cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The search for Alzheimer disease therapeutics - same targets, better trials?

Despite negative findings from numerous clinical trials of potential disease-modifying therapies for Alzheimer disease, amyloid remains the most compelling therapeutic target. Advances in biomarker methods now enable accurate monitoring of Alzheimer disease progression from the earliest stages of the disease. We must therefore redouble efforts to find an effective treatment.
The Systems Approach to Teaching Business Associations

The systems approach is an application of systems analysis to law. Over the past twenty-five years it has proven highly successful in both teaching and legal scholarship. This Article explains the authors’ application of the systems approach in a new casebook, Business Associations: A Systems Approach (forthcoming, Wolters Kluwer 2020). The systems approach is designed to directly prepare students for the practice of law. It does so by providing students with the information lawyers use to solve clients’ problems and asking the students to solve the problems of hypothetical clients in realistic settings. The approach differs from traditional casebooks in four principal respects. First, it provides information as simply and directly as possible instead of asking students to ferret it out or infer it from cases. Second, it explains the law in the context of the physical systems in which law is employed, including law offices, board rooms, courtrooms, legal documentation, and online voting, entity-registration, and information systems. Third, based on our conclusion that the four main entity types (partnership, corporation, LLC, and limited partnership) all perform the same functions, we have organized the material by function — financing, investor voting, manager voting, investor litigation, investment transfers, etc.— instead of by entity type. Lastly, the systems approach is largely a “flipped classroom” approach. Students learn and apply the material to problems prior to class. Class discussions are an opportunity for students to check their reasoning, reach more sophisticated solutions, and critique the system in light of the issues they encountered.
Low-Temperature Multielement Fusible Alloy-Based Molten Sodium Batteries for Grid-Scale Energy Storage

The sustainable future of modern society relies on the development of advanced energy systems. Alkali metals, such as Li, Na, and K, are promising to construct high-energy-density batteries to complement the fast-growing implementation of renewable sources. The stripping/deposition of alkali metals is compromised by serious dendrite growth, which can be intrinsically eliminated by using molten alkali metal anodes. Up to now, most of the conventional molten alkali metal-based batteries need to be operated at high temperatures. To decrease the operating temperature, we extended the battery chemistry to multielement alloys, which provide more flexibility for wide selection and rational screening of cost-effective and fusible metallic electrodes. On the basis of an integrated experimental and theoretical study, the depressed melting point and enhanced interfacial compatibility are elucidated. The proof-of-concept molten sodium battery enabled by the Bi-Pb-Sn fusible alloy not only circumvents the use of costly Ga and In elements but also delivers attractive performance at 100 °C, holding great promise for grid-scale energy storage.
Growth and mineralization of osteoblasts from mesenchymal stem cells on microporous membranes: Epithelial-like growth with transmembrane resistance and pH gradient.

Abstract Osteoblasts in vivo form an epithelial-like layer with tight junctions between cells. Bone formation involves mineral transport into the matrix and acid transport to balance pH levels. To study the importance of the pH gradient in vitro, we used Transwell inserts composed of polyethylene terephthalate (PET) membranes with 0.4 μm pores at a density of (2 ± 0.4) x 106 pores per cm2. Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) prepared from murine bone marrow were used to investigate alternative conditions whereby osteoblast differentiation would better emulate in vivo bone development. MSCs were characterized by flow cytometry with more than 90% CD44 and 75% Sca-1 labeling. Mineralization was validated with paracellular alkaline phosphatase activity, collagen birefringence, and mineral deposition confirming MSCs identity. We demonstrate that MSCs cultured and differentiated on PET inserts form an epithelial-like layer while mineralizing. Measurement of the transepithelial resistance was ∼1400 Ω•cm2 at three weeks of differentiation. The pH value of the media above and under the cells were measured while cells were in proliferation and differentiation. In mineralizing cells, a difference of 0.145 pH unit was observed between the medium above and under the cells indicating a transepithelial gradient. A significant difference in pH units was observed between the medium above and below the cells in proliferation compared to differentiation. Data on pH below membranes were confirmed by pH-dependent SNARF1 fluorescence. Control cells in proliferative medium did not form an epithelial-like layer, displayed low transepithelial resistance, and there was no significant pH gradient. By transmission electron microscopy, membrane attached osteoblasts in vitro had abundant mitochondria consistent with active transport that occurs in vivo by surface osteoblasts. In keeping with osteoblastic differentiation, scanning electron microscopy identified deposition of extracellular collagen surrounded by hydroxyapatite. This in vitro model is a major advancement in modeling bone in vivo for understanding of osteoblast bone matrix production.
Reduced nuclear NAD+ drives DNA damage and subsequent immune activation in the retina.

