cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Socioeconomic status, parental education, vocabulary and language skills of children who stutter

Abstract Purpose The purpose of this project was to investigate the possible relation between standardized measures of vocabulary/language, mother and father education, and a composite measure of socioeconomic status (SES) for children who do not stutter (CWNS) and children who stutter (CWS). Methods Participants were 138 CWNS and 159 CWS between the ages of 2;6 and 6;3 and their families. The Hollingshead Four Factor Index of Social Position (i.e., Family SES) was used to calculate SES based on a composite score consisting of weighted values for paternal and maternal education and occupation. Statistical regression analyses were conducted to investigate the relation between parental education and language and vocabulary scores for both the CWNS and CWS. Correlations were calculated between parent education, Family SES, and stuttering severity (e.g., SSI-3 score, % words stuttered). Results Results indicated that maternal education contributed the greatest amount of variance in vocabulary and language scores for the CWNS and for participants from both groups whose Family SES was in the lowest quartile of the distribution. However, paternal education generally contributed the greatest amount of variance in vocabulary and language scores for the CWS. Higher levels of maternal education were associated with more severe stuttering in the CWS. Conclusion Results are generally consistent with existing literature on normal language development that indicates maternal education is a robust predictor of the vocabulary and language skills of preschool children. Thus, both father and mothers’ education may impact the association between vocabulary/language skills and childhood stuttering, leading investigators who empirically study this association to possibly re-assess their participant selection (e.g., a priori control of parental education) and/or data analyses (e.g., post hoc covariation of parental education). Learning outcomes: The reader will be able to: (a) describe the influence of socioeconomic status on the development of vocabulary and language for children who do and do not stutter; (b) discuss the contribution of maternal education on vocabulary and language development; (c) describe possible reasons why paternal education contributes in unique ways to the vocabulary and language development of children who stutter as well as stuttering severity; and (d) explain possible reasons why socioeconomic status is an important variable for describing language related findings in young children.
Configuration-interaction-based time-dependent orbital approach for ab initio treatment of electronic dynamics in a strong optical laser field

The time-dependent configuration interaction singles (TDCIS) method---an ab initio electronic-structure technique with predictive character---is reformulated in terms of an effective one-electron theory with coupled channels. In this form, the TDCIS equations of motion may be evaluated using standard wave-packet propagation techniques in real space. The time-dependent orbital formulation of TDCIS has computational and conceptual advantages for studying strong-field phenomena in many-electron systems. A simplified version of this theory, referred to as the determinantal single-active-electron (d-SAE) method, is derived. TDCIS and d-SAE are tested by their application to a one-dimensional two-electron model in a strong laser field. The numerically exact time-dependent dipole moment of the interacting system is found to be very well reproduced with TDCIS. The d-SAE method is less accurate, but still provides superior performance in comparison to the standard single-active-electron approach.
Reactions of Laser-Ablated Platinum with Nitrogen: Matrix Infrared Spectra of Platinum Nitride, Complexes, and Anions

Several new platinum nitride species are produced by the reaction of laser-ablated platinum with pure nitrogen, and their frequencies calculated by density functional theory in addition to the complexes observed in earlier thermal atom studies. Platinum forms PtN and a number of molecules derived from PtN including NNPtN, PtPtN, Pt2N, and PtNNPt, and PtNNN from reaction with N3 radical in pure nitrogen. The PtNN complex is characterized by the Pt−N stretching mode at 499.6 cm-1 and its combination band at 2669.6 cm-1 with the strong N−N fundamental at 2168.5 cm-1 in solid argon. Absorptions are observed for PtxNN, PtNN-, Pt(NN)2-, and Pt(NN)2 in solid argon and neon.
Matrix Effects by Specific Buffer Components in the Analysis of Metabolites with Ion Trap Mobility Spectrometry

The impact of buffer conditions on the ion trap mobility spectrometer (ITMS) signal is investigated through a series of statistically driven design of experiments (DOEs). A growing number of new ion mobility spectrometry (IMS) and ITMS applications are being performed with a physiological sample matrix, which is vastly different from the particulate and vapor matrixes that have been traditionally analyzed. Currently, there have been no efforts to globally examine the possibility of matrix suppression or enhancement of the IMS signal by these various components within physiological matrixes. This investigation consists of an effort to gauge the effects of common physiological buffer components and concentrations on two analytes of interest for ITMS analysis: o-nitrophenol and ephedrine. We show that, among the factors investigated, for a specific analyte and instrumental detection mode (i.e., negative/positive) the solution pH, presence of a protein, the buffer identity, and buffer concentration should be considered as they will enhance or suppress the ITMS signal while factors such as surfactant and salt concentration may play less of a role in impacting detectable ITMS signal. These observations are supported through statistical analysis of the DOE-derived data set.
Intel® Core™ i5/i7 QuickPath Interconnect receiver clocking circuits and training algorithm

This paper describes the forwarded clock amplifier (FCA), phase interpolator (PI) and training algorithm used in receiver clocking of QuickPath Interconnect™ (QPI) in Intel® Core™ micro-processor, implemented in 45nm and 32nm process technologies. QPI is used for communication among processors/chipsets and delivers up to 25.6GB/s BW per port at 6.4GT/s. The FCA has a built in duty cycle corrector (DCC). Two PIs were used for each receiver lane to generate clocks to capture odd and even data independently. The novel training and retraining algorithm trains each PI for its corresponding data eye eliminating the need for any duty cycle correction of the PI output while maximizing the eye margin.
Third and fourth virial coefficients for hard disks in narrow channels.

