cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Propensity score methods to control for confounding in observational cohort studies: a statistical primer and application to endoscopy research.

Background and Aims Confounding is a major concern in nonexperimental studies of endoscopic interventions and can lead to biased estimates of the effects of treatment. Propensity score methods, which are commonly used in the pharmacoepidemiology literature, can effectively control for baseline confounding by balancing measured baseline confounders and risk factors and creating comparable populations of treated and untreated patients. Methods We propose the following 5-step checklist to guide the use and evaluation of propensity score methods: (1) select covariates, (2) assess “Table 1” balance in risk factors before propensity score implementation, (3) estimate and implement the propensity score in the study cohort, (4) reassess “Table 1” balance in risk factors after propensity score implementation, and (5) critically evaluate differences between matched and unmatched patients after propensity score implementation. We then applied this checklist to an endoscopy example using a study cohort of 411 adults with newly diagnosed eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE), some of whom were treated with esophageal dilation. Results We identified 156 patients, aged 18 and older, who were treated with esophageal dilation, and 255 patients who were nondilated. We successfully matched 148 (95%) dilated patients to nondilated patients who had a propensity score within 0.1, based on patient age, sex, race, self-reported food allergy, and presence of narrowing at baseline endoscopy. Crude imbalances were observed before propensity score matching in several baseline covariates, including age, sex, and narrowing; however, propensity score matching was successful in achieving balance across all measured covariates. Conclusions We provide an introduction to propensity score methods, including a straightforward checklist for implementing propensity score methods in nonexperimental studies of treatment effectiveness. Moreover, we demonstrate the advantage of using “Table 1” as a simple but effective diagnostic tool for evaluating the success of propensity score methods in an applied example of esophageal dilation in EoE.
Summary: Text-Based Sources

This is the summary of Qualitative Transparency Deliberations Final Report on Text-Based Sources, Working Group number II.1.
Newborn Hearing Screening: Early Education = More Satisfied Mothers

Newborn hearing screening (NBHS) has become the norm in all states in the United States. However, parents receive limited information about it, usually at the hospital, and have low awareness about...
Why don’t people give enough compliments? Underestimating the positive impact of compliments

Compliments benefit the emotional well-being for both expressers and recipients, yet people report giving and receiving fewer compliments than they would like. Seven experiments investigate an egoc...
Transforming growth factor–β in tissue fibrosis

TGF-β is extensively implicated in the pathogenesis of fibrosis. In fibrotic lesions, spatially restricted generation of bioactive TGF-β from latent stores requires the cooperation of proteases, integrins, and specialized extracellular matrix molecules. Although fibroblasts are major targets of TGF-β, some fibrogenic actions may reflect activation of other cell types, including macrophages, epithelial cells, and vascular cells. TGF-β-driven fibrosis is mediated through Smad-dependent or non-Smad pathways and is modulated by coreceptors and by interacting networks. This review discusses the role of TGF-β in fibrosis, highlighting mechanisms of TGF-β activation and signaling, the cellular targets of TGF-β actions, and the challenges of therapeutic translation.
A Promising Science and Literacy Instructional Model with Hispanic Fifth Grade Students.

This study evaluated the Science and Literacy Instructional Model aimed at helping primarily Hispanic bilingual/English Learners (ELs) and economically disadvantaged fifth grade students with scien...
A Quantitative Portrait of Wikipedia's High-Tempo Collaborations during the 2020 Coronavirus Pandemic

The 2020 coronavirus pandemic was a historic social disruption with significant consequences felt around the globe. Wikipedia is a freely-available, peer-produced encyclopedia with a remarkable ability to create and revise content following current events. Using 973,940 revisions from 134,337 editors to 4,238 articles, this study examines the dynamics of the English Wikipedia's response to the coronavirus pandemic through the first five months of 2020 as a "quantitative portrait" describing the emergent collaborative behavior at three levels of analysis: article revision, editor contributions, and network dynamics. Across multiple data sources, quantitative methods, and levels of analysis, we find four consistent themes characterizing Wikipedia's unique large-scale, high-tempo, and temporary online collaborations: external events as drivers of activity, spillovers of activity, complex patterns of editor engagement, and the shadows of the future. In light of increasing concerns about online social platforms' abilities to govern the conduct and content of their users, we identify implications from Wikipedia's coronavirus collaborations for improving the resilience of socio-technical systems during a crisis.
Comparison of benign and malignant insulinoma.

