cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Enhancement of biocatalyst activity and protection against stressors using a microbial exoskeleton

Whole cell biocatalysts can perform numerous industrially-relevant chemical reactions. While they are less expensive than purified enzymes, whole cells suffer from inherent reaction rate limitations due to transport resistance imposed by the cell membrane. Furthermore, it is desirable to immobilize the biocatalysts to enable ease of separation from the reaction mixture. In this study, we used a layer-by-layer (LbL) self-assembly process to create a microbial exoskeleton which, simultaneously immobilized, protected, and enhanced the reactivity of a whole cell biocatalyst. As a proof of concept, we used Escherichia coli expressing homoprotocatechuate 2,3-dioxygenase (HPCD) as a model biocatalyst and coated it with up to ten alternating layers of poly(diallyldimethylammonium chloride) (PDADMAC) and silica. The microbial exoskeleton also protected the biocatalyst against a variety of external stressors including: desiccation, freeze/thaw, exposure to high temperatures, osmotic shock, as well as against enzymatic attack by lysozyme, and predation by protozoa. While we observed increased permeability of the outer membrane after exoskeleton deposition, this had a moderate effect on the reaction rate (up to two-fold enhancement). When the exoskeleton construction was followed by detergent treatment to permeabilize the cytoplasmic membrane, up to 15-fold enhancement in the reaction rate was reached. With the exoskeleton, we increased in the reaction rate constants as much as 21-fold by running the biocatalyst at elevated temperatures ranging from 40 °C to 60 °C, a supraphysiologic temperature range not accessible by unprotected bacteria.
Psychosocial information use for clinical decisions in diabetes care.

Objective There are increasing efforts to capture psychosocial information in outpatient care in order to enhance health equity. To advance clinical decision support systems (CDSS), this study investigated which psychosocial information clinicians value, who values it, and when and how clinicians use this information for clinical decision-making in outpatient type 2 diabetes care. Materials and methods This mixed methods study involved physician interviews (n = 17) and a survey of physicians, nurse practitioners (NPs), and diabetes educators (n = 198). We used the grounded theory approach to analyze interview data and descriptive statistics and tests of difference by clinician type for survey data. Results Participants viewed financial strain, mental health status, and life stressors as most important. NPs and diabetes educators perceived psychosocial information to be more important, and used it significantly more often for 1 decision, than did physicians. While some clinicians always used psychosocial information, others did so when patients were not doing well. Physicians used psychosocial information to judge patient capabilities, understanding, and needs; this informed assessment of the risks and the feasibility of options and patient needs. These assessments influenced 4 key clinical decisions. Discussion Triggers for psychosocially informed CDSS should include psychosocial screening results, new or newly diagnosed patients, and changes in patient status. CDSS should support cost-sensitive medication prescribing, and psychosocially based assessment of hypoglycemia risk. Electronic health records should capture rationales for care that do not conform to guidelines for panel management. NPs and diabetes educators are key stakeholders in psychosocially informed CDSS. Conclusion Findings highlight opportunities for psychosocially informed CDSS-a vital next step for improving health equity.
π-Facial Diastereoselection in [3 + 2]-Cycloadditions of Isomünchnone Dipoles

The Rh(II)-catalyzed reaction of 1-[diazo(methoxycarbonyl)acetyl]-2-oxopyrrolidine derivatives led to the formation of ring-fused isomunchnone betaines which are trapped with various dipolarophiles to give the corresponding [3 + 2]-cycloadducts in excellent yield. The cycloaddition reaction proceeded with high levels of diastereoselectivity leading to the predominant formation of the exo dipolar cycloadduct. The influence of substituents on the stereoselectivity of the reaction was investigated. Diastereotopic facial selectivity by the dipolarophile on the mesoionic betaine was found to depend upon the nature of the stereogenic center. Inclusion of substituents at any position of the fused five-membered ring was found to enhance exo selectivity. Isomunchnone dipoles derived from pyrrolidinones containing a carboalkoxy substituent in the 5-position of the ring afforded mainly exo−syn cycloadducts. In contrast, when a methyl group was present at the 3-position of the pyrrolidinone ring, the facial selectivi...
P6 Agreement of Self-Reported and Objectively Measured BMI in the Adolescent Population

