cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Clovis Colonization of Eastern North America: A Phylogenetic Approach

AbstractOver the past several decades, archaeologists, anthropologists, linguists, and others who study cultural phenomena have begun to appreciate that methods developed to reconstruct the evolutionary, or phylogenetic, relationships among biological taxa can be used to create cultural sequences based on heritable continuity. One method in particular is cladistics, which creates hypothetical statements of relatedness—rendered as trees—based on the model and parameters used. To date, cladistics has been used to create phylogenetic orderings of a wide variety of cultural phenomena, including basketry and other textiles, ceramic vessels, stone projectile points, languages, folk tales, manuscripts, residence patterns, and political organization. Here we lay out the basic method of cladistics and show how it has formed the basis for long-term studies of the colonization of eastern North America during the Early Paleoindian period (ca. 13,300–11,900 calendar years before the present).Statement of Significance ...
Molecular Dynamics of Acetylcholinesterase Dimer

The dynamic properties of acetylcholinesterase dimer from Torpedo californica liganded with tacrine (TcAChE-THA) have been studied using molecular dynamics (MD). The simulation reveals fluctuations in the width of the primary channel to the active site that are large enough to admit substrates. Alternative entries to the active site through the side walls of the gorge have been detected in a number of structures, suggesting that transport of solvent molecules participating in catalysis can occur across the porous wall, contributing to the efficiency of the enzyme. A large scale motion of slight contraction and relative rotation of the protein subunits has been detected.
Systematic review of behavioral and educational interventions to prevent pressure ulcers in adults with spinal cord injury

Objective:To investigate the efficacy of behavioral or educational interventions in preventing pressure ulcers in community-dwelling adults with spinal cord injury (SCI).Data sources:Cochrane, Clinical Trials, PubMed, and Web of Science were searched in June 2016. The search combined related terms for pressure ulcers, spinal cord injury, and behavioral intervention. Each database was searched from its inception with no restrictions on year of publication.Review methods:Inclusion criteria required that articles were (a) published in a peer-reviewed journal in English, (b) evaluated a behavioral or educational intervention for pressure ulcer prevention, (c) included community-dwelling adult participants aged 18 years and older with SCI, (d) measured pressure ulcer occurrence, recurrence, or skin breakdown as an outcome, and (e) had a minimum of 10 participants. All study designs were considered. Two reviewers independently screened titles and abstracts. Extracted information included study design, sample si...
Blood cell microparticles as biomarkers of hemostatic abnormalities in patients with implanted cardiac assist devices

For heart failure patients unable to undergo cardiac transplantation, mechanical circulatory support with left ventricular assist devices can be utilized. These devices improve quality of life and prolong life expectancy, but they are associated with bleeding and thrombotic complications impacting patient survival. Little is known of the relevant mechanisms of these hemostatic issues, hindering identification of a clinically useful biomarker. However, there is suggestive evidence that blood cell-derived microparticles may fulfill this unmet clinical need. Recent publications have shown an association of up regulated microparticle production with implanted left ventricular assist devices and the potential to use this as a biomarker to predict thrombosis (and perhaps other adverse events) with an onset time earlier than currently used clinical indicators.
Threshold voltage dependence on SiO 2 -Si 3 N 4 gate dielectrics in MNOS devices

The attainment of low threshold voltage (V T ) for Metal-Oxide-Silicon-Field-Effect-Transistor (MOSFET) devices is being at-temped via four technologies; viz., silicon crystal orientation, composite gate dielectric, silicon gate, and ion implantation. To understand the effect of process variations on V T of a MOS structure, one should review the following equation: V T = Φ ms + Φ B − (Q ox +Q B )/C ox . (1) The threshold voltage (V T ) is essentially the gate voltage re­quired to bring about a strong inversion in MOS structure. The metal-silicon work function (Φ ms ) is a function of gate electrode material (most commonly it is either aluminum or silicon) and to a slight degree, a function of the substrate doping level. For aluminum-silicon (N D ≈ 1015 cm−3) electrode system, Φ ms is around −0. 3 V. If Al electrode is replaced by p-type silicon gate, the Φ ms changes to +0.8 V.1 Thus, by changing the electrode system to silicon-silicon, a reduction of +1.1 V in V T could be observed.
CBIO-31MECHANISMS OF RESISTANCE TO EGFR INHIBITION REVEAL METABOLIC VULNERABILITIES IN HUMAN GBM

Therapeutic targeting of EGFR signaling in GBM has had largely disappointing results in the clinic. We sought to identify cell vulnerabilities that could be targeted in combination with EGFR. Using a murine model for GBM, primary patient-derived xenografts (PDXs), and human tumor tissue, we identify cellular metabolic changes as an important mechanism of EGFR resistance. Rather than acquired resistance, we observe a subpopulation of tumor cells with unique properties, including increased 3D tumor cell invasion, expression of progenitor cell markers, and altered lipid metabolism, that are uniquely poised to resist EGFR inhibition. Interestingly, this subpopulation of cells is selectively vulnerable to changes in lipid metabolism suggesting its importance in survival. Selection for this subpopulation appears specific to EGFR inhibition, as it is not conferred by inhibition of pathways downstream of EGFR, including Src, PI3K/Akt, and MAPK. In certain human tumors and GBM PDX, expression levels of lipid metabolic enzymes is high in the absence of EGFR inhibition. In these tumors enzyme inhibition conferred decreased tumor cell survival and invasion. Preclinical studies will evaluate the benefit of inhibiting lipid metabolic enzymes in PDX. These data identify specific tumor cell vulnerabilities and suggest possible strategies to target EGFR resistance mechanisms.
Hammer and Feather: Some Calculus of Mass and Fall Time

