cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Patent Reform 2015: A Comprehensive Guide to Current Patent Reform Developments in Congress, the Executive Branch, the Courts and the States (January 23, 2015 Edition)

This White Paper compiles and explains, for a non-lawyer audience, all the many patent reform proposals being debated today in the U.S. Congress, the Executive Branch, the Courts, and the States. Topics include: Loser-Pays Fee-Shifting, Settlement Offers, Real Party-in-Interest, ITC Domestic Industry, Stay of Customer Suits, Joinder of Interested Parties, Stay of Discovery, Discovery Limitations, Attorney Sanctions, Pleading Infringement in More Detail, Post Grant Claim Construction, Covered Business Method Review Expansion, Post Grant Estoppel, FTC Enforcement, Bankruptcy Protection, Section 145 Repeal, Double Patenting, Federal Jurisdiction, PTO Funding, Car PARTS Immunity, Seed Patent Immunity, Fashion Design Protection, Ending Pre-GATT Patent Term, Micro Entity Expansion, Patent-Related Tax Deduction, Access to Federal Research, Reverse Settlements, Slashing Software Patent Term, Hiking Patent Maintenance Fees, Small Claims Patent Court, Prior User Defense, Grace Period "Disclosure", Third Party Disclosures, Secret Prior Art, Pre-Issuance Submissions, Inventorship Challenges, Section 101 Challenges in Post-Grant Review, Privy Estoppel in CBM Review, Filing Deadline for CBM Review, Limiting CBM Review to CBM Claims, Inventor’s Oath in Reissue Applications, Inventor’s Oath in Continuing Applications, Priority Claims in Assignee-Filed Applications, Executive Agency Proposals, FTC Investigation, ITC Standard Essential Patents, ITC Domestic Industry, PTO Real Party-in-Interest, PTO Software Examination, PTO Crowdsourcing of Prior Art, PTO Examiner Training, PTO Patent Litigation Abuse Webpage, GAO Study on Non-Practicing Entities, SBA Report on First-to-File, Model Discovery Orders, Judicial Conference Revision of Federal Procedure Rules, CLS Bank Software Patent Eligibility, Nautilus Indefiniteness, Octane Fitness and Highmark Exceptional Case, Limelight Divided Infringement, Baxter Decisional Finality, and State Unfair Competition Law (Vermont, Oregon, Wisconsin, Virginia, Kentucky, Pennsylvania, Minnesota, Nebraska, New York).
High-dose chemotherapy (HDCT) for recurrent ovarian germ cell tumors (OGCT): Indiana University (IU) experience.

5547 Background: OGCT are rare subtype of ovarian cancer, accounting for less than 5% of malignant ovarian cancer cases. First-line cisplatin combination chemotherapy has a 70-80% cure rate. There is very little data for salvage chemotherapy. The objective of this study was to determine the outcomes with HDCT in patients with recurrent OGCT treated at Indiana University (IU). This represents the largest reported data with HDCT in OGCT. Methods: We performed a retrospective review of 12 patients with diagnosis of recurrent OGCT who underwent HDCT at IU during 1990-2013. Demographics, disease variables, treatments and outcomes were analyzed. Results: Median age at the time of HDCT was 25 years (range: 14 - 39 years). 11 of 12 patients had yolk sac tumor (median AFP: 1021). 7 patients had platinum resistant disease. Median number of prior chemotherapy treatments were 2 (range: 1- 4). At the start of HDCT, median serum alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) level was 792 for all patients. 4 of 12 patients had liver metastas...
Stifter's Granit and the Art of Seeing

Adalbert Stifter has long been read, especially in his later works, as a pedagogical writer. But critics have disagreed as to the precise content of the lessons he tries to convey in his fiction. This article argues that the basis of Stifter’s morality and aesthetics—the lesson his fiction is meant to convey—lies in the need to articulate meanings onto the landscape by dividing it into nameable units. In the novella “Granit,” the narrator is taught by his grandfather how to do just that: to construct a semiotic order and impose it upon the natural world, in order to be able to successfully coexist with it. The appearance of serene harmony with nature, in this text and others, is only possible after a thorough assertion of intellectual control, the techniques for which the grandfather and the text impart to the narrator and the reader.
#BlackGirlsMatter: A Case Study Examining the Intersectionality of Race, Gender, and School Discipline:

Nationwide, African American girls have the highest suspension rates among all racial and ethnic groups. Furthermore, they are the most severely, disproportionately affected by school discipline po...
Community College International Students and their Campus Involvement

ABSTRACTThis article reports on community college international students’ perspectives on opportunities for and levels of involvement in campus activities in and outside the classroom. Findings are...
Who Am I and Why Does It Matter? Linking Personal Identity and Self-Concept Clarity

