cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Activation of the high affinity nerve growth factor receptor by two polyanionic chemotherapeutic agents : Role in drug induced neurotoxicity

Suramin is a polyanionic chemotherapeutic agent which causes severe peripheral neuropathy. The mechanisms of antineoplastic and neurotoxic activities are still poorly understood. Interference with growth factor receptor function has been suggested for suramin's chemotherapeutic function. Previous studies from our laboratory have demonstrated that suramin interfered with the function of nerve growth factor (NGF) and induced lysosomal storage defects within dorsal root ganglion neurons. Pentosan polysulfate (PPS) was used as another polyanionic agent, to compare these two cellular functions; NGF receptor interaction and disruption in glycolipid metabolism. Like suramin and NGF, PPS induced neurite outgrowth from the PC12 cell line which correlated with tyrosine phosphorylation of the high affinity NGF receptor (TrkA/gp140) and ERK-1/MAP kinase. Ultrastructural studies of dorsal root ganglion exposed to PPS for various time periods were normal. This contrasted with suramin exposed cultures which consistently developed lamellar inclusion bodies (LIB) within 6 h. LIB formation with suramin treatment was associated with neuronal cell death, while PPS treatment did not cause any neurotoxic effects. These results indicated that PPS mimicked the effect of suramin on NGF receptors but did not cause similar accumulation of LIB. This suggested that the effect of polyanionic compounds on TrkA was not involved in LIB accumulation and subsequent induction of neurotoxicity.
Receptive versus interactive video screens: A role for the brain's default mode network in learning from media

Abstract Recent neuroscience research has revealed the presence of multiple brain networks underlying functional human psychology. One of these, the default mode network (DMN), has been shown to underlie sustained attention to and comprehension of narrative receptive media such as television. We argue that DMN activation enhances learning of temporal and spatial context and that this type of learning is characteristic of receptive media. We hypothesize that response demands during interactive screen media use deactivates the DMN as other brain networks are activated. We suggest that overt responding to interactive demands requires highly focused attention and enhances stimulus-response-goal associative learning at the expense of learning about temporal and spatial context. Receptive and interactive screen media, therefore, enhance different types of comprehension and learning.
THE CASE FOR MONOMERIC METAPHOSPHATE

Abstract Monomeric methyl metaphosphate, CH 3 OPO 2 , can be generated by the fragmentation of a β-bromophosphonate. It reacts with methylaniline to yield the products of electrophilic substitution in the aromatic ring, as well as the expected phosphoramidate. In the presence of acetophenone and a strong non-nucleophilic base, the methyl ester of the enol phosphate of acetophenone is formed; in the presence of ethyl benzoate and aniline, the product is N-phenyl-O-ethylbenzimidate. These latter reactions, which mimic enzymic processes, presumably take place by attack of the monomeric metaphosphate on the carbonyl oxygen atom of acetophenone and ethyl benzoate respectively. They suggest the possibility that ATP has a kinetic as well as thermodynamic role in metabolism.
Africanos Livres: A Abolição do Tráfico de Escravos no Brasil: by Beatriz G. Mamigonian, São Paulo, Companhia das Letras, 2017, 625 pp., $66.97 (pbk), ISBN 978-85-359-2933-1

Beatriz G. Mamigonian’s Free Africans: The Abolition of the Slave Trade in Brazil is a new addition to a series of books revolutionizing Brazilian scholarship on the history of slavery and the slav...
Effectiveness of home-based virtual reality on vestibular rehabilitation outcomes: a systematic review

Background: A 2015 systematic review evaluated the efficacy of utilizing virtual reality in vestibular rehabilitation programs. However, the biggest limitation with most of the included virtual rea...
Vanguards of Civilization: Police Education and Unequal Treaty Revision in Meiji Japan (1868–1912)

This essay examines the previously overlooked role of police in Japanese efforts to revise Japan’s unequal treaties with Western empires. During the 1880s and 1890s the Japanese government employed...
TXA (Tranexamic Acid) Risk Evaluation in Combat Casualties (TRECC)

Background The use of tranexamic acid (TXA) has become increasingly prevalent for hemorrhage prevention in military trauma patients due to its known survival benefits. There is concern of increased venous thromboembolism (VTE) subsequent to receiving TXA. The purpose of this retrospective study was to determine the rate of VTE in severely injured military personnel during Operation Enduring Freedom (2009–2014). Methods An analysis of 859 military trauma patients from the 2009–2014 Department of Defense Trauma Registry included subjects with an injury severity score (ISS) >10 and a massive transfusion (MT) (>10 units of blood products in the first 24 hours). Outcomes included a documented VTE (eg, deep vein thrombosis (DVT) or pulmonary embolism (PE)) during the patient’s hospital course. Comparison between those who did/did not receive TXA was analyzed using three separate multiple regression analyses using listwise deletion, systematic replacement and multiple imputation. Results Subjects (n=620) met inclusion criteria with 27% (n=169) having a documented VTE. A total of 30% that received TXA had a documented VTE, 26% that did not receive TXA had a documented VTE and 43% (n=264, n=620) of the sample did not have TXA documented as either given or not given. Multiple regression analyses using listwise deletion and systematic replacement of the TXA variable demonstrated no difference in odds of VTE, whereas the multiple imputation analysis demonstrated a 3% increased odds of VTE, a9.4% increased odds of PE and 8.1% decreased odds of DVT with TXA administration. Discussion TXA use with an ISS >10 and MT resuscitation had a 3% increased odds of VTE and an increased odds of PE, whereas the odds of DVT were found to be decreased after multiple imputation analysis. Further research on the long-term risks and benefits of TXA usage in the military population is recommended. Level of evidence IV—therapeutic.
A Perspective on Innovating the Chemistry Lab Bench.

