cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Effect of Pregnancy Loss on MS Disease Activity (P4.370)

Objective: To determine the impact of pregnancy loss on disease activity in women with multiple sclerosis (MS). Background: MS often affects women during their childbearing years. Disease stabilization in pregnancy, and transient recrudescence postpartum, is well accepted. However, the impact of pregnancy loss on disease activity is unknown. Design/Methods: A reproductive questionnaire was deployed to women with MS or clinically isolated syndrome (CIS) who were actively followed through a single-center prospective observational study (CLIMB). All pregnancies resulting in pregnancy loss (from miscarriage or therapeutic abortion) during CLIMB observation were identified. Patient responses where validated against available medical records. For both 12-month (12M) and 3-month (3M) periods before conception and after pregnancy loss, two outcomes were recorded: (1) active MRI, i.e. either new T2 or Gadolinium-enhancing lesions and (2) clinical relapse. Results: A total of 23 pregnancy losses from 724 participants were included. Characteristics at pregnancy loss were: mean (SD) age 33.78 (4.60), disease duration 5.95 (3.46) years and pregnancy duration 8.22 (3.31) weeks. Most losses were spontaneous abortions. There were more relapses in the 3M and 12M after pregnancy loss (10% and 24%) compared with the 3M and 12M (9%, 9%) before conception (McNemar’s test, p=0.45 to 12M pre/post and p=1.0 for 3M pre/post). Additionally, more participants had active MRIs after pregnancy loss (57.9%) compared with before pregnancy (26.3%) (p=0.146). The mean time from pregnancy loss to MRI was 51 (37) weeks. Overall, 58% subjects with complete MRI data (n=19) experienced disease activity (relapse or MRI) in the 12M after pregnancy loss, compared with 37% in the 12M pre-pregnancy (p=0.388). Conclusions: In this exploratory case series, pregnancy loss was associated with both clinical relapses and MRI activity; larger numbers are required to assess statistical significance. In ongoing analyses, comparison will be made with completed pregnancies. Disclosure: Dr. Kaplan has nothing to disclose. Dr Bove has nothing to disclose. Dr. Galetta has nothing to disclose. Dr. Healy has nothing to disclose. Dr. Chitnis has received personal compensation for consulting, serving on a scientific advisory board, speaking, or other activities with Bayer, Biogen, Novartis, Sanofi-Genzyme, Roche-Genentech. Dr. Houtchens has received personal compensation for consulting, serving on a scientific advisory board, speaking, or other activities with Genzyme Sanofi, Teva Neurosciences, Biogen, Genentech.
Effects of State-Level Earned Income Tax Credit Laws on Birth Outcomes by Race and Ethnicity.

Abstract Purpose: Health disparities persist in birth outcomes by mother's income, education, and race in the United States. Disadvantaged mothers may experience benefit from supplements to family ...
Pseudomys hermannsburgensis (Top) P. higginsi (Bottom)

The autosomes are indistinguishable from the putative ancestral type of P. praeconis (Folio 475 ). One medium-sized pair (pair 9) may possess a short second arm. The sex chromosomes of P. higginsi are also similar to those of P. praeconis. The X chromosome of P. hermannsburgensis is a large submetacentric whereas the Y is a large subtelocentric.
Authentic Engagement for Promoting a College-Going Culture

The United States has lost ground internationally as a leader in educational attainment. Personal empowerment, national economic progress, and democratic ideals are enhanced through education, yet inequalities persist in the educational attainment of certain groups, such as low-income families or underrepresented minorities. Because the evolving economic landscape increasingly demands a diverse, highly trained, and well-educated labor force to fill the kinds of jobs required of the infor mation age, the United States cannot afford to let large portions of its population languish educationally. Higher education outreach efforts to engage communities and promote the broad embrace of a college-going culture are seen as vital to achieving increased educational attainment.
Abstract MP14: Lower Cardiovascular Fitness is Associated With Higher C-Reactive-Protein-Related Cardiovascular Risk in Healthy Adolescents and Young Adults

Introduction: Inflammatory markers, such as C-reaction protein (CRP), have been shown to be highly associated with cardiovascular disease. However, it is unclear if baseline levels of cardiovascula...
β-Arrestin2 arrests the clearance of tau in FTLD.

