cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
National Study of the Emergency Physician Workforce, 2020.

Study objective We describe the current US emergency physician workforce. Methods We analyzed the 2020 American Medical Association Physician Masterfile data set. All physicians who designated emergency medicine as their primary or secondary specialty were included; nonactive physicians, residents, primarily research or teaching faculty, or those primarily involved in administration or nonclinical work were excluded. We calculated emergency physician population density, using 2018 Census Bureau estimates of the US population; urban-rural assignments were based on Urban Influence Codes. We compared 2020 results with our previous analysis of the 2008 emergency physician workforce. Again, we were unable to account for American Osteopathic Board of Emergency Medicine certification. Results There were 48,835 clinically active emergency physicians in 2020. The median age was 50 years (interquartile range [IQR] 41 to 62 years) and 28% were women. Overall density of emergency physicians per 100,000 population was 14.9. Most emergency physicians were in urban areas (92%), whereas 2,730 (6%) were in large rural areas and 1,197 (2%) in small rural areas. Urban emergency physicians were younger (median age 50 years; IQR 41 to 61 years) than those in large rural areas (median age 58 years; IQR 47 to 67 years) or small rural areas (median age 62 years; IQR 51 to 68 years), and more likely to be women (29%, 20%, and 19%, respectively). Most emergency physicians in small rural areas (71%) completed their medical training more than 20 years ago. Compared with 2008, the total number of clinically active emergency physicians has increased by 9,774, but, per 100,000 US population in 2020, emergency physician density decreased in both large rural (–0.4) and small rural (–3.7) areas. Conclusion Urban emergency physicians in 2020 remain substantially younger than rural emergency physicians, with many rural ones near the US retirement age. We did not observe a continued increase in the percentage of female physicians among emergency physicians. Given the ongoing demand for physicians in all US emergency departments, this analysis provides essential information for understanding the current emergency physician workforce and the challenges ahead.
Oestradiol affects skeletal muscle mass, strength and satellite cells following repeated injuries

New findings What is the central question of this study? Oestradiol (E2 ) plays an important role in regulating skeletal muscle strength in females. To what extent does E2 deficiency affect recovery of strength and satellite cell number when muscle is challenged by multiple injuries? What is the main finding and its importance? E2 deficiency impairs the adaptive potential of skeletal muscle following repeated injuries, as measured by muscle mass and strength. The impairment is likely multifactorial with our data indicating that one mechanism is reduction in satellite cell number. Our findings have implications for ageing, hormone replacement and regenerative medicine in regards to maintaining satellite cell number and ultimately the preservation of skeletal muscle's adaptive potential. Abstract Oestradiol's effects on skeletal muscle are multifactorial including the preservation of mass, contractility and regeneration. Here, we aimed to determine the extent to which oestradiol deficiency affects strength recovery when muscle is challenged by multiple BaCl2 -induced injuries and to assess how satellite cell number is influenced by the combination of oestradiol deficiency and repetitive skeletal muscle injuries. A longitudinal study was designed, using an in vivo anaesthetized mouse approach to precisely and repeatedly measure maximal isometric torque, coupled with endpoint fluorescence-activated cell sorting to quantify satellite cells. Isometric torque and strength gains were lower in ovariectomized mice at several time points after the injuries compared to those treated with 17β-oestradiol. Satellite cell number was 41-43% lower in placebo- than in oestradiol-treated ovariectomized mice, regardless of injury status or number of injuries. Together, these results indicate that the loss of oestradiol blunts adaptive strength gains and that the number of satellite cells likely contributes to the impairment.
Government Economic Policy Uncertainty and Corporate Debt Contracting

We examine the relation between government economic policy uncertainty and debt contracting of U.S. public firms. We find that policy uncertainty is associated with more stringent debt terms, such as shorter debt maturity, higher cost of debt, and more restrictive debt covenants, and these relations are concentrated in financially constrained firms. Further analysis indicates that the negative real effects of policy uncertainty documented in the literature is more pronounced for financially constrained firms. Overall, our evidence suggests that policy uncertainty dampens external financing and exacerbates firms’ financial constraints, leading to their investment delays.
Physical Frailty and Cognitive Impairment in Older Adults in United States Nursing Homes.

