cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Frequency and Predictors of Major In-hospital Ischemic Complications After Planned and Unplanned New-Device Angioplasty From the New Approaches to Coronary Intervention (NACI) Registry

The purpose of this study was to determine the frequency and predictors of major in-hospital ischemic complications after planned and unplanned procedures with new angioplasty devices from the New Approaches to Coronary Intervention (NACI) registry. The NACI registry is a multicenter, voluntary reporting of consecutive patients undergoing new-device angioplasty procedures using atherectomy catheters, stents, or lasers. This registry affords the opportunity to evaluate the performance of new angioplasty devices during elective and urgent circumstances. The study population consisted of 3,340 patients with 3,733 lesions (2,921 in native coronary arteries and 812 in saphenous vein grafts [SVGs], who were treated with new devices over a 3.5-year period and had their angiograms analyzed independently at a central angiographic core laboratory. Their in-hospital course and multivariate predictors of the complications in planned and unplanned procedures, further divided into native and SVG lesions, were evaluated. In 82.2% of native coronary artery lesions and 96.9% of SVG lesions, the procedure with a device had been planned due to unfavorable lesion characteristics for PTCA. In the remaining lesions, device use was unplanned, and was performed mainly to treat a suboptimal result (59-80.4%) after percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA), and less frequently after important complications of PTCA including abrupt closure and PTCA failure. In native artery cohort, major in-hospital ischemic complications (death, Q-wave myocardial infarction [MI], or emergency coronary artery bypass surgery) occurred in 2.7% of the planned and 9.9% of the unplanned procedures (p < 0.001), whereas in SVG such complications occurred in 3.6% of the planned and 8.7% of unplanned procedures (p = 0.21). Multivariate analysis revealed several predictors of major ischemic complications from planned native coronary artery device use: post-MI angina (odds ratio = 2.83); severe concomitant noncardiac disease (odds ratio = 2.5); multivessel disease (odds ratio = 1.75); and de novo lesions (odds ratio = 2.3). Multivariate predictors of major complications in unplanned native coronary artery procedures included high surgical risk (odds ratio = 3.08), and tortuous lesion (odds ratio = 2.41). In SVG lesions, the independent predictors of major complications for planned procedures included age (odds ratio = 1.09), high surgical risk (odds ratio = 4.34), and thrombus (odds ratio = 2.62). In native and SVG lesions, rates of major complications of planned procedures was acceptable (2.7-3.67%), but unplanned use of a new device was associated with a significantly higher rate of in-hospital complications (approximately 9%). Multivariate predictors for major ischemic complications included both clinical and lesion characteristics, and differed for native versus SVG lesions, as well as for planned versus unplanned procedures.
Self-Perceived Traumatic Stress in College: A Survey:

Most studies of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder have involved war veterans and victims of natural disasters and violent crime. To evaluate the incidence at college, 179 college students' responses were examined. Analysis indicated that there was a high frequency of self-perceived traumatic stress in this sample; 42% reported traumatic events, whereas only 6% would meet strict diagnostic criteria. Automobile accidents, deaths, and harassment were events perceived as traumatic. Most students turned to themselves or friends for treatment. Apparently traumatic events are more prevalent on campus than previously thought and (with the exception of rape) are rarely covered in prevention programs. College health authorities should be aware of the high incidence of perceived trauma, inform college students of potential stressors, and provide appropriate treatment.
A computational study of some 1,4-diaminobutanes and their protonated forms

Abstract A computational study of some 1,4-diaminobutanes and their protonated forms has been carried out with the ab initio self-consistent-field GAUSSIAN 82 procedure. An optimized structure was calculated for each system, and used to obtain its atomic charges, bond orders (as measures of relative bond strengths), and electrostatic potential (for the neutral molecules). Protonation of an amino nitrogen is found to considerably weaken its bond to the carbon chain, and to a much lesser extent, its bond to an N -methyl group. The introduction of a fluorine on C 2 strengthens the adjacent C-C and the C-N bonds. Strongly-negative electrostatic potentials are found to be associated with the nitrogens in the neutral diamines, which can be attributed to their lone pairs and indicate significant degrees of basicity.
Sources of sedimentary humic substances: vascular plant debris

