cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Comparison of model-free linkage mapping strategies for the study of a complex trait

We compared several strategies for identifying and estimating effects from a genetic locus in the etiology of a complex trait. For our analyses we used data from simulated trait 1 and chromosome 5. Results from analysis of the first 20 replicates showed that a components of variance test provided considerably better power for identifying linkage than tests that consider pair differences. We also compared the power from constructing tests with a single marker, an approximate method using five markers jointly, or a multipoint analysis using all 25 markers on chromosome 5 jointly. Results from this analysis showed substantially better power when all markers were jointly used in the analysis. Results from considering all replicates showed that all methods of estimation provided maximal test statistics at the correct marker position, but the components of variance procedure provided more power to detect the correct position than other methods.
Computational engineering and science methodologies for modeling and simulation of subsurface applications

We discuss computational engineering and science (CES) methodologies and tools applicable to a variety of subsurface models and their couplings. First we overview both basic and widely recognized multiphase and multicomponent models. In the CES methodologies area we focus on accurate and robust numerical algorithms and linear and nonlinear solvers with parallel scalability. In the CES tools area, we discuss a few representative programming tools and technologies. We present several simulation examples which reflect the experiences of the research group at the Center for Subsurface Modeling at The University of Texas at Austin.
Prenatal Observations on the Incisive Fissure and the Frontal Process in Man

Study of 172 embryos revealed that the incisive fissure is not a true suture. The fate of this fissure is described.
Dynamics of heat-pipe reactors

A split-core heat pipe reactor, fueled with either U(233)C or U(235)C in a tungsten cermet and cooled by 7-Li-W heat pipes, was examined for the effects of the heat pipes on reactor while trying to safely absorb large reactivity inputs through inherent shutdown mechanisms. Limits on ramp reactivity inputs due to fuel melting temperature and heat pipe wall heat flux were mapped for the reactor in both startup and at-power operating modes.
N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide as a predictor of incident atrial fibrillation in the Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis: the effects of age, sex and ethnicity

Objective Atrial fibrillation (AF) is a common source of medical costs, morbidity and mortality. NT pro-brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) is a remarkably strong predictor of AF in older whites; we aimed to assess if this biomarker was as predictive in other racial groups. Design We used covariate-adjusted Cox model regressions to estimate the HRs of developing AF as a function of NT proBNP, and tested for interactions of NT proBNP with age, gender and race/ethnicity. Setting The Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis (MESA). Patients 5518 subjects were followed over a median of 7.6 years. During this time, 267 developed AF. Results NT proBNP was statistically significantly associated with incident AF; for ln NT proBNP, the adjusted HR was 2.2 (95% CI 1.9 to 2.5). Assessed by quintiles, the relationship between NT proBNP was strong and graded; the unadjusted HR for the highest quintile of NT proBNP was 23.7 (95% CI 11.1 to 50.6) and adjusted was 11.4 (95% CI 5.1 to 25.3). NT proBNP was an excellent predictor of incident AF in the younger and older age groups, in men and women and in the different race/ethnicity groups: the HR for ln NT proBNP as a predictor of incident AF ranged from 2.0 to 3.9 in each subgroup. Conclusions NT proBNP is a robust predictor of incident AF; its prognostic value is more significant in younger patients and women compared with older patients and men. NT proBNP was also as strongly predictive in black patients, Hispanics and Asian/Chinese as in white patients despite a lower incidence of arrhythmia.
Ventral hippocampal α7 and α4β2 nicotinic receptor blockade and clozapine effects on memory in female rats

Nicotinic systems in the hippocampus play important roles in memory function. Decreased hippocampal nicotinic receptor concentration is associated with cognitive impairment in schizophrenia and Alzheimer’s disease. We modeled in rats the cognitive effects of chronic decrease in hippocampal α7 or α4β2 receptors with 4-week continuous bilateral local infusions of the α7 nicotinic antagonist methyllycaconitine (MLA) or the α4β2 antagonist dihydro-β-erythroidine (DHβE). The working memory effects of these infusions were assessed by performance on the radial-arm maze. To test the effect of antipsychotic medication, we gave acute injections of clozapine and to determine the impact of nicotine, which is widely used by people with schizophrenia approximately half of the rats received chronic systemic infusions of nicotine. Chronic ventral hippocampal DHβE infusion caused a significant (p<0.001) working memory impairment. Acute systemic clozapine (2.5 mg/kg) caused a significant (p<0.005) working memory impairment in rats given control aCSF hippocampal infusions. Clozapine significantly (p<0.025) attenuated the memory deficit caused by chronic hippocampal DHβE infusions. Chronic ventral hippocampal infusions with MLA did not significantly affect the working memory performance in the radial-arm maze, but it did significantly (p<0.05) potentiate the memory impairment caused by 1.25 mg/kg of clozapine. Chronic systemic nicotine did not significantly interact with these effects. The state of nicotinic receptor activation in the ventral hippocampus significantly affected the impact of clozapine on working memory with blockade of α7 nicotinic receptors potentiating clozapine-induced memory impairment and blockade of α4β2 receptors reversing the clozapine effect from impairing to improving memory.
A simple accessory to a commercial gas chromatograph for micro-catalytic studies

