cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Outcomes of Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation in Patients with Germline SAMD9/SAMD9L Mutations

ABSTRACT Germline mutations in SAMD9 and SAMD9L genes cause MIRAGE (myelodysplasia, infection, restriction of growth, adrenal hypoplasia, genital phenotypes, and enteropathy) (OMIM: *610456) and ataxia-pancytopenia (OMIM: *611170) syndromes, respectively, and are associated with chromosome 7 deletions, myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS), and bone marrow failure. In this retrospective series, we report outcomes of allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT) in patients with hematologic disorders associated with SAMD9/SAMD9L mutations. Twelve patients underwent allogeneic HCT for MDS (n = 10), congenital amegakaryocytic thrombocytopenia (n = 1), and dyskeratosis congenita (n = 1). Exome sequencing revealed heterozygous mutations in SAMD9 (n = 6) or SAMD9L (n = 6) genes. Four SAMD9 patients had features of MIRAGE syndrome. Median age at HCT was 2.8 years (range, 1.2 to 12.8 years). Conditioning was myeloablative in 9 cases and reduced intensity in 3 cases. Syndrome-related comorbidities (diarrhea, infections, adrenal insufficiency, malnutrition, and electrolyte imbalance) were present in MIRAGE syndrome cases. One patient with a familial SAMD9L mutation, MDS, and morbid obesity failed to engraft and died of refractory acute myeloid leukemia. The other 11 patients achieved neutrophil engraftment. Acute post-transplant course was complicated by syndrome-related comorbidities in MIRAGE cases. A patient with SAMD9L-associated MDS died of diffuse alveolar hemorrhage. The other 10 patients had resolution of hematologic disorder and sustained peripheral blood donor chimerism. Ten of 12 patients were alive with a median follow-up of 3.1 years (range, 0.1 to 14.7 years). More data are needed to refine transplant approaches in SAMD9/SAMD9L patients with significant comorbidities and to develop guidelines for their long-term follow-up.
Foreign Fighters in Syria and Iraq: Aberration from History or History Repeated?

Thousands of foreign fighters traveled to Syria and Iraq. The rate of their mobilization alarmed many governments worldwide. While foreign fighters took part in many previous conflicts, the diversity of individuals in the current wave has been truly unprecedented. The chapter analyzes the major waves of previous Islamist foreign fighter mobilizations. It focuses on Afghan Arabs in the Soviet-Afghan War, the traveling jihadists of the 1990s, and foreign fighters participating in the Iraq War. It examines the profiles of foreign fighters in Syria and Iraq and analyzes how the phenomenon of Islamist foreign fighters has evolved throughout history.
Autistic and Psychopathic Traits among a Community-based Sample of Adults

Little is known about the shared and separate traits for adults diagnosed with some form of psychopathy and autism. The primary distinction between a person with autism versus psychopathy is that a...
Acute Aerobic Exercise Based Cognitive and Motor Priming: Practical Applications and Mechanisms

Acute exercise stimulates brain regions involved in motor and cognitive processes. Recent research efforts have explored the benefits of aerobic exercise on brain health and cognitive functioning with positive results reported for both healthy and neurocognitively impaired individuals. Specifically, exercise positioned near therapeutic (both behavioral and physical) activities may enhance outcomes associated with treatment outcomes (e.g., depression or motor skill) through neural plasticity promoting mechanisms (e.g., increased brain flow and oxygenation). This approach has been termed "exercise priming" and is a relatively new topic of exploration in the fields of exercise science and motor control. The authors report on physiological mechanisms that are related to the priming effect. In addition, parameters related to the exercise bout (e.g., intensity, duration) and the idea of combining exercise and therapeutic rehabilitation are explored. This exercise-based priming concept has the potential to be applied to many areas such as education, cognitive therapy, and motor rehabilitation.
Balancing water quality and flows in combined sewer systems using real-time control

A new generation of smart and connected stormwater and sewer systems is being enabled by emerging wireless technologies and data algorithms. Stormwater and combined sewer systems can be autonomously controlled (gates, valves, pumps) to allocate storage and adapt to changing inputs. As a result, there is an opportunity to begin viewing the collection system as an extension of the water resource recovery facility (WRRF), whereby flows in the collection system are dynamically controlled to benefit downstream treatment. The dynamic control of collection system storage will allow peak flows to be minimized and solid loads to the plant to be tuned in response to real-time WRRF states as they relate to treatment operation and performance. To that end, this paper presents a formulation of a real-time load-balancing algorithm to control distributed storage assets in the collection system, with objectives of improving flow and water quality dynamics at inflow to a treatment plant. We illustrate that this load-balancing approach can successfully attenuate wet-weather peaks and minimize dry-weather oscillations. The parameterization of the control algorithm is assessed in the context of competing objectives at the downstream WRRF and broader collection system (e.g. sediment loads, peak flows, flooding, and solids accumulation in the sewer system). By applying this control algorithm and analysis to an established case study, we identify a range of parameter values that provide most desirable performance across a number of system-wide objectives. Specifically, we discover a band of desirable performance, which not only improves inflow into the WRRF, but simultaneously reduces flooding and sedimentation in the collection system.
Cash-based assistance and the nutrition status of pregnant and lactating women in the Somalia food crisis: A comparison of two transfer modalities.

