cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Evaluating the performance of PROMIS and QuickDASH instruments in an intercollegiate Division 1 athlete population.

Background Athletes demonstrate high levels of physical function, leading to difficulties in patient-reported outcome scoring and interpretation. In particular, the ability of patient-reported outcome (PRO) instruments to adequately discriminate between high levels of upper extremity function—that is, the ceiling effect—is limited. This study evaluated performance characteristics of the shortened version of the Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder, and Hand (QuickDASH) survey and Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS) metrics in a population of Division 1 intercollegiate athletes, with specific attention to ceiling effects. Methods At a single institution, Division I intercollegiate athletes cleared for full participation in the 2018-2019 season were eligible. The following PROs were collected prospectively via tablet computer: PROMIS upper extremity (UE) computer adaptive test (CAT), PROMIS physical function (PF) CAT, QuickDASH, and QuickDASH Sports/Performing Arts Module. Descriptive statistics, and ceiling and floor effects, were calculated. The proportion of athletes with maximal scores on each PRO were compared to normative values using the 1-sample Wilcoxon signed rank test. Results A total of 268 participants were included; the mean age was 19.9 ± 1.5 years, 49% were female, and 61% were overhead athletes. Large ceiling effects were observed for the UE CAT (46%), QuickDASH (58%), and QuickDASH Sports Module (82%). The PF CAT demonstrated a relatively low ceiling effect of 6.7%. Athlete scores were all significantly better than published age-matched values from a normative population for all instruments, with the exception of no difference on the QuickDASH for males. Discussion and/or Conclusion The PROMIS UE CAT and QuickDash instruments are limited in their ability to assess and discriminate upper extremity function in highly functioning individuals such as Division I athletes. The PROMIS PF CAT, a measure of general physical function, did not suffer from a large ceiling effect.
Perfectionism, anorexia nervosa, and family treatment: How perfectionism changes throughout treatment and predicts outcomes.

Objective This study uses data from a multisite randomized clinical trial to study the role of perfectionism in family-based treatment (FBT) for adolescent anorexia nervosa (AN). The main aim is to examine the role of baseline perfectionism in treatment response. Method Adolescents (N = 158; ages 12-18; 89.2% female) and their families were randomized to receive either FBT or systemic family treatment for AN. Eating disorder (ED) pathology, obsessive-compulsive symptoms, and perfectionism were assessed at baseline, end of treatment, and 6- and 12-month follow-up. Linear regression analyses were used to test whether perfectionism and obsessive-compulsive symptoms at baseline predict ED pathology at all timepoints. An independent samples t test was used to test whether there was a significant difference in the change in perfectionism in either treatment group. Results Baseline maladaptive perfectionism significantly predicted ED pathology but not ideal body weight at all timepoints. The model that included obsessive-compulsive symptoms also predicted ED pathology at all timepoints except 12-month follow-up. Perfectionism scores did not change during treatment regardless of treatment type. Discussion Baseline perfectionism predicted treatment response in this study. Interventions might target perfectionism to improve treatment response in AN.
Straddling Differences: Celebrating Contradictions and Confusion at the Frontera:

A yearlong collective auto-ethnographic stories of three colleagues at a Hispanic Serving Institution at the U.S.–Mexican frontera culminated in the realization that our disparate experiences, the ...
Wikipedia and Scholarpedia: A Comparative Case Study and Its Implications for Information Literacy

The free online Wikipedia receives increasing attention from academic librarians; however, its counterpart Scholarpedia seems neglected. This case study selected two articles bearing the same title Intentionality from Scholarpedia and Wikipedia and brought them under scrutiny of their microstructure and macrostructure. Both microstructure and macrostructure analysis indicated that the addressed readership of the two encyclopedic articles is understandably different in terms of readability and content. The comparative case study concluded that both online, free encyclopedias provide academic librarians with pedagogical instruments to help students engage in authentic knowledge construction.
Role of changes in heat input on additively manufactured Ti–6Al–4V fabricated by directed energy deposition

Abstract Changes in linear heat input commonly used to manipulate deposit geometries during laser-based directed energy deposition of Ti–6Al–4V also impact microstructural and mechanical properties. With increases in linear heat input from 141 J/mm to 283 J/mm, α lath widths increased from 0.7 μm to 2.3 μm, but prior β grain sizes were mostly unchanged. At the same time, V and Fe preferentially segregated to the β phase and led to an increase in the β phase volume fraction. Along with these microstructural changes, increases in linear heat input also produced a decrease in yield strength from 1027 to 900 MPa. After hot isostatic pressing, the α lath widths increased in size and further lowered the strength by approximately 70 MPa at lower heat inputs but by only 13 MPa for the highest heat inputs. Since it appeared that factors other than α lath width were impacting the strength, an empirical strength model was used to quantify the contributions from intrinsic, Hall-Petch, Taylor, and solid solution strengthening mechanisms. Although the reduction in strength corresponded with an increase in the α lath widths, suggesting a Hall-Petch strengthening relationship, this strengthening contribution was relatively small compared to solid solution strengthening and Taylor hardening. By comparing the strengthening components, the decrease in strength was instead attributed to decreases in Taylor hardening caused by a drop in dislocation density.
Low-Order Modeling of Flapping Flight with Highly Articulated, Cambered, Heavy Wings

A three-dimensional low-order modeling technique is described for modeling both wing inertial and aerodynamic forces of animals and robots flapping heavy and morphing wings. The model is applied to...
WebAssembly enables low latency interoperable augmented and virtual reality software.

