cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Early Fishing Societies in Western South America

Over the past decade, archaeologists have redefined the age and complexity of early fishing societies of the Pacific coast of South America, resulting in a paradigm shift for the entire New World driven primarily by Andean research. Like most breakthroughs, the new paradigm builds on deep roots in Andean archaeology, stretching back at least to the pioneering research of Junius Bird in northern Chile and northern Peru in the 1930s and 1940s, and continuing from the 1950s to the 1990s with the work of Frederic Engel, Edward Lanning, Michael Moseley, James B. Richardson III, Agustin Llagostera, Robert Benfer, and others (see details below). Some, in particular Richardson and Llagostera, astutely recognized the true antiquity of Andean maritime adaptations from scattered and inconclusive data, and Richardson (1981) figured out why the data were so scant (particular sectors of ancient shorelines were inundated as sea level rose with deglaciation from 21,000-5800 cal yr BP; see Chapter 6 in this volume). His work has informed all subsequent research on this issue. The simultaneous publication in 1998 of two Terminal Pleistocene, Paleoindian-age fishing sites in southern Peru demonstrated conclusively that fishing is very nearly as old in the New World as the presence of humans (Sandweiss et al. 1998; Keefer et al. 1998). Why is it important whether or not some of the first settlers of the New World knew how to fish? In a seminal review of the anthropology of fishing, James Acheson (1981: 277) wrote, “fishing poses some very unusual constraints and problems. Marine adaptations are one of the most extreme achieved by man”. Among other factors that together contribute to the unique nature of such adaptations, Acheson noted human beings’ lack of physiological adaptation to aquatic environments, physical and social risk, non-transferability of most terrestrial hunting technology, high degree of faunal diversity, periodic and unpredictable stock failure, low visibility of prey, and the problems of common property resources
Mechanisms of the Slippery Slope

We've all made plenty of slippery slope arguments in our day, and we've all pooh-poohed plenty. Do these arguments make sense, and, if so, when? This article tries to go behind the metaphor of the slippery slope to the mechanisms by which one step today may make the next step more likely tomorrow. "Slippery slopes," I argue, can operate through several distinct mechanisms, which need to be discussed separately. And these mechanisms, it turns out, relate to rational ignorance, heuristics, path-dependence, the expressive effect of law, and multi-peaked preferences - important subjects that have received extensive attention recently, but that have not so far been linked to the slippery slope question. I suggest that slippery slopes may indeed sometimes happen (though they aren't logically inevitable). The flip response that "if we can draw a line today, we'll be able to draw the line tomorrow" is correct only if decisionmakers have firm and single-peaked preferences, and unbounded rationality. In the real world, where these conditions don't always hold, one decision can indeed help grease the slope to another, in various ways. And this can happen not just with judicial decisions - where slippery slopes relate in complex ways to the system of precedent - but also with legislative ones, where precedent is not supposed to play a formal role. Understanding the full range of slippery slope mechanisms can help us evaluate the risk of slippage, craft better arguments related to this risk, and perhaps minimize this risk.
Image quality and radiation dose of ECG-triggered High-Pitch Dual-Source cardiac computed tomography angiography in children for the evaluation of central vascular stents.

Assess image quality and radiation dose of ECG-triggered High-Pitch Dual-Source CTA for the evaluation central vascular stents in children. We included all children ≤ 21 years old with one or more central vascular stents and available prospective ECG-triggered High-Pitch Dual-Source CTA performed at our institution between January 2015 and August 2017. Demographic and scanner information was retrieved. Two board-certified pediatric radiologists blinded to the clinical data, independently reviewed and scored each case using a four-point quality score. Scores 1, 2 and 3 were considered of diagnostic image quality. Inter-observer agreement and non-parametric test were used. 18 patients (10 girls, 8 boys) with a mean age of 9.47 ± 7.38 years (mean ± SD) met inclusion criteria. Thirty-two central vascular stents were evaluated. Mean quality score was 2.07 ± 0.94 with 12.5% (4/32) of the cases classified as unevaluable. Interobserver agreement was excellent (k = 0.86). There is no significant difference between quality score and stent location (p = 0.07). There is a significant difference with stent material as all non-diagnostic scores were only seen in covered stents made of platinum-iridium (p 0.05). ECG-triggered high-pitch spiral DS-CTA offers appropriate image quality for assessment of central vascular stents in children.
Femtosecond-laser-based prototyping of light pipe circuits

Glass light pipes are fabricated using femtosecond laser irradiation followed by etching and thermal processing for minimizing sidewall scattering loss due to surface roughness. Turning mirrors and combiners, or splitters, are demonstrated. A critical step is assembly of the light pipe for coupling to a source or detector, which requires alignment and attachment, typically to a substrate. A combination of such structures has been realized to aid in assembly and optical transmission efficiency. Coupling from a distributed source through a lens array and into a light pipe array has been pursued for a waveguiding solar concentrators. The opposite propagation direction enables LED coupling and light distribution. Light pipes are fabricated with large cross-sectional areas, up to several square millimeters, compared to optical fibers. For glass-to-air cladding, the numerical aperture is substantially larger than for most optical fibers, thus enabling low loss transmission for high etendue sources. Instead of coating with a lower index material, as with optical fibers, a holding structure is desired to maximize the angular range for total internal reflection. We discuss the issues related to surface scattering and losses due to the cladding and light pipe mechanical support for LED lighting and solar applications.
Expert Commentary on Pilonidal Disease: Management and Definitive Treatment.

