cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Educational Achievement Data is a Patient-Relevant Outcome in Pediatric Multiple Sclerosis (S51.006)

Objective: To determine whether neuropsychological tests correlate with academic achievement in a pilot sample of children and adolescents with multiple sclerosis (MS). Background: Little is known regarding academic achievement in children with MS. To our knowledge, no study has examined the concordance of performance on standard neuropsychological measures and academic achievement in children with MS. Design/Methods: Three metrics were used to assess academic performance in a cohort of subjects with childhood-onset MS (n=14): grade point average (GPA), the Woodcock Johnson-III tests of Achievement (WJ-III; verbal and math subtests), and performance on New York State standardized exams (Regents). A standard battery of 7 neuropsychological tests was also administered, which included the symbol digit modalities test (the most commonly utilized screening test for impairment in MS). Impairment was defined as z ≤ −1.5 (WJ-III, neuropsychological tests) and/or below a 65 on any of the Regents exams (defined by New York State as the lowest score meeting competency in the associated subject area). Participants were classified with cognitive impairment using the sum of the number of impaired neuropsychological test scores divided by the total number of completed tests. A participant was impaired when the proportion of impaired scores was greater than one-third. Results: 11 of the 14 subjects were female. Mean age was 16.5 (±3) and average grade level was 10 th grade (range 7–14). Mean GPA was 79.4 (±13.8). Ten participants had a normal SDMT, yet 6 (60%) were academically impaired, yielding a sensitivity of 40%, specificity of 100%, positive predictive value of 100%, and a negative predictive value of 40% for the SDMT in predicting academic performance. A similar predictive pattern was seen, as 10 participants had normal neuropsychological testing, yet 6 were academically impaired. Conclusions: Relying solely on neuropsychological testing, including the SDMT, would fail to identify pediatric MS patients with academic impairment. Study Supported by: National Multiple Sclerosis Society (PP3442) Disclosure: Dr. Vargas has received personal compensation for consulting, serving on a scientific advisory board, speaking, or other activities with Alexion Pharmaceuticals. Dr. Vargas has received research support from Teva Pharmaceuticals. Dr. Leavitt has nothing to disclose. Dr. Sumowski has nothing to disclose. Dr. Street has nothing to disclose. Dr. Tosto has nothing to disclose. Dr. Lee has nothing to disclose. Dr Banwell has nothing to disclose. Dr. De Jager has nothing to disclose.
Barriers and Facilitators to Effective Inpatient Palliative Care Consultations: A Qualitative Analysis of Interviews With Palliative Care and Nonpalliative Care Providers.

Objective:To identify factors that hinder or facilitate the palliative care consultation team’s (PCCT) successful collaboration with other providers from the perspectives of both PCCT and nonpallia...
Adult mortality trends in Qatar, 1989-2015: National population versus migrants

Introduction With the increase of Qatar’s total population, primarily due to the influx of healthy male migrant labor, worldwide attention has been focused on deaths among these migrant workers. Objective To describe adult mortality trends in Qataris (nationals) and non-Qataris (migrants) from all causes, cardiovascular and circulatory disease, neoplasms, and injuries, 1989–2015. Methods We retrieved Qatar’s vital registration data by nationality, sex, age group, year, and codes of the World Health Organization’s International Classification of Diseases, Ninth and Tenth Revisions. We assessed age-standardized mortality rate (ASMR) trends in Qatar’s total population, in Qataris and non-Qataris using Joinpoint regression. Findings During the study period, 26,673 deaths were recorded. In 2015, we estimated 60,716 years of life lost (82% in males) in the overall population. In Qataris (both sexes) and in non-Qatari females, all-cause rate decreased significantly and steadily between 1989–2015. In non-Qatari males, it decreased significantly between 1998–2010 probably attributed to a massive influx of healthy migrants. Yearly rates were significantly lower in non-Qataris over 27 years. Reduction in Qatar’s total population rates for all causes and for neoplasms can be partially attributed to the healthy migrant effect. For injuries in males, it was lower in non-Qatari. Remarkably, for falls, cause-specific ASMR in non-Qatari males decreased significantly reaching 2.6/100,000 in 2014, suggesting improved safety in the work environment. However, while young adult males in Qatar die predominantly from injuries, young adult females die from neoplasms. Conclusion Our study demonstrates that premature death in young adult males and females in Qatar is predominantly due to injuries and neoplasms respectively. These identified causes of death are for a large part preventable and should be addressed appropriately to lower premature mortality among young adults in Qatar.
A Compact, Low-Noise, Chopped Front-End for Peripheral Nerve Recording in 180 nm CMOS

This manuscript presents a compact, low-noise signal conditioning chain for peripheral nerve recording from implanted microelectrodes. Chopping is used in combination with switched capacitor techniques to reduce circuit noise and area while achieving accurate passband gain and corner frequencies. Time-windowed-integration sampling is used to eliminate aliased noise introduced by the discrete time circuits and ripple introduced by chopping. Gain and transfer function accuracy are maintained while taking advantage of open loop structures. The circuit achieves an input-referred noise of 1.44 µV rms while implementing 58 dB gain across a bandwidth of 476 Hz to 9.75 kHz, draws 36.8 µA from a 1.8 V supply voltage corresponding to 3.45 NEF and 21 PEF, and achieves 0.034 mm2area per channel, which is 8x smaller than state-of-the-art peripheral nerve recording circuits with similar noise levels.
Conversations Into Texts: A Method for Studying Public Culture

