cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Seismological evidence for shallow thrusting north of the Timor trough

Summary. The eastern Sunda arc in Indonesia is the site of subduction of the continental crust of Australia and its shallow seismicity is manifested by infrequent, large (Ms≥ 7) earthquakes that occur near the volcanic arc within the upper plate rather than as interplate events beneath the forearc. In the same region, volcanic activity has ceased and small shallow earthquakes are rare. We examine two of the larger earthquakes: the events of 1962 May 15 (Ms= 7.2) and 1977 August 27 (Ms= 7.0). The 1977 event occurred north of central Timor and the inversion of long-period P- and SH-waves indicates a nearly pure thrust mechanism at a depth of 10 km below sea-level and a seismic moment of 4.1 × 1026 dyne cm. The P-wave nodal planes for this solution strike roughly parallel to the mapped trace of a thrust zone (the Wetar thrust zone) at the southern margin of the backarc basin and the south nodal dipping plane is consistent with the sense of thrusting on this thrust zone. A broad zone of compressional deformation is evident in seismic reflection profiles over the epicentral region of the 1977 event and gravity data suggest that a small amount of either isostatically uncompensated crustal thickening or flexure of the underthrusting plate has occurred. The 1962 earthquake occurred approximately 300 km north-east of the 1977 earthquake and near the eastern end of the volcanically quiet section of the Banda arc. The similarity of the few available waveforms to those at the same stations for the 1977 event suggests a similar source mechanism. Modelling of Pdif waveforms for the 1962 event indicates a depth of less than 40 km and a preferred centroidal depth of 20 km, for which a seismic moment of 5 × 1026 dyne cm is estimated. These fault plane solutions indicate that most of the seismic energy released by the collision between Australia and the Sunda arc is generated by faulting within the overriding plate and we infer that a major change in the plate geometry is imminent. We suggest that most of the relative convergence between the plates is accommodated by thrusting of the marginal basin (the Banda Sea) southward beneath the arc and that the present geometry represents the initial stage of the reversal of the arc's polarity.
Pediatric phylogeny and lessons learned in the garden.

Pediatrics is a dynamic, organic, and evolving medical specialty. It is a living and breathing entity the substrate of which is the collective work of the many dedicated women and men who are members of the Ambulatory Pediatric Association (APA) and the other member organizations of these Pediatric Academic Societies (PAS) meetings. Of course, pediatrics includes not only the physicians who care for children, but also other health care providers. In describing pediatrics, we often use language that speaks to the biologic growth and development of our profession. For example, we call pediatrics a branch of medicine; we refer to the growth of subspecialties; and note the fruits of our work. In this address, I would like to exploit that metaphor of pediatrics as an organic growth, a living breathing species, and trace its phylogeny. Phylogeny (phy-log-e-ny) n. The development or evolution of a kind or type of animal or plant. My endeavor is to examine what has happened in the growth of pediatrics and, in particular, general pediatrics. In addition, I hope to explore some of the lessons learned in the garden, to underscore some cautions and suggest some new directions. I love to spend time in the garden. Although I work in the heart of the city, I am blessed by living in a green area. My home office looks over a garden and I often look to that small bit of land for personal comfort and inspiration. Like many of you who garden, I find it a place to think or dig my way through unresolved emotions and worries. It is a place where I can get my hands dirty and where I can think away from the electronic pests of pager devices, telephones, e-mails, or faxes. Thus far, the garden has served as psychiatrist, muse, and intellectual personal trainer. Francis Bacon wrote 1
Une madeleine peut en cacher une autre: un dialogue mythique sur le Temps entre Marcel Proust, Alfred Hitchcock et Chris Marker

La Jetee et Immemory , œuvres de Chris Marker, realisent un lien des plus inattendus entre A la recherche du temps perdu de Marcel Proust et Vertigo d’Alfred Hitchcock. En nous interrogeant sur la nature des ‘Madeleines’ se trouvant dans ces deux œuvres, Immemory indique l’enjeu du raccord qu’opere La Jetee . Car l’œuvre hitchcockienne, comme la proustienne, recele une philosophie unique du souvenir. Tandis que Vertigo presente une Madeleine qui, agissant sur les structures du temps, tente d’attirer et Scottie et le spectateur dans son infinite nefaste, la Recherche met en scene une madeleine menant, certes, au temps retrouve, mais aussi au-dela des pieges d’une souvenance trop servile a elle-meme. Le lien que permet La Jetee assure tout d’abord l’enrichissement mutuel des univers proustien et hitchcockien, mais il ne constitue ni une synthese de ces philosophies, ni une quelconque definition du concept de la ‘Madeleine’. Marker etablit, au contraire, un dialogue transtextuel qui, d’apres les criteres d’Emile Durkheim, de Claude Levi-Strauss et de Friedrich Wilhelm Schelling, participe de la creation mythologique. Grâce a l’influence de La Jetee et d’ Immemory ,la ‘Madeleine’ serait donc devenue unelement mythique qui, tout en etant ne des œuvres proustienne et hitchcockienne, est independant d’elles.
Cell-free complements in vivo expression of the E. coli membrane proteome

