cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
DNA methylation of the BRD2 promoter is associated with juvenile myoclonic epilepsy in Caucasians.

Objective Juvenile myoclonic epilepsy (JME) is a common adolescent-onset genetic generalized epilepsy (GGE) syndrome. Multiple linkage and association studies have found that BRD2 influences the expression of JME. The BRD2-JME connection is further corroborated by our murine model; Brd2 haploinsufficiency produces characteristics that typify the clinical hallmarks of JME. Neither we, nor several large-scale studies of JME, found JME-related BRD2 coding mutations. Therefore, we investigated noncoding BRD2 regions, seeking the origin of BRD2's JME influence. BRD2's promoter harbors a JME-associated single nucleotide polymorphism (rs3918149) and a CpG (C-phosphate-G dinucleotides) island (CpG76), making it a potential "hotspot" for JME-associated epigenetic variants. Methylating promoter CpG sites causes gene silencing, often resulting in reduced gene expression. We tested for differences in DNA methylation at CpG76 in 3 different subgroups: (1) JME patients versus their unaffected family members, (2) JME versus patients with other forms of GGE, and (3) Caucasian versus non-Caucasian JME patients. Methods We used DNA pyrosequencing to analyze the methylation status of 10 BRD2 promoter CpG sites in lymphoblastoid cells from JME patients of Caucasian and non-Caucasian origin, unaffected family members, and also non-JME GGE patients. We also measured global methylation levels and DNA methyl transferase 1 (DNMT1) transcript expression in JME families by standard methods. Results CpG76 is highly methylated in JME patients compared to unaffected family members. In families with non-JME GGE, we found no relationship between promoter methylation and epilepsy. In non-Caucasian JME families, promoter methylation was mostly not associated with epilepsy. This makes the BRD2 promoter a JME-specific, ethnicity-specific, differentially methylated region. Global methylation was constant across groups. Significance BRD2 promoter methylation in JME, and the lack of methylation in unaffected relatives, in non-JME GGE patients, and in non-Caucasian JME, demonstrate that methylation specificity is a possible seizure susceptibility motif in JME risk and suggests JME therapeutics targeting BRD2.
Invoking the digital to manage the tangible: Print serials weeding through an ERMS

When one considers the practice of “electronic resource management” in libraries, they most likely do not envision it encapsulating print materials. Of course, collection development decisions for ...
Numerical evaluation of the effect of differential settlement on the performance of GRS-IBS

This paper presents the numerical results of the performance of the Geosynthetic Reinforced Soil Integrated Bridge System (GRS-IBS) due to differential settlement underneath the reinforced soil fou...
Mouse Selection Versus Voice Selection of Menu Items

Subjects completed a menu selection task using mouse and spoken language technologies for menu sizes that are powers of 2 from 2 to 256. It was found that mouse selection was faster than spoken language selection for menu sizes of 32 or less for most subjects. For small N, mouse selection was about three times faster. Spoken language selection was as fast or faster for menus of size 64 or larger. The trade-off size, approximately 64, was different for various subjects, but not greatly different. Data was gathered for words with one, two, and three syllables with the result that the trade-off size was the same for all three, but the error characteristics for spoken inputs were worse for shorter words, as would be expected.
Magnetoelectric Spin Wave Modulator Based On Synthetic Multiferroic Structure.

We describe a spin wave modulator – spintronic device aimed to control spin wave propagation by an electric field. The modulator consists of a ferromagnetic film serving as a spin wave bus combined with a synthetic multiferroic comprising piezoelectric and magnetostrictive materials. Its operation is based on the stress-mediated coupling between the piezoelectric and magnetostrictive materials. By applying an electric field to the piezoelectric layer, the stress is produced. In turn, the stress changes the direction of the easy axis in the magnetostrictive layer and affects spin wave transport. We present experimental data on a prototype consisting of a piezoelectric [Pb(Mg1/3Nb2/3)O3](1-x) –[PbTiO3]x substrate, and 30 nm layer of magnetostrictive Ni film, where the film is attached to a 30 nm thick Ni81Fe19 spin wave bus. We report spin wave signal modulation in Ni81Fe19 layer by an electric field applied across the piezoelectric layer. The switching between the spin wave conducting and non-conducting states is achieved by applying ±0.3 MV/m electric field. We report over 300% modulation depth detected 80 μm away from the excitation port at room temperature. The demonstration of the spin wave modulator provides a new direction for spin-based device development by utilizing an electric field for spin current control.
Fostering and Sustaining Sport Psychology Professional Quality of Life: The Perspectives of Senior-Level, Experienced Sport Psychology Practitioners

Researchers have examined psychology professionals’ ability to maintain and sustain effective practices while managing to balance their personal and professional lives. Stamm’s concept of professio...
Abstract B140: Positron emission tomography-guided photodynamic therapy with biodegradable silica nanoparticles for personalized cancer immunotherapy