Sociology has long struggled to develop methods adequate to its theoretical understanding of society as a reality sui generis (Durkheim, 1982). While culture is widely understood as the most collective aspect of societies, the methods sociologists use keep pulling us back toward an image of culture as produced by the interaction of individual minds. To try to capture more effectively what is genuinely collective about culture, we focus here on conversational interactions—the voices and actions that constitute the relational space among actors. Conversational journals provide us with a method: the analysis of texts produced by cultural insiders who keep journals of who-said-what-to-whom in conversations they overhear or events they participate in during the course of their daily lives. We describe the method, distinguishing it from other approaches and noting its drawbacks. We then explore the ways and settings in which participants in conversational interactions use culture, illustrating the methodological advantages of conversational journals with examples from our texts. We end with a discussion of what we have learned about culture in action and the method’s potential in our setting as well as in other places and times.
Neighborhood Cohesion and Oral Health Problems Among Older Chinese American Immigrants: Does Acculturation Make a Difference?

Background and objectives Despite an increasing, yet still limited amount of research on social determinants of oral health, the influences of neighborhood characteristics remain understudied, especially within the context of immigration. Acculturation is multidimensional, and its influences on the oral health of immigrants vary across age and ethnic groups. This study investigated the relationship between neighborhood cohesion and oral health problems among older Chinese American immigrants, and whether and to what extent acculturation indicators moderate the relationship between such cohesion and oral health. Methods The research design and working sample included 3,157 older Chinese American immigrants aged 60 years or older from the baseline of the Population Study of Chinese Elderly in Chicago. Neighborhood cohesion was measured by a six-item scale. Oral health problems were measured by the presence or absence of such problems. Acculturation included residence in ethnic enclaves, length of stay, and behavioral acculturation. Stepwise logistic regression models with interaction terms (Neighborhood cohesion × Acculturation) were conducted to examine the association between neighborhood cohesion and oral health problems, accounting for sociodemographics, health conditions, and health behaviors. Results Individuals experiencing higher levels of neighborhood cohesion reported a lower likelihood of having oral health problems. The protective effect of neighborhood cohesion against having oral health problems was stronger when individuals resided in ethnic enclaves such as Chinatown. Discussion and implications To promote optimal oral health, interventions need to account for individuals' perceptions and levels of integration into their neighborhoods and communities.
Spin-dependent shot noise in MgO-based magnetic tunnel junctions under noncollinear magnetization alignment

We report experimental measurements of shot noise in MgO-based magnetic tunnel junctions (MTJs) upon angular magnetization rotation in the free layer. The normalized shot noise (the Fano factor) is found to be sub-Poissonian and exhibits a sinusoidal-like variation over the relative magnetic orientation between the free and the pinned layer inside the MTJs. The observed sub-Poissonian statistics provides direct evidence of electron sequential tunneling mediated by localized states inside the tunnel barrier. The variation of the Fano factor can be interpreted in terms of a semi-classical model that we propose. Based on this model, the variation of the Fano factor can be used to reveal microscopic details of the tunneling barrier.
Chapter 13 – Engineering Functional Tissues: In Vitro Culture Parameters

Tissue engineering seeks to restore the function of diseased or damaged tissues through the use of cells, biomaterials, and biologically active molecules. The next generation of functional tissue replacements will likely require additional exogenous stimuli to achieve many of the important requirements for long-term clinical success. Two such requirements – physiologic mechanical properties and the ability to grow and remodel in a manner that allows for restoration of physiologic function – may be achieved by the judicious selection of in vitro culture parameters. Moreover, in vitro models are relevant not only to tissue engineering and regenerative medicine but also as platforms for high throughput screening of therapeutic drugs. In this chapter, representative studies of two diverse types of engineered tissues – cartilage and cardiac – are described in which in vitro culture parameters were manipulated in order to accelerate the growth, maturation and integration of engineered tissue constructs and improve their biomechanical properties. In this regard, the effects of culture duration, scaffold systems, bioreactors, growth factors, and mechanical conditioning are discussed. Given the rapid evolution of the field of tissue engineering, it is important to consider these in vitro culture parameters in conjunction with novel molecular and gene therapies and other emerging technologies.
Monetary Policy and the Equity Term Structure

We study the impact of monetary policy on the term structure of equity prices. We find that short-term and long-term equity prices respond in opposite ways to changes in monetary policy. Following an unanticipated cut in the target federal funds rate, short-term equity prices fall while long-term equity prices rise on average. This pattern could arise if policy decisions signal information about economic conditions. We examine this mechanism and find that the price change of the short-term equity asset in the 30-minute window around an FOMC announcement significantly predicts both macroeconomic growth and professional forecast errors over subsequent quarters.
An Atypical Case of Exertional Chest Pain

