near Unobservability in Model Reduction

The Generalized Hessenberg Representation (GHR) of a linear time invariant system has been proposed as a model reduction method by identifying weakly observable states. This characterization has recently been made precise by the introduction of the concept of Near unobservability. In this paper the GHR is discussed as a model reduction tool. It is related to modal reduction methods and Moore's balancing techniques via the reachability/observability gramians. The result of this unified treatment is a set of guidelines for producing a "good" reduced order model.
Timing of maturation and fertilization of the sheep egg.

Eggs of sheep were recovered at known intervals before or after controlled ovulation. They were examined for cytoplasmic and nuclear changes. The vesicular nucleus in the follicular egg persists to 15 hours before ovulation when the chromatin becomes more compact and dense. The first metaphase lasts from 13 hours before ovulation to shortly before ovulation. The formation of the first polar body occurs from four hours before ovulation to ovulation. Normally sheep eggs have formed the first polar body by the time of ovulation and are in the seocond metaphase. Cumulus cells and corona cells are present on the egg at ovulation and for a few hours afterwards. Sperm penetration does not begin ordinarily until at least three hours after ovulation. The male pronucleus forms from 3 to 9 hours after ovulation at about the same time as the female pronucleus. Pronuclei fusion occurs 11 to 22 hours after ovulation. The first mitotic division takes place usually 19 to 24 hours after ovulation although 2-called eggs were seen at earlier times.
AccuRate: constellation based rate estimation in wireless networks

This paper proposes to exploit physical layer information towards improved rate selection in wireless networks. While existing schemes pick good transmission rates, this paper takes a step further towards computing the optimal bit rate. The main idea is to capture the channel behavior through symbol level dispersions, and "replay" these dispersions on different rate encodings of the same packet. The "replay" action can be emulated at the receiver without requiring the transmitter to send the packet at every other rate. The maximum successful rate is likely to be the optimal rate of the received packet, and assuming that the channel remains coherent, the same rate can be prescribed for the next transmission. We design, implement, and evaluate this idea over a small testbed of USRP hardware and GNURadio software. Our proposal, called AccuRate, predicts a packet's optimal rate 95% of times when the packet is received correctly. When the packet is received in error, AccuRate computes its optimal rate with 93% accuracy. In terms of throughput, we show that AccuRate improves over the state-of-the-art scheme SoftRate by around 10%, and is reasonably close to the optimal.
Cash Equivalency in Dichotomous Residential Markets

When a residential sale is financed using a below-market rate of interest, as with a mortgage assumption or a contract for deed, the sale price may have incorporated into it the capitalized value of the financing. One technique that is used to determine the value of the below-market financing is the cash equivalency calculation. Using cash equivalency, this study addresses the question of whether advantageous financing has the same value in two separate and dichotomous housing markets.
Overlap Barrier Calculations for Spin Glasses

A novel method for numerical numerical spin glass investigations is described: Simulations of two replica at fixed temperature, weighted such that a broad distribution of the Parisi overlap parameter q is achieved. Canonical expectation values for the entire q-range (multi-overlap) follow by re-weighting and allow a calculation of spin glass tunneling barriers.
Evaluation of candidate methylation markers to detect cervical neoplasia

Abstract Objective. Studies of cervical cancer and its immediate precursor, cervical intraepithelial neoplasia 3 (CIN3), have identified genes that often show aberrant DNA methylation and therefore represent candidate early detection markers. We used quantitative PCR assays to evaluate methylation in five candidate genes (TNFRSF10C, DAPK1, SOCS3, HS3ST2 and CDH1) previously demonstrated as methylated in cervical cancer. Methods. In this analysis, we performed methylation assays for the five candidate genes in 45 invasive cervical cancers, 12 histologically normal cervical specimens, and 23 liquid-based cervical cytology specimens confirmed by expert review as unequivocal demonstrating cytologic high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesions, thus representing the counterparts of histologic CIN3. Results. We found hypermethylation of HS3ST2 in 93% of cancer tissues and 70% of cytology specimens interpreted as CIN3; hypermethylation of CDH1 was found in 89% of cancers and 26% of CIN3 cytology specimens. Methylation of either HS3ST2 or CDH1 was observed in 100% of cervical cancer tissues and 83% of CIN3 cytology specimens. None of the five genes showed detectable methylation in normal cervical tissues. Conclusion. Our data support further evaluation of HS3ST2 and CDH1 methylation as potential markers of cervical cancer and its precursor lesions.
Achieving Legal Viability in Personnel Evaluations

