cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Fluctuations in premature ventricular contraction burden can affect medical assessment and management

Background Frequent premature ventricular contractions (PVCs) can cause disabling symptoms and decrease left ventricular ejection fraction. PVC burden, typically quantified by a 24-hour monitor, is one of the factors that determines the clinical management of PVCs. Objective The purpose of this study was to evaluate the extent of variability in 24-hour PVC burden during 14-day ambulatory cardiac monitoring in patients with significant PVC burden. Methods All patients referred for PVC evaluation received a 14-day ambulatory cardiac monitor. Parameters of interest included mean 14-day PVC burden, minimum and maximum 24-hour PVC burden, and absolute change in 24-hour PVC burden (maximum minus minimum). We included only patients with a mean 14-day PVC burden of more than 5%. Results Fifty-nine patients were included in the study. The median of mean 14-day PVC burden, maximum 24-hour PVC burden, and minimum 24-hour PVC burden were 9.0% (IQR 6.4%–17.9%), 16.2% (IQR 11.7%–26.2%), and 4.5% (IQR 2.6%–11.2%) respectively (P 20%) 24-hour PVC burden, 72.9% patients fell into at least 2 categories depending on the 24-hour period considered. Conclusion There is a significant variation in 24-hour PVC burden when measured over a 14-day period in patients with of PVC burden of more than 5%. This variation might impact critical clinical decisions in a significant proportion of such patients.
Feature-specific profiling

High-level languages come with significant readability and maintainability benefits. Their performance costs, however, are usually not predictable, at least not easily. Programmers may accidentally use high-level features in ways that compiler writers could not anticipate, and they may thus produce underperforming programs as a result.
Gal9/Tim-3 expression level is higher in AML patients who fail chemotherapy.

Immune checkpoint pathways active in Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML) patients, especially during the course of remission induction chemotherapy, have not been well studied. Although dominant in mediating T cell dysfunction in cancer, it is now well-accepted that interruption of PD-1/PD-L1 axes alone does not always completely restore T cell function, indicating the involvement of additional negative regulatory pathways, such as TIM-3/Gal-9, in promoting T cell exhaustion. Here, we characterized these pathways in AML patients enrolled in a phase I dose escalation trial that combined Selinexor, a Selective Inhibitor of Nuclear Export (SINE), with high-dose cytarabine (HiDAC) and mitoxantrone (Mito) (NCT02573363) as induction therapy. To monitor changes in expression of immune checkpoint receptors, multi-parameter flow cytometry was performed on peripheral blood and bone marrow biopsy specimens at diagnosis and following induction therapy in 26 AML patients. Expression of CD47, PD-L1, PD-L2 and Gal9 was assessed on CD34+ AML blasts, as well as on CD34− cell populations. In parallel, we evaluated expression of inhibitory (PD1, CTLA4, LAG3, TIM-3) and stimulatory (CD28, ICOS, CD137, OX40, CD40L, HLA-DR) co-receptors on CD4+ and CD8+ T cell subsets. Compared to baseline, the frequency of Gal9+ CD34− cells was significantly higher in patients with treatment failure (TF) than in those in complete remission (CR), and this finding correlated with increased TIM-3 expression on marrow-resident T cells in TF patients. Moreover, when we measured the expression level of PD-1 and TIM-3 in bone marrow samples compared to peripheral blood, TIM-3 was significantly higher in BM specimens. Our results suggest that targeting the Gal9/Tim-3 axis could be effective in combination with induction chemotherapy to increase the likelihood of complete remission in AML patients.
Original Research: Does “Don't Ask Don't Tell” Apply to Health Care? Lesbian, Gay, and Bisexual People's Disclosure to Health Care Providers

Lesbian, gay, and bisexual people are often hesitant to reveal their sexual identities to health care providers for fear of poor care. This study begins to explore some of the factors related to disclosure, including the prevalence of different kinds of disclosure/nondisclosure and the frequency of protective strategies in health care settings. Eighty-eight LGB people (38 lesbians, 37 gay men, and 13 bisexuals) responded to a questionnaire about their most recent experiences with health care as well their overall experiences. More respondents reported avoiding questions about sexuality (38%) than actively disclosed to their health care provider (37%). These respondents reported a wide range of protective strategies in health care settings, with women reporting use of more strategies in past health care experiences than men. Women were also more likely to have a regular physician and to disclose sexual identity to a health care provider than were men. Many respondents gave examples of unpleasant interactions with health care providers or reported that health care providers made heterosexist assumptions. Rates of disclosure to health care providers remain low because lesbian, gay, and bisexual people still perceive health care settings and providers as threatening.
Vessel scheduling in liner shipping: a critical literature review and future research needs