Techniques from calculus and elementary differential equations are used to explore the relationship between mass and fall time in the two models of resistance treated by Newton in his Principia. Th...
Socioeconomic Status and the Domestic Allocation of Type 1 Diabetes Care

Objective: Few studies explore how socioeconomic status (SES) influences the allocation of type 1 diabetes (T1D) care within households. This study used survey research to better understand the perspectives and experiences of maternal caregivers who have adolescents with T1D. Research Design and Methods: Survey research with open-ended sections was conducted with women who live with another adult partner and had full custody of an adolescent 12-19 with T1D. Demographic information included age, gender, race-ethnicity, martial status, education level, occupation, and household income. Disease duration and youth HbA1c levels were also captured. Results: Forty-six caregivers completed surveys. Care allocation, diabetes strain, and parenting strategies were compared by income categories and exhibited variation accordingly. Women from households with income <$40,000, classified as low socio-economic status or less affluent, tended to report sharing diabetes-related responsibilities equally with partners; tended to hold full-time, low-wage positions; and noted stress associated with inflexible jobs and financial concerns. Women from households with incomes $80,000 or higher, classified as high socioeconomic status or more affluent, more commonly described primary caregiving, professional status changes, and difficulty transferring control to their teens. Conclusion: These findings indicate significant, yet varying, strain for women from different SES thresholds that deserves further attention. For female caregivers of adolescents with T1D, the unequal distribution of labor associated with care-related demands may contribute to outcomes like depression, anxiety, and familial conflict. Providers should be acutely aware of the toll that care-related demands may take on women and have information readily available on support groups and mental health services.
Rapid changes in night eating: Considering mechanisms

This paper considers possible mechanisms for the Night Eating Syndrome (NES). NES is a disorder characterized by a delay in the circadian rhythm of meals and of several neuroendocrine factors. The disorder occurs in genetically vulnerable people when exposed to stress. No convincing mechanism of the NES has been reported until now. To search for the mechanisms of NES, the long term treatment of two highly perceptive patients with rapid onset of the disorder are described. Disruption of three neuroendocrine systems compatible with these histories are discussed: the glucocorticoid system, the melanocortin [corrected] system, and the serotonergic system. Current evidence favors the serotonergic system and this view is strongly supported by the great effectiveness of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) in the treatment of NES.
Introduction to Two Essays of Barrington Moore, Jr.

Barrington Moore, Jr. is perhaps best known for his influential study, Social Origins of Dictatorship and Democracy. Its focus on historical social structures and political formations and its concern for moral issues, including the role of violence in history, along with its date of publication (1966), combined to place it near the center of the political and intellectual debates marking that tumultuous period of American and world history. More importantly, the book’s character as a paradigmatic instance of social scientific inquiry quickly made it required reading for future investigators. Indeed, it served as a reference point for a large and still growing literature in the comparative historical study of the varying routes to modernity taken by differing nations. However, despite the book’s substantive focus on social classes—its substitle was “lord and peasant in the making of the modern world”—and its reception into the modern canon of “political sociology,” Social Origins and Moore’s other writings in many ways spill over the boundaries of this (or any other) academic speciality. Those familiar with his intellectual itinerary will recall that this was not Moore’s first notable work. It was preceeded by several books whose reputations have unfortunately been eclipsed by their more famous successor. A specialist in Soviet studies, Moore had published, as early as 1950, a remarkable work entitled Soviet Politics, followed several years later by two collections of essays written during the 1950’s under the titles Terror and Progress USSR (Harvard University Press, 1954) and Political Power and Social Theory (Harvard University Press, 1958). Indeed, given the focus of the latter volume, one is left wondering what benefits might
The offender in the community: Implications of the experience in the United States for the new Czech Republic

This paper reviews America's community corrections history in order to draw relevant penal policy implications for the Czech Republic in their transition to democracy. The review reveals the implementation of numerous community-based correctional programs that have resulted in mixed results, at best. The paper concludes that if the Czech Republic is to advance a new and professional, effective penal system, they must address five critical areas: dealing with the Romany underclass, establishing intermediate sanctions, promoting a professional correctional work force, confronting the media coverage of crime, and managing the politics of crime policy.
Toward a constitutive equation for blood.

