cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Style, Function, and Cultural Evolutionary Processes

When explaining human behavior, anthropologists frequently distinguish the things that people do of their own free will from the things they do because they have to. In much of anthropology, and most American archaeology, this is the difference between style and function. Functional behaviors are the things people are constrained to do; stylistic behaviors are the things people do when unconstrained. Where necessity stops and free choice begins is, of course, a classic problem of social science theory, but wherever the boundary is placed, it is generally implied that the domains thus divided are not of equal importance (Bettinger 1991:49–50). Few straddle this fence: Materialists emphasize function and downplay style; structuralists and postmodernists do the opposite. Recent attempts to apply neo-Darwinian concepts to the archaeological record predictably side with the materialist tradition, repeating the premise that it is most important to explain functional behavior; stylistic behavior is interesting only for localizing social units in time and space.
Disinhibition-dementia-parkinsonism-amyotrophy complex (DDPAC) is a non-Alzheimer's frontotemporal dementia.

DDPAC was defined based on the cardinal symptoms of the syndrome found in family Mo. Investigation of DDPAC cases in family Mo shows non-specific pathological changes in a distribution that is consistent with the cardinal features of the disease. Genetic analysis identified a locus on chromosome 17q21–22 that produces this syndrome which is inherited as an autosomal dominant trait. DDPAC overlaps clinically and pathologically with a variety of named neurodegenerative syndromes and falls within the spectrum called frontotemporal dementia. The localization of the disease locus for DDPAC allows the testing of whether other familial neurodegenerative conditions also map to the same chromosomal regions. It seems possible that ultimately these conditions that have thus far been difficult to categorize will be subject to a nosolgy based on genetic etiology.
The Chaperone Networks: A Heat Shock Protein (Hsp)70 Perspective

The heat shock protein (Hsp)70 protein chaperone is a ubiquitous and promiscuous simple machine that functions in a wide variety of cellular processes. Its primary role of binding short, exposed hydrophobic stretches in misfolded polypeptides is augmented by the participation of an array of partners that act at multiple levels to govern Hsp70 functionality. Protein folding by Hsp70 is adenosine triphosphate (ATP)-dependent and the state of nucleotide binding is driven by dedicated Hsp70 cofactors. Moreover, these and other associates provide functional specificity by virtue of pathway-specific interactions that both recruit and regulate Hsp70 to provide critical protein remodeling contributions. In this chapter, we break down these interactions into two broad themes: protein biogenesis and maturation, and quality control surveillance and degradation. Key findings that establish the pathway- or process-specific network around Hsp70 supporting each cellular activity are discussed, with special attention paid to protein interactions that dictate the contextual role Hsp70 plays. Understanding these various chaperone networks is a requisite first step in designing pathway-specific pharmacological agents for potential therapeutic intervention in protein misfolding disorders.
Novel Zeolite-5A@MOF-74 Composite Adsorbents with Core-Shell Structure for H2 Purification.

Hydrogen is considered as one of the most important clean and renewable energy sources for a sustainable energy future. However, its efficient and cost-effective purification still remains challenging. In this work, we report the development of novel zeolite@metal–organic framework (MOF) composites comprised of MOF-74 and zeolite-5A with core–shell structure for efficient purification of H2. The composites were synthesized hydrothermally through the addition of zeolite particles with and without carboxyl functional groups to the MOF synthesis solution. The zeolite/MOF weight ratio was varied systematically to find the optimum composition based on the adsorption performance. The formation of zeolite@MOF composites was confirmed by various characterization techniques. Single-component adsorption isotherms of CO2, CO, CH4, N2, and H2 over composites were measured at 25 °C to determine their equilibrium adsorption capacity. It was found that the zeolite-5A@MOF-74 with weight ratio of 5:95 exhibited a similar ...
Statistical Framework for the Definition of Emphysema in CT Scans: Beyond Density Mask

Lung parenchyma destruction (emphysema) is a major factor in the description of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) and its prognosis. It is defined as an abnormal enlargement of air spaces distal to the terminal bronchioles and the destruction of alveolar walls. In CT imaging, the presence of emphysema is observed by a local decrease of the lung density and the diagnose is usually set as more than 5% of the lung below -950 HU, the so-called emphysema density mask. There is still debate, however, about the definition of this percentage and many researchers set it depending on the population under study. Additionally, the -950 HU threshold may vary depending on factors as the slice thickness or the respiratory phase of the acquisition. In this paper we propose (1) a statistical framework that provides an automatic definition of the density threshold based on the statistical characterization of air and lung parenchyma; (2) the definition of a statistical test for emphysema detection that accounts for the CT noise characteristics. Results show that this novel statistical framework improves the quantification of emphysema against a visual reference and improves the association of emphysema with the pulmonary function tests.
Regenerative Medicine Therapies for Rare Diseases

