cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Immunolocalization of beta 1 integrins in platelets and platelet-derived microvesicles.

Human platelets contain several adhesion receptors belonging to the integrin superfamily. At least three beta 1 integrins are present on platelets and have been shown to mediate platelet adhesion to collagen, fibronectin, and laminin. To study the cellular localization of the beta 1 integrins in platelets, we produced a polyclonal antibody by immunization of goat 172 with purified beta 1 subunit from HPB-ALL cells. Antibody 172 (Ab172) specifically immunoblotted a 135-Kd protein in a lysate of whole platelets. The reactivity of Ab172 with platelet membrane proteins was further determined by immunoprecipitation of lysates of surface-radioiodinated platelets. Ab172 immunoprecipitates, resolved by nonreducing/reducing two-dimensional sodium dodecyl sulfate- polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis consisted of three labeled proteins with migrational properties of platelet glycoprotein (GP)Ia, GPIc and GPIIa. Neither GPIIb/IIIa nor the vitronectin receptor were immunoprecipitated by Ab172, confirming a lack of cross-reactivity with the beta 3 integrins in platelets. Immunofluorescence studies using Ab172 were performed to investigate the cellular distribution of beta 1 integrins in platelets. Fluorescent labeling of intact cells demonstrated the presence of beta 1 antigen on the surface of resting cells. Permeabilization of platelets with Triton X-100 showed the presence of an intracellular pool of beta 1 antigen. Double-label experiments using Ab172 and AP-2 (anti-GPIIb/IIIa) showed identical labeling patterns, suggesting a similar subcellular distribution for these integrins. Following thrombin stimulation, permeabilized cells showed a centralized clearing of both beta 1 antigen and GPIIb/IIIa as well as an intensification of surface labeling for beta 1 antigen. These findings suggest the translocation of intracellular beta 1 antigen to the platelet surface as a result of thrombin stimulation. Because platelet-derived microvesicles have been reported to contain GPIIb/IIIa, we investigated the possible distribution of beta 1 integrins in these structures. Microvesicles, produced as a result of platelet activation, were labeled with Ab172, suggesting the distribution of beta 1 integrins in these structures as well as in intact cells.
Narratives of Participants in National Career Development Programs for Women in Academic Medicine: Identifying the Opportunities for Strategic Investment.

Abstract Background: Academic medicine has initiated changes in policy, practice, and programs over the past several decades to address persistent gender disparity and other issues pertinent to its sociocultural context. Three career development programs were implemented to prepare women faculty to succeed in academic medicine: two sponsored by the Association of American Medical Colleges, which began a professional development program for early career women faculty in 1988. By 1995, it had evolved into two programs one for early career women and another for mid-career women. By 2012, more than 4000 women faculty from medical schools across the U.S and Canada had participated in these intensive 3-day programs. The third national program, the Hedwig van Ameringen Executive Leadership in Academic Medicine® (ELAM) program for women, was developed in 1995 at the Drexel University College of Medicine. Methods: Narratives from telephone interviews representing reflections on 78 career development seminars betwe...
Determination of Salicylic Acid and Related Substances in Serum by Ultraviolet Spectrophotometry.

SummaryA method is described for determination of salicylate blood levels, based on the absorption spectrum of salicylic acid in the ultraviolet range. The method is suitable both for routine clinical use and for research work.
Minimizing Free Energy of Stochastic Functions of Markov Chains

Automatic speech recognition has generally been treated as a problem of Bayesian classification. This is suboptimal when the distributions of the training data do not match those of the test data to be recognized. In this paper we propose an alternate analogous classification paradigm, in which classes are modeled by thermodynamic systems, and classification is performed through a minimum energy rule. Bayesian classification is shown to be a specific instance of this paradigm when the temperature of the systems is unity. Classification at elevated temperatures naturally provides a mechanism for dealing with statistical variations between test and training data.
On a 20th Century Codex: The Flight into Egypt

AbstractAs we examine an illustrated modern book, a number of phenomena featuring the interrelation of script-like and pictorial elements draw the attention. The inventive art of Timothy C. Ely strikes even an untrained eye with his great and fantastic explorations of real and out-of-this-world sceneries, largely saturated with cryptic symbols, atlas-related features and marks of constructed scripts. The Elyan scripts, unrestricted to a cast of scribes, convert T. C. Ely into the only known scribe, creator and cognizant of these asemic expressions. This contemporary illuminator has created highly personal books, similar to the codices of early and later Middle Ages, reviving and popularizing the tradition. In terms of cognition, analysis is deemed appealing as shared and different aspects between genuine scripts and invented ones are identified. We can also hypothesize on The Flight into Egypt (FiE) as an indication of the to-come future, where written, visual, and aural platforms cross boundaries by merg...
Feature detection and tracking in three dimensional image analysis

