cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Real‐Time Thermospheric Density Estimation Via Two‐Line‐Element Data Assimilation

Inaccurate estimates of the thermospheric density are a major source of error in low Earth orbit prediction. To improve orbit prediction, real-time density estimation is required. In this work, we develop a reduced-order dynamic model for the thermospheric density by computing the main spatial modes of the atmosphere and deriving a linear model for the dynamics. The model is then used to estimate the density using two-line element (TLE) data by simultaneously estimating the reduced-order modes and the orbits and ballistic coefficients of several objects using an unscented Kalman filter. Accurate density estimation using the TLEs of 17 objects is demonstrated and validated against CHAMP and GRACE accelerometer-derived densities. Finally, the use of the model for density forecasting is shown.
Horace Epode 11

In the face of contradictory past exegeses of Epode 11 this paper argues that the epode’s dominant theme is remedia amoris, that it can be read sequentially as a self-consistent narrative, that lines 15-18 are the words of Pettius, not of Horace (and so are yet another remedium amoris), and that certain literary allusions perceived in Epode 11 by past scholarship are invalid and hence have no interpretative value.
NURBSforms: A Modular Shape-Changing Interface for Prototyping Curved Surfaces

We present NURBSforms: a modular shape-changing interface for prototyping curved surfaces. Each NURBSform module represents an edge of variable curvature that, when joined together with other modules, enables designers to construct surfaces and adjust their curvature interactively. NURBSform modules vary their curvature using active and passive shape memory materials: an embedded shape memory alloy (SMA) wire increases the curvature when heated, while an elastic material recovers the flat shape when the SMA wire cools down. A hall effect sensor on each module allows users to vary the curvature by adjusting the distance of their hand. In addition, NURBSforms provides functions across multiple modules, such as 'save', 'reset', and 'load', to facilitate design exploration. Since each module is self-contained and individually controllable, NURBSform modules scale well and can be connected into large networks of curves representing various geometries. By giving examples of different NURBSforms assemblies, we demonstrate how the modularity of NURBSforms, together with its integrated computational support, enables designers to quickly explore different versions of a shape in a single integrated design process.
Optical coherence angiography reveals changes in murine fetal brain vasculature due to maternal exposure to nicotine

In the United States, 20% of pregnant women are estimated to smoke, thus affecting 800,000 babies annually. Maternal nicotine exposure is known to have several detrimental effects on the developing fetus including intrauterine growth restriction, perinatal mortality and morbidity, placental abruption, and other childhood disorders. In humans, studies evaluating the association between maternal cigarette smoking during pregnancy and behavioral development in offsprings have shown negative influences of nicotine on brain development. Although several studies have documented lower birth weights, morphological and behavioral changes, not much has been done evaluating the acute changes in brain vasculature after prenatal exposure to nicotine. This work uses correlation mapping optical coherence angiography (cm-OCA), a functional extension of optical coherence tomography, to evaluate changes in murine fetal brain vasculature, in utero, minutes after maternal nicotine exposure. A rapid and significant decrease in vasculature was observed compared to the sham group.
Proximal anchor fixation in magnetically controlled growing rods (MCGR): preliminary 2-year results of the impact of anchor location and density

Multicenter, retrospective cohort study. Analyze the impact of MCGR proximal anchor location and density on radiographic outcomes and complications. Magnetically controlled growing rods (MCGRs) reduce the need for repeat operations for lengthening when treating spinal deformity in children. The evidence behind choosing the location and density of proximal anchors comes from the traditional growing rod and rib-based distraction technique literature. Thus, there is much debate regarding the optimal quantity and location of proximal anchors. This study included early-onset scoliosis patients treated with MCGR with a minimum 2-year follow-up. Comparisons of 2-year correction in the coronal and sagittal planes, complication rates, and patient-reported outcomes were made based on proximal fixation type, proximal anchor density, and type of case (primary, conversion). This study included 155 MCGR patients. Spinal deformity correction at 2 years was significantly higher in spine-based than rib-based constructs, in terms of both the major (23.9° vs. 17.1°, p = 0.05) and minor curves (10.0° vs. 4.5°, p = 0.03). Greater proximal anchor density, regardless of location, was also associated with better major curve correction at 2 years (25.0° vs. 18.2°, p < 0.05). There was a trend towards higher risk of device migration with rib-based fixation (13.8% vs. 4.1%, p = 0.06) and rod breakage with spine-based fixation (10.3% vs. 3.4%, p = 0.21). Having 5+ proximal anchors did not significantly decrease the risk of complication, including device migration (8.4% vs. 7.7%). When using the MCGR, proximal spine anchors and greater anchor density impart superior deformity correction but do not significantly impact the risk of device complications. Although rib-based constructs afford less rigidity than spine-based constructs, there is a similar risk of rod breakage and device migration. This study suggests that having 5+ MCGR proximal anchors does not protect against proximal anchor complication. Level III-therapeutic.
Chapter 4 – Reproduction and Life Histories