Mutations in NMNAT1, a key enzyme involved in the synthesis of NAD+ in the nucleus, lead to an early onset severe inherited retinal degeneration (IRD). We aimed to understand the role of nuclear NAD+ in the retina and to identify the molecular mechanisms underlying NMNAT1-associated disease, using a mouse model that harbors the p.V9M mutation in Nmnat1 (Nmnat1V9M/V9M). We identified temporal transcriptional reprogramming in the retinas of Nmnat1V9M/V9M mice prior to retinal degeneration, which begins at 4 weeks of age, with no significant alterations in gene expression at 2 weeks of age and over 2600 differentially expressed genes by 3 weeks of age. Expression of the primary consumer of NAD+ in the nucleus, PARP1, an enzyme involved in DNA damage repair and transcriptional regulation, as well as 7 other PARP family enzymes, was elevated in the retinas of Nmnat1V9M/V9M. This was associated with elevated levels of DNA damage, PARP-mediated NAD+ consumption, and migration of Iba1+/CD45+ microglia/macrophages to the subretinal space in the retinas of Nmnat1V9M/V9M mice. These findings suggest that photoreceptor cells are especially sensitive to perturbation of genome homeostasis, and that PARP-mediated cell death may play a role in other genetic forms of IRDs, and potentially other forms of neurodegeneration.
Leveraging High-Dimensional Neuroimaging Data in Genetic Studies of Neuropsychiatric Disease

The current state of biomedical science is such that both the number and sophistication of methods available to investigate the genetic determinants of disease is unprecedented. For example, the introduction of high-throughput technologies such as DNA microarrays, allow researchers to comprehensively assess the human genome for single nucleotide polymorphisms that confer genetic susceptibility. Indeed, while these, and other similarly sophisticated methods, have yielded notable findings with regard to identification of risk variants in diseases such as diabetes, obesity, and glaucoma, similar studies of neuropsychiatric diseases such as schizophrenia and bipolar disorder have been somewhat less successful in producing strong findings. The reasons why this is the case are numerous, but likely refl ect the very complex genetic architecture of neuropsychiatric conditions. In this chapter, we consider an approach to addressing this complexity that involves the use of what are termed ‘endophenotypes’ (or alternatively ‘intermediate phe-notypes’) in genetic studies of neuropsychiatric disorders. Endophenotypes are biological changes, such as brain structural differences, that are thought to represent underlying molecular, physiologic, or otherwise subclinical changes resulting directly from the genetic variations that mediate susceptibility to overt clinical disease. Furthermore, neuroimaging phenotypes are, for a variety of reasons, thought to represent good candidate endophenotypes for genetic association studies of neuropsychiatric disease. Like high-dimensional genome-wide data, however, these phenotyping technologies can produce hundreds to thousands of data points or more, when all neuroanatomic regions and tissue types of interest are considered. The question then becomes, how can two or more high-dimensional data types (i.e., in this case genomic and neuroimaging) be leveraged, integrated, and analyzed in order to make valid inferences about the genetic basis of neuropsychi-atric disease? We comment on the analytic issues that arise when trying to leverage both genome-wide genetic data and neuroimaging data (e.g., problems related to multiple comparisons and false positives, as well as small sample sizes), and discuss four general approaches, each with its own set of advantages and disadvantages, that can be used in the analysis of imag-ing-genetics data. Finally, we provide a brief review of some of the recent studies that combine imaging and genetics, but note that the field, as a whole, is still very much in its infancy. We also provide suggestions for future directions.
An electronic prosthesis mimicking the dynamic vestibular function

An analog circuit has been designed to mimic the dynamic function of a unilateral semicircular canal of the vestibular system. The circuitry is an integral part of a novel MEMS-based electrostimulatory prosthesis currently investigated by this research group. The device is intended for restoration of permanently damaged balance function. The present experimental results indicate that under the same inertial loading conditions it is feasible to design a prosthesis that matches the signal recorded from the vestibular nerve in squirrel monkey experiments reported in the literature (Jiayin Liu et al., 2003).
Induced norms, states, and numerical ranges

It is shown that two induced norms are the same if and only if the corresponding norm numerical ranges or radii are the same, which in turn is equivalent to the vector states and mixed states arising from the norms being the same. The proofs depend on an auxiliary result of independent interest which concerns when two closed convex sets in a topological vector space are multiples of each other.
The heat-stable root-knot nematode resistance gene Mi-9 from Lycopersicon peruvianum is localized on the short arm of chromosome 6.

The tomato gene Mi-1 confers resistance to three species of root-knot nematodes, Meloidogyne spp. However, the resistance mediated by Mi-1 is inactive at soil temperatures above 28 °C. Previously, we identified and mapped a novel heat-stable nematode resistance gene from the wild species Lycopersicon peruvianum accession LA2157 on to chromosome 6. Here we report further characterization of this heat-stable resistance against three Mi-1-avirulent biotypes of Meloidogyne javanica, Meloidogyne arenaria and Meloidogyne incognita. Screening segregating F2 and F3 progenies, derived from an intraspecific cross between susceptible LA392 and resistant LA2157, for nematode resistance at 25 °C and 32 °C, revealed a simple dominant monogenic inheritance with all the biotypes tested. We designate this gene as Mi-9. As a first step towards cloning of Mi-9, we constructed a linkage map around this gene. A total of 216 F2 progeny from the cross between LA392 and LA2157 were screened with M. javanica at 32 °C and with CT119 and Aps-1, markers that flank the genetic interval that contains the Mi-1 gene. DNA marker analysis indicated that these markers also flank Mi-9. Further mapping of recombinants with both RFLP and PCR-based markers localized Mi-9 to the short arm of chromosome 6 and within the same genetic interval that spans the Mi-1 region.
A Stabilizing Repair Timer