Introduction: In older US nursing home (NH) residents, there is limited research on the prevalence of physical frailty, its potential dynamic changes, and its association with cognitive impairment in older adults’ first 6 months of NH stay. Methods: Minimum Data Set (MDS) 3.0 is the national database on residents in US Medicare-/Medicaid-certified NHs. MDS 3.0 was used to identify older adults aged ≥65 years, newly admitted to NHs during January 1, 2014, and June 30, 2016, with life expectancy ≥6 months at admission and NH length of stay ≥6 months ( N = 571,139). MDS 3.0 assessments at admission, 3 months, and 6 months were used. In each assessment, physical frailty was measured by FRAIL-NH (robust, prefrail, and frail) and cognitive impairment by Brief Interview for Mental Status and Cognitive Performance Scale (none/mild, moderate, and severe). Demographic characteristics and diagnosed conditions were measured at admission, while presence of pain and receipt of psychotropic medications were at each assessment. Distribution of physical frailty and its change over time by cognitive impairment were described. A nonproportional odds model was fitted with a generalized estimation equation to longitudinally examine the association between physical frailty and cognitive impairment, adjusting for demographic and clinical characteristics. Results: Around 60% of older residents were physically frail in the first 6 months. Improvement and worsening across physical frailty levels were observed. Particularly, in those who were prefrail at admission, 23% improved to robust by 3 months. At admission, 3 months, and 6 months, over 37% of older residents had severe cognitive impairment and about 70% of those with cognitive impairment were physically frail. At admission, older residents with moderate cognitive impairment were 35% more likely (adjusted odds ratio [aOR]: 1.35, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.33–1.37) and those with severe impairment were 74% more likely (aOR: 1.74, 95% CI: 1.72–1.77) to be frail than prefrail/robust, compared to those with none/mild impairment. The association between the 2 conditions remained positive and consistently increased over time. Discussion/Conclusion: Physical frailty was prevalent in NHs with potential to improve and was strongly associated with cognitive impairment. Physical frailty could be a modifiable target, and interventions may include efforts to address cognitive impairment.
Computational Modeling of Cancer Growth Using Microvascular Input From in Vivo Microct Images

Despite the number of clinical and experimental surveys, a computational model of cancer growth in which the abundance of data can be structured and understood is lacking. The goal of this project was to provide a comprehensive and expandable simulation method to predict and visualize cancer and microvascular network growth. This novel method offers the advantage of a multiscale model that incorporates data from in vivo microscale computed tomography (microCT) images of the microvasculature in breast cancer-bearing animals. We use a lattice-based model that is designed so that different evolutionary scenarios can be established to predict the impact of nutrient stress on tumor morphology and growth patterns. Overall, simulation results show tumor progression similar to that known to occur in clinical practice.
Dissecting bulk transcriptomes of diffuse large B cell lymphoma.

Diffuse large B cell lymphoma (DLBCL) is a markedly phenotypically heterogenous disease, frequently assessed using bulk genomic techniques that blur the intrinsic heterogeneity of each tumor. In this issue of Cancer Cell, Steen et al. have utilized a computational framework called EcoTyper to skillfully dissect bulk transcriptomic tumor profiles into different cell type components in an unsupervised manner.
Ethanol and Water Adsorption in Conventional and Hierarchical All-Silica MFI Zeolites

Hierarchical zeolites containing both micro- (<2 nm) and mesopores (2–50 nm) have gained increasing attention in recent years because they combine the intrinsic properties of conventional zeolites ...
Illustrating Essentials of Experimental Stress Analysis Using a U-Shaped Beam

A graduate-level homework assignment and follow-on laboratory experiment involving a flat U-shaped specimen is described. The base of the U can be considered a curved beam. The specimen is loaded such that a known bending moment M and shear force V are applied to the curved beam. Closed-form elasticity solutions exist for these two loading conditions. The homework assignment is to superimpose these two solutions and plot the inplane principal stresses and orientation angle of the principal stress coordinate system along a specified radial line within the curved section. During the follow-on lab experiment an aluminum U-shaped beam is instrumented with several 3-element strain gage rosettes along the specified radial line. The rosettes are used to measure principal strains and orientation of the principal strain coordinate system. The corresponding principal stresses are then calculated using the plane stress form of Hooke’s law and compared with theory. Together the homework assignment and lab experiment illustrate many essential elements of the experimental stress analysis process.
ADVANCED ROBOTICS TECHNOLOGY INFUSION TO THE NASA MARS EXPLORATION ROVER (MER) PROJECT

Abstract This paper presents four new technology developments and their infusion into the Mars Exploration Rover (MER) mission. These technologies were not ready for infusion prior to the launch of this mission. Three of these new capabilities are designed to increase the level of autonomy for the operations, i.e., fewer ground-in-the-loop steps for executing commands. One of the new capabilities is designed to intelligently filter rover obtained images and return only those that are very likely to contain useful information. These new capabilities will be used for this and future NASA planetary missions.
Building Value-Added Teams to Care for Behavioral Health Needs in Primary Care

Collaborative care has emerged as an evidence-based approach to care for patients with common mental health disorders such as depression or anxiety in primary care. To deliver successful collaborative care, a program must build a team with effective “shared workflows.” A psychiatrist functioning in a mental health leadership role may play an important role in the development, implementation, and ongoing improvement of a high-functioning collaborative care team. The process of building such a team involves several stages: leadership commitment, preparing for team building, developing a clear vision for the scope of the program, assessing current resources and workflows, conducting a gap assessment to identify staff and training needs, generating a collaborative care workflow, training staff, program launch, and supporting the ongoing quality improvement efforts of the team.
US energy security: Problems and prospects