: Beginning with structure of sperm and gametes, the process of reproduction in amphibians and reptiles is summarized with examples that reveal the diversity of processes involved. A summary of mating and nesting behaviors leads into a discussion of sex determination, number and size of offspring, and seasonality of reproduction. Although most amphibians and reptiles reproduce sexually, some fascinating examples of unisexual reproduction are discussed. Energy invested in reproduction (reproductive effort) has potential survival costs. Taken together, all of these factors have produced considerable variation in life histories of these animals.
Elucidation of proteostasis defects caused by osteogenesis imperfecta mutations in the collagen-α2(I) C-propeptide domain

Intracellular collagen assembly begins with the oxidative folding of ∼30-kDa C-terminal propeptide (C-Pro) domains. Folded C-Pro domains then template the formation of triple helices between appropriate partner strands. Numerous C-Pro missense variants that disrupt or delay triple-helix formation are known to cause disease, but our understanding of the specific proteostasis defects introduced by these variants remains immature. Moreover, it is unclear whether or not recognition and quality control of misfolded C-Pro domains is mediated by recognizing stalled assembly of triple-helical domains or by direct engagement of the C-Pro itself. Here, we integrate biochemical and cellular approaches to illuminate the proteostasis defects associated with osteogenesis imperfecta-causing mutations within the collagen-α2(I) C-Pro domain. We first show that "C-Pro-only" constructs recapitulate key aspects of the behavior of full-length Colα2(I) constructs. Of the variants studied, perhaps the most severe assembly defects are associated with C1163R C-Proα2(I), which is incapable of forming stable trimers and is retained within cells. We find that the presence or absence of an unassembled triple-helical domain is not the key feature driving cellular retention versus secretion. Rather, the proteostasis network directly engages the misfolded C-Pro domain itself to prevent secretion and initiate clearance. Using MS-based proteomics, we elucidate how the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) proteostasis network differentially engages misfolded C1163R C-Proα2(I) and targets it for ER-associated degradation. These results provide insights into collagen folding and quality control with the potential to inform the design of proteostasis network-targeted strategies for managing collagenopathies.
Toward a Conceptual Framework for Scholarly Information Seeking

Abstract This article reviews literature on information seeking theories and discusses the relevance of those theories to the information seeking habits of faculty with research expectations. A new model is constructed to depict the factors influencing scholarly information needs. The model incorporates career advancement factors, the influence of discovery tools, and the influence of interpersonal networks. Theoretical frameworks from T.D. Wilson and James Krikelas play important roles in building the model to describe scholarly information needs. This model can be of use to librarians, discovery tool designers, and university administrators supporting the information seeking, research, and teaching of faculty.
Proportions of Surgical Patients Discharged Home the Same or the Next Day Are Sufficient Data to Assess Cases' Contributions to Hospital Occupancy

Introduction When the hospital census is high, perioperative medical directors or operating room (OR) managers may need to consider postponing some surgical cases scheduled to be performed within the next three workdays This scenario has arisen at hospitals in regions with large increases in admissions due to coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) We compare summary measures for hospital length of stay (LOS) to guide the OR manager having to decide which cases may need to be postponed to ensure a sufficient reserve of available inpatient beds Methods We studied the 1,201,815 ambulatory and 649,962 inpatient elective cases with a major therapeutic procedure performed during 2018 at all 412 non-federal hospitals in Florida The data were sorted by the hospital, and then by procedure category Statistical comparisons of LOS were made pairwise among all procedure categories with at least 100 cases at (the) each hospital, using the chi-square test (LOS 1 day), Student's t-test with unequal variances, and the Wilcoxon-Mann-Whitney test The comparisons among the three tests then were repeated having sorted the data by procedure category and making statistical comparisons among all hospitals with at least 100 cases for the procedure category Results Whether using a criterion for statistical significance of P = 3 00) The findings were consistent when the data, first sorted by procedure category and then by probability distributions of LOS, were compared between hospitals (all P = 3 72) Conclusions For purposes of comparing procedure categories pairwise at the same hospital, there was no loss of information by summarizing the probability distributions using single numbers, the percentages of cases among patients staying longer than overnight This finding substantially simplifies the mathematics for constructing dashboards or summaries of OR information system data to help the perioperative OR manager or medical director decide which cases may need to be postponed, when the hospital census is high, to provide a sufficient reserve of inpatient hospital beds
A generalized tree component biomass model derived from principles of variable allometry

