cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Role of radiation therapy for retroperitoneal sarcomas: An eight-institution study from the US Sarcoma Collaborative.

Background The use of radiation therapy in the treatment of retroperitoneal sarcomas has increased in recent years. Its impact on survival and recurrence is unclear. Methods A retrospective propensity score matched (PSM) analysis of patients with primary retroperitoneal soft tissue sarcomas, who underwent resection from 2000 to 2016 at eight institutions of the US Sarcoma Collaborative, was performed. Patients with metastatic disease, desmoid tumors, and palliative resections were excluded. Results Total 425 patients were included, 56 in the neoadjuvant radiation group (neo-RT), 75 in the adjuvant radiation group (adj-RT), and 294 in the no radiotherapy group (no-RT). Median age was 59.5 years, 186 (43.8%) were male with a median follow up of 31.4 months. R0 and R1 resection was achieved in 253 (61.1%) and 143 (34.5%), respectively. Overall 1:1 match of 46 adj-RT and 59 neo-RT patients was performed using histology, sex, age, race, functional status, tumor size, grade, resection status, and chemotherapy. Unadjusted recurrence-free survival (RFS) was 35.9 months (no-RT) vs 33.5 months (neo-RT) and 27.2 months (adj-RT), P = .43 and P = .84, respectively. In the PSM, RFS was 17.6 months (no-RT) vs 33.9 months (neo-RT), P = .28 and 19 months (no-RT) vs 27.2 months (adj-RT), P = .1. Conclusions Use of radiotherapy, both in adjuvent or neoadjuvent setting, was not associated with improved survival or reduced recurrence rate.
Digital Light Processing 3D Printing of Triple Shape Memory Polymer for Sequential Shape Shifting

A photocurable triple shape memory polymer (TSMP) resin based on acrylic monomers and an ion–pair comonomer (IPC) has been formulated and successfully 3D printed with a digital light processing (DL...
A Fast-Settling Integer- $N$ Frequency Synthesizer Using Switched-Gain Control

This paper presents a fully-integrated integer- $N$ frequency synthesizer that uses switched-gain control (SGC) within the phased-locked loop (PLL). Unlike other methods to improve PLL performance, the SGC method exploits the potential advantages of positive feedback within the main loop. The proposed SGC-PLL uses a supervisor with four switching regions in the phase plane to minimize the effects of circuit non-linearity within the PLL. This results in significantly lower settling time than conventional designs while maintaining similar phase noise. The design has been implemented in the UMC 180 nm CMOS process for an output frequency range of 1-16 MHz. Test results show that the proposed approach decreases the settling time by a maximum of 24.7% compared to a conventional PLL with the same loop parameters.
The Hardware-in-the-Loop Simulation of Vehicle-Grid Integration in a Distribution Grid

In this study, we develop a hardware-in-the-Loop (HIL) simulation platform for the investigation of Vehicle - Grid Integration (VGI) at campus-level distribution network. The VGI HIL simulation is performed with a real-time simulator, OPAL-RT. The VGI HIL model can communicate with a Smart Energy Plaza at Argonne National Laboratory through Message Queuing Telemetry Transport (MQTT) communication protocol. A hierarchical energy management system is also developed, which manages VGI operation at both campus-level and node-level. At the distribution network level, it distributes available power to individual nodes. At the node-level, it coordinates PEV charging load and non-PEV load to track the assigned power reference, meanwhile, fairly dispatches the limited power to PEVs within the node. To validate the developed VGI model and evaluate the effectiveness of the hierarchical energy management algorithms, HIL simulations are performed with different power limits. The generated simulation results are further analyzed and compared.
LASG: Lazily Aggregated Stochastic Gradients for Communication-Efficient Distributed Learning

This paper targets solving distributed machine learning problems such as federated learning in a communication-efficient fashion. A class of new stochastic gradient descent (SGD) approaches have been developed, which can be viewed as the stochastic generalization to the recently developed lazily aggregated gradient (LAG) method --- justifying the name LASG. LAG adaptively predicts the contribution of each round of communication and chooses only the significant ones to perform. It saves communication while also maintains the rate of convergence. However, LAG only works with deterministic gradients, and applying it to stochastic gradients yields poor performance. The key components of LASG are a set of new rules tailored for stochastic gradients that can be implemented either to save download, upload, or both. The new algorithms adaptively choose between fresh and stale stochastic gradients and have convergence rates comparable to the original SGD. LASG achieves impressive empirical performance --- it typically saves total communication by an order of magnitude.
Retinoic acid inducible gene-I mediated detection of bacterial nucleic acids in human microglial cells

