cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Group II Intron RNPs and Reverse Transcriptases: From Retroelements to Research Tools

Group II introns, self-splicing retrotransposons, serve as both targets of investigation into their structure, splicing, and retromobility and a source of tools for genome editing and RNA analysis. Here, we describe the first cryo-electron microscopy (cryo-EM) structure determination, at 3.8-4.5 A, of a group II intron ribozyme complexed with its encoded protein, containing a reverse transcriptase (RT), required for RNA splicing and retromobility. We also describe a method called RIG-seq using a retrotransposon indicator gene for high-throughput integration profiling of group II introns and other retrotransposons. Targetrons, RNA-guided gene targeting agents widely used for bacterial genome engineering, are described next. Finally, we detail thermostable group II intron RTs, which synthesize cDNAs with high accuracy and processivity, for use in various RNA-seq applications and relate their properties to a 3.0-A crystal structure of the protein poised for reverse transcription. Biological insights from these group II intron revelations are discussed.
Exhortation to lose weight prior to complex ventral hernia repair: Nudge or noodge?

Abstract Background Exercise and weight loss are recommended for patients with obesity undergoing elective complex ventral hernia repair (cVHR). Methods Weight and BMI trajectory data on 230 obese patients undergoing cVHR from 2012 to 2017 were retrospectively analyzed from 12 months prior to first visit with the hernia surgeon to 12 months after surgery. Results One year prior to initial visit, 76 (33%) patients had lost > 1kg/m2, 98 (43%) had gained> 1kg/m2, and 56 (24%) had no change in body mass index (BMI). Between initial visit and operation, 53 (23%) lost >1kg/m2, 43 (19%) gained, and 134 (58%) had no change. Post-operative hyperglycemia was associated with BMI> 40kg/m2 at time of operation. Twelve months post-operatively, 69 (35%) had lost >1kg/m2, while 52 (26%) had gained, and 108 (47%) had no change. Conclusions Exhortations for pre-operative and post-operative weight management are not often successful or sustainable, implying a need for individualized holistic approaches.
Partnering With Interpreter Services: Standardized Patient Cases to Improve Communication With Limited English Proficiency Patients

Introduction As the number of patients with limited English proficiency grows, there is increasing awareness in the medical community about disparities in health outcomes for this population. The p...
Development of Statistical Computational Tools Through Pharmaceutical Drug Development and Manufacturing Life Cycle

Statisticians at Pfizer who support Chemistry, Manufacturing, and Controls (CMC), and Regulatory Affairs (Reg CMC) have developed many statistical R-based computational tools to enable high efficiency, consistency, and fast turnaround in their routine statistical support to drug product and manufacturing process development. Most tools have evolved into web-based applications for convenient access by statisticians and colleagues across the company. These tools cover a wide range of areas, such as product stability and shelf life or clinical use period estimation, process parameter criticality assessment, and design space exploration through experimental design and parametric bootstrapping. In this article, the general components of these R-programmed web-based computational tools are introduced, and their successful applications are demonstrated through an application of estimating a drug product shelf life based on stability data.
Against technology-mediated personalized learning: resources from John William Miller and Henry Bugbee to support parental resistance

This paper aims to provide parents and others resources to resist technology-mediated personalized learning. To develop these resources and make the case against technology-mediated Â personalized ...
Conversational Repair and the Acquisition of Language

In this article, I examine how repairs in adult-child conversations guide children’s acquisition of language. Children make unprompted self-repairs to their utterances. They also respond to prompts...
Statistical approaches to sex estimation

Abstract A multitude of statistical approaches has been employed to facilitate sex estimation from human remains. The earliest methods involved simple bone count or noting trait presence or absence, both of which lacked any statistical methodology. As statistics and computing abilities increased and became more widely available, so too have the approaches that apply to sex estimation. Over time, approaches evolved to include more robust statistical approaches, likely, in large part, due to the perceived methodological requirements associated with the Daubert criteria ( Daubert vs. Merrell Dow Pharmaceuticals, 1993 ; Lesciotto, 2015 ). These approaches have included both parametric and nonparametric statistics, and their appropriateness has been judged through a highly influential paper by Stevens (1946) , which delineated the kinds of data scientists work with into nominal, ordinal, interval, and ratio categories, with which most of us are familiar. Unfortunately, many also are dogmatically adhering to Stevens’ (1946, p. 678) list of “Permissible Statistics” despite analytical advances, especially machine learning (ML), and new types of data that do not fit neatly into Stevens’ categories. Most disagreement centers on which analyses are appropriate for ordinal vs. interval/ratio scales and has been termed the “Measurement-Statistics Controversy” ( Atkinson, 1988 ). This research summarizes the various statistical approaches applied to sex estimation and enters biological anthropology into the Measurement-Statistics Controversy through examining the consequences of bending the rules (i.e., violating statistical assumptions of the data) using data from a large sample of worldwide populations.
Initializing Successive Linear Programming Solver for ACOPF using Machine Learning

