cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Mapping transcriptome-wide protein-RNA interactions to elucidate RNA regulatory programs

Our understanding of post-transcriptional gene regulation has increased exponentially with the development of robust methods to define protein-RNA interactions across the transcriptome. In this review, we highlight the evolution and successful applications of crosslinking and immunoprecipitation (CLIP) methods to interrogate protein-RNA interactions in a transcriptome-wide manner. Here, we survey the vast array of in vitro and in vivo approaches used to identify protein-RNA interactions, including but not limited to electrophoretic mobility shift assays, systematic evolution of ligands by exponential enrichment (SELEX), and RIP-seq. We particularly emphasize the advancement of CLIP technologies, and detail protocol improvements and computational tools used to analyze the output data. Importantly, we discuss how profiling protein-RNA interactions can delineate biological functions including splicing regulation, alternative polyadenylation, cytoplasmic decay substrates, and miRNA targets. In summary, this review summarizes the benefits of characterizing RNA-protein networks to further understand the regulation of gene expression and disease pathogenesis. Our review comments on how future CLIP technologies can be adapted to address outstanding questions related to many aspects of RNA metabolism and further advance our understanding of RNA biology.
c15-148: Phase I/II trial of concurrent chemohormonal therapy using enzalutamide and cabazitaxel in patients with metastatic castration resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC).

TPS5097Background: The management of mCRPC has been both enhanced and complicated by the rapid emergence of at least five new agents that can lengthen survival. While great strides have been made i...
Pure Structures or Ambidextrous Configurations? Antecedents and Consequences of Formalization

Despite a solid tradition of research on corporate design conducted to date, the concern about the effectiveness of process formalization in enabling knowledge dynamics within firms still remains a...
Resilience in Children Exposed to Violence: A Meta-analysis of Protective Factors Across Ecological Contexts

Children who experience violence in their families and communities are at increased risk for a wide range of psychological and behavioral difficulties, but some exhibit resilience, or adaptive functioning following adversity. Understanding what promotes resilience is critical for developing more effective prevention and intervention strategies. Over 100 studies have examined potential protective factors for children exposed to violence in the past 30 years, but there has been no quantitative review of this literature. In order to identify which protective factors have received the strongest empirical support, we conducted a meta-analysis of 118 studies involving 101,592 participants. We separately evaluated cross-sectional (n = 71) and longitudinal (n = 47) studies testing bivariate, additive, and buffering effects for eleven proposed protective factors. Effect sizes generally were stronger in cross-sectional than longitudinal studies, but four protective factors—self-regulation, family support, school support, and peer support—demonstrated significant additive and/or buffering effects in longitudinal studies. Results were consistent across type of violence experienced (i.e., maltreatment, intimate partner violence, community violence). The review highlights the most robust predictors of resilience, identifies limitations of this work, and offers directions for improving our understanding of the processes and programs that foster resilience in children exposed to violence.
Surgical Management of Ectopic Pregnancy

The primary goal of all surgeries for ectopic pregnancy is to control bleeding, if present, and to remove the ectopic pregnancy. Secondary goals include preservation of fertility in those patients desiring more children. Traditionally these surgeries were performed via laparotomy, but are now generally performed with laparoscopic techniques. After operative exposure is obtained via laparotomy or laparoscopy, one must determine whether to attempt conservation of the affected tube in those patients desiring fertility. In patients with extensive tubal damage or uncontrolled bleeding, tubal removal is advisable. In patients that are otherwise candidates for tubal conservation, the condition of the contralateral tube and the location and size of the ectopic pregnancy are determining factors.
Research-based versus clinical serum creatinine measurements and the association of acute kidney injury with subsequent kidney function: findings from the Chronic Renal Insufficiency Cohort study.

Author(s): Hsu, Raymond K; Hsu, Chi-Yuan; McCulloch, Charles E; Yang, Jingrong; Anderson, Amanda H; Chen, Jing; Feldman, Harold I; He, Jiang; Liu, Kathleen D; Navaneethan, Sankar D; Porter, Anna C; Rahman, Mahboob; Tan, Thida C; Wilson, F Perry; Xie, Dawei; Zhang, Xiaoming; Go, Alan S; Chronic Renal Insufficiency Cohort (CRIC) Study Investigators | Abstract: Background:Observational studies relying on clinically obtained data have shown that acute kidney injury (AKI) is linked to accelerated chronic kidney disease (CKD) progression. However, prior reports lacked uniform collection of important confounders such as proteinuria and pre-AKI kidney function trajectory, and may be susceptible to ascertainment bias, as patients may be more likely to undergo kidney function testing after AKI. Methods:We studied 444 adults with CKD who participated in the prospective Chronic Renal Insufficiency Cohort (CRIC) Study and were concurrent members of a large integrated healthcare delivery system. We estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) trajectories using serum creatinine measurements from (i) the CRIC research protocol (yearly) and (ii) routine clinical care. We used linear mixed effects models to evaluate the associations of AKI with acute absolute change in eGFR and post-AKI eGFR slope, and explored whether these varied by source of creatinine results. Models were adjusted for demographic characteristics, diabetes status and albuminuria. Results:During median follow-up of 8.5 years, mean rate of eGFR loss was -0.31 mL/min/1.73nm2/year overall, and 73 individuals experienced AKI (55% Stage 1). A significant interaction existed between AKI and source of serum creatinine for acute absolute change in eGFR level after discharge; in contrast, AKI was independently associated with a faster rate of eGFR decline (mean additional loss of -0.67 mL/min/1.73nm2/year), which was not impacted by source of serum creatinine. Conclusions:AKI is independently associated with subsequent steeper eGFR decline regardless of the serum creatinine source used, but the strength of association is smaller than observed in prior studies after taking into account key confounders such as pre-AKI eGFR slope and albuminuria.
A Novel Framework for Evaluating and Improving Parameterized Subtropical Marine Boundary Layer Cloudiness

