cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Gender difference in cardiopulmonary reflex inhibition of sympathetic nerve activity.

We tested the hypothesis that reflex responses to mechanical [increase in left atrial pressure (LAP) 0-25 mmHg] and chemical stimulation [left atrial injection of phenylbiguanide (PBG), 0.5-10 mg/kg] of cardiopulmonary receptors are greater in female (n = 9; 335 +/- 9 g) than in male (n = 10; 558 +/- 23 g) age-matched rats. Anesthetized (500 mg/kg urethan and 80 mg/kg alpha-chloralose), tracheotomized, and artificially ventilated (100% oxygen), sinoaortic-denervated animals were instrumented with left atrial, femoral venous, and arterial catheters and a Tygon occluder around the ascending aorta. Reflex inhibition of lumbar sympathetic nerve activity (LSNA) vs. LAP and dose PBG was higher in female rats. A two-way analysis of variance revealed a significant gender effect, males vs. females (P = 0.023), and a significant gender x dose interaction (P < 0.001) for LSNA vs. LAP. There was also a significant gender x dose interaction (P < 0.001) for LSNA vs. PBG. However, there was no influence of gender on the...
Ex Vivo Generation of Human Anti–Pre-B Leukemia-Specific Autologous Cytolytic T Cells

In contrast to other neoplasms, antigen-specific autologous cytolytic T cells have not been detected in patients with human pre-B-cell leukemias. The absence of efficient B7 family (B7-1/CD80; B7-2/CD86) -mediated costimulation has been shown to be a major defect in tumor cells' capacity to function as antigen-presenting cells. We show here the generation of autologous anti-pre-B-cell leukemia-specific cytolytic T-cell lines from the marrows of 10 of 15 patients with pre-B-cell malignancies. T-cell costimulation via CD28 is an absolute requirement for the generation of these autologous cytolytic T cells (CTL). Although costimulation could be delivered by either bystander B7 transfectants or professional antigen-presenting cells (indirect costimulation), optimal priming and CTL expansion required that the costimulatory signal was expressed by the tumor cell (direct costimulation). These anti-pre-B-cell leukemia-specific CTL lysed both unstimulated and CD40-stimulated tumor cells from each patient studied but did not lyse either K562 or CD40-stimulated allogeneic B cells. Cytolysis was mediated by the induction of tumor cell apoptosis by CD8+ T cells via the perforin-granzyme pathway. Although we were able to generate anti-leukemia-specific CTL from the bone marrow, we were unable to generate such CTL from the peripheral blood of these patients. These studies show that antigen-specific CTL can be generated from the bone marrow of patients with pre-B-cell leukemias and these findings should facilitate the design of adoptive T-cell-mediated immunotherapy trials for the treatment of patients with B-cell precursor malignancies.
Cleave and Rescue, a novel selfish genetic element and general strategy for gene drive

There is great interest in being able to spread beneficial traits throughout wild populations in ways that are self-sustaining. Here, we describe a chromosomal selfish genetic element, CleaveR [Cleave and Rescue (ClvR)], able to achieve this goal. ClvR comprises two linked chromosomal components. One, germline-expressed Cas9 and guide RNAs (gRNAs)—the Cleaver—cleaves and thereby disrupts endogenous copies of a gene whose product is essential. The other, a recoded version of the essential gene resistant to cleavage and gene conversion with cleaved copies—the Rescue—provides essential gene function. ClvRenhances its transmission, and that of linked genes, by creating conditions in which progeny lacking ClvR die because they have no functional copies of the essential gene. In contrast, those who inherit ClvR survive, resulting in an increase in ClvR frequency. ClvR is predicted to spread to fixation under diverse conditions. To test these predictions, we generated a ClvR element in Drosophila melanogaster. ClvR^(tko) is located on chromosome 3 and uses Cas9 and four gRNAs to disrupt melanogaster technical knockout (tko), an X-linked essential gene. Rescue activity is provided by tko from Drosophila virilis. ClvR^(tko) results in germline and maternal carryover-dependent inactivation of melanogaster tko(>99% per generation); lethality caused by this loss is rescued by the virilis transgene; ClvR^(tko) activities are robust to genetic diversity in strains from five continents; and uncleavable but functional melanogaster tko alleles were not observed. Finally, ClvR^(tko) spreads to transgene fixation. The simplicity of ClvR suggests it may be useful for altering populations in diverse species.
Heterogeneous Integrations on Organic Substrates

As of today and in general for high-volume manufacturing (HVM), 70% of the RDLs (redistribution-layers) for heterogeneous integrations are on organic substrates and the metal line width and spacing are ≥10 μm. Most of these heterogeneous integrations are actually SiPs (system-in-package). No more than 5% of the RDLs for heterogeneous integrations are on organic substrates, and the metal line width and spacing are <10 μm.
Endoscopic full thickness resection: A surgeon's perspective