Bacterial meningitis and meningoencephalitis are associated with devastating neuroinflammation. We and others have demonstrated the importance of glial cells in the initiation of immune responses to pathogens invading the central nervous system (CNS). These cells use a variety of pattern recognition receptors (PRRs) to identify common pathogen motifs and the cytosolic sensor retinoic acid inducible gene-1 (RIG-I) is known to serve as a viral PRR and initiator of interferon (IFN) responses. Intriguingly, recent evidence indicates that RIG-I also has an important role in the detection of bacterial nucleic acids, but such a role has not been investigated in glia. In this study, we have assessed whether primary or immortalized human and murine glia express RIG-I either constitutively or following stimulation with bacteria or their products by immunoblot analysis. We have used capture ELISAs and immunoblot analysis to assess human microglial interferon regulatory factor 3 (IRF3) activation and IFN production elicited by bacterial nucleic acids and novel engineered nucleic acid nanoparticles. Furthermore, we have utilized a pharmacological inhibitor of RIG-I signaling and siRNA-mediated knockdown approaches to assess the relative importance of RIG-I in such responses. We demonstrate that RIG-I is constitutively expressed by human and murine microglia and astrocytes, and is elevated following bacterial infection in a pathogen and cell type-specific manner. Additionally, surface and cytosolic PRR ligands are also sufficient to enhance RIG-I expression. Importantly, our data demonstrate that bacterial RNA and DNA both trigger RIG-I-dependent IRF3 phosphorylation and subsequent type I IFN production in human microglia. This ability has been confirmed using our nucleic acid nanoparticles where we demonstrate that both RNA- and DNA-based nanoparticles can stimulate RIG-I-dependent IFN responses in these cells. The constitutive and bacteria-induced expression of RIG-I by human glia and its ability to mediate IFN responses to bacterial RNA and DNA and nucleic acid nanoparticles raises the intriguing possibility that RIG-I may be a potential target for therapeutic intervention during bacterial infections of the CNS, and that the use of engineered nucleic acid nanoparticles that engage this sensor might be a method to achieve this goal.
4.37 – Photopolymerization

Photopolymerizations are highly versatile processes that are the subject of intense current academic research and industrial development activity. These polymerizations are finding a multitude of commercial uses ranging from high-performance imaging systems to wood coatings and adhesives. This chapter presents the basic chemistry of the major classes of photopolymerization reactions and discusses their chief advantages and limitations.
The Unprecedented Stock Market Reaction to COVID-19

No previous infectious disease outbreak, including the Spanish Flu, has affected the stock market as forcefully as the COVID-19 pandemic In fact, previous pandemics left only mild traces on the U S stock market We use text-based methods to develop these points with respect to large daily stock market moves back to 1900 and with respect to overall stock market volatility back to 1985 We also evaluate potential explanations for the unprecedented stock market reaction to the COVID-19 pandemic The evidence we amass suggests that government restrictions on commercial activity and voluntary social distancing, operating with powerful effects in a service-oriented economy, are the main reasons the U S stock market reacted so much more forcefully to COVID-19 than to previous pandemics in 1918–1919, 1957–1958, and 1968
Classical analytical solution for Rydberg states of muonic–electronic helium and helium-like ions

In our previous papers (Can. J. Phys. 91 (2013) 715; 92 (2014) 1405), we studied Rydberg states of systems consisting of a nucleus of charge Z, a muon, and an electron, both the muon and electron b...
Rebel reviewers: Social media review pages as sites of Confederate memorial discourses

Online review platforms — such as Facebook Pages, Yelp, and Google Reviews — host millions of user-generated posts. Some reviewers choose to use these platforms to share political opinions and calls for activism. One example of this phenomenon, UNC–Chapel Hill’s “Silent Sam” Confederate statue review page on Facebook, provides an opportunity to examine comments from users asserting their pro-statue and anti-statue opinions. While protestors removed the statue in August 2018, its unofficial page (and its posts) remains visible online and continues to garner new “reviews” after the monument’s physical removal. This study analyzes the engagement publicly visible on Silent Sam’s Facebook reviews. Despite the large volume of research on social network sites, the author is unaware of any studies of activist posts on online review spaces. Discovering the most prevalent claims made in pro-Confederate posts will help educators, activists, online moderators, and creators of Terms of Service agreements determine where they can (and should) respond to racist rhetoric.
Kicking off sphingolipid biosynthesis: structures of the serine palmitoyltransferase complex.

Structures of the human serine palmitoyltransferase complex reveal the overall assembly, regulatory mechanisms and substrate selectivity of this key enzyme in sphingolipid synthesis.
Use of Anakinra in steroid dependent recurrent pericarditis: a case report and review of literature

Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and colchicine are the cornerstone treatment for recurrent pericarditis. Corticosteroids are frequently used in patients with recurrent episodes of pericarditi...
Quality of Life Associates With Moderate to Vigorous Physical Activity Following Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction.