AbstractA single-column model (SCM) is used to simulate a variety of environmental conditions between Los Angeles, California, and Hawaii in order to identify physical elements of parameterizations...
Potential of Cannabinoid Receptor Ligands as Treatment for Substance Use Disorders.

Substance use disorder (SUD) is a major public health crisis worldwide, and effective treatment options are limited. During the past 2 decades, researchers have investigated the impact of a variety of pharmacological approaches to treat SUD, one of which is the use of medical cannabis or cannabinoids. Significant progress was made with the discovery of rimonabant, a selective CB1 receptor (CB1R) antagonist (also an inverse agonist), as a promising therapeutic for SUDs and obesity. However, serious adverse effects such as depression and suicidality led to the withdrawal of rimonabant (and almost all other CB1R antagonists/inverse agonists) from clinical trials worldwide in 2008. Since then, much research interest has shifted to other cannabinoid-based strategies, such as peripheral CB1R antagonists/inverse agonists, neutral CB1R antagonists, allosteric CB1R modulators, CB2R agonists, fatty acid amide hydrolase (FAAH) inhibitors, monoacylglycerol lipase (MAGL) inhibitors, fatty acid binding protein (FABP) inhibitors, or nonaddictive phytocannabinoids with CB1R or CB2R-binding profiles, as new therapeutics for SUDs. In this article, we first review recent progress in research regarding the endocannabinoid systems, cannabis reward versus aversion, and the underlying receptor mechanisms. We then review recent progress in cannabinoid-based medication development for the treatment of SUDs. As evidence continues to accumulate, neutral CB1R antagonists (such as AM4113), CB2R agonists (JWH133, Xie2-64), and nonselective phytocannabinoids (cannabidiol, β-caryophyllene, ∆9-tetrahydrocannabivarin) have shown great therapeutic potential for SUDs, as shown in experimental animals. Several cannabinoid-based medications (e.g., dronabinol, nabilone, PF-04457845) that entered clinical trials have shown promising results in reducing withdrawal symptoms in cannabis and opioid users.
Genetic characterization and genome-wide association mapping for dwarf bunt resistance in bread wheat accessions from the USDA National Small Grains Collection

Dwarf bunt-resistant bread wheat accessions and SNP markers associated with DB resistance identified in this study are valuable resources for characterization and deployment of DB resistance in bread wheat. Dwarf bunt (DB), caused by Tilletia controversa J.G. Kuhn, can significantly reduce grain yield and quality on autumn-sown wheat in regions with prolonged snow cover. DB can be managed with the use of resistant cultivars. The objectives of the present study were to characterize DB resistance in a large set of bread wheat accessions from the National Small Grains Collection and use a genome-wide association study approach to identify genetic loci associated with DB resistance. A total of 292 accessions were selected using historical DB resistance data recorded across many trials and years in the Germplasm Resources Information Network (GRIN) and re-tested for DB resistance in replicated field nurseries in Logan, UT, in 2017, 2018, and 2019. Ninety-eight accessions were resistant with DB normalized incidence ≤ 10%, and twenty-eight of these were highly resistant with DB normalized incidence ≤ 1% in both GRIN and the field nurseries. Based on the presence of marker haplotypes of the four published dwarf bunt QTL on 6DS, 6DL, 7AL, and 7DS, highly resistant accessions identified in this study may provide novel resistance and should be further evaluated. This study validated one previously identified QTL on 6DS and identified an additional locus on 6DS. These loci explained 9–15% of the observed phenotypic variation. The resistant accessions and molecular markers identified in the present study may provide valuable resources for characterization and deployment of DB resistance in bread wheat.
Two- and three-color STORM analysis reveals higher-order assembly of leukotriene synthetic complexes on the nuclear envelope of murine neutrophils.