A Successive linear programming (SLP) approach is one of the favorable approaches for solving large scale nonlinear optimization problems. Solving an alternating current optimal power flow (ACOPF) problem is no exception, particularly considering the large real-world transmission networks across the country. It is, however, essential to improve the computational performance of the SLP algorithm. One way to achieve this goal is through the efficient initialization of the algorithm with a near-optimal solution. This paper examines various machine learning (ML) algorithms available in the Scikit-Learn library to initialize an SLP-ACOPF solver, including examining linear and nonlinear ML algorithms. We evaluate the quality of each of these machine learning algorithms for predicting variables needed for a power flow solution. The solution is then used as an initialization for an SLP-ACOPF algorithm. The approach is tested on a congested and non-congested 3 bus systems. The results obtained from the best-performed ML algorithm in this work are compared with the results of a DCOPF solution for the initialization of an SLP-ACOPF solver.
Mexican households' food shopping patterns in 2015: analysis following nonessential food and sugary beverage taxes.

Objective: To examine patterns of taxed and untaxed food and beverage shopping across store types after Mexico’s sugary drink and non-essential food taxes, the nutritional quality of these patterns and the socio-economic characteristics associated with them. Design: We performed k-means cluster analyses using households’ percentage of food and beverage purchases from each store type (i.e. convenience stores, traditional shops (e.g. bodegas, tiendas, mom-and-pop shops), supermarkets, wholesalers and others). We calculated adjusted mean proportions of taxed and untaxed products (ml or g/capita per d) purchased in each pattern. We studied the associations between households’ SES and shopping patterns using multinomial logistic regressions. Within shopping patterns, we obtained mean volumes and proportions of taxed and untaxed food and beverage subgroups and calculated the proportion of products purchased at each store type. Setting: Mexico. Participants: Urban Mexican households (n 5493) from the Nielsen Mexico Consumer Panel Survey 2015. Results: We found four beverage shopping patterns and three food shopping patterns, driven by the store type where most purchases were made. For beverages, 48 % of households were clustered in the Traditional pattern and purchased the highest proportion of taxed beverages. Low-SES households had the highest probability of clustering in the Traditional beverage shopping pattern. For foods, 35 % of households were clustered into the Supermarket pattern. High-SES households had the highest probability of clustering in the Supermarket food shopping pattern. Conclusions: The combination of store types where Mexican households purchase packaged foods and beverages varies. However, households in all shopping patterns and SES purchase taxed beverages mainly at traditional stores. Store-level strategies should be developed to intervene on traditional stores to improve the healthfulness of purchases.
Masters of the middle waters: Indian nations and colonial ambitions along the Mississippi: by Jacob F. Lee, Cambridge, MA, Harvard University Press, 2019, 348 pp., $39.95 (hardcover), ISBN 978-0-67498-767-8

Jacob F. Lee has written a history of native and white interaction in the immense center of the North American continent along the Mississippi River, from the fall of Cahokia in the fourteenth cent...
Analytics Automation for Service Orchestration

Automated network slice deployment and operation requires deployment of analytics applications to enable closed-loop management of network slices. In this paper, we propose the concept of analytics services which are formed by stitching analytics engines/modules and analytics controllers together. We also propose the automated design and deployment of such decomposed analytics service through the use of machine executable descriptors that describe an analytics service consisting of analytics engines/modules, and analytics controllers. Having such standard descriptors would support interoperable components of an analytics service. The relationship of analytics service with respect to industry standards such as 3GPP’s NWDAF, ONAP DCAE and O-RAN’s O1 interface is also discussed.
Medical Procedure Services in Internal Medicine Residencies in the US: a Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

The number of procedures performed by internal medicine residents in the United States (US) is declining. An increasing proportion of residents do not feel confident performing essential invasive bedside procedures and, upon graduation, desire additional training. Several residency programs have utilized the medical procedure service (MPS) to address this issue. We aim to summarize the current state of evidence by systematically evaluating the effect of the MPS on resident education, comfort, and training, as well as patient safety and procedural outcomes in the US. We conducted a systematic review of all studies reporting the use of an MPS with supervision from a board-certified physician in internal medicine residencies in the US. Database search was performed on PubMed, Embase, ERIC, and Cochrane Library from January 2000 to November 2020 for relevant studies. Quality of evidence assessment and random-effects proportion meta-analyses were performed. A total of nine studies reporting on 3879 procedures performed by MPS were identified. Procedures were safely performed, with a pooled complication rate of 2.1% (95% CI: 1.0–3.5) and generally successful, with a pooled success rate of 94.7% (95% CI: 90.8–97.7). The range of procedures performed by residents under MPS was 6.7–72.8 procedures per month (n = 9) compared to 4.3–64.4 procedures (n = 4) without MPS. MPS significantly increased confidence, comfort, and use of appropriate safety measures among residents. There are a limited number of published studies on MPS supervised by a board-certified physician in US internal medicine residencies. Procedures performed by MPS are generally successfully completed and safe. MPS benefits internal medicine residents training by improving competency, comfort, and confidence.
Taking Boards Seriously