Background Self-reported measures for body mass index (BMI) are considered a limitation in research design, especially when they are a primary outcome. Studies have found some populations to be quite accurate when self-reporting BMI; however, there is limited research on the accuracy of self-reported measurements in adolescents. Objective The purpose of this study was to test the consistency of self-reported and objectively measured BMI of a sample of male and female adolescents. Study Design, Settings, Participants This was a sub-project of the larger Get Fruved study which focused on innovative strategies to promote health in adolescents. A sample was recruited from five high schools in four states (Tennessee, South Dakota, Kansas, and Florida). Measurable Outcome/Analysis Participants (n = 425) were asked to self-report their height and weight, followed by being measured by a trained researcher. Self-reported and objective BMI were calculated. Regression was used to understand differences in accuracies with and without gender. Chi-square and Cohen's kappa coefficient were used to understand agreements between BMI categories. Results Participants were mostly white (46.8%) and female (52.9%). The mean BMI for males was higher than females (24.5(± 6.7) and 23.9(± 5.4), respectively). Regression analysis showed a significant interaction between gender and self-reported BMI ( P = .01). Adequate agreement overall for BMI categories were found (Κ = .723, P Conclusion Adolescents have acceptable agreement between self-reported and objectively measured BMI. This study suggests gender may play a role in accurate reporting of BMI. Overall, self-reported BMI may be appropriate for use in adolescents, especially when resources are limited. Further research is needed to explore and understand the gender differences in self-reporting BMI. Funding USDA.
Some Distinctive Features of Jesuit Higher Education Today.

The nation’s Catholic colleges and universities are recommitting themselves to making their founding visions come alive in increasingly effective and innovative ways. This article describes the Jesuit tradition of higher education, discussing its origins and how it is refl ected in the reality and practice of Jesuit higher education today. This is done with great respect and appreciation for the other distinctive, but complementary traditions which contribute to the richness of contemporary Catholic higher education. Eight characteristics are cited as creating a certain style. These features are deeply rooted in Catholic tradition and express that tradition in a particular way. Many of the features described have their resonances in the traditions and practices of other orders and congregations because all share that same fundamental Catholic tradition. Each is trying to create something that has never existed: an identity forged with diverse colleagues, in a pluralistic, postmodern university setting, while facing the challenges of a globalizing world.
IMPROVING BRAIN AGE PREDICTION MODELS: INCORPORATION OF AMYLOID STATUS IN ALZHEIMER’S DISEASE

Brain age prediction may serve as a promising, individualized biomarker of brain health and may help us understand the heterogeneous biological changes that occur in aging. Brain age prediction is a machine learning method that estimates an individual’s chronological age from their neuroimaging scans. If predicted brain age is greater than chronological age, that individual may have an “older” brain than expected, suggesting that they may have experienced a higher cumulative exposure to brain insults or were more impacted by those pathological insults. However, contemporary brain age models include older participants with amyloid pathology in their training sets and thus may be confounded when studying Alzheimer’s disease (AD). We showed that amyloid status is a critical feature for brain age prediction models by training a model on 808 individuals without significant amyloid pathology from the ADNI, OASIS-3, and IXI cohorts. Our model accurately predicted brain age in the training and independent test sets, comparable to previous published models: [r(807) = 0.94, R2 = 0.88, p=0.001, MAE = 4.9 years, p=0.001], [r(39) = 0.67, R2 = 0.45, and MAE = 4.6 years]. We demonstrated significant differences between AD diagnostic groups [F(3,431)=30.7, p<0.001], and our model was the first to delineate significant differences in brain age relative to chronological age between cognitively normal individuals with and without amyloid [mean difference, 95% CI; CN-Aβ(-) (-3.4, -4.9:-1.8), CN-Aβ(+) (-0.7, -1.9:0.5)]. Ultimately, incorporation of amyloid status in brain age prediction models improves the utility of brain age as a biomarker for aging and AD.
Important for All: Positioning English Language Learners in Mathematics Professional Development

AbstractThis paper examines turn-by-turn interactions [Wagner, D., & Herbel-Eisenmann, B. (2014). Mathematics teachers’ representations of authority. Journal of Mathematics Teacher Education, 17(3)...
FOOTPRINTS OF A THROMBUS EN ROUTE: A DISGUISED PRESENTATION OF CARDIOEMBOLIC STROKE

Intracardiac cystic masses are rare with a variety of differential diagnoses and have implications in numerous complications. Clinical suspicion and multifaceted workup are warranted for precise diagnosis and treatment. A 78-year-old male presented with weakness in the right upper and lower
Examining Board Gameplay and Learning: A Multidisciplinary Review of Recent Research:

BackgroundRecent years have seen the resurgence of board games designed for entertainment, and to teach or explicate real life problems. The revival of board gameplay has been discussed in mainstre...
In vivo metabolic imaging reveals mitochondrial membrane potential reprogramming following Her2-targeted therapy and dormant disease

We performed in intravital fluorescent microscopy in a preclinical cancer dormancy model to capture key changes in mitochondrial activity associated with Her2 treated breast cancer both acutely and in a residual disease state.
The Association of Antibiotic Duration With Successful Treatment of Community-Acquired Pneumonia in Children.

