cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The Six Major Anatomic Decussations with Clinical Correlation

Initially, the most confounding elements of neuroanatomy for many medical students are likely to be the decussations of the neural pathways. There are six major and partial decussations; most are simple, but they must be committed to memory as they are the kernel of neuroanatomic localization. These are the corticospinal tract, corticobulbar tract, visual pathway, oculomotor decussation with its associated pathways, lateral spinothalamic tract, and medial lemniscus. This chapter will attempt to summarize these anatomic facts in a concise, proximate fashion to facilitate an easy review when required.
Longitudinal Follow-Up of Choroidal Thickness in Central Retinal Vein Occlusion With and Without Cystoid Macular Edema:

Purpose:To investigate the longitudinal relationship between subfoveal choroidal thickness (CT) and central retinal vein occlusion (CRVO).Methods:Retrospective cohort of 104 subjects with enhanced-...
Trimethyl phosphate based neutral ligand room temperature ionic liquids for electrodeposition of rare earth elements

Abstract In this communication, a new class of task-specific ionic liquids (ILs) with cationic rare earth elements (REEs) is reported. These novel ILs have a wide electrochemical window of about 6 V, enabling direct electrodeposition of REE metals at room temperature. The ILs were prepared by dissolving bis(trifluoromethane)sulfonimide (NTf 2 − ) based rare earth salts (Ln(NTf2)3) (Ln:Lanthanide) in trimethyl phosphate (TMP) neutral ligand. Specifically, four REEs (Nd, Dy, Gd, and Pr) have been investigated in TMP based IL systems. All four metals were successfully deposited at room temperature. This demonstrates the applicability of the IL systems for electrodeposition of a wide range of REEs, which opens a new avenue of research for the quest to supplant high temperature molten salt systems for rare earth deposition.
Hot Potato Criminology: Ethnographers and the Shame of Poor People's Crimes

When ethnographers study street crime, they anticipate that readers might shame them for shaming the poor. One common response is to compromise the quality of ethnographic data. Another is to pass ...
Two weeks of exercise training intensity on appetite regulation in obese adults with prediabetes.

Adults with prediabetes are at risk for appetite dysregulation. Although exercise promotes weight management, it is unclear whether moderate-continuous or high-intensity interval training is more b...
Chapter 2 – Derivatization in liquid chromatography

Derivatization employs various microchemical reactions to alter the structure of the analyte to facilitate its isolation, separation, or detection. Reactions are commonly performed either off-line and prior to the separation or on-line and after the separation and prior to detection. Reagents and reaction conditions are suggested for improved UV-visible detection, fluorescence and chemiluminescence detection, electrochemical detection, mass spectrometric detection, separation of enantiomers, formation of cyclic derivatives, and solid-phase analytical derivatization. The design of reactors for postcolumn reactions is described for continuous detection in an automated mode. Stable isotope-coded derivatization reagents are described for quantification with mass spectrometric detection.
Heteroarene Phosphinylalkylation via a Catalytic, Polarity-Reversing Radical Cascade

A polarity-reversing radical cascade strategy for alkene difunctionalization by vicinal C–C and C–P bond formation has been developed. This approach to concurrently adding phosphorus and a heteroar...
An Empirical Study on Post-processing Methods for Word Embeddings.

Word embeddings learnt from large corpora have been adopted in various applications in natural language processing and served as the general input representations to learning systems. Recently, a series of post-processing methods have been proposed to boost the performance of word embeddings on similarity comparison and analogy retrieval tasks, and some have been adapted to compose sentence representations. The general hypothesis behind these methods is that by enforcing the embedding space to be more isotropic, the similarity between words can be better expressed. We view these methods as an approach to shrink the covariance/gram matrix, which is estimated by learning word vectors, towards a scaled identity matrix. By optimising an objective in the semi-Riemannian manifold with Centralised Kernel Alignment (CKA), we are able to search for the optimal shrinkage parameter, and provide a post-processing method to smooth the spectrum of learnt word vectors which yields improved performance on downstream tasks.
Abstract 4515: Utilizing nucleic-acid scavengers (NASs) to inhibit proinflammatory and proinvasive signaling in triple-negative breast cancer

