cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Framework for guiding artificial intelligence research in combat casualty care

Combat casualty care is a subfield of emergency medicine that requires intense situational awareness, encyclopedic knowledge, split-second decision making, and high-performing technology. Training medics with these skills requires much time and effort, yet even with the best training, medics can still experience numerous challenges. Artificial intelligence (AI) could offer numerous positive benefits in combat casualty care, but also has significant drawbacks and pitfalls. As a result, there is a vast, multi-dimensional space of possible AI systems and implications to be investigated. Given this context, it would be beneficial to develop a system for guiding research and development efforts in this arena. This paper describes our initial efforts to build a decision-making framework for that purpose. This framework should benefit the field of combat casualty care in at least two ways. First, the framework will support a comprehensive and holistic view of AI applications. Second, it should help to prioritize areas and techniques for research investments.
Influence of Betrayal Trauma on Pathological Narcissism

Research in the field of trauma has highlighted the influence of exposure to trauma with a high degree of betrayal on personality pathology. Studies have demonstrated that high betrayal trauma affe...
Toward a General Complexity Theory of Motion Planning: Characterizing Which Gadgets Make Games Hard

We begin a general theory for characterizing the computational complexity of motion planning of robot(s) through a graph of "gadgets", where each gadget has its own state defining a set of allowed traversals which in turn modify the gadget’s state. We study two general families of such gadgets within this theory, one which naturally leads to motion planning problems with polynomially bounded solutions, and another which leads to polynomially unbounded (potentially exponential) solutions. We also study a range of competitive game-theoretic scenarios, from one player controlling one robot to teams of players each controlling their own robot and racing to achieve their team’s goal. Under certain restrictions on these gadgets, we fully characterize the complexity of bounded 1-player motion planning (NL vs. NP-complete), unbounded 1-player motion planning (NL vs. PSPACE-complete), and bounded 2-player motion planning (P vs. PSPACE-complete), and we partially characterize the complexity of unbounded 2-player motion planning (P vs. EXPTIME-complete), bounded 2-team motion planning (P vs. NEXPTIME-complete), and unbounded 2-team motion planning (P vs. undecidable). These results can be seen as an alternative to Constraint Logic (which has already proved useful as a basis for hardness reductions), providing a wide variety of agent-based gadgets, any one of which suffices to prove a problem hard.
Examining the legal representation of youth in foster care: Perspectives of attorneys and attorney guardians ad litem

Abstract Despite recent federal policy changes related to improving the quality of legal representation afforded youth in foster care, few empirical studies have examined the topic. This exploratory national study examined the perceptions of attorneys who represent foster youth (N = 934) about the legal representation of foster youth involved in dependency court proceedings. Variables of interest included impact of legal representation on foster care, perceived quality of legal representation afforded foster youth, and perceived quality of the relationship between attorneys and the youth they represent, among others. Data were analyzed for descriptive statistics and comparisons in perceptions, by demographics (e.g., race, age, etc.) and professional characteristics (e.g., years of experience, jurisdiction representation model, etc.). Overall, data suggest that participants typically agreed that legal representation can be impactful to the overall foster care experience. However, current quality of that representation was rated lowest among all variables. Notably, group differences were detected by gender and jurisdiction representation model. Findings indicate the need for focus on more robust training models, targeted policies, and further research on the legal representation of youth in foster care.
Causal Inference in Matching Markets: Simulable Mechanisms

We formalize an econometric model for two-sided matching mechanisms in a school choice context, where exogenous variation is generated by using lotteries as a tie-breaking mechanism. Our model accommodates a wide range of matching algorithms studied in the theoretical market design literature. We propose a Horvitz–Thompson estimator for the average treatment effect that is exactly unbiased, compatible with multiple treatments, and compatible with heterogeneous treatment effects. We present theoretical properties of the estimator and inference procedures. Our work clarifies the econometric model used in Abdulkadiroglu et al. (2017) and provides a robustness check on their results.
Negotiating Organizational Identity: The Communicative Resilience of Small-Town Gay Bars:

Gay bars historically functioned as the only space where LGBTQ+ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans*, queer) people could escape intolerance and persecution. From drag shows to dancing to counterculture...
Cerebrovascular Neuroprotection after Acute Concussion in Adolescents.