Recent clinical trials with neoantigen-based vaccines have shown the feasibility and potential of personalized cancer immunotherapy. Photodynamic therapy (PDT), which utilizes photosensitizer and laser irradiation to produce reactive oxygen species, has been widely explored for local cancer treatment. In addition, positron emission tomography (PET) is a highly sensitive and noninvasive imaging method that can visualize solid tumors while allowing for quantitative analysis of drug biodistribution. In this work, we aimed to combine vaccination and PET imaging-guided PDT as an effective combination platform for personalized cancer immunotherapy. We have synthesized biodegradable silica nanoparticles (bMSN) loaded with neoantigen, CpG oligodeoxynucleotide (a potent Toll-like recetor-9 agonist) and chlorin e6 (a widely used photosensitizer). Using PET imaging, we have shown that bMSN effectively accumulates in MC-38 colon carcinoma tumors after intravenous administration in vivo. Subsequent PDT with 660 nm laser irradiation eliminated tumors, resulting in the release of tumor antigens and danger signals that promoted recruitment of dendritic cells to PDT-treated sites. The bMSN nanoplatform sustain-released neoantigen and CpG oligodeoxynucleotide, while activating DCs and enhancing neoantigen-specific cytotoxic CD8+ T-cell responses and their infiltration into tumors. In mice bearing two contralateral MC-38 tumors, the combination of vaccination and PDT completely eradicated locally treated, large MC-38 tumors while significantly delaying the growth of distant, untreated tumors. Our findings suggest that bMSN is a promising immunotherapeutic platform for combining imaging, vaccination, and PDT for treatment of advanced cancer. Citation Format: Cheng Xu, James Moon. Positron emission tomography-guided photodynamic therapy with biodegradable silica nanoparticles for personalized cancer immunotherapy [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the Fourth CRI-CIMT-EATI-AACR International Cancer Immunotherapy Conference: Translating Science into Survival; Sept 30-Oct 3, 2018; New York, NY. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Immunol Res 2019;7(2 Suppl):Abstract nr B140.
A review of attempts to condition operantly alloprimate vocalizations

A central issue in the study of alloprimate vocalizations concerns the extent of the animal's control over vocalization production. Two competing models are the semanticity model which states that vocalizations contain an environmental referent, and the level-of-arousal model which states that vocalizations are an emotional product of differential internal states of arousal. One source of evidence bearing on this issue is the operant control of vocalizations by alloprimates. This paper presents a comprehensive review of 12 attempts to condition operantly alloprimate vocalizations. These 12 experiments are analyzed in terms of various subject and procedural variables, including the age, species and sex of the subject, and the type of task and reward used. The results of this analysis indicate the following: Primates are able to control their own vocal output with considerable success; species, age and sex variables place no restriction upon this ability. In addition, the appropriateness of the reinforcer influenced the success rate of the experiment. These results are interpreted as supporting evidence for the semanticity model of vocal production. Results are discussed in terms of an “ecologically-appropriate hypothesis.”
Neuroinflammation in neocortical epilepsy measured by PET imaging of translocator protein.

OBJECTIVES Neuroinflammation, implicated in epilepsy, can be imaged in humans with positron emission tomography (PET) ligands for translocator protein 18 kDa (TSPO). Previous studies in patients with temporal lobe epilepsy and mesial temporal sclerosis found increased [11C]PBR28 uptake ipsilateral to seizure foci. Neocortical foci present more difficult localization problems and more variable underlying pathology. METHODS We studied 11 patients with neocortical seizure foci using [11C]PBR28 or [11C] N,N-diethyl-2-(4-methoxyphenyl)-5,7-dimethylpyrazolo[1,5-a]pyrimidine-3-acetamide (DPA) 713, and 31 healthy volunteers. Seizure foci were identified with structural magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and ictal video-electroencephalography (EEG) monitoring. Six patients had surgical resections; five had focal cortical dysplasia type 2A or B and one microdysgenesis. Brain regions were delineated using FreeSurfer and T1-weighted MRI. We measured brain radioligand uptake (standardized uptake values [SUVs]) in ipsilateral and contralateral regions, to compare calculated asymmetry indices [AIs; 200% *(ipsilateral - contralateral)/(ipsilateral + contralateral)] between epilepsy patients and controls, as well as absolute [11C]PBR28 binding as the ratio of distribution volume to free fraction (VT /fP ) in 9 patients (5 high affinity and 4 medium affinity binders) and 11 age-matched volunteers (5 high-affinity and 6 medium affinity) who had metabolite-corrected arterial input functions measured. RESULTS Nine of 11 patients had AIs exceeding control mean 95% confidence intervals in at least one region consistent with the seizure focus. Three of the nine had normal MRI. There was a nonsignificant trend for patients to have higher binding than volunteers both ipsilateral and contralateral to the focus in the group that had absolute binding measured. SIGNIFICANCE Our study demonstrates the presence of focal and distributed inflammation in neocortical epilepsy. There may be a role for TSPO PET for evaluation of patients with suspected neocortical seizure foci, particularly when other imaging modalities are unrevealing. However, a complex method, inherent variability, and increased binding in regions outside seizure foci will limit applicability.
Ethical and practical challenges to studying patients who opt out of large-scale biorepository research