Breast cancers (BC) remain the most lethal malignancies amongst women worldwide and the second leading cause of cancer-related mortalities in the US. Subtype heterogeneity and aggressive invasive potential are believed to be the major contributors of these outcomes. BC lacking canonical histological receptors (i.e. ER/PR/HER2), called triple-negative (TNBC), are notoriously aggressive, difficult-to-treat, and metastatic. It has been observed that the degree of inflammation-driven tumorigenesis tends to correlate with increased levels of cell-free DNA (cfDNA) in cancer patient sera. Our lab had previously shown that nucleic-acid scavengers (NASs) could be used to block the pro-inflammatory and pro-invasive/metastatic signals (e.g. DAMPs) elicited by these cfDNA/RNA likely through innate immune sensors such as of the toll-like receptors (TLRs). Recently, we showed that treatment with the cationic polymer NAS, PAMAM-G3, elicited a drastic reduction in metastatic tumor burden to the liver in an immune-competent murine model of pancreatic cancer (I. Naqvi & R. Gunaratne et al., Molecular Therapy26, 2018). Ongoing work has shown that both chemotherapy-derived TNBC conditioned media and a TLR9 agonist greatly increased TNBC in vitro invasion and was significantly inhibited upon treatment with PAMAM-G3. To elucidate the mechanism by which this NAS works in these tumor settings, our lab has developed several PAMAM-G3 derivatives, including biotin, IR-, and near-IR fluorophore labeled molecules. These molecules will allow us to conduct DAMP capture and characterization experiments, as well as perform in vitro and in vivo live imaging experiments to gain better insights into NAS PK/PD properties. Mechanistic insight into NAS anti-metastatic and anti-inflammatory capabilities will enhance our basic understanding of metastatic progression and its interplay with the immune system. Moreover, these principles will aid in the development of novel of anti-metastatic therapies to improve TNBC patient outcomes. Citation Format: Elias O. Eteshola, Ibtehaj A. Naqvi, Ruwan Gunaratne, Angelo Moreno, Smita K. Nair, Bruce A. Sullenger. Utilizing nucleic-acid scavengers (NASs) to inhibit proinflammatory and proinvasive signaling in triple-negative breast cancer [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2019; 2019 Mar 29-Apr 3; Atlanta, GA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2019;79(13 Suppl):Abstract nr 4515.
Flood exposure of critical infrastructures in the United States

Abstract This study provides a nationwide spatial assessment of flood exposure of critical infrastructures (CI) in the United States. By combining the FEMA flood maps and the USGS National Structure Database, the exposure of CI facilities to 100-year-flood was estimated for the country and states. Spatial analyses and statistical tests were conducted to analyze variations of flood exposure of the CIs in different states, counties, sectors and categories. At the national level, the ratios of CI flood exposure ranges from 2.7% to 27.1% in different sectors. The spatial analyses indicate that the southern states near the Gulf Coast (particularly Louisiana and Florida) have a high exposure ratio in most of the CI sectors. Hot spot analysis was applied to detected local clusters of high flood exposure, where actions of flood risk reduction should be potentially prioritized. By comparing the flood exposure of the CI facilities with the general urban exposure (i.e. baseline exposure), states and CI sectors where the flood exposure is deviated from the expected value are identified. This study reveals the general trend of CI flood exposure in the U.S. and identified outliers deviated from the trend. The underlying factors behind these deviations are discussed. Overall, this study provides valuable information for U.S. policy-makers at different levels to better evaluate and mitigate potential flood risk from these ‘lifeline’ systems.
F**k B*tches Raw on the Kitchen Floor: A Feminist Examination of Condom Messages in Hip Hop and Rap Music, 1991–2017

Since 1991, the popularity of hip hop and rap music in the United States has expanded beyond traditional consumers of the genre. As such, this genre of music has the ability to shape cultural and sexual norms across racial, ethnic, gender, and geographic boundaries. The purpose of this study was to examine condom use messaging in hip hop and rap music. We conducted a lyric analysis of all tracks in the top ten albums between 1991 and 2017, as listed on the Billboard US Top R&B/Hip Hop Albums Year End Charts. Overall, we analyzed 3732 songs. In our sample, 1171 songs contained sexually explicit messages and 98 songs had mentions of condom use. Sexually explicit messages were most common between the years of 1995 and 2000, and have been slowly increasing in rap music since 2010. By focusing on safe-sex messaging in lyrical content, we add to both: (1) the growing feminist critique of gender inequality and misogyny in the music industry from a public health standpoint, and (2) the analysis of the role of popular culture in understanding youth sexual attitudes and behaviors.
Inference Types in Instructional Materials for Elementary Students.

The Common Core has emphasized reading for comprehension, including making inferences. However, little is known about the instructional materials included in core literacy programs for teaching inf...
Optimization of repeat plerixafor dosing for autologous peripheral blood stem-cell collection

Abstract Introduction Peripheral CD34+ cells may be mobilized using filgrastim alone or in combination with chemotherapy. The addition of plerixafor can be efficacious, though guidelines for repeat dosing are lacking. Material and Methods This quality improvement project was initiated to generate guidelines for repeat plerixafor dosing after retrospective evaluation of data in adult patients undergoing autologous peripheral blood stem cell mobilization and collection. Results Analysis included 195 patients: 119 (61 %) with multiple myeloma and 76 (39 %) with lymphoma. Patients given at least one dose of plerixafor (n = 109) were further divided: Group 1 ) (A) goal of 3 × 10E6/kg and day 1 peripheral blood CD34+ count Group 2 ) (A) goal of 6 × 10E6/kg and day 1 peripheral blood CD34+ count Conclusion Based on these data, with consideration of collection goal, peripheral blood CD34+ count, and CD34+ cell bag count on collection day 1, we have generated institutional guidelines for collection initiation and repeat plerixafor dosing. Long term, we predict these guidelines will optimize pharmacy, apheresis, and stem cell processing resources while improving the patient experience.
Does kV Image Guidance for Bone Metastases Improve Pain Control