Background Large-scale emergency assistance programmes in Somalia use a variety of transfer modalities including in-kind food provision, food vouchers, and cash transfers. Evidence is needed to better understand whether and how such modalities differ in reducing the risk of acute malnutrition in vulnerable groups, such as the 800,000 pregnant and lactating women affected by the 2017/18 food crisis. Methods Changes in diet and acute malnutrition status were assessed among pregnant and lactating women receiving similarly sized household transfers over a four-month period (total value of ~US$450 per household) delivered either as food vouchers or as mixed transfers consisting of in-kind food, vouchers, and cash. Baseline and endline comparisons were conducted for 514 women in Wajid, Somalia. Primary study outcomes were Minimum Dietary Diversity for Women, meal frequency, and mid-upper arm circumference (MUAC), with MUAC<21.0 cm classified as acute malnutrition. Adjusted analyses consisted of difference-in-difference analysis using linear and logistic regression models with inverse probability weighting based on propensity scores to account for the non-randomized design. Findings No significant difference in change in dietary quality was observed between food voucher and mixed transfer recipients; a significant difference in change in mean meal frequency was observed (0.3 meals/day, CI: 0.1–0.5, p = 0.001) and the mixed transfer group had significantly greater meal frequency at endline (p<0.001). Mean MUAC increased significantly among both voucher (0.9cm, CI: 0.6–1.3, p = 0.001) and mixed transfer recipients (1.3cm, CI: 1.1–1.5, p = 0.001) over the intervention period in adjusted analysis, however, the difference in magnitude of change between the two groups was not statistically significant (0.4cm, CI: -0.1–0.08, p = 0.086). Conclusions Within the context of the 2017/18 Somalia food crisis, the modality of assistance provided to pregnant and lactating women (mixed transfers or food-vouchers) made no difference in preventing acute malnutrition and protecting nutritional status.
A new species of freshwater mussel in the genus Popenaias Frierson, 1927, from the Gulf coastal rivers of central Mexico (Bivalvia: Unionida: Unionidae) with comments on the genus.

The Gulf coastal drainages of central Mexico are a faunal transition zone between North and South America and harbor a unique assemblage of freshwater mussels (Bivalvia: Unionida). However, little information is available regarding the taxonomy, distribution, and evolutionary history of the Mexican mussel fauna due to limited sampling over the last 100 years. To address these knowledge gaps, we evaluated species-level diversity in the genus Popenaias Frierson, 1927, in Mexican Gulf coastal drainages as part of a larger effort to inform conservation efforts for members of this genus both in Mexico and the United States of America. Based on our analyses, we describe Popenaias berezai n. sp. from the Rio Valles of the Rio Panuco basin, San Luis Potosi, Mexico. We also provide presumptive distributional range, phylogenetic structure, and molecular and morphological diagnoses of the new species and provide comments on the other species currently in Popenaias. Our findings highlight the high levels of endemism among freshwater mussels in Mexican Gulf coastal drainages and will help guide impending conservation actions for P. popeii, which is listed as "endangered" in the United States.
Clinical Characteristics, Experiences, and Outcomes of Transgender Patients With Cancer.

Importance More than 1 million people in the US identify as transgender; however, few studies have examined the experiences and outcomes of transgender patients with cancer. Objective To examine clinical characteristics, experiences, and outcomes of transgender patients with cancer. Design, Setting, and Participants This retrospective case series assessed transgender patients with at least 1 cancer diagnosis who were evaluated at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute or Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston, Massachusetts, between January 1, 2005, and December 31, 2019. Main Outcomes and Measures Demographic, clinical, and treatment characteristics for all patients and documentation by oncologic practitioners of important aspects of providing gender-affirming care, including pronouns used by the patient, were recorded. Results A total of 37 transgender patients with cancer were assessed (mean [SD] age, 38.9 [21.8] years at first cancer diagnosis). Fifteen patients (40.5%) had hematologic malignant cancers, and 25 patients (67.6%) had solid malignant tumors. Sixteen patients (43.2%) initiated gender-affirming hormone therapy or surgery after their cancer diagnosis. Cancer treatment was frequently multimodal, with 24 patients (64.9%) receiving systemic therapy, 24 (64.9%) receiving surgery, and 20 (54.1%) receiving radiation therapy along with other cancer-directed treatment, such as cryoablation. Five patients (13.5%) had documentation from an oncologic practitioner that addressed a potential interaction between their gender-affirming care and their cancer treatment. Thirty-three patients had follow-up visits with oncologic practitioners after starting their transition. Of those patients, pronouns used were documented by a member of the oncologic team for 4 patients (12.1%). However, for 3 of the 4 patients, documentation did not consistently use patient-reported information. At the last follow-up, 5 patients (13.5%) had died of their disease, and 26 (70.3%) were living without disease. Conclusions and Relevance This case series study found that transgender patients were diagnosed with diverse cancers, and many initiated gender-affirming hormone therapy or surgery after their diagnosis. Documentation by oncologic practitioners infrequently included pronouns used by the patient or discussion surrounding the interactions between cancer treatment and gender-affirming care, signifying that urgent improvements are needed in cancer care for transgender patients.
Pre-Texts: Press Play to Teach Anything