Context Higher knee function is linked to psychological readiness to return to sport following anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACLR). Individuals with ACLR participate in less physical activity compared to matched uninjured controls, yet the association between knee function and physical activity following ACLR remains unclear. Objective To determine the association between patient-reported knee function measured with the Knee Injury and Osteoarthritis Outcomes Score Quality of Life (KOOS-QOL), daily steps, and minutes spent in moderate to vigorous physical activity (MVPA) in individuals with ACLR. Secondarily, we determined associations between KOOS-QOL, daily steps, and MVPA in individuals with ACLR who presented with (symptomatic) and without (asymptomatic) clinically meaningful knee related symptoms. Design Cross-sectional study. Setting Laboratory, Free-living conditions. Patients or other participants Sixty-six individuals with primary unilateral ACLR (55% female, 22±4 years, 28±33 months post-ACLR, BMI: 24.2±2.9 kg/m2). Outcome measure(s) We collected KOOS and retrospectively stratified participants into those with (symptomatic [n=30]) or without (asymptomatic [n=36]) clinically meaningful knee related symptoms based on previously defined KOOS cutoffs. We assessed daily steps and MVPA from ActiGraph GT9X Link accelerometers which each participant wore on the right hip for 7 days. We conducted linear regressions to determine associations between KOOS-QOL, daily steps, and MVPA. Results No significant associations existed in the entire sample between KOOS-QOL and daily steps (ΔR2=0.01, P=0.50) or MVPA (ΔR2=0.01, P=0.36). In symptomatic individuals, greater KOOS-QOL associated with greater MVPA (ΔR2=0.12, P=0.05,). No significant associations existed between KOOS-QOL, daily steps, and MVPA in the asymptomatic group. Conclusions Symptomatic individuals with ACLR who spent more time in MVPA reported higher quality of life.
The Distributed Archives Model: A Strategy for Sharing Authority with Partners to Document Communities

Institutional archives with community documentation missions face problems of limited resources and community resistance in developing collections. Inspired by field experience and archival literature, the authors propose one possible solution that can be a stand-alone project or an adjunct to traditional collection development. Their distributed archives model envisions one-on-one partnerships between institutional archives and community partners to share authority over appraisal and selection while leaving custody of community collections with their creators. Institutional partners provide leadership, mentoring, and support, while community partners appraise, select, process, arrange, and describe. This article describes the distributed archives model, examines its advantages and disadvantages, and discusses it in relationship with an increased awareness of social justice concerns in archives, postcustodialism, and shared authority over appraisal between community collection creators and archivists.
Do Fertility Preferences Pass from Parents to Children? Evidence from the 1966 Romanian Abortion Ban

This paper analyzes to what extend fertility preferences correlates across generations, dealing with a largely understudied dimension of the demand for children. The paper exploits the abrupt implementation of the 1966 Romanian anti-abortion decree that discontinuously changed the composition of mothers in relation to their 'taste' for children. Using multiple Censuses, second-generation men and women born around the policy implementation are followed over their lives to study how the socio-economic status and fertility preferences of their parents affect their own reproductive behavior. Methodologically, the paper combines elements of the regression discontinuity design and the Heckman's selection model. Results indicate that the intergenerational fertility correlation ranges from 0.15 to 0.25. One-third of this correlation is explained by inherited socio-economic status and two-thirds by 'inherited' preferences.
Introduction to Mathematica in engineering

Summary form only given. Engineers from all fields use Mathematica as an indispensable part of their engineering toolbox, calling on its numerical, symbolic, graphical, and programming capabilities throughout the course of their projects. This session will provide introductory training on using Mathematica for engineering projects, and presents examples of how it is being used in various fields of engineering. >
Abstract 20492: Mlf1 Regulates Myocyte Proliferation in Postnatal Hearts

Lower vertebrates, such as newt and zebrafish, retain a robust cardiac regenerative capacity following injury. Although adult mammals lack this cardiac regenerative potential, there is ample interest in understanding how heart regeneration occurs, and to reawaken this process in adult humans. Recently, we showed that mice are capable of regenerating their hearts shortly after birth following injury. This regenerative response is associated with robust proliferation of cardiomyocytes without significant hypertrophy or fibrosis. However, this regenerative capacity is lost by 7 days postnatally, coinciding with cell cycle arrest. In an effort to determine the mechanism of cardiomyocytes cell cycle arrest after the first week of life, we performed a gene array after cardiac injury at multiple post-natal time points. This enabled us to identify a number of transcription factors that are differentially expressed during this postnatal window. We recently reported that one of these transcription factors Meis1 regulates postnatal cell cycle arrest of cardiomyocytes. Furthermore, Myeloid leukemia factor 1 (Mlf1), a bhlh transcription factor that has not been previously studied in the heart has similar dysregulated pattern following injury. Our preliminary data with in-vitro knockdown of Mlf1 in cardiomyocyte resulted in 2-fold increase in cardiomyocyte proliferation. Furthermore, immunohistochemistry results indicated that the endogenous expression and nuclear localization of Mlf1 in the post-natal cardiomyocytes coincides with cell cycle arrest. To explore this pattern, we generated a cardiomyocyte-specific Mlf1 knockout mouse, and showed that loss of Mlf1 results in robust cardiomyocyte proliferation in postnatal hearts (P14). Additionally, we confirmed previous reports that Mlf1 regulates p53 and induces cell cycle arrest by induction of CDK inhibitors like p21 and p57 in these Mlf1 KO mice. This suggests a role of Mlf1 in promoting reactivation of injured myocardium through induction of cardiomyocyte proliferation. These findings will further provide evidences of molecular mechanisms involved in the dormant regenerative capacity in adult mammals that can be a potential target of therapeutic approaches.
Messick, Samuel J. (1931–98)