Over the last several years it has become clear that higher order assemblies on membranes, exemplified by signalosomes, are a paradigm for the regulation of many membrane signaling processes. We have recently combined two-color direct stochastic optical reconstruction microscopy (dSTORM) with the (Clus-DoC) algorithm that combines cluster detection and colocalization analysis to observe the organization of 5-lipoxygenase (5-LO) and 5-lipoxygenase–activating protein (FLAP) into higher order assemblies on the nuclear envelope of mast cells; these assemblies were linked to leukotriene (LT) C4 production. In this study we investigated whether higher order assemblies of 5-LO and FLAP included cytosolic phospholipase A2 (cPLA2) and were linked to LTB4 production in murine neutrophils. Using two- and three-color dSTORM supported by fluorescence lifetime imaging microscopy we identified higher order assemblies containing 40 molecules (median) (IQR: 23, 87) of 5-LO, and 53 molecules (62, 156) of FLAP monomer. 98 (18, 154) molecules of cPLA2 were clustered with 5-LO, and 77 (33, 114) molecules of cPLA2 were associated with FLAP. These assemblies were tightly linked to LTB4 formation. The activation-dependent close associations of cPLA2, FLAP, and 5-LO in higher order assemblies on the nuclear envelope support a model in which arachidonic acid is generated by cPLA2 in apposition to FLAP, facilitating its transfer to 5-LO to initiate LT synthesis.
Review of fabrication of nanochannels for single phase liquid flow

The topic of single phase liquid flow in submicron or nanochannels is a nascent field. There have only been a couple papers that have dealt with this area directly. The most probable reason for this is that currently most research in fluid mechanics or heat transfer is being focused on micron size channels. To help facilitate researchers to focus on this undeveloped area, this paper serves as a review for some of the micro-fabrication processes that will make it possible for engineers and scientists to study this field in greater detail.
Arabidopsis plants expressing only the redox-regulated Rca-α isoform have constrained photosynthesis and plant growth

Rubisco activase (Rca) facilitates the release of sugar-phosphate inhibitors from the active sites of Rubisco and thereby plays a central role in initiating and sustaining Rubisco activation. In Arabidopsis, alternative splicing of a single Rca gene results in two Rca isoforms, Rca-α and Rca-β. Redox modulation of Rca-α regulates the function of Rca-α and Rca-β acting together to control Rubisco activation. Although Arabidopsis Rca-α alone less effectively activates Rubisco in vitro, it is not known how CO2 assimilation and plant growth are impacted. Here, we show that two independent transgenic Arabidopsis lines expressing Rca-α in the absence of Rca-β ('Rca-α only' lines) grew more slowly in various light conditions, especially under low light or fluctuating light intensity, and in a short day photoperiod compared to wildtype. Photosynthetic induction was slower in the Rca-α only lines, and they maintained a lower rate of CO2 assimilation during both photoperiod types. Our findings suggest Rca oligomers composed of Rca-α only are less effective in initiating and sustaining the activation of Rubisco than when Rca-β is also present. Currently there are no examples of any plant species that naturally express Rca-α only but numerous examples of species expressing Rca-β only. That Rca-α exists in most plant species, including many C3 and C4 food and bioenergy crops, implies its presence is adaptive under some circumstances.
Dynamics of explosion venting in a compartment with methane-air mixtures

Abstract A series of experiments on explosion venting of methane-air mixtures are performed to scrutinize the pressure evolution as well as the flame dynamics and morphology at various vent conditions. Specifically, a premixed flame is ignited at the center of a polycarbonate cylindrical compartment, with three various vent areas considered (with negligible vent relief pressure). As expected, the highest maximum pressure is observed in the case of the smallest vent area. For all three cases, the pressure evolution experiences two major peaks, associated with the instants (i) when the maximum flame front surface area in the chamber is reached and (ii) when an external explosion occurs due to venting of unburned gases, respectively. For the fuel-rich mixtures, a flashback is observed subsequent to the external explosion, constituting the key outcome of the present work. The flame tip velocities show two general trends, namely, exponential acceleration towards the vent, while a flame propagates towards the blocked side of the compartment with no acceleration, which is important to know in the fire/explosion safety applications.
RNA Editing Signatures Predict Response to Immunotherapies in Melanoma Patients

Summary Paragraph Immunotherapy has improved the prognosis for half of the melanoma patients, prompting a need to understand differences between responding and non-responding patients. Gene expression profiling of tumors has focused on deriving primarily immune-related signatures, however these have shown limited predictive power. Recent studies have highlighted the role of RNA editing in modulating resistance to immunotherapy. This has led us to test whether RNA editing activity can be predictive of response in publicly available datasets of immunotherapy-treated melanoma patients. Here, we identified RNA editing signatures that were able to predict with very high accuracy and confidence patient responses and outcomes. Our analysis, however, demonstrates that RNA editing by itself is sufficient as a strong predictive tool for examining sensitivity of melanoma patients to immunotherapy.
Real-Time Traffic Sign Detection and Classification Using Machine Learning and Optical Character Recognition

Autonomous vehicle development is currently progressing at a very fast pace and traffic sign detection and classification has an important role in it. This paper analyzes a few possible approaches of doing this task in real-time using a portable system. The final solution uses a convolutional neural network for detection and classification combined with a custom optical character recognition algorithm for speed limit signs. The training and testing dataset is based on a combination of the Belgian Dataset, German Dataset, as well as images taken while driving in Illinois, United States.
Rare earth element behavior in springs and streams on a basaltic island: San Cristóbal, Galápagos

