cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Host Lipid Response in Tropical Diseases

Herein, we summarize recent findings of novel lipid interactions between hosts and pathogens with the hope that further research is pursued in this emerging area of tropical disease lipidomics. Hard-to-treat tropical diseases may be viral, parasitic, or bacterial in origin. Primarily caused in regions with high population densities, the lack of rapid diagnostic methods, effective long-term treatment regimens, and a high transmission rate results in major public health burdens. Intracellular niches occupied by the various pathogens in the human host further complicates treatment, as these pathogens present unique metabolic requirements utilizing lipids that are not shared by other extracellular pathogenic microorganisms. Improved techniques for comprehensive lipid analysis have renewed interest in exploring the mechanisms of these host-parasite lipid interactions with a focus on the host during infections. Maturation of mass spectrometry techniques coupled to lipidomic data processing has enabled pinpointing altered fatty acid compositions during infection, which are indicative of alterations to various lipid classes, and thus yield a common motif taken by pathogens to evade the host immune system and spread. This commonality includes various mechanisms that hijack host cell cholesterol metabolism and triacylglycerol biosynthesis. Each pathogen modulates its own and hosts’ specific lipids as it occupies its host. Pathogens have distinctive interactions with the host lipidome for cell entry, scavenging for energy production, proliferation, and improved survival. These studies attempt to establish the foundational biochemical relationships that will either validate or suggest putative pathways, enhance diagnostics, evince novel therapeutic targets, and improve our overall understanding of these tropical diseases.
Investigation of Networks Underlying Hyperkinetic Seizures utilizing Ictal SPECT

OBJECTIVE: Study neural networks involved in hyperkinetic seizures (HKS) using ictal SPECT. METHODS: We retrospectively identified 18 HKS patients evaluated at Cleveland Clinic between 2005 - 2015 with video-EEG monitoring and ictal SPECT. Semiology was confirmed by the consensus of two epileptologists’ independent review and classified as type I, II or III HKS. SPECT data was analyzed by two independent physicians using z score of 1.5. Ictal hyperperfusion patterns for each group were analyzed visually and with SPM (Statistical Parametric Mapping). Spatial normalization to MNI space for each patient’s data was performed, followed by flipping of data from patients with left-sided ictal onset to the right side. Finally, an average z score map for each group was calculated. RESULTS: Visual analysis as well as SPM identified different patterns of ictal hyperperfusion in the three subtypes of HKS: type I seizures showed hyperperfusion in a more anteriorly located network involving the anterior insula, orbitofrontal cortex, cingulate and anterior perisylvian region and rostral midbrain. Type II seizures were associated with hyperperfusion in a more caudally located network involving the orbitofrontal cortex, cingulate (middle and posterior), basal ganglia, thalami and cerebellum. Type III seizures showed a mixed pattern of SPECT hyperperfusion involving the temporal pole and anterior perisylvian region. CONCLUSIONS: The three different semiological subtypes of HKS are each associated with distinct patterns of hyperperfusion providing further insight into the neural networks involved. This knowledge may inform placement of invasive EEG electrodes in patients with HKS semiology undergoing presurgical evaluation.
Pharmacy student perception of a remote hypertension and drug information simulation-based learning experience in response to the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic

Introduction: Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) has required pharmacy educators to redesign or create new simulation-based learning (SBL) activities to ensure achievement of accreditation standards and ensure practice-ready pharmacists Little is known regarding student perception of SBL activities conducted across the Doctor of Pharmacy (Pharm D ) curricula during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic Objective: To assess first-year Pharm D students' confidence in performing manual blood pressure techniques, drug information, and communication skills through a remote SBL Methods: A pre- and post-simulation survey was administered to Pharm D students enrolled in a first-year pharmaceutical skills course who completed a remote SBL activity The students' perception of their confidence performing manual blood pressure technique, utilizing drug information resources, and communication skills was assessed in addition to overall experience and challenges with conducting a remote SBL activity Results: A total of 87 students completed the SBL activity The response rate for the pre- and post-simulation survey were 95% (n = 83) and 62% (n = 54), respectively Significant improvements in perceived confidence in performing manual blood pressure techniques, utilizing drug information resources, and communication skills were observed A majority of students agreed or strongly agreed that the remote SBL activity was valuable and allowed for the application of didactic content Qualitative feedback was analyzed using thematic analysis and indicated that the remote setting was challenging to perform manual blood pressure assessment and to interact with a standardized patient, although the feedback was positive for improving drug information and communication skills Only five students (9%) who completed the post-simulation survey reported technology issues Conclusion: The introduction of a remote SBL activity for first-year Pharm D students improved confidence in ability to perform many essential tasks to provide optimal care for patients with hypertension This included an improvement in confidence in manual blood pressure assessment, the ability to use drug information resources, and communication skills We could not conclude whether the improvement in confidence was a direct result of the remote SBL activity Overall, technology did not appear to be a barrier to the implementation of a remote SBL activity
Percentage of Teratoma in Orchiectomy and Risk of Retroperitoneal Teratoma at the Time of Postchemotherapy Retroperitoneal Lymph Node Dissection in Germ Cell Tumors

