cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Long-term neuropsychological, neuroanatomical, and life outcome in hippocampal amnesia

Focal bilateral hippocampal damage typically causes severe and selective amnesia for new declarative information (facts and events), a cognitive deficit that greatly impacts the ability to live a normal, fully independent life. We describe the case of 1846, a 48-year-old woman with profound hippocampal amnesia following status epilepticus and an associated anoxic episode at age 30. Patient 1846 has undergone extensive neuropsychological testing on many occasions over the 18 years since her injury, and we present data indicating that her memory impairment has remained severe and stable during that time. New, high-resolution, structural MRI studies of 1846's brain reveal substantial bilateral hippocampal atrophy resembling that of other well-known amnesic patients. In spite of severe amnesia 1846 lives a full and mostly independent adult life, facilitated by an extensive social support network of family and friends. Her case provides an example of a rare and unlikely positive outcome in the face of severe memory problems.
Effects of localization and amplification on intensity distribution of light transmitted through random media

We numerically study the statistical distribution of intensity of light transmitted through quasi-one-dimensional random media by varying the dimensionless conductance $g$ and the amount of absorption or gain. A markedly non-Rayleigh distribution is found to be well fitted by the analytical formula of Nieuwenhuizen et al. [Phys. Rev. Lett. 74, 2674 (1995)] with a single parameter ${g}^{\ensuremath{'}}$. We show that in the passive random system ${g}^{\ensuremath{'}}$ is uniquely related to $g$, while in amplifying or absorbing random media ${g}^{\ensuremath{'}}$ also depends on the gain or absorption coefficient.
Soybean Seed Amino Acid Content QTL Detected Using the Universal Soy Linkage Panel 1.0 with 1,536 SNPs

Soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.] is the primary source of meal used in animal feed in the U.S. However, few studies have been conducted to evaluate genomic regions controlling amino acid composition is soybean. Designing soybean seed compositions that will benefit animal production is essential. The objective of this study was to identify genomic regions controlling essential and non-essential amino acid composition in soybean seed proteins. To achieve this objective, 282 F 5:9 recombinant inbred lines (RILs) developed from a cross of Essex × Williams 82 were used. Ground soybean seed samples were analyzed for amino acids and statistically signifi cant differences (p < 0.05) were found among genotypes in the population for all amino acid concentrations. The Universal Soy Linkage Panel (USLP) 1.0 of 1,536 single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) DNA markers were used to genotype the 282 RILs and identify 480 useful genetic markers. The software R/qtl was used to identify candidate quantitative trait loci (QTL), which were validated using R/MQM. A total of ten QTL were detected on chromosomes 5, 7, 9, 10, 13 and 20 that explained 5 to 14% of the total phenotypic variation for a particular amino acid. Using SNPs from the USLP 1.0 to detect QTL for amino acids in soybean provides additional information to select genotypes with enhanced amino acid profiles that will benefit animal production.
Insights for managers from modeling species interactions across multiple scales in an idealized landscape

In recent years there has been a shift in biodiversity efforts from protected areas to one of interlinked habitat patches across multiple land tenure types. Much work remains on how managers can intervene in such systems to achieve basic goals. We use an agent-based model of a metapopulation with predator-prey dynamics and density-dependent migration to examine theoretically the capacity of a manager to modify the ecosystem to achieve conservation goals. We explore management strategies aimed at maintaining one of two goals - local or global coexistence of species. To achieve their goal, the manager varies the connectivity between patches based on one of three strategies - the monitoring of predator, prey, or the vegetation carrying capacity of the patches. We find that strategies that lead to highest coexistence monitor mid-tier populations globally. Our goal is to use our model results to advance decision-making in conservation beyond protected areas, typical in today's conservation.
Airport Perimeter Security: Where we've been, Where we are, and Where we're going

Perimeter security at an airport requires disparate sensors to operate in concert to detect intruders; track them; assess threats; coordinate responses; (for example, human responders for investigation, or door and gate closings); gather evidence for law enforcement prosecution; and coordinate responses between law enforcement agencies. At present, no one system accomplishes all these tasks. Our work and development has evolved a system that meets these needs. In this paper we describe that evolution and show where we've been in system development, how that past has shaped our present deployment of systems and how our current work will lead to a complete solution.
A study of Golgi preparations from the dorsal lateral geniculate nucleus of the adult cat

