cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Dynamics of Membrane-Bound G12V-KRAS from Simulations and Single-Molecule FRET in Native Nanodiscs.

Abstract Recent studies have shown that the small GTPase KRAS adopts multiple orientations with respect to the plane of anionic model membranes, whereby either the three C-terminal helices or the three N-terminal β-strands of the catalytic domain face the membrane. This has functional implications because, in the latter, the membrane occludes the effector-interacting surface. However, it remained unclear how membrane reorientation occurs and, critically, whether it occurs in the cell in which KRAS operates as a molecular switch in signaling pathways. Herein, using data from a 20 μs-long atomistic molecular dynamics simulation of the oncogenic G12V-KRAS mutant in a phosphatidylcholine/phosphatidylserine bilayer, we first show that internal conformational fluctuations of flexible regions in KRAS result in three distinct membrane orientations. We then show, using single-molecule fluorescence resonance energy transfer measurements in native lipid nanodiscs derived from baby hamster kidney cells, that G12V-KRAS samples three conformational states that correspond to the predicted orientations. The combined results suggest that relatively small energy barriers separate orientation states and that signaling-competent conformations dominate the overall population.
Self-Efficacy, Self-Regulation, Social Support, and Outcomes Expectations for Daily Physical Activity in Adults with Chronic Stroke: A Descriptive, Exploratory Study

Interventions are needed to increase physical activity throughout the day in adults with chronic stroke, but mechanisms of action for doing so have not been identified. In this descriptive, exploratory study of 36 ambulatory, community-dwelling adults with chronic stroke, participants completed questionnaires investigating self-efficacy, self-regulation, social support, and outcomes expectations for daily physical activity. In the absence of any intervention, participants consistently reported high self-efficacy and outcomes expectations but low use of self-regulation and social support strategies. Discussion of how these results can inform the development of interventions to facilitate daily physical activity in adults with chronic stroke is provided.
Hypercolumn Sparsification for Low-Power Convolutional Neural Networks

We provide here a novel method, called hypercolumn sparsification, to achieve high recognition performance for convolutional neural networks (CNNs) despite low-precision weights and activities during both training and test phases. This method is applicable to any CNN architecture that operates on signal patterns (e.g., audio, image, video) to extract information such as class membership. It operates on the stack of feature maps in each of the cascading feature matching and pooling layers through the processing hierarchy of the CNN by an explicit competitive process (k-WTA, winner take all) that generates a sparse feature vector at each spatial location. This principle is inspired by local brain circuits, where neurons tuned to respond to different patterns in the incoming signals from an upstream region inhibit each other using interneurons, such that only the ones that are maximally activated survive the quenching threshold. We show this process of sparsification is critical for probabilistic learning of low-precision weights and bias terms, thereby making pattern recognition amenable for energy-efficient hardware implementations. Further, we show that hypercolumn sparsification could lead to more data-efficient learning as well as having an emergent property of significantly pruning down the number of connections in the network. A theoretical account and empirical analysis are provided to understand these effects better.
Moving in time: Simulating how neural circuits enable rhythmic enactment of planned sequences.

Abstract Many complex actions are mentally pre-composed as plans that specify orderings of simpler actions. To be executed accurately, planned orderings must become active in working memory, and then enacted one-by-one until the sequence is complete. Examples include writing, typing, and speaking. In cases where the planned complex action is musical in nature (e.g. a choreographed dance or a piano melody), it appears to be possible to deploy two learned sequences at the same time, one composed from actions and a second composed from the time intervals between actions. Despite this added complexity, humans readily learn and perform rhythm-based action sequences. Notably, people can learn action sequences and rhythmic sequences separately, and then combine them with little trouble (Ullen & Bengtsson 2003). Related functional MRI data suggest that there are distinct neural regions responsible for the two different sequence types (Bengtsson et al. 2004). Although research on musical rhythm is extensive, few computational models exist to extend and inform our understanding of its neural bases. To that end, this article introduces the TAMSIN (Timing And Motor System Integration Network) model, a systems-level neural network model capable of performing arbitrary item sequences in accord with any rhythmic pattern that can be represented as a sequence of integer multiples of a base interval. In TAMSIN, two Competitive Queuing (CQ) modules operate in parallel. One represents and controls item order (the ORD module) and the second represents and controls the sequence of inter-onset-intervals (IOIs) that define a rhythmic pattern (RHY module). Further circuitry helps these modules coordinate their signal processing to enable performative output consistent with a desired beat and tempo.
“Family is Family Forever”: Perceptions of Family Changes After Deportation

Around 4.5 million U.S. citizen children are at risk of being separated from a parent due to deportation. This means that many citizen children who have a deported parent are growing up with fragmented families and long-distant parents. These children are often in the care of their remaining family members. Therapists need to understand what remaining family members can do to ease the transition for children and help them to make sense of their parent being deported. A retrospective lens is employed to explore adult experiences of their family post-deportation. Findings show that family went through a reorganization process after parental deportation which impacted how the child understood the deportation and affected the child’s perceptions and experiences of their parental loss. Implications are offered through the Family Resiliency Framework.
Partial repowering analysis of a wind farm by turbine hub height variation to mitigate neighboring wind farm wake interference using mesoscale simulations

