cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Abstract 2968: Examining the role of breast cancer Neuregulin1 and macrophage ErbB3 in intravasation

The purpose of our studies is to investigate the role of Neuregulin1 (NRG1) and ErbB3 signaling between breast cancer cells and macrophages in facilitating tumor cell intravasation. The interaction of breast cancer cells with other cell types within the tumor microenvironment plays an important role in metastasis. These interactions are thought to influence tumor cell invasion and intravasation, two important steps in the process of metastasis. Our studies are specifically interested in examining the signaling occurring between tumor cells and macrophages. Previous studies have established the presence of paracrine signaling between breast cancer cells and macrophages, where colony stimulating factor 1 (CSF-1) produced by the tumor cells stimulates the production of epidermal growth factor (EGF) by macrophages, leading to chemotactic invasion of the tumor cells. In addition to this paracrine loop signaling between tumor cells and macrophages, it has been seen that macrophage expression of ErbB3, a member of the EGFR family of receptor tyrosine kinases, may play a role in facilitating tumor cell invasion. In order to examine the effects of signaling between tumor cells and macrophages in intravasation, we utilize an in vitro transendothelial migration (iTEM) assay. This assay uses transwells coated with matrigel and endothelial cells in order to mimic the entry of tumor cells into blood vessels. We show that using an ErbB3 blocking antibody results in a significant reduction of macrophage-induced transendothelial migration of breast cancer cells. Additionally, reduction of expression of the ErbB3 receptor ligand Neuregulin1 in tumor cells yields a similar result. Stimulation of macrophages with NRG1 leads to increased expression of Jagged1 (JAG1), a ligand of the Notch receptor. Activation of the Notch receptor pathway has been shown to be involved in tumor cell invasion. Overall our studies look to further examine the interaction between tumor cells and macrophages, and these observations indicate that ErbB3, NRG1, and JAG1 could all serve as novel targets in metastasis and the tumor microenvironment. Citation Format: Ramon Cabrera, Serena Chiang, Jeffrey Segall. Examining the role of breast cancer Neuregulin1 and macrophage ErbB3 in intravasation [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2017; 2017 Apr 1-5; Washington, DC. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2017;77(13 Suppl):Abstract nr 2968. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2017-2968
Establishing minimally important differences for the American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons score and the Western Ontario Rotator Cuff Index in patients with full-thickness rotator cuff tears.

Background The American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons (ASES) score and the Western Ontario Rotator Cuff Index (WORC) are frequently used measures in clinical research for patients with rotator cuff tears (RCTs). The minimally important differences (MIDs) for these measures have not been established in patients with RCTs. The purpose of this study was to establish the MIDs for patients with known RCTs treated both surgically or nonsurgically. Methods We included 222 subjects with full-thickness RCTs. The WORC and ASES were collected at baseline and at 4, 8, 16, 32, 48, and 64 weeks, as was an end of study form with questions about change in the condition after treatment. We calculated anchor-based and distribution-based MIDs. We used regression modeling to determine change in MIDs as predicted by several variables. Results For the anchor-based method, we found an MID of 21.9 for the ASES and −282.6 for the WORC. When using the distribution-based method of ½ and ⅓ the standard deviation, we arrived at an MID of 26.9 and 17.9 points for the ASES and −588.7 and −392.5 points for the WORC. No variables predicted MID changes. Conclusion This is the first study to report MIDs for the ASES and WORC in a population of patients with only full-thickness RCTs. This information will directly improve our ability to determine when patients with RCTs are changing in a meaningful manner and accurately power clinical studies using these outcome measures.
Anemia of prematurity and cerebral near-infrared spectroscopy: should transfusion thresholds in preterm infants be revised?

To determine the impact of progressive anemia of prematurity on cerebral regional saturation (C-rSO2) in preterm infants and identify the hemoglobin threshold below which a critical decrease (>2SD below the mean) in C-rSO2 occurs. In a cohort of infants born ≤30 weeks EGA, weekly C-rSO2 data were prospectively collected from the second week of life through 36 weeks post-menstrual age (PMA). Clinically obtained hemoglobin values were noted at the time of recording. Recordings were excluded if they were of insufficient duration ( 2SD below the mean normative value ( 2SD below the mean.
Human Studies That Determine the Sensitizing Potential of Haptens: Experimental Allergic Contact Dermatitis

Human experimental sensitization studies have evolved over 40 years to reduce the chance of consumers’ experiencing allergic contact dermatitis from commercial products. This article reviews the changes in test methods over the years and discusses important variables in the test that can be overlooked. The most important variable, concentration of the test material, is the most important feature of experimental sensitization studies and is often ignored by suppliers of raw material to manufacturers.
The Biology of the Intestinal Trematode Echinostoma caproni