Abstract Dissolved Rare Earth Element (REE) fractionation mechanisms in freshwater environments have been parameterized by laboratory experiments and measured in major world rivers. To investigate the relationship between such observations and small-scale natural systems, we analyze REE contents in water samples from groundwater springs and streams on San Cristobal Island, Galapagos. The island is comprised of a single lithology (Ocean Island Basalt) and exhibits a steep precipitation gradient on the windward slope over a short spatial extent, which results in a wide range of physicochemical properties and regolith weathering intensities. This allows us to investigate primary controls of REE fractionation without the influence from varying lithology. Samples show a wide range of measured pH, as well as concentrations of Mn and Fe. Local basalt-normalized REE patterns exhibit a wide range ([Nd/Yb]b = 0.19–1.21 and [Ce/Ce*]b = 0.65–2.22) for the small areal extent of the watersheds (~13 km2). Comparisons between data from 0.45 μm to 0.02 μm filtered samples demonstrate the importance of colloidal-sized (0.02–0.45 μm) metal species in aqueous solution. Our results suggest that two mechanisms are responsible for the observed REE fractionation in this catchment: pH-driven changes in aqueous complex stability by organic or anionic complexes and the preferential adsorption of heavy rare earth elements (HREE) onto Fe- and Mn- oxyhydroxides at low pH. This contrasts with moderate enrichment of light rare earth elements (LREE) observed at higher pH. These results suggest that several proposed REE fractionation mechanisms established previously in laboratory experiments can be observed in a natural watershed system, despite being obscured in larger world rivers. The homogenous lithology and strong climate gradient of San Cristobal island allow for the observation of REE fractionation mechanisms which are usually obscured in larger world rivers despite being predicted in laboratory experiments, such as a positive Ce anomaly associated with HREE enrichment in low pH waters.
Österreich und die Entwicklung der Weltwirtschaft: John Komlos' neoklassisches Modell. Eine Kritik

The article opens a debate on a book by John Komlos dealing with the economic history of the eighteenth-century Habsburg Monarchy. Rebel discusses Komlos' approach in regard to his concept of the Industrial Revolution and an ,,anthropometric history", which he classifies as „neoclassical" and „neo- Malthusian". Both Komlos' empirical basis - the height measurement of Austrian recruits - and his approach of establishing a correlation between physical height and national income are seen as problematic. The validity of some of the regional samples as well as the resulting calculations are questioned. Rebel doubts Komlos' thesis of a nutritional crisis of the population as a possible cause of the economic measures by the Austrian government which prepared the way for the lndustrial Revolution. Consequently this concept, which Komlos claimed to be a general model for world development, is rejected by Rebel also as a pattern of industrialization.
Rank regression: an alternative regression approach for data with outliers

Linear regression models are widely used in mental health and related health services research. However, the classic linear regression analysis assumes that the data are normally distributed, an assumption that is not met by the data obtained in many studies. One method of dealing with this problem is to use semi-parametric models, which do not require that the data be normally distributed. But semi-parametric models are quite sensitive to outlying observations, so the generated estimates are unreliable when study data includes outliers. In this situation, some researchers trim the extreme values prior to conducting the analysis, but the ad-hoc rules used for data trimming are based on subjective criteria so different methods of adjustment can yield different results. Rank regression provides a more objective approach to dealing with non-normal data that includes outliers. This paper uses simulated and real data to illustrate this useful regression approach for dealing with outliers and compares it to the results generated using classical regression models and semi-parametric regression models.
Designing to Reduce Construction Costs

This paper describes interrelationships between engineering design, construction, and operation costs for a facility, and shows how the level of influence over those costs decreases precipitously as the project evolves. The level of influence is by far the greatest during engineering and design, while actual expenditures at that stage are relatively small. The level of influence concept can be helpful in forming contractual arrangements that minimize the suboptimization of costs for one party at the expense of overall project costs and benefits. Contractual arrangements should be drawn so as to assure that current construction and operations knowledge will be injected in the design process. Construction Management and design-construct, if appropriately tailored to the needs of a particular situation, can be helpful for this purpose. A second important conclusion is that efforts to suboptimize design costs by requiring competitive bidding for professional services are likely to produce much higher project costs in the long run.
A cell-replicating approach to minicut-based circuit partitioning

An extension to the Fiduccia and Mattheyses minicut algorithm (1982) allows cells to be replicated in both sides of the partition. This technique can substantially reduce the number of cut nets in a partitioned network below what can be obtained without replication. The extensions to the algorithm to permit replication are easily implemented and maintain the linear-time complexity of the algorithm. This technique is dependent solely upon the interconnect topology and the direction of signal flows between cells and nets. The formulation of cell gains is extended to model the effect of cell replication, and the necessary modifications to the algorithm are described. >
Application of electron tomography to mitochondrial research.

