cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
LOXL1 Promoter Haplotypes Are Associated with Exfoliation Syndrome in a U.S. Caucasian Population

Glaucoma is a term used to describe a group of disorders that have in common a distinct type of optic nerve damage causing irreversible defects in the visual field. Collectively, glaucoma is a leading cause of blindness throughout the world and is estimated to affect more than 60 million people by 2010.1 Exfoliation syndrome (ES), characterized by the deposition of microfibrillar material throughout the anterior segment of the eye, is a significant risk factor for glaucoma, with intraocular pressure and optic nerve degeneration developing in more than 50% of affected individuals by the age of 70.2 The genetics of ES and the related exfoliation glaucoma (EG) are complex. A genome-wide association study in cases and controls from Iceland initially identified lysyl oxidase-like 1 (LOXL1), an enzyme necessary for elastogenesis and elastin homeostasis, as a major genetic risk factor for the condition, with a population-attributable risk of more than 99%.3 Subsequently, this association has been replicated in populations throughout the world.4–22 Recent studies suggest that loss of LOXL1 function or reduced LOXL1 expression is the genetic mechanism that contributes to the disease (Wiggs JL, et al., manuscript submitted).23 LOXL1 risk alleles are also very prevalent in control individuals arguing that LOXL1 is necessary but not sufficient for disease and that other factors, both genetic and environmental, may contribute to disease development. Missense changes in exon 1 (rs1048661, R141L, and rs3825942, G153D) are significantly associated with exfoliation syndrome in populations worldwide; however, the frequency of the risk allele for both variants varies among different ethnic populations (Fig. 1). In Caucasians the arginine allele at position 141 is associated with disease risk, while in the Japanese, leucine is the risk allele.15–20 Recent studies of cases of exfoliation in South African blacks show that the aspartate at position 153 is the risk allele, whereas in all other populations studied, glycine is associated with exfoliation.22 These findings suggest that these missense changes are not biologically causative and that other LOXL1 variants may predispose to exfoliation syndrome by affecting gene expression or protein function. The purpose of this study was to investigate the disease association of other LOXL1 gene variants by evaluating polymorphisms across the whole gene region of LOXL1 and the corresponding promoter region in a U.S. Caucasian case–control sample. Figure 1. Prevalence of ES and risk allele frequencies of LOXL1 coding variants (R141L and G153D; risk allele G) in EG or ES and controls across different populations .4–34
New Developments in Magnetic Resonance Imaging of the Brain

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) continues to have a large impact on the diagnosis and management of a number of diseases, especially diseases associated with brain injury. The strengths of MRI are the unique contrast that can be obtained, and the fact that it is not harmful and that it can be readily applied to human and animal models. The past decade has seen development of functional MRI techniques that measure aspects of hemodynamics and water diffusion that are playing an important role. Indeed, these techniques are having a major impact on management of brain injury. The development of MRI continues at a rapid pace and a renewed push to increased spatial and temporal resolution will extend the applicability of anatomical and functional MRI. Increased interest in molecular imaging using MRI is increasing the number of processes that can be imaged in the brain. This work reviews some new developments that are being made in anatomical, functional, and molecular MRI of the brain, with comments about usefulness for work in the area of neuroprotection.
Solvent hydrogen isotope effects on the catalysis of CO2 hydration by three isozymes of mammalian carbonic anhydrase

Abstract The exchange of 18 O between CO 2 and H 2 O catalyzed by three isozymes of mammalian carbonic anhydrase has been used to determine the rate constants for two steps in the catalytic pathway. That for the inter-conversion of CO 2 and HCO 3 − at chemical equilibrium has a solvent hydrogen isotope effect of unity for all three isozymes indicating no rate-contributing proton transfer steps. That for the release of 18 O from the enzyme has a solvent hydrogen isotope effect between 2.4 and 8.0 for these three isozymes indicating a change in bonding to hydrogen accompanying this process in each isozyme.
Structure and elevated temperature properties of carbon-free ferritic alloys strengthened by a laves phase

A Laves phase, Fe2Ta, was utilized to obtain good elevated temperature properties in a carbon-free iron alloy containing 1 at. pct Ta and 7 at. pct Cr. Room temperature embrittlement resulting from the precipitation of the Laves phase at grain boundaries was overcome by spheroidizing the precipitate. This was accomplished by thermally cycling the alloys through the alpha to gamma transformation. The short-time yield strength of the alloys decreased very slowly with increase in test temperature up to 600 C, but above this temperature, the strength decreased rapidly. Results of constant load creep and stress rupture tests conducted at several temperatures and stresses indicated that the rupture and creep strengths of spheroidized 1 Ta-7 Cr alloy were higher than those of several commercial steels containing chromium and/or molybdenum carbides but lower than those of steels containing substantial amounts of tungsten and vanadium. When molybdenum was added to the base Fe-Ta-Cr alloy, the rupture and creep strengths were considerably increased.
A Case of Adult Metastatic Xp11 Translocation Renal Cell Carcinoma Treated Successfully With Sunitinib

