cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The relationship between academic performance and recreation use among first-year medical students

Introduction : Self-care activities, including exercise, may be neglected by medical students in response to increasing academic demands. Low levels of exercise among medical students may have ripple effects on patient care and counseling. This study investigates the reciprocal role of recreation use and academic performance among first-year medical students. Methods : We combined retrospective administrative data from four cohorts of first-year medical students at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign from 2006 to 2010 ( n =408). We estimated regression models to clarify the role of changes in recreation use before examinations on changes in academic performance, and vice versa. Results : The use of recreation facilities by first-year medical students was highly skewed. We found that changes in recreation use before an exam were positively associated with changes in exam performance, and vice versa. Students who make large decreases in their recreation use are likely to decrease their exam scores, rather than increase them. Discussion : Students who make decreases in their recreation, on average, are likely to decrease their exam scores. These findings suggest that medical students may be able to boost their achievement through wellness interventions, even if they are struggling with exams. We find no evidence that decreasing wellness activities will help improve exam performance. Keywords: academic performance; wellness interventions; longitudinal analysis; first-year medical students (Published: 26 March 2015) Citation: Med Educ Online 2015, 20: 25105 - http://dx.doi.org/10.3402/meo.v20.25105
A Prohormone Convertase Cleavage Site within a Predicted α-Helix Mediates Sorting of the Neuronal and Endocrine Polypeptide VGF into the Regulated Secretory Pathway

Distinct intracellular pathways are involved in regulated and constitutive protein secretion from neuronal and endocrine cells, yet the peptide signals and molecular mechanisms responsible for targeting and retention of soluble proteins in secretory granules are incompletely understood. By using confocal microscopy and subcellular fractionation, we examined trafficking of the neuronal and endocrine peptide precursor VGF that is stored in large dense core vesicles and undergoes regulated secretion. VGF cofractionated with secretory vesicle membranes but was not detected in detergent-resistant lipid rafts. Deletional analysis using epitope-tagged VGF suggested that the C-terminal 73-amino acid fragment of VGF, containing two predicted α-helical loops and four potential prohormone convertase (PC) cleavage sites, was necessary and sufficient with an N-terminal signal peptide-containing domain, for large dense core vesicle sorting and regulated secretion from PC12 and INS-1 cells. Further transfection analysis identified the sorting sequence as a compact C-terminal α-helix and embedded 564RRR566 PC cleavage site; mutation of the 564RRR566 PC site in VGF-(1-65): GFP:VGF-(545-617) blocked regulated secretion, whereas disruption of the α-helix had no effect. Mutation of the adjacent 567HFHH570 motif, a charged region that might enhance PC cleavage in acidic environments, also blocked regulated release. Finally, inhibition of PC cleavage in PC12 cells using the membrane-permeable synthetic peptide chloromethyl ketone (decanoyl-RVKR-CMK) blocked regulated secretion of VGF. Our studies define a critical RRR-containing C-terminal domain that targets VGF into the regulated pathway in neuronal PC12 and endocrine INS-1 cells, providing additional support for the proposed role that PCs and their cleavage sites play in regulated peptide secretion.
Abstract 1013: Angiopoietin 1/2 inhibition impairs tumor growth in an orthotopic model of renal cell carcinoma

Background: Clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC), the most common form of renal cell carcinoma, is characterized VEGF driven tumor vascularization. However, in patients treated with anti-VEGF therapies inevitably tumor progression occurs, likely driven by up-regulation of alternative proangiogenic pathways including angiopoietins and c-MET. We hypothesized that angiopoietin inhibition has anti-tumor effect on RCC and may affect the development of resistance to anti-VEGF therapies. In the current study we utilized the dual angiopoietin inhibitor AMG 386 in murine models of RCC, and assessed the preclinical impact of this strategy. Methods: Seven week old female Balb/c mice were injected with 250,000 RENCA cells (luciferase expressing), one week later these mice were randomized, using bioluminescence imaging into two treatment groups: vehicle or Amgen 386 (5.6mg/kg/day, twice a week, subQ injection). Body weight measurements, tumor growth rate, and end point tumor weight measurements were used to evaluate possible side effects and the progression of RENCA tumors. Four weeks of treatment culminated in collection of tumor tissues for immunohistochemistry analysis of Ki67 and CD31. In addition we have ongoing studies utilizing patient derived xenografts (PDX) of ccRCC developed in our lab. Results: In the RENCA model AMG 386 induced a significant decrease of tumor weight by 44.0 percent (p = 0.0123). In addition, histological analysis of tumor sections revealed a high proportion of necrosis and decreased blood vessel density. Studies are ongoing with sunitinib sensitive PDXs and matched sunitinib resistant PDXs treated with AMG 386 in combination with a selective c-MET inhibitor. Results from these models will be available at the time of the meeting. Conclusions: Our preliminary results suggest that AMG 386 as a single agent is inhibiting both vascularization and tumor growth in an orthotopic renal cell carcinoma model. Ongoing studies with AMG 386 in combination with a selective c-MET inhibitor in sunitinib sensitive and resistant PDX models will provide guidance for the optimal clinical development of angiopoietin inhibitors in patients with ccRCC. Citation Format: Ashley Orillion, Kiersten Marie Miles, Li Shen, Remi Adelaiye, Eric Ciamporcero, Swathi Ramakrishnan, Sheng Yu Ku, May Elbanna, Sreenivasulu Chintala, Roberto Pili. Angiopoietin 1/2 inhibition impairs tumor growth in an orthotopic model of renal cell carcinoma. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 105th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2014 Apr 5-9; San Diego, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2014;74(19 Suppl):Abstract nr 1013. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2014-1013
Strengthened Bell inequalities for entanglement verification