Dr Kuckelman has provided a very clear and concise review of the identification and treatment of pilonidal disease, an ailment that may be one of the more frustrating processes treated by general and colorectal surgeons. Patients affected by this process can be equally frustrated and are often burde
Needs, strain, coping, and mental health among caregivers of individuals with autism spectrum disorder: A moderated mediation analysis:

This study investigated the relationships among caregiving strain, coping, and mental health among caregivers of individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and the mediational moderation of caregiver needs. One hundred and ninety-three caregivers of individuals with ASD completed an online survey. Results showed that maladaptive coping behaviors were significant in mediating the relationship between strain and mental health. Professional service and emotional caregiving needs moderated the relationship between maladaptive coping and mental health at times of high caregiving strain, but not involvement, health information, and instrumental support needs. Results highlighted the negative effect of maladaptive coping, as well as professional service and emotional support needs were salient in moderating coping and mental health in times of high caregiving strain.
Are We Out of the Woods Yet? The Aftermath of Resuscitative Thoracotomy

Abstract Background After traumatic arrest, resuscitative thoracotomy is lifesaving in appropriately selected patients, yet data are limited regarding hospital course after intensive care unit (ICU) admission. The objective of this study was to describe the natural history of resuscitative thoracotomy survivors admitted to the ICU. Materials and methods We conducted a retrospective review (January 1, 2012–June 30, 2017) of all adult trauma patients who underwent resuscitative thoracotomy after traumatic arrest at two adult level 1 trauma centers. Data evaluated include demographics, injury characteristics, hospital course, and outcome. Results Over 66 mo, there were 52,624 trauma activations. Two hundred ninety-eight patients underwent resuscitative thoracotomy and 96 (32%) survived to ICU admission. At ICU admission, mean age was 35.8 ± 14.5 y, 79 (82%) were male, 36 (38%) sustained blunt trauma, and the mean injury severity score was 32.3 ± 13.7. Eight blunt and 20 penetrating patients (22% and 34% of ICU admissions, respectively) survived to discharge. 67% of deaths in the ICU occurred within the first 24 h, whereas 90% of those alive at day 21 survived to discharge. For the 28 survivors, mean ICU length of stay was 24.1 ± 17.9 d and mean hospital length of stay was 43.9 ± 32.1 d. Survivors averaged 1.9 ± 1.5 complications. Twenty-four patients (86% of hospital survivors) went home or to a rehabilitation center. Conclusions After resuscitative thoracotomy and subsequent ICU admission, 29% of patients survived to hospital discharge. Complications and a long hospital stay should be expected, but the functional outcome for survivors is not as bleak as previously reported.
Astrology and Religion in the Long Reformation: “Doctor Faustus in Swadling Clouts”

John Calvin and other religious moralists wrote against astrology in the sixteenth century, yet the astrological arts flourished over the course of the long Reformation in England. This essay confr...
A registered report of error-related negativity and reward positivity as biomarkers of depression: P-Curving the evidence.

Abstract Performance-monitoring event-related brain potentials (ERPs), such as the error-related negativity (ERN) and reward positivity (RewP), are advocated as biomarkers of depression symptoms and risk. However, a recent meta-analysis indicated effect size heterogeneity in the ERN and RewP literatures. Hence, advocating these ERPs as biomarkers of depression might be premature or possibly misguided due to the selective reporting of significant analyses on the part of researchers (e.g., p-hacking or omission of non-significant findings). The present study quantified the degree of selective reporting and the evidential value for a true relationship between depression and ERN and RewP using a p-curve analysis. We predicted that the ERN and RewP literatures would fail to show evidential value for a relationship between each ERP and depression. Contrary to expectations, both literatures showed evidential value, albeit weak. The statistical power of the included ERN studies was between 20% and 25%, and the statistical power of the RewP was around 27%. Taken together, these findings provide support for a relationship between these ERPs and depression, which strengthens claims that these ERPs represent candidate biomarkers of depression symptoms and risk. In light of the evidence for these relationships being weak, some recommendations moving forward include conducting a priori power analyses, increasing sample sizes to improve statistical power, assessing the internal consistency of ERP scores, and carefully planning statistical approaches to maximize power.
Visual encoding signals around 200 milliseconds track onset of evidence accumulation during human decision making

