cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Investigating the relationship between proteomic, compositional, and histologic biomarkers and cartilage biomechanics using artificial neural networks.

Abstract A thorough understanding of the relationship between the biological and mechanical functions of articular cartilage is necessary to develop diagnostics and treatments for arthritic diseases. A key step in developing this understanding is the establishment of models which utilize large numbers of biomarkers to create comprehensive models of the interplay between cartilage biology and biomechanics, which will more accurately demonstrate the complex etiology and progression of tissue adaptation and degradation. It is the goal of this study to demonstrate the ability of artificial neural networks (ANNs) to utilize biomarkers to create predictive models of articular cartilage biomechanics, which will provide a basis for more sophisticated research in the future. Osteochondral plugs were collected from patients undergoing total knee arthroplasty, cultured, then analyzed to collect proteomic, compositional, and histologic biomarker data. Samples were subjected to stress relaxation testing as well as computational simulations using finite element analysis (FEA) modeling and optimization to determine key mechanical properties. The acquired data was fed into an ANN to generate a model which predicts the biomechanical properties of cartilage from given biomarkers. Using all significant inputs, the developed neural network predicted the ground substance modulus with a moderate degree of accuracy, but had difficulty predicting the collagen fiber modulus and cartilage permeability. Using only clinically attainable biomarkers, the best-performing model produced comparably accurate and more consistent predictions of all three mechanical properties. These models demonstrate the potential for ANNs to be included in clinical studies of articular cartilage.
From improvisation to permanence: American perspectives on the U.S. signals intelligence relationship with Britain, 1940–1950

The codebreaking partnership between the United States and the United Kingdom is the most durable of all modern intelligence relationships. While agreements reached during the 1940s were important ...
The Multicultural School Counseling Behavior Scale: Development, Psychometrics, and Use:

The Multicultural School Counseling Behavior Scale (MSCBS) is designed to aid in measuring an important and overlooked area of the multicultural counseling competence of school counselors. This art...
Developments in the use of tyrosine kinase inhibitors in the treatment of renal cell carcinoma.

ABSTRACTIntroduction: Renal cell carcinoma (RCC) is among the most commonly diagnosed solid malignancies, but until recently there were few systemic treatment options for advanced disease. Since 2005, the treatment landscape has been transformed by the development of several novel systemic therapies. In particular, tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) targeting the vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) pathway have been instrumental in improving outcomes in patients with metastatic disease.Areas covered: The armamentarium of TKIs available for the treatment of RCC has expanded in recent years. The most active area of research at this time is the development of treatment regimens combining newer-generation TKIs and immune checkpoint inhibitors. Emerging data point to a role for combination therapy in the frontline management of advanced RCC. Other ongoing areas of research include the use of TKIs in the adjuvant setting and the role of cytoreductive nephrectomy within a changing treatment landscape.Expert...
Lexical Dependent Emotion Detection Using Synthetic Speech Reference

This paper aims to create neutral reference models from synthetic speech to contrast the emotional content of a speech signal. Modeling emotional behaviors is a challenging task due to the variability in perceiving and describing emotions. Previous studies have indicated that relative assessments are more reliable than absolute assessments. These studies suggest that having a reference signal with known emotional content (e.g., neutral emotion) to compare a target sentence may produce more reliable metrics to identify emotional segments. Ideally, we would like to have an emotionally neutral sentence with the same lexical content as the target sentence where their contents are timely aligned. In this fictitious scenario, we would be able to identify localized emotional cues by contrasting frame-by-frame the acoustic features of the target and reference sentences. This paper explores the idea of building these reference sentences leveraging the advances in speech synthesis. This paper builds a synthetic speech signal that conveys the same lexical information and is timely aligned with the target sentence in the database. Since it is expected that a single synthetic speech will not capture the full range of variability observed in neutral speech, we build multiple synthetic sentences using various voices and text-to-speech approaches. This paper analyzes whether the synthesized signals provide valid template references to describe neutral speech using feature analysis and perceptual evaluation. Finally, we demonstrate how this framework can be used in emotion recognition, achieving improvements over classifiers trained with the state-of-the-art features in detecting low versus high levels of arousal and valence.
Premixed flame propagation in a step-stratified charge

Abstract Premixed flame propagation from a mixture of equivalence ratio φ 1 to one of φ 2 is studied using a flame code with adaptive grids. The traditional definition of laminar flame speed based on the upstream unburned mixture density is found not to be appropriate because that would give an over- or under- shoot in flame propagation speed. The flame properties, however, could be characterized by an effective equivalence ratio φ eff so that an equivalent homogeneous flame at φ eff may be found for which the CO concentration at the peak of the heat release rate is the same as that in the instantaneous stratified flame. There is a delay between when the flame edge (the beginning of the flame preheat zone) arrives at the equivalence ratio gradient, and when the flame character (exemplified by the instantaneous value of φ eff ) begins to change. Then the flame burns through the gradient region with an average speed approximately equals to an average of the flame speeds at φ 1 and φ 2 .
Another Look: The Impact of Multi-Dimensional Corporate Transparency on US Firms’ Market Liquidity and Analyst Forecast Properties