Bell inequalities were meant to test quantum mechanics vs local hidden variable models, but can also be used to verify entanglement. For entanglement verification purposes one assumes the validity of quantum mechanics as well as quantum descriptions of one's measurements. With the help of these assumptions it is possible to derive a strengthened Bell inequality whose violation implies entanglement. We generalize known examples of such inequalities by relating the expectation value of the Bell operator to a particular quantitative measure of entanglement, namely, the negativity. Moreover, we obtain statistics illustrating the fact that violating a given (strengthened or not) Bell inequality is a much more rare feat for a quantum state of two qubits than it is to be entangled.
Every unit matrix is a LULU

Abstract The four matrices L0U0L1U1 at the end of the title are triangular with ones on their main diagonals. Their product has determinant one. Following a question and theorem of Toffoli, we show that any matrix with determinant one can be factored in this way. A transformation of the plane becomes a sequence of one-dimensional shears, with n2 — 1 free parameters.
Developing into similarity: global teacher education in the twenty‐first century

This article explains the process that is causing systems of teacher education in the EU, the USA and elsewhere to converge into a form of fewer qualitative distinctions. We argue that expansion brought about by processes familiar to globalisation is creating wide differences in the cost of information that incentivises use of standardised patterns for producing teachers. The logic of institutional expansion, like the logic of globalisation, operates as a uniting force across previously regarded nation‐state boundaries and cultural distinctions. This brief study identifies institutional scale and the division of information as key factors that link the interaction of institutions across markets and adds insight into the critically important issues surrounding the production of quality teachers.
Patient decision making in the face of conflicting medication information

When patients consult more than one source of information about their medications, they may encounter conflicting information. Although conflicting information has been associated with negative outcomes, including worse medication adherence, little is known about how patients make health decisions when they receive conflicting information. The objective of this study was to explore the decision making strategies that individuals with arthritis use when they receive conflicting medication information. Qualitative telephone interviews were conducted with 20 men and women with arthritis. Interview vignettes posed scenarios involving conflicting information from different sources (e.g., doctor, pharmacist, and relative), and respondents were asked how they would respond to the situation. Data analysis involved inductive coding to identify emergent themes and deductive contextualization to make meaning from the emergent themes. In response to conflicting medication information, patients used rules of thumb, trial and error, weighed benefits and risks, and sought more information, especially from a doctor. Patients relied heavily on trial and error when there was no conflicting information involved in the vignette. In contrast, patients used rules of thumb as a unique response to conflicting information. These findings increase our understanding of what patients do when they receive conflicting medication information. Given that patient exposure to conflicting information is likely to increase alongside the proliferation of medication information on the Internet, patients may benefit from assistance in identifying the most appropriate decision strategies for dealing with conflicting information, including information about best information sources.
Consistent use of the standard model effective potential.

The stability of the standard model is determined by the true minimum of the effective Higgs potential. We show that the potential at its minimum when computed by the traditional method is strongly dependent on the gauge parameter. It moreover depends on the scale where the potential is calculated. We provide a consistent method for determining absolute stability independent of both gauge and calculation scale, order by order in perturbation theory. This leads to a revised stability bounds ${m}_{h}^{\text{pole}}g(129.4\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}2.3)\text{ }\text{ }\mathrm{GeV}$ and ${m}_{t}^{\text{pole}}l(171.2\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.3)\text{ }\text{ }\mathrm{GeV}$. We also show how to evaluate the effect of new physics on the stability bound without resorting to unphysical field values.
Prenatal presentation and outcome of children with pleuropulmonary blastoma.

