cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Dystonia treatment: Patterns of medication use in an international cohort

Objective: To determine the frequency of medication use in patients with dystonia enrolled in an international biorepository study. Methods: In a cross-sectional analysis, we included 2,026 participants enrolled at 37 sites in the United States, Canada, Europe, and Australia through Project 1 of the Dystonia Coalition, an international biorepository study. The primary aim was to assess the frequency of medication classes recommended for treating patients with dystonia, and the secondary aim was to compare characteristics (disease type, age, sex, duration of disease, comorbid conditions, severity). Results: Querying the database for the presence of any medication for dystonia used (includes both injectable and oral therapy), we found 73% using medications (n = 1,488) and 27% using no dystonia medications (n = 538). Furthermore, 61% of the total sample used botulinum toxin (BoNT) therapy alone or in combination. Differences were found in medication use patterns by dystonia type, with the lowest oral medication use in focal dystonia and highest use in generalized dystonia; by region, with highest BoNT therapy rate reported in Italy and the lowest in the Northeast region of the United States; and by focal dystonia subtype, with highest BoNT therapy alone in blepharospasm and spasmodic dysphonia (49%) and lowest in other cranial dystonia (32%). Conclusions: The majority of patients with dystonia enrolled in the Dystonia Coalition Project 1 were using medications to treat their dystonia. Overall, a complex picture of medication use patterns emerged, with factors such as region, disease duration, type of dystonia, disease severity, and psychiatric comorbidities all playing a significant role.
Alcohol Septal Ablation for Treatment of Symptomatic Hypertrophic Obstructive Cardiomyopathy

To provide a contemporary review of data regarding patient selection and outcomes for patients with symptomatic obstructive hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) undergoing septal reduction therapy with alcohol septal ablation (ASA). This review focuses on recent guideline updates from the USA and Europe, multiple recently published large multicenter, multinational registries of patients being treated with ASA, and a recent review of “real world” outcomes of ASA and surgical myectomy (SM) treated in hospitals in the USA. Recent data have demonstrated that ASA is a safe procedure and is effective for the reduction of symptoms associated with obstructive HCM. Both short-and long-term outcomes after ASA appear similar to outcomes in patients undergoing SM and medical treatment. Outcomes in a real-world setting evaluating ASA and SM outside of high volume centers specializing in treatment of HCM show that ASA is increasing in use and that outcomes are fairly consistent across centers performing the procedure.
FastAAA: A fast rational-function fitter

FastAAA is an algorithm for fitting rational-functions to a set of N data samples. In each step of the algorithm, it computes an order n fit via a fast, O(Nn), update of the previous order n − 1 fit. The algorithm stops at the first order that yields an acceptable error. The errors of the fits of orders 1… n, are evaluated in O(Nn2) operations. If the data can be represented exactly with n poles, the algorithm is guaranteed to stop after n iterations (in exact arithmetic). It is possible to fit p rational-functions, sharing the same set of poles, to p sets of data, in O(pNn2) operations. The stability of the poles and Hermitian symmetry of the fit can be guaranteed.
What Is the Ideal Starting Point for an Olecranon Screw? An Anatomic Cadaveric Study.

OBJECTIVE To assess whether "center-center" position is ideal starting point for minimum fracture displacement when placing an intramedullary (IM) screw in the ulna. METHODS Thirty-six arms (average age, 82 years) underwent a posterior approach to the olecranon and were randomized into 3 groups: center-center (center in sagittal plane, center in coronal plane), posterior-lateral (posterior in sagittal plane, lateral in coronal plane), and posterior-medial (posterior in sagittal plane, medial in coronal plane). Groups were matched into 18 pairs, and fixation was performed with an IM screw. Primary outcome measure was articular surface displacement on the olecranon. Measurements were compared across each combination of locations using the Kruskal-Wallis rank sums test, and a sign test determined whether each location differed from anatomic reduction. RESULTS Articular step-off measurements were significantly different between center-center (0.6 mm) and posterior-medial (2.1 mm) groups (P = 0.01) and approached significance with posterior-lateral versus posterior-medial (0.9 mm) locations (P = 0.07). No significant difference was found comparing center-center with posterior-lateral locations (P = 0.7). The articular surface (P = 0.04), posterior cortex (P = 0.02), and medial cortex (P = 0.001) measurements for the posterior-medial starting point were all worse compared with anatomic reduction. CONCLUSIONS Malreduction of a simulated olecranon fracture was most significant when the starting point for the IM screw was malpositioned medially. A central or laterally based starting point was more forgiving. Avoiding a medially based starting point is crucial for achieving benefits of fixation with an IM screw and reduces the chance of malreduction after fixation.
Phonetic Knowledge in Text-to-Speech Synthesis

This chapter focuses on the value of phonetics for speech technology, specifically text-to-speech synthesis (TTS). After some general remarks about the two fields of research, we describe the linguistic, including phonetic, knowledge incorporated in certain TTS systems, with the goal of showing the diversity of such knowledge. Next, we argue that linguistic knowledge may play an important role in making TTS systems domain-independent. For this, close collaboration between linguists and speech technologists in several types of research is needed. Finally, we give some examples of phonetics research problems whose resolution could be of direct benefit for speech technology.
The Effect of Gender and Time of Day Upon the Subjective Estimate of Mental Workload During the Performance of a Simple Task