Renal cell carcinomas (RCC) associated with Xp11.2 translocations (transcription factor E3 gene fusions) are rare tumors predominantly reported in children. Although only a small number of adult Xp11.2 translocation RCC cases have been described, this is likely due to the possibility of this tumor being unrecognized because of its histologic similarity to either clear cell or papillary subtypes based on hematoxylin and eosin staining. Herein, we describe the first successful case of systemic treatment of metastatic Xp11 RCC with sunitinib, a currently accepted standard of care in metastatic RCC, and attempt to elucidate potential mechanisms behind sunitinib activity in this histologic subtype.
The use of animal models to guide rational vaccine design

Although there are several varieties of animal models of tuberculosis, the mouse and the guinea pig are by far the most validated and useful. These provide information about vaccine-induced protection, immunogenicity, toxicity, and immunopathological effects. There is still much to be learned, however, in terms of rational vaccine design, especially in the context of therapeutic or anti-latent vaccine formulations and animal models of these situations.
Monoclonal Antibodies in Lymphoma: The First Decade

The past decade has seen improvements in overall survival (OS) for patients with the two most common lymphoma histologies: diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) and follicular lymphoma (FL). In FL, at least four independent datasets have confirmed these survival improvements. The monoclonal antibody rituximab has significantly contributed to these improved therapeutic outcomes. This issue will explore the impact of monoclonal antibody therapy on outcome in indolent lymphoma, and detail how this improved outcome has changed clinical practice. Furthermore, the role of monoclonal antibodies in maintenance regimens and the main indications for radiolabeled antibodies will be discussed in detail. Finally, possible future developments in the field will be proposed, including the use of monoclonal antibodies in ablative transplantation and in the treatment of leukemias.
DESTINY: a tool for modeling emerging 3D NVM and eDRAM caches

The continuous drive for performance has pushed the researchers to explore novel memory technologies (e.g. non-volatile memory) and novel fabrication approaches (e.g. 3D stacking) in the design of caches. However, a comprehensive tool which models both conventional and emerging memory technologies for both 2D and 3D designs has been lacking. We present DESTINY, a microarchitecture-level tool for modeling 3D (and 2D) cache designs using SRAM, embedded DRAM (eDRAM), spin transfer torque RAM (STT-RAM), resistive RAM (ReRAM) and phase change RAM (PCM). DESTINY facilitates design-space exploration across several dimensions, such as optimizing for a target (e.g. latency or area) for a given memory technology, choosing the suitable memory technology or fabrication method (i.e. 2D v/s 3D) for a desired optimization target etc. DESTINY has been validated against industrial cache prototypes. We believe that DESTINY will drive architecture and system-level studies and will be useful for researchers and designers.
RESPONSE: REFLECTIONS ON BINARISM

Immanuel Kant asked, What are the transcendental conditions for knowing the world and for knowing how we ought to behave in it? For Scriptural Reasoners, this question is answered through fellowships of scriptural study in which practices of shared reading and interpretation give rise to practices of reasoning, speculatively, about what ultimately guides and authorizes our action in the world. These practices lead, in one direction, to Textual Reasoning: fellowships of study that define and test such speculations from within the context of specific traditions of belief and action. In another direction, these practices lead to recommendations about academic study: for example, about how well or poorly various disciplines comprehend the conditions for understanding scriptural religion.
Retinal Detachment in Penetrating Keratoplasty Patients

We reviewed the records of 23 patients who had retinal detachment after penetrating keratoplasty. Seventeen retinas (74%) were reattached successfully. Of the six failures, four patients had hemorrhagic choroidal detachment at the time of keratoplasty. When these complex retinal detachments are subtracted, 17 of 19 patients (89%) had successful retinal reattachments. Of the 17 successes, only seven patients had visual acuity of 20/200 or better. Retinal detachments after penetrating keratoplasty can be repaired with a high rate of success, but visual results remain disappointing.
Virus neutralization assays used in exotic bird medicine

This article describes virus neutralizing assays (VNs) used to detect antibody produced in response to avian polyomavirus and psittacid herpesvirus infection (Pacheco's disease virus). A detailed discussion of the interpretation of these assays and their use in avian medicine is provided.
Progress of Protection of the Environment and Resources in the United States - A Historical Survey

State and Federal legislative actions intended to improve and to preserve the quality of our environment and to conserve our natural resources were developed and implemented in a logical sequence, synchronized with our own social development and awareness of the need for specific legislative, punitive, or constructive actions. At all times, the desired legislation was developed through a consensus of opinions, needs, and costs that were to be incurred by the affected parties. In some cases, the Federal Government found it necessary to increase its budget allocations in areas where an immediate relief was needed and large losses were anticipated.
Some statistical characterizations of aircraft hijacking