The present chapter discusses the overlap and interplay between personal identity and self-concept clarity. Personal identity is framed as an active agent, the “I,” that sorts through and organizes self-relevant information. Self-concept clarity is framed as the object, the “me,” that represents the self-conception being constructed. The I is framed as creating the me through a process of self-authorship, where self-verification processes assist in this authorship and create turning points when the me is not verified and is in need of change. Personal identity processes, such as exploration, commitment, and reconsideration, are posited as mechanisms through which self-concept clarity is developed and maintained. The chapter also examines domain specificity of personal identity and self-concept clarity, such that a person may be clearer about her−/himself in some areas but less so in others. The chapter concludes with implications for developing interventions to strengthen individuals’ sense of personal identity and self-concept clarity.
Stochastic co-kriging for steady-state simulation metamodeling

In this paper we present the stochastic co-kriging methodology (SCK) for approximating a steady-state mean response surface based on outputs from both long and short simulation replications performed at selected design points. We provide details on how to construct an SCK metamodel, perform parameter estimation, and make prediction via SCK. We demonstrate numerically that SCK holds the promise of providing more accurate prediction results at no additional computational effort by only externally adjusting the simulation runlength and number of independent replications of simulations through the experimental design of the simulation study.
Effects of motivational interviewing fidelity on substance use treatment engagement in primary care.

Abstract Objective Primary care (PC) may be an opportune setting to engage patients with opioid and alcohol use disorders (OAUDs) in treatment. We examined whether motivational interviewing (MI) fidelity was associated with engagement in primary care-based OAUD treatment in an integrated behavioral health setting. Methods We coded 42 first session therapy recordings and examined whether therapist MI global ratings and behavior counts were associated with patient engagement, defined as the patient receiving one shot of extended-release injectable naltrexone or any combination of at least two additional behavioral therapy, sublingual buprenorphine/naloxone prescriptions, or OAUD-related medical visits within 30 days of their initial behavioral therapy visit. Results Autonomy/support global ratings were higher in the non-engaged group (OR = 0.28, 95%CI: 0.09–0.93; p = 0.037). No other MI fidelity ratings were significantly associated with engagement. Conclusion We did not find positive associations between MI fidelity and engagement in primary care-based OAUD treatment. More research with larger samples is needed to examine how providing autonomy/support to patients who are not ready to change may affect engagement. Practice implications Training providers to strategically use MI to reinforce change as opposed to the status quo is needed. This may be especially important in primary care where patients may not be specifically seeking help for their OAUDs.
Ruthenium anticancer agent KP1019 binds more tightly than NAMI-A to tRNAPhe.

Abstract The ruthenium-based anticancer agent NAMI-A (ImH[ trans -RuCl 4 (dmso)(Im)], where Im = imidazole) has been shown to interact with RNA in vivo and in vitro. We hypothesized that the similarly structured drug KP1019 (IndH[ trans -RuCl 4 (Ind) 2 ], where Ind = indazole) binds to RNA as well. Fluorescence spectroscopy was employed to assay the interactions between either NAMI-A or KP1019 and tRNA Phe through an intrinsic fluorophore wybutosine (Y) base and by extrinsic displacement of the intercalating agent ethidium bromide. In both the intrinsic Y-base and extrinsic ethidium bromide studies, KP1019 exhibited tighter binding to phenylalanine-specific tRNA (tRNA Phe ) than NAMI-A. In the ethidium bromide study, reducing both drugs from Ru III to Ru II resulted in a significant decrease in binding. Our findings suggest that the relatively large heteroaromatic indazole ligands of KP1019 intercalate in the π-stacks of tRNA Phe within structurally complex binding pockets. In addition, NAMI-A appears to be sensitive to destabilizing electrostatic interactions with the negative phosphate backbone of tRNA Phe . Interactions with additional tRNA molecules and other types of RNA require further evaluation to determine the role of RNA in the mechanisms of action for KP1019 and to better understand how Ru drugs fundamentally interact with biomolecules that are more structurally sophisticated than short DNA oligonucleotides. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study to report KP1019 binding interactions with RNA.
Detrimental effects of rhizobial inoculum early in the life of partridge pea, Chamaecrista fasciculata

Premise of the study Mutualistic relationships with microbes may aid plants in overcoming environmental stressors and increase the range of abiotic environments where plants can persist. Rhizobia, nitrogen-fixing bacteria associated with legumes, often confer fitness benefits to their host plants by increasing access to nitrogen in nitrogen-limited soils, but effects of rhizobia on host fitness under other stresses, such as drought, remain unclear. Methods In this greenhouse study, we varied the application of rhizobia (Bradyrhizobium sp.) inoculum and drought to examine whether the fitness benefits of rhizobia to their host, partridge pea (Chamaecrista fasciculata), would differ between drought and well-watered conditions. Plants were harvested 9 weeks after seeds were sown. Key results Young C. fasciculata plants that had been inoculated had lower biomass, leaf relative growth rate, and stem relative growth rate compared to young uninoculated plants in both drought and well-watered environments. Conclusions Under the conditions of this study, the rhizobial interaction imposed a net cost to their hosts early in development. Potential reasons for this cost include allocating more carbon to nodule and root development than to aboveground growth and a geographic mismatch between the source populations of host plants and rhizobia. If developing plants incur such costs from rhizobia in nature, they may suffer an early disadvantage relative to other plants, whether conspecifics lacking rhizobia or heterospecifics.
Identifying ENSO Influences on Rainfall with Classification Models: Implications for Water Resource Management of Sri Lanka