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses the advantages and limitations of the electron tomography technique as applied to mitochondrial research and also outlines the important steps in a typical tomographic investigation, with special attention to optimization of specimen preparation. Some of the biological applications of transmission electron microscopy (TEM) are investigations into the internal organization of the mitochondrion. The two dimensionality of conventional TEM imaging is imposed by the physics of the interaction of electrons with the specimen. Most structural information in electron micrographs is provided by electrons scattered elastically (without energy loss to the specimen) only once. However, for incident electrons of a given energy, as specimen thickness increases, the fraction of singly elastically scattered electrons drops and the fractions of singly inelastically and multiply elastically and inelastically scattered electrons increase, reducing image contrast greatly. Moreover, tomography of thick, plastic section specimens has the potential to become a routine tool for the three-dimensional (3D) analysis of biological structure. Furthermore, advances in methodology are leading to the extension of this 3D imaging technique to frozen-hydrated specimens.
Learning Nature's Way: Biosensing with Synthetic Nanopores

Synthetic sensors use molecular recognition events in nanometer-scale pores for selective detection of proteins, nucleotides, and drugs.
Indirect Adaptive Feed-Forward Tracking Controllers

This paper presents a general indirect adaptive feed-forward control scheme for the purpose of tracking time varying signals. An approach which allows independent design of the adaptive identifier and the feed-forward tracking controller is given and so is the characterization of its tracking performance. When disturbances and unmodeled dynamics exist, methods such as signal filtering, dead zone and constrained parameter estimation are important for obtaining robust adaptive identifies, without which the standard approach could not be successful. Application to a hydraulic servo system, the dynamics of which are nonlinear, time varying and of infinite order, demonstrates the usefulness of the proposed adaptive scheme.
Issues in CAD-based robot programming

In this presentation we shall discuss some of the ways in which CAD-style object descriptions are currently being used to facilitate the planning, programming, and verification of robotic applications, and also discuss some open issues that are the subject of ongoing research. Computer-based representations of parts, tools, fixtures and so forth are used today in the context of robot programming primarily as a source of data for solving, either automatically or with human assistance, some of the geometric and kinematic problems that arise in robotics. Some examples that will be discussed include the automatic planning of collision free motions, robot work cell layout, graphical simulation of robot motions, and the specification of initial values for certain parameters in a robot program. In each case, the problem is modeled and analyzed in terms of geometric objects of perfectly known shape and size with precise constraints on the relative positions and orientations of objects. A number of difficult problems remain, however, in CAD-based robot programming. These include: the representation and analysis of tolerancing specifications and other forms of uncertainty; modeling, analysis, and verification of robot programs incorporating the use of sensors; the use of geometric models to represent task constraints in compliant motion control; automatic updating of robot programs upon modification of part design data; and many more.
Stargazing: celebrity, fame and social interaction, by Kerry O. Ferris and Scott R. Harris

Not long ago, I went to see a Broadway touring production of West Side Story. Among the cast members was a young man named Neil Haskell, who had once been a finalist on the reality-television compe...
The relationship between the nursing environment and delivering culturally sensitive perinatal hospice care.

Background: Wide variations exist among perinatal hospices, and barriers to perinatal palliative care exist at the healthcare level. Research in the area of culturally sensitive perinatal palliative care has been scarce, a gap which this study addresses. Objective: To evaluate the relationship between the nurse work environment and the delivery of culturally sensitive perinatal hospice care. Method: This retrospective, correlational study used data from the National Home and Hospice Care Survey, which includes a nationally representative sample of hospice care providers. A multivariate logistic regression model was used to estimate the relationship between the delivery of culturally sensitive care and the nurse work environment. Results: Accreditation, teaching status, and baccalaureate-prepared registered nurse staff had an impact on the provision of culturally sensitive perinatal care Conclusions: The hospice and nursing unit environments, specifically in regards to education and technology, may be impo...
Formation of carbon-induced dimer vacancy defects on Si(0 0 1)-2 × 1 by thermal decomposition of organic molecules-lack of dependence on the molecules’ structure

Abstract Two large and complex adsorbed organic molecules, coronene (C 24 H 12 ) and C 60 , have been used to produce Si dimer vacancy defects on Si(0 0 1) by thermal decomposition. Studies by STM show that the aligned structural arrangement of the dimer vacancy defects produced is independent of the chemical structure of the organic molecules. This indicates that the chemistry of the thermally decomposed carbon species produced by decomposition of the organic molecule controls the organization of the Si dimer vacancy defects. It is found that ∼1 C atom is responsible for each dimer vacancy defect for both molecules in accordance with earlier studies of C 2 H 2 decomposition on Si(0 0 1).
Seasonal Variation of Fair-Weather Radio Noise

One year of fair-weather radio noise (RI) data from an EHV line was analyzed. Two types of variation were found: long- term over several months and short-term over several days. Summer RI readings were higher than winter readings by 12 dB and lasted longer. Based on these results, a procedure for predicting average monthly RI levels is outlined. Short-term variations of fair-weather RI level were analyzed statistically using the washing effect of rain on the conductor surface as an explanation of the RI variation. Results yielded a favorable inference for the statistical model.
Examining User Preferences in Interacting with Touchscreen Devices

