cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Pyruvate dehydrogenase complex deficiency is linked to regulatory loop disorder in the αV138M variant of human pyruvate dehydrogenase.

The pyruvate dehydrogenase multienzyme complex (PDHc) connects glycolysis to the tricarboxylic acid cycle by producing acetyl-CoA via the decarboxylation of pyruvate. Because of its pivotal role in glucose metabolism, this complex is closely regulated in mammals by reversible phosphorylation, the modulation of which is of interest in treating cancer, diabetes, and obesity. Mutations such as that leading to the αV138M variant in pyruvate dehydrogenase, the pyruvate-decarboxylating PDHc E1 component, can result in PDHc deficiency, an inborn error of metabolism that results in an array of symptoms such as lactic acidosis, progressive cognitive and neuromuscular deficits, and even death in infancy or childhood. Here we present an analysis of two X-ray crystal structures at 2.7-A resolution, the first of the disease-associated human αV138M E1 variant and the second of human wildtype (WT) E1 with a bound adduct of its coenzyme thiamin diphosphate and the substrate analogue acetylphosphinate. The structures provide support for the role of regulatory loop disorder in E1 inactivation, and the αV138M variant structure also reveals that altered coenzyme binding can result in such disorder even in the absence of phosphorylation. Specifically, both E1 phosphorylation at αSer-264 and the αV138M substitution result in disordered loops that are not optimally oriented or available to efficiently bind the lipoyl domain of PDHc E2. Combined with an analysis of αV138M activity, these results underscore the general connection between regulatory loop disorder and loss of E1 catalytic efficiency.
Chemosensory Responses of Salamanders to Snake Odors

Some prey species avoid predators using flight or freeze responses, while some may show either response depending on the ecological context. Consequently, predator avoidance may be risk-sensitive, and the level of activity may be an important risk-specific component of the avoidance response. Red-backed salamanders, Plethodon cinereus, were exposed at times of low risk (night) and high risk (day) to the substrate odors of predatory garter snakes (Thamnophis sirtalis) maintained on low risk (goldfish) and high risk (redbacked salamander) diets. Salamanders maximally avoided snake odors over blank substrates in all except the lowest risk treatment, which was not avoided, and thus they appeared to show a threshold (all or none) response to snake odors. However, the concurrent activity level of the salamander (degree of movement during avoidance) showed small scale increases with each risk increment from the lowest risk treatment (goldfish diet at night) to the highest risk treatment (salamander diet during day). There was no evidence of a freeze response during predator avoidance. Partial ”dissociation” of avoidance and activity at night, i.e. no change in avoidance with a change in activity level, or vice versa, is discussed in the context of the biology of P. cinereus. Future studies of predator avoidance behavior should closely examine prey activity for clues to the diversity and intensity of risks that ultimately shape predator avoidance.
Genetic Linkage Studies of Hereditary Hearing Loss

Genetic linkage analysis is the first step in positional cloning. The use of linkage analysis ultimately led to the identification of more than 50 genes responsible for hearing loss in humans. The problem of genetic heterogeneity has been especially bothersome. Approaches that use isolate populations, large families and improved clinical testing are proving successful in overcoming the problems. The identification of genes involved in hearing impairment has significance with regard to improved diagnosis and more accurate genetic counseling. In addition, further study of these genes is giving the hearing scientists the opportunity to fully understand the molecular workings of the inner ear.
The first crystal structure of a DNA-free nuclear receptor DNA binding domain sheds light on DNA-driven allostery in the glucocorticoid receptor

The glucocorticoid receptor (GR) is a steroid hormone receptor of the nuclear receptor family that regulates gene expression in response to glucocorticoid hormone signaling. Interaction with specific GR DNA binding sequences causes conformational changes in the GR DNA binding domain (DBD) that result in recruitment of specific sets of co-regulators that determine transcriptional outcomes. We have solved the crystal structure of GR DBD in its DNA-free state, the first such crystal structure from any nuclear receptor. In contrast to previous NMR structures, this crystal structure reveals that free GR DBD adopts a conformation very similar to DNA-bound states. The lever arm region is the most variable element in the free GR DBD. Molecular dynamics of the free GR DBD as well as GR DBD bound to activating and repressive DNA elements confirm lever arm flexibility in all functional states. Cluster analysis of lever arm conformations during simulations shows that DNA binding and dimerization cause a reduction in the number of conformations sampled by the lever arm. These results reveal that DNA binding and dimerization drive conformational selection in the GR DBD lever arm region and show how DNA allosterically controls GR structure and dynamics.
Multimodal Encounter: Two Case Studies in the Recovery of the Black Signifier