Introduction: Exertional chest pain in athletes is a serious event that warrants evaluation for an underlying etiology. A well-known cause of exertional chest pain and sudden cardiac death that has been highlighted in the media of late is hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. Often not discussed or well-known are other cardiac causes of exertional chest pain. This case highlights a less common potential cardiac cause for exertional chest pain in a young athletic swimmer. Case Report: A 10 year old previously healthy male swimmer presents to his pediatrician office after experiencing chest pain …
Differential expression of the orphan G-protein coupled receptor GPCR5A in human cancers and its induction by retinoic acid and fenretinide

2519 GPCR5A was identified as a retinoic acid (RA) inducible gene with homology to type 3 G-protein coupled receptor family. It is expressed primarily in normal lung epithelial tissue, but low levels were also detected in other epithelial tissues. Because RA has shown activity as chemopreventive and therapeutic agent, we speculated that GPCR5A acts as a mediator of some of these effects. To further explore the role of GPCR5A in cancer development, we analyzed its expression in 75 human cancer cell lines including: 13 non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), 6 head and neck squamous cell carcinoma, 12 breast carcinoma, 4 prostatic carcinoma, 2 melanomas, 3 cervical carcinoma, 10 teratocarcinoma, 17 colon carcinoma, 3 gastric carcinoma, 2 glioblastoma, and 3 bladder carcinomas and its induction by RA and fenretinide (4HPR) in most of these cell lines using northern blotting. The constitutive expression of GPCR5A varied greatly among those cell lines; 18 of 75 (24%) cancer cell lines had undetectable levels, 26/75 (35%) exhibited a low expression, 13/75 (17%) had moderate, and 18/75 (24%) had high expression relative to GAPDH. When treated with RA and /or 4HPR, most cell lines with undetectable to moderate expression showed induction or further increase of GPCR5A. In contrast, all cell lines with high expression didn’t show any changes. The constitutive expression of GPCR5A in 10 of 14 (71%) human lung and head neck cancer cell lines was undetectable to moderate but could be induced by RA and/or 4HPR. Further analyses of RNA isolated from paired human normal and malignant lung tissues from 18 NSCLC patients demonstrated that 11/18 (61%) cases had a lower level of GPCR5A mRNA in the tumor relative to the normal, 2/18 (11%) pairs had higher level of GPCR5A in tumor relative to normal, one case had similar levels in tumor and normal and in 4 cases GPCR5A was undetectable. These results indicate that a considerable proportion of human NSCLC has decreased level of GPCR5A. In silico analysis of published data on gene expression in a large collection of human lung tissues, including 17 adjacent normal lung tissues, 139 adenocarcinomas, 21 squamous cell carcinomas, 6 small cell lung cancers, and 20 carcinoid tumors revealed that GPCR5A expression was significantly lower in all types of lung cancer compared with normal lung tissues. In conclusion, the constitutive expression of GPCR5A was low in the majority of human cancer cell lines and could be induced by RA and/or 4HPR in many of these cells. Furthermore, the expression of GPCR5A appears to be low in the majority of human lung cancer tissues than in adjacent normal tissues, supporting a possible role of GPCR5A as tumor suppressor as demonstrated previously in a knockout mouse model. Supported by the Samuel Waxman Cancer Research Foundation.
Impact of blood transfusions on patients with head and neck cancer undergoing free tissue transfer.

Objectives/Hypothesis To determine whether blood transfusions are associated with adverse outcomes in patients with head and neck cancer (HNC) undergoing microvascular free tissue transfer. Study Design Retrospective cohort study. Methods The records of all patients who underwent free flaps for reconstruction after HNC resection from July 2007 through February 2013 at a single institution were reviewed. Rates of overall survival (OS), recurrence free survival (RFS), and postoperative wound infection were determined. Statistical analyses included Cox proportional hazards models and chi-square tests. Results Of 167 patients, 90 received 0 to 2 units of blood and 77 received ≥ 3. After controlling for age, preoperative hemoglobin, preoperative albumin, cancer stage, and adverse pathologic features, transfusion of ≥ 3 (versus 0 to 2) units was associated with poorer OS (P = 0.0006; hazard ratio [HR] = 2.96) and RFS (P = 0.003; HR = 2.35). The rates of wound infection in patients who received 0, 1, 2, or ≥ 3 units were 13.3%, 21.2%, 33.3%, and 31.2%, respectively. There was a statistically significant difference in wound infection rates between those patients receiving 0 to 1 versus ≥ 2 units (P = 0.04). Conclusions Patients who receive ≥ 3 units of blood after free tissue transfer for HNC had a significantly increased risk of death after controlling for age, preoperative hemoglobin and albumin, cancer stage, and adverse pathologic features. Increased transfusions are also associated with higher wound infection rates. The increased tendency to transfuse free flap patients in order to maintain a threshold hematocrit may have a detrimental impact on survival and wound infections and should be revisited. Level of Evidence 2b. Laryngoscope, 125:86–91, 2015
The nature and fate of natural resins in the geosphere Part XI.† Ruthenium tetroxide oxidation of a mature Class Ib amber polymer‡

The results of ruthenium tetroxide (RuO4) oxidation of a mature Class Ib amber polymer are reported and discussed. These data indicate that the residual double bond present in mature Class I ambers is not located in the A/B ring structure of these materials and that C17 of the original labdanoid precursors is retained in mature Class I ambers as a methyl group. These data also suggest that the reaction which results in formation of the residual unsaturated structure in mature ambers also results in a second covalent connection between the A/B ring system and the polymer backbone, probably through C8 of the original labdanoid structure.
A formal analysis of potential energy in a multi-agent system