Certain types of system faults, notably data errors due to transient faults, can be repaired by software. The repair consists of identifying faulty variables and then rewriting data to correct the fault. If fault identification is imprecise, repair procedures can contaminate non faulty processes from data originating at faulty processes. This contamination danger is resolved by delaying data correction for a sufficiently long period. In order to delay correction, processes use a repair timer. This paper considers the problem of how asynchronous processes can implement a repair timer that is itself subject to faults. The main results are requirement specifications for a distributed repair timer and a repair timer algorithm. The algorithm self-stabilizes in O(D) rounds, where D is the diameter of the network, and provides reliable timing from k-faulty configurations within O(k) rounds.
Strategies to Improve Performance at a High-Turnover Engineering Organization☆

Abstract The Hybrid Electric Vehicle Team at Virginia Tech is an automotive engineering design team that competes in Advanced Vehicle Technology Competitions, sponsored by the U.S. Department of Energy and managed by Argonne National Laboratory. The team is comprised of graduate and undergraduate engineers who work together to reengineer a production vehicle to reduce its environmental impact while maintaining its marketability. As a student organization primarily encompassing seniors, who graduate and depart from the teamat the end of each academic year, the Hybrid Electric Vehicle Team experienced an average annual turnover rate of 84%. A recently developed strategy currently being implemented reduces the turnover rate to 39%. Other projected benefits of this strategy include more experienced senior team members (733% increase), overall team schedule savings (17%), and better opportunities to evaluate future team members. The Hybrid Electric Vehicle Team is accomplishing these goals by reorganizing the team structure and implementing innovative onboarding strategies with new students. Together, these changes are transforming the Hybrid Electric Vehicle Team into a more sustainable organization that is better acclimated for the environment in which it operates.
Explicit construction of quadratic Lyapunov functions for the small gain, positivity, circle and Popov theorems and their application to robust stability

Lyapunov function proofs of sufficient conditions for asymptotic stability are given for feedback interconnections of bounded real and positive real transfer functions. Two cases are considered: a proper bounded real (resp., positive real) transfer function with a bounded real (resp., positive real) time-varying memoryless nonlinearity; and two strictly proper bounded real (resp., positive real) transfer functions. A similar treatment is given for the circle and Popov theorems. Application of these results to robust stability with time-varying bounded real, positive real, and sector-bounded uncertainty is discussed. >
Numerical modeling of a magnetically insulated line oscillator

The Electrical Engineering department at the University of New Mexico is actively investigating the physics of electron beam driven high power microwave sources. One source of interest, which has been shown to radiate at Gigawatt levels, is the Magnetically Insulated Line Oscillator (MILO). The MILO is a coaxial cross field device coupled to a slow wave structure that is self-insulated and as such does not require an external magnetic field. One area of investigation is the electrical behavior and operation due to geometric changes within the device as well as how internal structures affect plasma generation due to desorbed neutrals and electron impingement. Specifically of interest is how these effects impact the long pulse behavior and multiple pulse capability of the MILO. This paper presents results of particle in cell numerical modeling of the effects of internal geometric changes of an 800 MHz MILO. This paper also presents the design of a modular MILO device that incorporates external and internal current diagnostics as well as various optical ports that will allow for spectroscopic and interferometry measurements of the temporal and spatial evolution of the resultant plasmas.
High Efficiency Triple-Junction Amorphous Silicon Alloy Photovoltaic Technology, Final Technical Report, 6 March 1998 - 15 October 2001

This report describes the research program intended to expand, enhance, and accelerate knowledge and capabilities for developing high-performance, two-terminal multijunction amorphous silicon (a-Si) alloy cells, and modules with low manufacturing cost and high reliability. United Solar uses a spectrum-splitting, triple-junction cell structure. The top cell uses an amorphous silicon alloy of {approx}1.8-eV bandgap to absorb blue photons. The middle cell uses an amorphous silicon germanium alloy ({approx}20% germanium) of {approx}1.6-eV bandgap to capture green photons. The bottom cell has {approx}40% germanium to reduce the bandgap to {approx}1.4-eV to capture red photons. The cells are deposited on a stainless-steel substrate with a predeposited silver/zinc oxide back reflector to facilitate light-trapping. A thin layer of antireflection coating is applied to the top of the cell to reduce reflection loss. The major research activities conducted under this program were: (1) Fundamental studies to improve our understanding of materials and devices; the work included developing and analyzing a-Si alloy and a-SiGe alloy materials prepared near the threshold of amorphous-to-microcrystalline transition and studying solar cells fabricated using these materials. (2) Deposition of small-area cells using a radio-frequency technique to obtain higher deposition rates. (3) Deposition of small-area cells using a modified very high frequency technique to obtain higher deposition rates. (4) Large-area cell research to obtain the highest module efficiency. (5) Optimization of solar cells and modules fabricated using production parameters in a large-area reactor.
TGF-β control of stem cell differentiation genes.