Abstract Repowering augments the power generation capacity of a wind farm in order to enhance the exploitation of the high mean wind speed regions. In this study, a partial repowering strategy has been discussed for an onshore commercial-scale wind farm with deteriorated performance under the influence of wakes originating from upstream wind farms. The mesoscale Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) model with Wind Farm Parameterization has been employed to evaluate the wind speed and power deficit observed by the individual wind turbine generators. Wakes induced by the upstream wind farms are observed to cause a reduction in wind speed and power output by up to 15% and 35%, respectively. The predicted power was also validated by the observed data for each turbine generator. The hub heights of selected wind turbines with the highest power deficit are varied to alleviate the influence of upstream wind farm wake interference. Power output and wind shear profiles have been evaluated at new hub heights of 61.5 m and 100 m, and results are compared with the existing hub height turbine generators at 80 m. Power output reduced by up to 12% at the lower hub height of 61.5 m as compared to the default case, while an increase of about 13.6% is observed for the 100 m hub height case. A mean increase of 7.5% is estimated in the total wind power generation from the wind farm under evaluation. This paper presents a theoretical and engineering platform for partial repowering of wind farms with depleted generation due to inter-farm wake interaction.
MRI characterization of early CNS transport kinetics post intrathecal gadolinium injection: Trends of subarachnoid and parenchymal distribution in healthy volunteers.

Abstract Purpose To quantify CSF transport kinetics and brain glymphatic distribution using MRI following intrathecal injection of gadolinium contrast in healthy adults. Subjects and methods Eight completely healthy volunteer subjects underwent intrathecal injection of gadolinium via image guided lumbar puncture and serial MRI's at six subsequent time points up to 11 h post-injection. Rate of enhancement and deposition were calculated for various regions and lobes of the brain. Results Normalized cranial data revealed that gadolinium in the intracranial CSF spaces peaked within 1–3 h and started to decrease at 7 h. In some regions of the brain parenchyma, such as the cerebral cortex and white matter, enhancement was increasing after 11 h. Differential rates of uptake between the parietal and frontal (p = 0.0003), cingulate (p = 0.002) and temporal (p = 0.018) lobes were shown as well as a several fold change between various cortical regions. Lastly, a linear regression comparing laterality between 35 cortical regions yielded (R2 = 0.90, p Conclusions Gadolinium enhancement after lumbar intrathecal injection demonstrated differential CSF flow and brain parenchymal penetration, which illustrated the distributory function of the glymphatic system.
Thoracolaparoscopic management of a traumatic subacute transdiaphragmatic intercostal hernia. Second case reported

Abstract Background Transdiaphragmatic intercostal hernias are extremely rare. Their physiopathology is different from traumatic diaphragmatic ruptures, and their clinical presentation and management strategies place them in a different category than abdominal intercostal hernias. Case presentation A 56 yo female presented to the outpatient trauma clinic with a symptomatic, subacute left sided transdiaphragmatic intercostal hernia secondary to a motor vehicle crash almost 3 months prior to presentation. The injury was managed with a combined thoracoscopic and laparoscopic approach, only the second time ever this has been reported. She was discharged on POD#3, and after 6 months of follow up continues to do well, without clinical evidence of hernia recurrence. Conclusion Minimally invasive management of this rare pathology is possible and should be encouraged.
Improving Recruitment Procedures for School-Based Surveys: Through the Lens of the Illinois Youth Survey

Background Epidemiological surveys are designed to collect representative trend data. School-based surveys are important to utilize so systems can effectively create prevention and intervention programs to alter youths' perceptions and behaviors related to substance use. However, there are many barriers when implementing a school-based survey. Methods This mixed methods study sought to uncover 30 school personnel's challenges when making the decision to implement the Illinois Youth Survey (IYS). Through a descriptive and interpretive approach, participants' thoughts to improve future recruitment procedures and reduce barriers for implementation were analyzed. Results Results found challenges included: (1) time; (2) parent-opt out consent letter; (3) wording of the survey responses; (4) honesty of the students' responses; (5) importance and use of the data. Moreover, the most common suggestions to improve recruitment included: (1) sharing knowledge about trend data; (2) year-round communication with school personnel; (3) targeting school personnel groups; and (4) providing examples of data use. Conclusions Findings can be used to improve recruitment procedures for others who have similar challenges. If schools, counties, and states have representative data they can more precisely tailor their programming to meet the needs of their population.
Interferon-gamma release assay levels and risk of progression to active tuberculosis: a systematic review and dose-response meta-regression analysis.