Large-scale biorepositories that couple biologic specimens with electronic health records containing documentation of phenotypic expression can accelerate scientific research and discovery. However, differences between those subjects who participate in biorepository-based research and the population from which they are drawn may influence research validity. While an opt-out approach to biorepository-based research enhances inclusiveness, empirical research evaluating voluntariness, risk, and the feasibility of an opt-out approach is sparse, and factors influencing patients' decisions to opt out are understudied. Determining why patients choose to opt out may help to improve voluntariness, however there may be ethical and logistical challenges to studying those who opt out. In this perspective paper, the authors explore what is known about research based on the opt-out model, describe a large-scale biorepository that leverages the opt-out model, and review specific ethical and logistical challenges to bridging the research gaps that remain.
Reactions of Tin(IV) Enolates Obtained from O-Stannyl Ketyls under Neutral Free Radical Conditions

Under mild and neutral free radical conditions, an α,β-unsaturated ketone reacted with tributyltin hydride to produce an intermediate resonance-stabilized allylic O-stannyl ketyl. Upon subsequent hydrogen atom abstraction, a tin(IV) enolate was afforded which could be quenched with a variety of electrophiles and form new carbon−carbon bonds. Aldehydes react to produce aldol-type products and both intramolecular and intermolecular carbonyl addition reactions were investigated using this strategy. Using similar methodology, the tin(IV) enolate could be quenched in the presence of HMPA with various alkyl halides and α,β-unsaturated carbonyl compounds (Michael acceptors) to yield alkylated products in good yields. These reactions represent a very mild regioselective alternative to metal enolate formation which usually requires strong bases such as LDA or strongly reductive dissolving metal conditions to achieve success. New carbon skeletons for natural product synthesis can be readily constructed using this c...
Functional Bayesian Filter.

We present a general nonlinear Bayesian filter for high-dimensional state estimation using the theory of reproducing kernel Hilbert space (RKHS). Applying kernel method and the representer theorem to perform linear quadratic estimation in a functional space, we derive a Bayesian recursive state estimator for a general nonlinear dynamical system in the original input space. Unlike existing nonlinear extensions of Kalman filter where the system dynamics are assumed known, the state-space representation for the Functional Bayesian Filter (FBF) is completely learned from measurement data in the form of an infinite impulse response (IIR) filter or recurrent network in the RKHS, with universal approximation property. Using positive definite kernel function satisfying Mercer's conditions to compute and evolve information quantities, the FBF exploits both the statistical and time-domain information about the signal, extracts higher-order moments, and preserves the properties of covariances without the ill effects due to conventional arithmetic operations. This novel kernel adaptive filtering algorithm is applied to recurrent network training, chaotic time-series estimation and cooperative filtering using Gaussian and non-Gaussian noises, and inverse kinematics modeling. Simulation results show FBF outperforms existing Kalman-based algorithms.
Risk of Arterial Ischemic Events After Intracerebral Hemorrhage.

Background and Purpose— The risk of arterial ischemic events after intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) is poorly understood given the lack of a control group in prior studies. This study aimed to evalua...
Government Employment and Wages and Labour Market Performance

Government wage, benefit, and employment decisions are not taken on a profit‐maximizing basis, and have a substantial impact on aggregate labour market performance and unemployment. In a two‐sector labour market model with free mobility of labour, an increase in government wages or benefits reduces private sector employment, and government employment is not an effective counter‐cyclical instrument. Empirical tests for Greece confirm that the expansion of the public sector in the 1980s contributed to the deterioration of labour market performance.
Using a culinary health curriculum to teach teamwork skills: A new interprofessional education experience for medical, nursing and physician assistant students

Abstract As health professions education increasingly focuses on community engagement, population health and prevention of health disparities, there has been a corresponding expansion of teaching on culinary medicine. Clinical nutrition is critically important in addressing many of the most vexing clinical problems in medicine and population health. Culinary medicine also offers a new method to enhance interprofessional education (IPE) by providing students with additional opportunities to learn with, about and from each other (as recommended by the World Health Organization). We revised our existing IPE curriculum to deliver new content on culinary medicine as part of an existing twelve-month IPE course. Students from three different health professions education programs (medicine, nursing, physician assistant) completed two curricular tracks: a traditional roles and scopes of practice track and a new culinary medicine track. The new culinary medicine track involved students working in interdisciplinary teams with professional chefs from a local culinary arts school to cook and serve a meal to designated patient populations. Students were assessed in a variety of ways including attendance and participation, a twenty-item quiz (roles and scopes track), required reflective essays and completion of all assignments. The curriculum was evaluated based on student and faculty feedback. The implementation of the new culinary medicine program in an interprofessional format was well-received by students. Implications for future efforts along these lines are as follows: 1) similar programs may be scalable and easily accomplished; and 2) imbedding culinary medicine experiences within an existing IPE curricular framework may provide an opportunity to reinforce competencies related to teamwork and leadership while simultaneously increasing students’ knowledge of clinical nutrition.
Evolution of an obstetrics and gynecology interprofessional simulation-based education session for medical and nursing students.