Purpose:Presence of teratoma in the orchiectomy and residual retroperitoneal mass size are known predictors of finding teratoma during postchemotherapy retroperitoneal lymph node dissection (PC-RPL...
Artificial neural network models to predict the response of 55NiTi shape memory alloy under stress and thermal cycles

The present work focused on the development and application of artificial neural network (ANN) models to predict the cyclic behavior of a commercially available, binary Ni49.9 Ti50.1 (at. %) shape memory alloy, also known as 55NiTi (55 wt% Ni). This 55NiTi material is well known in the aerospace industry for design of actuators (which operate under several thermomechanical cycles). Using only the predominant factors that influence the cyclic behavior of the alloy as input variables, simple yet practical models are generated that are able to predict the material responses under several stress magnitudes and hundreds of cycles. A comparison between the predicted temperature–strain responses and available experimental data demonstrated a high level of accuracy of the developed ANN models. It was found that the cyclic response of the 55NiTi alloy was more sensitive to the stress magnitude (in comparison with the effect of the other input parameters considered in the study).
Perceptions of vulnerability and fears of AIDS: a survey of elementary school children

ABSTRACT Children (N = 361; grades K-6; 57% black, 24% Hispanic, 19% white; 52% female) attending four public schools in New Haven, Connecticut were interviewed using a standardized, semi-structured interview (ASK, AIDS Survey for Kids) that included questions about children's fears and perceptions of vulnerability to AIDS. A large majority of children (86.4%) believed that anyone could get AIDS, and 79.8% of all children responded they thought themselves at risk of getting the disease. Significantly fewer younger (grades K-3) children (74.2%) thought they themselves could get AIDS when compared to older (grades 4-6) children (86.5%). Fear of having AIDS was more prevalent in younger children (61.1%) than in older children (46.0%), yet few children (8.1% of the younger group and no children in the older group) actually thought they had AIDS on follow-up questioning. Though older children more often acknowledged that they could get AIDS, 21.2% of younger children but only 2.5% of older children thought the...
Reconstructing the Public Square

This Article offers a rapprochement between two warring factions over the role of religion in publicly justifying laws. One faction, embracing "inclusionism," is skeptical of any constraints on democratic debate and adopts an eclectic attitude welcoming religious arguments in the public square along with secular arguments. Yet, understood in this fashion, inclusionism is committed to the propriety of those religious arguments, which may in fact create a "Tower of Babel" environment in which American citizens are unable to genuinely communicate with one another. For this reason, and because religious arguments are sometimes divisive, the opposing faction embraces "exclusionism" which seeks to limit the public square to secular arguments only. Yet, restricting the freedom of religion and speech rights of religious citizens is unfair, and more dangerously, appears incompatible with both the purposes of the First Amendment and democracy. How then can the dangers associated with both inclusionism and exclusionism be avoided? This Article attempts to formulate a principled compromise between these two factions by replacing the distinction between the religious and the secular with the novel distinction between the dedicated and the deliberative. Dedicated arguments and reasons - including both religious and secular ones - insist on a canonical and fixed language and form of reasoning for discussing public policy. By contrast deliberative arguments and reasons - including both religious and secular ones - insist on a tentative, pragmatic, fallibilistic language and form of reasoning with which to conduct democratic debate. This Article then suggests that democracy in the public square is best understood as committed to the thesis that dedicated arguments be "reconstructed" into deliberative ones, and that all deliberative arguments - whether religious or secular - play an equal role in justifying coercive laws in democratic societies. The Article then evaluates an important objection to the Reconstruction Thesis, which helps to better illuminate the Thesis's rationale. The Article concludes with a conception of complex democracy, which is presupposed by the Reconstruction Thesis and enables us to see its plausibility and attractiveness.
Purification and fractionation of anti-mouse placental serum☆

Abstract The phenomenon of interruption of pregnancy after injecting specific antiplacental sera in mice and rats is well known. However, in the passively immunized animals, pathologic changes in liver and glomerulonephritis in the kidney were observed. Using mouse placental cell suspension (a cell mixture which appeared to be largely trophoblastic) as an antigen, we produced antisera in the rabbit. Gamma globulin obtained from these antisera by chromatography on DEAE cellulose injected into pregnant mice resulted in interruption of pregnancy with drastic reduction of concomitant pathology, as compared with controls treated with whole antisera. The etiology of this immunologically induced glomerulonephritis is discussed.
LC-MS/MS quantification of short-chain acyl-CoA’s in Escherichia coli demonstrates versatile propionyl-CoA synthetase substrate specificity