The canonical TGF-β/Smad signaling pathway was delineated in the mid 90s and enriched over the past decade with many findings about its specificity, regulation, networking, and malfunctions in disease. However, a growing understanding of the chromatin status of a critical class of TGF-β target genes – the genes controlling differentiation of embryonic stem cells – recently prompted a reexamination of this pathway and its critical role in the regulation of stem cell differentiation. The new findings reveal master regulators of the pluripotent state set the stage for Smad-mediated activation of master regulators of the next differentiation stage. Furthermore, a novel branch of the TGF-β/Smad pathway has been identified in which a chromatin-reading Smad complex makes the master differentiation genes accessible to canonical Smad complexes for transcriptional activation. These findings provide exciting new insights into the global role of TGF-β signaling in the regulators of stem cell fate.
Testing for multiple species in fossil samples: An evaluation and comparison of tests for equal relative variation

Tests for equal relative variation are valuable and frequently used tools for evaluating hypotheses about taxonomic heterogeneity in fossil hominids. In this study, Monte Carlo methods and simulated data are used to evaluate and compare 11 tests for equal relative variation. The tests evaluated include CV-based parametric bootstrap tests, modifications of Levene's test, and modified weighted scores tests. The results of these simulations show that a modified version of the weighted scores test developed by Fligner and Killeen ([1976] J. Am. Stat. Assoc. 71:210-213) is the only test that maintains an acceptable balance of type I and type II errors, even under conditions where all other tests have extraordinarily high type I error rates or little power.
Spatial orientation of the vestibular system.

1. A simplified three-dimensional state space model of visual vestibular interaction was formulated. Matrix and dynamical system operators representing coupling from the semicircular canals and the visual system to the velocity storage integrator were incorporated into the model. 2. It was postulated that the system matrix for a tilted position was a composition of two linear transformations of the system matrix for the upright position. One transformation modifies the eigenvalues of the system matrix while another rotates the pitch and roll eigenvectors with the head, while maintaining the yaw axis eigenvector approximately spatially invariant. Using this representation, the response characteristics of the pitch, roll, and yaw eye velocity were obtained in terms of the eigenvalues and associated eigenvectors. 3. Using OKAN data obtained from monkeys and comparing to the model predictions, the eigenvalues and eigenvectors of the system matrix were identified as a function of tilt to the side or of tilt to the prone positions, using a modification of the Marquardt algorithm. The yaw eigenvector for right-side-down tilt and for downward pitch cross-coupling was approximately 30 degrees from the spatial vertical. For the prone position, the eigenvector was computed to be approximately 20 degrees relative to the spatial vertical. For both side-down and prone positions, oblique OKN induced along eigenvector directions generated OKAN which decayed to zero along a straight line with approximately a single time constant. This was verified by a spectral analysis of the residual sequence about the straight line fit to the decaying data. The residual sequence was associated with a narrow autocorrelation function and a wide power spectrum. 4. Parameters found using the Marquardt algorithm were incorporated into the model. Diagonal matrices in a head coordinate frame were introduced to represent the direct pathway and the coupling of the visual system to the integrator. Model simulations predicted the behavior of yaw and pitch OKN and OKAN when the animal was upright, as well as the cross-coupling in the tilted position. The trajectories in velocity space were also accurately simulated. 5. There were similarities between the monkey eigenvectors and human perception of the spatial vertical. For side-down tilts and downward eye velocity cross-coupling, there was only an Aubert (A) effect. For upward eye velocity cross-coupling there were both Muller (E) and Aubert (A) effects. The mean of the eigenvectors for upward and downward eye velocities overlay human 1 x g perceptual data.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS).
Gender attitudes and the police in Bosnia and Herzegovina: male officers’ attitudes regarding their female counterparts

Utilizing survey data collected from 127 male Bosnian police officers, this study examines the impact attitudes toward women, individual characteristics, and work experiences have on officers’ perceptions of their female colleagues. It is hypothesized that officers who hold more traditional, patriarchal attitudes toward women will view females as incapable of effectively carrying out police work, regardless of their own work experiences, or demographic characteristics. Results suggest that a majority of Bosnian policemen believe that women are equally as effective as men in all aspects of policing, however, many still cling to stereotypical views of policing and continue to view female officers negatively.
A comparative evaluation of static analysis actionable alert identification techniques