I extend a perhaps paradoxical invitation to educators who face new challenges of migration, technological advances, and a general erosion of sociability, because what I offer is hardly new. Instead, it is a methodology that gathers useful lessons and distills them into a single prompt that works like pedagogical acupuncture. “Use this text to make art” is an invitation that fires up cognitive, creative, emotional, and communicative systems. We need this simplicity now that teachers face overwhelming flows of new knowledge and disorienting flows of unfamiliar people. The methodology is called Pre-Texts because texts become excuses for making something else. And the work of creative, often irreverent, translation of text into something else is both intellectually challenging and emotionally empowering. Artists own their raw material, even if it seems difficult or boring. Pre-Texts is a handy and portable approach to teach practically any curriculum in almost any environment. The acupuncture lights up three general lessons for Pre-Texts: (1) Integrate skill sets; (2) Play; (3) Customize activities.
Cholesterol activates BK channels by increasing KCNMB1 protein levels in the plasmalemma.

Calcium-/voltage-gated, large-conductance potassium channels (BKs) control critical physiological processes, including smooth muscle contraction. Numerous observations concur that elevated membrane cholesterol (CLR) inhibits the activity of homomeric BKs consisting of channel-forming alpha subunits. In mammalian smooth muscle, however, native BKs include accessory KCNMB1 (β1) subunits, which enable BK activation at physiological intracellular calcium. Here, we studied the effect of CLR enrichment on BK currents from rat cerebral artery myocytes. Using inside-out patches from middle cerebral artery (MCA) myocytes at [Ca2+]free=30 μM, we detected BK activation in response to in vivo and in vitro CLR enrichment of myocytes. While a significant increase in myocyte CLR was achieved within 5 min of CLR in vitro loading, this brief CLR enrichment of membrane patches decreased BK currents, indicating that BK activation by CLR requires a protracted cellular process. Indeed, blocking intracellular protein trafficking with brefeldin A (BFA) not only prevented BK activation but led to channel inhibition upon CLR enrichment. Surface protein biotinylation followed by Western blotting showed that BFA blocked the increase in plasmalemmal KCNMB1 levels achieved via CLR enrichment. Moreover, CLR enrichment of arteries with naturally high KCNMB1 levels, such as basilar and coronary arteries, failed to activate BK currents. Finally, CLR enrichment failed to activate BK channels in MCA myocytes from KCNMB1-/- mouse while activation was detected in their wild-type (C57BL/6) counterparts. In conclusion, the switch in CLR regulation of BK from inhibition to activation is determined by a trafficking-dependent increase in membrane levels of KCNMB1 subunits.
Long Term Effects of VIM DBS on Cerebellar Outflow Tremor in Abetalipoproteinemia (3015)

Objective: To report a case of abetalipoproteinemia presenting with severe tremor and ataxia, and treated with bilateral thalamic deep brain stimulation (DBS) with over 10 years of follow up. Background: Abetalipoproteinemia (ABL) is a rare metabolic disorder inherited in an autosomal recessive pattern, due to homozygous or compound heterozygous mutations in the MTTP gene. This results in lipid and fat-soluble vitamin deficiencies. Neurologic symptoms include ataxia, tremor, and hyporeflexia (with associated reduced vibratory sense and proprioception). Our patient is the first reported to undergo DBS for ABL (Mammis, et al. 2012). With a decade of follow up, we can endorse the potential for long lasting benefit of DBS for this condition. Design/Methods: Our subject was diagnosed with abetalipoproteinemia at age 17 after two years of progressive ataxia and axial and bilateral arm tremors. Laboratory studies revealed low cholesterol and Vitamin E levels. Genetic analysis showed a homozygous MTTP mutation (c.2593 G>T). Vitamin supplementation stabilized his tremor and ataxia. His high-amplitude action and postural tremor continued to be functionally impairing. The tremor was refractory to gabapentin, propranolol, clonazepam, primidone, and sodium oxybate and at age 41, he underwent staged bilateral deep brain stimulation (DBS) of the ventral intermediate (VIM) thalamus. Results: Postoperatively he had significant tremor improvement. His gait worsened immediately post-surgery, but then stabilized and slightly improved compared to baseline. Eleven years later, he has had a significant sustained tremor response. The beneficial response in ataxia has also been maintained over time. The stimulation required for effective tremor control has increased slowly over time. Multipolar stimulation with high pulse and amplitude was used to effectively maintain tremor control. Conclusions: VIM DBS is an effective and durable treatment for axial and appendicular tremor and ataxia in this rare movement disorder. Disclosure: Dr. Hislop has nothing to disclose. Dr. Margolesky has nothing to disclose. Dr. Haq has received personal compensation in the range of $500-$4,999 for serving as a Consultant for Boston Scientific. The institution of Dr. Haq has received research support from NINDS, NIAA, Boston Scientific, Medtronics. Dr. Haq has a non-compensated relationship as a Neurosciences Steering Board member with Epic that is relevant to AAN interests or activities. Dr. Luca has received personal compensation in the range of $10,000-$49,999 for serving as a Consultant for Boston Scientific.
Practices and Theories: How Can Machine Learning Assist in Innovative Assessment Practices in Science Education