Corporate governance debates have recently focused on board structure and composition. Institutional investors in particular, have placed increasing importance on director independence as a hallmark of good governance. Empirical studies, however, have failed to confirm the value of independent directors in improving corporate performance. This article suggests a possible explanation for this result by analyzing board function. The article explains that the board's role includes both monitoring and managing components. Although independent boards may monitor more effectively, increasing board independence may reduce the board's managerial effectiveness. This analysis suggests skepticism about reform efforts that propose a universal ideal board structure. Instead, appropriate board structure, including the degree of independence, may depend on firm-specific characteristics. Berkshire Hathaway offers an illustrative example of a successful firm that has not adopted popular governance reforms.
The Tchebycheff Procedure of Interactive Multiple Objective Programming

Reflecting its most recent refinements, this paper provides a detailed description of the interactive Tchebycheff procedure of multiple objective programming. The paper discusses eight prerequiste topics that are fundamental to the understanding of the Tchebycheff method, followed by an algorithmic specification of the procedure. Also, the paper shows how several additional features can be optionally incorporated into the algorithm.
Elements of Distribution Theory: Properties of Probability Distributions

Introduction Distribution theory is concerned with probability distributions of random variables, with the emphasis on the types of random variables frequently used in the theory and application of statistical methods. For instance, in a statistical estimation problem we may need to determine the probability distribution of a proposed estimator or to calculate probabilities in order to construct a confidence interval. Clearly, there is a close relationship between distribution theory and probability theory; in some sense, distribution theory consists of those aspects of probability theory that are often used in the development of statistical theory and methodology. In particular, the problem of deriving properties of probability distributions of statistics, such as the sample mean or sample standard deviation, based on assumptions on the distributions of the underlying random variables, receives much emphasis in distribution theory. In this chapter, we consider the basic properties of probability distributions. Although these concepts most likely are familiar to anyone who has studied elementary probability theory, they play such a central role in the subsequent chapters that they are presented here for completeness. Basic Framework The starting point for probability theory and, hence, distribution theory is the concept of an experiment . The term experiment may actually refer to a physical experiment in the usual sense, but more generally we will refer to something as an experiment when it has the following properties: there is a well-defined set of possible outcomes of the experiment, each time the experiment is performed exactly one of the possible outcomes occurs, and the outcome that occurs is governed by some chance mechanism.
Heat loss from an open cavity

Cavity type receivers are used extensively in concentrating solar thermal energy collecting systems. The Solar Total Energy Project (STEP) in Shenandoah, Georgia is a large scale field test for the collection of solar thermal energy. The STEP experiment consists of a large field array of solar collectors used to supplement the process steam, cooling and other electrical power requirements of an adjacent knitwear manufacturing facility. The purpose of the tests, conducted for this study, was to isolate and quantify the radiative, conductive, and convective components of total heat loss, and to determine the effects of operating temperature, receiver angle, and aperture size on cavity heat loss. An analytical model for radiative heat loss was developed and compared with two other methods used to determine radiative heat loss. A proposed convective heat loss correlation, including effects of aperture size, receiver operating temperature, and receiver angle is presented. The resulting data is a source to evaluate the STEP measurements.
Regulation of Phosphoenolpyruvate Carboxykinase and Tyrosine Transaminase in Hepatoma Cell Cultures I. EFFECTS OF GLUCOCORTICOIDS, N6,O2'-DIBUTYRYL CYCLIC ADENOSINE 3',5'-MONOPHOSPHATE AND INSULIN IN REUBER H35 CELLS

Abstract Reuber H35 hepatoma cells growing in monolayer cultures have been found to contain the soluble enzyme phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase. The activity of this enzyme can be increased 2- to 3-fold by the addition of either N6,O2'-dibutyryl cyclic adenosine 3',5'-monophosphate (DBcAMP) or the synthetic glucocorticoid dexamethasone (Δ1,2,9α-fluoro,16α-methyl cortisol). Tyrosine transaminase responds similarly to DBcAMP but its activity was elevated 5- to 8-fold by dexamethasone. The effects of each inducer on both enzymes were similar with respect to kinetics, dose-response relationships, analogues, and cycloheximide inhibition. The response of both enzymes to DBcAMP, however, was more rapid than to dexamethasone. The rate of transaminase synthesis was increased 2- to 3-fold by DBcAMP but no effect of the cyclic nucleotide could be detected on the rate of transaminase degradation. Elevation of carboxykinase activity appears to be due to an increase in the rate of synthesis of this enzyme based on immunological evidence and cycloheximide inhibition of the response to both dexamethasone and DBcAMP. Insulin completely suppressed the effects of both DBcAMP and dexamethasone on the carboxykinase at the same time that it produced additive increases in transaminase activity with these agents. On the other hand, progesterone completely prevented the effects of dexamethasone on both enzymes but did not inhibit the effects of DBcAMP on either enzyme.
Design of a prototype secondary mirror assembly for the Space Infrared Telescope Facility