Abstract An open question in mental workload assessment concerns the impact of endogenous factors upon the perceived load of a performance task. To examine one element of this question, twenty-four subjects (12 male, 12 female) performed a simple time estimation task at four different times of day (0800, 1200, 1600, 2000h). Following each session, subjects completed the NASA TLX workload assessment scales. Performance data and physiological response follow patterns previously observed in the literature. Female subjects had a greater intolerance for this repetitive task. Five of twelve female subjects failed to complete the series of exposures. There were no drop-outs among the male subjects. Analysis of the remaining responses indicated that the female subjects rated effort and frustration significantly higher and performance significantly lower than their male counterparts. For the subjective workload responses there were no higher order interactions and no significant effects were found for time of day. Caution concerning the ubiquitous application of these findings is advised in light of a number of potentially confounding influences.
Urinary Levels of the Renal Tubular Enzyme N-Acetyl-β-D-Glucosaminidase in Unilateral Obstructive Uropathy

AbstractElevated urinary levels of the renal tubular enzyme, N-acetyl-s-D-glucosaminidase (NAG), have been shown to be associated with reversible tubular damage and, therefore, may serve as an indicator of tubular damage in the setting of presumed obstruction uropathy. This study compares urinary NAG levels in children with apparent upper tract obstruction with normal children to assess the sensitivity of this assay for the detection of possible renal tubular damage. The study included 40 children 3 weeks to 16 years old with unilateral ureteropelvic junction obstruction (30) or primary obstructive megaureter (10). Urine was obtained from the bladder in all children and from the renal pelvis or ureter in 30 patients at surgery. Pelvic and ureteral urinary NAG levels were consistently higher than bladder levels. In patients with ureteropelvic junction obstruction NAG levels were 7 times higher than normal (76 units per mg., p <0.0001) and 3 times higher than normal in patients with obstructive megaureter (...
Gut-innervating nociceptor neurons protect against enteric infection by modulating the microbiota and Peyer’s patch microfold cells

SUMMARY Gut-innervating nociceptor sensory neurons respond to noxious/tissue-damaging stimuli by initiating protective responses and releasing mediators that regulate tissue inflammation, gastrointestinal secretion, and motility. The role of nociceptors in host defense against enteric pathogens is unclear. Here, we found that gut-extrinsic nociceptor neurons are critical in protecting the host against Salmonella typhimurium (STm) infection. Nociceptors responded to STm by releasing the neuropeptide calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP). Targeted depletion of Nav1.8 and TRPV1 neurons from gut-extrinsic dorsal root ganglia and vagal ganglia increased STm colonization, invasion, and dissemination. Nociceptors regulated the gut microbiota at homeostasis, specifically segmented filamentous bacteria (SFB) levels in the ileum, which protected against STm by colonization resistance. Nociceptors also regulated the density of microfold epithelial cells in the Peyer’s patch via CGRP to limit points of entry for STm invasion into host tissues. Understanding how host sensory neurons crosstalk with pathogenic bacteria may impact treatments for enteric infections. HIGHLIGHTS Nav1.8 and TRPV1 nociceptors defend against Salmonella typhimurium (STm) infection Nociceptors shape the gut microbiota and SFB levels which resist pathogen colonization Nociceptors suppress Peyer’s patch microfold cell density to limit pathogen invasion Neurons sense STm and release CGRP to modulate microfold cells and host defense
Percutaneous Sacroplasty for Sacral Insufficiency Fractures: Case Series and Review of Presentation, Diagnosis, and Treatment

Sacral insufficiency fractures (SIFs) are a cause of debilitating low back pain that is often difficult to diagnosis and manage. The diagnosis of SIF is often delayed due to inaccurately attributing symptoms to spondylosis, which is a commonly present in the elderly population where SIFs are most prevalent. Historically, treatment consisted of medical management and open reduction internal fixation reserved for severe cases. However, percutaneous sacroplasty has emerged as a minimally invasive treatment option which provides early pain relief without significant complications. The objective of this article is to raise awareness of SIFs and percutaneous sacroplasty as an effective and safe treatment method.
Uncertainty Quantification and Sensitivity Analysis in a Nonlinear Finite-Element Model of a Permanent Magnet Synchronous Machine

The objective of this article is to set forth a computationally efficient methodology to quantify the effects and assess the relevance of geometric and material uncertainty on a permanent magnet synchronous machine (PMSM), based on a nonlinear finite-element model (FEM). Our methodology follows the theory of Gaussian process regression and principal component analysis to build a computationally inexpensive surrogate model that replaces the FEM. Uncertainty quantification and sensitivity analysis studies focus on the electromagnetic torque, flux linkage, and core loss of the PMSM.
Mapping the tumor frontline

In cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma, a tumor-specific cell type at the leading edge may drive stromal and immune changes that facilitate progression.
Hepatocellular Carcinoma-Circulating Tumor Cells Expressing PD-L1 Are Prognostic and Potentially Associated With Response to Checkpoint Inhibitors.