This paper summarizes a novel framework, called “physicomimetics,” for the distributed control of large collections of mobile physical agents in sensor networks. The agents sense and react to virtual forces, which are motivated by natural physics laws. Thus, physicomimetics is founded upon solid scientific principles. Furthermore, this framework provides an effective basis for self-organization, fault-tolerance, and self-repair. Examples are shown of how this framework has been applied to construct regular geometric lattice configurations (distributed sensing grids). Analyses are provided that facilitate system understanding and predictability, including a quantitative analysis of potential energy that provides the capability of setting system parameters based on theoretical laws. Physicomimetics has been implemented both in simulation and on a team of seven mobile robots.
Ubiquitin-Synaptobrevin Fusion Protein Causes Degeneration of Presynaptic Motor Terminals in Mice.

Protein aggregates containing ubiquitin (Ub) are commonly observed in neurodegenerative disorders, implicating the involvement of the ubiquitin proteasome system (UPS) in their pathogenesis. Here, we aimed to generate a mouse model for monitoring UPS function using a green fluorescent protein (GFP)-based substrate that carries a “noncleavable” N-terminal ubiquitin moiety (Ub G76V ). We engineered transgenic mice expressing a fusion protein, consisting of the following: (1) Ub G76V , GFP, and a synaptic vesicle protein synaptobrevin-2 (Ub G76V -GFP-Syb2); (2) GFP-Syb2; or (3) Ub G76V -GFP-Syntaxin1, all under the control of a neuron-specific Thy-1 promoter. As expected, Ub G76V -GFP-Syb2, GFP-Syb2, and Ub G76V -GFP-Sytaxin1 were highly expressed in neurons, such as motoneurons and motor nerve terminals of the neuromuscular junction (NMJ). Surprisingly, Ub G76V -GFP-Syb2 mice developed progressive adult-onset degeneration of motor nerve terminals, whereas GFP-Syb2 and Ub G76V -GFP-Syntaxin1 mice were normal. The degeneration of nerve terminals in Ub G76V -GFP-Syb2 mice was preceded by a progressive impairment of synaptic transmission at the NMJs. Biochemical analyses demonstrated that Ub G76V -GFP-Syb2 interacted with SNAP-25 and Syntaxin1, the SNARE partners of synaptobrevin. Ultrastructural analyses revealed a marked reduction in synaptic vesicle density, accompanying an accumulation of tubulovesicular structures at presynaptic nerve terminals. These morphological defects were largely restricted to motor nerve terminals, as the ultrastructure of motoneuron somata appeared to be normal at the stages when synaptic nerve terminals degenerated. Furthermore, synaptic vesicle endocytosis and membrane trafficking were impaired in Ub G76V -GFP-Syb2 mice. These findings indicate that Ub G76V -GFP-Syb2 may compete with endogenous synaptobrevin, acting as a gain-of-function mutation that impedes SNARE function, resulting in the depletion of synaptic vesicles and degeneration of the nerve terminals. SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT Degeneration of motor nerve terminals occurs in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) patients as well as in mouse models of ALS, leading to progressive paralysis. What causes a motor nerve terminal to degenerate remains unknown. Here we report on transgenic mice expressing a ubiquitinated synaptic vesicle protein (Ub G76V -GFP-Syb2) that develop progressive degeneration of motor nerve terminals. These mice may serve as a model for further elucidating the underlying cellular and molecular mechanisms of presynaptic nerve terminal degeneration.
Calcium Binding by α-Lactalbumin in Human Milk and Bovine Milk

The metal-binding property of alpha-lactalbumin (alpha-LA) in human milk was studied and compared to that of bovine milk alpha-LA. Gel filtration on Sephadex G-75 at physiological pH and ionic strength separated alpha-LA in human and bovine milk from most other proteins. The only metal ion associated with alpha-LA under these conditions was Ca2+. Minor protein contaminants were removed by ion-exchange chromatography, and the ratio of Ca2+:alpha-LA was determined in the isolated protein preparations. Concentrations of alpha-LA in mature human milk were between 1.03 and 1.57 mg/ml; the Ca2+ concentration bound to alpha-LA varied, yielding a molar ratio of Ca2+:alpha-LA of approximately 1:1 (0.82-1.41 mol Ca2+/mol alpha-LA) in mature milk. Gel filtration with excess Ca2+ in the running buffer showed that there is another weaker binding site for Ca2+, but this binding does not occur under physiological conditions. Less Ca2+ was bound to bovine alpha-LA (0.6-0.9 mol Ca2+/mol alpha-LA) than to human alpha-LA. Calcium binding was abolished at pH 3.0 and resulted in a substantial increase in the hydrodynamic radius of alpha-LA. Reconstitution of human alpha-LA with Ca2+ and other divalent cations at native pH (6.8) and ionic strength showed a binding specific for Ca2+. Since only 1% of calcium from human milk and 0.15% from bovine milk is alpha-LA bound, alpha-LA is probably unimportant with respect to calcium nutrition of the infant. However, the metal binding of alpha-LA may have a biological significance through its role in the lactose synthase complex.
Zone Overlap and Collaboration in Academic Biomedicine: A Functional Proximity Approach to Socio-Spatial Network Analysis