There is a clear difference in runtime performance between native applications that use augmented/virtual reality (AR/VR) device-specific hardware and comparable web-based implementations. Here we show that WebAssembly (Wasm) offers a promising developer solution that can bring near-native low latency performance to web-based applications, enabling hardware-agnostic interoperability at scale through portable bytecode that runs on any WiFi or cellular data network-enabled AR/VR device. Many software application areas have begun to realize Wasm's potential as a key enabling technology, but it has yet to establish a robust presence in the AR/VR domain. When considering the limitations of current web-based AR/VR development technologies such as WebXR, which provides an existing application programming interface (API) that enables AR/VR capabilities for web-based programs, Wasm can resolve critical issues faced with just-in-time (JIT) compilation, slow run-times, large file sizes and big data, among other challenges. Existing applications using Wasm-based WebXR are sparse but growing, and the potential for porting native applications to use this emerging framework will benefit the web-based AR/VR application space and bring it closer to its native counterparts in terms of performance. Taken together, this kind of standardized "write-once-deploy-everywhere" software framework for AR/VR applications has the potential to consolidate user experiences across different head-mounted displays and other compatible hardware devices to ultimately create an interoperable AR/VR ecosystem.
Associations of Diet with Cardiometabolic and Inflammatory Profiles in Pregnant Women at Risk for Metabolic Complications

Dietary intakes play an important role in the development of metabolic complications during pregnancy. While reported observational studies reveal an inverse association of healthy diets with weight gain, gestational diabetes, and hypertensive complications during pregnancy, there is a paucity of studies conducted among women of specific ethnicities vulnerable to higher risks of pregnancy complications. This is a secondary cross sectional analysis using baseline data from a previously reported clinical trial. We aim to identify associations of maternal habitual dietary intakes with cardiometabolic risks and inflammatory profiles in primarily African American (AA) and Hispanic women in the first half of pregnancy. Fifty-two women met the study criteria and anthropometric, clinical, and dietary data were obtained at baseline. Linear regression analysis was used to determine associations after covariate adjustments. Among the maternal dietary nutrient intakes, total fats were positively associated with maternal body weight, BMI, and serum CRP (β ± SE: 0.25 ± 0.13, 0.28 ± 0.18, and 0.29 ± 0.14, respectively, all p < 0.05), and saturated fats were positively associated with glycated hemoglobin (0.32 ± 0.12). Dietary fiber intake showed a consistent inverse association with body weight (−0.26 ± 0.13), BMI (−0.19 ± 0.15), glycated hemoglobin (−0.22 ± 0.16), as well as serum CRP (−0.19 ± 0.14). Among the maternal food group intakes, dairy intake was inversely associated with systolic blood pressure (−0.18 ± 0.15) and serum IL-6 (−0.22 ± 0.17), and vegetable intake showed an inverse association with serum CRP (−0.17 ± 0.12) all in adjusted analyses (all p < 0.05). Thus, maternal diet modifications, especially decreasing fats and increasing fiber and dairy may help address obesity and inflammation leading to pregnancy complications in AA and Hispanic women.
A CI Study in Cerebral Angiography for Product Development Strategy and Clinical Training

A cerebral diagnostic angiogram is an interventional radiology procedure performed to assess potential cerebrovascular health or blood flow in the brain. During the procedure, a catheter (thin, long tube) is inserted through the femoral artery at the groin and then navigated through the patient’s vascular system. This includes traversing the aortic arch, carotid arteries, and ultimately into the brain. Guidewires (smaller gauge wires) are inserted within the catheter to aid in vascular navigation. Dye, known as contrast, will be injected into the catheter to generate images under fluoroscopy (X-ray) and clinically assess location of the catheter and the artery(s) of interest. This procedure is used to diagnose diseases like vascular malformation and intracranial aneurysms. This case study provides an example of an in-depth IRB approved study for the purposes of identifying new product development opportunities.
Subglacial water flow inferred from stream measurements at South Cascade Glacier, Washington, U.S.A.