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a leading cause of mortality. Checkpoint inhibitors of programmed cell death protein-1 (PD-1) and programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) have shown great efficacy, but lack biomarkers that predict response. Circulating tumor cells (CTCs) have promise as a liquid-biopsy biomarker; however, data on HCC CTCs expressing PD-L1 have not been reported. We sought to detect PD-L1-expressing HCC-CTCs and investigated their role as a prognostic and predictive biomarker. Using an antibody-based platform, CTCs were enumerated/phenotyped from a prospective cohort of 87 patients with HCC (49 early-stage, 22 locally advanced, and 16 metastatic), 7 patients with cirrhosis, and 8 healthy controls. Immunocytochemistry identified total HCC CTCs (4',6-diamidino-2-phenylindole-positive [DAPI+]/cytokeratin-positive [CK+]/clusters of differentiation 45-negative [CD45-]) and a subpopulation expressing PD-L1 (DAPI+/CK+/PD-L1+/CD45-). PD-L1+ CTCs were identified in 4 of 49 (8.2%) early-stage patients, but 12 of 22 (54.5%) locally advanced and 15 of 16 (93.8%) metastatic patients, accurately discriminating early from locally advanced/metastatic HCC (sensitivity = 71.1%, specificity = 91.8%, area under the receiver operating characteristic curve = 0.807; P < 0.001). Compared to patients without PD-L1+ CTCs, patients with PD-L1+ CTCs had significantly inferior overall survival (OS) (median OS = 14.0 months vs. not reached, hazard ratio [HR] = 4.0, P = 0.001). PD-L1+ CTCs remained an independent predictor of OS (HR = 3.22, P = 0.010) even after controlling for Model for End-Stage Liver Disease score (HR = 1.14, P < 0.001), alpha-fetoprotein (HR = 1.55, P < 0.001), and overall stage/tumor burden (beyond University of California, San Francisco, HR = 7.19, P < 0.001). In the subset of 10 patients with HCC receiving PD-1 blockade, all 5 responders demonstrated PD-L1+ CTCs at baseline, compared with only 1 of 5 nonresponders, all of whom progressed within 4 months of starting treatment. Conclusion: We report a CTC assay for the phenotypic profiling of HCC CTCs expressing PD-L1. PD-L1+ CTCs are predominantly found in advanced-stage HCC, and independently prognosticate OS after controlling for Model for End-Stage Liver Disease, alpha-fetoprotein, and tumor stage. In patients with HCC receiving anti-PD-1 therapy, there was a strong association with the presence of PD-L1+ CTCs and favorable treatment response. Prospective validation in a larger cohort will better define the utility of PD-L1+ CTCs as a prognostic and predictive biomarker in HCC.
GeneNetwork: a continuously updated tool for systems genetics analyses

GeneNetwork and its earlier iteration, WebQTL, have now been an important database and toolkit for quantitative trait genetics research for two decades. Recent improvements to GeneNetwork have reinvigorated it, including the addition of data from 10 species, multi-omics analysis, updated code, and new tools. The new GeneNetwork is now an exciting resource for predictive medicine and systems genetics, which is constantly being maintained and improved. Here, we give a brief overview of the process for carrying out some of the most common functions on GeneNetwork, as a gateway to deeper analyses, demonstrating how a small number of plausible candidate genes can be found for a typical immune phenotype.
Moral Injury and Moral Healing in Prolonged Exposure for Combat-Related PTSD: A Case Study

Abstract Prolonged Exposure (PE) is a highly effective treatment for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) across a variety of delivery formats and samples. However, for military service members, the treatment tends to be less effective than for civilians. One explanation for the reduced response to PE in military service members is the frequency, intensity, and heterogeneity of combat trauma. Combat trauma may yield a variety of posttraumatic responses, including moral injury, or the psychosocial-spiritual suffering consequent of exposure to moral injurious events. Despite rapidly increasing research on combat-related moral injury, little clinical guidance exists on how or if moral injury may be addressed via trauma-focused treatments such as PE. This case report describes the facilitation of moral healing for a U.S. Army soldier with combat-related PTSD in a 3-week intensive outpatient PE program. While PTSD symptoms were reduced from pre- to posttreatment, even more substantial treatment gains were observed in the soldier’s functional changes, engagement with values-based activities, and his reported willingness to embrace moral pain. Although not explicit in the PE manual, targeting these latter outcomes in PE can facilitate moral healing in service members with PTSD. This case report provides a detailed description of how PE procedures were targeted to address moral injury and where theory-driven augmentations were included to facilitate moral healing.
In situ quantitative study of the phase transition in surfactant adsorption layers at the silica-water interface using total internal reflection Raman spectroscopy.

Dimethyldodecylamine N-oxide (DDAO), a unique type of surfactant, shows high surface activity with two distinct energy states at the buried hydrophilic silica/aqueous solution interface studied by total internal reflection (TIR) Raman spectroscopy combined with ratiometric and kinetic analysis. Different from other types of surfactant, i.e., ionic and nonionic, the adsorption of DDAO demonstrates a specific critical surface aggregation concentration (csac) at 0.15 mM gives a complete surface coverage of 6.6 ± 0.3 μmol m−2, much lower than the bulk critical micellization concentration (cmc) at the same conditions (csac ≈ 0.072 cmc). A phase transition of adsorbed layers from liquid crystalline as the intermediate state to the disordered liquid phase is spectroscopically and energetically analyzed. The adsorption of DDAO on silica surfaces is described quantitatively in a potential energy curve.
Calculation, Bookkeeping, Representation, and Explanation: A Parable

