cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Testing and Extending a Sequentially Dependent Three-stage Model of Formation of Memory

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses testing and extending a sequentially dependent three-stage model of formation of memory. A number of experiments were conducted with chicks to determine effects of amnestic agents on stages of memory formation and their sequential dependence. A stainless steel bead attached to the end of a thin wire is presented about 2 cm in front of the chick's head for 10 s. The bead is dipped either in distilled water (the control procedure) or in methyl anthranilate (MeAn), a very bitter substance. Chicks peck spontaneously at the bead. When the chick pecks the MeAn-coated bead, it usually shows a disgust reaction which includes bill-wiping and head-shaking. At test, which may occur from one min to 24 h later, a dry bead is presented for 10 s as in the training session. If the chick had pecked at a MeAn-coated bead in training and remembers it, it will not peck at a similar dry bead at test and may even show a disgust reaction. Chicks that do not peck within the 10 s test period are scored as remembering. The results of drug-injected versus saline-injected groups are compared using the chi-square nonparametric test.
Vital Signs Monitoring System in Cloud Environment

This paper intends to look into the advent of a technological systems that recently emerged in telemedicine and healthcare domain. Specifically, the paper proposes a Vital Signs Monitoring System VSMS that can be used to control and monitor vital signs of patients such as blood pressure, body temperature, and heart rate pulse. The main purpose of this proposed system is to keep all patients under 24 hour monitoring and be able to alert the staff in case of any abnormalities. The system is built on distributed control system (DCS) architecture. The paper covers three main areas. First, it proposes the system architecture and its subsystems in detail along with all functions. Second, it discusses data historians, which is how to store and handle the aggregated “Big Data” that resulted from continuous monitoring. Finally, how and why this system is handled and built on cloud-based computing environment.
Ethical and Policy Considerations for Genomic Testing in Pediatric Research: The Path Toward Disclosing Individual Research Results

DNA is now commonly collected in clinical research either for immediate genomic analyses or stored for future studies. Many genomic studies were previously designed without awareness of the ethical issues that might arise regarding the disclosure of genomic test results. At the start of the Chronic Kidney Disease in Children (CKiD) Cohort Study in 2004, we did not foresee the advent of genomic technology or the associated ethical issues pertaining to genetic research in children. Recent genomic studies and ancillary proposals using genomic technology stimulated the CKiD investigators to reassess the current ethical and policy environment pertaining to genomic testing and results disclosure. We consider the issues pertaining to next generation sequencing and individual results disclosure that may guide current and future research practices.
An Analytical Approach to Understanding Underrepresented Justice-Involved Youth Potential in STEM

This is a research, Work in Progress paper surrounding the topic of STEM education in juvenile justice facilities. While science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) are the fastest growing fields today, students are not math and science ready to enter college. This leaves a gap between the number of STEM workforce jobs and the number of graduates to fill these positions. Meanwhile 30,000 students go unaccounted for each day. This is the number of youths that will enter a juvenile justice facility everyday. This is a vast amount of students who hold the potential to become a part of this growing STEM workforce that are overlooked and unsupported. Recent studies have demonstrated the need for educational reform within these facilities and detention centers. This project introduces foundational research on juvenile justice-involved youth’s interest and knowledge in STEM subject matters and careers. This foundational reserach compares STEM education methods between traditional school settings and detention centers focusing on three specific areas of measure: formative assessment, qualitative skills, and personal development. Through surveys, this project will gauge the effectiveness of STEM education in juvenile detention centers, as well as provide an understanding of the potential this group of youth possess in the future STEM workforce. This is a work in progress; results of the surveys and work are still being processed.
The Economic Security of Latino Baby Boomers: Implications for Future Retirees and for Healthcare Funding in the U.S.

Healthcare spending in the U.S. is at an all-time high and projected to continue rising, partly due to baby boomer aging. As most public spending for healthcare comes from general taxation revenues, the ability of the U.S. government to fund future healthcare liabilities will be determined by the economic productivity of the workforce. U.S. population growth continues to be driven by a growing Latino population, meaning taxation revenue will be dependent on incomes of an increasingly Latino workforce. Minimizing persistent economic disparities between Latinos and non-Latinos will be crucial to ensuring the economic prosperity of the Latino community and supporting U.S. economic health. After adjusting for sociodemographics, structural disparities in income for Latino baby boomers were considerably reduced but were no lower than those of the Silent Generation. These results suggest continuing investment in the Latino population, both for the advancement of Latino economic security and the bolstering of national economic growth.
Scientific and Spiritual Structure of the Realm of Being in Flannery O’Connor and Graham Greene

ABSTRACTTaking as a basis Soren Kierkegaard’s theory of the spiritual stages of the human soul, this paper will analyze the concept of secular ethics in Flannery O’Connor and Graham Greene, concretely in two of their writings, the short story “The Lame Shall Enter First” (1962) and the play The Potting Shed (1957). I will first examine the characters of Sheppard and Henry Callifer, who are in a similar situation of existential complacency that spins around a rationalistic and materialistic outlook of good and evil, the rejection of the existence of God and hence, anything related to Christianity. In addition, I will discuss their relationship with their respective sons, Norton and James Callifer, a relationship —using Flannery O’Connor’s words— based on a tenderness which in the absence of faith is wrapped in theory. Finally, I will analyze the consequences that their standpoint has over their sons’ lives and the violent event in both stories that shakes Sheppard and Henry Callifer out of their complacenc...
Pancreaticoduodenectomy outcomes for locally advanced right colon cancers: A systematic review.