Abstract A new attachment for a commercial gas chromatograph is described which makes possible the testing of catalyst or the studying of catalytic or other types of reactions and the building of “micro pilot plants” in the laboratory.
Analysis of sheared edge formability of aluminum

Abstract Edge quality produced by shearing processes often leads to reduced material formability which was observed in multiple studies and summarized in the reference literature. The intention to make the sheared edge performance more predictable has motivated development of several experimental techniques such as the hole expansion test and the half dogbone tensile test. The paper presents a detailed review of published results for both of these techniques and illustrates very limited research dedicated to sheared edge performance of aluminum alloys. The experimental study, performed on a broadly used aluminum alloy, 6111-T4, illustrated the effects of cutting clearance on longitudinal, transverse and diagonal orientations of the trim line relative to the rolling direction. For all sheet orientations, increasing the cutting clearance resulted in a substantial reduction in material stretchability along the sheared surface. However, for all investigated conditions a cutting clearance of 5% of material thickness resulted in stretching performance similar to the standard tensile test. In this case the sheared edge does not affect the stretching behavior of tested material. The analysis of material prestrain on sheared surface stretchability for a variety of combinations of minor and major strains indicated that for the widely accepted industry standard gap of 10% of the material thickness, the prestrain has significant effects on stretchability which only gets stronger with increased thinning of the sheet in the prestraining process. For an extended clearance of 40%, the effect of prestrain was less visible indicating that the sheared edge has a stronger effect on these cutting conditions than prestrain. Analysis of the effect of the cutting angle on stretchability indicated that higher elongations were observed with cutting angles of 10° and 20° for broadly used 10% clearance compared to orthogonal cutting with an identical clearance. The results of half dogbone tensile tests were compared with the results of hole expansion tests performed on the same sheet material. This comparison indicated that a substantial amount of localization occurs in the hole expansion test and leads to a much higher hole expansion ratio for small cutting clearances compared to the total elongations observed in tensile tests. However, the local strains measured in the area adjacent to fracture in the tensile test were above the hole expansion ratio.
Mapping Human Development at the Sub-National Level: Spatial Contours of Development in the U.S.

Abstract Please click here to download the map associated with this article. Understanding human development at the international, regional, and national level is essential to understanding the needs and wants of vast populations around the world. Since the late 1980's, that has been the goal of the United Nations' Development Program. The program has published hundreds of reports at each of the above levels. However, development reports at the national level tend to be reserved for areas of crisis, such as civil war, famine, etc. Because of this, and the lack of current literature on the subject, little is known about human development in the United States and what is known is abstract in terms of geographic visualization. These abstract associations are often related to any number of regional or community level ‘evils’ that are relationally linked to lower development. This project aims to apply the United Nations' Human Development Index to the United States in order to create a sub-national index of r...
Overexpression of Hsp20 prevents endotoxin-induced myocardial dysfunction and apoptosis via inhibition of NF-κB activation

The occurrence of cardiovascular dysfunction in sepsis is associated with a significantly increased mortality rate of 70% to 90% compared with 20% in septic patients without cardiovascular impairment. Thus, rectification or blockade of myocardial depressant factors should partly ameliorate sepsis progression. Heat shock protein 20 (Hsp20) has been shown to enhance myocardial contractile function and protect against doxorubicin-induced cardiotoxicity. To investigate the possible role of Hsp20 in sepsis-mediated cardiac injury, we first examined the expression profiles of five major Hsps in response to lipopolysaccharide (LPS) challenge, and observed that only the expression of Hsp20 was downregulated in LPS-treated myocardium, suggesting that this decrease might be one of the mechanisms contributing to LPS-induced cardiovascular defects. Further studies using loss-of-function and gain-of-function approaches in adult rat cardiomyocytes verified that reduced Hsp20 levels were indeed correlated with the impaired contractile function. In fact, overexpression of Hsp20 significantly enhanced cardiomyocyte contractility upon LPS treatment. Moreover, after administration of LPS (25 microg/g) in vivo, Hsp20 transgenic mice (10-fold overexpression) displayed: 1) an improvement in myocardial function; 2) reduced the degree of cardiac apoptosis; and 3) decreased NF-kappaB activity, accompanied with reduced myocardial cytokines IL-1beta and TNF-alpha production, compared to the LPS-treated non-transgenic littermate controls. Thus, the increases in Hsp20 levels can protect against LPS-induced cardiac apoptosis and dysfunction, associated with inhibition of NF-kappaB activity, suggesting that Hsp20 may be a new therapeutic agent for the treatment of sepsis.
Learning States and Rules for Detecting Anomalies in Time Series