espanolNuestro tema es una discusion basica de lo que es considerar que una porcion de matematicas se refiera a algo fisico y las diferentes opciones que uno tiene para explicar —y por lo tanto hacer que no sea milagroso— el exito empirico de un formalismo matematico. Para eliminar tanta distraccion externa como sea posible, dejaremos a un lado el caso de la funcion de onda en la teoria cuantica y contaremos una historia mas simple. Un cuento de hadas, de hecho. El objetivo es poner en primer plano algunas posibles relaciones entre un formalismo matematico y el sistema fisico al que representamos con el formalismo. EnglishOur topic is a basic discussion of what it is to regard a bit of mathematicsas referring to something physical, and the different options one has for explaining—and hence rendering non-miraculous— the empirical success of a mathematicalformalism. In order to strip away as much extraneous distraction as possible, wewill leave the particular case of the wavefunction in quantum theory aside and tell asimpler tale. A fairy tale, in fact. The aim is to foreground some possible relationsbetween a mathematical formalism and the physical system it is used to represent
Discrete Mathematics in the Schools

The Value of Discrete Mathematics: Views from the Classroom: The impact of discrete mathematics in my classroom by P. Carney Three for the money: An hour in the classroom by N. Casey Fibonacci reflections--It's elementary! by J. C. Kowalczyk Using discrete mathematics to give remedial students a second chance by S. H. Picker What we've got here is a failure to cooperate by R. J. Settergren The Value of Discrete Mathematics: Achieving Broader Goals: Implementing the standards: Let's focus on the first four by N. Casey and M. R. Fellows Discrete mathematics: A vehicle for problem solving and excitement by M. B. Cozzens Logic and discrete mathematics in the schools by S. S. Epp Writing discrete(ly) by R. Leibowitz Discrete mathematics and public perceptions of mathematics by J. Malkevitch Mathematical modeling and discrete mathematics by H. O. Pollak The role of applications in teaching discrete mathematics by F. S. Roberts What Is Discrete Mathematics: Two Perspectives: What is discrete mathematics? The many answers by S. B. Maurer A comprehensive view of discrete mathematics: Chapter 14 of the New Jersey Mathematics Curriculum Framework by J. G. Rosenstein Integrating Discrete Mathematics into Existing Mathematics Curricula, Grades K-8: Discrete mathematics in K-2 classrooms by V. A. DeBellis Rhythm and pattern: Discrete mathematics with an artistic connection for elementary school teachers by R. E. Jamison Discrete mathematics activities for middle school by E. Maletsky Integrating Discrete Mathematics into Existing Mathematics Curricula, Grades 9-12: Putting chaos into calculus courses by R. L. Devaney Making a difference with difference equations by J. A. Dossey Discrete mathematical modeling in the secondary curriculum: Rationale and examples from The Core-Plus Mathematics Project by E. W. Hart A discrete mathematics experience with general mathematics students by B. Hoyer Algorithms, algebra, and the computer lab by P. G. Lewis Discrete mathematics is already in the classroom---But it's hiding by J. Reinthaler Integrating discrete mathematics into the curriculum: An example by J. T. Sandefur High School Courses on Discrete Mathematics: The status of discrete mathematics in the high schools by H. F. Bailey Discrete mathematics: A fresh start for secondary students by L. C. Biehl A discrete mathematics textbook for high schools by N. Crisler, P. Fisher, and G. Froelich Discrete Mathematics and Computer Science: Computer science, problem solving, and discrete mathematics by P. B. Henderson The role of computer science and discrete mathematics in the high school curriculum by V. K. Proulx Resources for Teachers: Discrete mathematics software for K-12 education by N. Dean and Y. Liu Recommended resources for teaching discrete mathematics by D. S. Franzblau and J. C. Kowalczyk The leadership program in discrete mathematics by J. G. Rosenstein and V. A. DeBellis Computer software for the teaching of discrete mathematics in the schools by M. Vassallo and A. Ralston.
A Concise History of Russia

Accessible to students, tourists and general readers alike, this book provides a broad overview of Russian history since the ninth century. Paul Bushkovitch emphasizes the enormous changes in the understanding of Russian history resulting from the end of the Soviet Union in 1991. Since then, new material has come to light on the history of the Soviet era, providing new conceptions of Russia's pre-revolutionary past. The book traces not only the political history of Russia, but also developments in its literature, art and science. Bushkovitch describes well-known cultural figures, such as Chekhov, Tolstoy and Mendeleev, in their institutional and historical contexts. Though the 1917 revolution, the resulting Soviet system and the Cold War were a crucial part of Russian and world history, Bushkovitch presents earlier developments as more than just a prelude to Bolshevik power.
Torsional behavior of single-walled carbon nanotubes

Abstract Atomistic simulations were performed to investigate the deformation behavior of single-walled carbon nano-tubes (SWCNTs) under torsional loading. The evolutions of the potential energy and stresses were presented. Radial distribution functions (RDFs) were calculated to analyze structural evolution during torsional deformation. The results show that during torsion, the tensile stress component along the tube axis is most significant and other stress components are almost negligible. The tensile stress stretched the C–C bonds until they reached the bond length of 0.18 nm. The torsional strength of the SWCNTs is about 30% of the tensile strength. Buckling took place at a few degrees of torsional angle and propagated along the tube as the torsional angle increased, and collapse of the tube wall followed buckling. These structural evolutions can be well described with the RDFs. Two new peaks appeared at 0.21 nm and 0.18 nm in the RDFs, corresponding to the minimum spacing between the atoms in the collapsed layers, and the maximum bond length that can be reached in stretching before rupture.
An endonuclease induced after infection of Escherichia coli with bacteriophage T7. I. Purification and properties of the enzyme.