Abstract Background How malignant insulinomas present relative to benign insulinomas is unknown. Methods A single-institution retrospective study identified patients with insulinoma. Malignancy was defined by distant metastases, positive lymph node(s), T stage of 4, direct invasion into surrounding peripancreatic tissue, or presence of lymphovascular invasion. Wilcoxon Rank Sum tests and Kaplan-Meier analysis were used. Results A total of 311 patients were identified: 51 malignant and 260 benign. Patients with malignant insulinoma presented with higher levels of insulin, proinsulin, and c-peptide. Malignant lesions were larger: 4.2 ± 3.2 vs 1.8 ± 0.8 cm in benign lesions, p Conclusions Larger size of insulinoma and increased serum β-cell polypeptide concentrations were associated with malignancy. Malignant insulinoma has poorer survival. Further work-up to rule out malignancy may be indicated for larger pancreatic lesions and for patients with higher pre-operative insulin and pro-insulin.
Housing conditions during self-administration determine motivation for cocaine in mice following chronic social defeat stress

Stress exposure has a lasting impact on motivated behavior and can exacerbate existing vulnerabilities for developing a substance use disorder. Several models have been developed to examine how stressful experiences shape drug reward. These range from locomotor sensitization and conditioned place preference to the propensity for drug self-administration or responding to drug-predictive cues. While self-administration studies are considered to have more translational relevance, most of the studies to date have been conducted in rats. Further, many self-administration studies are conducted in single-housed animals, adding the additional stressor of social isolation. We sought to establish how chronic social defeat stress (CSDS) and social housing conditions impact cocaine self-administration and cocaine-seeking behaviors in C57BL/6 mice. We assessed self-administration behavior (cocaine or saline, 0.5 mg/kg/infusion) in C57BL/6 mice subjected to 10-day CSDS or in unstressed controls. Mice were housed either in pairs or in isolation during self-administration. We compared the effect of housing on acquisition of self-administration, seeking, extinction, drug-induced reinstatement, and after re-exposure to the social stressor. Pair-housing during self-administration revealed increased social avoidance after CSDS is associated with decreased cocaine intake. In contrast, single-housing revealed stress-sensitive cocaine intake, with increased social avoidance after CSDS associated with increased early cocaine intake. Pair-, but not single-housed mice are susceptible to drug-induced reinstatement independent of CSDS history. Stress re-exposure sensitized cocaine-seeking in stressed single-housed mice. The social context surrounding cocaine intake can bidirectionally influence cocaine-related behaviors after psychosocial stress and should be considered when studying stress and drug cross-sensitization.
Basic principles to use in improving hospital patient safety

People cared for in American hospitals face a high risk of harm secondary to patient safety incidents. Current estimates place the patient safety death toll at 250,000 people annually in the US at ...
On Existence and Bifurcations of Periodic Motions in Discontinuous Dynamical Systems

In this paper, the existence and bifurcations of periodic motions in a discontinuous dynamical system is studied through a discontinuous mechanical model. One can follow the study presented herein ...
The Common Good and Voter Polarization

Do voters see democracy entirely as a game of self-interest in which one person’s gain is another’s loss, or do they also view it as a search for the common good, as some democracy theorists have long conjectured? Existing empirical research that assumes entirely private interests cannot answer this question, by design. We develop an empirical model in which voters derive utility from both common-good and private considerations, and show formally how to disentangle the two preference components. We estimate the model on California ballot propositions from 1986 to 2020, and find that 46 to 87 percent of voters place significant weight on the common-good aspects of proposals. Common-good concerns mitigate the effects of voter polarization, which we find substantially increased over out study period - particularly in the last six years.
Measurement Error and Bias in Causal Models in Accounting Research

“Measurement error biases against [finding results]” is an often-repeated phrase used to dismiss validity threats arising from measurement error. As a general rule, this phrase is false. We provide examples of commonly encountered circumstances where the variable of interest is exogenous––the gold standard for causal inference––but where measurement error in empirical proxies nonetheless bias in favor of rejecting a true null hypothesis. In addition, we show that the common practice of including high-dimensional fixed effects, specifically firm fixed effects, can exacerbate this bias and lead researchers to spuriously estimate a causal effect when none exists. Finally, we show that measurement error pervades the accounting literature, and illustrate the effect of measurement error on causal inferences in a popular quasi-natural experimental setting where we can observe the measurement error in the treatment variable. We encourage researchers to triangulate inferences across multiple empirical proxies and to report results from specifications with and without high-dimensional fixed effects.
Whistle-blowing in Medical School: A National Survey on Peer Accountability and Professional Misconduct in Medical Students

This study examines medical students’ attitudes towards peer accountability. A nationally representative sample of 564 third year medical students was surveyed. Students reported their agreement or disagreement with two statements: “I feel professionally obligated to report peers whose personal behaviors compromise their professional responsibilities” and “I feel professionally obligated to report peers who I believe are seriously unfit to practice medicine.” The majority of students (81.6 %) either agreed strongly or agreed somewhat that they feel obligated to report peers whose personal behaviors compromise their professional responsibilities. The majority (84.1 %) also agreed that they feel professionally obligated to report peers who they believe are seriously unfit to practice medicine. In contrast with previous studies, this national study found that a significant majority of students reported that they feel obligated to report unfit peers.
EBNA1 and LMP1 variants in multiple sclerosis cases and controls