Abstract : Closure of the conservation equations of fluid mechanics requires a constitutive equation. Viscometric measurements are not sufficient to uniquely determine such an equation. This study was undertaken to determine a constitutive equation for blood by the comparison of theoretical and experimental results for the problem of the stability of circular Couette flow. Based on the literature, a four constant Oldroyd model equation was chosen as a constitutive candidate for blood. Theoretical examination of the model in simple flow situations showed that it was capable of qualitatively predicting many of the observed characteristics of blood. Comparison of theory and experiment showed that the Oldroyd model was insufficient to characterize the rheological behavior of blood. The failure of the equation was most likely due to the oversimplicity of the linear model from which it was derived.
Technological Innovation and Organizational Ecology

52.1 Abstract Organizational ecology is the study of the ways in which the planning, design, and management of physical settings affect and are affected by organizational values, expectations, and work practices. Technological advancements in office automation and automated building systems have the potential to stimulate a wide range of innovative space planning and design concepts. This paper explores the way in which the organizational culture may constrain space planning and design innovations in the office environment. It describes a case study in which technology, space planning and design, and organizational culture are planned in an integrated fashion to stimulate innovation in a manufacturing organization.
The Rasch model, additive conjoint measurement, and new models of probabilistic measurement theory.

Abstract This research describes some of the similarities and differences between additive conjoint measurement (a type of fundamental measurement) and the Rasch model. It seems that there are many similarities between the two frameworks, however, their differences are nontrivial. For instance, while conjoint measurement specifies measurement scales using a data-free, non-numerical axiomatic frame of reference, the Rasch model specifies measurement scales using a numerical frame of reference that is, by definition, data dependent. In order to circumvent difficulties that can be realistically imposed by this data dependence, this research formalizes new non-parametric item response models. These models are probabilistic measurement theory models in the sense that they explicitly integrate the axiomatic ideas of measurement theory with the statistical ideas of order-restricted inference and Markov Chain Monte Carlo. The specifications of these models are rather flexible, as they can represent any one of several models used in psychometrics, such as Mokken's (1971) monotone homogeneity model, Scheiblechner's (1995) isotonic ordinal probabilistic model, or the Rasch (1960) model. The proposed non-parametric item response models are applied to analyze both real and simulated data sets.
Autoimmunity, oncornaviruses, and lymphomagenesis.

C-type oncornaviruses have been associated with a variety of disease states in experimental animals (Hirsch and Black, 1974; Dixon et al., 1974; Levy, 1974; Todaro and Huebner, 1972). Much attention has been directed toward evaluating their role in lymphoproliferative disorders; recently, they have also been considered to play important roles in the induction of, or maintenance of, autoimmune diseases (Hirsch and Proffitt, 1975; Levy, 1974; Dixon et al., 1974). C-type viral genetic information may be acquired through horizontal infection either by experimental injection or by natural transmission of infectious virus; such genetic information may also be vertically transmitted through germ cells from parent to offspring, and may be in the form of integrated proviral DNA (Hirsch and Black, 1974; Todaro and Huebner, 1972; Temin, 1972).
The demographics of dog bites due to K-9 (legal intervention) in the United States.

Abstract Background There is sparse literature regarding K-9 (legal intervention) dog bites. It was the purpose of this study to analyze the demographics of K-9 dog bites using a national data base. Methods This was a retrospective study of prospectively collected data from National Electronic Injury Surveillance System - All Injury Program for years 2005–2013. Patients with dog bites were identified and those due to legal intervention were analyzed. Statistical analyses were performed with SUDAAN 11.0.01™ software. A p Results There were an estimated 32, 951 K-9 dog bite ED visits, accounting for 1.1% of all ED dog bite visits. The K-9 group was nearly all male (95.0 vs 52.1%) and more commonly Black (42.0 vs 13.0%) compared to the non K-9 group. Bites to the head/neck and upper extremity were less frequent and lower extremity bites more frequent in the K-9 group; K-9 bites more commonly occurred outside the home. Within the K-9 group, the proportion of White patients increased with increasing age and smaller hospital size. Patients seen in small and medium size hospitals were in the middle age ranges, while those in the very young and >64 years of age were only seen at large hospitals. The average annual incidence of K-9 dog bites seen in the ED for US was 2.43 per 100,000 males with no changes over time. Conclusions In the US, 1.1% of all ED visits for dog bites are due to K-9 intervention with no change in incidence, even though this study spanned the time when it was encouraged to change K-9 intervention; from “find and bite” to “find and bark”. The K-9 dog bite patient is nearly always male, more commonly Black, occurred away from home, and has a 3.7% hospital admission rate. Bites to the head/neck are less common compared to the non K-9 dog bite group.
Foot allergic contact dermatitis to mixed dialkyl thioureas

A 12-year-old boy presented with severe, bilateral foot dermatitis. Extended patch testing was performed, revealing a significant positive reaction to mixed dialkyl thioureas. A thorough review of his history revealed that he was likely being exposed through his neoprene taekwondo shoes. After implementation of allergen avoidance measures, his dermatitis resolved. This case emphasizes awareness of potential allergen exposures and offers helpful avoidance strategies.
Fighting Females: Neural and Behavioral Consequences of Social Defeat Stress in Female Mice.