The subglacial drainage system of South Cascade Glacier is inferred by examining how discharges of water, solutes and artificial tracers in streams draining the glacier respond to meltwater and precipitation on the glacier surface. Results indicate that the glacier is divided into three (two large and one small) drainage basins, each drained by a single stream. The positions of drainage divides on the glacier surface do not always lie directly over those at the base of the glacier. Comparisons of water discharge and cation load in each of the two main streams indicate that subglacial hydraulic processes differ between drainage basins. One stream drains from a conduit that is isolated in its lower reach from the surrounding subglacial region and receives water routed englacially from the surface. The upper reach of the conduit also receives water routed englacially from the surface as well as from a distributed subglacial flow system. The other main stream drains from a conduit coupled to a debris layer beneath the glacier. Observations of the layer in natural ice tunnels indicate that the water may flow within a thin layer of debris. A one-dimensional model of flow through the debris layer can explain both the base-flow and diurnal variations of the second main stream.
The immune response of CBA/N mice and their F1 hybrids to 2,4,6-trinitrophenylated antigens: II. Avidity profiles of secondary IgM and IgG responses to TNP-KLH

Abstract CBA, CBA/N, and F 1 hybrid mice heterozygous at the recessive xid locus were examined for their responses to 2,4,6-trinitrophenylated (TNP) keyhole limpet hemocyanin (KLH), a thymus-dependent antigen. Using a plaque inhibition assay, it was observed that although the inhibition profiles of the total plaque-forming-cell (PFC) responses are similar in normal and defective mice, the direct PFC of phenotypically responsive mice are more readily inhibited by TNP-aminocaproic acid than are those of the immunodeficient ones. These findings are compared with the reports of other investigators, and their possible implications are discussed.
Serum and insulin regulate cap function in 3T3-L1 cells

Serum starvation and readdition of serum, insulin, or mitogens result in changes in phosphorylation of several eukaryotic initiation factors that correlate with a decrease or stimulation in translation, respectively. We have introduced in vitro synthesized reporter mRNAs into exponentially growing and serum-deprived 3T3-L1 cells to examine whether serum deprivation affects cap-dependent translation. In serum-fed control cells, addition of a cap to poly(A)- or poly(A)+ mRNA increased translational efficiency by 43- and 460-fold, respectively. In serum-deprived cells, the relative rate of translational efficiency of capped mRNA was reduced 2.6-fold relative from that observed in serum-fed cells with little change in the relative functional half-life. The effect of serum deprivation on translation was rapid and occurred within 90 min, and cap function was restored upon addition of serum or insulin to starved cells. Analysis of the dose dependence for reversal of the effects of serum starvation on cap-dependent translation indicated that 10 nM insulin was optimal. Little change in the function of the poly(A) tail was observed during serum starvation or hormone treatment. However, a decrease in the synergism between the cap and a poly(A) tail was observed upon starvation which was reversed by serum, and in part, by insulin.
Maximum entropy modeling for speech recognition

Summary form only given. Maximum entropy (maxent) models have become very popular in natural language processing. We begin with a basic introduction of the maximum entropy principle, cover the popular algorithms for training maxent models, and describe how maxent models have been used in language modeling and (more recently) acoustic modeling for speech recognition. Some comparisons with other discriminative modeling methods is made. A substantial amount of time is devoted to the details of a new framework for acoustic modeling using maximum entropy direct models, including practical issues of implementation and usage. Traditional statistical models for speech recognition have all been based on a Bayesian framework using generative models such as hidden Markov models (HMM). The new framework is based on maximum entropy direct modeling, where the probability of a state or word sequence given an observation sequence is computed directly from the model. In contrast to HMM, features can be asynchronous and overlapping, and need not be statistically independent. This model therefore allows for the potential combination of many different types of features. Results from a specific kind of direct model, the maximum entropy Markov model (MEMM) are presented. Even with conventional acoustic features, the approach already shows promising results for phone level decoding. The MEMM significantly outperforms traditional HMM in word error rate when used as stand-alone acoustic models. Combining the MEMM scores with HMM and language model scores shows modest improvements over the best HMM speech recognizer. We give a sense of some exciting possibilities for future research in using maximum entropy models for acoustic modeling.
Hierarchical information architecture for air traffic management

The air traffic management (ATM) concept extends the historical air traffic control (ATC) function to new levels of coordination and space-time scale. The development of new ATM applications in the United States' National Airspace System (NAS), and parallel efforts internationally, require formalized and automated coordination between multiple control partitions and levels in the ATM hierarchy. It is proposed that the uncertainty and congestion inherent in the airspace have informational analogs in the ATM system that should be treated by adaptive and hierarchical control paradigms. These paradigms incorporate ideas of informational dynamics and economics. The ATM architecture sketched here derives from development efforts for an experimental NAS application called Advanced Automated En Route ATC (AERA). >
Identification of Two Saccharomyces cerevisiae Cell Wall Mannan Chemotypes

We have obtained evidence for two structurally and antigenically different Saccharomyces cerevisiae cell wall mannans. One, which occurs widely and is found in S. cerevisiae strain 238C, is already known to be a neutral mannan which yields mannose, mannobiose, mannotriose, and mannotetraose on acetolysis of the (1 → 6)-linked backbone. The other, which was found in S. cerevisiae brewer9s strains, is a phosphomannan with a structure very similar to that of Kloeckera brevis mannan. S. cerevisiae (brewer9s yeast strain) was agglutinated by antiserum prepared against Kloeckera brevis cells. The mannan, isolated from a proteolytic digest of the cell wall of the former, did not react with S. cerevisiae 238C antiserum, whereas it cross-reacted strongly with K. brevis antiserum. Controlled acetolysis cleaved the (1 → 6)-linkages in the polysaccharide backbone and released mannose, mannobiose, mannotriose, and mannotriose phosphate. Mild acid treatment of the phosphomannan hydrolyzed the phosphodiester linkage, yielding phosphomonoester mannan and mannose. The resulting phosphomonoester mannan reacted with antiserum prepared against K. brevis possessing monoester phosphate groups on the cell surface. α-d-Mannose-1-phosphate completely inhibited the precipitin reaction between brewer9s yeast mannan and the homologous antiserum. Flocculent and nonflocculent strains of this yeast were shown to have similar structural and immunological properties.
CSPα knockout causes neurodegeneration by impairing SNAP‐25 function