The third (B3) and fourth (B4) virial coefficients of hard disks in narrow channels have been evaluated accurately by Gaussian quadrature for a range of channel widths (2Rp), Rp<(3+2)/4=0.9330... (in units of the hard disk diameter). These widths correspond to the important regime of fluids in single file formations with only nearest-neighbor interactions. Accurate results are obtained by using N-point Gaussian quadrature and extrapolating to the infinite N limits. Since not much is known about these B3 and B4, our new results should provide guidance for exact calculations of the virial coefficients and benchmarks for other numerical methods.
Pharaoh’s Daughter, Solomon’s Palace, and the Temple: Another Look at the Structure of 1 Kings 1-11:

In an earlier issue of this journal (JSOT 86 [1999], pp. 49-66), David Williams sought to bring some methodological rigour to the debate on the structure of the Solomon narrative (1 Kgs 1-11). In the present article, those arguments are examined and a further proposal made that more adequately takes account of features of the narrative overlooked by him: (1) references to Pharaoh’s daughter and to Solomon’s house; (2) the structure of 6.38-7.12; (3) the language and content of the words of YHWH to Solomon (two ‘appearances’ and two ‘sayings’), David’s words to Solomon and YHWH’s to Jeroboam; and (4) parallels noted by previous writers. The proposed structure has three intertwining chiasms, with the centre being 7.1-12, framed by the construction and dedication of the temple. The outer frames, chs. 1-2 and 11.14-43, also have parallels. The significance of the structure for readers in the exile is considered, with a relativizing of the temple and of Solomon, and emphasis upon ‘walking in YHWH’s ways’.
The Long-Term Outcomes after Radical Prostatectomy of Patients with Pathologic Gleason 8–10 Disease

Background. We explored the long-term clinical outcomes including metastases-free survival and prostate cancer-specific survival (PCSS) in patients with pathologic Gleason 8–10 disease after radical prostatectomy (RP). Methods. We report on 91 patients with PCSS data with a median followup of 8.2 years after RP performed between 1988 and 1997. Cox regression and Kaplan-Meier analysis were used to evaluate year of surgery, pathologic stage, and surgical margin status as predictors of PCSM. Results. Median age was 65 years (IQR: 61–9), and median PSA was 9.7 ng/ml (IQR: 6.1–13.4). Of all patients, 62 (68.9%) had stage T3 disease or higher, and 48 (52.7%) had a positive surgical margin. On multivariate analysis, none of the predictors were statistically significant. Of all patients, the predicted 10-year BCR-free survival, mets-free survival, and PCSS were 59% (CI: 53%–65%), 88% (CI: 84%–92%), and 94% (CI: 91%–97%), respectively. Conclusions. We have demonstrated that cancer control is durable even 10 years after RP in those with pathologic Gleason 8–10 disease. Although 40% will succumb to BCR, only 6% of patients died of their disease. These results support the use of RP for patients with high-risk localized prostate cancer.
The relationship between immunization and circulating antigen-specific plaque-forming cells

Abstract The relationship between the appearance of cells producing antibody to tetanus toxoid (TT) in the circulation and the serum titers of anti-TT IgG following booster immunization has been studied. It was found that cells producing anti-TT antibody can be detected in the circulation in a hemolytic plaque assay using sheep red blood cells (SRBC) coated with TT by the chromic chloride method. In symmetric inhibition studies using cells from TT or keyhole limpet hemocyanin (KLH)-immune donors, the homologous antigen inhibited 100% of the PFC with no cross-inhibition. Thus, the plaque-forming cells (PFC) detected in this assay are specific for the immunizing antigen. No evidence of polyclonal B-cell activation in response to TT was found, as shown by a failure to detect any PFC against unmodified or KLH or human serum albumin-treated SRBC. In addition, the increase in total Ig-secreting cells observed in a staphylococcal protein A reverse hemolytic plaque assay was always accounted for by the number of anti-TT antibody-producing cells observed. The peak number of anti-TT antibody-producing cells varied between donors, but the kinetics of their appearance was highly reproducible—none before Day 5, peak numbers between Days 6 and 8, and a sharp decline with only rare anti-TT Ig-secreting cells in the circulation by Day 15 postimmunization. Anti-TT antibody-producing cells appeared in the circulation prior to any detectable increase in serum anti-TT antibody titers, and following the disappearance of PFC from the circulation, there was no further increase in serum IgG anti-TT levels. These observations demonstrate a marked specificity of B-cell activation on boosting with a recall antigen, and a parallelism between the appearance of activated B cells in the circulation and of IgG anti-TT synthesis by the subject as a whole.
ALLOMETRY, SEXUAL SIZE DIMORPHISM, AND NICHE PARTITIONING IN THE MEDITERRANEAN GECKO (HEMIDACTYLUS TURCICUS)