Publisher Summary This chapter introduces the biology of the intestinal trematode, Echinostoma cuproni, a good digenean to work with because it can be easily cycled in the laboratory between the medically important planorbid snail, Biomphuluriu glubrutu and laboratory mice or hamsters, the same hosts that are used to maintain, Schistosomu munsoni. The chapter examines the salient features of the biology, life history, infectivity, immunology, pathology, physiology, cultivation, biochemistry, and molecular biology of this organism. The chapter also includes discussion of the ultrastructural studies on the adults, concurrent studies with other parasites both in the snail and the vertebrate hosts, histopathological and pathobiochemical effects of the infection on both the intermediate and definitive hosts, and immunobiology studies in both the intermediate and definitive hosts. Studies using electrophoresis and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) are reviewed. It is concluded that this organism is an exceptionally fine model for various studies in parasitology.
How Should One Manage Emergency Drug Requests and Their Data

The Food and Drug Administration is aware that there may be good reason to use an investigational drug in patient care, i.e., not in a formal investigation, before complete data on effectivenss and safety are available. The usual reason is the combination of a patient with a life-threatening disease who has exhausted all standard therapy and the availability of a promising new agent with some evidence of usefulness in the condition. A request for use of a drug in such cases is usually called a request for “emergency” or “compassionate” use. Patients with life-threatening cardiac arrhythmias provide a particularly common source of these requests, and the gravity of the situation often requires quick action. The problem is thus not only to obtain permission to treat the patient with the experimental compound, but to find out how the drug can be obtained in as short a time as possible.
Incidence of infusion-associated reactions with rituximab for treating multiple sclerosis: a retrospective analysis of patients treated at a US centre.

Background: Rituximab is a monoclonal antibody approved for treating CD20-positive B-cell non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma and rheumatoid arthritis but is used off-label for treating many autoimmune disorders, including multiple sclerosis (MS). Similarly to other monoclonal antibodies, the incidence of infusion-related reactions to rituximab is high. Reactions to monoclonal antibodies, including rituximab, vary widely in type and severity, but may include mild pruritis and rash to more severe complications such as Stevens-Johnson syndrome and anaphylactic reactions. Objective: To assess the incidence of infusion-associated reactions in our MS patients receiving rituximab infusions and compare it to previous trials investigating rituximab for treating MS. Methods: From 1 to 30 November 2009, we retrospectively reviewed medical charts from Partners Multiple Sclerosis Centre, Brookline, MA, USA, of patients being treated with rituximab for MS between 20 November 2007 and 24 November 2009 for evidence of infusion-associated reactions and further classified reactions on a grading scale. Results: During the period studied, 70 patients were infused with rituximab. Infusion-associated events occurred in 25.7% of our patients. Reactions were mild to moderate and most commonly occurred during the first infusion. Most patients were able to complete the infusion after appropriate treatment of the reaction was administered, and most patients went on to receive subsequent doses without any further reactions. Conclusions: The occurrence of infusion-associated reactions to rituximab in patients with MS is fairly common. However, premedication that includes corticosteroids may reduce the incidence of reactions dramatically. Should they occur, proper treatment of reactions with histamine H1 or H2 receptor antagonists and infusion rate reduction is an effective management strategy in this situation.
An Overview of Bilirubin Chemistry

“From gall disease, that is from the yellow jaundice cometh great evil; it is of all disease most powerful, when there wax within a man, unmeasured humors; these are the tokens; that the patient’s body all becometh bitter and as yellow as good silk; and under the root of his tongue there be swart veins and pernicious, and his urine is yellow”(1). The yellow pigment referred to in this vivid eleventh-century Anglo-Saxon description of cirrhosis was first isolated in crystalline form by Virchow in 1847(2), and named bilirubin by Stadeler in 1864(3). Its structure was determined by Siedel and Fischer in 1933(4) and confirmed by total synthesis by Fischer and Plieninger in 1943(5) and more recently by Plieninger et al(6). Much of the basic chemistry of the pigment was elucidated more than two decades ago, principally by the Fischer school. And today, despite the fact that bilirubin is a metabolic waste-product of no practical utility other than its diagnostic value, scientific interest in the pigment continues unabated. In the past two to three years alone bilirubin has been mentioned in over 1600 publications, and of these about 400 specifically with some aspect of the chemistry or biochemistry of the molecule. The areas of bilirubin chemistry and biochemistry which appear to have received the most attention in recent years are the mechanism of bilirubin formation, the mechanism of bilirubin conjugation and excretion, the nature of bilirubin conjugates, bilirubin-protein complexes, and the photochemistry of bilirubin.
Outcomes of carotid endarterectomy in the Vascular Quality Initiative based on patch type.