Innovating on the design and function of the chemical bench remains a quintessential challenge of the ages. It requires a deep understanding of the important role chemical plays in scientific discovery as well a first principles approach to addressing the gaps in how work gets done at the bench. This perspective examines how one might explore designing and creating a sustainable new standard for advancing automated chemistry bench itself. We propose how this might be done by leveraging recent advances in laboratory automation whereby integrating the latest synthetic, analytical and information technologies, and AI/ML algorithms within a standardized framework, maximizes the value of the data generated and the broader utility of such systems. Although the context of this perspective focusses on the design of advancing molecule of potential therapeutic value, it would not be a stretch to contemplate how such systems could be applied to other applied disciplines like advanced materials, foodstuffs, or agricultural product development.
Development of simulations for a mesh-based x-ray phase imaging system

X-ray phase imaging can significantly improve image contrast in soft-tissue imaging applications such as mammography where the inherent contrast in conventional attenuation-based imaging is low. A system that employs a stainless steel wire mesh to produce a high-contrast structured illumination pattern reduces the need for source coherence and complex alignments. Phase is reconstructed from distortions in this pattern due to phase-based x-ray deflection. A computational model of this system has been developed that allows exploration of design parameters including source size, mesh period, sample structure, detector pixel size and locations of these system elements. Simulation results are presented and compared with experiment for validation.
Auditory Sentence Processing in Bilinguals: The Role of Cognitive Control

A number of research studies have shown that the unique need in bilinguals to manage both of their languages positively impacts their cognitive control processes. Yet, due to a dearth of studies at the sentence level, it is still unclear if this benefit extends to sentence processing. In monolinguals and bilinguals, cognitive control helps in reinterpretation of garden path sentences but it is still unknown how it supports the real-time resolution of interference during parsing, such as the type of interference seen in the processing of object relative (OR) sentences. In this study, we compared monolinguals and bilinguals during online spoken OR sentence processing and examined if both groups used cognitive control to resolve interference. In this eye-tracking visual world (ETL-vw) study, OR sentences were aurally presented to 19 monolingual and 21 Spanish-English bilingual adults while gaze patterns were captured throughout the time course of the sentence. Of particular interest was the post-verb position, where the listener connects the verb to its direct object. In OR constructions (e.g., "The man that the boy pushes__ has a red shirt."), the verb ('pushes') links to its syntactically licensed direct object ('the man') at verb offset. During syntactic linking, the parser crosses over an intervening noun phrase (NP, 'the boy') and the two NP activations create interference. The nature of this paradigm allows us to measure interference and its resolution between the intervening NP and the displaced object in real-time. By relating sentence processing patterns with cognitive control measures, high- and no- conflict N-Back tasks, we investigated group differences in the use of cognitive control during sentence processing. Overall, bilinguals showed less interference than monolinguals from the intervening NP during the real time processing of OR sentences. This interference effect and its resolution was significantly predicted by cognitive control skills for bilingual, but not monolingual listeners. This enhanced effect in bilinguals extends previous findings of interference resolution to real time spoken sentence processing suggesting that bilinguals are more efficient than monolinguals at managing interference during complex sentence processing.
Intracranial bleeding following soccer‐related head trauma in a young student with occult factor VII deficiency

It is important to obtain coagulation tests to assess bleeding risk in trauma patients undergoing emergency surgery when a bleeding disorder may be obscured. Identifying specific clotting factor defects is critical in successful patient management.
Satune: synthesizing efficient SAT encoders

Modern SAT solvers are extremely efficient at solving boolean satisfiability problems, enabling a wide spectrum of techniques for checking, verifying, and validating real-world programs. What remains challenging, though, is how to encode a domain problem (e.g., model checking) into a SAT formula because the same problem can have multiple distinct encodings, which can yield performance results that are orders-of-magnitude apart, regardless of the underlying solvers used. We develop Satune, a tool that can automatically synthesize SAT encoders for different problem domains. Satune employs a DSL that allows developers to express domain problems at a high level and a search algorithm that can effectively find efficient solutions. The search process is guided by observations made over example encodings and their performance for the domain and hence Satune can quickly synthesize a high-performance encoder by incorporating patterns from examples that yield good performance. A thorough evaluation with JMCR, SyPet, Dirk, Hexiom, Sudoku, and KillerSudoku demonstrates that Satune can easily synthesize high-performance encoders for different domains including model checking, synthesis, and games. These encoders generate constraint problems that are often several orders of magnitude faster to solve than the original encodings used by the tools.
Calcineurin inhibitors: a double-edged sword.