The normal operation of a device can be characterized in different temporal states. To identify these states, we introduce a segmentation algorithm called Gecko that can determine a reasonable number of segments using our proposed L method. We then use the RIPPER classification algorithm to describe these states in logical rules. Finally, transitional logic between the states is added to create a finite state automaton. Our empirical results, on data obtained from the NASA shuttle program, indicate that the Gecko segmentation algorithm is comparable to a human expert in identifying states, and our L method performs better than the existing permutation tests method when determining the number of segments to return in segmentation algorithms. Empirical results have also shown that our overall system can track normal behavior and detect anomalies.
Increased lung uptake of thallium-201 during exercise myocardial imaging: Clinical, hemodynamic and angiographic implications in patients with coronary artery disease

Abstract To determine the clinical significance of increased thallium-201 activity in the lung immediately after exercise stress, the thallium-201 scans in 227 patients undergoing cardiac catheterization were reviewed. Thallium lung activity on the Initial anterior view images were graded qualitatively as follows: 0 (none) in 175 patients (77 percent); 1+ (moderate—increased activity in the lungs but less intense than that in left ventricular myocardium) in 37 patients (16 percent); and 2+ (severe—activity equal to or greater in intensity than left ventricular myocardlal activity) in 15 patients (7 percent). Increased (1+ or 2+) lung activity was related to (1) a greater number of myocardial segmental thallium defects (probability [p]
On the joint characteristic function of the complex scalar LMS adaptive weight

In this paper, the joint characteristic function of the single weight complex scalar LMS adaptive algorithm is studied. An integral equation is derived for the joint characteristic function of the real and imaginary parts of the weight. This integral equation is used to obtain the weight moments and is approximately solved for a sufficiently small adaptation parameter μ. It is shown that, for small μ and in steady state, the real and imaginary parts of the weights are statistically independent Gaussian random variables with means equal to the Wiener weight. These results are applied to a detection problem using the weight magnitude square as the detection statistic. Assuming the weight is also Gaussian during the transient phase of adaptation, the detection performance is optimized over μ for a fixed number of data samples and a known observation interval. The optimum selection of μ approaches zero so that the adaptation process reduces to a cross-correlation operation. When the observation interval is not known a priori, a μ bounded away from zero is required. This detector is shown to be 3 dB degraded from the optimum narrow-band envelope detector using the same number of data samples.
High-order quantum resonances observed in a periodically-kicked Bose condensate

We have observed high-order quantum resonances in a realization of the quantum delta-kicked rotor, using Bose-condensed sodium atoms subjected to a pulsed standing wave of laser light.
Real spreadsheets for real programmers

Spreadsheets as a computing metaphor have received desultory attention from the programming languages community. Efforts to map real problems onto the metaphor however, have been hampered by serious flaws in the design and implementation of commonly available packages. We show that the intuition behind such efforts is sound; we define a spreadsheet mini-language, then use it to program solutions to some well-known problems. Since our minilanguage is in principle highly concurrent, we conclude that correctly constructed spreadsheet languages can offer both intuition and access to parallel computational resources to their users. >
The Modern Self in the Labyrinth: Politics and the Entrapment Imagination

The Modern Self in the Labyrinth: Politics and the Entrapment Imagination. By Eyal Chowers. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press, 2004. 260p. $49.95.This is an extremely rich and provocative work, wide in learning, filled with thoughtful interpretations of Max Weber, Sigmund Freud, and Michel Foucault, among others, and containing many insights into the ways that “modernity” and its consequences for the self have been conceived in the last century. It is also a disturbing work, pointing to what the author argues are apparently inescapable dilemmas for “us” posed by both “our institutions” and “our notions of identity” (p. 197). And it will be a very contested work, first, because of what I think are a number of questionable assertions the author makes about the views of those he discusses, particularly Nietzsche and Weber; second, because of the completely unhistorical and uncontextual methodology the author employs to throw light on these thinkers so close to us in time, yet immersed in such different social and cultural milieus; and third, because of the larger thesis and framework of the interpretation, which convey great depth of concern and sincerity, but which, I think, are very problematical as an interpretation of these thinkers. To deal with the book adequately would require much more extended treatment than a short review can give it here.
Treatment of hyperlipidemia with combined niacin–statin regimens