Reconstituted cell-free (CF) protein expression systems hold the promise of overcoming the traditional barriers associated with in vivo systems. This is particularly true for membrane proteins, which are often cytotoxic and due to the nature of the membrane, difficult to work with. To evaluate the potential of cell-free expression, we cloned 120 membrane proteins from E. coli and compared their expression profiles in both an E. coli in vivo system and an E. coli-derived cell-free system. Our results indicate CF is a more robust system and we were able to express 63% of the targets in CF, compared to 44% in vivo. To benchmark the quality of CF produced protein, five target membrane proteins were purified and their homogeneity assayed by gel filtration chromatography. Finally, to demonstrate the ease of amino acid labeling with CF, a novel membrane protein was substituted with selenomethionine, purified, and shown to have 100% incorporation of the unnatural amino acid. We conclude that CF is a novel, robust expression system capable of expressing more proteins than an in vivo system and suitable for production of membrane proteins at the milligram level.
Model discrimination in oscillatory CO oxidation on platinum catalysts at atmospheric pressure

Abstract Reaction-rate oscillations in CO oxidation on platinum catalysts at atmospheric pressure are believed to depend on a mechanism which blocks adsorption by the reactants. Two proposed models, the oxidation–reduction and carbon models, explain the oscillations based on different site-blocking chemical species, and both describe the observed phenomena relatively well. A series of tests is described which was designed to use the differences between these models in order to determine which model best describes the observed behavior. In these tests, a platinum thin-film catalyst is first exposed to only one of the reactants. The second reactant is then added, and the transient response of the system is measured. From this test, it is found that while neither model predicts completely the initial transients, the oxidation–reduction model agrees best with the experimental results. The transient behavior from these tests and its implications are discussed.
A National Study of the Diabetes Educator Report on a Practice Analysis Conducted by the National Certification Board for Diabetes Educators

Purpose The practice analysis described in this report was conducted by the National Certification Board for Diabetes Educators (NCBDE) to (1) provide a basis for documenting the continuing validity of the Certification Examination for Diabetes Educators, (2) define new areas that should be assessed in future certification examinations, and (3) ensure that the content of certification examinations is related to practice. Methods The study involved developing a diabetes educator job task list and survey, distributing 4103 surveys, and analyzing survey responses from a multidisciplinary and geographically representative sample of certified diabetes educators. Results Eight hundred thirty-six surveys were suitable for analysis, with relevant demographic subgroups adequately represented. Based on survey data, an examination matrix and detailed content outline was constructed that will be used by NCBDE to assemble future test forms. Conclusions Certification examination specifications were developed directly related to the important activities that diabetes educators perform. Future forms of the certification examination will continue to be matched to job-related, criterion-referenced test specifications and will have strong evidence of content validity. Future forms of the exam will contain 200 items at specified cognitive levels with a representative sampling of tasks within 3 core areas from the detailed content outline.
Simulation and generation of IDDQ tests for bridging faults in combinational circuits

In the absence of information about the layout, test generation and fault simulation systems must target all bridging faults. A novel algorithm, that is both time and space efficient, for simulating I/sub DDQ/ tests for all two-line bridging faults in combinational circuits is presented. Simulation results using randomly generated test sets point to the computational feasibility of targeting all two-line bridging faults. On a more theoretical note, we show that the problem of computing I/sub DDQ/ tests for all two-line bridging faults, even in some restricted classes of circuits, is intractable, and, even under some pessimistic assumptions, a complete I/sub DDQ/ test set for all two-line bridging faults also covers all multiple line, single cluster bridging faults.
The Roles of Graduate and Continuing Education Programs in Preparing Archivists in North America for the Information Age

This essay argues that the North American archival profession has not adequately dealt with educating archivists to manage automated techniques and, especially, electronic records because of a variety of structural problems in this field: There are few archival educators qualified to teach such topics, few satisfactory archival programs for handling such functions, and little research being done on these concerns. The essay presents five actions the archival community could take to rectify the dilemma: (1) expand the concept of graduate archival education, (2) make such education interdisciplinary, (3) emphasize research, (4) develop higher visibility with archival empoloyers and prospective student recruits, and (5) build a foundation for effective continuing education programs. This essay was prepared prior to Cox's assuming the editorship of the American Archivist. The essay is published as part of the CART Curriculum Conference Proceedings.
Heidegger and scientific realism

This paper describes Heidegger as a robust scientific realist, explains why his view has received such conflicting treatment, and concludes that the special significance of his position lies in his insistence upon linking the discussion of science to the question of its relation with technology. It shows that Heidegger, rather than accepting the usual forced option between realism and antirealism, advocates a realism in which he embeds the antirealist thesis that the idea of reality independent of human understanding is unintelligible. This reading is defended against Rorty's antirealist interpretation, as well as Dreyfus' depiction of him as a deflationary realist, and his assessment of background realism is contrasted with Fine's. Further, the robustness of Heidegger's realism is laid out across several texts from 1912 to 1976, in order to show that he is neither an instrumental realist nor an internal realist. Finally, the point is made that the development of his view concerning realism gives rise to a critique of objectivity that is now being similarly advocated by numerous thinkers from a variety of disciplines, and that this critique is inevitably ethical and political.
Usefulness of a Short Form of the Pyramids and Palm Trees Test To Differentiate Variants of Primary Progressive Aphasia (P02.044)