Four cell types are distinguishable in the lateral geniculate nucleus. The largest (class 1) have their dendrites oriented in relation to the plane of the laminae. The dendrites cross laminar borders freely and bear many fine spines. Class 2 cells show less orientation of their dendrites. These dendrites bear clusters of grape-like appendages close to the branching points and fine spines on their peripheral segments. Only the peripheral segments cross laminar borders. The smallest (class 3) cells have long stalked appendages and give rise to intrinsic axons which ramify close to the perikaryon. Cell classes 1 and 2 occur in laminae A and A1, with class 1 cells mainly concentrated between laminae. Class 3 cells occur in all major laminae. Class 4 cells, with long smooth dendrites oriented parallel to the lamina, lie in lamina B. Two types of extrinsic axon are seen. Type I axons give off many short simple terminal collaterals which often innervate more than one lamina. These are regarded as extra-retinal afferents. Type II axons (probably retinal afferents) have complex flower-like terminals and each axon innervates only one lamina. Contacts between several type II axons and two or more grape-like clusters occur in laminae A and A1. In lamina B finer type II axons form complex overlapping terminal nests around the dendrites of class 4 cells.
Active tuning of coupled resonance modes in terahertz metamaterials

We demonstrate active tuning of coupled inductive-capacitive resonance in a multi-layer metamaterial. Our experiment reveals that one resonance mode of a coupled pair can be selectively switched off by driving the metamaterial with infrared light.
Shape matching using morphological structural shape components

A morphological shape decomposition algorithm was recently introduced that allows a shape to be represented as a collection of modestly overlapped disk components. In this paper, we present a shape matching algorithm that is based on this decomposition algorithm. The matching algorithm matches two shapes by matching their disk components. A local descriptor that contains both geometric and structural information is built for each disk component. Such descriptors are used to determine the matching of disk components from two shapes. The overall similarity score is established by combining scores from matching individual disk components. The experiments show that the algorithm is tolerant to scale and rotation changes. An advantage of the algorithm is that the matching can be done at different levels of details.
Numerical Studies of Bottom Shear Stress and Sediment Distribution on the Amazon Continental Shelf

ABSTRACT The relation between bottom shear stress and the distribution of bottom sediments on the Amazon continental shelf has been studied using a three-dimensional, primitive-equation computer model that incorporates the turbulence-closure scheme of Melior and Yamada (1982) for calculating eddy diffusivity and a simple algorithm for computing nonlinear wave-current influences on bottom shear stress. Model results compare reasonably well with salinity data sets for the Amazon plume. Model results on distribution of bottom currents and bottom shear stresses help explain some of the observed sedimentological features of the Amazon continental shelf. High concentrations of suspended sediment in the Amazon River are transported outward over the continental shelf and northward by the North Brazil oastal Current As this sediment settles out of the water column, it forms the prograding, subaqueous delta described by Nittrouer et al. (1986). Accumulation rates are greatest shoreward of the 40-m isobath due to a zone of convergent, cross-shelf residual tidal velocities. Little sediment is deposited in the shallow parts of the shelf, where bottom shear stress exceeds 10 dynes/cm2 over a diurnal tidal cycle. Zones of laminated sand and mud on the Amazon continental shelf coincide with areas of high interseasonal differences in bottom shear stress. Our results suggest that our model may be useful in interpreting sedimentation in ancient sedimentary basins as well.
Recent improvements to the model for wire antennas in the code NEC

The author describes modifications of the numerical electromagnetics code (NEC) algorithm to improve the accuracy for wires with discontinuous radius and tightly coupled junctions and to avoid loss of precision in modeling electrically small antennas. To model wires with discontinuous radius, the current is now located on the wire surface with match points on the axis, reversing the previous convention. Openings in the surface at wire ends, voltage source gaps, and steps in radius are closed with radial caps so that the location of match points on the axis is justified under the extended boundary condition. A condition on the charge density at junctions is established by a small moment-method solution for the continuity of the scalar potential at each junction or change in radius. Steps to improve precision at low frequencies include changes in the evaluation of basis functions and field due to a segment, and a provision to use a constant basis and weighting function around selected small loops. >
Normal Iodide Efflux from Nonfunctioning Nodules of Human Thyroid Glands

The kinetics of iodide efflux were studied in four benign thyroid nodules and one carcinoma by observing the fractional rate of radioiodide release from slices prelabeled in vitro. The thyroid:medium ratio for iodide (T:M) of the benign nodular tissue was1.9 ± 0.3 (mean ± SE) with a value of 9.1 ± 3.3 obtained from adjacent normal tissue. Despite the reduction in iodide concentrating activity, the rate constant foriodide efflux k0 from the nonfunctioning, benign thyroid nodular tissue (0.112 ± 0.044 min-1) was not significantly different as compared to normal tissue (0.102 ± 0.033 min-1) In a papillary carcinoma, the efflux of radioactive iodide appeared markedly enhanced. These studies indicate that in non-functioning, benign thyroid adenomas, the reduction in iodide concentrating activity is not the consequence of an increased iodide efflux.
Regulation of Arabidopsis thaliana (L.) Heynh Arginine Decarboxylase by Potassium Deficiency Stress