Identifying and treating individuals with high risk of progression from latent tuberculosis infection to active tuberculosis (TB) disease is critical for eliminating the disease. We aimed to conduct a systematic review and meta-regression analysis to quantify the dose-response relationship between interferon-gamma release assay (IGRA) levels and the risk of progression to active TB. We searched PubMed and Embase from 1 January 2001 to 10 May 2020 for longitudinal studies that reported the risk of progression from latent to active TB as a function of baseline IGRA values. We used a novel Bayesian meta-regression method to pool effect sizes from included studies and generate a continuous dose-response risk curve. Our modeling framework enabled us to incorporate random effects across studies, and include data with different IGRA ranges across studies. The quality of included studies were assessed using the Newcastle-Ottawa scale (NOS). We included 34 studies representing 581,956 person-years of follow-up with a total of 788 incident cases of TB in the meta-regression analysis. Higher levels of interferon-gamma were associated with increased risk of progression to active tuberculosis. In the dose-response curve, the risk increased sharply between interferon-gamma levels 0 and 5 IU/ml, after which the risk continued to increase moderately but at a slower pace until reaching about 15 IU/ml where the risk levels off. Compared to 0 IU/ml, the relative risk of progression to active TB among those with interferon-gamma levels of 0.35, 1, 5, 10, 15, and 20 IU/ml were: 1.64 (1.28–2.08), 2.90 (2.02–3.88), 11.38 (6.64–16.38), 19.00 (13.08–26.90), 21.82 (14.65–32.57), and 22.31 (15.43–33.00), respectively. The dose-response relationship remains consistent when limiting the analysis to studies that scored highest in the NOS. The current practice of dichotomizing IGRA test results simplifies the TB infection disease continuum. Evaluating IGRA test results over a continuous scale could enable the identification of individuals at greatest risk of progression to active TB.
A Report on Computer-Aided Software Engineering (CASE)

The use of CASE in Software Engineering and Systems Analysis and Design courses is relatively recent. This paper defines CASE and discusses its brief history, its attitude toward software development, its components, its current state and usage, its promise and future, its use at LSU-Shreveport, and finally a recommendation for its use at other colleges and universities.
tmle : An R Package for Targeted Maximum Likelihood Estimation

Targeted maximum likelihood estimation (TMLE) is a general approach for constructing an efficient double-robust semi-parametric substitution estimator of a causal effect parameter or statistical association measure. tmle is a recently developed R package that implements TMLE of the effect of a binary treatment at a single point in time on an outcome of interest, controlling for user supplied covariates, including an additive treatment effect, relative risk, odds ratio, and the controlled direct effect of a binary treatment controlling for a binary intermediate variable on the pathway from treatment to the out- come. Estimation of the parameters of a marginal structural model is also available. The package allows outcome data with missingness, and experimental units that contribute repeated records of the point-treatment data structure, thereby allowing the analysis of longitudinal data structures. Relevant factors of the likelihood may be modeled or fit data-adaptively according to user specifications, or passed in from an external estimation procedure. Effect estimates, variances, p values, and 95% confidence intervals are provided by the software.
Transperitoneal Laparoscopic Approach to L5-S1

The patient is placed in the supine position on a Jackson table with an inflatable bag under the lumbar spine in case extension becomes necessary during the procedure. Shoulder supports should be placed, and straps applied across the thighs and chest to prevent the patient from slipping when placed in the deep Trendelenburg position. The table itself needs to be rigged so the maximum Trendelenburg position can be achieved. This positioning is very important so that the bowel can be kept away from the target area by using gravity rather than retractors. In addition, this position places the L5–S1 disc at a better angle for performance of the discectomy. A Foley catheter and a nasogastric tube are inserted to minimize obstruction to access by either a distended bladder or stomach, and to prevent injury to the bladder from trocar insertion near the symphysis pubis.
Subspace methods for blind joint channel estimation and multiuser detection in CDMA systems

Recently developed subspace techniques for blind adaptive multiuser detection are briefly reviewed first. In particular, blind methods based on signal subspace tracking for adapting linear multiuser detectors in AWGN CDMA channels are considered, as well as extensions of these techniques to frequency selective fading channels, dispersive channels, and antenna array spatial processing. In addition, subspacedbased nonlinear adaptive techniques for robust blind multiuser detection in nondGaussian ambient noise channels are also described. Several new techniques are then developed within the subspace framework for blind joint channel estimation and multiuser detection, under some specific channel conditions. These include l1r an adaptive receiver structure for joint multiuser detection and equalization in dispersive CDMA channels, l2r a subspace method for joint multiuser detection and equalization in unknown correlated noise, and l3r a method for joint interference suppression and channel tracking in timedvarying fading channels.
Democratic Experiments in Africa: Neopatrimonial Rule in Africa