Combined use of niacin with a statin is an attractive option, since these types of medication have the best records in clinical trials for reduction in cardiovascular events and improvement in progression/regression of coronary lesions. In early use, the niacin-statin combination generated a few case reports documenting severe myopathy and rhabdomyolysis. Subsequent prospective trials in >400 patients, however, have not encountered myopathy. This experience includes 165 patients who took a statin in combination with Niaspan, a new, extended-release niacin administered once nightly. Hepatic toxicity with immediate-release niacin and with Niaspan used in combination with statins has been minimal. However, substantial transaminase elevations occurred with the use of a sustained-release niacin (Nicobid) given twice daily. The niacin-statin treatment regimens gave augmented low-density lipoprotein (LDL)-cholesterol reduction along with favorable changes in high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol, lipoprotein(a), and triglycerides. This combination therapy can be used safely as long as (1) careful attention is given to niacin formulation and dosing; (2) liver functions are monitored; and (3) patients are educated to recognize symptoms of myopathy. However, special caution should apply to use of niacin in combination with high doses of statins, or with statins introduced into clinical practice in 1997 or later, since little experience has accumulated in these circumstances.
An Emerging Model for Purchase and Consumption of Non‐Prescription Drugs

This paper presents the results of exploratory surveys which describe the behavior of the buyer and consumer of over-the-counter (OTC) drugs. The results are summarized in a simple decision model which describes the information search process under various conditions of symptom severity, user satisfaction and brand familiarity. Implications are discussed for regulating problem consumption. In particular, advertising and labeling regulations seem unlikely to reduce patterns of heavy usage observed in the research. Problems arising from the self medication process must be examined in a broader context of health care behavior.
Risk Perception and the Politics of Citizen Participation: The Case of Radioactive Waste Management

This paper uses the case of high-level radioactive waste management to examine the political implications of discrepancies between perceived and actual risk. A content analysis of public testimony at Department of Energy sponsored hearings provides several important findings. The public was relatively well informed about technical aspects of waste disposal; it had little confidence in the competence of the Department of Energy, and it exhibited a wide range of concerns for the impact of high-level waste disposal on environmental quality, the economy, public health, tourism, and the quality of life. Substantial percentages of those testifying commented on the involuntary nature of the risks posed, potentially catastrophic effects of waste disposal, and technical uncertainties associated with the site evaluation process. Taken together, these statements suggest that public perception of risk is not as unsophisticated as often assumed. The attentive public represented in these hearings demonstrates a considerable capacity for participation in risk policy making. Based on these findings, we need to think more creatively about mechanisms for citizen participation in risk policy decisions that contribute to policy legitimation as well as to enhancement of the quality of decision making.
Surgical treatment of ACL/PCL/ lateral-side knee injuries

Abstract Injury to the lateral knee structures is often accompanied by disruption of the posterolateral corner and cruciate ligaments. Failure to recognize and treat posterolateral pathologic laxity can result in persistent symptoms and failure of cruciate-ligament reconstruction efforts. Surgeons should proceed with early repair of the involved lateral and posterolateral structures when possible. Augmentation or reconstruction of the fibular collateral and popliteofibular ligaments is necessary if the existing tissues are inadequate. Late reconstruction is more challenging and requires careful attention to limb alignment. A proximal tibial osteotomy may be essential before ligament reconstruction surgery. Anatomic placement of high-strength grafts affords the best results. Improved surgical techniques, the use of allogeneic graft sources, and controlled postoperative knee range of motion reduce the risk of pathologic laxity and arthrofibrosis. Early surgical repair, augmentation, or reconstruction of the lateral structures combined with reconstruction of the cruciate ligaments provides the highest level of function.
Ring strain effects: VI—benzocyclobutadienoquinone radical anion†

Electron paramagnetic resonance studies were carried out on the radical anion of 4-deuterobenzocyclobutadienoquinone. The hyperfine coupling constants which had been assigned previously were found to be in error. The effects of the strained 4-membered ring on the spin density distribution are discussed.
Curcumin: A review of anti-cancer properties and therapeutic activity in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma

Curcumin (diferuloylmethane) is a polyphenol derived from the Curcuma longa plant, commonly known as turmeric. Curcumin has been used extensively in Ayurvedic medicine for centuries, as it is nontoxic and has a variety of therapeutic properties including anti-oxidant, analgesic, anti-inflammatory and antiseptic activity. More recently curcumin has been found to possess anti-cancer activities via its effect on a variety of biological pathways involved in mutagenesis, oncogene expression, cell cycle regulation, apoptosis, tumorigenesis and metastasis. Curcumin has shown anti-proliferative effect in multiple cancers, and is an inhibitor of the transcription factor NF-κB and downstream gene products (including c-myc, Bcl-2, COX-2, NOS, Cyclin D1, TNF-α, interleukins and MMP-9). In addition, curcumin affects a variety of growth factor receptors and cell adhesion molecules involved in tumor growth, angiogenesis and metastasis. Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) is the sixth most common cancer worldwide and treatment protocols include disfiguring surgery, platinum-based chemotherapy and radiation, all of which may result in tremendous patient morbidity. As a result, there is significant interest in developing adjuvant chemotherapies to augment currently available treatment protocols, which may allow decreased side effects and toxicity without compromising therapeutic efficacy. Curcumin is one such potential candidate, and this review presents an overview of the current in vitro and in vivo data supporting its therapeutic activity in head and neck cancer as well as some of the challenges concerning its development as an adjuvant chemotherapeutic agent.
The recovery of electron field-effect mobility on ion-beam-nitridized transistors with sacrificial oxide treatment

The use of a direct ion-beam-nitridized (IBN) mask can reduce the field oxide lateral encroachment from 1.0 to 0.35 µm per device edge. However, mobility degradation has been observed on IBN transistors. We found that with a sacrificial oxide (SO) treatment, the electron field-effect mobility is increased from 573 cm2/V . s to 640 cm2/V . s-a value similar to the local oxidation of silicon (LOCOS) process.
Colic and food allergy in the breastfed infant: is it possible for an exclusively breastfed infant to suffer from food allergy?