Legal viability of an evaluation means that the evaluator can successfully address pertinent legal issues and avoid debilitating legal difficulties in conducting an ethical personnel evaluation and applying its results. While the 1988 Personnel Evaluation Standards contain no specific standard on legal viability, following the document’s twenty-one standards substantially aids evaluators to avoid legal difficulties. Nevertheless, meeting legal viability requirements is becoming increasingly complex and difficult in the face of the expanding role of personnel evaluations in high-stake decisions, including initial and advanced certification, sanctions and rewards, and terminations. Evaluators increasingly need sound, definitive guidance to meet procedural and substantive due process requirements and, in general, to keep their evaluations legally defensible. Eight years of experience in applying the 1988 Standards provides a foundation for developing a specific legal viability standard. This article argues for the inclusion of such a standard in the next edition of The Personnel Evaluation Standards. A prototype standard is presented to help the Joint Committee and its constituents deliberate on this matter.
Multielement continuum-source atomic-absorption spectrometry with an echelle-spectrometer/image-dissector system

The continued development of the echelle-spectrometer/image-dissector system for multielement determination by continuum-source atomic-absorption spectrometry is presented. Modifications of the instruments include the use of a 20-groove/mm echelle grating blazed at 76 degrees , and the removal of the magnetic shield from the image dissector. The spectral range is from 300 to 430 nm and the observed resolution is better than 0.005 nm at 400 nm. Calibration curves are linear up to an absorbance of 0.2, and absorption sensitivities are up to 4-fold better than with the previous design. Fundamental characteristics of the detector limit the application of the instrument to sequential single-element quantifications with the electrothermal atomizer, and to sequential multielement quantification with the flame atomizer. The further development of the instrument for simultaneous multielement qualification is discussed.
A quantitative method for predicting shelf life of soft drinks using a model system

A quantitative method for the prediction of growth of the food spoilage yeastZygosaccharomyces bailii in a model fruit-drink system is described. A factorially designed experiment was employed to produce polynomial equations relating pH and sugar concentration (°brix) to the lag period and doubling time of this yeast. Low pH values ( 40) show a strong synergistic action on the extension of lag period, which could be used, along with the model presented, in the formulation of product preservation systems.
Infectivity, growth, distribution and acetabular attachment of a one-hundred metacercarial cyst inoculum of Echinostoma trivolvis in ICR mice.

Female ICR mice, 6–8 weeks old, were exposed to 100 metacercarial cysts/host of Echinostoma trivolvis to determine the effects of this cyst dosage on worm infectivity, distribution, growth and acetabular attachment in the host small intestine, Of 42 exposed mice, 22 were infected 4 to 17 days postinfection (PI) with a mean worm recovery of 11 to 41%. Mean body area of worms increased from about 0.4 mm2 on day 4 PI to about 2.0 mm2 by day 9 PI. No consistent pattern of worm growth was seen beyond day 9. Distribution data showed that worms were found mainly in the anterior part of the small intestines on day 4 PI and then more posteriorly up to day 8 PI. Worm distribution patterns were quite variable beyond day 11 PI. Scanning electron microscopy showed that the acetabulum left a distinct ‘fingerprint’ or acetabular plug on the intestinal mucosa of the host. The ‘fingerprint’ was temporary and disappeared within 1 min after worms were removed from the intestines.
Unforeseen Contingencies and Incomplete Contracts

We scrutinize the conceptual framework commonly used in the incomplete contract literature. This literature usually assumes that contractual incompleteness is due to the transaction costs of describing-or of even foreseeing-the possible states of nature in advance. We argue, however, that such transaction costs need not interfere with optimal contracting (i.e. transaction costs need not be relevant), provided that agents can probabilistically forecast their possible future payoffs (even if other aspects of the state of the nature cannot be forecast). In other words, all that is required for optimality is that agents be able to perform dynamic programming, an assumption always invoked by the incomplete contract literature. The foregoing optimality result holds very generally provided that parties can commit themselves not to renegotiate. Moreover, we point out that renegotiation may be hard to reconcile with a framework that otherwise presumes perfect rationality. However, even if renegotiation is allowed, the result still remains valid provided that parties are risk averse.
A myocyte enhancer factor 2D (MEF2D) kinase activated during neuronal apoptosis is a novel target inhibited by lithium