Abstract Objective The Vascular Quality Initiative (VQI) is the largest registry of vascular surgical procedures and as such is capable of distinguishing small but important differences in outcomes. The goal of this study was to determine the outcomes of carotid endarterectomy (CEA) based on patch type, including bovine pericardium, autogenous vein, polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), and Dacron. Methods All primary CEAs performed with primary repair and patching (n = 70,987) within the VQI were retrospectively analyzed. Reoperative CEA and combined CEA and coronary artery bypass were excluded. Rates of any postoperative neurologic event, return to the operating room (bleeding, neurologic event, or wound complication), and restenosis (>50% and >80%) at 1-year follow-up were primary outcomes. Rates were compared by patch type using χ2 and Bonferroni analysis. Multivariate hierarchical logistic regression models were used to predict end points of postoperative neurologic event, return to the operating room, and 1-year restenosis. Results During the period of study, 2003 to 2017, there were 70,987 CEAs entered into the VQI registry. Bovine pericardium was the patch material with the highest frequency of use (n = 51,480), followed by Dacron (n = 12,356), vein (n = 1460), and PTFE (n = 1638). Bovine pericardium, vein, and Dacron had lower rates of postoperative neurologic events compared with PTFE or primary repair. Bovine pericardium had the lowest rate of restenosis at 1 year. By multivariate analysis, bovine pericardium (odds ratio [OR], 0.70; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.56-0.89) and protamine use (OR, 0.74; 95% CI, 0.60-0.91) were associated with a lower incidence of return to the operating room. The use of Dacron, vein, and PTFE patches was not significantly different from the reference of primary closure. Multivariate analysis of postoperative neurologic events revealed that bovine pericardium (OR, 0.59; CI, 0.48-0.72) and Dacron (OR, 0.56; CI, 0.43-0.72) were associated with lower incidence of stroke or transient ischemic attack, whereas vein and PTFE were no different from primary closure. Bovine pericardium (OR, 0.57; CI, 0.44-0.75), Dacron (OR, 0.70; CI, 0.50-0.98), vein (OR, 0.72; CI, 0.53-0.98), and never smoking (OR, 0.87; CI, 0.78-0.96) were associated with a lower incidence of restenosis at 1 year by multivariate analysis. Conclusions Bovine pericardium has superior outcomes both postoperatively and at 1 year compared with other patch materials. The large volume of patient data contained in the VQI makes it possible to compare outcomes that have small but meaningful differences.
Disorder mediated oligomerization of DISC1 proteins revealed by coarse-grained computer simulations

Abstract Disrupted-in-Schizophrenia-1 (DISC1) is a scaffold protein of significant importance for neurodevelopment and a prominent candidate protein in the etiology of mental disorders. In this work, we investigate the role of conformational heterogeneity and local structural disorder in the oligomerization pathway of the full-length DISC1 and of two truncation variants. Through extensive coarse-grained molecular dynamics simulations with a predictive energy landscape based model, we reveal the general mechanistic principles of DISC1 oligomerization. We found that both conformational heterogeneity and structural disorder play an important role in the dimerization pathway of DISC1. This study sheds light on the differences in oligomerization pathways of the full-length protein compared to the truncated variants produced by a chromosomal translocation associated with schizophrenia.
Design of a Multiple Exploding Wire Setup to Study Shock Wave Dynamics

Shock wave dynamics is a topic with a wide variety of applications ranging from removal of kidney stones to inertial confinement fusion. In reality, the shock front is most often followed by a decay in flow properties, and therefore it is of interest to better understand shock dynamic events for these situations. Thus, an experimental facility that can provide results that are accurate, highly controlled, affordable and with a quick turn-around time are needed. Here, we present the design of an exploding wire system that can be coupled to either a two-dimensional or a three-dimensional test section to provide the user with a multitude of settings to study shock dynamics emanating from shock waves with decaying flow properties behind the shock front. Schlieren photographs taken with an ultra-high speed camera are also presented to show that the exploding wire system functions as intended in both two- and three-dimensional setups.
Longitudinal associations between features of toxic masculinity and bystander willingness to intervene in bullying among middle school boys.

Abstract Bystander intervention (i.e., a third party decides to defend a victim when witnessing a conflict) has been identified as an effective strategy to resolve bullying incidents (O’Connell, Pepler, & Craig, 1999). Researchers suggest that student willingness to intervene (WTI) is a robust predictor of bystander intervention (Nickerson, Aloe, Livingston, & Feeley, 2014). Toxic masculinity has been defined as “the constellation of socially regressive [masculine] traits that serve to foster domination, the devaluation of women, homophobia, and wanton violence” (Kupers, 2005, p. 71). Though some aspects of toxic masculinity (e.g., low empathy) have received some empirical attention regarding their role in determining prosocial behavior, many aspects of toxic masculinity have not. Little research has examined how constructs such as attitudes surrounding bullying and sexual harassment, social dominance orientation, and homophobic bullying are related to longitudinal changes in WTI across adolescence. The present study uses growth mixture modeling (GMM) to examine the heterogeneity of WTI among middle school boys in the Midwest (N = 805). Students were classified into three profiles of WTI over time: a “stable high” class (70.9%), a “decreasing” class (22%), and a “stable low” class (7.1%). When compared with the “stable high” class, students with higher levels of dominance and pro-bullying attitudes were associated with an 11% (AOR = 1.11, 95% CI [1.01–1.21] and a 55% (AOR = 1.55, 95% CI [1.05–2.31] increase in the odds of being in the “decreasing” class, respectively. Youth who reported higher rates of homophobic name calling perpetration had a 16% (AOR = 1.16, 95% CI [1.02–1.34] increase in the odds of being in the stable low class compared to the stable high class. Additionally, both homophobic name calling victimization and empathy were associated with a 17% (AOR = 0.83, 95% CI [0.70–0.98] and 18% (AOR = 0.82, 95% CI [0.69–0.98] lower odds of being in the stable low class. The findings support the theoretical framework which posits that features of toxic masculinity are associated with less WTI and thus carry implications for intervention design (Carlson, 2008; Leone et al., 2016).
Energy use for urban water management by utilities and households in Los Angeles

