cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Let Me Show You Your New Home: Studying the Effect of Proxemic-awareness of Robots on Users’ First Impressions

First impressions play an important part in social interactions, establishing the foundation of a person’s opinion about their counterparts. Since interpersonal communication is essentially multimodal, people are judged during first encounters by both their verbal utterances and nonverbal behavior, such as how they utilize eye contact, body distance, and body orientation. In this paper, we argue that robots would provide better user experiences, including being perceived as more likable if they were able to make a good first impression when introduced to a new home. Moreover, we wanted to test if robots can improve their perceived impression by behaving in a proxemic-aware manner; i.e., by following established social norms, which prescribe, for example how far people should position themselves around other objects to improve the facilitation of social interactions. In order to test this hypothesis, we conducted a user study with 16 participants in a virtual reality setting, comparing the impression of two agents being introduced to their new homes by users. We found that the proxemic-aware agent was indeed perceived as significantly better considering multiple constructs, including perceived anthropomorphism and trustworthiness.
Elevated Infection and Complication Rates in Patients Undergoing a Primary THA With a History of a PJI in a Prior Hip or Knee Arthroplasty: A Matched Cohort Study.

Abstract Background There are little data on the outcomes of primary total hip arthroplasties (THAs) in patients with a prior surgically treated hip or knee periprosthetic joint injection (PJI). The goal of this study was to compare the risk of infection in this population with matched controls. Methods We retrospectively reviewed 48 patients whom underwent 50 primary THAs from 2000 to 2014 with a history of a PJI in a total knee arthroplasty or contralateral THA. Thirteen patients (27%) were on chronic antibiotic suppression at the time of primary THA. Mean age was 67 years, and mean body mass index was 35 kg/m2. Mean follow-up was 6 years. We 1:3 matched (age, sex, body mass index, cemented vs cementless femoral fixation, and surgical year) these cases to 150 primary THAs. Competing risk analysis, with death as the competing risk, was performed. Results The cumulative incidence of PJI with death as a competing risk was 1.5-fold higher in the study cohort (2.0%) compared with matched controls (1.4%) (hazards ratio, 1.5; P = .75). The cumulative incidence of any infection with death as a competing risk was 2-fold higher in the study cohort (4.0%) compared with matched controls (2.1%) (hazards ratio, 2.0; P = .45). However, these were both statistically similar given the relatively small cohort. The overall complication rate, including infections and reoperations, was 17% in the study cohort. Conclusion Patients undergoing a clean primary THA with a history of a total knee arthroplasty or contralateral THA PJI in another joint have a 2% and 4% risk of PJI and any infection, respectively. Moreover, nearly 1 in 5 patients experience at least 1 complication.
Chapter 269 – Wolbachia

Publisher Summary This chapter describes Wolbachia, intracellular bacteria found in many organisms first observed in the cells of a mosquito. It is placed in the Rickettsiales. Its closest relatives are several pathogenetic bacteria, Cowdria and Ehrlichia, which are transmitted by arthropods to vertebrate hosts. It is reported that they were involved in causing the death of mosquito eggs when sperm of infected males fertilized the eggs of Wolbachia-free females. Since that time, the interest in Wolbachia has increased rapidly, because Wolbachia is very common in arthropods (up to 70% of all insects) and causes a number of unusual manipulations of their hosts' reproduction. It is generally passed on only from an infected female to her offspring; infected males do not pass on their infection to their offspring. This can be understood because insect eggs are large and can harbor bacteria, whereas sperm are small and carry very little cytoplasm in which bacteria can be transported. Many different microorganisms have evolved methods of killing only male offspring of infected mothers. Wolbachia have this ability in several lady beetles and butterflies. Male-killing Wolbachia occur with a high frequency in several species of the butterflies of the genus Acraea occurring in East Africa. This has led in some populations to extremely female-biased sex ratios and a concurrent change in behavior of the butterflies.
E-047 Acute stroke thrombectomy in the posterior circulation in the united states: real world evidence from the neurovascular quality initiative-quality outcomes database