Abstract Background Pancreaticoduodenectomy (PD) with right hemicolectomy (RH) to treat locally advanced right colon cancer (LARCC) has been rarely reported in the literature. Herein, we characterize clinicopathologic factors and evaluate outcomes of en bloc PD and RH for LARCC. Methods A systematic review of the literature was conducted on PubMed using MeSH terms (“pancreaticoduodenectomy” or “pancreas/surgery” or “duodenum/surgery” or “colectomy”) and (“colonic neoplasms”). Data was extracted from patients who underwent en bloc PD and RH for LARCC. Factors investigated included patient demographics, surgical and pathologic parameters, postoperative complications, disease recurrence, and survival. Results Our search yielded 27 articles (106 patients), including 1 case from our institution. Most patients were male (62.1%), median age 58 years (range 34–83). Surgical procedures performed included en bloc RH with PD (n = 91, 85.8%) and en bloc RH with pylorus-preserving PD (n = 15, 14.2%). Among reported, 95.5% of patients (n = 63), underwent R0 resection. One or more complications were reported in 33 patients (52.4%). Median survival was 168 months. Survival after resection was 75.9% at 2 years and 66.3% at 5 years. Overall survival was greater in patients with no lymph node involvement (IIC versus IIIC, hazard ratio 8.4, P = .003). Five-year survival for patients was 84.9% in patients with stage IIC versus 46.4% in patients with stage IIIC. There were 3 postoperative mortalities. Conclusion This data demonstrates that en bloc PD and RH is rarely performed yet can be a potentially safe treatment option in patients with LARCC. Lymph node involvement was the only independent prognostic factor.
Old MacDonald Builds a Fence.

U ne day while Old MacDonald was out riding, he saw his neighbor, Farmer Brown, busily at work in a field. Wishing to be neighborly and also somewhat curious about his friend's activities, Old MacDonald decided to stop and talk. "Howdy," called Old MacDonald. "Looks like you're building a fence." "Yep," answered Farmer Brown. "I'm making a new pasture for my cattle." "But you don't seem to be fencing in the whole field."
Learning How to Behave

We describe a theoretical framework and recent research on one key aspect of robot ethics: the development and implementation of a robot’s moral competence. As autonomous machines take on increasingly social roles in human communities, these machines need to have some level of moral competence to ensure safety, acceptance, and justified trust. We review the extensive and complex elements of human moral competence and ask how analogous competences could be implemented in a robot. We propose that moral competence consists of five elements, two constituents (moral norms and moral vocabulary) and three activities (moral judgment, moral action, and moral communication). A robot’s computational representations of social and moral norms is a prerequisite for all three moral activities. However, merely programming in advance the vast network of human norms is impossible, so new computational learning algorithms are needed that allow robots to acquire and update the context-specific and graded norms relevant to their domain of deployment. Moral vocabulary is needed primarily for moral communication, which expresses moral judgments of others’ violations and explains one’s own moral violations – to justify them, apologize, or declare intentions to do better. Current robots have at best rudimentary moral competence, but with improved learning and reasoning they may begin to show the kinds of capacities that humans will expect of future social robots.
It Is Not Just Cosmesis: Straight Laparoscopy with Stoma Site Extraction Improves Outcomes in Ulcerative Colitis Patients Undergoing Total Colectomy.

Minimally invasive approaches to total abdominal colectomy (TAC) in ulcerative colitis (UC) patients include straight laparoscopy (SL), hand-assisted laparoscopic surgery (HALS), and robotics. In t...
Quadratic synthesis of integrated active controls for an aeroelastic forward-swept-wing-aircraft

State variable representations of flexible aircraft are obtained using a modeling approach which first defines a mean-reference axis coordinate system. The active system design approach for forward-swept-wing aircraft also expresses structural deformations of the wing in terms of free normal vibration modes relative to this mean reference axis. Calculations which assume quasi-steady incompressible aerodynamics are performed to obtain generalized force expressions for flight conditions. The use of this quadratic synthesis technique shows that increased performance and redundancy over decentralized approaches can be achieved using integrated active longitudinal stability augmentation and aeroelastic stabilization.
Use of Potentially Nephrotoxic Medications by U.S. Adults with Chronic Kidney Disease: NHANES, 2011-2016.