Recently, research has directed its interests into identifying molecular pathways implicated in calcineurin inhibitor (CNI)-induced renal fibrosis. An emerging body of studies investigating calcine...
Stabilization of low plastic and high plastic clay using guar gum biopolymer

In geotechnical engineering, soil stabilization provides practical and cost-effective solutions related to problematic soils. With the growing necessity for environmentally friendly and sustainable materials, researchers have been exploring alternative methods such as biological approaches for soil stabilization. Biopolymers are produced from living organisms and are considered to be environmentally friendly soil stabilizers. A detailed study on stabilization of soil using Guar Gum biopolymer was carried out through intensive laboratory testing. For this purpose, low plastic (CL) and high plastic (CH) clays were treated with varying contents of Guar Gum biopolymer (1%, 2%, 3% and 4%) by the weight of dry soil. The experimental program mainly focused on compaction characteristics, unconfined compressive strength, California Bearing Ratio (CBR) and swell potential tests. All the samples were prepared on dry mix basis. The UCS of cured and soaked samples was tested after 2, 7, 14 and 28 days of curing and soaking. Strengthening effect of Guar Gum biopolymer was observed with the increasing biopolymer content and curing period. An increase of 182.64% and 243.30% was observed in the UCS of CL and CH respectively at the end of curing period using 2% biopolymer content. The results indicated a significant increase in the CBR of both CL and CH under soaked and unsoaked conditions. The incorporation of Guar Gum biopolymer has shown significant improvement in geotechnical properties of low plastic and high plastic clays and can be adopted as a potentially sustainable soil stabilizer.
A deep learning based traffic crash severity prediction framework.

Abstract Highway work zones are most vulnerable roadway segments for congestion and traffic collisions. Hence, providing accurate and timely prediction of the severity of traffic collisions at work zones is vital to reduce the response time for emergency units (e.g., medical aid), accordingly improve traffic safety and reduce congestion. In predicting the severity of traffic collisions, previous studies used different statistical and machine learning models with accuracy as the main evaluating factor. However, the performance of these models was generally not good, especially on fatal and injury crashes. Also, looking into the prediction accuracy only is misleading. This paper aims to propose a novel deep learning-based approach with a customized f1-loss function to predict the severity of traffic crashes. Underlying this objective is to compare the results of deep learning models with machine learning model considering two performance indicators, namely precision, and recall. The data used in the analysis include a sample of traffic crashes that occurred at work zones in Louisiana from 2014 to 2018. This dataset includes valuable information (features) related to road, vehicle, and human factors affecting the occurrence and severity of those crashes. The proposed methodology is based on transforming these features/variables into images. Image transformation is conducted using a nonlinear dimensionality reduction technique t-SNE and convex hull algorithm. A CNN based deep learning algorithm with a customized loss function was used to directly optimize the model for precision and recall. The results showed improved performance in predicting the crash severity of fatal and injury crashes using the deep learning approach, which can help to improve traffic safety as well as traffic congestion at work zones and possibly other roadways segments.
Effects of urban residential landscape composition on surface runoff generation

Abstract Lawns have long been a primary feature of residential landscapes in the United States. However, as population growth in urban areas continues to rise, water conservation is becoming a key priority for many municipalities. In recent years, some municipalities have begun to offer rebate programs which incentivize removal of turfgrass areas and conversion to alternative ‘water-efficient’ landscapes, with the goal of reducing outdoor water use. The environmental impacts and changes to ecosystem services associated with such landscape alterations are not well understood. Therefore, a 2-year continuous research project was conducted at the Urban Landscape Runoff Research Facility at Texas A&M University to evaluate rainfall capture and runoff volumes associated with several commonly used residential landscape types (including, St. Augustine grass Lawn, Xeriscaping, Mulch, Artificial Turf, and Sand-capped Lawn) and to characterize the flow dynamics of surface runoff in relation to rainfall intensity for each landscape. The results demonstrate that runoff dynamics differ between landscapes, but also change over time as the newly converted landscapes become established. Following the initial months of establishment, the effects of landscape type on runoff volumes were significant, with Artificial Turf and Xeriscaping generating greater runoff volumes than Mulch and St. Augustine grass Lawns for most runoff events, which is partially due to the low infiltration rate of such landscapes. Overall, Artificial Turf and Xeriscaping showed the greatest cumulative runoff volumes (>400 L m−2), whereas Water Efficient- Mulch, Sand-capped Lawn and St. Augustine grass Lawn had a significantly lower cumulative runoff volumes, ranging from 180 to 290 L m−2. Information from this research should be useful to municipalities, water purveyors, and homeowner associations as they weigh the long-term hydrological impacts of lawn removal and landscape conversion programs.
Optimization of Electrolyte Rebalancing in Vanadium Redox Flow Batteries.