Frontotemporal dementia (FTD) comprises a spectrum of clinical syndromes associated with several underlying neurodegenerative diseases. The primary brain areas affected in patients with FTD are the frontal and temporal lobes. As such, FTD is also referred to as frontotemporal lobar degeneration (FTLD) (1). In patients younger than 65 y, FTLD is the second most common cause of neurodegenerative dementia after Alzheimer’s disease (AD), accounting for ∼10% of cases. Clinically, FTD is characterized by progressive deterioration in behavior, personality, and/or language. FTLD neuropathology is characterized by the pathological aggregation of misfolded proteins in neurons and/or glia. Approximately 45% of FTLD cases are characterized by inclusions of the microtubule-binding protein tau (FTLD-tau) and encompass Pick’s disease (PiD), cortical basal degeneration (CBD), progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP), argyrophilic grain disease (AGD), multiple system tauopathy with dementia, neurofibrillary tangle predominant dementia (NFT-dementia), and white matter tauopathy with globular glial inclusions (1, 2). Despite enormous advances in FTLD research over the past 20 y, lack of understanding of the connection between the genetic, phenotypic, and pathological features and the underlying disease mechanisms remains a major gap in the dissection of FTLD pathogenesis. Tau is encoded by the microtubule-associated protein tau ( MAPT ) gene, which consists of 16 exons on chromosome 17q21 (3). The adult human brain contains six main tau isoforms, which are generated by alternative splicing of exons 2, 3, and 10. Tau isoforms differ in the number of amino (N)-terminal inserts (0N, 1N, 2N) and contain either three or four highly conserved microtubule-binding repeat domains (3R and 4R tau, respectively). The alternative splicing of exon 10 generates 3R and 4R tau and is associated with distinct tauopathies, which can be classified into three groups based on the tau isoforms found in the aggregates: 4R tauopathies (e.g., … [↵][1]1Email: amantha{at}pitt.edu. [1]: #xref-corresp-1-1
Using Environmental DNA to Monitor the Spatial Distribution of the California Tiger Salamander

Global efforts to conserve declining amphibian populations have necessitated the development of rapid, reliable, and targeted survey methods. Environmental DNA (eDNA) surveys offer alternative or c...
Knowledge-Enhanced Deep Learning for Wind-Induced Nonlinear Structural Dynamic Analysis

AbstractRecent advancements of performance-based wind design of tall buildings have placed increasing importance on effectively modeling of the nonlinear structural dynamic response under extreme s...
Multi-Agent Bootstrapped Deep Q-Network for Large-Scale Traffic Signal Control

Deep reinforcement learning (RL) has demonstrated promising performance for adaptive traffic signal control (ATSC) in simulated environments. However, it is infeasible to apply Deep RL for real-world traffic systems mainly due to the lack of a large amount of high-quality data. In this paper, we introduce efficient exploration to improve sample-efficiency and robustness of RL training, making deep RL more practical for large-scale ATSC. Specifically, we first adopt the bootstrapped Deep Q-Network (DQN) algorithm to induce exploration via an ensemble of behavior policies, and it outperforms the vanilla DQN in both efficiency and robustness on a handcrafted asymmetric isolated intersection. Further, we develop a multi-agent DQN structure that enables conditional parameter sharing of bootstrapped DQN for large-scale problems. Finally, we demonstrate the effectiveness of our multi-agent approach on a large-scale $\mathbf{5}\times \mathbf{5}$ synthetic traffic grid with 25 intersections.
'Was Tony Blair's Prime Ministership Neoliberal?': A Survey of British Economic Policy, 1979-2007

The use of the term "neoliberal" has become controversial in recent years, at least in part because of its diversity of possible uses, and the apparent vagueness or looseness of some of those uses. That controversy has significantly extended to the characterization of center-left political parties and their leaders, like the Labour Party's Tony Blair, as neoliberals--a problem exacerbated by a comparative scarcity of summations of the relevant portions of their conduct in office that are at once properly grounded and contextualized, concise and accessible. As a contribution to the establishment of a more substantial foundation for debates over neoliberalism in general, and the British policy record of recent decades, this paper endeavors to offer just such a summation, with an eye to answering the question "Was Tony Blair's Prime Ministership neoliberal?" To that end it endeavors to provide a comprehensive, rigorous definition of neoliberalism taking into account the term's at once referring to multiple, interrelated phenomena, in particular a body of ideology, style of policymaking and economic model. This general discussion of neoliberalism, moreover, is bolstered by a a detailed examination of the stated intentions and actual policies of the Margaret Thatcher prime ministership that is perhaps more widely and firmly identified with the "neoliberal turn" than any other. In considering Thatcher's record, the paper also fills in crucial historical context and provides a still more fully developed basis for assessing Blair prime ministership in light of the definition provided, and the precedent and context created by preceding Conservative governments. Ultimately this paper concludes that Blair's conduct as party leader and prime minister do in fact safely warrant characterization as neoliberal, and indeed as a significant consolidation and extension of the policy thrust from Margaret Thatcher forward. This paper also concludes that this has arguably been obscured by, besides the inadequacies of much of the available literature already mentioned, the extent to which his neoliberalism consisted of acquiescence in and extension of the initiatives of preceding Conservative governments more than presenting new ones of his own; an overreadiness to see even the most modest apparent deviation from the "Thatcherite line" as a break with neoliberalism (for instance, Blair's increased funding of health care, for example, while overlooking his commitment to internal markets, and intensified collaboration with the private sector, which may be said to have furthered the system's characteristically neoliberal privatization); and the degree to which Blair's domestic record has been overshadowed by his foreign policy record, above all his role in the Iraq war.
Analysis of Dilation in Children and its Impact on Iris Recognition