Simon KC, Yang X, Munger KL, Ascherio A. EBNA1 and LMP1 variants in multiple sclerosis cases and controls. Acta Neurol Scand: 2011: 124: 53–58. © 2010 John Wiley & Sons A/S. Background – Prior infection with Epstein–Barr virus (EBV) is an established risk factor for multiple sclerosis (MS). Some findings from observational studies, including possible epidemics and differences in prevalence, may be explained if different strains of EBV conferred different MS risk. Methods – DNA was extracted from peripheral lymphocytes obtained from 66 MS cases and 66 age- and cohort-matched controls. Nested polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was performed to amplify the N- and C-terminus regions of EBNA1 and the hyper-variable region of the LMP1 gene. For EBNA1, we compared the presence of the prototype B95.8 vs variant sequence and the presence of multiple strains in MS cases and controls. For LMP1, we considered differences in the proportions of mutations between cases and controls. Results – Comparing the proportion of mutant sequence between MS cases and controls in the EBNA1 N-terminal (0/28 vs 1/27) and C-terminal regions (3/40 vs 8/36) revealed no significant differences (P > 0.05). No individual variants in LMP1 were associated with risk of MS (all P > 0.05). Neither EBNA1 nor LMP1 variation was associated with anti-EBNA1 IgG antibody titers. Conclusions – These findings do not support a strong role for variation in EBNA1 N-terminus, EBNA1 C-terminus or LMP1 contributing to MS risk.
The relaxation of non-quasiconvex variational integrals

We show that the Steepest Descent Algorithm in connection with wiggly energies yields minimizing sequences that converge to a global minimum of the associated non-quasiconvex variational integrals. We introduce a multi-level infinite dimensional variant of the Steepest Descent Algorithm designed to compute complex microstructures by forming non-smooth minimizers from the smooth initial guesses. We apply this multi-level method to the minimization of the variational problems associated with martensitic branching.
“Analytical Eclecticism” in Theorizing Japanese Security Policy: A Review Essay

Abstract This review essay explores the conceptual parameters of the contemporary “Japan Rising” thesis. It stakes out the debate between three prolific scholars in the field of Japanese security affairs and considers the different analytical approaches that may be applied to understand the current evolutions in Tokyo's grand strategy. It concludes that “analytical eclecticism” in theorizing Japanese security policy is a worthwhile and necessary endeavor, one that may be further augmented by the addition of multi-sector and human security concepts.
The Integration of Cost into Mechanical Engineering Design Curricula

The integration of cost into design courses in engineering and engineering technology programs is necessary to provide graduating engineers the skills to become immediate contributors to the goals and profits of their chosen companies. There are many methods that can be used, including sophisticated decision science techniques. One example of a teaching and analysis technique developed for use in a strength of materials course is described. In this example, a simple selection model, called a decision matrix, is used to decide what combination of factors provided a cost-effective design. This type of technique will allow teaching professionals to introduce and reinforce the concept of cost into basic mechanical engineering design courses. Decision matrices are extensively used in many fields of science, health care, electronics, and manufacturing. Obviously, more sophisticated decision science processes using complex analysis and modeling techniques can also be used. The purpose of this paper is to introduce the concepts of cost and optimization of design to engineering students early in their educational careers. The more sophisticated decision science models can be incorporated into advanced engineering design courses. Techniques such as this can also be applied in many other courses and disciplines including project management. The cost of oil and gasoline has tripled in the last few years. The concept of cost-effective design has suddenly reached new heights and now affects almost everyone in the world in which we live.
Implementing a high-frequency pattern generator based on combinational merging

A circuit architecture that can produce a high-frequency digital test pattern by merging a number of low-frequency patterns is implemented. This merging is accomplished using only delay elements and combinational logic, so the circuit's speed is not limited by clock constraints. Two prototype circuits using transistor-transistor logic (TTL) and emitter-coupled logic (ECL) are presented to demonstrate the approach and to explore implementation issues. >
A kinetic Monte Carlo study of defect assisted transport in silicon heterojunction solar cells

The device performance of an amorphous silicon (a-Si)/crystalline silicon (c-Si) solar cell depends strongly on the interfacial transport properties of the device. The energy of the photogenerated carriers at the barrier strongly depends on the strength of the inversion at the heterointerface and their collection requires interaction with the defects present in the intrinsic amorphous silicon buffer layer. In this work we present a theoretical model to study the defect assisted transport of photogenerated carriers through the intrinsic amorphous silicon barrier. We implement the kinetic Monte Carlo (KMC) method which allows us to simulate the interaction of discrete carriers with discrete defects. This method allows us to study defect transport which takes place on a time scale which is too long for traditional ensemble Monte Carlo's to analyze. We analyze the injection and extraction of carriers via defects by calculating transition rates, i.e. probability of transition to defect states within the intrinsic amorphous silicon barrier. The KMC results allow us to quantitatively study the properties of the heterointerface barrier in terms of how it affects transport. (© 2015 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
Biochemically differentiated clonal human glial cells in tissue culture