OBJECTIVE To assess acute cerebrovascular function in concussed adolescents (14-21 years of age), whether it is related to resting cerebral hemodynamics, and whether it recovers chronically. METHODS Cerebral vasoreactivity and autoregulation, based on middle cerebral artery blood flow velocity, was assessed in 28 concussed participants (≤14 days of injury) and 29 matched controls. The participants in the concussion group returned for an 8-week follow-up assessment. Over the course of those 8-weeks, participants recorded aerobic exercise frequency and duration. RESULTS Between groups, demographic, clinical, and hemodynamic variables were not significantly different. Vasoreactivity was significantly higher in the concussed group (p = 0.02). Within the concussed group, 60% of the variability in resting cerebral blood flow velocity was explained by vasoreactivity and two components of autoregulation - falling slope and effectiveness of autoregulation (adjusted R2 = 0.60, p < 0.001). Moreover, lower mean arterial pressure, lower responses to increases in arterial pressure, and lower vasoreactivity were significantly associated with larger symptom burden (adjusted R2 = 0.72, p < 0.01). By the 8-week timepoint, symptom burden, but not vasoreactivity, improved in all but four concussed participants (p < 0.01). 8-week change in vasoreactivity was positively associated with aerobic exercise volume (adjusted R2 = 0.19, p = 0.02). INTERPRETATION Concussion resulted in changes in cerebrovascular regulatory mechanisms, which in turn explained the variability in resting cerebral blood flow velocity and acute symptom burden. Furthermore, these alterations persisted chronically despite symptom resolution, but was positively modified by aerobic exercise volume. These findings provide a mechanistic framework for further investigation into underlying cerebrovascular related symptomatology. ANN NEUROL 2021;90:43-51.
Binge ethanol consumption-associated behavioral impairments in male mice using a gelatin-based drinking-in-the dark model.

Abstract Background Acute intoxication caused by binge ethanol drinking is linked to widespread impairments in brain functions. Various alcohol administration paradigms have been used in animals to model the heterogeneous clinical manifestation of intoxication in people. It is challenging to model a procedure that produces “visible intoxication” in rodents; however, manipulation of variables such as route of alcohol administration, time of availability, frequency, and duration and amount of ethanol exposure has achieved some success. In the current study, we employed a modified drinking-in-the-dark model to assess the validity of this model in producing “post-ethanol consumption intoxication” impairments following prolonged repeated daily voluntary “binge” ethanol consumption. Methods Adult male C57BL/6J mice were allowed a daily 3-h access to non-alcoholic plain or ethanol-containing gel during the dark cycle for a total of 83 days. After the initial 2-month daily DID, ethanol intake patterns were intensely characterized during the next 3 weeks. Immediately following the last DID session (day 83), plain and ethanol gel-consuming mice were then subjected to behavioral tests of locomotor ability and/or anxiety (cylinder, wire grip, open field) followed by blood ethanol concentration measurement. Result Mice exhibited a relatively consistent ethanol consumption pattern during and across daily access periods. Ethanol intake of individual mice positively correlated with blood ethanol concentration that averaged 61.64 ± 2.84 mg/dL (n = 12). Compared to the plain gel-consuming control mice, ethanol gel mice exhibited significant locomotor impairment as well as anxiety-like behavior, with the magnitude of impairments of key indices well correlated with blood ethanol levels. Conclusion The gelatin vehicle-based voluntary ethanol drinking-in-the-dark model reliably produced post consumption acute movement impairments as well as anxiety-like behaviors even after 2 months of daily binge ethanol consumption in male mice. Taken together, this mouse binge ethanol model should facilitate the investigation of mechanisms of binge drinking in subjects chronically abusing ethanol and the search for effective novel treatment strategies.
The Impact of Big-Time Sports on University Academic Outcomes: Evidence from NCAA Conference Changes

Advocates of big-time college athletics posit large advertising effects from college football and men's basketball. Subsidies of about $20 million per year from universities to athletic department also motivate interest in this topic. Most research focuses on athletic success to quantify advertising effect strength. Although athletic success likely generates advertising effects, universities interested in increased national exposure cannot rely on athletic success alone, since athletic competitions generate zero sum outcomes. We estimate the collective effect of big-time college sports on educational outcomes rather than focus on success using conference changes as quasi-random shocks to the sports-driven advertising effect and estimate average treatment effects of conference changes using Integrated Post-secondary Education Data System (IPEDS) data for 90 NCAA D-1A/FBS universities over 2002 to 2015. Difference-in-differences estimates provide weak evidence that changing conferences reduces applications and mixed evidence of impacts on state appropriations.
Abstract 461: Pan-liver disease single cell-based deconvolution reveals γδ2 T cells as a marker in hepatocellular carcinoma development

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the most common form of primary adult liver cancer and the fourth leading cause of cancer-related death worldwide. HCC incidence is highest most often in people with chronic liver diseases, yet the effect of cell composition on the progression of chronic liver diseases to HCC remains unknown. Using gene biomarkers of twenty cell-types identified from healthy liver scRNA-seq data, we estimated cell compositions of six chronic liver diseases and HCC based on their bulk RNA-seq samples. We observed a decrease in the enrichment of various health cells as the progression of liver diseases. Compared to a healthy state, liver fibrosis and HCC present higher enrichment of γδ2 T cells and lower enrichment of central venous liver sinusoidal endothelial cells (LSECs). High enrichment of γδ2 T cells was specifically observed in HCV and/or HBV positive HCC and advanced HCC. γδ2 T cell is one of the nine cell types that are associated with HCC prognosis. The analysis of multiple independent datasets confirmed that γδ2 T cells enrichment is more associated with poor prognosis in patients with lower Alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) level and HCV/HBV positive patients. Following pan-cancer analysis suggested enrichment of γδ2 T cells is associated with poor prognosis in kidney renal clear cell carcinoma, kidney renal papillary cell carcinoma, and low grade gliomas. In addition, this type of cells is also enriched in the blood samples of various chronic liver diseases and HCC, indicating the potential of being diagnostic markers. In summary, the integrative bioinformatics analysis identified γδ2 T cells as a marker for HCC progression. Citation Format: Rama Shankar, Jeremy Haskins, Shreya Paithankar, Bin Chen. Pan-liver disease single cell-based deconvolution reveals γδ2 T cells as a marker in hepatocellular carcinoma development [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2021; 2021 Apr 10-15 and May 17-21. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2021;81(13_Suppl):Abstract nr 461.
Meta-Analysis of Usefulness of Antiplatelet Therapy in Ischemic Stroke or Transient Ischemic Attack