Arginine decarboxylase (ARGdc) is the first enzyme in one of the two pathways to putrescine in plants. ARGdc enzyme activity has been shown to be induced by many environmental factors, including potassium deficiency stress. We investigated the mechanism for induction of ARGdc activity during potassium deficiency stress in Arabidopsis thaliana (L.) Heynh. We show that A. thaliana responds to potassium deficiency stress by increasing ARGdc activity by up to 10-fold over unstressed plants with a corresponding increase in putrescine levels of up to 20-fold. Spermidine and spermine levels do not increase proportionately. Northern analysis showed no increase in ARGdc mRNA levels correlated with the increase in ARGdc enzyme activity. Western analysis revealed that there was no difference between ARGdc protein levels in stressed plants compared with controls. The increase in ARGdc enzyme activity due to potassium deficiency stress does not appear to involve changes in mRNA or protein abundance.
Broadcast-and-weight interconnects for integrated distributed processing systems

A modem generation of hardware-based neuron-inspired systems attempt to exploit the efficiency and robustness of sparse codes called spikes. Spiking systems could address important problems in recognilion, optimizmion. and analysis of high-dimensional environments. Spiking models are central to several recent projects in microelectron ic neuromorphic hardware. such as 18M's cognitive computing architecture [I J. which address these domains where von Neumann machines perform poorly. Utilization of analog physical dynamics represents a key step towards attaining the effi ciency and functionality exhibited by biophysical infonnation processors [2]. In most neural network models, each neuron multiplies signals from many other neurons by independent weights. sums them. performs some nonlinear dynamical process. and transmits copies of a single output signa l. Long-range connections and high fan-in are thus critical capabi lities that are fundamentally difficult for electronic interconnects (e.g. cross bars) to handle with both performance and scale. Thi s fact has forced all mot..lem spike prOCCssoTh to adopt various forms of addressevent routing, which sacrifice bandwidth and efficiency by representing spikes as digital codes instead of physical pul ses. We present an on-chip interconnect protocol called broadcast-and-weight. which leverages recent advances in photonic integrated circuit technology to address interconnect challenges faced by distributed processing. In the past. optical neural networks have encountered barriers in reliabili ty, scalability. and cost because they are difficult to integrate. WDM effective ly channelizes available bandwidth without spatial or holographic multiplexing and avoids coherent interference effects during fan-i n. High-bandwidth optical channels are compatible with recently proposed laser neuron devices [3]. which could access a picosecond computational domain that impacts applicmion areas where both complexity and speed are paramount (e.g. adaptive control. real-time embedded system analysis. and cognitive RF processing). Spectral Filter Bank Total Power Detector L~,
Reimagining a writer’s process through digital storytelling

Building on Hillocks’ (1995) concepts of the declarative and procedural knowledge that writers need in order to craft effective writing, this article explores the writing process of one pre-service teacher as she moved from a personal narrative to an essay to a digital story. The authors argue that digital writers—in addition to needing declarative and procedural knowledge—must also understand knowledge of technology in order to more fully realize the potential of digital storytelling. Implications for teachers and teacher educators are discussed in relation to Mishra and Koehler’s (2008) "technological pedagogical content knowledge,” or TPACK.
Technical Note: Chemical Composition Of Angus and Holstein Carcasses Predicted from Rib Section Composition

Seventy-four small-framed Angus and sixty-nine Holsteins were used to evaluate the classic Hankins and Howe equations for predicting percen- tages of water, protein, and lipid of steer carcasses varying in weight and breed type. Animals were fed either corn grain or corn silage diets, housed inside or outside, and slaughtered at one of five predetermined weights within breed. Soft tissues from a carcass side and the from the 9-10-11th rib section were separated from bone, and the percentages of water, protein, and lipid were measured. The Hankins and Howe equa- tions predicted .81 5 .181 percentage units more (P < .001) water and .99 C.213 percentage units less (P < .001) lipid than was measured in the carcasses. The residual difference for protein depended on breed and diet (P < .028) and decreased .22 * .078 percentage units for each percentage unit increase in predicted protein. During development of equations from our data, no statistical difference was found between Angus and Holstein in the relationship of carcass water to rib water. The relationship of carcass protein to rib protein had a lower ( P < .l) intercept with a steeper (P < .055) slope for Angus than for Holstein steers, whereas for lipid there was no difference between the slopes, but Holsteins had one percentage unit more (P < .038) carcass lipid than Angus at the same percentage rib lipid. These results confirm that composition of the 9-10-11th rib section can be used accurately to predict carcass composition with minor adjustments for breed type.
The Politics of Policy Stability: Explaining the Levels of Volatility in Economic Policymaking in Argentina and Brazil between 1990 and 2010

