cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Time-course metabolomic analysis of manganese toxicity reveals biomarkers of oxidative stress and amino acid metabolism as early cellular targets

Manganese (Mn) is a naturally occurring essential nutrient at low doses that functions as a cofactor in multiple enzymatic reactions, provides structural stability and participates in redox activities. However, high Mn exposure even under federal safety limits for air Mn levels, may cause a dose-dependent progression of Parkinsonism. The molecular mechanisms and critical transitions from normal Mn physiology to low dose toxicity as well as early targets of Mn toxicity nonetheless remains poorly understood. In this temporal study, we used human neuroblastoma SH-SY5Y cells exposed to Mn concentrations varied over a physiologic (5μM MnCl2) and toxicological range (50μM MnCl2) for 0, 0.5, 2, 5 and 10h (n=9 per Mn concentration and time point). Metabolomics analysis was done using liquid chromatography with ultra-high resolution mass spectrometry and cellular Mn accumulation was measured using ICP-MS. Results showed cellular Mn accumulation increased upto 5h in a dose dependent manner, beyond which Mn uptake was stabilized. Pathway enrichment analysis showed that methionine and cysteine metabolism; urea cycle metabolism; glycine, serine, alanine and threonine metabolism; and histidine metabolism were significantly altered within 30min of manganese treatment and persisted upto 10h suggesting these pathways define early targeted mechanisms of Mn toxicity. Discriminatory metabolites involved in methionine and cysteine pathway include methionine, homocysteine, 1,2 dihydroxy-3-keto-5-methylthiopentene and 5’-methylthioadenosine. Discriminatory metabolites involved in glycine, serine, alanine and threonine metabolism include 3-phosphohydroxypyruvate, phosphoserine, serine and creatine. These early responders may reflect rapid transport and redistribution of Mn within the cell. In conclusion, we demonstrate key metabolic biomarkers and pathways that respond dynamically to varying Mn concentration and attempt to provide a chronological fingerprint of Mn dependent toxicity. Time course metabolomics thereby provides a useful tool to predict metabolic status for dynamic systems at the cellular level in response to environmental chemical exposures.
Stressed about erythropoiesis: EBI macrophages.

In this issue of Blood, Liao et al report that anemic stress induces CCL2 production in the spleen, which recruits monocytes that associate with stress erythroid progenitors (SEPs) and differentiate into central macrophages to create erythroblastic islands (EBIs).1
Wealthy Whites and poor Blacks: Implicit associations between racial groups and wealth predict explicit opposition toward helping the poor

Abstract The current research investigates whether automatic associations between race and social class predict deliberative attitudes toward wealth redistribution policies. In three studies, we found that participants were significantly more likely to associate African Americans (vs. White Americans) with the concept of poor in an implicit task. In addition, we found that this implicit association between poor and African Americans predicted explicit attitudes toward wealth redistribution (Study 1)—an effect mediated by the belief that redistributive policies benefit African Americans over White Americans (Study 2). Further, these associations held when controlling for implicit affective associations and explicit prejudice. Manipulating people's metacognitive beliefs about the validity of their implicit associations shifted whether implicit Black-poor associations predicted support for wealth redistribution (Study 3). Overall, these findings suggest race/class associations are well-learned, spontaneously activated, and may predict explicit policy attitudes toward wealth redistribution above and beyond implicit or explicit affective prejudice.
Postmortem Biochemical Changes in Canine Cerebrospinal Fluid

Time and temperature effects on postmortem cerebrospinal fluid samples from 60 adult mongrel dogs were studied. After death the dogs were held at 4, 20, or 37°C for intervals of 3, 6, 12, 24, or 48 h. Antemortem and postmortem cerebrospinal fluid was evaluated for sodium, chloride, potassium, urea nitrogen, glucose, creatinine, calcium, phosphorus, and carbon dioxide. Sodium and urea nitrogen values remained stable. Chloride levels decreased. Potassium and phosphorus levels increased with postmortem interval and may be of forensic science value. Low levels of postmortem calcium might indicate antemortem hypocalcemia; high levels of postmortem glucose may indicate antemortem hyperglycemia. Calcium and creatinine levels increased slightly but continually after death; carbon dioxide values dropped.
Microbial diversity of individual raindrops collected from simulated and natural precipitation events