Automated static analysis (ASA) tools can identify potential source code anomalies that could lead to field failures. Developer inspection is required to determine if an ASA alert is important enough to fix, or an actionable alert. Supplementing current ASA tools with automated identification of actionable alerts could reduce developer inspection overhead, leading to an increase in industry adoption of ASA tools. The goal of this research is to inform the selection of an actionable alert identification technique for ranking the output of automated static analysis through a comparative evaluation of actionable alert identification techniques. We investigated six actionable alert identification techniques on three subject projects. Among these six techniques, the systematic actionable alert identification (SAAI) technique reported an average accuracy of 82.5% across the three subject projects when considering both ASA tools evaluated. Check 'n' Crash reported an average accuracy of 85.8% for the single ASA tool evaluated. The other actionable alert identification techniques had average accuracies ranging from 42.2%-78.2%.
ISO 9000 – what it means to international business today

Based on the idea that promoting standardization will encourage the international exchange of goods and services, ISO 9000 is a series of internationally accepted standards which companies use to develop quality management systems and quality improvement processes. It has fast become a customer‐driven prerequisite for supplying goods and services to many businesses in the European Community (EC). Obtaining ISO 9000 certification is not a trivial process. It requires a significant investment in money and time, as well as management’s commitment. Even with the proper resources, US companies are having some difficulties in obtaining certification due to the abundance of ill‐qualified ISO registrars and consultants. But when a company does obtain its certification, it is another cleared hurdle in the race to win new business in the ever expanding arena of international business.
The new iron age

The discovery of a new class of high-temperature superconductors based on iron tests the limits of current theoretical and computational tools for the understanding of strongly correlated systems.
Shear‐Induced Degradation of Plasmid DNA

The majority of gene therapy clinical trials use plasmid DNA that is susceptible to shear-induced degradation. Many processing steps in the extraction, purification, and preparation of plasmid-based therapeutics can impart significant shear stress that can fracture the phosphodiester backbone of polynucleotides, and reduce biological activity. Much of the mechanistic work on shear degradation of DNA was conducted over 30 years ago, and we rely heavily on this early work in an attempt to explain the empirical observations of more recent investigations concerning the aerosolization of plasmids. Unfortunately, the sporadic reports of shear degradation in the literature use different experimental systems, making it difficult to quantitatively compare results and reach definitive mechanistic conclusions. In this review, we describe the forces imparted to DNA during shear stress, and use published data to quantitatively evaluate their relative effects. In addition, we discuss the effects of molecular weight, strain rate, particle size, flexibility, ionic strength, gas-liquid interfaces, and turbulence on the fluid flow degradation of supercoiled plasmid DNA. Finally, we speculate on computational methods that might allow degradation rates in different experimental systems to be predicted.
Brain stem projections of the aortic nerve in the cat: a study using tetramethyl benzidine as the substrate for horseradish peroxidase.

The intra-axonal transport of horseradish peroxidase (HRP) has been used to trace the nodose ganglion and brain stem projections of a physiologically distinct nerve — the aortic depressor nerve — following electrophysiological identification. Tetramethyl benzidine (TMB) has been used as the substrate for demonstrating the centrally transported HRP15,16. This sensitive method for horseradish peroxidase histochemistry has permitted the visualization of the central projections of aortic nerve afferents and has also provided information regarding the anatomical localization of cell bodies of these sensory nerve fibers within the nodose ganglion. This study demonstrates the usefulness of using TMB as a substrate for HRP histochemistry in anatomical studies where the detection of anterogradely transported HRP is an essential prerequisite. The uptake of HRP from the cut central ends of sensory nerve fibers and the transport of this enzyme to the sensory ganglion and subsequently into the central processes of these sensory neurons have made possible this study of the central projections of a functionally distinct peripheral nerve. Information has been provided by this study that cell bodies of aortic nerve afferent fibers are localized in the rostrolateral pole of the nodose ganglion. Dense central projections of sensory terminals of aortic afferents have been found in the dorsolateral and medial subdivisions of the nucleus of the tractus solitarius. These central projections of aortic afferents extend for 6 mm rostrocaudally in the medulla with the densest projection being found at the level of the obex. These projections are bilateral at all rostrocaudal levels. This anatomical demonstration of the dorsolateral and medial subdivision of the nucleus of the tractus solitarius confirms earlier reports based on electrophysiological studies 5–8,14. Of particular interest in this study is the new observation that there exists a dense projection of aortic nerve afferents to the area postrema. The possible physiological implications of a direct input of peripheral chemoreceptor afferents to a region of central chemosensitivity are discussed. The complete absence of any retrogradely labeled cell body in the brain stem from exposure of the aortic nerve to horseradish peroxidase is noteworthy. This indicates that the aortic nerve is purely afferent in function and that reflex control of afferent activity in the aortic nerve is not mediated by brain stem neurons projecting down the same nerve.
The evaluation and management of obscure and occult gastrointestinal bleeding