Abstract Accurate estimates of forest biomass stocks are critical for scientists, policymakers and forest managers trying to address an increasing array of demands on forests, to sustain human well-being and a broader diversity of life forms on Earth. Thus, it is important that forest biomass estimates are translatable into both biologically and economically meaningful components. Here, a new variable-form, variable-density tree mass component model is presented. The model decomposes a tree into a system of tree component-specific equations that: (a) reflect variation in scaling relationships between major portions of the tree body that define variation in whole-tree growth form and (b) relate to commercially relevant portions of the tree. When tested using data collected from felled and dissected hardwood trees of different size and species, growing over a range of stand conditions, the variable-form, variable-density models gave superior predictions for all components of tree mass, when compared to standard fixed-form, fixed-density models that predict tree mass components only from stem diameter at breast height (DBH). The results demonstrated why the standard approach of estimating mass components from DBH with a power function is fairly limited, because base-, trunk-, crown- and main stem-DBH relationships are all variable within and between tree species. Species-specific models were generally superior, but a mixed-species model gave equivalent and sometimes better results than equations fitted to each species individually. The results provide a theoretical basis for biologically-meaningful, robust estimation of tree biomass components over a range of species and forest conditions and may offer new flexibility in producing ecologically and economically relevant biomass inventories.
Use of hydrophilic hydroxypropyl methacrylate/ethylene glycol methacrylate packing material in size-exclusion chromatography.

Spherical particles of hydroxypropyl methacrylate/ ethylene glycol methacrylate copolymer were synthesized in-house for use in size-exclusion chromatography. The porous hydrophilic material was packed in glass and stainless steel columns to evaluate their chromatographic performance. The support particles were small (approximately 20 A), and the average pore size was in the low range of mesopores (approximately 100 A). The packed columns were calibrated by using polysaccharide dextrans, showing a good range of separation for molecular weights between 10 000 and 600 000 daltons. The packing material appears to separate the large molecules through the size-exclusion mechanism. Polysaccharides and polypeptides dissolved in adequate mobile phases were injected into the packed column. The separation of the macromolecules was consistent with the size-exclusion mechanism. Application of the packing material to the separation of small molecules (alkyl alcohols) was also investigated.
Serologic estimation of thymine dimers in the deoxyribonucleic acid of bacterial and mammalian cells following irradiation with ultraviolet light and postirradiation repair.

Abstract The repair of thymine dimers induced by irradiation with ultraviolet light was detected in the DNA of human fibroblast cells, HeLa, but not in the DNA of rat glial or rat pituitary cells. Thymine dimers were detected in the DNA of bacterial and mammalian cells after irradiation with levels of light which are biologically significant, as little as 50 ergs per mm2. The detection of thymine dimers involves the use of specific antibodies to these photoproducts in a radioimmunoassay that can be performed directly on the DNA extracted from the cells. The validity of the assay in the study of repair processes in mammalian cells was first established in a well defined bacterial system. The appearance and excision of thymine dimers in DNA of Bacillus subtilis 101 (an ultraviolet-resistant strain) and B. subtilis 124 (an ultraviolet-sensitive strain which lacks the ability to excise the photoproducts after ultraviolet irradiation) was estimated serologically and was correlated with the transforming activities of the DNA extracted from the cells after irradiation and after a recovery period.
NON-COGNITIVISM, TRUTH AND LOGIC

L'A. defend la these selon laquelle l'ethique non-cognitiviste developpee par A. Gibbard ne peut fournir une approche adequate du comportement logique des enonces normatifs. Examinant les caracteristiques de la verite, l'A. montre que la position de Gibbard evite le probleme fregeen de l'expression de l'emotion souleve par P. Geach, mais qu'elle se heurte a un nouveau dilemme concernant la nature meme du cognitivisme
Mandibular biomechanics of Crocuta crocuta, Canis lupus, and the late Miocene Dinocrocuta gigantea (Carnivora, Mammalia)

The relative simplicity of the mandible and its functional integration with the upper dentition in carnivorans makes it an ideal subject for functional morphological studies. To compare the mandibular biomechanics of two convergently evolved bone-cracking ecomorphologies, we used finite element modelling to analyse mandibular corpus stress. The bone-cracking spotted hyena Crocuta crocuta was used as a living analogue to the late Miocene percrocutid Dinocrocuta gigantea, using the grey wolf Canis lupus as a molar bone-crushing outgroup. Mandibular stress values during p3, p4, and m1 tooth biting are found to be lowest in Cr. crocuta, and elevated in both Ca. lupus and D. gigantea. However, the stress-dissipation patterns of the pre-m1 corpus are similar between Cr. crocuta and D. gigantea. Lastly, D. gigantea has a relatively weaker corpus at the post-m1 position than either Cr. crocuta or Ca. lupus. These findings suggest that even though stress patterns are similar amongst the bone-cracking ecomorphs, the extinct D. gigantea had a weaker mandibular structure when performing a comparable bone-cracking task as in Cr. crocuta because of its slender post-m1 corpus. Ontogeny could potentially play an important role in strengthening the post-m1 corpus by growth in the dorsoventral axis, and continuous increase in biting performance through adulthood in living Cr. crocuta suggests the possibility of a relatively more delayed development to full bone-cracking capability in D. gigantea. © 2009 The Linnean Society of London, Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society, 2010, 158, 683–696.
How to Randomly Flip a Quantum Bit

We show that an important class of quantum channels, the convex closure of the spin channels, can be algebraically represented by classical channels that have four inputs and four outputs. This result is used to develop an experimentally realizable scheme for randomly flipping qubits whose basis of preparation is unknown. This scheme can be used to interrupt, but not necessarily eradicate, any form of hidden communication based on quantum information. It can also be used to remove steganographic information embedded in quantum data.
Protein changes associated with the infection of the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans by the nematophagous fungus Drechmeria coniospora