Abstract The paper examines hijackings of U.S. registered aircraft since 1968. After some summary characterizations of the series of hijackings, the paper tests the null hypothesis that they represent a homogeneous Poisson process. Using the Durbin-Knott decomposition of the Cramer—von Mises statistic, this hypothesis is rejected. The paper further investigates whether formulating the model as a nonhomogeneous Poisson process represents a significant improvement over the assumption of homogeneity. This question is answered in the affirmative. The major conclusion of the paper, of practical significance, is that hijackings are not independent of one another and security precautions may need to be intensified in periods following a hijacking.
Associations of microalgae and meiofauna in floating detritus at a mangrove island, Twin Cays, Belize

Abstract Associations of benthic microalgae and meiofauna affected by temperature, salinity and dissolved oxygen concentrations were examined in floating detritus in a shallow mangrove embayment in a 6 day time-series investigation. Floating detritus exhibits a diurnal movement: it rises to the surface via oxygen bubbles generated by attached microalgae at sunrise and sinks down at sunset. In floating mangrove detritus, dinoflagellates were present in highest proportion (50–90%), followed by diatoms (5–15%), cyanobacteria (3–25%) and dinoflagellate cysts (1–7%). Microalgal densities correlated significantly with dissolved oxygen concentrations (r2 = 0.763, P
Growing at the Hyphen: Female Friendships and Social Context

Although the psychological literature has focused more on immigrant women's roles in their families, women's friendships are important sources of support and identity development. This article explores the development of friendship in the context of immigration, cultural adaptation, becoming a template for identity and intimacy. Specifically, the author describes a personal friendship and a psychotherapy case vignette, integrating feminist, multicultural, and relational psychoanalytic perspectives, to illustrate the influence of female friendship in coping with loss, acculturative stress, discrimination, and the formation of bicultural identity. These examples highlight the ways in which personal friendships of the therapist and the client contribute to the psychotherapeutic relationship, growth in intimacy and authenticity, and the negotiation of a hyphenated identity.
Perception Is a Two-Way Street: Feedforward and Feedback Phonology in Visual Word Recognition ☆

Abstract The influence of phonology on visual word perception tasks is often indexed by the presence or absence of consistency effects. Consistency concerns whether there exists more than one way to pronounce a spelling body (e.g., _INT as in HINT and PINT versus _EAP as in HEAP and LEAP). The present study considers a similar factor. Feedback consistency concerns whether there is more than one way to spell a pronunciation body (e.g., /_ip/ as in HEAP and DEEP versus /_Ob/ as in PROBE and GLOBE). Two experiments demonstrate a robust feedback consistency effect in visual lexical decision. Words with phonologic bodies that can be spelled more than one way (e.g., _EAP as in HEAP) produce slower correct “yes” responses than words with phonologic bodies that can be spelled only one way (e.g., _OBE as in PROBE). This result constitutes strong support for feedback, top-down models of performance in word perception tasks. Furthermore, the data suggest that previous tests of consistency effects may be misleading because they did not take into account feedback consistency.
Charge-density excitation on a lateral surface of a semiconductor superlattice and edge plasmons of a two-dimensional electron gas.

On the lateral surfaces of a semiconductor superlattice, the structure along the direction of the superlattice axis displays the superlattice periodicity while along the perpendicular direction it is translationally invariant. We investigate the surface-plasma and magnetoplasma modes of such a surface as a function of the components of the wave vector along these two dissimilar directions.
Estradiol Dose-Dependent Regulation of Membrane Estrogen Receptor-α, Metabotropic Glutamate Receptor-1a, and Their Complexes in the Arcuate Nucleus of the Hypothalamus in Female Rats

Sexual receptivity in the female rat is dependent on dose and duration of estradiol exposure. A 2 μg dose of estradiol benzoate (EB) primes reproductive behavior circuits without facilitating lordosis. However, 50 μg EB facilitates lordosis after 48 hours. Both EB doses activate membrane estrogen receptor-α (mERα) that complexes with and signals through metabotropic glutamate receptor-1a (mGluR1a). This mERα-mGluR1a signaling activates a multisynaptic lordosis-inhibiting circuit in the arcuate nucleus (ARH) that releases β-endorphin in the medial preoptic nucleus (MPN), activating μ-opioid receptors (MOP). MPN MOP activation is maintained, inhibiting lordosis for 48 hours by 2 μg EB, whereas 50 μg EB at 48 hours deactivates MPN MOP, facilitating lordosis. We hypothesized that 50 μg EB down-regulates ERα and mERα-mGluR1a complexes in the ARH to remove mERα-mGluR1a signaling. In experiment I, 48 hours after 2 μg or 50 μg EB, the number of ARH ERα-immunopositive cells was reduced compared with controls. In experiment II, compared with oil controls, total ARH ERα protein was decreased 48 hours after 50 μg EB, but the 2 μg dose was not. These results indicate that both EB doses reduced the total number of cells expressing ERα, but 2 μg EB may have maintained or increased ERα expressed per cell, whereas 50 μg EB appeared to reduce total ERα per cell. In experiment III, coimmunoprecipitation and Western blot revealed that total mERα and coimmunoprecipitated mERα with mGluR1a were greater 48 hours after 2 μg EB treatment vs rats receiving 50 μg EB. These results indicate 2 μg EB maintains but 50 μg EB down-regulates mERα-mGluR1a to regulate the lordosis circuit activity.
MELD score predicts 1-year patient survival post-orthotopic liver transplantation.