Using a multi-dimensional model of corporate transparency developed by DeBoskey and Gillett (2011) based on disclosure information, intermediary information, earnings quality information, and insid...
Recent Experiences from the Natural Rubber Industry and Its Movement Towards Sustainability

Natural rubber is grown on 12 million hectares of tropical land; about the same as coffee. Yet whereas coffee was a pioneer commodity in the sustainability movement and it has become embedded in the sector, rubber has hardly progressed beyond the inception stage. The need for improved economic, social and environmental practices is as strong as in any commodity. Major companies holding concessions have been exposed for unacceptable practices towards local communities and clearing of natural forest. A large majority of producers are smallholders, whose yields are below the potential volume and quality that could be obtained with improved harvesting and processing.
A stable high-order FC-based methodology for hemodynamic wave propagation

Abstract A high-order numerical algorithm is proposed for the solution of one-dimensional arterial pulse wave propagation problems based on use of an accelerated “Fourier continuation” (FC) methodology for accurate Fourier expansion of non-periodic functions. The solver provides high-order accuracy, mild Courant-Friedrichs-Lewy (CFL) constraints on the time discretization and, importantly, results that are essentially free of spatial dispersion errors—enabling fast and accurate resolution of clinically-relevant problems requiring simulation of many cardiac cycles or vascular segments. The left ventricle-arterial model that is employed presents a particularly challenging case of ordinary differential equation (ODE)-governed boundary conditions that include a hybrid ODE-Dirichlet model for the left ventricle and an ODE-based Windkessel model for truncated vasculature. Results from FC-based simulations are shown to capture the important physiological features of pressure and flow waveforms in the systemic circulation. The robustness of the proposed solver is demonstrated through a number of numerical examples that include performance studies and a physiologically-accurate case study of the coupled left ventricle-arterial system. The results of this paper imply that the FC-based methodology is straightforwardly applicable to other biological and physical phenomena that are governed by similar hyperbolic partial differential equations (PDEs) and ODE-based time-dependent boundaries.
Chinese and Western philosophy in dialogue

We are pleased to provide two explorations on the topic of dialogue in Chinese philosophy. In this paper, we consider the educational and theoretical dialogues in China resulting from the encounter...
The Star Wars empire strikes back

State-of-the-art special effects combined with a compelling story make The Mandalorian very much to be savoured, says Bethan Ackerley
Comprehensive Intraprocedural Unfractionated Heparin Protocol During Catheter Ablation of Atrial Fibrillation in the Presence of Direct Oral Anticoagulants and Wide Spectrum of Body Mass Index

Introduction:Data on optimal dosing of unfractionated heparin (UFH) in the presence of a direct oral anticoagulant (DOAC) to achieve and maintain an activated clotting time (ACT) of ≥300 seconds du...
Dynamic correlation analysis of financial contagion: Evidence from Asian markets

We apply a dynamic conditional-correlation model to nine Asian daily stock-return data series from 1990 to 2003. The empirical evidence confirms a contagion effect. By analyzing the correlation-coefficient series, we identify two phases of the Asian crisis. The first shows an increase in correlation (contagion); the second shows a continued high correlation (herding). Statistical analysis of the correlation coefficients also finds a shift in variance during the crisis period, casting doubt on the benefit of international portfolio diversification. Evidence shows that international sovereign credit-rating agencies play a significant role in shaping the structure of dynamic correlations in the Asian markets.
Transiently increased intercommunity regulation characterizes concerted cell phenotypic transition

Phenotype transition takes place in many biological processes such as differentiation and reprogramming. A fundamental question is how cells coordinate switching of expressions of clusters of genes. Through analyzing single cell RNA sequencing data in the framework of transition path theory, we studied how such a genome-wide expression program switching proceeds in three different cell transition processes. For each process we reconstructed a reaction coordinate describing the transition progression, and inferred the gene regulation network (GRN) along the reaction coordinate. In all three processes we observed common pattern that the effective number and strength of regulation between different communities increase first and then decrease. The change accompanies with similar change of the GRN frustration, defined as overall confliction between the regulation received by genes and their expression states, and GRN heterogeneity. While studies suggest that biological networks are modularized to contain perturbation effects locally, our analyses reveal a general principle that during a cell phenotypic transition intercommunity interactions increase to concertedly coordinate global gene expression reprogramming, and canalize to specific cell phenotype as Waddington visioned.
Leukozytoklastische eosinophile Vaskulitis bei eosinophilem Lungeninfiltrat „Löffler“