Objective: To evaluate a short form (15 item version) of a picture association test of object semantics, to distinguish semantic variant primary progressive aphasia (svPPA) from nonfluent/ agrammatic variant (nfvPPA) and logopenic variant (lvPPA), and healthy controls. Background The Pyramids and Palm Trees Test (Howard and Patterson, 1992, Pearson, Inc) is widely used as a test of semantics. However, several items depend more on cultural knowledge (in some cases specific to the UK) rather than knowledge of the defining features of objects (e.g. Are acorns associated with pigs or goats?). Published norms may not be applicable in the US and may depend on education. However, a test of object semantics would be useful in distinguishing patients with svPPA (who often have impaired object semantics) from nfvPPA and lvPPA (who have spared object semantics). Design/Methods: We selected 15 items from this test that could be answered correctly on the basis of knowing the defining features of the objects. We administered this short form to 20 controls and 47 PPA patients: 17 with svPPA, 16 with lvPPA, and 14 with nfvPPA. We used independent t-tests to compare mean accuracy scores across groups. We also evaluated whether age or education influenced scores on the short form of the test in either patients or controls using linear regression. Results: Mean accuracy for patients with svPPA was significantly lower (66.6±27.4) than for patients with nfvPPA (99.9±0.5) (t=4.5; df29; p Conclusions: The 15-item version of this test appears to be useful for assessment of object semantics and distinguishing svPPA from other variants of PPA and healthy controls. Disclosure: Dr. Lala has nothing to disclose. Dr. Race has nothing to disclose. Dr. Tsapkini has nothing to disclose. Dr. Hillis has nothing to disclose.
Photopolymerization of Dienoyl Lipids Creates Planar Supported Poly(lipid) Membranes with Retained Fluidity.

Polymerization of substrate-supported bilayers composed of dienoylphosphatidylcholine (PC) lipids is known to greatly enhance their chemical and mechanical stability; however, the effects of polymerization on membrane fluidity have not been investigated. Here planar supported lipid bilayers (PSLBs) composed of dienoyl PCs on glass substrates were examined to assess the degree to which UV-initiated polymerization affects lateral lipid mobility. Fluorescence recovery after photobleaching (FRAP) was used to measure the diffusion coefficients (D) and mobile fractions of rhodamine-DOPE in unpolymerized and polymerized PSLBs composed of bis-sorbyl phosphatidylcholine (bis-SorbPC), mono-sorbyl-phosphatidylcholine (mono-SorbPC), bis-dienoyl-phosphatidylcholine (bis-DenPC), and mono-dienoyl phosphatidylcholine (mono-DenPC). Polymerization was performed in both the Lα and Lβ phase for each lipid. In all cases, polymerization reduced membrane fluidity; however, measurable lateral diffusion was retained which is attr...
Reproductive and growth responses of gilts to exogenous porcine pituitary growth hormone.

Forty gilts (mean wt = 72 kg) were administered daily either vehicle (C = control) or 70 micrograms porcine growth hormone (pGH)/kg BW. After 30 d of treatment, eight gilts per group (Exp. 1) were slaughtered and blood, uteri and ovaries were collected. Follicular fluid (FFl) was collected and granulosa cells (GC) were cultured. The remaining gilts (Exp. 2) were treated for up to 35 additional days and examined twice daily for estrus. Estrusal gilts were removed from the experiment. Noncyclic gilts (n = 9 of 12 pGH; n = 4 of 12 C) were slaughtered on d 66 and their ovaries were examined. Ovarian weights were not different for pGH and C gilts in either Exp. 1 (P greater than .1) or Exp. 2 (P = .09). Uterine weights were greater for pGH-treated than for C gilts (P less than .007) in Exp. 1, but not in Exp. 2. Concentrations of estradiol (E2) in plasma and FF1 and of progesterone (P) in plasma and FF1 were not different for pGH and C gilts. Concentrations of insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) in FF1 and in serum were greater for pGH than for C gilts (P less than .01). Concentration of P in serum-free medium of cultured GC was lower for GH than for C (P less than .05) in the presence or absence of gonadotropins in Exp. 1. The FSH-stimulated secretion of P was also lower for GC of pGH-treated gilts in Exp. 2, indicating a failure of GC to differentiate in culture. Only one pGH gilts in Exp. 2 manifested estrus, compared with seven C gilts (P less than .025). In Exp. 1, ADG was higher (P less than .03) and feed/gain lower (P less than .07) for pGH gilts. Longissimus muscle area (LMA) was not different (P = .19) between groups. Backfat thickness (BF) was lower (P less than .005) in pGH than in C in both Exp. 1 and 2. We conclude that exogenous pGH increased growth rate, improved feed efficiency and altered carcass traits in gilts. However, these effects were associated with impaired ovarian development of prepubertal gilts and a low incidence of estrus.
Uncomplicated obesity in an African American population seeking medical weight loss.