The Model for End-Stage Liver Disease (MELD) is an important predictor in patients awaiting orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT). However, the model's association with posttransplant patient survival is unclear. We studied 1-year patient survival in 404 adult patients who underwent OLT at the University of California Los Angeles. The hazard rates of patient survival according to the MELD strata and United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS) statuses were assessed by Proportional Hazard Cox regression analysis. The difference in survival for MELD strata and UNOS status were compared using the Cox model. There was a significant difference in 1-year patient (P = .0006) survival using different MELD strata, whereas there was a trend according to UNOS status (P = .051). Increased rate of death was observed in recipients of OLT with higher MELD scores (> 36, hazard ratio 3.9; 95% CI 1.55, 10.27) and more urgent UNOS status (2A; hazard ratio, 1.99; 95% CI 1.07, 3.7). The MELD stratum is better associated with 1-year patient survival in liver transplant recipients than UNOS statuses. Patient survival was worse with higher MELD scores.
Studies in human lactation: milk volume and nutrient composition during weaning and lactogenesis.

ABSTRACI’ Concentrations and secretion rates of macronutrients and major ions in human milk during lactogenesis (birth to 8 d) and late lactation (> 6 mo postpartum) are reported. Postpartum changes in lactose, sodium, and chloride concentrations signalled closure ofthe paracellular pathway during days 1-2. From days 2 to 4 postpartum, initiation of copious milk secretion was accompanied by significant increases in citrate, free phosphate, glucose, and calcium concentrations and a decrease in pH. During weaning, significant changes in milk protein, lactose, chloride, and sodium concentrations were observed only when milk volume fell below 400 mL/d; more than one feed per day was necessary to maintain milk secretion. Temporal changes in the concentration of other milk components, except glucose and magnesium, were not different in weaning and nonweaning women. Differences between the relation of milk volume and composition during lactogenesis and weaning suggest that volume is differently regulated in the two periods. Am J Clin Nuir 1991;54:8l-92.
Colony-stimulating factors: Beyond the effects on hematopoiesis

The effects of sargramostim and filgrastim on hematopoietic cells are described. Filgrastim is a lineage-specific colony-stimulating factor (CSF), mainly affecting neutrophils. In addition to enhancing neutrophil recovery, filgrastim may also enhance neutrophil functional activity. Filgrastim does not have any meaningful effect on monocytes or macrophages; however, recent data indicate that filgrastim has a stimulatory effect on Th2 lymphocyte-inducing dendritic cells. These dendritic cells facilitate humoral immune responses, but they also produce inhibitory cytokines that diminish cell-mediated immunity. Sargramostim is a multilineage CSF, affecting neutrophils, monocytes, macrophages, and dendritic cells. Sargramostim has a greater impact on Th1 lymphocyte-inducing dendritic cells, which facilitate cell-mediated immune responses, including antitumor activity. The broader activity of sargramostim on both types of antigen-presenting cells (macrophages and dendritic cells) may account for the reports of benefit beyond enhanced neutrophil recovery that have been seen in clinical trials of patients with leukemia and patients undergoing stem-cell transplantation. Given the disparate activity of these two CSFs on the immune system and the types of immune responses generated, it is prudent for clinicians to consider these effects when choosing an agent for enhancing neutrophil recovery in various clinical settings.
Dynamic Hippocampal Circuits Support Learning- and Memory-Guided Behaviors

The ability to learn spatial relationships and to modify stored representations when the world changes is essential for survival. In recent years, our understanding of the neural activity that underlie these learning and memory processes has improved considerably, in large part to an increase in the number of studies that use electrophysiological recordings as animals learn about their environments. In this review, we summarize some key findings from our laboratory, with a focus on recent discoveries that indicate that the rat hippocampus supports learning and decision-making behaviors via dynamic and smooth transitions in neural representation, internal processing state, and coupling with related brain structures.
Planar self‐biased magnetic resonance microscopy “lenses”