Abstract Precipitation samples collected at or near the surface of the earth are composite samples of many different raindrops. Little is known about the abiotic and biotic components found within individual raindrops. To help fill this knowledge gap, we designed a system for collecting individual raindrops called the L iquid N itrogen A pparatus for I solating R aindrops (LNAIR). The LNAIR was used in a series of laboratory experiments to determine (1) determine the recovery volume of drops with known sizes and to (2) measure the viability of seeded-microbes from drops of different sizes. The LNAIR recovered an average of 73% of the initial drop volume for drops ranging from 5 μl to 50 μl, and the original and recovered mean volumes were significantly correlated (R2 = 0.96). The viability of seeded ice-nucleating strains of Pseudomonas syringae and Fusarium avenaceum decreased after passage through the LNAIR, but the ice nucleation activity (INA) did not change. Moreover, the size (volume) of the droplet did not appear to have an effect on the viability of microbes after passage through the LNAIR, at least for the two strains of P. syringae tested. The LNAIR was then used in a series of field experiments to collect raindrops from simulated and natural precipitation events. The mean drop volume observed from six simulated rain events (SREs) was 9.4 μl ± 0.5, while the mean drop volume observed from four natural rain events (NREs) was 7.6 μl ± 0.4. Flow cytometer analysis showed that there was an average of 395 ± 103 DNA-containing particles per 10 μl of NRE drops (n = 6) and an average of 892 ± 171 DNA-containing particles per 10 μl of SRE drops (n = 4). NRE drops contained a similar range of particle sizes compared to SRE drops. Twenty seven percent (9/34) of the SRE drops and 28% (40/143) of the NRE drops collected with the LNAIR contained culturable microorganisms, but none of these displayed INA at −8 °C. Microbes cultured from individual NRE drops were identified to the level of genus using sequences. The genera Cladosporium (fungi) and Bacillus (bacteria) represented 22% (15/68) and 20% (19/68) of the microbes identified, respectively. One natural raindrop contained four different genera (Bacillus, Trichoderma, Penicillium, and Cladosporium). The LNAIR has the potential to increase our understanding of causal agents of precipitation processes.
Pain at the End of Life: Optimal Relief

Pain at the end of life evokes questions that are at least as much moral as medical. Relevant medical issues, that is, are entangled with significant ethical issues, as various studies contend (Kinlay 2005; Dubois 2005; Demme et al. 2006; Wheatley and Finlay 2011). In practice, while neglect of relevant medical issues constitutes de facto incompetence, healthcare professionals apparently can ignore such entangled ethical issues without reproach, including the implications of widespread end-of-life pain. Researchers, for example, found that in the last year of life, 51% of subjects—in a broad study of US health and retirement—were troubled by moderate to severe pain (Singer et al. 2015). Even within controlled medical environments, a prestigious earlier study (a 4-year investigation including 9105 adults hospitalized with life-threatening diagnoses) illuminates the vast extent of end-stage pain. It found that 50% of dying hospitalized patients spend at least half their time, according to family members, in moderate to severe pain (The SUPPORT Principle Investigators 1995). Such institutionalized end-of-life pain is not only widespread but also—equally troubling—deeply resistant to efforts at amelioration. A follow-up study designed to improve medical treatment, involving 2 years of targeted educational instruction among physicians and hospital staff, showed no improvement whatever.
SeER: An Explainable Deep Learning MIDI-based Hybrid Song Recommender System

State of the art music recommender systems mainly rely on either matrix factorization-based collaborative filtering approaches or deep learning architectures. Deep learning models usually use metadata for content-based filtering or predict the next user interaction by learning from temporal sequences of user actions. Despite advances in deep learning for song recommendation, none has taken advantage of the sequential nature of songs by learning sequence models that are based on content. Aside from the importance of prediction accuracy, other significant aspects are important, such as explainability and solving the cold start problem. In this work, we propose a hybrid deep learning model, called "SeER", that uses collaborative filtering (CF) and deep learning sequence models on the MIDI content of songs for recommendation in order to provide more accurate personalized recommendations; solve the item cold start problem; and generate a relevant explanation for a song recommendation. Our evaluation experiments show promising results compared to state of the art baseline and hybrid song recommender systems in terms of ranking evaluation. Moreover, based on proposed tests for offline validation, we show that our personalized explanations capture properties that are in accordance with the user's preferences.
Border Medicine: The Pediatric Cardiology Perspective

Pediatric cardiology and cardiovascular surgery have witnessed significant advancements over the last two decades. In spite of this progress, congenital heart disease (CHD) still remains as one of the major causes of death in infants and young children in the United States. Many patient-related and patient-independent factors influence the outcomes in patients with CHD, one of which is the geographical location. In the US–Mexico border, management and outcomes of patients with CHD are further complicated by additional problems stemming from complex interplay between two different health systems, and socioeconomic disparities. In this article, the authors evaluate the various interplaying factors and describe the difficulties facing the practicing pediatric cardiologists in a US–Mexico border city.
Abstract 511: Adverse Outcomes in Patients with Diabetes Mellitus Following Stenting for Lower Extremity Peripheral Arterial Disease

Introduction: There is limited data on outcomes of percutaneous endovascular intervention for lower extremity peripheral artery disease (PAD) in patients with diabetes mellitus (DM). We assessed th...
Tiny Dancer: EFCAB9 Triggers Sperm Hyperactivation via CatSper

The Ca2+-conducting ion channel, CatSper, is expressed exclusively on the sperm flagellum and regulates sperm motility. A new study (Hwang et al., Cell, 2019) reveals that the pH-sensing and Ca2+-binding protein, EFCAB9, is a subunit of the CatSper channel and has a key role in triggering mammalian sperm to change their swimming at fertilization.
Computational study of electrostatic focusing of aerosol nanoparticles using an einzel lens