Introduction Endovascular stroke thrombectomy is currently the standard of care for anterior circulation large vessel occlusions (LVO), based on multiple randomized control trials. Due to the grave consequences of posterior circulation occlusions, no randomized control trials have been performed to assess the benefit and outcome of mechanical thrombectomy in the posterior circulation. We aim to evaluate the real-world evidence for mechanical thrombectomy in posterior circulation LVO using the Neurovascular Quality Initiative (NVQI) registry. Methods Data from the NVQI registry database was analyzed and compared for anterior versus posterior circulation acute ischemic stroke treated with endovascular thrombectomy in 23 US centers (17 states) from February 2015 to October 2019. Mann Whitney and Fischer exact tests were used for continuous and categorical variables, respectively. Results Posterior circulation (PC) thrombectomy was performed in a minority of 9.2% (284/3103 patients) compared to anterior circulation (AC) thrombectomy. LVO sites were predominantly basilar artery occlusions (68% basilar trunk and 19.4% basilar apex/PCA) with the remainder as vertebral artery occlusions (12.7%). Mean age at the intervention was 66±15.5 years (61.6% male) PC versus 68.8±15.4 years AC, p=0.004. Mean NIHSS at presentation was 17±10.2 PC versus 15.8±6.8 AC, p=0.007. CT/CTA was performed in 94% of cases whereas MRI was performed in 19% of cases (versus 14% AC, p=0.03). Median arrival to groin puncture time was 110 min PC versus 87 min AC, onset to groin time was 375 min PC versus 291 min AC, and median procedure time was 38 min PC versus 33 min AC. Successful recanalization was achieved in 84.5% (TICI 2b/3) versus 84% AC (p=0.87) with 50.4% reporting single pass recanalization and 3.9% technical failures (3.2% access related). Intraprocedural complications were reported in 4.9% of cases (0.7% vessel perforations, 0.4% hemorrhagic transformations, 1.4% non-target embolization, and 1.8% iatrogenic dissections). Mean post-operative length of stay was 9.5±9.5 days, with 24.6% in hospital mortality versus 11.2% AC, (p Conclusion Real-world evidence from the NVQI procedural registry suggests posterior circulation stroke to be more common in younger patients with significantly higher NIHSS presentations, and increased utilization of preprocedural MRI for endovascular thrombectomy selection. Given the historical high morbidity and mortality of basilar artery occlusion, there is strong evidence for the benefit of mechanical thrombectomy in the posterior circulation with 3-month functional outcomes nearly identical to thormbectomy outcomes in the anterior circulation. Disclosures D. Cantrell: None. R. Abdalla: None. A. Shaibani: None. M. Hurley: None. B. Jahromi: None. M. Potts: None. S. Ansari: None.
Associations Between Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Dementias and Depressive Symptoms of Partner Caregivers:

Family members-mainly spouses and partners-are the primary caregivers for individuals with Alzheimer's disease and related dementias (ADRDs), chronic progressive illnesses requiring increasing levels of care. We performed a retrospective observational analysis comparing depressive symptoms of 16,650 older individuals with partners without ADRDs, and those recently (within 2 years) or less recently diagnosed (≥2 years prior), controlling for lagged sociodemographic and health characteristics. The mean number of reported depressive symptoms was 1.2 (SD = 1.8). Compared with respondents with partners with no ADRD, having a partner with any ADRD was associated with a 0.35 increase (95% confidence interval [CI] = [0.30, 0.41]), or 30% increase, in depressive symptoms. A less recent partner diagnosis was associated with a 33% increase, while a recent diagnosis was associated with a 27% increase. Clinically meaningful and longitudinally worsening depressive symptoms amplify the need to prioritize partner health and family-centered care following an ADRD diagnosis.
Outsourcing Cyber Power: Why Proxy Conflict in Cyberspace May No Longer Pay

A sizable literature implies that states can achieve military and foreign policy objectives “on the cheap” by outsourcing covert operations to willing non-state proxy actors, be they mercenaries, patriotic zealots, pranksters, or simply enemies of enemies. By outsourcing, a host government can claim plausible deniability while all the while cashing in on strategic gains. Attribution is notoriously difficult in cyberspace, so outsourcing should especially prevalent. Puzzlingly, strategies of cyber outsourcing have not widely diffused, even in countries where hackers are both highly capable and ideologically sympathetic to host state objectives. This article leverages a formal analytical model to hypothesize about why it might no longer pay to outsource to cyber proxies. Default explanations, including principal-agent problems, are neither sufficient nor necessary to explain recently observed patterns. Instead, I argue, new attribution technologies, particularly the willingness of states to make allegations about informal state-proxy links on the basis of circumstantial and cumulative rather than legally admissible evidence, mean that outsourcing carries no real added benefit to offset its risks. Normative momentum regarding the international law on state responsibility should only reinforce this trend as international audiences come to more fully accept nontraditional forms of attributive evidence.
Disrupting the CmP signaling network unveils novel biomarkers for triple negative breast cancer in Caucasian American women

Abstract Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) constitutes ∼15 percent of all diagnosed invasive breast cancer cases with limited options for treatment since immunotherapies that target the ER, PR and HER2 receptors are ineffective. Progesterone (PRG) is capable of inducing its effects through either classic, non-classic, or combined responses by binding to classic nuclear PRG receptors (nPRs) or non-classic membrane PRG receptors (mPRs). Under PRG-induced actions, we previously demonstrated that the CSC (CCM signaling complex) can couple both nPRs and mPRs into a CmPn signaling network which plays an important role in nPR(+) breast cancer tumorigeneses. We recently defined the novel CmP signaling network in TNBC cells, which overlapped with our previously defined CmPn network in nPR(+) breast cancer cells. In this study, we were able to demonstrate alterations to key tumorigenesis pathways in Caucasian American Women (CAW)-TNBC cells, under mPRs-specific steroid actions. These results suggest that even though TNBC diagnoses in AAW are associated with more aggressive forms of the disease, and experience a higher mortality rate, TNBC in CAW share similar altered signaling pathways, under mPRs-specific steroid actions, demonstrating the overall aggressive nature of TNBCs, regardless of racial differences. Furthermore, in this report, we have identified 21 new CAW-TNBC specific candidate biomarkers that reinforce the definitive role of the CmP signaling network in TNBC tumorigenesis, initially identified in our previous studies with AAW-TNBCs. This new set of potential prognostic biomarkers may revolutionize molecular mechanisms and currently known concepts of tumorigenesis in CAW-TNBCs, leading to hopeful new therapeutic strategies.
Genomic and Molecular Maps of Stemness and Malignant Regulatory Signatures