Abstract Background/Purpose Pleuropulmonary blastoma (PPB) is a rare primary neoplasm of pleuropulmonary mesenchyme. Fewer than 170 children have been reported, and few single institutions have reported more than several cases. Treatment for this condition is primarily surgical resection; however, increasing experience suggests that adjuvant chemotherapy may decrease recurrence and improve outcome. Methods We reviewed the charts of all children with PPB treated at our institution since 1960. We reviewed the prenatal features, clinical presentation, operation, pathological findings, adjuvant treatment, and outcome. Results Ten children (6 boys and 4 girls) were treated for PPB at a mean age of 3.2 ± 4.3 years. In 2, a cystic lung mass was diagnosed prenatally, and in 8, a cystic or solid and cystic lung mass was diagnosed postnatally (right lung, 3; left lung, 4; and bilateral, 3). In no patient was PPB considered preoperatively. Surgical resection was performed at 1 day to 11 years (median, 23 months) of age. Seven children had complete resection; 1 had microscopic residual disease, and 2 had gross residual disease. Pathology showed type I PPB in 7, type II in 1, and type III in 2. Five patients received adjuvant chemotherapy with vincristine, actinomycin, and cyclophosphamide-based regimens. At follow-up (mean, 7.7 ± 11.5 years; range, 1-456 months), children with type I PPB have no evidence of disease (n = 6) or are lost to follow-up (n = 1), whereas all those with type II/III PPB have died of the disease. Conclusions PPB must be included in the differential diagnosis of a fetus, neonate, or child with a cystic lung mass. This finding supports early resection of these lesions rather than observation or treatment with nonoperative strategies.
Dispersion of columbian ground squirrels (Spermophilus columbianus) in meadow steppe and coniferous forest

Afin de determiner si l'heterogeneite de l'habitat au printemps explique la distribution des populations ou la dispersion des individus a l'interieur des populations, l'etude a porte sur 2 zones de steppe et de foret xerophytique
Does treating maternal depression improve child health management? The case of pediatric asthma

Past studies have demonstrated an association between maternal depression and poor management of pediatric asthma. Using an instrumental variables strategy to address the endogeneity of depression treatment, I build on this literature to answer the question of whether treating maternal depression leads to an improvement in pediatric asthma management. I show that treatment of mother's depression improves management of child's asthma, resulting in a reduction in asthma costs in the 6-month period following diagnosis of $798 per asthmatic child whose mother is treated for depression.
The role of interferon-β in the treatment of multiple sclerosis and experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis – in the perspective of inflammasomes

Inflammasomes in innate immune cells mediate the induction of inflammation by sensing microbes and pathogen-associated/damage-associated molecular patterns. Inflammasomes are also known to be involved in the development of some human and animal autoimmune diseases. The Nod-like receptor family pyrin domain containing 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome is currently the most fully characterized inflammasome, although a limited number of studies have demonstrated its role in demyelinating autoimmune diseases in the central nervous system of humans and animals. Currently, the development of experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE), an animal model of multiple sclerosis (MS), is known to be induced by the NLRP3 inflammasome through enhanced recruitment of inflammatory immune cells in the central nervous system. On the other hand, interferon-β (IFNβ), a first-line drug to treat MS, inhibits NLRP3 inflammasome activation, and ameliorates EAE. The NLRP3 inflammasome is indeed a factor capable of inducing EAE, but it is dispensable when EAE is induced by aggressive disease induction regimens. In such NLRP3 inflammasome-independent EAE, IFN-β treatment is generally not effective. This might therefore be one mechanism that leads to occasional failures of IFN-β treatment in EAE, and possibly, in MS as well. In the current review, we discuss inflammasomes and autoimmunity; in particular, the impact of the NLRP3 inflammasome on MS/EAE, and on IFN-β therapy.
Effects of shock intensity on speed and response competition in the escape training of neonatal and infant rats

Rats, 3-11 days old, were given 25 escape training trials in a straight alley with.1,.2, or.4-mA 60-Hz ac shock as the motivating stimulus. The results indicated that the younger the rat or the more intense the shock, the less likely escape training was to be completely effective. On.1 mA, only the 7- to 11-day-old Ss showed an intrasession speed increase, and on.4 mA, only the 11-day-olds showed such an increase. The 7- to 11-day-old Ss were also the only Ss to increase speed as shock intensity increased. Response competition, on the other hand, decreased over training trials for all age groups on both.1 and.2 mA, but only the 5- and 7-day-old Ss showed such a decrease on.4 mA. For all age groups, however, response competition varied inversely with shock intensity.
Critical multiplism: A research strategy and its attendant tactics

Recent debates suggest that quantitative and qualitative approaches to evaluation are inevitably separated by a gap in worldviews. Critical multiplism is one way of thinking about evaluation that can unify these two approaches.
On Mario Bunge’s Definition of System and System Boundary

In this short paper we discuss Mario Bunge's definition of system boundary. It is quickly discovered that Bunge's definition of system and system boundary are both deficient. We thus propose new definitions, which (hopefully) improve the situation. Our definition of system boundary works off the same intuition behind Bunge's.
Sequential Assembly of Myosin II, an IQGAP-like Protein, and Filamentous Actin to a Ring Structure Involved in Budding Yeast Cytokinesis