This paper presents a novel algorithm to optimize energy capacity restoration of vanadium redox flow batteries (VRFBs). VRFB technologies can have their lives prolonged through a partially restoration of the lost capacity by electrolyte rebalancing. Our algorithm finds the optimal number and time of these rebalancing services to minimize the service cost, while maximizing the revenues from energy arbitrage. We show that the linearized form of this problem can be analytically solved, and that the objective function is convex. To solve the complete problem, we develop a two-step mixed integer linear programming (MILP) algorithm, which first finds the bounds for optimal number of services and then optimizes the number, and time of the services. We then present a theoretical analysis and optimization results for a case study of energy arbitrage in New York ISO.
Mixed Origins: HIV gp120-specific memory develops from pre-existing memory and naive B cells following vaccination in humans

Abstract The most potent and broad HIV envelope (Env)-specific antibodies often when reverted to their inferred germline versions representing the naive B cell receptor, fail to bind Env suggesting that the initial responding B cell population is not exclusively comprised of a naive population, but also a pre-existing cross-reactive antigen-experienced B cell pool that expands following Env exposure. Previously we isolated gp120-reactive monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) from participants in HVTN 105, an HIV vaccine trial. Using deep sequencing VH-lineage tracking we identified several of these mAb lineages in pre-immune peripheral blood. Several of these pre-immune lineages also persisted in the bone marrow, including CD138+ long-lived plasma cell compartment, ∼7 months after the final vaccination. The majority of the pre-immune lineage members included IgM, however IgG and IgA members were also prevalent and exhibited somatic hypermutation. These results suggest that vaccine-induced gp120-specific antibody lineages originate from both naive and cross-reactive memory B cells.
Foundations of a Multilayer Annotation Framework for Twitter Communications During Crisis Events

In times of mass emergency, vast amounts of data are generated via computer-mediated communication (CMC) that are difficult to manually collect and organize into a coherent picture. Yet valuable information is broadcast, and can provide useful insight into time- and safety-critical situations if captured and analyzed efficiently and effectively. We describe a natural language processing component of the EPIC (Empowering the Public with Information in Crisis) Project infrastructure, designed to extract linguistic and behavioral information from tweet text to aid in the task of information integration. The system incorporates linguistic annotation, in the form of Named Entity Tagging, as well as behavioral annotations to capture tweets contributing to situational awareness and analyze the information type of the tweet content. We show classification results and describe future integration of these classifiers in the larger EPIC infrastructure.
Genetically transferred central and peripheral immune tolerance via retroviral-mediated expression of immunogenic epitopes in hematopoietic progenitors or peripheral B lymphocytes.

Based on the hypothesis that IgGs are potent tolerogens and that immature lymphohematopoietic antigen-presenting cells (APC), and even mature peripheral B cells, may be effective APC for tolerance induction, we designed an immunoglobulin fusion protein retroviral expression vector to test the role of B cells in a novel gene therapy strategy for the transfer of immune tolerance. An immunodominant epitope (residues 12–26 of the A repressor cI protein) was fused in frame to an IgG heavy chain in a retroviral vector, which was used to infect either bone marrow cells or activated peripheral B lymphocytes. These cells were transferred into syngeneic recipients, who were subsequently challenged with the 12–26 peptide in adjuvant. Bone marrow (BM) chimeras generated with retrovirally transduced bone marrow were shown to be profoundly unresponsive to the 12–26 peptide at both the humoral and cellular levels, but were competent to respond to an unrelated protein (lysozyme or PPD). Importantly, we also show that immunocompetent adult recipients infused with transduced mature, activated B lymphocytes, are rendered unresponsive by this treatment. Surprisingly, lymphoid-deficient BM progenitors from syngeneic SCID donors could also be transduced to produce tolerogenic APC. Our data suggest that activated B cells are sufficient to be effective tolerogenic APC in immunocompetent adult mice, but that nonlymphoid cells may also induce tolerance in reconstituted hosts. This approach for gene-transferred tolerogenesis has the potential to be maintained indefinitely, and it requires only knowledge of cDNA sequences of target antigens.
Climate trends in the Arctic as observed from space

The Arctic is a region in transformation. Warming in the region has been amplified, as expected from ice-albedo feedback effects, with the rate of warming observed to be ∼0.60 ± 0.07°C/decade in the Arctic (>64°N) compared to ∼0.17°C/decade globally during the last three decades. This increase in surface temperature is manifested in all components of the cryosphere. In particular, the sea ice extent has been declining at the rate of ∼3.8%/decade, whereas the perennial ice (represented by summer ice minimum) is declining at a much greater rate of ∼11.5%/decade. Spring snow cover has also been observed to be declining by −2.12%/decade for the period 1967–2012. The Greenland ice sheet has been losing mass at the rate of ∼34.0 Gt/year (sea level equivalence of 0.09 mm/year) during the period from 1992 to 2011, but for the period 2002–2011, a higher rate of mass loss of ∼215 Gt/year has been observed. Also, the mass of glaciers worldwide declined at the rate of 226 Gt/year from 1971 to 2009 and 275 Gt/year from 1993 to 2009. Increases in permafrost temperature have also been measured in many parts of the Northern Hemisphere while a thickening of the active layer that overlies permafrost and a thinning of seasonally frozen ground has also been reported. To gain insight into these changes, comparative analysis with trends in clouds, albedo, and the Arctic Oscillation is also presented. For further resources related to this article, please visit the WIREs website. Conflict of interest: The authors have declared no conflicts of interest for this article.
Evolution of IEEE 1149.1 addressable shadow protocol devices