OBJECTIVE: Obesity is highly prevalent and adds greatly to the risk of cardiovascular and metabolic diseases. However, a subset of the obese has been identified who do not appear to carry this risk. Some studies suggest that anthropomorphic correlates of risk, such as waist circumference, differ between African Americans and Whites and features of uncomplicated obesity have not been well characterized in this population. The goal of our study was to determine the prevalence and associated features of uncomplicated obesity, including relationships to waist circumference and the achievement of weight loss in primarily African American patients. DESIGN: A retrospective chart review. SETTING: Outpatient medically supervised weight loss program located at a teaching hospital in Washington, DC. PARTICIPANTS: Predominately adult African American females. RESULTS: Thirty-one percent of our population had no documented metabolic or cardiovascular disease. This group was on average younger, but had similar waist circumference (44 +/- 13.8 vs 44 +/- 6.6 inches) and achieved similar mean weight loss at 3 months (9.9 +/- 10.4 vs 10.3 +/- 12.4 lbs.) as the group with comorbid conditions. CONCLUSIONS: Waist circumference was not an indicator of risk among African American women and achieved weight loss did not depend on pre-existing comorbidities.
Immunohistochemical localization of membrane and alpha-granule proteins in plastic-embedded mouse bone marrow megakaryocytes and murine megakaryocyte colonies

Using an immunoperoxidase technique that permits optimal antigen localization at the light microscope level, we have detected two platelet alpha-granule constituents and three platelet membrane glycoproteins in mouse bone marrow megakaryocytes and in murine megakaryocyte colonies grown in soft agar culture for three to seven days. Using polyclonal antibodies prepared against human platelet proteins, we have demonstrated labeling for von Willebrand factor, fibrinogen, and the membrane glycoproteins IIIa and GMP-140 in both bone marrow megakaryocytes and megakaryocyte colonies after seven days of culture. Using monoclonal antibodies to membrane glycoproteins IIb and GMP-140, we have demonstrated label in mouse bone marrow megakaryocytes. Granulocyte and macrophage colonies were negative for each of these markers. Murine bone marrow megakaryocytes and megakaryocyte colonies demonstrated a similar enzyme histochemical pattern: weakly positive for alpha-naphthyl acetate esterase and negative for chloroacetate esterase. These data indicate that megakaryocytes grown in soft agar culture express many of the same glycoproteins as bone marrow megakaryocytes. Furthermore, the ability of antibodies directed against human platelet membrane glycoproteins to identify murine megakaryocyte glycoproteins indicates that these constituents have been highly conserved during evolution.
Substitutions and deletions in the cytoplasmic domain of the phagocytic receptor Fc gamma RIIA: effect on receptor tyrosine phosphorylation and phagocytosis [published erratum appears in Blood 1994 Nov 1;84(9):3252]

Fc gamma RIIA in the absence of other Fc receptors or receptor subunits induces the ingestion of IgG-coated cells. The cytoplasmic domain of Fc gamma RIIA contains two Y-x-x-L sequences similar to those in other Ig gene family receptors plus an additional tyrosine residue not in a Y-x- x-L motif. Upon cross-linking, Fc gamma RIIA is phosphorylated on tyrosine and the cytoplasmic tyrosines, Y275 (Y1), Y282 (Y2), and Y298 (Y3), may be important for its phagocytic activity. Because COS-1 cells can serve as a model for examining molecular structures involved in phagocytosis, substitutions and deletions were introduced into the cytoplasmic domain of Fc gamma RIIA and examined in COS-1 cell transfectants for their effects on phagocytosis and tyrosine phosphorylation. Disruption of a single cytoplasmic Y-x-x-L motif by substitution of tyrosine Y2 or Y3 by phenylalanine or by removing the threonine and leucine residues within the motif inhibited phagocytosis 50% to 65%. Tyrosine phosphorylation of Fc gamma RIIA also was inhibited, although to a greater extent by the substitution of Y3 than of Y2. Replacement of the N-terminal first cytoplasmic domain tyrosine, Y1, which is not within a typical Y-x-x-L, by itself did not inhibit phagocytosis, but replacement of Y1 in mutants lacking Y2 or Y3 virtually eliminated phagocytic activity and receptor tyrosine phosphorylation. Thus, at least two cytoplasmic tyrosines, including at least one typical single Y-x-x-L motif, are required for phagocytosis by Fc gamma RIIA. The data suggest that there is a close but not a simple relationship between phosphorylation of the Fc gamma RIIA cytoplasmic tyrosines and Fc gamma RIIA-mediated phagocytosis. Y3 appears to be particularly important because its removal by truncation or replacement with phenylalanine inhibits both tyrosine phosphorylation and phagocytosis in parallel. Alterations in the 12 residue proline-containing sequence between the two Y-x-x-L motifs also reduced phagocytic activity and tyrosine phosphorylation. Thus, the specific structure of the Fc gamma RIIA cytoplasmic domain accounts for its ability to stimulate phagocytosis in the absence of other subunits.
Estimating True Student Growth Percentile Distributions Using Latent Regression Multidimensional IRT Models.