Abstract Despite the impression conveyed by the data on US energy — particularly oil — consumption and production over the last three years, and the increased concentration of excess capacity and reserves in the Persian Gulf countries, the prospects for the USA and other OECD oil-importing countries to satisfy their energy requirements in the short term are favourable. As a result of the projected energy efficiency gains in manufacturing and transportation, continued electrification of the economy — fueled increasingly by nuclear and solar energy, and mounting environmental problems over the use of fossil fuels, the longer term prospects regarding US energy security are even more encouraging.
The World of Roman Hellenism

The movement that later came to be known as Christianity began ca. 26 CE with the public appearance of Jesus ben Joseph of Nazareth, a rural Jewish prophet and teacher in the Galilee, a relatively small region in the Jewish territories located in the eastern Mediterranean region. Though Jesus was executed in Jerusalem by the Roman authorities ca. 29 CE, by the end of the fi rst century CE, conventicles of the followers of Jesus were to be found in urban centers throughout the Mediterranean world. In 313 CE, Constantine the Great (272 – 337 CE) issued the Edict of Milan that mandated religious toleration throughout the Roman empire, canceling the penalties associated with the profession of Christianity that had been the basis for the persecution and execution of Christians and offi cially restoring the property that had been confi scated from them. By the end of the fourth century, despite its humble origins, Christianity had become the dominant religion of the Roman empire. Palestine, the cradle of Christianity, was a region that had been a pawn in the power politics of Near Eastern and Levantine kingdoms for nearly two millennia and in consequence suffered domination by a series of both eastern and western empires. As a reform movement, nascent “ Christianity ” has been profoundly infl uenced by the traditions of rural Galilean Judaism. Judaism itself had begun to experience various degrees of Hellenization as early as the fourth century BCE (Hengel 1974 ). The Roman empire, which eventually took over all the Hellenistic monarchies founded by Alexander ’ s successors by 31 BCE, ironically became a military and administrative vehicle for continuing the spread of Hellenistic language and culture, making the term “ Roman Hellenism ” an appropriate political and cultural designation for the centuries following the Roman victory at the battle of Actium in 31 BCE.
Interagency Coordination for the Management of Marine Resources

The case studies presented in Chapter II indicate that the current federal framework for marine resources conservation and development amounts to something less than a seamless web of effective regulation and management. This chapter will examine the reasons why federal programs are not generally well coordinated and suggest administrative changes that could result in better coordination. Section A will inquire into the general structure of federal marine-related programs; characterize the programs in terms of their basic functions; and make a preliminary assessment of the prospects for better coordination. Section B will inquire into the special legal and institutional problems created by marine resource protection and comprehensive management programs on the overall federal regulatory effort and suggest changes in the way these programs, as well as the regulatory programs, are administered that could result in better coordination of these disparate programs. Subsequent chapters will focus on the role of special management arrangements, including the existing marine sanctuaries program, to protect especially valuable or sensitive areas.
The utility of ultrasound for the detection of fetal limb abnormalities – a 20-year single-center experience

Objective The standard obstetric ultrasound examination includes documentation of arms and legs. The purpose of this study is to review the efficacy of ultrasound for the detection of limb anomalies, the type and incidence of associated malformations and pregnancy outcomes. Method All cases of polydactyly (POD), abnormal hand position (AHP), limb reduction defects (LRD) and arthrogryposis (ART) scanned in our Unit between 1990 and 2010 were identified. Cases were categorized as isolated (ISO) or non-isolated (NISO). The accuracy of prenatal diagnosis, type and incidence of associated malformations and aneuploidy and pregnancy outcomes were determined. Results Most cases were NISO. The sensitivity of ultrasound was 19.1% for POD, 76.0% for AHP, 76.0% for LRD involving the long bones and 81.3% for ART. Cardiothoracic and facial defects were the most common accompanying malformations. The risk for aneuploidy ranged from 3.6% for POD to 47.2% for AHP. The live birth rate ranged from 85.5% for POD to 24.5% for AHP. Conclusion While imaging of the arms and legs allows detection of most cases of AHP, LRD involving the limbs and ART, a probable minimum of 20% to 25% of cases will escape prenatal diagnosis. Identification of these defects should prompt an extended anatomic survey and consideration of invasive testing for aneuploidy. © 2014 The Authors. Prenatal Diagnosis published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.
Using models of objects with deformable parts for joint categorization and segmentation of objects