Background National guidelines recommend 10 days of antibiotics for children with community-acquired pneumonia (CAP), acknowledging that the outcomes of children hospitalized with CAP who receive shorter durations of therapy have not been evaluated. Methods We conducted a comparative effectiveness study of children aged ≥6 months hospitalized at The Johns Hopkins Hospital who received short-course (5-7 days) vs prolonged-course (8-14 days) antibiotic therapy for uncomplicated CAP between 2012 and 2018 using an inverse probability of treatment weighted propensity score analysis. Inclusion was limited to children with clinical and radiographic criteria consistent with CAP, as adjudicated by 2 infectious diseases physicians. Children with tracheostomies; healthcare-associated, hospital-acquired, or ventilator-associated pneumonia; loculated or moderate to large pleural effusion or pulmonary abscess; intensive care unit stay >48 hours; cystic fibrosis/bronchiectasis; severe immunosuppression; or unusual pathogens were excluded. The primary outcome was treatment failure, a composite of unanticipated emergency department visits, outpatient visits, hospital readmissions, or death (all determined to be likely attributable to bacterial pneumonia) within 30 days after completing antibiotic therapy. Results Four hundred and thirty-nine patients met eligibility criteria; 168 (38%) patients received short-course therapy (median, 6 days) and 271 (62%) received prolonged-course therapy (median, 10 days). Four percent of children experienced treatment failure, with no differences observed between patients who received short-course vs prolonged-course antibiotic therapy (odds ratio, 0.48; 95% confidence interval, .18-1.30). Conclusions A short course of antibiotic therapy (approximately 5 days) does not increase the odds of 30-day treatment failure compared with longer courses for hospitalized children with uncomplicated CAP.
Minimal but not meaningless: Seemingly arbitrary category labels can imply more than group membership.

Minimal group paradigms tend to involve contrived group distinctions, such as dot estimation tendencies and aesthetic preferences. Researchers assume that these novel category distinctions lack informational value. Our research tests this notion. Specifically, we used the classic overestimator versus underestimator and Klee versus Kandinsky minimal group paradigms to assess how category labels influence minimal group responses. In Study 1, we show that participants represented ingroup faces more favorably than outgroup faces, but also represented overestimator and underestimator category labels differently. In fact, the category label effect was larger than the intergroup effect, even though participants were told that estimation tendencies were unrelated to other cognitive tendencies or personality traits. In Study 2, we demonstrate that Klee and Kandinsky were also represented differently, but in this case, the intergroup effect was stronger than the category label effect. In Studies 3 and 4, we examined effects of category labels on how participants allocate resources to, evaluate, and ascribe traits to ingroup and outgroup members. We found both category label and intergroup effects when participants were assigned to overestimator and underestimator groups. However, we found only the intergroup effect when participants were assigned to Klee and Kandinsky groups. Together, this work advances but does not upend understanding of minimal group effects. We robustly replicate minimal intergroup bias in mental representations of faces, evaluations, trait inferences, and resource allocations. At the same time, we show that seemingly arbitrary category labels can imply characteristics about groups that may influence responses in intergroup contexts. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2021 APA, all rights reserved)
The Social Security Administration's 10-percent sample file of OASDI beneficiaries.

This is another in a series of technical articles describing Social Security Administration sample files and statistical systems. The focus of this article is the lo-percent sample file that provides program and demographic information on Social Security beneficiaries under the Old-Age, Survivors, and Disability Insurance program. The article explains the contents and availability of the lo-percent sample and presents several statistical tabulations as examples of the wide variety of data that can be developed from the file.
Patterns, Profiles, and Parsimony: Dissecting Transcriptional Signatures From Minimal Single-Cell RNA-Seq Output With SALSA

Single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) technologies have precipitated the development of bioinformatic tools to reconstruct cell lineage specification and differentiation processes with single-cell precision. However, current start-up costs and recommended data volumes for statistical analysis remain prohibitively expensive, preventing scRNA-seq technologies from becoming mainstream. Here, we introduce single-cell amalgamation by latent semantic analysis (SALSA), a versatile workflow that combines measurement reliability metrics with latent variable extraction to infer robust expression profiles from ultra-sparse sc-RNAseq data. SALSA uses a matrix focusing approach that starts by identifying facultative genes with expression levels greater than experimental measurement precision and ends with cell clustering based on a minimal set of Profiler genes, each one a putative biomarker of cluster-specific expression profiles. To benchmark how SALSA performs in experimental settings, we used the publicly available 10X Genomics PBMC 3K dataset, a pre-curated silver standard from human frozen peripheral blood comprising 2,700 single-cell barcodes, and identified 7 major cell groups matching transcriptional profiles of peripheral blood cell types and driven agnostically by 64,000 single cells across 7 independent biological replicates based on < 630 Profiler genes. With these results, SALSA demonstrates that robust pattern detection from scRNA-seq expression matrices only requires a fraction of the accrued data, suggesting that single-cell sequencing technologies can become affordable and widespread if meant as hypothesis-generation tools to extract large-scale differential expression effects.
How Fast You Will Drive? Predicting Speed of Customized Paths By Deep Neural Network