The efficacy of early administration of dual antiplatelet therapy (DAPT) for secondary prevention after acute ischemic stroke or transient ischemic attack (TIA) is uncertain. This systematic review and meta-analysis compares the safety and efficacy of early administration (<24 hours) of DAPT (using either clopidogrel or ticagrelor with aspirin) versus single antiplatelet therapy (SAPT; aspirin alone) in acute non-cardioembolic ischemic stroke or TIA, incorporating data from large randomized controlled trials. Published trials fulfilling our criteria were identified from an electronic search of MEDLINE, with key words including: "clopidogrel or ticagrelor", "aspirin", "ischemic stroke", "transient ischemic attack", and "randomized controlled trial". Included were 3 randomized controlled trials of 21,067 patients assessing early administration (<24 hours from symptom onset) of DAPT versus SAPT in non-cardioembolic acute ischemic stroke or TIA. Our efficacy outcomes were ischemic stroke and all-cause mortality. Our safety outcome was severe bleeding. We performed a meta-analysis to pool results with a hierarchical Bayesian random-effects model. Dual antiplatelet therapy significantly reduced the risk of ischemic stroke (hazard ratio [HR], 0.73; 95% credible interval [CrI]: 0.54, 0.97), while increasing the risk of severe bleeding (HR, 2.48; 95% CrI: 1.07, 5.26). There was a non-significant numerical trend toward increased mortality with DAPT (HR, 1.29; 95% CrI: 0.73, 2.23). These observations were robust under the sensitivity analysis. In the present systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials, DAPT reduced the risk of ischemic stroke at the cost of an increase in severe bleeding. Additional trials examining the ideal timing of DAPT administration are needed to thoroughly investigate the role, if any, of routine DAPT in patients with non-cardioembolic ischemic stroke or high-risk TIA.
Fixtures Design Considerations for Impedance Measurement

The parasitic impedance in a current commutation loop (CCL) is a major factor for the switching performance of power electronics especially the wide bandgap (WBG) devices, which usually generate high di/dt. The terminals of components in a CCL may not always be standard. The fixture adapter with clip lead may not be accurate enough for WBG application, while the commercial high bandwidth fixture adapters are not always available. Therefore, it is critical to design fixture adapter boards to make a better interface and mitigate measurement errors. In this work, detailed fixture design procedures are presented. These design methods were validated by comparing with the commercial fixture adapters. In addition, various considerations to further improve the measurement accuracy are discussed, summarized, and evaluated through tests. The dc-link capacitors and the busbar for a half-bridge module are regarded as the device under test, whose impedance is extracted using the proposed fixture design. Finally, the experimental results from the double pulse test verified the accuracy of the proposed fixture design, with an error of less than 1%.
Racial and ethnic differences in pediatric surgery utilization in the United States: A nationally representative cross-sectional analysis

Abstract Objectives Children of minority background have reduced access to surgery. This study assessed for racial/ethnic differences in surgical utilization by location. Materials and methods We conducted a cross-sectional analysis of U.S. children (0–17 years of age) participating in the nationally representative Medical Expenditure Panel Survey (MEPS, 2015–2018). Race/ethnicity was the variable of interest. The primary outcome variables were prevalence rates of surgery defined by location of surgical procedure (inpatient, emergency department, hospital outpatient, and office). Covariates included contextual factors that may influence access to and need for healthcare services, including age, sex, insurance status, residential geographic status, usual source of care, and parental reports of child's physical and mental health. We employed multivariate logistic regression models to assess the relationship between outcomes and race/ethnicity. Results The study population included 31,024 children with an overall surgical rate of 4.8%. Adjusted odds of surgery in an ambulatory location were lower for all racial/ethnic minority groups compared to non-Hispanic White counterparts (non-Hispanic Black aOR = 0.3, 95% CI: 0.2–0.5; Hispanic aOR = 0.4, 95% CI: 0.3–0.6; non-Hispanic Asian aOR = 0.2, 95% CI 0.0–0.5 for hospital outpatient surgery; for office-based setting, non-Hispanic Black aOR = 0.4, 95% CI 0.3–0.6; Hispanic aOR = 0.5, 95% CI: 0.4–0.7; non-Hispanic Asian aOR = 0.4; 95% CI 0.3–0.7). No racial/ethnic differences were observed for surgical procedures in inpatient or emergency department locations. Conclusions Staggering differences exist in pediatric surgery utilization patterns by racial/ethnic background, even after adjusting for important contextual factors (income, insurance, health status). Our findings in a nationally representative dataset may suggest systemic barriers related to racial/ethnic background for the pediatric surgical population.
The Role of Social Support in Telehealth Utilization Among Older Adults in the United States During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Background: Older adults may experience a significant digital divide and need support with using technology to transition to telehealth. This study examines the role of social support for telehealt...
SU-E-J-66: Significant Anatomical and Dosimetric Changes Observed with the Pharyngeal Constrictor During Head and Neck Radiotherapy Elicited From Daily Deformable Image Registration and Dose Accumulation