The field of regenerative medicine is growing rapidly with the introduction of new therapies that have the potential to treat and cure serious medical conditions, including rare diseases, for which there are no available treatments. In the United States, the development of novel medical products is regulated and guided by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). As scientific and technological advances are discovered and adopted by the medical industrial enterprise, the FDA's implementation of policies that create a climate conducive to safe development and rapid availability of novel medical products is one of the pillars which support the Agency's mission of protecting and promoting the public health. With advancements in cell modifications and tissue engineering, innovative creation of biomaterials, adoption of three-dimensional bioprinting, and rapid development of human genome editing technologies, the need for Agency's work in ensuring that its science-based policies remain relevant and helpful in facilitating the availability of new treatments to the most vulnerable populations of patients becomes more pressing than ever before. In December 2016, Congress amended section 506 of the Food, Drug, and Cosmetic (FD&C) Act [21 U.S.C. 356] by adding a new section 506(g), which defines the categories of products considered to be regenerative medicine therapies. As further described by FDA [1], regenerative medicine therapies are considered to include cell therapies, therapeutic tissue engineering products, human cell and tissue products, and combination products using any such therapies, as well as gene therapies, including genetically modified cells that lead to a durable modification of cells or tissues. The development and approval of regenerative medicine therapies are regulated by FDA's Office of Tissues and Advanced Therapies (OTAT) in the Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research (CBER). In this review article, we present practical considerations for investigating regenerative medicine therapies intended for the treatment of rare diseases. The material presented may be useful to researchers who are undertaking the challenging task of finding and delivering new treatments for those in need.
“The Most Passionate of All” : Henri Vever and Japonisme in fin-de-siècle France

Known primarily as a jeweler in the vanguard of Art nouveau and an important collector of the Impressionists, Henri Vever (1854-1942), as his private diaries make clear, was also a foremost connoisseur of Japanese art in fin-de-siecle France, “the most passionate of all,” to Edmond de Goncourt. Well-connected to networks of dealers, museum officials, publications, and sites of sociability such as the diners japonais, Vever figures among the most prominent members of a second wave of Parisian enthusiasts of Japanese art, active from approximately 1880 to 1900. Under the tutelage of the Japanese art dealers Hayashi Tadamasa and Siegfried Bing and the fine art printer Charles Gillot, Vever constituted a renowned collection of not only Japanese prints but also other art objects previously disregarded by collectors. Vever’s multiple and intersecting identities as luxury craft producer, leading member of professional associations, art historian and critic, collector, and Republican mayor placed him at the forefront of efforts to legitimate the collection and appreciation of Japanese art in France. His diaries also underscore the connections between the worlds of Japanese and Impressionist art collectors, and between proponents of japonisme and Art nouveau. Further, they highlight the importance of the 1900 Paris Exposition universelle as a triumphant moment for japonisme in France, just as they signal the shift on the part of some japonisants, at the same time, from Japanese art towards the decorative arts of the Islamic world.
Tunable σ-Accepting, Z-Type Ligands for Organometallic Catalysis

Over the past decade, the chemistry of σ-accepting or Z-type ligands based on main group elements has drawn renewed attention because of the realization that their interaction with a transition metal (M) could be used to control the reactivity of the metal center. In this article, we describe several conceptual models that have been developed to understand the properties of main group-based Z-type ligands. We also explain how these models can be applied to the design of new coordination platforms where the electron-accepting properties of the Z-type ligand can be adjusted via postsynthetic transformations occurring at the main group element. Last, we show that the M → Z interaction and its tunable nature offer unique opportunities in the domain of ligand-controlled organometallic catalysis.
In-situ linker doping as an effective means to tune zeolitic-imidazolate framework-8 (ZIF-8) fillers in mixed-matrix membranes for propylene/propane separation

Abstract Zeolitic-imidazole framework-8 (ZIF-8) has been extensively studied as a molecular sieving filler in mixed-matrix membranes (MMMs) for propylene/propane (C3) separation. The C3 separation performance of ZIF-8-containing MMMs has yet to meet the commercial viability criteria. Recently, doping or mixing linkers in ZIF-8 framework has been found effective in tuning the molecular sieving properties of ZIF-8. Herein, we attempted to tune the molecular sieving properties of ZIF-8 fillers in MMMs by doping with 2-ethylimidazole (eIm) linkers in order to improve their C3 separation performance. MMMs were prepared by in-situ forming eIm-doped ZIF-8 fillers in polyimide using our recently reported polymer-modification-enabled in-situ MOF formation (PMMOF) process. As eIm linkers were doped into ZIF-8 filler crystals, the propylene/propane separation factor of the resulting MMMs was dramatically enhanced. Lastly, doped-linker ZIF-8 based mixed-matrix hollow fiber membranes were successfully prepared, demonstrating potential of their scalable practical applications.
Origami Terahertz Detectors Realized by Inkjet Printing of Carbon Nanotube Inks