Samuel J. Messick (1931–98) was an American psychologist who spent his entire professional career at the Educational Testing Service. Messick is best known for his contributions to test theory, particularly in the area of test validity. Keywords: educational psychology; psychometric testing; testing in psychology; social issues; validity
A high time resolution x-ray diagnostic on the Madison Symmetric Torus

A new high time resolution x-ray detector has been installed on the Madison Symmetric Torus (MST) to make measurements around sawtooth events. The detector system is comprised of a silicon avalanche photodiode, a 20 ns Gaussian shaping amplifier, and a 500 MHz digitizer with 14-bit sampling resolution. The fast shaping time diminishes the need to restrict the amount of x-ray flux reaching the detector, limiting the system dead-time. With a much higher time resolution than systems currently in use in high temperature plasma physics experiments, this new detector has the versatility to be used in a variety of discharges with varying flux and the ability to study dynamics on both slow and fast time scales. This paper discusses the new fast x-ray detector recently installed on MST and the improved time resolution capabilities compared to the existing soft and hard x-ray diagnostics. In addition to the detector hardware, improvements to the detector calibration and x-ray pulse identification software, such as additional fitting parameters and a more sophisticated fitting routine are discussed. Finally, initial data taken in both high confinement and standard reversed-field pinch plasma discharges are compared.
Frances Ellen Watkins Harper: African American Reform Rhetoric and the Rise of a Modern Nation State, Michael Stancliff

In one of many scenes Frances Ellen Watkins Harper developed between student and teacher in her works, the impulsive Annette Harcourt explains her conflict with an Irish-American peer to her teache...
Use of Cardiac Troponin T Levels as an Indicator of Doxorubicin-induced Cardiotoxicity

The release of cardiac troponin T (cTnT) as a biomarker of doxorubicin-induced chronic cardiac injury was evaluated in the spontaneously hypertensive rat (SHR) model. Elevations in serum levels of cTnT and decreased immunohistochemical staining of heart sections for this protein were noted in SHRs treated with cumulative doses of doxorubicin (7 mg/kg) that induced only minimal histological alterations in myocytes. Concentrations of cTnT were further elevated, coincident with reduced immunohistochemical staining, in SHRs given 10-12 mg/kg doxorubicin. Thus, monitoring serum levels of cTnT can detect doxorubicin-induced myocyte damage in SHR and may prove useful for the noninvasive evaluation of this toxicity in humans.
Care pathways and patient safety: key concepts, patient outcomes and related interventions

Although care pathways often target efficiency of care through mapping and standardizing care processes, care can also be improved by reducing patient safety events, such as complications. In this paper, the authors review key concepts and literature relevant to parallels between patient safety and pathway interventions, as well as patient safety issues that should be considered in pathway development and implementation. Both care pathways and patient safety interventions are more likely to be effective when based on a theoretical framework related to human or systems factors or behaviour. Care pathways can target patient safety outcomes, but can also produce new hazards, through applying standards too broadly, reducing adaptability to complex situations or changing care processes in unforeseen ways. Both pathways and safety interventions must also be efficient and consider the opportunity costs of the time needed for providers to implement the intervention. Further research should explore how best to sta...
A differential scanning calorimeter for ice nucleation distribution studies—Application to bacterial nucleators

A differential scanning calorimeter has been developed for the automatic detection and measurement of dropwise freezing within a sample of 100–200 water drops. A typical drop size of 1 μl is employed. The sample is distributed on flat, square (4-cm) thermoelectric sensors and the temperature is scanned downward by conductive cooling to a liquid nitrogen bath. The rate of cooling, typically 1°C/min, is set by the choice of a heat conduction rod between the calorimeter and the liquid nitrogen bath. The voltages from the thermopiles along with a system temperature-measuring thermocouple are continuously monitored by digital voltmeters and recorded every half-second in a computer memory. A freezing event in a drop is detected by a characteristic voltage signal whose integral with time is proportional to the size of the drop and its heat of fusion. The half-life of a freezing event signal is 10 s for a 1-μl drop. The integrated signal produced from multiple freezing events is shown to provide a direct measure of the number of drops frozen at a given temperature. A distribution curve and its smoothed derivative can be constructed directly from these measurements. The instrument, which is termed an “ice nucleometer,” is illustrated in determining the ice nucleation distribution in a population of Escherichia coli harboring cloned ice nucleation genes.
Aperture intensity ratio fiber‐optic displacement sensor

A displacement sensor based on the ratio of fiber‐optic light emitted from two fixed position optical fibers into a third, movable fiber connected to a photodetector is described. Square‐wave modulated light of opposite phases produces a corresponding square wave at the detector which has zero ac amplitude at the center position and an amplitude proportional to displacement on either side of the detection fiber. A phase‐sensitive detector produces a positive dc output voltage for positive displacements and negative for negative displacements.
The state-level geographic analysis of high-growth companies