People with chronic kidney disease (CKD) are at risk for adverse events and/or CKD progression with use of renally eliminated or nephrotoxic medications. To examine the prevalence of potentially inappropriate medication (PIM) use by U.S. adults by CKD stage and self-reported CKD awareness. Cross-sectional analysis of National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys, 2011–2016 Non-pregnant adults with stages 3a (eGFR 45–59 mL/min/1.73 m2), 3b (eGFR 30–44), or 4–5 (eGFR < 30) CKD, stratified as CKD-aware/unaware. PIMs were identified on the basis of KDIGO guidelines, label information, and literature review. We calculated proportions using any and individual PIMs, assessing for differences over CKD awareness within each CKD stage. Analyses were adjusted for age, sex, race/ethnicity, education, comorbidities, and insurance type. Adjusted proportions of U.S. adults taking any PIM(s) exceeded 50% for all CKD stages and awareness categories, and were highest among CKD-unaware patients with stages 4–5 CKD: 66.6% (95% CI, 55.5–77.8). Proton pump inhibitors, opioids, metformin, sulfonylureas, and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) were all used frequently across CKD stages. NSAIDs were used less frequently when CKD-aware by patients with stage 3a CKD (2.2% [95% CI, − 0.3 to 4.7] vs. 10.7% [95% CI, 7.6 to 13.8]) and stages 4–5 CKD (0.8% [95% CI, − 0.9 to 2.5] vs. 16.5% [95% CI, 4.0 to 29.0]). Metformin was used less frequently when CKD-aware by patients with stage 3b CKD (8.1% [95% CI, 0.3–15.9] vs. 26.5% [95% CI, 17.4–35.7]) and stages 4–5 CKD (none vs. 20.8% [95% CI, 1.8–39.8]). The impact of CKD awareness was statistically significant after correction for multiple comparisons only for NSAIDs in stage 3a CKD. PIMs are frequently used by people with CKD, with some impact of CKD awareness on NSAID and metformin use. This may lead to adverse outcomes or hasten CKD progression, reinforcing the need for improved medication management among people with CKD.
A Collaborative Perspectives Approach for Effective Care Coordination in Autism Spectrum Disorder

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder resulting in significant impairment in social and communication areas. Individuals with ASD often require a substantial degree and amount of services and expenditures throughout their lifespan. This study examined service delivery experiences of family caregivers and service providers of children with ASD. A basic qualitative research design founded in phenomenology was conducted. Ten participants were enrolled and interviewed. Interview data were collected and coded to produce a qualitative analysis of the experiences of these individuals who either care for or deliver services to children with ASD. Results indicate the top five themes for service providers and family caregivers included areas of (a) collaboration, (b) education, (c) family support/involvement, (d) child-centered care, and (e) accessibility and availability. These findings can contribute to better understanding and improving future service delivery for supporting family caregivers and their children with ASD.
“Be a Martin”: Luther and Reformation in Philip Roth’s “The Conversion of the Jews”

In Philip Roth’s “The Conversion of the Jews,” once Oscar Freedman stands on the synagogue roof, he “started to feel the meaning of the word control: he felt Peace and he felt Power” (Roth 161). Be...
Ontologies, Knowledge Representation, and Machine Learning for Translational Research: Recent Contributions.

Objectives: To select, present, and summarize the most relevant papers published in 2018 and 2019 in the field of Ontologies and Knowledge Representation, with a particular focus on the intersection between Ontologies and Machine Learning. Methods: A comprehensive review of the medical informatics literature was performed to select the most interesting papers published in 2018 and 2019 and that document the utility of ontologies for computational analysis, including machine learning. Results: Fifteen articles were selected for inclusion in this survey paper. The chosen articles belong to three major themes: (i) the identification of phenotypic abnormalities in electronic health record (EHR) data using the Human Phenotype Ontology ; (ii) word and node embedding algorithms to supplement natural language processing (NLP) of EHRs and other medical texts; and (iii) hybrid ontology and NLP-based approaches to extracting structured and unstructured components of EHRs. Conclusion: Unprecedented amounts of clinically relevant data are now available for clinical and research use. Machine learning is increasingly being applied to these data sources for predictive analytics, precision medicine, and differential diagnosis. Ontologies have become an essential component of software pipelines designed to extract, code, and analyze clinical information by machine learning algorithms. The intersection of machine learning and semantics is proving to be an innovative space in clinical research.
HL-LHC Inner Detector Upgrade

ATLAS has collected data on and off since 2011 till present time. Run 1 started in 2011 when data was collected at \(\sqrt{s} = 7\) TeV and in 2012 at \(\sqrt{s} = 8\) TeV. The amount of data delivered in those years corresponds to almost 30 fb\(^{-1}\). During those years, there was on average 10–40 collisions per bunch crossing. Run 2, collected at \(\sqrt{s} = 8\) TeV, started in 2015 and ended in 2018. During Run 2, the amount of collisions per bunch crossing increased to 40–60. The total amount of data collected by ATLAS up to 2019 is about 200 fb\(^{-1}\) with another 300 fb\(^{-1}\) expected to be collected in Run 3, scheduled to run from 2021 to 2023. The ATLAS experiment was designed to operate for 10 years at a constant instantaneous luminosity of \(1.0\times 10^{34}\) cm\(^{-2}\)s\(^{-1}\) and to remain functional for an integrated luminosity of 700 fb\(^{-1}\) [1].
Introduction to the special issue: Improving the health of a local bisexual community through the creation of a citywide task force.