Terahertz (THz) technology has shown promise for several applications, but limitations in sources and detectors have prevented broader adoption. Existing THz detectors are rigid, planar, and fabricated using complex technology, making it difficult to integrate into systems. Here we demonstrate THz detectors fabricated by inkjet printing on submicrometer thick, ultraflexible substrates. By developing p- and n-type carbon nanotube inks, we achieve optically thick p–n junction and p-type devices, enabling antenna-free pixels for THz imaging. By further designing and folding the printed devices, we realize origami-inspired architectures with improved performance over single devices, achieving a noise-equivalent power of 12 nW/Hz1/2 at room temperature with no voltage bias. Our approach opens avenues for nonplanar, foldable, deployable, insertable, and retractable THz detectors for applications in nondestructive inspection.
It Is Likely That Your Loss Should be a Likelihood

Many common loss functions such as mean-squared-error, cross-entropy, and reconstruction loss are unnecessarily rigid. Under a probabilistic interpretation, these common losses correspond to distributions with fixed shapes and scales. We instead argue for optimizing full likelihoods that include parameters like the normal variance and softmax temperature. Joint optimization of these ``likelihood parameters'' with model parameters can adaptively tune the scales and shapes of losses in addition to the strength of regularization. We explore and systematically evaluate how to parameterize and apply likelihood parameters for robust modeling, outlier-detection, and re-calibration. Additionally, we propose adaptively tuning L2 and L1 weights by fitting the scale parameters of normal and Laplace priors and introduce more flexible element-wise regularizers.
Mastery Learning Ensures Correct Personal Protective Equipment Use in Simulated Clinical Encounters of COVID-19

INTRODUCTION: The correct use of personal protective equipment (PPE) limits transmission of serious communicable diseases to healthcare workers, which is critically important in the era of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) However, prior studies illustrated that healthcare workers frequently err during application and removal of PPE The goal of this study was to determine whether a simulation-based, mastery learning intervention with deliberate practice improves correct use of PPE by physicians during a simulated clinical encounter with a COVID-19 patient METHODS: This was a pretest-posttest study performed in the emergency department at a large, academic tertiary care hospital between March 31-April 8, 2020 A total of 117 subjects participated, including 56 faculty members and 61 resident physicians Prior to the intervention, all participants received institution-mandated education on PPE use via an online video and supplemental materials Participants completed a pretest skills assessment using a 21-item checklist of steps to correctly don and doff PPE Participants were expected to meet a minimum passing score (MPS) of 100%, determined by an expert panel using the Mastery Angoff and Patient Safety standard-setting techniques Participants that met the MPS on pretest were exempt from the educational intervention Testing occurred before and after an in-person demonstration of proper donning and doffing techniques and 20 minutes of deliberate practice The primary outcome was a change in assessment scores of correct PPE use following our educational intervention Secondary outcomes included differences in performance scores between faculty members and resident physicians, and differences in performance during donning vs doffing sequences RESULTS: All participants had a mean pretest score of 73 1% (95% confidence interval [CI], 70 9-75 3%) Faculty member and resident pretest scores were similar (75 1% vs 71 3%, p = 0 082) Mean pretest doffing scores were lower than donning scores across all participants (65 8% vs 82 8%, p<0 001) Participant scores increased 26 9% (95% CI of the difference 24 7-29 1%, p<0 001) following our educational intervention resulting in all participants meeting the MPS of 100% CONCLUSION: A mastery learning intervention with deliberate practice ensured the correct use of PPE by physician subjects in a simulated clinical encounter of a COVID-19 patient Further study of translational outcomes is needed
The Masquerading, Masculinizing Tumor: A Case Report and Review of the Literature.

Androgen-producing tumors in women are rare neoplasms that can cause secondary virilizing characteristics. Of patients presenting with symptoms of hyperandrogenism, these tumors are found in ∼0.2% ...
Learning causal biological networks with the principle of Mendelian randomization

Although large amounts of genomic data are available, it remains a challenge to reliably infer causal relationships among molecular phenotypes (such as gene expression), especially when many phenotypes are involved. We present MRPC, which learns a causal biological network efficiently and robustly from integrating genotype and molecular phenotype data, in which directed edges indicate causal directions. MRPC is the first machine learning algorithm that incorporates the Principle of Mendelian randomization (PMR) in classical algorithms for learning causal graphs in computer science. We demonstrate through simulation that MRPC outperforms existing general-purpose network inference methods and methods using the PMR. We apply MRPC to distinguish direct and indirect targets among multiple genes associated with expression quantitative trait loci (eQTLs). We also construct a causal network for frequently altered cancer genes.
Sonographic Features of Abscess Maturation in a Porcine Model.