Gastrointestinal (GI) bleeding is a common clinical presentation increasing in an aging population, frequently requiring hospitalization and emergent intervention, with significant morbidity, mortality, and costs. It may manifest overtly as hematemesis, melena, or hematochezia, or as an asymptomatic occult bleed. Management typically involves an esophagogastroduodenoscopy or a colonoscopy; these in combination sometimes do not identify a source of bleeding, with the source remaining obscure. Further work up to identify an obscure source frequently requires radiologically detecting the leakage of an intravascular tracer (using tagged red blood cells or angiography) with brisk bleeding or in other cases CT enterography (CTE) to detect bowel wall changes consistent with a bleeding source. Recent advances including capsule endoscopy, CTE, and double-balloon endoscopy have helped to identify bleeding sources beyond the reach of conventional endoscopy. Clinical decision-making about their use is complex and evolving. Knowing their relative merits and weaknesses including yield, contraindications, complications, and cost is essential in coming up with an appropriate management plan. This review covers the rationale for clinical management of obscure sources of GI bleeding, mentioning the approach to and the yield of conventional methods, with an emphasis on the recent advances mentioned above.
Changes in Reaction Times and Executive Decision-Making following Exposure to Waterborne Motion

Abstract : A unique mission of the U.S. Marine Corps is the amphibious assault landing. These missions require transportation by small watercraft, exposing Marines to waterborne motion before landing. The timeliness and accuracy of their decisions once the Marines debark may well determine the outcome of an entire operation. This study assesses how warfighters performance is affected following exposure to waterborne motion in an amphibious vehicle. Sixty-one Marines were evaluated in four conditions: following one, two and three-hour exposures to waterborne motion and following a two-hour period in a stationary vehicle. Testing included performance on an obstacle course, a marksmanship course, and a cognitive test battery. Self-reported motion sickness levels were also assessed. Results showed no differences on the marksmanship and obstacle course performance. However, after two and three hours of waterborne motion exposure, Marines experienced reduced response times and poorer executive decision making as measured using the Automated Neuropsychological Assessment Metric.
Translating Truths: Nationalism, the Practice of Archaeology, and the Remaking of Past and Present in contemporary Jerusalem

Focusing on the practices of Israeli archaeology in Jerusalem's Old City and the building of the new Jewish Quarter (post-1967), I situate the work of archaeology within a wider network of institutions and practices, arguing that once we recognize that archaeologists produce tangible things, its potential power as knowledge and as science may become more starkly apparent. By examining one particular instance of scientific practice and its role in processes of cultural production and spatial transformation, I hope to raise questions more broadly about the best way to account for how (scientific) knowledge actually helps to fabricate novel cultural and political realities and to produce specific regimes of rule, [archaeology, science, material culture, colonialism, nationalism, Israel]
The Scap/SREBP pathway is essential for developing diabetic fatty liver and carbohydrate-induced hypertriglyceridemia in animals.

Insulin resistance leads to hypertriglyceridemia and hepatic steatosis and is associated with increased SREBP-1c, a transcription factor that activates fatty acid synthesis. Here, we show that steatosis in insulin-resistant ob/ob mice was abolished by deletion of Scap, an escort protein necessary for generating nuclear isoforms of all three SREBPs. Scap deletion reduced lipid synthesis and prevented fatty livers despite persistent obesity, hyperinsulinemia, and hyperglycemia. Scap deficiency also prevented steatosis in mice fed high-fat diets. Steatosis was also prevented when siRNAs were used to silence Scap in livers of sucrose-fed hamsters, a model of diet-induced steatosis and hypertriglyceridemia. This silencing reduced all three nuclear SREBPs, decreasing lipid biosynthesis and abolishing sucrose-induced hypertriglyceridemia. These results demonstrate that SREBP activation is essential for development of diabetic hepatic steatosis and carbohydrate-induced hypertriglyceridemia, but not insulin resistance. Inhibition of SREBP activation has therapeutic potential for treatment of hypertriglyceridemia and fatty liver disease.
VSC-fed inside-out permanent magnet DC machines for wind generators

This paper estimates the performance of a conventional dc machine that is turned inside-out with the commutator replaced by switch-type semiconductors on the stator. The rotor is a permanent magnet design with trapezoidal radial flux density. Stator windings are full-pole pitch. The torque density for the inside-out dc machine is higher than other types of machines for the same equivalent cooling techniques. A Voltage Source Converter (VSC) method with shaft angle reference is used to coordinate the semiconductor switches. Interaction is shown between the design of the inside-out machine and operation of the ac-dc slot converters.
Direct Observation of T4 Lysozyme Hinge-Bending Motion by Fluorescence Correlation Spectroscopy