Histologically, leukocytoclastic vasculitis (LV) presents with neutrophilic granulocytes with leukocytoclasia and erythrocyte extravasation, associated with variable counts of lymphocytes, plasma cells and eosinophilic granulocytes. The association of a LV with eosinophilic granulocytes and eosinophilic pneumonia was first described by Chan et al. in 1982. Our case represents the second report in the literature of this rare disease: a 85 year old patient with LV and numerous eosinophilic granulocytes in association with intermittent blood eosinophilia and Loffler syndrome (eosinophilic pulmonary infiltrates). The recurrent episodes were treated successfully with oral corticosteroids.
Mechanisms of action of glucagon-like peptide 1 in the pancreas

Glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1) is a hormone that is encoded in the proglucagon gene. It is mainly produced in enteroendocrine L cells of the gut and is secreted into the blood stream when food containing fat, protein hydrolysate, and/or glucose enters the duodenum. Its particular effects on insulin and glucagon secretion have generated a flurry of research activity over the past 20 years culminating in a naturally occurring GLP-1 receptor (GLP-1R) agonist, exendin 4 (Ex-4), now being used to treat type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). GLP-1 engages a specific guanine nucleotide-binding protein (G-protein) coupled receptor (GPCR) that is present in tissues other than the pancreas (brain, kidney, lung, heart, and major blood vessels). The most widely studied cell activated by GLP-1 is the insulin-secreting beta cell where its defining action is augmentation of glucose-induced insulin secretion. Upon GLP-1R activation, adenylyl cyclase (AC) is activated and cAMP is generated, leading, in turn, to cAMP-dependent activation of second messenger pathways, such as the protein kinase A (PKA) and Epac pathways. As well as short-term effects of enhancing glucose-induced insulin secretion, continuous GLP-1R activation also increases insulin synthesis, beta cell proliferation, and neogenesis. Although these latter effects cannot be currently monitored in humans, there are substantial improvements in glucose tolerance and increases in both first phase and plateau phase insulin secretory responses in T2DM patients treated with Ex-4. This review will focus on the effects resulting from GLP-1R activation in the pancreas.
Volcano Monitoring: A Case Study in Pervasive Computing

Recent advances in wireless sensor network technology have provided robust and reliable solutions for sophisticated pervasive computing applications such as inhospitable terrain environmental monitoring. We present a case study for developing a real-time pervasive computing system, called OASIS for optimized autonomous space in situ sensor-web, which combines ground assets (a sensor network) and space assets (NASA’s earth observing (EO-1) satellite) to monitor volcanic activities at Mount St. Helens. OASIS’s primary goals are: to integrate complementary space and in situ ground sensors into an interactive and autonomous sensorweb, to optimize power and communication resource management of the sensorweb and to provide mechanisms for seamless and scalable fusion of future space and in situ components. The OASIS in situ ground sensor network development addresses issues related to power management, bandwidth management, quality of service management, topology and routing management, and test-bed design. The space segment development consists of EO-1 architectural enhancements, feedback of EO-1 data into the in situ component, command and control integration, data ingestion and dissemination and field demonstrations.
Melon (Cucumis melo L.).

Abstract: Melons contribute to the nutritive and aesthetic quality of our diet. When harvested mature, most melons exhibit a climacteric in respiration and ethylene production coincident with ripening (i.e., softening, aroma development). Ethylene antagonists, such as CO2 and 1-methylcyclopropene (1-MCP), can slow ripening. Sugar content usually declines after harvest because of the lack of storage carbohydrates to be hydrolysed into simple sugars. The chilling sensitivity of most melon cultivars precludes their storage below 5 ° to 10 °C, but this sensitivity varies greatly with cultivar and stage of maturity. Fresh-cut melons are increasingly important and present unique postharvest challenges to maintain quality.
In situ phosphorylation of platelet actin-binding protein by cAMP-dependent protein kinase stabilizes it against proteolysis by calpain.

Abstract To identify the protein kinase that is responsible for catalyzing phosphorylation of actin-binding protein (ABP) in platelets, we have examined the effects of protein kinase C and cAMP-dependent protein kinase on this process. We found that purified platelet protein kinase C from platelets was unable to phosphorylate ABP in vitro. However, a crude platelet kinase preparation phosphorylated ABP in the presence of cAMP, but not in the presence of Ca2+/phosphatidylserine. Fresh platelet plasma membranes incubated with [gamma-32P]ATP phosphorylated ABP in the presence of cAMP and the process was blocked by a cAMP-dependent protein kinase inhibitor; ABP phosphorylation induced by prostaglandin E1 (PGE1) appeared to be reduced by the subsequent addition of thrombin. These results strongly suggest that in situ ABP is phosphorylated by activated cAMP-dependent protein kinase when platelet function is inhibited by PGE1. Furthermore, in the PGE1-treated platelets, ABP was proteolyzed at a slower rate than in control platelets when they were lysed with Triton in the absence of EGTA. Partially purified ABP was proteolyzed by calpain in vitro at a slower rate as well. It was demonstrated that ABP from PGE1-treated platelets recovered its sensitivity to calpain after ABP was incubated with a protein phosphatase that had been purified from platelets. We postulate that ABP is stabilized against proteolysis in response to cAMP-elevating agents and that this blocks cytoskeleton reorganization.
The control of VTEC in the animal reservoir