ABSTRACTThis article will examine economic policy stability in Argentina and Brazil, where by “policy stability” I refer to “the level of fluctuation in policies”. Countries in which policies change frequently would be characterized as having low policy stability, whereas countries which maintain a consistent set of laws over a long period of time would be deemed to have high policy stability. Throughout the 1990s and 2000s, whereas Brazil demonstrated a very high degree of policy stability, Argentina was characterized by highly volatile, constantly fluctuating economic policies. I analyze two root causes of this divergence in policy stability between these countries: the strength of institutions of horizontal accountability, and the levels of fragmentation in the party systems. I will show in this article that the higher levels of policy stability in Brazil were the result of: a) a stronger congress and judiciary (these institutions were considerably weaker in Argentina); and b) a significantly more frag...
Gravel Blanket Required to Prevent Wave Erosion

Surface wave erosion laboratory tests were performed in hydraulic wave flume on materials shipped from Yakima Project, Wash, to determine cover blanket needed to prevent leaching of fine base material; most stable cover blanket was formed by screening talus material on 3/4 in. screen; minus 3/4 in. material was placed over base material with plus 3/4 in. material on surface; tests were recorded by motion pictures.
Biochemical analysis of the multifunctional vaccinia mRNA capping enzyme encoded by a temperature sensitive virus mutant

Prior biochemical analysis of the heterodimeric vaccinia virus mRNA capping enzyme suggests roles not only in mRNA capping but also in early viral gene transcription termination and intermediate viral gene transcription initiation. Prior phenotypic characterization of Dts36, a temperature sensitive virus mutant affecting the large subunit of the capping enzyme was consistent with the multifunctional roles of the capping enzyme in vivo. We report a biochemical analysis of the capping enzyme encoded by Dts36. Of the three enzymatic activities required for mRNA capping, the guanylyltransferase and methyltransferase activities are compromised while the triphosphatase activity and the D12 subunit interaction are unaffected. The mutant enzyme is also defective in stimulating early gene transcription termination and intermediate gene transcription initiation in vitro. These results confirm that the vaccinia virus mRNA capping enzyme functions not only in mRNA capping but also early gene transcription termination and intermediate gene transcription initiation in vivo.
Systematic revision of the family Kalliapseudidae (Crustacea: Tanaidacea)

Kalliapseudidae is a family of shallow burrow–dwelling and fossorial marine and estuarine tanaidaceans. There are currently 39 known species in 12 genera and three subfamilies. They are distributed throughout the world’s tropical, subtropical, and temperate coastal waters and, with a few known exceptions, are restricted to depths of less than 200 m. The phylogeny of Kalliapseudidae is assessed to test the monophyly of currently accepted subfamilies and genera, based largely on examination of material loaned from various museums and institutions. Multiple exemplars from other apseudomorph families were also included in the ingroup to test the monophyly of the family. Parsimony analyses included 41 terminal taxa and 64 binary and multistate morphological characters. Analyses based on successive weighting resulted in 20 most parsimonious trees. The strict consensus tree of these most parsimonious trees supported Kalliapseudidae, Kalliapseudinae, Tanapseudes, Cristapseudes, and Mesokalliapseudes as monophyletic. The genus Kalliapseudes could not be resolved, but constraining it to be monophyletic resulted in a significantly worse tree. The subfamilies Hemikalliapseudinae and Tanapseudinae were recovered as polyphyletic and paraphyletic, respectively, but without support. Constraining them to be monophyletic did not result in a significantly worse tree. Results indicated high levels of homoplasy in three morphological characteristics traditionally used to differentiate groups. Alokalliapseudes macsweenyi is transferred back to the genus Mesokalliapseudes, rendering Alokalliapseudes a junior subjective synonym. Nine new taxa, including six species of Kalliapseudes and one species of the genus Cristapseudes, and one new genus (Phoxokalliapseudes) and species (P. singaporensis) were discovered and described. Two species of Kalliapseudes (K. gobinae and K. multiarticulus) are transferred to Phoxokalliapseudes n. gen. Neotypes are designated for K. magnus, C. omercooperi and M. schubarti, and a lectotype is designated for K. mauritanicus. Distribution maps, illustrated keys to the subfamilies, genera and species, and preliminary remarks on biogeographic history are also presented.
Doppler Broadening of Low-Energy Neutron Resonances

A derivation of a well known exact equation for the shape of a Doppler- broadened neutron absorption resonance is discussed very briefly. Approximate forms of the equation are developed. (auth)
On the engagement of synergy theory and constructivism——the background for Yang Si mode and Du Langkou mode teaching application

Yang Si mode and Du Langkou mode match the theory of constructivism. From a macro grasp,Yang Si mode and Du Langkou mode also have innovative significance of synergy theory applied to the teaching methods.The paper points out that synergy theory grasps the macro environment of teaching system as a whole and constructivism guiding for microscopic internal learning subject in particular. Constructivism tallies with synergy theory. The conjunction provides a theoretical guidance of enhancing students' subject position in all directions and changing the old teaching model.
Performance of the FilmArray® blood culture identification panel utilized by non-expert staff compared with conventional microbial identification and antimicrobial resistance gene detection from positive blood cultures.