Abstract Innovations in surgical instrumentation and methods are enabling safe and effective minimally invasive options for treatment of many diseases. Similarly, technologic advances in endoscopy are offering assistive devices and techniques to enable more aggressive, yet safe, endoscopic therapies. Endoscopic mucosal resection and submucosal dissection are quickly becoming adopted to offer appropriate patients the least invasive treatment, that is, treatment without surgical scars or approaches. On the horizon at the time of this writing is endoscopic full-thickness resection, which if proven safe has potential to offer the same advantages to a wider variety of pathology. This chapter will focus on a surgeon's perspective of gastrointestinal disease, traditional surgical treatments, and possibilities for these new endoscopic techniques.
Methodological Complexities in Quantifying Rates of Fatal Opioid-Related Overdose

Purpose of Review Effective responses to the US opioid overdose epidemic rely on accurate and timely drug overdose mortality data, which are generated from medicolegal death investigations (MDI) and certifications of overdose deaths. We identify nuances of MDI and certification of overdose deaths that can influence drug overdose mortality surveillance, as well as recent research, recommendations, and epidemiological tools for improved identification and quantification of specific drug involvement in overdose mortality.
Dynamic Stability Assessment for Integrated Transmission-Distribution System Considering Distributed Energy Resources

The importance of considering integrated transmission and distribution (T-D) system planning and operation has been increasingly recognized. Most research focuses on steady-state analysis, yet the dynamic behaviors of T-D systems have not been thoroughly studied, especially with deeper penetration of distributed energy resources (DERs) largely altering system dynamic characteristics. In this paper, we attempt to investigate the impacts of aggregate DERs on transmission side dynamic stability. Time domain simulations are performed for dynamic stability assessment. Simulation results demonstrate how the grid-connected DERs affect overall system dynamics under different scenarios. Furthermore, smart inverters with grid-support functions have also been examined via simulations to mitigate the adverse impacts on stability caused by DERs.
When is Mandated Disclosure Informative and Who is Informed? Evidence from Goodwill-Related Disclosures

This paper examines the information content of mandatory financial statement disclosures related to goodwill impairment testing after the implementation of the Statement of Financial Accounting Standards (SFAS) 142. I hand-collect a sample of triggering events and related details that firms disclose at the time of a goodwill impairment announcement. Factor analysis reveals that impairment reasons group into two broad categories: firm-specific, and industry- or economy-related. I find significant market reactions to a firm's decision to impair goodwill, but only if a firm discloses firm-specific triggering events. Furthermore, firm-specific triggering events increase the post-announcement information asymmetry, suggesting that SFAS 142-mandated disclosures benefit sophisticated investors. Additional findings indicate that firm-specific disclosures help predict future goodwill impairments when a firm records multiple impairments. Overall, these results indicate that financial statement users require more detailed firm-specific disclosures related to goodwill impairment testing, while industry- and economy-related disclosures are not deemed informative by the market. The SEC and FASB may consider these findings while developing future disclosure guidance.
Access to Reproductive Health Care in Juvenile Justice Facilities

Abstract Study Objective The juvenile justice system houses adolescents with unique and unmet reproductive needs, including family planning. The purpose of this study was to identify access to contraceptive counseling and methods for young women in the juvenile justice system. Design We administered a cross-sectional survey that was used to examine services related to reproductive health care, including contraceptive counseling, and ability to initiate or continue contraceptive methods in custody. Setting Juvenile justice systems in the United States. Participants State-level health care administrators in juvenile justice systems. Interventions and Main Outcome Measures We analyzed responses to determine the ability of young women in custody to continue or initiate specific contraceptive methods, in addition to other measures of reproductive health access. Results Twenty-one respondents representing systems in 20 US states were included in analysis. All participating sites provided contraceptive counseling and all allowed at least 1 form of preincarceration contraception to be continued. Eighty-one percent (17/21) of systems enabled young women to initiate contraception while in custody, with the most common method available on-site being birth control pills. Twenty percent (4/20) of sites provided long-acting reversible contraceptive methods. Conclusion This study shows that it is feasible to provide contraception in this setting. However, there exists considerable variability in availability of methods across the United States. Continued work is needed in increasing access to contraception and standardization of care in the juvenile justice system.
Detecting Root-Level Endpoint Sensor Compromises with Correlated Activity

Endpoint sensors play an important role in an organization’s network defense. However, endpoint sensors may be disabled or sabotaged if an adversary gains root-level access to the endpoint running the sensor. While traditional sensors cannot reliably defend against such compromises, this work explores an approach to detect these compromises in applications where multiple sensors can be correlated. We focus on the OpenFlow protocol and show that endpoint sensor data can be corroborated using a remote endpoint’s sensor data or that of in-network sensors, like an OpenFlow switch. The approach allows end-to-end round trips of less than 20ms for around 90% of flows, which includes all flow elevation and processing overheads. In addition, the approach can detect flows from compromised nodes if there is a single uncompromised sensor on the network path. This approach allows defenders to quickly identify and quarantine nodes with compromised endpoint sensors.
Prototyping and Initial Feasibility Study of Palpation Display Apparatus Using Granular Jamming