Abstract Hemidactylus turcicus is a small gekkonid lizard native to the Middle East and Asia that is known to exhibit sexual dimorphism in head size. Several potential explanations exist for the evolution and maintenance of sexual dimorphism in lizards. We tested 2 of these competing hypotheses concerning diet partitioning and differential growth. We found no differences in average meal size (volume) or in any single dimension of prey size for similarly sized males and females. Allometric patterns of increases in head size also were measured in males and females. We found that males exhibited a mixture of isometric and positively allometric patterns of head size increase, whereas females exhibited isometric and negatively allometric patterns. Thus, we concluded that sexual dimorphism in head size is not the result of diet partitioning but instead of differential growth patterns following sexual maturity in males and females.
No relation between excess fatigue and asymptomatic carotid atherosclerosis

Prospective studies have reported a positive association of excess fatigue and hopelessness with coronary heart disease mortality; a relation to atherosclerosis has not been investigated. We examined the cross-sectional association of the Maastricht excess fatigue questionnaire with carotid intimal-medial wall thickness among 12,448 coronary heart disease-free individuals age 47-68 years. In age-, race-, and field center-adjusted analyses, we found a strong, positive association between excess fatigue and carotid intimal-medial wall thickness in both sexes. Adjustment for other coronary heart disease risk factors substantially attenuated the relation. Pack-years of smoking was the strongest confounder. Furthermore, there was little association among never-smokers. It appears that the association of excess fatigue with atherosclerotic disease is largely accounted for by established risk factors.
Viscoelastic properties of intervertebral disc cells. Identification of two biomechanically distinct cell populations.

Study design A combined experimental and theoretical biomechanical study to quantify the mechanical properties of living cells of the porcine intervertebral disc. Objectives To quantify zonal variations in the mechanical properties and morphology of cells isolated from the intervertebral disc. Summary of background data Cellular response to mechanical stimuli is influenced by the mechanical properties of cells and of the extracellular matrix. Significant zonal variations in intervertebral disc matrix properties have been reported. No information is currently available on the corresponding regional variations in the mechanical properties of intervertebral disc cells, despite evidence of significant differences in cellular phenotype and biologic response to loading. Methods The micropipette aspiration test was used in combination with a three-parameter viscoelastic solid model to measure the mechanical properties of cells isolated from the anulus fibrosus, transition zone, and nucleus pulposus. Results Intervertebral disc cells exhibited viscoelastic solid behaviors. Highly significant differences were observed in the morphology, cytoskeletal arrangement, and biomechanical properties of the nucleus pulposus cells as compared with anulus fibrosus or transition zone cells. Cells of the nucleus pulposus were approximately three times stiffer and significantly more viscous than cells of the anulus fibrosus or transition zone. Conclusions The findings of this study provide new evidence for the existence of two biomechanically distinct cell populations in the intervertebral disc. These differences in mechanical behavior may be related to observed differences in the cytoskeletal architecture between these cells, and may further play an important role in the development, maintenance, and degeneration of the intervertebral disc.
Renal Nitric Oxide Synthase Activity is Altered in BioBreeding Diabetic Rats.• 1700

The BioBreeding diabetic (BB) rat, a model of insulin dependent diabetes mellitus, is resistant to diabetic nephropathy despite prolonged hyperglycemia. We have previously shown that this resistance is associated with increased urinary excretion of nitric oxide (NO) metabolites and maintenance of high glomerular filtration rates. To assess whether chronic NO synthesis inhibition contributes to the progression of nephropathy, we treated BB rats with nitro-L-arginine-methylester (L-NAME). We studied 4 groups: BioBreeding diabetic rats (BB)(n=12), D + 10 mg/kg L-NAME daily in drinking water (BB+NAME)(n=8), BioBreeding diabetes-resistant controls (C)(n=12), and C+ NAME (n=6). After 6 months of treatment, we measured systolic blood pressure(SBP: mmHg), plasma glucose (Pgluc: mg/dl), creatinine clearance(Ccr: ml/min × 100 g bw), urine protein excretion (UprotV: mg/day × 100 g bw), percent albumin in urine protein (%alb), urine NO metabolite excretion (UNOV: mmol/day × 100 g bw × 103): Table Kidneys were removed and renal NO synthase activity was assayed by conversion of [3H]L-arginine to[3H]L-citrulline (fmol[3H]/min × mg protein). NO synthase activity was similar in BB, BB+NAME and C+NAME (64±12, 66±9, 72.9±9, p=ns) but was significantly higher in C (94±23, p<0.05). Basal renal NO synthase activity in BB rats is low and does not change with chronic NO synthesis inhibition. The maintenance of normal renal function and high urinary NO metabolite excretion may be due to increased systemic rather than renal NO production.
Inelastic neutron scattering from confined molecular oxygen

Inelastic neutron-scattering measurements were carried out on condensed bulk and confined molecular oxygen. The phase transitions of the oxygen confined in cylindrical pores with diameter of $\ensuremath{\approx}94\text{ }\text{\AA{}}$ are suppressed below their bulk temperatures or in the case of the lowest-temperature transition to the $\ensuremath{\alpha}$ phase are suppressed entirely. This last observation is possibly due to the low latent heat of transition for this transition. Both elastic and inelastic neutron-scattering data indicate a mixing of oxygen crystal phases upon confinement. Magnetic ordering fluctuations in the $\ensuremath{\beta}$ phase are found to have similar energy-dependent profiles for confined and bulk excitations showing that the magnetic correlation function decay is unaffected by the finite crystal size in confinement.
Do actions speak louder than knowledge? Action manipulation, parental discourse, and children's mental state understanding in pretense.