Depolarization promotes the survival of cerebellar granule neurons via activation of the transcription factor myocyte enhancer factor 2D (MEF2D). Removal of depolarization induces hyperphosphorylation of MEF2D on serine/threonine residues, resulting in its decreased DNA binding and susceptibility to caspases. The subsequent loss of MEF2-dependent gene transcription contributes to the apoptosis of granule neurons. The kinase(s) that phosphorylates MEF2D during apoptosis is currently unknown. The serine/threonine kinase, glycogen synthase kinase-3β (GSK-3β), plays a pro-apoptotic role in granule neurons. To investigate a potential role for GSK-3β in MEF2D phosphorylation, we examined the effects of lithium, a non-competitive inhibitor of GSK-3β, on MEF2D activity in cultured cerebellar granule neurons. Lithium inhibited caspase-3 activation and chromatin condensation in granule neurons induced to undergo apoptosis by removal of depolarizing potassium and serum. Concurrently, lithium suppressed the hyperphosphorylation and caspase-mediated degradation of MEF2D. Moreover, lithium sustained MEF2 DNA binding and transcriptional activity in the absence of depolarization. Lithium also attenuated MEF2D hyperphosphorylation and apoptosis induced by calcineurin inhibition under depolarizing conditions, a GSK-3β-independent model of neuronal death. In contrast to lithium, MEF2D hyperphosphorylation was not inhibited by forskolin, insulin-like growth factor-I, or valproate, three mechanistically distinct inhibitors of GSK-3β. These results demonstrate that the kinase that phosphorylates and inhibits the pro-survival function of MEF2D in cerebellar granule neurons is a novel lithium target distinct from GSK-3β.
Radiation Detection with Evaporated Csl(TI) Coupled to a-Si:H Photodiode Layers

CsI(TI) layers 100-1000 µm thick were evaporated on glass substrates from a crystal CsI(TI). When they were exposed to calibrated X-ray pulses, their scintillation properties were found to be comparable to those of a crystal CsI(TI). Single β particles from radioisotopes were successfully detected by these layers coupled to a crystalline Si photodiode. The light spread inside evaporated CsI(TI) was measured by an amorphous Si (a-Si:H) photodiode array coupled to evaporated CsI(TI) layers. Monolithic X-ray detectors were fabricated by evaporating CsI(TI) on a-Si:H photodiodes directly. The signal yield and noise of this prototype were 1.5x10+4 electrons/MeV and 3x10+4 electrons FWHM, respectively. Larger signal size and lower noise are expected by optimizing the photodiode design.
Domestic violence in Japan

Traditionally, domestic violence in Japan referred to children's physical and emotional violence against their parents. However, in recent years, the general public's awareness of and actions toward other types of domestic violence, especially violence against women and children, has increased. Following a brief description of filial violence and elderly abuse, both spousal abuse and child abuse are discussed in terms of their prevalence and cultural and historical backgrounds. The article concludes with current and future challenges in the intervention of violence, particularly against women and children, in the Japanese family.
MPE/LTP speech coder for moblie radio application

Abstract In this paper, we describe our contribution to the CEPT effort for the definition of a European standard for the cellular mobile radio. We first give an overview of the Multipulse excitation with long term prediction (MPE/LTP) algorithm. Then, we report details on the implementation (constants, quantizing tables) respectively in the analysis part, the error protection/correction, and the synthesis part of the codec. Finally, we report detailed figures about the implementation efficiency (ROM/RAM/Cycles).
Efficacy of Intensive Phonatory-Respiratory Treatment (LSVT) for Presbyphonia: Two Case Reports

Summary Objectives Research evidence has shown that neither traditional voice therapy nor surgery was efficacious in managing age-related dysphonia, specifically for more severe cases with pronounced fold atrophy or larger glottal gaps. The purpose of this study was to examine the efficacy of intensive respiratory-phonatory treatment (Lee Silverman voice treatment [LSVT]) for glottal incompetence associated with presbyphonia. Study Design Nonrandomized prospective study. Methods Two subjects with age-related vocal fold bowing received 4 weeks of the LSVT. Strobolaryngoscopic examination, phonatory function measurement, acoustical analyses, and perceptual judgments of voice were obtained at baseline and 2 weeks posttreatment. Additional acoustic measures of phonatory function, including vocal intensity, maximum phonation time, and pitch range, were also obtained during 16 treatment sessions. Results Both subjects exhibited significant improvements in glottal closure, phonatory function, acoustic features, and perceptual ratings of voice after treatment. Significant changes of phonatory function measures were noticed relatively early and remained steady throughout the course of treatment. Conclusions These findings provide solid evidence that speakers with age-related vocal fold bowing and dysphonia may improve glottal competence and related vocal function with neither laryngeal trauma nor maladaptive laryngeal hyperfunction after the LSVT.
Investigating the Adaptiveness of Communication in Multi-Agent Behavior Coordination

Some previous studies of the adaptiveness of communication for coordination have found communication beneficial, others have not. We claim that this results from the lack of a systematic examination of important variables such as communication range, sensory range, and environmental conditions. We present an extensive series of simulations exploring how these parameters effect the utility of communication for coordination in the multi-agent territory exploration (MATE( n)) task. MATE(n) requires agents to visit all checkpoints in the environment in as little time as possible; n agents must be at a checkpoint simultaneously for it to be counted "visited." A comparison of the absolute performance of communicating and non-communicating agents on MATE(n) (i.e., performance without regard to cost) finds that communication can be beneficial. A subsequent analysis of the results establishes constraints on the cost of communication for it to provide relative performance benefit (i.e., absolute performance scaled by cost).
Correlation between nicotine dependence and barriers to cessation between exclusive cigarette smokers and dual (water pipe) smokers among Arab Americans.