Advances in sensor and computer technology are resulting in an increased use of three-dimensional images in applications such as medical diagnosis, video understanding, and fluid dynamics. In these applications, each gray level represents certain relevant property associated with the location (i, j, k) in the modeled three-dimensional world. The ability to detect features and/or track them over time is the ultimate goal in the automatic analysis of these images.
Etiology and Pathogenesis of IBD — Origins and Directions

The concept embodied in epidemiology involving study of the distribution and the determinants of disease in human populations originated with Hippocrates (370–460 BC) and his “Airs, Waters and Places” (Epidemics I and III) but did not emerge as a distinct discipline until mid 19th century. Organization of the Statistical Society of London in 1834 and the Epidemiological Society of London in 1850,542 together with the seminal descriptions of John Snow543 (1813–1858)(cholera) in 1849 and by W. Budd544 (1811–1880) (London) (typhoid fever) in 1873 had established epidemiology as an important approach to the understanding of human illness but its application to inflammatory bowel disease was not possible for many years. Instances of “nonspecific” inflammatory bowel disease appeared during the nineteenth century, concurrently with a “substantial decline in mortality from intestinal infections,”545 but initial attempts to estimate the incidence, prevalence and demography of inflammatory bowel disease were impractical because of the small number of identified patients, diagnostic uncertainty and limited clinical understanding. J.L. Kantor,546 in a 1929 review of 2500 private patients with digestive complaints in New York, had suggested the proportion of ulcerative colitis admissions as nine in a thousand, contrasting with such estimates as constipation 500 per 1000 and irritable colon 200 per 1000.
Updated Results of Combination Cytokine Immunotherapy In the Treatment of Aplastic Anemia and Myelodysplastic Syndrome (MDS)

Abstract Abstract 2920 Immunosuppressive therapy using antithymocyte globulin (ATG) and cyclosporine has been successfully used in the treatment of cytopenias in patients (pts) with severe aplastic anemia (AA). Laboratory and clinical data suggest that dysregulated immune mechanisms may also contribute to the pathogenesis of ineffective hematopoiesis in some subsets of early MDS and result in cytopenias. Rabbit ATG (rATG) is active and well tolerated in pts have recurrent/persistent disease after treatment with equine ATG. Here we present our updated results with a combination of rATG, cyclosporine, prednisone, and G-CSF in pts with aplastic anemia or myelodysplastic syndrome. This is a single-arm phase II study evaluating the efficacy and safety of the following combination in pts with aplastic anemia and low or intermediate-1 risk MDS (by the international prognostic scoring system) : rATG 3.5 mg/kg/day (or 2.5 mg/kg/day for age ≥ 55 yrs) intravenously (IV) for 5 days, methylprednisone 1mg/kg/day IV daily for 5 days (given prior to each dose of ATG), followed by oral prednisone tapered off over 1 month, G-CSF (filgrastim daily or pegfilgrastim every 2 weeks) subcutaneously for up to 3 months, and cyclosporine (5 mg/kg) daily for up to 6 months. Dose reductions or interruptions for toxicities were allowed at the discretion of the treating physician. Responses were assessed at 3 months after initiating therapy. Of the 51 pts enrolled, 46 have received treatment including 23 (50%) pts with AA and 23 (50%) pts with MDS. The median age overall was 60 yrs (range, 19–82), 54 (19-82) in the AA and 63 (48-79) in the MDS cohorts respectively. Of the 43 pts evaluable for response (21 AA, 22 MDS), there were 13 (62%) responders (4 CR, 8 PR, 1 HI) in AA cohort and 6 (27%) responders (2 CR, 4 HI) in the MDS cohort. Median age of responders was 59 (19-79). The median time to response (TTR) was 3.2 months. Of the 46 pts who received treatment, 20 pts (43%) were HLA-DR15 positive, 22 (48%) were negative, and 4 (9%) were not checked. In the MDS cohort, 9 (39%) pts were HLA-DR15 positive and none responded. In the AA cohort, 11 (48%) were HLA-DR15 positive, out of which 6 (55%) responded. Among the 19 responding pts described above, 6 (32%) were HLA-DR15 positive and all had AA. The median disease free survival for responders (CR & PR) is 26 months. The median overall survival of responders has not been reached, compared to 20 months for nonresponders (p The combination of rATG, cyclosporine, steroids, and G-CSF is a well tolerated, effective regimen in the treatment of aplastic anemia and also has activity in a subset of pts with MDS. The rate of serious infections was relatively low, but infusion reactions were common and should be managed with premedication and supportive care. HLA-DR15 positivity correlated with response in patients with AA, but not in MDS. Responses were slow to occur, but durable, and associated with improved survival. Disclosures: Kadia: Genzyme: Research Funding. Ravandi: Genzyme: Honoraria.
Political Philosophy, Education, and Statesmanship

abstractHow are we to understand the connection between political philosophy, education, and statesmanship? Using Harry V. Jaffa's Crisis of the Strauss Divided as a guide, the following essay explores this question by reflecting on a teacher-student lineage that stretches across the twentieth century. It explains and defends Jaffa's understanding of political philosophy but argues that one of Jaffa's students improved or perfected Jaffa's approach. In doing so, Jaffa's student did what Jaffa had done for his teacher, and Jaffa's teacher had done for his teacher. While at first glance the teacher-student lineage might appear to trace a descent, from another angle it appears to be an ascent, or at least the preparation for a possible ascent.
Embedded Clinical Decision Support in Electronic Health Record Decreases Use of High‐cost Imaging in the Emergency Department: EmbED study