At a synapse, the synaptic vesicle protein cysteine-string protein-α (CSPα) functions as a co-chaperone for the SNARE protein SNAP-25. Knockout (KO) of CSPα causes fulminant neurodegeneration that is rescued by α-synuclein overexpression. The CSPα KO decreases SNAP-25 levels and impairs SNARE-complex assembly; only the latter but not the former is reversed by α-synuclein. Thus, the question arises whether the CSPα KO phenotype is due to decreased SNAP-25 function that then causes neurodegeneration, or due to the dysfunction of multiple as-yet uncharacterized CSPα targets. Here, we demonstrate that decreasing SNAP-25 levels in CSPα KO mice by either KO or knockdown of SNAP-25 aggravated their phenotype. Conversely, increasing SNAP-25 levels by overexpression rescued their phenotype. Inactive SNAP-25 mutants were unable to rescue, showing that the rescue was specific. Under all conditions, the neurodegenerative phenotype precisely correlated with SNARE-complex assembly, indicating that impaired SNARE-complex assembly due to decreased SNAP-25 levels is the ultimate correlate of neurodegeneration. Our findings suggest that the neurodegeneration in CSPα KO mice is primarily produced by defective SNAP-25 function, which causes neurodegeneration by impairing SNARE-complex assembly.
REPEATED VERTICAL SEMICIRCULAR CANAL STIMULATION DOES NOT HABITUATE HORIZONTAL NYSTAGMUS IN CAT.

A group of cats was exposed to a series of angular accelerations about a vertical rotatory axis with the head tilted so that a synergic pair of vertical canals were in the plane of rotation, and then tested with the lateral canals in the plane of rotation. This group was compared with a second group that received only lateral canal stimulation, and with a third group that received neither lateral nor vertical canal stimulation. It was found that repeated acceleration of the vertical canals does not reduce that nystagmus elicited with the lateral canals accelerated in the plane of rotation.
Study on Single-Axis Tracking PV System Measurement

In this paper, the precision test method of single-axis PV track device is proposed by analyzing generator mechanism of PV module. In the process of the rotation of single-axis track device, the change of corner in space is considered. Suitable coordinate system is built in order to evaluate track device precision which normal vector of PV module and solar direction vector can be decomposed in this coordinate system. Meanwhile, the comparison on the tracking precision of PV track devices tested by different devices is made and the test uncertainty is researched as well. Experimental results verify the effectiveness of the method which is proposed in this paper.
Design of iMobot, an intelligent reconfigurable mobile robot with novel locomotion

The design and novel features of a reconfigurable modular robot, called iMobot, with four controllable degrees of freedom is presented in this paper. iMobot, which is designed for search and rescue operations as well as other applications such as research and teaching, has versatile locomotion, including a unique feature of driving as though with wheels and lifting itself into a camera platform. Future work is envisioned for using these modules in clusters to achieve advanced mobility. The accompanying video demonstrates the various locomotion of the modular robot.
Global variables and forward baryons in 14.6 GeV/nucleon silicon-nucleus collisions

Abstract Experiment E814 measures transverse energy over nearly the full solid angle and charged particle multiplicity in the forward hemisphere in the center of mass frame. Experimental data on transverse energy and charged particle multiplicity indicate a large amount of stopping and rescattering. Protons and neutrons are measured and identified in a spectrometer covering a narrow cone around the beam axis. The multiplixity of beam rapidity nucleons is studied as a function of target mass and centrality of the collision. The results can be understood in terms of collision geometry and nuclear transparency. Conclusions on the in-medium cross section for already excited nucleons can be drawn from these data. We find a value consistent with the free nucleon-nucleon inelastic cross section.
Enhanced pinning of superconducting vortices by magnetic vortices

Periodic arrays of magnetic structures are well known to give rise to commensurate pinning of superconducting vortices in adjacent superconducting films. In this work we compare the pinning effects due to magnetic dots with either single-domain or magnetic-vortex magnetization configuration. We observe a clear correlation between the magnetoresistance in the superconductor and the magnetization configuration of the magnetic dots indicating that the pinning of superconducting vortices is strongly enhanced for the magnetic vortex state. The origin of this enhanced pinning is due to the locally larger stray magnetic fields produced by the magnetic vortex cores.
PSA-NCAM distinguishes reactive astrocytes in 6-OHDA-lesioned substantia nigra from those in the striatal terminal fields.