Bisexual community activists have a long history of fighting for visibility, respect, and equitable access to healthcare and social services (Burleson, 2005; Holthaus, 2015; Movement Advancement Pr...
A bounded-noise mechanism for differential privacy

Answering multiple counting queries is one of the best-studied problems in differential privacy. Its goal is to output an approximation of the average $\frac{1}{n}\sum_{i=1}^n \vec{x}^{(i)}$ of vectors $\vec{x}^{(i)} \in [0,1]^k$, while preserving the privacy with respect to any $\vec{x}^{(i)}$. We present an $(\epsilon,\delta)$-private mechanism with optimal $\ell_\infty$ error for most values of $\delta$. This result settles the conjecture of Steinke and Ullman [2020] for the these values of $\delta$. Our algorithm adds independent noise of bounded magnitude to each of the $k$ coordinates, while prior solutions relied on unbounded noise such as the Laplace and Gaussian mechanisms.
Storms may disrupt top-down control of algal turf on fringing reefs

Storms strongly affect coral reefs; one unstudied but potentially important outcome may be a decrease in herbivory, presumably through changes to freshwater, sediment and nutrient influx. Algal turfs are sensitive early indicators of reef condition, and experimental evidence demonstrates low sediment loads and strong herbivory maintain short, healthy turf. While unknown, storms likely disrupt these controlling forces. We have observed storms that generate frequent, visible sediment plumes in Moorea, French Polynesia. To evaluate the effects of storms on herbivory, we conducted a set of field experiments manipulating herbivore access to naturally occurring turf under three rainfall regimes: no rain, light rain, and heavy rain that generated a plume event. We found strong effects of herbivores except following the storm, indicating disruption of typically strong top-down control by herbivores on algal turfs. Further research into the underlying mechanisms is critical as storm intensities and watershed development increase in many tropical regions.
Drivers of Gene Expression Dysregulation in Pancreatic Cancer

Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) remains a devastating disease with a poor prognosis. The functional consequences of common genetic aberrations and their roles in treatment strategies have been extensively reviewed. In addition to these genomic aberrations, consideration of non-genetic drivers of altered oncogene expression is essential to account for the diversity in PDAC phenotypes. In this review we seek to assess our current understanding of mechanisms of gene expression dysregulation. We focus on four drivers of gene expression dysregulation, including mutations, transcription factors, epigenetic regulators, and RNA stability/isoform regulation, in the context of PDAC pathogenesis. Recent studies provide much-needed insight into the role of gene expression dysregulation in dissecting tumor heterogeneity and stratifying patients for the development of personalized treatment strategies.
Interaction of the protein moiety of bovine serum alpha-lipoprotein with phospholipid micelles. I. The use of lipid-requiring enzymes as assay systems.

Abstract The relationship of lipid deficient enzymes of beef-heart mitochondria which require phospholipid for enzymic activity to soluble lipoproteins has been studied. α- and β-lipoproteins were isolated from bovine serum by flotation in high-density media. Although these soluble lipoproteins contain lecithin, this lipid is not available to reactivate mitochondrial β-hydroxybutyric apodehydrogenase, a lecithin-requiring enzyme. When freed from the protein and dispersed in aqueous media, however, the lipids from these soluble lipoproteins reactivate the enzyme. The protein moiety of α-lipoprotein (α-protein) was freed of its lipid by treatment with 95% ethanol. α-Protein inhibits the reactivation of β-hydroxybutyric dehydrogenase by lecithin. Inhibition of mitochondrial electron transport is also observed when α-protein is added to a mixture of cardiolipin and lipid-deficient beef-heart mitochondria. α-Protein is unique in this regard as compared with a number of proteins which do not normally exist as lipoproteins. Little or no inhibition occurs if the enzymes are allowed to interact with phospholipid before the addition of α-protein. These results indicate that α-protein is capable of binding both lecithin and cardiolipin in micellar form, and that the binding of protein to lipid may be similar in soluble lipoproteins and in membrane-bound enzymes. It is concluded that lipid-protein complexes (lipoproteins) exist as such because the protein moiety has an affinity to bind lipid.
The effects of augmented levels of stress on reaction time in the peripheral visual field.

Abstract Eleven physically conditioned (CS) and 12 unconditioned (US) college women were tested perimetrically while being exposed to augmented levels of stress (ALS) on a bicycle ergometer; conditioning levels were determined by recovery rates of Ss. The Ss performed two tasks while riding; (a) keeping a central light lit, and (b) extinguishing peripheral lights when they were detected. All Ss reacted to a 12-min program of peripheral lights during three sessions: (a) one baseline trial in which Ss were not riding but reacting to the program, and (b) riding trials (RID) in which the Ss pedaled and reacted to the program. During RIDs the Ss pedaled a workload that was automatically altered to maintain a HR of 160 bpm. The data were organized into two groups: (a) reaction time data, and (b) missed light data (MLD). The RT data were analyzed through an ANOVA. It was concluded that: peripheral RT was not significantly affected by ALS; USs were affected more negatively than CSs; and there was not uniform narr...
Magneto‐Acoustic Mixing Technology: A Novel Method of Processing Metal‐Matrix Nanocomposites