Abstract. Seasonal to annual forecasts of precipitation patterns are very important for water infrastructure management. In particular, such forecasts can be used to inform decisions about the operation of multipurpose reservoir systems in the face of changing climate conditions. Success in making useful forecasts often is achieved by considering climate teleconnections such as the El-Nino-Southern Oscillation (ENSO), Indian Ocean Dipole (IOD) as related to sea surface temperature variations. We present a statistical analysis to explore the utility of using rainfall relationships in Sri Lanka with ENSO and IOD to predict rainfall to Mahaweli and Kelani, river basins of the country. Forecasting of rainfall as classes; flood, drought and normal are helpful for the water resource management decision making. Results of these models give better accuracy than a prediction of absolute values. Quadratic discrimination analysis (QDA) and classification tree models are used to identify the patterns of rainfall classes with respect to ENSO and IOD indices. Ensemble modeling tool Random Forest is also used to predict the rainfall classes as drought and not drought with higher skill. These models can be used to forecast the areal rainfall using predicted climate indices. Results from these models are not very accurate; however, the patterns recognized are useful input to the water resources management and adaptation the climate variability of agriculture and energy sectors.
IByD: Computer support for developing unit plans: A first study

When designing units for instruction teachers must integrate information from several types of knowledge bases, for instance, information about subject specific pedagogy (pedagogical content knowledge), general pedagogy, the subject-matter (content knowledge), and learners (including their developmental level and prior knowledge). We at the University of Michigan have developed a unique approach to helping preservice teachers gain expertise in this activity. In addition to revising the courses the preservice teachers take (in elementary education), they use a computer-aided design tool, IByD (Instruction by Design) that supports them as they develop unit designs. This chapter focuses on a first experiment we conducted with IByD; 13 preservice teachers used IByD for one semester during an Educational Psychology course. We found that IByD users produced work which was more thorough than non-IByD users in developing their unit designs, and that IByD users were more systematic in how explicit and discrete they were when considering various instructional issues and applying them to activities. Further, we present evidence which suggests that novice teachers internalized and benefited from the scaffolding provided by the program, for instance, prompts in templates.
Health Screening and Disease Prevention

It is generally accepted that health Screening to prevent and identify disease early enough to permit eure is an appropriate medical goal. The research on disease prevention, however, exeludes older adults and focuses on mortality end points that may not be appropriate measures for successful aging where funetion and quality of life are paramount. By minimizing morbidity and mortality of disease and compressing it into the very end of a person’s lifespan, the patient can maximize function, productivity, and quality of life despite the presence of disease (1).
Distortions of Radial-Velocity Curves

In short-period spectroscopic pairs some effects are known which can distort the measured velocities and the elements derived therefrom.
Reliance on Medicare Providers by Veterans After Becoming Age-Eligible for Medicare Is Associated With the Use of More Outpatient Services

Objective To estimate the effect of Medicare use on the receipt of outpatient services from 2001 through 2015 for a cohort of Veterans Administration (VA) users who became age-eligible for Medicare in 1998-2000. Data sources/study setting VA administrative data linked with Medicare claims for veterans who participated in the 1999 Large Health Survey of Enrolled Veterans. Study design We coded each veteran as VA-reliant or Medicare-reliant based on the number of visits in each system and compared the health and social risk factors between VA-reliant and Medicare-reliant veterans. We used bivariate probit and instrumental variables models to estimate the association between a veteran's reliance on Medicare and the receipt of outpatient procedures in Medicare and the VA. Principal findings Veterans who chose to rely on the VA (n = 4,317) had substantially worse social and health risk factors than Medicare-reliant veterans (n = 2,567). Medicare reliance was associated with greater use of outpatient services for 24 of the 28 types of services considered. Instrumental variable estimates found significant effects of Medicare reliance on receipt of advanced imaging and cardiovascular testing. Conclusions Expanded access to fee-for-service care in the community may be expensive, while the VA will likely continue to care for the most vulnerable veterans.
A state dependent mandatory lane-changing model for urban arterials with hidden markov model method

Abstract The inherent intention and decision process of lane changes are complex. Though the external environment and traffic conditions are changing along the traveling direction, the drivers’ characteristics and preferences may lead to persistence of preferable lane choice. The lane-changing decision process is commonly separated into two steps after the decision to consider a lane change: lane choices and acceptance of available gaps, while the outcome of first step is unobservable. To better represent the mandatory lane-changing behaviors on arterials, a two-stage lane-changing model with Hidden Markov Model (HMM) method is proposed. The proposed model is estimated and validated using detail Next Generation Simulation (NGSIM) vehicle trajectory data from an urban arterial. Comparison between generated lane position sequences and original trajectories validated the model’s capability of representing mandatory lane changes.
Maxillary and Mandibular Peripheral Odontogenic Fibromas (Fibromatous Epulides of Periodontal Ligament Origin) in a Cat