A modern Washington continental shelf sediment was fractionated densimetrically using either an organic solvent, CBrCl3, or aqueous ZnCl2. The resulting low density materials (<2.06 g/ml) account for only 1% of the sediment mass but contain 25% of the sedimentary organic carbon and 53% of the lignin. The C/N ratios (30–40) and lignin phenol yields (Λ = 8) and compositions indicate that the low density materials are essentially pure vascular plant debris which is slightly enriched in woody (versus nonwoody) tissues compared to the bulk sediment. The low density materials yield approximately one-third of their organic carbon as humic substances and contribute 23% and 14% of the total sedimentary humic and fulvic acids, respectively. Assuming that the lignin remaining in the sedimentary fraction is also contained in plant fragments that yield similar levels of humic substances, then 50% and 30% of the total humic and fulvic acids, respectively, arise directly from plant debris. Base-extraction of fresh and naturally degraded vascular plant materials reveals that significant levels of humic and fulvic acids are obtained using classical extraction techniques. Approximately 1–2% of the carbon from fresh woods and 10–25% from leaves and bark were isolated as humic acids and 2–4 times those levels as fulvic acids. A highly degraded hardwood yielded up to 44% of its carbon as humic and fulvic acids. The humic acids from fresh plants are generally enriched in lignin components relative to carbohydrates and recognizable biochemicals account for up to 50% of the total carbon. Humic and fulvic acids extracted directly from sedimentary plant debris could be responsible for a major fraction of the biochemical component of humic substances.
Bacterial Nanowires of Shewanella Oneidensis MR-1 are Outer Membrane and Periplasmic Extensions of the Extracellular Electron Transport Components

Bacterial nanowires offer a pathway for extracellular electron transfer (EET) by linking the respiratory chain of bacteria to external surfaces, including oxidized metals in the environment and engineered electrodes in renewable energy devices. Specifically, nanowires of the model metal-reducing bacterium Shewanella oneidensis MR-1 were previously shown to be conductive under non-physiological conditions. Despite the global, environmental, and technological consequences of bacterial nanowire-mediated EET, the composition, electron transport mechanism, and physiological relevance of these appendages remain unclear. The nanowires of S. oneidensis MR-1 were previously thought, but never shown, to be bacterial pili. In addition, the transport mechanism through bacterial nanowires has been the subject of intense debate, with “metallic-like” band transport and multistep redox hopping between multiheme cytochromes as the two proposed mechanisms. Here we report the first in vivo observations of the formation and respiratory impact of nanowires in S. oneidensis MR-1. Using live fluorescence measurements and quantitative gene expression analysis, we demonstrate that S. oneidensis MR-1 nanowires are extensions of the outer membrane and periplasm, rather than pilin-based structures. We show, through immunolabeling, that multiheme cytochromes localize to nanowires, in turn supporting the multistep redox hopping model as the transport mechanism. Furthermore, these bacterial nanowires are associated with outer membrane vesicles, structures ubiquitous in Gram-negative bacteria, and occasionally appear as membrane vesicle chains that transition to smoother filaments. Redox-functionalized membrane and vesicular extensions may represent a general microbial strategy for electron transport and energy distribution.
Gene–gene and gene–environment interactions in ulcerative colitis

Genome-wide association studies (GWAS) have identified at least 133 ulcerative colitis (UC) associated loci. The role of genetic factors in clinical practice is not clearly defined. The relevance of genetic variants to disease pathogenesis is still uncertain because of not characterized gene–gene and gene–environment interactions. We examined the predictive value of combining the 133 UC risk loci with genetic interactions in an ongoing inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) GWAS. The Wellcome Trust Case–Control Consortium (WTCCC) IBD GWAS was used as a replication cohort. We applied logic regression (LR), a novel adaptive regression methodology, to search for high-order interactions. Exploratory genotype correlations with UC sub-phenotypes [extent of disease, need of surgery, age of onset, extra-intestinal manifestations and primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC)] were conducted. The combination of 133 UC loci yielded good UC risk predictability [area under the curve (AUC) of 0.86]. A higher cumulative allele score predicted higher UC risk. Through LR, several lines of evidence for genetic interactions were identified and successfully replicated in the WTCCC cohort. The genetic interactions combined with the gene-smoking interaction significantly improved predictability in the model (AUC, from 0.86 to 0.89, P = 3.26E−05). Explained UC variance increased from 37 to 42 % after adding the interaction terms. A within case analysis found suggested genetic association with PSC. Our study demonstrates that the LR methodology allows the identification and replication of high-order genetic interactions in UC GWAS datasets. UC risk can be predicted by a 133 loci and improved by adding gene–gene and gene–environment interactions.
Considerations for monitoring and evaluating treatment effects in clinical trials

The efficacies of various treatments commonly are evaluated and compared using prospective clinical trials. For ethical reasons, data from these trials are analyzed on an interim basis. The statistical test procedures used in these evaluations must be carefully selected and appropriately applied.
Hickman Catheter Perforation of the Superior vena Cava with 5-FU Extravasation into the Anterior Mediastinum A Case Report

Hickman catheter perforation of the superior vena cava with erosion of the catheter tip into soft tissues and extravasation of 5-fluorouracil into the anterior mediastinum is reported. Symptoms included progressive hoarseness and inter mittent right chest pain. Chest x-ray revealed migration of the catheter tip out of the vessel and extravasation of fluid. Risk factors for this complication in clude left subclavian vein cannulation, positioning of the catheter tip in the upper portion of the superior vena cava, and impingement of the catheter tip against the vessel wall. Good catheter position should be confirmed and tenting of the lateral wall of the superior vena cava excluded by careful examination of a postinsertional chest x-ray.
Cultural resources: an old asset - a new market for tourism.