Author(s): Porse, E; Mika, KB; Escriva-Bou, A; Fournier, ED; Sanders, KT; Spang, E; Stokes-Draut, J; Federico, F; Gold, M; Pincetl, S | Abstract: Reducing energy consumption for urban water management may yield economic and environmental benefits. Few studies provide comprehensive assessments of energy needs for urban water sectors that include both utility operations and household use. Here, we evaluate the energy needs for urban water management in metropolitan Los Angeles (LA) County. Using planning scenarios that include both water conservation and alternative supply options, we estimate energy requirements of water imports, groundwater pumping, distribution in pipes, water and wastewater treatment, and residential water heating across more than one hundred regional water agencies covering over 9 million people. Results show that combining water conservation with alternative local supplies such as stormwater capture and water reuse (nonpotable or indirect potable) can reduce the energy consumption and intensity of water management in LA. Further advanced water treatment for direct potable reuse could increase energy needs. In aggregate, water heating represents a major source of regional energy consumption. The heating factor associated with grid-supplied electricity drives the relative contribution of energy-for-water by utilities and households. For most scenarios of grid operations, energy for household water heating significantly outweighs utility energy consumption. The study demonstrates how publicly available and detailed data for energy and water use supports sustainability planning. The method is applicable to cities everywhere.
Ultrasonic Flowmeter Diagnosis by Classification

Modern ultrasonic flowmeters provide routine diagnostic information that may be used to infer their health. This inference task is modeled as a classification problem and studied experimentally using a publicly available dataset. A few classifiers, such as Bayesian Networks, provide good accuracy and also suggest relationships among the diagnostic variables.
African Samurai: The True Story of Yasuke, A Legendary Black Warrior in Feudal Japan: Toronto, ON: Hanover Square Press 480 pp., $27.99, ISBN: 978-1-335-14102-6 Publication Date: April 2019

The authors paint a vivid picture of Japan during one of its most volatile periods, the Warring States Era, when the country was enveloped in civil war as feudal warlords fought feudal lords. It is...
"I Lost Track of Things": Student Experiences of Remote Learning in the Covid-19 Pandemic

The world was hit by the Covid-19 pandemic in the beginning of 2020, which forced many educational institutions to shift their classroom-based or face-to-face courses to remote or online mode. Students, instructors and institutions had little time to prepare for this sudden, unanticipated shift. Students who prefer learning face-to-face with instructor in a classroom are more likely to face challenges in learning remotely. To understand the experiences of such students, the author conducted a pilot survey of students whose face-to-face courses were moved to remote learning. This paper reports on the results of the analysis of participant responses. Participants experienced a mix of benefits and challenges due to the unanticipated move to remote learning. Based on the findings, this paper makes some suggestions on the design of remote learning.
The Lie algebra of the sl(2, ℂ)-valued automorphic functions on a torus

It is shown that the Lie algebra of the automorphic, meromorphic sl(2, ℂ)-valued functions on a torus is a geometric realization of a certain infinite-dimensional finitely generated Lie algebra. In the trigonometric limit, when the modular parameter of the torus goes to zero, the former Lie algebra goes over into the sl(2, ℂ)-valued loop algebra, while the latter goes into the Lie algebra (A 1 (1) )′/(centre).
Demonizing Police Costs Black Lives

There is social value in widespread public condemnation of police misconduct like the killing of George Floyd. But converting that condemnation into demonizing police generally, rather than making examples of bad cops, is destined to undermine the clarity and effectiveness of strong public condemnation, creating instead divisiveness. Further, demonizing police generally has the effect of further eroding the criminal justice system’s moral credibility and legitimacy, which may be an attractive goal for devoted activists, but ultimately will increase crime and victimization rates, with a disproportionate increase in victimization falling upon the poor and minorities.
Subpial Hemorrhage in Neonates: What Radiologists Need to Know

OBJECTIVE. Subpial hemorrhages, typically seen in neonates, are rare but can harm the adjacent brain parenchyma. The purpose of this review is to summarize the anatomy and pathophysiology of subpial hemorrhage and highlight its characteristic neuro-imaging pattern. CONCLUSION. The distinctive neuroimaging pattern of subpial hemorrhage is best appreciated on brain MRI, which shows the morphology over the cortex and injury to adjacent cortex and subcortical white matter. These findings do not occur in subarachnoid and subdural hemorrhages. Recognizing the pattern of subpial hemorrhages should guide prognostic precision, prognostication, and counseling.
Heterotic $M$-Theory Hidden Sectors with an Anomalous $U(1)$ Gauge Symmetry