Abstract A deoxyribonuclease has been purified 1,800-fold from Escherichia coli infected with bacteriophage T7. The enzyme has an approximate molecular weight of 18,000, requires a divalent cation for activity, and is inhibited by high concentrations of RNA. The purified enzyme catalyzes an endonucleolytic cleavage of both single- and double-stranded DNA. The rate of hydrolysis of single-stranded DNA is 150-fold that of double-stranded DNA. The hydrolysis of single-stranded DNA results in the formation of acid-soluble oligonucleotides. No acid-soluble products have been observed during the hydrolysis of double-stranded DNA. Identity of the activities toward single- and double-stranded DNA is supported by identical sedimentation rates in sucrose gradients, reaction requirements, rates of heat inactivation, and genetic analysis.
Attribute-Value Selection Based on Minimum Description Length.

We introduce a new method for attribute value selection, which is driven by the minimum description length principle. We demonstrate the viability of the approach on the Wisconsin breast cancer data set, show a working exa mple and evaluate the approach against earlier systems. Comparisons on different domains are also given. Empirical results show that our approach consistently outperforms competing machine learning algorithms on domains with all numeric, all discrete and mixed attributes types.
Ensemble modeling of beta-sheet proteins

Our ability to characterize protein structure and dynamics is vastly outpaced by the speed of modern genetic sequencing, creating a growing divide between our knowledge of biological sequence and structure. Structural modeling algorithms offer the hope to bridge this gap through computational exploration of the sequence determinants of structure diversity. In this thesis, we introduce new algorithms that enable the efficient modeling of protein structure ensembles and their sequence variants. These statistical mechanics-based constructions enable the identification of all energetically likely sequence/structure states for a family of proteins. Beyond improved structure predictions, this approach enables a framework for thermodynamically-driven mutational and comparative analysis as well as the approximation of kinetic protein folding pathways. We have applied these techniques to two protein types that are notoriously difficult to characterize biochemically: transmembrane β-barrel proteins and amyloid fibrils. For these we advance the state-of-the-art in structure prediction, mutational analysis, and sequence alignment. Further, we have collaborated to apply these methods to open scientific questions about amyloid fibrils and bacterial biofilms. (Copies available exclusively from MIT Libraries, Rm. 14-0551, Cambridge, MA 02139-4307. Ph. 617-253-5668; Fax 617-253-1690.)
Efficient built-in self test of regular logic characterization vehicles

Fast and efficient analysis of test chips is crucial for effective yield learning. Prior work proposed the Carnegie-Mellon logic characterization vehicle (CM-LCV) as an improved test chip for yield learning. The highly regular nature of the CM-LCV test chip is particularly appealing for BIST; the current work describes a BIST scheme that achieves 100% input-pattern fault coverage with an 86.9% reduction in test time for a reference design. Furthermore, all of these properties are achieved with a minimal hardware overhead.
Studies on the synthesis of cholesterol in the brain of the human fetus

Abstract Following the intravenous injection of a single dose of acetate-C 14 to women during early pregnancy, only negligible amounts of isotope could be detected in fetal brain cholesterol, but a significant incorporation of C 14 occurred in cholesterol isolated from the corpus luteum of pregnancy, fetal liver, and fetal adrenals. Neither cholesterol-C 14 synthesized in the fetal liver nor maternal plasma cholesterol-H 3 of dietary origin was taken up by the fetal brain in appreciable amounts. When glucose-C 14 was injected in the mother, the isotope was found in cholesterol isolated from the fetal brain and other fetal tissues but only negligible amounts were found in maternal tissues. The preferential utilization of glucose for the synthesis of fetal brain cholesterol emphasizes the significance of the "blood-brain barrier" which controls the movement of substances into and out of central nervous system tissue.
Black Music: Sound and Feeling for Black Liberation

(1976). Black Music: Sound and Feeling for Black Liberation. The Black Scholar: Vol. 7, Black Popular Culture, pp. 20-25.
A prediction-residual approach for identifying rare events in periodic time series

Many environmental time series have seasonal structures. This article presents an approach to identifying the rare events of such series based on time-series residuals. The methods justify the application of classical peaks over threshold methods to estimated versions of the one-step-ahead prediction errors of the series. Such methods enable the seasonal means, variances and autocorrelations of the series to be taken into account. Even in stationary settings, the proposed strategy is useful as it bypasses the need for blocking runs of extremes. The mathematics are justified via a limit theorem for a periodic autoregressive moving-average time series. A detailed application to a daily temperature series from Griffin, Georgia, is pursued.
Non-equilibrium molecular dynamics simulations of structured molecules

Corresponding-states theories fail to predict the large difference observed between n-butane and isobutane viscosities at similar reduced conditions. To investigate the molecular cause of these structural effects upon viscosity, nonequilibrium molecular dynamics simulations of Lennard-Jones site-site models representing n-butane and isobutane are performed over much of the density range for which experimental data are available. Simulated viscosities at zero shear agree very well with experimental data over the entire density range. Site size, non-equilibrium molecular alignment and molecular geometry are the primary factors causing both the similarities and differences between the isomers' viscosity and rheology.
Fates of cadmium introduced into channels microcosm