A great diversity of VTECs exist but only in the case of Escherichia coli O157:H7, a common human foodborne pathogen, has sufficient research been done to allow generalizations about the ecology. The key features are as follows: lack of host specificity such that indistinguishable isolates can be found in a variety of species; near-ubiquitous distribution in cattle (and perhaps other ruminant) farms; transient residence in the gastrointestinal flora of individual animals that is not associated with clinical disease; temporal clustering at the population level such that most fecal shedding is confined to sharp bursts in a high percentage of animals separated by much longer periods of very low prevalence; a higher prevalence in young animals in comparison to older ones: a higher prevalence in animals with floral disturbance such as that caused by transit, feed changes or antimicrobial dosing; and a markedly higher prevalence during warm months. Molecular epidemiological studies of E. coli O157:H7 have demonstrated that subtypes of the organism can persist on cattle farms for years, thus supporting a conclusion that cattle farms represent a reservoir. Yet on such farms, common subtypes are often found in environmental niches and in other species of animals; thus, it is not completely clear that cattle themselves are the reservoir. New subtypes are periodically observed on particular farms, and indistinguishable subtypes can be found on farms that are separated by hundreds of kilometers even in the absence of any obvious animal movements between them. The number of subtypes found on a farm does not appear to be qualitatively correlated with cattle movements (e.g., purchases) into the farm. Commercial feeds are sometimes contaminated with E. coli O157:H7, and it seems likely that feeds represent an important route of dissemination for this agent and other VTEC. Mixed feeds collected from feeding troughs are commonly positive for E. coli O157:H7, as are cattle watering troughs, and feed and water likely represent the most common means of infection. Environmental replication in feeds and in sediments of watering troughs occurs and may account for the higher level of fecal shedding in the warm months. Since E. coli O157:H7 has been found to persist and remain infective for at least 6 months in water trough sediments, this may be an important environmental niche where the organism survives during periods when it cannot be detected in cattle, especially during cold months. Traditional means of controlling infectious agents, such as eradication or test and removal of carrier animals, do not appear to be feasible for VTECs. Nevertheless, certain farm management practices-especially those related to maintenance and multiplication of the agent in feed and water-may provide practical means to substantially reduce the prevalence of these agents in cattle on farms and in those arriving at slaughter plants.
Unintended pregnancy in a commercially insured population.

Objectives: While much attention has been focused on unintended pregnancy in disadvantaged populations, few studies have focused on women in lower risk groups. This study, conducted in a national managed care organization, reports the prevalence of unintended pregnancy resulting in live births and examines associated factors. Methods: Women ages 18–49 who delivered a live infant during a 6-month interval were eligible for the study. Telephone surveys were conducted after delivery. We report the rate of unintended pregnancy resulting in a live birth, and describe its association with sociodemographic and pregnancy-related factors, partner's intention status, and contraceptive use. Results: Of 1173 births, 29% were unintended. Women who reported that the partner did not want the pregnancy were 7.4 times more likely than women whose partner wanted the pregnancy to regard the pregnancy as unintended. Only 40% of the women with an unintended birth used birth control and 64% of those used less effective methods such as condoms and diaphragms. Conclusions: In a population where the majority of women were married, educated, and with incomes over $40,000, almost 1/3 of the births resulted from unintended pregnancies. Future research is needed to help us better understand contradictions in pregnancy intention and contraceptive behavior. Comprehensive efforts are needed to promote consistent and correct use of contraception by women at risk for unintended pregnancy, and to involve male partners in family planning.
Single versus weekly courses of antenatal corticosteroids: Evaluation of safety and efficacy

Objective The purpose of this study was to determine if weekly corticosteroids improve neonatal outcome without undue harm. Study design Women 23 to 32 weeks receiving 1 course of corticosteroids 7 to 10 days prior were randomized to weekly betamethasone or placebo. Results The study was terminated by the independent data and safety monitoring committee with 495 of the anticipated 2400 patients enrolled. There was no significant reduction in the composite primary morbidity outcome (8.0% vs 9.1%, P = .67). Repeated courses significantly reduced neonatal surfactant administration ( P = .02), mechanical ventilation ( P = .004), CPAP ( P = .05), pneumothoraces ( P = .03). There was no significant difference in mean birth weight or head circumference. The repeat group had a reduction in multiples of the birth weight median by gestational age (0.88 vs 0.91) ( P = .01) and more neonates weighing less than the 10th percentile (23.7 vs 15.3%, P = .02). Significant weight reductions occurred for the group receiving ≥4 courses. Conclusion Repeat antenatal corticosteroids significantly reduce specific neonatal morbidities but do not improve composite neonatal outcome. This is accompanied by reduction in birth weight and increase in small for gestational age infants.
MYCOPLASMA PNEUMONIAE (M. Pn.) IN A PEDIATRIC TUMOR CLINIC POPULATION