Simulation and Objective Structured Clinical Examination assessment of learners can teach clinical skills proficiency in a safe environment without risk to patients. Interprofessional simulation-based education (IPSE) contributes to a transformation in students' understanding of teamwork and professional roles. Long term outcomes for stimulation and IPSE sessions, are less well studied. We hypothesized that a progressive interprofessional education simulation program incorporating both faculty and interprofessional student collaboration would improve medical students' knowledge retention, comfort with procedural skills, positive teamwork and respectful interaction between students.An Obstetrics and Gynecology IPSE for medical and nursing students (NS) was developed in collaboration between a school of medicine and a school of nursing from 2014 to 2017. By 2017, content includedFrom 2014 to 2016, medical students completed attitude, knowledge, and perception surveys both pre and immediately post simulation, at 4 months, and 8 months. In 2017; all students completed self-assessments and received faculty-assessments.The program trained 443 medical and 136 NS. Medical students' knowledge, comfort, and interest increased significantly post simulation. Outcome scores decreased but were still significantly improved at 4 months but nearly dissipated by 8 months. There were no significant differences between medical and NS self-assessment or faculty-assessment scores regarding IUD insertion, cervical examination, or contraception quiz scores. Medical students' birth simulation self-assessment versus faculty-assessment scores were 8.6 vs 8.9, P < .001.Simulation improved students' short-term medical knowledge, comfort, and perception with some long-term persistence at 4-8 months. Medical and NS learned obstetrics and gynecology skills in a collaborative environment and in role-specific situations. Medical students had the opportunity to learn from NS. Positive teamwork and respectful interaction occurred between the students.
Guidelines informing counseling on female age-related fertility decline: a systematic review

To identify, appraise, and assess clinical practice guidelines informing patient counseling on female age-related fertility decline. Searched electronic database records from January 1, 2006, to September 10, 2018, and professional society websites. The search terms included iterations of “guideline,” “counseling,” “preconception,” “age-related fertility decline,” and “reproductive life planning.” English-language professional organization guidelines addressing patient counseling on age-specific reproductive health topics were included. Assessed the methodological quality of included guidelines using the AGREE II instrument. Guidelines were categorized as high quality or low quality based on AGREE II scores. Extracted age-specific reproductive health recommendations of high-quality guidelines. The search identified 2918 records. Nineteen records addressed counseling on age-related fertility decline; only 6 focused only on reproductive aging, with the remaining 13 covering related topics. Eleven met criteria for high quality. All high-quality guidelines had high “rigor of development” scores on AGREE II. Ten high-quality guidelines stated an age at which female fertility declines, ranging from 30 to “late 30s.” One recommended a specific age at which patients should be counseled. Five of eleven high-quality guidelines did not discuss the obstetric and perinatal risks of advanced maternal age. Few high-quality guidelines address counseling on female age-related fertility decline, and existing guidance on reproductive aging counseling is inconsistent and incomplete. Greater rigor of development and incorporation of age-specific counseling recommendations into clinical practice guidelines could lead to improved patient anticipatory guidance and more informed reproductive choices.
Air Pollution and the Dynamic Association Between Depressive Symptoms and Memory in Oldest-Old Women

Background/objectives Exposure to air pollution may contribute to both increasing depressive symptoms and decreasing episodic memory in older adulthood, but few studies have examined this hypothesis in a longitudinal context. Accordingly, we examined the association between air pollution and changes in depressive symptoms (DS) and episodic memory (EM) and their interrelationship in oldest-old (aged 80 and older) women. Design Prospective cohort data from the Women's Health Initiative Memory Study-Epidemiology of Cognitive Health Outcomes. Setting Geographically diverse community-dwelling population. Participants A total of 1,583 dementia-free women aged 80 and older. Measurements Women completed up to six annual memory assessments (latent composite of East Boston Memory Test and Telephone Interview for Cognitive Status) and the 15-item Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS-15). We estimated 3-year average exposures to regional particulate matter with aerodynamic diameter below 2.5 μm (PM2.5 ) (interquartile range [IQR] = 3.35 μg/m3 ) and gaseous nitrogen dioxide (NO2 ) (IQR = 9.55 ppb) at baseline and during a remote period 10 years earlier, using regionalized national universal kriging. Results Latent change structural equation models examined whether residing in areas with higher pollutant levels was associated with annual changes in standardized EM and DS while adjusting for potential confounders. Remote NO2 (β = .287 per IQR; P = .002) and PM2.5 (β = .170 per IQR; P = .019) exposure was significantly associated with larger increases in standardized DS, although the magnitude of the difference, less than 1 point on the GDS-15, is of questionable clinical significance. Higher DS were associated with accelerated EM declines (β = -.372; P = .001), with a significant indirect effect of remote NO2 and PM2.5 exposure on EM declines mediated by DS. There were no other significant indirect exposure effects. Conclusion These findings in oldest-old women point to potential adverse effects of late-life exposure to air pollution on subsequent interplay between DS and EM, highlighting air pollution as an environmental health risk factor for older women.
AML-242: Osteoprogenitor Cells, but Not Mature Osteoblasts/Osteocytes that Support AML Growth in the Bone Marrow Microenvironment