The introduction of touchscreen technology has remarkably changed how people interact with their devices. Users may adopt different methods of input depending on the type of device they are interacting with and the type of task being performed. In the present study, we collected data on users’ preferences with regards to interface interaction, device position, and posture, while performing various tasks with four different touch screen devices: a touchscreen desktop, laptop, iPad or iPod Touch. Results indicated that users prefer touch over traditional input devices when performing more interactive tasks (ex: drawing, gaming). We also observed that the device position adopted by users may promote suboptimal flexion angles of the torso, neck and wrists. The information gleaned from this study contributes to the limited body of knowledge on the ergonomic implications of touch screen devices.
Nutrition entérale et ventilation mécanique en décubitus ventral

Resume La nutrition enterale precoce fait partie des bonnes pratiques de prise en charge du patient traite par ventilation mecanique. Sa mise en œuvre est souvent contrariee par une intolerance digestive associee a un risque accru de pneumopathies acquises sous ventilation mecanique. Cette crainte est particulierement accentuee chez les patients traites en decubitus ventral pour une hypoxemie severe et qui cumulent beaucoup des facteurs de risque d’intolerance a la nutrition enterale. L’application d’un protocole associant mise en proclive pendant les seances de decubitus ventral et administration preventive d’un prokinetique permet d’administrer plus de solute de nutrition sans risque accru de regurgitation ou de pneumopathie.
Max Weber as Applied Anthropologist

At the present time the United States feels it necessary to aid in reorganizing a completely disorganized Europe. At the same time Americans must face gigantic internal problems of their own. Certainly the problems which trouble both the Old and New World today are not everywhere the same. Nevertheless they have much in common since actually the same clashes occur everywhere, namely a planned vs. a non-planned economy, nomination vs. election of public functionaries, state bureaucracy vs. monopoly-company bureaucracy. In the last instance, all these antagonisms seem to be of economic character. Actually, however, that is not the case. In more than one instance the century-old antagonism between peoples considering themselves different from and even superior to one another, is basic: Asia vs. Europe, Russians vs. Poles, Whites vs. the Colored, and last, an almost universal hate of the Germans by the neighboring peoples. All of these but especially the last antagonism happens to play an essential role in an...
Comparison of the Thermal Stabilities and Solubilities of Human Hypertrophic Scar, Normal Scar and Normal Skin Collagens

The thermal stability and solubility profiles of human hypertrophic scar collagen have been measured and compared with those of the collagens present in human normal scar, human normal skin and a lathyritic dermal tissue. The thermal stability profiles of the hypertrophic scar collagens were found to be very similar to each other and to closely resemble that of lathyritic collagen but differ significantly from those obtained with the other dermal collagens. The hydrothermal solubility profiles did not, however, show a clear distinction between normal and hypertrophic scars.
Metabolic and Functional Connectivity Changes in Mal de Debarquement Syndrome

Background: Individuals with mal de debarquement syndrome (MdDS) experience a chronic illusion of self-motion triggered by prolonged exposure to passive motion, such as from sea or air travel. The experience is one of rocking dizziness similar to when the individual was originally on the motion trigger such as a boat or airplane. MdDS represents a prolonged version of a normal phenomenon familiar to most individuals but which persists for months or years in others. It represents a natural example of the neuroplasticity of motion adaptation. However, the localization of where that motion adaptation occurs is unknown. Our goal was to localize metabolic and functional connectivity changes associated with persistent MdDS. Methods: Twenty subjects with MdDS lasting a median duration of 17.5 months were compared to 20 normal controls with 18 F FDG PET and resting state fMRI. Resting state metabolism and functional connectivity were calculated using age, grey matter volume, and mood and anxiety scores as nuisance covariates. Results: MdDS subjects showed increased metabolism in the left entorhinal cortex and amygdala (z.3.3). Areas of relative hypometabolism included the left superior medial gyrus, left middle frontal gyrus, right amygdala, right insula, and clusters in the left superior, middle, and inferior temporal gyri. MdDS subjects showed increased connectivity between the entorhinal cortex/amygdala cluster and posterior visual and vestibular processing areas including middle temporal gyrus, motion sensitive area MT/V5, superior parietal lobule, and primary visual cortex, while showing decreased connectivity to multiple prefrontal areas. Conclusion: These data show an association between resting state metabolic activity and functional connectivity between the entorhinal cortex and amygdala in a human disorder of abnormal motion perception. We propose a model for how these biological substrates can allow a limited period of motion exposure to lead to chronic perceptions of self-motion.
Overview of quantitative measurement methods. Equivalence, invariance, and differential item functioning in health applications.