With increasing concerns regarding fossil fuel consumption and the implementation of widespread vehicle lightweighting, light metal matrix nanocomposites (MMNC) are seen as an attractive solution in many industrial sectors including transportation and aerospace, which demand materials that simultaneously possess high strength and low weight. [1–4] However, processing of MMNCs to evenly disperse nanoparticles remains one of the great challenges to the advancement of this technology. Herein, we present a novel method for MMNC fabrication: magneto-acoustic mixing technology (MAMT). This technology uses ohmically decoupled static and alternating magnetic fields to produce high-intensity, non-contact sonication suitable for melt processing. [5] In this study, MAMT is used to disperse dysprosium oxide (Dy2O3) nanorods (25 225 nm 2 ) and erbium oxide (Er2O3) nanospheres (50 nm) in magnesium (Mg) in a high energy density acoustic environment. The resulting materials exhibit novel microstructures influenced by both acoustic and magnetic effects, which combine to break up nanoparticle agglomerations and refine microstructures. As this is the first demonstration of this technology, the versatility of MAMT is highlighted, and its far-reaching impact will be discussed. Ceramic nanoparticle reinforcement of light metals has been extensively evaluated and shown to broadly improve mechanical properties such as strength, toughness, creep resistance, and elastic modulus. [6–8] While nanoparticle reinforcement is desirable, reliable incorporation has proven to be the fundamental challenge to MMNC production, as high surface energies drive particles to agglomerate. [6] When agglomerations are present in the fabricated microstructure, they act as crack nucleation sites, degrading material properties. [9] Melt dispersion methods like horn-based sonication, powder metallurgy, and spray forming have previously been used to disperse nanoparticles, but MAMT presents the opportunity to disperse nanoparticles using a non-contact, bulk processing technique. MAMT is distinct from other electromagnetic mixing, vibration or sonication technologies [10,11] because of its processing flexibility , deriving from the ohmically decoupled system. This facilitates independent control over many of the processing variables, enabling the production of alloys that do not suffer from many of the issues associated with more traditional melt processing technologies, such as contamination from melt-transducer interactions, [12] restricted geometries, and limited interaction volumes. [13]
Investigating drug classes in biomedical terminologies from the perspective of clinical decision support.

Objectives To assess whether 1) the necessary drug classes and 2) the necessary drug-class membership relations are represented in biomedical terminologies in order to support clinical decision regarding drug-drug interactions. Methods In order to investigate drug classes and drug-class membership in clinical terminologies, we start by establishing a reference list of these entities. Then, we map drugs and classes to the UMLS, where we investigate their relations. Results 186 (83%) of the 223 names for drug classes mapped to the UMLS. The single best source is SNOMED CT with 75%. 140 (89%) of the 157 drug-membership relations were found in the UMLS. Conclusions One important category of drug classes missing from all clinical terminologies is related to drug metabolism by the Cytochrome P450 enzyme family.
Design and Analysis of Hammerhead Ribozyme Activity Against an Artificial Gene Target

In vitro cleavage assays are routinely conducted to properly assess the catalytic activity of hammerhead ribozymes (HHR) against target RNA molecules like the dengue virus RNA genomes. These experiments are performed for initial assessment of HHR catalysis in a cell-free system and have been simplified by the substitution of agarose gel electrophoresis for SDS-PAGE. Substituting mobility assays enables the analysis of ribozymes in a more rapid fashion without radioisotopes. Here we describe the in vitro transcription of an HHR and corresponding target from T7-promoted plasmids into RNA molecules leading to the analysis of HHR activity against the RNA target by in vitro cleavage assays.
Soluble sugar permeases of the phosphotransferase system in Escherichia coli: evidence for two physically distinct forms of the proteins in vivo.

The bacterial phosphoenolpyruvate-dependent phosphotransferase system (PTS) consists of a set of cytoplasmic energy-coupling proteins and various integral membrane permeases/sugar phosphotransferases, each specific for a different sugar. We have conducted biochemical analyses of three PTS permeases (enzymes II), the glucose permease (II G l c ), the mannitol permease (II M t l ) and the mannose permease (II M a n ). These enzymes each catalyse two vectorial/ chemical reactions, sugar phosphorylation using phosphoenolpyruvate (PEP) as the phosphoryl donor, dependent on enzyme I, HPr and IIA as well as IIBC (the PEP reaction), and transphosphorylation using a sugar phosphate (glucose-6-P for II G l c and II M a n ; mannitol-1-P for II M t l ) as the phosphoryl donor, dependent only on IIBC (the TP reaction). When crude extracts of French-pressed or osmotically shocked Escherichia coli cells are centrifuged in an ultracentrifuge at high speed, 5-20% of the enzyme II activity remains in the high-speed supernatant, and passage through a gel filtration column gives two activity peaks, one in the void volume exhibiting high PEP-dependent and TP activities, and a second included peak with high PEP-dependent activity and high (II M a n ), moderate (II G l c ) or negligible (II M t l ) TP activities. Both log and stationary phase cells exhibit comparable relative amounts of pelletable and soluble enzyme II activities, but long-term exposure of cells to chloramphenicol results in selective loss of the soluble fraction with retention of much of the pelleted activity concomitant with extensive protein degradation. Short-term exposure of cells to chloramphenicol results in increased activities in both fractions, possibly because of increased lipid association, with more activation in the soluble fraction than in the pelleted fraction. Western blot analyses show that the soluble II G l c exhibits a subunit size of about 45 kDa, and all three soluble enzymes II elute from the gel filtration column with apparent molecular weights of 40-50 kDa. We propose that enzymes II of the PTS exist in two physically distinct forms in the E. coil cell, one tightly integrated into the membrane and one either soluble or loosely associated with the membrane. We also propose that the membrane-integrated enzymes II are largely dimeric, whereas the soluble enzymes II, retarded during passage through a gel filtration column, are largely monomeric.
NCIDQ's Early History: Important Developments from 1970 to 1990