Utilization of commercially available rapid platforms for microbial identification from positive blood cultures is useful during periods of, or in laboratories with, limited expert staffing. We compared the results of the FilmArray® BCID Panel performed by non-expert technologists to those of conventional methods for organism identification performed by skilled microbiologists. Within 8 h of signalling positive by a continuous monitoring blood culture system, positive bottles were analysed by the FilmArray BCID Panel. Data from these analyses were compared to standard-of-care testing, which included conventional and automated methods. To gauge the ease of use of the BCID Panel by non-expert staff, technologists unfamiliar with diagnostic bacteriology performed the testing without prior knowledge of the Gram stain results, or even whether organisms were detected. Identifications of 172/200 (86 %) positive blood cultures using the BCID Panel were consistent with identifications provided by standard-of-care methods. Standard-of-care testing identified organisms in 20 positive blood cultures, which were not represented on the BCID Panel. Seven (3.5 %) blood cultures demonstrated a discrepancy between the methods, which could not be attributed to either a lack of representation on the panel or unclear separate detection of organisms in a mixed blood culture of a shared genus or grouping of organisms, e.g. Staphylococcus or Enterobacteriaceae . One (0.5 %) blood culture yielded invalid results on two separate panels, so it was eliminated from the study. The easy-to-use FilmArray® technology shows good correlation with blood culture identification and antibiotic resistance detection performed by conventional methods. This technology may be particularly useful in laboratories with limited staffing or limited technical expertise.
The experience of nursing risk management in emergency department in general hospitals

Objective To explore the management measures of nursing risks and improve the quality of nursing in emergency department.Methods To summarize and analyze nursing risks mainly occurred in elderly patients in emergency department,strengthen the risk management,consummate the rules and regulations and enforce the safety control measures,and pay more attention to the insecure factors in emergency nursing care for the elderly patients.Results Nurses’ risk awareness has been improved obviously,and the nursing mistakes have been decreased by enforcing the safety control measures.Conclusion It’s very important to carry out risk management,which is directly related to the quality of rescue nursing and patients’ satisfaction.
Social and Political Impacts of Renewable Energy: Literature Review

Abstract The social and political perspectives are important considerations for renewable energy technologies. These perspectives may have impacts that are positive, negative, or a combination. Positive impacts can improve the adoption of certain technologies. Adverse impacts can reduce the intended benefits or even threaten the viability of a technologically promising technology. Since societal and political impacts are typically tightly inter-related they are being considered together. A literature review was performed to determine the criteria that are elements of the social and political perspectives. The literature review was supplemented with a review by experts to capture any additional criteria that were not specifically mentioned. The results are presented in this paper as taxonomy of criteria and sub-criteria for these perspectives. Over sixty criteria and sub-criteria are identified for the social and political perspectives. The perspectives and their criteria are important for decision making by policy makers, electric utilities, technology manufacturers, and research institutes. Having comprehensive sets of criteria can assist decision makers in ensuring that important aspects and impacts of the social and political perspectives are given due consideration and are not inadvertently omitted.
Immunotherapy of Solid Tumors

The concept of immunotherapy has evolved into a multifaceted and specialized concern. Nonspecific immunotherapy, for example, refers to the use of substances that randomly stimulate the host-immune response. Specific immunotherapy, in contrast, is intended to evoke a particular immune response against tumor antigens. Various agents have been used in both modes of therapy, and attempts have been made to establish their efficacy. It is clear, however, that much research remains to be done, in relation to both the agents of immunotherapy and the means by which the effects of these agents can be monitored.
Foothills: Precursors of Feminist Drama

The roots of feminist drama wind through the history of the theatre, but their adequate uncovering remains the task of research only now being conducted. Both the feminist theatre movement and feminist drama were foreshadowed in the hundreds of plays by women written in the early part of the twentieth century and more recently in a dozen powerful works by women dramatists in the 1950s and early 1960s. Current research calls attention to the seventeenth-century plays of Aphra Behn, and comedies and melodramas by women playwrights such as Cora Mowatt in the nineteenth century. These were not only plays by women but plays that pointedly revealed the complexities of women’s lives and that subverted assumed notions of women’s social powerlessness.
On the capacity of the chemical channel with feedback