Abstract Background Despite the twofold higher prevalence of major depressive and posttraumatic stress disorders in women compared with men, most clinical and preclinical studies have focused on male subjects. We used an ethological murine model to study several cardinal symptoms of affective disorders in the female targets of female aggression. Methods Intact Swiss Webster (CFW) female resident mice were housed with castrated male mice and tested for aggression toward female intruders. For 10 days, aggressive CFW female residents defeated C57BL/6J (B6) female intruders during 5-minute encounters. Measures of corticosterone, c-Fos activation in hypothalamic and limbic structures, and species-typical behaviors were collected from defeated and control females. Ketamine (20 mg/kg) was tested for its potential to reverse stress-induced social deficits. Results Housed with a castrated male mouse, most intact resident CFW females readily attacked unfamiliar B6 female intruders, inflicting >40 bites in a 5-minute encounter. Compared with controls, defeated B6 females exhibited elevated plasma corticosterone and increased c-Fos activation in the medial amygdala, ventral lateral septum, ventromedial hypothalamus, and hypothalamic paraventricular nucleus. Chronically defeated females also showed vigilance-like behavior and deficits in social interactions, novel object investigation, and nesting. The duration of social interactions increased 24 hours after chronically defeated female mice received a systemic dose of ketamine. Conclusions These findings demonstrate that CFW female mice living with male conspecifics can be used as aggressive residents in an ethological model of female social defeat stress. These novel behavioral methods will encourage further studies of sex-specific neural, physiological, and behavioral adaptations to chronic stress and the biological bases for interfemale aggression.
Investigating the Nature of the Active Sites for the CO2 Reduction Reaction on Carbon-Based Electrocatalysts

To achieve a better understanding of the CO2 reduction reaction on carbon-based electrocatalysts, we synthesized a library of nitrogen-doped carbonaceous materials with atomically dispersed 3d tran...
A Large-Scale Experimental Study of Gender and Pair Composition in Pair Programming

The proportion of women in computer science majors is currently lower than in any other STEM major. Various studies have sought to explain---and ultimately find ways to reduce---gender disparities in computer science participation and persistence. Pair programming has been proposed as a practice that may not only promote outcomes overall within college and workplace environments, but also help diminish isolation and boost the confidence of women in computer science. Some promising results have been obtained for women in pair programming, but the findings are not consistent across studies, and the limitations of previous research make it difficult to draw strong conclusions. The present study examined 969 undergraduates in several introductory computer science courses who engaged in three different pairings throughout the semester. All pairings were randomly assigned, so the findings reflect the causal influence of the gender pair characteristics on a variety of student outcomes. Overall, having a female partner led to several positive outcomes relative to having a male partner; these included greater lab section attendance as well as greater confidence in the finished product and confidence in the solution for the pair programming assignment. The advantages of having a female partner were occasionally greater for female students than for male students. Overall, the significant findings were most pronounced in the course intended for computer science majors. These results offer evidence for the educational benefits of pair programming for promoting women's participation in computer science, as well as the need for careful consideration of pair composition.
Superior Activity of BET Protein Bromodomain Antagonist-Based Combination with JAK Kinase, PIM Kinase or Heat Shock Protein 90 Inhibitor Against Post-MPN-MF sAML Cells

Abstract Myeloproliferative Neoplasms with myelofibrosis (MPN-MF) demonstrate constitutive activation of the JAK-STAT signaling and often progress (~20%) to AML (sAML). As a single agent, JAK1&2 inhibitor ruxolitinib confers significant clinical benefit in MPN-MF, but exhibits modest activity in sAML, which is also incurable with standard anthracycline and Ara-C-based chemotherapy. This supports the rationale to develop and test novel combination therapies for post-MPN-MF sAML. Genetic alterations documented in sAML include those in JAK2, MPL or calreticulin (CALR) gene, as well as in TP53, TET2, ASXL1, IDH1&2, SRSF2, RUNX1, MYC, PTPN11, NRAS, and SETBP1 genes. Variant allelic frequency analyses demonstrated a common co-occurrence of JAK2V617F and mutant TP53 in the dominant clones of sAML. We and others have previously reported that treatment with BET (bromodomain and extra-terminal) protein bromodomain antagonists (BA) results in growth arrest, differentiation and apoptosis of AML cells (Mol Cancer Ther 2014,13:2315). In the present studies, we demonstrate that treatment with JQ1 but not its inactive enantiomer (R-JQ1) dose-dependently (100 to 2000 nM) mediates growth inhibition and apoptosis of the cultured (HEL92.1.7, SET2 and UKE1 cells) and primary (p) post-MPN-MF sAML cells. JQ1 treatment reduced the promoter occupancy of BRD4 and RNA polymerase II on MYC, BCL2 and IL7R promoters, attenuated the mRNA and protein expressions of BCL2, BCL-xL, MYC, CDK4/6 and PIM1, and repressed the pSTAT5 and pSTAT3 levels, while concomitantly inducing the levels of HEXIM1, p21, p27 and BIM in the sAML cells. Following engraftment of NOD/scid/IL-2Rγ null) (NSG) mice with HEL92.1.7 cell xenografts, treatment with JQ1 (50 mg/kg/day, administered IP daily x 5 days per week x 3 weeks) also significantly improved the median survival of the mice (p 10-fold resistant to ruxolitinib; HEL/JIR cells) under the in vitro selection pressure of a continuous exposure to JAK inhibitor (Clin Cancer Res 2011;17:7347). Compared to the parental HEL92.1.7, HEL/JIR cells are highly and collaterally sensitive to AUY922. HEL/JIR cells also remain sensitive to JQ1-induced apoptosis. Importantly, co-treatment with JQ1 and AUY922 is also synergistically lethal against HEL/JIR cells (CI Disclosures No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.
Left Internal Mammary Artery Transection: A Rare Complication of Pericardiocentesis.