Throughout this book we ask whether regime transitions in sub-Saharan Africa resemble democratization in other parts of the world. The nature of political authority and its embodiment in political institutions differ in Africa in several significant respects from other world regions that have undergone fundamental change in recent years. We contend that these differences critically affect the dynamics and outcomes of distinctive democratization processes in the sub-Saharan region. This chapter introduces this thesis by briefly reviewing the nature of formal and informal political institutions in postcolonial Africa. We then develop several hypotheses linking these institutions to specific traits of regime transitions in Africa in the early 1990s. We cast the argument comparatively in order to highlight differences among political regimes, both between Africa and the rest of the world but also among African countries themselves. NEOPATRIMONIAL RULE The institutional hallmark of politics in the ancien regimes of postcolonial Africa was neopatrimonialism. The term is derived from the concept of patrimonial authority, which Max Weber used to designate the principle of authority in the smallest and most traditional polities. In patrimonial political systems, an individual rules by dint of personal prestige and power; ordinary folk are treated as extensions of the “big man's” household, with no rights or privileges other than those bestowed by the ruler. Authority is entirely personalized, shaped by the ruler's preferences rather than any codified system of laws.
Time reversal and vector phase conjugation

The time-reversal of a monochromatic, electromagnetic-wave field is accomplished by applying a conjugate-unitary operatort to the positive time-frequency boundary fields. This produces, in general, a «directional splitting» corresponding to the evanescent and homogeneous components of the wave field. If we denote byf0 andf b those components of a boundary field ƒ which generate these respective components, then this splitting is best expressed by the relation (D z f) t =D z * ft0+B z * f tb , where «t» is the time-reversal operator,Dz is the diffraction operator (D z * the adjoint) andBz the unitary operator which propagates the homogenous wave field. This generalizes a previous relation which we used to explain the pseudoscopic real image of holography. We apply these results to our previously obtained general solution to diffraction by a perfectly conducting plane screen of arbitrary configuration. We prove that, when such a screen is placed between a radiation source and an ideal-phase conjugate mirror, the screen can become «invisible». That is, the radiation reflected back from the phase-conjugate mirror is the same whether or not the screen is present. We prove that this result holds for any ideal, reversible, additive scatterer. This invisibility is sometimes referred to as «distortion correction».
The benefit of recreational physical activity to restore attentional fatigue: The effects of running intensity level on attention scores

The primary aim of this study was to examine the effects of running intensity level and physical activity level on the recovery of attentional fatigue while controlling for duration, environment, a...
Culture components as a significant factor in child development. Symposium, 1960. 3. The effect of child rearing on behavior in different cultures.

opportunity to observe a great many children in various circumT"" stances in different parts of Finland was afforded on visits made over a ten-year span. Informal and formal visits were made to homes, playgrounds and both small and large institutions. There were many opportunities to observe children a t play in recreation areas during both winter and summer. Children who had been hospitalized for a long time were seen on weekly visits over a nine-month period. Participation as a team member in a test construction project in 1958-59 permitted closer contacts with school children in rural and urban centers in the variety of communities only possible on a standardization. Workshops with the child guidance workers made comparisons with our clinical material possible. One thus gradually began to note the similarities and differences in the behavior of the Finnish children in contrast to that of American children in comparable situations. None of the observations to be reported, however, were made as the result of a specific controlled research study; rather they are the result of gradually accrued general observations. In writing this paper one had to fall back on these experiences since there were so few studies one could consult (2, 3). Few investigations about this area have been completed although several are under way. I n some instances the differences were sufficiently great to make one question to what extent they were related to the child-rearing practices of the respective countries. The following is, therefore, an attempt to examine these impressions more closely. It is apparent that casual observations or explanations do not adequately account for the behavioral variations within a country, let alone for the differences between two countries. The observations, however, are extremely provocative and suggest a tremendously rich area for cross-cultural comparisons between many more countries than have been made to date. Any generalizations about a country immediately bring u p exceptions. This is particularly true of any general statement one may make about Finland. The country can be divided into five distinct regions, each with its circumscribed cultural pattern which has devolved from the heirno, or tribe. These differ very drastically from each other in a great many ways. In
Kripke's Frege

In a recent essay, “Frege's Theory of Sense of Reference: Some Exegetical Notes”, Saul Kripke shows that in addition to being an astute critic of Frege, he is also an insightful interpreter. Kripke's Frege emerges as a closet Russellian, who, like Russell, relies heavily on a doctrine of acquaintance. Is Kripke right? Where exactly does his approach resemble, and where depart from earlier interpretations, and what should one take away about whether or not Frege really was a Russellian and the effect this has on his theory?
Up Close and From the Tower: Two Views of Refugee and Internally Displaced Populations