Background:Reviewed in this article are issues relating to the study of invariance and differential item functioning (DIF). The aim of factor analyses and DIF, in the context of invariance testing, is the examination of group differences in item response conditional on an estimate of disability. Dis
The inadmissibility of the Stein estimator in normal multiple regression equations

Abstract The paper proposes a non-linear biased estimator for some normal multiple regression equations with three or more independent variables and demonstrates the uniform inadmissibility of the Stein estimator for every member of the c-class.
Photopolymer hologram formation theory

A backward-difference technique for the numerical solution of a nonlinear diffusion equation describing photopolymer hologram for mation is described. The monomer concentration, the net polymerization, and mass density changes are calculated and plotted as a function of the hologram's extent.
Identification of a neurotrophic sequence in erythropoietin.

Abstract Erythropoietin (Epo) is a hematopoietic factor that facilitates erythroid progenitor cell proliferation and differentiation. Recently, trophic effects of Epo have been observed in central cholinergic neurons. We have confirmed the neurotrophic factor activity of Epo and moreover, demonstrated sprouting and signaling by Epo in neural cells. Further, we have identified a 17-mer peptide sequence (epopeptide AB) in Epo (AEHCSLNENITVPDTKV) with activity similar to that of the holoprotein. This peptide induces differentiation and prevents cell death in both murine NS20Y and human SK-N-MC neuroblastoma cell lines. However, epopeptide AB does not promote the proliferation of erythropoietic cell lines or mouse primary spleen cells. The biological activities in neural cells were blocked by the addition of an antibody to the extracellular domain of the Epo receptor, indicating that the bioactive effects of epo-peptide AB in neural cells are Epo receptor mediated. Both epopeptide AB and Epo stimulated phosphorylation of ERKs in PC12 cells. When epopeptide AB or Epo was locally injected into mice, the frequency of motor end plate sprouting in adjacent muscles increased in a manner similar to that induced by CNTF. These findings indicate that neural cells and not hematological cells respond to a peptide sequence within erythropoietin and suggests that Epo may have separate domains for neurotrophic and hematotrophic function.
Thrust timing, growth of structural culminations, and synorogenic sedimentation in the type Sevier orogenic belt, western United States

Most of the regional shortening in the type area of the Sevier orogenic belt in central Utah was accommodated by displacement on the Canyon Range (Neocomian-Aptian), Pavant (Aptian-Albian), Paxton (Cenomanian-Campanian), and Gunnison (late Campanian–Paleocene) thrust systems. Inception of each thrust system generated synorogenic sediment associated with frontal thrust-tip anticlines or triangle zones and older thrust sheets that were elevated above major ramps farther toward the hinterland. The Sevier culmination, a large antiformal duplex cored by crystalline basement rocks, developed during Paxton and Gunnison thrusting west of and structurally beneath the Canyon Range and Pavant thrusts. Growth of the Sevier culmination was coeval with reactivation of the Canyon Range and Pavant thrust systems and produced a second culmination in Proterozoic–Lower Cambrian rocks in the Canyon Range. These structural highs provided much of the sediment to the adjacent foreland basin from late Cenomanian to late Paleocene time, and may have helped to maintain critical taper in the thrust belt.
Partial hydatidifform moles: Deoxyribonucleic acid content and course

Partial moles are either diploid (46 chromosomes) or triploid (69 chromosomes). In 35 cases ploidy was measured by flow cytometry for nuclear deoxyribonucleic acid quantitation, indicating approximate chromosome number. Six of the 35 were triploid (17%) and the balance was diploid (83%). No complications occurred in the triploid group, while five of 25 (20%) diploid cases with evaluable follow-up had nonfatal sequelae: Complications included persistent mole treated by recurettage and four cases requiring chemotherapy (human chorionic gonadotropin titer plateau, clinical metastasis, overt choriocarcinoma, and placental site trophoblastic tumor). A combined morphologic and genetic classification of partial moles is recommended for identification and risk assessment. Deoxyribonucleic acid cell cycle fractions of the diploid partial moles may be helpful in the identification of patients at high risk for complications. A proliferation index >3.6 separated the cases with sequelae from most of the uncomplicated cases (sensitivity 100%, specificity 95%).
The occurrence and distribution of furan fatty acids in spawning male freshwater fish.

Furan fatty acids (F acids) have been found in the livers and/or testes of 20 species, representing 9 families of male freshwater fish. In 9 species they are major components of the lipids while in the remaining 11 species they occur to a much lesser extent. The F acids in some species reach a maximum concentration in the testes lipids, and minimum liver lipid concentration, at spawning. In all species in the testes, the F acids are confined almost exclusively to the triglyceride fraction while, in the liver lipids, they are found, in order of decreasing concentration, in the cholesteryl esters, the triglycerides, and the phospholipids. In the lipids of many individuals F6 12,15-epoxy-13,14-dimethyleicosa-12,14-dienoic acid, is the major fatty acid present. It is presumed that these acids perform some as yet unidentified metabolic function. Isolation technology and identification of F acids by a specific thin layer chromatographic spray reagent are discussed.
The primary structure of rat ribosomal protein S25.