The dilation of the pupil and it's variation between a mated pair of irides has been found to be an important factor in the performance of iris recognition systems. Studies on adult irides indicated significant impact of dilation on iris recognition performance at different ages. However, the results of adults may not necessarily translate to children. This study analyzes dilation as a factor of age and over time in children, from data collected from same 209 subjects in the age group of four to 11 years at enrollment, longitudinally over three years spaced by six months. The performance of iris recognition is also analyzed in presence of dilation variation.
Determining the Practicality of Utilizing Eye Movement Desensitization Reprocessing Therapy with Substance Abusing and Co-Occurring Disordered Populations in a Prison Treatment Environment

This manuscript provides a thorough overview of Eye Movement Desensitization Reprocessing (EMDR), demonstrating that this approach to treatment goes beyond mere technique and, instead, comprises an entire theoretical and therapeutic modality. Further, support for the use of EMDR to not only aid those in trauma but individuals with substance abuse and co-occurring disorders is given, along with an example of such use in prison environments. Because such therapeutic service delivery is uncommon in such environments and because there is a dearth of research of EMDR in the field of corrections, our current overview suggests that EMDR should be made more frequently available and more frequently studied with substance abusing inmates who are in prison environments.
Recent advances in the stereoselective synthesis of acyclic all-carbon tetrasubstituted alkenes

Alkenes bearing four carbon-based groups are ubiquitous motifs in chemical sciences due to their various applications from medicinal to materials chemistry, and as chemical platforms for the synthesis of complex, chiral molecules. As such, tremendous research efforts are currently ongoing in order to develop general procedures for the challenging stereoselective synthesis of all-carbon tetrasubstituted alkenes, especially for acyclic structures. Since classical approaches to carbon–carbon double bonds are not suitable for the high steric demand around tetrasubstituted alkenes, a variety of unique approaches to access these privileged functional groups have been developed in recent years. This review article highlights the most significant developments in the field from 2007 to 2020, with an emphasis on the mechanisms and remaining limitations of these contemporary methods. Specifically, recent advances in internal alkyne carbofunctionalizations, in multicomponent couplings or other cross-couplings from nucleophilic or electrophilic alkenyl partners, and in the development of miscellaneous methods, are discussed.
Distinguishing Alzheimer’s Disease Patients and Biochemical Phenotype Analysis Using a Novel Serum Profiling Platform: Potential Involvement of the VWF/ADAMTS13 Axis

It is important to develop minimally invasive biomarker platforms to help in the identification and monitoring of patients with Alzheimer's disease (AD). Assisting in the understanding of biochemical mechanisms as well as identifying potential novel biomarkers and therapeutic targets would be an added benefit of such platforms. This study utilizes a simplified and novel serum profiling platform, using mass spectrometry (MS), to help distinguish AD patient groups (mild and moderate) and controls, as well as to aid in understanding of biochemical phenotypes and possible disease development. A comparison of discriminating sera mass peaks between AD patients and control individuals was performed using leave one [serum sample] out cross validation (LOOCV) combined with a novel peak classification valuation (PCV) procedure. LOOCV/PCV was able to distinguish significant sera mass peak differences between a group of mild AD patients and control individuals with a p value of 10-13. This value became non-significant (p = 0.09) when the same sera samples were randomly allocated between the two groups and reanalyzed by LOOCV/PCV. This is indicative of physiological group differences in the original true-pathology binary group comparison. Similarities and differences between AD patients and traumatic brain injury (TBI) patients were also discernable using this novel LOOCV/PCV platform. MS/MS peptide analysis was performed on serum mass peaks comparing mild AD patients with control individuals. Bioinformatics analysis suggested that cell pathways/biochemical phenotypes affected in AD include those involving neuronal cell death, vasculature, neurogenesis, and AD/dementia/amyloidosis. Inflammation, autoimmunity, autophagy, and blood-brain barrier pathways also appear to be relevant to AD. An impaired VWF/ADAMTS13 vasculature axis with connections to F8 (factor VIII) and LRP1 and NOTCH1 was indicated and is proposed to be important in AD development.
A Deeper Investigation of the Importance of Wikipedia Links to Search Engine Results

A growing body of work has highlighted the important role that Wikipedia's volunteer-created content plays in helping search engines achieve their core goal of addressing the information needs of hundreds of millions of people. In this paper, we report the results of an investigation into the incidence of Wikipedia links in search engine results pages (SERPs). Our results extend prior work by considering three U.S. search engines, simulating both mobile and desktop devices, and using a spatial analysis approach designed to study modern SERPs that are no longer just "ten blue links". We find that Wikipedia links are extremely common in important search contexts, appearing in 67-84% of desktop SERPs for common and trending queries, but less often for medical queries. Furthermore, we observe that Wikipedia links often appear in "Knowledge Panel" SERP elements and are in positions visible to users without scrolling, although Wikipedia appears less often and in less prominent positions on mobile devices. Our findings reinforce the complementary notions that (1) Wikipedia content and research has major impact outside of the Wikipedia domain and (2) powerful technologies like search engines are highly reliant on free content created by volunteers.
Cycle-to-cycle Variation Enabled Energy Efficient Privacy Preserving Technology in ANN