Abstract Studies on pretense mental state understanding in young children have produced inconsistent findings. These findings could potentially emerge from the confounding influences of action manipulation or the failure to examine possible influences on individual children’s performances. To address these issues, we created a task in which 68 3- and 4-year-olds viewed two actors, side by side, on a monitor. Children were told that one actor was knowledgeable about a specific animal, whereas the other actor was not. The actors performed identical movements that were either related or unrelated to the animal they were mimicking or engaged in different behaviors contradictory to their knowledge. Saliency of action was also manipulated by presenting either dynamic images or a paused frame of the actors’ behavior (i.e., the static condition). Children performed similarly on the dynamic and static conditions. Children selected the knowledgeable actor more often in the unrelated and related trials but were not as successful at selecting the knowledgeable actor when the actor’s knowledge contradicted the actor’s behavior. Therefore, by 3 years of age, some children may understand that pretend play involves mental representations and appreciate that the mind influences a pretender’s behavior. To investigate the observed individual differences, we also examined children and parents as they engaged in reading and pretense activities prior to data collection. The frequency of parents’ cognitive mental state utterances strongly predicted performance on the mental state task. Individual differences in performance as a result of parental language and executive functioning abilities are discussed.
Abstract 5161: Identification of epithelial stromal interaction 1 as a novel mediator of breast cancer cell invasion and metastasis downstream of Krüppel-like factor 8.

Proceedings: AACR 104th Annual Meeting 2013; Apr 6-10, 2013; Washington, DC Epithelial stromal interaction 1 (EPSTI1) is a recently identified novel gene that is highly upregulated in breast cancer cells when co-cultured with the stromal fibroblasts and in invasive breast carcinomas as compared with normal breast biopsies. The regulation and function of EPSTI1 are largely unknown. Our studies showed that EPSTI1 expression is upregulated by Kruppel-like factor 8 (KLF8), a transcriptional factor that is highly over-expressed in breast cancer and critical for cell cycle progression, oncogenic transformation, epithelial to mesenchymal transition (EMT) and metastatic progression of breast cancer, by directly activating EPSTI1 promoter. Also, we demonstrated that EPSTI1 was necessary and sufficient to promote breast cancer cell invasiveness by genetically modifying EPSTI1 expression and Matrigel invasion assays. We also found that EPSTI1 could interact with valosin containing protein (VCP) and subsequently activate NF-kB nuclear function. Finally, our mouse mammary fat pad injection and tail vein injection experiments indicated that ectopic overexpression of EPSTI1 in MCF7 cells could enhance the tumor invasion and metastasis in vivo. These findings suggest that EPSTI1 is a novel target of KLF8 and plays a critical role in the regulation of breast cancer invasion and metastasis. Citation Format: Tianshu Li, Heng Lu, Chao Shen, Satadru Lahiri, Melissa Watson, Debarati Mukherjee, Lin Yu, Jihe Zhao. Identification of epithelial stromal interaction 1 as a novel mediator of breast cancer cell invasion and metastasis downstream of Kruppel-like factor 8. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 104th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2013 Apr 6-10; Washington, DC. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2013;73(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 5161. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2013-5161 Note: This abstract was not presented at the AACR Annual Meeting 2013 because the presenter was unable to attend.
An Analysis Of Hypercube Architectures For Image Pattern Recognition Algorithms

Hypercube architectures are introduced. The reasons behind their becoming the first widespread commercial massively parallel processors are outlined. A classification for image pattern recognition is proposed and characteristic algorithms are presented. Some simple ideas for organizing these algorithms to execute efficiently on hypercubes are also presented. The current programming model for hypercube machines is explained and illustrated with one of the characteristic algorithms. Preliminary performance figures are discussed for the NCUBE/six, a 84 processor commercial hypercube, followed by some concluding remarks.
Experimental Highlights of Electroweak Physics at Hadron Colliders

Hadron colliders have played a pivotal role in establishing the electroweak sector of the standard model at high precision. Highlights were the discovery of the W and Z bosons in 1983, the discovery of the top quark in 1995 and the high precision measurements of the mass of the W boson and the top quark. The Higgs boson is the final missing piece in the theory of electroweak interactions. In this article the discoveries and precision measurements of the W boson and top quark are reviewed, and the status of searches for the Higgs boson at hadron colliders is presented.
Efficient selection of human tumor growth-inhibiting monoclonal antibodies

A method is described for selection early after fusion for hybridomas that secrete IgG2a monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) with binding specificity for antigens on the human tumor cells used to immunize mice. By combining this preselection method with antibody-dependent macrophage-mediated cytotoxicity assays, it was possible to select those MAbs mediating a tumoricidal effect against tumor cells in culture and inhibiting the growth of tumor xenografts in nude mice. Two such MAbs, GA733 and CO441, inhibited the growth of colorectal carcinoma cells, and one of them (GA733) was effective even when administered 6 days after implantation of tumor cells. These results suggest the potential usefulness of the 2 MAbs in immunodiagnosis and immunotherapy of human tumors.
Nonlinear changes in brain dynamics during emergence from sevoflurane anesthesia: preliminary exploration using new software.