Abstract This study computationally explores the possibility of focusing charged aerosol nanoparticles using electrostatics, similar to focusing of electrons and ions. A non-dimensional electrostatic focusing parameter χ e , defined as the ratio of electrostatic potential energy to the kinetic energy of an aerosol nanoparticle, significantly determines focusing performance. The focusing device considered here is a 3-electrode electrostatic (“einzel”) lens. The average focal length of the lens is seen to have an inverse power relationship with χ e . For low values of χ e ∼3 in this study, the particles are seen to cross the lens axis once, while at higher χ e multiple axis cross-over points appear. Similar to electron and ion optics, nanoparticle focusing is also limited by spherical aberration and beam divergence due to finite spread of particles in the inlet cross section of the lens and spatial non-uniformity of the focusing electric field. Other factors that influence focusing performance such as the electrostatic lens geometry, and the distribution of velocity and kinetic energy of the particles at the inlet of the lensing region are recognized, but not considered here for simplicity. In vacuum, good focusing performance (i.e.) a narrow beam of nanoparticles with minimum spherical aberration and small divergence angle is theoretically possible if χ e
Comparing limiting availabilities of a k -out-of- n : G system and a k -component series system with $$(n-k)$$ ( n - k ) spare components

The limiting availability of an ordinary k-out-of-n : G system can be improved simply by operating exactly k operable units while keeping any other operable units on cold standby. We establish this truth when there are different numbers of repair facilities, the repair time is exponential, and either each component has an exponential lifetime, or each component is made up of m identical sub-components that operate sequentially, with each sub-component having an exponential lifetime.
Guatemalan Ixil Community Teacher Perspectives of Language Revitalization and Mother Tongue-Based Intercultural Bilingual Education

Recent scholarship indicates several benefits of mother tongue education (MTE) in supporting student learning. Within one Mayan community in Guatemala, Ixil is the mother tongue language spoken at home and faces extinction due to Indigenous oppression and genocide. This qualitative case study highlights efforts of 13 teachers and administrators at one primary school that took up the dual task of offering MTE and revitalizing the Ixil language. In order to gain a better understanding of Indigenous teachers’ perceptions of language, culture, and MTE, this research was guided by the following questions: (1) How do teachers perceive their own understanding of attitudes and beliefs about language and culture? (2) How do they perceive their role in MTE and language revitalization? (3) Are teachers critical in their understanding of the importance of language revitalization and best practices for language pedagogy? Data was collected via site observations and surveys, then analyzed using constant comparative analysis. Themes that emerged included how teachers perceive their language revitalization and MTE agentive roles; how agency is expressed through the process of negotiating language and understanding through literacy; and addressing local priorities. Implications of the study and for future study are discussed.
Modeling Failure with Repair

In earlier chapters we analyzed times to occurrence of an event of interest. Such an event could be failure of a component or system. If the failure is not repaired, and the component or system is replaced following failure, then the earlier analysis methods are applicable. However, in this chapter, we consider the case in which the failed component or system is repaired and placed back into service.
Intra-individual associations between intentional self-regulation and prosocial behavior during adolescence: Evidence for bidirectionality

Abstract Introduction Couched in Positive Youth Development (PYD) theory and relevant empirical work, this study investigated bidirectional associations between intentional self-regulation and prosocial behavior toward strangers from age 12 to age 18. Method Participants included 500 adolescents (52% female, 77% European American; age Time 1 = 12 years, Time 2 = 14 years, Time 3 = 16 years, Time 4 = 18 years) from the Northwestern United States. Adolescents self-reported on their intentional self-regulation and prosocial behavior toward strangers across four time points. A random-intercept cross-lagged panel model (RICLPM) was estimated in order to assess bidirectionality while avoiding conflating intra- and inter-individual variability. Results Results revealed intentional self-regulation and prosocial behavior toward strangers were bidirectionally related during early adolescence (i.e., from age 12 to 14). During mid-to-late adolescence (i.e. age 14 to 18), prosocial behavior toward strangers facilitated intentional selfregulation, whereas intentional self-regulation did not drive the development of prosocial behavior toward strangers. Conclusions Findings indicate that early adolescence may be a particularly plastic developmental period in terms of PYD. Findings also suggest that investigations of relations between adolescents' personal assets and contribution factors merit further scholarly attention. Several directions for future research are presented.
Bioinformatics recipes: creating, executing and distributing reproducible data analysis workflows.