While the number of studies about high-growth firms has increased in recent years, scholarship has been primarily focused on the microeconomic factors for success, such as individual and firm characteristics. There has been an emerging body of research studying the macroeconomic or geographic factors, yet scholars have incorporated those external factors only in limited ways.This paper deepens our understanding about the macroeconomic factors related to high-growth firms by adapting the conceptual framework of the knowledge spillover theory and by using the list of Inc. 500 firms. Regression results demonstrate that the geographic factors for high-growth firms differ substantially from the knowledge spillover theory, as academic and government research activities, venture capital investment, and patents are unrelated to the concentration of high-growth firms. Nonetheless, the model in this paper agrees with the importance of the human capital-related factor, specifically science and engineering college gr...
Ku is associated with the telomere in mammals

Telomeres are specialized DNA/protein complexes that comprise the ends of eukaryotic chromosomes. The highly expressed Ku heterodimer, composed of 70 and 80 Kd subunits (Ku70 and Ku80), is the high-affinity DNA binding component of the DNA-dependent protein kinase. Ku is critical for nonhomologous DNA double-stranded break repair and site-specific recombination of V(D)J gene segments. Ku also plays an important role in telomere maintenance in yeast. Herein, we report, using an in vivo crosslinking method, that human and hamster telomeric DNAs specifically coimmunoprecipitate with human Ku80 after crosslinking. Localization of Ku to the telomere does not depend on the DNA-dependent protein kinase catalytic component. These findings suggest a direct link between Ku and the telomere in mammalian cells.
An Evaluation of Reachers for Use by Older Persons with Disabilities

With the steady growth in numbers of older persons, the number of elders who have impairments impacting on functional performance also increases. Many assistive devices are available that have die potential to help elders with impairments to maintain or regain independence. Reachers offer a good example of an inexpensive and useful assistive device for elders. A needs assessment study of the University at Buffalo Rehabilitation Engineering Research Center on Aging (RERC-Aging) found that 22% of elder owners of reachers were dissatisfied with at least one of the reachers they owned. This study sought to explore the reasons for this dissatisfaction by, first, determining the tasks for which older persons use reachers and, second, testing performance in these tasks with three reachers selected on their potential to most satisfactorily meet the needs of older persons with disabilities. In the first study component, 16 older people were selected randomly from the RERC-Aging study sample pool for telephone inte...
SUBSTANCE P LEVEL IN SYNOVIAL FLUID MAY PREDICT PAIN RELIEF AFTER KNEE REPLACEMENT

Substance P is readily detected in the synovial fluid of the knee in which it acts as a powerful inflammatory agent in response to injury and disease. It may be an objective predictor of pain after knee replacement surgery. The level of substance P was measured in the synovial fluid in both knees of 114 patients having unilateral and in 86 patients having bilateral total knee replacement for osteoarthritis. All had severe pain in the knee to be replaced and joint destruction. Substance P was elevated in 73% of replaced knees but not in normal or asymptomatic knees. Good or excellent pain relief was achieved in 97% of patients with an elevated preoperative level of substance P and in 61% of those with a normal preoperative level (p < 0.05 compared with preoperative values).
“Generalized imitation” on a nonimitative task: Effects of modeling and task history

Abstract Two experiments investigated characteristic generalized imitation procedures on a nonimitative successive visual discrimination task. In Experiment I, no discriminative behavior was obtained though a number of procedures designed to enhance discrimination were employed. The introduction of a differential modeling procedure after nine or 10 sessions of nondifferential performance was ineffective in producing differential responding for three of four Ss. In the second experiment, the differential modeling procedure was introduced as an initial manipulation and was successful in establishing discriminative performance in all Ss. After several sessions of differential responding, the observation of a model performing nondifferentially was relatively ineffective in altering the pattern of responding. These results suggest (1) that modeling may be functional in altering a S's behavior depending on what point in the procedures the manipulation is introduced and (2) that certain procedural variables may define a functional response class characterized by the failure to develop discriminative responding.
Distance in stereoscopic vision: the three-point problem.

Abstract If the function relating the horizontal disparity between two points and the ratio of their perceived egocentric distances has any form other than exponential, then the distance ratio between two points will be influenced by the presence and position of a third point. Five experiments are reported in which this dependence is shown to exist and is measured as a function of the position of the third point. The functions obtained are inconsistent with several possible explanations of the effect, but are consistent with the hypothesis that the perceived distance ratio of two points is jointly determined by the positions of all the points in the configuration.
More Use Almost Always Means a Smaller Frequency Effect: Aging, Bilingualism, and the Weaker Links Hypothesis.