Abstract Abscesses are walled-off collections of infected fluids that often develop as complications in the setting of surgery and trauma. Treatment is usually limited to percutaneous catheterization with a course of antibiotics. As an alternative to current treatment strategies, a histotripsy approach was developed and tested in a novel porcine animal model. The goal of this article is to use advanced ultrasound imaging modes to extract sonographic features associated with the progression of abscess development in a porcine model. Intramuscular or subcutaneous injections of a bi-microbial bacteria mixture plus dextran particles as an irritant led to identifiable abscesses over a 2 to 3 wk period. Selected abscesses were imaged at least weekly with B-mode, 3-D B-mode, shear-wave elastography and plane-wave Doppler imaging. Mature abscesses were characterized by a well-defined core of varying echogenicity surrounded by a hypoechoic capsule that was highly vascularized on Doppler imaging. 3-D imaging demonstrated the natural history of abscess morphology, with the abscess becoming less complex in shape and increasing in volume. Furthermore, shear-wave elastography demonstrated variations in stiffness as phlegmon becomes abscess and then liquefies, over time. These ultrasound features potentially provide biomarkers to aid in selection of treatment strategies for abscesses.
The effect of neoadjuvant chemotherapy on quality of life for patients with muscle invasive bladder cancer (MIBC) undergoing cystectomy.

e18614Background: To examine the relationship between neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) clinical risk factors, and patient reported quality of life in patients with MIBC undergoing cystectomy. Methods...
Simultaneous adsorption of mercury species from aquatic environments using magnetic nanoparticles coated with nanomeric silver functionalized with l-Cysteine.

Abstract We introduce a novel, efficient and fast method for the total and simultaneous removal of monomethylmercury, dimethylmercury, ethylmercury and Hg (II) from aquatic environments using magnetic core nanoparticles, coated with metallic nanomeric silver and functionalized with l -Cysteine. As far as the authors know, simultaneous removal has not been achieved previously. The experimental design was based on exploring a wide range of experimental conditions, including pH of the medium (2−12), contact time (up to 20 min), adsorbent dose (50–800 μL) and temperature (293–323 K), in order to achieve the highest adsorption efficiency. The results show that, for a pH equal to 6.2 at room temperature, 400 μL of nanoparticles is sufficient to achieve 100% adsorption efficiency for all the studied Hg species after a contact time of 30 s. The adsorbent was characterized by means of Scanning Electron Microscopy, Energy Dispersive X-ray Analysis, Fourier-Transform Infrared Spectroscopy and a BET test. Moreover, the procedure allows the total recovery and recycling of the nanoparticles using 50 μL of 0.01 M KI. As regards reuse, the adsorbent exhibits no loss of adsorption capacity during the first three adsorption cycles. Thermodynamics reveals that adsorption is of a physicochemical nature, the equilibrium isotherms being described by a Langmuir model for all the Hg species. The ability of the method to simultaneously adsorb all species of mercury present in water, achieving full adsorption in just a few seconds, along with the simple experimental conditions and its cost-effectiveness, strongly support the approach as an alternative to current procedures.
Droplet evaporation dynamics on microstructured biphilic, hydrophobic, and smooth surfaces

Understanding liquid evaporation on surfaces is of utmost importance due to its impact on a plethora of industrial and natural processes. Over the past several decades, through chemical functionalization or surface structuring, wetting and non-wetting surfaces have been extensively developed and studied in an attempt to control liquid–surface interactions. More recently, surfaces with wettability patterns comprising of local wetting/non-wetting regions have received considerable attention. Although quantitative analytical models in parallel with scaling arguments have been developed to predict and understand liquid droplet evaporation on such micro-structured surfaces, consensus in the wider community is sparse. Developing a better understanding of the evaporation performance on structured surfaces is imperative for selecting optimal structure length scales and designs for specific applications. Here, we develop dual wettability or biphilic micropillar surfaces having various dimensions by utilizing lift-off microfabrication. We focus on studying the evaporation dynamics of sessile water droplets on such micropillared biphilic as well as hydrophobic surfaces. We start by investigating the evaporation of water droplets having a wide range of diameter ( $$100<D<500$$ μm) using the traditional classical method, where the droplet volume decreases in time. We then employ the steady method to study the droplet evaporation dynamics on the micropillared surfaces. We elucidate the mechanisms governing the observed behavior using scaling analysis, demonstrating the steady method to be particularly advantageous for microdroplet evaporation studies. Our work not only characterizes the evaporation dynamics on structured wettability-patterned functional surfaces but also demonstrates the advantages of the steady method to study droplet evaporation.
To pool or not to pool: Equilibrium, pricing and regulation