Liner shipping plays a major role for freight transportation and international seaborne trade. The economic development of different countries is significantly dependent on the movement of a containerized cargo. One of the most challenging decision problems, tackled by liner shipping companies, is the design of vessel schedules. At the vessel scheduling stage, the liner shipping company aims to determine vessel sailing speeds at voyage legs of a given liner shipping route, port times, vessel handling rates at ports, the minimum number of vessels required in order to provide the agreed service frequency at ports, and other factors. Considering the existing pollution levels, the environmental impacts of liner shipping have to be captured in the vessel scheduling models as well. This study conducts a comprehensive survey of the existing research on vessel scheduling in liner shipping. The collected vessel scheduling studies are classified into different categories, including general vessel scheduling, uncertainty in liner shipping operations, collaborative agreements, vessel schedule recovery, and green liner shipping. Based on a detailed analysis of the collected literature, findings are discussed, and limitations in the state-of-the-art are identified for each category of studies. The study concludes with a number of future research opportunities, taking into account the recent developments and trends in liner shipping.
Respiratory pathogens associated with intubated pediatric patients following hematopoietic cell transplant.

BACKGROUND We describe organisms found in the respiratory tracts of a multicenter cohort of pediatric hematopoietic cell transplant (HCT) recipients with respiratory failure. METHODS Twelve centers contributed up to 25 pediatric allogeneic HCT recipients requiring mechanical ventilation for respiratory failure to a retrospective database. Positive respiratory pathogens and method of obtaining sample were recorded. Outcomes were assessed using Mann-Whitney U test or chi-squared analysis. RESULTS Of the 222 patients in the database, ages 1 month through 21 years, 34.6% had a positive respiratory culture. 105 pathogens were identified in 77 patients; of those, 48.6% were viral, 34.3% bacterial, 16.2% fungal, and 1% parasitic. PICU mortality with a respiratory pathogen was 68.8% compared to 54.9% for those without a respiratory pathogen (P = .045). Those with a positive respiratory pathogen had longer PICU length of stay, 20 days (IQR 14.0, 36.8) vs 15 (IQR 6.5, 32.0), P = .002, and a longer course of mechanical ventilation, 17 days (IQR 10, 29.5) vs 8 (3, 17), P < .0001. Method of pathogen identification, type of pathogen, and the presence of multiple pathogens were not associated with changes in PICU outcomes. CONCLUSIONS In this multicenter retrospective cohort of intubated pediatric post-HCT patients, there was high variability in the respiratory pathogens identified. Type of pathogen and method of detection did not affect PICU mortality. The presence of any organism leads to increased PICU mortality, longer PICU stay, and increased duration of mechanical ventilation suggesting that early detection and treatment of pathogens may be beneficial in this population.
Resolved Neutrons from the Be ( α , n ) Reaction

Angular distributions and 0\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{} excitation curves have been taken of resolved ground-state and first-excited-state neutron groups from the reactions ${\mathrm{Be}}^{9}(\ensuremath{\alpha}, n){\mathrm{C}}^{12}$ ($Q=5.71$ Mev) and ${\mathrm{Be}}^{9}(\ensuremath{\alpha}, n){\mathrm{C}}^{12*}$ ($Q=1.28$ Mev). For the ground-state neutron group, angular distributions were taken at bombarding energies from 2 to 5 Mev, and a 0\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{} excitation curve from 1.7 to 4.8 Mev. For the neutron group to the first excited state of ${\mathrm{C}}^{12}$, angular distributions were taken in the range 4 to 5 Mev, and a 0\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{} excitation curve from 3.1 to 4.8 Mev. Attempts were made to fit the ground-state neutron angular distributions above 4 Mev using compound-nucleus theory.
An Astrocyte-Modulated Neuromorphic Central Pattern Generator for Hexapod Robot Locomotion on Intel’s Loihi

Locomotion is a crucial challenge for legged robots that is addressed “effortlessly” by biological networks abundant in nature, named central pattern generators (CPG). The multitude of CPG network models that have so far become biomimetic robotic controllers is not applicable to the emerging neuromorphic hardware, depriving mobile robots of a robust walking mechanism that would result in inherently energy-efficient systems. Here, we propose a brain-morphic CPG controler based on a comprehensive spiking neural-astrocytic network that generates two gait patterns for a hexapod robot. Building on the recently identified astrocytic mechanisms for neuromodulation, our proposed CPG architecture is seamlessly integrated into Intel’s Loihi neuromorphic chip by leveraging a real-time interaction framework between the chip and the robotic operating system (ROS) environment, that we also propose. Here, we demonstrate that a Loihi-run CPG can be used to control a walking robot with robustness to sensory noise and varying speed profiles. Our results pave the way for scaling this and other approaches towards Loihi-controlled locomotion in autonomous mobile robots.
Automated Generation of FMEAs using SysML for Reliability, Safety, and Cybersecurity