Purpose: To evaluate the anatomical changes and associated dosimetric consequences to the pharyngeal constrictor (PC) that occurs during head and neck radiotherapy (HN 0.5±0.2% (0.3±0.1 Gy) vs. 2.2±1.4% (1.4±0.9 Gy). There was a statisticallymore » significant (p<0.0001) strong correlation between ΔDmean and Δt (Pearson coefficient r=0.78), and a moderate-to-strong correlation (r=0.52) between ΔDmean and ΔV. Correlation between ΔDmean and weight loss ΔW (r=0.1), as well as ΔV and ΔW (r=0.2) were negligible. Conclusion: Patients were found to undergo considerable anatomical changes to pharyngeal constrictor during H&N RT, resulting in non-negligible dose deviations from intended dose. Results are indicative that pharyngeal constrictor thickness, measured at C3 level, is a good predictor for the dose change to the organ. Daily deformable registration and dose accumulation provide a reliable means to assess important anatomical and dosimetric changes to pharyngeal constrictor occurring during treatment. This work was supported in part by a research grant from Varian Medical Systems, Palo Alto, CA.« less
Healthy Brain Aging: Evidence Based Methods to Preserve Brain Function and Prevent Dementia. Preface.

This issue examines what is a healthy aging brain and covers preventive measures for successful cognitive aging. Topics covered in this title include: a road map to healthy aging brain; cardiovascular risk factors, cerebrovascular disease burden and healthy aging brain; healthy aging brain - impact of head injury, alcohol and environmental toxins; healthy aging brain - what has sleep go to do with it; endocrine aspects of healthy aging brain; healthy aging brain - role of exercise and physically active lifestyle; healthy aging brain - role of nutrition and nutritional supplements; healthy aging brain - role of cognitive reserve, cognitive stimulation and cognitive exercises; healthy aging brain: impact of positive and negative emotions; dementia risk predictor - are we there yet; potential future neuroprotective therapies for neurodegenerative disorders and stroke; and, healthy aging brain - importance of promoting resilience and creativity.
Action Techniques in Psychoanalysis

(1990). Action Techniques in Psychoanalysis. Contemporary Psychoanalysis: Vol. 26, No. 4, pp. 732-756.
A novel simple anisotropic effective medium method (SAEM) for modeling curved objects in Cartesian FDTD mesh

A novel simple anisotropic effective medium method (SAEM) based on local correction is presented in this paper by taking into account the physical effects of the partial material fulfillment on the permittivity and permeability of the distorted cells. It reduces the staircasing errors significantly and introduces physical insight, which proves to be efficient and straightforward to implement. The comparison between the numeric results and analytic solutions shows great improvement over the previous curved object modeling techniques
The Prince and the Pancratiast: Persian-Thessalian Relations in the Late Fifth Century B.C.

Darius II’s invitation to the Olympic victor Poulydamas and Cyrus’ friendship with Thessalian aristocrats were renewals of old ties between Persia and Thessaly and part of Persian intervention in the Peloponnesian War.
SIDS and Homicide

In Reply.— Drs Bass and Hass cite the progress being made in the training of scene-investigators and this is desirable. No one would disagree that there is a great need for improved, standardized death-scene investigation by competent and objective personnel in all cases of sudden unexpected death in children. The additional need, as pointed out in the article,1 is for Child Death Review Teams in all jurisdictions,2-5 providing interdisciplinary in-depth investigation of all aspects of the unexpected death.
Study on the Inert Anode for Al Electrolysis Based on the NiFe2O4 Spinel Ceramics

A kind of cermet inert anode for Al electrolysis based on NiFe2O4 had been studied in this paper. Firstly, the effect of NiFe2O4 pre-sintering temperature on properties of inert anodes was researched, and then the appropriate technological conditions were determined by the orthogonal test. The properties such as density, conductivity, corrosion rate, mechanical property and thermal shock resistance have been used as controlling parameter to obtain the optimum technological condition. The inert anode sized Φ50mm×15mm is prepared and tested as anode for 10h Al electrolysis in laboratory. This anode behaves good corrosion resistance to cryolite molten salt. The result gives that the corrosion rate of the anode was 1.5x10−4g•cm−2•h−1 after the 8 h electrolysis, and the purity of the aluminum gained from Al electrolysis test was 92 %~93 %. The analysis shows the main contaminations in the raw aluminum are Fe, Ni and Ag.
AN IMPROVED PATTERN RECOGNITION ADAPTIVE CONTROLLER