As cutting-edge technologies, such as machine learning (ML), are increasingly involved in science assessments, it is essential to conceptualize how assessment practices are innovated by technologies. To partially meet this need, this article focuses on ML-based science assessments and elaborates on how ML innovates assessment practices in science education. The article starts with an articulation of the “practice” nature of assessment both of learning and for learning, identifying four essential assessment practices: identifying learning goals, eliciting performance, interpreting observations, and decision-making and action-taking. I then extend a three-dimensional framework for innovative assessments, including construct, functionality, and automaticity, and based on which to conceptualize innovative assessments in three levels: substitute, transform, and redefine. Using the framework, I elaborate on how the 10 articles included in this special issue, Applying Machine Learning in Science Assessment: Opportunity and Challenge, advanced our knowledge of the innovations that ML brought to science assessment practices. I contend that the 10 articles exemplify a great deal of effort to transform the four components of assessment practices: ML allows assessments to target complex, diverse, and structural constructs, and thus better approaching the three-dimensional science learning goals of the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS Lead States, 2013); ML extends the approaches used to eliciting performance and collecting evidence; ML provides a means to better interpreting observations and using evidence; ML supports immediate and complex decision-making and action-taking. I conclude this article by pushing the field to consider the underlying educational theories that are needed for innovative assessment practices and the necessities of establishing a “romance” between assessment practices and the relevant educational theories, which I contend are the prominent challenges to forward innovative and ML-based assessment practices in science education.
Trisomy of Human Chromosome 21 Orthologs Mapping to Mouse Chromosome 10 Cause Age and Sex-Specific Learning Differences: Relevance to Down Syndrome

Down syndrome (DS), trisomy of human chromosome 21 (Hsa21), is the most common genetic cause of intellectual disability. The Dp10(1)Yey (Dp10) is a mouse model of DS that is trisomic for orthologs of 25% of the Hsa21 protein-coding genes, the entirety of the Hsa21 syntenic region on mouse chromosome 10. Trisomic genes include several involved in brain development and function, two that modify and regulate the activities of sex hormones, and two that produce sex-specific phenotypes as null mutants. These last four are the only Hsa21 genes with known sexually dimorphic properties. Relatively little is known about the potential contributions to the DS phenotype of segmental trisomy of Mmu10 orthologs. Here, we have tested separate cohorts of female and male Dp10 mice, at 3 and 9 months of age, in an open field elevated zero maze, rotarod, and balance beam, plus the learning and memory tasks, spontaneous alternation, puzzle box, double-H maze, context fear conditioning, and acoustic startle/prepulse inhibition, that depend upon the function of the prefrontal cortex, striatum, hippocampus, and cerebellum. We show that there are age and sex-specific differences in strengths and weaknesses, suggesting that genes within the telomere proximal region of Hsa21 influence the DS phenotype.
46. How an animal that freezes and thaws routinely can help to define cryoprotection pathways

C. elegans is a nematode that normally lives in topsoil and on the surface of fallen fruit. Since they are poikilotherms, worms freeze repeatedly during the winter in temperate climes. Freeze/thaw survival rates for young larvae can be > 80%, but are much lower for mature adults. The mechanisms by which nematodes survive freeze/thaw cycles are unknown, but might be of value in developing better cryoprotection protocols for mammalian tissues. At least 41 genes in 4 pathways have a priori potential in this regard, and most of these have well-conserved human orthologs in pathways of corresponding function. We will describe some initial experiments in which we tested commercially-available and novel inhibitors of one such pathway for protection against oxidative damage in a model of ischemia/reperfusion injury (RPI). The same inhibitors that were protective of C. elegans also helped human cells to survive the same stress in culture, in a parallel model of RPI-related oxidative damage. The pathways underlying this protection can be unveiled using RNA interference to selectively inhibit one pathway at a time, something quite easy to do in nematodes and also perfectly feasible (albeit more difficult) in human cultured cells. We thus recommend the nematode as a “lead organism” in which to define underlying genes and to define pathways, for subsequent testing in human cells and animal organs.
(4R,5R)‐2‐Bromo‐1,3‐bis[(4‐methylphenyl)sulfonyl]‐4,5‐diphenyl‐1,3,2‐diazaborolidine