OBJECTIVE The objective was to evaluate the impact of evidence-based clinical decision support tools integrated directly into provider workflow in the electronic health record on utilization of computed tomography (CT) brain, C-spine, and pulmonary embolism (PE). METHODS Validated, well-accepted scoring tools for head injury, C-spine injury, and PE were embedded into the electronic health record in a manner minimally disruptive to provider workflow. This was a longitudinal, before/after study in five emergency departments (EDs) in a healthcare system with a common electronic health record. Attending ED physicians practicing during the entire study period were included. The main outcome measure was proportion of CTs ordered by provider (total number of CT scans of a given type divided by total patients seen by that provider) in aggregate in the pre- and post intervention period. RESULTS There were 235,858 total patient visits analyzed in this study with an absolute decrease of 6,106 CT scan ordering for the three studies. Across all sites, there was greater than 6% decrease in utilization of CT brain and CT C-spine (-10%, 95% CI = -13% to -7%, p < 0.001; and -6%, 95% CI =-11% to -1%, p = 0.03, respectively). The use of CT PE also decreased but was not significant (-2%, 95% CI = -9% to +5%, p = 0.42). For all CT types, high utilizers in the pre-intervention period decreased usage over 14% in the post-intervention period with CT brain (-18%, 95% CI = -22% to -15%, p < 0.001), CT C-spine (-14%, 95% CI = -20% to -8%, p = 0.001), and CT PE (-23%, 95% CI = -31% to -14%, p < 0.001). For all three studies, the average utilizers did not change their usage practices. For CT brain, the low utilizers also did not increase usage but for CT C-spine and CT PE usage was increased (+29%, 95% CI = 10% to 52%, p = 0.003; and +46%, 95% CI = 26% to 70%, p < 0.001, respectively). CONCLUSION Embedded clinical decision support is associated with decreased overall utilization of high-cost imaging, especially among higher utilizers. It also affected low utilizers, increasing their usage consistent with improved adherence to guidelines, but this effect did not offset the overall decreased utilization for CT brain or CT C-spine. Thus, integrating clinical decision support into the provider workflow promotes usage of validated tools across providers, which can standardize the delivery of care and improve compliance with evidence-based guidelines.
Assessment of Stepfamily Marriages: Implications for Family Counselors

Given the ongoing rise in the numbers of stepfamily constellations in 21st-century society, and given the identified challenges and resultant dissolution rates of these families, clinicians who wis...
On Spatial and Temporal Variations in Ultra Dense Wireless Networks

Ultra densification along with the use of wider bands at higher frequencies are likely to be key elements towards meeting the throughput/coverage objectives of 5G wireless networks. In addition to increased parallelism, densification leads to improved, but eventually bounded, benefits from proximity of users to base stations, while resulting in increased aggregate interference. Such networks are expected to be interference limited, and in higher frequency regimes, the interference is expected to become spatially variable due to the increased sensitivity of propagation to obstructions and the proximity of active interferers. This paper studies the characteristics of the spatial random fields associated with interference and Shannon capacity in ultra-dense limiting regimes. They rely on the theory of Gaussian random fields which arise as natural limits under densification. Our models show how densification and operation at higher frequencies, could lead to increasingly rough temporal variations in the interference process. This is characterized by the Holder exponent of the interference field. We show that these fluctuations make it more difficult for mobile users to adapt modulation and coding. We further study how the spatial correlations in users' rates impact backhaul dimensioning. Therefore, this paper identifies and quantifies challenges associated with densification in terms of the resulting unpredictability and the correlation of interference on the achievable rates.
Socrates and Distributive Justice

This chapter explicates many of the words of Plato’s Socrates on the problem of distributive justice. One of the main points of this chapter is to demonstrate how the Socratic Anti-Mouthpiece Interpretation can and ought to function when it interprets the words placed in Socrates’ mouth by Plato. One of the leading contemporary philosophers of Plato, Richard Kraut , argues that Plato has a theory of distributive justice. However, while this chapter will argue that there is no theory of distributive justice found in the words of Plato’s Socrates, there are philosophically interesting concepts and arguments which are articulated and may be useful to contemporary moral, legal, social and political philosophers.
2.03 – Computed Tomography