We designed a novel tactile display apparatus in order to facilitate medical palpation and early diagnosis of a possibly cancerous tumor for the advancement of early diagnostic procedure and to overcome the limitations of existing bulky systems. This paper introduces our first 3D printed soft prototype nodule. It encloses granular particles to physically simulate a lump under varying stiffness control. To support the design, we performed initial feasibility tests. A force versus displacement graph was plotted to understand the behavior of the nodule. It is observed that, under vacuum pressure, the particles are jammed together resulting in much higher stiffness of the nodule compared to the normal condition where particles inside are not jammed together leading to lesser stiffness.
Enhanced and unconventional responses in chemiresistive sensing devices for nitrogen dioxide and ammonia from carboxylated alkylthiophene polymers

A carboxylated thiophene polymer-based chemiresistive device in a field-effect transistor (FET) configuration with unusual and enhanced responses to the widespread pollutants nitrogen dioxide (NO2) and ammonia (NH3) is described. The device based on a polymeric thiophene carboxylic acid showed a dramatic and superlinear increase in drain current (ID) of over 15 000% to a ramped exposure to 10 ppm NO2 over several minutes, while its ethyl ester counterpart had significantly lower response. Devices incorporating either an ester or carboxylic acid displayed comparable and previously unreported increases in ID from 10 ppm ramped NH3 exposure of 200–300%. Conventional poly(alkylthiophenes) showed the expected current decreases from similar NH3 exposures. Using threshold voltage shifts in silicon transistors coupled to our recently reported remote gate (RG) platform with thiophene polymer coatings, we determined that two differing response mechanisms are associated with the two gas exposures. By calculating the charge density induced in the polymers by NO2 exposure using the silicon transistor voltage shifts, we conclude that proton conduction contributes significantly to the high sensitivity of the carboxylic acid to NO2, in addition to doping that was observed for all four polymers. Furthermore, hydrogen bonding moieties of the carboxylic acid and ester may be able to physisorb NH3 and thus alter the charge distribution, rearrange polymer chains, and/or create a proton transfer network leading to the ID increase that is the opposite of the response obtained from non-carboxylated thiophene polymers.
Learning from the Human Hand: Force Control and Perception Using a Soft-Synergy Prosthetic Hand and Noninvasive Haptic Feedback

Force control and perception plays an important role in activities of daily living when handling objects with different physical properties. These abilities are results of complex sensorimotor pathways that coordinate movements, predict consequences, and process feedback. For prosthetic systems, the ability to exhibit human-like action and perception behavior is critical for the acceptance of the terminal device. In this chapter, we review recent findings obtained from a bioinspired soft-synergy prosthetic hand and a noninvasive mechanotactile feedback device. A series of experiments demonstrated the improvement in force control and perception in closed-loop prosthesis through context-aware myoelectric controllers and contralateral haptic training protocols. By comparing performances between human native hands and prosthetic hands, we provide novel insights on the importance of learning from human sensorimotor mechanisms in the design of upper-limb neuroprosthesis.
Exploring the praxis of collective and reciprocal mentorship: leadership preparation through the Urban School Leaders Collaborative

This article examines a unique pedagogical approach imbedded with collective learning experiences that engages students in a continuous cycle of mentorship. The research design is guided by two clo...
Antineoplastic kinase inhibitors: a new class of potent anti-amoebic compounds Antineoplastic kinase inhibitors against Entamoeba histolytica

Abstract Entamoeba histolytica is a protozoan parasite which infects approximately 50 million people worldwide, resulting in an estimated 70,000 deaths every year. Since the 1960s E. histolytica infection has been successfully treated with metronidazole. However, drawbacks to metronidazole therapy exist, including adverse effects, a long treatment course, and the need for an additional drug to prevent cyst-mediated transmission. E. histolytica possesses a kinome with approximately 300 - 400 members, some of which have been previously studied as potential targets for the development of amoebicidal drug candidates. However, while these efforts have uncovered novel potent inhibitors of E. histolytica kinases, none have resulted in approved drugs. In this study we took the alternative approach of testing a set of twelve previously FDA-approved antineoplastic kinase inhibitors against E. histolytica trophozoites in vitro. This resulted in the identification of dasatinib, bosutinib, and ibrutinib as amoebicidal agents at low-micromolar concentrations. Next, we utilized a recently developed computational tool to identify twelve additional drugs with human protein target profiles similar to the three initial hits. Testing of these additional twelve drugs led to the identification of ponatinib, neratinib, and olmutinib were identified as highly potent, with EC50 values in the sub-micromolar range. All of these six drugs were found to kill E. histolytica trophozoites as rapidly as metronidazole. Furthermore, ibrutinib was found to kill the transmissible cyst stage of the model organism E. invadens. Ibrutinib thus possesses both amoebicidal and cysticidal properties, in contrast to all drugs used in the current therapeutic strategy. These findings together reveal antineoplastic kinase inhibitors as a highly promising class of potent drugs against this widespread and devastating disease. Author Summary Every year, nearly a hundred thousand people worldwide die from infection by the intestinal parasite Entamoeba histolytica, despite the widespread availability of metronidazole as a treatment. Here we report that six anticancer drugs of the kinase inhibitor class possess potent anti-amoebic properties, with one of them killing both actively dividing parasite and its transmissible cysts. These anticancer kinase inhibitors, including the dual-purpose drug with both amoebicidal and cysticidal activities may be used to treat amoebiasis, especially in cancer patients or in life-threatening brain- and liver-infecting forms of the disease.
Litigation-Fostered Bureaucratic Autonomy: Administrative Law Against Political Control