On the Margins of the World: The Refugee Experience Today. By Michael Agier. Malden, MA: Polity Press, 2008. 118 pp., $49.95 hardcover (ISBN-13: 978-07456-4051-8). The Refugee in International Society: Between Sovereigns. By Emma Haddad. Cambridge, UK: Cambridge University Press, 2008. 235 pp., $90.00 hardcover (ISBN: 978-0-521-86888-4). The numbers are startling. There are close to 40million refugees and internally displaced persons (IDPs) in the world today, uprooted by conflict and human rights violations. Although conflicts within states have declined since the 1990s (Human Security Report Project 2007), the number of forcibly displaced people has risen. At least 26 million people are internally displaced (IDMC 2008:13) while refugees under the care of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR 2008:2) have increased to 11.4million. There are in addition 3–4million Palestinian refugees. The problems facing the refugees and IDPs are daunting. The Representative of the United Nations Secretary-General on the Human Rights of Internally Displaced Persons has repeatedly reminded the international community that, “Forced displacement is not a passing event in people's lives. It is a devastating transformation” (Kalin 2008). From oneday to the next, families lose their homes and livelihoods and are forced to leave behind all they had cherished. Deprived of life's essentials, in particular shelter, food, medicine, education, community, and livelihood, they face marginalization, discrimination, and often abject poverty. Persons uprooted from their homes also suffer higher rates of mortality than the general population, being more vulnerable to physical attack, sexual assault, abduction, and disease. Displacement is also devastating to countries. Entire communities, even entire regions in a country may be depopulated, resulting in damage to farmland, cultivation patterns, basic infrastructure, and community organization (Cohen and Deng 1998:23–26). In areas to which the displaced flee, damage to the environment can be extensive when forests and grasslands are stripped to satisfy needs for housing and fuel. In urban centers, incoming populations place severe strains on infrastructure and services, while displaced children often have so little access to education that entire generations grow up without basic skills. Although displacement is often thought of as a temporary phenomenon, …
A Long-Lived Mesoscale Convective Complex. Part II: Evolution and Structure of the Mature Complex

Abstract An eight-day episode in August 1977 is described, wherein 14 mesoscale convective complexes (MCCs) developed in the central United States, including one to the immediate Ice of the Rocky Mountains on each day of the episode. In Part I of this article, the daytime genesis of one of these systems was traced from its pre-convective roots in the mountains of central Colorado to its incipient MCC stage on the plains of eastern Colorado. In this paper, its continued nocturnal development into a large MCC over Kansas is followed. Satellite imagery shows that this system remained coherent for at least three days as it passed off the east coast and across the western Atlantic Ocean. Analysis is focused on the mature stage of this and a second MCC in the episode in order to compare their major dynamic features to those of similar midlatitude systems reported in the literature, and also to previous studies of tropical mesoscale convective systems. Many of the important characteristics of midlatitude MCCs fo...
TRANSVAGINAL URETHROLYSIS FOR URETHRAL OBSTRUCTION AFTER ANTI-INCONTINENCE SURGERY

AbstractPurpose: Urethral obstruction following a stress incontinence procedure occurs in 5 to 20% of patients. We examine the success of transvaginal urethrolysis in resolving voiding dysfunction.Materials and Methods: A retrospective chart review was performed on 39 patients who had undergone transvaginal urethrolysis for urethral obstruction following an anti-incontinence procedure. Preoperatively, a history was taken, and pelvic examination and either video urodynamics or cystoscopy were done.Results: All 39 patients complained of urge incontinence, 13% had urinary retention, 51% had incomplete bladder emptying and 36% voided to completion but had irritative voiding symptoms. Previous surgery included retropubic urethropexy in 41% of the cases, pubovaginal sling in 38% and bladder neck suspension in 21%. Mean length of followup after urethrolysis was 16 months. Of the 39 patients 33 (85%) had resolution of urge incontinence but 5 still required occasional intermittent catheterization. The remaining 6 ...
Signal processing techniques for defect inspection of distorted patterned wafers

A self-reference technique is developed for detecting the location of defects in repeated pattern wafers and masks with low-order distortions. If the patterns are located on a perfect rectangular grid, it is possible to estimate the period of repeated patterns in both directions and then produce a defect-free reference image for making comparison with the actual image. But in some applications, the repeated patterns are somehow shifted from their desired position on a rectangular grid, and the aforementioned algorithm can not be directly applied. In these situations, to produce a defect-free reference image and locate the defected cells, it is necessary to estimate the amount of misalignment of each cell beforehand. The proposed technique first estimates the misalignment of repeated patterns in each row and column. After estimating the location of all cells in the image, a defect-free reference image is generated by averaging over all the cells and is compared with the input image to localize the possible defects.© (1994) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Selection-induced mutations occur in yeast.

Abstract Selection-induced mutations are nonrandom mutations that occur as specific and direct responses to environmental challenges and primarily in nondividing cells under conditions of intense prolonged selection. Selection-induced mutations have been shown to occur at six loci in Escherichia coli, but their existence has not previously been demonstrated in any eukaryotic organism. Here it is shown that selection-induced mutations occur at the HIS4 locus in the eukaryotic microorganism Saccharomyces cerevisiae.
Reverse stage shift at a tertiary care center: escalating risk in men undergoing radical prostatectomy.