The trapdoor channel is a binary input/output/state channel with state changing deterministically as the modulo-2 sum of the current input, output and state. At each state, it behaves as one of two Z channels, each with crossover probability 1/2. Permuter et al. formulated the problem of finding the capacity of the trapdoor channel with feedback as a stochastic control problem. By solving the corresponding Bellman fixed-point equation, they showed that the capacity equals equation. In this paper, we consider the chemical channel, which is a generalization of the trapdoor channel, whereby at each state the corresponding Z channel has crossover probability p. We characterize the capacity of this problem as the solution of a Bellman fixed-point equation corresponding to a Markov decision process (MDP). Numerical solution of this fixed-point equation reveals an unexpected behavior, that is, for a range of crossover probabilities, the capacity seems to be constant. Our main contribution is to formalize and prove this observation. In particular, by explicitly solving the Bellman equation, we show the existence of an interval [0.5, p*] over which the capacity remains constant. To the authors' knowledge, this is the only known channel for which such behavior is observed.
An investigation of APOL1 risk genotypes and preterm birth in African American population cohorts

Background Two genetic variants in apolipoprotein L1 (APOL1) are associated with increased risk of focal segmental glomerulosclerosis as well as other glomerular phenotypes. These risk variants are common in individuals of African ancestry but absent in other racial groups. Yet, the majority of individuals with two APOL1 risk alleles [high-risk (HR) genotype] do not have renal disease. It is critical to identify environmental and secondary genetic influences that, when combined with these alleles, lead to kidney disease. In a recent study of black children with glomerular disease enrolled in the Nephrotic Syndrome Study Network (NEPTUNE) and Chronic Kidney Disease in Children Study (n = 104), we found that subjects with an HR genotype had a 4.6-fold increase in the odds of preterm birth as compared to those with a low risk (LR) genotype [odds ratio 4.6 (CI 1.4-15.5)]. There are known racial disparities in preterm birth, which itself is a known risk factor for chronic kidney disease and focal segmental glomerulosclerosis. Thus, we questioned whether an HR APOL1 genotype is associated with prematurity in the general African American population. Methods We analyzed two publically available genetic datasets of preterm birth in African Americans, including 867 infants and 519 mothers from the Gene Environment Association Studies (GENEVA) study of preterm delivery and 960 mothers from the Boston Medical Center genome-wide association study of preterm birth. We performed multivariable analyses testing for association between HR APOL1 and birth outcomes. Results In both studies, there was no association between HR APOL1 in mothers and prematurity, gestational age or birthweight. Additionally, in the GENEVA study, we saw no association between infant HR APOL1 and prematurity, gestational age or birthweight. Conclusion From these data, we conclude that the previously observed association between HR APOL1 and prematurity is specific to those with glomerular disease, suggesting prematurity may act as an additional risk factor in APOL1-associated renal disease.
The Poly-Drug User: Examining Associations between Drugs Used by Adolescents

ABSTRACTBased on data from the 2014 Communities that Care Youth Survey, the authors examine the associations between drug use frequencies among 11 drugs. This research represents a step in determining what leads to the use of dangerous drugs like heroin, other opioids, and other not so dangerous substances. Findings indicate the highest association is between marijuana and alcohol use. Most drugs show at least a low to medium association with all other drugs. Findings indicate the difficulty in making gateway assumptions and that poly-drug use determined by peer associations is a better explanation.
Isolation of millimeter wave antennas over cylindrical and rectangular ground planes

Effects of cylindrical and rectangular finite sized ground planes on the isolation between flush mounted linearly-polarized wideband antennas in K/Ka-band is presented. The impact is analyzed by first presenting the isolation between the antennas in free space, with good correlation between measurement, Friis transmission and simulation. Measurement results show that the ground planes decrease isolation by up to 5 dB, and that isolation using either ground plane is similar and >62 dB over a 18–45 GHz band for antennas separated by 30”.
The Ancient State and the Myth of Marathon

Jason Kuznicki reviews the role of the state or polity in ancient historiography and philosophy. He reviews authors including Thucydides, Plato, Aristotle and Tacitus and argues that ancient Greek and Roman cultures tended to place the state rhetorically at the center of society, and to make of it a theater of virtue, in which individual character was tested. Self-sacrifice for the benefit of the state was commonly considered the highest virtue. Idealized states, such as those found in the Republic and the Laws, commonly relied on imaginary technologies, saving them from empirical testing while propagating the ideal of an all-powerful state.
Revitalizing Strategy Instruction

The national focus on teacher accountability and the resulting emphasis on raising the bar for teacher evaluations challenge teachers of students with learning disabilities (LD) to rethink instruct...
Neoadjuvant chemoradiation for potentially resectable gastric cancer.