We have identified a Saccharomyces cerevisiae protein, Cyk1p, that exhibits sequence similarity to the mammalian IQGAPs. Gene disruption of Cyk1p results in a failure in cytokinesis without affecting other events in the cell cycle. Cyk1p is diffused throughout most of the cell cycle but localizes to a ring structure at the mother–bud junction after the initiation of anaphase. This ring contains filamentous actin and Myo1p, a myosin II homologue. In vivo observation with green fluorescent protein–tagged Myo1p showed that the ring decreases drastically in size during cell division and therefore may be contractile. These results indicate that cytokinesis in budding yeast is likely to involve an actomyosin-based contractile ring. The assembly of this ring occurs in temporally distinct steps: Myo1p localizes to a ring that overlaps the septins at the G1-S transition slightly before bud emergence; Cyk1p and actin then accumulate in this ring after the activation of the Cdc15 pathway late in mitosis. The localization of myosin is abolished by a mutation in Cdc12p, implicating a role for the septin filaments in the assembly of the actomyosin ring. The accumulation of actin in the cytokinetic ring was not observed in cells depleted of Cyk1p, suggesting that Cyk1p plays a role in the recruitment of actin filaments, perhaps through a filament-binding activity similar to that demonstrated for mammalian IQGAPs.
Toxicity identification of pocomoke river porewater

Abstract Toxicants associated with sediments affect many natural aquatic ecosystems. Pocomoke River (PR) is one of the 150 rivers and streams that feed its sediment into the Chesapeake Bay. The objective of this study was to use USEPA Toxicity Identification Evaluation (TIE) tests to identify toxicants in the sediment-porewater of PR. Samples from three depths (0–7.7, 7.8–15.4 and 15.5–23.1 cm) at four sites (1.6 km upstream of, adjacent to and 1.6 and 3.2 km downstream of the municipal sewage treatment plant (STP) outlet) were collected. The porewater samples were tested for toxicity (EC50) using the MicrotoxR marine luminescent bacteria (Vibrio fischeri), TOXITRAKTM toxicity test (Inhibition-%I), and Ceriodaphnia dubia (48-h survival-%S). High toxicity values (EC50 = 12.8%, % I = 93 and % S = 11) were observed for the samples collected at the site 1.6 km downstream of the STP outlet, which is near an intensive agricultural area including a poultry farm. Toxicity reduced significantly with increasing depth at every sampling site. Toxicity also decreased with distance from the most contaminated site both upstream and downstream. Qualitative MetPLATETM analyses showed that toxic forms of metals were present in all the sampling sites except for the site 1.6 km upstream of the STP outlet. Phase I TIE tests suggested that the toxicity was due to oxidants, metals and organic compounds. Phase II TIE tests identified chlorine (total) and heavy metals [zinc (Zn), lead (Pb), copper (Cu), cadmium (Cd) and Arsenic (As)]. Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and organochlorine pesticides were found in PR porewater.
The Sympathetic Magical Law of Similarity, Nominal Realism and Neglect of Negatives in Response to Negative Labels:

In accord with both the sympathetic magical law of similarity and the principle of nominal realism, previous research has shown that American adults have difficulty in ignoring a label indicating toxicity on a food, even though they know the label is false. This study confirms the finding, and shows that there is some reluctance to choose or consume a food entity if it is labelled explicitly as being nontoxic (a label of not sodium cyanide or not poison). Hence this type of magical thinking seems to ignore negatives.
Life History of the Flat Bullhead, Ictalurus platycephalus, in Lake Norman, North Carolina

Abstract The life history of flat bullheads in Lake Norman, North Carolina, was studied from March 1974 through October 1975. Growth of males and females was similar through the first 3 years, but subsequent growth was slower in females. Males appear to live longer than females. Calculated maximum total lengths (L∞) were 338 mm for males and 301 mm for females. Length-weight relationships of males and females were similar through the first 3 years, but females generally weighed more than males of the same length after 3 years. Highest values of relative condition were recorded in April and May just prior to spawning. Gonadal-somatic indices and ova diameters indicated that flat bullheads attained maturity during their third year and spawned in June and July at temperatures ranging from 21 to 24 C. Fecundity estimates ranged from 207 to 1,742 mature ova per female and were related to length and weight. Lake Norman flat bullheads were opportunistic omnivores which fed mainly at the bottom in the littoral zone.
Contingent visual marking by transients

Preview search is a phenomenon in which a set of new items can be searched with seemingly no interference from items already present in the display. The preview effect has been shown to occur only when the presentation of the new items is accompanied by a luminance change (Donk & Theeuwes, 2001). In a series of experiments, we extend the type of transients that can lead to a preview benefit to offsets and motion, and confirm Donk and Theeuwes’s finding that equiluminant color changes do not lead to a preview effect. Like Donk and Theeuwes, we find that preview search does not occur when only the old items undergo a transient change, suggesting that the processes responsible for preview search are triggered when the new items undergo a change detectable by the magnocellular system. In addition, we find that irrelevant transients interfere with preview search only when they match the current attentional set (e.g., luminance change or motion). Results suggest that preview search is not the automatic capture of attention by transients, but rather is contingent on top-down control settings.
Nonuniqueness of canonical field quantization in Riemannian space-time.