Summary & ConclusionsIn this paper, an automated FMEA generation capability using the SysML modeling language and described its application to a simple SCADA computer network was described. The outputs produced by the tool (implemented as a SysML plug-in) from this analysis were presented, and the resultant insights into the design were described. The fundamental innovation in our approach is the identification and enumeration of all failure propagation paths and the detailed documentation of the failure transformations, detection measures, mitigation measures and protective measures that can be applied to these devices to prevent or mitigate the impact of the anomaly. By doing so, we can expand the traditional FMEA approach to analysis of cyberattack vectors. Because our approach is automated and can be readily integrated into a system development effort using Model Based Systems Engineering (MBSE), the analysis can be readily repeated throughout the design and can be used frequently to assess a system design, identify weaknesses, and take corrective actions to create a more resilient and robust system
Theoretical investigation of optical intersubband transitions and infrared photodetection in β-(AlxGa1 − x)2O3/Ga2O3 quantum well structures

We provide theoretical consideration of intersubband transitions designed in the ultra-wide bandgap aluminum gallium oxide [(AlxGa1 − x)2O3]/gallium oxide (Ga2O3) quantum well system. Conventional material systems have matured into successful intersubband device applications such as large-area quantum well infrared photodetector (QWIP) focal plane arrays for reproducible imaging systems but are fundamentally limited via maximum conduction band offsets to mid- and long-wavelength infrared applications. Short- and near-infrared devices are technologically important to optical communication systems and biomedical imaging applications but are difficult to realize in intersubband designs for this reason. In this work, we use a first-principles approach to estimate the expansive design space of monoclinic β-(AlxGa1 − x)2O3/Ga2O3 material system, which reaches from short-wavelength infrared (1–3 μm) to far infrared (>30 μm) transition wavelengths. We estimate the performance metrics of two QWIPs operating in the long- and short-wavelength regimes, including an estimation of high room temperature detectivity (∼1011 Jones) at the optical communication wavelength λp = 1.55 μm. Our findings demonstrate the potential of the rapidly maturing (AlxGa1 − x)2O3/Ga2O3 material system to open the door for intersubband device applications.
Globalization of Software Research: Does the Us Have an Advantage in Applications?

Does the US have a comparative advantage in research on applications software? We classify software patents into applied and upstream software based on a unique classification algorithm. We offer empirical evidence that research on applied software is less likely to be conducted outside the US than that on upstream applications. We hypothesize that this comparative advantage is due to the presence of lead users of software within the US, and offer some evidence in support of this hypothesis. We also find evidence that the propensity to self-cite offshore research is higher for applied software than for upstream, suggesting that US firms may use internal knowledge transfers to mediate the needs of lead users.
Low-Inductance Asymmetrical Hybrid GaN HEMT Switching Cell Design for the FCML Converter in High Step-Down Applications

Proper utilization of GaN devices generally necessitates ultra-low inductance printed circuit board (PCB) layout in the main commutation loop or switching cell of a power converter. The flying c apacitor m ultilevel ( FCML) t opology in particular contains many of these switching cells, thus design optimization becomes critical. A novel asymmetrical cell layout design with sub-1 nH commutation loop inductance is proposed and characterized for the FCML by utilizing a transient- and impedance-based measurement technique in conjunction with 3D field simulation. To validate its efficacy, this switching cell design is demonstrated within a prototype high performance step-down intermediate bus converter supply (v out = 48 V) with wide input voltage range (v in = 48 to 340 V).
Preferential Credit Treatment, Bond Valuations, and Distressed Exchanges

This paper uses Duffie and Singleton (1999) discount model for defaultable bonds to infer the presence of a preferential credit treatment (PCT) for Multilateral Development Banks (MDBs) in loss given default (LGD) space. The main inferences from the paper are twofold. -1- Lower lending fees in MDBs loans relative to private lenders generate a significant PCT. That is, a refinancing of a loan would be less severe for loans that already encompass a subsidized coupon. -2- Non-concessional loans have lower LGDs than concessional loans. This is consistent with the premise that non-concessional lending help financing concessional loans. Overall, our conceptualization of the problem supports an explanation for the preferential treatment of MDBs, even under the assumption of no seniority for MDBs loans relative to private loans.
General Considerations and Etiologies of Aortic Stenosis

The earliest descriptions of aortic stenosis are credited to Riverius in 1646 where he provided a clear-cut description of the observed pathological findings of calcified aortic valve cusps in association with weak and diminished peripheral pulses. Aortic stenosis was described again by Bonet in 1679, however, John Baptist Morgagni, professor of anatomy in the University of Padua, referred to aortic stenosis in 1761 and is credited in providing a brilliant description of an autopsy specimen of calcified aortic valve cusps found in a patient and suggested the valve was both stenotic and incompetent. In his description, he quoted a similar case described by Georgius Greiselius and he clarified the anatomical and pathophysiological features of acquired aortic stenosis. In 1806, Corvisart provided another impressive correlation of clinical and autopsy findings and in 1854, William Stokes provided yet another vivid description of the disease. This chapter will provide a general overview of aortic stenosis as well as a review of the common etiologies of aortic stenosis.
Channel Friction and Slope Effects on Harbor Resonance