Computed tomography (CT) is a diagnostic technique that allows reconstructing cross sections of a patient's body, providing detailed information about structure and anatomy of organs and, to some extent, also of their functionality. This chapter will focus on the basic principles and technological evolution of CT, starting from the concept of tomography and the fundamentals of image reconstruction from projections. The improvements that have led to the current configuration of modern multislice CT and cone-beam CT scanners are illustrated, along with the most important dose reduction techniques and a concise review of common image artifacts and possible strategies for their correction. Finally, the basic principles of cardiac CT and CT perfusion are described.
Children’s Understanding of Maps

A cursory reading of the chapters in these volumes on Cognitive Processes and Spatial Orientation in Animal and Man might leave the impression that maps play a central role in the study of both process and behavior. Maps and the associated mapping process appear in a variety of guises. As cognitive maps, for example, they provide the central organizing concept for describing the functions and properties of internal spatial representations (see Downs, 1981a, b). When paired with the idea of a compass, maps provide the basis for understanding navigational behavior in a wide range of species. As data generating and data representing techniques, maps play a central role in research methodology (Downs, 1985).
Hypersingular Integral Equations for Crack Problems

The investigation of scattering of waves by cracks in an elastic medium and by thin scatterers in an acoustic medium, via analytical and experimental methods, seems to be of continuing importance to nondestructive evaluation. On the analytical side, formulation and numerical solution of crack scattering problems using boundary integral equations is popular and effective because of the very nature of a crack, but this approach still suffers some shortcomings of an analytical nature. That is, the governing equations in their primitive form involve a hypersingular kernel function, and the usual process of regularization to lower the kernel singularity usually introduces undesirable features in the analysis accompanied by computational difficulty.
UV Resonance Raman Studies of the Photochemical Dynamics of N-Methylacetamide Isomerization

UV resonance Raman studies[1–2] have recently demonstrated the existence of monophotonic photoisomerization of the normally trans-amide linkage to a cis-linkage for aqueous solutions of N-methylacetamide (NMA) and small peptides. In this work, we examined the power dependence of the Raman intensity of the cis-amide II band with a ns pulsed laser, and determined the quantum yield of NMA photoisomerization, as well as the isomerization rate of cis-NMA to trans-NMA on the ground state surface.
Early parental positive personality and stress: Longitudinal associations with children's sleep

Objectives The current study examined the influence of early parental stress and positive parent personality during infancy on sleep in middle childhood. Further, the role of positive parent personality as a buffer of the association between parental stress and sleep was considered. Methods Participants included 381 twins and their primary caregivers who were recruited from birth records in the United States. Primary caregivers completed survey assessments via phone when twins were 12 and 30 months of age to assess multiple dimensions of parental stress and positive parent personality. Approximately 6 years later (M = 5.78, SD = 0.42), twins participated in an intensive assessment that included wearing actigraph watches to provide an objective measurement of sleep, while primary caregivers completed daily diaries regarding twins' sleep. Results Positive parent personality was associated prospectively with longer actigraphy sleep duration and higher parent-reported sleep quality/daytime functioning. Parental stress was associated prospectively with greater variability in sleep duration. Positive parent personality moderated the parental stress - sleep-timing relation, such that greater parental stress was associated with a later midpoint of the sleep period only for children with parents low on positive personality (e.g., low optimism). All other findings were non-significant. Conclusions Findings suggest that both positive attributes and stress may influence sleep in middle childhood and that low parent positive personality may exacerbate associations between parental stress and later timing of sleep periods in children. Early interventions to promote healthy sleeping may consider focusing on decreasing parental stress and increasing parental empathy and optimism as early as infancy. Statement of contribution What is already known on this subject? Early-life experiences, especially adversity, have been related to health outcomes among adults and children, such that negative experiences are associated with poor health outcomes. Poor sleep (e.g., short duration, poor quality) among children is associated with negative outcomes including poorer cognitive performance and higher adiposity. What does this study add? This study used a prospective design to understand relations between early parent-related factors and child sleep. Early parental stress and positive parent personality were associated with objective sleep quality. Positive parent personality during infancy may have promotive/protective influences on sleep later in childhood.
Non-inferiority trials using a surrogate marker as the primary endpoint: An increasing phenotype in cardiovascular trials.