Bioinformaticians collaborating with life scientists need software that allows them to involve their collaborators in the process of data analysis. We have developed a web application that allows researchers to publish and execute data analysis scripts. Within the platform bioinformaticians are able to deploy data analysis workflows (recipes) that their collaborators can execute via point and click interfaces. The results generated by the recipes are viewable via the web interface and consist of a snapshot of all the commands, printed messages and files that have been generated during the recipe run. A demonstration version of our software is available at https://www.bioinformatics.recipes/ . Detailed documentation for the software is available at: https://bioinformatics-recipes.readthedocs.io . The source code for the software is distributed through GitHub at https://github.com/ialbert/biostar-central . Our software platform supports collaborative interactions between bioinformaticians and life scientists. The software is presented via a web application that provides a high utility and user-friendly approach for conducting reproducible research. The recipes developed and shared through the web application are generic, with broad applicability and may be downloaded and executed on other computing platforms.
Knowledge Asset Pledgeability and Financing Innovation

The high external financing costs for innovating firms may have considerably suppressed the U.S. economy by discouraging R&D. Estimating a dynamic model of investment and capital structure with the simulated method of moments, I quantify the potential economic benefits that would be achieved by enhancing knowledge asset pledgeability to provide R&D-intensive firms with less costly debt financing. My results indicate that a small increase in the pledgeability of knowledge assets already suffices to significantly alleviate firms' financing constraints in R&D, potentially offering substantial economic benefits to innovating firms and a profound boost to technological innovation. Suggesting an essential connection between finance, innovation, and the economy, my findings have timely implications for financial, economic, and accounting issues regarding the recognition and treatment of firm knowledge assets.
Predicting Sorbent–Air Partition Coefficients for Terpenoids at Multiple Temperatures

Partition coefficients describe the relative concentration of a chemical equilibrated between two phases. In the design of air samplers, the sorbent-air partition coefficient is a critical parameter, as is the ability to extrapolate or predict partitioning at a variety of temperatures. Our specific interest is the partitioning of plant-derived terpenes (hydrocarbons formed from isoprene building blocks) and terpenoids (with oxygen-containing functional groups) in polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) sorbents. To predict KPDMS/AIR as a function of temperature for compounds containing carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen, we developed a group contribution model that explicitly incorporates the van't Hoff equation. For the 360 training compounds, predicted KPDMS/AIR values strongly correlate (R2 > 0.987) with KPDMS/AIR values measured at temperatures from 60 °C to 200 °C. To validate the model with available literature data, we compared predictions for 50 additional C10 compounds, including 6 terpenes and 22 terpenoids, with KPDMS/AIR values measured at 100 °C and determined an average relative error of 3.1 %. We also compared predictions with KPDMS/AIR values measured at 25 °C. The modeling approach developed here is advantageous for properties with limited experimental values at a single temperature.
Choanoflagellate transfection illuminates their cell biology and the ancestry of animal septins

As the closest living relatives of animals, choanoflagellates offer unique insights into animal origins and core mechanisms underlying animal cell biology. However, unlike traditional model organisms, such as yeast, flies and worms, choanoflagellates have been refractory to DNA delivery methods for expressing foreign genes. Here we report the establishment of a robust method for expressing transgenes in the choanoflagellate Salpingoeca rosetta, overcoming barriers that have previously hampered DNA delivery and expression. To demonstrate how this method accelerates the study of S. rosetta cell biology, we engineered a panel of fluorescent protein markers that illuminate key features of choanoflagellate cells. We then investigated the localization of choanoflagellate septins, a family of GTP-binding cytoskeletal proteins that are hypothesized to regulate the multicellular rosette development in S. rosetta. Fluorescently tagged septins localized to the basal pole of S. rosetta single cells and rosettes in a pattern resembling septin localization in animal epithelia. The establishment of transfection in S. rosetta and its application to the study of septins represent critical advances in the growth of S. rosetta as an experimental model for investigating choanoflagellate cell biology, core mechanisms underlying animal cell biology, and the origin of animals.
Infinite-Dimensional Fisher Markets and Tractable Fair Division

Linear Fisher markets are a fundamental economic model with applications in fair division as well as large-scale Internet markets. In the finite-dimensional case of $n$ buyers and $m$ items, a market equilibrium can be computed using the Eisenberg-Gale convex program. Motivated by large-scale Internet advertising and fair division applications, this paper considers a generalization of a linear Fisher market where there is a finite set of buyers and a continuum of items. We introduce generalizations of the Eisenberg-Gale convex program and its dual to this infinite-dimensional setting, which leads to Banach-space optimization problems. We establish existence of optimal solutions, strong duality, as well as necessity and sufficiency of KKT-type conditions. All these properties are established via non-standard arguments, which circumvent the limitations of duality theory in optimization over infinite-dimensional Banach spaces. Furthermore, we show that there exists a pure equilibrium allocation, i.e., a division of the item space. When the item space is a closed interval and buyers have piecewise linear valuations, we show that the Eisenberg-Gale-type convex program over the infinite-dimensional allocations can be reformulated as a finite-dimensional convex conic program, which can be solved efficiently using off-the-shelf optimization software based on primal-dual interior-point methods. Based on our convex conic reformulation, we develop the first polynomial-time cake-cutting algorithm that achieves Pareto optimality, envy-freeness, and proportionality. For general buyer valuations or a very large number of buyers, we propose computing market equilibrium using stochastic dual averaging, which finds approximate equilibrium prices with high probability. Finally, we discuss how the above results easily extend to the case of quasilinear utilities.
Cluster-Former: Clustering-based Sparse Transformer for Question Answering