Abstract We study a transportation network company (TNC) that offers on-demand solo and pooling e-hail services in an aggregate mobility service market, while competing with transit for passengers. The market equilibrium is established based on a spatial driver–passenger matching model that determines the passenger wait time for both solo and pooling rides. We prove, under mild conditions, this system always has an equilibrium solution. Built on the market equilibrium, three variants of pricing problems are analyzed and compared, namely, (i) profit maximization, (ii) profit maximization subject to regulatory constraints, and (iii) social welfare maximization subject to a revenue-neutral constraint. A comprehensive case study is constructed using TNC data collected in the city of Chicago. We found pooling is desirable when demand is high but supply is scarce. However, its benefit diminishes quickly as the average en-route detour time (i.e., the difference between the average duration of solo and pooling trips) increases. Without regulations, a mixed strategy—providing both solo and pooling rides—not only achieves the highest profit and trip production in most scenarios, but also gains higher social welfare. The minimum wage policy can improve social welfare in the short term. However, in the long run, the TNC could react by limiting the size of the driver pool, and consequently, render the policy counterproductive, even pushing social welfare below the unregulated level. Moreover, by maintaining the supply and demand of ride-hail at an artificially high level, the minimum wage policy tends to exacerbate traffic congestion by depressing the use of collective modes (transit and pooling). A congestion tax policy that penalizes solo rides promotes pooling, but may harm social welfare. However, it promises to increase both social welfare and pooling ratio when jointly implemented with the minimum wage policy.
Reexamining the Effects of Electoral Competition on Negative Advertising

Prior research suggests that campaigns become more negative when the election environment becomes more competitive. Much of this research suffers from data and design limitations. I replicate and e...
Pairing Patterns in Japanese Beetles (Popillia japonica Newman): Effects of Sex Ratio and Time of Day

Size-related patterns between unpaired and paired individuals and between males and females of a given pair give clues about both a species' sexual behavior and the environmental factors affecting its sexual behavior. We studied the mating patterns of Japanese beetles (Popillia japonica) in east–central Illinois. The frequency of male–female pairs varied significantly among days and within a day, with pairs being significantly more common in the morning and the evening. The sex ratio on the food plants was significantly male biased, but although the sex ratio fluctuated among days and among time periods, the variation in the frequency of mating pairs was not explained by variation in the sex ratio. We found no assortative pairing with respect to size, but sizes of paired and unpaired individuals did differ. Paired females were larger than unpaired females at all time periods. In contrast, paired males were larger at 0700 and smaller at 1000, and little difference existed at other times of the day. The size of males and females, sex ratio, and pairing frequency also differed among days. Much of this variation in size and pairing frequency was related to a seasonal effect: later in the summer, beetles of both sexes were smaller and pairs were less common. Interestingly, pairs were also less frequent on days with higher average temperatures. This between-day variation in pairing, in combination with the within-day pairing differences, suggests that the temperature may alter the cost, and hence likelihood, of pairing in this species.
The Effect of Prior Probability on Skill in Two-Group Discriminant Analysis

Although the weights in a discriminant function (both linear and quadratic) are independent of group prior probabilities, the performance of the classifier (on the training and validation data) is sensitively dependent on these often unknown probabilities. After reviewing some defects of a popular measure of performance in the situation where the group sizes are naturally disproportionate, three alternative measures of performance (or association) are considered and it is shown that the behavior of the measures as a function of group prior probability is different between measures. Consequently, the optimum choice of the group prior probability depends on the specific measure of performance. Among the measures considered, only two measures - the index of mean square contingency and the Heidke Skill Statistic - are found to be well defined in the disparate-group size situation, and are, therefore, recommended. An empirical data set, dealing with delinquency among high school students is employed to illustrate all of the findings.
Transnasal excerebration surgery in ancient Egypt.

Ancient Egyptians were pioneers in many fields, including medicine and surgery. Our modern knowledge of anatomy, pathology, and surgical techniques stems from discoveries and observations made by Egyptian physicians and embalmers. In the realm of neurosurgery, ancient Egyptians were the first to elucidate cerebral and cranial anatomy, the first to describe evidence for the role of the spinal cord in the transmission of information from the brain to the extremities, and the first to invent surgical techniques such as trepanning and stitching. In addition, the transnasal approach to skull base and intracranial structures was first devised by Egyptian embalmers to excerebrate the cranial vault during mummification. In this historical vignette, the authors examine paleoradiological and other evidence from ancient Egyptian skulls and mummies of all periods, from the Old Kingdom to Greco-Roman Egypt, to shed light on the development of transnasal surgery in this ancient civilization. The authors confirm earlier...
Successive approximation algorithm for H/sub /spl infin// dynamic compensation

This paper demonstrates the usefulness of the static state feedback H/sub /spl infin// successive approximation algorithm in H/sub /spl infin// dynamic compensator design cases. Unlike most commonly used algorithms in H/sub /spl infin// compensator design, the method reported uses two recursive gain-updating schemes to obtain the H/sub /spl infin// controller and avoids solving the two coupled game Riccati equations and some of the associated numeric issues entirely. Instead, only two H/sub /spl infin// norm calculation problems of given transfer matrices need to be solved at each step.
Equivalence of velocity statistics at constant pressure or constant altitude