The hidden sector of heterotic $M$-theory vacua whose gauge bundle contains an anomalous $U(1)$ factor is discussed in detail. The mathematical formalism for computing the inhomogeneous transformation of the dilaton and Kahler moduli axions under an anomalous $U(1)$ transformation is presented. Along with matter multiplets, which transform homogeneously under $U(1)$, the relevant part of the $U(1)$ invariant low energy hidden sector Lagrangian is presented and analyzed. A detailed mathematical formalism is given for rotating these field to a new basis of chiral superfields with normalized kinetic energy and a diagonal mass matrix. It is shown that the scalar and fermionic components of one such chiral superfield give rise to a massive $U(1)$ vector superfield, whose mass is composed of both anomalous and Higgs contributions associated with the inhomogeneous and homogeneous transformations respectively. Two explicit examples are presented, with vanishing and non-zero Fayet-Iliopoulos term respectively. The canonically normalized hidden sector Lagrangian given here is restricted to gauge interactions only. A study of higher order interactions of the moduli and matter multiplets, as well as the coupling to supergravity, will be presented elsewhere.
A flexible bivariate distribution for count data expressing data dispersion

The bivariate Poisson distribution is a natural choice for modeling bivariate count data. Its constraining assumption, however, limits model flexibility in some contexts. This work considers the tr...
Tuning the selectivity of electrochemical levulinic acid reduction to 4-hydroxyvaleric acid: a monomer for biocompatible and biodegradable plastics

Levulinic acid (LA) is a biomass-derived feedstock that can be converted to a wide array of value-added products; several of these can be accessed efficiently by electrochemical conversion. Herein, we present a study of factors governing LA conversion in electrochemical environments. Most notably, we identify an unprecedentedly efficient pathway forming 4-hydroxyvaleric acid (HVA), a valuable monomer that can be used for production of bio-polyesters—specifically, poly(hydroxy acids)—as well as γ-valerolactone (GVL) (a green fuel/solvent) and other fine chemicals. This method shows >99.9% selectivity and >80% faradaic efficiency for conversion above 80%. Production rates higher than 40 g L−1 h−1 (or 200 kg L−1 mgeom.−2 h−1) were achieved; these are substantially higher than reports for compatible biochemical methods. We further identify mechanistic insights regarding the steering of selectivity toward this new pathway in comparison to known electrochemical routes toward valeric acid (VA) or to GVL. Finally, we provide a fast, sequential one-pot synthesis route to transform electrochemically-produced HVA to GVL with higher overall selectivity and faradaic efficiency than can be achieved by direct aqueous electrochemical conversion of LA to GVL (96% conversion and >99.9% selectivity, giving a total yield of 93% from LA).
Five additions to the genus Acourtia (Asteraceae: Mutisieae).

Revisionary studies of Acourtia have resulted in the discovery of five new species, A. oaxacana, A. mexiae, A. pulchella, A. gentry and A. gracilis. All the new taxa are endemic to Mexico. The new species are described and their morphological affinities to other species of the genus discussed.
Values, Reasons for Actions, and Reflexivity

Let us take seriously Heidegger’s (and not just Heidegger’s) insight that any systematic phenomenological inquiry necessarily also involves historical reflection, or what he comes to call the “destruction” of the tradition. That means that our phenomenological reflection must be accompanied by an explicit turn back to the historical developments that have proceeded us and set parameters within which our reflections and discussions are undertaken. It also means that our turn back to the history of philosophy can only be genuinely fruitful if it is phenomenological, i.e. if it is guided by the issues at stake in our analyses and if we are constantly asking ourselves what experiences must have been guiding the texts that we are concerned with. If this is so, then it is appropriate that many of the papers assembled in this volume take as their point of departure some figure or figures who have already reflected upon the issues at stake in the conference, in this case the question of values. We turn to figures whose work has influenced the kind of “default assumptions” that we ourselves start with in our attempt to come to terms with these issues.
“SUPREME” COURTS AND THE IMAGINATION OF THE REAL: AN ESSAY IN HONOR OF MIRJAN DAMAŠKA

In Local Knowledge, Fact and Law in Comparative Perspective, Clifford Geertz brought his interpretive method of cultural analysis to bear on the relationship between local systems of law and the cultures in which they are situated. Geertz’ argument can be summed up by his aphorism: “Law is but part of a distinctive manner of imagining the real.” I explore this puzzling statement by examining the role of supreme courts in constructing and maintaining the “imagined real” of the society in which they function. Using the Supreme Court of the United States as my principal example I claim that these courts are among the institutions that validate commonly held but culturally constructed notions of time, place, and the collective self. The focus is not on the content of judicial decisions but on the institutions and their practices. A brief conclusion situates my arguments within the broader point that fundamental socially constructed beliefs are created and sustained by the institutions through which they are expressed.
Relating logic programming theories of actions and partial order planning