Summary The amino acid sequence of the rat 40S ribosomal subunit protein S25 was deduced from the sequence of nucleotides in a recombinant cDNA. Ribosomal protein S25 has 125 amino acids and has a molecular weight of 13, 733. Hybridization of the cDNA to digests of nuclear DNA suggests that there are 19 to 22 copies of the S25 gene. The mRNA for the protein is about 550 nucleotides in length. Rat S25 is homologous to ribosomal proteins from other eukaryotes (human and yeast).
Distributed Backstepping Control of Multiple Thrust-Propelled Vehicles on Balanced Graph

Abstract We propose novel distributed exponentially-converging control frameworks for flocking and centroid trajectory tracking of multiple thrust-propelled vehicles (TPVs), which consist of the under-actuated translation dynamics on E(3) with one-dimensional thrust-force input and the fully-actuated attitude kinematics on SO(3) with angular-rates inputs; and evolves on a strongly-connected, yet, balanced information graph G. To address the issue of under-actuation, we utilize the backstepping technique; and, to decentralize the backstepping control over the balanced graph, we extend/generalize the (passive) decomposition of [15].
The Links Among Perceived Adherence to the System of Care Philosophy, Consumer Satisfaction, and Improvements in Child Functioning

The present study investigated the associations among perceived adherence to the system of care philosophy, changes in internalizing and externalizing behaviors, and consumer satisfaction with services. Participants included 98 families, interviewed at two time points across a one-year period. Hierarchical multiple regressions indicated that the more a child and family perceived services to be consistent with the system of care philosophy, the greater their level of satisfaction with services and the fewer internalizing and externalizing behaviors they reported one year after receiving services (controlling for initial levels of problem behaviors). Implications for children’s mental health service delivery are offered.
Thymic cortical epithelial cells can present self-antigens in vivo

Antigens present during neonatal life are recognized as self and individuals are tolerant to these antigens1. In normal individuals T cells are tolerant to most self proteins but we still know little of the mechanism(s) by which tolerance is established. A requisite part of the current negative selection model of self tolerance is the expression of self proteins complexed with major histocompati-bility complex molecules in the thymus2,3. As MHC proteins bind antigens and present them to the receptor on the antigen-specific T cell, then for tolerance to self to occur, it is possible that each self protein must be processed and presented by an MHC molecule. As a result of the development of a unique T-cell hybrid reactive to the self protein murine haemoglobin, we have shown that in normal animals this self protein is continuously processed and potentially presented in an MHC-restricted manner4. Here we show that self haemoglobin is being processed and presented by thymic antigen-presenting cells as early as gestational day 14. We also demonstrate that three types of thymic stromal cells, namely macrophages, dendritic cells and cortical epithelial cells, can present the haemoglobin self antigen in vivo. This surprising presentation of a self antigen by thymic cortical epithelial cells implies that they could be involved in T-cell development and negative selection.
Mode Switching and Smooth Motion Generation for Adaptive Cruise Control Systems by a Virtual Lead Vehicle

Abstract The adaptive cruise control system maintains the appropriate distance to the lead vehicle when a lead vehicle exists, otherwise, it maintains the desired speed. These two objectives may be achieved by having two controllers, one for each objective, and a control mode switching logic. Introducing the virtual lead vehicle, however, only the distance control algorithm is used and the structure of the system can be significantly simplified. The speed and the location of the virtual vehicle are given by the control system according to the current situation. Smoother responses are achieved by the virtual lead vehicle scheme compared to the conventional mode switching scheme. The virtual lead vehicle scheme also generates smooth reaction for the host vehicle when the lead vehicle cut out or a vehicle cuts in from a side lane.
A new method for heterotopic cardiac transplantation in the dog

Abstract A new method of heterotopic cardiac transplantation in the dog is described. Transplantation is performed in the thorax using the left innominate artery as an arterial supply with venous drainage into the superior vena cava. Over 200 dogs have undergone heterotopic cardiac transplantation using this technique, which we consider superior to previously described methods in the neck or abdomen. There was no operative mortality and minimal morbidity. Serial electrocardiographic recordings were found to be a more reliable measure of rejection since the donor heart could be compared as a ratio to the voltage of the recipient heart. Biopsy is possible by passage of a flexible cardiac bioptome through the right internal jugular vein and then into the right ventricle of the donor heart. The unpleasant sequelae or heterotopic transplantation in the neck or abdomen (torsion, hematoma, ileus, intestinal obstruction, and intussusception) are avoided.
Characterization of Surface Orientation in Poly(Ethylene Terephthalate) by Front-Surface Reflection Infrared Spectroscopy

The use of front-surface specular reflection FT-IR spectroscopy to characterize surface orientation in thick samples of poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET) has been investigated. It has been shown that, even for samples whose surface uniformity is less than perfect, absorption index spectra of excellent quality are obtained from the Kramers-Kronig transformation. These spectra provide detailed information, both qualitative and quantitative, on the molecular conformation and orientation of the polymer. Of particular interest are the strongly absorbing bands such as the carbonyl and ester peaks, which are generally saturated in transmission spectra. The reflection technique opens up the possibility of obtaining new information on conformational changes and orientation in PET through a detailed study of these peaks.