e14724 Background: Outcomes are poor in patients with gastric cancer, and recurrence is common. Perioperative chemotherapy and adjuvant chemoradiation therapy (CRT) improve survival in patients with resectable disease. Experience with neoadjuvant CRT for potentially resectable disease is limited, and its role remains undefined. We report our experience using neoadjuvant CRT for potentially resectable gastric cancer. Methods: An IRB-approved, retrospective review from 1994 to 2007 identified 23 patients with biopsy-proven, potentially resectable gastric cancer. Patients had T2/T3 and/or N1 disease and no evidence of metastatic disease by endoscopic ultrasound and cross-sectional imaging. All underwent neoadjuvant external beam radiation with concurrent 5-FU or platinum-based chemotherapy followed by restaging and surgery if appropriate. Results: Of the 23 patients, 20 completed neoadjuvant CRT and surgical exploration. Two patients (n=2) had radiographic disease progression during neoadjuvant CRT and did n...
Far-Lateral Approach Without Drilling the Occipital Condyle for Vertebral Artery-Posterior Inferior Cerebellar Artery Aneurysms.

Background The far-lateral transcondylar surgical approach is often used to clip vertebral artery (VA) and posterior inferior cerebellar artery (PICA) aneurysms. The role of condyle resection during this approach is controversial. Objective To evaluate patient outcomes in patients with VA-PICA aneurysms in whom drilling the occipital condyle was not necessary. Methods Between May 2005 and December 2012, a total of 56 consecutive patients with incidental or ruptured VA-PICA aneurysms underwent surgery with a far-lateral approach without condylar resection. Clinical presentation, surgical reports, presurgery and postsurgery radiological examinations, and clinical follow-up reports were assessed. Anatomic aneurysm location was analyzed through angiography or computed tomography angiography. We compared postsurgical Glasgow Outcome Scale scores, modified Rankin Scale scores, and morbidity in 2 groups: those with aneurysms in the anterior medullary segment and those with aneurysms in the lateral medullary segment. Results The predominant presentation was subarachnoid hemorrhage in 34 patients (60.7%). Most aneurysms (n = 27 [48.2%]) were located in the lateral medullary segment of the PICA, followed by the anterior medullary segment (n = 25 [44.6%]). Total aneurysm occlusion was achieved in 100% of patients, and bypass techniques were necessary in 3 patients (5.4%). Fifty-two patients (92.8%) had Glasgow Outcome Scale scores of 4 or 5 postsurgery. Conclusions A far-lateral approach that leaves the occipital condyle intact is adequate for treating most patients with VA-PICA aneurysms.
Intramedullary Lengthening Devices

With the object of eliminating pin and wire site inflammation and pain, surgeons have developed intramedullary lengthening nails that utilize telescopic rods with internal ratchet mechanisms that elongate the bone. Such devices include the Bliskunov® nail, the Albizzia® nail, and the ISKD®. The Fitbone® nail contains an electric motor, powered via a subcutaneous induction coil to elongate the device. The Phenix® and PRECICE® intramedullary nails each have a rotating magnet on a spindle that responds to a moving external magnetic field.
Analytic solution for planar indeterminate impact problems using an energy constraint

This work proposes an analytic method for resolving planar multi-point indeterminate impact problems for rigid-body systems. An event-based approach is used to detect impact events, and constraints consistent with the rigid-body assumption are used to resolve the indeterminacy associated with multi-point impact analysis. The work-energy relation is utilized to determine post-impact velocities based on an energetic coefficient of restitution to model energy dissipation, thereby yielding an energetically consistent set of post-impact velocities based on Stronge’s energetic coefficient of restitution for the treatment of rigid impacts. The effect of stick–slip transition is analyzed based on Coulomb friction. This paper also discusses the transition from impact to contact. This analysis is essential for considering the rocking block problem that is used as an example herein. The predictions of the model for the rocking block problem are compared to experimental results published in the literature. An example of a planar ball undergoing two-point impact is also presented.
Pharmacist-based antihypertensive medication review and assignment of morning versus evening dosing of once-daily antihypertensive medications: A pilot study to assess feasibility and efficacy in chronic kidney disease patients.

Evening dosing of antihypertensive medications lowers nighttime blood pressure, and in one large randomized trial, it reduced the risk for cardiovascular outcomes. However, the feasibility of nighttime dosing in routine clinical practice is unknown. The purpose of this pilot study was to evaluate the effect of a brief pharmacist intervention to assign patients to take antihypertensive medications at specific times of the day. In this pilot, randomized controlled trial, 79 patients with moderate to severe chronic kidney disease (CKD) taking one or more antihypertensive medications once daily were randomized to take one once-daily antihypertensive either in the morning or in the evening. A total of 79 patients were randomized (39 to morning dosing, 40 to evening dosing). Average (SD) age was 56.5 (14) years, 68% were male, and average (SD) estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) was 36.6 (8.9) mL/min/1.73m2. Adherence, defined as taking the once-daily medication at the time indicated six or seven times in the last 7 days and not taking it at any other time during the day, was 91% in the morning arm and 95% in the evening arm (p = 0.57). This pilot demonstrates the feasibility and efficacy of a pharmacist-physician collaborative to assign once-daily antihypertensive medications to either morning or evening dosing.
Physical interpretation of the partition function for colloidal clusters