We describe the design of a liquid helium temperature prototype secondary mirror assembly (PSMA) under development for the NASA Space Infrared Telescope Facility (SIRTF) program. The SIRTF assembly must operate below 4 K and provide the functions of highly precise two-axis periodic tilting (“chopping”) in addition to the conventional functions of focus and collimation adjustment. The PSMA design employs a fused quartz mirror kinematically attached at its center to an aluminum cruciform. The mirror/cruciform assembly is driven in tilt about its combined center of mass using an aluminum flexure pivot of unique design and a four-actuator control system with feedback provided by pairs of differential position sensors. The voice coil actuators are mounted on a second flexure-pivoted mass to enhance servo system stability and isolate the telescope from vibration-induced disturbances. The mirror/cruciform and reaction mass are attached to opposite sides of an aluminum mounting plate whose position relative to the outer housing is controlled by a six degree of freedom focus and centering mechanism using pivoted actuation levers driven by lead screw/harmonic drive/stepper motor assemblies.
Long-term monitoring of Sacramento Shade program trees: Tree survival, growth and energy-saving performance

Abstract Long-term survival and growth of urban forests are critical to achieve the targeted benefits of urban tree planting programs, such as building energy savings from tree shade. However, little is known about how trees perform in the long-term, especially in residential areas. Given this gap in the literature, we monitored 22-years of post-planting survival, growth, and energy saving performance of shade trees in Sacramento, California. Using field surveys, aerial photo interpretation and survival analysis, we calculated cumulative survivorship and compared measured with projected tree growth. Using Shadow Pattern Simulator and Micropas (building energy simulation), combined with survival and growth observations, we modeled the current energy savings produced by the program trees and then compared this result with initial projections from the early years of the program. The 22-year post planting survivorship was 42.4%, considerably less than the initial projection. On average, measured growth rates were within expected ranges to provide shading benefits; 22-year old trees reached 74.6% and 68.8% of the projected 30-year mature size for tree heights and crown diameters, respectively. Annual energy savings were 107 kW h per property and 80 kW h per tree, which were 23% and 52% of the initial projection, respectively. Lower survivorship was the primary factor influencing lower cooling savings. Medium-sized trees had higher survivorship and growth attainment compared to other trees. This study contributes to more accurate quantification of urban greening performance, helping urban forest managers make data-driven decisions.
Educational Approaches to High-Functioning Autism and Asperger Syndrome

Research studies on the effectiveness of treatment programs for children with autism have emphasized the link between structured educational intervention and positive child outcomes (Rutter & Bartak, 1973; Rutter, Greenfeld, & Lockyer, 1967; Schopler, Brehm, Kinsbourne, & Reichler, 1971; Schopler, Mesibov, DeVellis, & Short, 1981). Similarly, more recent reviews indicate that optimal treatment programs for children with autism are intensive, structured, educationally-based, and focused on the child’s acquisition of basic skills across a broad range of developmental areas (Olley, Robbins, & Morelli-Robbins, 1993; Rogers, 1996; Volkmar & Cohen, 1994). In contrast to the available publications describing highly structured educational programs for more impaired children with autism (see, e.g., Harris & Handleman, 1994; Lovaas, 1981; Schopler, Reichler, & Lansing, 1980), and despite the significant growth of relevant clinical and research literature over the past decade (summarized in this volume; Frith, 1991; Schopler & Mesibov, 1992), professionals have devoted less attention to isolating and empirically evaluating optimal educational interventions for children with high-functioning autism (HFA) or Asperger syndrome (AS).
Epigenome Sequencing Comes of Age

Epigenetic states are responsive to developmental and environmental signals, and as a consequence a eukaryotic cell can have many different epigenomes. In this issue of Cell, Lister et al. (2008) present the floral epigenome of Arabidopsis using next-generation sequencing technology to analyze both DNA methylation at single-base resolution and the expression of small RNAs.
SYNTHESES AND STRUCTURES OF SIX COMPOUNDS THAT CONTAIN THE SODIUM ANION

Abstract Crystal structures have been obtained for the sodide (IUPAC, natride) salts, K+(12–crown–4)2–Na− (I), Na+(cryptand[2.2.1])Na−(II), Rb+(18–crown–6)Na−·CH3NH2 (III), K+(18–crown–6) Na−·2(CH3NH2)·3(18–crown–6)(IV), Cs+(cryptand[3.2.2])Na−(V), and (Li+)2(TMPAND)2–(Na−)2·(CH3NH2)(VI), in which TMPAND is 5,12,17–trimethyl–1,5,9,12,17–pentaazabicyclo [7.5.5] nonadecane). The synthesis, handling and crystal growth techniques are described and the properties and structures are compared with those of other alkalides.
Merit Rating and Productivity in an Industrial Research Laboratory: A Case Study

