cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Depressive symptoms, eating psychopathology, and physical activity in obese breast cancer survivors

Psychosocial problems such as depression are present as long-term sequelae of breast cancer and its treatment in a substantial minority of patients. In general and patient populations, lifestyle factors such as obesity and physical activity have been associated with depression, and these and related characteristics may be associated with depression in breast cancer survivors. The purpose of this cross-sectional study was to examine factors associated with depression in overweight or obese women (n=85) who had been diagnosed and treated for early stage breast cancer. Depressive symptoms were measured with the Beck depression inventory (BDI), eating psychopathology was assessed with the eating disorder examination—questionnaire (EDE-Q), and physical activity was estimated with the seven-day physical activity recall. BDI was directly correlated with global EDE-Q score (r=0.56, P<0.01) and inversely associated with age (r=−0.22, P<0.05) in bivariate analysis. Controlling for body mass index, age, education and other factors, BDI was directly associated with global EDE-Q score (P<0.001) and inversely associated with level of physical activity (P<0.05) in a model that explained 61% of the variance. Eating attitudes and behaviors, and physical activity level, are independently associated with depressive symptoms in overweight or obese breast cancer survivors. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Monitoring a boreal wildfire using multi-temporal Radarsat-1 intensity and coherence images

Twenty-five C-band Radarsat-1 synthetic aperture radar (SAR) images acquired from the summer of 2002 to the summer of 2005 are used to map a 2003 boreal wildfire (B346) in the Yukon Flats National ...
Brain lesions in patients with multiple sclerosis: detection with echo-planar imaging.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the detection of brain lesions with echo-planar imaging relative to conventional spin-echo (SE) imaging. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In 17 patients (three men, 14 women; mean age, 31 years) with multiple sclerosis, the following were compared: single-shot proton-density- and T2-weighted and thin-section T2-weighted echo-planar, proton-density- and T2-weighted multishot echo-planar, and conventional SE sequences. Quantitative and qualitative criteria as well as lesion detectability were evaluated. The proton-density-weighted SE sequence was used as the standard of reference. RESULTS: Multishot sequences were superior to single-shot sequences in image quality and lesion detectability. With the multishot proton-density-weighted sequence, 53 of 54 large lesions and 23 of 30 small lesions were detected; with the single-shot proton-density-weighted sequence, 38 of 54 large lesions and five of 30 small lesions were detected. CONCLUSION: With multishot echo-planar sequences, detectability of large...
Low interrater reliability of examiners performing the prone instability test: a clinical test for lumbar shear instability.

Abstract Ravenna MM, Hoffman SL, Van Dillen LR. Low interrater reliability of examiners performing the prone instability test: a clinical test for lumbar shear instability. Objective To test the interrater reliability of examiners performing the prone instability test (PIT), a clinical test proposed to identify lumbar shear instability. Design Cross-sectional test-retest design examining individuals with mechanical low back pain (LBP). Setting University-based musculoskeletal analysis laboratory. Participants Individuals (N=30) with mechanical LBP recruited from community sources in a metropolitan region. Interventions Not applicable. Main Outcome Measures Repeated measures of a clinical examination test proposed to identify lumbar shear instability. Results Interrater reliability of examiners' judgments of PIT results were indexed with percentage of agreement and κ statistic. Examiners obtained 63% agreement and κ of .10 (95% confidence interval, −.27 to .47). Adjusted κ values based on prevalence and bias indexes were calculated to evaluate the effect on κ. The prevalence index associated with examiner judgments of the PIT was .43, and bias index was .03. The prevalence-adjusted bias-adjusted κ value was slightly higher than the unadjusted κ value (κ=.27; 95% confidence interval, −.08 to .61). Conclusions Results of our study are not consistent with those of previous studies examining the reliability of therapists performing the PIT. We conclude that examiners do not attain acceptable interrater reliability when performing procedures for the PIT based on the information currently provided in the literature. Based on our experience, we suggest further exploration, standardization, and clarification of procedural details to improve therapists' ability to conduct the PIT on individuals with LBP.
Case study: Improving the social interactions of a group home resident with severe and multiple disabilities

A 43-year-old man with severe mental retardation and sensory impairments and a long history of behavior problems was taught to interact more appropriately with staff members at his community-based group home. The following behaviors were targeted for change within a multiple baseline design: use of an appropriate cueing response to initiate a conversation; keeping his hands to himself when conversing with another; and not ‘badgering’ people by repeating the same question over and over. Instructions and feedback produced small, unstable improvements in the subject's behavior. When token reinforcement was added to the treatment package, large and immediate improvements were noted. The improved levels of social interactions were maintained after token reinforcement was withdrawn, suggesting the operation of naturally occurring contingencies of reinforcement.
Thermodynamics of Aqueous Solutions of Alkyl p-Aminobenzoate