Ms. Green, the mother of a 2-week-old infant, calls the lactation consultant with concerns that “my baby doesn’t like my milk.” Baby Patric was born at 41 weeks gestation, the product of a spontaneous vaginal delivery, weighing 3.8 kg at birth. At 2 weeks of age, Patric is well above birth weight, weighing 4.4 kg. Patric has been exclusively breastfed since birth, with feedings going well. Ms. Green has a 3-year-old daughter who was breastfed for 4 months. Ms. Green then decided to switch her daughter to soy formula because of unending colic, which Ms. Green reports as “disappearing overnight” once she stopped breastfeeding. Because of her daughter’s past history, Ms. Green is worried that “there is something wrong with my milk” as this baby is also very colicky. Ms. Green states that for the past few days, Patric has been showing increasingly more signs of colic, with his fussiness and apparent discomfort getting worse. “About the only time he isn’t crying is when he’s asleep or nursing,” she states. She reports Patric’s stools as very runny, and they have started to appear “mucus-like” as well. Ms. Green does not think she could bear to go through 4 months of colic like she did with her daughter, and yet she very much wants her son to be breastfed. “What’s wrong with my milk?” Ms. Green asks desperately. Response
Block Intake by Beef Cattle12

Seventy-two Hereford, Angus, and Hereford x Angus cows were used to examine free-choice intakes of block feeds: trace-mineralized salt (TM), iodized salt (I), 21% protein (21P), and 36% protein (36P). On all trials, two lots (six cows each) were group fed, and a third group (six cows) was individually fed using Calan electronic gates. Blocks and block waste were weighed daily for 1 yr. Mean daily consumption of TM and I blocks by individually and group-fed cows differed (P .1) in between-cow intake within periods for individually fed cows. Within-cow and within- period intake differed (P < .01) for both the individually and group-fed animals. Maximum consumption occurred during periods of low quantity and quality of forage. Consumption of 36P block differed (P < .01) between cows and between periods for individually fed cows while group-fed cows were different (P < .01) only between periods. Highest average daily intake generally occurred in summer while the lowest intake for I, 21P, and 36P blocks occurred in the spring. Seasonal intakes were different (P < .01) for the individually fed cows on all trials. Coefficients of variation were much greater for the salt-type blocks than for the softer, proteintype blocks. These trials suggest highly variable intakes of block-type feed by beef cattle and offer some explanations for the variability. Some implications of the variability are discussed.
Investing in Authoritarian Rule: Punishment and Patronage in Rwanda's Gacaca Courts for Genocide Crimes: Introduction

This is the introductory chapter from my book that shows how Rwanda's transitional courts that tried genocide crimes - the gacaca - produced social complicity and cemented authoritarian rule. It is unique for its in-depth investigation of the courts' legal operations: confessions, denunciation, and lay judging, and shows how targeted incentives such as grants of clemency, opportunities for private gain, and career advancement drew the masses into the orbit of the ethnic minority-dominated regime. Using previously untapped data, it illustrates how a decade of mass trials constructed a tacit patronage-driven relationship in which the interests of the citizenry became tied to the authoritarian elite that had discretionary power to grant or withdraw those benefits at will. The operation of law in individual behavior and authoritarian control presented in this volume will be of use to students and scholars in the social sciences, and practitioners interested in criminal law and transitional justice.
Developmental regulation of histone H2A deposition via serine-1 phosphorylation