The “weaker links” hypothesis proposes that bilinguals are disadvantaged relative to monolinguals on speaking tasks because they divide frequency-of-use between two languages. To test this proposal we contrasted the effects of increased word use associated with monolingualism, language dominance, and increased age on picture naming times. In two experiments, younger and older bilinguals and monolinguals named pictures with high- or low-frequency names in English and (if bilingual) also in Spanish. In Experiment 1, slowing related to bilingualism and language dominance was greater for producing low- than high-frequency names. In Experiment 2, slowing related to aging was greater for producing low-frequency names in the dominant language, but when speaking the nondominant language, increased age attenuated frequency effects and age-related slowing was limited exclusively to high-frequency names. These results challenge competition based accounts of bilingual disadvantages in language production, and illustrate how between-group processing differences may emerge from cognitive mechanisms general to all speakers.
A new sequential estimator for non-linear models

A new iterative scheme is presented for the sequential estimation of parameters in non-linear measurement models. The iterations lead to a limiting estimate that fully accounts for the non-linearities in the models. Comparative studies reveal that the proposed scheme is more efficient than the iterated extended Kalman filter duo to Denham and Pines. It is shown that this algorithm can be combined with a suitable prediction scheme to yield a filter for non-linear dynamical systems with discrete measurements. The estimation scheme is applied to the problem of finding the rate constants in a kinetics model.
The role of research and planning units in law enforcement organizations

Purpose – This paper seeks to empirically describe the role of research and planning units within contemporary, local police organizations in the US.Design/methodology/approach – Data were collected from a national survey of police organizations, municipal police agencies and sheriffs' offices in the US and analyzed using univariate statistics.Findings – The findings demonstrate that the task scope of research and planning units (RPU) within local law enforcement organizations is heterogeneous. RPUs perform a range of tasks and these tasks differ from one agency to another. When separate tasks are aggregated into broader categories, the data reveal that, overall, RPUs focus primarily on administrative tasks.Practical implications – These findings suggest that RPUs primarily focus on administrative support tasks rather than research and planning projects. Thus, RPUs may be underutilized by law enforcement organizations. These findings suggest that administrators consider how the task scope of RPUs can be r...
Immunofluorescence evidence for cytoskeletal rearrangement accompanying pigment redistribution in goldfish xanthophores

Immunofluorescence and phase-contrast microscopic studies of goldfish xanthophores with aggregated or dispersed pigment show two unusual features. First, immunofluorescence studies with anti-actin show punctate structures instead of filaments. These punctate structures are unique for the xanthophores and are absent from both goldfish dermal non-pigment cells and a dedifferentiated cell line (GEM-81) derived from a goldfish xanthophore tumor. Comparison of immunofluorescence and phase-contrast microscopic images with electron microscopic images of thin sections and of Triton-insoluble cytoskeletons show that these punctate structures represent pterinosomes with radiating F-actin. The high local concentration of actin around the pterinosomes results in strong localized fluorescence such that, when the images have proper brightness for these structures, individual actin filaments elsewhere in the cell are too weak in their fluorescence to be visible in the micrographs. Second, whereas immunofluorescence images with anti-tubulin show typical patterns in xanthophores with either aggregated or dispersed pigment, namely, filaments radiating out from the microtubule organizing center, immunofluorescence images with anti-actin or with anti-intermediate filament proteins show different patterns in xanthophores with aggregated versus dispersed pigment. In cells with dispersed pigment, the punctate structures seen with anti-actin are relatively evenly distributed in the cytoplasm, and intermediate filaments appear usually as a dense perinuclear band and long filaments elsewhere in the cytoplasm. In cells with aggregated pigment, both intermediate filaments and pterinosomes with associated actin are largely excluded from the space occupied by the pigment aggregate, and the band of intermediate filaments surrounds not only the nucleus but also the pigment aggregate. The patterns of distribution of the different cytoskeleton components, together with previous results from this laboratory, indicate that formation of the pigment aggregate depends at least in part on the interaction between pigment organelles and microtubules. The possibility that intermediate filaments may play a role in the formation/stabilization of the pigment aggregate is discussed.
A futility study of minocycline in Huntington's disease

This study assessed the futility of proceeding with a Phase 3 clinical trial of minocycline as a disease-modifying treatment for Huntington's disease (HD). One hundred fourteen research participants with HD were randomized, 87 to minocycline (200 mg/d) and 27 to placebo. The change in Total Functional Capacity (TFC) score from baseline to Mo 18 was prespecified as the primary measure of HD progression. By using a futility design, we tested the null hypothesis that minocycline would reduce the mean decline in TFC score by at least 25% compared to a fixed value obtained from a historical database, with a one-tailed significance level of 10%. The placebo group was included to facilitate blinding. Rejection of the null hypothesis would discourage a major definitive trial of minocycline in HD. For the primary analysis, missing data were handled by carrying forward the last available observation; a secondary analysis used multiple imputations. The mean TFC decline in the minocycline group was 1.55 (SD 1.85), and futility was not declared (P = 0.12) for the primary analysis. When multiple imputation was used to handle missing data, the mean TFC decline in the minocycline group of 1.71 (SD 1.96, P = 0.07) suggested futility, as was the case for prespecified secondary outcome measures. There were no safety abnormalities attributable to minocycline. Based on the threshold of 25% improvement in TFC, further study of minocycline 200 mg/d in HD was not warranted. Futility designs aid in screening potential therapies for HD. © 2010 Movement Disorder Society
Rab11 regulates the recycling and lysosome targeting of β2-adrenergic receptors