This essay focuses on poems by Langston Hughes and Maya Angelou, arguing that their blackness has been diminished through posthumous editorial efforts reframing their work for more general consumption. Hughes’s “Harlem” was first published in the “Lenox Avenue Mural” section of Montage of a Dream Deferred (1951), but subsequently reprinted in his posthumously published The Panther and the Lash (1967) as “Dream Deferred.” Similarly, Angelou’s “Ailey, Baldwin, Floyd, Killens, and Mayfield” was first published in I Shall Not Be Moved (1990), but subsequently reprinted in her posthumously published The Complete Poetry (2015) as “When Great Trees Fall.” In both cases, titular particularities grounded in black signification yielded to a universalizing form imposed by editors. Taken together, and taken in context, these cases suggest that comparative looks at the work of a poet will prove more instructive for pedagogical purposes than any single anthology, collection, or link.
Macroeconomic Gains from Reforming the Agri-Food Sector: The Case of France

France is the top agricultural producer in the European Union (EU), and agriculture plays a prominent role in the country’s foreign trade and intermediate exchanges. Reflecting production volumes and methods, the sector, however, also generates significant negative environmental and public health externalities. Recent model simulations show that a well-designed shift in production and consumption to make the former sustainable and align the latter with recommended values can curb these considerably and generate large macroeconomic gains. I propose a policy toolkit in line with the government’s existing sectoral policies that can support this transition.
Pspan: A New Tool for Assessing Pitch Temporal Processing and Patterning Capacity

Purpose The purpose of this study was to evaluate whether merging the clinical pitch pattern test procedure with psychoacoustic adaptive methods would create a new tool feasible to capture individu...
Brief Motivational Interviewing Delivered by Clinician or Computer to Reduce Sexual Risk Behaviors in Adolescents: Acceptability Study

Background: Clinicians are expected to screen their adolescent patients for an increasing number of health behaviors and intervene when they uncover risky behaviors, yet, the clinic time allotted to screen, intervene, and provide resources is insufficient. Brief motivational interviewing (MI) offers succinct behavior change counseling; however, for implementation, clinicians need training, skill, and time. Computerized screening and counseling adjuvants may help clinicians increase their scope of behavioral screening, especially with sensitive topics such as sexual health, and provide risk-reduction interventions without consuming provider time during visits. Objective: The objectives of this study were to (1) understand the extent to which health care providers use brief MI for sexual health discussions with adolescent patients and (2) assess the acceptability of incorporating a brief MI-based intervention to reduce sexual risk behaviors into their clinical practice delivered by either themselves or a computer. Methods: At a national medical conference, surveys were administered to clinicians who provide sexual health care to adolescents. They were asked about their current use of MI for sexual risk behavior discussions and their willingness to implement computerized sexual health screening and computerized sexual risk behavior interventions into their clinical practice. Results: The large majority (87.6%, 170/194) of clinicians already used MI with their patients with less than half (72/148, 48.6%) reporting they had been formally trained in MI. Despite all (195/195, 100.0%) clinicians feeling very or completely comfortable discussing sexual risk behaviors with their patients, the large majority (160/195, 82.1%) reported it would be useful, very useful, or extremely useful for a computerized program to do it all: screen their patients, generate risk profiles, and provide the risk-reduction counseling rather than doing it themselves. Conclusions: In this study, most clinicians used some form of brief MI or client-centered counseling when discussing sexual risk behaviors with adolescents and are very comfortable doing so. However, the large majority would prefer to implement computerized sexual health screening, risk assessment, and sexual risk behavior interventions into their clinical care of adolescents.
Temporal regulation of nicotinic acetylcholine receptor subunits supports central cholinergic synapse development

Abstract Construction and maturation of the postsynaptic apparatus are crucial for synapse and dendrite development. The fundamental mechanisms underlying these processes are most often studied in glutamatergic central synapses in vertebrates. Whether the same principles apply to excitatory cholinergic synapses in the insect central nervous system (CNS) is not known. To address this question, we investigated Drosophila ventral lateral neurons (LNvs) and identified nAchRα1 (Dα1) and nAchRα6 (Dα6) as the main functional nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (nAchR) subunits in these cells. With morphological and calcium imaging studies, we demonstrated their distinct roles in supporting dendrite morphogenesis and synaptic transmission. Furthermore, our analyses revealed a transcriptional upregulation of Dα1 and downregulation of Dα6 during larval development, indicating a close association between the temporal regulation of nAchR subunits and synapse maturation. Together, our findings show transcriptional regulation of nAchR composition is a core element of developmental and activity-dependent regulation of central cholinergic synapses.
Evaluation of the performance of DiaSorin molecular Pneumocystis jirovecii-CMV multiplex real-time PCR assay from bronchoalveolar lavage samples.