Purpose/Objectives Despite its widespread availability, the use of kilovoltage (kV) image guidance is often related to factors such as perceived adequacy of clinical patient setup and individual practice patterns. We sought to determine whether kV image guidance in the treatment of painful bone metastases would improve therapeutic efficacy. Materials/Methods Under an Institutional Review Board approved protocol, hospital records of 164 patients having received radiation therapy to 257 individual painful osseous metastases were retrospectively reviewed. Marginal logistic regression analyses using the generalized estimating equation (GEE) approach were used to investigate potential associations between pain reduction and several patient, disease, and treatment related variables. Correlation of kV image guidance with pain reduction was analyzed by univariate and multivariate GEE logistic regression analysis. Results Median time to pain reduction was 3 days (range 0~109 days) from the start of radiation therapy. Pain reduction ≥ 50% was noted in 196 (77%) metastatic lesions with 136 (53%) demonstrating complete pain relief. Patients with metastatic lesions from non-small cell lung cancer experienced less pain relief (p = 0.007). Disease extension outside of bone was a negative predictor for pain reduction (p = 0.02). On univariate and multivariate logistic regression, kV image guidance demonstrated a statistically significant correlation with improved pain control in cases involving treatment of the lower extremities (p = 0.03) and those with fewer treatment fractions (p = 0.01), particularly in the setting of extra-osseous disease extension (p = 0.003). Conclusions Kilovoltage image guidance in the treatment of painful bone metastases may offer greater pain control through improved patient setup, particularly for patients with tumors of the lower extremities, extraosseous disease extension, and fewer treatment fractions.
Demagogue for President: The Rhetorical Genius of Donald Trump

While there may never be a shortage of adjectives to describe the Trump presidency, “polemical” may be the most apt. Its 4 years witnessed all manner of vitriolic excess, culminating on January 6, ...
Analyzing Financial Relationship Between Railway Industry Players in Shared Railway Systems: Train Operator’s Perspective

Capacity pricing and allocation play important roles in efficient management of railway corridors, especially shared ones. This study analyzes how train operators would respond to different track-access charges as a first step to understanding the relationship between train operators and infrastructure managers in railway systems with some level of vertical separation. With the modeling of a corridor whose users are long-distance high-speed trains and freight trains along the entire corridor and commuter trains offering services around large urban areas in the corridor, the focus is narrowed down to each individual operator, and the factors that drive each operator’s ultimate service levels are studied. Assuming an environment in which the train operators are competing for capacity, financial goals and boundary conditions of each train operator are derived, and a number of sensitivity analyses for various typical and extreme conditions are performed. This model allows forecasting the train operator’s resp...
Empirical Slow-Flow Identification for Structural Health Monitoring and Damage Detection

We utilize the nonlinear system identification (NSI) methodology, which was recently developed based on the correspondence between analytical and empirical slow-flow dynamics. Performing empirical mode decomposition on the simulated or measured time series to extract intrinsic mode oscillations, we establish nonlinear interaction models, which invoke slowly-varying forcing amplitudes that can be computed from empirical slow-flows. By comparing the spatio-temporal variations of the nonlinear modal interactions for structures with defects and those for the underlying healthy structure, we will demonstrate that the proposed NSI method can not only explore the smooth/nonsmooth nonlinear dynamics caused by structural damage, but also the extracted vibration characteristics can directly be implemented for structural health monitoring and detecting damage locations. Starting with traditional tools such as the modal assurance criterion (MAC) and the coordinate MAC are utilized.
Pretrial Procedures for Innocent People: Reforming Brady

In this article, the author proposes that the prosecution’s obligation to disclose exculpatory information to the defense be formalized by statute, court rule, or internal protocol in ways that would reflect the current state of our knowledge of and experience with both Brady and wrongful convictions. This would improve on the current ineffective constitutional protection — and any existing statutory or rule-based regimes — in several ways. First, such a formalized regime would require disclosure of all materials that are reasonably helpful to the defense. Second, unlike the constitutional doctrine, which provides no reliable mechanism for monitoring police disclosure to the prosecution, an accompanying schedule (or “checklist”) would require specific categories of exculpatory information that the prosecution would have to secure from the police or other investigative agency and then disclose to the defense. Third, the prosecution would be required to certify that it has used due diligence to collect and disclose all of the required information. Fourth, unlike the constitutional Brady rule, which requires the defendant to show materiality whenever suppressed evidence is discovered post-conviction, if suppression of evidence required on the checklist is discovered post-conviction, the burden of proof would shift and the prosecution would be required to prove that the suppression was harmless beyond a reasonable doubt. As to any other information, the defendant would continue to bear the burden of showing materiality. Finally, there would be a public interest declination exception and a process for the prosecution to apply for a protective order where necessary to protect a witness or another investigation.
Globular cluster luminosity functions

The use of luminosity functions in the following areas is reviewed: (a) the determination of the helium content and ages of the globular clusters; (b) the testing of stellar structure theory; and (c) the determination of the initial mass function of globular clusters.
A Research Programme for Testing the Biological Homology Concept