The National Council for Interior Design Qualification (NCIDQ) is the first and only organization developing and administering an interior design qualification examination in the United States and Canada. This organization also addresses certification, legal registration, and other issues relating to professional qualification. This paper chronicles the most important developments and changes in the formation and early years of NCIDQ from 1970 to 1990. During this period, the organizational membership shifted from representatives of member associations to primarily one of the representatives from state and provincial regulatory boards. Few systematic studies document these formative decades in NCIDQ's early history. Important investigative resources include the organization's meeting minutes, historical summaries of activities and initiatives, and related scholarly articles from journals in the discipline. The research methodology involves a critical, systematic review and historical qualitative analysis of primary and secondary resources through a content analysis by grouping the most relevant, important, and significant content into a historical timeline. The results led to the categories of NCIDQ's founding and governance, examination developments and research, and legal registration and certification. NCIDQ's early history documents efforts to emulate the NCARB model incorporating standards and criteria in education, experience, and examination to address career path standards in interior design. Through these efforts and contributions to the profession, NCIDQ has left an indelible footprint on the formation of the discipline of interior design and forged avenues for future growth, as described herein.
Multiple time-surface characterization of time-dependent, three-dimensional flows

Certain features of the large-scale, time-dependent flow structure from an oscillating, three-dimensional body can be approximated by using combined hydrogen bubble visualization, video recording, and computer-aided design (CAD) reconstruction. This technique requires a single bubble wire and video camera in conjunction with a phase reference from the oscillating body to acquire two-dimensional projections of the flow at desired spanwise locations. In principle, this technique and its extensions can be employed for any unsteady, three-dimensional flow where a suitable phase reference exists. Appropriate generation of bubble timelines leads to three-dimensional “time-surfaces” at selected instants of time, and threreby a three-dimensional space-time estimate of the macroscale features of the flow.
STUDY SKILLS, LEARNING PROCESSES AND ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT

Correlations between scores on the Deep Processing Scale of the Inventory of Learning Processes, the CAI Study Skills Test scales and academic achievement as GPA were assessed. Also, differences be...
Fluorodeoxyglucose F18 positron emission tomography in a case of slowly progressive pure alexia

We describe a 71-year-old patient with slowly progressive pure alexia in which analysis of her fluorodeoxyglucose FDG-PET scan revealed an area of focal hypometabolism in the visual word form area. She presented with difficulty reading. Examination revealed pure alexia with preservation of other cognitive domains. Brain MRI revealed only slight atrophy. A Fluorodeoxyglucose F18 positron emission tomography scan revealed hypometabolism in the occipital cortex bilaterally, left greater than right, with normal metabolism elsewhere in the brain. This case highlights the utility of FDG-PET scan in evaluating focal neurodegenerative conditions before clear atrophy can be seen on MRI.
Simulating human problem solving which requires successive decisions (abstract only)

Efficient human problem solving paradigms, which depend on progressing toward a solution by performing a series of intermediate decisions, have been found to consist of two distinct strategies.Strategy-1, could be considered the information gathering part. It consists of decisions, at each step, formulated primarily with the objective of maximizing the information to be gained about the ultimate solution answer. All available information at the time of the decision making is used to formulate a new decision, the response to which is viewed as maximizing the new information toward the ultimate solution answer.Strategy-1 is abandoned in favor of a different strategy, call it strategy-2, when the set of remaining possible solutions is considered by the human problem solver to be small. It consists of decisions formulated primarily to constitute actual ultimate answers, selecting from the set of still viable answers the 'most suitable' member.Strategy-1 of the human solving paradigm can be simulated using information theoretic approach. We create an and/or decision tree, which uses the decision strategy of minimizing at each decision step, the set of maximum number of solutions still possible. It is shown that strategy-1, is indeed simulated by the and/or decision tree solution search approach.Machine simulation of strategy-2, consists of identifying the still viable solutions and selecting one from this set.One of the difficulties in successfully simulating the above human problem solving paradigm, is the need to discover an appropriate rule, for each particular situation, indicating when to switch from simulating strategy-1 to simulating strategy-2.Many factors enter into the human problem solver decision making in selecting the appropriate point of switching strategies. Not the least of these factors is a 'hunch' or a 'gamble' on the correct solution, selecting it from the set of remaining possible solutions.Algorithms for simulating the code breaker in the game of mastermind are discussed and a method for achieving a simulation for an optimal code breaker is analyzed.
The Molecular Mechanics of Quantized Valence Bonds