Abstract The aim of this study was to evaluate the performance of the DiaSorin Molecular PJ-CMV multiplex real-time PCR (PJ-CMV PCR) assay (DiaSorin Molecular LLC, USA) in bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) samples compared to direct immunofluorescence assay (IFA) for the detection of Pneumocystis jirovecii and assess CMV and P. jirovecii co-infection rate in immunosuppressed patients with suspected pneumonia. A total of 125 BAL samples from immunosuppressed patients submitted for PJP-IFA were tested. Surplus samples were saved and further tested by using the PJ-CMV PCR assay. Among the 125 samples, P. jirovecii was detected in 31.2% (39/125) and in 40% (50/125) of the specimens using IFA and PJ-CMV PCR respectively. Eleven of the PJ-CMV PCR positive samples were negative by direct IFA for P. jirovecii. All samples positive by direct IFA were also positive by PJ-CMV PCR. Using the direct IFA as a gold standard, the PJ-CMV PCR sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value and negative predictive value for detection of P. jirovecii were 100%, 87.2%, 78% and 100%, respectively. However, after reviewing the clinical diagnosis, the specificity and PPV increased to 100%. Of the 50 P. jirovecii samples positive by PJ-CMV PCR, 18 (36%) were also positive for CMV by the PJ-CMV PCR. The co-infection rate was found to be 37.5% (6/16) and 35.2% (12/34) in HIV infected and non-HIV infected patients. This study indicated that the DiaSorin Molecular PJ-CMV multiplex real-time PCR assay has higher sensitivity than direct IFA for detection of P. jirovecii and provides rapid detection of PJ and CMV infection in BAL samples.
Social Media Intelligence and Learning Environment: an Open Source Framework for Social Media Data Collection, Analysis and Curation

Social Media Intelligence and Learning Environment (SMILE) is an open source framework bringing cutting-edge computational models on social media data to social science researchers and students with any level of programming and computation expertise. Many existing social media analysis tools require programming knowledge, a fee, or are closed source, making it challenging for social science researchers to apply existing and new methods to social media data. SMILE provides a user-friendly web interface, through which researchers can perform a wide spectrum of research tasks, ranging from social media data collection, natural language processing, text classification, social network analysis, and generating human readable outputs and visualizations. SMILE has adopted several technologies to support its needs. The data service of SMILE leverages the GraphQL language to provide an efficient and succinct API for client to communicate with a heterogeneous collection of social media APIs, including Twitter and Reddit. SMILE implements a microservices design and utilizes Amazon AWS services, such as Lambda and Batch for computation, S3 for data storage, and Elasticsearch for a Twitter streaming database, which makes it more portable, economic, and resilient. Analysis outputs can be shared with the larger community using Clowder, an open source data management system to support data curation of long tail data and metadata. SMILE is one of the main applications deployed as a standalone tool within the Social Media Macroscope (SMM), a science gateway based on the HUBzero platform. Over 200 users have used SMILE since its first release in 2018.
Parental Efficacy and Control Questionnaire in Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplant: Preliminary Validation

OBJECTIVE Develop and evaluate the preliminary validity of a self-report measure of parents' treatment-related efficacy and control, Parental Efficacy and Control Questionnaire-Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplant (PECQ-HCT), in a pediatric HCT sample. METHODS Participants included 185 parents of children (≤12 years old) receiving HCT participating in a larger, longitudinal study. Parents completed the PECQ-HCT as well as measures of social problem-solving skills, collective family efficacy, family beliefs, and parental distress. RESULTS Exploratory factor analysis results indicated that a 37-item four-factor model was the best fitting and most theoretically sound, χ2(df = 1,596) = 14,089.95, p < .01, comparative fit index = 0.92, Tucker-Lewis Index = 0.90, and root mean square error of approximation = 0.07. Preliminary subscale scores demonstrated adequate internal consistency as well as good content and criterion-related validity. CONCLUSIONS If replicated using a confirmatory factor analysis in a separate sample, these findings suggest that the four-factor PECQ-HCT measure may be useful for measuring HCT-related parental efficacy and perceived control.
Relationship between sleep duration, screen viewing time, and the prevalence of overweight/obesity among primary school students in Xuzhou

Objective To analyze the relationship between sleep duration, screen viewing time, and the prevalence of overweight/obesity among primary school students in Xuzhou. Methods Using a cluster sampling method, a total of 3 228 students (including 1 679 boys and 1 549 girls with an average age of 10.78±0.69 years) from grade one to six from 10 primary schools in Xuzhou underwent interview using a self-designed questionnaire containing basic characteristics, sleep duration, and screen viewing time. Data on height and weight were also collected. The relationship between sleep duration, screen viewing time, and overweight/obesity was analyzed using a logistic regression analysis. Results The prevalence rates of overweight among boys and girls were 16.56% and 11.94%, respectively (χ2=13.59, P<0.05). The prevalence rates of obesity among boys and girls were 14.47% and 10.07%, respectively (χ2=14.01, P<0.05). In total, 74.41% students reported a lack of sleep; the average sleeping time was (9.24±1.07) h. The average sleeping time among boys was (9.35±1.12) h and among girls was (9.13±1.03) h. The difference in sleep duration between boys and girls was significant (t=5.79, P<0.05). The differences in sleep duration and overweight/obesity were significant between both boys (χ2=18.62, P<0.05) and girls (χ2=21.14, P<0.05). Regarding screen viewing time, 17.29% of students spent more than 2 hours per day viewing a screen. The difference in screen viewing time between boys and girls was significant (Z=3.02, P=0.014). The proportion of children with screen viewing time of more than 2 h/d among overweight/obese and healthy weight male students was 29.50% (82/278) and 22.56% (316/1401), respectively, which was significantly different (χ2=6.18, P=0.01). However, there was no significant difference when examining the same groups among girls (12.98% (24/185; obese/overweight) vs. 9.97% (136/1364; healthy weight); χ2=1.59, P=0.21). After adjusting for parental obesity, eating sweets, and physical activity, logistic regression analysis showed that students who had a sleep duration less than 10 h/d had an odds ratio of 1.4 (95% CI: 1.15-1.71), the odds ratio for boys and girls was 1.56 (95% CI: 1.13-2.14) and 1.69 (95% CI: 1.15-2.46). The students who had a screen viewing time of more than 2 h/d had an odds ratio of 1.14 (95% CI: 1.05-1.80); the odds ratio for boys in this group was 1.18 (95% CI: 1.03-1.67). Conclusion Short sleep duration is a risk factor for being overweight/obese in both boys and girls. However, long screen viewing times were associated with being overweight/obese only in boys. Key words: Overweight; Obesity; Sleep duration; Screen viewing time; Primary school students
Bounded Rationality in Las Vegas: Probabilistic Finite Automata Play Multi-Armed Bandits.