6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA) lesion of the substantia nigra (SN) causes the appearance of reactive astrocytes not only in the SN but also in the striatal terminal fields, as measured by increased size of the cells and their processes, as well as enhanced expression of glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) and an epitope recognized by monoclonal antibody 19D1. We now demonstrate that polysialylated neural cell adhesion molecule (PSA-NCAM) is induced on reactive astrocytes, as well as on large neurons, on the ipsilateral side of the 6-OHDA-lesioned SN. Colocalization of GFAP and PSA-NCAM was confirmed for reactive astrocytes using a confocal laser scanning microscope. Negligible amounts of PSA-NCAM reactivity were detected contralaterally, although colocalization was noted on astrocytes with sparse, significantly thinner processes. In contrast to the increase of GFAP in the lesioned striatum, few striatal astrocytes expressed PSA-NCAM. In agreement with these results, PSA-NCAM was detected on cultured reactive astrocytes from SN but not reactive striatal astrocytes. Double immunohistochemistry for proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA), a marker of dividing cells, and GFAP demonstrated that reactive astrocytes in lesioned SN were PCNA-positive whereas those in striatum were not. Although NG2 chondroitin sulfate proteoglycan expression also increased in the lesioned SN, NG2 was not colocalized with PSA-NCAM, was not expressed on astrocytes, and labeled only oligodendrocyte precursor cells. Our results suggest that PSA-NCAM can act as a marker for reactive astrocytes only at the site of the lesion and not in the terminal fields, probably because it is reexpressed only when astrocytes divide. J. Neurosci. Res. 61:588–596, 2000. Published 2000 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Detection of β-thalassemia mutations in the Chinese using amplified DNA from dried blood specimens

This paper describes DNA polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification directly from dried blood specimens for the detection of the β-thalassemia mutation in China. Target DNA was amplified to span the β-globin gene regions, which included ten types of mutation sites specific for Chinese β-thalassemias. Ten kinds of oligonucleotide probes were constructed and used to hybridize with the amplified DNA. A total of 170 β-thalassemia alleles originating from eastern, southwestern and southern China were analyzed. The results revealed that the distributions of different types of mutations were different in the three regions. The most common types in southern China were a frameshift at codons 41/42 and a C→T substitution at IVS II n.654, the most frequent types in south-western China were codon 17 and IVS II n.654 mutations, and the predominant mutations in eastern China were frameshifts at codons 41/42 and 71/72.
A Preliminary Study For An Empirical Approach To An Optical Transform Method For Differentiation Of Pathologies Found In Human Blood Cell Smears

A pilot study for potential applicability of a coherent optical. Fourier transform technique to differentiate between healthy and pathological human blood cell smears has been conducted. Types of abnormalities tested include acute myelogenous leukemia, sickle-cell anemia, target-cell anemia, acute lymphatic leukemia, infectious mononucleosis,and eosincphila. Although limited numbers of slides and restricted types of abnormalities were examined, normality and various abnormalities are distinctly identifiable through coherent optical transform analysis. The morphological and constitutional variations have been qualitatively examined as the sources of both the observed deviations in the characteristic transform patterns and the photographic or densitometric profiles. Limitations in the presently employed optical Fourier transform method and the prerequisite conditions for standardized sample preparation are briefly discussed.© (1977) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Beam Dynamical Calculaticns with Realistic Fields in a Drift Tube Linear Accelerator

A method for numerical beam dynamics studies of drift tube type linear accelerators using electromagnetic fields similar to those encountered in actual machines is presented. Results of calculations for a 90 mev accelerator are given and comparisons made with similar calculations in which the axial electric field is assumed spatially constant within the accelerating gap.
Nutritional aspects of bone health

Bone mass, geometry and microstructure, and bony tissue material level properties determine bone strength, hence the resistance to fracture. At a given age, all these variables are the consequence of the amount accumulated and of the structure developed during growth, up to the so-called peak bone mass, and of the bone loss and microstructure degradation occurring later in life. Genetic factors primarily contribute to the variance of the determinants of bone strength. Nutritional intakes are environmental factors that influence both processes, either directly by modifying modelling and remodelling, or indirectly through changes in calcitropic hormone secretion and action. Some effects of nutrition on the offspring bone could take place during foetal life. There are interplays between genetic factors, nutritional intakes and physical exercise. Among the nutrients, sufficient dietary intakes of calcium and protein are necessary for bone health in childhood and adolescence as well as later in life.
Subtilitates Anglicanae in Fourteenth‐Century Paris: John of Mirecourt and Peter Ceffons

Alas! by the same disease which we are deploring, we see that the Palladium of Paris has suffered in these sad times of ours, wherein the zeal of that noble university, whose rays once shed light into every corner of the world, has grown lukewarm, nay, is all but frozen. There the pen of every scribe is now at rest, the generation of books no longer occurs, and there is none who begins to assume the role of new author. They wrap up their doctrines in unskilled discourse, and are losing propriety of all logic, except that our English subtleties, which they denounce in public, are the subject of their furtive vigils.
The role of activity-dependent neuroprotective protein in a mouse model of fetal alcohol syndrome.