Transformer has become ubiquitous in the deep learning field. One of the key ingredients that destined its success is the self-attention mechanism, which allows fully-connected contextual encoding over input tokens. However, despite its effectiveness in modeling short sequences, self-attention suffers when handling inputs with extreme long-range dependencies, as its complexity grows quadratically with respect to the sequence length. Therefore, long sequences are often encoded by Transformer in chunks using a sliding window. In this paper, we propose Cluster-Former, a novel clustering-based sparse Transformer to perform attention across chunked sequences. The proposed framework is pivoted on two unique types of Transformer layer: Sliding-Window Layer and Cluster-Former Layer, which encode local sequence information and global context jointly and iteratively. This new design allows information integration beyond local windows, which is especially beneficial for question answering (QA) tasks that rely on long-range dependencies. Experiments show that Cluster-Former achieves state-of-the-art performance on several major QA benchmarks.
The first two decades of CREB-memory research: data for philosophy of neuroscience.

I recount some landmark discoveries that initially confirmed the cyclic AMP response element-binding (CREB) protein-memory consolidation and allocation linkages. This work constitutes one of the successes of the field of Molecular and Cellular Cognition (MCC) but is also of interest to philosophers of neuroscience. Two approaches, “mechanism” and “ruthless reductionism”, claim to account for this case, yet these accounts differ in one crucial way. I explain this difference and argue that both the experiment designs and discussions of these discoveries by MCC scientists better fit the ruthless reductionist's account. This conclusion leads to further philosophical discussion about how discoveries in cellular/molecular neurobiology integrate with systems neuroscience findings.
Floating Traffic Signs and the Ambiguity of Silence in the Linguistic Landscape

The ever-changing, often contested, and ambiguous spaces of the linguistic landscape (LL) offer endless opportunities for language educators interested in promoting multiple literacies, transcultural understanding, and symbolic competence. Yet the LL images featured in commonly used language textbooks often appear to be floating on the pages, isolated from the ambiguity of their contexts in the target cultures. The pedagogical module in this chapter presents a more contextualized approach to the LL for language learners in a region of the US where the language being learned, German, is not highly prominent. Thus, this chapter contributes to continued discussions within the field of Language Acquisition and Teaching about supplementing the language textbook with authentic texts to go beyond grammar and vocabulary exercises built around isolated images or artifacts (e.g., Swaffar J, and Arens K, Remapping the foreign language curriculum: an approach through multiple literacies. Modern Language Association of America, New York, 2005). It provides an overview of silences that language learners encountered and expressed when engaging with the ambiguity of various LLs and demonstrates how this contributes to language learners becoming more aware of their place in today’s multicultural and multilingual society.
Five Principles of Common Sense Why Foreign Plaintiffs Should be Allowed to Sue Under U.S. Antitrust Laws

I want to thank Loyola for creating this forum and you for coming to it. Trial lawyers basically go out of their way to contort themselves to get questions posed in a way that they have to be answered yes or no. I personally prefer the way our moderator, Spencer Waller, entitled this particular discussion, “Foreign Plaintiffs in U.S. Courts.” Why not? And, at that point, I guess I could sit down and just let it ponder. What I’d like to do is to give you what I call the five principles of common sense. Something I understand that, for either young lawyers and even older lawyers, is anathema to most everyone, but one to which I have a particular affinity. And, it applies, I think, extremely well in response to the question why foreign plaintiffs in U.S. courts.
Outsourcing: When and how should it be done?

Business functions that can be successfully outsourced are diverse, bridging from manufacturing to human resources to product design. The analysis deals with key enablers and barriers to successful outsourcing. Outsourcing is differentiated from offshoring, and unique offshoring risks are explored, but the focus is on outsourcing. A decision framework is created to aid outsourcing decisions, and this model is tested against an example from the hard disc drive industry. This proposed business model is closed loop, showing how important regular re-evaluation is in the outsourcing decision process. Major drivers such as reduced labor cost are often overstated relative to other risks and issues such as intellectual property protection, quality and supplier capabilities. When looking to outsource, an organization should be careful not to farm out work related to the core competencies of the firm, as they are how the organization best provides value to end customers. Although if it is a short-term need; outsourcing of a core competency may be acceptable in a specific business situation.
Authentication Information Alignment for Cross-Domain Federations

With the rapid deployment of distributed systems and the Internet, federation activities such as online collaboration and information sharing become pervasive. Trust is a big issue in these federation activities. To manage trust in federation activities, authentication information needs flexible manipulation to accommodate technical and managerial requirements. To achieve identity federation across domains, authentication information must sometimes be adjusted, transformed, augmented, or substituted during the authorization and verification operations. In this paper, we propose a plug-in style alignment using a wavelet transformation to manipulate authentication information for verification and authentication. We incorporate BioAPI in our implementation to extend the capability of our system to adapt to different authentication models and technologies. Experimental results show that the overhead of this plug-in alignment is negligible.
Sow and Litter Performance for Two Genotypes in Crated and Group Gestation Systems