Repetitive DNA sequences (repeats) colonized two-third of human genomes and a majority of repeats comprised of transposable genetic elements (TE). Evolutionary distinct categories of TE represent nucleic acid sequences that are repeatedly copied from and pasted into chromosomes at multiple genomic locations and acquired a multitude of regulatory functions. Here, genomics-guided maps of stemness regulatory signatures were drawn to dissect the contribution of TE to clinical manifestations of malignant phenotypes of human cancers. From patients’ and physicians’ perspectives, the clinical definition of a tumor’s malignant phenotype could be restricted to the early diagnosis of sub-types of malignancies with the increased risk of existing therapy failure and high likelihood of death from cancer. It is the viewpoint from which the understanding of stemness and malignant regulatory signatures is considered in this contribution. Analyses from this perspective of experimental and clinical observations revealed the pivotal role of human stem cell-associated retroviral sequences (SCARS) in the origin and pathophysiology of clinically-lethal malignancies. SCARS were defined as the evolutionary- and biologically-related family of genomic regulatory sequences, the principal physiological function of which is to create and maintain the stemness phenotype during human preimplantation embryogenesis. For cell differentiation to occur, SCARS expression must be silenced and SCARS activity remains repressed in most terminally-differentiated human cells performing specialized functions in the human body. De-repression and sustained activity of SCARS results in various differentiation-defective phenotypes. One of the most prominent tissue- and organ-specific clinical manifestations of sustained SCARS activities is diagnosed as a pathological condition defined by a consensus of morphological, molecular, and genetic examinations as the malignant growth. Contemporary evidence are acquired, analyzed, and reported defining both reliable diagnostic tools and druggable molecular targets readily amenable for diagnosis and efficient therapeutic management of clinically-lethal malignancies: detection of high-fidelity molecular signals of continuing SCARS activities in association with genomic regulatory networks of thousands’ functionally-active enhancers triggering engagements of down-stream phenotype-altering genetic loci.
Comparative risk of suicide by specific substance use disorders: A national cohort study

Substance use disorders (SUDs) are important risk factors for suicide, yet little is known about how suicide risks vary by specific SUDs. We examined these risks for the first time in a large general population to facilitate comparisons across SUDs. A national cohort study was conducted of all 6,947,191 adults in Sweden. SUDs (opioid, sedative/hypnotic, hallucinogen, cannabis, amphetamine, cocaine, and alcohol use disorders) were identified using inpatient, outpatient, and crime data, and suicide deaths using nationwide death data with follow-up during 2003-2016. Cox regression was used to compute hazard ratios (HRs) for suicide death while adjusting for sociodemographic factors and psychiatric, SUD, and somatic comorbidities. Co-sibling analyses assessed for confounding by unmeasured shared familial (genetic and/or environmental) factors. In 79.8 million person-years of follow-up, 15,616 (0.2%) suicide deaths were identified. All SUDs were associated with significantly increased risks, with HRs ranging from 12- to 26-fold and 2.5- to 6.4-fold before and after adjusting for covariates, respectively. After adjusting for all covariates, opioid use disorder was the strongest risk factor (HR, 6.39; 95% CI, 5.53-7.38) (P ≤ 0.002 compared with any other SUD), followed by sedative/hypnotic use disorder (4.62; 4.06-5.27) (P ≤ 0.009 compared with any other SUD except opioid or hallucinogen). Most associations persisted after controlling for shared familial factors, consistent with causal effects. In this large national cohort, all SUDs were associated with significantly increased risks of suicide death, especially opioid and sedative/hypnotic use disorders. These findings may improve risk stratification and inform interventions to prevent suicide in the highest-risk subgroups with SUDs.
ENIGMA + COINSTAC: Improving Findability, Accessibility, Interoperability, and Re-usability.

The FAIR principles, as applied to clinical and neuroimaging data, reflect the goal of making research products Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, and Reusable. The use of the Collaborative Informatics and Neuroimaging Suite Toolkit for Anonymized Computation (COINSTAC) platform in the Enhancing Neuroimaging Genetics through Meta-Analysis (ENIGMA) consortium combines the technological approach of decentralized analyses with the sociological approach of sharing data. In addition, ENIGMA + COINSTAC provides a platform to facilitate the use of machine-actionable data objects. We first present how ENIGMA and COINSTAC support the FAIR principles, and then showcase their integration with a decentralized meta-analysis of sex differences in negative symptom severity in schizophrenia, and finally present ongoing activities and plans to advance FAIR principles in ENIGMA + COINSTAC. ENIGMA and COINSTAC currently represent efforts toward improved Access, Interoperability, and Reusability. We highlight additional improvements needed in these areas, as well as future connections to other resources for expanded Findability.
Solid-state structure and reactivity in solution: V. Ring-closure in the (η1-2,2,8,8-tetramethyl-3,7-dithianonane)tetracarbonyltungsten(0) intermediate