While traditional economics assumes that humans are fully rational agents who always maximize their expected utility, in practice, we constantly observe apparently irrational behavior. One explanation is that people have limited computational power, so that they are, quite rationally, making the best decisions they can, given their computational limitations. To test this hypothesis, we consider the multi-armed bandit (MAB) problem. We examine a simple strategy for playing an MAB that can be implemented easily by a probabilistic finite automaton (PFA). Roughly speaking, the PFA sets certain expectations, and plays an arm as long as it meets them. If the PFA has sufficiently many states, it performs near-optimally. Its performance degrades gracefully as the number of states decreases. Moreover, the PFA acts in a "human-like" way, exhibiting a number of standard human biases, like an optimism bias and a negativity bias.
Comparative effectiveness of posttreatment imaging modalities for Medicare patients with advanced head and neck cancer

Background Persistent controversy exists with regard to how and when patients with head and neck cancer should undergo imaging after definitive therapy. The current study was conducted to evaluate whether the type of imaging modality used in posttreatment imaging impacts cancer-specific survival for patients with advanced head and neck squamous cell carcinoma. Methods A retrospective study of National Cancer Institute Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) program-Medicare-linked data in patients with an advanced stage of the 3 most common head and neck malignancies (oral cavity, oropharynx, and larynx) was conducted. Hazard ratios and 95% CIs for cancer-specific survival were estimated for patients diagnosed with any of these cancers between 2006 and 2015. Results Significant improvement with regard to cancer-specific survival was observed among patients with American Joint Committee on Cancer stage III and stage IVA laryngeal cancer who underwent positron emission tomography (PET) and/or computed tomography (CT) imaging during the first 6 months after receipt of definitive treatment (hazard ratio, 0.517; 95% CI, 0.33-0.811) compared with those who underwent CT. There was a trend toward an improvement in cancer-specific survival among patients with oral cavity or oropharyngeal malignancies who underwent PET/CT imaging, but it did not reach statistical significance. Conclusions Compared with CT imaging, posttreatment imaging with PET was associated with improved survival in patients with advanced laryngeal carcinoma.
Preventing a Candida Auris Outbreak at an Acute Care Hospital During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Background Candida auris (C. auris) is a fungal pathogen that recently emerged and rapidly spread around the globe. It is now in California with 74 clinical cases according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (August 31, 2020). C. auris can cause invasive disease with high mortality rates, is frequently resistant to one or more classes of antifungals, and can be difficult to identify. C. auris can also involve prolonged colonization of patients’ skin and contamination of surrounding environments, resulting in hospital outbreaks. The first known clinical case of C. auris in San Diego County was identified in an individual with recent hospitalization outside of the United States. The identification of this clinical case coincided with the first influx of COVID-19 patients. Methods The facility's carbapenemase-producing organism (CRO) screening program identified an individual who had recent hospitalization abroad. The patient was placed in a single room in pre-emptive Contact precautions. The patient tested positive for CRO colonization. The public health (PH) authorities asked that the patient be tested for C. auris colonization. While awaiting screening results, the hospital's microbiology laboratory identified C. auris in the patient's wound isolate. The C. auris case prompted the implementation of a robust infection prevention plan in collaboration with PH that included isolation precautions, environmental cleaning and disinfection and education. Results The patient required forty-seven days of hospitalization during the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic. The PH department recommended C. auris colonization screening for selected patients to check for transmission. Neither C. auris colonization nor clinical isolates were identified in the subsequent six months. Conclusions A strong infection prevention response to the C. auris case prevented a potential outbreak. It is critical that acute-care hospitals are optimized to prevent the spread of C. auris during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Abstract 1187: Optimizing gemcitabine in metastatic TNBC by rational PI3K/AKT combination