The idea of political control dominates our understanding of both what administrative law does and what it should do. This emphasis on political control, however, downplays the important ways that administrative law facilitates resistance to political control in administrative agencies. In this article, I offer studies of two instances in which agencies harnessed the power of seemingly standard administrative law litigation to resist the imposition of policies by political leadership. I classify these kinds of modes of resistance as instances of “litigation-fostered bureaucratic autonomy” and flesh out the mechanisms that drive the process. Acknowledging the role of such modes of resistance is critical to administrative law scholarship insofar as it casts some doubt on the empirical underpinnings of a principal-agent understanding of the function of administrative law. It also poses a potential challenge to the democratic justification of the administrative state, though I ultimately conclude that modes of resistance such as that demonstrated by litigation-fostered bureaucratic autonomy can help curb the excesses of political principals and encourage public-interest-minded deliberation about issues that are both highly technical and value laden.
Harold Gatensby, Tlingit Peace-Maker and Leader

Good leadership is all about promoting and maintaining healthy relationships with others, with the community, and with the society at large. Harold Gatensby, Tlingit Peace-maker and Leader, reminds us that the word ‘Tlingit’ means human being. For Harold, leadership is providing a space in which others are encouraged to experience their authentic human being. In the Peace-making Circle, they have the opportunity, even if only for the duration of the process, to experience a heart-felt connection to community, history, the natural environment, and, above all, to themselves. That is Harold’s message to fellow educators.
The review of methods for mapping species spatial distribution using presence/absence data

Detailed species geographical distribution is fundamental to ecology management and conservation strategies. Compared with the considerable effort needed for direct population estimates,obtaining presence / absence data are more practical and economically effective,so the methods on mapping species distribution with presence / absence data and related environmental variables have been well developed in recent decades with broad implications. The key steps for species distribution modeling using presence / absence data include: 1) develop the conceptual model,2) collect presence / absence data and prepare environmental variable layers,3) select statistic model and algorithm,and 4) run the model and conduct model evaluation. Conceptual models propose the hypothesis of the research and build outlines for data preparation and statistical methods. Systematic sample and non-systematic sampling are used to collect presence / absence data. Related environmental variables are selected and georeferenced by GIS tools to be used in species distribution models at a proper scale. We summarized the algorithms and software that have been used to develop species distribution models combining presence / absence data and environmental variables. Assessment of model performance is crucial for implicating the results generated by those models. This paper reinvented the details of techniques for the above steps of species distribution models. We expect that this paper will show readers some revelation on how to use species distribution models.
From Sketching to Natural Language: Expressive Visual Querying for Accelerating Insight

Data visualization is the primary means by which data analysts explore patterns, trends, and insights in their data. Unfortunately, existing visual analytics tools offer limited expressiveness and scalability when it comes to searching for visualizations over large datasets, making visual data exploration labor-intensive and timeconsuming. We first discuss our prior work on Zenvisage that helps accelerate exploratory data analysis via an interactive interface and an expressive visualization query language, but offers limited flexibility when the pattern of interest is under-specified and approximate. Motivated from our findings from Zenvisage, we develop ShapeSearch, an efficient and flexible pattern-searching tool that enables the search for desired patterns via multiple mechanisms: sketch, natural-language, and visual regular expressions. ShapeSearch leverages a novel shape querying algebra that can express a large class of shape queries and supports query-aware and perceptually-aware optimizations to execute shape queries within interactive response times. To further improve the usability and performance of both Zenvisage and ShapeSearch, we discuss a number of open research problems.
Perceptual-Motor Efficiency and Concussion History Are Prospectively Associated With Injury Occurrences Among High School and Collegiate American Football Players.