Peripheral odontogenic fibroma (POF) is an uncommon finding in the mouth of cats. Few cases have been reported in the literature. The present report describes an adolescent, male-castrated domestic...
Educating Surgical Oncology Providers on Perioperative Opioid Use: Results of a Departmental Survey on Perceptions of Opioid Needs and Prescribing Habits

Patients undergoing oncologic surgery are at risk for persistent postoperative opioid use. As a quality improvement initiative, this study sought to characterize provider perceptions regarding opioid-prescribing after oncologic procedures. Surgical oncology attending physicians, clinical fellows, and advanced practice providers (APPs) at a high-volume cancer center were surveyed before and after educational sessions focusing on the opioid epidemic with review of departmental data. The pre-education response rates were 72 (70%) of 103: 22 (65%) of 34 attending physicians, 19 (90%) of 21 fellows, and 31 (65%) of 48 APPs. For five index operations (open abdominal resection, laparoscopic colectomy, wide local excision, thyroidectomy, port), the fellows answered that patients should stop receiving opioids sooner than recommended by the attending surgeons or APPs. For four of five procedures, the APPs recommended higher discharge opioid prescriptions than the attending surgeons or fellows. Almost half of the providers (n = 46, 45%) responded to both the pre- and post-education surveys. After the intervention, the providers recommended lower numbers of opioid pills and indicated that patients should be weaned from opioids sooner for all the procedures. Compared with pre-education, more providers agreed post-education that discharge opioid prescriptions should be based on a patient’s last 24 h of inpatient opioid use (83 vs 91%; p = 0.006). The providers who did not attend a session showed no difference in perceptions or recommendations at the repeat assessment. Variation exists in perioperative opioid-prescribing among provider types, with those most involved in daily care and discharge processes generally recommending more opioids. After education, providers lowered discharge opioid recommendations and thought patients should stop receiving opioids sooner. The next steps include assessing for quantitative changes in opioid-prescribing and implementing standardized opioid prescription algorithms.
Throughput Degradation Due to Mobility in Millimeter Wave Communication Systems Using Random Beamforming

In this paper, the impact of user mobility on the performance of random beamforming (RBF) is studied for possible practical scenarios of millimeter wave (mmWave) broadcast downlink systems. Both mathematical modeling and simulation scenarios' results were investigated to estimate the upper bound of the degradation in the overall system throughput that results from the mobility of users in a small cells systems. Different possible factors that can affect the throughput are taken into consideration, which include the user location, direction of movement, speed, and the beam angle. Simulation results show that for all the typical mobility cases (walking, running, biking, and riding a car), the degradation in performance resulting from user mobility is marginal, while the Base Station (BS) will be able to deliver at least one message after each beamforming training period with high probability exceeding 99.99% theoretically and more than 96% in the worst case simulations.
Association between maternal and child mental health among US Latinos: variation by nativity, ethnic subgroup, and time in the USA.

Few studies have examined the association between maternal and youth mental health among US Latinos, or its variation by nativity, country of origin, ethnic subgroup, and time in the mainland US. Using 2007–2014 Medical Expenditure Panel Survey data linking Latino youth (N = 15,686 aged 5–17 years) and their mothers, we estimated multivariate models of the relationship between probable maternal mental illness (a composite of measures) and youth mental health impairment (Columbia Impairment Scale). Children of mothers with probable mental illness were more than three times as likely to have impairment as children of mothers without mental illness (p < 0.01). In adjusted models, there was an 8.5-point (95% CI 5.1, 11.8) increased prevalence of child impairment associated with mother’s probable mental illness among mainland US–born youth and mothers and a 6.0-point (95% CI 3.7, 8.3) increased prevalence among US-born youth of foreign/island-born mothers. There was no significant difference in the prevalence of youth impairment associated with maternal mental illness when both youth and mother were born outside of the mainland US. For the Puerto Rican subgroup, the association between maternal and youth mental health was greatest among island-born mothers and mainland US–born youth; for the Mexican subgroup, the link was strongest among US-born mothers and youth. While there were large point differences between those groups, the difference was not statistically significant. This study suggests a protective effect of island/foreign-born nativity on symptom association between Latino mothers and children. Considerations for future research and practice stemming from this finding are discussed.
The Overcontrol in Youth Checklist (OCYC): Behavioral and Neural Validation of a Parent-Report of Child Overcontrol in Early Childhood.