Context We have reported that AML cells induce osteogenic differentiation in MSCs to facilitate AML growth in the bone marrow (BM) (Battula et al. JCI Insight, 2017). However, the effect of AML cells on various osteo-lineage cells in the BM microenvironment is not known. Objective i) To assess the stage-specific subsets of osteoblast lineage induced by AML cells in BME. ii) To investigate the effect of new bone formation using AML patient-derived-xenograft (PDX) mouse model. Design In this study, we used inducible triple transgenic mice with osterix (Osx) or osteocalcin (Ocn) reporter genes with genotype Osx-CreERt2; Ocn-GFP; ROSA-tdTomato to determine the effect of AML cells on various osteo-lineage cells. In addition, we used AML-PDX mouse models to investigate the impact of AML cell growth on new bone formation. Results In transgenic mice implanted with syngenic AML cells, we found a 3-4 fold increase in Osx+ cells, but no significant difference was observed in Ocn+ cells, suggesting AML cells expand osteoprogenitor cells but not mature osteoblasts in the BM. To determine whether the AML growth in the BM is associated with bone volume, we implanted AML-PDX cells (total 10 models) into NSG mice and analyzed femurs by micro-CT and histological analysis. Interestingly, we observed a dramatic increase in cortical bone thickness and new medullary bone formation in ∼50% of the PDX models tested. Interestingly, we found that increase in bone volume is associated with less aggressive PDX models (which takes 4-5 months to reach 90% PB engraftment). Aggressive PDX models (takes only 3-5 weeks to reach 90% PB engraftment) did not develop new bone. Masson-Goldner's trichrome staining confirmed weblike trabecular bone formation in mice with less aggressive PDX models, which was not observed in aggressive AML PDX models. Conclusion Our data suggest that AML cells induce supportive osteoprogenitor-rich niche in the BM. New bone formation in less aggressive AML-PDX models, but not in aggressive models suggests two different molecular mechanisms regulating AML growth in these two models. Finally, the role of osteoprogenitor niche in AML progression needs further investigation. Grant Acknowledgment Leukemia SPORE CDP, Emerson Collective, Golfers Against Cancer, LLS-TRP to VLB. RP to VLB.
Monetary Policy and Redistribution: A Look Under the Hatch with Tank

We provide an under-the-hatch look at the mechanisms at work in two-agent new Keynesian (TANK) models. A distinctive feature of our analysis is novel closed-form solutions for general Taylor-type monetary-policy rules. Our analysis of TANK models informs the quantitative heterogeneous-agent new Keynesian literature about potential mechanisms at play when evaluating the effects of monetary policy and fiscal redistribution between asset-market participants and non-participants. We find that, in conventional times, forward guidance is less effective at stimulating today's economy when asset-market participation is low. Additionally, future monetary-policy shocks may work mostly through direct channels even though contemporaneous shocks work largely through indirect channels. Finally, both consumption and income inequality in the model are fully determined by markups. Introducing capital adjustment costs overturns this result and leads to consumption inequality being more countercyclical than income inequality, as is in the data.
Congressional Communication in a Pandemic: “Follow the Leader” Politics and Responsive Representation

The COVID-19 pandemic touched every part of the United States. Government officials were tasked with communicating information to the public about a quickly changing crisis. This article aims to ask and answer important questions surrounding how differently situated legislators discussed the outbreak of the novel coronavirus of 2019 and resultant pandemic of COVID-19 with their constituents in official communications. We assess a theory of responsive representation as well as a theory positing that co-partisan legislators took their cues from the president, which we call follow the leader politics. To facilitate this study, we have created a new dataset of COVID-19 deaths by congressional district. We find that legislators who saw more in-district fatalities in the earlier parts of the pandemic sent more COVID-19 communications than others. We also find that co-partisans were more likely to use derogatory terminology to refer to COVID-19 in official communications and were more likely to tout hydroxychloroquine. There are limits to follow the leader politics, however: when it came to mask use, both Democrats and Republicans in Congress encouraged constituents to do so as soon as the CDC and Surgeon General guidelines indicated. ©, Copyright © American University, Center for Congressional and presidential Studies.
Teaching Mathematics Education Online: Instructional Theories, Strategies, and Technologies

This overview chapter provides an introduction to instructional theories, strategies, and technologies that can guide teachers new to teaching mathematics (both content and methods) online in a formal online classroom setting. We begin by discussing different types of online learning environments, including synchronous, asynchronous, bichronous, and HyFlex environments. We then focus on different theories, such as cognitive apprenticeship, individualized/personalized instruction, social learning, and inquiry-based mathematics education theories. After that, we focus on some common technologies and strategies, such as think/pair/share, student groups, whiteboards, discussion boards, and more that someone new to teaching mathematics teachers online may use to engage learners.
Quantitative Determination of Cocaine in Illicit Powders by Free Zone Capillary Electrophoresis