Background:New software was used during a pilot study of nonlinear changes in the electroencephalogram during emergence from sevoflurane anesthesia.Methods:Digitized electroencephalographic signals were recorded from bipolar forehead electrodes between 1.2 and 40 k s/sec. Trajectories derived from u
Angiographic Diagnosis of Mesenteric Arterial Vasoconstriction

Experimental mesenteric arterial vasoconstriction (MAV) is characterized by narrowings at the origins of multiple branches of the superior mesenteric artery, irregularities in intestinal branches, spasm of arcades, and impaired filling of intramural vessels. None of these findings occurred in a control group of patients without MAV. MAV may be diffuse or localized and reversible or irreversible. Reversible MAV decreases after test infusion of papaverine, and responds to therapeutic infusion of 30–60 mg of papaverine per hour for 16–24 hours. Several case studies are presented. Early diagnosis of reversible MAV is important to prevent irreversible bowel changes.
The transmissible spongiform encephalopathies: disease risks for North America.

Transmissible spongiform encephalopathies (TSEs) exotic to North America (bovine spongiform encephalopathy and associated diseases) are unlikely to be introduced or to persist should they be introduced into United States livestock. Domestic TSEs (scrapie, chronic wasting disease, and transmissible mink encephalopathy) seem to be relatively restricted in their host range, and none of these diseases is known to naturally cause disease in cattle. It is important, however, that surveillance for TSEs be continued and enhanced in cattle, sheep, game farm deer and elk, and wild cervids. Because TSEs have implications beyond effects on their natural hosts, adequate surveillance, control, and even eradication of these diseases should be goals for livestock industries, wildlife managers, and animal health agencies in the United States.
High Pressure Squeeze Casting of Unidirectional Graphite Fiber Reinforced Aluminum Matrix Composites

High pressure squeeze casting has been developed to fabricate unidirec tional fiber reinforced metal matrix composites having a wide range of fiber volume frac tion. The process development required innovative die-design in order to minimize the direct contact of molten metal with the metallic die, to prevent liquid metal escape from the die, to ensure fast infiltration and rapid solidification under high pressure. However, the application of high pressure causes certain difficulties, such as maintaining all fibers aligned in one direction and ensuring their uniform distribution in any cross section of the composites. This paper addresses the techniques used to overcome these difficulties.Tensile test results for graphite fiber reinforced aluminum matrix composites are pre sented and discussed. Optical and scanning electron microscopy analysis of polished and fracture surfaces provide details of fiber/matrix interface characteristics and fracture mechanisms of the composites.
Branch Retinal Artery Occlusion From a Retained Left Atrial Catheter 21 Years After Operation

A case of branch retinal artery occlusion due to an embolus from a retained left atrial catheter is presented. Removal was accomplished by reoperation. Prompt removal of any retained intracardiac catheter is recommended.
Close-packed hemispherical microlens arrays for light extraction enhancement in organic light-emitting devices

Close-packed hemispherical microlens arrays have been fabricated using a soft lithography method and used to enhance the light extraction efficiency in organic light-emitting devices (OLEDs). A close-packed monolayer of polystyrene microspheres was used to produce a soft template of polydimethylsiloxane for fabricating microlens arrays from a photopolymerizable optical adhesive. The microlens contact angle and array fill-factor increase with the polystyrene microsphere size, reaching (85° ± 5°) and (85 ± 3)% for 100 μm size microspheres, respectively. Attaching such a large-area (2 cm in diameter) microlens array on the glass substrate of an OLED leads to up to 70% efficiency enhancement, which also shows dependencies on the area and detailed structure of the OLED.
The neurobiology of sexual function.

This article provides a review of the past and current literature on the neurobiology of sexual function. The influence of endocrine, neurotransmitter, and central nervous system influences on male and female sexual function are discussed for sexual desire, arousal, and orgasm or ejaculation stages of sexual responding. Endocrine factors reviewed include the following: androgens, estrogens, progesterone, prolactin, oxytocin, cortisol, and pheromones. Neurotransmitters and neuropeptides discussed include nitric oxide, serotonin, dopamine, epinephrine, norepinephrine, opioids, acetylcholine, histamine, and γ-aminobutyric acid. Central nervous system influences on sexual function are discussed briefly with reference to brainstem regions, the hypothalamus, and the forebrain.
Conceptual Penetration of Visual Processing