Aims: This paper utilized quantitative LC-MS/MS to profile the short-chain acyl-CoA levels of several strains of Escherichia coli engineered for heterologous polyketide production. To further compare and potentially expand the levels of available acyl-CoA molecules, a propionyl-CoA synthetase gene from Ralstonia solanacearum (prpE-RS) was synthesized and expressed in the engineered strain BAP1. Methods and Results: Upon feeding propionate, the engineered E. coli strains had increased the levels of both propionyl- and methylmalonyl-CoA of 6- to 30-fold and 3·7- to 6·8-fold, respectively. Expression of prpE-RS resulted in no significant increases in acetyl-, butyryl- and propionyl-CoA when fed the corresponding substrates (sodium acetate, butyrate or propionate). More interesting, however, were the results from strain BAP1 engineered for native prpE overexpression, which indicated increases in the same range of acyl-CoA formation. Conclusions: The increased acyl-CoA levels across the strains profiled in this study reflect the genetic modifications implemented for improved polyketide production and also indicate flexibility of the native PrpE. Significance and Impact of the Study: The results provide direct evidence of enhanced acyl-CoA levels correlating to those strains engineered for polyketide biosynthesis. This information and the inherent flexibility of the native PrpE enzyme support future efforts to characterize, engineer and extend acyl-CoA precursor supply for additional heterologous biosynthetic attempts.
A chiral spherical molecular assembly held together by 60 hydrogen bonds

Spontaneous self-assembly processes that lead to discretespherical molecular structures are common in nature. Sphericalviruses1 (such ashepatitis B) and fullerenes2 are well-known examples inwhich non-covalent and covalent forces,respectively, direct the assembly of smaller subunits intolarger superstructures. A common feature of theseshell-like architectures is their ability to encapsulateneutral and/or charged guests whose size, shape and chemicalexteriors complement those of the host's innersurface3,4. Their interiors can often beregarded as a new phase of matter5, capable of controlling the flowof reactants, transients and products, and of catalysingreactions of both chemical and biological relevance. Suchproperties have inspired the recent emergence ofmonomolecular5,6,7 and supramolecular dimeric molecularcapsules8,9, many of which have been basedon the head-to-head alignment of bowl-shapedpolyaromatic macrocycles such as calix[4]arenes5,7,9. But true structural mimicry offrameworks akin to viruses and fullerenes, which are based onthe self-assembly of n > 3 subunits,and where surface curvature is supplied by edge sharing of regularpolygons, has remained elusive. Here we present anexample of such a system: a chiral spherical molecular assemblyheld together by 60 hydrogen bonds (1) (Fig. 1). We demonstrate the ability of 1, which consists of six calix[4]resorcinarenes 2 and eight water molecules, to self-assemble and maintain its structure in apolar media and to encapsulate guest species within a well-defined cavity that possesses an internal volume of about 1,375 A3. Single crystal X-ray analysis shows that its topology resembles that of a spherical virus1 and conforms to the structure of a snub cube, one of the 13 Archimedean solids10.
A dynamical systems model for understanding behavioral interventions for weight loss

We propose a dynamical systems model that captures the daily fluctuations of human weight change, incorporating both physiological and psychological factors. The model consists of an energy balance integrated with a mechanistic behavioral model inspired by the Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB); the latter describes how important variables in a behavioral intervention can influence healthy eating habits and increased physical activity over time. The model can be used to inform behavioral scientists in the design of optimized interventions for weight loss and body composition change.
Parvovirus Family Conundrum: What Makes a Killer?

Parvoviruses infect a wide variety of hosts, and their ancestors appear to have emerged tens to hundreds of millions of years ago and to have spread widely ever since. The diversity of parvoviruses is therefore extensive, and although they all appear to descend from a common ancestor and share common structures in their capsid and nonstructural proteins, there is often low homology at the DNA or protein level. The diversity of these viruses is also seen in the widely differing impacts they have on their hosts, which range from severe and even lethal disease to subclinical or nonpathogenic infections. In the past few years, deep sequencing of DNA samples from animals has shown just how widespread the parvoviruses are in nature, but most of the newly discovered viruses have not yet been associated with any disease. However, variants of some parvoviruses have altered their host ranges to create new epidemic or pandemic viruses. Here, we examine the properties of parvoviruses and their interactions with their...
The number of seizures needed in the EMU.