Customized path-based speed prediction is an eventful tool for congestion avoidance, route optimization and travel time prediction for navigation apps, cab-hailing companies and autonomous vehicles. Traditionally, the speed prediction algorithms are based on road segments and can only support several main roads. Path-based speed prediction is very challenging since the speed is always changing in different path locations and is jointly affected by lots of complicated factors. This article presents a novel deep learning framework for customized path-based speed prediction. A Path-based Speed Prediction Neural Network (PSPNN) is designed to achieve speed predictions for a given path and attributes information. A hierarchical Convolutional Neural Network (CNN) and deep Bidirectional Long Short-Term Memory (Bi-LSTM) structure for different kinds of feature extraction are applied for multiple levels: the path cell, sub-path and the whole path. The method narrows down the prediction unit from road segments to customized path cells (mean length: 59.52m) and achieves a mean absolute error (MAE) of 1.94 m/s and Mean Absolute Percentage Error (MAPE) of 18.14%, showing the potential of serving rigorous data-driven applications. So far, PSPNN is the first made-to-order path-based speed prediction algorithm and can help both travelers and managers to obtain large-scale bespoke paths speed information in advance.
Triage of Patients with Intracerebral Hemorrhage to Comprehensive Versus Primary Stroke Centers.

Abstract Objectives The management of patients admitted with intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) mostly occurs in an ICU. While guidelines recommend initial treatment of these patients in a neurocritical care or stroke unit, there is limited data on which patients would benefit most from transfer to a comprehensive stroke center where on-site neurosurgical coverage is available 24/7. As neurocritical units become more common in primary stroke centers, it is important to determine which patients are most likely to require neurosurgical intervention and transfer to comprehensive stroke centers. Materials and methods This is a retrospective observational cohort study conducted at an academic comprehensive stroke center in the United States. Four-hundred-fifty-nine consecutive patients transferred or directly admitted to the neurocritical care unit from 2016–2018 with the primary diagnosis of ICH were included. Univariate statistics and multivariate regression were used to identify clinical characteristics associated with neurosurgical intervention, defined as undergoing craniotomy, ventriculostomy, or endovascular embolization of an arteriovenous malformation (AVM). Results The following variables were associated with neurosurgical intervention in multivariate analysis: age (OR 0.38, 95% CI 0.27–0.55), admission Glasgow Coma Scale (OR 0.29, 95% CI 0.18–0.48), the presence of intraventricular hemorrhage (OR 2.82, CI 1.71–4.65), infratentorial location of ICH (OR 2.28, 95% CI 1.20–4.31), previous antiplatelet use (OR 2.04, 95% CI 1.24–3.34), and an AVM indicated on CT Angiogram (OR 2.59, 95% CI 1.19–5.63) were independently associated with the need for neurosurgical intervention. This was translated into a scoring system to help make quick triage decisions, with high sensitivity (99%, 95% CI 97–99%) and negative predictive value (98%, 95% CI 89–99%). Conclusions Using previously well described predictors of severity in ICH patients, we were able to develop a scoring system to predict the need for neurosurgical intervention with high sensitivity and negative predictive value.
The Waiting Game: Waitlist Times and Outcomes for Highly Sensitized Patients in the New Heart Transplant Allocation System

Purpose In 2018, United Network of Organ Sharing (UNOS) changed the heart allocation system to better stratify higher acuity patients and provide more equitable geographic distribution. However, they did not prioritize recipient allosensitization which can be a barrier to organ access. We analyzed outcomes based on sensitization in the modern era and the impact of the new allocation system on sensitized patients. Methods UNOS data from 3/31/2015-6/12/2020 was analyzed. Multi-organ transplants were excluded. Recipient, donor, and transplant characteristics were analyzed. Patients were stratified by cPRA level 0, 1-49, 50-79, and ≥ 80. Waitlist days prior to transplant, survival, and treated rejection pre and post allocation system change were analyzed. Survival was estimated using Kaplan-Meier methods and the log-rank test. Results Total of 10598 patients were included and evaluated by cPRA (Table). Patients with higher cPRA were more likely to be younger, African American, and female. Higher cPRA patients weighed less and were more likely to have non-ischemic cardiomyopathy, congenital disease, or be a retransplant. Waitlist days were significantly lower in the new allocation system for cPRA groups 0, 1-49, and 50-79 (p Conclusion The new heart allocation system did not discriminate against sensitization, but rather facilitated a reduction in wait time for all but the most highly sensitized recipients. This may relate to increased access to appropriately matched donor organs through broader geographic sharing, but further investigation is needed.
Suture Anchor Versus Transosseous Tunnel Repair for Inferior Pole Patellar Fractures Treated With Partial Patellectomy and Tendon Advancement: A Biomechanical Study.