Connotations of the 19th century "Grand Tour" of Europe still influence the travel profession's image of the relationship between culture and tourism namely, that cultural tourism is the province of Europe and the wealthy. U.S. tour operators have been far more active in incorporating cultural resources into trips for Americans to Europe than in promoting cultural resources within the United States for either the domestic or foreign traveller. Western concepts of cultural activities have been entrapped for centuries by notions about patronage based on the Medici model. The enduring misperception is that the arts survive on largesse alone, and that a loss in cultural activity implies a reduction in expenditures with little, if any, additional economic impact. An alternate assessment suggests that a cultural industry with demonstrable economic interdependencies and advantages has evolved officially overlooked by most policymakers. This industry encompasses profit and notprofit components of the arts, humanities, and historic preservation, and provides significant support to ancillary businesses and local tax structures. Now is a particularly opportune time for a major initiative to promote both domestic and international tourism to the United States with a specific focus on cultural resources. There has been an exponential growth of American activity and public interest in the arts, humanities, and historic preservation, which has contributed to and been reflected in the country's expanding international reputation for excellence in the arts. In addition, the United States has developed a unique quantity and quality of free outdoor programming during warm weather months. Even admission-based activities are still relatively inexpensive, a situation further reinforced on the international market by the current value of the dollar. All these elements combine to suggest a significant new market opportunity for tourism development: cultural resources. This paper juxtaposes trends and observations in American cultural and tourism development and suggests strengthened collaborative efforts between the two professions can foster mutually advantageous new markets. The term, "cultural resources", refers to profit and non-profit activities in the arts,
Oxidation of linoleyl alcohol by potato tuber lipoxygenase: kinetics and positional, stereo, and geometrical (cis, trans) specificity of the reaction.

Abstract The dioxygenation of linoleyl alcohol (LAL) by potato tuber lipoxygenase leads to formation of two positional isomeric products—9- and 13-hydroperoxyoctadecadien-1-ols (Butovich, I. A., Luk'yanova, S. M., and Reddy, C. C. (1998) Biochem. Biophys. Res. Commun. 249, 344–349). In the present study, we examined the stereospecificity and double-bond conformation of primary dioxygenation products of LAL catalyzed by potato lipoxygenase. In contrast to the product profiles of linoleic acid oxidation by potato lipoxygenase, oxidation of LAL led to all possible positional (9- and 13-), stereo, and geometrical ( cis,trans and all- trans ) isomers in equimolar mixtures at 25°C. The reaction appears to proceed through an enzyme-catalyzed formation of a pentadiene carbon-centered radical followed by resonance stabilization of the radical and molecular oxygen insertion in an enzyme-dependent as well as an enzyme-independent pathway. A strict positional, stereo, and geometrical specificity of the dioxygenation products of LAL oxidation appears to be maintained when the reaction occurs at the active site of the enzyme. However, when the pentadiene carbon-centered radical of LAL is dissociated from the active site of the enzyme, it appears to be nonenzymatically transformed into a mixture of all possible positional and geometrical stereoisomers of primary dioxygenation products. The latter pathway was effectively blocked by the free radical scavenger 4-hydroxy-TEMPO, which substantially reduced the production of all- trans hydroperoxyoctadecadienols. In the presence of the scavenger, 9( S )-hydroperoxy-10 E, 12 Z -octadecadien-1-ol was the predominant LAL oxidation product, representing approximately 80% of the total conjugated dienes, with 13( S )-hydroxy-9 Z, 11 E -octadecadien-1-ol the expected product of reverse orientation of the substrate at the active site, accounting for approximately 10%. A similar pattern in oxidation of LAL was observed when the reactions were carried out at 0°C.
Total anomalous pulmonary venous connection: Results of surgical repair of 100 patients at a single institution