M. Pn. screening was undertaken in a tumor clinic population because of the high incidence of symptomatic respiratory illness. Forty-five patients (Gp. I), ages 18 mos. -22 yrs., with neoplastic disease on immunosuppressive therapy, were cultured over a 6 mo. period and compared to a general pediatric out-patient population (Gp. II). The positive isolation rate from throat swabs was 33/45 (73%) in Gp. I and 23/55 (42%) in Gp. II. In Gp. I during this period, 13/33 remained free of respiratory symptoms and had negative chest x-rays; 15/33 had pharyngitis, rhinitis or cough; 15/33 had fever; 8/33 had x-rays positive for pneumonia; 7/33 had acute otitis media and 2/33 had conjunctivitis. Of the 12 culture negative patients in Gp. I (2-5 cultures/patient), 7/12 were well; 3/12 had URI; 1/12 had fever; and 1/12 had a positive x-ray for pneumonia. There were 8/33 patients in Gp. I who remained positive for at least 3 mos. with intermittent symptoms and mean H.I. titer rises of 2.5 fold compared to 1.3 fold in the remaining 25/33 short-term positive patients (p = 0.04). Absolute white counts and specific chemotherapeutic agents did not appear related to incidence or course of infection. Erythromycin therapy produced definite clinical improvement in 4/14 patients with M. Pn. M. Pn. appears to be an agent of high prevalence in patients with malignancies and is difficult to eradicate.
Glycogen and related polysaccharides inhibit the laforin dual-specificity protein phosphatase.

Abstract Lafora disease, a progressive myoclonus epilepsy, is an autosomal recessive disease caused in ∼80% of cases by mutation of the EPM2A gene, which encodes a dual specificity protein phosphatase called laforin. In addition to its phosphatase domain, laforin contains an N-terminal carbohydrate-binding domain (CBD). Mouse laforin was expressed as an N-terminally polyHis tagged protein in Escherichia coli and purified close to homogeneity. The enzyme was active towards p-nitrophenylphosphate (50–80 mmol/min/mg, Km 4.5 mM) with maximal activity at pH 4.5. Laforin binds to glycogen, as previously shown, and caused potent inhibition, half maximally at ∼1 μg/ml. Less branched glucose polymers, amylopectin and amylose, were even more potent, with half maximal inhibition at 10 and 100 ng/ml, respectively. With all polysaccharides, however, inhibition was incomplete and laforin retained 20–30% of its native activity at high polysaccharide concentrations. Glucose and short oligosaccharides did not affect activity. Substitution of Trp32 in the CBD by Gly, a mutation found in a patient, caused only a 30% decrease in laforin activity but abolished binding to and inhibition by glycogen, indicating that impaired glycogen binding is sufficient to cause Lafora disease.
Effect of light on fetal red blood cells in vivo

Summary Previous in vitro studies have shown that exposure of fetal blood to intense light results in increased hemolysis and a fall in red cell reduced glutathione. The present controlled study in vivo did not reveal any evidence of acute photooxidative red cell damage in premature infants undergoing phototherapy.
Electrochemical and optical devices based on molecule/high-Tc superconductor structures

Through the use of electrochemical and vacuum deposition techniques, molecular materials are combined with high-T c superconductors in order to fabricate two new classes of hybrid devices. In the first class of devices, electrochemical methods are utilized to deposit polypyrrole onto YBa 2 Cu 3 O 7-δ structures. With such systems, experiments are conducted which explore electron transfer events which occur between the conductive polymer and the high-T c superconductor at temperatures both above and below T c . Here it is found that the transition temperature (T c ) of the superconductor is depressed dramatically when polypyrrole is oxidized to its conductive form and that it returns to a value which is close to the original value upon reduction of the polypyrrole layer to the neutral, nonconductive form. In the second class of devices, the ability of molecular dye layers to affect the optical properties of YBa 2 Cu 3 O 7-δ photodetectors is demonstrated. By examining changes in the optical and electronic properties of these systems, energy transfer processes which occur between molecules and high-T c superconductors are explored. Here it is found that dye layers are able to act as antenna for optical radiation at those wavelengths which the dye layer absorbs light most strongly.
Plots Against America: Neoliberalism and Antiracism