[1] The equivalence of spatial velocity statistics calculated from second-order structure functions on constant pressure or constant altitude surfaces is demonstrated from analysis of numerical weather prediction model output, rawinsonde data, and commercial aircraft wind measurements. These large data sets allow the development of very accurate statistics. Turbulence scaling laws for horizontal velocity statistics are found to be equivalent for either calculation.
Somatic Embryogenesis in Carrot (Daucus carota)

The culture of carrot cells in liquid suspension dates from 1953 and the recognition of their totipotency from 1956 [10]. By 1962 it was feasible to maintain in the laboratory, routinely, liquid cultures, heterogeneous as to their unit size, but in which large numbers of embryos readily developed from suspended cell clusters and single cells [8]. By this time, the role of synergistic combinations of the growth-promoting complex as it occurs in coconut water with auxins such as naphthaleneacetic acid (NAA) and 2,4-dichloro-phenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D) had become well-known [11, 23]. Moreover, the advantages to be gained in some otherwise morphogenetically recalcitrant cell cultures, of sequential treatments with different growth-promoting complexes and systems, became appreciated [23]. By these general means it was shown that a number of umbelliferous plants (family Apiaceae) and species or cultivars from other families, could yield cells and somatic embryos which in turn could give rise to whole plants. But when the main sequence of embryogenic development of carrot cells became known [24], it was found that its outcome could be greatly altered by the environmental conditions and the identity and mode of application of the growth and morphogenetic stimuli [11, 23].
Microwave-Assisted Synthesis: General Concepts

Microwave heating is proving to be a valuable technique in preparative chemistry. Using a modern scientific microwave apparatus it is possible to access elevated temperatures in an easy, safe and reproducible way. By using microwave heating, reaction times can often be decreased, product yields increased and purity enhanced as compared with conventional heating methods. The origins of the rate enhancements observed have been a topic of considerable debate over the years. It is now accepted, however, that microwave heating is just that – heating. As well as giving an overview of the physical chemistry concepts behind microwave heating, this chapter explores the key tenets of microwave-assisted organic chemistry in the context of particular classes of reaction. The chapter discusses topics such as metal catalysis, cycloaddition and condensation reactions, use of gases as reagents, combinatorial chemistry and reaction scale-up.
Robust detection of signal classes

This paper proposes a robust detection statistic for signals whose parameters are uncertain. Standard detection schemes generally use time domain correlation which can be related to correlation based on the Wigner-Ville distribution by Moyal's identity. This paper shows that a more robust detection statistic is achieved by using generalised patterns in time-frequency space and deriving a non-linear time domain correlation. The performance of the robust detection statistic is evaluated with the aid of receiver operating curves, two robust detection examples are given.
Depressive symptoms in Chinese-American subjects with cognitive impairment.

Objectives To compare the prevalence of depressive symptoms and frequency of antidepressant use between a group of elderly Chinese-American subjects with and without cognitive impairment and a group of matched white subjects. A secondary aim was to examine the clinical and demographic predictors of depressive symptoms across these groups. Methods The study was conducted at an academic neurology subspecialty clinic. This was a case–control study with 140 Chinese-American subjects and 140 demographically and cognitively matched white subjects. In each group, there were 48 cognitively normal and 92 cognitively impaired participants (49 with mild cognitive impairment, 43 with Alzheimer disease). The proportion of individuals with significant depressive symptoms, as indicated by a Geriatric Depression Scale score ≥6 of 15, and frequency of antidepressant use were compared across groups by using χ 2 analysis. Factors predicting depressive symptoms, including racial and diagnostic group, age, gender, Mini−Mental State Examination score, level of functional impairment, education level, and medical comorbidities, were assessed by using linear regression analysis. Results Significant depressive symptoms were more common in cognitively impaired Chinese-American (35%) than cognitively impaired white (15%; χ 2 [1] = 9.4; p = 0.004) subjects. Chinese-American subjects with cognitive impairment were less likely to be receiving treatment for depression (12%) than white subjects with cognitive impairment (37%; χ 2 [1] = 15.6; p = 0.002). Racial and diagnostic group, age, level of functional impairment, Mini−Mental State Examination score, and education level were all statistically significant independent predictors of Geriatric Depression Scale score. Conclusions Elderly Chinese-American subjects with cognitive impairment are at increased risk for unrecognized and untreated depressive symptoms compared with elderly white subjects with cognitive impairment. Education level may contribute to this risk or it may be a surrogate marker for other factors contributing to depressive symptoms in this group.
The sequence of the myosin 50-20K loop affects Myosin's affinity for actin throughout the actin-myosin ATPase cycle and its maximum ATPase activity.