Several formulations based on Random Fields (RFs) have been proposed for joint categorization and segmentation (JCaS) of objects in images. The RF's sites correspond to pixels or superpixels of an image and one defines potential functions (typically over local neighborhoods) which define costs for the different possible assignments of labels to several different sites. Since the segmentation is unknown a priori, one cannot define potential functions over arbitrarily large neighborhoods as that may cross object boundaries. Categorization algorithms extract a set of interest points from the entire image and solve the categorization problem by optimizing cost functions that depend on the feature descriptors extracted from these interest points. There is some disconnect between segmentation algorithms which consider local neighborhoods and categorization algorithms which consider non-local neighborhoods. In this work, we propose to bridge this gap by introducing a novel formulation which uses models of objects with deformable parts, classically used for object categorization, to solve the JCaS problem. We use these models to introduce two new classes of potential functions for JCaS; (a) the first class of potential functions encodes the model score for detecting an object as a function of its visible parts only, and (b) the second class of potential functions encodes shape priors for each visible part and is used to bias the segmentation of the pixels in the support region of the part, towards the foreground object label. We show that most existing deformable parts formulations can be used to define these potential functions and that the resulting potential functions can be optimized exactly using min-cut. As a result, these new potential functions can be integrated with most existing RF-based formulations for JCaS.
Predicting Application Run Times Using Historical Information

We present a technique for deriving predictions for the run times of parallel applications from the run times of “similar” applications that have executed in the past. The novel aspect of our work is the use of search techniques to determine those application characteristics that yield the best definition of similarity for the purpose of making predictions. We use four workloads recorded from parallel computers at Argonne National Laboratory, the Cornell Theory Center, and the San Diego Supercomputer Center to evaluate the effectiveness of our approach. We show that on these workloads our techniques achieve predictions that are between 14 and 60 percent better than those achieved by other researchers; our approach achieves mean prediction errors that are between 40 and 59 percent of mean application run times.
Physical Properties and Protein Constituents of Cytoplasmic and Mitochondrial Ribosomes of Xenopus laevis

Abstract Cytoplasmic and mitochondrial ribosomes were isolated from ovaries of Xenopus laevis. Subunits prepared from these ribosomes have relatively low poly(U)-directed poly(Phe) synthesizing activity when tested separately, but regain at least 80% of the activity of the original ribosomes when mixed. Buoyant densities in analytical CsCl gradients and chemical measurements of RNA and protein content indicate that cytoplasmic large (1.626 g per cm3; 58% RNA) and small (1.553 g per cm3; 50% RNA) subunits are less protein rich and contain a smaller mass of protein than mitochondrial large (1.447 g per cm3; 32% RNA) and small (1.448 g per cm3; 20% RNA) subunits. We suggest that in comparison to 80 S cytoplasmic ribosomes, the lower sedimentation coefficient of 55 to 60 S mitochondrial ribosomes is due equally to their lower particle mass (3.5 versus 4.0 x 106 daltons) and to their lower density. Proteins extracted from separated subunits were fractionated and their number and molecular weights were estimated by two-dimensional polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. Proteins present in different subunits were compared by co-electrophoresis of trace amounts of 125I-labeled and stainable amounts of unabeled proteins. Cytoplasmic large and small subunits contain 37 and 34 proteins, respectively; at least 65, but more likely all 71, of these proteins are distinct. Mitochondrial large and small subunits contain 40 and 44 proteins, respectively, at least 77, but more likely all 84, of these proteins are distinct. Cytoplasmic and mitochondrial ribosomal subunits share few, if any, of these 155 proteins. Xenopus mitochondrial DNA can encode at most onesixth of the mitochondrial ribosomal proteins. Therefore, most, if not all, mitochondrial ribosomal proteins are encoded by nuclear DNA.
Values of Mobile Technology in Education

Mobile technology shows promise in supporting and improving education and its delivery. Coupled with the use of mobile devices and software/hardware solutions that make it possible to access educational content, students can be exposed to new educational experience. Applications of mobile technology in education can provide many benefits including greater flexibility, more available education resources, as well as greater convenience, accessibility and responsiveness. As a new phenomenon that will be widely used and adopted in the years to come, the values of mobile technology in education should be better understood and researched. This research outlines our empirical study to examine the values of mobile education from the students’ and instructors’ perspectives. We will employ the Value-Focused Thinking approach to interview subjects and identify their values in mobile education. The result of this research will be presented in the form of a means-ends objective network that captures the values of mobile education and depicts the relationships between these values. The means-ends objective network can provide a conceptual foundation for future studies; it can also benefit the practitioners by providing guidelines for implementation of mobile technology in education.
Feasibility of nonmydriatic ocular fundus photography in the emergency department: Phase I of the FOTO-ED study.