Student Growth Percentiles (SGPs) increasingly are being used in the United States for inferences about student achievement growth and educator effectiveness. Emerging research has indicated that S...
Determination of MLN0128, an investigational antineoplastic agent, in human plasma by LC‐MS/MS.

MLN0128, an mTOR kinase inhibitor, is currently undergoing clinical investigation for treatment of a variety of cancers. To support this work, an LC-MS/MS method has been developed for determination of MLN0128 in human plasma. A structural analog STK040263 was used as the internal standard. Both MLN0128 and the IS were first extracted from plasma using methyl tert-butyl ether; then separated on a Waters XTerra® MS C18 column using a mobile phase consisting of methanol/acetonitrile/10.0 mM ammonium formate (34:6:60, v/v/v) at a flow rate of 0.300 ml min-1. Quantitation of MLN0128 was done by positive electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry in multiple-reaction-monitoring mode. This method has a total run time of 0.999. The overall assay accuracy and precision were ≤ ±4% and ≤8%, respectively. The IS normalized recovery of MLN0128 ranged 98-100%. The stability studies showed that MLN0128 was stable under all tested conditions. The method developed may be useful for clinical studies of MLN0128.
Determining the Optimal Carbapenem MIC That Distinguishes Carbapenemase-Producing and Non-Carbapenemase-Producing Carbapenem-Resistant Enterobacteriaceae.

ABSTRACT Carbapenemase-producing (CP) Enterobacteriaceae are largely responsible for the rapid spread of carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae (CRE). Distinguishing CP-CRE from non-CP-CRE has important infection control implications. In a cohort of 198 CRE isolates, for isolates that remained susceptible or intermediate to some carbapenem antibiotics, an ertapenem MIC of 0.5 μg/ml and meropenem, imipenem, and doripenem MICs of 2 μg/ml were best able to distinguish CP-CRE from non-CP-CRE isolates.
Threats to monetary policy independence: reasons to be concerned

Several legislative efforts are under way that aim to impose greater congressional oversight of and influence on the monetary policy decision making of the Federal Reserve System. Some of these initiatives might do little harm or even make marginal improvements. But others pose more serious threats to the operational independence of monetary policy. Proposals to require the Federal Reserve to frame monetary policy decisions according to a mathematical formula imply a concrete simplicity of policy that is inaccurate and misleading. And the reporting requirements associated with these proposals threaten to negate the major advantage of monetary policy as a countercyclical weapon—speed. Proposals to subject the non-monetary policy functions of the Fed to the appropriations process provide Congress with additional leverage that could be used to apply pressure to monetary policy decisions. For its part, the Fed should continue to increase transparency through more timely and complete release of relevant information and analysis. To best promote the objectives of stable prices and maximum employment, the operational independence of the Federal Reserve’s monetary policy decision making needs to be preserved and protected.
Carbon-13 Magnetic Resonance Probe of Coenzyme and Inhibitor Binding in Liver Alcohol Dehydrogenase

Horse liver alcohol dehydrogenase was carboxymethylated at the active site Cys-46 using 90% [1-13C]bromoacetate. The enriched carboxylate resonance was studied in the absence and presence of coenzymes and inhibitors. Previous ambiguities regarding the resonance in the NAD+ complex have now been resolved. However, it is shown that imidazole, an inhibitor introduced during the carboxymethylation, is not removed by the standard gel filtration step frequently employed and must thus bind much more tightly to the enzyme than suspected. Competition experiments involving imidazole and halide inhibitors show that the imidazole is preferentially bound when both are present in equimolar amounts. This suggests that the crystallographically identified anion binding site at the zinc of the carboxymethylated enzyme may require re-evaluation. The electron density at the zinc of the modified enzyme may be better explained as being due to unsuspected binding of imidazole.
Safety of Automated Vehicle During Emergency Braking

Abstract In this paper, the safety of IVHS platoons in emergency braking have been studied. By using the standard IVHS combined platoon model, the safety margins of control parameters such as sampling time and communication delay, have been determined. Both homogeneous and non-homogeneous platoons have been analyzed. Effects of different road conditions on safety in platoon emergency braking are also studied. It is found through the simulation that the platoon is able to maintain a safe performance when emergency braking is applied.
Minimizing the Sample Sizes of Clinical Trials on Preclinical and Early Symptomatic Stage of Alzheimer Disease.