The most powerful scene in Philip Roth's recent and very well-received novel The Plot Against America (2004) takes place in a Washington hotel. The novel, as even those who haven't read it are likely to know, is an alternative or counterfactual history, one that imagines the American past along the same lines that Sinclair Lewis imagined the future in his 1935 It Can't Happen Here: the central conceit of both books is a US that follows in Nazi Germany's footsteps. But where anti-Semitism is only one weapon in the arsenal of Lewis's dictator, it's absolutely central to Roth's President Charles Augustus Lindbergh. Roth's alternative history is, after all, post Holocaust. And so the scene I'm referring to involves the fictional Roth family's experience first at the Lincoln Memorial where, reading aloud the words "All men are created equal," Mr. Roth is called "a loudmouth Jew" (65) and, second, at the hotel where he and his family are told their reservations are no good and are refused a room. When the police are called, rather than setting things right, they throw the family out. "What happened?" whispers the fictional little Philip to his brother; "Anti-Semitism," (69) the brother whispers back. Roth's idea, of course, is that it very easily could have happened here-if, say, the antiwar as well as anti-Semitic Lindbergh had been pushed to run for the presidency in 1940 by his friend and fellow anti-Semite Henry Ford and if the popularity of Lindbergh's antiwar platform had helped to legitimate his anti-Semitism. So, part of the book's power derives from its realism, the fact that it feels like the truth-one reviewer called it Roth's "most believable book
DICHOTIC EAR EFFECTS WITH DIGITS AND TONES: A WITHIN-SUBJECT COMPARISON

56 right-handed adults (23 men, 33 women) with IQs ranging from 79 to 140 on the Quick Test each performed on two dichotic tests, one with digital input, one with tonal input. The average magnitude of the right-ear advantage for digits was comparable to that of the left-ear advantage for tones, but there was greater between-subject variability with tonal input than with digital input. Ear advantage with digits was unrelated with ear advantage with tones, and high intelligence was not associated with clearly opposite directions of ear advantage for the two types of test material. The results were discussed in terms of hemispheric specializations, as well as the reliability and validity of the dichotic ear effects.
Co-occurring problems for substance abusing mothers in child welfare: Matching services to improve family reunification

Abstract Substance abusing families often experience multiple problems simultaneously. Prior substance abuse research suggests that attention to these co-occurring problems is essential to achieving desirable outcomes. Yet no prior study attempts to determine whether tailoring services to meet clients' co-occurring problems improve key child welfare outcomes such as family reunification. This study addresses this gap by investigating the relationship between matching mothers' needs to service and family reunification for substance abusing families in public child welfare using the Illinois Alcohol and Other Drug Abuse (AODA) waiver demonstration project. The sample consists of a total of 354 substance abusing mothers and their 602 children enrolled in the Illinois AODA waiver demonstration. Hierarchical non-linear modeling is used to understand the role of both child level and family level characteristics. Matched services in mental health, housing, family counseling and substance abuse treatment significantly improved the likelihood of family reunification. The analyses also reveal that child welfare systems continue to struggle with low rates of service utilization and low rates of family reunification. Thus, it remains important for researchers, practitioners and policy makers to continue identifying the barriers to the provision of matched services, and to develop strategies for improving the provision of matched services.
Progress in understanding the mechanism and consequences of somatic hypermutation

This volume is dedicated lo the somatic hypermutation of immunoglobulin (Ig) genes. There has been considerable progress in the past few years in our understanding of the molecular mechanism of this process, the cellular events, and the diseases in which somatic hypermutation seems to play a major role. Most of the major issues are discussed in the chapters of this book or alluded to in this Introduction, and future challenges are outlined. Many mysteries remain on all the issues.
Patient race and physicians' decisions to prescribe opioids for chronic low back pain

Nonwhite patients are less likely than white patients to have their pain adequately treated. This study examined the influence of patient race and patient verbal and nonverbal behavior on primary care physicians' treatment decisions for chronic low back pain in men. We randomly assigned physicians to receive a paper-based, clinical vignette of a chronic pain patient that differed in terms of patient race (white vs. black), verbal behavior ("challenging" vs. "non-challenging"), and nonverbal behavior (confident vs. dejected vs. angry). We employed a between-subjects factorial design and surveyed primary care physicians (N=382), randomly selected from the American Medical Association Physician Masterfile. The primary dependent measure was the physician's decision as to whether (s)he would switch the patient to a higher dose or stronger type of opioid. Logistic regression was used to determine the effects of patient characteristics on physicians' prescribing decisions. There was a significant interaction between patient verbal behavior and patient race on physicians' decisions to prescribe opioids. Among black patients, physicians were significantly more likely to state that they would switch to a higher dose or stronger opioid for patients exhibiting "challenging" behaviors (e.g., demanding a specific narcotic, exhibiting anger) compared to those exhibiting "non-challenging" behaviors (55.1%). For white patients there was an opposite pattern of results in which physicians were slightly more likely to escalate treatment for patients exhibiting "non-challenging" (64.3%) vs. "challenging" (54.5%) verbal behaviors. Results point to the need for better understanding of the way a complex interplay of non-clinical characteristics affects physician behavior in order to improve quality of pain management and other clinical decision-making.
Film Growth Kinetics of Chemical Vapor Deposition of Copper from Cu ( HFA ) 2