We present novel planar permanent magnet designs that create points above the plane where the magnitude of the static magnetic field is a local nonzero magnetic field point minimum. The designs represent potential magnetic resonance microscopy “lenses” where only a point region of the sample located in the “focus” spot of the structures is resonant. The high magnetic field curvatures of the “lenses” ensure that the regions outside of the “focus” spot are inactive or filtered out in the resonance detection process. In contrast to the original magnetic resonance “lens” design that required an applied uniform external bias field, the new designs are self-biased. Each planar permanent magnet design is accompanied by the equivalent planar single noncrossing conductor design. We also introduce the concept of Amperean current doubling in planar perpendicularly magnetized thin films that can be used to improve the performance of each permanent magnet design we present. We experimentally constructed macroscale representative permanent magnet and wire structures and measured their magnetic field properties that confirm our numerical predictions. Single conductor current-carrying designs are suitable for single layer lithographic fabrication, as we also experimentally demonstrate. Finally, we present the case that nanometer scale recording of perpendicular anisotropy thin magnetic films using presently available data storage technology can potentially provide the ultimate miniaturization of the presented designs. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Concepts Magn Reson Part B (Magn Reson Engineering) 33B: 21–31, 2008
Grazing Distribution and Diet Quality of Angus, Brangus, and Brahman Cows in the Chihuahuan Desert

Abstract Grazing distribution can be improved by using adapted cattle breeds that travel to distant areas of extensive pastures. A 2-yr study was conducted to evaluate grazing distribution and diet quality of Angus, Brangus, and Brahman cows (seven cows per breed group) in the Chihuahuan Desert during three seasons (winter, early summer, and late summer) using three pastures. Two GPS collars were randomly assigned to each breed group and cow positions were logged every 10 min for 10- to 14-d periods in each pasture (3 periods · season -1 ). In 2008, breed groups were evaluated in separate pastures and data were analyzed as a 3 × 3 Latin square design. In 2009, all breed groups were evaluated at the same time in the same pastures. Fecal samples were collected in 2008 and analyzed using near infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) to estimate diet quality. If positions recorded when cows were resting were excluded, Brahman cows traveled greater distances per day than Angus cows throughout the study and greater ( P ≤ 0.10) than Brangus cows in all but one season during 2009. No differences in average distance to water were detected ( P s 0.10) among breed groups. During early summer in 2008 and early and late summer in 2009, Angus cows maintained a more linear grazing path ( P ≤ 0.10) than Brangus or Brahman cows. Brahman cows displayed more sinuous grazing paths ( P ≤ 0.10) than other breeds during early and late summer seasons in 2009. In 2008, no differences in crude protein content of diets were detected ( P s 0.10) among breed groups during all seasons. Spatial movement patterns of Brahman cows appeared to differ from Angus and Brangus cows; however, there was no evidence to suggest that there was any advantage in use of areas far from water by any breed group.
Serum thyroid hormone abnormalities in psychiatric disease.

Psychiatric illness is a cause of “euthyroid sick syndrome” (ESS), defined as abnormal concentrations of circulating iodothyronines in euthyroid subjects with nonthyroidal illness (NTI). We describe a prospective study of 150 consecutive psychiatric admissions studied by endocrine and psychologic techniques. Based on 150 admission blood samples, we found a 7% incidence of ESS and with serial samples (74 patients) the incidence was 27%, demonstrating that ESS can develop after hospital admission. Of the 20 patients with ESS, 11 had elevation of both serum total T4 concentrations (T4) and free thyroxine index (FTI) while their serum total T3 concentrations (T3) remained normal; 5 had elevation of FTI without elevation of T4 or T3; and 4 had low T4 and low FTI and normal TSH. In 2 of the 4 patients in the last category, the T3 was also low. The free T3 index (FT3I) was normal in all but 1 patient who had low FT3I and FTI, low T4 and T3, and normal TSH. The serum thyroid hormone abnormalities were transient in the ESS patients during the 10 day period with 2 exceptions; 1 patient had persistently elevated T4 and FTI with normal T3 and FT3I values while another patient had persistently depressed T4 and FTI without abnormality of FT3I or TSH. Multivariate statistical analysis demonstrated a difference (P < .06) in the psychologic attributes of somatic and autonomic symptoms in ESS patients compared to controls. We conclude that ESS is as common amongst psychiatric admissions as in general hospital patients previously studied and that blood thyroid function tests should be interpreted cautiously in all hospitalized patients.
Design and Performance Evaluation of the BeauSoleil Solar Decathlon House

In October 2009, the U.S. Department of Energy (DoE) hosted the Solar Decathlon-a competition in which 20 teams compete to design, build, and operate the most attractive, effective, and energy-efficient solar-powered house. The University of Louisiana at Lafayette entry, called the BeauSoleil House, was designed and assembled by a group of engineering and architecture students and faculty. Details of the BeauSoleil House Photovoltaic (PV) and electrical system design, issues associated with assembly, results of performance during competition, and lessons learned are presented in this paper.
A new electric field integral equation for heterogeneous dielectric bodies of revolution

In this paper, a novel electric field integral equation (EFIE) is developed for rotationally-symmetric heterogeneous dielectric bodies. This EFIE has several attractive features. Firstly, the azimuthal field component has been eliminated in this formulation thereby reducing the number of scalar unknowns from three to two. Secondly, it is a pure-integral equation in which there are no terms involving derivatives of the field components. Finally, this description is devoid of any highly singular kernel which would require a principal-value evaluation of the associated integral. These attributes render this formulation advantageous for both computational and theoretical pursuits. >
Metonymy and reference-point errors in novice programming