We are interested in the role that solvent-exposed, proteolytically sensitive surface loops play in myosin function. The 25−50K loop, or loop 1, is near the ATP binding site, while the 50−20K loop (loop 2) is in the actin binding site. Through chimeric studies, we have found that loop 1 affects ADP release [Murphy, C. T., and Spudich, J. A. (1998) Biochemistry 37, 6738−44], while loop 2 affects the actin-activated ATPase activity [Uyeda, T. Q.-P., et al. (1994) Nature 368, 567−9]. In the study described here, we have found that the kcat of the actin-activated ATPase activity is changed by the loop 2 substitutions in a manner that reflects the relative actin-activated ATPase activities of the donor myosins. Additionally, changes in loop 2 affect the affinity of myosin for actin both in the presence and in the absence of nucleotides. Pre-steady-state studies together with the ATPase and affinity data suggest that while loop 2 does not affect interactions between myosin and nucleotide, it plays a role in det...
Opportunities for Biostatistics Students

The National Institutes of Health F series of training and fellowship grants provides graduate students with opportunities to demonstrate their potential as current and future researchers. Submitting a grant application provides excellent experience in the proposal writing, submission, and review processes, which is particularly important for graduate students pursuing academic careers. This article is intended to familiarize students with the grant application process and focuses on funding mechanisms available through the National Institutes of Health. We provide a detailed overview of the application process, including research proposal preparation and application submission. The review procedure is described, and we address the process for revising and resubmitting an application.
Effect of Neoadjuvant Chemoradiation and Surgical Technique on Recurrence of Localized Pancreatic Cancer

To determine the influence of neoadjuvant chemoradiation and standardized dissection of the superior mesenteric artery upon the oncologic outcome of patients with localized pancreatic adenocarcinoma. One hundred ninety-four patients with pancreatic adenocarcinoma who underwent pancreaticoduodenectomy between 2004 and 2008 were evaluated. The retroperitoneal dissection was performed directly along the superior mesenteric artery in all cases. A standard histopathologic protocol that measured the “superior mesenteric artery (SMA) margin distance” between cancer cells and the superior mesenteric artery was employed. Seventy-six percent of patients received neoadjuvant chemoradiation. The SMA margin was positive in 4% of patients but an additional 22% of patients with a negative margin had a SMA margin distance of ≤1 mm. Preoperative CT images overestimated the SMA margin distance in 73% of cases. Patients who received chemoradiation had longer SMA margin distances than those who did not. Patients who received chemoradiation and had a SMA margin of >1 mm had the lowest recurrence rates. Administration of neoadjuvant chemoradiation and lower estimated blood loss were independently associated with longer progression-free survival on multivariate analysis. Preoperative chemoradiation and meticulous dissection of the superior mesenteric artery maximize the distance between cancer cells and the SMA margin and may influence locoregional control.
Analysis of three-dimensional grids: Alternative methods for five- and nine-point cubes

Equations for the five-point rectangle or diamond arrays represent the first step in the interpolation of particular configurations of measurements in prismatic array. This paper illustrates alternative five-point interpolating equations. The nine-point cube can be interpolated by polynomial equations that are based on an alternative set of quadratic-term coefficients. The equations are easy to apply and they estimate first-, second-, and third-order effects. The accuracies of the estimates rendered by the five- and nine-point equations may be sufficient to interest experimentalists.
Precipitation of icosahedral Al-Mn during pulsed laser melting

The icosahedral phase has been produced by pulsed laser melting of thin films of Mn-implanted Al. With increasing laser intensity, we observe a mixture of icosahedral and fcc phases followed by a single phase fcc region. Grains as large as 1 ..mu..m in diameter have been observed in 0.1 ..mu..m thick films. Electron diffraction studies of individual icosahedral grains indicate that the rapid growth direction from the melt is along the threefold symmetry axis.
Investigating the effects of downsizing on software professionals' self-efficacy and its consequences on software development quality

This study primarily examines the effects of downsizing on the self-efficacy of software professionals. We argue that downsizing results in a realignment of social networks, thereby affecting the self-efficacy and the outcome expectations of a software professional, which in turn affects software development quality. We synthesize relevant literature from self-efficacy, outcome expectations, downsizing and software quality research streams and develop a conceptual model linking these variables of interest.
Aortic Length: Angiocardiographic Measurements

Statistical analysis of measurement of aortic length made on 250 angiocardiograms indicates that arteriosclerosis, hypertension and syphilitic aortitis produce elongation of the aorta. Aortic length varies widely among normal individuals but is roughly ten times the caliber of the ascending aorta. Syphilitic aortitis produces disproportionate elongation of the ascending portion of the aorta as compared to arteriosclerosis or hypertension.
Measurement of Pregnanetriol in Plasma

Plasma pregnanetriol concentrations have been measured in patients with congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH) by modifying a standard urinary method. In untreated patients with CAH secondary to 21-hydroxylase deficiency the concentration varied between 80 and 550 μg/100 ml after the tenth day of life. Concentration increased after ACTH stimulation and fell during suppressive adrenocorticosteroid therapy. Absent or very low concentrations of this metabolite (less than 5 μg/100 ml) were found in unaffected subjects. Measurement of plasma pregnanetriol concentration avoids the necessity for complete 24-hr urine collection, a technically difficult procedure in the infant and young child. The method also provides a convenient laboratory procedure for following these persons as outpatients.
Adverse effects of corticosteroids: II. Systemic.