Summary Objective The purpose of this study was to develop a quantitative framework to estimate the likelihood of multifocal epilepsy based on the number of unifocal seizures observed in the epilepsy monitoring unit (EMU). Methods Patient records from the EMU at Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) from 2012 to 2014 were assessed for the presence of multifocal seizures as well the presence of multifocal interictal discharges and multifocal structural imaging abnormalities during the course of the EMU admission. Risk factors for multifocal seizures were assessed using sensitivity and specificity analysis. A Kaplan-Meier survival analysis was used to estimate the risk of multifocal epilepsy for a given number of consecutive seizures. To overcome the limits of the Kaplan-Meier analysis, a parametric survival function was fit to the EMU subjects with multifocal seizures and this was used to develop a Bayesian model to estimate the risk of multifocal seizures during an EMU admission. Results Multifocal interictal discharges were a significant predictor of multifocal seizures within an EMU admission with a p < 0.01, albeit with only modest sensitivity 0.74 and specificity 0.69. Multifocal potentially epileptogenic lesions on MRI were not a significant predictor p = 0.44. Kaplan-Meier analysis was limited by wide confidence intervals secondary to significant patient dropout and concern for informative censoring. The Bayesian framework provided estimates for the number of unifocal seizures needed to predict absence of multifocal seizures. To achieve 90% confidence for the absence of multifocal seizure, three seizures are needed when the pretest probability for multifocal epilepsy is 20%, seven seizures for a pretest probability of 50%, and nine seizures for a pretest probability of 80%. Significance These results provide a framework to assist clinicians in determining the utility of trying to capture a specific number of seizures in EMU evaluations of candidates for epilepsy surgery.
Host genetic architecture and the landscape of microbiome composition: humans weigh in

Comparative analyses of the control of mammalian microbiomes by host genetic architecture reveal striking conserved features that have implications for the evolution of host-microbiome interactions.
Selecting image subbands for browsing scientific image databases

Managing massive databases of scientific images requires new techniques that address indexing visual content, providing adequate browse capabilities, and facilitating querying by image content. Subband decomposition of image data using wavelet filters is offered as an aid to solving each of these problems. It is fundamental to a vidual indexing scheme that constructs a pruned tree of significant subbands as a first level of index. Significance is determined by feature vectors including Markov random field statistics, in addition to more common measures of energy and entropy. Features are retained at the nodes of the pruned subband tree as a second level of index. Query images, indexed in the same manner as database images, are compared as closely as desired to database indexes. Browse images for matching images are transmitted to the user in the form of subband coefficients, which constitute the third level of index. These coefficients, chosen for their unique significance to the indexed image, are likely to contain valuable information for the subject area specialist. This paper presents the indexing scheme in detail, and reports some preliminary results of selecting subbands for reconstruction as browse images based on their significance for indexing purposes.
The best, the worst, and the juiced: the need for and suggestions to improve the Olympics.

The emblem of the Olympic Games is composed of 5 interlocking, colored (blue, yellow, black, green, and red) rings on a white field. It was designed in 1913 by Baron Pierre de Coubertin, the founder of the modern Olympic Games. The rings signify passion, faith, victory, sportsmanship, and work ethic (“ethics” is not mentioned, except as “sportsmanship,” but is expected).
Repeated resveratrol treatment attenuates methamphetamine-induced hyperactivity and [3H]dopamine overflow in rodents.

Abstract Resveratrol (3,4′,5-trihydroxy-trans-stilbene) has been investigated for its potential as a prophylactic against degenerative diseases. It is a sirtulin activator that has recently been shown to regulate dopaminergic systems that contribute to the behavioral effects of methamphetamine and cocaine. The present study examined the impact of resveratrol on stimulant neuropsychopharmacology in rodents. Acute resveratrol treatment (20–40 mg/kg) was ineffective to alter methamphetamine (0.5 mg/kg)-induced hyperactivity in mice. Rodents received resveratrol once-daily for seven days to determine the effect of repeated polyphenolic treatment. Repeated resveratrol treatment (1–20 mg/kg) decreased methamphetamine (0.5 mg/kg)-induced hyperactivity in mice. Methamphetamine's (0.1–60 μM) efficacy to evoke [ 3 H]overflow from rat striatal slices preloaded with [ 3 H]dopamine was also attenuated by repeated resveratrol (1 mg/kg) treatment. Repeated resveratrol treatment (10–20 mg/kg) did not affect cocaine-induced hyperactivity in mice. Overall, these data suggest that resveratrol appears to have metaplastic and prophylactic activity to minimize the effects of methamphetamine to increase locomotor activity and evoke dopamine release. These data encourage future research to further investigate the relationship between polyphenolics and psychostimulant abuse and dependence.
The photolysis of CO at 193 nm in the liquid and gas phases

The photolysis of CO at 193 nm, which excites the v′ = 2 level of the a(3Π) state, has been studied in the liquid phase at 77 K and the gas phase at room temperature. Products observed were CO2 and C3O2, with quantum yields of CO2 of about 10−2 and 10−3 in the gas and the liquid respectively. Quantum yields of C3O2 were about 1% of the CO2 in both phases. Ozone was also a product and was shown to have been derived from traces (20 – 30 ppm) of O2 present in the CO. Mechanisms of product formation are discussed.
Free stream noise and transition measurements in a Mach 3.5 pilot quiet tunnel