An approximate matching technique uses separate solutions in a semi-infinite ocean bounded by a straight coastline, a harbor basin, and a narrow straight entrance channel which connects them. Wave height and velocity are matched at the interfaces. Such an approach allows different solutions to be used in any of the three regions, when the physical description of that region is modified, without changing the solutions used in the remaining regions. In the present work, the entrance channel is first considered to possess a wall/bottom friction although the remaining regions are kept frictionless. Results indicate that the channel effect, which leads to increasing resonance amplification with increasing channel length analogous to the well-known harbor paradox, is counteracted by the increase in frictional effects for a longer channel. The second problem considered modified the entrance channel to have a linear slope from a constant depth ocean to a harbor basin at some other constant depth.
Data Parallel Supercomputing

Supercomputers with a performance of a trillion floating-point operations per second, or more, can be produced in state-of-the-art MOS technologies. Such computers will have tens of thousands of processors interconnected by a network of bounded degree. Reducing the required data motion through a careful choice of data allocation and computational and routing algorithms is critical for performance. The management of thousands of processors can only be accomplished through programming languages with suitable abstractions.
Tap Water Scald Burns in Children, by K. W. Feldman, R. T. Schaller, J. A. Feldman, and M. McMillon,Pediatrics, 1978;62:1–7

Tap water scald burns account for 7% to 17% of all childhood scald burns that require hospitalization. Often the burns are severe and disabling. Toddlers and preschool children are the most frequent victims. In 45% of the injuries, the unsupervised victim or peer turned on the tap water; in 28% the cause was abuse. Eighty percent of the homes tested had unsafe bathtub water temperatures of 54°C (130°F) or higher, exposing the occupants to the risk of full-thickness scald with
Overview on a new approach to one-bit nth order /spl Sigma//spl Delta/ modulation

We present a synthesis of recent results obtained by various collaborators contributing to a new analysis framework for one-bit nth order /spl Sigma//spl Delta/ modulators. This framework leads to a better theoretical understanding of the intriguing MSE behavior of such modulators and new general principles for the design of nonlinear /spl Sigma//spl Delta/ modulators.
Implementation of CMOS photodetectors in optoelectronic circuits

We present in this paper several different photodetector structures implemented with a conventional CMOS fabrication process that can be incorporated into optical data links and information processing systems. We investigate several detector structures using the 2-D materials simulation package MEDICI. The detector structure is evaluated by fabrication using an AMI 1.5 /spl mu/m CMOS process available through the MOSIS foundry service. When geometric and other structural differences are accounted for, the results indicate that the simulation adequately predicts photodetector operation under normal operating conditions.
Rationale for mutagenesis of DNA polymerase active sites: DNA polymerase α

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses the rationale for mutagenesis of DNA polymerase active sites. Site-directed mutations were introduced to each of the highly conserved amino acid residues in the active site of human DNA polymerase α to test their functions. The objective is to analyze the function of the side chain of each amino acid by introducing mutations that yield a mutant enzyme with altered catalytic activity but not devoid of catalytic activity. Thus, similar or altered size changes by removing part of or all of the functional group of the side chain are preferred and extreme and drastic changes in the charge and size of the side chains are avoided. It is also important to introduce more than one mutation to the target amino acid residue in order to address the precise function of the side chain. Site-directed mutations are introduced by oligonucleotide directed mutagenesis using uracil containing DNA template. Mutation is verified by DNA sequence analysis. The presence of introduced mutations is monitored at each stage of the subcloning steps by designing the oligonucleotides used for generating mutations containing silent mutations, which either add or abolish a restriction site.
Critical Role for the Adenosine Pathway in Controlling Simian Immunodeficiency Virus-Related Immune Activation and Inflammation in Gut Mucosal Tissues

UNLABELLED The role of the adenosine (ADO) pathway in human immunodeficiency virus type 1/simian immunodeficiency virus (HIV-1/SIV) infection remains unclear. We compared SIVsab-induced changes of markers related to ADO production (CD39 and CD73) and breakdown (CD26 and adenosine deaminase) on T cells from blood, lymph nodes, and intestine collected from pigtailed macaques (PTMs) and African green monkeys (AGMs) that experience different SIVsab infection outcomes. We also measured ADO and inosine (INO) levels in tissues by mass spectrometry. Finally, we assessed the suppressive effect of ADO on proinflammatory cytokine production after T cell receptor stimulation. The baseline level of both CD39 and CD73 coexpression on regulatory T cells and ADO levels were higher in AGMs than in PTMs. Conversely, high INO levels associated with dramatic increases in CD26 expression and adenosine deaminase activity were observed in PTMs during chronic SIV infection. Immune activation and inflammation markers in the gut and periphery inversely correlated with ADO and directly correlated with INO. Ex vivo administration of ADO significantly suppressed proinflammatory cytokine production by T cells in both species. In conclusion, the opposite dynamics of ADO pathway-related markers and contrasting ADO/INO levels in species with divergent proinflammatory responses to SIV infection support a key role of ADO in controlling immune activation/inflammation in nonprogressive SIV infections. Changes in ADO levels predominately occurred in the gut, suggesting that the ADO pathway may be involved in sparing natural hosts of SIVs from developing SIV-related gut dysfunction. Focusing studies of the ADO pathway on mucosal sites of viral replication is warranted. IMPORTANCE The mechanisms responsible for the severe gut dysfunction characteristic of progressive HIV and SIV infection in humans and macaques are not completely elucidated. We report that ADO may play a key role in controlling immune activation/inflammation in nonprogressive SIV infections by limiting SIV-related gut inflammation. Conversely, in progressive SIV infection, significant degradation of ADO occurs, possibly due to an early increase of ADO deaminase complexing protein 2 (CD26) and adenosine deaminase. Our study supports therapeutic interventions to offset alterations of this pathway during progressive HIV/SIV infections. These potential approaches to control chronic immune activation and inflammation during pathogenic SIV infection may prevent HIV disease progression.
Evidence for involvement of a limbic paraventricular hypothalamic inhibitory network in hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis adaptations to repeated stress