Abstract Five 10 μg Cd·l −1 were continuously input to aquatic microcosm channels for one year. Cadmium accumulation in both biotic and abiotic components was determined. Cadmium inputs and outputs equilibrated within approximately 20 days of initial Cd inputs. Most community components accumulated Cd proportional to Cd water concentrations. Equilibrium Cd concentrations of sediments, aufwuchs, macrophytes, chironomids, and mosquito fish exposed to 10 μg Cd·l −1 were 0.59, 55, 250, 40, and 40 μg Cd·g −1 , dry weight, respectively. Cadmium was rapidly eliminated from all biotic components when Cd inputs were terminated. Cadmium concentrations were similar to those in control channels within a few weeks in the aufwuchs community to a few months in macrophytes after Cd inputs were terminated. Cadmium uptake fluxes by the aufwuchs community and mosquito fish were first order, with respect to Cd concentration in the water. The rate constants for uptake and depuration for the aufwuchs community were 0.42 and 0.66 d −1 , respectively (concentration basis). The rate constants for uptake and depuration of Cd by mosquitofish were approximately 25 and 0.004 d −1 , respectively (concentration basis). Cadmium concentrations in organic headpool sediments had not significantly decreased six months after cessation of Cd inputs, which indicates that the abiotic half time for contaminated organic sediments is very long. Half times for elimination from channel sand sediments were 72 and 38 d for 5 and 10 μg·l −1 exposure, respectively, after Cd inputs were terminated Cd concentrations in macroinvertebrates varied seasonally. The carrying capacity of the channels microcosm limited the number of samples of secondary and tertiary consumers which could be sampled. It was concluded that concluded that experimental channels of the size described here were not appropriate as screening tools for the fates of trace contaminants, but were effective for the study of trace contaminants, especially in conjunction with mathematical modeling efforts and less complex laboratory studies.
Arachidonic acid-dependent metabolism of (±)-7,8-dihydroxy-7,8-dihydrobenzo[A]pyrene to polyguanylic acid-binding derivatives

Microsomal and solubilized enzyme preparations from ram seminal vesicles catalyze the oxidation of (+/-)-7,8-dihydroxy-7,8-dihydrobenzo[alpha]-pyrene (BP-7,8-diol) to derivatives which covalently bind to polyguanylic acid (poly(G)). Oxidation requires prostaglandin endoperoxide synthetase and its substrate arachidonic acid and is inhibited by indomethacin. High performance liquid chromatographic (HPLC) analysis of the nucleoside adducts obtained following chemical and enzymatic digestion reveals an adduct pattern which is identical to that obtained by the reaction of poly(G) with (+/-)-7 beta, 8 alpha-dihydroxy-9 alpha, 10 alpha-epoxy-7,8,9,10-tetrahydrobenzo[alpha]pyrene (diol-epoxide 2). The ratios of the diastereomeric pairs of cis- and trans-diolepoxide 2-guanosine adducts indicate that both enantiomers of (+/-)-BP-7,8-diol are metabolized to an equal extent.
Interferon-producing killer dendritic cells (IKDCs) arise via a unique differentiation pathway from primitive c-kitHiCD62L+ lymphoid progenitors

Interferon-producing killer dendritic cells (IKDCs) have only recently been described and they share some properties with plasmacytoid dendritic cells (pDCs). We now show that they can arise from some of the same progenitors. However, IKDCs expressed little or no RAG-1, Spi-B, or TLR9, but responded to the TLR9 agonist CpG ODN by production of IFNγ. The RAG-1−pDC2 subset was more similar to IKDCs than RAG-1+ pDC1s with respect to IFNγ production. The Id-2 transcriptional inhibitor was essential for production of IKDCs and natural killer (NK) cells, but not pDCs. IKDCs developed from lymphoid progenitors in culture but, unlike pDCs, were not affected by Notch receptor ligation. While IKDCs could be made from estrogen-sensitive progenitors, they may have a slow turnover because their numbers did not rapidly decline in hormone-treated mice. Four categories of progenitors were compared for IKDC-producing ability in transplantation assays. Of these, Lin−Sca-1+c-KitHiThy1.1−L-selectin+ lymphoid progenitors (LSPs) were the best source. While NK cells resemble IKDCs in several respects, they develop from different progenitors. These observations suggest that IKDCs may arise from a unique differentiation pathway, and one that diverges early from those responsible for NK cells, pDCs, and T and B cells.
Thermal tracking of meltwater retention in Greenland's accumulation area