Copper films have been grown by chemical vapor deposition (CVD) from copper (II) hexafluoroacetylacetonate, Cu(HFA)[sub 2], in a cold wall, vertical flow reactor with pure hydrogen and a mixture of hydrogen (75%)/argon (25%). The quantitatively measured operating conditions were 10 Torr total pressure, 300 to 400 C substrate temperature, and 70 to 85 C precursor temperature. Film growth rates were between 100 to 1,000 [angstrom]/min depending on processing conditions. The copper film growth rate was 0.5 order in both precursor and hydrogen concentration. A deposition temperature of about 300 C was needed to obtain significant film growth. Only surface impurities were detected in copper film. Any impurities below the surface were under the detection limits of Auger electron spectroscopy analysis. Resistivities of 2.0--3.0 [mu][Omega] cm were routinely obtained. Two mechanisms are proposed for the growth of copper films by CVD using Cu(HFA)[sub 2] which are consistent with the experimental observations and those in the literature.
Testing the Progressive Nature of Alcoholism

The authors employed a new data collection methodology to assess Jellinek's progressive model of alcoholism. Data were collected to explore whether (a) symptoms occurred in four distinct phases, one phase following another, as described by Jellinek's model; (b) the phase markers and the phases of the symptom progression follow one another as predicted in the Jellinek model; and (c) the sequence of each of the 46 individual symptoms is as described by a serial interpretation of Jellinek's model. The authors also compared male participants with female participants on the conditions described above.
Spontaneous chromosome inversions of guatemalan teosintes (Zea mexicana)

Two paracentric inversions,In3 andIn9, were found in the F1 hybrids of maize and Florida teosinte and these inversions were contributed by the teosinte parent. The length ofIn3 was equivalent to about 35 percent of the length of the long arm of chromosome 3, while that ofIn9, about 60 percent of the length of the short arm of chromosome 9.
Leucovorin rescue allows effective high-dose pralatrexate treatment and an increase in therapeutic index in mesothelioma xenografts

Purpose To investigate the ability of leucovorin (LV) to abrogate dose-limiting toxicities of pralatrexate (PDX) while maintaining efficacy, in vivo.
The genus Chorisia Princis (Dictyoptera, Blattaria: Blattellinae)

The African genus Chorisia Princis contains a single species which was originally described as Blatta reducta Walker, and was later placed in Symploce by Princis . The following 4 species are synonyms of reducta; Phyllodromia trivirgata Werner, Ph. arundicola Werner, Ph. concolor Werner, and Chorisia fulvotestacea Princis. Chorisia is probably the closest genus to Blattella.
Crystal structures of sialyltransferase from Photobacterium damselae.

Sialyltransferase structures fall into either GT-A or GT-B glycosyltransferase fold. Some sialyltransferases from the Photobacterium genus have been shown to contain an additional N-terminal immunoglobulin (Ig)-like domain. Photobacterium damselae α2–6-sialyltransferase has been used efficiently in enzymatic and chemoenzymatic synthesis of α2–6-linked sialosides. Here we report three crystal structures of this enzyme. Two structures with and without a donor substrate analog CMP-3F(a)Neu5Ac contain an immunoglobulin (Ig)-like domain and adopt the GT-B sialyltransferase fold. The binary structure reveals a non-productive pre-Michaelis complex, which are caused by crystal lattice contacts that prevent the large conformational changes. The third structure lacks the Ig-domain. Comparison of the three structures reveals small inherent flexibility between the two Rossmann-like domains of the GT-B fold.
The system damping, the system frequency and the system response peak amplitudes during in‐plane building‐soil interaction

The system damping, the system frequency, the relative building response and the base rocking response peak amplitudes are studied, as those depend on the building mass and height, the flexibility of the soil, the structural damping, the type of incident waves and their angle of incidence. A linear two-dimensional model is used, which assumes the soil to be a homogeneous isotropic half-space, the foundation supporting the building to be a rigid embedded cylinder, and in which the building model is an equivalent single-degree-of-freedom oscillator. The system frequency and the system damping ratio are determined by measuring the width and the frequency of the peak in the transfer function of the oscillator relative response, using the analogy with the half-power method for a single-degree-of-freedom fixed-base oscillator. Previous similar studies are for dynamic soil-structure interaction only, and for simplified models in which the stiffness of the soil and the damping due to radiation are represented by springs and dashpots. The study in this paper differs from the previous studies in that the wave passage effects (or the kinematic interaction) are also included, and that no additional simplifications of the model are made. Results are shown for excitation by plane P- and SV-waves.
Relapsing polychondritis: A rare etiology of dysphonia and novel approach to treatment

Relapsing polychondritis affects the airway in half of all diagnosed patients. The traditional approach to the treatment of relapsing polychondritis in all sites is oral steroids and other immune-modulating drugs. We present a case of laryngeal relapsing polychondritis treated with local injections of steroid in the face of oral therapy failure. The novel approach is discussed and the disease process is reviewed.
Detection of Defects in Welded Structures With Complex Geometry Using Statistical Method Based on Discrete Wavelet Transform