A merit rating plan based only on one criterion, over-all performance, was tested in one section of approximately sixty engineer-scientists in a large industrial research laboratory. The procedure used is discussed along with some general results. In addition, a measure of individual productivity was developed based on the average number of technical reports, publications, and patent disclosures written per year. A fairly good correlation was found between the merit ratings and the measure of productivity.
Developments in the treatment of chronic hepatitis C

Hepatitis C virus is the most common chronic, blood-bourne infection, affecting 170 million people worldwide, approximately 3% of the global population. Of those infected with hepatitis C virus, 50 – 85% will develop chronic hepatitis C. Although hepatitis C is primarily a disease of the liver, a diagnosis is currently defined by the presence of the hepatitis C virus and treatment success is defined by the clearance of the virus. IFN-α is currently the mainstay of chronic hepatitis C therapy; the antiviral and anti-inflammatory components of IFN target both the infectious and the hepatic manifestations of the disease. However, even in combination with ribavirin, interferon therapy is not fully efficacious. Recently, the search for a more effective treatment has led investigators to optimise interferon therapy by developing pegylated interferons. Challenges facing our current treatment of hepatitis C virus include lack of efficacy in patients with difficult-to-treat disease, such as patients with cirrhosis...
Construction and initial operation of MHD PbLi facility at UCLA

Abstract A magnetohydrodynamic flow facility MaPLE ( Ma gnetohydrodynamic P b L i E xperiment) that utilizes molten eutectic alloy lead–lithium (PbLi) as working fluid has been constructed and tested at University of California, Los Angeles. The loop operation parameters are: maximum magnetic field 1.8 T, PbLi temperature up to 350 °C, maximum PbLi flow rate with/without a magnetic field 15/50 l/min, maximum pressure head 0.15 MPa. The paper describes the loop itself and its major components, basic operation procedures, experience of handling PbLi, initial loop testing, flow diagnostics and current and near-future experiments. The obtained test results of the loop and its components have demonstrated that the new facility is fully functioning and ready for experimental studies of magnetohydrodynamic, heat and mass transfer phenomena in PbLi flows and also can be used in mock up testing in conditions relevant to fusion applications.
1,2,4,5,6,7,8,9-Octa­chloro­tri­cyclo­[5.2.1.02,6]­deca-4,8-diene-3,10-diol

The title compound, C10H4Cl8O2, is a poly­chloro-substituted tricyclic diene, comprised of a norbornene section with a cis–endo cyclo­pentene fused to it. This strained ring system has been described before, but not with the two hydroxyl substituents found here. It was synthesized as a possible precursor to homocubane or cubane cage systems, but conditions for a cage closure reaction have not yet been found.
Increased concanavalin A capping in cells from brains of scrapie-infected hamsters.

Cultures were explanted from brains of normal hamsters and hamsters with scrapie. A significantly higher percentage of cells derived from infected hamster brains showed capping with rhodamine-labeled Concanavalin A.
Establishing a true assessment of endoscopic competence in ERCP during training and beyond: a single-operator learning curve for deep biliary cannulation in patients with native papillary anatomy.

Background Deep cannulation of the common bile duct (CBD) in patients with native papillary anatomy can be used as a marker of competence at ERCP. Objective The primary aim of this study was to analyze a single-operator learning curve for supervised ERCPs in patients with native papillary anatomy and to assess the development of endoscopic competence, defined as the ability to deeply cannulate the CBD in the setting ≥80% of the time. Posttraining outcomes were evaluated as proof of training. Design A retrospective review: 1097 ERCP procedures were analyzed, 697 were performed during ERCP training (July 2002-July 2003), 400 were performed after training as an independent operator, 499 and 303 procedures for training and posttraining periods, respectively, were performed with the intent of deep cannulation of CBD in patients with native papillary anatomy. Procedures were chronologically grouped into subsets. Success rates were plotted against time. Setting Single center. Main Outcome Measurements Rate of successful deep biliary cannulation. Results The successful cannulation rate increased from 43% at the beginning of training to ≥80% after 350 to 400 supervised procedures. The success rate continued to improve posttraining with an aggregated success rate of >96% for the next 300 procedures performed as an independent operator. Limitations Single operator. Conclusions Achievement of a satisfactory success rate for deep biliary cannulation in patients with native papillary anatomy should be tracked by ERCP trainers and trainees. The consistent achievement of ≥80% success at deep biliary cannulation in such patients should become a standard for ERCP training programs to produce skilled and competent therapeutic biliary endoscopists.
Estimates of the radius and albedo of comet-asteroid transition object 4015 Wilson-Harrington based on infrared observations