ACADEMIC EMERGENCY MEDICINE 2011; 18:928–933 © 2011 by the Society for Academic Emergency Medicine Abstract Objectives: Examination of the ocular fundus is imperative in many acute medical and neurologic conditions, but direct ophthalmoscopy by nonophthalmologists is underutilized, poorly performed, and difficult without pharmacologic pupillary dilation. The objective was to examine the feasibility of nonmydriatic fundus photography as a clinical alternative to direct ophthalmoscopy by emergency physicians (EPs). Methods: Adult patients presenting to the emergency department (ED) with headache, acute focal neurologic deficit, diastolic blood pressure ≥ 120 mm Hg, or acute visual change had ocular fundus photographs taken by nurse practitioners using a nonmydriatic fundus camera. Photographs were reviewed by a neuroophthalmologist within 24 hours for findings relevant to acute ED patient care. Nurse practitioners and patients rated ease, comfort, and speed of nonmydriatic fundus photography on a 10-point Likert scale (10 best). Timing of visit and photography were recorded by automated electronic systems. Results: A total of 350 patients were enrolled. There were 1,734 photographs taken during 230 nurse practitioner shifts. Eighty-three percent of the 350 patients had at least one eye with a high-quality photograph, while only 3% of patients had no photographs of diagnostic value. Mean ratings were ≥ 8.7 (standard deviation [SD] ≤ 1.9) for all measures. The median photography session lasted 1.9 minutes (interquartile range [IQR] = 1.3 to 2.9 minutes), typically accounting for less that 0.5% of the patient’s total ED visit. Conclusions: Nonmydriatic fundus photography taken by nurse practitioners is a feasible alternative to direct ophthalmoscopy in the ED. It is performed well by nonphysician staff, is well-received by staff and patients, and requires a trivial amount of time to perform.
Implications of SU(2)_L x U(1) Symmetry for SIM(2) Invariant Neutrino Masses

We consider SU(2){sub L} x U(1) gauge invariant generalizations of a nonlocal, Lorentz violating mass term for neutrinos that preserves a SIM(2) subgroup. This induces Lorentz violating effects in QED as well as tree-level lepton family number violating interactions. Measurements of g{sub e} - 2 with trapped electrons severely constrain possible SIM(2) mass terms for electrons which violate C invariance. We study Lorentz violating effects in a C invariant and SIM(2) invariant extension of QED. We examine the Lorentz violating interactions of nonrelativistic electrons with electromagnetic fields to determine their impact on the spectroscopy of hydrogen-like atoms and g{sub e} - 2 measurements with trapped electrons. Generically, Lorentz violating corrections are suppressed by m{sub v}{sup 2}/m{sub e}{sup 2} and are within experimental limits. We study one-loop corrections to electron and photon self-energies and point out the need for a prescription to handle IR divergences induced by the nonlocality of the theory. We also calculate the tree level contribution to {mu} {yields} e + {gamma} from SIM(2) invariant mass terms.
Minimal requirement of tyrosine residues of linker for activation of T cells in TCR signaling and thymocyte development.

Linker for activation of T cells (LAT) is a membrane-associated adaptor protein that is phosphorylated on multiple tyrosines upon TCR cross-linking. Previous studies show that LAT is essential for TCR-mediated signaling and thymocyte development. In this study, we expressed a series of LAT Tyr to Phe mutants in LAT-deficient J.CaM2.5 cells and examined their tyrosine phosphorylation; association with Grb2, Gads, and phospholipase C (PLC)-γ1; and function in T cell activation. Our results showed that the five membrane-distal tyrosines were phosphorylated upon T cell activation. Grb2, Gads, and PLC-γ1 associated with LAT preferentially via different sets of tyrosine residues; however, they failed to interact with LAT mutants containing only one tyrosine. We also determined the minimal requirement of LAT tyrosine residues in T cell activation and thymocyte development. Our results showed that a minimum of three tyrosines is required for LAT to function in T cell activation and thymocyte development. LAT mutants that were capable of binding Grb2 and PLC-γ1 could reconstitute T cell activation in LAT-deficient cells and thymocyte development in LAT-deficient mice.
Bulk Crystal Growth of Ternary III–V Semiconductors

Ternary semiconductor substrates with variable bandgaps and lattice constants are key enablers for next-generation advanced electronic, optoelectronic, and photovoltaic devices. This chapter presents a comprehensive review of the crystal growth challenges and methods to grow large-diameter, compositionally homogeneous, bulk ternary III–V semiconductors based on As, P, and Sb compounds such as GaInSb, GaInAs, InAsP, AlGaSb, etc. The Bridgman and gradient freezing techniques are the most successfully used methods for growing ternary crystals with a wide range of alloy compositions. Control of heat and mass transport during the growth of ternary compounds is crucial for achieving high-quality crystals. Melt mixing and melt replenishment methods are discussed. The scale-up issues for commercial viability of ternary substrates is also outlined.
GHz optical pulse generation using traveling-wave electroabsorption modulator

Highly efficient traveling-wave electro-absorption modulators are fabricated with improved multi-quantum well design. The modulation efficiency is as high as 20 dB/V. 40 GHz optical pulses are generated with simple sinusoidal microwave drive. The shortest pulse generated is 4 ps. The experimental co-direction and counter-direction results presented in this works support the theoretical traveling-wave model of operation.
Methylmalonyl-CoA Mutase Induction by Cerebral Ischemia and Neurotoxicity of the Mitochondrial Toxin Methylmalonic Acid