BACKGROUND: The objective of this study was to evaluate changes in clinical and pathologic characteristics of prostate cancer in patients who underwent surgery at a large tertiary care center in the context of increased use of active surveillance (AS) and minimally invasive surgery (MIS). METHODS: The authors retrospectively reviewed 6624 patients with localized prostate cancer who underwent radical prostatectomy from 2000 to 2010 at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center. Patients were stratified by surgical approach (open, laparoscopic, or robotic) and by risk category (low, intermediate, or high). Patients with low-risk disease, without intervention, and with a minimum follow-up of 6 months were considered to have elected AS. RESULTS: The number of patients who had AS increased from <20 per year between 2000 and 2004 to ≥100 per year between 2007 and 2009. Over the same decade, the number of patients who underwent MIS (laparoscopic or robotic) increased from zero to 63% of all surgical cases. The percentage of patients in the intermediate-risk and high-risk categories increased over time, whereas the percentage of patients in the low-risk category decreased (odds ratio [OR] per year, 0.91; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.89-0.92; P < .0005). The proportion of patients who underwent surgery with Gleason 6 tumors decreased over time (OR per year, 0.87; 95% CI, 0.85-0.88; P < .0005), whereas pathologic stage and Gleason score increased (P < .0005). The proportion of low-risk patients decreased across all types of surgery, and the largest decrease was observed for robotic surgery (P < .0005). CONCLUSIONS: A reverse stage shift was observed in patients who underwent radical prostatectomy after 2000 despite the introduction and rapid proliferation of MIS. This shift may have been caused in part by the increased use of AS and an institutional focus on the treatment of higher risk disease. Cancer 2011;. © 2011 American Cancer Society.
Serum amyloid A is found on ApoB-containing lipoproteins in obese humans with diabetes.

In murine models of obesity/diabetes there is an increase in plasma SAA levels along with redistribution of SAA from high density lipoprotein (HDL) to apo-B containing lipoprotein particles, namely low density lipoprotein (LDL) and very low density lipoprotein (VLDL). The goal of this study was to determine if obesity is associated with similar SAA lipoprotein redistribution in humans. Three groups of obese individuals were recruited from a weight loss clinic: healthy obese (n=14), metabolic syndrome obese (n=8) and obese with type 2 diabetes (n=6). Plasma was separated into lipoprotein fractions by fast protein liquid chromatography (FPLC) and SAA was measured in lipid fractions using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and western blotting. Only the obese diabetic group had SAA detectable in apoB-containing lipoproteins, and SAA reverted back to HDL with active weight loss. In human subjects, SAA is found in apo-B containing lipoprotein particles only in obese subjects with type 2 diabetes, but not healthy obese, or obese subjects with metabolic syndrome.
Site-selective Characterization of Src Homology 3 Domain Molecular Recognition with Cyanophenylalanine Infrared Probes.

Local heterogeneity of microenvironments in proteins is important in biological function, but difficult to characterize experimentally. One approach is the combination of infrared (IR) spectroscopy and site-selective incorporation of probe moieties with spectrally resolved IR absorptions that enable characterization within inherently congested protein IR spectra. We employed this method to study molecular recognition of a Src homology 3 (SH3) domain from the yeast protein Sho1 for a peptide containing the proline-rich recognition sequence of its physiological binding partner Pbs2. Nitrile IR probes were introduced at four distinct sites in the protein by selective incorporation of p-cyanophenylalanine via the amber codon suppressor method and characterized by IR spectroscopy. Variation among the IR absorption bands reports on heterogeneity in local residue environments dictated by the protein structure, as well as on residue-dependent changes upon peptide binding. The study informs on the molecular recognition of SH3Sho1 and illustrates the speed and simplicity of this approach for characterization of select microenvironments within proteins.
On the stability of elastic systems under retarded follower forces

Abstract The stability of an elastic system with two degrees of freedom (Ziegler's double pendulum) is analyzed under the action of a retarded follower force. The results, obtained via Pontryagin's theorems on roots of exponential polynomials, are presented as regions of stability and instability in the time lag-applied force parameter space. It is shown that in the absence of damping a small time lag will destabilize the system for all values of a compressive force.
Whole-system approaches to health and social care partnerships for the frail elderly: an exploration of North American models and lessons

Irrespective of cross-national differences in long-term care, countries confront broadly similar challenges, including fragmented services, disjointed care, less-than-optimal quality, system inefficiencies and difficult-to-control costs. Integrated or whole-system strategies are becoming increasingly important to address these shortcomings through the seamless provision of health and social care. North America is an especially fertile proving ground for structurally oriented whole-system models. This article summarises the structure, features and outcomes of the Program of All-Inclusive Care for Elderly People (PACE) programme in the United States, and the Systeme de soins Integres pour Personnes Agees (SIPA) and the Programme of Research to Integrate Services for the Maintenance of Autonomy (PRISMA) in Canada. The review finds a somewhat positive pattern of results in terms of service access, utilisation, costs, care provision, quality, health status and client/carer satisfaction. It concludes with the identification of common characteristics which are thought to be associated with the successful impact of these partnership initiatives, as well as a call for further research to understand the relationships, if any, between whole-system models, services and outcomes in integrated care for elderly people.
Isolation of a distinct pool of polyribosomes from nuclei of adenovirus-infected HeLa cells☆