Free stream fluctuating pressures are determined from hot-wire measurements in a Mach 3.5 pilot quiet nozzle over a unit Reynolds number range from 10-60 million per meter. Further, the transition Reynolds numbers on a sharp tip 5 degree half-angle cone at zero angle of attack are obtained over the same range of unit Reynolds numbers from equilibrium temperature measurements on the cone. Results show that the nozzle provides noise levels in the upstream regions of the test rhombus that are substantially lower than in conventional nozzles. The normalized rms levels of the fluctuating static pressures are found to vary from extremely low values of less than 0.03% up to about 0.8% depending on the unit Reynolds number, the axial location in the test rhombus, and the bleed slot flow. By opening the boundary-layer bleed flow, the wall boundary layers over upstream regions of the nozzle become laminar and the absence of high frequency radiated noise then results in cone transition Reynolds numbers that are in the range of free-flight data. As the unit Reynolds numbers are increased, the nozzle wall boundary layers become transitional and turbulent, and the noise increases to peak levels of about 0.5% with significant energy up to 150 KHz. The cone transition Reynolds numbers then decrease to values that are in the range of those measured in conventional wind tunnels.
Diabetes and Associated Complications in the South Asian Population

The rising prevalence of diabetes in South Asians has significant health and economic implications. South Asians are predisposed to the development of diabetes due to biologic causes which are exacerbated by lifestyle and environmental factors. Furthermore, they experience significant morbidity and mortality from complications of diabetes, most notably coronary artery disease, cerebrovascular disease, and chronic kidney disease. Therefore, understanding the pathophysiology and genetics of diabetes risk factors and its associated complications in South Asians is paramount to curbing the diabetes epidemic. With this understanding, the appropriate screening, preventative and therapeutic strategies can be implemented and further developed. In this review, we discuss in detail the biologic and lifestyle factors that predispose South Asians to diabetes and review the epidemiology and pathophysiology of microvascular and macrovascular complications of diabetes in South Asians. We also review the ongoing and completed diabetes prevention and management studies in South Asians.
Opposite Synaptic Actions Mediated by Different Branches of an Identifiable Interneuron in Aplysia

Among the identifiable cells in the abdominal ganglion of Aplysia californica are five that generate bursting rhythms endogenous to the cells. In the four bursting cells of the left upper quadrant the rhythm is modulated by a unitary inhibitory postsynaptic potential; in the bursting cell of the right lower quadrant the rhythm is modulated by a unitary excitatory postsynaptic potential. Both the excitatory and inhibitory postsynaptic potentials are mediated by separate branches of a single interneuron. The pharmacological properties of the double action interneuron as well as those of the follower cells suggest that a single transmitter (acetylcholine) is involved in both the excitatory and the in-hibitory action of the interneuron.
TIDE: Inter-chromosomal translocation and insertion detection using embeddings

Structural variations (SVs) are deletions, duplications and rearrangements of medium to large segments (>100 base pairs (bp)) of the genome. Such genomic mutations are often described as being the primary cause of many diseases, including cancer. Breakpoint detection using next-generation sequencing (NGS) platforms still remains an open problem since computational methods to detect SVs face the big challenge of accurately predicting the precise location of breakpoints, which are typically spanned by a very small number of reads among millions that are generated during the sequencing process. In this work, we propose a method called TIDE to identify reads from paired-end sequencing data containing inter-chromosomal translocation or insertion breakpoints, which are specific types of SVs involving different chromosomes. To achieve this, we use discordant read pairs to narrow the search space and split prospective breakpoint-spanning reads into windows that are subsequently represented by a sequence of k-mers indexes, which we call fingerprints. We then apply a distance-preserving embedding algorithm to solve the approximate nearest neighbor problem of pairing the most similar fingerprints originated from the sample and reference genome. Experimental results show the efficacy of the method to find reads containing breakpoints characterizing the PAX8-PPARγ rearrangement found in thyroid cancer samples. We also compare our results with the ones provided by two recently published algorithms for detecting structural variation in clinical data.
Some forbidden lines of platinum

A detailed examination of a high-resolution Fourier-transform spectrum of a platinum hollow-cathode discharge in the near infrared has yielded one Pt i and four Pt ii parity-forbidden magnetic dipole transitions. Theoretical calculations and analysis of the hyperfine structure are used to confirm these assignments, and applications to astrophysics and lasers are suggested.
The thermal and mechanical stability of austenite in the low carbon martensitic steel PH 13-8

Abstract PH 13-8Mo (registered trademark of the Armco Steel Corporation) is a martensitic stainless steel of low carbon content which is strengthened on aging by precipitation of the intermetallic β-NiAl. This alloy exhibits an embrittlement coincident with precipitation hardening. One possible cause of or contributor to this embrittlement could be decomposition of retained austenite or changes in the mechanical stability of the austenite in the structure. The purpose of this work was to determine the amount and mechanical stability of austenite in PH 13-8 as a function of aging temperature and time and to assess the extent to which decomposition of retained austenite and/or changes in its mechanical stability could be associated with the embrittlement of this alloy on aging.
3He and 4He total neutron cross sections in the MeV region