Bacteriophage T4 Lysozyme (T4L) catalyzes the hydrolysis of the peptidoglycan layer of the bacterial cell wall late in the infection cycle. It has long been postulated that equilibrium dynamics enable substrate access to the active site located at the interface between the N- and C-terminal domains. Crystal structures of WT-T4L and point mutants captured a range of conformations that differ by the hinge-bending angle between the two domains. Evidence of equilibrium between open and closed conformations in solution was gleaned from distance measurements between the two domains but the nature of the equilibrium and the timescale of the underlying motion have not been investigated. Here, we used fluorescence fluctuation spectroscopy to directly detect T4L equilibrium conformational fluctuations in solution. For this purpose, Tetramethylrhodamine probes were introduced at pairs of cysteines in regions of the molecule that undergo relative displacement upon transition from open to closed conformations. Correlation analysis of Tetramethylrhodamine intensity fluctuations reveals hinge-bending motion that changes the relative distance and orientation of the N- and C-terminal domains with ≅15 μs relaxation time. That this motion involves interconversion between open and closed conformations was further confirmed by the dampening of its amplitude upon covalent substrate trapping. In contrast to the prevalent two-state model of T4L equilibrium, molecular brightness and number of particles obtained from cumulant analysis suggest that T4L populates multiple intermediate states, consistent with the wide range of hinge-bending angles trapped in the crystal structure of T4L mutants.
Disparate MG II absorption statistics towards quasars and gamma-ray bursts: a possible explanation

We examine the recent report by Prochter et al. that gamma-ray burst (GRB) sight lines have a much higher incidence of strong Mg II absorption than quasar sight lines. We propose that the discrepancy is due to the different beam sizes of GRBs and quasars, and that the intervening Mg II systems are clumpy with the dense part of each cloudlet of a similar size as the quasars, i.e. ≲1016 cm, but bigger than GRBs. We also discuss observational predictions of our proposed model. Most notably, in some cases the intervening Mg II absorbers in GRB spectra should be seen varying, and quasars with smaller sizes should show an increased rate of strong Mg II absorbers. In fact, our prediction of variable Mg II lines in the GRB spectra has been now confirmed by Hao et al., who observed intervening Fe II and Mg II lines at z=1.48 to be strongly variable in the multi-epoch spectra of z=4.05 GRB 060206.
Subtypes of social phobia and comorbidity with depression and other anxiety disorders

Epidemiological studies have identified two subtypes of social phobia: speaking-only social phobia which is characterized by the fear of public speaking situations and complex social phobia which is characterized by the fear of multiple social situations. Speaking-only social phobia most closely corresponds to the DSM-IV's 'nongeneralized social phobia' while complex social phobia resembles 'generalized social phobia'. In contrast to the speaking-only social phobia, the complex form is usually more disabling, familial and longer-lasting. In addition, the complex form has a lower chance of spontaneous recovery and carries a higher risk of comorbidity and impairment. Overall, both types of social phobia tend to be underdiagnosed and under-treated. Effective treatments which can manage not only complex social phobia, but also its spectrum of comorbid conditions, are required.
Instability of Frontal Motions in the Atmosphere

Abstract Stability properties of a two-layer model of homogeneous and incompressible fluid subject to gravity and rotation are investigated by the small-perturbation method. The upper and lower fluids correspond, respectively, to warm and cold air. The interface between the warm and cold layers intersects the ground and forms the surface front. The model has been used to investigate the development of frontal cyclones. Linearized equations of warm and cold layers are solved as an eigenvalue problem to find solutions growing exponentially with time using a finite-difference technique. For prescribed values of the density ratio ϵ of warm and cold layers, the north-south extent D of the frontal interface, the Coriolis parameter f, the external gravity wave speed C0, and the basic state cold air velocity ū1, we vary the values of the wavenumber k of perturbations and the basic state warm air velocity ū2, through the use of the Rossby number [Ro≡½(ū2&minusū1)k/f] and the Richardson number [Ri≡C0(1−∈)/(ū2&minus...
A detailed analysis of cracks bridged by fibers. II: Cracks of intermediate size

Abstract In this part bridged cracks of intermediate size are studied. The goal is to determine the stress required for the propagation of bridged cracks when they are too small for the predictions of A veston et al . (1971), The Properties of Fibre Composites , IPC Science and Technology Press to apply. Since the distributed spring approximations used in some previous attempts may not be valid for short cracks, an independent model is used where the discrete fibers and the slip at the fiber-matrix interface are modeled explicitly. The results are also used to determine the conditions under which distributed spring models can be expected to yield reliable results.
Clinical outcome of cerebrospinal fluid shunting for communicating hydrocephalus in mucopolysaccharidoses I, II, and III: a retrospective analysis of 13 patients.