Abstract Pulsed laser flash photolysis of (η2-DTN)W(CO)4 (I, DTN = 2,2,8,8-tetramethyl-3,7-dithianonane) in 1,2-dichloroethane induces ring-opening to afford the solvated [(η1-DTN)W(CO)4] intermediate II. Rates of unimolecular ring-closure for this intermediate to afford I and of bimolecular combination of I with triisopropyl phosphite (L) have been determined, as have activation parameters for the ring-closure pathway. The relatively high enthalpy of activation (12.0(6) kcal/mol) suggests distortion in I induced upon chelate ring-closure. Rates of interaction of L at an “open” coordination site (one produced via CO loss from an octahedral (chelate)M(CO)4 complex) are some two orders of magnitude faster than are those for a “shielded” site produced through ring-opening, suggestive of extensive steric interaction between the bidentate ligand and L for the combination process in the latter.
In Search of a Pragmatic Systems Method

In this article, the author describes some of his own experiences of becoming an organizational systems theorist. The article also presents overviews of various systems theories that influenced the learning process from subject exploration to mastery. These include system dynamics, management systems, General Systems Theory, self-organizing systems, and autognomics. Additionally, discussions of system failures, philosophical pragmatism, and knowledge management all relate to their influence on systems theories. The article culminates with an examination of the possible causes of system failures and proposes various new ideas for intervening in several large-scale issues, such as sustainability. Finally, there is a review of a new type of organizational performance measurement system known as the adaptive scorecard.
Empirically Supported Treatments (ESTS) and Empirically Supported Principles of Change (ESPS)

Empirically supported treatments (ESTs) are psychological interventions that are supported by quantitative scientific research, and empirically supported principles of change (ESP) refer to a treatment's underlying causal mechanisms or to procedures directly linked to those mechanisms. Beginning in 1993, a division of the American Psychological Association established a project for identifying and listing ESTs. Although highly influential, this ongoing project has been widely criticized by practicing clinicians and clinical scientists. Some clinicians denounce the project's privileging of scientific data over clinical experience, question the relevance of such data to “real-world” clinical practice, and decry the perceived encroachment on professional autonomy. In contrast, scientists question the usefulness of the specific criteria used to identify ESTs. The field is now moving toward the more flexible concept of evidence-based practice (EBP) supported by scientifically grounded treatment guidelines, although tensions remain over what kinds of evidence should form the basis for clinical practice. Keywords: practice in clinical psychology; psychotherapies; decision making; empirically-supported principles of change; empirically-supported treatments; empiricism; evidence; evidence-based practice
Abstract 3853: Predictive and prognostic analysis of KRAS and MSI markers in treatment of urban African American colorectal cancer patients

Proceedings: AACR Annual Meeting 2014; April 5-9, 2014; San Diego, CA Background: Advancement of molecular analytic techniques has led to the discovery of a number of genetic biomarkers thought to be associated with prognosis and treatment outcomes in colorectal cancer (CRC). Aim: To analyze response to treatment in a group of CRC patients as a function of their genetic background. Method: A retrospective chart review of patients diagnosed with CRC from 2010- 2012 at Howard University Hospital was undertaken. African American (AA) patients diagnosed with CRC, the majority of whom received 5-Fluorouracil based chemotherapy, were selected. Data was collected from in-patient and out-patient records. Response to treatment was determined by Response Evaluation Criteria In Solid Tumors (RECIST) criteria from prior radiological investigations. The data was analyzed using Kaplan-Meier survival estimate and log rank test to compare the disease free survival (DFS) in correlation with clinical and genetic markers. Results: There were 30 AA patients with CRC who received chemotherapy. The average age of the cohort was 59 years, 53 % (n=16) were females and 80% (n=24) of the CRCs were distal. There were 10% (n=3), 23% (n=7), 37% (n=11), and 30% (n=9) patients at stage I, II, III, and IV, respectively. After three years of follow-up, disease free survival was 0.37 (95%CI: 0.14-0.60). Patients with MSI-H (n=3) had worse DFS. Patients with wild-type (WT) KRAS (n=16) had better DFS than mutant KRAS (n=10). The type of chemotherapy received did not affect response. Conclusions: DFS was worse in patients with a higher stage at the time of diagnosis, as well as, in patients with MSI-H versus MSS. Further study is warranted in AA since CRC patients with MSI-H historically have a better prognosis. DFS was found to be better in patients with WT KRAS, independent of chemotherapeutic regimen. These findings confirm that KRAS mutations negatively affected the prognosis in our study population. View this table: Table 1 Characteristics of Responders vs Non-responders Citation Format: Priya Gopie, Maryam Yazdy, Bashira Giwa, Sanjeev Solomon, Gladys Onojobi, Seyed-Mehdi Nouraie, Bonnie Davis, Kamyar Sartip, Shokrani Babak, Lee Edward, Hassan Brim, Hassan Ashktorab. Predictive and prognostic analysis of KRAS and MSI markers in treatment of urban African American colorectal cancer patients. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 105th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2014 Apr 5-9; San Diego, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2014;74(19 Suppl):Abstract nr 3853. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2014-3853
The Fairey Memorial Lecture