Background Evidence suggests that dual cigarette and water pipe use is growing among minority groups, particularly among Arab Americans. Differences in nicotine dependence and barriers to smoking cessation among such dual smokers have not been previously examined in this population. We examined potential differences that might exist between exclusive cigarette smokers and dual smokers (cigarette and water pipe) pertaining to nicotine dependence and barriers to cessation among Arab Americans. Methods We conducted a cross-sectional study using a convenience sample of self-identified Arab immigrant smokers (n=131) living in the Richmond, VA metropolitan area. Data were collected using four questionnaires: Demographic and Cultural Information questionnaire, Tobacco Use questionnaire, Fagerstrom Test for Nicotine Dependence (FTND) questionnaire, and Barriers to Cessation questionnaire. We examined differences in nicotine dependence and barriers to cessation between exclusive cigarette smokers and dual smokers of cigarettes and water pipe. Furthermore, we explored the correlations of these measures with select variables. Results There was a significant difference in the FTND scores between the exclusive cigarette smokers (mean M=2.55, standard deviation [SD] =2.10) and dual smokers (M=3.71, SD =2.42); t(129) = (2.51), P=0.0066. There was also a significant difference in the Barriers to Cessation scores between exclusive cigarette smokers (M=38.47, SD =13.07) and dual smokers (M=45.21, SD =9.27); t(129) = (2.56), P=0.0058. Furthermore, there was a highly significant correlation among FTND scores, Barriers to Cessation scores, and past quit attempts among dual smokers. Conclusion Water pipe tobacco smoking seems to be both adding to the dependence potential of cigarette smoking and enhancing barriers to cessation in our study sample. However, the high correlation between quit attempts, FTND, and barriers to cessation needs further investigation to ascertain the possible reasons behind it. This preliminary study utilized a cross-sectional survey among participants of a rather small convenience sample, especially in the dual smokers group. Thus, there is a need to examine these differences via a longitudinal design in a larger sample.
A biosensor generated via high-throughput screening quantifies cell edge Src dynamics

Fluorescent biosensors for living cells currently require laborious optimization and a unique design for each target. They are limited by the availability of naturally occurring ligands with appropriate target specificity. Here we describe a biosensor based on an engineered fibronectin monobody scaffold that can be tailored to bind different targets via high-throughput screening. We made this Src-family kinase (SFK) biosensor by derivatizing a monobody specific for activated SFKs with a bright dye whose fluorescence increases upon target binding. We identified sites for dye attachment and changes to eliminate vesiculation in living cells, providing a generalizable scaffold for biosensor production. This approach minimizes cell perturbation because it senses endogenous, unmodified target, and because sensitivity is enhanced by direct dye excitation. Automated correlation of cell velocities and SFK activity revealed that SFKs are activated specifically during protrusion. Activity correlates with velocity, and peaks 1-2 μm from the leading edge.
Test-retest reliability of three aphasia tests: Performance of non-brain-damaged older adults

This study was designed to assess the test-retest reliability of three aphasia tests. The Auditory Comprehension Test for Sentences (ACTS), the Boston Naming Test (BNT), and the Reading Comprehension Battery for Aphasia (RCBA) were administered on two separate occasions to 31 non-brain-damaged adults aged 50 to 76 years. The results showed acceptable score stability for all three aphasia tests. Sixty-eight percent of the time, older non-brain-damaged adults would be expected to score within 4.0% or less of the total number of test items on repeated testing.
Police evaluative perceptions of themselves, the general public and selected occupational groups

Abstract In recent years the police have faced sharply increasing pressures, criticisms, and role confusions due to such factors as rising crime rates, widely publicized incidents of police corruption and brutality, judicial changes in legally acceptable due process procedures, and new functions and tasks being assigned to police. This study investigates aspects related to the effects of increased strains and role confusions on police. Specifically, the study examines, with a semantic differential scale administered to 492 state and city police, how police perceive themselves and their roles, and their perceptual evaluations of the general public and various groups they interact with. The findings indicate that the respondents evaluate themselves and their profession highly implying they have a positive self-concept and are favorably disposed to their career. The four most negatively evaluated groups were lawyers, college students, politicians, and prison inmates. The low evaluation of lawyers may be due to the respondents' view that attorney frustrate and complicate the criminal justice system.
Quantitative T2 measurement of a single voxel with arbitrary shape using pinwheel excitation and CPMG acquisition

Objective The aim of this study is to present a new approach for making quantitative single-voxel T2 measurements from an arbitrarily shaped region of interest (ROI), where the advantage of the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) per unit time of the single-voxel approach over conventional imaging approach can be achieved.