Differential privacy is emerging as an effective solution to achieve privacy protection for the Artificial Intelligence neural network (ANN). However, not only matrix calculations of a neural network but also random noise injection mechanisms for differential privacy consume large power and resources. Traditionally, most privacy protection technologies are software technologies using von Neumann architecture and hardware with extra noise generation circuit unit. In this paper, a memristor based crossbar in-memory computing system is proposed to enable energy efficient privacy preserving technology in ANN. We utilize inherent cycle-to-cycle variations of memristors and apply the proposed variation-based pulse pair method during the weight update process. As a result, the proposed methods realize a machine learning system with privacy protection and show up to 29.24% recognition accuracy improvement with various privacy budget e.
Images of dark skin in top emergency medicine journals: A cross-sectional analysis of images of emergent cutaneous disorders.

Introduction Emergency medicine (EM) physicians must recognize emergent cutaneous disorders (CDs) in patients of all skin tones. In other medical specialties, images of CDs in light-skinned individuals (LSI) are published more frequently than images of CDs in dark-skinned individuals (DSI). This study aims to determine the representation of LSI versus DSI in images of emergent CDs published in top EM journals. Methods This is a cross-sectional analysis of CD images published from 2015 to 2020 in the six most influential EM journals as determined by Eigenfactor. The 2016 Model of the Clinical Practice of Emergency Medicine (EM Model) by the American Board of Emergency Medicine was used to classify CDs as "emergent," "nonemergent," or "not listed." The Fitzpatrick skin tone scale was used to classify skin tone as light, dark, or indeterminate. Two blinded reviewers classified each image; for disagreements, a third blinded reviewer determined the final classification. Descriptive statistics and chi-square were used to analyze the data. A kappa coefficient was used to determine reviewer agreement (LSI vs. DSI), and a weighted kappa coefficient was used for agreement between individual Fitzpatrick categories. Results There were 314 images of CDs. Forty images were indeterminate, and one image was excluded, leaving 273. Of the 273 images analyzed, 44.0% were emergent, 8.0% were nonemergent, and 48.0% were not listed in the EM Model. DSI comprised 13.6% of images. For emergent CDs, 85.0% were LSI versus 15.0% DSI. For nonemergent CDs, 27.3% were DSI, and for CDs not listed in the EM Model, 9.9% were DSI. The kappa coefficient for reviewer agreement between LSI and DSI was 0.76 (95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.65 to 0.87) and the weighted kappa coefficient for agreement between Fitzpatrick categories was 0.70 (95% CI = 0.64 to 0.76), showing substantial agreement. Conclusion For emergent and nonemergent CDs, images of LSI were published more than those of DSI in top EM journals.
Icesat: Ice, Cloud and Land Elevation Satellite

Ice exists in the natural environment in many forms. The Earth dynamic ice features shows that at high elevations and/or high latitudes,snow that falls to the ground can gradually build up tu form thick consolidated ice masses called glaciers. Glaciers flow downhill under the force of gravity and can extend into areas that are too warm to support year-round snow cover. The snow line, called the equilibrium line on a glacier or ice sheet, separates the ice areas that melt on the surface and become show free in summer (net ablation zone) from the ice area that remain snow covered during the entire year (net accumulation zone). Snow near the surface of a glacier that is gradually being compressed into solid ice is called firm.
Fe and Mn Depositing Bacteria in Marine Suspended Macro-Particulates

Fe and Mn precipitating bacteria are known to occur in many diverse environments. Their activity has been studied in soils, streams, lake and marine sediments and in the water column of enclosed inlets and lakes (Gebers and Hirsh, 1978; Nealson et al., 1979). However, the literature contains few examples of corresponding studies from the pelagic zones of the oceans.
A software application for rapid risk assessment in integrated supply chains

We proposed a framework for rapid risk assessment in integrated supply chains.We used fuzzy logic to reduce the uncertainty inherent in the supply chain risks.We proposed risk priority matrix, a 2?×?2 matrix used for risk aggregation.We developed a software tool to implement the proposed framework.A case study from a real manufacturing was used to assess the proposed framework. Supply chain risk management (SCRM) has become a critical component of supply chain management with the movement to global supply chains and the increasing occurrence of internal and external risk events. Effective management of supply chain risks requires a comprehensive yet rapid assessment of all the risk factors in the supply chain and their potential impacts. This paper presents a software application framework for rapid risk assessment (RRA) in integrated supply chains. The proposed framework combines qualitative and quantitative methods to assess and prioritize the risks. Qualitative methods are based on surveys used to collect the risk probability and impact data for the main agents in the supply chain (i.e., supplier, customer, manufacturer, etc.). Quantitative methods are based on probability theory and fuzzy logic. Risks are calculated for each agent in the supply chain and are then aggregated per product type. The proposed RRA tool was tested in a manufacturing environment to assess the validity of the proposed framework. Results from the case study showed that the assessment obtained by the proposed framework agrees with what the risk management experts think about the risk levels and priorities in the company.
The evolution of Hessian fly from the Old World to the New World: Evidence from molecular markers.