The classical homology concept has served as a heuristic principle for organizing the enormous wealth of information on comparative anatomical patterns across a wide range of organisms. However, the classical homology concept reaches its limit as knowledge of the evolutionary, genetic and developmental processes that underlie these anatomical patterns increases. The biological homology concept places the known anatomical patterns into a mechanistic context and asserts that character identity is based on common variational properties in this chapter a research programme for testing the biological homology concept that involves the following steps is outlined: (1) identifying of two or more putative homologues is a clade; (2) determining the phylogenetic distribution of the putative homologues; (3) describing the intra- and interspecific variation patterns of each putative homologue; (4) describing the development of each putative homologue, and determining if modes of development and distribution of homologues are phylogenetically congruent; and (5) providing and testing a model of how differences in modes of development between putative homologues effect differences in variational tendencies. The goal is to demonstrate a link between developmental and variational differences of two homologues.
The Surveillance of Women on Reality Television: Watching The Bachelor and The Bachelorette, by Dubrofsky, R. E

In the world of reality television, The Bachelor (and its spinoff, The Bachelorette) is a venerable veteran of romance-based shows in which the prince finds his princess among hot tubs, gowns, and ...
A feedback controlled PWM inverter based on delta-sigma modulation

A new control strategy for a pulse-width modulator inverter controlled by a synchronous delta-sigma modulator is presented. Two methods, based on delta-sigma modulation, are proposed for creating pulse-width modulated signals. The first method uses an over-sampled binary quantizer, while the second method employs a reference ramp signal along with an over-sampled binary quantizer. The benefits of both approaches are noise immunity and a simplified approach for filter design. Simulation results show good performance in the presence of noise. Additionally, the response time of a load filter is shown to be equal to the multiple time constant of a delta-sigma noise-shaping filter.
CHAPTER 37 – Ion Permeation: Mechanisms of Ion Selectivity and Block

Ion channels have been identified in all domains of cellular life—Bacteria, Archaea, and Eukarya—and they are found in every type of cell. They have transport functions— facilitation of net movements of ions and salts—and signaling functions—generation of electrical signals and regulation of cellular free calcium concentration. In each of these roles, ion channels open and close in response to local stimuli and pass a limited subset of ions at high rates. Likeenzymes, they are regulated catalysts with high substrate specificity and rapid throughput. Ion selectivity is necessary for ion channels to play their physiological roles. For electrical signaling it is essential to have two classes of ion channels with different electromotive forces so that alternating opening of one or the other causes the membrane potential to change. The electromotive force generated by a perfectly selective channel is given by the Nernst equation. It depends only on the ratio of the concentrations of the one permeant ion on the two sides and on the absolute temperature.
Multimodal Imaging Evidence for Axonal and Myelin Deterioration in Amnestic Mild Cognitive Impairment

White matter (WM) microstructural declines have been demonstrated in Alzheimer’s disease and amnestic mild cognitive impairment (aMCI). However, the pattern of WM microstructural changes in aMCI after controlling for WM atrophy is unknown. Here, we address this issue through joint consideration of aMCI alterations in fractional anisotropy, mean diffusivity, axial diffusivity, and radial diffusivity, as well as macrostructural volume in WM and gray matter compartments. Participants were 18 individuals with aMCI and 24 healthy seniors. Voxelwise analyses of diffusion tensor imaging data was carried out using tract-based spatial statistics (TBSS) and voxelwise analyses of high-resolution structural data was conducted using voxel based morphometry. After controlling for WM atrophy, the main pattern of TBSS findings indicated reduced fractional anisotropy with only small alterations in mean diffusivity/radial diffusivity/axial diffusivity. These WM microstructural declines bordered and/or were connected to gray matter structures showing volumetric declines. However, none of the potential relationships between WM integrity and volume in connected gray matter structures was significant, and adding fractional anisotropy information improved the classificatory accuracy of aMCI compared to the use of hippocampal atrophy alone. These results suggest that WM microstructural declines provide unique information not captured by atrophy measures that may aid the magnetic resonance imaging contribution to aMCI detection.
Prognosis of Low-Risk Young Women Presenting to the Emergency Department With Chest Pain

Identification of patients at low risk presenting to the emergency department with chest pain is a continuing challenge. We examined a cohort of low-risk women with negative cardiac injury markers, electrocardiogram with normal results, and clinical stability. We hypothesized that these patients can be safely and accurately managed in a chest pain unit (CPU), may not require predischarge cardiac testing, and have an excellent short-term prognosis. The primary end point was major cardiovascular events during index admission or follow-up. Mean age of the 403 women was 42 ± 4.3 years (30 to 50 years). No patient had a cardiovascular event in the CPU, and none of the 321 patients followed for 6 months had a late cardiovascular event. Most (211, 52%) did not receive predischarge cardiac testing. The remaining 192 patients (48%) had predischarge exercise treadmill test, stress imaging, or cardiac catheterization. Of those patients who underwent treadmill testing, almost 90% had no exercise-induced chest pain and approximately 50% had functional capacity 8 to 14 METs. In addition, 166 patients (41%) were discharged from the CPU after <2 hours and 21% (n = 86) within 2 to 8 hours. In conclusion, this group of low-risk women was safely and accurately managed in the CPU and discharged promptly. There were no cardiac events on index admission or 6-month follow-up, and in most patients, predischarge cardiac testing was unnecessary.
Androgen mitigates axotomy-induced decreases in calbindin expression in motor neurons.