H2A/H4 serine 1 phosphoryation (S1ph) is hypothesized to participate in many aspects of chromatin metabolism, including DNA replication, repair, recombination, mitosis, and regulation of gene expression. However, few specific functions for this ubiquitous histone modification have been demonstrated. In early Xenopus laevis embryos, development is tightly regulated to prevent premature zygotic transcription post-fertilization and to activate zygotic gene expression in a timely manner simultaneous with the mid-blastula transition (MBT). Rapid histone deposition occurs in Xenopus embryos and in sperm pronuclei assembled in cell-free Xenopus egg extract, concomitant with sperm decondensation and DNA replication. In vivo we observed that H2AS1ph appeared upon oocyte germinal vesicle breakdown (GVBD) while H4S1ph only appeared post-MBT. This is the first study to demonstrate a biological distinction between H2A and H4 S1 phosphorylation. H2A S1ph abundance in chromatin was not dependent upon DNA replication nor did it exhibit any cell-cycle changes in chromatin in cycling cell-free extract. However H4S1ph was observed on pronuclei assembled in cell-free extract in a DNA concentration-dependent fashion. The appearance of H4S1P highly correlates with the increased nuclear-to-cytoplasmic ratio found at the beginning of maternal gene expression at the MBT. Addition of wildtype H2A (H2Awt), H2AS1A (unphosphorylatable), and H2AS1E (phosphomimetic) mutant histone H2A/H2B dimers to cell-free extract showed that H2AS1A had a slower rate of chromatin incorporation than either H2Awt or H2AS1E. In cell-free extract H2Awt and H2AS1E, but not the unphosphorylated H2AS1A, interact with the histone storage chaperone Nucleoplasmin. All three interact with Nap1. Finally, overexpression of H2AS1A in Xenopusembryos results in more than 50% embryonic lethality. We conclude that H2A serine 1 phosphorylation is necessary for proper entrance into the histone chaperone pathway in the early embryo.
A comparison of fracture transmissivities in granite water wells before and after hydrofracturing

In many regions of the world, crystalline bedrock aquifers are the only choice for groundwater supply. This is the case in northern Wisconsin, located in the upper Midwest of the continental United States. Here, groundwater flow to wells occurs only through fractures in the granitic basement. Although hydrofracturing of these wells is common and generally increases well yield, the precise mechanism for the increased yields remained unknown. Stressed and ambient flow logs were obtained in two 305-m-deep granitic boreholes in northern Wisconsin prior to hydrofracturing. From those logs, it was determined that nearly all of the groundwater flow to the boreholes occurred in less than 10 fractures in the upper 80 m, with no measureable contribution below that depth. Following hydrofracturing of the boreholes, stressed and ambient flow logs were again obtained. The transmissivity of the two boreholes increased by factors of 8.6 and 63 times. It was found that (1) the fractures that had contributed flow to the boreholes increased in transmissivity, (2) although the applied pressures were large enough in some instances to create new fractures, those new fractures did not increase the borehole transmissivities significantly, and (3) fractures without measureable flow before hydrofracturing remained without measureable flow. Hydrofracturing increases yield in granitic boreholes; however, that increase seems to only occur in fractures where flow was pre-existing and in the upper 80 m of the boreholes. These observations suggest that efforts to enhance yield in granitic aquifers should be focused on the upper part of the borehole.
An Elegant Continued Fraction for π

(1999). An Elegant Continued Fraction for π. The American Mathematical Monthly: Vol. 106, No. 5, pp. 456-458.
Quantum communications: A practical perspective

A practical quantum-noise protected data encryption system is demonstrated for WDM networks. Using off-the-shelf components, a data rate of 650 Mbps is achieved over a 200-km-long optically amplified WDM fiber line.
Goals in gout.

Physicians should treat gout with these goals in mind: to prevent acute attacks, to ward off joint damage, and to protect against kidney dysfunction. Most patients will respond to probenecid, but some, especially those with poor renal function, require sulfinpyrazone. Allopurinol is also useful. It prevents and helps resolve uric acid calculi.
Adaptation of the Basso-Beattie-Bresnahan locomotor rating scale for use in a clinical model of spinal cord injury in dogs.

Background Naturally occurring acute spinal cord injury (SCI) in pet dogs provides an important clinical animal model through which to confirm and extend findings from rodent studies; however, validated quantitative outcome measures for dogs are limited. New method We adapted the Basso Beattie Bresnahan (BBB) scale for use in a clinical dog model of acute thoracolumbar SCI. Based on observation of normal dogs, modifications were made to account for species differences in locomotion. Assessments of paw and tail position, and trunk stability were modified to produce a 19 point scale suitable for use in dogs, termed the canine BBB scale (cBBB). Pet dogs with naturally occurring acute SCI were assigned cBBB scores at 3, 10 and 30days after laminectomy. Results Scores assigned via the cBBB were stable across testing sessions in normal dogs but increased significantly between days 3 and 30 in SCI-affected dogs (p=0.0003). The scale was highly responsive to changes in locomotor recovery over a 30day period, with a standardized response mean of 1.34. Comparison with existing methods Concurrent validity was good, with strong correlations observed between the cBBB and two other locomotor scales, the OSCIS (r=0.94; p Conclusions These results support the use of the cBBB to assess locomotor recovery in canine clinical translational models of SCI.
Disorders monitor and assessment of condition on iodine nutrition in baotou city