AbstractThe solubilities of a series of alkyl p-aminobenzoates were determined in water at three temperatures. The solutes chosen were the methyl through the n-butyl p-aminobenzoates and the temperatures studied were 25°, 33° and 40°. These compounds present a chemically related series differing by methylene additions in incremental steps. The solubility determinations at various temperatures enabled calculation of thermodynamic elements in aqueous systems.A recurrent non-linear pattern was obtained in the calculated and experimentally derived thermodynamic values of enthalpy, entropy, and free energy. However, an approximately linear relationship of chemical structure and the partial excess free energy for these solutes was found for these aqueous solutions.
In-plane magnetic anisotropies in polycrystalline Ni films induced by Xe bombardment during growth

250 to 1500 AA thin Ni films were ion beam sputtered onto a fused quartz substrate with simultaneous bombardment by Xe ions of 100 eV. Hysteresis loops were recorded ex situ by the longitudinal magnetooptic Kerr effect. A maximum in-plane uniaxial anisotropy field of 12 kA/m (151 Oe) was found in 750-AA-thick films that were deposited with a flux ratio of Xe ions to Ni atoms of 0.12. The easy axis of magnetization was found to lie perpendicular to the plane of incidence of the secondary ions. Films showing the strong uniaxial in-plane anisotropy were almost completely
After-Life-Writing: Dorothy Wordsworth's Journals in the Memoirs of William Wordsworth

This essay examines the printing and reception of Dorothy Wordsworth's journals in the 1851 Memoirs of William Wordsworth by his nephew Christopher. The Memoirs' excerption of 50 pages by the diarist should dispel any lingering impression that her prose was unpublished before her death in 1855. Launching a new narrative of Dorothy Wordsworth for a mass readership, the Memoirs interposes her voice into its telling of William's life, so that she becomes an autobiographical subject, an agent as well as a witness and source. Further, Christopher's disclosures of Dorothy's collaboration with William on his poetry, reproduced via reviews and piracy of the Memoirs, subtly subverted the construction of solitary Romantic creativity in the recently published Prelude.
Chromosome pairing in hybrids between hexaploid bread wheat and tetraploid crested wheatgrass (Agropyron cristatum)

To transfer drought and cold tolerance from crested wheatgrass, Agropyron cristatum (2n = 4x = 28; PPPP genomes) to bread wheat, Triticum aestivum (2n = 6x = 42; AABBDD), intergeneric hybrids (2n = 5x = 35; ABDPP) were synthesized. The F, hybrids were perennial like the male wheatgrass parent. Their morphology was almost intermediate between the two parents. A low-pairing (LP) hybrid and a high-pairing (HP) hybrid were studied. The LP hybrid, with apparently functional Phi (the pairing regulator that suppresses homoeologous pairing), had a mean of 0.14 III + 1.16 ring II + 3.17 rod II + 25.91 I, with a c (the mean arm-pairing frequency) of 0.206. If A, cristatum were an autotetraploid, its haploid complement (PP) in the hybrid should form approximately 7 II. The mean of only 4.33 II (of which about 1.0 bivalent probably involved the A, B and D genomes of wheat) would suggest a certain degree of divergence between the two P genomes. The HP hybrid had 0.03 chain IV + 0.47 III + 2.98 ring II + 5.89 rod II + 15.73 I, with c= 0.460. Such a high pairing probably involved both autosyndesis (pairing within the ABD component and within the PP component of the ABDPP hybrid) and allosyndesis (pairing between the parental complements), and could have occurred only if Phl was partially inactivated. Homoeologous pairing of chromosomes of P with wheat chromosomes seems sufficient to facilitate the transfer of desirable traits of A. cristatum into wheat.
5'-3’ AND 3'-5’ Translation of the Same Rna Results in Hydropathically Similar Peptides that are Antigenically Related

When a single RNA sequence is read in either the 5'-3' or 3'-5 direction, the translated peptides often are hydropathically similar even though their sequences may be different. To investigate whether hydropathically similar peptides might also be antigenically related, two peptides were synthesized from the substance P anti-sense RNA transcript: CAU CAA UCC AAA GAA CUG CUG AGG CUU GGG UCG. Translation of this RNA in the 5'-3' direction and in the 3'-5' direction resulted in two different peptides. HQSKELLRLGS and AGFGVVKKPNY, respectively. As anticipated, both peptides shared similar hydropathic profiles but were quite different with respect to their sequences. To examine their antigenic relatedness, mice were immunized with either peptide, and monoclonal antibodies were produced. Using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, it was possible to demonstrate that the majority of monoclonal antibodies, selected for reactivity against the original immunogen, also reacted with the other peptide. The observed binding was determined to be specific since reactivity could be blocked with either soluble peptide. Thus, we demonstrate that hydropathically similar peptides obtained from the same RNA but translated in opposite directions are antigenically related despite difference in amino acid sequences.
Velocity and acceleration statistics of pseudorandomly timed saccades in humans.