Emotional stressors activate a stereotyped set of limbic forebrain cell groups implicated in constraining stress-induced hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis activation by inhibiting hypophysiotropic neurons in the paraventricular hypothalamic nucleus (PVH). We previously identified a circumscribed, anterior part of the bed nuclei of the stria terminalis (aBST) that houses stress-sensitive, PVH-projecting, γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA)-ergic neurons as representing a site of convergence of stress-inhibitory influences originating from medial prefrontal and hippocampal cortices. Here we investigate whether exaggerated HPA axis responses associated with chronic variable stress (CVS; daily exposure to different stressors at unpredictable times over 14 days, followed by restraint stress on day 15) and diminished HPA output seen following repeated (14 days) restraint-stress exposure are associated with differential engagement of the limbic modulatory network. Relative to acutely restrained rats, animals subjected to CVS showed the expected increase (sensitization) in HPA responses and diminished levels of activation (Fos) of GABAergic neurons and glutamic acid decarboxylase (GAD) mRNA expression in the aBST. By contrast, repeated restraint stress produced habituation in HPA responses, maintained levels of activation of GABAergic neurons, and increased GAD expression in the aBST. aBST-projecting neurons in limbic sites implicated in HPA axis inhibition tended to show diminished activational responses in both repeated-stress paradigms, with the exception of the paraventricular thalamic nucleus, in which responsiveness was maintained in repeatedly restrained animals. The results are consistent with the view that differential engagement of HPA inhibitory mechanisms in the aBST may contribute to alterations in HPA axis responses to emotional stress in sensitization and habituation paradigms.
A physical SPICE-compatible dual-gate JFET model

A physical dual-gate JFET model is presented. The model is based on the physical three-half power current-voltage relationship. This model has the capability of independent biasing of top-gate and bottom-gate. Short channel velocity-saturation and an improved channel-length modulation model are also included. The model has been developed as a subroutine extension in SPICE. Self-consistent parameter extraction routines, based on an exact operational definition of each model parameter, have been developed in conjunction with the model. Unique extraction algorithms are developed for each model form. Only after consistent extraction routines are developed for the model within a circuit simulator are they applied to the physical device. This provides an exact operational definition for each model parameter. >
Analysis of left atrial volume change rate during left ventricular diastolic phase with M-mode echocardiography for differentiation between normal and pseudonormal mitral inflow

Abstract Pseudonormalization of mitral inflow is a diagnostic problem in clinical practice. An excellent correlation exists between the change in the left atrial (LA) angiographic area and posterior aortic wall motion. Therefore, we sought to define the role of LA wall motion, indicating LA volume change rate, in patients with normal and pseudonormal mitral inflow. We performed echocardiography after cardiac catheterization in 62 patients with a velocity ratio of early-to-late mitral inflow (E/A ratio) >1. Study patients were classified into 2 groups according to the response of mitral inflow to phase II of the Valsalva maneuver: patients with E/A >1 after the Valsalva maneuver (n = 31, control group), and patients with
Moral Hazard and Consumer-Driven Health Care: A Fundamentally Flawed Concept:

For more than 30 years, most health care economists in the United States have accepted a conventional theory of health insurance based on the concept of moral hazard: an assumption is made that insured people overuse health care services because they have insurance. The recent trend toward "consumer-driven health care" (CDHC) is advocated by its supporters based on this same premise, assuming that imprudent choices by patients can be avoided if they are held more financially responsible for their health care choices through larger co-payments and deductibles and other restrictions. This article examines how moral hazard-based CDHC plays out in both private plans and public programs. The author identifies seven ways in which this concept fails the public interest, while also failing to control health care costs. Uninsured and underinsured people, now including many in the middle class, underuse essential health care services, resulting in increased morbidity and more preventable hospitalizations and deaths among these groups than their more affluent counterparts. A case is made to reject moral hazard as an organizing rationale for health care, and the author offers some alternative approaches.
The relationship between measures of psychopathology, intelligence, and memory among adults seen for psychoeducational assessment