A clonal line of astrocytes (designated CHB) derived from a brain tumor of human origin has been established in tissue culture. This cell line is capable of synthesizing an acid protein unique to the nervous system (S100-protein). The S100-protein synthesized by CHB cells is immunologically indistinguishable (by micro-complement fixation) from S100-protein present in human brain.
Impacts of management practices and advanced technologies on demand responsive transit systems

Over the past 10 years, operating expenses for demand responsive transit (DRT) have more than doubled as demand for this mandated service has expanded. The DRT systems that we studied consist of dial-a-ride programs that transit agencies use for point-to-point pick-up and delivery of the elderly and handicapped. Many advanced technologies and management practices have been proposed and implemented to improve the efficiency of the service; but, evidence for the effectiveness of these actions has been based upon projections or small pilot studies. We present the results of a nationwide study involving 62 transit agencies. Our analysis indicates that the use of paratransit computer aided dispatching (CAD) system and agency service delivery provide a productivity benefit while the use of financial incentives has a detrimental impact on productivity. Also, the use of advanced communication technology has a beneficial impact on operating cost while the use of financial incentives has a detrimental impact.
Transforming national health policy: The significance of the stratification system

Policy formulation and decision-making occur within a continually changing sociopolitical environment. Presently, our national health policy lacks coherence and direction. It also is in a state of transition as evidenced by the recent restricted proposal to expand Medicare coverage to catastrophic illness. A comprehensive strategy for balancing escalating medical, hospital, and insurance costs as well as those associated with long-term care while extending access has not been devised. One of the most salient reasons for this is the failure of policy makers to grasp the complexities of the multifaceted stratification system. Its diverse, interrelated strata based on age, sex, economic status, and race are not incorporated in the process of shaping vitally needed and rational health policy.
ClpL is required for folding of CtsR in Streptococcus mutans

ClpL, a member of the HSP100 family, is widely distributed in Gram-positive bacteria but is absent in Gram-negative bacteria. Although ClpL is involved in various cellular processes, such as the stress tolerance response, long-term survival, virulence, and antibiotic resistance, the detailed molecular mechanisms are largely unclear. Here we report that ClpL acts as a chaperone to properly fold CtsR, a stress response repressor, and prevents it from forming protein aggregates in Streptococcus mutans. In vitro, ClpL was able to successfully refold urea-denatured CtsR but not aggregated proteins. We suggest that ClpL recognizes primarily soluble but denatured substrates and prevents the formation of large protein aggregates. We also found that in vivo, the C-terminal D2-small domain of ClpL is essential for the observed chaperone activity. Since ClpL widely contributes to various cellular functions, we speculate that ClpL chaperone activity is necessary to maintain cellular homeostasis.
Diagnostic accuracy studies needed for cone beam computed tomography

Medline, Embase, CENTRAL and the reference lists of identified studies. Studies had to describe diagnostic accuracy efficacy, diagnostic thinking efficacy, therapeutic efficacy or any combination for CBCT in the diagnosis of impacted teeth or of important features associated with impactions. Criteria for the diagnosis had to be described in detail or referenced. For studies elucidating only observer performance, the analysis had to be based on a minimum of two observers. Data were extracted with the aid of protocol based on critical appraisal of diagnostic studies. Two authors independently assessed the quality and internal validity of studies using the QUADAS tool,1 with disagreements being resolved by discussion. The results were described narratively as meta-analyses could not be conducted. The search yielded 96 titles, of which seven were included. There was only limited evidence for diagnostic efficacy expressed as sensitivity, specificity and predictive values. Only two studies compared CBCT and panoramic radiographs with a valid reference method and presented the results in terms of percentage of correct diagnoses. There is a need for diagnostic accuracy studies on CBCT where accepted methodological criteria for diagnostic thinking, efficacy and therapeutic efficacy are incorporated.
Dysregulated Proteolysis in Aids

Plasmin activity induced by different concentrations of added urokinase (UK) in serum from 20 patients with AIDS (P) and 10 healthy control (HC) subjects was measured using the fibrin plate assay. 125I-fibrin coated 24 well plates were exposed to UK (0.34–6.8 ng/ml) or to trypsin (T) (2.5 ug/ml) in the presence of serum (10%) from P or HC. Control wells were exposed to either T or tris buffer (pH 8.1) alone. Volumes were adjusted to 1 ml with buffer and after 1 hr at 37°C, radioactivity (cpm) released into the medium was determined using a gamma counter. Data are expressed as % plasmin activity or as % inhibition of plasmin activity. All sera from HC totally abrogated (>98%) the plasmin activating ability of UK (1.7 ng/ml). In contrast, sera from −50% of P were less able to inhibit plasmin activation (to 26%). The inability of P sera to inhibit plasmin activation was specific since P and HC sera were equally capable of inhibiting T. Mixing experiments using P and HC sera demonstrated that P sera did not b...
Cardioprotective actions of acute HMG-CoA reductase inhibition in the setting of myocardial infarction.