Abstract Objective Fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS) is the most common nongenetic cause of mental retardation. Peptides NAPVSIPQ (NAP) and SALLRSIPA (SAL), related to activity-dependent neuroprotective protein (ADNP), prevent alcohol-induced damage in a mouse model of FAS. Our objective was to characterize ADNP in this model to relate this protein to the mechanisms of damage and peptide neuroprotection. Study design Timed, pregnant C57Bl6/J mice were treated on day 8. Groups were control, alcohol, peptide pretreatment, or peptide alone. Embryo and decidua were harvested at 6 and 24 hours and 10 days. To evaluate ADNP expression, real-time polymerase chain reaction was performed with results presented as the ratio of ADNP-to-glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH) concentration. Analysis of variance was performed for overall comparisons with P Results At 6 hours, there was no difference in ADNP between alcohol-exposed embryos compared with control embryos. At 24 hours, there was an increase in ADNP in alcohol-exposed embryos compared with controls ( P P P P =.97). Peptide pretreatment did not prevent the alcohol-induced increase in ADNP in embryo or decidua. Conclusion Alcohol increased embryonic and decidual ADNP expression at 24 hours and it persisted in the embryo for 10 days. Because ADNP is a known neuroprotectant, these findings suggest that it may be released as a protective mechanism in FAS. Changes in the embryo were persistent suggesting that the embryo is more vulnerable to alcohol-induced damage than the mother.
Effect of Swine Manure on Sulfamethazine Degradation in Aerobic and Anaerobic Soils

Degradation and fate of sulfamethazine (SMZ) were determined under aerobic and anaerobic conditions in soil with and without swine manure amendment. For both aerobic and anaerobic conditions, SMZ disappeared rapidly during the first 7 days followed by slow disappearance which may indicate that SMZ had become more persistent and less available. For soils receiving 100 mg/kg of SMZ, the percent of SMZ remaining in the soil after 63 days were between 25 and 60 %. Depending on the initial SMZ concentration, estimated half-lives for aerobic and anaerobic incubations ranged from 1.2 to 6.6 and 2.3 days to more than 63 days, respectively. Addition of manure (0.054 g/g soil) did not significantly affect the half-lives of SMZ. Inhibitory effects of SMZ on anaerobic microbial respiration were observed in unamended soil at concentrations of 50 mg/kg or higher, but only transient inhibitory effects were found in aerobic soil. Five to 22 % of the 14C[phenyl]-SMZ added were extracted at the end of the incubations while 70 to 91 % of the 14C were converted to bound (non-extractable) forms in both manure amended and unamended soil. Only 0.1 to 1.5 % of 14C-SMZ was mineralized to 14CO2. Disappearance of SMZ in sterilized soil was not completely halted indicating possible contribution of abiotic processes to the disappearance of SMZ in soil.
Two classes of extreme motion trajectories of a point with varying specific impulse

The variational problem to determine the optimal trajectories of the center of mass of a spacecraft moving in the central Newtonian field with limited power and specific momentum was considered. The extremal trajectory was shown to contain elements of zero, intermediate, and maximal power with a constant or variable specific momentum. For the circular and spiral trajectories, extremal analytical solutions were established. These elements can find use in the problems of departure and transfer to the parking orbit, as well as in the problems of orbital transfers. The problem of transfer to the given elliptical orbit was considered as an example.
Price Premia to Name Brands: An Empirical Analysis

This paper examines the factors affecting prices in the North America banana market. There are substantial price differences between brand name and "generic" companies, and among branded companies. Key questions are what causes these price differences, how are they related to the brand-names of leading companies, and what role does quality play. Investigation reveals numerous potential differences, including important quality dimensions such as method of shipment and sourcing, as well as differences in brand-name recognition. The econometric analysis shows that objective quality characteristics explain the bulk of price variation and that subjective factors like brand-names explain little price variation.
Challenging colonic polyposis pedigrees: differential diagnosis, surveillance, and management concerns

Hereditary polyposis syndromes show extensive phenotypic and genotypic heterogeneity within and among families, a situation that may hinder diagnosis. In these settings, germline mutation testing may be the sine qua non for diagnosis if such a mutation is identified in a patient or family. We provide examples of phenotypically differing polyposis pedigrees depicting various challenges in hereditary polyposis syndrome diagnosis. Our purpose is to augment physician understanding of phenotypic variation and thus help identify high-risk presymptomatic family members who could benefit from highly targeted surveillance and management strategies. We describe nine familial polyposis pedigrees displaying anecdotal clinical problems that can confound the differential diagnosis. Emphasis was given to a multidisciplinary approach focusing on pathological confirmation with respect to number, histology, and location of polyps in the gastrointestinal tract; a detailed family history of cancer at all anatomic sites; noncancer phenotypic features of hereditary polyposis syndromes; and appropriate molecular genetic testing in concert with genetic counseling. Improved physician understanding of the clinical natural history features, genetic transmission patterns, and appropriate gene testing will help in diagnosis and, ultimately, surveillance and management for the various hereditary polyposis syndromes.
The effect of freshwater inflow on meiofaunal consumption of sediment bacteria and microphytobenthos in San Antonio Bay, Texas, U.S.A.