Abstract Total neutron cross sections were measured for 3He and 4He, using a continuous energy source of neutrons. The neutron energy range covered was from less than 1 MeV to 30 MeV. The precision of the cross section magnitude appears to be within 1 % over most of the measured energy range.
The social unit: An important facet in the design of cancer control research

The research phases defined by the National Cancer Institute have prompted behavioral scientists to focus research on decreasing cancer risk behaviors. However, most of the work thus far has focused on the effects of interventions on individuals' behavior. Further progress may require that we also go through similar research phases with larger social units, such as worksites, health care organizations, and communities as the research targets. Research on larger social units is needed to: (a) disseminate interventions that have been shown to affect individuals' cancer risk; (b) sustain the effects of cancer control interventions; and (c) modify practices of larger social units which affect individuals' cancer risk. This article provides examples of how the research phase scheme can be applied productively to larger social units.
Independent effects of maternal age and birth order on the incidence of selected congenital malformations.

Incidence rates specific for maternal age and birth order were calculated for 16 categories of congenital malformations reported on birth certificates from a population of more than 8 million registered white single livebirths. With maternal age held constant none of the malformations showed increasing incidence as birth order increased. Hypospadias esophageal defects omphalocele and Down syndrome showed evidence of decreasing incidence as birth order increased. Some of the other malformation categories showed an excess of 1st births in most age groups while no relation to birth order was observed in the incidence of other malformations. By contrast most of the malformations analyzed exhibited increasing incidence as maternal age increased. Especially high rates of several malformations were observed among 1st births to women over age 40. (authors modified)
Structural Transformation and the Sophistication of Production

A new dataset on export sophistication reveals that in many countries the importance of modern services, and the sophistication of manufactured and service exports, has increased over time. However, this trend was less pronounced in LICs. Sophisticated sectors are more likely to act as a catalyst for broad-based economic growth, rather than turning into isolated enclaves, when the economy is liberalized, the exchange rate is not overvalued, and there are good information flows. An educated workforce, external liberalization, and good information flows are important prerequisites for developing sophisticated goods and services. An appropriate macroeconomic policy is particularly important for goods, skilled labor and good information flows for services.
Abnormalities in the PRAD1 (CYCLIN D1/BCL-1) oncogene are frequent in cervical and vulvar squamous cell carcinoma cell lines.

Background. CYCLIN D1, a cell-cycle control gene, recently has been shown to be identical to an oncogene alternatively known as BCL-1 and PRAD1 and implicated in centrocytic lymphomas and parathyroid adenomas, respectively. PRAD1 complexes to the product of the retinoblastoma (Rb) tumor suppressor gene, an event followed by Rb inactivation. Squamous cell carcinomas of the cervix and vulva are gynecologic tumors in which human papillomaviruses have been implicated as an initiating event, and proteins derived from these viruses also complex with an inactivate Rb. Because of the overlap in some of the molecular processes mediated by human papillomaviruses and by the PRAD1 oncogene, the authors analyzed the PRAD1 (CYCLIN D1/BCL-1) genomic structure and expression in vulvar and cervical squamous cell carcinoma cell lines. Methods. PRAD1 DNA and PRAD1 mRNA expression were assessed by Southern and Northern blotting, respectively, in 13 squamous cell carcinoma cell lines of gynecologic origin (10, cervical cancer; 3, vulvar cancer). Results. We found low baseline levels of a 4.5-kb PRAD1 transcript in a series of control cell lines, which were derived from normal fibroblasts, various hematologic malignancies, and a choriocarcinoma. PRAD1 mRNA overexpression (⩾ 10-fold greater than that in control lines) was seen in all three vulvar carcinoma cell lines, two of which also showed amplification (5-fold and > 10-fold) of PRAD1 genomic sequences. Abnormalities of PRAD1 also were seen in 4 of the 10 cervical cancer cell lines and included overexpression of PRAD1 transcripts (3-9-fold) in 3 lines and rearrangement of PRAD1 DNA in an additional line that, however, did not shown any aberration in PRAD1 mRNA as discernible by Northern blotting. PRAD1 abnormalities were observed in three of the four cervical cell lines derived from metastatic sites and in one of the six cervical lines derived from primary tissue. Conclusions. Seven of 13 squamous cell lines of gynecologic origin showed abnormalities of PRAD1. These abnormalities included amplification and rearrangement of DNA and overexpression of mRNA. The role of PRAD1 as a cell-cycle regulatory gene and its interactions with the Rb tumor suppressor gene suggests that PRAD1 deregulation may be a significant molecular event in the evolution of these tumors. Cancer 1995;75:584-90.
Spectral density measurements with a mock-up of the fast flux test facility reactor