The subject of my talk is “Aero Engine Development—The Next Generation.” To understand where we are going, it is essential to understand where we are today, and to trace the technological achievements that made possible the tremendous progress we have seen in aircraft gas turbines.
The effect of a ceramic trap on diesel particulate fractions

A study of the Corning ceramic diesel particulate trap was conducted to investigate the trap's overall effect on diesel particulate fractions (soluble organic fraction, SOF; solid fraction, SOL; and sulfate fraction, SO/sub 4/) under four different engine loads at 1680 rpm. The trap was found to filter the SOL fraction most efficiently with the SOF and SO/sub 4/ fraction following in respective order. The filter efficiency of all fractions increased with increasing engine load. Graphs illustrating filter efficiency versus engine load indicate the slope of the SOF filter efficiency was smaller in magnitude than the TPM and SOL and SO/sub 4/ fractions, which had similar slopes. The different slope of the SOF filter efficiency indicates other influences may be involved with the reduction in the SOF through the trap. Particle size distribution measurements in diluted exhaust revealed particle formation downstream of the trap. The degree of particle formation was found to be dependent on both the dilute bulk stream SOL fraction and the hydrocarbon concentrations.
Topological Dynamics and Grand Unified Theory

A formalism is presented to construct a non-perturbative Grand Unified Theory when gravitational Planck-scale phenomena are included. The fundamental object on the Planck scale is the three-torus T^3 from which the known properties of superstrings, such as the geometric action and duality, follow directly. The low energy theory is 11-dimensional and compactification to a Lorentzian four-manifold is an automatic feature of the unified model. In particular, the simply-connected K3 Calabi-Yau manifold follows naturally from the model and provides a direct link with M-theory. The high energy theory is formulated on a T^3 lattice with handles which exhibits the necessary symmetry groups for the standard model, and yields a consistent amplitude for the cosmic microwave background fluctuations. The equation of motion for the supersymmetric, unified theory is derived and leads to the Higgs field. This formulation predicts a remnant, scalar topological defect of mass < 9 m_Planck/46 from the Planck epoch, which is a candidate for dark matter. Finally, it is shown that if the universe is quantum-mechanical, its spatial dimension is equal to three and the laws of nature are Lorentz invariant when gravity can be neglected.
An Efficient, Highly Diastereo- and Enantioselective Hetero-Diels-Alder Catalyst. Preparation of (2S,6R)-6-(tert-Butyldimethyl-Silyloxymethyl)-2-Methoxy-2,5-Dihydropyran

2-(1-Adamantyl)-4-methylphenol (1R,2S)-1-Aminoindan-2-ol (1R,2S)-1-[(3-Adamantyl)-2-hydroxy-5-methylbenzylidenamino]indan-2-ol Chromium(III) Cl complex 1-Methoxy-1,3-butadiene (2S,6R)-6-tert-Butyldimethylsilyloxymethyl)-2-methoxy-2,5-dihydropyran Keywords: Diels-Alder catalyst; diasteroselective; enantioselective; tert-butyldimethyl-silyoxymethyl)-2-methoxy-2,5-dihydropyran; preparation; notes; waste disposal; Schiff base complex; achiral starting materials; natural products
Antitoxic immunity to cholera in dogs immunized orally with cholera toxin.

Colera toxin was evaluated as an oral immunogen against experimental canine cholera. Dogs were immunized orally with 100-microgram doses of purified cholera toxin or comparable doses of crude toxin. Both doses caused moderate diarrhea in most nonimmune dogs. Repeated oral doses (12 doses in 54 days) gave marked protection against the diarrheal effect of oral toxin, provoked a vigorous antitoxic response in jejunal mucosa, and gave nearly complete protection against subsequent oral challenge with living virulent Vibrio cholerae. Protection appeared to be due largely to the antitoxic response in intestinal mucosa. The effectiveness of cholera toxin as an oral vaccine contrasts with the previously described ineffectiveness of toxoid given orally. This study provides an example of mucosal immunity due to a nonreplicating vaccine given orally and suggests that cholera toxin may be useful as a component of an oral vaccine for cholera. Images
Initial Characterization of a Type I Fatty Acid Synthase and Polyketide Synthase Multienzyme Complex NorS in the Biosynthesis of Aflatoxin B1

The biosynthesis of the potent environmental carcinogen aflatoxin B(1) is initiated by norsolorinic acid synthase (NorS), a complex of an iterative type I polyketide synthase and a specialized yeast-like pair of fatty acid synthases. NorS has been partially purified from Aspergillus parasiticus, has been found to have a mass of approximately 1.4 x 10(6) Da, and carries out the synthesis of norsolorinic acid in the presence of acetylCoA, malonylCoA, and NADPH where hexanoylCoA is not a free intermediate. The N-acetylcysteamine thioester of hexanoic acid can substitute for the catalytic functions of HexA/B to initiate norsolorinic acid synthesis by the complex in the presence of only malonylCoA. An alpha(2)beta(2)gamma(2) stoichiometry is proposed for NorS in keeping with its estimated mass and the observed dimeric or higher-order quarternary structures of PKS and FAS enzymes.
The family as a social support group now and in 2001