Objective Surgical repair of total anomalous pulmonary venous connection is associated with significant mortality and morbidity, especially in patients with single-ventricle physiology. This study analyzes total anomalous pulmonary venous connection surgical repair results at one institution to identify trends and indicators of positive outcome. Methods Our cardiac surgery database identified 100 patients undergoing surgical repair of total anomalous pulmonary venous connection (1990–2008): supracardiac (52), cardiac (15), infracardiac (23), and mixed (10). The median age at repair was 14.6 days (range, 0–4 years), and the median weight was 3.5 kg (range, 1.3–15 kg). Patients were divided into 2 groups: biventricular (n = 83) or single-ventricle (n = 17) physiology. All but 1 of the patients with single-ventricle physiology had heterotaxy syndrome (94%), and 13 of 17 patients had supracardiac anatomy. Results There were 12 operative deaths (4 in the biventricular group [5%] and 8 in the single-ventricle group [47%], P P P = .25). Mortality was 9 of 29 (31%) in those with pulmonary venous obstruction and 12 of 71 (17%) in those with nonpulmonary venous obstruction ( P = .23). Deep hypothermic circulatory arrest was used in 38 patients (27 in the biventricular group, 32.5%; 11 in the single-ventricle group, 64.7%). Mean deep hypothermic circulatory arrest time was 31.4 ± 10.7 minutes ( P = not significant between groups). Median postoperative length of stay was 11 days (range, 0–281 days). Nineteen patients required reoperation for pulmonary venous stenosis (14 in the biventricular group and 5 in the single-ventricle group. P = .045); the median time to reoperation was 104 days (range, 4–753 days). Conclusion Patients with total anomalous pulmonary venous connection with biventricular anatomy have good outcomes. Patients with single-ventricle anatomy have higher mortality and increased risk for pulmonary vein stenosis requiring reoperation. Mortality is highest in patients with mixed-type total anomalous pulmonary venous connection.
Automated mapping of conformity between topographic and geological surfaces

We present a technique to produce spatially distributed fields of geometric alignment between topography and the orientation of geologic bedding planes (topographic/bedding-plane intersection angle). Computation and digital mapping of the topographic/bedding-plane intersection angle (TOBIA) requires the derivation of four spatially distributed variables: topographic slope, slope aspect, bedding dip, and dip azimuth. Slope and slope aspect surfaces are derived from a high resolution (10 m) digital elevation model. Ordinary kriging is used to interpolate spatially continuous fields of dip azimuth and dip from point measurements of strike and dip. Using these variables, TOBIA can be mapped either categorically as slope types, or as a continuous index. Categorical mapping requires two steps. First, slopes are classified into three functional types based on the alignment between the dip azimuth and slope aspect. Slopes are then further partitioned based on the alignment between slope angle and dip angle. Continuous computations of TOBIA rely on a geometric equation using all four variables. The methods provide an eAcient means for estimating topographic/bedding plane intersection angles over large areas. Resulting surfaces are useful for a variety of landscape-scale modeling applications, such as the prediction of potential hillslope failure, hydrologic flow paths, and vegetation patterns. 7 2000 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.
Green's function calculation of local perturbations and end states in polymers

Abstract An overview of the Hartree-Fock Green matrix method for investigating deviations from periodicity in polymers is presented. Possible applications include the study of the electronic structure of composite polymer-dopant systems, substituted polymers, and block copolymers.
Formation and crystallization of alloys with two amorphous phases

Abstract The amorphous alloys Fe85B15, Fe84B16 and Fe73Co10B17 each exhibit two distinct crystallization peaks in microcalorimeter traces. The alloys were examined by transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and were found to consist of two amorphous phases, one dispersed within the other. When heated in the microcalorimeter to 715 K, the amorphous matrix phase crystallized to α iron crystals as determined by TEM. When heated to 750 K, body-centered tetragonal Fe3B crystals nucleated and grew into the dispersed amorphous phase and into the remaining uncrystallized matrix phase occluding the α iron crystals. The presence of two amorphous phases in the as-formed ribbon suggests clustering in the melt. The clusters may consist of units comprised of three boron atoms and one iron atom which combine with eight iron atoms to form three Fe3B molecules. Clustering of this type may be much more common in other amorphous alloys than has so far been reported.
“This is your brain on drugs”: adolescent substance use prevention through neuroscience education

Interest in the brain has risen dramatically in recent decades, suggesting that neuroscience-based information about substance use risks could be a compelling addition to prevention efforts. However, no studies have tested this approach among adolescents. In this study, we tested the effects of a high school science curriculum called “The Brain: Understanding Neurobiology through the Study of Addiction” developed by the U.S. National Institutes of Health (NIH) to teach students about how alcohol and drugs affect the brain. We examined the curriculum’s effects on students’ knowledge, attitudes, and use of tobacco, alcohol, and drugs. Participants were 9th-11th graders attending 2 urban high schools whose parents consented (222/282=79%). We standardized the 5-lesson curriculum and trained 5 science teachers; 8 classes (n=133) received the NIH curriculum, 5 matched-grade comparison classes (n=89) received the usual curriculum. We used a self-administered survey to assess demographics, knowledge, perceived risk of harm from substance use, substance use, peer/family substance use, and prior health education. We collected data 1-2 weeks pre-intervention (T1), immediately post-intervention (T2; 1 month after T1), and 6-8 months later (T3). We used multiple logistic regression with generalized estimating equations for post-test comparisons, adjusting for T1 differences and within-class correlation. 180/222 (81%) students completed all measurements; group completion rates were similar (control=80%, intervention=82%). Compared to control students, intervention students had lower past-30-day cigarette use at T2 (7% vs. 21%, AOR=0.20, 95% CI 0.08-0.49, p=.01), and a marginal trend toward lower alcohol initiation between T1 and T2 (3% vs. 20%; adjusted odds ratio [AOR]=0.09 95% CI 0.01-1.03, p=.052). Among low-frequency marijuana users (1-5 times lifetime at baseline), fewer intervention students had past-30-day marijuana use at T2 (5% vs. 35%, AOR=0.01, 95%CI 0.00-0.30, p=0.03). All between-groups differences were extinguished by T3. Neuroscience education is a promising supplemental strategy for adolescent substance use prevention; however, ongoing reinforcement is needed.
A burst-mode word-serial address-event link-III: analysis and test results