Background:After a sport-related concussion (SRC), the risk for lower extremity injury is approximately 2 times greater, and the risk for another SRC may be as much as 3 to 5 times greater.Purpose:...
Tax Burdens and Historical Legacies in Brazil and Mexico

Latin America is often characterized as a low-tax region, but the level of taxation actually varies drastically from country to country. This article explores the especially striking contrast between Brazil and Mexico, two countries that share some key characteristics but nevertheless have dramatically different tax burdens. Brazilian tax revenues have averaged roughly 34% of gross domestic product in recent years, compared to less than 12% in Mexico. Existing theories of taxation, which emphasize contemporary economic and institutional structures, cannot adequately account for this difference. Only the “rentier state” literature sheds some light on it, and the explanation it provides is quite incomplete. I argue that the stark contrast in tax burdens between these two countries can be traced to contingent historical events that shaped in enduring ways elite views of the proper role of the state, as well as the political capacity of popular sectors to pressure for greater expenditure, thus necessitating higher tax revenues. In the Brazilian case I emphasize the country’s uniquely smooth transition to independent nationhood, while in the case of Mexico I point to the impact of the revolution of 1910-1920 and the subsequent social, economic and political reforms, especially under President Lazaro Cardenas.
Analysis of DNA content and cyclin protein expression in studies of DNA ploidy, growth fraction, lymphocyte stimulation, and the cell cycle.

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses the optimal conditions for immunocytochemical detection of cyclin B1 and E and describes certain applications of this methodology. Analysis of cyclin B1 expression for DNA ploidy and chromatin cycle estimates is limited to the cells that express these cyclins in a scheduled fashion. The availability of antibodies to cell-cycle phase-specific cyclin proteins and their application in multivariate analysis, to reveal expression of these proteins, open new possibilities for the study of the cell cycle. Among the applications, the most valuable may be the application of these antibodies in the clinic, to identify tumors or stages of some proliferative diseases, and for classification and prognosis. It is likely that the unscheduled expression or overexpression of these proteins, the key regulatory molecules of the cell cycle, will be shown to be patognomic to the stage or the disease and be valuable prognostic markers.
Respiratory syncytial virus and seasonal influenza cause similar illnesses in children with sickle cell disease.

Background Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is a cause of acute chest syndrome (ACS) in sickle cell disease (SCD), but its clinical course and acute complications have not been well characterized. We compared RSV to seasonal influenza infections in children with SCD. Procedure We defined cases as laboratory-confirmed RSV or seasonal influenza infection in inpatients and outpatients <18 years of age with SCD from 1 September 1993 to 30 June 2011. We used Fisher's exact test to compare proportions, Student's t-test or Wilcoxon rank-sum test to compare continuous variables, and logistic regression to evaluate associations. Results We identified 64 children with RSV and 91 with seasonal influenza. Clinical symptoms, including fever, cough, and rhinorrhea were similar for RSV and influenza, as were complications, including ACS and treatments for SCD. In a multivariable logistic regression model, older age (OR 1.2 per year, 95% CI [1.02–1.5], P = 0.04), increased white blood cell count at presentation (OR 1.1 per 1,000/μl increase, 95% CI [1.03–1.3], P = 0.008), and a history of asthma (OR 7, 95% [CI 1.3–37], P = 0.03) were independently associated with increased risk of ACS in children with RSV. The hospitalization rate for children with SCD and RSV (40 per 1,000 <5 years and 63 per 1,000 <2 years) greatly exceeds the general population (3 in 1,000 <5 years). Conclusions We conclude that RSV infection is often associated with ACS and similar in severity to influenza infection in febrile children with SCD. Pediatr Blood Cancer 2014;61:875–878. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Identification of Four Novel Delta-Globin Gene Mutations in Greek Cypriots Using Polymerase Chain Reaction and Automated Fluorescence-Based DNA Sequence Analysis

The molecular basis of most beta-thalassemia syndromes has been defined, while the spectrum of mutations causing delta-thalassemia is not well characterized. In an attempt to identify such mutations, the region encompassing the delta-globin gene from three Greek Cypriot families suspected of having delta-thalassemia was amplified by polymerase chain reaction (PCR), and DNA sequence determined using an automated fluorescence-based sequencer. Four novel mutations were identified: a G----T change at codon 27 that results in an alanine to serine change; a C----T change at codon 116 converting arginine to cysteine; a T----C change at codon 141 converting leucine to proline; and an AG----GG change at the consensus 3'-acceptor site in IVS-2. While the latter is clearly a thalassemic mutation, the low hemoglobin A2 in the first three may be due to either decreased production or instability of the altered delta-globin chain. All four mutations may be detected by PCR amplification of genomic DNA followed by restriction enzyme digestion. Two mutations abolish restriction sites while two create new cleavage sites. Screening for molecular defects that cause delta-thalassemia or unstable delta-globin by PCR amplification and restriction enzyme digestion will lead to correct diagnosis of beta/delta-thalassemia compound heterozygotes and improved genetic counseling.
Abstracting Nutritional Information of Food Service Facilities Using the Pervasive Healthy Diet Adviser

It would be surprising to find a news publication in the United States today without a mention of words like obesity, diabetes and diet. This is a reflection of the growing awareness worldwide about the importance of a healthy diet in preventing nutrition related chronic diseases like obesity and cancer. A recent study by the United States Department of Agriculture reports that Americans spend more than half of their food dollars on meals at food service facilities. This means that the nutritional content of the food that these facilities provide is an important determinant of national health. We present PHDA, a diet advising application that leverages the power of preventive medicine and ubiquitous computing to help its users choose a healthy diet. Specifically, we discuss the fidelity of different mobile device based peripheral displays in abstracting nutrient data of the food, served in food chains around the country.
Pregnancy following gastric resection