[1] Poorly understood processes controlling retention of meltwater in snow and firn have important implications for Greenland Ice Sheet's mass balance and flow dynamics. Here we present results from a 3 year (2007–2009) field campaign studying firn thermal profiles and density structure along an 85 km transect of the percolation zone of west Greenland. We installed one or two thermistor strings at 14 study sites, each string having 32 sensors spaced between 0 and 10 m depth. Data from our network of over 500 sensors were collected at 15–60 min intervals for 1–2 years, thereby recording the thermal signature of meltwater infiltration and refreezing during annual melt cycles. We document three types of heating of firn related to different mechanisms of meltwater motion and freezing, including heterogeneous breakthrough events, wetting front advance, and year-round heating from freezing of residual deep pore water. Vertically infiltrating meltwater commonly penetrates through cold firn accumulated over decades, even where ice layers are present at the previous summer surface and where ice layer thickness exceeds several decimeters. The offset between the mean annual air temperature and the 10 m firn temperature reveals the elevation dependency of meltwater retention along our transect. The firn is > 10°C warmer than the mean annual air temperature at the region where meltwater runoff initiates. During 2007–2009, runoff was limited to elevations lower than ∼1500 m with no sharp “runoff limit”; rather, the ratio of retention to runoff transitioned from all retention to all runoff across a ∼20 km wide zone.
Travel, tourism, and migration

This study, based on data for Hawaii and the nation as a whole, reveals that vacationers and migrants closely resemble one another in state of origin, state of destination, and timing of their travel; but are quite dissimilar in age, sex, and occupation. These relationships suggest that tourism and migration may be age- and income-conditioned responses to similar stimuli. Tourism and migration may be viewed as contrasting expressions of geographic mobility.
A Two IC Pal Chrominance/Luminance System

The devices to be described perform in two 14 pin packages the necessary chrominance and luminance functions for the PAL system prior to chrominance demodulation. One device provides the necessary chrominance processing functions, while the other device combines luminance functions with manual chrominance control. Specifically, the chrominance IC contains the functions of sub-carrier regeneration, automatic chrominance control, H/ 2 generation and identification, color killer, and burst gating. The luminance IC provides DC operation of the contrast, saturation, and brightness controls, and the functions of beam current limiting and black level clamp.
Study of the role of schiff base formation in the aromatization of 3-[18O]testosterone and 3,17-DI-[18O]androstenedione by human placental aromatase

Abstract Testosterone, prepared with 18O at the 3 position, and androstenedione, prepared with 18O at both the 3 and 17 positions, were incubated with human placental microsomes. The resulting estrogen metabolites (estradiol and estrone, respectively) as well as unconverted starting material were isolated and analyzed for their 18O content by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. In each case, > 90% of the 18O present in the original substrate was retained in the products. This result argues against a role for Schiff base formation in the aromatase reaction.
Field trials of an optical scanner for studying sea-surface fine structures

Field trials of an optical scanner for measuring directional slopes of the sea surface have been carried out at the Research Pier of the Coastal Engineering Research Center (CERC). Preliminary results include upwind-downwind and crosswind components of the mean-square slopes under various wind, swell, and atmospheric stability conditions.
DYSPHAGIA AND GROWTH FAILURE IN PRETERM INFANTS WITH CYSTIC PERIVENTRICULAR LEUKOMALACIA (CPVL). † 1646

DYSPHAGIA AND GROWTH FAILURE IN PRETERM INFANTS WITH CYSTIC PERIVENTRICULAR LEUKOMALACIA (CPVL). † 1646
Observations on the Mechanism of Atrial Gallop Rhythm

An atrial gallop sound is a frequent finding in hypertensive cardiovascular disease, myocardial infarction, and in the presence of a prolonged atrioventricular conduction time. In view of evidence relating this sound to a ventricular pressure wave resulting from atrial contraction, modification of this hemodynamic event was studied by means of tourniquet pooling of blood in the extremities. In the 18 patients studied, this maneuver caused striking changes in the intensity and timing of the atrial gallop. Analysis of these changes helps explain the frequent appearance of this triple rhythm in severe hypertensive cardiovascular disease.
The artery of percheron and etiologies of bilateral thalamic stroke.

he artery of Percheron (AOP) is a unique vessel that originates from the posterior cerebral artery (PCA) to supply the T bilateral thalami. Recognition of this anatomic variant should be of practical interest to clinicians, as occlusion of the AOP remains an important cause of bilateral thalamic strokes. The first published report of bilateral thalamic infarctions has been attributed to Beauvois and Lhermitte in 1975 (1). Since then, there has been increasing acknowledgment and association of the AOPwith bilateral thalamic injury. However, this ischemic presentation still remains uncommon. A review of the literature in 2009 identified only 51 cases of AOP involving bilateral thalamic infarcts (17). Similar stroke patterns have also been recognized with other vascular etiologies, such as “top of the basilar” syndrome, as well as cerebral venous thrombosis. Therefore, distinguishing AOP occlusion from other vascular pathologies requires a thorough understanding of the anatomic, clinical, and radiographic differences in order to provide optimal therapeutic management.
A comparison of selected plant pollens for rearing Euseius mesembrinus (Acari: Phytoseiidae)

Abstract Effects on development, survivorship and reproduction of Euseius mesembrinus (Dean) were studied in the laboratory using nine different plant pollens: ice plant, Malephora crocea (Jacquin); live oak, Quercus virginiana Miller; castor bean, Ricinus communis L.; cattail, Typha latifolia L.; Spanish needle, Bidens pilosa L.; grapefruit, Citrus paradisi (L.) Osbeck; ‘Sunburst’ tangerine, C. reticulata Blanco (hybrid); ‘Hamlin’ orange, C. sinensis (L.) Osbeck; and pummelo, C. grandis (L.) Osbeck. Following eclosion, 100% of adults developed in 7.6 to 7.9 days when pollen of ice plant, live oak, castor bean or cattail was provided as single food sources at 27 ± 1°C. A total of 30.8 and 30.4 eggs per female were obtained when ice plant and live oak pollens, respectively, were provided compared to 23.0 and 19.2 eggs per female when castor bean and cattail pollens were used. Life table parameters were: mean generation time (T) = 12.38; net reproductive rate (R o) = 17.17; intrinsic rate of natural increas...
The rise of the 'projectome'