In this paper, an inspection system and a defect detection method are presented. A welded sample with complex geometry was placed on an inspection system and inspected by generating ultrasound on one side of the weld and receiving on the other with an electromagnetic acoustic transducer (EMAT) sensor. Ultrasonic signals along the weld were acquired at locations with 1 mm distance between inspections. In order to detect the presence of defects, a statistical method based on Discrete Wavelet Transform (DWT) is implemented. Energy of each location along the weld is calculated and useful information indicating presence of defects is extracted by DWT using different mother wavelets. By comparing the energy distribution obtained from a particular sample, or a target, with a baseline energy distribution, defect locations are predicted. The baseline energy distribution is obtained by averaging energy distributions calculated for all inspected samples. The difference between a target and the reference is viewed as an indication of presence of defects. The results showed that the method can isolate signal changes that were caused by defects. Comparison to destructive cut-checks shows the accuracy of defect detection is high.Copyright © 2009 by ASME
Calorimeters for Precision Timing Measurements in High Energy Physics

Current and future high energy physics particle colliders are capable to provide instantaneous luminosities of 1034 cm-2s-1 and above. The high center of mass energy, the large number of simultaneous collision of beam particles in the experiments and the very high repetition rates of the collision events pose huge challenges. They result in extremely high particle fluxes, causing very high occupancies in the particle physics detectors operating at these machines. To reconstruct the physics events, the detectors have to make as much information as possible available on the final state particles. We discuss how timing information with a precision of around 10 ps and below can aid the reconstruction of the physics events under such challenging conditions. High energy photons play a crucial role in this context. About one third of the particle flux originating from high energy hadron collisions is detected as photons, stemming from the decays of neutral mesons. In addition, many key physics signatures under study are identified by high energy photons in the final state. They pose a particular challenge in that they can only be detected once they convert in the detector material. The particular challenge in measuring the time of arrival of a high energy photon lies in the stochastic component of the distance to the initial conversion and the size of the electromagnetic shower. They extend spatially over distances which propagation times of the initial photon and the subsequent electromagnetic shower which are large compared to the desired precision. We present studies and measurements from test beams and a cosmic muon test stand for calorimeter based timing measurements to explore the ultimate timing precision achievable for high energy photons of 10 GeV and above. We put particular focus on techniques to measure the timing with a precision of about 10 ps in association with the energy of the photon. For calorimeters utilizing scintillating materials and light guiding components, the propagation speed of the scintillation light in the calorimeter is important. We present studies and measurements of the propagation speed on a range of detector geometries. Finally, possible applications of precision timing in future high energy physics experiments are discussed.
Potential Impact of a ROPS Retrofit Policy in Central Iowa

Research studies have shown that tractor rollovers are the leading cause of work-related death in U.S. production agriculture. Previous studies have also shown that while rollover protective structures (ROPS) are the most effective means of preventing these deaths, it is estimated that over half of the tractors in use on U.S. farms are not equipped with ROPS. To gauge the impact of a ROPS retrofit policy, tractor sales in Central Iowa were monitored for a three-month period in early 1998 to determine the proportion of tractors without ROPS being sold by equipment dealers versus those being sold through other channels such as auctions, farm sales, and private transfer. During the study period, 549 tractors sales were documented in Central Iowa. Of these tractors, 72% were equipped with ROPS. Of the 152 that were sold without ROPS, 43% were sold by equipment dealers. ROPS retrofits were readily available for 92% of the tractors that were not equipped with them at the time of the sale. A fully implemented ROPS retrofit program for equipment dealers would have reduced the number of tractors sold without ROPS in Central Iowa by over 40%. The results suggest that such a policy could have a significant impact in reducing the number of farm fatalities and thus should be investigated further.
Production and isolation of guinea pig IgE antibody

Immunoglobulins of the IgE and IgG classes have been causally associated with hypersensitivity reactions in man and in numerous animal species including mice, rats and guinea pigs. The use of the guinea pig as an animal model for both pulmonary and dermal hypersensitivity reactions, and the recent recognition of the importance of IgE antibodies in both early- and late-onset hypersensitivity responses, has heightened interest in production, separation, and isolation of this immunoglobulin class from the guinea pig. IgE antibodies were produced by treatment of strain 13 guinea pigs with cyclophosphamide followed by injection with S. aureus enterotoxin. Serum was obtained and the globulin fraction isolated by addition of caprylic acid then ammonium sulfate. Immunoglobulins were separated into classes using fast protein liquid chromatography (FPLC) employing a Mono Q column and a linear gradient of 0.01-0.3 M Na,K phosphate buffer, pH 7.5 (buffer B). IgG eluted in two major peaks. IgG2 was not retained on the column and emerged with the starting buffer; IgG1 was eluted with 15-20% buffer B. IgE, detected as heat labile homocytotropic antibody, was found in the fraction eluting with 30-35% buffer B. The elution profile of the guinea pig immunoglobulins was predicted from the pattern obtained with immunoglobulin classes from other species. This chromatographic procedure enabled rapid isolation of immunoglobulin classes from guinea pig sera and effectively separated IgG1 from IgE, the two classes associated with hypersensitivity reactions.