T H E P RO B r. E ivr of pregnancy in patients who have had gastric resection has received little attention in the literature. Since pregnancy is associated with altered intestinal motility, increased nutritional requirements, and increased blood volume, maternal health could be affected adversely during a pregnancy occurring after gastric resection. This study was undertaken to investigate this problem.
2-Hydroxypyridine Metabolism and Pigment Formation in Three Arthrobacter Species

Three species of the genus Arthrobacter, A. crystallopoietes, A. pyridinolis, and A. viridescens, have the capabilities to utilize 2-hydroxypyridine (2-HP) as the sole source of carbon and nitrogen for growth and to produce an extracellular crystalline pigment from this substrate. Degradation of 2-HP by cell-free extracts requires the presence of both reduced nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide and molecular oxygen and is stimulated by flavin mononucleotide, suggesting the presence of a monooxygenase activity in the extract. Loss of the ability to produce pigment at a high spontaneous frequency, 0.26% loss per generation, is observed only with A. crystallopoietes and can be visualized by the presence of sectored and fully nonpigmented colonies on solid media containing 2-HP. Concomitant with the loss of pigment-producing character are both loss of ability to utilize 2-HP for growth and oxidation of 2-HP by cell-free extracts. These three 2-HP-associated characteristics also are lost simultaneously by treating cultures of A. crystallopoietes with curing agents, such as acridine orange and mitomycin C, but are not curable in A. pyridinolis or A. viridescens. All nonpigmented strains of A. crystallopoietes are nonrevertible for these properties. These data suggest that 2-HP-related characteristics are plasmid determined in A. crystallopoietes but not in A. pyridinolis and A. viridescens. A survey for the presence of plasmids in these three species and two physiologically unrelated species, A. globiformis and A. atrocyaneus, revealed plasmid material only in A. globiformis and A. crystallopoietes.
Changing health behaviors through social and physical context awareness

The single greatest opportunity to improve health and reduce premature death lies in personal behavior. While technology-based behavior intervention has been around for many years, the emerging smartphone and wearable sensing technology brings great promise to push health behavior change further by inferring and predicting real-time behavior occurrence and its context. In this paper, we envision how social and physical context awareness could sustain behavior change motivation and assist health habit formation. We describe our preliminary work that supports this vision and outline the research challenges to be addressed.
Aggregate Emissions from the Automobile Population

A methodology is presented with which aggregate emissions from the in-use automobile population can be calculated for any given calendar year. The data base needed for such a calculation is discussed, and areas in which further research is needed are pointed out. Results of a series of calculations are then presented showing the effect on aggregate emissions of various control strategies. The effects of an inspection/maintenance and retrofit program, different vehicle population growth rates, catalyst deterioration in use, and various schedules of new car emission standards for post- 1975 vehicles are presented. /GMRL/
MATERIAL ASTHMA STATUS ALTERS RELATION OF INFANT FEEDING TO ASTHMA CHILDHOOD

The relation of infant feeding to childhood asthma is controversial. This study tested the hypothesis that maternal asthma alters the relation of breastfeeding to childhood asthma. Questionnaires were completed at age 6, 9 or 11 years by parents of 1043 children enrolled at birth. Active MD asthma was defined as a physician diagnosis of asthma plus asthma symptoms reported on one of the questionnaires. Duration of exclusive breastfeeding, categorized as never, <4 months, or≥_4 months, was based on prospective physician reports or questionnaires completed at 18 months. The relationship between breastfeeding and asthma differed by maternal asthma status. For children with maternal asthma, the percent developing active MD asthma increased significantly with longer duration of exclusive breastfeeding. Odds of developing asthma among these children were significantly elevated (OR: 5.7,CI; 2.8–11.5), after adjusting for confounders. This association of longer exclusive breastfeeding with increased risk of reported asthma among children with asthmatic mothers may be biologically based, or may reflect reporting biases.
Condition Factors and Length‐Weight Relationships of Pond‐Cultured Paddlefish Polyodon spathula with Reference to Other Morphogenetic Relationships

Paddlefish, Polyodon spathula, is valued as a commercial fish for its roe as well as a sport fish (Carlson and Bonislawsky 198 1). Interest in paddlefish as an intensively cultured species has increased in recent years (Graham et al. 1986; Semmens and Shelton 1986). Many state and federal hatcheries are rearing paddlefish for repopulation programs. Length-weight tables and condition factors are basic tools in fish culture management (Piper et al. 1982). Length-weight relationships allow for interchangeable calculations during hatchery and production operations. Condition factors are calculated as the ratio of weight to length cubed. These ratios are a measure of fish fitness and are sometimes used to indicate ability of fish to spawn (Anderson and Gutreuter 1983). Current length-weight information of paddlefish is limited to small sample sizes oflarval and juvenile fish caught from rivers and reservoirs (Swingle 1965). Such data used for cultured fish probably do not give a reliable indication of growth, conditioning, or age because of the lack of controlled environmental conditions (Piper et al. 1982). If paddlefish research and production are to advance further, basic information on these conditions from paddlefish reared in controlled systems should be made available.
ASSESSING MEDIATED MODELS OF FAMILY CHANGE IN RESPONSE TO INFANT HOME VISITING: A TWO-PHASE LONGITUDINAL ANALYSIS.