Abstract This paper describes two series of noise analysis measurements that were performed with a mock-up of the Fast Flux Test Facility Reactor (FFTF), which is a liquid-metal fast breeder reactor. The first measurements demonstrated the adequacy of in-core noise analysis measurements for reactivity determinations down to 34 dollars subcritical. In the first series, the ractivity of the mock-up was determined by breakfrequency noise analysis (BFNA) over a wide range of reactivities down to 34 dollars subcritical. The results from the BFNA with a pair of detectors in the core agreed with results from the modified source neutron multiplication measurements for reactivities down to 34 dollars subcritical. The purpose of the second series was to determine the feasibility of a new method of determining reactivity by using 252 Cf. For these studies, the loading of the mock-up of the FFTF was changed to simulate the initial loading of the reactor. The auto-power spectral densities and the real and imaginary parts of cross-power spectral densities between each detector of a pair and a detector containing 252 Cf, and between the pair of detectors were measured simultaneously as a function of frequency for reactivities from ∼0.8 to ∼75 dollars subcritical. The results of the second series demonstrated the feasibility of the method by verifying many of the predictions of the theory of this method which determines the reactivity in units of multiplication factors from measurements only for the subcritical state of interest. This determination does not depend on the detection efficiency or inherent source strength.
A new type of face-sharing bioctahedral triply bonded diniobium cluster (PyH)[Nb2(μ-Cl)2(μ-THT)Cl3(Py)3](THF)(C6H6)0.5, made by a designed synthesis

Abstract A new type of triply bonded diniobium cluster compound (PyH)[Nb 2 (μ-Cl) 2 (μ-THT)Cl 3 (Py) 3 ](THF)(C 6 H 6 ) 0.5 has been synthesized by the reaction of Nb 2 Cl 6 (THT)(THF) 2 with stoichiometric quantities of sodium amalgam and pyridine, followed by crystallization from a solvent diffusion system of THF-benzene/hexane. The crystallographic data are as follows: space group P 1 , a = 12.153(2), b = 12.329(4), c = 13.916(2) A, α = 73.53(2), β = 78.69(1), γ = 68.99(2)°, V = 1856(1) A 3 , Z = 2. The NbNb distance, 2.6054(5) A, is the shortest among face-sharing bioctahedral diniobium and ditantalum clusters. The retention of the cluster core during the synthetic reaction is discussed.
Modification of problematic marital communication using corrective feedback and instruction

Corrective feedback and instruction (CF-I) was used as a modification technique in cases involving problematic marital communication. Exploratory analyses of two cases indicated that, in general, CF-I bought about a successful modification of problematic components of the verbal repertoires dealt with. The assessment involved the identification and measurement of inductively derived classes of verbal behavior that constited the targets of intervention. This assessment procedure was successfully employed and, as a by-product, has led to the development of a set of provisional verbal problem categories that may be of use to researchers and practitioners who work with communication problems.
To Scoop or Not to Scoop: The Diagnostic and Therapeutic Utility of the Scoop-Shave Biopsy for Pigmented Lesions

BACKGROUNDConcern over transection of melanomas has inhibited many practitioners from using the scoop-shave for removal of pigmented lesions.OBJECTIVETo assess the safety and efficacy of the scoop-shave for pigmented lesions.MATERIALS AND METHODSThe practitioner's clinical diagnosis, intent (sample
Lack of effect of chronic lithium chloride on bone composition and metabolism.

Lithium chloride (LiCl, 1.43 ±changes in the total amount of soluble collagen, 0.13 mEq/k/day) was administered in distilled the rate of collagen resorption under standardized water to 13 adult female rats for 40 days; 6 rats conditions in vitro, or the rate of collagen forma-served as controls. LiCl had no effect on theserumtion. Serum lithium rose to 0.42 ± 0.10 mEq/1 total calcium and inorganic phosphorus or on and bone lithium content to 29/μg/g wet weight. metaphyseal bone composition or collagen metabo-The data fail to demonstrate any effect of lithium lism. There were no significant changes in the on female rat bone composition or metabolism percentage bone wet weight of mineral salts,ni doses which are many times the usual human organic matrix, or fat and water; there were no prophylactic dose of 0.2–0.4 meq/k/day and ad-changes in the content per unit wet weight of ministered under the experimental conditions calcium, hydroxyproline, or DNA. There were nodescribed.(Endocrinology 94: 915, 1974)
Performing difficult teleoperation tasks using dominant metaphors of interaction

User interfaces that incorporate intuitive interaction metaphors have the potential to make remote control of physical systems feel more natural than ever before. The spread of smart mobile devices, such as smartphones and tablets, provides opportunities to develop and examine examples of such interfaces due to the devices’ portability and the intuitiveness and reprogrammability of mobile applications. However, the design of metaphors for interacting with a particular system poses an open-ended, creative design challenge that lacks a single-point solution. This paper explores what we refer to as a dominant metaphor for performing a teleoperation task via interaction with a mobile user interface. These dominant metaphors may be inspired from the physical nature of the system to give the user the most natural experience when using a mobile interface. Our approach for choosing an appropriate metaphor of interaction is demonstrated with an experiment wherein participants are asked to use different interaction metaphors to control a ball and beam testbed. Experimental data shows that the preferred metaphor of the participants is the dominant metaphor of interaction, the one which yields significantly better task performance.© 2014 ASME
An evaluation of the edge effects in disease map modelling