In traditional hierarchical models of information processing, visual representations feed into conceptual systems, but conceptual categories do not exert an influence on visual processing. We provide evidence, across four experiments, that conceptual information can in fact penetrate early visual processing, rather than merely biasing the output of perceptual systems. Participants performed physical-identity judgments on visually equidistant pairs of letter stimuli that were either in the same conceptual category (Bb) or in different categories (Bp). In the case of nonidentical letters, response times were longer when the stimuli were from the same conceptual category, but only when the letters were presented sequentially. The differences in effect size between simultaneous and sequential trials rules out a decision-level account. An additional experiment using animal silhouettes replicated the major effects found with letters. Thus, performance on an explicitly visual task was influenced by conceptual categories. This effect depended on processing time, immediately preceding experience, and stimulus typicality, which suggests that it was produced by the direct influence of category knowledge on perception, rather than by a postperceptual decision bias.
The Effects of Inference Method, Population Sampling, and Gene Sampling on Species Tree Inferences: An Empirical Study in Slender Salamanders (Plethodontidae: Batrachoseps)

Species tree methods are now widely used to infer the relationships among species from multilocus data sets. Many methods have been developed, which differ in whether gene and species trees are estimated simultaneously or sequentially, and in how gene trees are used to infer the species tree. While these methods perform well on simulated data, less is known about what impacts their performance on empirical data. We used a data set including five nuclear genes and one mitochondrial gene for 22 species of Batrachoseps to compare the effects of method of analysis, within-species sampling and gene sampling on species tree inferences. For this data set, the choice of inference method had the largest effect on the species tree topology. Exclusion of individual loci had large effects in *BEAST and STEM, but not in MP-EST. Different loci carried the greatest leverage in these different methods, showing that the causes of their disproportionate effects differ. Even though substantial information was present in the nuclear loci, the mitochondrial gene dominated the *BEAST species tree. This leverage is inherent to the mtDNA locus and results from its high variation and lower assumed ploidy. This mtDNA leverage may be problematic when mtDNA has undergone introgression, as is likely in this data set. By contrast, the leverage of RAG1 in STEM analyses does not reflect properties inherent to the locus, but rather results from a gene tree that is strongly discordant with all others, and is best explained by introgression between distantly related species. Within-species sampling was also important, especially in *BEAST analyses, as shown by differences in tree topology across 100 subsampled data sets. Despite the sensitivity of the species tree methods to multiple factors, five species groups, the relationships among these, and some relationships within them, are generally consistently resolved for Batrachoseps. (*BEAST; gene sampling; introgression; MP-EST; species tree inference; STEM; within-species sampling.)
Effects of D‐glucose concentration, D‐fructose, and inhibitors of enzymes of the pentose phosphate pathway on the development and sex ratio of bovine blastocysts

D-glucose at 5.6 mM reduces the progression of in vitro-produced (IVP) bovine embryos from the morula to the blastocyst stage and skews sex ratio towards males. Possibly, the presence of two transcriptionally active X-chromosomes compromises female embryo development through imbalance in glucose metabolism. Here, we have determined the threshold of embryo sensitivity to glucose, whether substitution of D-fructose for glucose reduces the selective loss of female embryos, and whether inhibition of an X-linked gene product, glucose 6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD), normalizes sex ratio among bovine blastocysts. IVP zygotes were cultured in glucose-free medium to 72 hr post-insemination, at which time 8-cell embryos were selected for treatment and cultured until 144 hr post-insemination. Addition of 4 mM glucose at the 8-cell stage reduced (P < 0.05) the number of blastocyst that formed, whereas 2.5 and 1 mM glucose had no effect. Sex ratio in the presence of 4 and 2.5 mM glucose differed significantly from 0.5, while 1 mM glucose had no effect. D-fructose (5.6 mM) did not compromise development to blastocyst and did not alter the sex ratio of blastocysts that formed. When G6PD inhibitors (dehydroepiandrosterone: DHEA and 6-aminonicotinamide: 6-AN), which effectively inhibit the reduction of the NADPH-sensitive dye, brilliant cresyl blue (BCB) in bovine morulae, were added to the culture medium containing 4 mM glucose, embryo development was moderately reduced, but sex ratio skewing was corrected (with 6-AN) or lowered (with DHEA). In conclusion, glucose above 2.5 mM impairs bovine embryo development and increases sex ratio, most likely as a result of increased pentose-phosphate (PP) pathway activity in female embryos.
EVALUATION OF THE TRUE FALSE NEGATIVE RATE IN CYTOLOGY.