Abstract A system is described for the recording and analysis of the angular velocities and accelerations associated with 20° horizontal saccades. The acceleration data are included in order to bring out details of the velocity waveforms which otherwise might be ignored. The saccades are induced by a target system which operates on a pseudorandom time base, so that the timing of the saccades is not predictable. Statistical results for average peak velocities and accelerations of each eye are given for a group of 40 normal subjects. In addition an analysis is presented of the differences of pairs of individual velocities and accelerations, to provide additional statistical data which emphasize the interrelationships of these dynamic parameters of the two eyes. The significance and possible application of these sets of normative data are discussed.
Compactons structures for fifth-order KdV like equations in higher dimensions

In this paper we study a variant of the fifth-order KdV equation (fKdV) that exhibits compactons: solitons with finite wave lengths. The work formally shows how to construct compact dispersive structures in higher dimensions. Two sets of general formulas for compactons solutions, that are of substantial interest, are developed for this variant fK(n,n) for all positive integers n, n>=1.
Paramagnetic Resonance and Relaxation of Some Rare-Earth Ions in Y Cl 3 ·6 H 2 O

The paramagnetic resonance at $\ensuremath{\nu}=9.3$ Gc/sec has been observed at helium temperatures for ${\mathrm{Ce}}^{3+}$, ${\mathrm{Nd}}^{3+}$, ${\mathrm{Dy}}^{3+}$, ${\mathrm{Er}}^{3+}$, and ${\mathrm{Yb}}^{3+}$ diluted in single crystals of Y${\mathrm{Cl}}_{3}$\ifmmode\cdot\else\textperiodcentered\fi{}6${\mathrm{H}}_{2}$O. The principal values ${g}_{x}$, ${g}_{y}$, and ${g}_{z}$ of the $g$ tensor were measured and showed marked anisotropy. The spin bath relaxation rate ${{T}_{b}}^{\ensuremath{-}1}$ was measured for ${\mathrm{Nd}}^{3+}$ and ${\mathrm{Er}}^{3+}$ over the temperature range $0.2\ensuremath{\leqq}T\ensuremath{\leqq}5$ \ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{}K and for ${\mathrm{Ce}}^{3+}$ and ${\mathrm{Dy}}^{3+}$ over the range $1.3\ensuremath{\leqq}T\ensuremath{\leqq}5$\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{}K, by observing the transient recovery of the microwave resonance following a saturating pulse. The temperature dependence of the Orbach process, ${{T}_{b}}^{\ensuremath{-}1}\ensuremath{\propto}\mathrm{exp}(\ensuremath{-}\frac{\ensuremath{\Delta}}{T})$, is displayed for all four ions, with values of $\ensuremath{\Delta}$ in agreement with optical measurements in concentrated crystals. There is some evidence of phonon bottlenecking of the Orbach process for ${\mathrm{Dy}}^{3+}$. The Raman process ${{T}_{b}}^{\ensuremath{-}1}\ensuremath{\propto}{T}^{9}$ was observed for ${\mathrm{Ce}}^{3+}$ and ${\mathrm{Dy}}^{3+}$. The direct process ${{T}_{b}}^{\ensuremath{-}1}\ensuremath{\propto}coth(\frac{h\ensuremath{\nu}}{2kT})$ was observed for all four ions, and displayed a very large anisotropy, of order ${10}^{3}$ to ${10}^{4}$, for ${\mathrm{Nd}}^{3+}$ and ${\mathrm{Er}}^{3+}$, which can be approximately understood in terms of the matrix elements of the Zeeman perturbation between ground and excited states. For ${\mathrm{Nd}}^{3+}$ there was some evidence for a phonon bottleneck of the direct process, ${{T}_{b}}^{\ensuremath{-}1}\ensuremath{\propto}{T}^{2}$.
On the approximation of utility functions for faculty teaching assignments

Abstract A number of mathematical programming models have been proposed for generating faculty teaching assignments. Usually these models attempt to maximize the sum of the faculty members' utilities for the courses in the assignments. This paper demonstrates that the use of course utilities ignores important interaction effects in the determination of a faculty member's utility for a teaching schedule. As a result, solutions generated by the models can be far from optimal if the true objective of the scheduler is to maximize faculty utilities for their teaching schedules.
Electron and phonon energy spectra in a three-dimensional regimented quantum dot superlattice

We report on theoretical investigation of the electron and phonon energy spectra in a three-dimensional regimented quantum dot superlattice. Our results are obtained by numerical solution of the Schr\"odinger and elasticity equations using the finite-difference method. The calculations are performed for a Ge/Si material system taking into account characteristic band-gap offsets, elastic stiffness constants, and other relevant parameters. Coupling among quantum dots in such a regimented structure results in formation of extended electron states and minibands, provided that the disorder in the system is small. Electron and phonon densities of states of these artificial quantum dot crystals are also calculated. We demonstrate that the acoustic-phonon dispersion in the quantum dot superlattice undergoes strong modification, which leads to emergence of quasioptical branches. These branches are much lower in energy than optical phonons in bulk semiconductors and thus may strongly affect energy relaxation processes. Other phenomena that originate from the specific electron and phonon spectra in quantum dot superlattices, such as negative differential conductivity and carrier scattering anisotropy, are also discussed.
Pentoxifylline for the treatment of non-alcoholic steatohepatitis: a randomized controlled trial.