A new force field, Quantized Valence Bonds′ Molecular Mechanics (QVBMM) has been included in the molecular modeling program STR3DI.EXE. The QVBMM force field successfully embraces and implements all of the pivotal concepts in VSEPR theory and uniquely integrates lone pairs into molecular mechanics. QVBMM facilitates a detailed analysis of the stereo-electronic effects that contribute to the structural and conformational preferences of organic molecules in their ground states, including those molecules that possess the common heteroatoms. The design, parameterization and application of the force field to a few representative molecules is discussed. The anomeric effect is also briefly examined.
Development of aromaticity in cellulosic chars

Abstract Cellulosic chars prepared at HTTs ranging up to 500°C contain aromatic structures as evidenced by the production of benzene polycarboxylic acid derivatives on permanganate oxidation. Analysis of these products indicates the concentration of the aromatic units and the degree of substitution of benzene polycarboxylic acids represents the extent of condensation or crosslinking of the structures. Further information on this subject is obtained by elemental composition of the char and the H C ratio. These studies indicate a rapid weight loss and development of aromatic structures between 350 and 400°C, as the H C ratio is gradually reduced from 1.5 to 0.7 and the aromatic carbon of the benzene polycarboxylic acids formed is increased to 2.5% of the carbon content of the original cellulose. Above 400°C the rate of weight loss is reduced with the formation of the “stable” char and the yield of the aromatic carbon remains constant. However, the aromatization process continues with rapid reduction in H C ratio, due to the condensation and growth of the aromatic clusters as evidenced by the increased formation of the highly substituted benzene polycarboxylic acids. The presence of inorganic additives, representing flame retardants results in increased charring and enhancement of aromaticity and condensation.
Enhanced optical scattering by microbubbles

Optical properties of microbubbles (EchoGen, Sonus Pharmaceuticals, WA) have been evaluated using a 200 MHz phase modulation system. Studies have shown that the mean optical pathlength has been increased at 754 nm by an average of 1.5 mm (std. 0.46 mm) when EchoGen was administered to 11 Fischer rats at the dose of 100 (mu) l or 150 (mu) l. As a comparison, the mean pathlength has been decreased at the same wavelength by an average of 4.2 mm (std. 3.66 mm) when indocyanine green (ICG) was administered at the dose of 100 (mu) l. The mean pathlength change at 816 nm is very small and the possible reasons are discussed. Potential applications of using microbubbles to provide a co-registration of ultrasound and light images of growing tumors are discussed.© (1997) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
A Sexually Aberrant Crab (Dakoticancer Overanus Rathbun, 1917) From the Upper Cretaceous Pierre Shale of South Dakota

[Une collection de 4 000 Decapodes fossiles a ete recueillie dans le "Pierre Shale" du Cretace Superieur dans le Dakota du Sud. Les specimens proviennent de la zone biostratigraphique a Baculites grandis Hall et Meek (Maestrichtien, 70 millions d'annees). Un specimen recueilli avec 2 500 autres Brachyoures, pres de Mobridge, South Dakota, est un intersexue. Le specimen de Dakoticancer overanus Rathbun a un conduit genital femelle perforant la coxa du troisieme pereiopode gauche. Le troisieme pereiopode droit et les cinquiemes pereiopodes ne sont pas conserves si bien qu'il est impossible de determiner s'ils presentaient des pores genitaux. Les caracteres sexuels secondaires - taille, forme et ornementation de l'abdomen, et forme et ornementation du plastron sternal - sont ceux d'un mâle., Une collection de 4 000 Decapodes fossiles a ete recueillie dans le "Pierre Shale" du Cretace Superieur dans le Dakota du Sud. Les specimens proviennent de la zone biostratigraphique a Baculites grandis Hall et Meek (Maestrichtien, 70 millions d'annees). Un specimen recueilli avec 2 500 autres Brachyoures, pres de Mobridge, South Dakota, est un intersexue. Le specimen de Dakoticancer overanus Rathbun a un conduit genital femelle perforant la coxa du troisieme pereiopode gauche. Le troisieme pereiopode droit et les cinquiemes pereiopodes ne sont pas conserves si bien qu'il est impossible de determiner s'ils presentaient des pores genitaux. Les caracteres sexuels secondaires - taille, forme et ornementation de l'abdomen, et forme et ornementation du plastron sternal - sont ceux d'un mâle.]
Ab initio studies of the C2H2BN potential energy surface