The construction and smoothing of disease maps has been the object of many methodological developments in recent years, but the analysis of edge effects has been a neglected area in spatial epidemiology. This is regrettable since many analyses can be fundamentally altered by the inclusion of edge information in different forms.The aim of this work is to find out how the estimation of the mortality relative risk from a disease near boundaries can be affected by the edge position. Also, the behaviour of a small selection of models for disease mapping is evaluated when different edge conditions exist in the data. One data set is examined and to make the results more rigorous a simulation study was set up where various relative risk patterns (from simple risk gradients to more complex risk structures, including spatial correlation) were simulated.
Functional studies with a full-length P-glycoprotein cDNA encoded by the Hamster pgp1 gene

Hamster cells grown in culture may, like human and mouse cells, develop multidrug resistance (MDR) when exposed to certain cytotoxic chemotherapeutic agents. Several phenotypic features that are characteristic of MDR have been described; these include (1) resistance to many structurally and functionally unrelated drugs that have different cellular targets and modes of action; (2) reversal of MDR by certain agents, including verapamil and cyclosporin A; and (3) reduced intracellular drug accumulation relative to that of drug-sensitive cells. In this report we show that the introduction and overexpression of the hamster pgp1 cDNA confers to otherwise drug-sensitive cells an MDR phenotype with these features. Moreover, pgp1 transfectants showed varying degrees of resistance to anthracycline analogues, indicating that structural analogues of commonly used anticancer agents are capable of circumventing drug resistance conferred by pgp.
Post-Translational Modifications of Nucleosomal Histones in Oligodendrocyte Lineage Cells in Development and Disease

The role of epigenetics in modulating gene expression in the development of organs and tissues and in disease states is becoming increasingly evident. Epigenetics refers to the several mechanisms modulating inheritable changes in gene expression that are independent of modifications of the primary DNA sequence and include post-translational modifications of nucleosomal histones, changes in DNA methylation, and the role of microRNA. This review focuses on the epigenetic regulation of gene expression in oligodendroglial lineage cells. The biological effects that post-translational modifications of critical residues in the N-terminal tails of nucleosomal histones have on oligodendroglial cells are reviewed, and the implications for disease and repair are critically discussed.
Sexual attraction function of golden hamster vaginal secretion.

Male golden hamsters (Mesocricetus auratus) were tested in their home cages for attraction to various female hamster odors. An odor was presented inside one stimulus bottle while a second bottle was a clean control. Sexually experienced and sexually naive males were strongly attracted to the vaginal secretion of estrous as well as 1-day postestrous females, and spent a large percentage of test time sniffing at this odor. The odor also elicited licking of the bottle top, even though the males could not lick the secretion. After standing in the air at 22°C for 12 or 24 hr the attractiveness of the vaginal secretion was greatly reduced. Males were not attracted to female urine odors. These experiments demonstrate a sex-attractant function for the hamster vaginal secretion odor.
Product formula for imaginary resolvents with application to a modified Feynman integral

Abstract An abstract product formula for imaginary resolvents is proved for a pair of self-adjoint operators A, B of a complex Hilbert space. Here, A is assumed to be nonnegative and the positive part of B is arbitrary while its negative part is small with respect to A in the sense of quadratic forms. The proof is somewhat simpler than the author's original one which required both A and B to be nonnegative. When specialized, this theorem establishes the convergence of the “modified Feynman integral”—recently introduced by the author—in the most general case for which the Schrodinger equation can be solved without ambiguity.
The Association between Maternal Oral Health Experiences and Risk of Preterm Birth in 10 States, Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System, 2004–2006

The aim of this study is to investigate the association between oral health experiences of women in the peripartum period and the risk of preterm delivery (<37 weeks). We analyzed 2004–2006 data from the CDC Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System (PRAMS), a population-based surveillance system that collects data on pregnancy and postpartum experiences of mothers who have recently delivered a live infant. Ten states included in the analysis had a ≥70% weighted response rate and three standard questions pertaining to oral health. White non-Hispanic (WNH), Black non-Hispanic (BNH), and Hispanic women were selected for analysis. Chi-squared analysis was performed for our bivariate analysis and multivariate logistic regression models were created to calculate adjusted odds ratios, controlling for socio-demographic characteristics and peripartum morbidities. Weighted percentages and standard errors were used for all analyses. Among the 35,267 women studied, in the multivariate analysis, mothers who did not receive dental care during pregnancy and did not have a teeth cleaning during pregnancy were at higher risk for delivering a preterm infant (OR 1.15, CI 1.02–1.30; OR 1.23, CI 1.08–1.41). In this population-based study, women who did not receive dental care or have a teeth cleaning during pregnancy were at slightly higher risk for preterm delivery after adjustment for pertinent confounders.