Abstract A separate and distinct population of polyribosomes exists in the detergent-washed nuclei of adenovirus-infected HeLa cells. These polyribosomes, released by exposure to polynucleotides such as high molecular weight nuclear RNA or poly(U), do not appear to be cytoplasmic contaminants. Nuclear polyribosomes have a considerably lower buoyant density compared to cytoplasmic ones. Nuclear polyribosomes, in a cell-free system of protein synthesis, are six- to eight-fold less active compared to cytoplasmic ones and are insensitive to aurin tricarboxylic acid. They do not complement cytoplasmic polyribosomes in protein synthesis in the cell-free system. Finally, the number of proteins synthesized by nuclear polyribosomes is higher compared with that synthesized by the cytoplasmic ones. Only the virus-specific proteins, including P-VII, are synthesized by cytoplasmic polyribosomes. Nuclear polyribosomes, on the other hand, synthesize virusspecific proteins, including P-VII and VII, and a number of additional proteins not synthesized by the cytoplasmic ones.
Overmodulation protection in FM transmitters

The FM radio broadcast standard mandates the use of an audio pre-emphasis filter prior to frequency modulation, to enhance robustness against noise coloration inherent to FM reception. The standard also places a restriction on the maximum frequency deviation that can be imparted by a message signal modulating the FM carrier, to limit the occupied bandwidth of the broadcast signal. Because of the frequency dependent gain profile of the pre-emphasis filter, an audio signal, even if amplitude limited prior to pre-emphasis, is not guaranteed to remain so after pre-emphasis. Hence, there arises a need for a gain control mechanism specifically tailored to handle pre-emphasized audio in any FM broadcast system, to prevent overmodulation. In this paper, we present a novel, low-complexity, digital adaptive filter based algorithm for overmodulation protection in FM radio transmission.
American Indian political incorporation in the post-Indian Gaming Regulatory Act era

Abstract Despite the active and growing role American Indians play in the U.S. political system, the study of contemporary political relations between Indian nations and federal and state governments remains underdeveloped in the political science literature. The dearth of inquiry is most notable in examining the efforts American Indians and Indian nations undertake in an attempt to influence public policy. In this paper, we suggest that recent developments, including the passage of the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act (IGRA) in 1988, have altered how American Indians participate in the political process. In order to study these recent changes, we suggest that it is appropriate to examine Indian nations’ use of interest group strategies in the political process. We demonstrate how such an approach adds to our understanding of Indian and non-Indian relations by discussing how Indian nations pursued interest group strategies and documenting how resources obtained through gaming have allowed them to expand this strategy.
Fear of crime among Chinese immigrants in Metro-Detroit

Although a great deal of research has been conducted on fear of crime among the general public, much less is known about such fear among immigrants. Intensified fear may have detrimental consequences on immigrants’ lifestyles, acculturation process, and responses to law enforcement. Based on survey data collected from 148 Chinese immigrants in Metro-Detroit, this study assesses the effects of a variety of general and immigrant-specific explanatory factors on Chinese immigrants’ fear of crime. Results show that Chinese immigrants who had greater perceived risks of victimization, stronger perceptions of crime problems in home city, and lower English proficiency tended to have higher levels of fear of crime. Implications for policy and future research are discussed.
Binding of DNA Purine Sites to Dirhodium Compounds Probed by Mass Spectrometry

(activated cisplatin) Rh2(O2- CCF 3)4 > cis-(Pt(NH3)2Cl2) (cisplatin) . (Rh2(O2CCH3)2(CH3CN)6)(BF4)2 >R h 2(O2CCH3)4 Pt(C6H6O4)(NH3)2 (carboplatin). The relative reactivity of the complexes is associated with the lability of the leaving groups. The general trend is that an increase in the length of the oligonucleotide leads to enhanced reactivity for Rh 2(O2- CCH 3)2(CH3CN)6)(BF4)2 and Rh2(O2CCH3)4 (except for the case of (Rh2(O2CCH3)2(CH3CN)6) 2+ , which reacts faster with the GG octamers than with the dodecamers), whereas the reactivity of Rh 2(O2CCF3)4 is independent of the oligonucleotide length. When monitored by ESI, the dodecamers containing GG react faster than the respective AA oligonucleotides in reactions with Rh 2(O2CCF3)4 and Rh2(O2CCH3)2(CH3CN)6)(BF4)2, whereas AA oligonucleotides react faster with Rh 2(O2CCH3)4. The mixed (AG, GA) purine sequences exhibit comparable rates of reactivity with the homopurine (AA, GG) dodecamers in reactions with Rh 2(O2CCH3)4. The observation of initial dirhodium-DNA adducts with weak axial (ax) interactions, followed by rearrangement to more stable equatorial (eq) adducts, was achieved by electrospray ionization; the Rh -Rh bond as well as coordinated acetate or acetonitrile ligands remain intact in these dirhodium -DNA adducts. MALDI in-source decay (ISD), collision-induced dissociation (CID) MS-MS, and enzymatic digestion studies followed by MALDI and ESI MS reveal that, in the dirhodium compounds studied, the purine sites of the DNA oligonucleotides interact with the dirhodium core. Ultimately, both MALDI and ESI MS proved to be complementary, valuable tools for probing the identity and stability of dinuclear metal -DNA adducts.
High sensitivity operation of discrete solid state detectors at 4 K.