Clinical trials of investigational drugs for Alzheimer disease (AD) increasingly focus on the prodromal (symptomatic) stage of the illness and now its preclinical (asymptomatic) stage. Sensitive and specific cognitive and functional endpoints are needed to track subtle cognitive and functional changes in the early and preclinical stages to minimize sample sizes in these trials. To identify informative items in a standard clinical assessment protocol and a psychometric battery that are predictive of onset of dementia symptom. Longitudinal retrospective study. Washington University (WU) Knight Alzheimer Disease Research Center (ADRC). A total of 735 individuals at least 65 years old and cognitively normal at baseline from a longitudinal clinical cohort at the WU Knight ADRC. The annual clinical assessment included a wide spectrum of functional and cognitive domains; a comprehensive psychometric battery was completed about 2 weeks after the clinical evaluation. Psychometricians are blinded to the results of the clinical evaluation and to the prior performance of the participants on the psychometric tests. The mean age at baseline of the 735 participants was 74.30 and 62.31% were female. 240 individuals developed prodromal dementia symptoms (consistent with mild cognitive impairment due to AD and with very mild AD dementia) during longitudinal follow-up (mean follow-up=6.79 years). Among a total of 562 items in the clinical and cognitive assessments under analysis, 292 (52%) were identified as informative because their longitudinal changes were predictive of symptomatic onset. When these items were used to form the functional and cognitive composites, the longitudinal rates of changes were free of a learning effect and captured subtle longitudinal progression prior to symptomatic onset. The rates of change were much greater right after the symptomatic onset than those from the functional and cognitive composites formed using non-informative items. Although the sample sizes for prevention trials (prior to symptomatic onset) using the informative items still yield large numbers, the sample sizes for early treatment trial (after symptomatic onset) was much smaller than those derived from all the items or from the noninformative items alone. The antecedent longitudinal changes in nearly half of the items in a clinical assessment protocol and a comprehensive cognitive battery did not show statistically significant ability to predict the dementia symptom onset, and hence may be non-informative to track the preclinical functional and cognitive progression of AD. The remaining items, on the other hand, captured some of the preclinical changes prior to the symptom onset, but performed much better right after the symptom onset. Currently ongoing prevention trials on preclinical AD of elderly individuals may need to re-assess the sample sizes and statistical power.
The Development of the Normal EEG

(1966). The Development of the Normal EEG. American Journal of EEG Technology: Vol. 6, No. 1, pp. 19-32.
Mediators and Mechanisms

Mediators are widely thought to be mechanisms. Mediation is to mechanism what correlation is to causation. Statistical evidence of mediation is necessary but not sufficient evidence of mechanism ju...
Gamma-Pareto distribution and its applications

A new distribution, the g-Pareto,amma is defined and studiedand various p roperties of the distribution are obtained. Results for moments, limiting behavior and entropies are provided. The method of maximum likelihood is proposed for estimating the parameters and the distribution is applied to fit three real data sets
Ambiguity aversion in the all-pay auction and war of attrition

Ambiguity aversion is introduced to a class of commonly applied games including the war of attrition and all‐pay auction. In contrast to subjective expected utility, the all‐pay auction is shown to generate less expected expenditure than the first‐price auction. The war of attrition generates less expected expenditure than the all‐pay auction and second‐price auction. In the all‐pay auction, increasing ambiguity causes low types to bid lower and high types to bid higher. In the war of attrition, ambiguity can decrease the bids for all types.
CLASSIFICATION OF SEVERELY OCCLUDED IMAGE SEQUENCES VIA CONVOLUTIONAL RECURRENT NEURAL NETWORKS

Classifying severely occluded images is a challenging yet highly-needed task. In this paper, motivated by the fact that human being can exploit context information to assist learning, we apply convolutional recurrent neural network (CRNN) to attack this challenging problem. A CRNN architecture that integrates convolutional neural network (CNN) with long short-term memory (LSTM) is presented. Three new datasets with severely occluded images and context information are created. Extensive experiments are conducted to compare the performance of CRNN against conventional methods and human experimenters. The experiment results show that the CRNN outperforms both conventional methods and most of the human experimenters. This demonstrates that CRNN can effectively learn and exploit the unspecified context information among image sequences, and thus can be an effective approach to resolve the challenging problem of classifying severely occluded images.
Phase I/II clinical trial of the targeted chemotherapeutic drug, folate-tubulysin, in dogs with naturally-occurring invasive urothelial carcinoma.