When learning to program, students often mistakenly refer to an element that is structurally related to the element that they intend to reference. For example, they may indicate the attribute of an object when their intention is to reference the whole object. This paper examines these reference-point errors through the context of metonymy. Metonymy is a rhetorical device where the speaker states a referent that is structurally related to the intended referent. For example, the following sentence states an office bureau but actually refers to a person working at the bureau: The tourist asked the travel bureau for directions to the museum. Drawing upon previous studies, I discuss how student reference errors may be consistent with the use of metonymy. In particular, I hypothesize that students are more likely to reference an identifying element even when a structurally related element is intended. I then present two experiments, which produce results consistent with this analysis. In both experiments, stude...
Farewell to Fortran

The author discusses his experience in converting to C++ programming from Fortran programming. He considers the two advantages of the C language over Fortran: pointers and recursion, and then goes on to review the many advantages of C++ over Fortran. >
Unlocking Organizational Potential: A Computational Platform for Investigating Structural Interdependence in Design

An organization’s design– the structuring of its resources and flows of knowledge– is an important element determining its effectiveness. An essential element to achieving an organization’s problem-solving potential is the role that interdependence, in both the task and the organization, plays in determining the dynamic and emergent system level properties of the organization. In this paper, we present a computational platform for experimentally investigating the structural dependencies found in the design of a complex system, and exploring their role in determining system behaviors and performance. The approach presented in this paper is a multiagent simulation of the conceptual design of space mission plans by Team X, an advanced projects design group at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory. The algorithm is composed of rich, descriptive models of both the team- types and timing of interactions, collaborative methods, sequencing, rates of convergence- and the task- primary variables, their behaviors and relations, and the approaches used to resolve them. The objective is to create an environment of interaction representative of that found in actual design sessions. Better understanding how the dynamics arising from organizational and domain interdependencies impact an organization’s ability to effective resolve its task should lead to the development of guidelines for better coping with task complexities, suggest ways to better design organizations, as well as suggest ways for improving the search for innovative solutions.© 2006 ASME
I Feel Witty, Oh So Witty

Improvisational comedy—“improv”—is a form of theater, typically performed by two or more actors, in which the story, including setting, plot, characters, and dialogue, are made up in the moment, often following a suggestion from the audience.1 Improv is, by definition, extemporaneous or off-the-cuff. In contrast, standup comedy consists of scripted, often carefully rehearsed performances by an individual actor.
Distributed Control of Active–Passive Networked Multiagent Systems

An active–passive networked multiagent system framework is introduced and analyzed, which consists of agents subject to exogenous inputs (active agents) and agents without any inputs (passive agents). Specifically, we propose an integral action-based distributed control approach and establish its transient time and steady-state performance characteristics using results from graph theory, matrix mathematics, Lyapunov stability, and ${\mathcal L}$ stability. Apart from the existing relevant literature, where either none of the agents are subject to exogenous inputs (i.e., average consensus problem) or all agents are subject to these inputs (i.e., dynamic average consensus problem), the key feature of our approach is that the states of all agents converge to the average of the exogenous inputs applied only to the active agents. We further discuss the conditions when the performance of the proposed distributed controller specializes to the performance of standard distributed controllers used for average consensus and dynamic average consensus of leaderless networks, and draw connections between pinning control and containment control of leader–follower networks. Several illustrative numerical examples are provided to demonstrate the efficacy of the proposed distributed control approach.
Changes in Microwave Absorbtion of New High Tc Superconductors with Small Magnetic Fields

A low field microwave absorbtion peak was observed with an EPR spectrometer in the new superconducting oxides‥ The peak disappeared above the superconducting transition temperature after exponential decrease with temperature in the transition region. The peak was sensitive to the magnetic fields the sample has been exposed before in the superconducting phase. Magnetic field dependent stochastic oscillations of the EPR baseline are ascribed to flux trapping in Josephson junctions.
Striding development of Chinese medical equipment

To meet the requirements of military medical readiness and to win in informatized war, striding development of Chinese medical equipment has to be performed. This paper presents related guiding ideology, principle, mission, objective and countermeasures.
Advances in Research of Cold Shock Proteins in Plants

Cold shock proteins(CSPs) are nucleic acid-binding proteins containing a cold shock domain(CSD),which are highly conserved in bacteria,plants and animals.They play a critical role for transcription,translation,development and stress responses by the RNA chaperones function.In this review,the progress of plant cold shock proteins were described from the structure,regulation of gene expression,function and the prospects of application research.
Immigration Stress and Alcohol Use Severity Among Recently Immigrated Hispanic Adults: Examining Moderating Effects of Gender, Immigration Status, and Social Support.