The original version of this paper has unfortunately published with some errors which are corrected by publishing this Correction article.
Role of Data Registries in the Time of COVID-19

On April 1, 2020, the confirmed global burden of COVID-19 was more than 900,000 with 46,413 deaths Despite worldwide calls for social distancing and containment, the incidence of the disease continues to increase COVID-19 is a respiratory tract infection caused by the novel coronavirus (SARS-CoV2) Preliminary analyses from the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention indicated an overall case fatality rate (CFR) of 2 3%;however the CFR was higher in older adults (14 8% in those 80+/- years) and 49% of all critical cases Those with preexisting conditions (cardiovascular disease (CVD), diabetes, chronic respiratory disease, hypertension, and cancer) also had higher CRFs In the United States, 116 million adults have hypertension, 26 million US adults have diabetes mellitus, 9% have preexisting CVD and may therefore be at greater risk of complications or adverse health outcomes from COVID-19 infection
Understanding Security Risks When Exchanging Medical Records Using IHE

In today’s digital world, it is common to exchange sensitive data between different parties. As technology continues to advance, electronic health records (EHRs) are just one of several types of information that is being exchanged across multiple channels. The exchange of this information is crucial to provide better patient care across different healthcare providers. However, given the sensitive nature of these documents, it is also important that the manner in which EHRs are exchanged is also secure. In this paper, we investigate the current standards that are being used to support the transfer of EHRs across different parties, as proposed by a standard-setting organization known as Integrating the Healthcare Enterprise (IHE). We give an overview of how each protocol functions, then show potential security risks that might be encountered by using the current standards. These security risks are: vendor dependence, insecure encryption configurations, and the inability to verify third-party exchanges of healthcare information.
A Seat at the Table: Supporting Persons with Severe Dementia in Communicating Their Preferences.

Persons with severe dementia are less likely to have a role in preference assessment due to communication challenges associated with the disease. Research is limited on how to support preference co...
Exo-selective, Reductive Heck Derived Polynorbornenes with Enhanced Molecular Weights, Yields, and Hydrocarbon Gas Transport Properties

Next-generation membranes use highly engineered polymeric structures with enhanced chain rigidity, yet difficulties in polymerization often limit molecular weights required for film formation. Addi...
Examining the Impact of Casinos on Economic Development: A Spatial Analysis of the Counties in the Mid-Atlantic Region

Few have formally evaluated the economic impact of casinos, and yet most agree that it is crucial in estimating the net benefit to society. A new casino investment should stimulate economic activity in the immediate region, but its operations could potentially reduce employment and incomes with in the industry. Grinols outlines the factors that could lead to positive or negative growth from the investment, but what is critical to the empirical validation of the investment is the definition of region. Since data is geographically limited to political boundaries, it is necessary to employ a spatial methodology that captures the impact beyond the political boundary. The Spatial Durbin Model (SDM) is outline. The SDM captures both the local impacts and spillovers in the region and it can also identify if the casino competes or complements within their sectors. Income per capita and employment measurements for the county and the retail sector were examined. The evidence indicates that casinos raises per capita income in urban areas, but lowers per capita income in rural areas, while employment has significant gains in private employment, total employment, and retail employment. The gains in both income and employment erode overtime.
[The role of therapeutic exercises in blood pressure correction, vascular wall stiffness and disorders of bone and mineral metabolism in postmenopausal hypertensive patients].

Objective To study the role of therapeutic exercises (TE) in the correction of blood pressure, stiffness of the vascular wall and disorders of bone mineral metabolism in postmenopausal hypertensive patients. Material and methods The study included 78 patients (mean age was 53.32±7.61 years). All patients are divided into 3 groups. The first control group is 20 women without arterial hypertension and menopause. The second group consisted of 27 patients with arterial hypertension (AH) and post-menopause who were not undergone the TE complex and the 3rd group - 31 women with AH and post-menopause who were undergone TE complex. Patients of all groups were examined in dynamics: at the starting point of the study and 12 months later, out-patient monitoring of blood pressure; sphygmography; densitometry and test for blood serum biochemistry parameters, including sex hormones, vitamin D. Results In the course of the study, blood pressure, vascular wall stiffness and disorder of bone mineral density were revealed significantly higher in the group 3 with significantly reduced levels of sex hormones. Multidirectional correlation relationships between the studied parameters are revealed. Treatment combined with therapeutic exercises led to permanent improvement tendency in studied parameters like blood pressure, pulse wave velocity, metabolic disorders and T-criterion. Conclusion The result of the study indicates that the exercise therapy complex used in the form of regular classes, according to the scheme proposed by the exercise therapy doctor, can be recommended for implementation in clinical practice with the aim of comprehensively affecting the patient's body and developing personalized treatment tactics for postmenopausal women with hypertension.
Computational modeling and simulation of bioinspired nacre-like composites

Inspired by design motifs driving the balanced combination of rigidity, strength, and toughness in biological materials, this paper presents 3D computational modeling and simulation of an interface-enriched hybrid nanocomposite mimicking nacre’s ultrastructure. In this architectured material model, stiff mineral tablets are bonded by relatively soft and ductile organic matrices placed in the junction and interlayer space of the microstructure. Finite element analysis of this staggered multilayered model material is conducted using an in-house developed software package in which thin organic interfaces are represented by a generalized cohesive interface zone model. The computational model is validated against experimental measurements of stress–strain curves of nacre in tension. Subsequently, the deformation/toughening mechanisms and failure modes are discussed in tension and compression loading conditions. As an important microstructural feature, the effect of tablet aspect ratio on the elastic modulus of the composite is discussed. The role of the interlayer organic matrix on damage-induced tensile instability and compressive buckling in slender composite models is elucidated.
Neural basis of semantic memory