Eighteen polymorphic microsatellite loci and 11 single-nucleotide polymorphisms were genotyped in 1 095 individual Hessian fly specimens representing 23 populations from North America, southern Europe, and southwest Asia. The genotypes were used to assess genetic diversity and interrelationship of Hessian fly populations. While phylogenetic analysis indicates that the American populations most similar to Eurasian populations come from the east coast of the United States, genetic distance is least between (Alabama and California) and (Kazakhstan and Spain). Allelic diversity and frequency vary across North America, but they are not correlated with distance from the historically documented point of introduction in New York City or with temperature or precipitation. Instead, the greatest allelic diversity mostly occurs in areas with Mediterranean climates. The microsatellite data indicate a general deficiency for heterozygotes in Hessian fly. The North American population structure is consistent with multiple introductions, isolation by distance, and human-abetted dispersal by bulk transport of puparia in infested straw or on harvesting equipment.
A system for monitoring electric utility vehicle operating data over the cellular network

A project was undertaken recently to develop a system that could acquire and log electrical and mechanical data corresponding to various operating cycles of an electric vehicle drive system, and then transmit that data to an off-site computer. The project team first identified which electrical and mechanical quantities were of interest to the sponsoring company and then developed the design requirements for each main function of this system: sensing, data logging, and data transmission. This was followed by the team's use of the weighted decision matrix approach to determine which of the available choices for performing each function was the best one. Testing of each component and of the integrated system was performed, and the results indicated that this system met the project's objectives.
Retinal implant: bridging engineering and medicine

The development and technology challenges of a retinal prosthesis, from early through advanced generations, is presented, along with a characterization of the hurdles and breakthroughs encountered in the wide array of clinical and engineering disciplines which the project spans.
Security testing of an aerospace launch system

Many aerospace vehicles are vulnerable to security attacks that not only can cause loss of the vehicle, but also loss of life or compromise national security. This paper proposes an approach for security testing an aerospace launch system. Our approach is based on building a security test suite from a behavioral model, an attack type and a mitigation model. The behavioral and attack model determine where specific attacks can occur. We then build the security test based on a required mitigation from the mitigation model.
Underrecognition of cognitive impairment in assisted living facilities.

Objectives: To determine the prevalence of cognitive impairment (CI), dementia diagnosis and treatment, assistance with medications, and surrogate decision-makers for residents of assisted living facilities (ALFs). Design: Cross-sectional study. Setting: Seven ALFs in Omaha, Nebraska, and the surrounding area. None of the ALFs in this study were designated “Alzheimer's” or “dementia” facilities. Participants: Four hundred seven of 455 ALF residents were solicited, and 230 consented. The average age ± standard deviation of participants was 83.3±8.3. Measurements: ALF residents were examined using the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE), and their medical charts were reviewed. Results: Fifty-eight percent of ALF residents had CI according to the MMSE. Of those with CI, 63% had no diagnosis of dementia, 75% were not treated for dementia, 41% with a documented diagnosis of dementia were not treated for dementia, 22% self-administered an average of 5.4±3.4 medications daily, and 11% had surrogate decision makers. Conclusion: More than half of ALF residents in this study had CI and a significant percentage was undiagnosed. Even when diagnosed as dementia, CI is significantly undertreated in this setting. These deficits must be addressed to promote quality of care and the need for specialized attention.
Comprehensive evaluation and clinical implementation of commercially available Monte Carlo dose calculation algorithm

A commercial electron Monte Carlo (eMC) dose calculation algorithm has become available in Eclipse treatment planning system. The purpose of this work was to evaluate the eMC algorithm and investigate the clinical implementation of this system. The beam modeling of the eMC algorithm was performed for beam energies of 6, 9, 12, 16, and 20 MeV for a Varian Trilogy and all available applicator sizes in the Eclipse treatment planning system. The accuracy of the eMC algorithm was evaluated in a homogeneous water phantom, solid water phantoms containing lung and bone materials, and an anthropomorphic phantom. In addition, dose calculation accuracy was compared between pencil beam (PB) and eMC algorithms in the same treatment planning system for heterogeneous phantoms. The overall agreement between eMC calculations and measurements was within 3%/2 mm, while the PB algorithm had large errors (up to 25%) in predicting dose distributions in the presence of inhomogeneities such as bone and lung. The clinical implementation of the eMC algorithm was investigated by performing treatment planning for 15 patients with lesions in the head and neck, breast, chest wall, and sternum. The dose distributions were calculated using PB and eMC algorithms with no smoothing and all three levels of 3D Gaussian smoothing for comparison. Based on a routine electron beam therapy prescription method, the number of eMC calculated monitor units (MUs) was found to increase with increased 3D Gaussian smoothing levels. 3D Gaussian smoothing greatly improved the visual usability of dose distributions and produced better target coverage. Differences of calculated MUs and dose distributions between eMC and PB algorithms could be significant when oblique beam incidence, surface irregularities, and heterogeneous tissues were present in the treatment plans. In our patient cases, monitor unit differences of up to 7% were observed between PB and eMC algorithms. Monitor unit calculations were also preformed based on point-dose prescription. The eMC algorithm calculation was characterized by deeper penetration in the low-density regions, such as lung and air cavities. As a result, the mean dose in the low-density regions was underestimated using PB algorithm. The eMC computation time ranged from 5 min to 66 min on a single 2.66 GHz desktop, which is comparable with PB algorithm calculation time for the same resolution level.
GRAIL: a gene related to anergy in lymphocytes