Androgens can rescue axotomized motor neurons from cell death. Here we examine a possible mechanism for this trophic action in juvenile Xenopus laevis: regulation of a calciumbinding protein, calbindin, after axotomy. Western analysis revealed that a monoclonal antibody to calbindin D specifically recognizes a single ;28 kDa band in X. laevis CNS and rat cerebellum. Retrograde transport of peroxidase combined with immunohistochemistry demonstrated that somata, axons, and synaptic terminals of laryngeal motor neurons in nucleus (N.) IX‐X of X. laevis are calbindin-positive. The number of calbindin-positive cells was compared in the intact and axotomized sides of N.IX‐X of gonadectomized males that were either hormonally untreated or DHT-treated for 1 month. Although axotomy decreased the number of calbindin-positive cells by 86% in hormonally untreated males, the decrease was only 56% in DHT-treated animals. Compared with hormonally untreated animals, the number of calbindin-labeled cells in N.IX‐X of DHT-treated males was increased in both the intact (14%) and axotomized sides (75%). We conclude that axotomy decreases and that DHT enhances calbindin immunoreactivity in N.IX‐X. Axotomy-induced decrease in calbindin immunoreactivity precedes cell loss in N.IX‐X and may impair the capacity of motor neurons to regulate cytoplasmic calcium. Androgen-mediated maintenance of calbindin expression is thus a candidate cellular mechanism for trophic maintenance of hormone target neurons.
Integrating substance use training into social work education.

Background Historically, social work education (SWE) has not included formal and indepth training to address substance use in either coursework or fieldwork. Health-care reform offers promise to integrate medical and behavioral health through employment of social work professionals. It is critical that screening, brief intervention, and referral to treatment (SBIRT) be incorporated as basic skills for all trainees, and other evidence-based practices be offered in SWE [1] to insure an adequate work force. This project describes design, implementation, and learner satisfaction of an adolescent SBIRT curriculum at Simmons School of Social Work (SSW) in partnership with Boston Children’s Hospital (BCH), through a Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA)-funded SBIRT training grant. We ask the question: “Are brief workshops and intensive practice courses feasible and acceptable methods of training social work students?” Methods
Phosphationen-adsorption an Diatomeenoberflächen

Zusammenfassung Dem Diatomeenschlamm der Tiefsee mag auf Grund seiner grossen spezifischen Oberflache erhohte Bedeutung bei der mittel- und unmittelbaren Speicherung von Phosphationen durch die pelagischen Sedimente zukommen. Die vorliegenden Untersuchungen stehen mit dieser Moglichkeit im Zusammenhang und ergaben, dass die Phosphatadsorption an fossiler, speziell gereinigter Diatomeenerde aus kunstlichem erdalkalifreiem Meerwasser zwischen 60 und 2000 mg P/m3 Aufangskonzentration eindeutig der Freundlich- Isotherme folgt.
Control of Crystal Growth in Biology: A Molecular Biological Approach Using Zebrafish

This paper focuses on the in vivo manipulation of a gene encoding an acidic protein, Starmaker, which is critical for biomineralization of crystal structures in the zebrafish ear.
Non-Linear Viscoelastic Mechanics of Native and Engineered Ligaments and Tendons

Patellar tendon (PT) autografts and allografts are the most common methods currently used to replace a torn anterior cruciate ligament (ACL). The PT is not only much stiffer than the ACL it replaces it also exhibits qualitatively and quantitatively different non-linear viscoelastic behavior from those of the ACL. These mis-matched biomechanics may be contributing to the high incidence of early onset osteoarthritis suffered by patients who have had ACL surgeries. Thus there is a need for an ACL graft that can reproduce normal ligament biomechanics and knee function. This talk examines the inhomogeneous, non-linear viscoelastic response of native ACL and of a tissue engineered ACL graft designed to rapidly grow and remodel in vivo to restore the proper biomechanical properties of native ligament. The results using this graft as an ACL replacement are compared against those using a PT autograft for the ACL replacement. Uniaxial loading reveals that after nine months as an ACL replacement, the tissue-engineered graft develops a strain contour pattern closely resembling that of native ACL whereas the PT graft fails to similarly remodel in vivo.Copyright © 2011 by ASME
F-Class Cells: New Routes and Destinations for Induced Pluripotency

A series of five related publications describe an alternative pluripotent state that is dependent on continuous high levels of exogenous reprogramming factor expression. A comprehensive effort to molecularly compare the acquisition of this state to induced pluripotency aims at providing new insights into the mechanisms underlying cellular reprogramming.
Expiratory neural activities in gasping induced by pharyngeal stimulation and hypoxia