Abstract Group workers need to promote connections to the family and the larger network group as the unit of intervention.
Foam fractionation of colloid‐surfactant systems

The presence of colloidal particulates has a significant effect upon the foam fractionation of aqueous solutions of surface-active agents. An experimental investigation is presented of the foam fractionation-flotation of the stannic oxide-cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) and stannic oxide-alkyl benzene sulfonate (ABS) systems. The average diameter of the stannic oxide particles was 180A, and particle concentrations were determined by turbidmetry. For stannic oxide-CTAB a froth flotation mechanism controls, and upon foaming feed sols of fixed concentration, fractional residuals of particulates and surfactant are approximately equal. Maximum enrichment ratios are obtained at maximum aeration time, minimum air rate, and maximum foam height. Increasing the feed concentration of particulates increases the collapsed foam volume, while the CTAB concentration in the residual sol first decreases and then becomes virtually constant. For stannic oxide-ABS sols, no particulates are removed preferentially in the foam. A foam fractionation mechanism controls, and compared with ABS solutions the addition of stannic oxide decreases the foam volume and residual ABS concentration, producing a pronounced increase in the enrichment ratio.
Boundary Layer Structure and Dynamics in Outer Hurricane Rainbands. Part I: Mesoscale Rainfall and Kinematic Structure

Abstract Results of hurricane boundary layer experiments conducted in outer rainbands of Hurricanes Josephine (1984) and Earl (1986) are presented. Comparisons of precipitation and kinematic structures in these storms and in Hurricane Floyd (1981) indicate that principal rainbands have common characteristic mesoscale and convective-scale features in the boundary layer. The two-dimensional mesoscale structure suggests that these rainbands are made up of a linear aggregate of cellular reflectivity elements (on the inner, upshear side of the band) and stratiform rain (on the outer downshear side). The bands are oriented perpendicular to the shear above the boundary layer and cells move downband at about 85% of the density-weighted mean wind speed of the 0.2–6 km layer. The boundary-layer wind field is strongly influenced by the rainband with alongband and crossband wind maxima located on the outer side of the band axis, and minima 4–8 km to the inner side. Maximum crossband convergence and cyclonic shear vor...
Advancing Student Success with Competency Points: Elevating Engagement and Motivation in Community College English Composition Students.

This research tested and evaluated how one method—Competency Points (CPs)—increased student success by enhancing engagement and motivation in community college English composition students. In 2005 I introduced Competency Points in my English Composition 1 classes, and began tracking how engaged and motivated students were to succeed as revealed by the following five indices: number of completed essays and reading assignments, frequency of class attendance and participation, and rate of course completion. Students showed marked improvement in four, and negligible improvement in one, of these variables.
In situ measurement of crystalline lattice strains in phase IV polytetrafluoroethylene

Measurements of crystalline lattice strain development during deformation of polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) have been performed utilizing neutron diffraction measurements at the SMARTS diffractomet...
Tunable THz plasmon resonances in InGaAs/InP HEMT

Voltage-tunable plasmon resonances in a InGaAs/InP high electron mobility transistor (HEMT) are reported. The gate contact consisted of a 0.5 micron period metal grating formed by electron-beam lithography. Narrow-band resonant absorption of THz radiation was observed in transmission in the range 10 - 50 cm -1 . The resonance frequency red-shifts with increasing negative gate bias as expected. Photo-response to a tunable far-IR laser is reported. The device may have application in high-frame-rate THz array detectors for spectral imaging with real-time chemical analysis.
Observing the pCa-Force Relationship with a 3-Bead Laser Trap Assay

Muscular force is highly dependent on the amount of free Ca++ in the myoplasm because actomyosin binding is carefully regulated by troponin (Tn) and tropomyosin (Tm). To gain molecular insight into the Ca++ dependence of force, we directly observed the effect of Ca++ on the force-generating capacity of a mini-ensemble of myosin (∼6 heads) interacting with a single reconstituted thin filament (actin+Tn+Tm) in a three bead laser trap assay at 100uM ATP. Maximum force decreased in a Ca++-dependent manner (6.75, 4.75, 3.25, and 1.85pN at pCa 5, 6, 6.5 and 7 respectively). Furthermore, the average forces were significantly different (p 1.5pN where only 0.1% of the events achieved this force level at pCa7. In addition, the total percent of time the myosin molecules were strongly bound to the thin filament were 41, 21, 16, and 14% at pCa 5, 6, 6.5 and 7 respectively. Overall, these data provide unique insight into the molecular events that underlie the Ca++-dependence of force generation in a regulated system.
Utility of CT in the emergency department in patients with ulcerative colitis.