T-cell anergy may serve to limit autoreactive T-cell responses in vivo. Anergy induction in vitro is blocked by calcineurin inhibitors and by inhibition of protein synthesis. In order to look for a potential anergy specific gene, we examined early changes in gene expression in murine CD4+ T-cell clones after antigen-T-cell receptor signaling in the presence (activation) or absence (anergy) of B7 co-stimulation. GRAIL (Gene Related to Anergy in Lymphocytes) was a novel transcript whose expression was markedly induced in anergic T cells in vitro compared with activated or resting T cells. GRAIL is a novel murine type I transmembrane protein that localizes to the endocytic pathway and bears homology to several RING Zinc-finger proteins. GRAIL functions as an E3 ubiquitin ligase. Expression of GRAIL in retrovirally transduced T-cell hybridomas dramatically limits activation-induced IL-2 production in vitro. Substitution of histidine for asparagine at two positions in the ring finger (H2N2 GRAIL) blocks enzymatic function of GRAIL. Retroviral transduction of hematopoietic stem cells to express GRAIL reiterates the anergy phenotype in resultant CD4+ T cells, including inability to secrete IL-2 or proliferate following antigen stimulation. Expression of the enzymatically inactive (dominant-negative) form of H2N2 GRAIL blocks anergy induction in T cells in vivo. These data demonstrate that GRAIL is necessary and sufficient to induce anergy in CD4+ T cells.
On Being a Client: Understanding the Process of Counselling and Psychotherapy

INTRODUCTION Love and Work PART ONE: ACCEPT ME Warm and Friendly Acceptance A Secure Base PART TWO: UNDERSTAND ME Understanding People Knowing Other Minds Natural Psychologists Biology and Experience The Development of Social Understanding The Origins of the Empathetic Counsellor PART THREE: TALK WITH ME The Chance to Talk Description Narrative Dialogue PART FOUR: THE FORMATION AND RE-FORMATION OF THE SELF IN SOCIAL RELATIONSHIPS The Formation of the Self in Social Relationships The Nature of the Counselling Relationship
Gaussian solitary waves for the logarithmic-BBM and the logarithmic-TRLW equations

We investigate the logarithmic-BBM equation (log-BBM) for the determination of Gaussian solitary waves. We extend this work to study the logarithmic-TRLW equation (log-TRLW). The logarithmic nonlinearity for both models will be generalized to obtain generalized Gaussian soliton solutions. Both logarithmic models are characterized by possessing Gaussian solitons. Solitons appear in many chemical applications such as electrically conducting polyenes, polarons, bipolarons, and bolitons in conducting polymers.
A morphological study of the development of the human liver. I. Development of the hepatic diverticulum.

The development of the hepatic diverticulum was examined in 38 human embryos representing somite stages 1, 5, 8 and 10 through 29, inclusive. Interpretations were based on light microscopic study of serial sections of these embryos. The liver primordium was first identified in a five-somite embryo as a flat plate of endodermal cells continuous with, but lying ventral to, the endoderm of the foregut at the anterior intestinal portal. It is positioned caudal and ventral to the developing heart. This plate of endoderm subsequently undergoes a progressive folding due to differential growth of adjacent structures. During the folding process there is a close spatial relationship between the cells of the endodermal plate and the caudal and ventral endothelial lining of the atrium and the sinus venosus. The result of this folding is the establishment of a “T-shaped” diverticulum which projects ventrally and cephalically from the gut tract. The hepatic diverticulum is established by the 20 somite-stage embryo. This mode of development of the hepatic diverticulum is compared to the classical interpretation and to the development of other visceral organs.
Modulation of Synchronous Gating in Skeletal Muscle Ryanodine Receptor Channels (RyR1) by Nucleotides or Phosphorylation

In skeletal muscle fibers, local Ca2+ sparks and global Ca2+ transients arise from the synchronous activation of arrays of calcium release channels (RyR1) in the sarcoplasmic reticulum. Marx et al. (1998) first described that synchronous Ca2+ signaling in cells could be explained by the coordinated gating of neighboring RyR1 channels; i.e. “coupled gating”. We have previously reported that coupled gating of multiple RyR1 channels requires luminal Ca2+ as current carrier and ATP/Mg2+ in the cytosolic solution. Here, we have reconstituted into planar lipid bilayers multiple RyR1 channels from skeletal muscle SR microsomes and determined their modulation by different nucleotides. As found for ATP, we determined that ADP and AMP can activate RyR1 and favor coupled gating. Contrarily, ITP, GTP and TTP did not affect channel behavior. A priori, the ATP action seems more robust than that of ADP/AMP (remains after addition of Mg2+). Consequently, we tested the possibility of a phosphorylation-mediated mechanism to explain ATP efficacy. However, we found that addition of PKA, CaMK or phosphatases did not significantly affect channel activity. The lack of effects of kinases/phosphatases was confirmed with macroscopic assays of SR Ca2+ release. Thus, our results suggest that nucleotide modulation of RyR1 seems to be specific for adenine nucleotides (especially ATP) and that RyR1 behavior in skeletal muscle does not appear to be significantly modulated by phosphorylation. (Supported by NIH R01 GM078665)
Improving Children's Listening Comprehension with a Manipulation Strategy.