The effects of swine gestation housing on sow and litter performance of two genotypes were evaluated at the Iowa State University Lauren Christian Swine Research and Demonstration Farm near Atlantic, IA. The gestation housing systems were 1) individual gestation crates in a mechanically ventilated, manure flush confinement building with a partially slatted floor (CRATE); 2) group pens in a naturally ventilated, curtain-sided, modified-open front building with a partially slatted floor, no bedding and a deep manure pit (MOF); and 3) group pens in deepbedded, naturally ventilated hoop structures (HOOP). The group-housed gilts were individually fed with either individual feed stalls (FS) or computerized electronic feeders (EF). Sows fed with the electronic feeders were given an initial training period the week after breeding during which time they learned to use the feeders. The two sow genotypes were Yorkshire x Landrace (WHITE sows) and 1/4 Hampshire x 1/2 Yorkshire x 1/4 Landrace (COLOR sows). The Yorkshire and Landrace breeding was similar in both genotypes. Duroc terminal boars were mated to all sows. Farrowing occurred weekly throughout the year. Cross fostering occurred across all sows.
Abstract 13984: What’s the Best Age for Mice to Have Myocardial Infarction: Modulating Matrix Metalloproteinase-9 to Answer the Question

Previously, we reported that matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) levels increase post-myocardial infarction (MI), and MMP-9 deletion in young mice attenuates remodeling of the left ventricle (LV) and improves cardiac function post-MI. We also showed that MMP-9 increases with age, accompanied by decreased end diastolic function. In this study, we investigated the effects of MMP-9 deletion on LV remodeling post-MI in aged mice. We enrolled 95 C57BL/6J (WT) and 91 MMP-9 null (null) mice of both sexes at 11 to 36 months of age, which in humans is the equivalent of 30 to 100 years of age. WT and null mice were analyzed at day 7 post-MI. The infarct area was similar (47±7% for WT and 46±6% for null; p=0.34) indicating equal initial ischemic stimuli. Post-MI, plasma MMP-9 levels were significantly increased and positively correlated with age in WT mice (r=0.46, p=0.001) but not null (r=0.08, p=0.11). Similar to young mice, MMP-9 deletion improved survival at day 7 post-MI (89% vs. 77% for WT, p=0.01). Regression ...
Control and responsiveness in Hermes

Hermes is a process-oriented language that supports both blocking and nonblocking communication. This paper examines some constructs that can be used to introduce time limits on interprocess communication in Hermes. Currently, exceptions can only be signaled between processes in conjunction with a blocking send. A suggestion is given for a method of decoupling exceptions from interprocess communication. Several features in Ada are used to supply guidelines for additions to the Hermes language. These new constructs could improve the responsiveness of a system of Hermes processes and would facilitate the use of Hermes as a tool for constructing real time systems.
Complex Litigation: Rule 23(f) Appeals

Commentary and analysis of issues relating to the interlocutory appeal of class certification orders under Fed. R. Civ. 23(f). This article discusses the various procedural means for appealing class certification orders prior to the enactment of Rule 23(f) in 1997, including 28 U.S.C. 1292(b) judicial certification and mandamus under 28 U.S.C. 1651. The impetus for enacting a rule permitting interlocutory appeal was advanced by Judge Richard Posner’s decision in In re Rhone-Poulenc Rorer Inc., 51 F.3d 1293 (7th Cir. 1995), criticizing the routine recourse to mandamus motions to reverse judicial rulings on class certification. The article traces the legislative history of Rule 23(f) through the Advisory Committee on Civil Rules, reviewing the arguments presented for and against codification of an interlocutory appeal rule. Finally, the article surveys emerging case law and standards that lower federal courts are developing in implementing Rule 23(f), concluding that anticipated “parade of horribles” as a consequence of the new rule has not really developed.
On the study of lossless time-varying filter banks

We study the fundamentals of lossless time-varying filter banks (TVFB). We derive the necessary and sufficient condition of the impulse response of a lossless linear time-varying (LTV) system. We show that some properties of LTI lossless systems continue to hold while some properties fail in the LTV case. For example, all lossless LTV systems are invertible. Moreover the inverse is the FIR if the original lossless system is the FIR. Therefore if the analysis bank of a TVFB is the FIR and lossless, the synthesis bank is also the FIR. Explicit construction of the inverses is given. However, unlike in the LTI case, we show that the inverse system is not necessarily unique or invertible. In fact, the inverse of a lossless LTV system is not necessarily lossless. Thus in a general perfect reconstruction (PR) TVFB, the losslessness of the analysis bank does not imply that of the synthesis bank. Moreover we show that replacing the delay z/sup -1/ in an implementation of a lossless LTV system with z/sup -L/ for integer L in general will result in a non-lossless system. Finally, a PR lossless TVFB in general will not generate a discrete-time orthonormal basis for l/sub 2/.
Assessing Sexual Dysfunction in Hispanic Clients