Pericardiocentesis is a procedure performed to aspirate fluid from the pericardial space. It is most often performed as an acute therapeutic procedure in cases of massive pericardial effusion or pericardial tamponade. Our case describes an unusual complication of pericardiocentesis leading to hemorrhagic pericardial effusion and hemodynamic compromise.
The role of circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA), tumor markers (TMs), and patient-reported outcomes (PROs) in predicting treatment response in patients with metastatic gastrointestinal (GI) cancer.

833Background: Changes in ctDNA and serum TMs (CEA and CA19-9) can serve as predictors of response to systemic therapy in GI cancer patients (pts). Similarly, PROs correlate with survival and treat...
Discriminating randomly polarized fields

We introduce the scalar average similarity of an ensemble of randomly polarized states. This global measure is based on the complex degree of mutual polarization between any pair of vector fields in the ensemble. We show that, in the case of fully correlated and globally unpolarized fields, the variation of this parameter is bounded, and its value can effectively discriminate between different configurations of pure states.
Environmental association identifies candidates for tolerance to low temperature and drought

Abstract Barley (Hordeum vulgare ssp. vulgare) is cultivated from the equator to the Arctic Circle. The wild progenitor species, Hordeum vulgare ssp. spontaneum, occupies a relatively narrow latitudinal range (~30 – 40° N) primarily at low elevation (
Randomized quasi-Monte Carlo methods in global sensitivity analysis

Abstract Randomized quasi-Monte Carlo methods have enjoyed increasing popularity in applications due to their faster convergence rate than Monte Carlo, and the existence of simple statistical tools to analyze the error of their estimates similar to Monte Carlo. In this paper we give a survey of randomized quasi-Monte Carlo methods, transformation methods for low-discrepancy sequences, and provide some examples.
Efficient odds ratio estimation under two-phase sampling using error-prone data from a multi-national HIV research cohort.

Persons living with HIV engage in routine clinical care, generating large amounts of data in observational HIV cohorts. These data are often error-prone, and directly using them in biomedical research could bias estimation and give misleading results. A cost-effective solution is the two-phase design, under which the error-prone variables are observed for all patients during Phase I, and that information is used to select patients for data auditing during Phase II. For example, the Caribbean, Central, and South America network for HIV epidemiology (CCASAnet) selected a random sample from each site for data auditing. Herein, we consider efficient odds ratio estimation with partially audited, error-prone data. We propose a semiparametric approach that uses all information from both phases and accommodates a number of error mechanisms. We allow both the outcome and covariates to be error-prone and these errors to be correlated, and selection of the Phase II sample can depend on Phase I data in an arbitrary manner. We devise a computationally efficient, numerically stable EM algorithm to obtain estimators that are consistent, asymptotically normal, and asymptotically efficient. We demonstrate the advantages of the proposed methods over existing ones through extensive simulations. Finally, we provide applications to the CCASAnet cohort.
Identifying falls remotely in people with multiple sclerosis.

Falling is common in people with multiple sclerosis (MS) but tends to be under-ascertained and under-treated. To evaluate fall risk in people with MS. Ninety-four people with MS, able to walk > 2 min with or without an assistive device (Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS ≤ 6.5) were recruited. Clinic-based measures were recorded at baseline and 1 year. Patient-reported outcomes (PROs), including a fall survey and the MS Walking Scale (MSWS-12), were completed at baseline, 1.5, 3, 6, 9, and 12 months. Average daily step counts (STEPS) were recorded using a wrist-worn accelerometer. 50/94 participants (53.2%) reported falling at least once. Only 56% of participants who reported a fall on research questionnaires had medical-record documented falls. Fallers had greater disability [median EDSS 5.5 (IQR 4.0–6.0) versus 2.5 (IQR 1.5–4.0), p < 0.001], were more likely to have progressive MS (p = 0.003), and took fewer STEPS (mean difference − 1,979, p = 0.007) than Non-Fallers. Stepwise regression revealed MSWS-12 as a major predictor of future falls. Falling is common in people with MS, under-reported, and under-ascertained by neurologists in clinic. Multimodal fall screening in clinic and remotely may help improve patient care by identifying those at greatest risk, allowing for timely intervention and referral to specialized physical rehabilitation.
Striatal dopaminergic correlates of the Montreal Cognitive Assessment test and the Mini Mental State Exam in Parkinson disease: A [11C]-DTBZ PET study