A. Semantic memory: Building Models from Lesions: 1. Semantic refractory access disorders Elizabeth K. Warrington and Sebastian J. Crutch 2. The anatomical locus of lesion in category-specific semantic disorders and the format of the underlying conceptual representations Guido Gainotti B. Insights from Electrophysiology: 3. Functional modularity of semantic memory revealed by event-related brain potentials John Kounios 4. Bilingual semantic memory revisited - ERP and fMRI evidence Sonja A. Kotz and Kerrie E. Elston-Guettler C. Applications of Models to Understanding Cognitive Dysfunction: 5. Schizophrenia and semantic memory Michal Assaf, Paul Rivkin, Michael Kraut, Vince Calhoun, John Hart and Godfrey Pearlson D. Representations of Nouns and Verbs vs. Objects and Actions: 6. Effects of word imageability on semantic access: neuroimaging studies Jeffrey R. Binder 7. The neural systems processing tool and action semantics Uta Noppeney 8. The semantic representation of nouns and verbs Kevin Shapiro, Argye E. Hillis and Alfonso Caramazza E. Critical Role of Subcortical Nuclei in Semantic Functions: 9. Role of the basal ganglia in language and semantics: supporting cast Bruce Crosson, Michelle Benjamin and Ilana Levy F. Conceptual Models of Semantics: 10. Process and content in semantic memory Phyllis Koenig and Murray Grossman 11. The conceptual structure account: a cognitive model of semantic memory and its neural instantiation Kirsten I. Taylor, Helen E. Moss and Lorraine K. Tyler 12. Neural foundations for conceptual representations: evidence from functional brain imaging Alex Martin 13. Neural hybrid model of semantic object memory (version 1.1) John Hart, Jr and Michael A. Kraut.
Spin torque oscillator neuroanalog of von Neumann's microwave computer.

Frequency and phase of neural activity play important roles in the behaving brain. The emerging understanding of these roles has been informed by the design of analog devices that have been important to neuroscience, among them the neuroanalog computer developed by O. Schmitt and A. Hodgkin in the 1930s. Later J. von Neumann, in a search for high performance computing using microwaves, invented a logic machine based on crystal diodes that can perform logic functions including binary arithmetic. Described here is an embodiment of his machine using nano-magnetics. Electrical currents through point contacts on a ferromagnetic thin film can create oscillations in the magnetization of the film. Under natural conditions these properties of a ferromagnetic thin film may be described by a nonlinear Schrodinger equation for the film's magnetization. Radiating solutions of this system are referred to as spin waves, and communication within the film may be by spin waves or by directed graphs of electrical connections. It is shown here how to formulate a STO logic machine, and by computer simulation how this machine can perform several computations simultaneously using multiplexing of inputs, that this system can evaluate iterated logic functions, and that spin waves may communicate frequency, phase and binary information. Neural tissue and the Schmitt-Hodgkin, von Neumann and STO devices share a common bifurcation structure, although these systems operate on vastly different space and time scales; namely, all may exhibit Andronov-Hopf bifurcations. This suggests that neural circuits may be capable of the computational functionality as described by von Neumann.
Motor nerve terminal sprouting in formamide-treated inactive amphibian skeletal muscle

Motor axons can form sprouts from their terminal arborizations in response to partial denervation, and when exposed to pharmacological blocking agents like TTX, botulinum toxins alpha-bungarotoxin, or curare. Each of these experimental procedures has cessation of muscle contractile activity as a common feature. We tested the specific role of muscle fiber inactivity in regulating nerve terminal sprouting by chronically treating adult frog (Rana pipiens) cutaneous pectoris muscles with formamide. Exposure to formamide, unlike the other compounds used to study sprouting, selectively inhibits muscle contractions without blocking pre- or postsynaptic transmission or muscle fiber action potentials. Repeated formamide applications were used to achieve chronic block of muscle contractile activity in vivo for up to 6 weeks. Motor axons in formamide-treated inactive muscle sprouted only from their terminal arborizations, but not from nodes of Ranvier. The onset of this sprouting was protracted compared with that seen in pharmacologically blocked mammalian muscles, and sprouts in formamide-treated muscles were more complex and ornate. The frequency of sprouting terminals was less in these formamide-treated muscles than that seen after alternate methods of contractile block, and this suggests that contractile inactivity alone serves as only a moderate cue for sprouting. The possibility is discussed that the prolific sprouting seen following neurotoxin administration may, in fact, be due to perturbations in synaptic transmission or muscle electrical activity rather than muscle fiber inactivity.
MODULATION OF GENE EXPRESSION BY DNA-PROTEIN AND PROTEIN-PROTEIN INTERACTIONS IN THE PROMOTER REGION OF THE ZEIN MULTIGENE FAMILY