This paper provides insights into the physics of a classical cluster of particles. The authors derive the partition function for the cluster starting from moments and positions of the particles. The work explains how the symmetry number, the moments of inertia, and the vibrational frequencies affect the probability of observing a particular cluster structure.
VASOACTIVE INTESTINAL POLYPEPTIDE (VIP) — PRESENCE AND ACTION IN THE CAROTID BODY

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses the presence and action of vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (VIP) in the carotid body (cb). VIP is a peptide of 28 amino acids originally isolated from the gut and showing similarities to such other peptides as secretin and glucagon. VIP is located primarily in the muscular layer of the gut where the nerve supply is rich. It is found in other peripheral nerves such as the vagus and fibers from the sympathetic ganglia as well as in the central nervous system. As the mechanisms of cb hemoreception are presently unknown, the neurophysiological results do not lend themselves to clear interpretation. In the cat, exogenous dopamine is generally reported to decrease or abolish neural activity, while norepinephrine produces a biphasic response, initially inhibiting then stimulating neural activity. VIP significantly increases dopamine turnover in certain sections of the forebrain of the rat. But interactions between VIP-immunoreactive neurons and norepinephrine nerve terminal systems of the hypothalamus have also been postulated. On the basis of these two observations, one might postulate that if the role of VIP in the cb is via neurotransmitter release, then it would seem to be associated with norepinephrine and not with dopamine.
STUDIES OF HUMAN NK CELL FUNCTION IN CHRONIC DISEASES

Publisher Summary This chapter focuses on human natural killer (NK) cell function in chronic diseases. It presents recent studies showing defects in the IFN–NK system in patients with chronic diseases, explains the observed defects, and discusses their significance to the pathogenesis of these diseases. In a study described in the chapter, NK of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) were tested against K562 targets using a short term (4 or 5 h) conventional 51Cr-release cytotoxicity assay. It was observed that approximately 30% of patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) and 40% with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) exhibit NK significantly below that of normal donors, that is, outside the 95% confidence limits for the normal group mean. In contrast, patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) do not differ significantly from the normal population. In addition to endogenous NK, this study determined the response of patients' and normal donors' NK to augmentation by IFN and IFN inducers. While the majority of MS patients were augmented with IFN in vitro, their levels of augmented NK rarely reached those of normal donors, and the group mean NK was significantly reduced.
The coll-spring properties of chromosomes: Their common structura, mechanical and mathematical attributes

It is found that many of the phenomena which cytologists and geneticists have reported in chromosomes are mechanically, chemically, electrically and mathematically explainable if, in fact, at the time of duplication and separation, chromosomes possess the shape and certain physical properties of coil-springs. The coil-spring principle, with particular reference to timing and orientation, is the key to a consistent and systematic interpretation of many essential aspects of chromosomal duplication and separation. The more carefully and extensively research delves into the matter, the more frequently, (both in phenomena found and in phenomena apparently denied by Nature) common qualities are discovered in living chromosomes and in mechanical coil-springs.
On the Equivalence of the Linear Complementarity Problem and a System of Piecewise Linear Equations: Part II

In an earlier paper the authors demonstrated the equivalence of the linear complementarity problem and that of finding the zeroes of a square system of equations for which the functions are piecewise linear. Given the system of equations, a “dual” concept of complementarity was evoked to pose the problem as an LCP.
Helix 6 of tBid is necessary but not sufficient for mitochondrial binding activity.

The apoptosis effector Bid regulates cell death at the level of mitochondrial cytochrome c efflux. Bid consists of 8 α-helices (designated H1 through H8, respectively) and is a soluble cytosolic protein in its native state. Proteolysis of the N-terminus (encompassing H1 and H2) of Bid yields activated “tBid” (truncated Bid), which translocates to the mitochondria and induces the efflux of cytochrome c. Here, we demonstrate that helix H6 of tBid is necessary, albeit not sufficient, for mitochondrial binding. In particular, a 33 amino acid long domain, which encompassed H6 and H7, behaved as the minimum domain in tBid that was sufficient for mitochondrial binding. Unexpectedly, the hydrophobic surface of these helices could be mutated without altering the binding activity of the domain, implying that the secondary structure of the helices may be the key determinant of binding. These experiments expand our mechanistic understanding of the apoptotic regulator, tBid.