This paper describes an addressable shadow protocol device that is capable of providing connectivity between a backplane resident IEEE 1149.1 test bus master and a plurality of 1149.1 device chains existing on a board or module. The enhanced device provides for improvement in test, emulation, programming, and other applications based on the 1149.1 test bus.
Statistical Critiques of the Democratic Peace: Caveat Emptor

The “democratic peace”—the inference that democracies rarely fight each other—is one of the most important and empirically robust findings in international relations (IR). This article surveys the statistical challenges to the democratic peace and critically analyzes a prominent recent critique (Gartzke 2007). Gartzke's claim that capitalist dynamics explain away the democratic peace relies on results problematically driven by (1) the censoring from the sample of observations containing certain communist countries or occurring before 1966, (2) the inclusion of regional controls, and (3) a misspecification of temporal controls. Analysis of these issues contributes to broader methodological debates and reveals novel characteristics of the democratic peace. Gartzke and other critics have contributed valuably to the study of IR; however, the democratic peace remains one of the most robust empirical associations in IR.
An update on immunopathogenesis, diagnosis, and treatment of multiple sclerosis

Background Multiple sclerosis is an acquired demyelinating disease of the central nervous system. It is the second most common cause of disability in adults in United States after head trauma. Discussion The etiology of MS is probably multifactorial, related to genetic, environmental, and several other factors. The pathogenesis is not fully understood but is believed to involve T-cell-mediated inflammation directed against myelin and other related proteins with a possible role for B cells. The McDonald criteria have been proposed and revised over the years to guide the diagnosis of MS and are based on clinical presentation and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the brain and spinal cord to establish dissemination in time and space. The treatment of MS includes disease modification with immunomodulator drugs and symptom management to address the specific symptoms such as fatigue, spasticity, and pain. Conclusion An update on etiology, pathogenesis, diagnosis, and immunomodulatory treatment of MS is presented.
Electron–Nuclear Multiple Resonance Spectroscopy

The sections in this article are 1 Introduction 2 Basic Principles 3 Experimental Techniques with Selected Applications 4 Concluding Remarks 5 Biographical Sketches Related Articles
Development and validation of the Chinese-language version of the eating pathology symptoms inventory.

Objective Eating disorders are becoming increasingly prevalent among individuals from non-Western countries, yet few non-English-language measures of eating pathology exist. The current study sought to develop and validate a Chinese version of the Eating Pathology Symptoms Inventory1 with cross-cultural equivalence. Method The Chinese version of the Eating Pathology Symptoms Inventory (CEPSI) was translated and back-translated by native Chinese speakers, and administered to a pilot sample of native Chinese speaking students (N = 45) from a Midwestern university in the United States. The measure was revised based on participant's feedback, and administrated to a large sample of native Chinese speakers recruited from a Midwestern community (N = 195; 49.2% women) to test the factor structure and convergent and discriminant validity of the measure. Results As hypothesized, the CEPSI had a robust eight-factor structure, and demonstrated evidence for acceptable internal consistency (median coefficient alphas were 0.80 for men and 0.79 for women, and alpha values ranged from 0.36 to 0.85 in men and 0.70 to 0.89 in women), and good convergent validity (correlations with relevant translated scales from the Eating Disorder Examination-Questionnaire and the Eating Attitudes Test-26 ranged from 0.22 to 0.58) and discriminate validity (correlations with a translated version of the Center for Epidemiological Studies – Depression Scale ranged from .12 to .30). Discussion Results indicate that the CEPSI has high potential value as a new self-report measure of eating pathology that can be used in future research and clinical settings to assess eating disorder-related psychopathology among Chinese speaking individuals. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. (Int J Eat Disord 2015; 48:1016–1023).
AAE and AAOMR Joint Position Statement: Use of Cone Beam Computed Tomography in Endodontics 2015 Update

The following statement was prepared by the Special Committee to Revise the Joint American Association of Endodontists/American Academy of Oral and Maxillofacial Radiology Position on Cone Beam Computed Tomography, and approved by the AAE Board of Directors and AAOMR Executive Council in May 2015. AAE members may reprint this position statement for distribution to patients or referring dentists.
Issues in Omics Data Integration for Gene Set Analysis and Aberrant Pathway Identification

Preclinical Research The impact of omics technologies, from microarrays to next-generation sequencing, on drug development has been limited by our inability to integrate the data meaningfully for pathway analysis. Here we discuss the relationship between biomolecules and pathway activity, focusing on metabolic and signaling pathways. We discuss how each type of pathway requires a different approach to the generation of pathway statistics from omics data and provide guidance for the creation of appropriate gene sets for pathway analysis.
A fast display-oriented processor