[121758-17-6] C28H26BBrN2O4S2 (MW 609.36) InChI = 1S/C28H26BBrN2O4S2/c1-21-13-17-25(18-14-21)37(33,34)31-27(23-9-5-3-6-10-23)28(24-11-7-4-8-12-24)32(29(31)30)38(35,36)26-19-15-22(2)16-20-26/h3-20,27-28H,1-2H3/t27-,28-/m1/s1 InChIKey = PEEHKMHARMPWIU-VSGBNLITSA-N (chiral controller group for asymmetric carbonyl allylations,1-8 allenations,9 and propargylations,9 enantioselective Claisen rearrangements,10, 11 and enantioselective enolborinations12) Alternate Name: 2-bromo-4,5-diphenyl-1,3-bis-(toluene-4-sulfonyl)-[1,3,2]diazaborolidine. Solubility: soluble in dichloromethane. Form Supplied in: not commercially available. Preparative Methods: prepared from the corresponding bissulfonamide, (R,R)-1,2-diphenyl-1,2-diaminoethane-N,N′-bis(4-methylbenzenesulfonamide)13-16 and BBr3 in dichloromethane. After drying under high vacuum (0.1 mmHg) overnight (8–16 h) at 80–100 °C in a Schlenk flask, the sulfonamide (1.4 equiv) is dissolved in dichloromethane (0.1 M), and cooled to 0 °C. Care should be taken during drying, as temperatures above 100–110 °C produce a brownish-colored material which is insoluble in dichloromethane at 0.1 M and ineffective for chemical transformations. BBr3 (1.0 M in dichloromethane; 1.4 equiv) is added, the mixture is stirred at 0 °C for 10 min, warmed to room temperature, and stirred for 1 h. The solvent and HBr are then carefully removed under high vacuum, kept at room temperature under high vacuum for 15 min after all solvent has been removed, and the white to tan residue is then redissolved in dichloromethane (0.1 M). This evaporation–redissolution procedure is repeated two additional times, giving a 0.1 M solution of 1 in CH2Cl2 dichloromethane.7 Handling, Storage, and Precautions: highly moisture-sensitive; should be prepared immediately prior to use under inert atmosphere, preferably using standard Schlenk techniques (use of a glove box not required). Best results are obtained when fresh solutions of BBr3 are used.
Local Community Organizers and Activists Encountering Globalization: An Exploratory Study of their Perceptions and Adaptations

Globalization processes are putting pressure on traditional modes of democratic social action and rendering some ineffective. How does grassroots activists’ knowledge of globalization influence their strategies for working toward community change? This article draws on a qualitative analysis of 24 in-depth interviews with activists and community organizers in the Midwestern United States to identify their perspectives on globalization, the local impacts and challenges that globalization creates, and the strategic adaptations of models for community organizing and local activism in the contemporary global era. We found that most organizers and activists are critically aware of globalization processes and the difficulties these dynamics pose for their communities. Further, they often view their locally focused work as a direct response to the demands of globalization. The findings offer a counterpoint to depictions of local social action as myopic or irrelevant for the global era.
F10: a fault-tolerant engineered network

The data center network is increasingly a cost, reliability and performance bottleneck for cloud computing. Although multi-tree topologies can provide scalable bandwidth and traditional routing algorithms can provide eventual fault tolerance, we argue that recovery speed can be dramatically improved through the co-design of the network topology, routing algorithm and failure detector. We create an engineered network and routing protocol that directly address the failure characteristics observed in data centers. At the core of our proposal is a novel network topology that has many of the same desirable properties as FatTrees, but with much better fault recovery properties. We then create a series of failover protocols that benefit from this topology and are designed to cascade and complement each other. The resulting system, F10, can almost instantaneously reestablish connectivity and load balance, even in the presence of multiple failures. Our results show that following network link and switch failures, F10 has less than 1/7th the packet loss of current schemes. A trace-driven evaluation of MapReduce performance shows that F10's lower packet loss yields a median application-level 30% speedup.
Small‐angle neutron scattering

The use of small-angle neutron scattering (SANS) for the study of biological macromolecules is described. Topics covered in this chapter include: the theoretical basis of SANS; contrast variation; and the measurement of distances between chemically specified points in a macromolecule or macromolecular complex. Practical considerations are addressed and a number of examples are provided. Keywords: contrast matching; contrast variation; distance measurements; internal contrast variation; isotopic substitution; molecular weight; small-angle neutron scattering; spin contrast variation; triple isotopic substitution
TOWARD TRANSPARENCY IN HEALTH TECHNOLOGY ASSESSMENT A Checklist for HTA Reports

Objectives: As an initiative of the International Network of Agencies for Health Technology Assessment (INAHTA), a checklist for assessment reports was developed as a means of improving transparency and consistency in HTA. Methods: Preparation of a summary of key elements in HTA reports, drawing on experience in preparation of such documents, information from guidelines for HTA, and individual assessments. Review by INAHTA agencies and modification of the summary to reflect the consensus. Results: The resulting checklist includes 17 questions, with supporting detail. General areas covered include preliminary information, why and how the assessment has been prepared, the results of the assessment, implications of the results, and conclusions. Conclusions: The checklist is intended to be considered by those preparing or using an HTA report. It reflects the views of INAHTA members and is seen as a mechanism to improve the standard of HTA reports, being complementary to the more detailed guidelines on how to conduct assessments.
Accounting for Tastes: Australian Everyday Cultures

Accounting for Tastes: Australian Everyday Cultures. Tony Bennett. Michael Emmison. and John Frow. New York: Cambridge University Press, 1999. 313 pp.
The Pursuit of Certainty: Religious and Cultural Formulations