A known risk factor for the development of coronary artery disease and subsequent myocardial infarction is hypercholesterolaemia. The widespread nature of this phenomenon in the western world has led to the development of agents which reduce serum cholesterol levels. One such class of agents, HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors (statins) are very effective in cholesterol reduction. Recently, clinical and experimental evidence has amassed suggesting that patients taking statins receive cardiovascular benefits that occur independent of cholesterol reduction. Experimental data suggest that statins may increase levels of nitric oxide (NO) in vivo. This review will address the 'cholesterol-independent' vasculoprotective and cardioprotective effects of statins in animal models Upon completion, the reader will be familiar with the proposed cholesterol-independent pathways of statins and understand that the cholesterol-independent benefits may arise from enhanced production of NO.
Geometry of river networks. II. Distributions of component size and number

The structure of a river network may be seen as a discrete set of nested subnetworks built out of individual stream segments. These network components are assigned an integral stream order via a hierarchical and discrete ordering method. Exponential relationships, known as Horton's laws, between stream order and ensemble-averaged quantities pertaining to network components are observed. We extend these observations to incorporate fluctuations and all higher moments by developing functional relationships between distributions. The relationships determined are drawn from a combination of theoretical analysis, analysis of real river networks including the Mississippi, Amazon, and Nile, and numerical simulations on a model of directed, random networks. Underlying distributions of stream segment lengths are identified as exponential. Combinations of these distributions form single-humped distributions with exponential tails, the sums of which are in turn shown to give power-law distributions of stream lengths. Distributions of basin area and stream segment frequency are also addressed. The calculations identify a single length scale as a measure of size fluctuations in network components. This article is the second in a series of three addressing the geometry of river networks.
FSH and LH in the snowshoe hare during the increasing phase of the 10-year cycle.

Abstract Snowshoe hares were live-trapped near Rochester, Alberta, Canada, during the breeding season (April through August) of the increasing phase of the 10-year population cycle (1965–1970). The hares were sacrificed in the field laboratory, where pituitary glands, reproductive tracts, and serum were collected. Pituitary LH in both sexes as determined by the Parlow OAAD assay was lowest in April and highest in July; serum LH peaked in June. FSH in the females as determined by the Steelman and Pohley HCG augmentation assay showed the same pattern as LH, while in the males FSH was highest in April and June and lower in July and August. Testicular development was correlated with pituitary FSH. The seasonal variation in gonadotropin of females parallels seasonal changes in litter sizes, as April pregnancies averaged 2 embryos less than June, July, or August. There was a sharp decrease in pituitary FSH of females in August 1970, when only 15% of the female hares produced a fourth litter, which coincides with a substantial decline in reproductive rate. It is suggested that changes in pituitary gonadotropins may affect reproduction in the snowshoe hare population during the increasing phase of the 10-year population cycle.
Influence Analysis of Fluid-Solid Coupling to Sensor of Microwave Resonant Cavity System for Wetness Measurement

The microwave resonant cavity is the sensor of wetness measurement in medium perturbation method. Local eddy current and viscous dissipation of stream will cause the temperature difference of cavity, which led to the shift of resonant frequency affecting the stability of sensor. This paper calculates the temperature distribution of cavity under conditions that varieties of steam parameters and velocity of flow by flow-solid coupling method. The thermal deformation of different conditions of cavity is calculated. The influence of thermal deformation to the resonance frequency of resonant cavity is analyzed, according to the average value of node deformation of the cavity effective surface. The results show that the average temperature of cavity and thermal deformation increase with the steam parameter increase and the offset value of resonance frequency increases. The wetness measurement scheme of wet steam on the turbine exhaust needs to improve to reduce the effect of cavity body deformation.
Real-Time Monitoring and Control of Plasma Etching

Real-time etch rate of thin transparent films is determined within seconds by an in-situ two-color laser interferometer. The use of two colors improves the accuracy of the calculated rates, provides an absolute measure of film thickness for endpoint prediction, and differentiates between etching and deposition. The tool state parameters, rf power to the antenna and the wafer stage, gas pressure and flow rates, are computer controlled and monitored. Real-time etch rate characterization is obtained by monitoring the etch dependence on varying tool state parameters. The density of the etch radicals, chlorine and fluorine, is obtained with xenon and argon actinometry using optical emission and mass spectra. An etch rate model, based on the input power to the wafer stage and the relative density of the etch radicals, is used to develop a model-based real-time control algorithm. This algorithm has been used to control the etch rate of unpatterned polysilicon and SiO2.
Adequacy of and Satisfaction with Delivery and Use of Home-Delivered Meals