Metastatic triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) has a median survival of 13 months, and only 5 months if brain metastases are present. Advances in immunotherapy are promising, but only add weeks to a few months of progression-free survival to this guarded prognosis. Thus, there is a large unmet need for innovations that improve patient outcomes in the metastatic setting when patients are refractory to first-line treatment. Recently, we published an innovative strategy to identify multi-omic molecular correlates of drug response in TNBC. From this work, we now apply the strategy to 3D cell culture models and patient derived xenografts (PDXs) that are more representative of in vivo drug response in real patients. In brief, we have tested the dose response for a panel of 387 investigational drugs and plotted this readout against molecular characterization in 35 TNBC cell lines and PDXs. Using linear regression, we have identified statistically significant positively and negatively correlating DNA, RNA, and protein predictors of drug efficacy. From this expanded multi-omic set, we have identified a multi-omic signature for sensitivity to gemcitabine, a drug widely used in TNBC, but at present, without any a priori knowledge of who is likely to benefit. Moreover, we noted a significant correlation of response with MERIT40, an AKT substrate. MERIT40 is critical for localization of BRCA1 to facilitate DNA damage repair. MERIT40 promotes resolution of DNA damage caused by chemotherapy, and thus, based on our published work and supporting literature, PI3K/AKT inhibition is a rational synergistic partner with gemcitabine. Moreover, further supporting our hypothesis, preliminary results indicate Chou-Talalay synergy at therapeutically relevant doses when gemcitabine is combined with PI3K/AKT inhibition. In future studies, we will evaluate the ability of the gemcitabine biomarker to predict response, and the efficacy of the prioritized combinations using ex vivo patient models of metastatic breast cancer established in our laboratory. Citation Format: Nathan M. Merrill, Nathalie M. Vandecan, Athena M. Apfel, Peter J. Ulintz, Liwei Bao, Xu Cheng, Aki Morikawa, Sofia D. Merajver, Matthew B. Soellner. Optimizing gemcitabine in metastatic TNBC by rational PI3K/AKT combination [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 1187.
Writing and reviewing grant proposals

Abstract In this activity, you will produce a research grant proposal, using a real application form. There are several activities and milestones that will be accomplished to aid in your preparation, including (1) developing observation-inspired research questions, (2) writing a comprehensive literature review, (3) considering how class concepts apply to the research questions, (4) receiving feedback on an abstract, (5) critiquing peers' proposals, and (6) journaling about the process along the way.
In lupus nephritis, specific in situ inflammatory states are associated with refractory disease and progression to renal failure

In human lupus nephritis (LN), tubulointerstitial inflammation (TII) on biopsy predicts progression to end stage renal disease (ESRD). However, while approximately half of patients with moderate or severe TII develop ESRD, half do not. Therefore, we hypothesized that TII is heterogeneous with distinct inflammatory states each associated with different renal outcomes. We interrogated renal biopsies from LN longitudinal and cross-sectional cohorts using both conventional and highly multiplexed confocal microscopy. To accurately segment cells across whole biopsies, and to understand their spatial relationships, we developed unique computational pipelines by training and implementing several deep learning models and other computer vision techniques. Surprisingly, across biopsies, high B cell densities were strongly associated with protection from ESRD. In contrast, CD4- T cell population densities, which included CD8, {gamma}{delta} and double negative (CD4-CD8-{delta}-, DN) T cells, were associated with both acute refractory renal failure and progression to ESRD. Interestingly, inflammation was organized into different discrete clusters or neighborhoods each with unique characteristics including enrichment for specific cell populations. B cells were often organized into large neighborhoods with CD4+ T cells including T follicular helper-like cells. In contrast, the CD4- T cell populations formed small cellular neighborhoods whose frequency predicted subsequent progression to ESRD. These data reveal that in LN, specific in situ inflammatory states are associated with refractory disease and progression to ESRD.
Design and performance evaluation of signature files for text retrieval systems

Signature files can be used to support information retrieval in library systems, artificial intelligence, and office automation systems. However, signature file techniques require exhaustively searching the signature files themselves. In addition, data may be retrieved by mistake because of the information loss during signature extraction. The aim of this study was to construct an efficient structure of signature file, called partitioned signature file, so that a large number of unqualified signatures were eliminated from searching. Also, an optimal weighting strategy was proposed to hash each term to its corresponding signature with a specific weight to minimize the false drop probability. The partitioned signature file was able to reduce the number of signatures searched by 10% to 80% which highly depended on parameter values. The false drop rate of the new weighting strategy was only 30% to 50% of the uniform weighting strategy. All these new designs can be used together to enhance the performance.
Flow in Granular Materials: Self-Organized Non-Critical Behavior

In this paper we will review some of the work we have been doing on the dynamics of flow in granular materials. The work consists of two parts. The first section is devoted to a comparison1 of the avalanche dynamics in a pile of sand with the predictions of the models of “self-organized criticality” introduced by Bak, Tang and Wiesenfeld2. The second section deals with a model for the friction in granular material3.
A User-Centered Location Model