Previous research has shown that potentials collected from human electroencephalographic (EEG) records track evidence accumulation during perceptual decision making (O9Connell et al., 2012; Philiastides et al., 2014; Loughnane et al., 2016). However these studies relied on comparing differences across experimental conditions. In this study, we directly tested the hypothesis that N200 latencies (EEG stimulus-locked negative peaks occurring between 150 and 275 milliseconds in female and male human subjects) reflect visual processing time that occurs before evidence accumulation, labeled visual encoding time (VET), in the context of cognitive theory. Simulations of decision-making models show that differences in processes not related to evidence accumulation are tracked by early reaction time percentiles. The hypothesis that N200 latencies are analogs of VET was thus directly tested by quantifying 1-to-1 slope relationships in 1) linear regression between trial-averaged N200 latencies and early reaction time percentiles, 2) linear regression between single-trial N200 latencies and reaction times, and 3) parameter estimation of cognitive models of decision-making. Evidence was found of near 1-to-1 correspondence in each test. Deflection times of the N200 waveform were not found to have a significant relationship with early reaction time percentiles, suggesting that a certain threshold of initial extrastriate activity is necessary before evidence accumulation. N200 waveforms were projected to the cortical surface at temporal and extrastriate locations from a spline-Laplacian transformation, and are thus hypothesized to reflect the segregation from noise of the target stimulus. This research adds credence to the mounting evidence that N200 latencies track onset of evidence accumulation.
Strategies of Economic Development: Feasibility Constraints and Planning

A planning decision may be viewed as being based on three types of data: (1) The ‘objective’. (2) The ‘technological possibilities’, usually representing resource availabilities and the possible technical relations. (3) The ‘feasibility constraints’, representing political, social and other non-technological barriers to the utilisation of technological possibilities.
Does the Individual Mandate Affect Insurance Coverage? Evidence from Tax Returns

We estimate the effect of the ACA's individual mandate on insurance coverage using regression discontinuity and regression kink designs with tax return data. We have four key results. First, the actual penalty paid per uninsured month is less than half the statutory amount. Second, nonetheless, we find visually clear and statistically significant responses to both extensive margin exposure to the mandate and to marginal increases in the mandate penalty. Third, we find substantial heterogeneity in who responds; men are especially responsive. Fourth, our estimates imply fairly small quantitative responses to the individual mandate, especially in the Health Insurance Exchanges.
Attention please: modeling global and local context in glycan structure-function relationships

Glycans are found across the tree of life with remarkable structural diversity enabling critical contributions to diverse biological processes, ranging from facilitating host-pathogen interactions to regulating mitosis & DNA damage repair. While functional motifs within glycan structures are largely responsible for mediating interactions, the contexts in which the motifs are presented can drastically impact these interactions and their downstream effects. Here, we demonstrate the first deep learning method to represent both local and global context in the study of glycan structure-function relationships. Our method, glyBERT, encodes glycans with a branched biochemical language and employs an attention-based deep language model to learn biologically relevant glycan representations focused on the most important components within their global structures. Applying glyBERT to a variety of prediction tasks confirms the value of capturing rich context-dependent patterns in this attention-based model: the same monosaccharides and glycan motifs are represented differently in different contexts and thereby enable improved predictive performance relative to the previous state-of-the-art approaches. Furthermore, glyBERT supports generative exploration of context-dependent glycan structure-function space, moving from one glycan to "nearby" glycans so as to maintain or alter predicted functional properties. In a case study application to altering glycan immunogenicity, this generative process reveals the learned contextual determinants of immunogenicity while yielding both known and novel, realistic glycan structures with altered predicted immunogenicity. In summary, modeling the context dependence of glycan motifs is critical for investigating overall glycan functionality and can enable further exploration of glycan structure-function space to inform new hypotheses and synthetic efforts.
The Addition of Vortices

The symplectic and Poisson formulations of point vortex and vortex rings models, mainly due to Marsden and Weinstein (Physica D 7:305–323, 1983), are discussed. The Euler–Lagrange equations based on the degenerate Lagrangian proposed by Chapman (J Math Phys 19:1988–1992, 1978) for point vortices are also discussed and extended to the vortex rings model.
Ancillary Techniques in Diagnosing Melanocytic Lesions

Currently ancillary techniques such as special stains, immunohistochemistry, and electron microscopy cannot replace the routine histologic slides; however, they can help to narrow the differential as adjuncts in diagnosing melanocytic lesions as outlined in this chapter. Immunohistochemistry utilizes antigen-antibody recognition in detecting specific antigens within tissues. The sensitivity and specificity of a given antibody, its pattern of staining (nuclear, cytoplasmic, or membranous), and background artifact must be considered in its interpretation. In addition, evaluation must be done in relation to internal control. In the setting of poorly differentiated metastases, ultrastructural study is crucial in classifying the line of differentiation.
Historical Roots of Regional Sentencing Variation

I am a law professor and a criminal defense lawyer, not a historian. It is with some trepidation that I stand before you to suggest that our very persistent regional sentencing variations have roots in the political struggles of Reformation England and the cultures of the subgroups that populated the first American colonies. I rely upon others for the historical proof, as you will see, but I think I do have standing to argue to you that we should consider whether or not there is room, even in federal sentencing, to account for deeply embedded regional variations in our basic conceptions of why and how we should punish. Aware as I am of the dangers of essentializing and the ugly history of regional variation in American penal practices, I still want to ask whether Pennsylvanians really should be expected to punish transgressors in exactly the same way as Virginians. I will suggest to you that perhaps we should respect a modicum of regional variation and not seek to eliminate every vestige of regional legal culture in America.
Parental involvement across middle and high school: Exploring contributions of individual and neighborhood characteristics.