In an attempt to guide clinicians in the assessment of sexual dysfunction in Hispanic clients, this chapter first provides a brief description of the sexual dysfunctions currently classified in the DSM-IV, along with forthcoming revisions to the DSM-5. The scarce prevalence literature is then reviewed with an emphasis on the lack of validation of assessment methods with this population. The clinical interview remains the most culturally adaptable tool, although a description of global sexual function and dysfunction-specific measures is provided, despite the lack of Hispanic norms. Finally, recommendations are made to attend to cultural factors that may have a particularly pointed impact on the sexual lives of Hispanic clients. Among these are verguenza, religious beliefs, gender roles, and racial/ethnic stereotypes. The assessment of Hispanic-American clients with sexual difficulties requires (1) flexibility in the use of measures largely standardized on other populations and (2) a clinical interview informed by the potential relevance of cultural factors.
Glenohumeral Deformity Secondary to Brachial Plexus Birth Palsy

Ninety-four patients who had brachial plexus birth palsy were entered into a prospective study to evaluate the association between persistent palsy, age-related musculoskeletal deformity, and functional limitations. Of these patients, forty-two had either computerized tomography or magnetic resonance imaging to assess the presence and degree of incongruity of the glenohumeral joint, deformity of the humeral head, and hypoplasia of the glenoid as part of the preoperative planning for a reconstructive operation. Functional ability was rated with use of the classification of Mallet, on a scale of 1 to 5. The mean glenoscapular angle (the degree of retroversion of the glenoid) on the affected side was -25.7 degrees compared with -5.5 degrees on the unaffected side. Twenty-six (62 per cent) of the forty-two shoulders had evidence of posterior subluxation of the humeral head, with a mean of only 25 per cent (range, 0 to 50 per cent) of the head being intersected by the scapular line. Progressive deformity was found with increasing age (p < 0.001). The natural history of untreated brachial plexus birth palsy with residual weakness is progressive glenohumeral deformity due to persistent muscle imbalance. The status of the glenohumeral joint must be addressed when the choice between tendon transfer and humeral derotation osteotomy for reconstruction of the shoulder is considered for these patients.
Endophenotypes in Schizophrenia for the Perinatal Period: Criteria for Validation

Endophenotypes are disease-associated phenotypes that are thought to reflect the neurobiological or other mechanisms that underlie the more overt symptoms of a psychiatric illness. Endophenotypes have been critical in understanding the genetics, neurobiology, and treatment of schizophrenia. Because psychiatric illnesses have multiple causes, including both genetic and nongenetic risk factors, an endophenotype linked to one of the mechanisms may be expressed more frequently than the disease itself. However, in schizophrenia research, endophenotypes have almost exclusively been studied in older adolescents or adults who have entered or passed through the age of risk for the disorder. Yet, schizophrenia is a neurodevelopmental disorder where prenatal development starts a cascade of brain changes across the lifespan. Endophenotypes have only minimally been utilized to explore the perinatal development of vulnerability. One major impediment to the development of perinatally-useful endophenotypes has been the established validity criteria. For example, the criterion that the endophenotype be more frequently present in those with disease than those without is difficult to demonstrate when there can be a decades-long period between endophenotype measurement and the age of greatest risk for onset of the disorder. This article proposes changes to the endophenotype validity criteria appropriate to perinatal research and reviews how application of these modified criteria helped identify a perinatally-usable phenotype of risk for schizophrenia, P50 sensory gating, which was then used to propose a novel perinatal primary prevention intervention.
Mixed hematopoietic chimerism after allogeneic bone marrow transplantation: the impact of quantitative PCR analysis for prediction of relapse and graft rejection in children

It still remains unclear whether patients with mixed hematopoietic chimerism (MC) after allogeneic bone marrow transplantation (allo-BMT) have an increased risk of developing relapse or graft failure. To address this question, we monitored the individual dynamics of chimerism after allo-BMT in pediatric patients within a prospective case control study. The individual ratio of donor to recipient peripheral white cells was determined by quantification of genomic variable number of tandem repeats (VNTRs) with a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) approach. Within the study period from 1 January 1994 until 1 July 1996 we investigated 50 sequences of 46 pediatric patients after allo-BMT (32 with malignant, 18 with nonmalignant diseases). We found complete chimerism (CC) in 34/50 cases, MC in 12/50 follow-ups and 4/50 patients revealed autologous recovery (AC). Eight of 12 patients with MC showed increasing autologous patterns and subsequently relapsed or rejected their graft, 3/12 decreasing amounts of recipient DNA and turned to CC upon further follow-up. One patient of 12 who had severe combined immunodeficiency (SCID), attained engraftment with a stable MC pattern. Three patients of 34 with CC relapsed lacking a transitional MC interval. However, the time span between last CC confirmation and relapse in each of these three patients was 6 months or longer. We suggest that these patients also developed a stage of transitional MC but that the critical timepoint of molecular confirmation by PCR was missed as time intervals in the individual follow-up of these three patients were too long (> or = 6 months). In summary, the results demonstrate that the individual risk of developing relapse or graft failure is significantly enhanced in the MC situation (P < 0.0005). Therefore the quantitative analysis of MC at short time intervals might be of great value to identify high risk patients which will have a significantly/enhanced risk for relapse or graft rejection.
Conjoined Ordering of Color Terms by Children and Adults