// Nicholas M. Szigetvari 1 , Deepika Dhawan 1 , Jose A. Ramos-Vara 2 , Christopher P. Leamon 3 , Patrick J. Klein 3 , A. Audrey Ruple 2 , Hock Gan Heng 1 , Michael R. Pugh 3 , Satish Rao 3 , Iontcho R. Vlahov 3 , Pierre L. Deshuillers 2 , Philip S. Low 4, 5 , Lindsey M. Fourez 1 , Ashleigh M. Cournoyer 1 and Deborah W. Knapp 1, 5 1 Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, USA 2 Department of Comparative Pathobiology, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, USA 3 Endocyte Inc., West Lafayette, IN, USA 4 Department of Chemistry, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, USA 5 Purdue University Center for Cancer Research, West Lafayette, IN, USA Correspondence to: Deborah W. Knapp, email: knappd@purdue.edu Keywords: animal model; bladder cancer; canine, clinical trial; targeted chemotherapy Received: August 02, 2018 Accepted: November 26, 2018 Published: December 11, 2018 ABSTRACT Purpose: The purpose was to determine the safety and antitumor activity of a folate-tubulysin conjugate (EC0531) in a relevant preclinical animal model, dogs with naturally-occurring invasive urothelial carcinoma (iUC). Canine iUC is an aggressive cancer with high folate receptor (FR) expression similar to that in certain forms of human cancer. Experimental Design: A 3+3 dose escalation study of EC0531 (starting dose 0.2 mg/kg given intravenously at two-week intervals) was performed in dogs with iUC expressing high levels of FRs (>50% positive tumor cells). Pharmacokinetic (PK) analysis was performed, and the maximum tolerated dose (MTD) was determined. The dose cohort at the MTD was expanded to determine antitumor activity. Results: The MTD of EC0531 was 0.26 mg/kg every two weeks, with grade 3-4 neutropenia and gastrointestinal toxicity observed at higher doses. Treatment at the MTD was well tolerated. Clinical benefit was found in 20 of 28 dogs (71%), including three dogs with partial remission and 17 dogs with stable disease. Plasma EC0531 concentrations in the dogs far exceeded those required to inhibit proliferation of FR-expressing cell in vitro . Unlike human neutrophils, canine neutrophils were found to express FRs, which contributes to the neutropenia at higher doses of EC0531 in dogs. Conclusion: EC0531 was well tolerated and had good antitumor activity in dogs with iUC. It is likely that humans will tolerate higher, potentially more effective doses of folate-tubulysin without myelotoxicity because of the absence of FRs on human neutrophils. The results clearly justify the evaluation of folate-tubulysin in human clinical trials.
Pulse Physiology Engine: an Open-Source Software Platform for Computational Modeling of Human Medical Simulation

The Pulse Physiology Platform is an open-source software application designed to enable accurate and consistent, real-time physiologic simulations for improved medical training and clinical decision-making tools. The platform includes a physiology engine comprised of well-validated lumped-parameter models, differential equations representing feedback mechanisms, and a pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic model. The platform also includes a common data model for standard model and data definitions and a common software interface for engine control and robust physics-based circuit and transport solvers. The Pulse Platform has been incorporated into a number of commercial, research, and academic tools for medical simulation. Significance: The Pulse Platform is an innovative, well-validated, open-source tool for medical modeling and simulation in the training and clinical decision-making field.
Accounting for the Impact of Territory Characteristics on Sales Performance: Relative Efficiency as a Measure of Salesperson Performance

This paper illustrates the use of relative efficiency as an alternative conceptualization of salesperson performance. This approach yields a more individualized and complete picture of salesperson performance, since performance is adjusted by the inputs which were consumed to generate the performance. An analytical technique known as Data Envelopment Analysis is used to adjust sales performance by territory characteristics, derived from the Census of Retail Trade. Implications include ways to increase the impact of sales force-related expenditures, adjusting for territory inequities in the evaluation process and identifying best practices among a group of salespeople.
Remaining capacity estimation for buildings after an explosion using the adaptive alternate path analysis

After an explosion, determining the remaining capacity of a structure to resist a progressive collapse can provide valuable information for emergency operations and decision makers. Condition asses...
DNA methylation biomarker selected by an ensemble machine learning approach predicts frailty in an HIV-positive veteran population

Abstract Background With the improved life expectancy in people living with HIV, predicting individual frailty is important for clinical care. DNA methylation (DNAm) has been previously linked to aging and mortality in non-HIV populations. We aim to establish a panel of DNAm biomarkers to predict frailty in HIV-positive population. Methods Our samples consist of HIV-positive participants (Ntotal=1,081) from the Veterans Aging Cohort Study (VACS) and were divided into the training set (Ntraining=460), the validation set (Nvalidation=114), and the testing set (Ntesting=507). We used a well-established score, VACS Index, as a measure of frailty. Model training and fine-tuning were conducted using the ensemble method that aggregated prediction results of four base models. The final number of features were determined in the validation set and the model performance was assessed in the testing set. We conducted a survival analysis to assess whether the predicted frailty was associated with 10-year mortality and gene ontology enrichment analysis of the predictive CpG sites was performed. Results We selected a panel of 393 CpGs to build the ensemble machine learning model. The prediction model showed an excellent performance on predicting frailty with Area Under Curve of 0.809 (95%CI: 0.767-0.851) and balanced accuracy of 0.653 in the testing set. The predicted frailty based on our model was significantly associated with 10-year mortality (hazard ratio=1.79, p=4E-05). These 393 CpGs were located within or near 280 genes that were enriched in biological pathways including immune and inflammation response. Conclusions We identified a panel of predictive DNAm features associated with frailty and mortality among HIV-positive population. These DNAm features may serve as biomarkers to predict frailty people who live with HIV.
Finding the Real America on the TransAmerica Bicycle Trail: Landscapes and Meanings of a Contemporary Secular Pilgrimage

The TransAmerica Bicycle Trail is a long distance cycle touring route established in 1976 on which thousands of cyclists have pedaled into and through predominately rural landscapes of the United States. This chapter theorizes this cross-country bicycle journey as a secular form of pilgrimage drawing on key concepts such as sacred and profane space, liminality, communitas, and contestation. Quantitative survey data describe the characteristics of cyclist-pilgrims and their long distance journeys. Discursive interpretation of narrative accounts of journey experiences reveals the Trail experience as a secular pilgrimage to a center termed the “Real America.” The cyclist-pilgrims find that “Real America” lives on in their memories and is a collage of images consisting of a collection of idealized American icons such as small towns, Main Street, working farms, nature’s beauty, encounters with local residents and fellow cyclists. Many narratives indicated awareness that the reality of contemporary American places and societies differ greatly from the “Real America” found on the Trail. The passion and richness with which cyclist-pilgrims describe their experiences show them to cling fondly to memories and images that collectively form the “Real America” which is an idealized sense of place that many seek and find through various themes of meaning during their cross-country bicycle pilgrimages.
Neurological outcome after surgical management of adult tethered cord syndrome.