Spatial layouts can have significant influences on the formation and outcomes of social relationships. Physical proximity is thus essential to understanding the elemental building blocks of social networks, dyads. Situating relationships in space is instrumental to formulating better models of collaboration and information-sharing in organizations and more robust theories of networks and their effects. We propose, develop, and test a concept, the functional zone, which effectively captures Festinger et al’s (1950) classic description of ‘functional distance’ as pertains to social interactions. We operationalize our functional zone concept with measures of path and areal zone overlap. At two biomedical research buildings with different layouts (compact versus linear), regression analyses of collaboration rates show that increasing path overlap increases collaboration in both buildings. In contrast more traditional distance measures only influence collaboration in the more linear building. The functional zone concept improves our ability to understand relationships and their attendant organizational outcomes.
400 cGy TBI with fludarabine for reduced-intensity conditioning allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation

Fludarabine and 200 cGy TBI are commonly used for reduced-intensity conditioning preceding allogeneic hematopoietic SCT (HSCT). However, graft rejection and disease relapse are significant causes of treatment failure with this regimen. We modified this regimen by escalating the TBI dose to 400 cGy in 40 patients with hematologic malignancies. Thirty-four patients achieved complete donor T-cell chimerism at a median of 40 days following HSCT. The incidences of grades II-IV and III-IV acute GVHD were 40 and 15%, respectively, whereas that of limited and extensive chronic GVHD were 12 and 20%, respectively. Two patients rejected their grafts and 12 relapsed. The 100-day mortality was 18%, 2-year transplant-related mortality 20% and overall survival was 58% at a median follow-up of 16 months. There were no significant survival differences between patients with lymphoid compared to myeloid malignancies. A dose of 400 cGy TBI administered with fludarabine is well tolerated and further study is needed to determine whether outcomes are superior to those with 200 cGy TBI.
Parents' Conception of Their Use of Over-the-counter Medicines

To explore their hypothetical responses to management of fever or nasal congestion in their children, 109 patients were interviewed in a clinic waiting-room area. Most parents said they would medicate their children in these situations without first consulting a health professional. Parents were more willing to administer a drug product for fever than for nasal congestion, especially to children under 2 years of age. Although most parents selected appropriate medications for these situations, many were poorly informed about these drugs and falsely attributed germicidal and decongestant properties to aspirin and Tylenol. Younger, less educated, indigent parents in lower-status occupations were the least well informed. Pediatricians need to prepare parents for their role as health care providers.
Intermediate-scale 2D experimental investigation of in situ chemical oxidation using potassium permanganate for remediation of complex DNAPL source zones

In situ chemical oxidation is a technology that has been applied to speed up remediation of a contaminant source zone by inducing increased mass transfer from DNAPL sources into the aqueous phase for subsequent destruction. The DNAPL source zone can consist of one or more individual sources that may be present as an interconnected pool of high saturation, as a region of disconnected ganglia at residual saturation, or as combinations of these two morphologies. Potassium permanganate (KMnO(4)) is a commonly employed oxidant that has been shown to rapidly destroy DNAPL compounds like PCE and TCE following second-order kinetics in an aqueous system. During the oxidation of a target DNAPL compound, or naturally occurring reduced species in the subsurface, manganese oxide (MnO(2)) solids are produced. Research has shown that these manganese oxide solids may result in permeability reductions in the porous media thus reducing the ability for oxidant to be transported to individual DNAPL sources. It can also occur at the DNAPL-water interface, decreasing contact of the oxidant with the DNAPL. Additionally, MnO(2) formation at the DNAPL-water interface, and/or flow-bypassing as a result of permeability reductions around the source, may alter the mass transfer from the DNAPL into the aqueous phase, potentially diminishing the magnitude of any DNAPL mass depletion rate increase induced by oxidation. An experiment was performed in a two-dimensional (2D) sand-filled tank that included several discrete DNAPL source zones. Spatial and temporal monitoring of aqueous PCE, chloride, and permanganate concentrations was used to relate changes in mass depletion of, and mass flux, from DNAPL residual and pool source zones to chemical oxidation performance and MnO(2) formation. During the experiment, permeability changes were monitored throughout the 2D tank and these were related to MnO(2) deposition as measured through post-oxidation soil coring. Under the conditions of this experiment, MnO(2) formation was found to reduce permeability in and around DNAPL source zones resulting in changes to the overall flow pattern, with the effects depending on source zone configuration. A pool with little or no residual around it, in a relatively homogeneous flow field, appeared to benefit from resulting MnO(2) pore-blocking that substantially reduced mass transfer from the pool even though there was relatively little PCE mass removed from the pool. In contrast, a pool with residual around it (in a more typical heterogeneous flow field) appeared to undergo increased mass transfer as MnO(2) reduced permeability, altering the water flow and increasing the mixing at the DNAPL-water interface. Further, the magnitude of increased PCE mass depletion during oxidation appeared to depend on the PCE source configuration (pool versus ganglia) and decreased as MnO(2) was formed and deposited at the DNAPL-water interface. Overall, the oxidation of PCE mass appeared to be rate-limited by the mass transfer from the DNAPL to aqueous phase.
State of security at US colleges and universities: a national stakeholder assessment and recommendations.