Background/aimsNon-inferiority trials are increasing in cardiovascular medicine, with approval of many drugs and devices on the basis of such studies. Surrogate markers as primary endpoints have be...
An exploratory examination of organizational insiders’ descriptive and normative perceptions of cyber-relevant rights and responsibilities

Abstract Within the field of organizational cybersecurity, much attention has been given to insider compliance and non-compliance with the information security policies (ISPs) set forth by their organizations. Most of these efforts apply theoretical foundations based on self-interest, personal incentive, and cost-benefit calculations to explain compliance and non-compliance motives. We take a different approach to understand insiders’ ISP compliance by exploring how insiders view their rights and responsibilities related to security-relevant behaviors. Relying on Deonance Theory, we assess the extent to which insiders categorize a wide variety of behaviors that are or can be implemented in corporate ISPs according to several deontic conditional operators (e.g., nature of perceived requiredness). These operators form the basis for a rights and responsibility framework. We find that out of 38 unique security-relevant behaviors, 22 exhibit one or more forms of potential moral “gray area” patterns. Among these patterns, significant differences between insiders’ descriptive (i.e., “is”) and normative (i.e., “should be”) assessments of rights and responsibilities perceptions are particularly interesting. Our findings shed additional light on insiders’ compliance with organizational ISPs when those ISPs place increased restrictions on what the insider must or must not do.
Maria's Ristorante

In an effort to save his business, Paul Marciano, the owner of Italian family restaurant Maria's Ristorante, runs a number of experiments focused on improving the customer experience around his target customer segment. These experiments lead to a better understanding about his business and cause him to make specific changes to his business model that ultimately improve things across the board. The experiments are based on research from the academic literature on the use of behavioral variables to manage customer perceptions. Excerpt UVA-OM-1536 May 28, 2015 Maria's Ristorante It still didn't seem real to Paul Marciano that his second Maria's Ristorante was operational. So much had gone into launching the flagship restaurant, only 10 miles away in Reston, Virginia, three years ago. Just as they had when preparing for the arrival of their first son, Marciano and his wife, Jackie, had stressed over every last detail leading up to the restaurant's launch. They had chosen their favorite plates and flatware and the interior design scheme “upscale cozy,” which included painting the walls yellow-green. They tested menu items themselves and trained the waitstaff for a week. Marciano smiled and shook his head at the memory as he drove toward the new location in Old Town Fairfax. How much they had learned! Almost as soon as they had opened the first restaurant, things had gone wrong. Foot traffic was slower than expected, and customers complained about everything from the menu to the lighting. Within two months, Maria's best servers started quitting to join higher-volume competitors. Waitstaff morale weakened due to lower tips on the slow nights, while cooks griped about not getting paid as well as the waitstaff on the good nights. The business was bleeding. After just four months, Maria's, named after Marciano's Sicilian grandmother, appeared to be just another restaurant in a death spiral. “We've got to do something radical, or we're not going to make it, Jackie,” Marciano had said. It was change or bust—change, or lose their life savings. Marciano knew that 60% of restaurants failed within the first three years, but he had still plunged into his venture, certain that Maria's would be one of the winners. It had been his lifelong dream to own a restaurant, and when the time came to quit his desk job, gather family recipes, and pool together the money needed to launch, Marciano jumped at the chance. It was going to be perfect—the first thing in his 37 years that he had really created himself. His fingerprints were on every decision. Whenever Jackie objected during the planning process, Marciano usually overruled her. This was his baby. And that was why it hurt even more when things started to go south, like a piece of himself was dying. “You know, Paul,” Jackie said one night. “We made a lot of our decisions based on gut—your gut. I wonder if there is a more scientific way to approach this.” . . .
Cardiac fibrosis: Myofibroblast-mediated pathological regulation and drug delivery strategies

Cardiac fibrosis remains an unresolved problem in heart diseases. After initial injury, cardiac fibroblasts (CFs) are activated and subsequently differentiate into myofibroblasts (myoFbs) that are major mediator cells in the pathological remodeling. MyoFbs exhibit proliferative and secretive characteristics, and contribute to extracellular matrix (ECM) turnover, collagen deposition. The persistent functions of myoFbs lead to fibrotic scars and cardiac dysfunction. The anti-fibrotic treatment is hindered by the elusive mechanism of fibrosis and lack of specific targets on myoFbs. In this review, we will outline the progress of cardiac fibrosis and its contributions to the heart failure. We will also shed light on the role of myoFbs in the regulation of adverse remodeling. The communication between myoFbs and other cells that are involved in the heart injury and repair respectively will be reviewed in detail. Then, recently developed therapeutic strategies to treat fibrosis will be summarized such as i) chimeric antigen receptor T cell (CAR-T) therapy with an optimal target on myoFbs, ii) direct reprogramming from stem cells to quiescent CFs, iii) "off-target" small molecular drugs. The application of nano/micro technology will be discussed as well, which is involved in the construction of cell-based biomimic platforms and "pleiotropic" drug delivery systems.
Is That Normal? A Case of Diagnostic Error Due to Misinterpretation of Laboratory Findings.