A detailed study of the basic operations of scan graphics processes led to the design of this general-purpose expandable processor. Full advantage is taken of evolving trends in ECL technology and large-scale integrated circuits. The design allocates hardwired instructions to critical display functions and provides general-purpose flexibility in externally microprogrammable asynchronous processors. The machine uses instruction set partitioning and is optimized to execute relatively short programs operating on large data bases. The processor is thus not limited to display generation but is rather well suited for other real-time tasks, particularly those operating with autonomous processors which can be added as external devices.
Modeling Steering Using the Queueing Network — Model Human Processor (QN-MHP):

The Queueing Network — Model Human Processor (QN-MHP) is a computational architecture that combines the mathematical theories and simulation methods of queueing networks (QN) with the symbolic and procedure methods of a GOMS-style task description and the Model Human Processor (MHP). Using QN-MHP, a steering model was created to represent the concurrent perceptual, cognitive, and motor activities involved in vehicle steering as truly concurrent processes. The model was compared with driving performance of human subjects and demonstrated realistic steering behavior. It steered a simulated vehicle at a fixed speed within the lane boundaries of straight sections and curves of different radii. In a quantitative validation of several basic measures of driving performance, the steering model yielded steering angle and lateral position similar to the human subject data. This work showed the strength of QN-MHP as a model of driving behavior. Ongoing work further develops the model by expanding the scope of the dr...
Inward and outward currents in isolated dendrites of Crustacea coxal receptors.

1. Segments from the nonspiking peripheral dendrites of a crustacean coxal receptor (T fiber) were studied using the voltage clamp technique. The peripheral endings of the T fiber are sensitive to stretch applied to a specialized receptor muscle by rotation of the coxa. The intraganglionary portion of the T fiber is presynaptic to the motor neurons innervating the coxal muscle. 2. Depolarizing commands activated three separate fast channels: (i) a transient inward sodium current,INa, which is blocked by tetrodotoxin (TTX); (ii) a transient outward current,Io1, having the same voltage-dependent characteristics asINa; and (iii) a second, longer-lasting, outward current,Io2. 3. BothINa andIo1 were inactivated when segments were clamped at voltages more positive than -50 mV, whereasIo2 could be activated at voltages more positive than -50 mV. 4. Io1 andIo2 were blocked by 4-aminopyridine (4-AP) and by tetraethylammonium (TEA), althoughIo2 shows a greater sensitivity to TEA thanIo1. 5. It is suggested thatIo1 may be a factor in determining the nonspiking behavior of the dendrites and thatIo2 may limit the stretch-induced depolarization in the dendrite to a value more negative than that at which the maximum rate of transmitter release occurs. 6. In addition to the three fast currents, the presence of a slow inward and slow outward current could also be demonstrated. The effects of the slow currents were longer in segments cut from the proximal part of the dendrites.
Leucinamidase Activity Associated with Influenza-Parasite Complexes in Pigs.

SummaryA moderate increase in serum leucinamidase activity occurred in colostrumdeprived pathogen-free pigs experimentally infected with swine influenza virus. Activity also increased during migration of Ascaris suum larvae through the liver and again when the larvae reached the lungs. Greatest leucinamidase activity was stimulated when influenza virus was provoked from its latent lungworm state by migrating A. suum larvae.
Un nouveau score de suivi de l'intensité des syndromes douloureux post-mastectomie (SDPM)

Resume La chirurgie du sein peut entrainer deux principaux types de douleurs sequellaires chroniques, les douleurs de sein fantome et plus frequemment le syndrome douloureux post-mastectomie (ou syndrome douloureux post-dissection axillaire [SDPM]). D’evolution lente et de resolution difficile, ce syndrome douloureux neuropathique requiert une prise en charge interdisciplinaire et un suivi rapproche. Un score fonde sur sept items a ete elabore et teste par une equipe specialisee et permet de quantifier l’intensite (ou la gravite) du SDPM. Trois items d’interrogatoire, un item d’examen clinique et trois items de repercussion (sommeil, humeur et qualite de vie). Au total, ce score donne la possibilite a la fois de quantifier l’intensite globale vecue par les patientes et de suivre objectivement l’efficacite du traitement au fur et a mesure des consultations de suivi. Les SDPM peuvent ainsi etre divises en quatre grades de gravite (leger, modere, severe et intense). Cet outil, facile d’utilisation et reproductible, fournit une aide appreciable pour juger de l’efficacite de la prise en charge.
Predictors for the Development of Elevated Anti-Heparin/Platelet Factor 4 Antibody Titers in Patients Undergoing Cardiac Catheterization