Parental involvement in education is crucial during adolescence when grades decline and youth autonomy increases. This study examined parental involvement trajectories from 7th to 11th grade and explored whether individual and neighborhood characteristics affected this change. European American and African American (66 %) families participated (N = 1377, primary caregivers: 92 % female; adolescents: 51 % male, initial age range: 11–14). Results showed that, over time, parents reduced home- and school-based involvement but consistently engaged in academic socialization. Individual and neighborhood characteristics contributed differentially to parental involvement trajectories. These findings suggest that parental investment in adolescents’ education persists during this critical developmental period, but individual and contextual differences impact the use of these strategies, which has implications for family-school partnerships and interventions.
Transient thermal stress analysis of an edge crack in a functionally graded material

An edge crack in a strip of a functionally graded material (FGM) is studied under transient thermal loading conditions. The FGM is assumed having constant Young's modulus and Poisson's ratio, but the thermal properties of the material vary along the thickness direction of the strip. Thus the material is elastically homogeneous but thermally nonhomogeneous. This kind of FGMs include some ceramic/ceramic FGMs such as TiC/SiC, MoSi2/Al2O3 and MoSi2/SiC, and also some ceramic/metal FGMs such as zirconia/nickel and zirconia/steel. A multi-layered material model is used to solve the temperature field. By using the Laplace transform and an asymptotic analysis, an analytical first order temperature solution for short times is obtained. Thermal stress intensity factors (TSIFs) are calculated for a TiC/SiC FGM with various volume fraction profiles of the constituent materials. It is found that the TSIF could be reduced if the thermally shocked cracked edge of the FGM strip is pure TiC, whereas the TSIF is increased if the thermally shocked edge is pure SiC.
Fabrication of planar optical waveguides by electrical microcontact printing

We describe the fabrication by electrical microcontact printing of optical waveguides and splitters made of poly(4-vinylphenol) doped with phloxine B, permitting inexpensive, rapid prototyping over large areas and construction of integrated, multi-level devices.
Predicting the optimal dietary essential amino acid profile for growth of juvenile yellow perch with whole body amino acid concentrations

Rapid methods of estimating dietary essential amino acid (EAA) requirements might facilitate increases in aquaculture production, particularly for new or emerging industries. We conducted a 12-week feeding study to test the hypothesis that whole body EAA concentrations and the quantified methionine requirement could be used to predict the remaining dietary EAA requirements for juvenile all-female yellow perch. Six purified diets were developed and fed to triplicate groups of fish for 12 weeks. The diets contained the EAA profile of fishmeal (FM), the profile as predicted by whole body analysis, the quantified methionine requirement and resulting A/E ratios (PRED), PRED + 20% of all EAA (PRED20), PRED + 40% of all EAA (PRED40), PRED + 20% threonine, isoleucine and tryptophan (PRED320), and PRED + 40% threonine, isoleucine and typtophan (PRED340). Mean weight gain and feed consumption were significantly higher in fish fed PRED20 (35.7 ± 3.2 and 55.0 ± 5.3 g, respectively) than in fish fed FSM (25.1 ± 0.4 g wt gain, 41.0 ± 1.9 g cons), PRED (23.4 ± 2.3 g wt gain, 40.1 ± 4.2 g cons) and PRED340 (22.9 ± 3.3 g wt gain, 35.0 ± 3.8 g cons). There was no significant difference in feed efficiency among treatments. We recommend an EAA profile similar to PRED20 for feeding all-female juvenile yellow perch.
Build intelligence from the physical world

By accumulating and aggregating physical world contextual information from multiple users and multiple devices over a long period, we can obtain collective social intelligence from them. Based on this, more innovative Internet services can be developed to facilitate people's everyday lives. In this talk, I will present our recent work on this direction, as well as other related works in Microsoft and the industry.
Isolation and Characterization of Temperature-Sensitive Mutants of Host-Dependent Bdellovibrio bacteriovorus 109D