A 2-month-old boy born at 37-weeks’ gestational age with no chronic medical conditions presented to the emergency department with jaundice and poor weight gain. The patient was born appropriate for gestational age, weighing 3.83 kg, and developed mild jaundice several days after birth but did not require any phototherapy. He was exclusively breastfed. He had additionally been having several episodes per day of small-volume nonbloody, nonbilious emesis daily since he was 1 week old. He had daily stools that were yellow and soft. At 5 weeks of life, the patient became jaundiced, at which time his pediatrician ordered laboratories that were notable for elevated alanine transaminase (ALT) of 59 U/L and aspartate transaminase (AST) of 158 U/L, total bilirubin of 10.4 mg/dL, direct bilirubin of 0.35 mg/dL, hemoglobin of 9.6 g/dL, reticulocyte count of 1.7%, and normal thyroid study results. In response to the laboratory abnormalities, the pediatrician referred him to an adult gastroenterologist for additional evaluation. During the appointment, at 7 weeks old, he weighed 4.58 kg (15 g/day of weight gain since birth). The gastroenterologist obtained a right upper quadrant ultrasound, which was normal, and laboratory values notable for negative hepatitis serology results, stable AST and ALT, and bilirubin with a normal gamma-glutamyl transferase, creatine kinase, and electrolytes. An α-fetoprotein (AFP) level was 3870 ng/mL (laboratory reference range of 0.6–28.3 ng/mL). Because of concern for malignancy based on the elevated AFP, outpatient oncology was consulted, and the patient was referred for a computed tomography (CT) scan of the chest, abdomen, and pelvis, which was unremarkable. In the week after his CT scan, the patient was noted to have difficulty waking for feeds overnight and …
Factors Predicting Service Referrals for Youth in the Child Welfare System

Youth involved in the child welfare system and specifically those in foster care disproportionately experience concerns related to their psychosocial needs compared to youth who are not in care; consequently, assessment of those needs and referral to appropriate services is critical. The purpose of this study was to examine whether needs (i.e. behaviors) of youth involved in the child welfare and foster care systems and organizational culture and climate are associated with caseworkers’ recommendations for services, considering youth and caregiver report, as well as other individual and family factors. The sample came from Wave 2 of the National Survey of Child and Adolescent Well-Being II and weighted data were used for the analyses (n = 462). Logistic regression was used to analyze factors, such as youth behavior and organizational culture and climate, that predict a referral for various youth services for youth who experienced maltreatment and remained in home or were placed in foster care. Results indicate that youth behavior was most likely to predict referral services, as well as other youth characteristics, but organizational culture and climate of agencies did not influence referral recommendations. These findings highlight the need for more research examining the decision-making and assessment practices of child welfare caseworkers and use of appropriate assessments for youth involved in the child welfare system.
Design patterns for engineering genetic stability

The past 20 years have witnessed enormous progress in synthetic biology in the development of engineered cells for diverse applications, including biomanufacturing, materials fabrication, and potential therapeutics and diagnostics. However, it still remains a major challenge to maintain long-term performance of synthetic gene circuits, due to the emergence of mutants that lose circuit function. Here, we highlight major vulnerabilities of synthetic gene circuits resulting in circuit failure and mutant escape. We also discuss engineering strategies to enhance long-term circuit stability and performance. These approaches can be divided into two strategies: the suppression of the emergence of mutants and the suppression of their relative fitness if mutants do emerge. We anticipate that mechanistic understanding of the modes of circuit failure will facilitate future efforts to design evolutionarily robust synthetic biology-inspired applications.
Schoenberg’s work on Hermite-Birkhoff interpolation

We will discuss the influence of Schoenberg’s paper [89*] on this subject. For detailed references, see the book [LJR].
Length of Flow Separation over Dunes

Dimensional analysis was used to define the length of the flow saparation for the case of two-dimensional, uniform flow over dunes, which was expressed in terms of bed-form geometry and the sand size of the bed material. Experiments were conducted in a rectangular flume using artificial dunes and a flow visualization method to measure the flow separation length. When dunes are flat, length of the flow separation is affected by the sand-grain roughness. When dunes are steep, the length of the flow separation is due mainly to the bed-form geometry and is relatively constant. The reverse rectangular steps can be considered as dunes of infinite length, and the length of the flow separation for such steps will always be greater than that obtained for dunes of finite length.
Sense of Divine Involvement and Sense of Meaning in Life: Religious Tradition as a Contingency

This study examines the association between sense of divine involvement and sense of meaning in life. Then it proceeds to assess how this association varies by religious tradition. Using a random and national sample from the 2007 Baylor Religion Survey, this study finds that sense of divine involvement is associated with greater odds of having a sense of meaning in life. In addition, religious affiliation modifies this association. Specifically, the positive association between sense of divine involvement and the odds of having a sense of meaning in life is observed only among evangelical Protestants, mainline Protestants, and Catholics, but not among other religionists and religious nones. I discuss how the results make contributions to knowledge about the link between religious beliefs, religious tradition, and mental health.
Brain Imaging as a Diagnostic Tool

Brain imaging provides anatomical and functional techniques for experimental and clinical sciences. Keywords: positron emission tomography; magnetic resonance imaging; neurology; diagnosis; function
Down Syndrome, Molecular Genetics of