We point out and discuss an ambiguity which arises in the quantum theory of fields when the background metric is not explicitly Minkowskian-in other words, when an external gravitational field, real or apparent, is present. A general theory of a canonical neutral scalar field in a static universe, including the construction of a Fock space, is presented. It is applied to a portion of two-dimensional flat space-time equipped with a non-Cartesian space-time coordinate system with respect to which the metric is nonetheless static. The resulting particle interpretation of the field is shown to be different from the standard one in special-relativistic free-field theory. The ambiguity frustrates an attempt to define uniquely the energy-momentum tensor by the usual method of normal ordering. We discuss various suggestions for (1) distinguishing a unique correct quantization in a given physical situation, or (2) reinterpreting seemingly inequivalent theories as physically equivalent. In passing it is shown that the vacuum state and the energy density of a free field in a box with periodic boundary conditions differ from those associated with a region of the same size in infinite space; this result should be of interest outside the gravitational context.
A Revision of the North American Species of Apios (Fabaceae)

The revision of Apios in North America is based on morphological analysis of herbarium specimens as well as field and greenhouse observations. The genus is herein recognized as consisting of two distinct species in North America. Apios priceana was described by Robinson in 1898. Currently it is listed as threatened by the United States Fish and Wildlife Service and is known from 47 populations in 22 counties in Alabama, Kentucky, Mississippi and Tennessee. The other species, A. americana, widely distributed in eastern North America, was first described by Cornut in 1633 and has been regarded as consisting of six infraspecific taxa, which are not recognized in the present treatment. Demarcation is based primarily on reproductive features as vegetative characteristics, both within and between species, exhibits a significant amount of variation. In addition to the taxonomic descriptions, dichotomous keys, illustrations and distribution maps are presented for each species.
Aversively motivated changes in meal patterns of rats in a closed economy: The effects of shock density

Rats lived continuously in an operant chamber in which they were able to press a bar to obtain food on a chained FR50:CRF schedule that allowed them control of both the size and frequency of individual meals. Independent groups of animals were scheduled to receive 12, 24, 48, or 96 electric shocks per day, which were given randomly in time and independent of the subjects’ behavior. Rats could avoid shock by remaining in a safe area of the chamber, but they were always at risk while barpressing. The introduction of shock resulted in a number of changes in feeding patterns. In rats exposed to a possible 12 shocks/day, meal size increased whereas meal frequency changed very little. At 24 shocks/day, meal frequency decreased whereas meal size increased such that net intake remained stable relative to a preshock baseline period. As shock density was increased to 48 or 96 shocks/day, total intake was suppressed. At 96 shocks/day, both meal frequency and meal size decreased dramatically. Shock-related changes were also observed in rates of operant responding and in the amount of time the animals engaged in feeding-related behavior. All of the animals were able to achieve a greater than 50% reduction in the total number of shocks received relative to equivalent random samples of their position in the apparatus taken during baseline. These results support the position that the nature of defensive changes in feeding behavior that are seen when an aversive stimulus is introduced: into a simulated foraging situation varies as a function of risk.
Chasing colonic "polyps": features that predict underlying adenomas in initially nondiagnostic endoscopic biopsy specimens.

Initial tissue sections from biopsies of endoscopically apparent colonic polyps may not always demonstrate a lesion to account for the clinical findings. Studies have shown that deeper sections and/or reorientation reveal lesions in 10% to 31% of initially nondiagnostic cases. However, many are clinically inconsequential hyperplastic or inflammatory polyps, and, thus, exhaustive efforts to identify them may not be justified. The aim of this study was to identify clinical parameters that predict the detection of adenomas in initially nondiagnostic endoscopic biopsies of colonic “polyps.” We reoriented, reembedded, and obtained deeper tissue levels on 100 initially nondiagnostic biopsy specimens of clinically apparent polyps and found 9% to contain tubular adenomas. Only 3% of polyps smaller than 5 mm proved to be adenomas, compared with 22% of those 5 mm or larger ( P < .01). We conclude that nondiagnostic biopsy specimens of polyps measuring 5 mm or more should be further evaluated because they are more likely to represent adenomas, whereas smaller lesions are usually clinically inconsequential.
On the truncated assignment polytope

Abstract We investigate the convex polytope Ωm,n(r) which is the convex hull of the m × n r-subpermutation matrices. The faces of Ωm,n(r) are characterized, and formulae are obtained to compute their dimensions. The faces of Ωm,n(r) are themselves convex polytopes, and we determine their facets.
Interpreting the randomized clinical trial of constraint-induced movement therapy.