Background:Comminuted inferior pole patellar fractures can be treated in numerous ways. To date, there have been no studies comparing the biomechanical properties of transosseous tunnels versus sut...
Two-photon Fiber STED Microscope Using Polarization Maintaining Fiber

We demonstrate a two photon (2P) fiber STED microscope in which the excitation and STED light are delivered to the sample in polarization maintaining (PM) fiber.
Defense Play in Girls' Basketball

(1934). Defense Play in Girls' Basketball. The Journal of Health and Physical Education: Vol. 5, No. 2, pp. 31-61.
Preparing Our Undergraduates to Enter a Cyber World

Today’s students have grown up with computer-based technology and need to be prepared to enter a career in a digital world. This includes an understanding of the broader implications of technology such as the growing threat of cyber-crime and cyber-terrorism, cyber-ethics, the legal and social implications of technology, and the local and global impacts. At our institution, we have taken a broad look at ways of integrating cyber awareness and education across the curriculum to reach all levels of students, irrespective of their major. We have identified core cyber issues that are taught to all freshmen, developed awareness training that is regularly completed, provided opportunities for interested students to gain more cyber knowledge through a student club and summer program, and developed an in-depth educational program for technical students to graduate with an emphasis in cyber-warfare. This paper will describe our various cyber programs and future plans.
Rate-distortion optimized streaming of compressed light fields

We propose a framework for the streaming of light fields over a lossy error-prone packet network. This system is optimized for the end-user according to a rate-distortion criterion. We build upon recent rate-distortion optimized streaming work for audio and video data. We extend this work to light field image data by introducing view-dependent distortion, multiple playout deadlines, and state-based distortion. In our experimental results, the rate-distortion optimized framework has a bit-rate reduction of up to 75% over a heuristic rule-based system.
The receptor proteins for concanavalin A and Lens culinaris phytohemagglutinin in the membrane of the human erythrocyte.

Abstract Human erythrocyte membranes were extracted with 0.1 mm ethylenediaminetetraacetate, pH 8.0, the residue was dissolved in Triton X-100, and the soluble fraction was applied to Sepharose derivatives of concanavalin A (Con A) or the phytohemagglutinin from Lens culinaris (LCPHA). Examination of the material retained by the insolubilized lectins and subsequently eluted with α-methyl mannoside reveals that the principal high affinity receptor for Con A is the minor glycoprotein (also called Band III and Component a). This protein is also thought to be the agent responsible for anion transport across the membrane of the human red blood cell. LCPHA is capable of binding the above polypeptide and the major sialoglycoprotein. Evidence is given to show that this binding is specific. The lectins retain quantitatively different fractions of the minor glycoprotein, the remainder of the protein being unretarded. It is suggested that this behavior may reflect heterogeneity in the carbohydrate moiety of the protein. Finally, the possible association of the Con A receptor protein with the intramembranous particles of the erythrocyte membrane is discussed.
Antitachycardia Pacemakers in Congenital Heart Disease

Background Many patients with congenital heart disease (CHD) acquire rhythm abnormalities related to their repair, most commonly intraatrial reentrant tachycardia (IART). Treatment of IART in CHD is often multifaceted, and may include medication, ablation, and pacing. Evidence regarding the use of antitachycardia pacing therapies is limited. Objective The aim of the study is to define the use and efficacy of antitachycardia pacing in patients with CHD at a single center. Results Eighty implants were performed on 72 patients between 2000 and 2010. Follow-up data of more than 3 months were available for 56 patients; median follow-up time was 2.8 years. Twenty (36%) patients received successful antitachycardia pacing at a median 1.3 years postimplant. For those patients with IART after implant, antitachycardia pacing was successful in 57%. Patients with two-ventricle repairs were more likely to have successful antitachycardia pacing than those with one-ventricle palliation (45% vs. 17%, P = .04). Patients with documented IART had more successful antitachycardia pacing than those with no documented atrial tachycardia prior to implant (46% vs. 7%, P = .006). Early complications of antitachycardia pacemaker implant occurred in six patients (11%); late complications after implant occurred in three patients (5.6%). Of the initial 72 patients implanted, there were six deaths (8%). Conclusions Antitachycardia pacing therapies were successful in the majority of CHD patients who had IART after implant. Patients without documented atrial tachycardia prior to implant were unlikely to require or receive successful therapy from antitachycardia pacemaker. Those patients postatrial switch procedure who had documented IART prior to implant had the highest incidence of successful antitachycardia pacing therapies. Antitachycardia pacemaker implantation is an adjunct to the management of IART in CHD patients, but may not benefit patients who have not yet demonstrated IART.
Ultrastructural details in germinating sporangiospores of Rhizopus stolonifer and Rhizopus arrhizus.