A variety of temperature-sensitive mutants of host-dependent Bdellovibrio bacteriovorus 109D were selected after ethyl methane sulfonate mutagenesis. Mutants that demonstrated plaque-forming ability reversion frequencies of 10 −8 to 10 −9 were chosen for further study. Representatives of these mutants were then characterized by phase-contrast and electron microscopy, temperature-shifted one-step growth experiments, attachment kinetics, and macromolecular capabilities. Representative mutants demonstrate various types of blockage corresponding to the previously described morphological stages of Bdellovibrio predatious life cycle, i.e., attachment blockage (109D153), penetration blockage (109D3 and 109D48), and blockage of intracellular growth (109D4 and 109D152). The time of release from temperature repression for the mutant classes was found to correspond to the apparent morphological stage of blockage via temperature-shifted, one-step growth experiments. Mutants characterized as exhibiting blockage in the penetration or intracellular stages of the infection cycle exhibited, at the permissive and nonpermissive temperatures, kinetics of attachment to Escherichia coli WP2 similar to those of the wild type. One mutant, 109D153, exhibited depressed attachment at the restrictive temperature even though the Bdellovibrio cells were motile. The extent of 38.5 C attachment of 109D153 to E. coli is at the same level as that of wild-type 109D to Bacillus subtilis , a gram-positive, non-host organism. Subsequent detachments were revealed in the wild-type 109D- B. subtilis or mutant 109D153- Escherichia coli (38.5 C) cultures. These studies reveal a biphasic attachment phenomenon in the early interaction of Bdellovibrio with its host. It appears that, at the restrictive temperature, 109D153 is capable only of the initial, nonspecific type of attachment. Images
A Case Study of An Industrial Assessment Center Extended Assessment

ABSTRACT This article describes an extended assessment of a manufacturing plant. The assessment was extended by adding monitoring of selected electrical systems in the plant with portable data loging equipment, making two additional plant visits to install and remove equipment, and identifying possible assessment recommendations for later investigation. Monitoring identified three recommendations about equipment being left on that likely would not have been identified during a usual assessment, and provided data for quantification of savings. Plant management identified a desirable operational change from the monitored data. In addition, the additional time spent in the plant increased the potential recommendation list and the final recommendation list by about a factor of two.
The Intersection of Neglected Ideas: Durkheim, Mead, and the Postmodernists*

In this article, the author examines pragmatic philosophy as a tool to open a richer dialogue between modern and postmodern depictions of reality. Exploring the pragmatic influences in the thoughts of G. H. Mead and Emile Durkheim (as well as C. Wright Mills and others), the author argues that ideas found in these theorist's writings, as they are informed by American Pragmatism, can act as a metaphorical bridge in linking modern and postmodern thought. In this context, the author shows that the functionalists and structuralists wrongly depict Durkheim and Mead as disciples of and inheritors of the Enlightenment project. Conversely, the postmodernists simply ignore them because they are wrongly perceived to be part of the totalizing, "enemy" camp of the Enlightenment tradition. The author asserts that a more accurate read of Durkheim and Mead finds a nuanced, middle ground in regards to opposition to versus submission to the Enlightenment project, and hence Durkheim and Mead (due in large part to American Pragmatism's influence in their writings) offer a way for modern and postmodern theory to enter into more fruitful dialogue with each other.
Contrasting phylogeography in three endemic Hawaiian limpets ( Cellana spp.) with similar life histories

The marine environment offers few obvious barriers to dispersal for broadcast-spawning species, yet population genetic structure can occur on a scale much smaller than the theoretical limits of larval dispersal. Comparative phylogeographical studies of sympatric sister species can illuminate how differences in life history, behaviour, and habitat affinity influence population partitioning. Here we use a mitochondrial DNA marker (612 bp of cytochrome c oxidase subunit I) to investigate population structure of three endemic Hawaiian broadcast-spawning limpets ( Cellana spp.) with planktonic larvae that are competent to settle within 4 days. All three species exhibit significant population structure and isolation by distance, but the spatial scales of partitioning differ among the species. Cellana talcosa ( n = 105) exhibits strong population structure between Kauai and the other main Hawaiian Islands (MHI) where the maximum channel width is 117 km, and no shared haplotypes were observed (Φ CT = 0.30, P < 0.001). In contrast, populations of Cellana exarata ( n = 149) and Cellana sandwicensis ( n = 109) exhibit weaker population structure within the MHI (Φ ST = 0.03–0.04, P < 0.05), and between the MHI and the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands (Φ Φ Φ ST = 0.03–0.09, P < 0.01), where the maximum channel width is 260 km. Biogeographical range and microhabitat use were correlated with estimates of dispersal, while phylogenetic affiliation and minimum pelagic larval duration were poor predictors of population partitioning. Despite similar life histories, these closely related limpets have contrasting patterns of population structure, illustrating the danger of relying on model species in management initiatives to predict population structure and dispersal in the context of marine protected area delineation.
Pain coping skills training in the management of osteoarthritic knee pain: A comparative study