Introduction. The burden of non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) is growing and current pharmacologic treatments are limited by side effects and inconsistent efficacy. Pilot studies suggest that pentoxifylline (PTX) can reduce liver injury in patients with NASH. Objective. We sought to determine the tolerability of PTX and its effect on aminotransferases and liver histology in patients with NASH. Material and methods. Thirty patients with biopsy proven NASH were randomized in a 2:1 fashion to receive 1,200 mg PTX or placebo for 12 months. Metabolic parameters, aminotransferases, liver histology and hepatic gene expression changes were compared. Results. At baseline the groups were similar. Adverse events were mild, most frequently headache and abdominal cramps, and did not differ between groups (p = NS). After 12 months, ALT and AST decreased from 92 ± 12 IU/L to 67 ± 13 IU/L and 67 ± 6 IU/L to 47 ± 6 IU/L (p < 0.05), respectively in patients treated with PTX. No significant effect was seen with placebo. Steatosis and cellular ballooning improved in the PTX group (p < 0.05), whereas no histological feature of steatohepatitis improved with placebo. However, between groups comparison of both biochemical and histological features were nonsignificant. Conclusion. Pentoxifylline is safe, well tolerated and improves transaminases and histology in patients with NASH when compared to baseline and may be a reasonable therapeutic modality for the treatment of NASH. However PTX failed to reduce transaminases compared to placebo and did not positively affect any of the metabolic markers postulated to contribute to NASH. Although animal data and small pilot studies in humans have suggested that PTX may be effective as a treatment for NASH, translating this therapy to clinical practice may prove challenging.
Weight change and ovarian steroid profiles in young women.

Objective To investigate possible short-term effects of voluntary weight loss on ovarian steroid profiles in young women, in light of better established long-term effects in older women. Design We tested for an association of voluntary weight change over the course of a menstrual cycle with salivary E 2 and P profiles in the same menstrual cycle. Setting Students were recruited in a college residence hall, and they provided daily saliva samples to a researcher living nearby. Patient(s) The 65 women who participated were all college students and ranged in age between 18 and 23 years. Intervention(s) None. Main Outcome Measure(s) Weight was assessed in the first week of the menstrual cycle and first week of the following menstrual cycle. Estradiol and P were measured by radioimmunoassay in daily saliva samples. Result(s) We did not detect a suppressive effect of weight loss on the overall level of either hormone. However, we did find evidence for more distinct follicular and luteal E 2 peaks in women who gained weight. Peak luteal P also arrived about 2 days earlier in women who gained weight. Conclusion(s) This finding adds to evidence that short-term response of ovarian function to weight loss in young women is less pronounced than long-term response in older women.
Wedge factor dependence on depth and field size for various beam energies using symmetric and half-collimated asymmetric jaw settings

The depth- and field-size dependence of the in-phantom wedge factor have been determined for a Cobalt-60 (Co-60) teletherapy unit and four medical linear accelerators with 4-, 6-, 10-, and 18-MV x-ray beams containing 15{degree}--60{degree} (nominal) lead, brass, and steel wedge filters. Measurements were made with ionization chambers in solid water or water with a source-skin distance of 80 or 100 cm. Field sizes varied from 4{times}4 cm up to a maximum allowable size for each wedge filter. Measurements were performed for symmetric and half-collimated asymmetric fields at depth of maximum dose, 5- and 10-cm depths. For half-collimated fields, wedge factor reference points were located at a fixed off-axis distance from the collimator's rotational axis. These systematic measurements on wedges indicate that the wedge factor dependence on depth and field size is a function of beam energy as well as the design of the treatment head and wedge filters. Significance of the results reported herein are discussed for the most commonly used treatment depths and field sizes with various beam energies and wedge filters.
Ultrasound of the calcaneus and bone mineral density differs in older black and white women but is not impacted by current physical activity

Black women have lower fracture rates, pri- marily due to bone-dependent factors; however, the ra- cial differences in quantitative ultrasound (QUS) for older black and white women are poorly characterized, especially in regard to the mediating effects of physical activity. The primary aim of this study was to determine if QUS measures differ in age- and body-size-matched older black and white women and to explore if the racial differences were mediated by differences in current habitual physical activity. We performed dual-energy X- ray absorptiometry (DXA) bone mineral density (BMD) measures and QUS measures (broadband ultrasound attenuation (BUA), speed of sound (SOS), quantitative ultrasound index (QUI)) of the calcaneus in 30 black and 30 white women matched in age (68.3 years) and body mass index (30.0 kg/m 2 ). Black women had greater QUS measures of SOS (1,563.6±31.7 vs 1,541.2±23.4, p=0.003) and QUI (102.6±18.5 vs 90.4±15.4, p=0.008), with a strong trend for greater BUA (79.2±15.1 vs 71.9±15.1 m/sec, p=0.066) compared with white women. As expected, black women had greater BMD measures at all sites; whole body (6.8%, p <0.010), lumbar spine (10.4%, p=0.008), proximal fe- mur (14.2%; p <0.001) and femoral neck (20.3%; p <0.001), compared with white women. Although white women reported expending 45% more energy (p=0.03) in moderate intensity physical activity than black wo- men on a weekly basis, current physical activity did not attenuate the difference in QUS measures between the races. The relations between QUS and BMD measures were similar in black compared with white women. After controlling for BMD, the racial differences in QUS measures were not apparent, precluding the conclusion that bone quality independently contributes to the reduction in fracture risk in older black women. The impact of current physical activity on QUS measures in older black and white women is negligible.
Engineering the optical response of nanodipole antennas using equivalent circuit representations of core-shell particle loads