Abstract We present simultaneous near-infrared and thermal-infrared observations of 4015 1979 VA, also known as comet P/Wilson-Harrington, which permit an estimate of its albedo and radius. If the standard thermal model (STM, highest nuclear temperature) is assumed, a radius of 1.30±0.16 km and a geometric albedo in the J bandpass of 0.10±0.02 are obtained. Although our observations of P/WH do not rule out the applicability of the STM, we believe the isothermal latitude model (ILM, lowest temperature) better describes the thermal properties of this object because of its size and rotation period. The ILM case yields a radius of 1.95±0.25 km and an albedo in the J bandpass of 0.05±0.01. We compare the nuclear characteristics of comet P/Wilson-Harrington with those of four other periodic comets observed in sufficient detail.
Four-color multiplex reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction—Overcoming its limitations

Quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) conducted in real time is a powerful tool for measuring messenger RNA (mRNA) levels in biological samples. Multiplex PCR is defined as the simultaneous amplification of two or more DNA (cDNA) targets in a single reaction vessel and may be carried out only using uniquely labeled probes for each target. Up to four genes can be detected in a multiplex 5' nuclease assay when using the appropriate instrument and the right combination of fluorophores. One of the more important advantages of multiplexing is a reduced sample requirement, which is especially important when sample material is scarce. Additional benefits are saving time on reaction setup and lower cost compared to singleplex reactions. Although multiplexing has several advantages over singleplex qRT-PCR, limited work has been done to show its feasibility. Few publications on four-color multiplex qRT-PCR have been reported, and to our knowledge no work has been done to explore the assay's limitations. In this paper, we report the first in-depth analysis of a four-gene multiplex qRT-PCR. To achieve a better understanding of the potential limitations of the qRT-PCR assay, we used in vitro transcribed RNA derived from four human genes. To emulate gene expression experiments, we developed a model system in which the in vitro transcripts were spiked with plant total RNA. This model allowed us to develop an artificial system closely resembling differential gene expression levels varying up to a million fold. We identified a single "universal" reaction condition that enabled optimal amplification in real time of up to four genes over a wide range of template concentrations. This study shows that multiplexing is a feasible approach applicable to most qRT-PCR assays performed with total RNA, independent of the expression levels of the genes under scrutiny.
A Pilot Study of Maternal Sensitivity in the Context of Emergent Autism

Unstructured mother-toddler interactions were examined in 18-month-old high- and low-risk children subsequently diagnosed (n = 12) or not diagnosed (n = 21) with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) at 36 months. Differences in maternal sensitivity were not found as a function of emergent ASD status. A differential-susceptibility moderation model of child risk guided investigations linking maternal sensitivity to child behavior and language growth. Group status moderated the relation between sensitivity and concurrent child behavior problems, with a positive association present for children with emergent ASD. Maternal sensitivity at 18 months predicted expressive language growth from age 2 to 3 years among children with emergent ASD only. Findings underscore the importance of understanding parent-child interaction during this key period in the development of autism symptomatology.
Weight Status and Differences in Mobility Performance, Pain Symptoms, and Physical Activity in Older, Knee Osteoarthritis Patients

Knee osteoarthritis (OA) is a leading cause of functional disability among American adults. Obesity is a strong independent risk factor for OA. While research emphasizes the role of obesity in the OA-physical function relationship, the extent to which weight status impacts salient physical, health, and pain measures in older, knee OA patients is not well delineated. The primary aim of this study was to assess differences in mobility performance (stair climb and 400-meter walk), mobility-related self-efficacy, pain symptoms (WOMAC), and measures of accelerometer-determined physical activity (PA) as a function of weight status. Analysis of covariance was conducted to examine differences on the dependent variables. Obese class III patients were outperformed by their counterparts on nearly every measure of mobility, mobility-related self-efficacy, and the assessment of pain symptoms. These outcomes did not differ among other weight comparisons. Normal weight subjects outperformed classes I, II, and III counterparts on most measures of PA (engagement in moderate or greater PA and total weekly steps). Additionally, overweight participants outperformed obese class II participants and obese class I participants outperformed obese classes II and III participants on total weekly steps. Collectively, these findings underscore the meaningful differences observed in relevant OA outcomes as a function of increasing levels of body weight.
Maternal Guilt and Shame: The Role of Self-discrepancy and Fear of Negative Evaluation

Guilt and shame are emotions commonly associated with motherhood. Self-discrepancy theory proposes that guilt and shame result from perceived discrepancies between one’s actual and ideal selves. Fear of negative evaluation by others may enhance the effects of self-discrepancy especially for shame, which involves fear of others’ reproach. The purpose of this study was to examine the relationships between self discrepancy, guilt, shame, and fear of negative evaluation in a cross-sectional, self report study of mothers. Mothers of children five and under (N = 181) completed an on-line survey measuring guilt, shame, fear of negative evaluation, and maternal self-discrepancies. Guilt and shame were related to maternal self-discrepancy and fear of negative evaluation. In addition, fear of negative evaluation moderated the relationship between maternal self-discrepancy and shame such that mothers who greatly feared negative evaluation had a very strong relationship between these variables. Maternal self-discrepancy and shame were not related among mothers who had low fear of negative evaluation. The results are discussed in terms of the detrimental effects of internalizing idealized standards of perfect motherhood.
A characteristic polynomial for rooted mixed graphs