Abstract An attempt has been made to arrive at a figure which in practice represents a near minimum false negative rate for patients with cervical dysplasia, carcinoma in situ, and occult invasive carcinoma. In a series of six hundred thirty-five Papanicolaou smears taken from 159 patients, the false negative rate was 1.4 per cent. If 2 exceptional patients are included in the series the rate rises to 2.8 per cent. It is apparent from review of the figures reported by other authors that the false negative smear represents a problem of significant magnitude. It is suggested that the use of the cervical os aspiration and scraping of the squamocolumnar junction, together with rapid fixation and careful attention to cytological detail, will improve the false negative rate.
Prefab layers and prefab annotations: extensible pixel-based interpretation of graphical interfaces

Pixel-based methods have the potential to fundamentally change how we build graphical interfaces, but remain difficult to implement. We introduce a new toolkit for pixel based enhancements, focused on two areas of support. Prefab Layers helps developers write interpretation logic that can be composed, reused, and shared to manage the multi-faceted nature of pixel-based interpretation. Prefab Annotations supports robustly annotating interface elements with metadata needed to enable runtime enhancements. Together, these help developers overcome subtle but critical dependencies between code and data. We validate our toolkit with (1) demonstrative applications and (2) a lab study that compares how developers build an enhancement using our toolkit versus state of the art methods. Our toolkit addresses core challenges faced by developers when building pixel based enhancements, potentially opening up pixel based systems to broader adoption.
Might the Current Gauge of Transplant Center Quality Result in Reducing Patient Access via Diminished Organ Utilization

Although dialysis outcomes have improved, kidney transplantation remains the renal replacement modality of choice for eligible individuals. Multiple studies have demonstrated that kidney transplantation is associated with improved patient survival compared with dialysis. Studies have also
Improving the Outcomes of Women With Severe Preeclampsia: Exploring Innovations Used by an Inter‐Professional Team at a Community Hospital

Childbearing Paper Presentation Purpose for the Program We describe how our facility implemented the California Maternal Quality Care Collaborative (CMQCC) recommendations for identification and treatment of severe preeclampsia in the perinatal areas and the emergency department (ED). We are a community based, nonacademic hospital, delivering 5,000 newborns per year with a 24-bed high-risk maternity unit. The goal is to implement strategies to improve care and reduce morbidity and mortality. Proposed Change To implement a four-part change based on evidenced-based research: (a) Standardize the blood pressure assessment method used by nurses to obtain the reportable values. As suggested by CMQCC, we found that the methods used by the registered nurses (RNs) varied, (b) treat patients with blood pressure greater than 160 systolic or 105 diastolic with intravenous (IV) antihypertensive medication within 30 minutes, (c) debrief the process for each patient who required antihypertensive medication, and (d) provide the patient who has a diagnosis of severe preeclampsia with specific discharge instructions and arrange for follow-up within 3 to 10 days. Implementation, Outcomes, and Evaluation Using the Plan Do Study Act (PDSA) model, we formed a multidisciplinary team, including physician leaders, to review and implement the recommendations. We started with identification of how a severe preeclmaptic patient was coded. We worked with our colleagues in health information management to ensure that these patients were coded in a way that allowed us to use the data that was generated. We abstracted 6 months of data before starting the program, so that we could measure our changes. Comparing our baseline data to the benchmarks, we identified opportunities for improvement. Medical doctor and RN education needed to be multifaceted. We used everything from posters, computer-based learning, read and sign packets, and lectures that included case scenarios. Policies were updated and a preeclampsia order set was developed. Case management assisted with setting up outpatient follow-up for these patients. The data collection occurred concurrently with admission to the perinatal or ED unit. Our data were posted on a monthly basis after the education was complete. Balance measures were included and reported. We continue to look at our practice and systems issues through a debriefing process to achieve the benchmarks. Implications for Nursing Practice Standardization of blood pressure measurement, identification of hypertensive crisis, activation of a team to respond, expedited treatment with IV antihypertensive medications, debriefing of the process, and revising and hardwiring best practice.
Some properties of a hybrid element method for water waves

Two properties of hybrid element method for diffraction and radiation of water waves are examined. For long waves in shallow water the method is shown to give a unique solution for all frequencies. Thus, unlike several other known methods, there are no irregular frequencies for which the approximating matrix equation is singluar. For a sea of arbitrary depth, it is shown that all known global identities such as reciprocity and energy theorems are preserved by the discrete solution. Thus, satisfaction of these identities by the numerical solution is only a necessary but by no means sufficient condition for accuracy.
Accelerated endothelialization of interpositional 1-mm vascular grafts

Abstract Background There is an increased need for alternative, synthetic, small-diameter vascular grafts due to a growing segment of the population who suffer from ischemic heart disease and lack suitable autologous vein grafts for use in coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG). We hypothesized that a cell-mediated extracellular matrix (ECM) modification of ePTFE would stimulate increased vascularization within the graft and thus promote lumenal endothelialization in a 1-mm rat abdomenal aortic implant model. Methods and results Expanded polytetrafluoroethylene (ePTFE) vascular grafts (1 mm i.d.) were modified on the ablumenal surface with ECM deposited by the HaCaT or II-4 cell lines and implanted intrapositionally into the descending aorta of rats. Five weeks after implantation, all samples were patent and examination of the grafts demonstrated that the ECM modified samples exhibited extensive ablumenal vascularization and tissue incorporation compared to nonmodified samples. Also, ECM modified grafts had a cellular lining, while the nonmodified grafts were void of a cellular lining except for a limited pannus ingrowth. Conclusion HaCaT and II-4 cell ECM modifications of ePTFE increase new blood vessel growth in association with the graft, and the II-4 cell modification results in formation of an endothelial monlayer on the lumenal surface of the graft.
The functions and consequences of force at kinetochores