The feasibility of tuning the optical response of a dipole nanoantenna using plasmonic core-shell particles is demonstrated. The proposed scheme consists of a two-step tuning process. First, it is demonstrated that when the gap between the nanodipole arms is loaded by a homogeneous dielectric sphere, the configuration exhibits effective material properties that can be described by a mixing rule, thereby allowing it to be effectively mapped onto an equivalent circuit topology. An additional degree of tunability is introduced by substituting the load consisting of a homogeneous sphere with one represented by a two-layer core-shell particle. An electrically small core-shell particle offers the advantage that it functions as a tunable nanocircuit element with properties that depend on the material constitution of the particle as well as its volume fraction. Effective medium theory is employed, and through rigorous analysis the resulting core-shell nanoparticle properties are then mapped onto an equivalent circuit topology. The complete derivation is presented for the total equivalent circuit model that corresponds to this two-step tuning process. Full-wave numerical predictions of the nanoantenna’s extinction cross section are presented that validate the results obtained through the equivalent circuit-based representation of the loaded antenna. The proposed methodology illustrates the inherent tuning capabilities that core-shell particles can offer. Additionally, a novel compact and efficient scheme is introduced in order to map general nanoantenna loads onto equivalent circuit representations. The proposed approach permits the examination of the nanodipole antenna’s performance in its transmitting mode; therefore it completely eliminates the need for time-consuming full-wave simulations of loaded nanoantenna structures. At the same time, it provides the optical designer with the capability to custom-engineer the nanoantenna’s response through fast and accurate circuit-based analysis.
Multiband monopole antenna with complementary split-ring resonators for WLAN and WiMAX applications

Presented is an electrically small multiband monopole antenna based on complementary split-ring resonators, which are used to reduce antenna size. The antenna is fed by a three-stage microstrip line and provides 13, 17 and 16% impedance bandwidth performance covering the 3.5 GHz WiMAX and 2.4/5.2 GHz WLAN bands. Also, the proposed antenna exhibits almost an omnidirectional radiation pattern in the H-plane and a dipole-like radiation pattern in the E-plane. The return loss and radiation pattern measurements of the fabricated antenna are in very good agreement with simulation results.
Can hospital-based cellular phones improve on-call communication?

especially important in the on-call setting. A needs assessment was performed to determine the baseline state of communication between radiology and referring services on call. Neurology was identified as an excellent example of a high-acuity service because rapid communication with radiology is needed in the managementofpatients with stroke. NEEDS ASSESSMENT All radiology and neurology residents on call over a 4-week interval were invited to participate in voluntary, anonymous needs assessment surveys. With night float systems in place in both departments, 4 radiology residents and 4 neurology residents were eligible, and all completed surveys. Findings were as follows: � Radiology reported using the
Recent stable insertion of mitochondrial DNA into an arabidopsis polyubiquitin gene by nonhomologous recombination

Sequence analysis of a newly identified polyubiquitin gene (UBQ13) from the Columbia ecotype of Arabidopsis thaliana revealed that the gene contained a 3.9-kb insertion in the coding region. All subclones of the 3.9-kb insert hybridized to isolated mitochondrial DNA. The insert was found to consist of at least two, possibly three, distinct DNA segments from the mitochondrial genome. A 590-bp region of the insert is nearly identical to the Arabidopsis mitochondrial nad1 gene. UBQ13 restriction fragments in total cellular DNA from ecotypes Ler, No-0, Be-0, WS, and RLD were identified and, with the exception of Be-0, their sizes were equivalent to that predicted from the corresponding ecotype Columbia UBQ13 restriction fragment without the mitochondrial insert. Isolation by polymerase chain reaction and sequence determination of UBQ13 sequences from the other ecotypes showed that all lacked the mitochondrial insert. All ecotypes examined, except Columbia, contain intact open reading frames in the region of the insert, including four ubiquitin codons which Columbia lacks. This indicates that the mitochondrial DNA in UBQ13 in ecotype Columbia is the result of an integration event that occurred after speciation of Arabidopsis rather than a deletion event that occurred in all ecotypes except Columbia. This stable movement of mitochondrial DNA to the nucleus is so recent that there are few nucleotide changes subsequent to the transfer event. This allows for precise analysis of the sequences involved and elucidation of the possible mechanism. The presence of intron sequences in the transferred nucleic acid indicates that DNA was the transfer intermediate. The lack of sequence identity between the integrating sequence and the target site, represented by the other Arabidopsis ecotypes, suggests that integration occurred via nonhomologus recombination. This nuclear/organellar gene transfer event is strikingly similar to the experimentally accessible process of nuclear integration of introduced heterologous DNA.
Use of Emotional Cues for Lexical Learning: A Comparison of Autism Spectrum Disorder and Fragile X Syndrome