Abstract Seem (1998) described a pattern recognition adaptive controller (PRAC) that tunes PI controllers. PRAC has successfully been used in over 500,000 controllers for heating, ventilating, and air-conditioning equipment. However, there have been three reported problems: 1) PRAC will detune under capacity systems that are repeatedly restarted, 2) PRAC may not tune PI controllers with extremely large values for initial controller gain, and 3) PRAC may detune in the presence of oscillating load disturbances. This paper describes new equations and logic that corrects these three problems.
Study of Proton Expansion in (p,2p) Quasielastic Scattering at Large Transverse Momentum

The measured nuclear transparencies in targets of Li, C, Al, Cu and Pb at incident momenta of 6, 10, and 12 GeV/c have been used to study the rate of proton expansion connected with (p,2p) quasielastic scattering at large momentum transfer. Simple models with linear or quadratic expansion of the effective cross section fail to simultaneously fit the measured transparencies at all three momenta. If only the 6 and 10 GeV/c transparencies are fitted, satisfactory representations can be obtained when the expansion distances for protons at 6 GeV/c are greater than 6.4 fm(linear) and 4.0 fm(quadratic). These distances are greater than those suggested by most Expansion models except the quadratic 'naive expansion' picture. However, the transparencies are well represented by the Nuclear Filtering model with no explicit expansion.
Comparative Statistical Study of the Cornwall, LKB, and Micromedic Dispensers

The working precisions of the 5.0-ml-capacity Cornwall, the LKB 2075, and the Micromedic model 25000 dispensers were compared, and the bias of the LKB dispenser was contrasted with that of the Micromedic dispenser. Three technologists used six Cornwall dispensers, three LKB units with four different pumps, and three Micromedic units with six different pumps to dispense (in 1.0-ml amounts) sucrose solution adjusted to match the normal viscosity of serum. Under these conditions, the LKB dispenser was approximately 30% more precise than the Micromedic dispenser, which was approximately four times as precise as the Cornwall dispenser. Although the left pump site of the Micromedic was slightly more precise than the LKB, overall the Micromedic was less precise than the LKB. Moreover, the LKB was easier to use than the Micromedic.
Multiple layers of seismic anisotropy and a low-velocity region in the mantle wedge beneath Japan: Evidence from teleseismic receiver functions

[1] A complete characterization of seismic anisotropy can yield powerful constraints on mantle flow and deformation. This is particularly important for the mantle wedge above subducting slabs, where the geometry of mantle flow remains poorly understood. We seek to better characterize the geometry and strength of anisotropy in the mantle wedge beneath northeast Honshu and Hokkaido, both of which overlie the subducting Pacific plate. Previous studies indicate that upper mantle anisotropy in the Japan subduction zone is highly complex and exhibits dramatic spatial variations. To provide complementary constraints on the along strike variations in anisotropy, we analyze teleseismic receiver functions from stations of the broadband F-net array using the multitaper correlation receiver function estimator. Backazimuthal variations in P-to-SH converted energy provide clear evidence for complicated anisotropic structure in the mantle wedge beneath northeast Honshu and Hokkaido. In northeast Honshu, forward modeling of receiver functions using synthetic seismograms suggests the presence of an anisotropic layer in the forearc mantle wedge above the subducting slab and a second anisotropic layer beneath the crust of the overriding plate. We also see evidence for a region of low (isotropic) velocity in the central part of the wedge beneath NE Honshu. Comparisons between transverse component receiver functions at stations located in NE Honshu and Hokkaido reveal striking differences, providing further evidence for along strike variation in anisotropic structure in the mantle wedge beneath Japan.
Structural Basis for the Metal-Selective Activation of the Manganese Transport Regulator of Bacillus subtilis.

The manganese transport regulator (MntR) of Bacillus subtilis is activated by Mn2+ to repress transcription of genes encoding transporters involved in the uptake of manganese. MntR is also strongly activated by cadmium, both in vivo and in vitro, but it is poorly activated by other metal cations, including calcium and zinc. The previously published MntR·Mn2+ structure revealed a binuclear complex of manganese ions with a metal−metal separation of 3.3 A (herein designated the AB conformer). Analysis of four additional crystal forms of MntR·Mn2+ reveals that the AB conformer is only observed in monoclinic crystals at 100 K, suggesting that this conformation may be stabilized by crystal packing forces. In contrast, monoclinic crystals analyzed at room temperature (at either pH 6.5 or pH 8.5), and a second hexagonal crystal form (analyzed at 100 K), all reveal the shift of one manganese ion by 2.5 A, thereby leading to a newly identified conformation (the AC conformer) with an internuclear distance of 4.4 A. ...
Rule-based mineral sequences in geochemical flow processes

The infiltration of an aqueous solution into a permeable medium generally results in the dissolution of some of the minerals initially present and the possible precipitation of others. When the infiltration velocities are small, as is the case for many natural processes, conditions of local equilibrium apply and the dissolution and precipitation processes exhibit a wave-type behavior reminiscent of chromatogrphic fronts. Zones of constant composition (state) will be separated by narrow regions within which the aqueous and solid phase concentrations exhibit sharp changes. Because of this wave-like structure, an algebraic solution of the coupled material balance equations exists, but in a form that involves a trial and error solution procedure which has heretofore discouraged its application. This paper describes the essence of a scheme which uses a combination of graph theory and heuristics to minimize trials and thereby render the algebraic solution practical. The scheme offers an alternative to time-sequencing solutions (e.g., finite difference) of the set of partial differential equations.
Family logotherapy with an overweight family

Family logotherapy is a kind of family treatment based upon the central idea that a number of different kinds of symptoms and problems can fill the existential vacuum which develops in families that are unable to experience and discover a sense of family meaning. In this paper the author overviews and briefly describes a number of family logotherapy treatment activities and shows how they can be used with a family which utilizes overeating to fill a family existential vacuum.
Omnibus permutation tests of the overall null hypothesis in datasets with many covariates.