In 2004 the US Department of Justice, Office of Community Oriented Policing Services, sponsored a National Summit on Campus Public Safety. The summit brought together various stakeholders including campus police and security officials, local police chiefs, college and university faculty and administrators, federal officials, students and parents, and community leaders to address the issues and complexities of campus safety. Delegates to the summit identified key issues in campus safety and security, which included establishing a national center on campus safety, balancing traditional open environments with the need to secure vulnerable sites, improving coordination with state and local police, reducing internal fragmentation, elevating professionalism, and increasing eligibility of campus police and security agencies to compete for federal law enforcement funds. Focus on “active shooters” on campus, resulting from the Virginia Tech incident, should not diminish attention placed on the broader, more prevalent safety and security issues facing the nation's educational campuses. Recommendations resulting from the summit called for establishing a national agenda on campus safety, formation of a national center on campus public safety, and increased opportunity for campus police and security agencies to compete for federal and state funds. (Disaster Med Public Health Preparedness. 2007;1(Suppl 1):S47–S50)
Coenzyme a content of human arterial and venous tissue

Summary Determinations were made of the coenzyme A concentration in various types of human blood vessels. The coenzyme A analyses were performed by assay of pantothenic acid liberated through treatment of tissue samples with purified intestinal alkaline phosphatase and acetone powder of hog kidney extract. The quantitatively released pantothenic acid was measured microbiologically by the Lactobacillus plantarum procedure. A total of 257 vascular samples were included in the study. The mean coenzyme A concentrations observed for intima-media layers of normal tissue portions expressed as U/g of wet tissue, were: ascending aorta, 4.37; descending thoracic aorta, 5.50; abdominal aorta, 7.28; pulmonary artery, 7.03; coronary artery, 8.15; and inferior vena cava, 7.60. Analyses of atherosclerotic tissue portions consisting mainly of lipid deposits showed essentially similar coenzyme A levels as in the normal tissue, whereas markedly lower values were recorded for fibrous atherosclerotic plaques.
Deletion of IFT20 in the mouse kidney causes misorientation of the mitotic spindle and cystic kidney disease

Primary cilia project from the surface of most vertebrate cells and are thought to be sensory organelles. Defects in primary cilia lead to cystic kidney disease, although the ciliary mechanisms that promote and maintain normal renal function remain incompletely understood. In this work, we generated a floxed allele of the ciliary assembly gene Ift20. Deleting this gene specifically in kidney collecting duct cells prevents cilia formation and promotes rapid postnatal cystic expansion of the kidney. Dividing collecting duct cells in early stages of cyst formation fail to properly orient their mitotic spindles along the tubule, whereas nondividing cells improperly position their centrosomes. At later stages, cells lacking cilia have increased canonical Wnt signaling and increased rates of proliferation. Thus, IFT20 functions to couple extracellular events to cell proliferation and differentiation.
Quasi-wavelet formulations of turbulence and other random fields with correlated properties

Quasi-wavelets (QWs) are similar to customary wavelets in that they are based on translations and dilations of a parent function; however, their positions and orientations are random. QWs are convenient for representing random fields with a self-similar structure. In this paper, a general, multi-dimensional treatment of QW fields is presented that includes scale-dependence in the number density and amplitude of the QWs. Previous QW formulations are extended to include anisotropy and correlations among several properties of the random fields. These extensions would be difficult (if not impossible) to achieve systematically by Fourier methods. As an example application, it is shown how QW models can be constructed to produce constant turbulent flux layers. Heat flux in buoyantly driven turbulence is modeled as a collection of QWs with predominantly horizontal rotation coupled with dipole scalar perturbations. Predictions for spectra in the presence of fluxes are obtained.
Bidirectional data flow architecture for padding in MPEG-4

The advent of MPEG-4 standard for manipulation and coding of multimedia data has resulted in the exploration of new algorithms and architectural solutions for object and content-based processing. MPEG-4 operates at the level of Video Object Planes (VOPs) in contrast to frame-based processing in MPEG 1 and 2. The motion estimation process in MPEG-4 requires both 8 X 8 and 16 X 16 block motion processing. In addition, a new approach termed padding is employed to improve the accuracy of motion estimation/compensation. We have recently presented a scalable architecture for estimating the motion of both 8 X 8 and 16 X 16 blocks. In this paper, we present a novel architecture for padding in MPEG-4. Padding is carried out for the boundary macroblocks of the VOPs in two steps, namely horizontal padding and vertical padding. Padding is based on the shape information of the individual video objects. The asynchronous communication in the proposed architecture enables high throughput while maintaining a low complexity. The architecture is simple, modular and scalable and has been simulated using VHDL.
Physical Characterization of Solid Iopanoic Acid Forms