Differential screening of gerbil brain hippocampal cDNA libraries was used to search for genes expressed in ischemic, but not normal, brain. The methylmalonyl-CoA mutase (MCM) cDNA was highly expressed after ischemia and showed a 95% similarity to mouse and 91% similarity to the human MCM cDNAs. Transient global ischemia induced a fourfold increase in MCM mRNA on Northern blots from both hippocampus and whole forebrain. MCM protein exhibited a similar induction on Western blots of gerbil cerebral cortex 8 and 24 hr after ischemia. Treatment of primary brain astrocytes with either the branched-chain amino acid (BCAA) isoleucine or the BCAA metabolite, propionate, induced MCM mRNA fourfold. Increased concentrations of BCAAs and odd-chain fatty acids, both of which are metabolized to propionate, may contribute to inducing the MCM gene during ischemia. Methylmalonic acid, which is formed from the MCM substrate methylmalonyl-CoA and which inhibits succinate dehydrogenase (SDH), produced dose-related cell death when injected into the basal ganglia of adult rat brain. This neurotoxicity is similar to that of structurally related mitochondrial SDH inhibitors, malonate and 3-nitropropionic acid. Methylmalonic acid may contribute to neuronal injury in human conditions in which it accumulates, including MCM mutations and B12 deficiency. This study shows that methylmalonyl-CoA mutase is induced by several stresses, including ischemia, and would serve to decrease the accumulation of an endogenous cellular mitochondrial inhibitor and neurotoxin, methylmalonic acid.
The Inconvenient Indian: A Curious Account of Native People in North America Thomas King. Minneapolis: University of Minnesota Press, 2013.

The Inconvenient Indian: A Curious Account of Native People in North America Thomas King. Minneapolis: University of Minnesota Press, 2013.It seems an unfortunate truth that even the most insightful books dealing with the historical experiences of Native peoples rarely seem to reach the audiences that could most benefit from their insights. Works that fall into this category, fiction and nonfiction, naturally appeal to Native peoples who are eager for perspectives that challenge conventional narratives founded upon colonial mythmaking, as well as readers interested in Native American and Cultural Studies. The question that remains, however, is how to get the attention of that larger majority of potential readers whose views often seem to owe more to images made popular by Hollywood westerns or represented by sports mascots than they do with lived experience. Thus, the crux of the issue can be reduced to the matter of listening and remembering. Thomas King's latest work, The Inconvenient Indian: A Curious Account of Native People in North America, is one such text that has the potential to be heard and remembered due to its presentation of a comprehensive, yet accessible, primer to the issues of vital importance to Native people in the twenty-first century. In fact, as Michael Bourne has already noted in the Los Angeles Times, the wide appeal of The Inconvenient Indian is evidenced by the positive reception of the Canadian imprint (2012), which has sold over 20,000 copies.The achievement of bestseller status is a remarkable accomplishment for a non-fiction work centered on Native issues, much less one composed by a Native writer. Although King returns to the affective prose style found in his The Truth About Stories (2003), King finds little use in laying claim to the authority of that grand form of writing known as historiography, and why should he? Throughout The Inconvenient Indian, King makes quite clear that the common equation between written histories and real life experience has done little more than marginalize Native peoples as a "scary unknown element" that was essential to the binaries of frontier literature and Wild West shows (31), which at the same time functioned to invalidate and marginalize their own stories. The Inconvenient Indian was not written to serve as a Native counterhistory to set the record straight about North American colonialism. And King is clear on this point when he reminds readers, "we should know by now that facts will not save us" (xi). King's book covers much more than mere history, it is instead an exceptionally wise account of the relationships that Native and nonNative people have formed with the natural world and each other. This is conveyed through King's use of poignant narration, irony, and humor in which the "facts" he addresses are masterfully woven into a fabric of stories endowed with the capacity to inform, unify, and heal. …
ROLE OF EVOLVED HOST BREADTH IN THE INITIAL EMERGENCE OF AN RNA VIRUS

Understanding how evolution promotes pathogen emergence would aid disease management, and prediction of future host shifts. Increased pathogen infectiousness of different hosts may occur through direct selection, or fortuitously via indirect selection. However, it is unclear which type of selection tends to produce host breadth promoting pathogen emergence. We predicted that direct selection for host breadth should foster emergence by causing higher population growth on new hosts, lower among-population variance in growth on new hosts, and lower population variance in growth across new hosts. We tested the predictions using experimentally evolved vesicular stomatitis virus populations, containing groups of host-use specialists, directly selected generalists, and indirectly selected generalists. In novel-host challenges, viruses directly selected for generalism showed relatively higher or equivalent host growth, lower among-population variance in host growth, and lower population variance in growth across hosts. Thus, two of three outcomes supported our prediction that directly selected host breadth should favor host colonization. Also, we observed that indirectly selected generalists were advantaged over specialist viruses, indicating that fortuitous changes in host breadth may also promote emergence. We discuss evolution of phenotypic plasticity versus environmental robustness in viruses, virus avoidance of extinction, and surveillance of pathogen niche breadth to predict future likelihood of emergence.
The Social Economics of Gaudium et Spes (The Constitution on the Church in the Modern World) of the Second Vatican Council