A substantial proportion of patients who undergo cardiac catheterization develop antibodies directed against the heparin/platelet factor 4 (PF4) complex after the procedure, which have been implicated in the pathogenesis of heparin-induced thrombocytopenia. This study attempted to identify factors that predicted the development of these antibodies in a prospective cohort study. Antiheparin/PF4 antibody titers were measured at baseline and again 5 ± 2 days after cardiac catheterization by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. A total of 311 patients who underwent cardiac catheterization were included in the analysis. Of these, 25 (8.0%) developed positive antibody levels after catheterization. Patients who had positive antibody test results after catheterization had significantly greater baseline antiheparin/PF4 antibody titers compared with those whose titers remained low (optical density 0.227 vs 0.158, p
The impact of initial bargaining position and alternative modes of third party intervention in resolving bargaining impasses

Abstract Research shows considerable disagreement regarding which style of third party intervention is most successful in facilitating bargaining settlements. Even greater uncertainty exists concerning what potential conditions either enhance or hinder alternative modes of third party intervention. The present study examined the impact of four alternative modes of third party intervention in resolving bargaining impasses under conditions of high and low bargaining conflict. The modes of third party intervention were (1) bargaining (no third party intervention), (2) mediation, (3) voluntary arbitration, and (4) compulsory arbitration. In general, stronger modes of third party intervention were found to facilitate bargaining settlements when subjects faced low conflict. However, under high conflict conditions, subjects bargained most successfully in the absence of outside intervention. These results tend to suggest that the superiority of a particular mode of third party intervention varies with the magnitude and intensity of the conflict between the parties.
The combination of a low-dose chemotherapeutic agent, 5-fluorouracil, and an adenoviral tumor vaccine has a synergistic benefit on survival in a tumor model system.

Standard cancer therapies, particularly those involving chemotherapy, are in need of modifications that both reduce short-term and long-term side effects as well as improve the overall survival of cancer patients. Here we show that combining low-dose chemotherapy with a therapeutic vaccination using an adenovirus encoding a model tumor-associated antigen, ovalbumin (Ad5-OVA), had a synergistic impact on survival in tumor-challenged mice. Mice that received the combinatorial treatment of Ad5-OVA plus low-dose 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) had a 95% survival rate compared to 7% and 30% survival rates for Ad5-OVA alone and 5-FU alone respectively. The presence of 5-FU enhanced the levels of OVA-specific CD8+ T lymphocytes in the spleens and draining lymph nodes of Ad5-OVA-treated mice, a phenomenon that was dependent on the mice having been tumor-challenged. Thus 5-FU may have enhanced survival of Ad5-OVA-treated mice by enhancing the tumor-specific immune response combined with eliminating tumor bulk. We also investigated the possibility that the observed therapeutic benefit may have been derived from the capacity of 5-FU to deplete MDSC populations. The findings presented here promote the concept of combining adenoviral cancer vaccines with low-dose chemotherapy.
Current concepts in the use of stem cells for the treatment of spinal cord injury

Following spinal cord injury, significant losses in the neural and stromal structures occur. This event contributes to the development of scar tissue that may hinder or prevent the regeneration and formation of functional neural tissue. The regenerative potential of stem cells to reverse or prevent the progression of neural injury has driven substantial interest in their clinical application. The aim of this article is to review the current understanding regarding the promise of stem cell therapy in the setting of spinal cord injuries.
Restoration of all dystrophin protein interactions by functional domains in trans does not rescue dystrophy.

Rescue of dystrophic skeletal muscle in mdx and utrophin/dystrophin-deficient (dko) mouse models by reintroduction of dystrophin has validated gene therapy as a potential therapeutic approach for Duchenne muscular dystrophy. However, the size of the dystrophin gene exceeds the capacity of adeno-associated viral (AAV) vectors. Dystrophin provides a mechanical link at the muscle membrane by direct binding of its amino-terminal and cysteine-rich domains to actin and a transmembrane protein complex, respectively. It has not been investigated whether restoration of these two tethering functions by two separate dystrophin molecules is sufficient to prevent dystrophic pathologies. We examine the effect of coexpression of the amino-terminal and cysteine-rich domains from separate dystrophin transgenes, Δcys and Dp71, on the dystrophic phenotype. Expression of individual dystrophin domains from multiple vectors would effectively expand AAV capacity. Although both Δcys and Dp71 colocalize at the membrane, there is no improvement of dystrophic pathology. The fiber-type and neuromuscular junction abnormalities of dko mice that are ameliorated by the Δcys transgene are not further improved or disrupted by Dp71. Separate truncated dystrophins, which together restore all protein interactions and scaffolding for signaling molecules, are not sufficient to ameliorate the dystrophic phenotype and therefore dystrophin domains in trans cannot be used to increase the effective cloning capacity for AAV-mediated gene therapy.
Development of a pediatric-specific clinical probability tool for diagnosis of venous thromboembolism: a feasibility study

Development of a pediatric-specific clinical probability tool for diagnosis of venous thromboembolism: a feasibility study
Process over outcome: How perceptions of procedural fairness influence conservative support for redistributive taxes