Abstract Protein changes associated with the predation of the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans by the nematophagous fungus Drechmeria coniospora were examined at intervals to 72 h following infection. The disappearance of two high molecular weight proteins in nematodes by 72 h following infection was demonstrated by SDS gel electrophoresis. Nematode protein was not differentiated from fungus protein by immunoblotting due to high cross-reactivity. Changes in three proteins specifically of fungus origin and one protein specifically of nematode origin were detected at 72 h following infection using serum purified by affinity column chromatography. This study demonstrated for the first time the separation of nematode and fungal proteins from complexes derived from the two organisms.
Affine approximation of isoparametric elements

Abstract The use of rectangular isoparametric elements in finite element analysis of second-order boundary-value problems requires evaluating integrals of rational polynomial functions. Gaussian quadrature formulas are currently the most popular method of obtaining approximations to the exact integrals. A new method is described in which the isoparametric finite element function spaces are approximated. The resulting integrals can be evaluated exactly, avoiding the computational expense of the Gaussian quadrature schemes, particularly the 27 point formula used in three-dimensional elements.
Soft X-Ray Absorption by Thin Films of Vanadium

The absorption of soft x-rays by vanadium has been measured in the spectral region between 190 A and 250 A. The observed absorption band is interpreted as a combination of ${M}_{3}$ and ${M}_{2}$ bands in the ratio of 2:1 and separated by 1.5 ev. The results are compared with previous determinations on chromium and iron.
Low entropic barrier to the hydrophobic collapse of the prion protein: effects of intermediate states and conformational flexibility.

A simple kinetic model is applied to study the folding reaction of the C-terminal domain of the murine prion protein, mPrP(121−231). The model provides an equation linking a protein’s folding rate with its native topology and the conformational entropic cost of folding. The model predicts that the average conformational entropic cost per residue associated with the folding transition of mPrP(121−231) is smaller than the average for a broad sample of two-state folding proteins. The results are consistent with the native state of mPrP(121−231) being more flexible than the average protein, but the behavior could also arise from the presence of early intermediate states. The findings are in agreement with experimental and theoretical results on the prion protein conformational flexibility. The model is fully analytical and provides a simple way to obtain a quantitative measure of conformational flexibility in two-state proteins from kinetic and structural experimental data.
The Intermountain Risk Score predicts mortality in trauma patients.

Abstract Purpose Intermountain Risk Score (IMRS) uses the admission complete blood count and basic metabolic profile to predict mortality. Intermountain Risk Score has been validated in medical patients but has not been evaluated in trauma. This study tested whether IMRS is predictive of mortality in a trauma population at a level I trauma center. Methods Admitted trauma patients with complete blood count and basic metabolic profile from October 2005 to December 2011 were evaluated. Thirty-day and 1-year IMRS were calculated using multivariable modeling. Mortality was determined using the medical record and Social Security Administration death data. Results Three thousand six hundred thirty-seven females and 5901 males were evaluated. Intermountain Risk Score was highly predictive of death at 30 days (c-statistics, c = 0.772 for females; c = 0.783 males) and 1 year (c = 0.778 for females; c = 0.831 males). Cox regression analysis, adjusted for injury severity score, blunt vs penetrating, and length of stay, showed increased mortality risks among patients in the moderate- and high-risk IMRS-defined groups at both 30 days and 1 year, with hazard ratios ranging from 4.96 to 57.88 (all P Conclusion Intermountain Risk Score strongly predicts mortality in trauma patients at this single level I trauma center. The ability to accurately determine a patient’s mortality risk at admission makes IMRS a potentially clinically important tool.
Two cases of androgen insensitivity due to somatic mosaicism

Androgen insensitivity syndrome (AIS) is caused by mutations in the gene encoding the androgen receptor (AR). The incidence of AIS is estimated to be 1 in 99,000. Complete androgen insensitivity syndrome (CAIS) is characterized by a 46,XY karyotype with external genitalia that appear typically female and results from mutations that render the androgen receptor non-functional. Partial androgen insensitivity syndrome (PAIS) results from partial loss of function mutations in AR. Rarely, PAIS results from somatic mosaicism for an AR mutation and not from a hypomorphic variant. We present two cases of PAIS due to somatic mosaicism, one caused by a novel nonsense mutation and one caused by a missense mutation previously reported in CAIS. Two patients with atypical genitalia presented to our multidisciplinary clinic for disorders of sex development and sequencing of AR was performed as part of the diagnostic evaluation. In case one, AR sequencing revealed mosaicism for a nonsense mutation, c.1331T > A; p.Leu444Ter. This mutation has not previously been reported, but is presumed to be pathogenic. In case two, AR sequencing revealed a mosaic missense mutation, c.2279 C > A; p.Ser760Tyr, which has previously been reported in CAIS but not in PAIS. Similar phenotypes may result from AR mutations that are present in a mosaic state with full loss of function or hypomorphic mutations that partially impair the function of the protein in either all tissues or in a mosaic state.
Assessing the Impact of Computerization on Work Practice: Information Technology in Emergency Departments:

Typical hospital emergency departments (ED) use patient status boards as information tracking devices for providing safe care by supporting shared memory, latent processes, collaboration, shared co...
High RhoA activity maintains the undifferentiated mesenchymal cell phenotype, whereas RhoA down-regulation by laminin-2 induces smooth muscle myogenesis

Round embryonic mesenchymal cells have the potential to differentiate into smooth muscle (SM) cells upon spreading/elongation (Yang, Y., K.C. Palmer, N. Relan, C. Diglio, and L. Schuger. 1998. Development. 125:2621-2629; Yang, Y., N.K. Relan, D.A. Przywara, and L. Schuger. 1999. Development. 126:3027-3033; Yang, Y., S. Beqaj, P. Kemp, I. Ariel, and L. Schuger. 2000. J. Clin. Invest. 106:1321-1330). In the developing lung, this process is stimulated by peribronchial accumulation of laminin (LN)-2 (Relan, N.K., Y. Yang, S. Beqaj, J.H. Miner, and L. Schuger. 1999. J. Cell Biol. 147:1341-1350). Here we show that LN-2 stimulates bronchial myogenesis by down-regulating RhoA activity. Immunohistochemistry, immunoblotting, and reverse transcriptase-PCR indicated that RhoA, a small GTPase signaling protein, is abundant in undifferentiated embryonic mesenchymal cells and that its levels decrease along with SM myogenesis. Functional studies using agonists and antagonists of RhoA activation and dominant positive and negative plasmid constructs demonstrated that high RhoA activity was required to maintain the round undifferentiated mesenchymal cell phenotype. This was in part achieved by restricting the localization of the myogenic transcription factor serum response factor (SRF) mostly to the mesenchymal cell cytoplasm. Upon spreading on LN-2 but not on other main components of the extracellular matrix, the activity and level of RhoA decreased rapidly, resulting in translocation of SRF to the nucleus. Both cell elongation and SRF translocation were prevented by overexpression of dominant positive RhoA. Once the cells underwent SM differentiation, up-regulation of RhoA activity induced rather than inhibited SM gene expression. Therefore, our studies suggest a novel mechanism whereby LN-2 and RhoA modulate SM myogenesis.
Serum Lipoproteins of Diabetic Rats Fed a High Cholesterol Diet

Feeding a diet containing 2% cholesterol and 1% cholic acid (wt/wt) to rats made diabetic by administration of streptozotocin (45 mg/kg) produced marked hypercholesterolemia characterized by high concentrations of very low density lipoproteins (VLDL) and intermediate density lipoproteins (IDL) and a reduction in concentration of high density lipoproteins (HDL). The VLDL was unique in that it contained apo A-I and apo A-IV in addition to its usual complement of apoproteins: apo B, apo E, and the C apoproteins. IDL had a similar apoprotein composition. The HDL from these rats was deficient in apo E. Nondiabetic rats fed the same diet exhibited similar qualitative changes in lipoprotein concentration and composition but with lesser increases in VLDL and IDL concentrations. The altered apoprotein composition suggested that the hyperlipoproteinemia associated with cholesterol feeding in the rat is due to an inadequate rate of removal of lipoproteins of intestinal origin, and that this is greatly exacerbated by diabetes.
Flame retardants and smoke suppressants for flexible vinyl compounds

This paper reviews a number of technologies employed to reduce flammability and suppress smoke in flexible vinyl compounds. Advantages and disadvantages of the various systems are discussed, along with postulated mechanisms of action. Typical applications, approximate market prices, and major suppliers are also listed.
Neuropsychiatric and behavioral alterations and their management in moderate to severe Alzheimer disease

Alzheimer disease (AD) and most other late-onset dementing illnesses are progressive, passing through stages of mild cognitive impairment to mild, moderate, and severe dementia. Clinically, patients in moderate to severe phases of AD have more marked cognitive changes, more severe impairments in activities of daily living (ADL), and are less able to attend to their own needs; in addition, they undergo more severe behavioral changes.1 Patients in the moderate to severe stage of AD are also more likely to be resident in nursing homes in world economies where nursing homes are widely available and commonly used.2 Patients in the moderate to severe stages of dementia are more likely to exhibit mixed pathology with combinations of cerebrovascular disease and degenerative changes, to have more medical co-morbidity with age-related disease,3 and to take more medications to control their medical illnesses. The measurement of neuropsychiatric symptoms in moderate to severe AD is particularly important. Fully characterizing these symptoms is a prelude to addressing key issues, such as when these symptoms occur and what their triggers might be. This information allows appropriate nonpharmacologic and pharmacologic interventions to be instituted. The dominant behavioral and psychiatric symptoms in moderate to severe AD are delusions, depression, anxiety, agitation, and restlessness.4 The prevalence of dementia-associated mental and behavioral disturbances was assessed in a population-based study of 5,092 community-dwelling individuals aged 65 years or older.5 Patients were assessed for cognitive impairment using the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE). For those who were classified as having possible or probable AD, disease severity was determined by the Clinical Dementia Rating (CDR) scale.6 Psychopathology was assessed using the Neuropsychiatric Inventory (NPI).7 A higher occurrence of apathy, depression, and agitation/aggression was found in individuals with dementia than in those without dementia. Participants with AD were more likely …
Children's judgments of autism and social validation of behavior therapy efficacy**