Abstract Corticosteroids are one of the most widely used group of drugs in the world today. The beneficial effects on the illness being treated must be weighed against the many adverse reactions (Table 1), which may be affected by the route of administration—topical, oral, intravenous, intramuscular, or intralesional. The major adverse reactions through systemic administration will be considered in this chapter. Corticosteroids are hormones produced and released by the adrenal cortex and controlled by the pituitary through release of adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH). Hormonal steroids may be classified as those having important effects on intermediary metabolism (glucocorticoids), those having primarily salt-retaining activity (mineralocorticoids), and those having androgenic and estrogenic activity. The major glucocorticoid in man is cortisol, and the major mineralocorticoid is aldosterone (Table 1). Glucocorticoid hormones exert their effect by binding to a specific receptor site located on the cell surface and entered by simple diffusion into the cytoplasm of the cell. This complex is translocated to the nucleus, binds to chromatin, and causes formation of specific mRNAs which then mediate the response to the glucocorticoid. 1
Role of non-homologous end joining in V(D)J recombination

The pathway of V(D)J recombination was discovered almost three decades ago. Yet it continues to baffle scientists because of its inherent complexity and the multiple layers of regulation that are required to efficiently generate a diverse repertoire of T and B cells. The non-homologous end-joining (NHEJ) DNA repair pathway is an integral part of the V(D)J reaction, and its numerous players perform critical functions in generating this vast diversity, while ensuring genomic stability. In this review, we summarize the efforts of a number of laboratories including ours in providing the mechanisms of V(D)J regulation with a focus on the NHEJ pathway. This involves discovering new players, unraveling unknown roles for known components, and understanding how deregulation of these pathways contributes to generation of primary immunodeficiencies. A long-standing interest of our laboratory has been to elucidate various mechanisms that control RAG activity. Our recent work has focused on understanding the multiple protein-protein interactions and protein-DNA interactions during V(D)J recombination, which allow efficient and regulated generation of the antigen receptors. Exploring how deregulation of this process contributes to immunodeficiencies also continues to be an important area of research for our group.
Formyl-methenyl-methylenetetrahydrofolate synthetase (combined); correlation of enzymic activities with limited proteolytic degradation of the protein from yeast.

Summary A protein purified from extracts of Saccharomyces cerevisiae contains formyltetrahydrofolate synthetase (51 units/mg), methenyltetrahydrofolate cyclohydrolase (4 units/mg), and methylenetetrahydrofolate dehydrogenase (3 units/mg) activities. The protein is a dimer of identical subunits of M r = 104,000. A formyltetrahydrofolate synthetase devoid of the other activities, a dimer of subunits of M r = 76,000 has also been isolated. Exposure of the trifunctional protein to trypsin produces coordinate decay of the dehydrogenase and cyclohydrolase activities and conversion of the 104,000 dalton subunit to one electrophoretically identical to that of the monofunctional synthetase.
Regulating New Banking Models that Can Bring Financial Services to All

Technology, and in particular the spread of real-time communications networks, permits banks to delegate ‘last mile’ cash management and customer servicing functions to third-party retail outlets. By making basic deposit, withdrawal, and payment functions available securely through retail shops that exist in every village and neighborhood, there is an opportunity to dramatically increase the physical footprint of banks and to transform the basic economics of low-balance savings. Banking regulations need to be adapted to these new possibilities of banking beyond bank branches. We highlight five areas where sharpened regulatory analysis would help strike a better balance between maximizing the opportunities of these models and containing risks: (i) branching regulations which distinguish between pure transactional outlets and full service bank branches; (ii) regulations which permit banks to engage third-party retail outlets with minimal financial risks for both banks and their customers; (iii) consumer protection regulations that help customers understand and act upon their rights in a more complex service delivery chain, without burdening banks with unnecessary provisions; (iv) tiered know-your-customer (KYC) regulations that permit immediate account opening with minimum barriers for poor people, with a progressive tightening of KYC as their usage of financial services grows; and (v) creating regulatory space for a class of non-bank e-money issuers authorized to raise deposits and process payments, but not to intermediate funds.
Gait analysis using 3D motion reconstruction with an activity-specific tracking protocol

In this paper, we present a new gait analysis method using 3D body motion reconstruction with an activity-specific tracking protocol. A kinematic chain modeling the movement of lower extremities was constructed for general lower body activity monitoring. By exploring the nature of walking, a constrained forward-backward statistical linearized sigma-point Kalman Smoother with periodic state vector resetting was developed. This tracks the dynamic joint configuration during walking. Direct experimental evaluation was provided by step length computation as well as complete motion reconstruction. This method has demonstrated stable long term tracking of walking and yields greater than 95% accuracy for step length estimation.