Abstract Electron microscope examination of sporangiospore sections from Rhizopus stolonifer (Ehrenb. ex Fr.) Lind. and R. arrhizus Fischer revealed details on intracellular organization not previously reported. Aldehyde fixation followed by chromeosmium postfixation permitted clear depiction of ribosomes hitherto unrevealed in these cells. Mitochondria were diversiform. Spore wall structures in the two species were generally similar, but outer contours differed sufficiently to permit easy species identification in examination of sections. The spores of both species abounded in cytosomes, corresponding in size, shape, and heavy-metal “stain” affinities to spherosomes in cells of higher plants. The osmiophilic response of these spherosome-like inclusions was intensified by treatment of sections with thiocarbohydrazide solution and subsequent application of aqueous osmium tetroxide, which strengthens an assumption that they are lipid-rich. The margins of the spherosome-like inclusions in lead citrate-stained sections included dense particles, about 60 A across, whose crystalline-like arrangements suggested that protein as well as lipid was present. Frequent and close associations between the spherosome-like inclusions and various cell membranes suggested that such bodies participate in membrane elaboration during germination.
An algebraic approach for the unsatisfiability of nonlinear constraints

We describe a simple algebraic semi-decision procedure for detecting unsatisfiability of a (quantifier-free) conjunction of nonlinear equalities and inequalities. The procedure consists of Grobner basis computation plus extension rules that introduce new definitions, and hence it can be described as a critical-pair completion-based logical procedure. This procedure is shown to be sound and refutationally complete. When projected onto the linear case, our procedure reduces to the Simplex method for solving linear constraints. If only finitely many new definitions are introduced, then the procedure is also terminating. Such terminating, but potentially incomplete, procedures are used in “incompleteness-tolerant” applications.
Rumination and cognitive distraction in major depressive disorder: an examination of respiratory sinus arrhythmia

Difficulty regulating emotions following stressful events is a hallmark of Major Depressive Disorder (MDD). Although individuals’ ability to regulate their emotions is believed to have direct consequences for both emotional and physical wellbeing, few studies have examined the cardiovascular effects of different emotion regulation strategies in MDD. The current study is the first to examine the effects of two emotion regulation strategies, cognitive distraction and rumination, on both self-reported sadness and respiratory sinus arrhythmia (RSA) in individuals with MDD and healthy controls (CTLs). Following a forced-failure stressor, participants were randomly assigned to a rumination or cognitive distraction condition. As expected, rumination increased sadness and triggered RSA withdrawal for both MDDs and CTLs. Interestingly, although cognitive distraction reduced sadness, it also triggered RSA withdrawal. Moreover, cognitive distraction was associated with greater RSA withdrawal for MDDs than CTLs. Thus, although depressed individuals are able to use cognitive distraction to emotionally recover from stress, it may be associated with greater cognitive effort. Adding low-cost physiological measures such as RSA into assessments has the potential to offer new and important information about the effects of emotion regulation on mental and physiological health.
Stochastic Synchronization in Purkinje Cells with Feedforward Inhibition Could Be Studied with Equivalent Phase-Response Curves

Simple-spike synchrony between Purkinje cells projecting to a common neuron in the deep cerebellar nucleus is emerging as an important factor in the encoding of output information from cerebellar cortex. A phenomenon known as stochastic synchronization happens when uncoupled oscillators synchronize due to correlated inputs. Stochastic synchronization is a viable mechanism through which simple-spike synchrony could be generated, but it has received scarce attention, perhaps because the presence of feedforward inhibition in the input to Purkinje cells makes insights difficult. This paper presents a method to account for feedforward inhibition so the usual mathematical approaches to stochastic synchronization can be applied. The method consists in finding a single Phase Response Curve, called the equivalent PRC, that accounts for the effects of both excitatory inputs and delayed feedforward inhibition from molecular layer interneurons. The results suggest that a theory of stochastic synchronization for the case of feedforward inhibition may not be necessary, since this case can be approximately reduced to the case of inputs characterized by a single PRC. Moreover, feedforward inhibition could in many situations increase the level of synchrony experienced by Purkinje cells.
Unconjugated and sulfoconjugated steroids in plasma and zones of the adrenal cortex of the guinea pig.

Abstract The following steroids were measured in their unconjugated and sulfoconjugated forms in plasma and in the outer and inner zones of the adrenal cortex of the guinea pig: pregnenolone, 17-hydroxypregnenolone, 21-hydroxypregnenolone, dehydroepiandrosterone and deoxycorti-costerone. In plasma, pregnenolone and 21-hydroxypregnenolone were the predominant unconjugated steroids with concentrations 10–30 times higher than the other three steroids. Among the sulfoconjugated steroids, pregnenolone sulfate had a concentration 25–50 times higher than the other sulfoconjugates. For each steroid except 21-hydroxypregnenolone the sulfoconjugated form was present in a concentration 2–7 times higher than the unconjugated form. In the adrenal cortex, the content of 21-hydroxypregnenolone was significantly higher in the outer zone than in the inner zone and was present in amounts 3–100 times greater than the other unconjugated steroids in the outer zone. On the other hand, the content of pregnenolone was significantly greater in the inner zone than the outer zone, and was present in amounts 3–80 times greater than the other unconjugated steroids in the inner zone. With the exception of 21-hydroxypregnenolone and deoxycorticosterone, the steroid sulfoconjugates were significantly higher in the inner cortical zone. As in plasma, pregnenolone sulfate was the most abundant sulfoconjugated steroid. This report also describes preliminary studies concerning sulfurylated hydroxyl groups in different positions of 21-hydroxypregnenolone. The sulfoconjugate was prepared by using partially purified steroid sulfotransferase from the guinea pig adrenal. The results obtained indicated that of the total 21-hydroxypregnenolone conjugate formed, approximately 40% was the 21-sulfate and 20% the 3-sulfate, whereas 40% was non-hydrolyzable with the techniques used and was not further characterized.
The Validity of Self-Reported Heroin Use