We present results for a scalable multiple-access inter-chip link that communicates binary activity between two-dimensional arrays fabricated in deep submicrometer CMOS. Capacity scales with integration density because an entire row is read and written in parallel. Row activity is encoded in a burst: The row address followed by a column address for each active cell. We predict the distribution of burst lengths when transmission is initiated by active cells and access is arbitered using a two-level queuing model. Agreement with the experiment is excellent for loads over 50% but not for lighter loads, where our assumption that service time is exponentially distributed breaks down. We also quantify the throughput-latency tradeoff. The price of an n-fold increase in throughput is an n per N/sub col/ timing error in a cell's inter-event interval, where N/sub col/ is the number of cells per row. Links implemented in 0.6, 0.4, and 0.25 /spl mu/m are compared; the highest burst-rate achieved was 27.8 M events/s.
Bicomponent meltblown nonwovens and fibre splitting

Side-by-side bicomponent meltblown fibre webs are produced on Reicofil® bicomponent (bico) meltblown line at TANDEC using polypropylene (PP), polyethylene (PE), polyethylene terephthalate (PET), po...
Reducing Heart Rate of the Dog by Electrical Stimulation

1) The frequency of effective ventricular contractions could be reduced by almost 50% in dogs by stimulating the ventricles (or atria) with electrical impulses of long duration (2 volts, 200 to 350 msec). 2) A similar result was obtained when pairs of impulses (2 volts), each 3 msec in duration, were used, with the time interval between the two impulses of the pair similar to that between the make and break of the long impulses (noted above). 3) The dogs were under general anesthesia and positive pressure breathing was maintained. After thoracotomy, platinum electrodes were implanted in the epicardial surface of the right ventricle or atrium. Pressures were measured in all heart chambers and the unipolar electrocardiogram was recorded from the right atrium with a catheter electrode. Several frequencies of stimulation, below the inherent sinus rate, were tested and at each frequency the time interval between pairs of stimuli was progressively increased from 100 to 350 msec. 4) In all dogs reduction of the ...
Software synthesis for DSP using Ptolemy

Ptolemy is an environment for simulation, prototyping, and software synthesis for heterogeneous systems. It uses modern object-oriented software technology (in C++) to model each subsystem in a natural and efficient manner, and to integrate these subsystems into a whole. The objectives of Ptolemy encompass practically all aspects of designing signal processing and communications systems, ranging from algorithms and communication strategies, through simulation, hardware and software design, parallel computing, and generation of real-time prototypes. In this paper we will introduce the software synthesis aspects of the Ptolemy system. The environment presented here is both modular and extensible. Ptolemy allows the user to choose among various single- or multiple-processor schedulers.
A generalized scattering matrix analysis for cascading FSS of different periodicities

A generalized scattering matrix for cascading frequency-selective surfaces (FSSs) of different periodicities is developed by studying the interaction of the harmonics when scattered between two screens of different periods. It is noted that the new system, formed by stacking two (or more) screens of different periods, will have a scattered spectrum which is, in general, more densely packed than the spectra of any of the individual component screens. Using this approach, one can apply the old cascading equations to generate composite systems matrices (for FSSs radomes). The procedure was carried out for a system of two stacked strip gratings with different periodicities. >
Distributional patterns of 0-group Pacific cod (Gadus macrocephalus) in the eastern Bering Sea under variable recruitment and thermal conditions

Field sampling was conducted as part of the BASIS programme and was supported in part by the Bering Sea Fishermen’s Association, The Arctic Yukon Kuskokwim Sustainable Salmon Initiative, and the Bering Sea Integrated Ecosystem Research Program. Data analysis was supported in part by a grant from the North Pacific Research Board (#R0816).
The Dimensions of Cue-Taking in the House of Representatives: Variation by Issue Area

In this article, we test the thesis that legislators' cue-taking varies by policy area, using data collected in interviews with 99 members of the House of Representatives in the fall of 1987. They were asked to rate the importance of 11 different cue-givers--staff, party leaders, committee chairs, ranking minority members, state party delegation, other party colleagues, media, organized groups, constituents, president, and bureaucracy--in six different policy areas--agricultural, foreign, defense, social welfare, budget and economics, and civil rights. Operationalizing cue-taking differences by comparing legislators' mean ratings across both cue-givers and policy areas, we use analysis of variance techniques to find significant differences by both policy area and cue-givers. The pattern of differences varies for Democrats and Republicans.
Saving energy in LAN switches: New methods of packet coalescing for Energy Efficient Ethernet