Chromosome segregation requires the generation of force at the kinetochore—the multiprotein structure that facilitates attachment of chromosomes to spindle microtubules. This force is required both to move chromosomes and to signal the formation of proper bioriented attachments. To understand the role of force in these processes, it is critical to define how force is generated at kinetochores, the contributions of this force to chromosome movement, and how the kinetochore is structured and organized to withstand and respond to force. Classical studies and recent work provide a framework to dissect the mechanisms, functions, and consequences of force at kinetochores.
Developing and Maintaining Community Partnerships Within “A Scholarship of Practice”

SUMMARYThis article describes the application of a model developed and adopted by the occupational therapy faculty at the University of Illinois at Chicago to utilize partnerships with community-based organizations to meet a tripartite mission of education, research, and service delivery. The model (A Scholarship of Practice) was developed and adopted in response to contextual influences occurring at multiple levels. These influences are identified and the actions taken by the faculty are described. “A Scholarship of Practice” is briefly described and the principles that have guided development and maintenance of successful partnerships with community-based organizations are discussed. Finally, the outcomes and benefits of partnering with community-based organizations are identified.
Utilizing GPGPUs for design validation with a modified Ant Colony Optimization

In this paper, we propose a novel parallel state justification tool, GACO, utilizing Ant Colony Optimization (ACO) on Graphical Processing Units (GPU). With the high degree of parallelism supported by the GPU, GACO is capable of launching a large number of artificial ants to search for the target state. A novel parallel simulation technique, utilizing partitioned navigation tracks as guides during the search, is proposed to achieve extremely high computation efficiency for state justification. We present the results on a GPU platform from NVIDIA (a GeForce GTX 285 graphics card) that demonstrate a speedup of up to 228× compared to deterministic methods and a speedup of up to 40× over previous state-of-the-art heuristic based serial tools.
Mechanical Properties and Anatomical Components of Stems of 42 Grass Species

Abstract Stems of grass support much of the world's food supply during grain maturation. The purpose of this study was to determine the mechanical properties of stems and to determine if thick-walled, sclerenchyma cells are the main components that resist stem bending for 42 species of grass plants. During tests, stresses were imposed on grass stem segments to more than 90% of the maximum elastic load. Anatomical analyses were also performed to determine relationships between mechanical properties and geometric/anatomical characteristics of grass stems. Data show that more than 59% of all sclerenchyma cells in stems occur in the outer one-fifth radius of stems. Values of outer diameter, inner diameter, and stem density varied by factors of 10 or more, values of modulus of elasticity ranged from 0.1 to 32 GPa (a factor of more than 300 times) and values of maximum bending moment from 0.0005 to 2.0 N-m (a factor of 4000 times). Results of stress tests show that maximum bending moment was highly correlated w...
Role of the Oligopeptide Permease ABC Transporter of Moraxella catarrhalis in Nutrient Acquisition and Persistence in the Respiratory Tract

Moraxella catarrhalis is a strict human pathogen that causes otitis media in children and exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in adults, resulting in significant worldwide morbidity and mortality. M. catarrhalis has a growth requirement for arginine; thus, acquiring arginine is important for fitness and survival. M. catarrhalis has a putative oligopeptide permease ABC transport operon (opp) consisting of five genes (oppB, oppC, oppD, oppF, and oppA), encoding two permeases, two ATPases, and a substrate binding protein. Thermal shift assays showed that the purified recombinant substrate binding protein OppA binds to peptides 3 to 16 amino acid residues in length regardless of the amino acid composition. A mutant in which the oppBCDFA gene cluster is knocked out showed impaired growth in minimal medium where the only source of arginine came from a peptide 5 to 10 amino acid residues in length. Whether methylated arginine supports growth of M. catarrhalis is important in understanding fitness in the respiratory tract because methylated arginine is abundant in host tissues. No growth of wild-type M. catarrhalis was observed in minimal medium in which arginine was present only in methylated form, indicating that the bacterium requires l-arginine. An oppA knockout mutant showed marked impairment in its capacity to persist in the respiratory tract compared to the wild type in a mouse pulmonary clearance model. We conclude that the Opp system mediates both uptake of peptides and fitness in the respiratory tract.
Biogenesis of betalamic acid

Abstract When d , l -dopa-[1-14C] and -[2-14C] was fed to yellow flower buds of Portulaca grandiflora betalamic-[14C] acid was obtained. The labeled betalamic acid was converted to 14C-labeled betanin in order to obtain a stable substance which could be recrystallized to a radio-pure sample. Decarboxylation of the radiopure betanin obtained from the sequence using dopa-[1-14C] indicated that the 14C-carboxyl group of dopa corresponded to a 14C-carboxyl group in betanin and hence in betalamic acid. The shape of the ORD curve for the naturally occurring betalamic acid was the same as that recorded for a sample of [S]-betalamic acid derived by degradation of betanin. These data support the hypothesis that betalamic acid is formed in vivo by an oxidative cleavage of l -dopa and that it is an intermediate in the biogenesis of other betalains from dopa.