For home-delivered meals to have a beneficial impact on older persons, it is important that both delivery of services and use by older persons are adequate. From November 2004 to February 2005, we conducted a random-sample telephone survey of 1505 New York City home-delivered meals recipients, asking them about adequacy of and satisfaction with delivery of services and use of meal services. Fourteen percent of recipients relied solely on program food. Two-thirds prepared other foods themselves. Consumption of fruit, vegetables, and milk was low; 14-20% of recipients consumed each of these less than 1 time per day. Most recipients saw (and about half talked with) the meal deliverer most of the time. Most could contact the meal provider agency, but had not done so. A second stratified sample of 500 meal recipients was surveyed in June 2006 regarding satisfaction with food packaging and labels, food acquisition, meal delivery, and meal variety. About three-fourths of recipients reported satisfaction most of the time with the meals in terms of taste, variety, ease of preparation, healthfulness, and fit to religious or cultural needs. The most satisfied recipients were those who were receiving hot meals, food-secure, without hearing problems, frailer, in better emotional health, with informal social support, and more religious.
Characterization of the High Affinity Cell-binding Domain in the Cell Surface Proteoglycan Syndecan-4 *

Abstract The syndecan family of cell surface proteoglycans regulates cell adhesion via their glycosaminoglycan chains and discrete domains of their core proteins. Core protein domains that are variable between syndecan family members may regulate syndecan-specific associations, thereby endowing individual syndecans with unique functions. A syndecan-4-specific domain has been identified in the extracellular syndecan-4 protein. This region mediates cell adhesion when provided as an artificial substratum and is localized within amino acids 56–109 of the recombinant extracellular protein domain of mouse syndecan-4 (mS4ED) (McFall, A. J., and Rapraeger, A. C. (1997) J. Biol. Chem. 272, 12901–12904). To characterize its interaction with the cell surface, radiolabeled ligand binding studies were performed. A single high affinity interaction, with a dissociation constant of 2 × 10−9 m, was observed between mS4ED and both human and mouse cells. Both chicken S4ED and mS4ED compete for this interaction, although they are only 34% identical within the cell-binding domain sequence. The extracellular protein domains of syndecan-1, -2, and -3, however, fail to compete. The interaction is also observed with native syndecan-4 shed from cell surfaces. Interestingly, the extracellular protein domain of syndecan-1 also mediates cell adhesion, suggesting a similar but discrete interaction for this family member.
Reflections on the process of visual design

In this article, we are primarily concerned with the kinds of problems which lend themselves to solutions in visual, graphic terms. Essentially, they may be described as problems in communication which the designer attempts to solve by means of printed words or symbols, by the use of appropriate pictorial images or by exploiting audio-visual techniques. The author are practising designers who also share an interest in the teaching of graphic design; and these interests have determined the form of the discussion which follows. Some observations about the nature of design itself, about the various procedures available to the designer in tackling the problems which are brought to him, are illustrated with brief case histories selected from among those which have directly concerned the authors in the recent past. From these, they have ventured to draw some general conclusions about the possible range and scope of the contribution which the graphic designer may be expected to make-now, and in the future-to the solution of problems in visual communication.
Periictal diffusion-weighted imaging in a case of lesional epilepsy.

Summary: Purpose: Diffusion-weighted MR imaging (DWI) has been used for the early diagnosis of acute ischemic lesions in humans and in animal models of focal status epilepticus. We hypothesized that DWI may be a sensitive, noninvasive tool for the localization of the epileptogenic area during the periictal period. Methods: A periictal DWI study was performed on a 35-year-old patient during focal status epilepticus with repetitive prolonged focal motor seizures originating from a lesion in the right frontal lobe. DWI results were analyzed visually and by calculating apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) maps. Results: On DWI, a single area of signal increase (decrease in ADC) was found in the region of focal electrocorticographic seizures that was mapped intraoperatively. Conclusions: Ictal/postictal DWI may be a useful technique for seizure localization in patients with lesional epilepsy.
Some recharge‐ and discharge‐phenomena of north‐ and south‐facing watershed‐lands in the Wasatch Mountains

Within the Intermountain Region, water from melted snow that enters the soil and rock-mantle of mountainous drainage-basins during a period of about six weeks each spring is the principal supply that sustains stream-flow for the remainder of a year. Most of the major streams in this region flow westward or eastward, at right-angles to the main axis of the mountains and plateaus. Accordingly, a large portion of the water-yielding land faces toward the north or south.
Phase transition for gravitationally collapsing dust shells in 2+1 dimensions.