Catholic theologians and ethicists date the modern entrance of the Church into the area of social justice and social economics by the publication of Pope Leo XIII's landmark encyclical, Rerum Novarum, 15 May, 1891. He began the letter with these words:
A new on-line method for predicting aortic root dilatation during two-dimensional echocardiography in pediatric patients with Marfan syndrome using the sinus of valsalva to annulus ratio

The objective of this study was to determine if calculation of the sinus of Valsalva to annulus ratio (SOV/Ann) effectively screens for root dilatation (ARD) during two-dimensional (2D) echocardiography in young patients (1 month-15 years) with suspected or confirmed Marfan syndrome. The aortic root was imaged using 2D echocardiography (parasternal long-axis view) and the SOV/Ann ratio calculated/analyzed in 27 Marfan patients and 45 age-matched controls. All controls had a SOV/Ann ratio <1.45, and 82% of Marfan's with ARD had a SOV/Ann ratio 1.45. Five of the Marfan patients with ARD had a SOV/Ann ratio < 1.45 due to normalization of the SOV/Ann ratio because of pathologic annular enlargement. Determination of the SOV/Ann ratio allows rapid on-line screening for aortic root dilatation during 2D echocardiography. A SOV/Ann ratio 1.45 predicted ARD in young Marfan patients with a high degree of accuracy (sensitivity = 0.82, specificity = 1.00). Screening for ARD using the SOV/Ann ratio fails when annular dilatation has progressed to the degree that the SOV/Ann ratio normalizes (SOV/Ann < 1.45). In this subgroup of patients, determination of aortic root dilatation will have to be evaluated by standard methods.
Identification of Wiener Systems With Known Noninvertible Nonlinearities

In this paper we develop a method for identifying SISO Wiener-type nonlinear systems, that is, systems consisting of a linear dynamic system followed by a static nonlinearity. Unlike previous techniques developed for Wiener system identification, our approach allows the identification of systems with nonlinearities that are known but not necessarily invertible, continuous, differentiable, or analytic.
Direct Sums of Mod p Characters of Gal and the Homology of GL(n, ℤ)

We prove the following theorem: Let &#x1d53d; be an algebraic closure of a finite field of characteristic p. Let ρ be a continuous homomorphism from the absolute Galois group of ℚ to GL(n, &#x1d53d;) which is isomorphic to a direct sum of one-dimensional representations χ i where p > n + 1 and the product of the conductors of the χ i is squarefree and prime to p. If a certain parity condition holds, then ρ is attached to a Hecke eigenclass in the homology of an arithmetic subgroup Γ of SL(n, ℤ) with coefficients in a module V, where Γ and V are as predicted by Conjecture 2.2 of [5].
Ethanol impairs tryptophan transport into the brain and depresses serotonin

Abstract Alcoholics were found to have decreased plasma levels of tryptophan, the serotonin precursor, and a decreased ratio of tryptophan over amino acids competing for transport into the brain. Studies conducted in the plasma of rats and baboons with carefully controlled alcohol and dietary intake showed a decreased in the ratio of tryptophan over competing amino acids resulting mostly from increases in valine in the rat and in valine, leucine and isoleucine in the baboon. In the rat concomitant decreases in brain tryptophan and serotonin were noted. Central serotonin dificiency may contribute to the depressive states frequently seen in alcoholics.
Semileptonic decays of charmed mesons

Abstract I review the experimental status of the semileptonic decays of charm. There are new results on decay rates, polarization, and Cabibbo-suppressed decay.
Olanzapine approved for the acute treatment of schizophrenia or manic/mixed episodes associated with bipolar I disorder in adolescent patients

The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued an indication for olanzapine in the treatment of adolescents, 13–17 years old, with schizophrenia or acute manic/mixed episodes in bipolar I disorder (BPI) in December 2009. However, the FDA also formally stated that clinicians may “consider prescribing other drugs first in adolescents” given olanzapine’s increased potential for weight gain and hyperlipidemia in adolescents compared with adults. This article reviews the presentation and treatment of early-onset schizophrenia (EOS) and pediatric bipolar disorder (pedBP), the pharmacology and kinetics of olanzapine, the evidence supporting olanzapine’s efficacy in these two serious mental illnesses among children and adolescents, the safety and tolerability of olanzapine in pediatric patients, and the probable role of olanzapine within the pediatric population compared with the adult population. The information presented in this article was gathered through a systematic PubMed review, with searches conducted for olanzapine combined with pharmacology, schizophrenia, or bipolar disorder. Searches related to schizophrenia and bipolar disorder were limited to children and adolescents. The bibliographies of key-retrieved articles were hand-checked for additional relevant studies. Rigorously, controlled data is limited in this population, so observations from nonblinded trials will also be presented. All conclusions are those of the authors and do not reflect specific recommendations of any national organization or government entity.
Targeted Chiral Analysis of Bioactive Arachidonic Acid Metabolites Using Liquid-Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry

A complex structurally diverse series of eicosanoids arises from the metabolism of arachidonic acid. The metabolic profile is further complicated by the enantioselectivity of eicosanoid formation and the variety of regioisomers that arise. In order to investigate the metabolism of arachidonic acid in vitro or in vivo, targeted methods are advantageous in order to distinguish between the complex isomeric mixtures that can arise by different metabolic pathways. Over the last several years this targeted approach has become more popular, although there are still relatively few examples where chiral targeted approaches have been employed to directly analyze complex enantiomeric mixtures. To efficiently conduct targeted eicosanoid analyses, LC separations are coupled with collision induced dissociation (CID) and tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS). Product ion profiles are often diagnostic for particular regioisomers. The highest sensitivity that can be achieved involves the use of selected reaction monitoring/mass spectrometry (SRM/MS); whereas the highest specificity is obtained with an SRM transitions between an intense parent ion, which contains the intact molecule (M) and a structurally significant product ion. This review article provides an overview of arachidonic acid metabolism and targeted chiral methods that have been utilized for the analysis of the structurally diverse eicosanoids that arise.
Surface guided modes in an aluminum oxide thin film

Abstract Energy losses due to the excitation of surface guided waves have been observed in inelastic electron scattering from thin films of aluminum oxide.
ESR studies of the erythrocyte membrane skeletal protein network: influence of the state of aggregation of spectrin on the physical state of membrane proteins, bilayer lipids, and cell surface carbohydrates.

Abstract The stability of the human erythrocyte membrane skeletal network is reported to be dependent on the state of aggregation of spectrin and decreased or increased by polyphosphate anions or the polyamine, spermine, respectively. We have employed polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and electron spin resonance (ESR) utilizing spin labels specific for membrane proteins, bilayer lipids, or cell-surface sialic acid in order to gain insight into these observations and into the reliability of the ESR spectra of the protein-specific spin label used to correctly report the interactions of the skeletal protein network. The major findings are: (1) We confirm previous reports that the preferred state of spectrin aggregation in the skeletal network is tetrameric and that spectrin can be reversibly transformed to dimeric spectrin and back to tetrameric spectrin on the membrane. (2) The ESR spectra of the protein specific maleimide spin label employed accurately reflect the state of aggregation of spectrin. (3) As dimeric spectrin is increased on the membrane or when 2,3-bis-phosphoglycerate was added to spin-labeled membranes, increased segmental motion of protein spin label binding sites reflecting decreased protein-protein interactions in the skeletal network is observed ( P and P , respectively). (4) Conversely, as protein-protein interactions between skeletal proteins or between skeletal proteins and the bilayer are increased by spermine (reflected in the total inability to extract spectrin from the membrane in contrast to control membranes), highly decreased segmental motion of the protein specific spin label binding sites is observed ( P ). (5) The dimeric-tetrameric state of spectrin aggregation on the membrane does not have influence on the order or motion of bilayer lipids nor on the rotational rate of spin-labeled, cell-surface sialic acid, a result also observed when protein-protein interactions were decreased by 2,3-bisphosphoglycerate. In contrast, increased protein-protein interactions by addition of spermine produced a small, but significant, increase in order and decrease in motion of bilayer lipids near the membrane surface as well as a nearly 40% decrease in the apparent rotational correlation time of spin labeled, cell surface sialic acid ( P ). These latter observations are discussed with reference to possible associations of phospholipids and the major, transmembrane sialoglycoprotein with the skeletal protein network.
An Introduction to Human Molecular Genetics: Mechanisms of Inherited Diseases, Second Edition.Jack J. Pasternak. Hoboken, NJ: Wiley-Liss, John Wiley & Sons, Inc., 2005, 631 pp., $84.95, hardcover. ISBN 0-471-47426-6.

This second edition of An Introduction to Human Molecular Genetics has a format similar to its predecessor, published in 1999. Since then, much has happened in genetics, and this edition has skillfully incorporated this new knowledge. Each of the 17 chapters of this book begins with one or more quotes that provide context for the content of the chapter. In addition, there is a box entitled “From the Human Genetics Files”, which gives an example or an elaboration on the chapter topic. Each chapter also contains “key terms”, a “summary”, and “review questions” to …
Predictive Control of Autonomous Ground Vehicles With Obstacle Avoidance on Slippery Roads

Two frameworks based on Model Predictive Control (MPC) for obstacle avoidance with autonomous vehicles are presented. A given trajectory represents the driver intent. An MPC has to safely avoid obstacles on the road while trying to track the desired trajectory by controlling front steering angle and differential braking. We present two different approaches to this problem. The first approach solves a single nonlinear MPC problem. The second approach uses a hierarchical scheme. At the high-level, a trajectory is computed on-line, in a receding horizon fashion, based on a simplified point-mass vehicle model in order to avoid an obstacle. At the low-level an MPC controller computes the vehicle inputs in order to best follow the high level trajectory based on a nonlinear vehicle model. This article presents the design and comparison of both approaches, the method for implementing them, and successful experimental results on icy roads.Copyright © 2010 by ASME