JAMA Effect of Constraint-Induced Movement Therapy on Upper Extremity Function 3 to 9 Months After Stroke: The EXCITE Randomized Clinical Trial Steven L. Wolf, PhD, PT; Carolee J. Winstein, PhD, PT; J. Philip Miller, AB; Edward Taub, PhD; Gitendra Uswatte, PhD; David Morris, PhD, PT; Carol Giuliani, PhD, PT; Kathye E. Light, PhD, PT; Deborah Nichols-Larsen, PhD, PT; for the EXCITE Investigators Context: Single-site studies suggest that a 2-week program of constraint-induced movement therapy (CIMT) for patients more than 1 year after stroke who maintain some hand and wrist movement can improve upper extremity function that persists for at least 1 year. Objective: To compare the effects of a 2-week multisite program of CIMT vs usual and customary care on improvement in upper extremity function among patients who had a first stroke within the previous 3 to 9 months. Design and Setting: The Extremity Constraint Induced Therapy Evaluation (EXCITE) trial, a prospective, single-blind, randomized, multisite clinical trial conducted at 7 US academic institutions between January 2001 and January 2003. Participants: Two hundred twenty-two individuals with predominantly ischemic stroke. Interventions: Participants were assigned to receive either CIMT (n = 106; wearing a restraining mitt on the less-affected hand while engaging in repetitive task practice and behavioral shaping with the hemiplegic hand) or usual and customary care (n = 116; ranging from no treatment after concluding formal rehabilitation to pharmacologic or physiotherapeutic interventions); patients were stratified by sex, prestroke dominant side, side of stroke, and level of paretic arm function. Main Outcome Measures: The Wolf Motor Function Test (WMFT), a measure of laboratory time and strength-based ability and quality of movement (functional ability), and the Motor Activity Log (MAL), a measure of how well and how often 30 common daily activities are performed. Results: From baseline to 12 months, the CIMT group showed greater improvements than the control group in both the WMFT Performance Time (decrease in mean time from 19.3 seconds to 9.3 seconds [52% reduction] vs from 24.0 seconds to 17.7 seconds [26% reduction]; between-group difference, 34% [95% confidence interval {CI}, 12%-51%]; P P Conclusion: Among patients who had a stroke within the previous 3 to 9 months, CIMT produced statistically significant and clinically relevant improvements in arm motor function that persisted for at least 1 year. Trial Registration: clinicaltrials.gov Identifier:NCT00057018
On the compensation implications of commercial bank entry into investment banking

Abstract We provide evidence regarding the extent to which commercial banking organizations that have entered investment banking have adopted pay-performance compensation systems that are like those used by investment banks. We find that pay-performance sensitivities for these banks once they begin securities underwriting are very similar to the sensitivities for commercial banks that have chosen not to enter investment banking. We also find that pay-performance sensitivities for both types of commercial banks are less than for investment banks.
Recharging lithium battery research with first-principles methods

Energy storage is a critical hurdle to the success of many clean energy technologies. Batteries with high energy density, good safety, and low cost can enable more efficient vehicles with electrified drive trains, such as hybrid electric vehicles, electric vehicles, and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles. They can also provide energy storage for intermittent energy sources, such as wind and solar. Today, and for the foreseeable future, rechargeable lithium batteries deliver the highest energy per unit weight or volume at reasonable cost. Many of the important properties of battery materials can be calculated with first-principles methods, making lithium batteries fertile ground for computational materials design. In this article, we review the successes and opportunities in using first-principles computations in the battery field. We also highlight some technical challenges facing the accurate modeling of battery materials.
Blameless, constructive, and political anger

Scholars of the emotions maintain that all anger requires an object of blame. In order to be angry, many writers argue, one must believe than an actor has done serious damage to something that one values. Yet an individual may be angered without blaming another. This kind of emotion, called situational anger, does not entail a corresponding object of blame. Situational anger can be a useful force in public life, enabling citizens to draw attention to the seriousness of social or political problems, without necessarily vilifying political officials.
SURFACE FEATURES OF THE CIRCULATION IN FJORDS OF SOUTHERN CHILE OBSERVED IN ERS AND LANDSAT IMAGES

Surface features of the hydrodynamics at the mouth of Aysen Fjord, in the Chilean Inland Sea, were described using Landsat and ERS-SAR images in combination with field data. A set of seventeen radar images from ERS, along with one Landsat (ETM) were analyzed to study the surface features observed in this region, where fresh water input is an important contributor to the dynamics of the estuarine system. Field data were provided by current measurements obtained with an Acoustic Doppler Current Profiler (ADCP) mounted in a catamaran looking downward, which was towed from a boat during two semidiurnal cycles to obtain repetitions over two transverse transects. There were also density measurements obtained from CTD (Conductivity, Temperature and Depth) vertical profiles in the water column and from a surface termosalinograph (Conductivity, Temperature) mounted onboard of a research vessel. The results of this campaign in Aysen Fjord were associated to the surface features observed in satellite images. The results show the main features of the circulation at the mouth of this fjord and other phenomena of interest for physical oceanography. Noteworthy is a frontal structure suggested on both types of images. This feature is partially supported by ADCP measurements and strongly suggested by density measurements. Packages of internal waves in Costa Channel are also suggested in radar images, while the distribution of the fresh water plume is supported by the Landsat image. Satellite images provided valuable guidance to focus the research in a selected area and phenomena.
Diversity in translational regulation.