During a 2-year follow-up interview, 272 male veteran heroin addicts reported their recent heroin use and provided a urine sample. Eighty-four percent of those reporting no heroin use in the 3 months preceding the interview, and 78% of those declaring no use in the previous week had urines found negative for opiates. The subjective impressions of the interviewers were useful in predicting the veracity of the self-reports. Subjects who had been in longer-term treatment, especially therapeutic communities, were more likely to report heroin use truthfully.
Resource allocation in high technology firms: Managerial strategies and empirical results

Abstract Two competing theoretical models of strategic allocation decisions are posited and tested. The long-run model hypothesizes that capital expenditures and R&D activities are important determinants of profit in high technology organizations. Alternatively, the short-run model uses marketing expenditures and payments to investors as predictors of profit. A cross-section of 106 high technology firms is used to compare these long-term and short-term strategies. The findings indicate that R&D and investment in capital improvements are important components of profitability in high technology firms.
Effects of Common Medications Used for Sleep Disorders

Sleep disorders are common and their diagnosis is becoming more widespread with improved awareness among clinicians and patients. The armamentarium for the pharmacologic treatment of sleep disorders is rapidly growing, demanding that clinicians be aware of their indications, adverse effects, and interactions. As disorders, such as narcolepsy, shift-work sleep disorder, and RLS are more readily identified, pharmacologic treatments for these conditions will also become more common.
Effect of orientation and of shape similarity on perceptual grouping

A method in which Os were asked to partition a pattern into two regions was used to investigate the perceptual grouping produced by changes in the orientation and shape of two-line figures. The results show that the judged similarity of the figures fails to predict the degree to which the figures form distinct perceptual groups. Grouping was most strongly influenced by differences in the orientation of the lines composing the figures. Crossing of lines making up the figures also affected grouping, but was less decisive than line orientation.
Synthesis, cytotoxicity, and hydroxyapatite formation in 27-Tris-SBF for sol-gel based CaO-P2O5-SiO2-B2O3-ZnO bioactive glasses

CaO-P2O5-SiO2-B2O3-ZnO bioactive glasses were prepared via an optimized sol-gel method. The current investigation was focused on producing novel zinc based calcium phosphoborosilicate glasses and to evaluate their mechanical, rheological, and biocompatible properties. The morphology and composition of these glasses were studied using X-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The particle size, mechanical and flexural strength was also determined. Furthermore, the zeta potential of all the glasses were determined to estimate their flocculation tendency. The thermal analysis and weight loss measurements were carried out using differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) respectively. For assessing the in-vitro bioactive character of synthesized glasses, the ability for apatite formation on their surface upon their immersion in simulated body fluid (SBF) was checked using SEM and pH measurements. MTS assay cytotoxicity assay and live-dead cell viability test were conducted on J774A.1 cells murine macrophage cells for different glass concentrations.
Utilization of the Coherence Function with Welch's Method for Signal Analysis in Low Resolution Laser-Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy

This work presents a technique by which a low resolution ( approximately 1 nm) fiberoptic spectrometer may be used to definitively identify elements and molecular fragments in laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy. Commercial laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) spectrometers have high resolution in the area of spectral interest, and software is used to identify elements via a look-up table containing known spectral lines. When analyzing spectra from a lower resolution fiber-optic spectrometer, software based on look-up tables can produce erroneous results, reporting elements absent from the sample. As a solution to this problem, an analysis using the coherence function in conjunction with Welch's method is used to compare sample spectra with a library of reference spectra, which contain peaks primarily from a single element. The analysis has proved to be adept at identifying specific elemental signatures in multi-component samples. The technique leverages the increased information content of concomitant atomic emission lines, which are easily collected with a low resolution broadband (200-1100 nm) fiber-optic spectrometer. This technique alleviates the need for the user to visually verify the vicinity of individual peaks during testing. While Pearson's method is generally used for this type of analysis, we show that Welch's method has the advantage of being less susceptible to problems caused by continuum background.
Optimized linear combinations of channels for complex multiple-coil B 1 field estimation with Bloch-Siegert B 1 mapping in MRI

Bloch-Siegert B1 mapping for multiple-channel parallel excitation systems usually produces noisy estimates in low intensity regions. Methods that use linear combinations of multiple coils have been proposed to mitigate this problem. However, little work has been done to optimize these coil combinations to improve the signal-to-noise ratio of B1 mapping in a robust way. In this paper, we propose a Cramer-Rao Lower Bound analysis based method to optimize the coil combination matrix by minimizing the variance of B1 map estimation for the previously proposed Bloch-Siegert B1 mapping method. We illustrate how optimizing the coil combinations yields improved B1 estimates in a simulation of brain imaging with a 3T MRI scan.
A theoretical approach to the evaluation of the mortality effects of a ' low tar ' cigarette.