BACKGROUND Computed tomography (CT) is used in the emergency department (ED) for triage of patients with gastrointestinal complaints. Patients with inflammatory bowel disease undergo radiologic studies for gastrointestinal symptoms and are at risk for excessive ionizing radiation exposure; however, the utility of CT in the ED in patients with ulcerative colitis (UC) is not clear. In this study, we assess the frequency and risk factors for clinically significant CT findings in patients with UC in the ED. METHODS We retrospectively reviewed 163 consecutive cases of patients with UC who presented to a tertiary care ED and underwent abdominopelvic CT between June 2008 and December 2011. Using logistic regression, we identified predictors of significant CT findings and derived a model to predict CT scans without clinically significant findings. RESULTS Of note, 63.2% (103/163) of CT scans had no clinically significant findings. Less than 2% of scans revealed complications related to UC. Predictors of CT scans without clinically significant findings included rectal bleeding or diarrhea (P < 0.001), use of 5-aminosalicylate (P = 0.011), or immunomodulator (P = 0.032). Alternatively, predictors of clinically significant CT findings included nausea and vomiting (P < 0.001), history of colectomy (P < 0.001), history of abdominal or pelvic surgery (P < 0.001), surgery within 1 month (P < 0.001), age (P = 0.004), elevated white blood cell count (P = 0.003), and no UC medications (P = 0.001). CONCLUSIONS Most patients with UC who presented to the ED and underwent CT had no clinically significant findings. We devised a model to predict lack of clinically significant CT findings, which may assist in reducing cost and radiation exposure in patients with UC.
Anatomical evidence for interaction of ACTH1-39 immunostained fibers and hypothalamic paraventricular neurons that project to the dorsal vagal complex.

Anatomical evidence is presented for an interaction of ACTH1–39 immunostained fibers and a specific population of hypothalamic paraventricular (PVN) neurons; these neurons project to the dorsal vagal complex (DVC) of brainstem medulla. Bilateral injection of 10% HRP-WGA into DVC is incorporated into nerve terminals and transported retrogradely to cell bodies in the parvocellular subdivision of PVN, as revealed by standard HRP-WGA histochemistry or antibody to wheatgerm agglutinin followed by immunocytochemical techniques. Labeled cells are localized predominantly in the ventral portion of the caudal medial parvocellular subdivision and ventrolaterally in the posterior subnucleus of PVN. Few labeled cells are seen in the anterior parvocellular PVN, rostrally in the medial parvocellular component and in the dorsal cap. HRP-WGA cells are rarely observed in the magnocellular divisions of PVN. Dual-staining immunocytochemical-retrograde tracing techniques in the same tissue section demonstrate ACTH1–39 fibers in intimate anatomical proximity to parvocellular PVN neurons that project to DVC. It is suggested that this interaction may partially account for the known cardiovascular effects of opiocorins and supports the role of the paraventricular nucleus in hypothalamie integration and modulation of cardiovascular control.
Calcineurin is required in urinary tract mesenchyme for the development of the pyeloureteral peristaltic machinery

Congenital obstructive nephropathy is the principal cause of renal failure in infants and children. The underlying molecular and cellular mechanisms of this disease, however, remain largely undetermined. We generated a mouse model of congenital obstructive nephropathy that resembles ureteropelvic junction obstruction in humans. In these mice, calcineurin function is removed by the selective deletion of Cnb1 in the mesenchyme of the developing urinary tract using the Cre/lox system. This deletion results in reduced proliferation in the smooth muscle cells and other mesenchymal cells in the developing urinary tract. Compromised cell proliferation causes abnormal development of the renal pelvis and ureter, leading to defective pyeloureteral peristalsis, progressive renal obstruction, and, eventually, fatal renal failure. Our study demonstrates that calcineurin is an essential signaling molecule in urinary tract development and is required for normal proliferation of the urinary tract mesenchymal cells in a cell-autonomous manner. These studies also emphasize the importance of functional obstruction, resulting from developmental abnormality, in causing congenital obstructive nephropathy.
Modification of primary and secondary startle reactions to acoustic stimuli in the rat.

In Experiment 1 rats received an intense tone burst (S2) alone or preceded by a white noise (S1) with a lead time of 60 msec or 10 sec. In Experiment 2 S2 was given when HR increases produced by S1 were at a peak or had returned to baseline, and a light flash (L) was given 60 msec before S2 on half of the trials. Skeletal and HR responses to S1 and S2 were measured. The cardiac startle response to S2 consisted of an immediate acceleration, a deceleration and trough at 1–2 sec, an acceleration and peak at 4–5 sec, and a recovery. With a 60-msec lead time S1 or L inhibited the skeletal startle reflex and the accelerative HR reactions. With a long lead time S1 facilitated the skeletal startle reflex and in some conditions also provided a faster HR at the peak of the second HR acceleration. No correlation was observed between the amplitudes of skeletal and cardiac startle behavior, but these post-S2 responses entered into complex relationships with pre-S2 HR.
Multispectral MWIR image classification using filters derived from independent component analysis

It is known that spectral-spatial ICA basis functions of visible color images are similar to some processing elements in the human visual systems in that they resemble Gabor filters and show color opponencies. In this research we study combined spectral-spatial ICA basis functions of multispectral MWIR images. These ICA spectral-spatial basis functions are then used as filters to extract features from multispectral MWIR images. It is hypothesized that learning the added dimension of spectral information along with spatial characteristics of basis functions using ICA improves classification performance for multispectral MWIR images. The images are captured in the 3.0 - 5.0um, 3.7 - 4.2um and 4.0 - 4.5um bands using a multispectral MWIR camera. The phase relationship between the basis functions indicate how the extracted features from the different spectral band images can be combined. We use classification performance to compare features obtained by filtering using multispectral ICA basis functions, multispectral PCA basis functions and opponent Gabor filters.
Interest and Performance When Learning Online: Providing Utility Value Information can be Important for Both Novice and Experienced Students