The collapse of thin dust shells in (2+1)-dimensional gravity with and without a cosmological constant is analyzed. A critical value of the shell's mass as a function of its radius and position is derived. For \ensuremath{\Lambda}0, a naked singularity or black hole forms depending on whether the shell's mass is below or just above this value. The solution space is divided into four different regions by three critical surfaces. For \ensuremath{\Lambda}0, two surfaces separate regions of black hole solutions and solutions with naked singularities, while the other surface separates regions of open and closed spaces. Near the transition between a black hole and naked singularity, we find M\ensuremath{\sim}${\mathit{c}}_{\mathit{p}}$(p-${\mathit{p}}^{\mathrm{*}}$${)}^{\mathrm{\ensuremath{\beta}}}$, where \ensuremath{\beta}=1/2 and M is a naturally defined order parameter. We find no phase transition in crossing from an open to closed space. The critical exponent appears to be universal for spherically symmetric dust. The critical solutions are analogous to higher dimensional extremal black holes. All four phases coexist at one point in solution space corresponding to the static extremal solution.
Structure and insecticidal activity of picrotoxinin analogs

Abstract Picrotoxinin, a convulsant in mammals, was nontoxic when topically applied on whole house flies. When synergized with piperonyl butoxide, the topical LD 50 of picrotoxinin on house flies was 6.50 μg/g or 260 times less toxic on house flies than the synergized insecticide, carbofuran, a carbamate cholinesterase inhibitor. When perfused on the isolated thoracic ganglion of house fly, picrotoxinin was less potent in producing convulsions than carbofuran; however, when assayed on the desheathed thoracic ganglion, picrotoxin was more potent than carbofuran. This suggested a substantial barrier to picrotoxinin preventing diffusion into the house fly central nervous system. Of several picrotoxinin analogs synthesized the 2-iodo,4-isopropyl, 6-methylenebromidecyclohexane-γ-lactone was the most potent convulsant.
A Search for Close Binaries in the ρ Ophiuchi Star-forming Region

We have carried out a new, near-infrared speckle imaging survey of 19 members of the young stellar popu- lation in the nearby (d ¼ 140 pc) � Oph cloud core. Results for four binary and one newly discovered triple system are reported. Data for all known multiple systems among the pre-main-sequence population ofOph are tabulated. We define a restricted binary fraction, Fb;r, and a restricted companion fraction, Fc;r, as counting only those systems most detectable in the present and previous high-resolution near-infrared imaging surveys having separations between 0> 1a nd� 1>1 and K-band magnitude differences DK < 3. Analysis of all the available multiplicity data results in updated values of Fb;r ¼ 24% � 11% and Fc;r ¼ 24% � 11% for the Ophiuchus pre-main-sequence population. These values are consistent with the values in the Taurus star- forming region, and Fc;r is in excess by a factor of 2 relative to the main sequence at the 1 � level. Subject headings: binaries: close — infrared: stars — stars: pre-main-sequence — techniques: high angular resolution
Statistical methods for computer performance evaluation

Computer performance has traditionally played a fundamental role in computer system design. Performance measurements and their quantitative analyses are useful in understanding and enhancing a computer system and in comparing different systems. Owing to the stochastic nature of systems, measuring performance is prone to noise and experimental errors. The field of statistics provides a rich set of tools and techniques to effectively deal with such noise and errors, allowing one to obtain meaningful measurements. Statistical techniques have also been applied in many other areas of computer performance measurement, such as designing experiments, simulation, analyzing results, and predicting performance. In this article, we present a comprehensive discussion of how statistical theories apply during the process of computer performance measurement and describe the statistical techniques that have been used in the literature. WIREs Comp Stat 2012, 4:98-106. doi: 10.1002/wics.192
Home care of the infant with gastroesop ageal reflux and respiratory disease

An increasing number of infant's with gastroesophageal reflux (GER) and respiratory disease and are being cared for at home. These infants have a chronic disease requiring long-term medical care. However, once the infant's condition stabilizes, home care is preferable to prolonged hospitalization. Nursing care of the infant with GER and respiratory disease is a challenging process that is complicated by the severity of GER and the degree of respiratory compromise. An understanding of disease process, family process, and skills of assessment are essential in planning care for these infants and their families.
Spectral control in laser restoration of archaeological treasurers