Three solid forms of iopanoic acid were characterized by X-ray diffraction, differential scanning calorimetry, scanning electron microscopy, thermal microscopy, IR spectroscopy, and dissolution studies. X-ray analysis demonstrated that two solid forms were crystalline and that the third was amorphous. The amorphous form had been reported previously as crystalline. Enthalpies and entropies of transition were calculated using differential scanning calorimetry. A fourth form, a benzene solvate, also was isolated but proved to be too unstable at room temperature to permit conclusive characterization. The amorphous form demonstrated a 10-fold greater intrinsic dissolution rate than the commercially available form (Form I). Form II's intrinsic dissolution rate was 1.5 times greater than that of Form I. In powder dissolution studies, the peak solubilities of the different forms followed the same rank order as their intrinsic dissolution rates. Form II was relatively stable in aqueous saturated solutions, but the amorphous form was rapidly converted to Form I under similar conditions.
Social Evaluations of Assertiveness: A Critique and Speech Act Reformulation:

A conceptual and methodological critique of recent research on the social evaluation of assertive speech demonstrates that while the research is internally valid within its narrow sphere, it lacks ecological validity, cannot adequately explain important phenomena such as gender differences, and leads to misguided clinical prescriptions. An alternative theoretical framework, based on speech act theory, is proposed. Assertiveness is viewed as a style of conversation occurring in complex interpersonal contexts. Such analysis encompasses an understanding of the grammar and speech acts used in assertive conversation, as well as the social roles (including gender and status relationships) that are created and maintained through conversational interaction. As women represent the majority of clients and consumers of assertiveness therapies, the interests and concerns of women are a special focus of the suggestions for increasing the ecological validity and clinical relevance of future research.
Gab2, a New Pleckstrin Homology Domain-containing Adapter Protein, Acts to Uncouple Signaling from ERK Kinase to Elk-1

We describe a novel human adapter molecule containing a pleckstrin homolgy (PH) domain at the N terminus that is closely related to human Grb2-associated binder 1, Gab1, and Drosophila daughter of sevenless. We designate this protein as Gab2. Northern blot analysis indicates that Gab2 is widely expressed and has an overlapping but distinctive expression pattern as compared with Gab1, with high levels of Gab2 mRNA detected in the heart, brain, placenta, spleen, ovary, peripheral blood leukocytes, and spinal cord. Upon tyrosine phosphorylation, Gab2 physically interacts with Shp2 tyrosine phosphatase and Grb2 adapter protein. Strikingly, Gab2 has an inhibitory effect on the activation of Elk-1-dependent transcription triggered by a dominant active Ras mutant (RasV12) or under growth factor stimulation, whereas Gab1 acts to potentiate slightly the Elk-1 activity in the same system. In contrast to the reciprocal effects of Gab1 and Gab2 in mediating Elk-1 induction, these two molecules have a similar function in extracellular signal-regulated kinase activation induced by either oncogenic Ras or growth factor stimulation. Taken together, these results argue that Gab1 and Gab2, two closely related PH-containing adapter proteins, might have distinct roles in coupling cytoplasmic-nuclear signal transduction. This is the first evidence that an intracellular molecule with a PH domain operates as a negative effector in signal relay to the regulation of gene expression.
Synthesis and reactivity of acetylacetone with amine ligands in fac-Re(OH2)3(CO)3+ complexes

Abstract The fac-Re(OH2)3(CO)3+ moiety was investigated with a known bidentate ligand, acetylactone (acac) and amine based ligands in a 2 + 1 and tridentate approach. In the 2 + 1 approach, the fac-Re(CO)3(acac)(OH2) was reacted with ethylamine to yield the monomer version fac-Re(CO)3(acac)(NH2Et), 1. Based on the Schiff base condensation of a ketone and a primary amine, a tridentate ligand approach for fac-Re(OH2)3(CO)3+ utilizing the reactivity of acac and diamine ligands (1,2 ethylene, 1,3 propylene, 1,4 butylene) was explored in a didactic manner: 1) an in situ ligand synthesis approach reacting fac-Re(CO)3(acac)(OH2) with the diamine (2 + 2 = 3) or 2) direct complexation of fac-Re(OH2)3(CO)3+ with the prepared ligand. The results observed with rhenium complexes were characterized by standard chemical analysis and X-ray analysis.
Defect in formation of functional matrix vesicles by growth plate chondrocytes in avian tibial dyschondroplasia: evidence of defective tissue vascularization

Avian tibial dyschondroplasia (ATD), a disease characterized by an almost total lack of mineralization in affected areas of growth plate cartilage, may involve defective matrix vesicle (MV) mineralization. To explore the biochemical defect in ATD, both normal and diseased tissue were analyzed for the amount of isolatable MVs, their chemical composition, and their ability to induce mineral formation. We found significantly fewer MVs in ATD tissue, and in contrast to normal MVs, which rapidly mineralized when incubated in synthetic cartilage lymph, those isolated from ATD lesions induced only limited mineralization even after prolonged incubation. Analysis by detergent extraction revealed a nearly dysfunctional nucleational core in ATD MVs. Thus, in ATD tissue, there is a defect in the formation of MVs, and those that form are nearly inactive. There were also alterations in the lipid-dependent Ca2+(-)binding proteins (annexins) in ATD MVs. There were lower levels of annexins II and VI in endogenously produced collagenase-released matrix vesicles (CRMVs), but not in matrix vesicle-enriched microsomes (MVEMs) produced by tissue homogenization. These findings indicate that there is insufficient Ca2+ in ATD cells to enable incorporation of the annexins into MVs. Finally, there was evidence of phospholipid breakdown in ATD MVs, as well as in ATD tissue generally. This indicated that the ATD lesions were becoming necrotic. Taken together, these findings indicate that there is a defect in tissue vascularization such that the supply of mineral ions and nutrients to ATD cartilage is inadequate to support normal MV formation and subsequent mineralization.
Wage prospects and the existence of job queues when the wage is a sorting device