The purpose was to characterize expiratory neural activities in gasping elicited during the aspiration reflex (AR) in hyperoxia and during hypoxia-induced gasping. In decerebrate, vagotomized and paralyzed cats, we recorded activities of inspiratory and expiratory cranial and spinal nerves. The AR was elicited by touching the epipharyngeal mucosa. In eupnea, spinal expiratory activities were greatly decreased during AR whereas laryngeal expiratory activities were increased. In hypoxia-induced gasping, both the laryngeal and spinal expiratory activities were reduced. All of the inspiratory activities were increased during both gasping and the AR. In addition, neural activities were below control levels following AR; activities gradually recovered to control levels. We conclude that spinal expiratory activities are inhibited during the AR and gasping. Results are consistent with the concept that medullary mechanisms for gasping are recruited by mechanical stimulation of the epipharynx. In hypoxia-induced gasping, the hypoxia, per se, causes a separate suppression of laryngeal expiratory activities.
Development of a novel age-specific pediatric trauma score ☆ ☆☆

Abstract Background/Purpose: Trauma scoring systems are needed to provide efficient triage of injured patients and to assess differences in outcomes and quality of care between different trauma centers. Current scoring systems used in pediatric trauma are not age specific, and thus have significant limitations. Methods: The authors queried the Pennsylvania Trauma Outcome Study for all children 0 to 16 years entered in the database from 1993 to 1996. Age-specific threshold values for systolic blood pressure, pulse, and respiratory rate were established. Using coded scores for these age-specific values and Glasgow Coma Scale, an age-specific pediatric trauma score (ASPTS) was derived. Triage ASPTS (T-ASPTS) consisted of the integer sum of coded scores for the 4 variables, whereas ASPTS was calculated using weighted coefficients derived from logistic regression for each variable. Results: T-ASPTS correlated with mortality rate. Using a threshold score of less than 10, T-ASPTS predicted mortality rate with a sensitivity of 96.97% and a specificity of 88.83%. T-ASPTS predicted mortality rate and percentage of patients with Injury Severity Score greater than 20 with similar sensitivity to the Revised Trauma Score (RTS), but T-ASPTS was more specific. The ASPTS predicted probability of survival more accurately than the RTS. Conclusions: ASPTS performs favorably as both a triage score and as a tool for predicting probability of survival for outcomes analysis. Further comparisons to existing trauma scores are needed to verify the utility of ASPTS. J Pediatr Surg 36:106-112. Copyright © 2001 by W.B. Saunders Company.
Error resilient video coding using virtual reference picture

Error resilience becomes an important feature of video applications over networks. Due to widely used motion-compensated prediction coding, an important method to combat or conceal errors is providing robust prediction reference. If each block uses one reference, the situation is not different from conventional prediction. If multiple references are used, cost of motion search will increase dramatically. To take advantage of both low complexity of using one reference and robustness of using multiple references, we proposed a video coding system that composes a virtual frame based on previously decoded frames and use it as a prediction reference. The frame is generated by applying a nonlinear filter on previously coded frames. In error free environment, both encoder and decoder can compose an identical reference frame. In case of error, the decoder first conceals the errors by predicting the damaged blocks spatially. Effect of errors is further constrained by composing a reference frame since correct data from decoded frames are used. Lower video quality degradation and smaller quality oscillation can be achieved. Since the composed reference may have lower correlation with the current frame and damage some details, coding efficiency will slightly decrease.
The Choice of Main Power Transformers for Generating Stations

In the past few years some lack of confidence has existed when the engineer is confronted with the task of specifying the main power transformer at generating stations. The proper choice of rating? cooling method, kilovolt-ampere size, voltage, insulation, and so forth?requires an approach which can be rationalized as good engineering. This necessitates not only an economic choice but one based on adequacy of electrical and mechanical requirements. It is the purpose of this paper to present an approach whereby the factors that affect the selection of main power transformers at generating stations may be evaluated.
Synaptic Protein Ubiquitination in Rat Brain Revealed by Antibody-based Ubiquitome Analysis

Protein ubiquitination is an essential post-translational modification regulating neurodevelopment, synaptic plasticity, learning, and memory, and its dysregulation contributes to the pathogenesis of neurological diseases. Here we report a systematic analysis of ubiquitinated proteome (ubiquitome) in rat brain using a newly developed monoclonal antibody that recognizes the diglycine tag on lysine residues in trypsinized peptides (K-GG peptides). Initial antibody specificity analysis showed that the antibody can distinguish K-GG peptides from linear GG peptides or pseudo K-GG peptides derived from iodoacetamide. To evaluate the false discovery rate of K-GG peptide matches during database search, we introduced a null experiment using bacterial lysate that contains no such peptides. The brain ubiquitome was then analyzed by this antibody enrichment with or without strong cation exchange (SCX) prefractionation. During SCX chromatography, although the vast majority of K-GG peptides were detected in the fractio...
Computational prediction of small-molecule catalysts

Most organic and organometallic catalysts have been discovered through serendipity or trial and error, rather than by rational design. Computational methods, however, are rapidly becoming a versatile tool for understanding and predicting the roles of such catalysts in asymmetric reactions. Such methods should now be regarded as a first line of attack in the design of catalysts.
A consolidation of various approaches in developing naturally based quadrilaterals

Abstract Four-node quadrilateral elements which do not require any numerical integration are developed by means of the Hu-Washizu variational principle. For these elements, the physical strain and stress fields are expressed in a transformed natural coordinate system so that the elements are less sensitive to geometric distortion. The method is presented for linear plane-strain applications involving incompressible materials so that the benefits of these elements are evident. Displacement-norm and energy-norm convergence-rate studies for uniform and skewed meshes are given. For skewed meshes, results show that these elements perform better than their physical plane counterparts which have been discussed in this literature review.
Expression of hepatitis A virus precursor protein P3 in vivo and in vitro: polyprotein processing of the 3CD cleavage site.