The present study evaluated the ability of males with fragile X syndrome (FXS), nonsyndromic autism spectrum disorder (ASD), or typical development to learn new words by using as a cue to the intended referent an emotional reaction indicating a successful (excitement) or unsuccessful (disappointment) search for a novel object. Performance for all groups exceeded chance-levels in both search conditions. In the Successful Search condition, participants with nonsyndromic ASD performed similarly to participants with FXS after controlling for severity of ASD. In the Unsuccessful Search condition, participants with FXS performed significantly worse than participants with nonsyndromic ASD, after controlling for severity of ASD. Predictors of performance in both search conditions differed between the three groups. Theoretical and clinical implications are discussed.
A Chlamydia pneumoniae Component That Induces Macrophage Foam Cell Formation Is Chlamydial Lipopolysaccharide

Chlamydia pneumoniae infection is associated with atherosclerotic heart and vessel disease, but a causal relationship between this pathogen and the disease process has not been established. Recently, it was reported that C. pneumoniae induces human macrophage foam cell formation, a key event in early atheroma development, suggesting a role for the organism in atherogenesis. This study further examines C. pneumoniae-induced foam cell formation in the murine macrophage cell line RAW-264.7. Infected RAW cells accumulated cholesteryl esters when cultured in the presence of low-density lipoprotein in a manner similar to that described for human macrophages. Exposure of C. pneumoniae elementary bodies to periodate, but not elevated temperatures, inhibited cholesteryl ester accumulation, suggesting a role for chlamydial lipopolysaccharide (cLPS) in macrophage foam cell formation. Purified cLPS was found to be sufficient to induce cholesteryl ester accumulation and foam cell formation. Furthermore, the LPS antagonist lipid X inhibited C. pneumoniae and cLPS-induced lipid uptake. These data indicate that cLPS is a C. pneumoniae component that induces macrophage foam cell formation and suggest that infected macrophages chronically exposed to cLPS may accumulate excess cholesterol to contribute to atheroma development.
Magnetic resonance imaging and head circumference study of brain size in autism: birth through age 2 years.

Context While the neuroanatomical basis of autism is not yet known, evidence suggests that brain enlargement may be characteristic of this disorder. Inferences about the timing of brain enlargement have recently come from studies of head circumference (HC). Objectives To examine brain volume and HC in individuals with autism as compared with control individuals. Design A cross-sectional study of brain volume was conducted at the first time point in an ongoing longitudinal magnetic resonance imaging study of brain development in autism. Retrospective longitudinal HC measurements were gathered from medical records on a larger sample of individuals with autism and local control individuals. Setting Clinical research center. Participants The magnetic resonance imaging study included 51 children with autism and 25 control children between 18 and 35 months of age (the latter included both developmentally delayed and typically developing children). Retrospective, longitudinal HC data were examined from birth to age 3 years in 113 children with autism and 189 local control children. Main Outcome Measures Cerebral cortical (including cortical lobes) and cerebellar gray and white matter magnetic resonance imaging brain volumes as well as retrospective HC data from medical records were studied. Results Significant enlargement was detected in cerebral cortical volumes but not cerebellar volumes in individuals with autism. Enlargement was present in both white and gray matter, and it was generalized throughout the cerebral cortex. Head circumference appears normal at birth, with a significantly increased rate of HC growth appearing to begin around 12 months of age. Conclusions Generalized enlargement of gray and white matter cerebral volumes, but not cerebellar volumes, are present at 2 years of age in autism. Indirect evidence suggests that this increased rate of brain growth in autism may have its onset postnatally in the latter part of the first year of life.
Real-time TaqMan PCR as a specific and more sensitive alternative to the branched-chain DNA assay for quantitation of simian immunodeficiency virus RNA.

We developed a rapid and highly reproducible assay based on real-time PCR (TaqMan, Applied Biosystems, Foster City, CA) to quantitate simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV) RNA in plasma samples. This assay was compared with the current branched-chain DNA assay (Bayer, Emeryville, CA). Results obtained with the real-time TaqMan PCR assay were comparable to those obtained with the branched-chain DNA assay in overlapping ranges of sensitivities (r = 0.9429, p < 0.05). However, the real-time TaqMan PCR assay was capable of detecting as few as 50 copies of RNA/ml, whereas branched-chain DNA was only sensitive to 1,500 copies of RNA/ml. Therefore, several animals that tested negative by branched-chain DNA were positive by realtime TaqMan PCR. Two false positive tests were also recorded for the branched-chain DNA test. False negative and positive tests were confirmed by cell culture isolation and conventional nested RT-PCR. The SIV TaqMan assay detected a wide range of wild-type, cloned, and recombinant SIV strain...
Adolescent Survival Expectations Variations by Race, Ethnicity, and Nativity

Adolescent survival expectations are linked to a range of problem behaviors, poor health, and later socioeconomic disadvantage, yet scholars have not examined how survival expectations are differentially patterned by race, ethnicity, and/or nativity. This is a critical omission given that many risk factors for low survival expectations are themselves stratified by race and ethnicity. Using the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent to Adult Health, we modeled racial, ethnic, and immigrant group differences in trajectories of adolescent survival expectations and assess whether these differences are accounted for by family, neighborhood, and/or other risk factors (e.g., health care access, substance use, exposure to violence). Findings indicated that most racial, ethnic, and immigrant groups were more pessimistic about their survival than were non-Hispanic whites, with the exception of Cuban youth, who were the most optimistic. Foreign-born Mexican youth had the lowest survival expectations, contrary to ...
Resonant Interactions between Vortical Flows and Water Waves. Part II: Shallow Water