BACKGROUND: Intracranial pathology is a well-documented feature of mucopoly-saccharidoses (MPSs), including communicating hydrocephalus (CH). Neither the success nor the complications of cerebrospinal fluid shunting in MPS patients have been well documented. OBJECTIVE: To retrospectively analyze 13 children with communicating hydrocephalus and MPS at our institution between 1998 and 2006. METHODS: Thirteen patients diagnosed with MPS I, II, or III presenting for stem cell transplantation were retrospectively analyzed. Patients underwent a rigorous pre-transplantation workup, including magnetic resonance imaging of the brain. If imaging revealed ventriculomegaly, a lumbar puncture was performed. If intracranial pressure was > 20 cm H 2 0 or the patient demonstrated clinical signs of hydrocephalus or evidence of clinical decline with increasing ventricular size on imaging, a ventriculoperitoneal shunt (VPS) was placed. Clinical outcomes were analyzed after dividing the patients into 2 groups: patients who underwent VPS before (group A) and after (Group B) stem cell transplantation. RESULTS: There were 8 patients in group A and 5 in group B. Group B patients developed more severe complications, including 2 patients who required VPS early after transplantation, one who died secondary to intracerebral hemorrhage and another who developed a subdural empyema. Of the 8 patients in group A, 5 had complications, including 2 shunt infections, a punctate intracerebral hematoma, shunt tube migration, and 3 shunt failures. CONCLUSION: This is the largest review of MPS patients with communicating hydrocephalus. It demonstrates that VPS is an effective treatment. MPS patients need to be evaluated for hydrocephalus before stem cell transplantation because pre-transplantation shunting appears to have the most favorable risk/benefit ratio.
DO HMOS ENCOURAGE PREVENTION? AN ANALYSIS OF ALTERNATIVE HEALTH CARE PLANS

We examine consumers' choice of preventive care and providers' choice of capacity (which affects the transaction costs of consuming health care) under alternative health care financing plans. We show that consumers choose Pareto-optimal prevention and providers choose optimal capacity under a pure feE-for-service (FFS) plan and under a mixed plan that includes an up-front fee and a fee for service. Under a pure prepaid plan, however, consumers may over- or underconsume prevention. In the former case, capacity restrictions under such a plan (e.g., long office waits, limited options) may be interpreted as a second-best response to overconsumption. We also find that the dollar costs of health care are higher under the prepaid plan. These conclusions cast doubt on some of the presumed advantages of HMOs.
Protein Misfolding, Aggregation, and Autophagy After Brain Ischemia

Ischemic brain injury is a common disorder linked to a variety of diseases. Significant progress has been made in our understanding of the underlying mechanisms. Previous studies show that protein misfolding, aggregation, and multiple organelle damage are major pathological events in postischemic neurons. The autophagy pathway is the chief route for bulk degradation of protein aggregates and damaged organelles. The latest studies suggest that impairment of autophagy contributes to abnormal protein aggregation and organelle damages after brain ischemia. This article reviews recent studies of protein misfolding, aggregation, and impairment of autophagy after brain ischemia.
An Algorithm for Obtaining the Zero of a Function of the Dispersion Matrix in Multivariate Analysis

Abstract This paper is devoted to a discussion of an iterative procedure for obtaining the maximum likelihood estimator of the covariance matrix for multivariate experiments in which measurements on certain components of a normal vector random variable are intentionally omitted in corresponding subgroups of the experimental units. The proposed algorithm, which is based on the Newton-Raphson method, is outlined in detail in Section 5. A special design is included to illustrate the procedure and a few areas of application are indicated.
Synthesis of protein for DNA replication and cleavage events in the sand dollar embryo

Abstract Cycloheximide, 1 μg/ml, inhibited protein synthesis in embryos of the sand dollar (Echinarachnius parma), by 97%, but did not prevent extensive synthesis of DNA during S1. All subsequent DNA synthesis, however, was profoundly inhibited and cleavage did not occur. Embryos were exposed to the drug at progressively later intervals and their capacity for karyo- and cytokinesis, and for DNA synthesis was examined. Evidence was thereby obtained that proteins probably involved in subsequent synthesis of DNA, karyokinesis and cytocleavage were made intermittently for the purposes listed in that order, concurrent with the S-period itself or slightly thereafter. DNA was still synthesized on newly introduced sperm in animals rendered incapable of replicating their nuclear DNA by drug treatment. Thus, the drug-induced defect appears to involve the DNA itself rather than the availability of precursors or their polymerization on a suitable template.
The most frequent contributors to the elite economics journals: Half century of contributions to the “Blue ribbon eight”

There is a natural curiosity within the economic academic community regarding who are the most frequent contributors to the economic literature. This paper presents an analysis of the top publishers in the “Blue Ribbon Eight” economics journals, over the past 50 years (1954–2003), plus two 25-year subperiods of 1954–1978 and 1979–2003. While it is tempting to use these results to rank economics departments, this paper is meant to be an historical appreciation of these authors and journals and not meant to imply any type of current ranking.
Henry George and the Classical Scientific Research Program: George's Modification of It and His Real Significance for Future Generations

. Henry George's revision of classical economics was based on a new “hard core” assumption linking efficiency, equity, and social welfare to a revised concept of property rights in land. However, rather than create new core supporting “protective belt” theories, George either accepted or, when necessary, modified existing classical theories especially those which threatened his new hard core, for example, classical “wages-fund” theory. Consequently, George's adaptation of the Ricardian “stationary state” model was less accurate than mainstream classical economics in its predictions concerning the behavior of the distributive shares of income over time, and the effects of technological change on economic growth and economic welfare. Without its own protective belt, George's classicism became a special case of classical economics whose value, nevertheless, existed in its effective criticism of classical property rights theory.