Objectif: L'objectif de cette etude etait d'evaluer si un modele mediationnalise de changement peut expliquer les effets a long termes de services de visites a domiciles de petits enfants observes a l'âge de 5 ans et 7 ans dans une cohorte a haut risque. Methode: Les participants etaient 41 meres et nourrissons de milieu socioeconomique tres defavorise, qui avaient ete referes aux services de visites parent-nourrison a domicile durant les neuf premiers mois de la vie du bebe a cause d'inquietudes a propos du milieu du mode de soin. Les services ont fini lorsque les bebes ont atteint 18 mois. Les families ont recu entre 0 et 18 mois de visites a domicile, base sur l'âge du bebe au moment d'entree dans l'etude. Durant l'enfant (a l'âge de cinq et sept ans), les enseignants ont evalue les problemes de comportement des enfants en utilisant des instruments standardises. Les services de visites a domicile precoces expliquaient des resultats positifs pour les enfants al'âge de 18 mois, cinq ans et sept ans. Cependant des resultats positifs plus precoces lies al'intervention n'expliquaient pas necessairement des effets lies a l'intervention plus tard a des âges subsequents. Un examen des donnees plus approfondi a revele qu'afin d'expliquer le pattern des effets au fil du temps, il etait necessaire d'avoir deux principes supplementaires, l'un de morbidite grandissante chez les groupes les moins intensement servis et l'autre de faculte familiale generalisee a resoudre les problemes. Nous concluons que les "modeles domino" evalues par des analyses mediationnelles peuvent s'averer trop simple pour capturer les processus de changement lies a l'intervention qui se passent chez les cohortes a aux risques au fil du temps.
Pitfalls and limitations of diuretic renography

We report five pediatric cases that illustrate the methodologic pitfalls and limitations of diuretic renography in suspected ureteropelvic junction obstruction. False positive studies may be related to such avoidable flaws in methodology as premature diuretic administration, inadequate diuretic dose, and bladder distension, or to recent pyeloplasty. False-negative results may occur despite optimum technique, necessitating a follow-up study for confirmation.
Transforming growth factors and the regulation of cell proliferation.

Mechanisms of growth regulation by polypeptides include endocrine, paracrine and autocrine systems. Factors, such as hormones, which enter the circulatory system and effect target cells or tissues distant from their site of synthesis, are endocrine in nature. It has been postulated that some growth factors may function in an endocrine manner. Insulin-like growth factor, which is synthesized in the liver and enters the blood stream to affect distal tissues, is an example of endocrine action of a specific growth factor [1,2]. The paracrine mechanism of action suggests that growth factors synthesized by one cell type diffuse through the extracellular spaces to act on neighboring target cells. Finally, autocrine growth regulation may occur when cells are able to both synthesize and respond to a specific growth signal. The autocrine model of growth regulation was originated as a concept to explain the abnormal growth of cancer. This model hypothesizes that affected cells over-produce a stimulatory growth factor to which they respond, thus resulting in sustained, self-stimulated proliferation [3]. Although initially postulated to explain the unregulated growth of cancer cells, the autocrine mechanism of growth regulation, in addition to paracrine and endocrine systems, is likely to play an important role in normal cellular processes, including development, differentiation and proliferation [4, 5]. Thus local concentrations of growth factors and numbers of specific cell-surface receptors, will affect the biological response of cells to a particular growth factor. It is apparent, therefore, that regulated growth requires the complex interaction of many growth signals and that this interaction may be influenced by the synthesis and delivery of growth factors to target tissues. Of particular interest in the study of the regulation of cell proliferation are the transforming growth factors (TGF), for which paracrine and autocrine mechanisms have been postulated.
Evolutionary Computation Techniques for Nonlinear Programming Problems

Abstract This paper presents several evolutionary computation techniques and discusses their applicability to nonlinear programming problems. On the basis of this presentation we discuss also a construction of a new hybrid optimization system, Genocop II, and present its experimental results on a few test cases (nonlinear programming problems).
Issues to consider in the differential diagnosis of normal childhood nonfluencies and stuttering

Abstract Historically more attention has been focused on the adult stutterer than on the young stutterer. This article discusses three key issues in the differential diagnosis of normal childhood nonfluencies and childhood stuttering. The three issues are (1) whether early childhood disfluencies are heterogeneous or homogeneous phenomena, (2) whether the relationship between normal childhood nonfluencies and early stuttering is continuous or dichotomous, and (3) whether normal nonfluencies and stuttering differ quantitatively or qualitatively. Theoretical research as well as clinical implications of these issues are discussed.
Chronic bronchitis in the aged.