An arborescence in a rooted mixed graph @W"r is a tree in which every directed edge is directed away from the root. The collection of arborescences in a rooted mixed graph forms the feasible sets of a greedoid called the branching greedoid of @W"r. We give a graph theoretical characterization of the characteristic polynomial of a mixed branching greedoid.
Behavioral Sleep Medicine: A Historical Perspective

Behavioral sleep medicine (BSM) has recently emerged as a subspecialty area within the broader field of sleep medicine. Certain commonly used treatment approaches in BSM were first pioneered in the 1930s, and this article traces the developments within BSM to current practice. Important innovations include the expansion of BSM beyond the treatment of insomnia to include treatment of pediatric sleep disorders, circadian rhythm disorders, parasomnias, as well as desensitization procedures for patients undergoing treatment with nasal continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP).
Does the number and size of veins ligated at left-sided microsurgical subinguinal varicocelectomy affect semen analysis outcomes?

OBJECTIVES To determine whether the preoperative and intraoperative findings at unilateral microsurgical subinguinal varicocelectomy are predictive of semen analysis changes postoperatively. METHODS We identified 42 men who had undergone left-sided microsurgical subinguinal varicocelectomy at our institution and had at least one semen analysis before and after surgery. The preoperative varicocele grade and number and size of spermatic cord veins ligated were recorded. The veins were defined as small (less than 1.0 mm), medium (1.0 to 3.9 mm), and large (4.0 mm or larger). The generalized estimating equation approach was used to assess whether patient age, varicocele grade, number of small, medium, or large veins ligated, total number of veins ligated, and net diameter of all veins ligated were predictive of repeated measurements of semen analysis outcomes. RESULTS Increasing patient age was associated with a slight decline in sperm concentration (P = 0.046). The number of veins ligated correlated positively with an increase in total motility (P = 0.017). The repair of grade II varicoceles was associated with a significantly greater increase in normal morphology than did the repair of grade I or III varicoceles (P = 0.004). None of the other variables examined were predictive of semen analysis outcome (P >0.05). CONCLUSIONS The relationship between the preoperative/intraoperative findings and semen analysis outcomes after microsurgical subinguinal varicocelectomy remains unclear.
Templated Search over Relational Databases

Businesses and large organizations accumulate increasingly large amounts of customer interaction data. Analysis of such data holds great importance for tasks such as strategic planning and orchestration of sales/marketing campaigns. However, discovery and analysis over heterogeneous enterprise data can be challenging. Primary reasons for this are dispersed data repositories, requirements for schema knowledge, and difficulties in using complex user interfaces. As a solution to the above, we propose a TEmplated Search paradigm (TES) for exploring relational data that combines the advantages of keyword search interfaces with the expressive power of question-answering systems. The user starts typing a few keywords and TES proposes data exploration questions in real time. A key aspect of our approach is that the questions displayed are diverse to each other and optimally cover the space of possible questions for a given question-ranking framework. Efficient exact and provably approximate algorithms are presented. We show that the Templated Search paradigm renders the potentially complex underlying data sources intelligible and easily navigable. We support our claims with experimental results on real-world enterprise data.
It's not a viral syndrome, it's malaria

A 27-year-old man was admitted to the hospital with a seven-day history of fever, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and pruritic rash. He was not diagnosed as having malaria until a history was obtained of Plasmodium falciparum malaria two years previous to this admission, and a review of the peripheral blood smear confirmed the diagnosis. The patient was admitted for inpatient therapy. He responded well and was discharged on the fourth hospital day to complete the remainder of the therapy as an outpatient. This case is a somewhat atypical presentation and reemphasizes several key points in the prophylaxis, diagnosis, and treatment of malaria.
Using annotated interface definitions to optimize RPC

Abstract In RPC-based communication, it is useful to distinguish the RPC interface, which is the “network contract” between the client and the server, from the presentation, which is the “programmer’s contract” between the RPC stubs and the code that calls or is called by them. Presentation is usually a fixed function of the RPC interface, but some RPC systems, such as DCE and Concert, support the notion of a flexible presentation or endpoint modifier, allowing controlled modification of the behavior of the stubs on each side without affecting the contract between the client and the server. Up until now, the primary motivation for flexible presentation has been for programmer convenience and improved interoperability. However, we have found flexible presentation also to be useful for optimization of RPC, and in many cases necessary to achieving maximal performance without throwing out the RPC system and resorting to hand-coded stubs. In this paper we provide examples demonstrating this point for a number of different operating systems and IPC transport mechanisms, with RPC performance improvements ranging from 5% to an order of magnitude. In general, we observe that the more efficient the underlying IPC transport mechanism is, the more important it is for the RPC system to support flexible presentation, in order to avoid unnecessary user-space overhead.1
Hepatic triglyceride lipases--effect of clofibrate and halofenate.