Tests of the overall null hypothesis in datasets with one outcome variable and many covariates can be based on various methods to combine the p-values for univariate tests of association of each covariate with the outcome. The overall p-value is computed by permuting the outcome variable. We discuss the situations in which this approach is useful and provide several examples. We use simulations to investigate seven omnibus test statistics and find that the Anderson–Darling and Fisher's statistics are superior to the others.
World War I and the postwar depression A reinterpretation based on alternative estimates of GNP

Abstract This paper examines the official Commerce Department estimates of gross national product for 1909–1928 and suggests that they are far inferior to the less commonly used Kendrick GNP estimates. The paper then derives a revised version of the Kendrick series that alters significantly the representation of annual movements in GNP before 1919. This endorsement of a revised Kendrick GNP series in place of the official Commerce Department estimates before 1929 suggests that aggregate demand movements had much less effect on real output during World War I and the Depression of 1921 than is commonly believed.
Perturbations of Smooth Actions with Nontrivial Cohomology

We prove a general perturbation result for smooth Lie group actions with nontrivial finite-dimensional cohomology. It describes sufficient conditions on cohomology over an action which imply that the action lies in a finite-dimensional family of actions such that any small perturbation of the family intersects the smooth conjugacy class of the given action. We cast the classical KAM result on perturbations of Diophantine vector fields on tori into this general setup, and we address a few applications and potential applications of this result to homogeneous Lie group actions with finite-dimensional first cohomology. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Tropical Clouds and Circulation Changes during the 2006/07 and 2009/10 El Niños

AbstractChanges in tropical cloud vertical structure, cloud radiative forcing (CRF), and circulation exhibit distinctly different characteristics during the 2006/07 and 2009/10 El Ninos, revealed by CloudSat and Cloud–Aerosol Lidar and Infrared Pathfinder Satellite (CALIPSO) observations and reanalysis data. On the tropical average, the 2009/10 has a decrease of clouds from 2 to 14 km, an increase of clouds in the boundary layer, and an increase of cirrus clouds above 14 km. The tropical-mean cloud anomalies in the middle to upper troposphere (6–14 km) for the 2006/07 El Nino are nearly opposite to those in 2009/10 El Nino. The tropical averaged net CRF anomaly at the top of the atmosphere (TOA) is 0.6–0.7 W m−2 cooling (0.02–0.5 W m−2 warming) for the 2009/10 (2006/07) El Nino. The 2009/10 El Nino is associated with a strengthening of tropical circulation, increased high (low) clouds in extremely strong ascending (descending) regimes, and decreased clouds in the middle and high altitudes in a broad range...
Adapting simultaneous analysis phylogenomic techniques to study complex disease gene relationships

Display Omitted Complex disorders may involve genes that share evolutionary history.Simultaneous Analysis (SA) can study phylogenetic conservation between genes.ASAP2 uses an automated SA approach to explore potential shared evolution of genes.Use of ASAP2 reveals potential shared evolution of Alzheimer Disease genes. The characterization of complex diseases remains a great challenge for biomedical researchers due to the myriad interactions of genetic and environmental factors. Network medicine approaches strive to accommodate these factors holistically. Phylogenomic techniques that can leverage available genomic data may provide an evolutionary perspective that may elucidate knowledge for gene networks of complex diseases and provide another source of information for network medicine approaches. Here, an automated method is presented that leverages publicly available genomic data and phylogenomic techniques, resulting in a gene network. The potential of approach is demonstrated based on a case study of nine genes associated with Alzheimer Disease, a complex neurodegenerative syndrome.The developed technique, which is incorporated into an update to a previously described Perl script called "ASAP," was implemented through a suite of Ruby scripts entitled "ASAP2," first compiles a list of sequence-similarity based orthologues using PSI-BLAST and a recursive NCBI BLAST+ search strategy, then constructs maximum parsimony phylogenetic trees for each set of nucleotide and protein sequences, and calculates phylogenetic metrics (Incongruence Length Difference between orthologue sets, partitioned Bremer support values, combined branch scores, and Robinson-Foulds distance) to provide an empirical assessment of evolutionary conservation within a given genetic network. In addition to the individual phylogenetic metrics, ASAP2 provides results in a way that can be used to generate a gene network that represents evolutionary similarity based on topological similarity (the Robinson-Foulds distance).The results of this study demonstrate the potential for using phylogenomic approaches that enable the study of multiple genes simultaneously to provide insights about potential gene relationships that can be studied within a network medicine framework that may not have been apparent using traditional, single-gene methods. Furthermore, the results provide an initial integrated evolutionary history of an Alzheimer Disease gene network and identify potentially important co-evolutionary clustering that may warrant further investigation.
Interleukin 2 induces proliferation of normal "resting" human T cells in the absence of other known external stimulation.