2003 Objectives Cognitive impairment is common in Parkinson disease (PD), especially in more advanced stages of the disease. A common screening method for cognitive assessment is the Mini Mental State Exam (MMSE). Compared to the MMSE, the Montreal Cognitive Assessment test (MoCA) is supposedly more sensitive in detecting so-called Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI). It is unclear, however, how both tests relate to striatal dopaminergic denervation, the pathophysiological hallmark of PD. Methods 26 PD patients (1F/25M; 67.0±7.4 (50-84) years; 6.1±3.2 (1-14) years motor disease duration; Hoehn and Yahr (HY HY HY H&Y 3: N=7) underwent striatal [11C]-DTBZ PET imaging for assessment of striatal dopaminergic nerve terminal integrity. All patients were simultaneously enrolled in one study that used the MMSE and another study that used the MoCA for cognitive assessment.. Striatal [11C]-DTBZ Distribution Volume Ratio (DVR) was calculated using the non-invasive Logan plot approach with the neocortex as the reference region. Results The average MMSE score was 28.5±1.9 (22-30) and the average MoCA score was 24.8±2.3 (19-29). Neither motor disease duration nor Hoehn and Yahr stage correlated significantly with either the MMSE score or MoCA score. Higher MoCA scores were associated with higher striatal [11C]-DTBZ DVR (ρ=0.410, p=0.037); MMSE did not correlate with striatal [11C]-DTBZ DVR (ρ=0.0, ns). Conclusions Decreased MoCA but not MMSE scores, are associated with decreased nigrostriatal nerve terminal integrity. Whereas it is possible that the MoCA may better reflect subcortical than cortical cognitive changes, it is also possible that the MoCA score may be affected more by motor impairment associated with striatal dopaminergic denervation while the MMSE is not. Research Support NIH P01 NS015655 & RO1 NS070856 and Department of Veterans Affair
From the classroom to the keyboard: How seven teachers created their online teacher identities

Teacher identity is defined as a sense of teacher self that results from a productive combination of key personal and professional subjectivities or beliefs. Much empirical research has been done on the development of teacher identity in the K-12 arena, with a great deal of theoretical and philosophical scholarship about teaching at the college level, yet little research to date has looked at how instructors at the college level, especially those who are teaching online, develop their online instructor identity. The purpose of this interview-based, qualitative study is to understand the experience of first time online instructors and how they develop their online teacher identity and utilizes the framework established by Beijaard, Meijer and Verloop (2004) as the lens for analyses. Recommendations are made for cultivating online teacher identity and the many aspects of it as a means to strengthen online teacher identity to not only provide effective and innovative teaching experiences but also for the sake of retention.
Evidence for a Thermospheric Source of Stratospheric NOX

Analysis of a three year time series of rocket ozone measurements at Wallops Island, Va., a set of rocket ozone soundings across the southern hemisphere, and rocket soundings at Fort Churchill, Manitoba has produced evidence that the NOx budget is not simply explained by oxidation of biospheric nitrous oxide. A 1-D time-dependent photochemical model is used to compute the amount of NOx required to maintain odd oxygen in a steady state after accounting for Chapman, odd hydrogen, and odd chlorine reactions. The ozone and air densities and the air temperature are measured quantities which are fixed during the calculations. At Wallops Island, a mid-latitude station, the inferred seasonal variation of NOx is small with the fall and winter mixing ratios about 20% greater than the spring and summer values. The soundings at Fort Churchill require about the same NOx amount as at Wallops Island in the spring and summer months but more than double this amount in late fall and winter. The latitude dependence of NOx, derived from the fall season southern hemisphere ozone data, requires a decrease from the equator to midlatitudes, followed by an increase at higher latitudes. These combined results indicate that the nitrous oxide source of NOx is supplemented by a polar source during the fall and winter months. This is consistent with the descent of therrao- spheric air with its high nitric oxide content during the period of strong cooling in the polar night.
Racial differences in mortgage denials over the housing cycle: Evidence from U.S. metropolitan areas

The cyclical movement of housing prices likely affects the supply of and demand for credit for home purchases, but little is known about how this process might influence differential access to credit between minority and non-minority borrowers. This paper uses data reported through the Home Mortgage Disclosure Act (HMDA) over the period 1990–2013 to estimate the relationship between annual metropolitan area-level house price inflation and the extent to which Black borrowers are denied relative to ‘comparable’ White borrowers on their loan applications. The results indicate that, on average, Black borrowers are denied more frequently than White borrowers, but this difference in denial rates decreases significantly as house prices rise more rapidly. Such results demonstrate the importance of considering local housing market conditions when using HMDA data to assess lender compliance with fair lending laws.
Robust control of an adaptive optics system

Adaptive optics systems are concerned with the real-time correction of blurred images and have applications in astronomical imaging, freespace optical communications and high-energy laser beam guidance. This paper outlines the proposed design for an adaptive optics system that utilizes modern H/sub /spl infin// control theory to optimize the robustness of the system.
Affirmative weakening: Y.H. Brenner and the weak rethinking of the politics of Hebrew literature