Abstract Hepatitis A virus (HAV) cDNAs encoding the P3 region proteins were expressed in vivo and in vitro to characterize the HAV 3D protein and to identify the cleavage site between 30 and 3D. Protein coding sequences were placed under control of a T7 promoter and an EMCV translational initiation signal. T7 RNA polymerase was provided by simultaneous infection of transfected BS-C-1 cells with a recombinant vaccinia virus vTF7-3 (T. R. Fuerst et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 83, 8122-8126, 1986). Efficient synthesis and processing of P3 proteins occurred to yield 3CD (78 kDa), 3D (54 kDa), 3ABC (33 kDa), 3BC (25 kDa), and 3C (23 kDa). Similar products were produced by translation of T7 transcripts in a rabbit reticulocyte lysate in vitro. The 3C/3D cleavage site was mapped by comparing the mobility of 3D in SDS-PAGE with 3D proteins engineered to begin at each of the two proposed cleavage sites; in addition, direct N-terminal sequencing of radiolabeled 3D protein from translation in vitro was performed. The results showed that 3D was formed by cleavage at the glutamine-arginine (Q/R) pair at position 1738 and 1739 of the HAV polyprotein. HAV 3D protein produced by autocatalytic cleavage of P3 precursor proteins in BS-C-1 cells is virtually completely insoluble and sediments after low-speed centrifugation. This is in contrast to the poliovirus 3D protein, produced from a similar construct, a significant portion of which remains soluble. Extracts containing the poliovirus 3D protein manifested high levels of RNA-dependent RNA polymerase activity, whereas those containing the HAV 3D protein showed no detectable activity by the same assay.
Cost-benefit analysis of a new alcohol biomarker, carbohydrate deficient transferrin, in a chronic illness primary care sample.

Background: Carbohydrate Deficient Transferrin (CDT) is a new alcohol biomarker recently approved by the Food and Drug Administration for alcohol screening. Limited information is available on the economic benefits of alcohol biomarkers. Our objective was to conduct a cost-benefit analysis (CBA) of the CDT test in a primary care sample of patients being treated for diabetes and hypertension. Methods: A decision tree was created using data from national surveys, published literature, and two brief intervention trials conducted in primary care settings. The decision tree was used to estimate the costs and benefits of CDT under different scenarios. Results: For the base case, utilizing CDT in addition to patient self-report resulted in an increase from 28 to 53 problem drinking cases identified out of 70 cases screened. With increased detection and subsequent intervention, the average medical and legal costs were far lower in the CDT arm of the study. When these avoided costs were incorporated into the model, an overall savings of $212.30 per patient was realized with CDT testing. Monte Carlo analysis also indicated a trend toward cost savings, with a mean cost savings of approximately $353 and a range of $1,619 in savings to $450 in costs for 1,000 simulations of the decision tree model. Conclusion: This CBA suggests that the addition of routine CDT screening to patient self-report may provide positive net economic benefits in primary care settings.
The visible metaphor

The Visible Metaphor, or group interpretation that gives a ritual or symbolic stage form to literature, transcends imitation, transforms and illuminates while it celebrates the literature. This article describes a “metaphorical” staging of D. H. Lawrence's story “The Horse Dealer's Daughter” to illustrate this transformation and illumination. The author concludes that adaptor/directors and theorists of group interpretation may well use the Visible Metaphor to study the literature in its own terms as well as for its effect on audiences.
Random forest fishing: a novel approach to identifying organic group of risk factors in genome-wide association studies

Genome-wide association studies (GWAS) has brought methodological challenges in handling massive high-dimensional data and also real opportunities for studying the joint effect of many risk factors acting in concert as an organic group. The random forest (RF) methodology is recognized by many for its potential in examining interaction effects in large data sets. However, RF is not designed to directly handle GWAS data, which typically have hundreds of thousands of single-nucleotide polymorphisms as predictor variables. We propose and evaluate a novel extension of RF, called random forest fishing (RFF), for GWAS analysis. RFF repeatedly updates a relatively small set of predictors obtained by RF tests to find globally important groups predictive of the disease phenotype, using a novel search algorithm based on genetic programming and simulated annealing. A key improvement of RFF results from the use of guidance incorporating empirical test results of genome-wide pairwise interactions. Evaluated using simulated and real GWAS data sets, RFF is shown to be effective in identifying important predictors, particularly when both marginal effects and interactions exist, and is applicable to very large GWAS data sets.
Bertrand Russell and the introduction of mathematical logic in China