A free zone capillary electrophoresis method was developed for the quantitation of cocaine in illicit powders. The method uses a 75 mM sodium phosphate-sodium borate pH 8.5 buffered system and separates the most common cocaine adulterants and impurities in eight minutes. Linearity, accuracy and reproducibility studies are presented, as well as comparisons with quantitative results obtained by gas liquid chromatography and high pressure liquid chromatography methods.
An Intelligent Materials Allocator and Distributor

Presents an "inverted" approach to solve the problem of allocation and distribution. Under this approach, we start with the distribution first, and then do the allocation next. This inverted approach is supported by a system called the Intelligent Materials Allocator and Distributor (IMAD). The IMAD system has been in use for two years in China. The use of this system has resulted in a general increase of one million yuans in profit for each material transfer station. >
Gap junction amplification in rat ovarian granulosa cells. I. A direct response to follicle-stimulating hormone

Abstract The ability of follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), the estrogens, estradiol-17β and diethylstilbestrol, and the estrogen antagonists, clomiphene and enclomiphene citrate to affect the growth and internalization of hypophysectomized rat granulosa cell gap junction membranes was compared in ovarian follicles assigned to one of four follicle size classes (60–149, 150–249, 250–319, and 320–450 μm diameter). In the absence of exogenous hormone stimulation, atresia prevents follicle growth beyond 320 μm in diameter but surface gap junction membrane increases throughout this early follicle growth. Internalization of gap junction membrane is first detected at the 150- to 249-μm follicle stage and also increases with follicle size. Therefore, growth and turnover of gap junction membrane occur at a basal rate in the absence of gonadotropin or steroid hormone stimulation. Estrogen and estrogen antagonist injections result in no significant differences in the amount of surface or internalized junction membrane in the three smallest follicle size classes when compared to the untreated hypophysectomized animals. However, estrogen but not estrogen antagonists rescues growing follicles from atresia and permits their further growth into the 320- to 450-μm follicle size class. As a result of the additional follicle growth, both surface and internalized junction membrane increase beyond that seen in the largest follicles from hypophysectomized animals. In contrast to other treatments, FSH stimulation promotes amplification of gap junction membrane in all size classes and, like estrogen, rescues follicles from atresia and promotes their entry into the 320- to 450-μm follicle size class. Surface gap junction membrane is amplified two- to fourfold over other treatments in the first three follicle size classes, but reaches maximal levels in the 250- to 319-μm follicles. The internalized junction membrane which first appears in the 150- to 249-μm size class is dramatically increased over other treatments in the 250- to 319- and 320- to 450-μm size classes. These studies indicate that exogenous estrogen stimulation promotes gap junction growth indirectly by sustaining the basal rate of junction synthesis in follicles rescued from atresia. In contrast, exogenous FSH stimulation directly amplifies the developmental sequence of gap junction growth and turnover. During early follicle growth, FSH stimulation preferentially promotes increases in surface gap junctions while internalization of surface junctions is increased during later follicle growth.
SIGNIFICANCE OF INTERSECTION CRASHES FOR OLDER DRIVERS

This American study compares the frequency of side impact, intersection collisions of different driver age groups using state and national police-reported accident data as well as an in-depth analysis of cases from a fatal accident study. All data reveal that the frequency of intersection crashes increases with driver age. The state and national data show that older drivers have an increased frequency of intersection crashes involving vehicles crossing paths prior to the collision compared to their involvement in all crash types. When taking into account traffic control devices at an intersection, older drivers have the greatest involvement of multiple vehicle crashes at a signed intersection. The fatal cases of belted drivers exhibited similar trends. The data reveal concerns about the older driver at intersections, an area of complex information processing and decision making. The results suggest areas of accidents avoidance to ease the demands on the older driver. (A) For the covering abstract of the conference see IRRD E201376.
THE EPIDEMIOLOGY OF AORTIC AND PERIPHERAL ATHEROSCLEROSIS A SELECTIVE REVIEW

Abstract An analysis of available mortality data concerning aortic and peripheral atherosclerosis has revealed an association with age and, for aortic aneurysm, an excess mortality among males. The usefulness of such data as a basis for descriptive and analytical studies would be considerably enhanced by the adoption of coding multiple causes of death. Morbidity studies, although highly promising, have been hampered by problems of observer variation and extremely low frequencies of manifest disease. Studies of aortic calcification have demonstrated increasing involvement with age and an excess among females. However, this sex difference, in view of the excess male mortality from aortic aneurysm, may simply represent selective mortality for affected males. Extensive geographic studies of aortic atherosclerosis in autopsy specimens have suggested that true ethnic differences exist. However, the comparability of the population samples utilized is unknown. There is considerable evidence that the extent and degree of aortic atherosclerosis are increased in individuals with elevated blood pressure or diabetes. Evidence for an association between aortic and peripheral atherosclerosis and cholesterol, other dietary factors and cigarette smoking, although suggestive, is not entirely clear. The negative association between aortic atherosclerosis and cancer has recently been challenged. There are insufficient data concerning the relationship of aortic and peripheral atherosclerosis to disorders of blood coagulation. Suggestions have been made with respect to the development of diagnostic criteria, the characterization of study populations and the examination of specific relationships.
Locally Restricted Compositions III. Adjacent-Part Periodic Inequalities