Social validation procedures can be used to complement traditional assessments of behavior therapy efficacy. Previous social validations used judgments given by college students, parents, and teachers toddemonstrated that behavior therapy is effective with autistic children. The present investigation employed school children as judges of behavior therapy efficacy. One group of school children ( n =38) viewed a videotape of three autistic children and gave descriptions of “unusual behaviors”. A questionnaire was constructed from these descriptions. A second of school group children ( n =72) then viewed three pretreatment segments and three posttreatment videotape segments of the autistic children and rated each using the questionnaire. MANOVA procedures indicated that the ratings given for the pretreatment segments were significantly different from those given for the posttreatment segments, with improvements in Sensorimotor, Play, social, Verbal, and Intellectual behaviors. Further, a Social Distance Scale indicated that the school children reported willingness to be closer to the autistic children after treatment. These findings indicate that improvements resulting from behavior therapy were apparent to school children, that these children were more positive in their willingness to be close to the autistic children, and that social validation procedures are applicable to this age group.
Isolation and characterization of ribonucleoprotein particles from heart muscle

Abstract 1. 1. A procedure is described for the preparation of ribonucleoprotein particles from heart muscle by differential centrifugation after treatment of the entire tissue homogenate with deoxycholate. The method yields particles of reasonable purity and whose characteristics accord closely with that of ribosomes from other mammalian tissues. 2. 2. Ribonucleoprotein particles from heart muscle will catalyze the transfer of significant amounts of radioactivity from s-RNA-[14C]phenylalanine to protein in a reaction that is energy dependent, that is inhibited by ribonuclease and puromycin but not by chloramphenicol, and is markedly stimulated by polyuridylic acid. 3. 3. Incorporation of radioactivity from [14C]phenylalanine into protein by mitochondria from heart muscle has several characteristics different than those observed with ribosomes. It is concluded that the protein synthesis seen when the ribosomal system is used is not due to contamination with mitochondria or mitochondrial fragments. 4. 4. Ribosomes from heart muscle are as effective as those from liver in catalyzing amino acid incorporation into protein and this is true whether synthesis is assayed in the presence or absence of polyuridylic acid. The quantitative difference in the amount of protein synthesis carried out by liver and muscle seems not to be due to a difference inherent in the ribosomes from the two tissues.
Preliminary nanopore cheminformatics analysis of aptamer-target binding strength

Aptamers are nucleic acids selected for their ability to bind to molecules of interest and may provide the basis for a whole new class of medicines. If the aptamer is simply a dsDNA molecule with a ssDNA overhang (a "sticky" end) then the segment of ssDNA that complements that overhang provides a known binding target with binding strength adjustable according to length of overhang. Two bifunctional aptamers are examined using a nanopore detector. They are chosen to provide sensitive, highly modulated, blockade signals with their captured ends, while their un-captured regions are designed to have binding moieties for complementary ssDNA targets. The bifunctional aptamers are duplex DNA on their channel-captured portion, and single-stranded DNA on their portion with binding ability. For short ssDNA, the binding is merely to the complementary strand of DNA, which is what is studied here – for 5-base and 6-base overhangs. A preliminary statistical analysis using hidden Markov models (HMMs) indicates a clear change in the blockade pattern upon binding by the single captured aptamer. This is also consistent with the hypothesis that significant conformational changes occur during the annealing binding event. In further work the objective is to simply extend this ssDNA portion to be a well-studied ~80 base ssDNA aptamer, joined to the same bifunctional aptamer molecular platform.
Characterization of mouse H3.3-like histone genes.

Abstract We designed a strategy to select genomic clones of mouse replication-independent H3.3 histone genes. We obtained three clones which met our selection criteria for being H3.3 genes. Upon sequencing two of these clones we found that they were unlike previously isolated chicken H3.3 clones: they code for several unpredicted amino acid substitutions and contain no introns in the coding regions. We showed by S1 nuclease assays that these genes are protected by mRNAs that have expression characteristics of H3.3 mRNA. The protection data and nucleotide sequence analysis show that the H3.3 transcripts can be processed at one of four cleavage/polyadenylation sites. We show that these genes probably evolved through reverse transcription intermediates, and are processed pseudogenes which are no longer under selective pressure. The 5′ and 3′ transcribed, nontranslated sequences show extensive homology to those of a human cDNA clone, and we suggest that these sequences may be required for appropriate regulation of expression of H3.3 genes.
Importance of Specialist Engagement in Accountable Care Organizations