Small or home office (SOHO) Ethernet LAN switches consume about 8 TWh per year in the U.S. alone. Despite normally low traffic load and numerous periods of idleness, these switches typically stay fully powered-on at all times. With the standardization of Energy Efficient Ethernet (EEE), Ethernet interfaces can be put into a Low Power Idle (LPI) mode during idle periods when there are no packets to transmit. This paper proposes and evaluates a new EEE policy of synchronous coalescing of packets in network hosts and edge routers. This policy provides extended idle periods for all ports of a LAN switch and thus enables energy savings deeper than in the Ethernet PHY only. We evaluate our method using an ns-2 simulation model of a LAN switch. We show that our method can reduce the overall energy use of a LAN switch by about 40%, while introducing limited and controlled effects on typical Internet traffic and TCP.
ApoE4-specific Misfolded Intermediate Identified by Molecular Dynamics Simulations.

The increased risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is associated with the APOE gene, which encodes for three variants of Apolipoprotein E, namely E2, E3, E4, differing only by two amino acids at positions 112 and 158. ApoE4 is known to be the strongest risk factor for AD onset, while ApoE3 and ApoE2 are considered to be the AD-neutral and AD-protective isoforms, respectively. It has been hypothesized that the ApoE isoforms may contribute to the development of AD by modifying the homeostasis of ApoE physiological partners and AD-related proteins in an isoform-specific fashion. Here we find that, despite the high sequence similarity among the three ApoE variants, only ApoE4 exhibits a misfolded intermediate state characterized by isoform-specific domain-domain interactions in molecular dynamics simulations. The existence of an ApoE4-specific intermediate state can contribute to the onset of AD by altering multiple cellular pathways involved in ApoE-dependent lipid transport efficiency or in AD-related protein aggregation and clearance. We present what we believe to be the first structural model of an ApoE4 misfolded intermediate state, which may serve to elucidate the molecular mechanism underlying the role of ApoE4 in AD pathogenesis. The knowledge of the structure for the ApoE4 folding intermediate provides a new platform for the rational design of alternative therapeutic strategies to fight AD.
Migrating Towards Minority Status: Shifting European Policy Towards Roma*

During the 1990s, European policy towards Roma evolved from concern about migration toward rhetoric about rights. In this article we trace that shift across two OSCE reports. Following rhetorical-action models, we show how the EU’s commitment to enlargement and ‘common values’ compelled it to elaborate an internal approach to minority protection. Concerns about migration persist, but Europe now has to consider how to integrate Roma as minorities.
Automatically Segregating Greedy and Malicious Internet Flows

In the current Internet, compliance with TCP congestion control rules is voluntary. Noncompliant flows can gain unfair performance advantages or deny service to other flows. We propose a scheme that automatically detects and segregates noncompliant flows and preserves network availability for compliant flows. Our scheme requires modifications only in access routers and is incrementally deployable. Experiments demonstrate that our scheme is effective and has acceptable overhead.
Direct physical evidence of dolomite recrystallization

The possibility of recrystallization is a long-standing barrier to deciphering the genetic origin of dolomites. There is often uncertainty regarding whether or not characteristics of ancient dolomites are primary or the consequence of later recrystallization unrelated to the original dolomitization event. Results from 65 new high-temperature dolomite synthesis experiments (1 m, 1·0 Mg/Ca ratio solutions at 218°C) demonstrate dolomite recrystallization affecting stoichiometry, cation ordering and nanometre-scale surface texture. The data support a model of dolomitization that proceeds by a series of four unique phases of replacement and recrystallization, which occur by various dissolution–precipitation reactions. During the first phase (induction period), no dolomite forms despite favourable conditions. The second phase (replacement period) occurs when Ca-rich dolomite products, with a low degree of cation ordering, rapidly replace calcite reactants. During the replacement period, dolomite stoichiometry and the degree of cation ordering remain constant, and all dolomite crystal surfaces are covered by nanometre-scale growth mounds. The third phase (primary recrystallization period), which occurs in the experiments between 97% and 100% dolomite, is characterized by a reduced replacement rate but concurrent increases in dolomite stoichiometry and cation ordering. The end of the primary recrystallization period is marked by dolomite crystal growth surfaces that are covered by flat, laterally extensive layers. The fourth phase of the reaction (secondary recrystallization period) occurs when all calcite is consumed and is characterized by stoichiometric dolomite with layers as well as a continued increase in the degree of cation ordering with time. Inferences of recrystallization, in natural dolomite, based on cation order or stoichiometry of dolomite, usually depend on assumptions about the precursor dolomite subjected to recrystallization. If it is assumed that the experimental evidence presented here is applicable to natural, low-temperature dolomites, then the presence of mounds is direct evidence of a lack of recrystallization and the presence of layers is direct evidence of recrystallization.
Intimate Partner Violence Within Law Enforcement Families