In this paper we argue that logic programming theories of action allow us to identify subclasses for which the corresponding logic program has nice properties (such as acyclicity). As an example we extend the action description language {\mathcal A} to allow executability conditions and show its formalization in logic programming. We show the relationship between the execution of partial order planners and the SLDNF tree with respect to the corresponding logic programs. In the end we briefly discuss how this relationship helps us in extending partial order planners to extended languages by following the corresponding logic program.
Perfect and Semiperfect Rings

This chapter will be devoted to the study of two classes of rings, namely, semiperfect rings and left (resp., right) perfect rings. The notion of semiperfect rings is left-right symmetric, while left (resp., right) perfect rings are always semiperfect.
Efficient multi-processor implementation of recursive digital filters

Efficient computation method for the recursive digital filtering is studied in the multi-processor environment. The method solves the dependency problem by separate computations of the particular and transient solutions. The throughput of the algorithm increases linearly with the number of processors, making it possible to increase the throughput effectively by using multiple number of processors. The implementations of the algorithm using a vector-processor and a multiprocessor in a ring network are also studied.
The Emperor’s New Clothes: biological theories of race at the new millennium

Graves joins a chorus of voices in the human genome project in asserting that biological races do not exist. Ironically, some leaders in the human genome project want racial identifiers on DNA samples from which molecular genetic polymorphisms are to be discovered. The population geneticist, Luigi Cavalli-Sforza, also calls for abandoning the traditional classification of races, but at the same time, his groupings of human 'populations' in Genes, Peoples, and Languages are close to racial groups as originally conceived. Despite its many detractors, a concept of race keeps returning and finding uses.
Does processing speed mediate the effect of pediatric traumatic brain injury on working memory

OBJECTIVE: Processing speed (PS) and working memory (WM), core abilities that support learning, are vulnerable to disruption following traumatic brain injury (TBI). Developmental increases in WM are related to age-related changes in PS. The purpose of this study was to investigate whether WM deficits in children with TBI are mediated by PS. METHOD: The performance of children with complicated mild, moderate, and severe TBI (n = 77) was examined relative to an orthopedic injury (n = 30) and a healthy comparison group (n = 40) an average of 4 years after injury (range 8 months to 12 years). Coding was utilized as a measure of PS, while the WM measures included complex verbal and visual-spatial span tasks with parallel processing requirements. Mediation analysis examined whether TBI might have an indirect effect on WM through PS. RESULTS: Children in the TBI group performed more poorly than the combined comparison groups on coding and visual-spatial WM. Verbal WM scores were lower in TBI and the healthy comparison relative to the orthopedic group. TBI severity group differences were found on coding, but not WM measures. The relation between coding and both the WM tasks was similar. Bootstrap regression analyses suggested that PS, as measured by coding, might partially mediate the effect of group performance on WM. CONCLUSIONS: TBI disrupts core PS and WM abilities that scaffold more complex abilities. Importantly, slowed PS was associated with WM deficits commonly identified following pediatric TBI. Implications of our findings regarding the relation between PS and WM may suggest interventions for children and adolescents following TBI. (PsycINFO Database Record Language: en
Purification and Partial Characterization of Glucose 6-Phosphate Dehydrogenase from Neurospora crassa

Abstract A procedure is described for the purification of glucose 6-phosphate dehydrogenase (d-glucose 6-phosphate: NADP oxidoreductase, EC 1.1.1.49) from wild type Neurospora crassa. A 2400-fold purification was achieved with a 10% yield and an average specific activity of 470. The glucose 6-phosphate and NADP Michaelis constants were determined, as well as the optimal pH for activity. The analogues, 2-deoxyglucose 6-phosphate and galactose 6-phosphate, were utilized as substrates in place of glucose 6-phosphate. No reaction was observed when NAD was substituted for NADP. The amino acid composition and extinction coefficient are given.
Bent Jets in Radio Quasars

How is energy transported out from the central engine in quasars and radio galaxies to the distant radio lobes? This problem has been around since the early discovery of classical double radio sources, and is still not answered in detail. The idea of relativistic beams was first suggested by Martin Rees as a means of transporting plasma out of the nucleus (Rees, 1971, Blandford and Rees, 1974). This idea gained support first from the discovery of hot spots in the radio lobes of these large classical double sources, and later by observations of the beams themselves in radio galaxies. As more jets were observed, it became obvious that they were often curved, serpentine, or even sharply bent. This behavior has been modeled as precession of the central nozzle (Bridle et al., 1976, Ekers et al., 1978), as nuclear refraction (Henriksen et al., 1981), as a growing plasma instability (Hardee, 1981) and as various combinations of the above. At the present time, it seems safest to conclude that there are some examples of each of these processes known.
Sustained Increased Entry of Medical Students into Surgical Careers: A Student-Led Approach

Objective To determine whether a surgical interest group run entirely by preclinical students can influence medical students to enter general surgery residency programs. Design Matriculation rates into general surgery and affiliated subspecialties from Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons residency match lists were compared to National Residency Match Program data for all U.S. senior students from 2006 to 2014. Setting The Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons. Results After establishing the interest group, entrance rates into general surgery programs tripled from the early 2000s to more than 12% of 2006 Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons graduates. After 8 years, our data illustrate sustained results, with more than 8% of students entering surgical residencies, significantly higher than the National Residency Match Program's average (p Conclusions Surgical interest groups spark early and lasting interest in surgery that may influence residency decisions. Moreover, these programs can be successfully run entirely by preclinical students and implemented in other institutions.
Exchange rate undershooting