The Pursuit of Certainty: Religious and Cultural Formulations. Wendy James. ed. London: RoutJedge, 1995. 316 pp.
Stochastic adaptive tracker based on noise-corrupted space-time measurement process

A multiple model adaptive estimator (MMAE) is formulated to estimate the state of a dynamic system modeled by a linear stochastic differential equation, from which the feedback observations are described as a noise-corrupted Poisson space-time point process. Then the MMAE is embedded into a stochastic adaptive PI (proportional-plus-integral) tracker using LQG (linear quadratic Gaussian) and assumed certainty equivalence techniques. The MMAE, the Kalman filter (used to estimate the target state), and the tracker are evaluated for parameter sensitivity, robustness, and adaptation using Monte Carlo simulation. >
Marketing academics at the FTC: the inside story

Purpose – The purpose of this article is to present an inside look at the history of a little‐known but interesting initiative in the marketing field, one that involved the infusion of marketing thought into public policy decision‐making in the USA. It aims to trace the interesting tale of how marketing academics came to be included in the activities of the US Federal Trade Commission (FTC) through the FTC's “Marketing Academic Consultancy Program” (MACP) during the 1970s. This story also aims to include descriptions of the contributions made by those marketing academics and how those scholars were later phased out of the FTC.Design/methodology/approach – An autobiographical approach is used since each of the authors was personally involved in the MACP. As participants in the program and as scholars whose careers were thereafter tremendously affected by that participation, these personal accounts provide considerable insight into the impact on both FTC operations and on marketing academic thought itself.F...
2010 Special Issue: Self discovery enables robot social cognition: Are you my teacher?

Infants exploit the perception that others are 'like me' to bootstrap social cognition (Meltzoff, 2007a). This paper demonstrates how the above theory can be instantiated in a social robot that uses itself as a model to recognize structural similarities with other robots; this thereby enables the student to distinguish between appropriate and inappropriate teachers. This is accomplished by the student robot first performing self-discovery, a phase in which it uses actuation-perception relationships to infer its own structure. Second, the student models a candidate teacher using a vision-based active learning approach to create an approximate physical simulation of the teacher. Third, the student determines that the teacher is structurally similar (but not necessarily visually similar) to itself if it can find a neural controller that allows its self model (created in the first phase) to reproduce the perceived motion of the teacher model (created in the second phase). Fourth, the student uses the neural controller (created in the third phase) to move, resulting in imitation of the teacher. Results with a physical student robot and two physical robot teachers demonstrate the effectiveness of this approach. The generalizability of the proposed model allows it to be used over variations in the demonstrator: The student robot would still be able to imitate teachers of different sizes and at different distances from itself, as well as different positions in its field of view, because change in the interrelations of the teacher's body parts are used for imitation, rather than absolute geometric properties.
Arterial Pressure Pulse Contour Analysis Via a Mathematical Model for the Clinical Quantification of Human Vascular Properties

A lumped parameter physical model of the human vascular system is proposed, which consists of four components? two elastic chambers joined by an inertance and followed by a pure resistance (grossly approximating, respectively, large and small arterial systems joined by long columns of blood and followed by the capillary bed). Equations of this model are presented in both mechanical and electrical equivalents and normal modes of response are derived. These normal modes of the model determine a descriptive equation for the contour of the actual arterial pressure pulse. Particular values of model components can be calculated for specific human subjects under varying conditions of stress or disease through a least squares fit of the descriptive equation to the clinically measured pressure pulse contour.
Designing interactive visualization tools for the graphics classroom

Student comprehension of the concepts and algorithms in computer graphics requires a thorough visual understanding of the processes involved. To assist this understanding in the computer graphics course at the Air Force Academy, a set of interactive visualization programs were created for classroom use. These programs demonstrate key graphic concepts using various visual metaphors. The process of creating and using these tools in the classroom highlighted several design guidelines when creating classroom visualization tools. This paper describes these design guidelines, and the way in which the tools are used in the classroom to support lecture material. The paper concludes with our experience using these tools and future plans.
Effect of oxybutynin chloride on bladder spasm following transurethral surgery

A double-blind study of the short-term effects of oxybutynin chloride versus placebo on bladder spasm after transurethral surgery was done in 106 male patients. No significant difference between the placebo and 10 mg. or 20 mg. of the drug was noted.
The passus (scale) coefficient in the pre-optimal production region

The pre-optimal production region includes output levels where the passus (scale) coefficient is greater than unity, and hence average cost is diminishing with increases in output. If the level of cost is reduced to zero as output is reduced to zero and the average cost curve is ‘U’ shaped, the passus coefficient first increases with increases in output, reaches its maximum point to the left of the minimum marginal cost point, and only then falls toward unity at the terminal point of the pre-optimal production region.
"Fastbus" - Status of Development of a Standard High Speed Data Acquisition BUS for High Energy Physics

In late 1975 the US NIM Committee initiated a study group, known as the Advanced System Study Group, to review the future data acquisition modular interface requirements for high energy physics. The final report1 of this group recommended the development of a new standard system, now known as "FAST-BUS," which would have as principal features improved speed by a factor of 10 over CAMAC; more generalized architecture to accommodate distributed parallel processing and fast pre-processing; special scan modes of particular use in high energy particle detection systems; and standardized bus structures and mechanics. This paper is a brief summary of current activity.
Soman and receptor-ligand interaction in Electrophorus electroplaques