The pericentriolar recycling endosome (RE) may be an alternative compartment through which some beta2-adrenergic receptors (beta2ARs) recycle from early endosomes to the cell surface during prolonged exposure to agonist. For the transferrin receptor, CXCR2, and the M4-muscarinic acetylcholine receptor, trafficking through the RE and receptor recycling is regulated by the small GTPase rab11. The precise role of the RE and rab11 in regulating the cellular trafficking of the beta2AR is not understood. We therefore monitored trafficking of beta2ARs in HEK293 cells following the modulation of rab11 activity. Expression of a rab11 mutant deficient in GTP binding (as a fusion between enhanced green fluorescent protein (EGFP) and the rab11S25N mutant) significantly slowed receptor recycling to the cell surface from dispersed transferrin-positive peripheral vesicles following a brief exposure to agonist. The agonist was applied at a time when receptors have undergone only one or two rounds of endocytosis and recycling. In cells overexpressing wild-type rab11, beta2ARs localized to a rab11-positive compartment and the rate of beta2AR recycling to the cell surface was reduced, but only after prolonged exposure to agonist and multiple rounds of receptor endocytosis and recycling. This effect was associated with impaired beta2AR trafficking to lysosomes and receptor proteolysis, whereas the sorting of low-density lipoprotein from transferrin-positive vesicles to late endosomes and lysosomes was not affected. These data highlight a pivotal role for rab11 in regulating the traffic of a G protein-coupled receptor at the level of the RE, where modulation of rab11 activity dictates the balance between receptor recycling and downregulation during prolonged exposure to agonist.
Monitoring Surface Climate With its Emissivity Derived From Satellite Measurements

Satellite thermal infrared (IR) spectral emissivity data have been shown to be significant for atmospheric research and monitoring the Earth fs environment. Long-term and large-scale observations needed for global monitoring and research can be supplied by satellite-based remote sensing. Presented here is the global surface IR emissivity data retrieved from the last 5 years of Infrared Atmospheric Sounding Interferometer (IASI) measurements observed from the MetOp-A satellite. Monthly mean surface properties (i.e., skin temperature T(sub s) and emissivity spectra epsilon(sub v) with a spatial resolution of 0.5x0.5-degrees latitude-longitude are produced to monitor seasonal and inter-annual variations. We demonstrate that surface epsilon(sub v) and T(sub s) retrieved with IASI measurements can be used to assist in monitoring surface weather and surface climate change. Surface epsilon(sub v) together with T(sub s) from current and future operational satellites can be utilized as a means of long-term and large-scale monitoring of Earth 's surface weather environment and associated changes.
Effect of Bronchial Stenosis on Pulmonary Tuberculosis in Dogs

ConclusionsIn these experiments little difficulty was encountered in producing pulmonary tuberculosis in dogs by the hematogenous route. Definite marked improvement, to a complete cure of the lesion was obtained by the production of massive atelectasis of the region involved. This improvement or cure in one location was brought about while the animal was dying from infection in another part.
Micromachined electron gun array (MEGA)

We present the Micro-machined Electron Gun Array (MEGA) as a massively-parallel approach to high throughput production electron beam lithography. The fabrication of the various components of the MEGA are described and the electron optical properties of micro- machined electron guns (MEGs) are studied using electron-optical simulation software. Electron-electron interaction between multiple beams is studied through Monte Carlo simulations for a number of configurations.
Investigating nucleon structure at the tevatron

Abstract Several precision measurements of nucleon structure have been carried out at Fermilab during the last fixed target and collider runs. These experiments have drastically extended the kinematic range of previous measurements, providing a finer description of the nucleon. They also serve to define the limits of perturbative QCD. Results are shown from the Drell-Yan experiment NuSea (E866), the W asymmetry measurement from CDF, direct photon measurements from experiment E706, D0, and CDF, and exclusive charm production measurements from neutrino scattering at NuTeV (E815).
Molecular and cellular mechanisms of altered GAD1/GAD67 expression in schizophrenia and related disorders

The 67 and 65 kDa isoforms of glutamic acid decarboxylase, the key enzymes for GABA biosynthesis, are expressed at altered levels in postmortem brain of subjects diagnosed with schizophrenia and related disorders, including autism and bipolar illness. The predominant finding is a decrease in GAD67 mRNA levels, affecting multiple brain regions, including prefrontal and temporal cortex. Postmortem studies, in conjunction with animal models, identified several mechanisms that contribute to the dysregulation of GAD67 in cerebral cortex. These include disordered connectivity formation during development, abnormal expression of Reelin and neural cell adhesion molecule (NCAM) glycoproteins, defects in neurotrophin signaling and alterations in dopaminergic and glutamatergic neurotransmission. These mechanisms are likely to operate in conjunction with genetic risk factors for psychosis, including sequence polymorphisms residing in the promoter of GAD1 (2q31), the gene encoding GAD67. We propose an integrative model, with multiple molecular and cellular mechanisms contributing to transcriptional dysregulation of GAD67 and cortical dysfunction in psychosis.
Synthesis and Pyrolysis of Selected Metal Levulinates