This paper reexamines the famous overshooting result derived by Dornbusch, which occurs when the economy is always operating at the level of full employment. When this assumption is abandoned and replaced with the more realistic assumption that output in the economy is variable but adjusts sluggishly, exchange rate undershooting can now occur. In this modified framework it remains true that asset markets adjust quickly but now both prices and real output adjust sluggishly. With sticky prices and output, monetary expansion causes interest rates to initially fall, just as in the Dornbusch model. However, contrary to the claim made by Dornbusch that the exchange rate necessarily overshoots when output adjusts sluggishly, the exchange rate may now either overshoot or undershoot. The intuitive explanation for undershooting is that monetary expansion causes the long-run equilibrium price level to rise, and this in turn may lead to the expectation that the domestic interest rate will rise. In that event, asset holders will expect the home currency to appreciate. However, if this expected appreciation is sufficiently strong, the home currency will have to undershoot to reduce the overall expected appreciation and maintain interest parity. Copyright © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Short-term retention of digits: A function of item distribution with respect to time

In the present study 20 single digits were presented sequentially during a 40 sec. display period and five conditions of input timing distributions were examined, employing a computer-based CRT display system. In one condition the 20 digits were distributed evenly through time at a rate of 2 sec. per digit. In the other four conditions the 20 digits were presented at a rate of 1 sec. per digit and the remaining 20 sec. was distributed in various ways throughout the total 40 sec. display period. The results showed very significant effects as a function of varying the input timing distributions and plots of the serial position curves revealed a highly systematic multi-bowing effect which strongly suggests that input “chunking” is time-locked to input timing distributions.
Local-density-functional study of the fullerenes, graphene and graphite

Large basis set local-density-functional calculations on fullerenes, graphene and graphite suggest that fullerene stability increases monotonically with the number of carbon atoms (N), and is nearly linear in 1/N. is less stable energetically than and higher fullerenes, despite the apparent preference for in nature. The heat of formation found here for relative to graphite is in good agreement with experiment, while the heat of formation for graphene relative to graphite is overestimated by a factor of two.
NHE3 regulatory complexes

The epithelial brush border Na/H exchanger NHE3 is active under basal conditions and functions as part of neutral NaCl absorption in the intestine and renal proximal tubule, where it accounts for the majority of total Na absorbed. NHE3 is highly regulated. Both stimulation and inhibition occur post-prandially. This digestion related regulation of NHE3 is mimicked by multiple extracellular agonists and intracellular second messengers. The regulation of NHE3 depends on its C-terminal cytoplasmic domain, which acts as a scaffold to bind multiple regulatory proteins and links NHE3 to the cytoskeleton. The cytoskeletal association occurs by both direct binding to ezrin and by indirect binding via ezrin binding to the C-terminus of the multi-PDZ domain containing proteins NHERF1 and NHERF2. This is a review of the domain structure of NHE3 and of the scaffolding function and role in the regulation of NHE3 of the NHE3 C-terminal domain.
Young children's understanding of promising: methodological considerations.

In her inceptive study of promising, Astington (1988) found that five-year-olds failed to distinguish promises from predictions when judging story characters' utterances. Instead, their responses were based on whether the promised event had actually occurred. There is reason to believe, however, that the children's poor performance was an artefact of Astington's procedures. We tested this possibility with 32 children (mean age 5;8 : range 5;7-6;2) by including several variations of Astington's procedures, but found no effects on the pattern of results. This suggests that Astington's findings are an accurate reflection of the developmental course of knowledge about promising.
Measurement of Microscope Magnification

The procedure of calibrating a ruled scale and of measuring the magnification of a visible light microscope is described. The measurement techniques include the use of: (1) a movable hairline micrometer, (2) an image-splitting ocular, (3) photoelectric scanning of photomicrographic plates, and (4) photoelectric scanning of the image plane. An empirical treatment of the magnification measurements, including the effects of optical distortion, is employed, so that the residual errors are assigned to the imperfections in the measuring screw plus the random contributions.
Soybean yield trends from 1972 to 2003 in mid-western USA