The purpose of this study was to determine whether a cognitive-behavioral intervention designed to improve pain coping skills could reduce pain, physical disability, psychological disability, and pain behavior in osteoarthritic knee pain patients. Patients in this study were older adults (mean age=64 years) having persistent pain (mean duration=12 years), who were diagnosed as having osteoarthritis of the knee on the basis of medical evaluation and x-rays. Patients were randomly assigned to one of three conditions: pain coping skills training, arthritis education, or a standard care control condition. Patients in the pain coping skills training condition (n=32) attended 10 weekly group sessions training them to recognize and reduce irrational cognitions and to use attention diversion and changes in activity patterns to control and decrease pain. Arthritis education subjects (n=36) attended 10 weekly group sessions providing them with detailed information on osteoarthritis. Standard care control subjects (n=31) continued with their routine care. Measures of coping strategies, pain, psychological disability, physical disability, medication use, and pain behavior were collected from all subjects before and after treatment. Results indicated that patients receiving pain coping skills training had significantly lower levels of pain and psychological disability post-treatment than patients receiving arthritis education or standard care. Correlational analyses revealed that patients in the pain coping skills training group who reported increases in the perceived effectiveness of their coping strategies were more likely to have lower levels of physical disability post-treatment. Taken together, these findings indicate that pain coping skills training can reduce pain and psychological disability in osteoarthritis patients. Future studies should examine whether behavioral rehearsal or spouse training can strengthen the effects of pain coping skills training in order to reduce physical disability and pain behavior as well as pain and psychological disability.
Sequence-specific interactions of wound-inducible nuclear factors with mannopine synthase 2' promoter wound-responsive elements

A 318 bp mannopine synthase 2′ (mas2′) promoter element from the T-DNA of Agrobacterium tumefaciens can direct wound-inducible and root-preferential expression of a linked uidA gene in transgenic tobacco plants. Wound inducibility is further enhanced by sucrose in the medium. Promoter deletion analysis indicated that the sucrose enhancement is conferred by a region extending from −318 to −213. DNase I footprinting indicated that an A/T-rich DNA sequence in this region is protected by tobacco nuclear factors. Regions extending from −103 to +66 and from −213 to −138 directed wound-inducibile expression of a linked uidA gene when placed downstream of a CaMV 35S enhancer or upstream of a truncated (−209) CaMV 35S promoter, respectively. DNase I footprinting analyses indicated that proteins from wounded tobacco leaves specifically bound to three contiguous motifs downstream of the mas2′ TATA box. In addition to a common retarded band formed by the upstream wound-responsive element complexed with proteins from either wounded or unwounded tobacco leaves, two unique retarded bands were observed when this element was incubated with protein from wounded leaves. Methylation interference analysis additionally identified an unique motif composed of promoter elements and nuclear factors derived specifically from wounded tobacco leaves. We propose a model to describe the involvement of nuclear factors with mas2′ promoter elements in wound-inducible gene expression.
Molecular evolution of a Drosophila homolog of human BRCA2.

The human cancer susceptibility gene, BRCA2, functions in double-strand break repair by homologous recombination, and it appears to function via interaction of a repetitive region (“BRC repeats”) with RAD-51. A putatively simpler homolog, dmbrca2, was identified in Drosophila melanogaster recently and also affects mitotic and meiotic double-strand break repair. In this study, we examined patterns of repeat variation both within Drosophila pseudoobscura and among available Drosophila genome sequences. We identified extensive variation within and among closely related Drosophila species in BRC repeat number, to the extent that variation within this genus recapitulates the extent of variation found across the entire animal kingdom. We describe patterns of evolution across species by documenting recent repeat expansions (sometimes in tandem arrays) and homogenizations within available genome sequences. Overall, we have documented patterns and modes of evolution in a new model system of a gene which is important to human health.
An interpretation of several cell wall stains applied to heat-fixed Bacillus subtilis on glass slides.

The Dyer, Chance, alcian blue, and tannic acid-crystal violet wall stains for bacteria were compared. All gave apparent cell wall widths which were considerably greater than those demonstrated by electron microscope methods. The exaggerated width, as seen by the light microscope, was apparently due to staining of a portion of the cytoplasmic material adjacent to the wall, and in addition, to a precipitate on the surface of the cell produced by the Dyer and the Chance stains. Heat-fixed cells on slides were shown to retain considerable height or third dimension, being about half as high as wide. Moreover, such cells had their walls flattened against the slide to form a collar-like projection around the periphery of the shrunken protoplasm. This latter effect alone was not sufficient to explain the exaggerated wall thickness shown by staining. For obtaining reliable measurements of cell widths, the nigrosin negative stain was found to be as good as any, provided that the thickness of its film were controlle...
Positive cell-free fetal DNA testing for trisomy 13 reveals confined placental mosaicism.

We report on a case in which cell-free fetal DNA was positive for trisomy 13 most likely due to confined placental mosaicism. Cell-free fetal DNA testing analyzes DNA derived from placental trophoblast cells and can lead to incorrect results that are not representative of the fetus. We sought to confirm commercial cell-free fetal DNA testing results by chorionic villus sampling and amniocentesis. These results were followed up by postnatal chromosome analysis of cord blood and placental tissue. First-trimester cell-free fetal DNA test results were positive for trisomy 13. Cytogenetic analysis of chorionic villus sampling yielded a mosaic karyotype of 47,XY,+13[10]/46,XY[12]. G-banded analysis of amniotic fluid was normal, 46,XY. Postnatal cytogenetic analysis of cord blood was normal. Karyotyping of tissues from four quadrants of the placenta demonstrated mosaicism for trisomy 13 in two of the quadrants and a normal karyotype in the other two. Our case illustrates several important aspects of this new testing methodology: that cell-free fetal DNA may not be representative of the fetal karyotype; that follow-up with diagnostic testing of chorionic villus sampling and/or amniotic fluid for abnormal test results should be performed; and that pretest counseling regarding the full benefits, limitations, and possible testing outcomes of cell-free fetal DNA screening is important. Genet Med 15 9, 729–732.
When Size Does Not Matter: Pairing Sites during Meiosis