ABSTRACT The authors examined the cognitive benefits of physical manipulation. Participants were 76 kindergarten and first-grade students randomly assigned to 2 strategies: stories with pictures or manipulation. In the pictures strategy, participants listened to story content and viewed pictures. In the manipulation strategy, participants moved manipulatives as directed by the stories. After a training period, the pictures or manipulatives were removed and participants were instructed to imagine story events. Significant differences in favor of the manipulation strategy on free and cued recall were observed during all 3 instructional periods. Furthermore, strategy by recall type and strategy by grade-level interactions were identified during the training sessions. After training, the participants were instructed to imagine story events, and a significant difference was observed in favor of the manipulation strategy.
Energy and greenhouse gas analysis of northeast U.S. dairy cropping systems

Abstract Dairy farms in the northeast typically produce their own forage, import grain crops, and rely heavily on other inputs. Feed production inputs include fertilizers, herbicides, pesticides, and fuel that require fossil energy and produce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions during their manufacture and transport. This study uses the Farm Energy Analysis Tool (FEAT) to compare and contrast the fossil energy consumption, energy efficiency, and GHG emissions for three different Pennsylvania dairy cropping systems that vary in their reliance on imported grains and fuel, and thus, land area to produce the same quantity of milk. One novel cropping system, implemented at Penn State University, includes a diverse rotation designed to produce forage, grain, and fuel on-farm (NSVO). The ‘NSVO’ cropping system employs a number of best management practices, including manure injection, cover crops, and integrated pest management. The two modeled-systems require fewer hectares than ‘NSVO’ because they do not produce fuel on-farm but produce forage only (FOR), or forage and grain (FORGr), while producing the same amount of milk. Relative to the ‘FOR’ system, even while requiring larger land areas locally, we found that the ‘NSVO’ and ‘FORGr’ systems lowered total fossil energy inputs per Mg of milk produced by 18% and 15% respectively, largely by importing 77% and 71% less feed crops that would have been grown elsewhere. GHG emissions were similar among farms, on the order of 229 kg CO2e Mg-milk−1. On-farm fuel production in the ‘NSVO’ system lowered fossil energy inputs but required more land area and may not provide economic savings with current diesel fuel prices. To reduce the fossil energy impact of their operations, dairy farmers in the Northeast should consider growing more livestock grain on-farm.
Autofluorescence patterns in short-term cultures of normal cervical tissue

Abstract Fluorescence spectroscopy has potential to improve cervical precancer detection. The relationship between tissue biochemistry and fluorescence is poorly understood. The goal of this study was to characterize normal cervical autofluorescence, using fresh tissue short-term tissue cultures and epithelial cell suspensions. Transverse, short-term tissue cultures were prepared from 31 cervical biopsies; autofluorescence images were obtained at 380 and 460 nm excitation. Fluorescence excitation–emission matrices were measured from normal, precancerous and cancerous cervical cell suspensions. Observed fluorescence patterns contrast those reported for frozen–thawed tissue, and were placed into groups with (1) bright epithelial and weak stromal fluorescence; (2) similar epithelial and stromal fluorescence; and (3) weak epithelial and bright stromal fluorescence. The average ages of women in the groups were 30.9, 38.0 and 49.2 years. Epithelial fluorescence intensity was similar in Groups 1 and 2, but weake...
Developmental aphasia revisited

Abstract The article describes a variety of patterns of auditory behavior as well as speech and language behavior expectant of children with developmental aphasia as reported through review of the literature and/or noted by personal observation. The article offers a diagnostic and prognostic key for differential diagnosis.
The interactions of ethanol with the benzodiazepine-GABA receptor-ionophore complex

Abstract Ethanol, barbiturates and benzodiazepines have similar pharmacological effects. All of these drugs facilitate the inhibitory transmission mediated by GABA administration increases the number of low affinity GABA receptor sites, while, during ethanol withdrawal, the affinity of this site is decreased. This decreased affinity during withdrawal correlated with the audiogenic seizure activity. These results indicate that in vivo ethanol interacts with GABA receptors, and this interaction may be responsible for some of the effects of ethanol and for some symptoms of withdrawal. Ethanol, like pentobarbital, also enhances [3H]diazepam binding to the Lubrol-solubilized membrane fraction in vitro. This effect was dose-related and was blocked by picrotoxinin and other GABA antagonists. Enhancement of [3H]diazepam binding by various alcohols did not correlate with lipid: water partition coefficients. Ethanol also partially inhibited the binding of [3H]-α-dihydropicrotoxinin in the Lubrol-solubilized fraction. These results indicate that ethanol, like pentobarbital, may modulate the benzodiazepine binding component of the benzodiazepine-GABA receptor-ionophore complex via the picrotoxinin site. The possible interpretation of these results, in relation to the GABAergic transmission, is discussed.
Clinical Applications for microRNAs in Cancer