Abstract The two parameter Gompertz hazard function is shown to fit Hammond's 1960 American Cancer Society life tables which depict survivorship of men aged 25–100 yr for five levels of smoking frequency. Using data on tar levels of cigarettes on the market during the period 1960–1965, various models are proposed to estimate the covariation of the Gompertz parameters by smoking frequency and tar content. For each model, estimated life expectancy and age specific death rates are presented for various smoking frequency-tar groups and the mortality consequences of a ‘low tar’ and ‘low frequency’ public health policy are discussed. Multiple regression analysis is used to summarize the mortality findings and to provide a quantitative assessment of the relative importance of tar content and smoking frequency in determining life expectancy and death rate. Evidence from the models favors a ‘low tar’ policy over a ‘low frequency’ policy but considerable benefits can be obtained from a combined policy.
From Central planning to the Market: The American Transition, 1945–1947

The orthodox view of U.S. reconversion after World War II relies on unacceptable GDP figures for the wartime economy and misinterprets the low level of unemployment during the war. For the postwar transtition, the emphasis on consumer demand financed by drawing down liquid assets accumulated during the war is inconsistent with the facts. The success of the transition depended on the reestablishement of “regime certainty,” which in turn depended on diminishing the influence of the more zealous New Dealers. Wartime and postwar political development created sufficient regime certainty for the postwar market system to generate genuine prosperity.
POST-POLIO SYNDROME: PSYCHOLOGICAL ADJUSTMENT TO DISABILITY

Although the Pan American Health Organization declared in 1995 that polio had been eliminated in the Western Hemisphere, life-altering effects of the disease continue for many survivors. It is known as Post-Polio Syndrome (PPS). The sheer number of individuals experiencing the symptoms has attracted the attention of the medical community. These physical symptoms are severe enough to change the quality of life and require lifestyle changes for people with PPS to cope with the disease. The psychological implications for individuals who must face the reemergence of a disease they thought they had defeated 30 to 40 years ago are staggering. Thus, there is a crucial need for health care professionals, especially mental health nurses and psychotherapists, to address mental health issues that individuals with PPS experience.
The Development and Structure of the Vitelline Membrane and Their Relationship to Yolk Mottling

Abstract PREVIOUS reports on the vitelline membrane have been conflicting with respect to its chemical composition, physical structure and average thickness. Liebermann (1888) reported that the vitelline membrane consisted of keratinous material. Lacaillon (1910) found three layers, the middle layer being cellular in structure, whereas the external layers were fibrous. Moran and Hale (1936) also reported three layers and concluded that the two external layers consisted of mucin while the middle layer was keratinous. McNally (1943) found that the vitelline membrane of the freshly ovulated yolk was formed from the collagenous membrane which lines the inner surface of the follicular epithelium. He reported that this membrane became swollen and was covered with a a layer of mucin during its passage down the oviduct. Reports on the average thickness of the vitelline membrane range from 15 microns (Lacaillon, 1910) to 47.74 microns (McNally, 1943). The mechanisms involved in the development of yolk …
Knowledge discovery and system-user partnership: On a production “adversarial partnership” approach

We examine the relationship between systems and their users from the knowledge discovery perspective. Recently knowledge discovery in databases has made important progress, but it may also bring some potential problems to database design, such as issues related to database security, because an unauthorised user may derive highly sensitive knowledge from unclassified data. In this paper we point out that there is a need for a comprehensive study on knowledge discovery in human-computer symbiosis. Borrowing terms from algorithm design and artificial intelligence literature, we propose a notion called database-user adversarial partnership. We point out that this notion is general enough to cover various knowledge discovery and security of issues related to databases and their users. Furthermore, we point out the notion of database-user adversarial partnership can be further generalised into system-user adversarial partnership. Opportunities provided by knowledge discovery techniques and potential social implications are also discussed.
Weak localization and conductance fluctuations in complex mesoscopic geometries

We extend the theory of weak localization and conductance fluctuations in mesoscopic samples to more complex measurement-probe configurations using the network formalism of Dou\ifmmode \mbox{\c{c}}\else \c{c}\fi{}ot and Rammal. Large measurement probes reduce both the amplitude of the localization contribution and the characteristic field scale of the low-field magnetoresistance. We present a simple and physically intuitive picture to explain these results. Our calculations on the length dependence of the conductance fluctuations for wires with narrow measurement probes agree with previous theoretical work, but allow us to make predictions for samples with more complex probe geometries. Furthermore, the detailed shape of the field autocorrelation function is strongly dependent on the geometry of the probes, reminiscent of the weak-localization magnetoresistance. The results of our experiments on weak localization and conductance fluctuations in short Ag wires confirm many of these predictions. We also discuss the relevance of our calculations for the determination of important microscopic parameters such as the electron phase coherence length.