Using data from the Baltimore Police Stress and Domestic Violence study, the authors examined how exposure to stressful events on the job affects law enforcement employees' physical aggression toward domestic partners, evaluating the role of negative emotions and authoritarian spillover in mediating the impact of such task-related stress. The authors consulted general strain theory and angry aggression theory to explain domestic violence in police families. Significant positive effects on physical aggression toward an intimate partner were found for variables measuring authoritarian spillover and negative emotions. However, these effects were different for different gender and racial groups.
Comments on the method of energy determination for electron beams in the TG-21 protocol.

Comments are given on the new TG‐21 protocol for the calibration of absorbed dose from electron beams. The technique for determining the energy of electron beams is discussed in detail and suggestions are made regarding removal of inconsistencies and ambiguities in the determination of electron beam energy. (AIP)
Molecular weight relations for crosslinking of chains with length and site distribution

Many polymer networks are formed by crosslinked polymer chains through reactive sites distributed along the chains. How these sites are distributed as well as the chain length distribution can have a significant effect on properties like the gel conversion and molecular weight. Previous treatments have used simplifying approximations. In this paper we eliminate these approximations and derive computational formulae for weight average molecular weight and gel point for polymer chains of any length and reactive site distribution. Three types of crosslinking are considered: direct coupling of chains (homopolymerization), direct coupling through propagation, and coupling through copolymerization with small monomers.
Menstrual suppression with the levonorgestrel intrauterine system in girls with developmental delay.

Abstract Study Objective To describe the experiences of 21 girls with developmental delay accompanied by multiple other medical problems, seen over a 3-year interval, who underwent insertion of the levonorgestrel intrauterine system (LNG-IUS) for menstrual suppression. Study Design Retrospective chart review. Setting A referral pediatric and adolescent gynecology clinic within a tertiary care medical center with referrals from community pediatricians, pediatric subspecialists including developmental and behavioral pediatricians, community gynecologists, and adolescent medicine specialists. Participants Adolescents and young women with developmental delay and multiple comorbid conditions who were seen for consultation with their families requesting menstrual suppression. Interventions Participants were offered hormonal options, for menstrual suppression including the LNG-IUS. Main Outcome Measures Satisfaction with menstrual suppression among families electing the LNG-IUS. Results Adolescents and young women seen at CCHMC with developmental delay and multiple comorbid conditions with requests for menstrual suppression were offered hormonal options, including the LNG-IUS. Twenty-one families chose this option. Fifteen of 21 girls had previously used hormonal menstrual suppression. General anesthesia was required for 20 of 21 insertions, and 9 of 20 of these insertions were combined with other surgical procedures. There were no unsuccessful insertions or major complications. Mean duration of follow-up was 11 months, and families were satisfied with this option for menstrual suppression. There was 1 request for removal. Conclusions LNG-IUS for menstrual suppression, in girls with developmental delay and multiple comorbid medical conditions for which amenorrhea is desirable and therapeutic, appears promising.
The rational use of potentially hepatotoxic medications in patients with underlying liver disease.

Given the fact that as many as 9% of all adverse drug reactions involve toxic effects on the liver and with upwards of 50% of all cases of fulminant hepatic failure being ascribed to acetaminophen and other agents, the safe use of medications takes on an even greater importance whenever the prescription of potentially hepatotoxic drugs to patients with underlying liver disease is considered. In general, it is thought that most drugs can be safely administered in the setting of liver disease without an increased risk of hepatotoxicity, although the evidence on which this statement is based often relies more on clinical judgement than on clinical studies. Several drugs appear to have an increased risk of hepatotoxicity in patients with underlying liver disease based on either clinical reports or extrapolated pharmacological data. These agents, including methotrexate, niacin and the antiretroviral and antituberculosis drugs, carry warnings about their use in patients with a variety of liver conditions. The d...
Using geometry to specify location: implications for spatial coding in children and nonhuman animals

The study of spatial cognition has benefited greatly from a technique known as the disorientation procedure. This procedure was originally used with rats to show that they relied on the geometry of an enclosed space to locate a target hidden in that space. Disorientation has since been used with a variety of mobile animals, including human children, to examine the coding of geometric information. Here, we focus mostly on our recent work with young children. We examine a set of issues concerning reorientation—namely, the nature of geometric coding, the processes invoked by disorientation, and the developmental origins of using geometric information to determine location. We have employed a variety of methods to examine these issues; the methods include analyzing search behaviors, using spaces of different shapes, varying viewing position, and comparing different disorientation procedures. The implications for how children and nonhuman animals code geometric information are discussed.
Applications of large deviations to communications