When created in 210 BC, the 6,000 terra cotta warriors of the Mount Li tomb near the ancient imperial Chinese capital city of Xi'an were emblazoned with dramatic colors. Previously, it had been thought that this polychrome glaze had been entirely consumed in an inferno that swept the tomb shortly after its completion. Careful manual control of laser divestment experiments on the statues during the archaeological excavation of the site has revealed that faint charred vestiges of the original polychromatic glaze still exist. Unfortunately, as a consequence of the long burial, the terra cotta statues with their cooked polychrome glazes are encased in tenacious mineral deposits. Consequently, laser removal of the mineral encrustation requires tedious human implementation in order to avoid damaging the very delicate underlying statue surfaces. A real-time spectral control system for precise automated laser cleaning of archaeological objects is described. It has improved the results, accelerated the process, and relieved the operator tedium in the recovery of this Qin Dynasty polychrome as well as in the cleaning of ancient coins from other archaeological sites.
Computer simulation of 90" ferroelectric domain formation in two-dimensions

Abstract The dynamics of 90 ° domain formation during a ferroelectric phase transition is studied using a computer simulation model based on time-dependent Ginzburg-Landau (TDGL) equations. This model does not make a priori assumptions on the domain morphologies and their evolution path, and takes into account simultaneously the non-local elastic and electric dipole-dipole interactions, and the local interactions resulting in the domain-wall energy. A two-dimensional system is considered. The domain structure is described by a vector polarization field whose temporal and spatial equation is obtained by numerically solving the TDGL equations in Fourier space. It is shown that both the non-local elastic and electric dipole-dipole interactions are critical in order to explain the experimental observation which demonstrated that tail-to-head or head-to-tail arrangement of dipoles at twin boundaries.
Invited case transcript behavioral analysis of a fetish: First interview

Abstract This transcript illustrates how behavioral analysis and therapy are constant coexisting processes. The patient is shapes into cooperating with likely treatment procedures. Some therapeutic suggestions are made, e.g. pointing out the aversive consequences of engaging in the overt and covert maladaptive behaviors.
Statewide Finance Reform: Ensuring Educational Adequacy for High-Poverty Schools

Statewide finance reform can offer a one-time opportunity for major overhaul of instructional and noninstructional services throughout a state 's schools. Any funding remedy should address two kinds of issues. First, base funding for low-income schools should be improved to provide an adequate infrastructure for education. Second, investments should be made in programs and practices intended to directly assist schools in increasing student performance toward the level needed in the 21st century. This article describes a mechanism by which states might use new monies to disseminate effective programs and practices among schools, to evaluate results, and to build capacity within the state to support and disseminate effective programs and practices.
Beta enhancement by relativistic electron rings in bumpy tori

Abstract The maximum achievable beta (ratio of plasma pressure to magnetic pressure) value in a bumpy torus such as Elmo (EBT) is determined primarily by the stability of the system to the interchange modes. These modes have as their source of free energy the drifts of the hot electron component that arise from the curvature and gradients of the confining magnetic field. At low (compared to the ion gyro) frequencies the only modes that exist are the core plasma and hot electron interchange, but at frequencies near the ion cyclotron frequency, instabilities arising from coupling of the interchange and compressional Alfven wave also appear. In most, if not all previous treatments of these instabilities, the hot electrons were treated as non-relativistic. In this paper we re-examine these modes using a relativistic formulation for the hot electrons which we also treat as highly anisotropic by neglecting their parallel momenta relative to the perpendicular momenta and their rest mass energy. We find a significant enhancement in the ion beta value as a result of treating the ring electrons relativistically. For typical present day EBT parameters we find that the value of the ion beta increases by about 50% as a result of increasing the hot electron mean energy from about several keV to few MeV. At such an energy the microwave power for heating these electrons is also optimum since the drag on the background plasma also reaches its minimum value.
Plastic waves in a rate sensitive material—I. Waves of uniaxial stress†

Summary Experiments have been carried out in which longitudinal plastic waves have been propagated in thin-walled tubes of alpha-titanium. Strain-time profiles recorded in these experiments show evidence of (i) stress levels considerably above quasi-static values at the same strain, (ii) decay of the amplitude of the elastic precursor, and (iii) variation with distance of propagation of the speed at which a given level of strain propagates. These features of the strain-time profiles are interpreted as indicating that a strain-rate dependent theory is necessary to describe the observed wave phenomena. Numerical solutions based on such a theory agree reasonably well with experimental results. For these solutions a plastic strain-rate function is used which agrees with data from quasi-static and split Hopkinson bar tests on the same tubes.
The Keys to Successful Change Management for Serials

ABSTRACT Recent debate among librarians focuses on how the acquisition and management of electronic resources can be incorporated into traditional technical services workflows. From the perspective of serials acquisition, this may mean many changes and new responsibilities. But the degree of success in such undertakings depends foremost on whether or not an organization can reconcile new expectations and new responsibilities with the traditional organizational culture and structure. Serials departments, serials librarians, and serials staff are often on the front lines of dealing with the changes that new technologies, new work processes, and new organizational relationships can bring. In order to make the most of these changes with respect to serials acquisition and management, the author proposes four key areas that any library should examine before contemplating change: (1) The information and serials environment, (2) organizational structure and culture, (3) workflow analysis and staff resources, and ...