Any weak, steady vortical flow is a solution, to leading order, of the inviscid fluid equations with a free surface, so long as this flow has horizontal streamlines coinciding with the undisturbed free surface. This work considers the propagation of long irrotational surface gravity waves when such a vortical flow is present. In particular, when the vortical flow and the irrotational surface waves are both periodic and have comparable length scales, resonant interactions can occur between the various components of the flow. The interaction is described by two coupled Korteweg-de Vries equations and a two-dimensional streamfunction equation.
The Declaration of Independence As Part of an American National Compact

The Declaration of Independence is an efficient, abstracted summary of the eighteenth-century American mind. Viewed in this context, the Declaration is not only an efficient summary of American political thought, but also a careful rhetorical balancing of contending views. The document could be read with approval by students of Whig political thought, or the Enlightenment; rationalists, or the deeply religious; those jealous of state power, or nationalists. Indeed, the manner in which state and national perspectives are balanced make this the first national document to lay out federalism as a central aspect of American political thought. The document also turns out to be part of a political covenant of the kind long used in America, and originally derived from covenant theology. Political covenants, called compacts in their secular form, would have had the Declaration serve as a preamble and bill of rights to a constitution. As it turns out, the Declaration of Independence serves precisely such a role with respect to the United States Constitution, and is thus part of a national covenant/compact.
Draft Genome Sequence of Klebsiella pneumoniae UCD-JA29 Isolated from a Patient with Sepsis

Here, we present the 6,155,188-bp draft genome sequence of Klebsiella pneumoniae UCD-JA29, isolated from blood cultures from a patient with sepsis at the University of California, Davis Medical Center in Sacramento, California, USA.
Initial mechanisms for the unimolecular decomposition of electronically excited nitrogen-rich energetic salts with tetrazole rings: (NH4)2BT and TAGzT

Unimolecular decomposition of nitrogen-rich energetic salt molecules bis(ammonium)5,5′-bistetrazolate (NH4)2BT and bis(triaminoguanidinium) 5,5′-azotetrazolate TAGzT, has been explored via 283 nm laser excitation. The N2 molecule, with a cold rotational temperature (<30 K), is observed as an initial decomposition product, subsequent to UV excitation. Initial decomposition mechanisms for the two electronically excited salt molecules are explored at the complete active space self-consistent field (CASSCF) level. Potential energy surface calculations at the CASSCF(12,8)/6-31G(d) ((NH4)2BT) and ONIOM (CASSCF/6-31G(d):UFF) (TAGzT) levels illustrate that conical intersections play an essential role in the decomposition mechanism as they provide non-adiabatic, ultrafast radiationless internal conversion between upper and lower electronic states. The tetrazole ring opens on the S1 excited state surface and, through conical intersections (S1/S0)CI, N2 product is formed on the ground state potential energy surface without rotational excitation. The tetrazole rings open at the N2—N3 ring bond with the lowest energy barrier: the C—N ring bond opening has a higher energy barrier than that for any of the N—N ring bonds: this is consistent with findings for other nitrogen-rich neutral organic energetic materials. TAGzT can produce N2 either by the opening of tetrazole ring or from the N=N group linking its two tetrazole rings. Nonetheless, opening of a tetrazole ring has a much lower energy barrier. Vibrational temperatures of N2 products are hot based on theoretical predictions. Energy barriers for opening of the tetrazole ring for all the nitrogen-rich energetic materials studied thus far, including both neutral organic molecules and salts, are in the range from 0.31 to 2.71 eV. Energy of the final molecular structure of these systems with dissociated N2 product is in the range from −1.86 to 3.11 eV. The main difference between energetic salts and neutral nitrogen-rich energetic material is that energetic salts usually have lower excitation energy.
Mechanical characterization of sequentially layered photo-clickable thiol-ene hydrogels

Abstract Multi-layer hydrogels are promising for tissue engineering due to the ability to control the local properties within each layer. However, the interface that forms between each layer has the potential to affect the performance of the hydrogel. The goals of this study were to characterize how the interface forms via its thickness and mechanical properties, identify its impact on the overall hydrogel properties, and provide new insights into how to control the interface. A photo-clickable poly(ethylene glycol) hydrogel was used to form bilayer hydrogels that were sequentially polymerized in a step-and-repeat process. Different processing conditions were studied: the time (0–20 min) before initiating polymerization of the second layer (soak time, ts) and the hydrogel crosslink density (the same, less crosslinked, or more crosslinked) of the first layer as compared to the second layer. Interface thickness was characterized by confocal microscopy, monomer transport by Fickian diffusion, single and bilayer hydrogel mechanics by bulk moduli measurements, and interface moduli measurements using AFM, nanoindentation, and strain mapping. The interface thickness ranged from ~70 to 600 μm (1–10% of total height) depending on processing conditions, but did not affect the bulk hydrogel modulus. Analysis of monomer transport revealed that convection, due to changes in hydrogel swelling, and diffusion contribute to interface thickness. Nanomechanical analysis of bilayer hydrogels formed from soft (75 kPa) and stiff (250 kPa) layers showed a gradient in elastic modulus across the interface, which corresponded to strain maps. In summary, this work identifies that diffusive and convective transport of monomers across the interface controls its thickness and that a mechanically robust interface forms, which does not affect the hydrogel modulus. By controlling the processing conditions, the thickness of the interface can be tuned without affecting the mechanical properties of the bulk hydrogel.
Uterine Malformations: An Update of Diagnosis, Management, and Outcomes