Abstract Though majorities of Americans express support for redistributive tax policies as a cure for income inequality in the United States, this general support tends to dissipate when the public evaluates their support for specific proposals. The dominant explanations emphasize elite behavior and the disconnect between American values and political representation. An alternative view is that this counter-intuitive finding is entirely consistent with individual values. Some people place higher priority on policy processes than policy outcomes. This paper demonstrates that conservatives think about redistributive tax policy differently than liberals. Conservative support (opposition) for redistributive taxes is based on evaluations of the fairness of processes of government that lead to economic inequality. When conservatives believe that these processes are not fair, they are very supportive of wealth redistribution as a cure for economic inequality, whereas liberal support for wealth redistribution is more outcome-dependent.
Thermal and electrical transport in carbon nanofiber interconnects

To study the reliability of carbon nanofibers (CNFs) under high-current stress, electrical measurements of CNF breakdown are performed for four configurations: (a) suspended, (b) supported, (c) suspended with tungsten deposited onto the CNF-electrode contact, and (d) supported with tungsten deposition. Supported CNF has enhanced current capacity, consistent with improved heat transport to the substrate, and depositing W to the electrodes lowers the contact resistance and improves the overall electrical characteristics of the system.
Involvement of hypocretins/orexins in sleep disorders and narcolepsy.

The orexins/hypocretins are novel peptide neurotransmitters first characterized in 1998. The cell bodies of the neurons releasing them are localized exclusively in the posterior and lateral hypothalamus although they send out projections which innervate the whole central nervous system. They have recently attracted a great deal of interest in the neuroscience and medical community due to the finding that a reduction of orexin/hypocretins levels occurs in most human cases of the sleep disorder narcolepsy. A flurry of recent experimental data has begun to shed light on the normal physiological functioning of this system and how its loss leads to narcolepsy. Preliminary findings also indicate that it may malfunction in a variety of other conditions where the normal sleep-wake cycle is compromised.
LESIONS OF THE BLADDER AND OF THE PROSTATE OF MICE RECEIVING PELLETS OF CRYSTALLINE ESTRONE

THE FOLLOWING OBSERVATIONS WERE MADE in two groups of animals used for the study of the influence of crystalline estrone on the course of chemically-induced cutaneous and subcutaneous tumors. The observation of lesions in the bladder mucosa, the frequency of which appeared great enough to warrant discussion, will serve as the basis for this report. Histological studies were made on 25 male and female mice from a total of 60 ani-mals treated with estrone. 20 of these were C3H mice obtained from the Roscoe B. Jackson Memorial Laboratory, Bar Harbor, Maine, and 5 were albino stock mice. Into all animals at the age of 7 weeks, a small pellet of compressed crystalline theelin3 was implanted subcutaneously through a small opening in the skin of the lower abdomen at the outset of the experiment. A second pellet was implanted at the same site in the C3H mice 7 weeks later.
Dive and breath hold metabolism of the brown water snake, Natrix taxispilota.

Abstract 1. 1. Average heart rates of restrained snakes were significantly higher and took longer to reach minimal levels during dives than measurements for voluntary divers. 2. 2. Heart rate differences between voluntary dives and breath holds were significant only after an apnea. 3. 3. Oxygen consumption was not significantly different during a voluntary dive or breath hold, but was significantly higher during forced or scare dives. 4. 4. Anaerobic mechanisms, which have been reported during dives in N. Taxispilota, appear less important during breath holds. 5. 5. Results from the present study suggest that while minimal metabolic and cardiac measurements were acceptably close to other published values, true standard rates may not have been achieved.
The ventral premammillary nucleus links metabolic cues and reproduction.

The amount of body fat and the energy balance are important factors that influence the timing of puberty and the normal reproductive function. Leptin is a key hormone that conveys to the central nervous system information about the individual energy reserve and modulates the hypothalamus-pituitary-gonad axis. Recent findings suggest that the ventral premammillary nucleus (PMV) mediates the effects of leptin as a permissive factor for the onset of puberty and the coordinated secretion of luteinizing hormone during conditions of negative energy balance. Thus, in this review we will summarize the existing literature about the potential role played by PMV neurons in the regulation of the hypothalamus-pituitary-gonad axis.
Positive Peer Pressure: The Effects of Peer Monitoring on Children's Disruptive Behavior

Classroom peers can serve as powerful sources of reinforcement in increasing or maintaining both the positive and negative behaviors of their classmates. In two experiments, we examined the effectiveness of a peer-monitored token system on reducing disruption and nonparticipation during a transition period of a kindergarten class for behaviorally impaired children. Additionally, the effect of providing and subsequently withholding corrective feedback to peer mediators on the accuracy of their point awards was evaluated. Results in Experiment 1 suggest that both teacher- and peer-monitored interventions were successful in decreasing disruption and increasing participation of monitored peers. Experiment 2 further demonstrated that peer monitors could successfully initiate the token system without prior adult implementation. Analysis of the point awards in both experiments indicates that peer monitors consistently awarded points that were earned. However, when corrective feedback was withdrawn the peer monitors frequently awarded points that were not earned, i.e., they rarely withheld points for undesirable behavior. Even so, the monitored peers' disruptive behavior was maintained at low rates.