Abstract Soman, an organophosphorus cholinesterase inhibitor, interacts irreversibly with both the enzyme acetylcholinesterase and a site similar or identical to the acetylcholine receptor of the intact Electrophorus electricus electroplaque. The Soman-induced inhibition of esterase activity in intact electroplaque is not reversed by washing in inhibitor-free saline; indeed, the inhibition increases. This is in contrast to the slow recovery, with washing, of esterase activity in DFP- and Paraoxon-treated cells. Soman also affected the electrical and chemical excitability of the electroplaque-innervated membrane. Application of Soman to the electroplaque usually resulted in a two-phase depolarization. Coincident with the large, rapid. Soman-induced depolarization, the electrically excitable sodium ion current of the conducting membrane was completely inhibited. Dimethyl d -tubocurarine, an inhibitor of chemical excitation at the post-synaptic membrane, prevented but could not reverse the effects of Soman on the excitability of the innervated membrane. The rapid “aging” of the Soman-protein complex is discussed in connection with its effects on the electroplaque.
Dysfunction of atrial and B-type natriuretic peptides in congenital univentricular defects

Objective To examine whether children with univentricular defects have intrinsic dysfunction in the natriuretic peptide system. Methods We compared plasma levels of the fluid-regulating hormone vasopressin (antidiuretic hormone), aldosterone, atrial natriuretic peptide, and brain natriuretic peptide in children with congenital univentricular and biventricular defects. We enrolled 27 patients with univentricular defects and 27 patients with biventricular cardiac defects. Children who underwent Fontan and Glenn procedures were considered as patients with univentricular cardiac defects; children who underwent repair of tetralogy of Fallot or subaortic stenosis were considered as controls with biventricular defects. Results Preoperative plasma atrial natriuretic peptide, brain natriuretic peptide, antidiuretic hormone, and aldosterone were comparable in both groups. Although plasma cyclic guanosine monophosphate levels were comparable between groups, there was a significant correlation between molar concentrations of plasma cyclic guanosine monophosphate and plasma atrial natriuretic peptide ( r = 0.42) and brain natriuretic peptide ( r = 0.44) in the biventricular group, but not in the univentricular group ( r = 0.19 for atrial natriuretic peptide; r = 0.13 for brain natriuretic peptide). All patients had a significant postoperative increase in plasma antidiuretic hormone. A significant postoperative increase in plasma brain natriuretic peptide was found in the patients with biventricular, but not univentricular, defects. In contrast, a significant increase in plasma aldosterone was observed only in the patients with univentricular defects. Conclusions There were distinct differences between univentricular and biventricular groups in their perioperative plasma fluid-regulating hormone responses. Specifically, patients with univentricular defects may have abnormal natriuretic peptide secretion and function. The natriuretic dysfunction may be on the basis of hypoplastic ventricular development.
Clinical significance of the structural integrity of the superior aspect of the mandibular canal.

Background: Sparse data can be found regarding the structural integrity of the superior aspect of the mandibular canal. In many cases, the mandibular canal must be carefully evaluated prior to defining patient treatment. Methods: In this case report, a 54-year-old patient presented with a periapical infection involving the mesial root of the mandibular right second molar (#31). Radiographic evaluation revealed that the periapical lesion extended from the apex of the tooth to the superior aspect of the mandibular canal. Upon surgical removal of the tooth, an apical communication between the extraction socket and mandibular nerve was located. A guided bone regeneration procedure was performed to protect the nerve from subsequent damage and to prepare the site for future implant placement. Implants were placed in the area approximately 5 months following the regenerative procedure. Results: After implant placement, the patient experienced normal function and no mandibular symptomatology. Implants have been i...
Furosemide, sodium appetite, and ingestive behavior.

Abstract Sodium appetite is often produced experimentally by using the diuretic furosemide (Furo) to induce a rapid loss of urinary sodium. The present experiments were designed to investigate the dose-dependent relationship between renal and behavioral responses to Furo. We compared the effects of five different Furo doses (0.5, 1, 2, 6, and 10 mg) on 3% NaCl intake, water intake, Na + -free chow intake, urine quantity, electrolyte balance, and weight gain in rats. The Na + loss produced by Furo injection was dose dependent from 0.5 to 10 mg and did not change across repeated depletions. There was only a weak correspondence, however, between these dose-dependent changes in renal function and subsequent sodium appetite. This suggests that net Na + loss is not the only determinant of sodium intake. Moreover, at the two higher doses of Furo, both food intake and weight dropped significantly, but these did not change following the three lower ones. Given these substantial side effects, the preferred dose of Furo for inducing a salt appetite should not exceed 2.0 mg.
The influence of electrode shift over the innervation zone and normalization on the electromyographic amplitude and mean power frequency versus isometric torque relationships for the vastus medialis muscle.