Techniques are described to allow operation of discrete, solid state detectors at 4 K with optimized JFET amplifiers. Three detector types cover the 0.6 to 4 mm spectral range with NEP approximately equal to 10 to the 16th power Hz (-1/2) for two of the types and potential improvement to this performance for the third. Lower NEP's are anticipated at longer infrared wavelengths.
High-throughput x-ray microtomography system at the Advanced Photon Source beamline 2-BM

X-ray microtomography is rapidly becoming the tool of choice for three-dimensional (3D) imaging of thick structures at the 1-10 µm scale. The fast microtomography system developed at beamline 2-BM of the Advanced Photon Source (APS) is a new class of instrument offering near video-rate acquisition of tomographic data combined with pipelined processing, reconstruction, and visualization. This system can acquire and reconstruct 720 projections (1024x1024 pixels) at 0.25 deg angular increments in under 5 min using a dedicated 32-node computer cluster. At this throughput, hundreds of specimens can be imaged in a 24 h experiment. Alternatively, time-dependent 3D sample evolution can be studied on practical time scales. In this work, we present the current instrument status and the most recent application.
Peritoneal dialysis in the US: Evaluation of outcomes in contemporary cohorts

Secular trends in dialysis therapy delivery require a frequent re-examination of outcomes in patients on renal replacement modalities. We examined four large cohorts of patients initiating peritoneal dialysis (PD) in 2000–2003 (total of >40 000 patients) to ascertain trends in patient outcomes, technique success, and predictors of both parameters of interest. Age, end-stage renal disease vintage, and diabetes were clear predictors of patient survival. Technique success was higher in patients on automated PD than in patients on continuous ambulatory PD. Center size was a powerful predictor of technique success. We conclude that the current state of PD in the United States is characterized by improving patient outcomes, higher technique success, and a predominance of use of cycler-based therapy. Several opportunities for improving technique success amenable to practice interventions have been identified.
A rapidly reversible effect of a single dose of phenoxybenzamine on the fertility of male rats.

Abstract Male Sprague-Dawley rats received a single subcutaneous injection of phenoxybenzamine and each was allowed to mate with an untreated receptive female at 5, 29 or 53 h post-injection. At 5h the number of males ejaculating was reduced and fertility virtually abolished; at 29 h all males ejaculated, but fertility was still low; at 53 h the performance of the males was normal.
A Comparison of the Relative Efficiency of the Schafer and Pole-Top Methods of Artificial Respiration

The pole-top method of artificial respiration was devised by E. W. Oesterreich1 of the Duquesne Light Company, Pittsburgh, Pa., to give prompt aid in case of electric shock occurring while men are working on poles of power lines. When a worker receives an electric shock while working on a pole minutes elapse before he can be lowered to the ground and resuscitation started by the prone-pressure method. In the field, the elapsed time is seldom less than five minutes2 and in many cases it is considerably longer. The pole-top method of resuscitation was developed to reduce this period. Tests have shown that an operator can reach a man working alone on a pole and start squeezing his abdomen within approximately one minute.2 If there are two men on the pole and one receives a shock the elapsed time before the first pressure is applied is much shorter. While an operator is applying the pole-top method, other members of the line crew make preparation for lowering the victim to the ground where the prone-pressure method may be applied, should it prove necessary.
Uredospore wall digestion during germination independent of macromolecular synthesis

Abstract Dissolution of the wall in the germ pore region of uredospores of Puccinia graminis tritici is completed within 30 min when spores are incubated in suspension in a medium containing a germination stimulant. The spores are immediately permeable to l -leucine, uracil and phosphorus, but impermeable to orotic acid. Uracil and phosphorus are incorporated into a macromolecule, which in the case of phosphorus was shown not to be RNA. l -Leucine is incorporation into protein from the first few minutes of incubation. Cycloheximide inhibits the incorporation of leucine without interference with wall dissolution. Methyl cis-ferulate, on the other hand, prevents wall dissolution but has no effect on l -leucine incorporation. Wall dissolution, the first observable phase of germination, does not therefore depend on RNA or protein synthesis, and inhibition of this step in germination by methyl cis-ferulate does not result from an inhibition of protein synthesis.