We are in the midst of a tumultuous time in health policy. As new payment models gradually replace fee-for-service systems, new quality metrics proliferate, and costs of care become a bona fide health outcome, expensive imaging and procedures face increasing scrutiny. Responsible for >$300 billion in medical spending in 2010,1 more than any other diagnostic group, cardiovascular disease is understandably at the forefront of many new efforts to improve quality and reduce costs of care. Article see p 1954 One of the most visible such efforts is the movement toward accountable care organizations (ACOs). As designed within the Medicare program, ACOs are groups of physicians and other providers who agree, as a unit, to provide high-quality care at costs that are lower than projected; if they do so, they are eligible to share in the savings. Currently, there are 368 Medicare ACOs up and running and 154 more in the private sector.2 The hope, of course, is that providers participating in ACOs cut costs by cutting back on discretionary care where safe and appropriate while maintaining current levels of provision of nondiscretionary, high-value care. In this issue of Circulation , Colla et al use evidence from the pre-ACO demonstration project on which much of the ACO program is modeled, the Physician Group Practice Demonstration (PGPD), to determine whether this in fact took place.3 Interestingly, the authors find that, despite the investment of millions of dollars into infrastructure, there was no difference in trends in utilization of either discretionary or nondiscretionary cardiovascular imaging or procedures between the PGPD groups and local controls. In fact, the groups were remarkably similar in both the pre-PGPD period and the post-PGPD period on all metrics of utilization that the authors examined.3 Of course, every story has both good news and bad …
Estimation of D2-like receptor occupancy by dopamine in the putamen of hemiparkinsonian Monkeys.

Estimation of D2-like Receptor Occupancy by Dopamine in the Putamen of Hemiparkinsonian Monkeys
Population density, sexual reproduction and diapause in monogonont rotifers: new data for Brachionus and a review

Diapausing, fertilized eggs in monogonont rotifers typically are formed after an environmental signal induces amictic females to produce mictic daughters. Mictic females lay haploid eggs that may develop parthenogenetically into males, or that may be fertilized and develop into diapausing, female embryos called resting eggs. Laboratory experiments demonstrate that crowding is the signal for production of mictic females in strains of Brachionus calyciflorus from Texas, Spain and Germany, and in a strain of Brachionus variabilis from Spain. In these experiments, newborn amictic females were cultured singly in large and small volumes to give lowand high-density treatments. Therefore, the induction of mictic females is due exclusively to population density and cannot be attributed to a grouping effect involving some interaction among individuals. B. variabilis is very sensitive to population density; females had to be cultured in 30 ml to prevent appreciable production of mictic daughters. Crowding is now known to be the signal for initiation of sexuality and diapause in four species of Brachionus, two species of Epiphanes, and Rhinoglena frontalis. The chemical that mediates this response somehow influences oocytes in the maternal body cavity to differentiate into mictic females. Aggregation of individuals in natural systems may facilitate the production of mictic females. In some of these rotifers, the response to crowding is suppressed in early generations from the resting egg, assuring that clonal populations will attain higher population densities before committing to sexual reproduction. Fitness benefits of the mictic-female response to crowding, and to other environmental signals in other rotifers (dietary tocopherol, long photoperiod), are discussed.
Chinese criminal trials: a comprehensive empirical inquiry

In the past decade, research on Chinese criminal justice has witnessed a notable shift from broad–brush doctrinal overviews to fine–grained empirical studies using social science methods. With different research agendas, both criminal procedure law professors in China and social scientists overseas (mostly criminologists and socio–legal researchers) have begun to collect and analyze empirical data on various aspects of the criminal justice system. Ni He’s new book Chinese Criminal Trials is a recent product of this new trend. While many existing books on the Chinese criminal justice system focus on one specific aspect of it, such as policing, court trial, or criminal defense, He’s study provides a comprehensive examination of the system with both historical length and empirical breadth. The book opens with a short but ambitious overview of the historical context of Chinese criminal justice from antiquity to modernity. The author traces the legacy of the Chinese legal system and its institutional arrangements in Imperial China, such as the yamen and bureaucratic norms. Then he proceeds to analyze the socio–legal context of the contemporary Chinese criminal justice system in terms of the “tripartite rules” (pp.39–46), namely, rule of man, rule by law, and rule of law. These two parts are mainly based on the secondary literature on Chinese law, with occasional references to general social theorists such as Montesquieu, Parsons, Merton, and Inglehart in explaining the structural and cultural transformations of the so–called “Chinese legality” (pp. 10–14). The core empirical findings are reported in Part III, arguably the most exciting and valuable part of the book. The research is based on a pilot study in a southeast province of China during 2009–2011, funded by the MacArthur Foundation. The data consist of three components: (1) a survey of 642 legal professionals in the province, including 348 practicing attorneys, 177 criminal justice practitioners (i.e., those working in the police, procuracy, or court), and others working in the state or private sectors; (2)325 criminal trial observations; and, (3) 149 complete criminal case files. This excellent combination of complementary data sources provide the author a great opportunity to Crime Law Soc Change (2014) 62:87–89 DOI 10.1007/s10611-014-9521-y
Proposed map accuracy standards for a multipurpose cadastre