This study assessed the relationship between symptoms of psychopathology and cognitive functioning in clients completing comprehensive psychoeducational assessments at a university-based outpatient mental health clinic. Seventy clients (36 women, 34 men, mean age=28.8) completed the Wechsler Memory Scale-Third Edition (WMS-III), Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale-Third Edition (WAIS-III), and Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory-Second Edition (MMPI-2). Partial correlations between the MMPI-2 clinical scales, WMS-III Index scores, WAIS-III Index scores, and WAIS-III IQ scores were not significant. Memory and Intelligence scores for clients with comorbid symptoms of depression and anxiety were comparable to scores for clients without comorbid symptomatology. Psychopathology factors accounted for 22% of the variance in the WAIS-III Full Scale IQ and 6.5% of the variance in the WMS-III General Memory Index. The results suggest that psychopathology as measured by the MMPI-2 may be minimally associated with intelligence and memory test performance in adults seen for psychoeducational assessment.
Controlling the dynamical behavior of a circle map model of the human heart

One-dimensional circle maps are good models for describing the nonlinear dynamical behavior of two interacting oscillators. They have been employed to characterize the interaction between a periodic external forcing stimulus and an in vitro preparation of chick embryonic cardiac cells. They have also been used to model some human cardiac arrythmias such as modulated ventricular parasystole. In this paper, we describe several techniques involving engineering feedback control theory applied to a circle map model of human heart parasystole. Through simulations of the mathematical model, we demonstrate that a desired target phase relationship between the normal sinus rhythm and an abnormal ectopic pacemaker can be achieved rapidly with low-level external stimulation applied to the system. Specifically, we elucidate the linear, self-tuning, and nonlinear feedback approaches to control. The nonlinear methods are the fastest and most accurate, yet the most complex and computationally expensive to implement of the three types. The linear approach is the easiest to implement but may not be accurate enough in real applications, and the self-tuning methods are a compromise between the other two. The latter was successful in tracking a variety of period-1, period-2, and period-3 target phase trajectories of the heart model.
Ultrastructural changes of rat parotid glands induced by a diet of liquid Metrecal.

The ultrastructure of parotid glands was studied in rats fed a diet of liquid Metrecal for two weeks and compared with that of parotid glands of control rats which received a diet of Purina lab chow. The liquid diet induced major alterations of acinar cells, but other parenchymal components were apparently unaffected.
Serum S100B levels in X-linked adrenoleukodystrophy and Gaucher disease.

S100B, a small acidic protein, is a member of a multigenic family of calcium-modulated proteins. It is mainly produced by astrocytes and the secreted protein, depending on its concentration, can exert either trophic or toxic effects. In humans increased S100B levels have been detected in brain trauma and ischaemia, and neurodegenerative, neurometabolic, inflammatory and psychiatric disease. Serum S100B concentrations have been used as markers of brain disease. In the present study S100B serum levels were determined in patients with the neuroinflammatory disease X-linked adrenoleukodystrophy (X-ALD) and in patients with both the acute neuronopathic (type II) and the non-neuronopathic (type I) types of Gaucher disease (GD). Sixteen X-ALD patients (10 with the childhood, 4 with the adult cerebral forms, 2 asymptomatic) and 22 Gaucher disease patients (19 type I, 3 type II) were studied. No statistically significant differences were observed between the X-ALD (median 0.13 μg/L, p=0.191) or Gaucher type I patients (median 0.07 μg/L, p=0.095) and controls of similar age (median 0.10 μg/L, n=22). Serum S100B levels of type II Gaucher disease patients were also within the normal for their age range (patients 0.2, 0.22, 0.65; control median 0.81 μg/L, n=44). Lack of clinical symptoms and/or MRI findings in X-ALD patients was not associated with lower S100B values. Our results indicate that serum S100B levels cannot serve as peripheral marker in the evaluation of brain disease in X-ALD and GD.
Logics in animal cognition: Are they important to Brain Computer Interfaces (BCI) and aerospace missions?