This paper discusses the user-centered location model used in comMotion. In this context, the location model refers to a set of learned places (destinations), which coincide to a latitude and a longitude, that the user has categorized. It also includes knowledge of the routes between the destinations and the time it takes to travel them. The model is based on user experience, i.e. his patterns of mobility, so no two models are the same. We also discuss the pattern recognition models implemented for route learning, route prediction and estimation of time to arrival.
A Review of VEGF/VEGFR-Targeted Therapeutics for Recurrent Glioblastoma

Glioblastoma, the most common primary malignant brain tumor among adults, is a highly angiogenic and deadly tumor. Angiogenesis in glioblastoma, driven by hypoxia-dependent and independent mechanisms, is primarily mediated by vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), and generates blood vessels with distinctive features. The outcome for patients with recurrent glioblastoma is poor because of ineffective therapies. However, recent encouraging rates of radiographic response and progression-free survival, and adequate safety, led the FDA to grant accelerated approval of bevacizumab, a humanized monoclonal antibody against VEGF, for the treatment of recurrent glioblastoma in May 2009. These results have triggered significant interest in additional antiangiogenic agents and therapeutic strategies for patients with both recurrent and newly diagnosed glioblastoma. Given the potent antipermeability effect of VEGF inhibitors, the Radiologic Assessment in Neuro-Oncology (RANO) criteria were recently implemented to better assess response among patients with glioblastoma. Although bevacizumab improves survival and quality of life, eventual tumor progression is the norm. Better understanding of resistance mechanisms to VEGF inhibitors and identification of effective therapy after bevacizumab progression are currently a critical need for patients with glioblastoma.
Individual versus partner consequation for weight loss

This study compared the weight loss of overweight partners with individuals without partners in a 6-week behavioral weight reduction program. In the partner consequation group, cooperation between partners was financially consequated. The individual consequation group included both pairs of friends and individuals without partners, but only individual performance was consequated. At post-treatment, both the individual and partner consequation groups were superior to a minimal treatment control group. However, in contrast to the individual group, the partner consequation group had returned to pretreatment weight at the 6-month follow-up. Observations indicated that partners socially reinforced each other for deviating from newly learned eating patterns.
Empirical likelihood inference for linear transformation models

Empirical likelihood inference is developed for censored survival data under the linear transformation models, which generalize Cox's [Regression models and life tables (with Discussion), J. Roy. Statist. Soc. Ser. B 34 (1972) 187-220] proportional hazards model. We show that the limiting distribution of the empirical likelihood ratio is a weighted sum of standard chi-squared distribution. Empirical likelihood ratio tests for the regression parameters with and without covariate adjustments are also derived. Simulation studies suggest that the empirical likelihood ratio tests are more accurate (under the null hypothesis) and powerful (under the alternative hypothesis) than the normal approximation based tests of Chen et al. [Semiparametric of transformation models with censored data, Biometrika 89 (2002) 659-668] when the model is different from the proportional hazards model and the proportion of censoring is high.
Association between Apnea Free Days and Findings on Objective Recordings prior to Discharge

Association between Apnea Free Days and Findings on Objective Recordings prior to Discharge
Reporting of medication information in applied studies of people with autism

Abstract The present research determined if articles describing attempts to improve the behavior of people with autism reported whether or not participants were receiving medication and, if so, whether an interaction between the intervention and the medication was mentioned. Fifty-one articles published from 2004 through 2008 were examined. Information regarding medication was provided in 18% of these articles, none of which mentioned an interaction. Very little is known regarding interactions between nonpharmacological interventions and psychotropic (or other) medications, but some studies demonstrate that interactions can occur. Given this possibility, and the fact that information regarding medications received by participants is easy to obtain and report, it appears worthwhile to include this information in published articles.
18O Tracer studies of Al2O3 scale formation on NiCrAl alloys

Diffusion processes in Al2O3scales formed on NiCrAl + Zr alloys were studied by the proton activation technique employing the18O isotope as a tracer. The18O profiles identified a zone of oxide penetration beneath the external scale. Both this subscale formation and the outer Al2O3scale thickness were shown by this technique to increase with Zr content in the alloy. Estimated kp's from scale thicknesses were in agreement with gravimetric measurements for various Zr levels. Alternate exposures in O and18O revealed that oxygen inward transport was the primary growth mechanism. A qualitative analysis of these18O profiles indicated that the oxygen transport was primarily via short-circuit paths, such as grain boundaries.
Nano sensor design for hydrogen detection