Abstract If meiofauna are food-limited then they should respond with increased feeding rates when microbial production is stimulated. River inflow into estuaries is a source of organic matter that can be limiting to bacterial production, and nutrients that might limit primary production. Therefore, inflow should stimulate microbial primary and secondary production, and eventually meiofauna grazing rates should increase as a functional response to increased food availability and quality. To determine if meiofauna grazing rates were affected by inflow, two replicate stations were sampled in the upper, river-dominated end, of San Antonio Bay and contrasted with two replicate stations at the lower end of the estuary. The experiments were performed three times. Water column nutrients and sediment organic matter were higher in the upper end of the estuary than in the lower end. Benthic primary production was 2·5 times higher in the upper end than in the lower end. Benthic metabolism (measured by oxygen consumption) was also higher in the upper end, but bacterial production (measured by thymidine uptake) was not significantly different between the two ends. Grazing rates were 3·5 times higher on bacteria, and 2·5 times higher on microalgae in the upper end of the estuary than in the lower end, confirming our hypothesis that inflow would stimulate grazing rates. Grazing rates were dominated by juvenile molluscs (temporary meiofauna) which accounted for 39% of the microalgae and 68% of the bacteria ingested by the community. Juvenile molluscs were most prevalent in the upper, fresh-water zone. Harpacticoid copepods and nematodes had higher grazing rates in the lower end of the estuary. Grazing rates were higher on microalgae than on bacteria: 4% of the microalgae were removed per hour, compared to only 1% of the bacteria. Grazing rates on microalgae were 2·6 times higher than productivity, indicating meiofauna might be food-limited. Grazing on bacteria was low, and production (based on oxygen metabolism) exceeded grazing; thus bacterial food is not apparently limiting. Freshwater inflow can affect meiobenthic community structure, stimulate microbial production, and stimulate feeding rates by small invertebrates that can benefit by the increase in microbial production.
A biophysical model of frequency-sweep selectivity in primary auditory cortex

Cells in primary auditory cortex respond preferably to frequency sweeps of a certain rate and direction. In a model by Fishbach et al. [J. Neurophysiol. 90 (2003) 3663-3678], direction selective cells emerged through patterned thalamocortical projections. The thalamic inputs to the auditory cortex were modeled as time-varying firing rates without explicit spikes. We investigate the biophysical constraints for the emergence of direction selectivity using a model that includes spiking thalamic neurons. We find that directional selectivity can still be achieved for a broad range of parameter values using an architecture similar to that proposed previously for visual cortex models. Furthermore, recurrent connections could improve the directional selectivity of the neurons.
Sexual Behavior: Stimulation by Painful Electrical Shock to Skin in Male Rats

A mildly painful electric shock lasting 0.5 second was delivered every 30 seconds to the skin of male rats while they were with a receptive female rat. Sexual behavior occurred, with brief latency, after shocks; thus, successive shocks resulted in a pacing of sexual behavior. This effect is attributed to periodic augmentation of sexual arousal by a periodic, nonspecific arousing stimulus (that is, shock).
Impact of diagnosis of diabetes on health-related quality of life among high risk individuals: The Diabetes Prevention Program outcomes study

Purpose The purpose of this study is to assess if diagnosis of type 2 diabetes affected health-related quality of life (HRQoL) among participants in the Diabetes Prevention Program/Diabetes Prevention Program Outcome Study and changes with treatment or diabetes duration.
Minimum wage and food prices: an analysis of price pass-through effects

Abstract An Input-Output model is used to analyze price pass-through effects of a minimum wage increase on prices of the food and kindred product and food-service industry. Although these sectors employ a disproportionate share of minimum wage workers, our results suggest a $0.50 increase in the minimum wage would minimally affect food prices.
Screening Tests for Intended Medication Adherence Among the Elderly

Background:Medication nonadherence is increasingly recognized as a cause of preventable adverse events, hospitalizations, and poor healthcare outcomes. While comprehensive medication adherence assessment for the elderly is likely to identify and prevent drug-related problems, it is time consuming for patient and healthcare providers alike.Objective:To identify screening tools to predict elderly patients' intended medication adherence that are suitable for primary-care settings and community pharmacies.Methods:This study evaluated 57 English-speaking persons aged 65 years and older who were from diverse socioeconomic backgrounds. Intended adherence was quantified, and the relationships to demographic, medical history, socioeconomic, and literacy variables were determined.Results:In a multivariate analysis with the composite MedTake Test (a quantitative measure of each subject's intent to adhere to prescribed oral medications) as the dependent variable, independent predictors of intended adherence included:...
Model Geology: Prototype and Laboratory Streams