Objective Identifying and understanding determinants of alcohol use behavior among Hispanic immigrants is an increasingly significant public health concern. Although prior research has examined associations of cultural stressors with alcohol use among Hispanics, few studies have tested these associations among recent adult immigrants. As such, this study aimed to examine (a) the association of immigration stress on alcohol use severity among recently immigrated Hispanic adults (≤ 1 year in the United States) and (b) the moderating effects of gender, immigration status, and social support. Method A hierarchical multiple regression and moderation analyses were conducted on a sample of 527 participants in South Florida. Results Results indicated that, after controlling for demographic variables, preimmigration drinking behavior, and dimensions of social support, the association of higher immigration stress with higher alcohol use severity was statistically significant. Moderation analyses indicated that immigration stress had a statistically significant association with alcohol use severity among men, but not women. Also, dimensions of social support consistently reduced the deleterious effect of immigration stress on alcohol use severity. Conclusion This study adds to the scarce literature on cultural stressors and alcohol use among recent Hispanic immigrants. Findings suggest that it may be important to design gender-specific interventions and that increasing levels of social support may offset the effects of immigration stress on alcohol use.
Electrostatic self-assembled nanolayer films for cotton fibers

Publisher Summary The use of multilayered polymeric films offers the possibility of creating multicomposite molecular assemblies with great levels of reproducibility and controlled molecular architectures. While these high levels of control have been reached in planar and homogeneous surfaces such as silicon, glass, gold, and other synthetic materials, their realization in natural fibers has not been achieved. Natural fibers offer unique challenges as not only are their cross-sections irregular, but their surfaces are chemically and physically heterogeneous. However, having the ability to control the surface of a natural fiber offers great rewards that go far beyond pure economics as natural fibers are renewable and biodegradable resources. This chapter discusses the principles of electrostatic self-assembly for creating nanolayer films. The Langmuir–Blodget (LB) technique allows monolayers to be created by using a non-solvent as a substrate. Once the monolayers have formed over the surface of a non-solvent system, they can be transferred onto a solid support. This technique, pioneered in the 1960s, is believed to be the first synthetic nano-scale heterostructure. Any number of different textile fibers and fabrics could possibly be used as substrates for the electrostatic self-assembly of nanolayers as far as they could hold charges on their surfaces. Possible candidates include polyamides as well as hemp, silk, and many others.
Racial Frames and Policy Coalitions: How the Dialogue on Race Shapes the Creation of Public Policy

The course of race policy in the twentieth century clearly depended centrally and above all on processes of coalition formation and on the ability of racial minorities to participate in policy-making coalitions. –Robert Lieberman The majoritarian nature of the democratic process forces minority groups to appeal to other like-minded citizens and politicians in order to garner policy support. As virtuous as their cause might be, racial and ethnic minorities do not comprise a majority voting bloc or have a sufficient number of representatives in government to pass legislation. To win appeals for equity and fairness, they must build coalitions that include support from majority segments of society and government. As Lieberman eloquently expresses in the opening quotation, coalitions are central to public policies that relate to racial and ethnic minority concerns, and the need to build coalitions has shaped contemporary politics in the minority community. These coalitions have largely been discussed in terms of support from the American public, where the millions of voters who rally behind a proposition or a political candidate represent this alliance. But coalitions are also established in government among politicians who are crafting legislation and shaping the narrative of public policy. Given that federal politicians have the power to create public policy, it is here – among elite policy coalitions established in Congress and with the executive office – that alliances are most consequential for a dialogue on race. The link between political discourse and policy support allows us to ask several old and enduring questions that remain unsettled: Do politicians limit their political coalitions and policy networks when they speak about race? Can a dialogue on race promote policy alliances for both race-conscious and race-neutral policies? Does the dialogue on race influence policy outcomes? This chapter extends the discursive governance theory to consider the implications for the policy-making process. In doing so, it challenges the shroud of doubt and pessimism that make politicians wary of discussing minority legislation through a racial frame. As we will see in this chapter, the discourse on race figures prominently in the ability of congressional leaders to garner support. Instead of presenting the traditional story of a dialogue on race as deteriorating policy support, I offer a new narrative in which racial rhetorical frames help to extend the reach and expand the network of opportunities for policy reform.
Arachnoid Cysts Causing Symptomatic Increased Intracranial Pressure

Four children, ages 12 to 15 years, with intracranial arachnoid cysts complicated by increased intracranial pressure are reported from Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, PA.
622. Systemic β-Sarcoglycan Gene Therapy for Treatment of Cardiac and Skeletal Muscle Deficits in LGMD2E