Abstract This paper reports studies made by two National Research Council Committees, the Committee on Geodesy and the Committee on Integrated Land Data Mapping. In their two reports entitled, respectively, “Procedures and Standards for a Multipurpose Cadastre” and “Modernization of the Public Land Survey System”, they made recommendations as to base map scale, appropriate contour interval, and cadastral survey standards. This paper combines this information with the U.S. National Map Accuracy Standards to develop Multipurpose Cadastre Map Accuracy Standards which are relative to the surrounding survey control used in the cadastre development.
Misdiagnosis of Bipolar Depression in Primary Care Practices

Misdiagnosis of bipolar disorder is too frequent in primary care practices. Early diagnosis of the disease is crucial for appropriate treatment and optimal outcomes, yet patients may go years without a proper diagnosis. Misdiagnosis of unipolar depression may occur when patients with depressive symptomatology report no manic or hypomanic episodes. Furthermore, bipolar disease may begin as depression and develop into bipolar disorder. Primary care physicians can watch for several red flags in patients with depressive episodes, such as poor functioning in social and work arenas, risky behaviors, and legal issues. Other warning signs include a family history of bipolar disorder, psychosis at the index depressive episode, young age at onset of depression, and either antidepressant resistance or antidepressant-induced mania or hypomania. Correct and timely recognition of bipolar disorder by primary care physicians can provide long-lasting benefits for the patient.
Photoregulation of polymer conformation by photochromic moieties. I. Anionic ligand to an anionic polymer.

— Photoregulated biological processes appear to make use of membrane-bound photochromic macromolecules. In order to elucidate various physicochemical pathways by which these processes can be triggered, model studies have been undertaken employing photochromic moieties bound to synthetic macromolecules with a labile fold structure. Inspired by Lovrien's 1967 work, attention was first focused on the anionic dis-azo stilbene dye chrysophenine (CHP) and poly(methacrylic acid) (PMA) in aqueous solution. This ligand is found to bind to and unfold PMA only if the degree of ionization of the polymer is below 0·75. Viscosity as well as equilibrium dialysis data indicate that maximally one CHP per ten monomer units PMA is bound. The apparent degree of ionization conferred to PMA by the ionic CHP ligand leading to polymer unfolding is the same as the known real degree of ionization leading to polymer unfolding in the absence of CHP. Upon transcis photoisomerization, the ligand either desorbs or creates a higher local dielectric constant because of the large cis-azo dipole moments. As a result some refolding to a more compact hydrodynamic volume occurs, as deduced from the viscosity measurements at a low degree of ionization. Simultaneously a lowering of the pKapp by 0·1 pK unit is observed at degrees of ionization below 0·075. Photoregulation of conformation as well as of pKapp indicates two possible pathways for the regulation of ionic fluxes such as have been postulated for photobiological transducers.
Alpha Tocopherol Alters the Distribution of Langerhans Cells in DMBA-treated Hamster Cheek Pouch Epithelium

Thirty-seven adult male and female golden hamsters (Mesocricetus auratus) were divided into four experimental groups. In Group A, the animals served as untreated controls, having the left buccal pouches painted with mineral oil. In Group B, the animals received 10 mg vitamin E (alpha tocopherol) in peanut oil by the oral route, with a fine pipette, twice weekly. In Group C animals, the left buccal pouch was painted three times weekly with DMBA (0.5% solution of 7,12 dimethylbenz(a)anthracene in heavy mineral oil). Group D animals received both vitamin E and DMBA in the amounts indicated for Groups Band C, with the vitamin E being administered on days alternate to the DMBA painting, also in the manner described for the above groups. All animals were killed after eight weeks of treatment. Epithelial whole mounts were prepared from the left buccal pouches. These specimens were then stained for ATPase to demonstrate the presence of Langerhans cells (LCs). A notably decreased density of LCs was observed after ...
Propofol as a panacea for acute kidney injury

Yoo and colleagues report a small but provocative randomized clinical trial to prevent acute kidney injury in the setting of cardiopulmonary bypass surgery. Their article describes a trial of 112 patients undergoing valvular surgery with cardiopulmonary bypass who were randomized to receive sevoflurane (an inhaled anesthetic) or propofol for general anesthesia. The use of propofol was associated with a significant decrease in the rate of postoperative acute kidney injury.
Planned NASA space infrared astronomy experiments

Abstract A summary is presented of the present status of the NASA space infrared astronomy program. Projects described include the Infrared Astronomy Satellite (IRAS), Small Infrared Telescope on Spacelab 2 (IRT), Cosmic Background Explorer (COBE), Shuttle Infrared Telescope Facility (SIRTF), Space Telescope (ST), and the Large Deployable Reflector (LDR). The important technical developments achieved in these programs are also discussed, as well as critical needs for future missions.