Conventional wisdom is that logic and language are tightly connected to logics in human cognition. However, recent studies have revealed that, in animal cognition, there exist logics that do not depend on languages. In other words, logical behavior is not human brain specific. At least four logics: perceptual logic, technical logic, social logic, and inference logic have been studied in animal cognition. Despite the obvious differences between animals and humans in using languages, recent studies confirm that both humans and animals utilize the socalled sensor brain maps for most sensory modalities: populations of neurons are selectively tuned to different stimulus features or feature combinations (Ewert 2005, Ma and Krings 2009). This commonality suggests that the studies of animal logics should also be insightful for understanding human logics. After briefly reviewing some of the recent advances in animal logics research, we turn to a more practical research field—the Brain Computer Interface (BCI) [also known as Brain Machine Interface (BMI)] in biomedicine. BCI promises to provide non-muscular communication and control for people with severe motor disabilities. A fundamental goal of BCI is to translate thought or intent into action with brain activity only (Birbaumer 2006). If we recognize that logic is about the way of thinking and it is probably the most reliable and possibly most efficient way to understand thoughts, an interesting question could be: will the understanding of animal logics be very helpful for BCI research? The current BCI research is primarily targeted for rehabilitation applications. In this article, we also discuss the potential of using BCI techniques in aerospace systems and space explorations. One can imagine the potential that an astronaut operates a robot device by only thinking. Perhaps a revolutionary breakthrough from BCI technology can be the ‘copiloting’ of aerial vehicles by multiple pilots including some who stations at the ground. This copiloting not only reduces the stress (brain fatigue) of pilots, but also enhances the reliability and fault tolerance of aerial vehicles. 1 2
Defensive Attribution of Responsibility in Juridic Decisions1

Unlike previous research efforts, the present investigation of defensive attribution of responsibility and juridic decisions combines the concepts of severity and desirability of outcome into a measure of perceived seriousness of the crime, and utilizes a specific measure of perceived similarity between respondent and offender derived from respondents' descriptions of the offenders and themselves. Contrary to expectations, data obtained from a statewide mail questionnaire survey reveal that (a) perceived similarity between the respondent and offender is neither a strong nor a significant influence on recommended sentences for offenders; (b) perceived seriousness of the crime exerts a significant impact on recommended sentences for offenders; and (c) other variables, most notably familiarity with like offenders, included within the concept of defensive attribution of responsibility may contribute significantly to variations in recommended sentences for offenders for specific crime-respondent categories. Possible reasons for, and implications of, this limited and circumscribed support for utilizing defensive attribution of responsibility in explaining sentencing recommendations are offered.
Analysis and design of resonance tuning systems

A control system that tunes the resonant frequency of a lightly damped resonator to its excitation frequency in the face of detuning disturbances is investigated. The resonance tuning is achieved by adaptively controlling the resonant frequency of the resonator using the error between the excitation frequency and resonant frequency. Assuming that the parameters of the resonator are slowly time-varying, a nonlinear time-varying model that accurately predicts the tuning performance of the system is developed. This developed model is subsequently linearized to obtain a linear time-invariant model that facilitates both analysis and design of the resonance tuning system. Based on the developed linear time-invariant model, guidelines for designing the resonance tuning system are provided. The results are illustrated by examples.
In Search of Transactional Processes in the Caregiving System.

Abstract Bradley and Caldwell propose a new taxonomy to describe proximal aspects of the caregiving environment. In doing so, they provide a useful heuristic for scale construction and research planning. We offer three concerns. The first is that the system lacks proper consideration of person-environment transactions, especially with respect to genetic predispositions. The second is that there is overlap between category boundaries. The third is that their definition of what is optimal or adaptive needs further clarification. Nevertheless, this system integrates existing research on the caregiving environment and advances our understanding of environmental theory from the objective, if not from the subjective, perspective.
Quasar Spectrum Classification with Principal Component Analysis (PCA): Emission Lines in the Lyα Forest

We investigate the variety in quasar UV spectra (??1020-1600), with emphasis on the weak emission lines in the Ly? forest region, using principal component analysis (PCA). We use 50 smooth continuum-fitted quasar spectra (0.14 < z < 1.04) taken by the Hubble Space Telescope (HST) Faint Object Spectrograph. The first, second, and third principal component spectra (PCS) account for 63.4%, 14.5%, and 6.2% of the variance, respectively, and the first seven PCS account for 96.1% of the total variance. Three weak emission lines in the Ly? forest are identified as Fe II ?1070.95, Fe II + Fe III ?1123.17, and C III* ?1175.88. Using the first two standardized PCS coefficients, we introduce five classifications. By actively using PCS, we can generate artificial quasar spectra that are useful in testing the detection of quasars, DLAs, and the continuum calibration. We show that the power-law-extrapolated continuum is inadequate to perform precise measurements of the mean flux in the Ly? forest because of the weak emission lines and the extended tails of Ly? and Ly?/O VI emission lines. We show that we miss 5.3% of the flux on average, and there are cases where we would miss 14% of the flux. These corrections are essential in the study of the intergalactic medium at high redshift in order to achieve precise measurements of physical properties, cosmological parameters, and the reionization epoch.
Bobb Schaeffer, a biographical sketch

(1984). Bobb Schaeffer, a biographical sketch. Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology: Vol. 4, Essays Presented to Dr. Bobb Schaeffer, pp. 287-291.
Modeling of optically switched resonant tunneling diodes

We simulate the current-voltage characteristics of an InGaAs/AlAs resonant-tunneling diode under dark and illuminated conditions. The current is given by a tunneling formula that has been generalized to allow for quantum mechanical effects in the contacts. The optically generated carriers effect on the current-voltage characteristic is included through the use of a rate equation. This method of determining the optical response is shown to be accurate at low intensity and useful for extracting the recombination lifetime. The existing simulator shows great promise as a design tool for optical RTDs and related devices.© (1996) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
A pilot study of global positioning system/geographical information system measurement of residential proximity to agricultural fields and urinary organophosphate metabolite concentrations in toddlers.