Bertrand Russell was one of the most prominent figures in the formation and development of mathematical logic. It is widely acknowledged that his work in this field exerted tremendous influence in the West, especially in the first three decades of the twentieth century. The important role he played in inspiring Chinese interest in this subject, however, is virtually unknown. This paper describes Russell's contributions to the introduction of mathematical logic in China through a discussion of his lectures in Beijing in March of 1921, and the subsequent Chinese translations of his Introduction to Mathematical Philosophy and Principia Mathematica.
PYRUVATE DEHYDROGENASE IN PRETERM, TERM AND ADULT RABBIT TISSUES

Pyruvate dehydrogenase activity was determined in the livers (LV), kidneys (KD), hearts (H), lungs (LG) and brains (BR) of 28.5d. (preterm), 30.5d. (term) and adult rabbits as part of our investigations of neonatal oxidative metabolism. We found that in KD, H, LG and BR the sp. act. of this enzyme (nmoles CO2 liberated from [1-14C]pyruvate/mg mitochondrial protein per min) decreased with gestation, reaching adult levels in 30.5d. rabbits. In the liver, we found an approximate two-fold increase in the sp. act. from 28.5d. to 30.5d. rabbits (8.32 vs 14.20). In addition, the percentage of the enzyme in the active form in the 30.5d. rabbit was found to be 5 and 2.5 fold greater in the H and BR than in the H and BR of the 28.5d. rabbit. The activity of this enzyme was also determined in whole tissue homogenates. When total activities per gram of tissue (active + inactive) were compared, it was found that the livers of the 28.5d. and 30.5d. rabbits were capable of the most rapid rates of pyruvate oxidation of the tissues studied. This is quite different from the relationship of the activities of the various tissues in the adult. The order of the maximum possible rates of pyruvate oxidation per gram was found to be: LV>H>KD>BR>LG, LV>H>BR>KD>LG and H>KD>BR>LV>LG in 28.5, 30.5 and adult rabbits, respectively.
Measurement of the light absorption and scattering properties of onion skin and flesh at 633nm

Abstract Understanding the optical properties of onion tissues is essential to applying optical methods for onion quality inspection. This study estimated the optical properties of dry skin, wet skin, and flesh of red, Vidalia sweet, white, and yellow onions at the wavelength of 633 nm. The total diffuse reflectance, total transmittance, and collimated transmittance of single-layer onion tissues were measured by spectroscopic systems. Based on the measured data, the absorption coefficient μa and the reduced scattering coefficient μ ′ s of onion tissues were calculated using the inverse adding-doubling method. The results indicated that the dry and wet skins had significantly higher μa and μ ′ s than the flesh at 633 nm. For both skins and flesh, the μa varied between cultivars, while the differences of the μ ′ s between cultivars were less profound. All types of onion tissues were high-albedo materials at 633 nm. Using the calculated optical properties, Monte Carlo simulations were performed to model the light propagation in 25 different scenarios of multi-layer onion tissues for four cultivars, respectively. The results showed that the incident light at 633 nm would lose 99% of its energy within 6 layers in any of the simulated scenarios, and the light penetrated more layers in the sweet onions than in the other three cultivars. This work provided fundamental understanding of the optical properties of onion tissues and the light propagation in onion bulbs at 633 nm. The investigation of the onion optical properties will be extended to a broader spectrum in the future.
RF refocussed variable flip angle MRI using optimal pulse modulation

Comparison of the RF refocused spin echo sequence experiment with the gradient reversal refocused spin echo sequence (for partial-flip-angle magnetic resonance imaging using sinc amplitude-modulated RF waveforms) has shown that the generally observed loss in enhancement of the signal at low flip angles for the RF refocused method can be attributed to the poor slice profile of the phase reversal pulse. Using a tailored RF refocusing pulse which improves the slice profile, the expected enhancement of signal at low flip angles has been improved to a level similar to that observed with gradient reversal sequences. This technique has important applications for partial flip imaging because it allows the use of RF refocused sequences, and the elimination of the intensity distortions that have hampered the clinical application of partial-flip-angle imaging with gradient refocusing. >
Effects of 4-methylpyrazole, methanol/ethylene glycol antidote, in healthy humans

4-Methylpyrazole (4-MP), an inhibitor of alcohol dehydrogenase, may be useful for the treatment of methanol and ethylene glycol intoxications. A placebo-controlled, double blind, multiple dose, sequential, ascending-dose study has been performed to determine the tolerance of 4-MP in healthy volunteers. Oral loading doses of 4-MP were followed by supplemental doses every 12 h through 5 days, producing plasma levels in the therapeutic range. A slight, transient elevation in one or both serum transaminase values was observed in 6 of the 15 subjects treated with 4-MP. This effect was not dose related nor apparently mediated through a hypersensitivity reaction. Serum triglyceride levels were increased in 30% of 4-MP treated subjects, but also in 25% of the placebo subjects. 4-MP treatment did not produce any other significant changes in objective clinical parameters nor in subjective side effects. The results suggest that a mild, transient increase in liver function tests might be observed in some subjects treated with multiple doses of 4-MP. Nevertheless, the slower elimination rate and lesser degree of toxicity of 4-MP would make it preferable to ethanol in therapy of these poisonings.