We study compositions $c_1,\dots,c_k$ of the integer $n$ in which adjacent parts may be constrained to satisfy some periodic inequalities, for example $$ c_{2i}>c_{2i+1} $, $\ge$ and $\ne$. We show how to obtain generating functions from which various pieces of asymptotic information can be computed. There are asymptotically $Ar^{-n}$ compositions of $n$. In a random uniformly selected composition of $n$, the largest part and number of distinct parts are almost surely asymptotic to $\log_{1/r}(n)$. The length of the longest run is almost surely asymptotic to $C\log_{1/r}(n)$ where C is an easily determined rational number. Many other counts are asymptotically normally distributed. We present some numerical results for the various types of alternating compositions.
Input of particulate organic and dissolved inorganic carbon from the Amazon to the Atlantic Ocean

We report concentrations and isotope measurements (radiocarbon and stable carbon) of dissolved inorganic carbon (DIC) and suspended particulate organic carbon (POC) in waters collected from the mouth of the Amazon River and the North Brazil Current. Samples were collected in November 1991, when the Amazon hydrograph was at its annual minimum and the North Brazil Current had retroflected into the equatorial North Atlantic. The DIC Δ14C results revealed postbomb carbon in river and ocean waters, with slightly higher values at the river mouth. The low DIC δ13C signature of the river end-member (−11‰) demonstrates that about half of the DIC originated from the remineralization of terrestrially derived organic matter. A linear relationship between DIC and salinity indicates that DIC was mixed nearly conservatively in the transition zone from the river mouth to the open ocean, though there was a small amount (≤10%) of organic matter remineralization in the mesohaline region. The POC Δ14C values in the river mouth were markedly lower than those values from the western Amazon region (Hedges et al., 1986). We conclude that the dominant source of POC near the river mouth and in the inner Amazon plume during November 1991 was aged, resuspended material of significant terrestrial character derived from shelf sediments, while the outer plume contained mainly marine-derived POC.
Computerized Defensive Driving Rules For Highway Maneuvers

A real-time driving software to be installed on vehicles is proposed. The paper discusses a possible approach to this task and investigates the feasibility of its development through use of a simulation. Considering the almost infinite number of possible driving situations, the study has been narrowed to look at the task of merging a vehicle onto a highway. The system assumes that the vehicle and road are equipped with a variety of proximity and environmental sensors. The sensors of the merging vehicle allow real-time detection of movements of other vehicles in the close neighborhood. Based on sensor activity, a rule-based defensive driving algorithm may predict future actions or take an active role in vehicle operation. Simulation results of the merging scenario algorithm and possible applications are provided.
Exploiting Dataset Similarity for Distributed Mining

The notion of similarity is an important one in data mining. It can be used to provide useful structural information on data as well as enable clustering. In this paper we present an elegant method for measuring the similarity between homogeneous datasets. The algorithm presented is efficient in storage and scale, has the ability to adjust to time constraints. and can provide the user with likely causes of similarity or dis-similarity. One potential application of our similarity measure is in the distributed data mining domain. Using the notion of similarity across databases as a distance metric one cangenerate clusters of similar datasets. Once similar datasets are clustered, each cluster can be independently mined to generate the appropriate rules for a given cluster. The similarity measure is evaluated on a dataset from the Census Bureau, and synthetic datasets from IBM.
Transamerican literary relations and the nineteenth-century public sphere

Acknowledgements Note on texts and translations Prologue 1. Introduction: transamerican renaissance 2. Scattered traditions: the transamerican genealogies of Jicotencal 3. A francophone view of comparative American literature: Revue des Colonies and the translations of abolition 4. Cuban stories 5. Hawthorne's Mexican genealogies 6. Transamerican theatre: Pierre Faubert and L'Oncle Tom Epilogue Notes Index.
Ontogeny of guanine-nucleotide-binding regulatory proteins in rabbit liver.