Specialized sites along DNA maintain the pairing of homologous chromosomes during meiosis. Three research articles, including two in this issue of Cell, describe proteins from the fruit fly (Thomas et al., 2005) and the worm (MacQueen et al., 2005; Phillips et al., 2005) that bind to these sites and stabilize pairing interactions.
Sample size and power for pair‐matched case‐control studies

A new sample size formula is derived herein for matched-pair case-control studies. This result is based on an unconditional approach to the use of McNemar's statistic. We contrast this method for determining sample size and power with Schlesselman's conditional approach and compare the results numerically in a Monte Carlo study.
Magnetocapacitance spectroscopy of multilayer electron systems in wide parabolic wells

Abstract We present a technique to detect quantum capacitance in the presence of strong density profile effects. We demonstrate our technique by performing capacitance-voltage subband spectroscopy on a system of coupled electron layers in a heterostructure which is the superposition of a wide parabolic well and multiple square wells. Events inducing Fermi level variations are detected as features in the derivative profile dC/dVg as the electron gas width is reduced by an applied gate voltage. Quantum features are differentiated from density profile effects by considering differences in derivative profiles dC/dVg for increasing magnetic field perpendicular to the electron layers. Results are compared with theory.
Implementation of an electronic interface for the documentation of pediatric rheumatology medical records improves physician and patient utilization of time in clinic

Purpose Paper clinical notes (PCN) have been an enduring tool in clinical medicine, but are slowly being replaced by electronic medical records (EMR) in a nationwide effort to improve clinic efficiency, to enhance interdepartmental communication, and to minimize medical errors. Our healthcare center utilizes a transitional EMR that requires outpatient clinic physicians to document patient visits on PCN and to submit them to an external department for upload to the center-wide EMR. This process generates a lag period, ranging from 1 day to 3 weeks, during which PCN are inaccessible electronically. If notes are unavailable via EMR at subsequent visits, physicians are forced to search through paper charts, which may be located in clinic or at a satellite office, thus impeding clinic workflow and lengthening patient wait time. In response, we designed, created, and implemented an EMR interface or electronic note (EMRI) that mimics the prior paper template. Physicians use a portable laptop computer in the exam room and directly upload their findings to the patient’s center-wide EMR, reducing the time required for follow-up charting. We are evaluating the workflow of the pediatric rheumatology outpatient clinics and assessing patient perceptions as we transition from PCN to a complete EMR system.
γ-Tubulin is associated with a cortical-microtubule-organizing zone in the developing guard cells of Allium cepa L.

A key event in the differentiation of elliptically shaped guard cells such as those in Allium is the formation of a radial array of cortical microtubules (Mts) which, by controlling the orientation of wall microfibrils, plays an important role in cell shaping. Previous experiments strongly indicated that the array is nucleated in a zone adjacent to the new ventral wall soon after cytokinesis. In order to further clarify the function of this zone, we performed dual immunolocalizations on Allium guard cells with anti-β-tubulin, to detect Mts, and an antibody to γ-tubulin, a protein known to be present at Mt-organizing centers in other species and recently identified in plants as well. γ-Tubulin antibody stained the cortical zone adjacent to the ventral wall, while little or no fluorescence was present elsewhere along the radial Mt array or at other sites in the cell. The antibody also stained the mitotic poles and phragmoplast in guard mother cells, as it does in other material. No staining was seen when the primary antibody was omitted. The results are consistent with nucleation of the radial array at a cortical-Mt-organizing zone next to the ventral wall, and set the stage for more in-depth studies on the spatial and temporal control of Mt formation in differentiating cells.
Marital conflict and children: retrospect and prospect

Abstract Although a relation between marital functioning and child adjustment is widely accepted among clinicians and researchers, empirical data show that the magnitude of this association is low and varies considerably across studies. Analysis of this circumstance reveals the need for greater specification of the constructs of marital conflict and child adjustment and for relating particular aspects of conflict to specific child outcomes. We therefore offer a reappraisal of the construct of marital conflict and identify several conflict dimensions that appear relevant to understanding its potential impact on children. Finally, several avenues for future research are highlighted that might promote greater integration of clinical practice and research.
Involvement of two distinct ubiquitin E3 ligase systems for p27 degradation in corneal endothelial cells.