ImportanceThe prevalence of uterine malformations has been reported in up to 7% of the general population and 18% of those with recurrent pregnancy loss. The diagnosis, classification, management, and outcome of the management have been subject to debate for decades.ObjectiveThe aim of this article
Stabilization of rigid body attitude motion with time-delayed feedback

Abstract A continuous nonlinear full-state time-delayed feedback control scheme is designed within the framework of geometric mechanics to stabilize the rigid body attitude motion, which is subject to an unknown constant time delay in feedback measurement. The attitude kinematics is globally described on the matrix Lie group S O ( 3 ) of rigid body rotations. A Morse–Lyapunov–Krasovskii functional is utilized to guarantee the asymptotic stability of the system, which yields the control gain matrices via linear matrix inequality stability conditions. In light of this result, a delayed feedback control scheme is also designed for the planar rotational motion to examine the almost global asymptotic stability of the system in the presence of an unknown time delay in feedback measurement. Simulations are performed for the proposed control schemes based on the discretized models of the controlled systems and the performance of the proposed controllers are evaluated by employing large maneuvers.
Computer Simulation of Prostaglandin-Regulated Cyclic AMP Metabolism in Platelets: Activation and Desensitization of Adenylate Cyclase Appear to be Mediated Through Separate Prostaglandin Receptors Coupled to GS and Gi

We have examined and modeled the kinetics of prostaglandin-regulated cyclic AMP formation in intact human platelets and platelet lysates. In the case of iloprost, a stable analogue of PGI2, the shape of the time-course of cyclic AMP formation was dependent on prostaglandin concentration. In intact platelets, low concentrations of iloprost gave a rise to a plateau with little decrease in cyclic AMP level over many minutes, while high concentrations gave a rise to a peak followed by a fall to a plateau level lower than that observed at low concentrations of iloprost. In contrast, PGEl gave a rapid rise and fall to a plateau at all concentrations, although the initial rate, peak maximum and final steady-state level of cyclic AMP all increased as a saturable function of PGEl concentration. The timedependent fall in cyclic AMP was still evident in the presence of phosphodiesterase inhibitors, indicating that it was due to inhibition of adenylate cyclase, rather than activation of phosphodiesterase activity. Timedependent inhibition was abolished by treating platelets with agents that impair the function of Gi, indicating that Gi mediates prostaglandin-induced inhibition. We have simulated cyclic AMP metabolism over a wide range of prostaglandin concentration by a model that includes adenylate cyclase activation followed by reversible, slow inhibition of the enzyme mediated by a distinct prostaglandin receptor. The putative inhibitory receptor has an affinity for prostaglandin lower than the stimulatory receptor in the case of iloprost and higher than the stimulatory receptor in the case of PGEl. The model requires that receptor affinity declines with prostaglandin concentration, which may be related to the existence of high and low affinity forms of receptor that depend on the activation state of the appropriate G protein. Time- and prostaglandin concentration-dependent inhibition of adenylate cyclase was also observed in platelet lysates in the presence of non-hydrolyzable GTP analogues and kinetic curves could be modeled by considering slow transitions among the subunits of Gs and Gi. We conclude that activation and time-dependent inhibition (desensitization) of platelet adenylate cyclase are linked to separate prostaglandin receptors coupled to Gs and Gi; we postulate that desensitization results from a slow change in the equilibrium between protein components of the adenylate cyclase system.
As Technologies for Nucleotide Therapeutics Mature, Products Emerge

The long path from initial research on oligonucleotide therapies to approval of antisense products is not unfamiliar. This lag resembles those encountered with monoclonal antibodies, gene therapies, and many biological targets and is consistent with studies of innovation showing that technology maturation is a critical determinant of product success. We previously described an analytical model for the maturation of biomedical research, demonstrating that the efficiency of targeted and biological development is connected to metrics of technology growth. The present work applies this model to characterize the advance of oligonucleotide therapeutics. We show that recent oligonucleotide product approvals incorporate technologies and targets that are past the established point of technology growth, as do most of the oligonucleotide products currently in phase 3. Less mature oligonucleotide technologies, such as miRNAs and some novel gene targets, have not passed the established point and have not yielded products. This analysis shows that oligonucleotide product development has followed largely predictable patterns of innovation. While technology maturation alone does not ensure success, these data show that many oligonucleotide technologies are sufficiently mature to be considered part of the arsenal for therapeutic development. These results demonstrate the importance of technology assessment in strategic management of biomedical technologies.