Ontogeny of trimeric GTP-binding regulatory proteins (G-proteins) and their subunits in rabbit liver during neonatal development was studied, by using bacterial-toxin-catalysed ADP-ribosylation of membrane proteins, immunoblot analysis to quantify the alpha-subunit (alpha s and alpha i) of stimulatory (Gs) and inhibitory (Gi) G-protein and the beta-subunit, and reconstitution assay with cyc- membranes (from Gs-deficient variant of S49 lymphoma cell) to measure Gs activity. Under optimal conditions of ADP-ribosylation, little cholera-toxin substrate (alpha s) was detected in membranes from liver of neonatal animals up to 24 h of age. Thereafter ribosylatable alpha s proteins, i.e. 45 kDa (alpha s-1) and 52 kDa (alpha s-2) proteins, were increasingly evident, reaching maximal levels in membranes from animals aged 4-6 weeks. The concentrations of alpha s-1 and alpha s-2, as determined by immunoblotting, were 6.1 +/- 0.8 and 2.7 +/- 0.4 pmol/mg of protein respectively at birth, and did not change during 0-24 h after birth. Thereafter they gradually increased to maximal levels of 22.1 +/- 1.3 and 10.5 +/- 0.7 pmol/mg of protein for alpha s-1 and alpha s-2 respectively, within 6 weeks. The beta-subunit also showed a similar 3-4-fold increase during the same age span. In contrast, the pertussis-toxin substrate (alpha i) was clearly evident even in membranes from term animals and in all age groups studied. Its developmental pattern, as assessed by ADP-ribosylation, was the same as that determined by immunoblot analysis. The functional activity of Gs in cholate extracts of membranes exhibited similar developmental pattern to that of cholera-toxin-mediated labelling. This activity also paralleled the concentrations of alpha s as measured by immunoblotting. These results suggest differential expression of G-protein subunits in liver during neonatal development.
Spatial point pattern identification of an apparent Ice-Age house structure

Abstract Archaeological excavations of a late Ice-Age (Pleistocene) site on the western slope of the Rocky Mountains in Colorado uncovered large rocks that were suspected to be the remains of a house structure. Classical statistical analyses supported this possible conclusion but could not characterize the possible shape of the structure. Analyses using Ripley’s K-function and an adaptation called the L-function confirmed the strong likelihood that the location pattern was not homogeneous across the site. Both nearby regularity and more distant clustering were identified. Circular and elliptical fits to the rock locations were compared using L-function simulation envelopes. The simulation envelopes provided strong evidence that the large rocks formed a circular pattern, suggesting that they formed the foundation of a prehistoric house structure.
Association of gender and access to cadaveric renal transplantation.

Abstract Previous studies have revealed that females are less likely than males to receive a renal transplant, the most successful form of treatment of end-stage renal disease (ESRD). The purpose of this study was to determine whether the barrier is to inclusion on the transplant waiting list or to transplantation after being placed on the transplant waiting list. An existing data set was used that included data from the Michigan Kidney Registry, supplemented with data received from the Organ Procurement Agency of Michigan. White and black patients less than 65 years of age and starting ESRD treatment between Janury 1, 1984, and December 31, 1989, were included. Cox proportional hazards models were used to determine the effect of gender on (1) time to transplantation among all ESRD patients, (2) time from diagnosis of ESRD to inclusion or the transplant waiting list among all ESRD patients, and (3) time from inclusion on the waiting list to transplantation or death, and were monitored waiting list. Patients were censored at the time of living-related transplantation or death, and were monitored until December 31, 1989. In all, 5,026 incident ESRD patients were included in the study (44.3% female). Of these, 1,626 patients were included on the waiting list (40.1% female); 823 of these received a transplant (37.7% female). Adjusting for age, race, and diagnosis, females were 25% less likely to receive a cadaveric transplant than males (female to male relative rate ratio [RR], 0.75; P P P P
Electron transport and magnetoresistance in ferromagnetic nanostructures

Recent studies of very narrow Ni wires have shown that the resistance of a wire containing domain walls can be smaller than for a sample without walls; i.e., the domain wall resistance is effectively negative. In this paper we investigate the corresponding behavior of permalloy wires. For these wires the resistance decreases markedly during magnetization reversal. We show that this decrease is due to a combination of coherent rotation and a negative domain wall resistance. We are able to separate these two effects, and extract an estimate for the resistance of an individual domain wall.
Improving knowledge sharing in healthcare through social network analysis

Knowledge management systems (KMS) are critical to capture, retain, and communicate project results and knowledge of staff, prevent knowledge drain, and provide lessons learned type training. This research focuses on the development of a knowledge management system using social network analysis (SNA) to improve methods to organise and share knowledge for a large government healthcare organisation. A survey was employed to interview key players using the narrative interview protocol through focus groups formed from early adopters of process improvement methods to understand how stakeholders viewed and implemented changes to their work environment. Using these results, a Likert–style questionnaire was provided to all users. Social network mapping and analysis was performed relevant to basic network properties, characteristics of relations, and other relevant network features. The goal of this research is to identify key players, document how information is shared, recommend methods to sharing and retain knowledge, and measure the impact of the improvements.
Recent progress in titration calorimetry

Research developments in titration calorimetry over the past ten years by personnel at the Thermochemical Institute have resulted in new techniques and instrumentation that have greatly increased the usefulness of calorimetry in the study of chemical problems. During this time, problems associated with the components of the calorimeter (i.e., constant temperature bath, constant rate buret, reaction vessel, temperature sensing circuit, and data analysis procedure) have been solved so that the continuous titration method now gives results comparable in accuracy to those obtained with conventional solution calorimeters. These developments have opened new avenues of research in the fields of biochemistry, microbiology, and environmental analysis.