If nihilism is a largely misunderstood concept, it is on account of both its ambivalence and its affirmative horizon. Drawing on these aspects, this article reactivates the concept of nihilism in rereading one of the most influential moments in the history of modern Hebrew literature: Y.H. Brenner's novel From Here and There and his subsequent essay on ‘the genre of Eretz Israel.’ Indeed, in a central episode in the novel the limits of legitimate political critique are traced along the lines of nihilism; but, as Nietzschean-inspired theories of nihilism emphasize, nihilism, taken to the point of its own overcoming, can be completed into a moment of creative affirmation. Following the philosophy of ‘weak thought,’ I read this moment in Brenner as a moment of weak affirmation. Through it, I argue, Brenner proposes a weak political and literary paradigm as an affirmative continuation of the nihilistic, post-Zionist critique. Surprisingly, then, Brenner, one of the central figures in Zionist history, turns ou...
Past, present and future of rare earth metallurgy

Abstract Advances in the field of rare earth metallurgy and solid state physics in the last 157 years (the years since the first rare earth element was prepared in the metallic state) have gone hand in hand with the purity of the available metals. The scientific and technological developments have been grouped into three ages or eras: the Dark Ages, the Age of Enlightenment and the Golden Age. A glimpse of the future is also given.
The Effect of Anti-Abortion Legislation on Nineteenth Century Fertility

Using nineteenth century legal information combined with census information, I examine the effect of state laws that restricted American women's access to abortion on the ratio of children to women. I estimate an increase in the birthrate of 4 % to 12 % when abortion is restricted. In the absence of anti-abortion laws, fertility would have been 5 % to 12 % lower in the early twentieth century.
Initial fixation strength of polylactic acid interference screws in anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction

The initial fixation properties of bioresorbable polylactic acid (PLA) interference screws designed for anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction were evaluated using an in vitro bovine model. The surgical technique of interference screw fixation of the bone-patellar tendon-bone autograft complex performed clinically was reproduced in an adult bovine model. The reconstructed knee was tested oriented in 30 degrees of flexion to allow examination of the femoral and tibial fixation properties simultaneously. This model examined the initial fixation strength between PLA and metal interference screws as well as a partially degraded PLA implant. Data from this in vitro model indicate that PLA interference screws can provide similar initial fixation at both time 0 and after degradation for up to 28 days compared with metal interference screws for bone-tendon-bone ACL reconstructions.
2-Substituted (2SR)-2-amino-2-((1SR,2SR)-2-carboxycycloprop-1-yl)glycines as potent and selective antagonists of group II metabotropic glutamate receptors. 1. Effects of alkyl, arylalkyl, and diarylalkyl substitution.

In this paper, we describe the synthesis of a series of α-substituted analogues of the potent and selective group II metabotropic glutamate receptor (mGluR) agonist (1S,1‘S,2‘S)-carboxycyclopropylg...
Short-Range and Long-Range Guidance by Slit and Its Robo Receptors: A Combinatorial Code of Robo Receptors Controls Lateral Position

Slit is secreted by midline glia in Drosophila and functions as a short-range repellent to control midline crossing. Although most Slit stays near the midline, some diffuses laterally, functioning as a long-range chemorepellent. Here we show that a combinatorial code of Robo receptors controls lateral position in the CNS by responding to this presumptive Slit gradient. Medial axons express only Robo, intermediate axons express Robo3 and Robo, while lateral axons express Robo2, Robo3, and Robo. Removal of robo2 or robo3 causes lateral axons to extend medially; ectopic expression of Robo2 or Robo3 on medial axons drives them laterally. Precise topography of longitudinal pathways appears to be controlled by a combination of long-range guidance (the Robo code determining region) and short-range guidance (discrete local cues determining specific location within a region).
Nonmesonic nucleon decay in nuclei.

The nonmesonic decay of nucleons in nuclei is calculated in the hybrid quark-hadron model. The ratio of the decay rates (scrN\ensuremath{\rightarrow}${\mathrm{scrN}}^{\mathrm{*}}$${\mathrm{e}}^{+}$)/(scrN\ensuremath{\rightarrow}${\mathrm{scrN}}^{\mathrm{*}}$${\mathrm{e}}^{+}$\ensuremath{\pi}) of a nucleus scrN is estimated to be about 15%.
Yeast Lipin 1 Orthologue Pah1p Regulates Vacuole Homeostasis and Membrane Fusion

Vacuole homotypic fusion requires a group of regulatory lipids that includes diacylglycerol, a fusogenic lipid that is produced through multiple metabolic pathways including the dephosphorylation of phosphatidic acid (PA). Here we examined the relationship between membrane fusion and PA phosphatase activity. Pah1p is the single yeast homologue of the Lipin family of PA phosphatases. Deletion of PAH1 was sufficient to cause marked vacuole fragmentation and abolish vacuole fusion. The function of Pah1p solely depended on its phosphatase activity as complementation studies showed that wild type Pah1p restored fusion, whereas the phosphatase dead mutant Pah1pD398E had no effect. We discovered that the lack of PA phosphatase activity blocked fusion by inhibiting the binding of SNAREs to Sec18p, an N-ethylmaleimide-sensitive factor homologue responsible for priming inactive cis-SNARE complexes. In addition, pah1Δ vacuoles were devoid of the late endosome/vacuolar Rab Ypt7p, the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase Vps34p, and Vps39p, a subunit of the HOPS (homotypic fusion and vacuole protein sorting) tethering complex, all of which are required for vacuole fusion. The lack of Vps34p resulted in the absence of phosphatidylinositol 3-phosphate, a lipid required for SNARE activity and vacuole fusion. These findings demonstrate that Pah1p and PA phosphatase activity are critical for vacuole homeostasis and fusion.
On the value of predictive information in a Scheduling problem