Abstract A common cis-acting element in the promoter region of many genes expressed during endosperm development of cereal seeds, the prolamine-box or P-box, is only 20 bp upstream of the α-class 22-kDa zein gene-specific cis element, the O2-box, which is recognized by the b-ZIP transcription factor, Opaque-2 (O2). The proximity of these two boxes has prompted a study of how two DNA-binding proteins of a different hierarchy might be involved in the activation and modulation of the 22-kDa zein-encoding genes. This was accomplished by utilizing a highly purified P-box-binding-factor-1 (PBF-1) and a bacterially expressed truncated form of the O2 protein. After adding the recombinant O2 to the purified fraction of PBF-1, binding studies were performed with a series of DNA probes combining the P- and O2-boxes from zein promoters. These studies have revealed an interesting inhibitory effect of PBF-1 over O2 function dependent on their ratio, consistent with its in-vivo properties and the developmental expression profiles of zein genes. We also could show that the P-box is specifically recognized by topoisomerase II and single-strand DNA-binding proteins, indicating a possible additional linkage between P-box and the scaffold-attachment-region (SAR).
Promise of Immune Modulation to Inhibit Atherogenesis

It is now widely recognized that the evolving atherosclerotic lesion has nearly all of the characteristics of a chronic inflammatory disease, including the active participation of many arcs of immune function. That immune mechanisms play an important, if not dominant, role once atherosclerosis has
Allen's Rule Revisited: Temperature Influences Bone Elongation During a Critical Period of Postnatal Development

Limbs of animals raised at warm ambient temperature are significantly and permanently longer than those of siblings housed in the cold. These highly reproducible lab results closely parallel the ecogeographical tenet described by Allen's extremity size rule, which states that appendage length correlates with temperature and latitude. It is unclear what mechanisms underlie these differences and in what pattern they emerge, since the morphology is traditionally thought to reflect naturally selected genomic adaptations for thermoregulation. This study tests the a posteriori hypothesis that adult extremity length is subject to substantial modification by temperature during a brief but critical period of early postnatal development. Weanling mice (N = 28) were divided into three groups and housed at 7°C, 21°C, or 27°C for eight weeks. Tail lengths and body mass were measured weekly. Mass did not differ at any age. Analysis of tail elongation curves revealed two distinct phases: an initial period of rapid temperature-sensitive growth in which elongation rate was directly impacted by temperature; and a second phase of continued growth in which rates were identical among groups. Comparable growth reactions occur in response to other environmental variables such as exercise, suggesting that the skeleton is most responsive to external stimuli during a window of heightened sensitivity when growth occurs most rapidly. Knowledge of the timing and degree to which growth plasticity permits mammals to immediately adjust to novel temperature conditions will be important for analyzing skeletal variation in fluctuating climates, particularly for assessing factors that may accelerate skeletal evolution at temperature extremes. Anat Rec, 296:1534–1545, 2013. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Education: Tumors of Tendon Sheaths, Joints, and Bursae

The articular structures, including joint cartilage, synovia and joint capsule, and the periarticular structures—bursae, ligaments, and adjoining tendons—have a two-fold origin. The outer tissues are formed from connective tissue identical with that found in the superficial and deep fascia. On the other hand, intra-articular tissues and the ligaments, tendons, and bursae nearest the joint are derived from precartilaginous tissue capable of forming both cartilage and bone. Malignant tumors are equally rare in the fibrous structures and in those of precartilaginous origin. Benign tumors, which are not uncommon, are practically confined to the articular and periarticular structures which are developed from precartilaginous tissues. These neoplasms, including giant-cell tumor, chondroma, and osteochondroma, are similar in character and behavior to like tumors in the bone. Mesenchyme, destined to form both cartilage and bone, condenses at the site of the future skeleton in the early embryo. Strands of this primitive tissue, cutting across the future bone at right angles, persist at the site of the future joints (Fig. 1). By mucoid regression some of this tissue forms the joint cavity, the surrounding condensation forming the synovia. Other strands persist at the reflection of the joint capsule and at points of attachment of tendons and ligaments. Some of this tissue may regress at these points to form bursae.
Influence of deep-sea benthic processes on atmospheric CO2

Understanding ocean—atmosphere carbon-cycle interactions requires attention to the potential importance of marine benthic processes, particularly deep-sea carbonate dissolution. However, because of the wide array of processes that control marine carbonate dissolution rates, it is difficult to identify which processes dominate rates of response to global carbon-cycle perturbations. This paper describes a model that simulates atmospheric CO 2 , ocean chemistry and sediment carbonate content in a time-dependent fashion. Response times are assessed through an analysis of a series of perturbation experiments in which a pulse of CO 2 is added to the model atmosphere. The results of these experiments suggest that the relatively rapid buffering of atmospheric CO 2 by seawater is controlled by the rate of ocean mixing and accounts for about 60 % of the total buffering by the ocean-sediment system. The more gradual buffering of atmospheric CO 2 and seawater by carbonate sediments is controlled by the rate of sedimentation of carbonate particles, but the rate of this buffering is slower than previously thought because the dissolution or precipitation of carbonates does not produce dissolved carbonate ions on a mole-for-mole basis.
Humanism and Individualism: Maslow and his Critics