Down syndrome (DS) is the commonest of the genetically caused forms of mental retardation. It occurs with a frequency of approximately 1 per 800 to 1 per 1000 live births, and its incidence increases with increasing maternal age. DS is caused by the presence of an extra chromosome 21 within the genome, which, in turn, results in a 50% increase in the expression of the genes contained on the chromosome. By mechanisms currently undefined, the increased expression of several genes on human chromosome 21 results in a syndrome characterized by mental and growth retardation, a distinctive set of major and minor congenital malformations, a variety of cellular abnormalities, and, later in life, by the development of Alzheimer disease. Keywords: Acrocentric; Autosomes; Centromere; Meiosis; Trisomy
Stabbing Parallel Segments with a Convex Polygon (Extended Abstract)

We present an algorithm that, given a set of n parallel line segments in the plane, finds a convex polygon whose boundary intersects each segment at least once, or determines that none exists. Our algorithm runs in O(n log n) steps and linear space, which is optimal. Our solution involves a reduction to a bipartite stabbing problem, using a “point-sweeping” or “chain-unwrapping” technique. We use geometric duality to solve bipartite stabbing.
Feshbach resonances and limiting universal thermodynamics of strongly correlated nucleons

A finite-temperature model of strongly correlated nucleons with underlying isospin symmetries is developed. The model can be used to study the role of bound states and Feshbach resonances on the thermal properties of a spin 1/2, isospin 1/2 system of protons and neutrons by varying the proton fraction. An analysis of features associated with a universal thermodynamic limit or unitary limit is given. In the limit of very large scattering length, the effective range to quantum thermal wavelength appears as a limiting scale in an interaction energy and equation of state.
The effects of physiological adjustments on the perceptual and acoustical characteristics of simulated laryngeal vocal tremor.

The purpose of this study was to determine if adjustments to the voice source [i.e., fundamental frequency (F0), degree of vocal fold adduction] or vocal tract filter (i.e., vocal tract shape for vowels) reduce the perception of simulated laryngeal vocal tremor and to determine if listener perception could be explained by characteristics of the acoustical modulations. This research was carried out using a computational model of speech production that allowed for precise control and manipulation of the glottal and vocal tract configurations. Forty-two healthy adults participated in a perceptual study involving pair-comparisons of the magnitude of “shakiness” with simulated samples of laryngeal vocal tremor. Results revealed that listeners perceived a higher magnitude of voice modulation when simulated samples had a higher mean F0, greater degree of vocal fold adduction, and vocal tract shape for /i/ vs /ɑ/. However, the effect of F0 was significant only when glottal noise was not present in the acoustic signal. Acoustical analyses were performed with the simulated samples to determine the features that affected listeners' judgments. Based on regression analyses, listeners' judgments were predicted to some extent by modulation information present in both low and high frequency bands.
Citrinin Mycotoxicosis in the Rabbit: Ultrastructural Alterations

Citrinin was given to rabbits as a single oral dose of 120 or 67 mg/kg. Rabbits were killed at 4, 6, 8, 10, and 12 hours post dosing, and the kidneys were fixed by intravascular perfusion. Ultrastructural alterations were evident by 4 hours after treatment. In the proximal tubule, alterations were brush border disruption, cytoplasmic rarefaction, and swelling of interdigitating processes. At higher doses, mitochondria were condensed and distorted. Medullary and straight cortical distal tubules had marked distention of the intercellular spaces and disorganization of interdigitating processes. Changes in cortical and outer medullary collecting ducts were similar but less severe. Renal alterations were suggestive of damage to membrane structure and/or transport functions and interference with cellular bioenergetics. Leukocytic infiltration was associated with damaged tubules indicating a contribution of inflammation to the development of the lesions.
An information theoretic measure for secrecy loss in stochastic discrete event systems

While cryptography is used to protect the content of secret information (message) by making it undecipherable, behaviors (as opposed to information) may not be encrypted, and may only be protected by partially or fully hiding through creation of ambiguity by providing covers that generate indistinguishable observations from secrets. Having a cover together with partial observability does cause ambiguity about the system behaviors to be kept secret, yet some information about secrets may still be leaked due to statistical difference between the occurrence probabilities of the secrets and their covers. One possible quantification of statistical difference between two distributions is based on their Jenson-Shannon divergence (JSD). We propose a computation of JSD for systems modeled as partially-observed Markov chains (POMC). Since an adversary is likely to discriminate more if he/she observes for a longer period, our goal is to evaluate the worst-case loss of secrecy as obtained in limit over longer and longer observations. Illustrative example is provided to demonstrate the proposed computation approach.
Expression of Vitiligo Antigen on a Revertant Line of Hamster Melanoma Cells