The discovery that noncoding components of the genome, including microRNA (miRNA or miR), can contribute to the pathogenesis of cancer has led investigators to contemplate using these molecules to guide clinical decision making. Currently, miRNA signatures are being applied in human clinical trials and miRNA-directed therapy is under way, with miR-122 targeting in hepatitis C (HCV) being the most developed therapy thus far. miRNA-based targeting in cancer is not far behind, with several private companies developing therapeutics. We are recognizing the potential for miRNA biology to clarify both the molecular pathogenesis of cancer and the inherent complexities in translating its biology to clinics. An increased understanding of fundamental miRNA biology, improved bioinformatics, and directed in vivo targeting while minimizing off-target effects and toxicity will be required for successful translational application. Here, we provide an overview of miRNAs, with a focus on aspects of translating bench-based discoveries to the clinic.
Lipid composition and lateral diffusion in plasma membranes of teratocarcinoma-derived cell lines

We measured lipid lateral diffusion rates for a series of teratocarcinoma-derived and embryo-derived cell lines, using the technique of fluorescence photobleaching recovery with a fluorescent lipid probe, C16dil. The probe diffuses more rapidly in plasma membranes of embryonal carcinoma cells than in plasma membranes of teratocarcinoma-derived endodermal cell lines. When embryonal carcinoma cells are induced to differentiate by treatment with retinoic acid, diffusion constants of C16dil are reduced to levels typical of endoderm. These changes are paralleled by differences in membrane cholesterol content; membrane free cholesterol levels in embryonal carcinoma lines are approximately half those found in endodermal lines, and are markedly increased upon retinoic-acid-induced differentiation.
Contributions from the plastid and the nucleocytoplasmic compartments to the events associated with heat-bleaching in Euglena gracilis

Summary Growing photoheterotrophic cultures of Euglena gracilis Z show a time-dependent loss of chlorophyll per cell that results in the production of bleached cultures of the alga on prolonged incubation at 33°C. In terms of chlorophyll accumulation, the bleaching process involves an initial rise in chlorophyll accumulation per cell, peaking at about 15 h, followed by a second phase in which chlorophyll levels per cell actually decline. The primary objective of this work was to establish whether loss of chloroplast function at 33°C is associated with a loss of translational activity on chloroplast ribosomes or a loss in the synthesis of chloroplast proteins of nucleocytoplasmic origin, or both. To this effect, pulse-labeling experiments were carried out in vivo on cultures of the alga in the second phase of the temperature response. The results show that synthesis and import of proteins from the nucleocytoplasmic compartment remain high in bleaching plastids during the first 41 h of the temperature treatment. By contrast, protein synthesis inside plastids is gradually lost at the elevated temperature, and only low levels can be detected in 41-h bleached cultures. Consequently, the great majority of the proteins accumulating in 41-h bleached plastids are imported from the nucleocytoplasmic compartment. The loss of translational activity inside the bleaching plastid could explain why Euglena is unable to maintain photosynthetically competent plastids at the elevated temperature.
Expected impact of an aged biomass burning aerosol on cloud condensation nuclei and cloud droplet concentrations

[1] During May of 2003, smoke from fires on the Yucatan Peninsula was transported across the Gulf of Mexico and into Texas where it caused a significant enhancement in measured aerosol concentrations. The 24-hour average PM2.5 concentration measured in Austin on 10 May was 50.1 μg/m 3 , which was more than twice that of the highest daily average concentration measured during any other month in 2003. During this event, a differential mobility analyzer/tandem differential mobility analyzer (DMA/TDMA) system was used to characterize the size distribution and size-resolved hygroscopicity and volatility of the aerosol. The hygroscopicity data were used to isolate the less hygroscopic biomass burning particles from other aerosol types. Biomass burning aerosol-only size distributions were then constructed by coupling the size-resolved fraction of particles attributed to the fires with the overall size distribution. These distributions, and the aerosol properties derived from the TDMA data, were used to examine the impact of the smoke on predicted cloud condensation nuclei (CCN) spectra. The influence of the smoke on cloud droplet concentrations and the influence of other aerosol types present on the activation efficiency of the smoke were evaluated using a cloud parcel model. For a subset of the updraft speeds considered, the model predicted that the cloud droplet concentration would sometimes be lower when both smoke and pollution aerosols entered cloud relative to that when only smoke was present. Whereas these cases in which an increased aerosol concentration resulted in a decreased cloud droplet concentration were rare, the inclusion of the pollution aerosol in the model always reduced the activation efficiency of the smoke aerosol, which would influence both its evolution during transport and its atmospheric removal rate.