Abstract Liver lipases could be important for regulating hepatic intracellular triglyceride (TG) concentration and, thus, TG secretion. The possibility that the hypotriglyceridemic drugs clofibrate (CPIB) and halofenate (HFA) reduce hepatic net TG synthesis by stimulating hepatic lipases has been investigated in control and orotic acid fed rats. Liver lipase activities were measured at pH 5, 7.5 and 8.5 in liver homogenates from control and drug-treated animals. The acid lipase was particularly sensitive to changes in hepatic TG concentration, increasing when hepatic TG levels were increased by feeding orotic acid and decreasing after treatment with either HFA of CPIB, drugs which lower hepatic TG levels. Both CPIB and HFA prevented the fatty liver produced by orotic acid. Neither drug increased the activity of the hepatic lipases with triolein as substrate (at an enzyme-saturating concentration) and, thus, the abilities of HFA and CPIB to decrease hepatic net TG synthesis and to prevent orotic acid-induced fatty liver are not related to effects on these liver lipases. Rather, they may be related to reducing the availability of fatty acids for de novo TG synthesis. CPIB and HFA produced a 65–75 per cent decrease in plasma free fatty acid (FFA) concentrations and this decrease could be important since circulating free fatty acids are a principal source of the fatty acid needed for hepatic TG synthesis.
Formation of current sheets in magnetic reconnection

An ideal evolution of magnetic fields in three spatial dimensions tends to cause neighboring field lines to increase their separation exponentially with distance l along the lines, δ(l)=δ(0)eσ(l). The non-ideal effects required to break magnetic field line connections scale as e−σ, so the breaking of connections is inevitable for σ sufficiently large—even though the current density need nowhere be large. When the changes in field line connections occur rapidly compared to an Alfven transit time, the constancy of j||/B along the magnetic field required for a force-free equilibrium is broken in the region where the change occurs, and an Alfvenic relaxation of j||/B occurs. Independent of the original spatial distribution of j||/B, the evolution is into a sheet current, which is stretched by a factor eσ in width and contracted by a factor eσ in thickness with the current density j|| increasing as eσ. The dissipation of these sheet currents and their associated vorticity sheets appears to be the mechanism for...
Studies of the degradation of copolymers of acrylonitrile and acrylamide in air at 200°C. Speculations on the role of the preoxidation step in carbon fiber formation

Abstract Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) results of the thermal degradation of polyacrylonitrile (PAN) copolymers containing varying concentrations of acrylamide (AM) degraded at 200°C in air are presented. These results suggest that reactions other than intramolecular ring formation and intermolecular crosslinking are important. Products from reactions similar to those formed from autoxidation result in the formation of olefins and conjugated polyenes. It is speculated that these structures are precursors to the formation of fused ring systems necessary for high strength Carbon/Graphite ( C G ) fibers. A degradation scheme based on the IR results is advanced.
Magnetic properties of the superconducting state of iron-based superconductors

We show that features of the dynamical spin susceptibility can unambiguously distinguish between different pairing symmetries of the superconducting state in iron-based superconductors. A magnetic resonance is a feature for the extended s(x2y2)-wave cos k
Characterizing non-zeolitic pore volume in zeolite membranes by temperature-programmed desorption

Temperature-programmed desorption is shown to be an effective method to measure the volume of non-zeolitic pores in a MFI membrane. A molecule that was too large to adsorb into the MFI pores at room temperature and the experimental time scale, 2,2-dimethylbutane, was adsorbed in the non-zeolitic pores, and its liquid density was used to estimate their pore volume. When n-hexane or n-octane adsorbed in the MFI pores, the non-zeolitic pore volume decreased by 55%, whereas benzene adsorbed in the MFI pores had no effect. The non-zeolitic pore volume decreased because n-hexane and n-octane swell the MFI crystals of the membrane and decrease the non-zeolitic pore size (the space between the MFI crystals), but benzene does not.
Design of a Lunar Surface Structure. II: Seismic Structural Analysis

AbstractDuring the Apollo missions, seismic events with estimated body wave magnitudes of 5.5 were observed. Whereas the terrestrial equivalent can cause moderate to severe damage to buildings, the effects on a lunar structure is not the same, as the lunar geological structure is very different than that of the Earth. The many challenges in predicting the effects of an earthquake are known. Lunar seismic effects are a much greater challenge because of the severe lack of data. Therefore, the authors begin to consider lunar seismic effects to assess the vulnerability of designs that ignore seismicity. A seismic event of body wave magnitude 7 has been developed in this paper based on the best available data and applied to the typical structure. The results indicate that the risk associated with these events is low in part because such structures are designed with a relatively high factor of safety. This paper provides an extensive and specific technical discussion of lunar seismology as applicable to structu...
An Excel-based model of Ca2+ diffusion and fura 2 measurements in a spherical cell.

We wrote a program that runs as a Microsoft Excel spreadsheet to calculate the diffusion of Ca2+ in a spherical cell in the presence of a fixed Ca2+ buffer and two diffusible Ca2+ buffers, one of w...