Limb-girdle muscular dystrophy type 2E (LGMD2E) results from mutations in the beta-sarcoglycan (SGCB) gene causing loss of a sarcolemmal structural protein component of the dystrophin-associated protein complex (DAPC). This leads to a progressive dystrophy with numerous histopathological features, resulting in deteriorating muscle function. This occurs not only in limb muscle but also in the diaphragm and the heart. Consequences include respiratory failure and cardiomyopathy in 50% or more of LGMD2E patients. SGCB knockout mice share many of the phenotypic deficiencies of LGMD2E patients. In this mouse model we quantified dystrophic histopathology, fibrosis, and functional outcomes in lower limb, upper limb, and torso skeletal muscles, as well as the diaphragm and cardiac muscles. Diaphragms of SGCB-/- mice demonstrated reduced specific force output (116.24 mN/mm2) compared to wild-type (WT) mice (236.67 mN/mm2), and hearts from SGCB-/- mice had lower ejection fraction (58.19%) compared to WT mice (75.04%) as determined by MRI. Additionally, radiographic imaging defined the degree of kyphoscoliosis in SGCB-/- mice. Laser monitoring of open-field cage activity showed a reduction of ~55% in both total ambulation as well as hindlimb vertical rearing in SGCB-/- mice compared to WT. For treatment, we designed a self-complementary AAVrh74 vector containing a codon optimized human SGCB transgene driven by a muscle specific promoter. We next demonstrated efficacy of vector delivery by intramuscular (IM) injection to the tibialis anterior muscle, as well as isolated-limb perfusion (ILP) to the lower limb muscles of SGCB-/- mice. Along with restoration of SGCB expression in treated muscle, we saw histological and functional improvements and a reduction in fibrosis as indicated by reduced collagen deposition. These regional gene delivery studies were followed by systemic delivery of scAAV.hSGCB through the tail vein of SGCB-/- mice to provide a potential rationale for gene delivery in clinical trial that would lead to clinically meaningful results. Tail vein injection of scAAV.hSGCB resulted in nearly 100% transgene expression in numerous muscles throughout the hindlimbs, forelimbs, torso, and the heart, that was accompanied by improvements in histopathology including reduction in central nucleation and increased fiber diameter. Kyphoscoliosis of the spine was also improved, and total ambulation increased in scAAV.hSGCB treated mice by ~22% while hindlimb vertical rearing increased by ~77% in treated mice compared to KO. We also saw complete restoration of diaphragm function following treatment with specific force output improved to 226.07 mN/mm2. In this well-defined mode of LGMD2E, we have demonstrated that systemic delivery of scAAV.hSGCB normalizes histologic and functional outcome measures in limb, diaphragm, and heart. These findings have established a path for AAV mediated gene therapy for LGMD2E that we are currently pursuing.
Abstract A036: Integrin αvβ3 drives the mammary stem cell state during pregnancy

Epithelial stem/progenitor cell properties are associated with aggressive carcinomas. The integrin αvβ3 promotes tumor progression and metastasis in a diverse array of human carcinomas, and may be integral to epithelial stem/progenitor cell behavior. Here we reveal a critical role for αvβ3 in adult mammary stem cells (MaSCs) during pregnancy. While αvβ3 is a luminal progenitor marker in the virgin mammary gland, we noted a dramatic increase in αvβ3 expression in the MaSC pool at mid-pregnancy associated with enhanced repopulating potential. Similar to pregnancy, we noted that TGFβ, and not RANKL, was sufficient to drive αvβ3 expression enhancing MaSC activity. Accordingly, mice lacking β3 or expressing a signaling deficient form of this receptor showed defective mammary gland morphogenesis during pregnancy associated with decreased MaSC clonogenicity, expansion and outgrowth potential. Surprisingly, these mice displayed normal development of the virgin gland with no effect on luminal progenitors. These findings support a role for αvβ3 as a critical determinant of the MaSC state during pregnancy and suggest a related role for this receptor in regulating stem-like behavior in human breast cancers. Citation Format: Jay Desgrosellier, Jacqueline Lesperance, Laetitia Seguin, Sanford Shattil, David Cheresh. Integrin αvβ3 drives the mammary stem cell state during pregnancy. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the AACR Special Conference on Advances in Breast Cancer Research: Genetics, Biology, and Clinical Applications; Oct 3-6, 2013; San Diego, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Mol Cancer Res 2013;11(10 Suppl):Abstract nr A036.
Measuring well-being among children and adolescents in the public behavioral health system: Clinicians’ perspectives on current practices

Abstract Well-being among children and adolescents in the public behavioral health system is impacted by a range of influences and has the potential to impact assessment and treatment decisions. The current qualitative study explored the perspectives of child/adolescent public behavioral health clinicians. Specifically, the research questions examined 1) how clinicians define and measure child and adolescent well-being in current practice and 2) barriers to the assessment of well-being among children and adolescents in the public behavioral health system. Constant comparative analysis of data from a sample of 21 child/adolescent public behavioral health clinicians suggests 5 themes: Hierarchy of Need; Cultural Relevance; All About Relationships; Subjectivity of Well-Being; and Current Practice: Barriers and Recommendations. Results are discussed in the context of implications for future research to develop and implement child and adolescent well-being measures in public behavioral health settings.