Abstract The purpose of the present study was to: (a) examine the influence of the innervation zone (IZ) for the vastus medialis on EMG signals from bipolar electrode arrangements that have their center point directly over the IZ, 10 mm distal to the IZ, 10 mm proximal to the IZ, and 20 mm distal to the IZ, and (b) investigate the effects of normalization on EMG amplitude and center frequency values over the IZ. Ten men (mean ± S.D. age = 23.6 ± 3.0 years) performed submaximal to maximal isometric muscle actions of the dominant leg extensors, and four separate bipolar surface EMG signals were detected simultaneously from the vastus medialis. One bipolar electrode arrangement had its center point located directly over the IZ, while the other electrode arrangements had their center points 10 mm proximal, 10 mm distal, and 20 mm distal to the IZ. The results showed that there were no consistent patterns among the four electrode arrangements for the absolute and normalized EMG amplitude and mean power frequency (MPF) versus isometric torque relationships. Generally speaking, the IZ had the greatest effect on the EMG signal when the center point of the bipolar electrode arrangement was directly over it or 10 mm proximal to it. In addition, normalization reduced the influence of the IZ on the absolute EMG amplitude and MPF values. Thus, these findings supported the practice of normalization, and indicated that it is a useful technique for reducing the influence of electrode location on EMG amplitude and MPF data. Future studies should examine the potential for movement of the IZ during isometric muscle actions.
Glucagon-like peptide-1 decreases endogenous amyloid-β peptide (Aβ) levels and protects hippocampal neurons from death induced by Aβ and iron

Glucagon-like peptide-1(7-36)-amide (GLP-1) is an endogenous insulinotropic peptide that is secreted from the gastrointestinal tract in response to food. It enhances pancreatic islet beta-cell proliferation and glucose-dependent insulin secretion and lowers blood glucose and food intake in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus. GLP-1 receptors, which are coupled to the cyclic AMP second messenger pathway, are expressed throughout the brains of rodents and humans. It was recently reported that GLP-1 and exendin-4, a naturally occurring, more stable analogue of GLP-1 that binds at the GLP-1 receptor, possess neurotrophic properties and can protect neurons against glutamate-induced apoptosis. We report here that GLP-1 can reduce the levels of amyloid-beta peptide (Abeta) in the brain in vivo and can reduce levels of amyloid precursor protein (APP) in cultured neuronal cells. Moreover, GLP-1 and exendin-4 protect cultured hippocampal neurons against death induced by Abeta and iron, an oxidative insult. Collectively, these data suggest that GLP-1 can modify APP processing and protect against oxidative injury, two actions that suggest a novel therapeutic target for intervention in Alzheimer's disease.
MEASURING IMPACTS OF BUSINESS RETENTION AND EXPANSION VISITATION PROGRAMS

Effective program evaluation provides feedback from participants that can be used to make improvements and justify program expenditures. This study describes a method of evaluating the benefits of Business Retention and Expansion (R&E) visitation programs. The effectiveness of this relatively new economic development strategy has not been explored systematically. Opinions of 81 program coordinators across six states were solicited regarding eight key aspects of the benefits of their R&E visitation program. The R&E visitation program was most beneficial at enabling the community to demonstrate a pro-business attitude and at providing data for local economic development strategic planning. The R&E program objectives of helping firms use state and federal programs and providing early warning for plant closures did not rate as well, suggesting a need for changes in the program. Despite these deficiencies, the R&E programs were rated very successful, with eighty-nine percent of respondents recommending it to p...
Spindle cell squamous carcinomas and sarcoma-like tumors of the skin: a comparative study of 38 cases.

Thirty-eight cutaneous lesions previously diagnosed as spindle cell squamous carcinoma, “atypical fibroxanthoma,” or dermal sarcoma are presented. Two patients had two lesions each; thus, there were 36 patients. Cases of spindle cell melanoma (including desmoplastic melanoma), sarcoma of subcutaneous origin, and “neuroid sarcoma” were excluded. On review, the lesions fell into two categories: (1) those with a definite component of invasive squamous carcinoma in addition to sarcoma-like areas (8 cases), and (2) those in which such a squamous component was not identified (30 cases). Cases in the former group were considered proven spindle cell squamous carcinomas, while those in the latter group were designated noncommittally as sarcoma-like tumors. Almost all patients were white and over 40 years of age. Four sarcoma-like tumors (from three patients) arose in areas previously treated with x-ray and all but two (both spindle cell squamous carcinomas) of the remainder in both categories arose in sun-damaged skin. Prognosis did not differ significantly between the two categories but depended primarily on the depth of invasion. Two of two tumors that extended into bone and four of seven that invaded skeletal muscle caused death; all of those involving only dermis (24) or dermis and subcutis (five) were successfully extirpated. Origin in an area that had received x-ray was also an unfavorable prognostic indicator; all three patients whose lesions arose in such areas died of tumor. This may have been related to depth of invasion because the three fatal postradiation sarcoma-like tumors all invaded muscle. It was concluded that the distinction between spindle cell squamous carcinoma and “atypical fibroxanthoma” is of little prognostic import per se, but rather that prognosis is primarily dependent on the depth of invasion and, perhaps, the type of antecedent irradiation.