Abstract It is well known that given a set of jobs to be scheduled on a single server, the Shortest Time First (STF) policy will minimize mean wait. Unfortunately, service times are often unknown, so STF cannot be used. However, approximate service times might be known, in terms of predicted values obtained from other characteristics of the jobs, and thus one might therefore consider scheduling according to these. In this paper, the feasibility of such an approach is investigated, and factors affecting its efficiency are identified. A comparison of this approach to that of Round Robin scheduling is also made.
Two-nucleon potential from chiral Lagrangians

Chiral symmetry is consistently implemented in the two-nucleon problem at low-energy through the general effective chiral Lagrangian. The potential is obtained up to a certain order in chiral perturbation theory both in momentum and coordinate space. Results of a fit to scattering phase shifts and bound state data are presented, where satisfactory agreement is found for laboratory energies up to about 100 MeV. {copyright} {ital 1996 The American Physical Society.}
Rational tangle distances on knots and links

In order to model biological reactions, distances between knots/links based on tangle replacement are defined. Given a tangle R, an R-move is defined as the replacement of the zero tangle in a link L with the tangle R. The R-distance between the link L and the link M is defined to be the minimum number of R-moves required to change L into M where the minimum is taken over all diagrams of the link L. A formula is given to determine when one 4-plat knot/link can be obtained from another 4-plat via one R-move when R is a rational tangle and not equal to the 1/n tangle. The formula can also be used to find all rational tangles R for which the R-distance between two given 4-plats is 1 except in the case R = 1/n tangle. These results are also generalized to the case when any rational tangle P is replaced with any rational tangle R, P not necessarily the zero tangle.
Frequency, pathogenicity and microbiologic outcome of non-Candida albicans candiduria

A retrospective review of urine cultures obtained from patients at the University of Illinois Hospital revealed that the frequency of isolation of non-albicans Candida species increased significantly from 1990 to 1991 (p=0.0003), while the frequency of isolation ofCandida albicans species decreased significantly (p=0.0006). Patients with urine cultures positive for non-albicans Candida species orTorulopsis glabrata during 1991 were identified for review. Sixty-seven patients were eligible for evaluation. Non-albicans candiduria developed in an average of 12 days. Identical fungal species were isolated from the blood following a positive urine culture in only two patients. Twenty patients were treated; candiduria persisted in 9 (45 %), while resolution occurred in 11 (55 %). The remaining 47 patients were not treated. Non-albicans candiduria persisted in 30 (64 %) of these patients and resolved in 15 (32 %); in the remaining two patients (4 %) the microbiologic outcome was undetermined. The difference in microbiologic outcomes between treated and untreated patients was not significant using the Chi-square test (p=0.170). Non-albicans candiduria developed rapidly, frequently persisted whether treated or untreated, and rarely progressed to candidemia.
Radiation induced degradation of polymethacrylic acid in aqueous solution

Abstract Pulse radiolysis and 60 Co λ-irradiation studies have been carried out on aqueous solutions of polymethacrylic acid (PMA). The viscosities of the solutions are decreased showing that C-C bond scission takes place. It is shown that the ·OH radical is responsible for the degradation process by first forming a polymer radical which subsequently degrades with k =1.8×10 4 sec −1 to give an unsaturated product and a stable free radical. Viscosity measurements shows that 1.6 ·OH radicals are required for each CC bond breakage. The effects of several additives on the polymer degradation were studied and a tentative mechanism for the degradation process suggested.
A computationally efficient non-linear beam model

Abstract Aerospace structures with large aspect ratio, such as airplane wings, rotorcraft blades, wind turbine blades, and jet engine fan and compressor blades, are particularly susceptible to aeroelastic phenomena. Finite element analysis provides an effective and generalized method to model these structures; however, it is computationally expensive. Fortunately, the large aspect ratio of these structures is exploitable as these potential aeroelastically unstable structures can be modeled as cantilevered beams, drastically reducing computational time. In this paper, the non-linear equations of motion are derived for an inextensional, non-uniform cantilevered beam with a straight elastic axis. Along the elastic axis, the cross-sectional center of mass can be offset in both dimensions, and the principal bending and centroidal axes can each be rotated uniquely. The Galerkin method is used, permitting arbitrary and abrupt variations along the length that require no knowledge of the spatial derivatives of the beam properties. Additionally, these equations consistently retain all third-order non-linearities that account for flexural–flexural–torsional coupling and extend the validity of the equations for large deformations. Furthermore, linearly independent shape functions are substituted into these equations, providing an efficient method to determine the natural frequencies and mode shapes of the beam and to solve for time-varying deformation. This method is validated using finite element analysis and is extended to swept wings. Finally, the importance of retaining cubic terms, in addition to quadratic terms, for non-linear analysis is demonstrated for several examples.