As part of the Regulating Motivation and Performance Online Project (RMAPO), students completing an online HTML programming lesson demonstrated higher quiz scores and greater post-lesson interest when initially provided information about how the skills could be used (personal or organizational applications). These effects were mediated by higher levels of engagement with optional examples and exercises during the lesson. This paper examines whether the benefit from adding utility value information was limited to students with no prior experience creating web pages. Results show that, regardless of prior experience, the added information was associated with higher engagement levels, which were associated with higher lesson interest and quiz scores. Because prior experience was related to lower engagement levels overall, results suggest that experience had an indirect negative effect on motivation and performance outcomes that was offset by enhanced engagement when value was added. Implications for the Self-Regulation of Motivation Model (SRM) and online instructors are discussed.
Cross-talk between Carboxypeptidase M and the Kinin B1 Receptor Mediates a New Mode of G Protein-coupled Receptor Signaling

G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) signaling is affected by formation of GPCR homo- or heterodimers, but GPCR regulation by other cell surface proteins is not well understood. We reported that the kinin B1 receptor (B1R) heterodimerizes with membrane carboxypeptidase M (CPM), facilitating receptor signaling via CPM-mediated conversion of bradykinin or kallidin to des-Arg kinin B1R agonists. Here, we found that a catalytically inactive CPM mutant that still binds substrate (CPM-E264Q) also facilitates efficient B1R signaling by B2 receptor agonists bradykinin or kallidin. This response required co-expression of B1R and CPM-E264Q in the same cell, was disrupted by antibody that dissociates CPM from B1R, and was not found with a CPM-E264Q-B1R fusion protein. An additional mutation that reduced the affinity of CPM for C-terminal Arg and increased the affinity for C-terminal Lys inhibited the B1R response to bradykinin (with C-terminal Arg) but generated a response to Lys9-bradykinin. CPM-E264Q-mediated activation of B1Rs by bradykinin resulted in increased intramolecular fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) in a B1R FRET construct, similar to that generated directly by a B1R agonist. In cytokine-treated human lung microvascular endothelial cells, disruption of B1R-CPM heterodimers inhibited B1R-dependent NO production stimulated by bradykinin and blocked the increased endothelial permeability caused by treatment with bradykinin and pyrogallol (a superoxide generator). Thus, CPM and B1Rs on cell membranes form a critical complex that potentiates B1R signaling. Kinin peptide binding to CPM causes a conformational change in the B1R leading to intracellular signaling and reveals a new mode of GPCR activation by a cell surface peptidase.
A Novel Criterion for Selecting Covariates

Through a combination of bad luck and possibly selection bias, imbalances in prognostic baseline variables across treatment groups have plagued many randomized clinical trials. It is common, in practice, to test for imbalances and adjust for variables observed to be sufficiently unbalanced at baseline. Yet, the literature condemns these practices on the grounds that imbalances are necessarily random when observed in the context of a randomized trial (hence, testing is illogical), and suggests that all prognostic covariates, unbalanced or not, should be included in the model used for analysis. When there are a large number of covariates relative to the sample size, decisions need to be made regarding which covariates to actually include in a suitably parsimonious model. Proponents of the approach to model-building by testing for baseline imbalances might suggest reaching these decisions by considering the degree of imbalance of each covariate; those that criticize this approach might instead consider the ability of the covariate to predict the outcome of interest. Some hybrid approaches have been explored as well. We introduce a criterion that allows for the specification of an optimal hybrid approach.
Geospatial Analysis for Targeting Out-of-Hospital Cardiac Arrest Intervention

Background Bystander cardiopulmonary resuscitation (BCPR) provides an opportunity for decreasing cardiac mortality. Rates of out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) in which resuscitation was performed vary within cities and across demographics. Purpose To identify contiguous geographic census tracts with high OHCA, low BCPR rates and high-risk demographics to effectively target culturally appropriate community-based intervention planning. Methods In 2012, a cohort of 11,389 emergency medical services (EMS) OHCA cases from Houston TX (2004–2011) was linked to census tracts. Multivariable logistic regression analyses were used to identify demographics of contiguous geographic census tracts with the highest OHCA rates. Within these tracts, BCPR rates were evaluated. The combination of information was used to develop a plan to better target interventions. Results Contiguous census tracts of high OHCA rates were identified; the average rate per 100,000 within versus outside the identified tracts is 106.0 (SD 23.7) to 55.8 (SD 19.7). Tracts with a low BCPR rate (37.7%) relative to a high OHCA rate were identified. In a separate analysis, individuals at highest relative risk of OHCA were found to be African Americans, to have low income or education levels, and to be older individuals. For every 1% increase in African Americans in a census tract, there is an increase of 2.7% in the relative risk of the census tract belonging to a high-OHCA-rate region (95% CI=2.0%, 3.5%). Conclusions Geospatial analysis can provide important information on the contiguous areas of high OHCA rates and low BCPR rates with the aim of more effectively targeting interventions and ultimately decreasing cardiac deaths.