Abstract Translational control of individual mRNAs relies on cis -regulatory elements, which are often found in the 3′ untranslated region. The best characterized of these regulate cytoplasmic polyadenylation, and much of this process can now be defined in terms of molecular interactions, protein modifications and their consequences. Biochemical and genetic approaches have advanced the understanding of the many instances of translational regulation that are crucial for body patterning in Drosophila . For example, in vitro translation systems have been used to study the regulatory mechanisms, and genetic interactions have been instrumental in establishing a link between a regulatory factor and a component of the translational apparatus. Although most examples of control are thought to affect the initiation of translation, two classes of regulatory factors, one a protein and one a short non-coding RNA now appear to inhibit protein synthesis during elongation. Diversity seems to be a central feature of translational control, both in the mechanisms themselves and in the situations where this form of regulation is used.
Tibial Plateau Geometry Influences Lower Extremity Biomechanics During Landing

Background:Intersubject differences in lateral and medial posterior tibial plateau slope, coronal tibial slope (CTS), and medial tibial plateau depth (MTD) may influence one’s susceptibility for anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury. Understanding how these structural characteristics influence hip and knee joint biomechanics during weightbearing activity may advance our understanding of how tibial plateau geometry influences one’s injury risk potential.Purpose/Hypotheses:To determine the extent to which tibial plateau geometry is associated with frontal and transverse plane hip and knee joint biomechanics during the initial landing phase of a double-legged drop landing. Greater lateral tibial slope combined with lower medial/lateral tibial slope ratio would predict greater tibial internal rotation motion and moments. Lower CTS would predict greater hip adduction and knee valgus motion and reduced internal peak varus moments. These associations would be stronger when combined with a shallower MTD.Study D...
The Spectral Ice Habit Prediction System (SHIPS). Part III: Description of the ice particle model and the habit-dependent aggregation model

AbstractThe purpose of this paper is to describe a numerical scheme of the Spectral Ice Habit Prediction System (SHIPS) that simulates the dependency of aggregation process explicitly on crystal habit and size in cloud-resolving models (CRMs). The sizes and shapes of ice crystals are known to modulate the aggregation process, which is a critical part of physical processes leading to precipitation in addition to vapor deposition and riming processes. A problem with conventional formulation of aggregation process in CRMs is that it is not designed to predict the aggregates’ properties based on the information on crystals. To simulate such dependency, SHIPS solves a quasi-stochastic model that describes growth tendency for a group of particles, together with particle property variables (PPVs) that carry information on habit and types of ice particles.SHIPS diagnoses the ice particle properties based on the PPVs for each mass bin at given a time and space, which are used to calculate the collision cross-secti...
Sind Dauerströme noch normal

Elektrische Dauerstrome, hervorstechendes Merkmal supraleitender Materialien, sind auch in kleinen – mesoskopischen – Normalmetall- und Halbleiterringen beobachtbar. Neueste Experimente, die bei Temperaturen in Nahe des absoluten Nullpunktes durchgefuhrt wurden, lassen sich nur mit Hilfe der Wellennatur der Elektronen erklaren und eroffnen uberraschende Einsichten in grundlegende Fragen der Quantenmechanik.
ACES: aphasia emulation, realism, and the turing test

To an outsider it may appear as though an individual with aphasia has poor cognitive function. However, the problem resides in the individual's receptive and expressive language, and not in their ability to think. This misperception, paired with a lack of empathy, can have a direct impact on quality of life and medical care. Hailpern's 2011 paper on ACES demonstrated a novel system that enabled users (e.g., caregivers, therapists, family) to experience first hand the communication-distorting effects of aphasia. While their paper illustrated the impact of ACES on empathy, it did not validate the underlying distortion emulation. This paper provides a validation of ACES' distortions through a Turing Test experiment with participants from the Speech and Hearing Science community. It illustrates that text samples generated with ACES distortions are generally not distinguishable from text samples originating from individuals with aphasia. This paper explores ACES distortions through a `How Human' is it test, in which participants explicitly rate how human- or computer-like distortions appear to be.
Bottled Water The pure commodity in the age of branding

Bottled water has become a pervasive global business, and bottled water consumption continues to increase rapidly, particularly in countries where clean potable tap water is available at very low or no cost. This article discusses the ways the rich cultural meanings of water are used in marketing and branding, and the forms of consumer resistance that oppose bottled water as a commodity. The contrast between tap water and bottled water can be seen as a reflection of a contest for authority and public trust between governments and corporations, in a context of heightened anxieties about risk and health. The article concludes that bottled water is a case where sound cultural logic leads to environmentally destructive behavior.
Trauma in the obstetrical patient