To assess the control effect of iodine deficiency disorders in Baotou,in April 2010 to May,the city conducted a monitoring and assessment of iodine nutritional status of iodine deficiency indicators for monitoring the results of the analysis.Assessment in strict accordance with the《national iodine deficiency disorders surveillance program》requirement,listened careIly to the various counties in the District of Baotou,IDD prevention and control work of the CDC report,access to the endemic disease prevention authorities and professional bodies relevant documents and information,Salt sector supply and sales of iodized salt,according to the East,west,south,north,5 regions,each randomly selected a village primary school(not the village primary school,taking Heung Central Primary School);in all primary schools drawn randomly sampling 20 were 8-10 years old children(male and female half and half)of the urine(as WS/T107-2006 detected)and random sampling were 7944 residents in edible salt,iodine deficiency disorders in Baotou was(IDD)indicators for monitoring the results of and the assessment found that the city has basically been eliminated iodine deficiency disorders.
Corrado Gini and the Scientific Basis of Fascist Racism

It is controversial whether the development of Fascist racism was influenced by earlier Italian eugenic research. Before the First International Eugenics Congress held in London in 1912, Italian eugenics was not characterized by a clear program of scientific research. With the advent of Fascism, however, the equality "number = strength" became the foundation of its program. This idea, according to which the improvement of a nation relies on the amplitude of its population, was conceived by statistician Corrado Gini (1884-1965) already in 1912. Focusing on the problem of the degeneration of the Italian race, Gini had a tremendous influence on Benito Mussolini's (1883-1945) political campaign, and shaped Italian social sciences for almost two decades. He was also a committed racist, as documented by a series of indisputable statements from the primary literature. All these findings place Gini in a linking position among early Italian eugenics, Fascism and official state racism.
Congenital aorta to right main pulmonary artery arteriovenous malformation

A 59-year-old man with history of complete heart block requiring pacemaker placement presented with chest pain. Retrospective coronary computed tomography angiography (CTA) revealed no significant coronary stenosis. Incidental finding was made of a mediastinal vascular malformation flanked by the aorta and pulmonary arteries ( Panel A ), with outflow jet into the right main pulmonary artery (RPA) ( Panel B ). Inflow from the medial undersurface of the left aortic arch and …
The Reformed Influence on Common Sense Philosophy

Princeton Seminary defended the teachings of the Reformation in a way that no other American school did. In doing this it drew from the teachings of Augustine, John Calvin, Francis Turretin, Jonathan Edwards, and Thomas Reid. Its defense was centered on the claim that all persons can know God. This is sometimes understood as common sense philosophy. However, it is better understood as the central teaching of the Reformation. The knowledge of God and the good is available to all so that unbelief is without excuse. The soteriology of the Reformation presupposes that all humans have turned away from this knowledge. Princeton’s defense of the knowledge of God was therefore a defense of Reformation teaching.
A network model framework for prioritizing wetland conservation in the Great Plains

Playa wetlands are the primary habitat for numerous wetland-dependent species in the Southern Great Plains of North America. Plant and wildlife populations that inhabit these wetlands are reciprocally linked through the dispersal of individuals, propagules and ultimately genes among local populations. To develop and implement a framework using network models for conceptualizing, representing and analyzing potential biological flows among 48,981 spatially discrete playa wetlands in the Southern Great Plains. We examined changes in connectivity patterns and assessed the relative importance of wetlands to maintaining these patterns by targeting wetlands for removal based on network centrality metrics weighted by estimates of habitat quality and probability of inundation. We identified several distinct, broad-scale sub networks and phase transitions among playa wetlands in the Southern Plains. In particular, for organisms that can disperse >2 km a dense and expansive wetland sub network emerges in the Southern High Plains. This network was characterized by localized, densely connected wetland clusters at link distances (h) >2 km but <5 km and was most sensitive to changes in wetland availability (p) and configuration when h = 4 km, and p = 0.2–0.4. It transitioned to a single, large connected wetland system at broader spatial scales even when the proportion of inundated wetland was relatively low (p = 0.2). Our findings suggest that redundancy in the potential for broad and fine-scale movements insulates this system from damage and facilitates system-wide connectivity among populations with different dispersal capacities.
Seclusion and restraint: Congress reacts to reports of abuse.