This pilot study enrolled 20 children between the ages of 11 and 17 months in Imperial County, California to assess children's pesticide exposure and residential proximity to agricultural fields. We compared parental self-report of residential proximity to agricultural fields to measurements using global positioning system/geographical information system (GPS/GIS) technology, and we assessed the relationship between residential proximity to agricultural fields and a biomarker of organophosphate (OP) pesticide exposure. Questionnaires were administered twice, 4 weeks apart, to determine self-reported residential proximity to agricultural fields. Urine samples were collected at each contact to measure OP metabolites. Actual residential proximity to the closest agricultural field and number of fields was within 1 mile to the west were measured using GPS/GIS. Self-report of living proximity to agricultural fields agreed with GPS/GIS measurement 75% of the time during the initial interview, compared to 66% agreement during the second interview. Presence of urinary metabolites suggests that OP exposure was ubiquitous: creatinine-adjusted total urinary dimethyl values ranged from 1.60 to 516.00 μg/g creatinine, and total diethyl ranged from 2.70 to 134.84 μg/g creatinine. No association was found between urinary OP metabolites and residential to field proximity. These results suggest that initial self-report of living proximity to agricultural fields may be more accurate than follow-up self-report. Limitations in this pilot study prevent determination of whether self-report is an accurate measure of proximity.
Glucose metabolism in normal aging and Alzheimer's disease: Methodological and physiological considerations for PET studies.

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is an age-dependent neurodegenerative disorder associated with progressive loss of cognitive function. 2-[18F]fluoro-2-deoxy-d-glucose (FDG) positron emission tomography (PET) has long been used to measure resting-state cerebral metabolic rates of glucose, a proxy for neuronal activity. Several FDG PET studies have shown that metabolic reductions occur decades before onset of AD symptoms, suggesting that metabolic deficits may be an upstream event in at least some late-onset AD cases. This review explores this possibility, initially discussing the link between AD pathology, neurodegeneration, oxidative stress, and AD, and then discussing findings of FDG PET hypometabolism in AD patients as well as in at-risk individuals, especially those with a first-degree family history of late-onset AD. While the rare early-onset form of AD is due to autosomal dominant genetic mutations, the etiology and pathophysiology of age-dependent, late-onset AD is more complex. Recent FDG PET studies have shown that adult children of AD-affected mothers are more likely than those with AD-fathers to show AD-like brain changes. Given the connection between glucose metabolism and mitochondria, and the fact that mitochondrial DNA is maternally inherited in humans, it is here argued that altered bioenergetics may be an upstream event in those with a maternal history of late-onset AD. Biomarkers of AD have great potential for identifying AD endophenotypes in at-risk individuals, which may help direct investigation of potential susceptibility genes.
The Housekeeping Gene Hypoxanthine Guanine Phosphoribosyltransferase (HPRT) Regulates Multiple Developmental and Metabolic Pathways of Murine Embryonic Stem Cell Neuronal Differentiation

The mechanisms by which mutations of the purinergic housekeeping gene hypoxanthine guanine phosphoribosyltransferase (HPRT) cause the severe neurodevelopmental Lesch Nyhan Disease (LND) are poorly understood. The best recognized neural consequences of HPRT deficiency are defective basal ganglia expression of the neurotransmitter dopamine (DA) and aberrant DA neuronal function. We have reported that HPRT deficiency leads to dysregulated expression of multiple DA-related developmental functions and cellular signaling defects in a variety of HPRT-deficient cells, including human induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells. We now describe results of gene expression studies during neuronal differentiation of HPRT-deficient murine ESD3 embryonic stem cells and report that HPRT knockdown causes a marked switch from neuronal to glial gene expression and dysregulates expression of Sox2 and its regulator, genes vital for stem cell pluripotency and for the neuronal/glial cell fate decision. In addition, HPRT deficiency dysregulates many cellular functions controlling cell cycle and proliferation mechanisms, RNA metabolism, DNA replication and repair, replication stress, lysosome function, membrane trafficking, signaling pathway for platelet activation (SPPA) multiple neurotransmission systems and sphingolipid, sulfur and glycan metabolism. We propose that the neural aberrations of HPRT deficiency result from combinatorial effects of these multi-system metabolic errors. Since some of these aberrations are also found in forms of Alzheimer's and Huntington's disease, we predict that some of these systems defects play similar neuropathogenic roles in diverse neurodevelopmental and neurodegenerative diseases in common and may therefore provide new experimental opportunities for clarifying pathogenesis and for devising new potential therapeutic targets in developmental and genetic disease.