Object Although postsurgical neurological outcomes in patients with tethered cord syndrome (TCS) are well known, the rate and development of neurological improvement after first-time tethered cord release is incompletely understood. The authors reviewed their institutional experience with the surgical management of adult TCS to assess the time course of symptomatic improvement, and to identify the patient subgroups most likely to experience improvement of motor symptoms. Methods The authors retrospectively reviewed 29 consecutive cases of first-time adult tethered cord release. Clinical symptoms of pain and motor and urinary dysfunction were evaluated at 1 and 3 months after surgery, and then every 6 months thereafter. Rates of improvement in pain and motor or urinary dysfunction over time were identified, and presenting factors associated with improvement of motor symptoms were assessed using a multivariate survival analysis (Cox model). Results The mean patient age was 38 ± 13 years. The causes of TCS i...
Understanding partial fuel stratification for low temperature gasoline combustion using large eddy simulations

The development of gasoline compression ignition engines operating in a low temperature combustion mode depends heavily on robust control of the heat release profile. Partial fuel stratification is...
Steamed ginseng shoot extract rich in less-polar ginsenosides ameliorated the acute hepatotoxicity caused by overdose of acetaminophen in mice

Abstract The current study was conducted to comprehensively explore the potential hepatoprotective effect of steamed ginseng shoot extract (GSE) in acetaminophen (APAP)-induced liver injury model of mice. Our findings demonstrated that a single injection of APAP (250 mg/kg) increased the levels of alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, tumor necrosis factor-α, and interleukin-1β, which were attenuated by GSE pretreatments (50–200 mg/kg) for seven days. Depletion of glutathione, reduced expression of Bcl-2, generation of malondialdehyde and the over expressions of cytochrome P450 E1, 4-hydroxynonenal, Bax and cytochrome c caused by APAP exposure were also inhibited by the GSE pretreatments. Moreover, GSEs significantly alleviated APAP-induced apoptosis, necrosis, and inflammatory infiltration in liver tissues. Importantly, GSEs effectively attenuated APAP-induced liver injury in part via blocking caspases-3/8/9 signaling pathway. In summary, GSEs exerted potent liver protection against APAP-caused hepatotoxicity evidenced by inhibition of oxidative stress, inflammation and apoptosis.
Creating a Program to Support Registering and Reporting Clinical Trials at Johns Hopkins University.

Problem The Food and Drug Administration Amendments Act of 2007 (FDAAA) and the National Institutes of Health (NIH) require that many clinical trials register and report results on ClinicalTrials.gov. Noncompliance with these policies denies research participants and scientists access to potentially relevant findings and could lead to monetary penalties or loss of funding. After discovering hundreds of potentially noncompliant trials affiliated with the institution, the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine (JHUSOM) sought to develop a program to support research teams with registration and reporting requirements. Approach JHUSOM conducted a baseline assessment of institutional compliance in 2015, launched the ClinicalTrials.gov Program in June 2016, and expanded the program to the Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center in April 2018. The program is innovative in its comprehensive approach, and it was among the first to bring a large number of trials into compliance. Outcomes From September 2015 to September 2020, JHUSOM brought completed and ongoing trials into compliance with FDAAA and NIH policies and maintained almost perfect compliance for new trials. During this period, the proportion of trials potentially noncompliant with the FDAAA decreased from 44% (339/774) to 2% (32/1,304). Next steps JHUSOM continues to develop and evaluate tools and procedures that facilitate trial registration and results reporting. In collaboration with other academic medical centers, JHUSOM plans to share resources and to identify and disseminate best practices. This report identifies practical lessons for institutions that might develop similar programs.
Optimizing the use of telemedicine in oncology care: post-pandemic opportunities.

Utilization of telehealth as part of the cancer care delivery continuum dramatically escalated in response to the COVID-19 pandemic at major cancer centers across the globe. The rapid shift toward telehealth visits for non-treatment cancer care provided immediate benefit through reducing unnecessary risk of exposure, overcoming transportation barriers faced by both patients and caregivers, and fast-tracking care transformation. As such, delineating the impact of telehealth on access, health equity, quality, and outcomes will be essential for refining the use of digital strategies and telehealth toward optimizing cancer care. Herein, experiences to date with telehealth usage for oncology care is reviewed, and priorities outlined for post-pandemic opportunities to improve the lives of cancer patients through telemedicine.