Abstract Interleukin 2 (IL-2) is known to stimulate the progression of activated T cells from G 1 through the rest of the cell cycle. We have demonstrated that addition of purified recombinant human IL-2 (rIL-2) to fresh normal human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBM), which were IL-2 receptor (Tac) negative by FACS analysis, stimulated marked proliferation of the PBM. IL-2-induced proliferation was also observed with umbilical cord blood mononuclear cells. Monocyte depletion of PBM resulted in a marked reduction of rIL-2-induced proliferative response which could be restored by adding back autologous irradiated monocytes but not by interleukin 1. The T cells preincubated with rIL-2 showed a five to six times enhanced autologous mixed-lymphocyte reaction (AMLR) compared to controls. The rIL-2-induced proliferative response of PBM was inhibited in a concentration-dependent fashion by preincubation of PBM with an anti-HLA-DR framework monoclonal antibody. The proliferating cells were shown by two-color flow cytometric analysis to be primarily Leu-1+ and Leu-4+ T cells (both leu-3+ and Leu-2+ subsets); however, 6 to 19% of responding cells had surface markers for B cells or NK cells. The data demonstrate that rIL-2 can induce proliferation of “resting” human T cells. The phenomenon may be related to a monocyte-dependent AMLR which induces IL-2 receptors and IL-2 responsiveness in a subset of T cells.
Preferred locomotor phase of activity of lumbar interneurons during air-stepping in subchronic spinal cats

Spinal locomotor circuits are intrinsically capable of driving a variety of behaviors such as stepping, scratching, and swimming. Based on an observed rostrocaudal wave of activity in the motoneuronal firing during locomotor tasks, the traveling-wave hypothesis proposes that spinal interneuronal firing follows a similar rostrocaudal pattern of activation, suggesting the presence of spatially organized interneuronal modules within the spinal motor system. In this study, we examined if the spatial organization of the lumbar interneuronal activity patterns during locomotor activity in the adult mammalian spinal cord was consistent with a traveling-wave organizational scheme. The activity of spinal interneurons within the lumbar intermediate zone was examined during air-stepping in subchronic spinal cats. The preferred phase of interneuronal activity during a step cycle was determined using circular statistics. We found that the preferred phases of lumbar interneurons from both sides of the cord were evenly distributed over the entire step cycle with no indication of functional groupings. However, when units were subcategorized according to spinal hemicords, the preferred phases of units on each side largely fell around the period of extensor muscle activity on each side. In addition, there was no correlation between the preferred phases of units and their rostrocaudal locations along the spinal cord with preferred phases corresponding to both flexion and extension phases of the step cycle found at every rostrocaudal level of the cord. These results are consistent with the hypothesis that interneurons operate as part of a longitudinally distributed network rather than a rostrocaudally organized traveling-wave network.
Electrical stimulation in the medullary nucleus raphe magnus inhibits noxious heat-evoked fos protein-like immunoreactivity in the rat lumbar spinal cord.

Abstract Noxious heat applied to the footpad evokes the expression offos protein-like immunoreactivity in the rat spinal cord lumbar dorsal horn. Electrical stimulation in the medullary nucleus raphe magnus (NRM) while not evokingfos-like immunoreactivity itself, reduced significantly the number of neurons (to 50% of control) in the dorsal horn demonstratingfos protein-like immunoreactivity in response to noxious heating of the footpad. Thus descending projections from the medullary NRM appear to have direct inhibitory effects on dorsal horn neurons that receive nociceptive input from cutaneous thermal nociceptors.
Synthesis, Structure, and Superconductivity in Be1.09B3

Abstract The compound Be 1.09 B 3 was prepared by arc-melting of the elemental constituents. The structure of single crystals taken from the arc-melted boule was determined from single-crystal X-ray data ( T =120 K) and is hexagonal, having space group P 6/ mmm , and lattice parameters a =9.7738(7) A and c =9.5467(6) A, R =0.047. The structure consists of a hexagonal array of boronicosahedra, nonicosahedral B 12 cages, and B 18 cages. Stacked hexagonal layers of boron atoms, hexagons formed by B and Be, and equilateral triangles of boron atoms disordered by a 60° rotation exist along a 6-fold axis down the [001] direction. A superconducting transition at 0.72 K is clearly indicated by resistivity measurements.
Early evolution and the origin of eukaryotes

Our understanding of evolutionary relationships in the eukaryotic world has been revolutionized by molecular systematics. Phylogenies based upon comparisons of rRNAs define five major eukaryotic assemblages plus a series of paraphyletic protist lineages. Comparison of conserved genes that were duplicated prior to the divergence of eubacteria, archaebacteria, and eukaryotes, positions the root of the universal tree within the eubacterial line of descent. In this review a novel model is presented which uses the rRNA and protein based phylogenies to describe the evolutionary origins of eukaryotes.
Identification of Novel Direct Stat3 Target Genes for Control of Growth and Differentiation

Signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (Stat3) is a key regulator of gene expression in response to signaling of the glycoprotein 130 (gp130) family cytokines, including interleukin 6, oncostatin M, and leukemia inhibitory factor. Many efforts have been made to identify Stat3 target genes and to understand the mechanism of how Stat3 regulates gene expression. Using the microarray technique, hundreds of genes have been documented to be potential Stat3 target genes in different cell types. However, only a small fraction of these genes have been proven to be true direct Stat3 target genes. Here we report the identification of novel direct Stat3 target genes using a genome-wide screening procedure based on the chromatin immunoprecipitation method. These novel Stat3 target genes are involved in a diverse array of biological processes such as oncogenesis, cell growth, and differentiation. We show that Stat3 can act as both a repressor and activator on its direct target genes. We further show that most of the novel Stat3 direct target genes are dependent on Stat3 for their transcriptional regulation. In addition, using a physiological cell system, we demonstrate that Stat3 is required for the transcriptional regulation of two of the newly identified direct Stat3 target genes important for muscle differentiation.
QALYs: Their Ethical Implications

To the Editor.— The Special Communication by La Puma and Lawlor 1 attempts to discredit the use of the quality-adjusted life-year (QALY) as a quantitative method of outcome assessment in medicine. At the crux of their arguments is the issue of control of medical practice through allocation of scarce resources, and how the QALY might be applied by forces outside the physician/ patient dyad to restrict access to care. The article conjures a vision of an army of cost-effectiveness analysts, perhaps based in government and the insurance industry, whose primary interest is cost-containment and the development of policies to achieve it. This perceived army is poised to apply its new weapon, the QALY (the weaknesses of which they don't understand or choose to ignore), to wrest the control of medical practice from those most directly involved, the patient and the physician. For this, the authors indict the QALY as problematic, speculative,
Secure optical transmission in single-user channel using encrypted wireless CDMA codes

We propose to use encrypted wireless CDMA codes to transmit data securely through an optical single-user channel. Our experiment successfully transmits data at 1.56Gb/s with a BER of 10–3, below FEC limit.
A Generalized Simple Formula to Compute the Implied Volatility

This paper provides a direct method of obtaining an accurate estimate of the implied volatility of a call option. It adds a quadratic adjustment term to an already-known formula for at-the-money calls, previously developed by Brenner and Subrahmanyam [3]. The adjusted formula is quite accurate for options no more than 20 percent in- or out-of-the-money and is simple to program and compute.
Selecting the Best Population, Provided it is Better than a Standard: The Unequal Variance Case

Abstract Bechhofer and Turnbull (1978) proposed two procedures for selecting the best treatment that is better than a standard. That is, the procedures guarantee that (a) with probability at least P 0* (specified), no population is selected when the largest population mean is sufficiently less than the standard and (b), with probability at least P 1* (specified), the population with the largest mean is selected when that mean is sufficiently greater than the second largest mean and the standard. Their first procedure solved the problem for the case of known variances, and the second was for the case of unknown but equal variances. They suggested that the unequal variance case might be handled by using the method in Rinott (1978), but no details were given. This article provides the appropriate probability equations and the necessary table.
Virtual worlds: simulation based optimization in fishery management

The sea scallop resource of Georges Bank supports one of the largest commercial fisheries in the United States. The objective of this research was to develop a technique to examine different management strategies for the sea scallop resource of Georges Bank and compare these strategies to the optimal. A simulation model followed the sea scallop population dynamics using information from recent photographic surveys and studies on spatial and temporal life history parameters, such as growth, natural mortality, spawning, and fishing activities. Stochastic simulation technique was used to describe the influence of the highly variable marine environment. Genetic Algorithm technique was used to develop harvest strategy in the area for optimal utilization by maximizing long term fishing yield. Simulation and Genetic Algorithm are combined to solve the optimization problem. Simulation returns performance measures for a given policy and Genetic Algorithm provides the search process to obtain the optimum policy.
Cancer mortality in health and science technicians.

Background Nearly one million U.S. women are employed as health or science technicians with various chemical and biological exposures, but few studies have looked at their health outcomes. Methods Using 1984–1995 mortality data with coded occupation information, we calculated race- and age-adjusted proportionate cancer mortality ratios (PCMRs) and 95% confidence intervals for two age groups for black and white women with occupations of clinical laboratory (CLT), radiologic, and science technician. Results For CLTs, the PCMRs for breast cancer were borderline significantly elevated. The PCMRs for leukemia were significantly elevated, particularly for myeloid leukemia. Radiologic technicians had no significantly elevated PCMRs. Science technicians had significantly elevated PCMRs for non-Hodgkin's lymphoma and multiple myeloma in the younger age group. Discussion The elevated risks for lymphatic and hematopoietic neoplasms in CLTs and science technicians may be associated with occupational exposures. Am. J. Ind. Med. 36:155–158, 1999. Published 1999 Wiley–Liss, Inc.