Abstract We consider a labor market where information is asymmetric. Previous research suggests that excess supply may result in this situation. We find no excess supply if labor suppliers respond to wage prospects – the wage times the probability of employment.
Nonbridging External Fixation of Distal Radius Fractures

Surgical management of distal radius fractures continues to evolve because of their high incidence in an increasingly active elderly population. Traditional radiocarpal external fixation relies on ligamentotaxis for fracture reduction but has several drawbacks. Nonbridging external fixation has evolved to provide early wrist mobility in the setting of anatomic fracture reduction. Several studies of the nonbridging technique have demonstrated satisfactory results in isolated nonbridging external fixation series and in comparison with traditional spanning external fixation. Nonbridging external fixation for surgical treatment of distal radius fractures can be technically demanding and requires at least 1 cm of intact volar cortex in the distal fracture fragment for successful implementation.
Split Household, Small Producer and Dual Wage Earner: An Analysis of Chinese-American Family Strategies.

In contrast to the institutional approaches frequently used in studies of black and Hispanic family life, research on the Chinese-American family has relied almost exclusively on cultural explanations. The latter perspective emphasizes the continuity of Chinese-American family patterns over time, portraying them as basically static. Instead, using an institutional framework, this study emphasizes the changing structure of Chinese-American families resulting from the interplay between shifting institutional constraints and the efforts of Chinese Americans to maintain family life in the face of these restrictions. Historical analysis reveals three distinct immigrant family types which emerged in different periods in response to particular political and economic conditions: split household, small producer, and dual-wage worker. The existence of these distinct types suggests that characteristics often interpreted as products of Chinese culture actually represent strategies for dealing with conditions of life in the United States.
A distributed CSMA algorithm for wireless networks based on Ising model

Recent studies on queue-length-based randomized link scheduling algorithms have shown their throughput-optimality. But simulation results indicate that the packet delay in such algorithms can be quite large, even when the traffic intensity is low compared with the network capacity. The reason can be traced to the fact that these algorithms need the queues to be sufficiently large before the links have a good chance to be activated for transmission. In this paper, we propose a new randomized scheduling algorithm based on the Ising model in physics. The algorithm does not require queue build-up for link activation and can thus give better delay performance. It is easily implementable in a distributed fashion and it retains throughput-optimality.
Broadband optically phase modulated downconverting W-band wireless receiver

Experimental results of a photonic downconverting W-band receiver are presented, showing a low-ripple unamplified conversion gain of −21.2 dB from 75–110 GHz. Additionally, 1 Gb/s wireless data transmission at 90 GHz is demonstrated.
The effect of oxide dopants in ceria on n-butane oxidation

Abstract Solid solutions of CeO 2 with Yb 2 O 3 , Y 2 O 3 , Sm 2 O 3 , Gd 2 O 3 , La 2 O 3 , Nb 2 O 5 , Ta 2 O 5 , and Pr 6 O 11 were prepared by sol–gel methods. All of the samples exhibited a single, cubic phase in X-ray diffraction and the lattice parameters were consistent with formation of the solid solutions. Surprisingly, all of the mixed oxides exhibited a much lower catalytic activity for n -butane oxidation than that of pure CeO 2 at 650 K, with Sm 0.2 Ce 0.8 O 1.9 , Gd 0.2 Ce 0.8 O 1.9 , La 0.2 Ce 0.8 O 1.9 , Nb 0.1 Ce 0.9 O 2.05 , and Ta 0.1 Ce 0.9 O 2.05 showing rates less than 10 −2 that of pure ceria. Lower dopant levels with Sm +3 and Gd +3 affected the rates proportionately less. The implications of these results for use of ceria as an oxidation catalyst are discussed.
Interface crack extension at any constant speed in orthotropic or transversely isotropic bimaterials––II. Two important examples

Abstract Part I [Int. J. Solids Struct., 39, 1165–1182] gives exact general solutions for steady dynamic extension by a semi-infinite crack along the interface of dissimilar orthotropic/transversely isotropic half-spaces under in-plane loading. Crack speed is any constant value, and results are valid for all six possible relations between the four body wave speeds. These results are applied here to sub-critical interface crack extension, and to debonding from a rigid half-space at any constant speed. The former case demonstrates well-known phenomena––the minimum Rayleigh speed is critical, and complex conjugate eigenvalues cause the crack edge oscillatory/square-root singular behavior that implies interpenetration. Calculations for representative materials show that eigenvalue and stress intensity factor amplitude variation with crack speed is small except near the critical value. Results for the latter case complement those of other recent studies: Singular behavior vanishes for super-critical/sub-sonic crack speeds, although oscillations remain. For trans-sonic crack speeds, eigenvalues are real, singular behavior is no longer square-root, and interpenetration can still occur below a critical speed. Lines of displacement gradient discontinuity radiate from the crack edge, but can vanish at a critical speed. Calculations show that eigenvalue variation with crack speed is more pronounced than in the first case.