Trauma complicates approximately 6–7% of all pregnancies and is associated with significant maternal and fetal morbidity and mortality. While the majority of trauma is minor, it is minor trauma that contributes to the majority of fetal mortality. Since virtually every organ system is affected anatomically and physiologically by pregnancy, it is important for healthcare providers who care for trauma victims to be aware of these changes. While assessment and resuscitation considers the existence of two patients, stabilization of the mother takes priority. Diagnostic and radiologic procedures should be used as indicated, with fetal exposure to radiation limited as much as possible. Management of the pregnant trauma victim requires a multidisciplinary approach in order to optimize outcome for mother and fetus. This review discusses the epidemiology, assessment and treatment of pregnant trauma patients and reviews areas where prevention efforts may be focused.
Exploring the Global Economy: Emerging Issues in Trade and Investment

This wide-ranging collection of previously published articles by Raymond Vernon reflects a portion of the diverse subjects on which he has worked during his career. In the past 20 years, the author has pioneered the study of two major economic institutions which have played important roles in today's global economy: the multinational corporation and the state-owned enterprise. His recent thoughts on these subjects are well-represented in this volume. Co-published with the Harvard Center for International Affairs.
Atypical Presentations of Pneumocystis carinii Pneumonia in Patients Receiving Inhaled Pentamidine Prophylaxis

Inhaled pentamidine is used commonly to prevent Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia (PCP) in patients with advanced human immunodeficiency virus infection. Case reports indicate that PCP can recur in patients who receive inhaled pentamidine and that clinical features may be atypical. To determine the magnitude of this problem, we reviewed retrospectively the medical records of patients with proven PCP during a 30-month period at two hospitals. Four (31 percent) of 13 patients with previous PCP who received inhaled pentamidine prophylaxis had recurrent P carinii infection, including one patient with widely metastatic extrapulmonary disease. Chest roentgenographic findings included cavities, pneumothoraces, bilateral and upper lobe interstitial infiltrates, and pleural effusion. False-negative bronchoaveolar lavage and induced sputum examinations were frequent. We conclude that recurrent PCP in patients maintained on a regimen of inhaled pentamidine prophylaxis occurs frequently, causes chest roentgenographic abnormalities other than interstitial infiltrates, and may be difficult to diagnose. Clinicians who choose to use this effective and convenient mode of prophylaxis should be aware of the problems attendent to its use.
Lack of co-ordinate expression of the α1(I) and α1(III) procollagen genes in fibroblast clonal cultures

BACKGROUND: Several extracellular matrix genes, most notably alpha1(I) and alpha1(III) procollagen, are reported to be co-ordinately expressed in cultures of dermal fibroblasts. However, it remains unclear whether the expression of these genes is truly co-ordinate or whether it may be the result of averaging the phenotypic expression of different fibroblast subpopulations present within each culture. Objectives To determine by Northern analysis the correlation between alpha1(I) and alpha1(III) procollagen mRNA levels in clonal populations of human dermal fibroblasts. METHODS: As previously described, clonal cultures were derived from parent strains of human dermal fibroblasts by a microscopically controlled dilution technique and by stimulation of single cells with low oxygen tension in the early phases of clonal growth. RESULTS: In agreement with previous reports, we found that baseline steady-state levels of alpha1(I) procollagen mRNA were co-ordinately regulated with the alpha1(III) procollagen mRNA in 26 parent strains (r = 0. 9003; P < 0.0001). However, this close correlation between the expression of these two procollagen chains was absent in a total of 40 unselected clonal strains derived from four of the parent cultures (r = 0.5745; P < 0.0001). Moreover, this intrachain heterogeneity in alpha1(I) and alpha1(III) procollagen mRNA levels in clonal cultures was statistically significant from that measured in parent strains (P = 0.0016). CONCLUSIONS: alpha1(I) and alpha1(III) procollagen mRNA levels in clonal cultures do not show the tight co-ordinate regulation observed in non-clonal cultures, suggesting that these two genes operate under different sets of regulatory controls. This clonal heterogeneity may provide additional flexibility to the process of tissue repair and fibroblast clonal expansion.
A family of potassium channel genes related to eag in Drosophila and mammals.

Abstract We have identified a conserved family of genes related to Drosophila eag, which encodes a distinct type of voltage-activated K+ channel. Three related genes were recovered in screens of cDNA libraries from Drosophila, mouse, and human tissues. One gene is the mouse counterpart of eag; the other two represent additional subfamilies. The human gene maps to chromosome 7. Family members share at least 47% amino acid identity in their hydrophobic cores and all contain a segment homologous to a cyclic nucleotide-binding domain. Sequence comparisons indicate that members of this family are most closely related to vertebrate cyclic nucleotide-gated cation channels and plant inward-rectifying K+ channels. The existence of another family of K+ channel structural genes further extends the known diversity of K+ channels and has important implications for the structure, function, and evolution of the superfamily of voltage-sensitive ion channels.