Purpose p27(Kip1) (p27) is an important regulator of G(1) progression. For cells to proliferate, p27 must undergo proteolysis. FGF-2 enables phosphorylation of p27 at both the Thr-187 and Ser-10 sites, an event that is prerequisite for polyubiquitination. This study was undertaken to determine whether degradation of the two phosphorylated p27s is mediated by a distinct ubiquitin E3 ligase complex at different subcellular locations. Methods Expression of p27, KPC1, KPC2, Skp1, Skp2, and Cul1 was analyzed by immunoblot analysis. Association of p27 with ubiquitin E3 ligase was determined with coimmunoprecipitation followed by immunoblot analysis. Inhibitors were used to inhibit proteasomal degradation and nuclear export of the phosphorylated p27. DNA synthesis was measured by BrdU incorporation into DNA. Results Among ubiquitin ligase complex proteins, Cul1, KPC1, and KPC2 were constitutively expressed, whereas expression of Skp1 and Skp2 was temporally induced by FGF-2. Skp1, Skp2, and Cul1 were involved in polyubiquitination of phosphorylated p27 at Thr-187 (pp27Thr187) in nuclei. Maximum association of pp27Thr187 with the ubiquitin E3 ligase occurred 24 hours after FGF-2 stimulation. pp27Ser10 used the cytoplasmic ubiquitin E3 ligases KPC1 and KPC2, with maximum protein interaction observed at 8 hours. MG132 effectively blocked degradation of both pp27Thr187 and pp27Ser10, whereas leptomycin B blocked the nuclear export of pp27Ser10. Both inhibitors blocked BrdU incorporation into DNA. Conclusions The findings demonstrate distinct polyubiquitination pathways for pp27Thr187 and pp27Ser10; the former is ubiquitinated through the nuclear ubiquitin E3 ligase system during late G(1) phase; the latter by cytosolic ubiquitin E3 ligase during early G(1) phase.
VO2 Prediction and Cardiorespiratory Responses During Underwater Treadmill Exercise

We compared cardiorespiratory responses to exercise on an underwater treadmill (UTM) and land treadmill (LTM) and derived an equation to estimate oxygen consumption (VO2) during UTM exercise. Fifty-five men and women completed one LTM and five UTM exercise sessions on separate days. The UTM sessions consisted of chest-deep immersion, with 0, 25, 50, 75, and 100% water-jet resistance. All session treadmill velocities increased every 3 min from 53.6 to 187.8 m x min(-1). Cardiorespiratory responses were similar between LTM and UTM when jet resistance for UTM was 50%. Using multiple regression analysis, weight-relative VO2 could be estimated as: VO2 (mLO2 c kg(-1) x min(-1)) = 0.19248 x height (cm) + 0.17422 x jet resistance (% max) + 0.14092 x velocity (m x min(-1)) -0.12794 x weight (kg)-27.82849, R2 = .82. Our data indicate that similar LTM and UTM cardiorespiratory responses are achievable, and we provide a reasonable estimate of UTM VO2.
Load-balancing spatially located computations using rectangular partitions

Distributing spatially located heterogeneous workloads is an important problem in parallel scientific computing. We investigate the problem of partitioning such workloads (represented as a matrix of non-negative integers) into rectangles, such that the load of the most loaded rectangle (processor) is minimized. Since finding the optimal arbitrary rectangle-based partition is an NP-hard problem, we investigate particular classes of solutions: rectilinear, jagged and hierarchical. We present a new class of solutions called m-way jagged partitions, propose new optimal algorithms for m-way jagged partitions and hierarchical partitions, propose new heuristic algorithms, and provide worst case performance analyses for some existing and new heuristics. Moreover, the algorithms are tested in simulation on a wide set of instances. Results show that two of the algorithms we introduce lead to a much better load balance than the state-of-the-art algorithms. We also show how to design a two-phase algorithm that reaches different time/quality tradeoffs.
The Influence of Substituent Groups on the Resonance Stabilization of Benzene. An ab Initio Computational Study

Accurate G3(MP2) calculations of the enthalpies of formation (ΔfH298) of organic molecules permit replication and extension of calculations that were formerly dependent on experimental thermochemical results. A case in point is Kistiakowski's classical calculation of the total stabilization enthalpy of benzene relative to that of cyclohexene, called for many years the “resonance energy”. This paper investigates extension of the classical calculation to substituted benzenes. Slight modification of the usual procedure for ΔfH298 determination permits exclusion of all empirical information, leaving a purely ab initio result. Stabilization enthalpies relative to the corresponding 4-substituted cyclohexenes are presented for benzene, toluene, aniline, phenol, phenylacetylene, styrene, ethylbenzene, and phenylhydrazine. In the process of calculating these stabilization enthalpies, we have also obtained 42 values of ΔfH298 for monosubstituted benzenes, cyclohexenes, and cyclohexanes, 24 of which are not in the s...
Static Acoustic-Immittance Measurements

The basic principles of deriving static acoustic-immittance measurements in human ears are presented. Problems caused by differences in instrumentation, computations, and measurement technique are ...
Web Surveys—Benefits and Considerations

AbstractThe Internet offers researchers an inexpensive method for quickly surveying a large number of study participants. Aside from the advantages of cost, efficiency, and expediency, there are concerns surrounding the use of the Internet as a survey medium. Issues of participation, survey abandonment, and security must be considered. The use of surveys in health care requires special attention to security and privacy issues for adherence to HIPAA regulations. Further research on the topics of survey participation and survey abandonment is warranted.