Abstract The C2H2BN potential energy surface has been investigated at the MP2-level using the 6-311G** basis set. The potential surface proved to be very complex permitting only partial characterization. Sixty-six stationary points, including 42 energy minima and 24 transition states, were found. The linear (C∞v) isomer HCC–B−N+–H, 9, was the most stable species identified. The most stable cyclic structure was the non-planar isomer 46, consisting of two fused three-membered rings. Isomer 46 is 12.9 kcal/mol more stable than the planar four-membered ring structure, 4. The planar isomer 4 has a short cross-ring CB distance and could be considered as an example of a long sought after system with a planar four-coordinated carbon. Planar four-membered ring isomer 5 has shorter CN and CB (and longer CC and BN) lengths than 4 and was only 6.7 kcal/mol less stable. Planar four-membered ring, 7, was 18.7 kcal/mol less stable than 4 and it exhibits alternating single and double bonds. The C2v isomer 18, H2CBCN (CBCN portion linear) was found to be a local minimum, lying 17.3 kcal/mol above the global minimum 9 and is proposed to be observable under proper conditions. Isomer 18 can be represented by the valence bond structure, 3, H2CB–CN. In addition to 9, 46, 4, and 18, other candidates for experimental detection are the linear isomers HCC–NBH, 10, HCNBCH, 11, and HNCCBH, 12, the acyclic C2v structures H2CBNC, 19, H2CCNB, 21, and H2CCBN, 22, and the three-membered ring structures , and ,62. 10, 11, 12, 19, 21, 22, 60 and 62 are less stable than 9 by 17.5, 61.6, 35.2, 27.5, 59.6, 77.5, 73.2 and 78.4 kcal/mol, respectively.
Maximal partial AUC feature selection in computer-aided detection of hepatocellular carcinoma in contrast-enhanced hepatic CT

A major challenge in the current computer-aided detection (CADe) of hepatocellular carcinomas (HCCs) in contrastenhanced hepatic CT is to reduce the number of false-positive (FP) detections while maintaining a high sensitivity level. In this paper, we propose a feature selection method based on a sequential forward floating selection procedure coupled with a linear discriminant analysis classifier to improve the classification performance in computerized detection of HCCs in contrast-enhanced hepatic CT. The proposed method selected the most relevant features that would maximize the partial area under the receiver-operating-characteristic (ROC) curve (partial AUC) value, which would essentially lead to the maximum classification performance in the computer-aided detection scheme in a clinical setting. The partial AUC value is defined as the normalized AUC value in the high sensitivity region of the ROC curve, which is of clinical importance. In order to test the performance of the proposed method, we compared it against the popular stepwise feature selection method based on Wilks' lambda and a recently developed maximal AUC feature selection for an HCC database (23 HCCs and 1279 non-HCCs). We extracted 88 morphologic, gray-level-based, and texture features from the segmented lesion candidate regions in the hepatic CT images. The proposed method selected 9 features and achieved 100% sensitivity at 5.5 FPs per patient. Experiments showed a significant improvement in the performance of the classifier with the proposed feature selection method over that with the popular stepwise feature selection based on Wilks' lambda (17.3 FPs per patient) and the maximal AUC feature selection (10.0 FPs per patient) in terms of AUC values and FP rates.
A neural network simulation of hallucinated “voices” and associated speech perception impairments in schizophrenic patients

The mechanism of hallucinated speech, a symptom commonly reported by schizophrenic patients, is unknown. The hypothesis that these hallucinations arise from pathologically altered working memory underlying speech perception was explored. A neural network computer simulation of contextually guided sequential word detection based on Elman (1990a,b) was studied. Pruning anatomic connections or reducing neuronal activation in working memory caused word “percepts” to emerge spontaneously (i.e., in the absence of external “speech inputs”), thereby providing a model of hallucinated speech. These simulations also demonstrated distinct patterns of word detection impairments when inputs were accompanied by varying levels of noise. In a parallel human study, the ability to shadow noisecontaminated, connected speech was assessed. Schizophrenic patients reporting hallucinated speech demonstrated a pattern of speech perception impairments similar to a simulated neural network with reduced anatomic connectivity and enhanced neuronal activation. Schizophrenic patients not reporting this symptom did not demonstrate these speech perception impairments. Neural network simulations and human empirical data, when considered together, suggested that the primary cause of hallucinated “voices” in schizophrenia is reduced neuroanatomic connectivity in verbal working memory.
Interracial contact and fear of crime

Abstract Despite a large literature on public views about crime, the racialization of crime, and the contact hypothesis, surprisingly little is known about how interracial friendships may influence Whites’ fear of crime. At the same time, and perhaps because no counterpart stereotype to that of “Blacks as criminals” exists, there has been little exploration of how such contact may influence Blacks’ fear of crime. To address these research gaps, this study built on prior theory and research and used data from an ABC News and Washington Post poll to test competing hypotheses about the effect of interracial contact on Whites’ and Blacks’ fear of crime, respectively. The analyses revealed that close interracial friendships are associated with increased fear of crime among Whites, decreased fear of crime among lower-income Blacks, and increased fear among higher-income Blacks. The implications for theory and research are discussed.
Finite element analysis of FRP tube assemblies for bridge decks

Fiber reinforced polymer (FRP) composite materials have many advantages over traditional building materials. They are becoming more and more popular in civil engineering applications. FRP pultruded tubes are easy to fabricate and can be easily assembled for different applications. In this paper, FRP tube assemblies of variable size, fiber material, tube wall thickness, and different installation are studied using finite element analysis. The deflection and stress distribution are listed for each case. When compared to experimental results, the numerical analysis shows good correlation. Data gained in this study can be used for design and optimization of FRP tube assemblies for bridge deck construction and similar applications in civil engineering.