Each river, waterway, or tidal inlet has its own “face.” Rivers may be large or small and may be cut in rock, sand, or clay. They all, however, have features in common, and their behavior is governed by the same physical parameters. The simplest but also most important relationship is expressed by Equation (1), where Q is discharge; A, cross-sectional area; and V, mean velocity. This equation always holds true. If two watercourses are compared, the expression becomes Equation (2), which does not mean A 1 / A 2 = V 1 / V 2 . Probably V 1 ≠ V 2 because the mean velocity is a function of many factors more or less dependent upon each other. These factors include slope, depth, friction elements, material characteristics, material load, and water temperature. Friction elements, in turn, comprise “skin friction,” caused directly by the grains; “sill or dune friction,” caused by ripples and/or dunes; “internal distortion friction,” caused by interior eddy formation in the stream; and “meander friction” or “other irregularity friction,” caused by meander or similar effects. The results of stream-geometry research are discussed with reference to existing regime formulas and their applications to a model river developed in the Hydraulic Experiment Station at Wallingford, England, and to field studies made by American geologists and engineers. The discussions reveal that remarkable similarities exist between flow- and stream-geometry characteristics regardless of stream size and that some differences may be explained by hydraulic considerations based on the development of bottom geometry. Also discussed are hydraulic model laws for rivers with sediment transport.
High-performance liquid chromatographic determination of the distribution of naturally occurring folic acid derivatives in rat liver.

Abstract Procedures which allow extraction and quantitation of labile, reduced folic acid derivatives in rat liver have been developed. These procedures entail extraction of hepatic folates at 100°C in 2% ( w v ) sodium ascorbate, 0.2 m 2-mercaptoethanol, pH 7.85. The extract was treated with conjugase to hydrolyze folate polyglutamates and reverse-phase, ion-pair high-performance liquid chromatography was used to separate the resulting monoglutamates which were measured by microbiological assay using Lactobacillus casei. Experiments with HPLC-purified standard derivatives, so treated, showed excellent stability of tetrahydropteroylglutamic acid (H4PteGlu), 10-formyl-H4PteGlu, 5-formyl-H4PteGlu, 5-methyl-H4PteGlu, and pteroylglutamic acid (PteGlu). Under these conditions, approximately 56% of H2PteGlu was recovered unchanged while about 27% was converted to PteGlu; 5,10-methylene-H4PteGlu was quantitatively recovered as H4PteGlu. These procedures were applied to the task of measuring the distribution of naturally occurring folate cofactors in rat liver. These results indicated that rat liver folates have the following compositions: 5-methyl-H4PteGlu, 37.2%; H4PteGlu, 32.7%; 10-formyl-H4PteGlu, 22.6%; and 5-formyl-H4PteGlu, 7.7%. Experiments with [3H]PteGlu injection showed that all hepatic folates had the same specific radioactivity as determined by radioassay and L. casei assay, indicating that L. casei exhibited the same growth response to all the folates detected in rat liver.
Brain Images, Babies, and Bathwater: Critiquing Critiques of Functional Neuroimaging

Since the mid-1980s, psychologists and neuroscientists have used brain imaging to test hypotheses about human thought processes and their neural instantiation. In just three decades, functional neuroimaging has been transformed from a crude clinical tool to a widely used research method for understanding the human brain and mind. Such rapidly achieved success is bound to evoke skepticism. A degree of skepticism toward new methods and ideas is both inevitable and useful in any field. It is especially valuable in a science as young as cognitive neuroscience and its even younger siblings, social and affective neuroscience. Healthy skepticism encourages us to check our assumptions, recognize the limitations of our methods, and proceed thoughtfully. Skepticism itself, however, also must be examined. In this article, I review the most commonly voiced criticisms of functional neuroimaging. In the spirit of healthy skepticism, I will critically examine these criticisms themselves. Each contains at least a kernel of truth, although I will argue that in some cases the kernel has been over extended in ways that are inaccurate or misleading.
Soft determinism + awareness = shared responsibility Comment: More Words About Words: A Reaction to “Soft Determinism…”

This article seeks to present a viable resolution of one of the perennial ideological issues in counseling: the determinism-human freedom dilemma. That this problem is of pivotal significance to counselors is immediately evident in view of its bearing on the related professional issue of client and counselor responsibility. A conceptual model involving limited personal freedom within a framework of biological-environmental determinism is reviewed, followed by a concluding comment on the counselor's shared responsibility for the outcomes of the counseling relationship. The author rejects the notion that the counselor can function as a neutral observer in client decision-making
Bond alternation in the infinite polyene: Effect of long-range Coulomb interactions

Abstract We investigate the effects of long-range Coulomb interactions on bond and site dimerizations in a one-dimensional half-filled band. It is shown that the ground state broken symmetry is determined by two sharp inequalities involving the Coulomb parameters. Broken symmetry with periodicity 2 k F is guaranteed only if the first inequality (downward convexity of the intersite potential) is obeyed, while the second inequality gives the phase boundary between the bond-dimerized and site-dimerized phases. Application of these inequalities to the Pariser-Parr-Pople model for linear polyenes shows that the infinite polyene has enhanced bond alternation for both Ohno and Mataga-Nishimoto parameterizations of the intersite Coulomb terms. The possible role of distant neighbour interactions in photogeneration experiments is discussed.