Summary An account is given of chronic bronchitis as seen in elderly patients. Clinical and pathological findings are discussed. The value of aerosol therapy to aged bronchitic subjects is mentioned.
A Decision Framework for Optimal Pairing of Wind and Demand Response Resources

Day-ahead electricity markets do not readily accommodate power from intermittent resources such as wind because of the scheduling difficulties presented by the uncertainty and variability in these resources. Numerous entities have developed methods to improve wind forecasting and thereby reduce the uncertainty in a day-ahead schedule for wind power generation. This paper introduces a decision framework for addressing the inevitable remaining variability resulting from imperfect forecasts. The framework uses a paired resource, such as demand response, gas turbine, or storage, to mitigate the generation scheduling errors due to wind forecast error. The methodology determines the cost-effective percentage, or adjustment factor, of the forecast error to mitigate at each successive market stage, e.g., 1 h and 10 min ahead of dispatch. This framework is applicable to any wind farm in a region with available pairing resources, although the magnitude of adjustment factors will be specific to each region as the factors are related to the statistics of the wind resource and the forecast accuracy at each time period. Historical wind data from New England are used to illustrate and analyze this approach. Results indicate that such resource pairing via the proposed decision framework will significantly reduce the need for an independent system operator to procure additional balancing resources when wind power participates in the markets.
SLAM receptors and SAP influence lymphocyte interactions, development and function

Mutations that affect the adaptor molecule SLAM-associated protein (SAP) underlie the primary immunodeficiency disease X-linked lymphoproliferative syndrome. SAP is required for mediating signals from members of the signalling lymphocytic activation molecule (SLAM) family of immunomodulatory receptors. Recent data have highlighted a role for SAP in the development of innate-like T-cell lineages, including natural killer T cells, and in the regulation of the interactions between B cells and T cells that are required for germinal-centre formation and long-term humoral immunity. These data have revealed that SLAM family members and SAP have crucial roles in regulating lymphocyte interactions and adhesion, which are required for the normal development, homeostasis and function of the immune system.
Purification and properties of the latent F1-ATPase of Micrococcus lysodeikticus

Abstract The latent coupling factor (F1)-ATPase of Micrococcus lysodeikticus has been purified to homogeneity as determined by a number of criteria including, non-denaturing polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, crossed immunoelectrophoresis and analytical ultracentrifugation. By inclusion of 1 mM phenylmethyl sulfonyl fluoride, a serine protease inhibitor, in the shock-wash step of release of F1 from the membranes, the spontaneous activation of both crude and purified ATPase by endogenous membrane protease(s) can be prevented, thereby yielding a highly latent ATPase preparation. Equilibrium ultracentrifugation of the latent ATPase gave a molecular weight of 400 000. The ATPase contained five different subunits α, β, γ, δ, and ϵ and their molecular weights determined by SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis were 60 000, 54 000, 37 000, 27 000 and 9000, respectively. The subunit composition was determined with 14C-labelled, F1-ATPase prepared from cells grown on medium containing [U-14C]-labelled algal protein hydrolysate. Within the limitations of this method the results tentatively suggest a subunit composition of 3 : 3 : 1 : 1 : 3.
Diversify sensor nodes to improve resilience against node compromise

A great challenge in securing sensor networks is that sensor nodes can be physically compromised. Once a node is compromised, attackers can retrieve secret information (e.g. keys) from the node. In most of the key pre-distribution schemes, the compromise of secret information on one node can have substantial impact on other nodes because secrets are shared by more than one node in those schemes. Although tamper-resistant hardware can help protect those secrets, it is still impractical for sensor networks.Having observed that most sensor network applications and key pre-distribution schemes can tolerate the compromise of a small number of sensors, we propose to use diversity to protect the secret keys in sensor networks. Our scheme consists of two steps. First, we obfuscate the data and the code for each sensor, such that, when attackers have compromised a sensor node, they need to spend a substantial amount of time to find the secrets from the obfuscated code (e.g., by reverse engineering or code analysis). This first line of defense raises the bar of difficulty for a successful attack on one single node. Second, for different nodes, we make sure that the data and code obfuscation methods are different. This way, even if the attacks have successfully derived the location of the secrets, they cannot use the same location for another node, because for different nodes, their secrets are stored in different ways and in different places. Such diversity makes it a daunting job to derive the secret information from a large number of compromised nodes. We have implemented our scheme for Mica2 motes, and we present the results in this paper.
Immunocytochemical localization of a gastric inhibitory polypeptide-like material within A-cells of the endocrine pancreas†

In rat pancreatic islets, the glucagon-producing A-cells also contain a GIP-like material as revealed by the peroxidase-antiperoxidase immunocytochemical technique. Control studies showed that this dual staining was not due to the cross-reactivity of anti-GIP with glucagon. It is concluded either that the A-cells synthesize a GIP-like peptide or that it is taken up from the circulation.