No image so epitomizes a hu mane approach to the treatment of people with mental illness as does the painting by Robert-Fleury that shows Philippe Pinel ordering the shackles removed from the inmates at the Bicetre in 1793 (1). Physical restraint of the mentally ill then and since has been considered—at times with justification— synonymous with brutal custodial care. Lost in the visceral reaction that many people have to the use of restraint and seclusion, however, is the unhappy reality that there may be instances in which they are essential for the protection of severely disordered patients and of others with whom they come into contact. Periodically an issue of contention, seclusion and restraint practices in psychiatric facilities have been thrust back into the limelight by a series of articles that appeared last fall in the Hartford Courant, Connecticut’s leading newspaper (2–6). An investiga tive reporting team from the paper canvassed health care and licensing officials, patient advocates, and others in all 50 states to identify cases in which patients had died, allegedly because of the use of seclusion or restraint. For the period from 1988 to 1998, the team identified 142 deaths in psychiatric wards, group homes and residential facilities for troubled youths, and treatment centers and group homes for persons with mental retardation (7). Because New York was said to be the only state to require reporting of all deaths in facilities—64 people died in New York during or shortly after restraint or seclusion from 1988 to 1997—the paper expressed the belief that the actual numbers were much higher. A statistician hired by the Courant, using an unspecified methodology, estimated that the annual rate of deaths could range from 50 to 150 in the country as a whole. These troubling statistics and the dramatic case examples cited in the Courant ’s report have attracted the attention of other media around the country and of a number of mem bers of Congress. Thus, for the first time, the prospect looms of federal legislation regulating seclusion and restraint practices, previously—ex cept for restraint in nursing homes— the exclusive preserve of the states. At this writing, three bills have been introduced in Congress to monitor or restrict the use of seclusion and restraint in psychiatric and other settings. Perhaps not surprisingly, two of the bills have been introduced by Connecticut’s senators, Joseph Lieberman (D.) and Christopher Dodd (D.) (8,9). Taken together, their proposed statutes would grant all patients in facilities receiving federal funds “the right to be free from physical or mental abuse, corporal punishment, involuntary seclusion, and any physical or chemical restraints imposed for purposes of discipline or convenience.” Restraints could be used only to ensure the physical safety of the patient or others and would, except in emergen cies, require the written order of a
An empirical extrapolation scheme for efficient treatment of induced dipoles

Many cutting edge force fields include polarization, to enhance their accuracy and range of applicability. In this work, we develop efficient strategies for the induced dipole polarization method. By fitting various orders of perturbation theory (PT) dipoles to a diverse training set, we arrive at a family of fully analytic methods — whose nth order is referred to OPTn — that span the full spectrum of polarization methods from the fast zeroth-order approach that neglects mutual dipole coupling, approaching the fully variational approach at high order. Our training set contains many difficult cases where the PT series diverges, and we demonstrate that our OPTn methods still deliver excellent results in these cases. Our tests show that the OPTn methods exhibit rapid convergence towards the exact answer with each increasing PT order. The fourth order OPT4 method, whose costs are commensurate with three iterations of the leading conjugate gradient method, is a particularly promising candidate to be used as a drop-in replacement for existing solvers without further parameterization.
Combinations of Osmolytes, Including Monosaccharides, Disaccharides, and Sugar Alcohols Act in Concert During Cryopreservation to Improve Mesenchymal Stromal Cell Survival.

There is demand for non-dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) cryoprotective agents that maintain cell viability without causing poor postthaw function or systemic toxicity. The focus of this investigation involves expanding our understanding of multicomponent osmolyte solutions and their ability to preserve cell viability during freezing. Controlled cooling rate freezing, Raman microscopy, and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) were utilized to evaluate the differences in recovery and ice crystal formation behavior for solutions containing multiple cryoprotectants, including sugars, sugar alcohols, and small molecule additives. Postthaw recovery of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) in solutions containing multiple osmolytes have been shown to be comparable or better than that of MSCs frozen in 10% DMSO at 1°C/min when the solution composition is optimized. Maximum postthaw recovery was observed in these multiple osmolyte solutions with incubation times of up to 2 h before freezing. Raman images demonstrate large ic...
A Computer Science Course eTextbook Initiative at a Historically Black Colleges and Universities

Much of the literature has been focused on printed textbooks versus eTextbooks. Other studies have examined the concerns with the high cost of textbooks. Only a minimum amount of literature has discussed how eTextbooks can play an important role for science, technology, engineering, and mathematics, (STEM) student who attend Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) in ensuring both cost reduction and to improve student success. This paper details the authors’ experience with the development and delivery of an eTextbook. The cost reduction and suggestions are made for how instructors can use these benefits to assist first time generation students and non-traditional students who have challenges with purchasing their textbooks due to the increase of cost of printed textbooks. Readers will become familiar with the eBook project and why it was designed with students being the number one priority.
Ethics in the Xunzi

Xunzi’s views on ethics can be approached from at least two different perspectives. One, a more historical perspective, seeks to understand how Xunzi relates to the rest of the Chinese tradition, by way of comparison and contrast with other Chinese thinkers. The other perspective is more philosophical, and is concerned with understanding how Xunzi’s ideas fit together, and what are their strengths and weaknesses. This chapter takes the latter approach, since other chapters in this book cover Xunzi’s relation to his historical context. I first survey the main elements of Xunzi’s ethics and highlight the way that his approach pays attention to rules for behavior, social roles, virtues, and consequences of actions. Next, I offer an account of how these various elements relate to each other in Xunzi’s view, and I discuss some of the challenges involved for classifying his ethics in terms of various well-known forms of normative theory. After this reconstruction, the final section of the essay explores points where people may be inclined to object to his ideas, as well as aspects of his view that may still seem plausible and relevant in today’s world.