Our laboratory has recently reported that over 80% of patients with common vitiligo have circulating antibodies to cell-surfacer antigens on normal human melanocytes. The slow growth rate of these cells limits the assays that can be performed for antibody detection. We now have found that the antigens defined by vitiligo sera on melanocytes are also expressed on FF cells, a revertant line of hamster melanoma cells. These antigens can be detected both by indirect immunofluorescence and specific immunoprecipitation assays. The presence of "vitiligo" antigens on hamster FF cells will aid further study of the abnormal immune response in vitiligo.
Modeling of coupled proton transfers by analytic functions

Potential energy surfaces are generated by ab initio calculations for the transfer of two protons in the pentameric chains (H2O ·· H2O ·· H2OH+ ·· OH2 ·· OH2) and (H3N ·· H3N ·· H3NH+ NH3 ·· NH3). These surfaces are then fit by the sum of (a) two functions, each of which reproduces the transfer potential of a single proton plus (b) a function that models the coupling between the two protons. Several candidates are tested for the latter coupling function. A simple linear dependence upon the motion of the two protons reproduces the full two–dimensional surface to an accuracy of some 1 kcal/mol. The popular quadratic function provides a poorer approximation as also do exponential and Coulombic-type functions. © 1992 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
The anisotropic nature of local crack stability in BCC crystals

Abstract In a semi-brittle material, dislocation emission from the crack tip and from near tip sources controls the local elastic-plastic tip stress field. As such, this local dislocation emission, which is connected to the intrinsic constraint of crystal plasticity, might also lead to anisotropic features of both the effective surface energy, γ eff , and the local driving force, G local . The major objective of the current study is to elucidate some of the local anisotropic aspects involved in the cleavage fracture mode of body centered cubic (BCC) crystals. Special emphasis is given to the effective surface energy recognized here as an anisotropic entity expressed by [γ eff ]φ, λ (here φ, λ designate the specific cleavage plane and the crack growth direction, respectively). These local views become possible through an extensive research activity in hydrogen induced subcritical growth of Fe-3%Si crystals. The experimental program included internal and external hydrogen interactions for different crystal orientations. Attention was given to the study of internal flaw/slow flaw growth in addition to sharp crack extension in prefatigued single edge notched specimens. A detailed phenomenological and theoretical analysis which is related to the local fracture parameters is described, with some application to the current hydrogen interaction problem as well. This case of quasi-static slow crack growth on a cleavage plane enabled the identification of the anisotropic features mainly by: extensive crack tip morphology investigation, the shapes of growing crack fronts or voids, a modified elastic-plastic dislocation simulation at the crack tip and further distinction between the microcrack initiation and propagation stages. Analysis of the above elements as based on experimental results indicates that the crack tip stability and the crack front shape are related to the dislocations and/or slip plane arrangements with anisotropic control of crack initiation and arrest. It is emphasized that crack growth itself need not be anisotropic and, in fact, may be more isotropic.
Development and preliminary testing of head and neck cancer related external lymphedema and fibrosis assessment criteria.

Abstract Purpose To develop assessment criteria for evaluating and documenting status of external lymphedema and fibrosis in patients with head and neck cancer (HNC). Methods This was a two-phase instrument development study. In Phase I, initial assessment criteria for head and neck external lymphedema and fibrosis were generated based on a conceptual framework developed to describe the continuum of lymphedema – fibrosis in HNC patients. The initial Head and Neck External Lymphedema and Fibrosis (HN-ELAF) Assessment Criteria with three components were revised based on expert feedback. In Phase II, a pilot study was conducted to evaluate the revised assessment criteria through direct physical examination of 30 HNC patients with facial swelling and/or scar-like tissue >3 months post-treatment. The following statistical methods were used to evaluate interrater reliability in Phase II: simple percent agreement, the Kappa statistic, and the concordance correlation coefficient. Then, a post-test revision was made to further modify the tool based on the results of the pilot test. Results In Phase I, the initial HN-ELAF was revised including deleting Grade 0 (subclinical disease) and two components (i.e., symptoms and functional impairments). The revised HN-ELAF Assessment Criteria demonstrated good content/face validity. In Phase II, the assessment criteria had an acceptable interrater reliability, e.g., 83% exact agreement on grading lymphedema and fibrosis severity; and kappa = 0.75 ( p Conclusions Validation of the modified HN-ELAF Assessment Criteria in larger sample sizes is ongoing.
British Polls and the 1950 General Election

British public opinion polling organizations enjoyed a varying but generally considerable degree of success in predicting the outcome of the British general election of I950. This success is all the more striking in view of the extremely close balance between the Labour and Conservative parties. Liberal candidacies in 475 of the 625 constituencies also posed a formidable predictive problem. Professor Eldersveld here reviews the record and methodology of the British polls during the I950 election and offers an interpretation of the meaning and implications of this election for British politics. The author is Assistant Professor of Political Science at the University of Michigan.