Eight metal levulinate salts of Mg2+, Ca2+, Sr2+, Ba2+, La3+, Fe3+, Cu2+, and Zn2+ were prepared by reacting the corresponding hydroxides with equivalent amounts of levulinic acid in water. Pyrolysis of the salts at 350 °C for 3.0 min produces colorless liquid pyrolysate oils in yields of 100–567 g kg−1 dry salt. The pyrolysates were analyzed by 1H NMR and GC-MS. The group II metal levulinates produced pyrolysate oils of similar composition with 3-methyl-2-cyclopentenone, 2,3-dimethyl-2-cyclopentenone, and γ-valerolactone as the major compounds. The La3+ and Fe3+ levulinates produced pyrolysates with 3-methyl-2-cyclopentenone, 2,3-dimethyl-2-cyclopentenone, γ-valerolactone, and levulinic acid as the major compounds. The Cu2+ and Zn2+ salts produced pyrolysates with levulinic acid as the major compound.
Component Fixture Positioning/Sequencing for Printed Circuit Board Assembly with Concurrent Operations

This paper considers the problem of positioning component fixtures on the carriers of computer, numerically controlled dual delivery machines used for populating printed circuit boards with surface mounted technology. This reel positioning problem RPP is one of a series of optimization problems that are critical for improving system productivity and realizing the full potential of concurrent operations. We formulate the RPP as a mathematical program and establish its complexity. Since the problem is NP-complete we focus on the development of heuristics. Our solution procedure was prompted by engineering considerations that included concerns for minimizing the changes in the carrier direction and total movement. We also present encouraging results with test problems. The method has been implemented and achieved 7 to 8% reductions in cycle time.
Loss of E2F-1 reduces tumorigenesis and extends the lifespan of Rb1(+/−) mice

Mutation of the retinoblastoma tumour-suppressor gene (RB) leads to the deregulation of many proteins and transcription factors that interact with the retinoblastoma gene product (pRB), including members of the E2F transcription factor family. As pRB is known to repress E2F transcriptional activity and overexpression of E2F is sufficient for cell cycle progression, it is thought that pRB suppresses growth in part by repressing E2F-mediated transcription. Previously, we reported that loss of E2f1 in mice results in tissue-specific tumour induction and tissue atrophy, demonstrating that E2F-1 normally controls growth both positively and negatively in a tissue-specific fashion. To determine whether E2F-1 deregulation--as a result of loss of pRB--promotes proliferation in vivo, we have tested whether loss of E2f1 interferes with the pituitary and thyroid tumorigenesis that occurs in Rb1(+/-) mice. We have found that loss of E2f1 reduces the frequency of pituitary and thyroid tumours, and greatly lengthens the lifespan of Rb1(+/-); E2f1(-/-) animals, demonstrating that E2F-1 is an important downstream target of pRB during tumorigenesis. Furthermore, loss of E2f1 reduces a previously reported strain-dependent difference in Rb1(+/-) lifespan, suggesting that E2f1 or an E2F-1-regulated gene acts as a genetic modifier between the 129/Sv and C57BL/6 strains.
Cognitive retrieval techniques and order of feature construction in the formation of composite facial images

Historically, police investigators have relied on wimesses' verbal descriptions of suspects to create a facial composite using either a skilled sketch artist or a mechanical facial composite system. Unfortunately, the demand for police sketch artists in law enforcement greatly outweighs the supply. As a result, there is an increasing need for an accurate facial composite system that can be used on a widespread basis by law-enforcement professionals.
Cholera toxin does not prevent neurite outgrowth from adult human chromaffin cells in culture.

Abstract Adult human adrenal medullary cells were dissociated and cultured for 14 days in the presence or absence of cholera toxin (CT), an activator of adenyl
A Comparative Analysis of Child Welfare Services through the Eyes of African American, Caucasian, and Latino Parents:

Objective: The purpose of this study was to find if differences exist among 88 African American, Caucasian, and Latino families who received child welfare services. Method: A secondary data analysis of cross-sectional survey data employing standardized measures was used for this study. Family preservation (FP) services were received by 49 participants, and 39 participants were provided Family maintenance (FM) services. Results: Minority clients were likely to have more children, lower incomes, and receive public assistance, and 30% were monolingual Spanish speakers. African American and Latino parents reported more positive outcomes on children’s academic adjustment and symptomatic behavior than Caucasian parents when receiving FP services. Conclusion: When recommending child welfare services, workers need to take ethnicity into account as culturally sensitive and community-based programs, such as FP, may be more effective when serving ethnic or racial minority groups.