In this work, we present the design parameters and optimization of the nanoscale gap interdigitated electrodes (IDEs) for hydrogen gas sensing. In order to extract important design parameters and understand the sensor performance, numerical analysis has been carried out for calculating the electric potential, electrical field and surface charge distribution on the IDEs. The results show that the strength of the electrical field drops with the increase in distance from IDEs depending on the gap spacing and finger width of the electrodes. Based on the sensing mechanism of our sensor, the current distribution inside the sensing film is calculated showing that the thin sensing film could result in fast response due to the uniform electrical field distribution. Effects of the gap spacing and width on the sensing performance were investigated numerically. The optimized design of IDEs with 50 nm in gap and 1,000 nm in width shows that the change of electrical field in the thickness direction is much reduced for a given 120 nm-thick sensing layer on top of the IDEs. It is expected that this design responds better to hydrogen induced conductivity change on top surface and leads to shorter response time.
Mass spectrometry/mass spectrometry: capabilities and applications to fuel-related materials

Abstract The expanding capabilities of mass spectrometry/mass spectrometry (m.s.-m.s.) in mixture analysis and its applications to fuel-related materials are illustrated. High and low collision energy m.s.-m.s. data obtained on reverse geometry and triple quadrupole spectrometers are given for coal-derived liquid (SRC II) and diesel particulate samples. The direct analysis capability of the m.s.-m.s. methodology and its limitations are illustrated for the identification of an aliphatic carboxylic acid in diesel paniculate. The selective ionization techniques of ammonia chemical ionization and negative chemical ionization are shown to be particularly useful in enhancing the specificity of m.s.-m.s. characterizations. Negative chemical ionization is used to confirm the presence of hydroxybenzoic acid in a diesel particulate sample. Combined laser desorption-chemical ionization is also demonstrated to be an effective ionization technique in m.s.-m.s. analysis. A variant of m.s.-m.s., in which selected anions fragment with charge inversion to give fragment cations, is also employed in the analysis of SRC II and used to identify thioaryl moieties. Functional group screening by an alternative m.s.—m.s. scan procedure, neutral loss scanning, is demonstrated for phenols in SRC II. A scan for all parent ions of a selected daughter ion provides a screening procedure for rapidly identifying all compounds of a given structural type in a complex mixture. The dependence of m.s.-m.s. spectra on collision energy and pressure is shown to add further detail to m.s.—m.s. analysis. The development of a library of m.s.—m.s. spectra of reference compounds to be used for the identification of individual constituents in fuel-related materials is described.
On the L/sub 2/-gain of a double integrator with feedback loop saturation nonlinearity

We consider the open problem of whether there exists finite L/sub 2/ gain in each channel of a double integrator in feedback interconnection with a saturation nonlinearity. It has been shown by Liu-Chitour-Sontag (1996) that the L/sub 2/ gain from input to the output of the first integrator is infinite. In this paper, by constructing a special excitation, we show that the L/sub 2/ gain from input to the output of the second integrator is also infinite.
Developmental regulation of thymosin β10 mRNA in the human brain

Abstract A specific thymosin β10 cDNA restriction fragment was used to monitor thymosin β10 mRNA levels in the brain during normal human neuroembryogenesis. Northern analysis revealed a single hybridizing 600 nucleotide mRNA species which was abundant in embryonic/fetal human brain, yet absent in the adult tissue. These findings suggest that thymosin β10 must play an important role in early neuroembryogenesis.
Active self-interference cancellation of passband signals using gradient descent

Recent interest in same-frequency/same-time full-duplex radio frequency communication has led to the study of self-interference cancellation methods for a co-located transmitter and receiver pair. So far, important practical aspects of self-interference cancellation have not been considered, such as receiver amplifier saturation and dynamic range, which extend the minimum distance between transmit and receive antennas without sufficient interference isolation. Further, current solutions lack significant self-interference attenuation for wideband signals. In this paper, a method for canceling a passband self-interference signal using adaptive filtering in the digital domain is presented. Based on acoustic active noise cancellation foundations, a cancellation signal is created that destructively combines with the undesired self-interference signal in the passband, taking into account differences in the complex passband nature of RF signals versus the baseband nature of acoustic signals. The efficacy of this interference cancellation scheme is compared to other self-interference cancellation architectures in the literature including digital as well as other active passband approaches. It is shown that for high-power wideband transmission signals, this adaptive active analog cancellation method effectively reduces the self-interference signal while satisfying practical constraints set by transceiver hardware. It is also shown that this approach decreases the minimum distance between the transmit and receive antennas or allows higher transmission power, thereby extending the range of a full-duplex device.
Effects of midline crossing on response processing of adults with mental retardation

In normal development, midline crossing inhibition (MCI) generally disappears by age nine. Individuals with mental retardation exhibit developmental delays which are manifested as failure to attain motor milestones. This study utilized a new methodology predicated upon a response processing model to measure MCI in 20 adults with moderate mental retardation. A chronologically equivalent group of individuals with mental retardation served as the control group. Measurements of reaction time (RT) and movement time were recorded as a subject performed ipsilateral, midline and contra-lateral movements. The rationale behind this experiment was that crossing midline to the contralateral side constituted a more complex task, requiring more response processing time and longer RTs. Analysis of the RT revealed inhibitory responses in the subjects with mental retardation when movements were made in a contralateral direction with the preferred hand. No inhibition was manifested by the subjects in the control group. This new method of assessing MCI detected this phenomenon with subjects who were mentally retarded.
Hypnotic Hypermnesia: The Empty Set of Hypermnesia