Although new super-resolution imaging techniques provide valuable biological insights, some applications, such as determining the organization of neural projections in the brain, are better served by comprehensive imaging of very large samples at lower resolution.
Malpractice Risk Prevention for Primary Care Physicians

The recent medical malpractice "crisis" has seen skyrocketing liability premiums and increasing fear of liability. Primary care physicians, especially family medicine and internal medicine physicians, have historically experienced low rates of malpractice claims, both in number and amount of payment. This can be attributed to several factors: the esteem held by internal medicine and family medicine physicians in their communities, relatively low numbers of invasive procedures, reluctance of patients to include "their" primary care physician in any potential litigation, and, probably most importantly, the atmosphere of mutual trust and communication between the internist or family physician and the patient. Recent years have seen this trend erased, as insurance industry data suggest primary care physicians presently face significant potential exposure for medical malpractice claims. It is imperative that primary care physicians take steps to insure they are adequately covered in case of a malpractice claim and that they practice aggressive but appropriate risk management to lessen the likelihood of a claim.
Resonator Q increase and noise reduction in third overtone thickness shear resonators

Ultra high frequency resonators have higher noise levels due to their greater miniaturization and higher power density. This paper investigates a new method using nonlinear acoustic coupling for improving the resonator Q and hence reducing noise levels in third overtone thickness shear resonators. For trapped energy resonators such as the AT-cut quartz resonators the fundamental and third overtone thickness shear modes are well behaved. At high drive levels, the fundamental mode may be described by a Duffing equation that has a nonlinear cubic term in displacement. This cubic term in displacement has a third overtone thickness shear frequency component that could be used to improve the Q of third overtone thickness shear resonator. The coupling of the Duffing equation for the fundamental thickness shear mode to the third overtone thickness shear mode was solved using a MATLAB Simulink model. At higher drive levels, the mechanical nonlinearities of the fundamental mode will drive the third overtone thickness shear mode if its resonant frequency is sufficiently close to three times the fundamental thickness shear frequency. This nonlinear coupling will improve the Q of the third overtone thickness shear mode by as much as 15-fold. The Q increase is dependent on (1) frequency matching of the third overtone mode to three times the fundamental mode, (2) the drive level of the fundamental mode, and (3) the relative phase of the fundamental drive to the third overtone drive.
Synthesis and characterization of liquid chromatographic columns containing the immobilized ligand binding domain of the estrogen related receptor α and estrogen related receptor γ

The ligand binding domains of the estrogen related receptors, ERRα and ERRγ were covalently immobilized onto the surface of an aminopropyl silica liquid chromatography stationary phase to create the ERRα-silica and ERRγ-silica columns and onto the surface of open tubular capillaries to create the ERRα-OT and ERRγ-OT columns. The ERR-silica and ERR-OT columns were characterized using frontal chromatographic techniques with diethylstibesterol and the binding affinities, Kd values, to the immobilized receptors were consistent with the values obtained by a radioligand binding assay. The ERRγ-silica column was also characterized using non-linear chromatographic techniques using a series of tamoxifen derivatives. The relative Kd values obtained for the derivatives were consistent with the relative ability of the compounds to inhibit the cellular proliferation of the human-derived T98G glioma cell line, expressed as IC50 values. The results indicate that the columns containing immobilized ERRα and ERRγ can be created and used to characterize the binding of compounds to the immobilized receptors and that the relative retention of compounds on these columns reflects the magnitude of their inhibitory activity.
Solvent Extraction Studies of Zinc and Cadmium with Aliquat 336-S in Aqueous Chloride Solutions

Abstract New solvent extraction systems have been developed for the extraction of zinc and cadmium from aqueous chloride solution using Aliquat 336-S dissolved in the nonpolar solvents heavy aromatic naphtha and xylene as the extractant. Moderately high concentrations of the metalions (1 mg/ml zinc and 2 mg/ml Cd) can be extracted quantitatively from acid solutions with an equal volume of 5% Aliquat 336-S solution in 15 sec. Both zinc and cadmium can be stripped from the organic phase with a series of aqueous stripping solutions. When comparing zinc and cadmium, cadmium is the easier to extract and the more difficult to strip under the same experimental conditions.
Adults’ reports of their earliest memories: Consistency in events, ages, and narrative characteristics over time

Earliest memories have been of interest since the late 1800s, when it was first noted that most adults do not have memories from the first years of life (so-called childhood amnesia). Several characteristics of adults' earliest memories have been investigated, including emotional content, the perspective from which they are recalled, and vividness. The focus of the present research was a feature of early memories heretofore relatively neglected in the literature, namely, their consistency. Adults reported their earliest memories 2-4 times over a 4-year period. Reports of earliest memories were highly consistent in the events identified as the bases for earliest memories, the reported age at the time of the event, and in terms of qualities of the narrative descriptions. These findings imply stability in the boundary that marks the offset of childhood amnesia, as well as in the beginning of a continuous sense of self over time.