The increases in crop yield that played an important role in maintaining adequate food supplies in the past may not continue in the future. Soybean (Glycine max L. Merrill) county yield trends (1972–2003) were examined for evidence of plateaus using data (National Agricultural Statistics Service) for 162 counties (215 data sets) in six production systems [Iowa, Nebraska (irrigated and non-irrigated), Kentucky and Arkansas (irrigated and non-irrigated)] representing a range in yield potential. Average yield (1999–2003) was highest in irrigated production in Nebraska (3403 kg ha−1) and lowest in non-irrigated areas in Arkansas (1482 kg ha−1). Average yield in the highest yielding county in each system was 31–88% higher than the lowest. Linear regression of yield versus time was significant (P = 0.05) in 169 data sets and a linear-plateau model reached convergence (with the intersection point in the mid-1990s) in 35 of these data sets, but it was significantly (P = 0.10) better in only three data sets (<2% of the total). Absolute (kg ha−1 year−1) growth rates were associated with productivity, but relative rates were not with the mean relative rates ranging from 1.0 to 1.3% over the six systems. There was, however, a two- to threefold range in relative rate among counties within systems in Nebraska, Iowa, Kentucky and Arkansas (irrigated). Yield did not change (linear regression not significant, P = 0.05) between 1972 and 2003 in 41 counties in non-irrigated areas of Arkansas and Nebraska and in six Kentucky counties of which four had high levels of double-cropping soybean after wheat (Triticum aestivum L.). I found no convincing evidence that soybean yields are reaching plateaus but the technology responsible for this yield growth was apparently completely ineffective in low-yield, high-stress environments.
Leaf tissue pigments and chlorophyll fluorescence parameters vary among sweet corn genotypes of differential herbicide sensitivity

Abstract Herbicide applications are meant to eliminate weed competition; however, herbicides may also impose abiotic stress on registered crops. Leaf tissue carotenoid pigments play vital roles in the photoprotection of photosynthetic membranes and contribute to non-photochemical quenching (NPQ) of excitation energy, both important to plant environmental stress tolerance. Our research objectives were to characterize leaf tissue pigments and chlorophyll fluorescence parameters following post-emergence herbicide applications (simulating an abiotic stress) to sweet corn (Zea mays var. rugosa) genotypes of differential herbicide sensitivities. Post-emergence herbicide applications of combinations of mesotrione (105 g ai/ha) and atrazine (560 g ai/ha) were applied to ‘Merit’ (sensitive), ‘Temptation’ (tolerant), and ‘Incredible’ (moderately sensitive) sweet corn genotypes. Leaf tissues were sampled after herbicide applications and measured for chlorophyll fluorescence parameters, and the same tissues were analyzed for carotenoid and chlorophyll pigments. Leaf pigments and chlorophyll fluorescence were not affected by any herbicide treatment; however, data revealed significant differences between genotypes for leaf tissue antheraxanthin, β-carotene, zeaxanthin, chlorophyll a/b ratios, and for values of Fo, Fm, Fv, and NPQ, with ‘Merit’ leaf tissue having higher values than the other two genotypes evaluated. Results demonstrate that genotypic sensitivities to certain post-emergence herbicides may be related to concentrations of photo-protective carotenoids in sweet corn leaf tissues.
A Review of Recent Assessment Centre Research

The complexity of the assessment process and variations in the assessment process across organisations are such that many unanswered questions remain. Although review of recent assessment centre research highlights the fact that there is now stronger evidence that centres are effective for women as well as for men; that there is empirical support for the developmental value of serving as an assessor; and that there is more insight into conditions under which coaching may affect performance, over 70 issues in need of further investigation have been identified. These range from assessor selection and certification, to the use of different types of exercises, matching job and exercise complexity, and effect of feedback on subsequent performance. While acknowledging the success of the assessment centre approach, researchers and practitioners should adopt a spirit of active enquiry into understanding and improving the assessment process.
Diabetes mellitus is a strong, independent risk for atrial fibrillation and flutter in addition to other cardiovascular disease

Abstract Background Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a major risk factor for atherosclerosis. There is a controversy in literature about correlation between DM and atrial fibrillation. The goal of this study was to evaluate DM as a risk factor for atrial fibrillation or flutter using a very large database. Method Patient treatment files (PTF) containing discharge diagnoses were utilized using ICD-9 codes of inpatient treatment from Veterans Health Administration Hospitals (VAH). Patients with type II DM (ICD-9 code 250.0) (293,124) discharged from the VAH between 1990 and 2000. Non-matched controls without DM but with hypertension (552,624) were selected from the same PTF. By using multi-variate logistic regressions, the occurrence of atrial fibrillation, atrial flutter, CHF, CAD and LVH was compared. Results Atrial fibrillations occurred in 43,674 (14.9%) DM patients vs. 57,077 (10.3%) in the control group ( p p p p p p p Conclusion This is the first large-scale study finding DM as a strong, independent risk for the occurrence of atrial fibrillation and flutter and other cardiovascular disease.
Searching social networks

A referral system is a multiagent system whose member agents are capable of giving and following referrals. The specific cases of interest arise where each agent has a user. The agents cooperate by giving and taking referrals so each can better help its user locate relevant information. This use of referrals mimics human interactions and can potentially lead to greater effectiveness and efficiency than in single-agent systems.Existing approaches consider what referrals may be given and treat the referring process simply as path search in a static graph. By contrast, the present approach understands referrals as arising in and influencing dynamic social networks, where the agents act autonomously based on local knowledge. This paper studies strategies using which agents may search dynamic social networks. It evaluates the proposed approach empirically for a community of AI scientists (partially derived from bibliographic data). Further, it presents a prototype system that assists users in finding other users in practical social networks.