Although a long tradition exists suggesting that hypnosis can enhance memory (hypnotic hypermnesia), the experimental literature is quite mixed. When, however, laboratory studies are classified according to the type of stimulus and memory tests employed, a remarkable orderliness of outcomes emerges: Recall tests for high-sense stimuli (e.g., poetry, meaningful pictures) almost always produce hypermnesia, but not recognition tests for low-sense stimuli (e.g., nonsense syllables, word lists). An important methodological issue is whether the recall increments for high-sense stimuli constitute enhanced memory or enhanced reporting (laxer response criteria). Recent laboratory literatures show that, beyond response criterion effects, true memory enhancement (hypermnesia) exists. Experiments conducted over the past decade, however, demonstrate that it is repeated retrieval effort and not hypnosis that is responsible for hypermnesia: Repeated testing without hypnosis yields as much hypermnesia as with hypnosis.
Designing digital environments for art education/exploration

Although art appreciation/exploration is essentially a private experience, it cannot exist outside of a social context. Digital environments offer great potential for the enhancement of collaborative aspects of both art creation and art exploration. However, the current notion of a digital environment is vague, and most often associated with the traditional concepts of computer use. Thus, the goal of this article is twofold: (a) to present an analysis of the characteristics of digital environments, and (b) to suggest their potential uses in the building of collaborative pedagogical procedures for the digital medium.
Effects of dehydration and renin on vasopressin concentration in the subfornical organ area

The subfornical organ (SFO), one of the brain circumventricular organs, contains immuno-reactive arginine8-vasopressin (AVP). AVP in the SFO area may originate in neurons of the hypothalamo-neurohypophysial system. If AVP in the SFO area is part of the magnocellular neuroendocrine system and is important in the regulation of hydration, then its concentration ([]) should change during prolonged dehydration. The SFO is also a target for angiotensin II when the peptide stimulates drinking and releases AVP from the hypothalamo-neurohypophysial system. For these reasons, it was reasoned that hormones of the renin-angiotensin system may also influence [AVP] in the SFO area. To test these hypotheses [AVP] was measured in the SFO area, hippocampal commissure-fornix (HC-F), neural lobe and plasma of rats after 24, 48 and 72 h of water deprivation and at various times after intracerebroventricular (i.v.t.) administration of 5 milli-Goldblatt Units of renin. Before examining the responsiveness of [AVP] in these brain regions to stimulation, we characterized the extraction and recovery of AVP from brain tissue and determined the variance of [AVP] in the SFO area and HC-F among different groups of animals. AVP was extracted from pooled brain tissue into 0.1 N HCl. The homogenate was centrifuged and AVP in the supernatant was quantified by radioimmunoassay either directly or after bentonite extraction. AVP extracted from the SFO area and HC-F displaced labelled antigen bound to antisera in a manner similar to that displaced by standard AVP. The recovery of AVP, added to the 0.1 N HCl extract and assayed directly, averaged 78–108%, whereas 51% was recovered after bentonite extraction. [AVP] in the SFO area from 47 or more groups of 2–6 organs each, averaged 16 ± 5pg/organ, 16 ± 4pg/mg wet wt, 153 ± 31pg/mg protein, and was not significantly different from that contained in the HC-F, 10 ± 1pg/mg wet wt and 111 ± 16pg/mg protein. A frequency histogram of these data revealed a normal (HC-F) and skewed distribution (SFO). Water deprivation for 24, 48 and 72 h stimulated drinking and increased plasma [AVP]. The elevation in plasma [AVP] plateaued after 48 and 72 h of water deprivation, whereas [AVP] in the neural lobe was reduced (P < 0.05). Water deprivation increased [AVP] in the HC-F (control vs 72 h water deprivation), but did not alter hormone in the SFO area when expressed as pg/mg protein or pg/mg wet wt. Renin elevated [AVP] in plasma for 3 h and stimulated drinking behavior for 6 h after i.v.t. administration. [AVP] in the SFO area, HC-F or neural lobe did not change 5, 30, 180 or 360 min after i.v.t. renin. The observation that the concentration of AVP in the SFO remains relatively constant after treatments which markedly alter hydration supports the conclusion that the peptide in the SFO subserved some other function. Alternately, a dynamic balance between synthesis and degradation of AVP, consistent with rapid turnover during changes in hydration, is possible.
A qualitative approach to electrical resistivity interpretation

The formula for apparent resistivity can be interpreted in terms of two quantities more easily identified with the physical process involved: the distribution of current flow in the earth, as it affects the current density along a line between the potential electrodes, and the true resistivity along this line. The analysis permits a qualitative prediction of resistivity sounding and profiling data over a variety of structures. Examples are given for faults, layers, and a dipping dike.