Many problems in queuing and traffic involve calculating the frequency with which a large system deviates by a certain amount from its average. Systems are designed to accommodate such deviations up to some amount, say N. Denote by E N the event that the deviation exceeds N, and by τ N the time when E N occurs for the first time. In the design of a queuing on traffic network one has to choose N such that τ N does not occur too often.
Highlights and Perspectives of the JLab Spin Physics Program

Nucleon spin structure has been an active, exciting and intriguing subject of interest for the last three decades. Recent precision spin-structure data from Jefferson Lab have significantly advanced our knowledge of nucleon structure in the valence quark (high-x) region and improved our understanding of higher-twist effects, spin sum rules and quark-hadron duality. First, results of spin sum rules and polarizabilities in the low to intermediate Q 2 region are presented. Comparison with theoretical calculations, in particular with Chiral Perturbation Theory (ChPT) calculations, are discussed. Surprising disagreements of ChPT calculations with experimental results on the generalized spin polarizability, δ LT, were found. Then, precision measurements of the spin asymmetry, A 1, in the high-x region are presented. They provide crucial input for global fits to world data to extract polarized parton distribution functions. The up and down quark spin distributions in the nucleon were extracted. The results for Δd/d disagree with the leading-order pQCD prediction assuming hadron helicity conservation. Results of precision measurements of the g 2 structure function to study higher-twist effects are presented. The data indicate a significant higher-twist (twist-3 or higher) effect. The second moment of the spin structure functions and the twist-3 matrix element d 2 results were extracted. The high Q 2 result was compared with a Lattice QCD calculation. Results on the resonance spin-structure functions in the intermediate Q 2 range are presented, which, in combination with DIS data, enable a detailed study of quark-hadron duality in spin-structure functions. Finally, an experiment to study neutron transversity and transverse spin asymmetries is discussed. A future plan with the 12 GeV energy upgrade at JLab is briefly outlined.
Efficient construction of aliasing-free compaction circuitry

Parallel testing of cores can reduce SOC test times, but the finite number of chip I/Os limits such parallelism. Space and time compaction can maximize the required test bandwidth at the core outputs. Our proposed space and time compaction methodology guarantees a single-bit bandwidth, enabling the test of cores through the allocation of fewer chip pin-outs. In this way, our scheme maximizes parallelism among core tests.
Planning time-optimal trajectory for coordinated robot arms

The results of applying the cell-to-cell mapping method to the problem of optimal trajectory generation for coordinated robotic manipulators handling a common object along specified geometric paths are reported. This method uses the cell state concept together with discretized controls and cost functions. The optimal trajectories and the corresponding controls are determined by using the cell-to-cell mapping in a simple search procedure. To improve the computational efficiency and allow for parallel computation, a hierarchical search algorithm is proposed. >
Recombinant production of enzymatically active male contraceptive drug target hTSSK2 - Localization of the TSKS domain phosphorylated by TSSK2.

The testis-specific serine/threonine kinase 2 (TSSK2) has been proposed as a candidate male contraceptive target. Development of a selective inhibitor for this kinase first necessitates the production of highly purified, soluble human TSSK2 and its substrate, TSKS, with high yields and retention of biological activity for crystallography and compound screening. Strategies to produce full-length, soluble, biologically active hTSSK2 in baculovirus expression systems were tested and refined. Soluble preparations of TSSK2 were purified by immobilized-metal affinity chromatography (IMAC) followed by gel filtration chromatography. The biological activities of rec.hTSSK2 were verified by in vitro kinase and mobility shift assays using bacterially produced hTSKS (isoform 2), casein, glycogen synthase peptide (GS peptide) and various TSKS peptides as target substrates. Purified recombinant hTSSK2 showed robust kinase activity in the in vitro kinase assay by phosphorylating hTSKS isoform 2 and casein. The ATP Km values were similar for highly and partially purified fractions of hTSSK2 (2.2 and 2.7 μM, respectively). The broad spectrum kinase inhibitor staurosporine was a potent inhibitor of rec.hTSSK2 (IC50 = 20 nM). In vitro phosphorylation experiments carried out with TSKS (isoform 1) fragments revealed particularly strong phosphorylation of a recombinant N-terminal region representing aa 1-150 of TSKS, indicating that the N-terminus of human TSKS is phosphorylated by human TSSK2. Production of full-length enzymatically active recombinant TSSK2 kinase represents the achievement of a key benchmark for future discovery of TSSK inhibitors as male contraceptive agents.
What are plans for

What plans are like depends on how they're used. We contrast two views of plan use. On the plan-as-program view, plan use is the execution of an effective procedure. On the plan-as-communication view, plan use is like following natural language instructions. We have begun work on computational models of plans-as-communications, building on our previous work on improvised activity and on ideas from sociology.