This analysis explores the philosophical issue of the individual-society relationship through a focus on Abraham Maslow's humanistic psychology and its significant influence on adult education in t...
Induction of proenkephalin in tuberoinfundibular dopaminergic neurons by hyperprolactinemia: the role of sex steroids

The observation that tuberoinfundibular dopaminergic (TIDA) neurons of pregnant, pseudopregnant, lactating, and aged rats express enkephalins suggested that chronically elevated PRL levels, which are characteristic for these animals, are essential for the induction of proenkephalin gene expression in TIDA neurons. The present studies investigated further the role of PRL in this phenomenon. Elevated PRL levels were achieved either experimentally by implanting anterior pituitaries under the kidney capsule of intact or hypophysectomized female rats or by using lactating rats. For controls, the elevated PRL levels were reduced with bromocryptine, a dopamine receptor agonist. The role of sex steroids in PRL-induced enkephalin gene expression was also studied in cycling, sex hormone-treated, hypophysectomized or ovariectomized rats, pituitary-implanted/sex hormone-treated rats, and ovariectomized mothers. Enkephalin immunoreactivity was detected by immunocytochemistry and enkephalin messenger RNA with in situ h...
A Gestalt Approach to Social Work Practice

Although there is a body of literature that applies Gestalt therapy techniques to clinical practice, little has been written about the use of Gestalt therapy theory as a comprehensive framework for social work practice as a whole. Gestalt therapy theory unifies social work's ecological and strength perspectives and is highly consonant with the core values of the profession. Four major theoretical aspects of Gestalt therapy that are highly applicable to social work practice are described: field theory, “I-Thou” relationship, creative adjustment, and the phenomenological perspective. Case examples are provided to demonstrate a Gestalt approach to social work practice.
Contraception and Catholicism in Latin America

Data from probability samples in Bogota Caracas Lima Mexico City Rio de Janeiro San Jose San Salvadore and Panama City used to analyze the role of Catholicism in Latin America in relation to ideal fertility. In all but Panama City ideal family size rose with the degree of religious observance. There is considerable variation among cities from an ideal of 2.4 in Rio de Janeiro to 4.1 in Mexico City. The more religious women were more likely to prefer additional children. More devout women were less favorable towards the use of birth control than women of moderate or nominal beliefs. Although there is a negative relationship between religiosity and practice of contraception there is no such relationship between religiosity and fertility. The better educated women were most affected in attitudes and practices by the Churchs teaching but they were the group with the lower fertility. No consistent differences were found between Catholics and non-Catholics in attitudes contraceptive practice or fertility.
Pragmatic breakdown in patients with left and right brain damage: Clinical implications

Formal and functional approaches to pragmatics are based upon different assumptions about the nature of the language system. This paper examines these approaches to pragmatics and considers how each approach has been applied to understand the different language disorders that emerge from left and right brain-damage. The paper explores conflicting reports in the literature about pragmatic performance and hemispheric side of lesion. Finally, clinical methods based on both the formal and functional approaches to pragmatics are discussed.
The national cancer data base : a mechanism for assessment of patient care

Background A mechanism for cancer patient care assessment was created. Data evaluations will enable clinicians and hospital staffs to appraise trends and compare their results with state, regional, and national figures. Methods Data are collected annually on all forms of cancer from all parts of the country, including patient characteristics, tumor characteristics, first-course treatment, and follow-up. Results Data for one or more years were received from a total of 1071 hospitals. This large, convenience sample of United States cancers included approximately 220,000 cases from 1985, 272,000 cases from 1988, and 409,000 cases from 1990. The seven most commonly reported cancers were breast, lung, prostate, colon, cervix, bladder, and rectum. In a 1993 National Cancer Data Base (NCDB) Annual Review, several disease categories and special subjects were analyzed, including colorectal, breast, and prostate cancer, melanoma, cancer in children and adolescents, cancer in hispanics, time trends in TNM staging, as well as NCDB data quality and hospital participation. Conclusions A multipurpose partnership between the NCDB and the Cancer Liaison Physician Network of the Commission on Cancer will be formed at the state and local level to promote NCDB participation as well as to disseminate the NCDB clinical findings. Additional sites will be covered in Annual Reviews, and highlights of those reports will be provided to Liaison Physicians of the Commission who are actively involved in the care of cancer patients to inform them of the latest findings.
Particle Swarm Optimization for source localization in environment with obstacles

In this paper, we address the problem of seeking a source that emits signal described by a function that is radially symmetric, and decays with increasing distance in a complex environment with obstacles. Electromagnetic signals, acoustic signals, vapor emission, etc, are examples of such signals. In contradistinction to existing techniques, we use a non-gradient based technique known as Particle Swarm Optimization (PSO) to overcome the difficulties posed due to lack of a mathematical model for the decay profile in real scenarios. We propose static and dynamic obstacle avoidance strategies, and integrate them with PSO in the source seeking problem. Finally, we validate the effectiveness of our strategies with simulation and experiments. I. INTRODUCTION