Preferences for ordering conjoined color terms in English were examined for twenty first-graders and twenty-one adults. On each trial the subjects were asked to name the two colors included in a pair of intertwined shoelaces. For children the results showed that ordering preferences were determined primarily by differences in brightness rather than hue or saturation, with relatively dark colors ordered before relatively light colors. The hue dimension showed more importance for adults, with red, pink, and purple typically occurring in first position. A small number of conjoined color pairs exhibited a significant ordering preference, with most of these pairs including white in second position. The strength of the ordering effect is related to the perceived level of contrast between the two colors, with more highly contrastive pairs being more likely to exhibit a fixed ordering. Additional results showed that ordering preferences were unrelated to individual color preferences, that adult females showed stronger ordering tendencies than adult males, and that the ordering exhibited by both male and female children correlated better with the ordering of adult females than with the ordering of adult males.
Role of laser and thermal ablation devices in the treatment of vascular diseases

Since the first coronary angioplasty in 1977, both the number and complexity of interventional procedures have grown dramatically. Continuous-wave and pulsed lasers may further extend the capabilities of balloon angioplasty. Fiberoptic catheters may be used to transmit continuous-wave laser energy to ablate plaque via thermal mechanisms. Pulsed laser systems (such as the excimer) are technologically more complex than the continuous-wave systems, but may prove superior in small vessels given their ability to ablate plaque with minimal associated effects. On the other hand, modifications of the fiberoptic tip, such as the placement of a metal cap, have yielded even better results than current bare fiber systems. Such laser thermal techniques have proved a useful adjunct to balloon dilatation in peripheral vessels, but further research is necessary to determine their effect on coronary arteries. New, nonlaser technologies, however, may provide simpler power sources for thermal angioplasty. Although balloon angioplasty remains the cornerstone of interventional vascular therapy, new technologies should help to further expand the indications for nonsurgical interventions.
Nucleoside and nucleotide transport through a model liquid membrane. Periodic-catastrophic transport of a novel amantadine phosphoramidate conjugate of 5'-AMP

Adenosine 5'-phosphor(adamantyl)amidate (5), an analog derived by linking the antiviral drug amantadine to 5'-AMP is transported through a model membrane system in a discontinuous periodic-catastrophic fashion. The system was composed of a glass cell containing two aqueous buffer phases separated by a chloroform layer. A more lipophilic, but structurally related derivative, adenosine 5'-phosphor(n-decyl)amidate (3) showed linear transport in the same system. Less lipophilic substances, including 5'-AMP and adenosine 5'-phosphor(morpholidyl)amidate (2), did not show transport. It is hypothesized that the periodic-catastrophic transport is a result of the collective activity of amidate 5 at the interface between the first aqueous interface and the chloroform layer. The time between catastrophic events is thought to be a reflection of the time necessary for molecular organization at the interface. The phenomenon is a new example of molecular organization in a system far from equilibrium leading to a repetitive dynamic process.
Studies on the synthesis of bafilomycin A1: Stereochemical aspects of the fragment assembly aldol reaction for construction of the C(13)-C(25) segment

Highly stereoselective syntheses of aldols 8a−c corresponding to the C(13)−C(25) segment of bafilomycin A1 were developed by routes involving fragment assembly aldol reactions of chiral aldehyde 6a and the chiral methyl ketones 7. A remote chelation effect plays a critical role in determining the stereoselectivity of the key aldol coupling of 6a and the lithium enolate of 7b. The protecting group for C(23)−OH of the chiral aldehyde fragment also influences the selectivity of the lithium enolate aldol reaction. In contrast, the aldol reaction of 6a and the chlorotitanium enolates of 7a,c were much less sensitive to the nature of the C(15)-hydroxyl protecting group. Studies of the reactions of chiral aldehydes with Takai's (γ-methoxyallyl)chromium reagent 40 are also described. The stereoselectivity of these reactions is also highly dependent on the protecting groups and stereochemistry of the chiral aldehyde substrates.
Large Scale Ocean Circulation from the GRACE GGM01 Geoid

[1] The GRACE Gravity Model 01 (GGM01), computed from 111 days of GRACE K-band ranging (KBR) data, is differenced from a global mean sea surface (MSS) computed from a decade of satellite altimetry to determine a mean dynamic ocean topography (DOT). As a test of the GGM01 gravity model, large-scale zonal and meridional surface geostrophic currents are computed from the topography and are compared with those derived from a mean hydrographic surface. Reduction in residual RMS between the two by 30–60% (and increased correlation) indicates that the GGM01 geoid represents a dramatic improvement over older geoid models, which were developed from multiple satellite tracking data, altimetry, and surface gravity measurements. For the first time, all major current systems are clearly observed in the DOT from space-based measurements.