cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Recognizing Sample-Selection Bias in Historical Data

Recent research has ignited a debate in social science history over whether and how to draw conclusions for whole populations from sources that describe only select subsets of these populations. The idiosyncratic availability and survival of historical sources create a threat of sample-selection bias—an error that arises when there are systematic differences between the observed sample and the population of interest. This danger is common in studying trends in health as measured by average stature—scholars can often observe these trends only for soldiers and other similar groups; but whether these patterns are representative of those of the broader population is unclear. This article illustrates what simple patterns in a potentially selected sample can be used to recognize the presence of sample-selection bias in a source, and to understand how such bias might affect conclusions drawn from this source. Applying this intuition to the use of military data to describe stature in the antebellum United States, I present several simple empirical exercises based on these patterns. Finally, I use the results of these exercises to describe how sample-selection bias might affect the use of these data in testing for differences in average stature between the Northeast and the Midwest.
Generating entangled Schrödinger cat states using a number state and a beam splitter

Passing a photon number state through a balanced beam splitter will produce an entangled state in which the phases of the two output beams are highly correlated. This entangled state can be viewed as a generalized form of a Schr\"odinger cat state where there is an equal probability amplitude for all possible phases. We show that Bell's inequality can be violated using this entangled state and two distant measuring devices that consist of a single-photon interferometer with a Kerr medium in one path, a set of single-photon detectors, and postselection based on a homodyne measurement. These entangled states are sensitive to photon loss and a violation of Bell's inequality requires either that the losses are inherently small or that their effects have been minimized using linear optics techniques [Micuda et al., Phys. Rev. Lett. 109, 180503 (2012)]. Somewhat surprisingly, the use of the fair sampling assumption is not required for a violation of Bell's inequality despite the use of postselection if the measurements are made in the correct order.
Speeding up particle track reconstruction using a parallel Kalman filter algorithm

One of the most computationally challenging problems expected for the High-Luminosity Large Hadron Collider (HL-LHC) is determining the trajectory of charged particles during event reconstruction. Algorithms used at the LHC today rely on Kalman filtering, which builds physical trajectories incrementally while incorporating material effects and error estimation. Recognizing the need for faster computational throughput, we have adapted Kalman-filter-based methods for highly parallel, many-core SIMD architectures that are now prevalent in high-performance hardware. In this paper, we discuss the design and performance of the improved tracking algorithm, referred to as MKFIT. A key piece of the algorithm is the MATRIPLEX library, containing dedicated code to optimally vectorize operations on small matrices. The physics performance of the MKFIT algorithm is comparable to the nominal CMS tracking algorithm when reconstructing tracks from simulated proton-proton collisions within the CMS detector. We study the scaling of the algorithm as a function of the parallel resources utilized and find large speedups both from vectorization and multi-threading. MKFIT achieves a speedup of a factor of 6 compared to the nominal algorithm when run in a single-threaded application within the CMS software framework.
Engineering E. coli to Grow on Methanol

Recently in Cell, researchers in James Liao’s group were able for the first time to engineer E. coli so that it can robustly grow on methanol, which potentially enables the industrial bioproduction of higher value chemicals while using methanol as a substrate.
Beyond Arthritis: Understanding the Influence of Gout on Erectile Function: A Systematic Review.

Abstract Objective To review the evidence suggesting a significant association between gout and erectile dysfunction (ED) and evaluate possible underlying pathways that may explain this relationship. Methods English medical literature was searched from January 1, 2010, to January 1, 2020, for randomized or quasi-randomized controlled trials, cross-sectional studies, case-cohort studies, or meta-analysis evaluating the relationship between gout and ED. Results All nine gout studies included in the study found a significant association between gout and ED. ED pathophysiology in gout involves hyperuricemia, increased reactive oxygen species, decreased nitric oxide synthesis, and low-grade inflammation. Conclusion The findings of this review suggest that the effect of urate-lowering therapy on the incidence of ED in gout patients should be studied. Additionally, we propose that all gout patients should be assessed for ED.
Seasonal Variability and Age‐Related Risk in Youth Trampoline Injuries

Background The aim of this work was to estimate the difference in severity between musculoskeletal trampoline park injuries (TPIs) and home trampoline injuries (HTI) and identify the factors that might mediate or modify that effect. Methods The National Electronic Injury Surveillance System database was used to identify musculoskeletal home trampoline injuries and TPIs in pediatric patients occurring in the 2009-2017 period. Injury mechanism and body region were inductively coded. The effect of TPI on risk of admission was estimated using a doubly robust logistic regression model for confounding adjustment. Adjustments were made for date, age, gender, injury mechanism, and body region. The comparative importance of injury mechanism and location and the effect modification of patient characteristics was explored using likelihood ratio tests. Results Trampoline park injuries were more likely to result in admission even in the model adjusted for injury mechanism and body region (odds ratio (OR) = 2.12 [1.30, 3.45]). Injuries sustained from falling off the trampoline were associated with significantly fewer hospitalizations (OR = 0.119 [0.029, 0.495]) than injuries from falling while on the trampoline. Patient age significantly modified the effect of setting on risk of admission (P = 0.042). Adolescents demonstrated an increased risk at trampoline parks (15 years old OR = 3.23 [1.38, 7.56]), whereas younger children demonstrated a marginally lower risk (5 years old OR = 0.77 [0.44, 1.35]). Conclusions Trampoline park musculoskeletal injuries demonstrate an increased risk of admission even after rigorous adjustment for confounding. Injuries to the proximal limbs were associated with a much higher risk of admission than distal injuries. Adolescents face an increased risk of admission after TPI, underscoring the importance of public health interventions that target this age group.
User characteristics of shared-mobility: a comparative analysis of car-sharing and ride-hailing services

Over the past 20 years, shared-mobility services have become important transportation options, as they provide on-demand, door-to-door mobility without requiring vehicle ownership. Although low-inc...
Natural language processing for the surveillance of postoperative venous thromboembolism.

Abstract Background The objective of this study was to develop a portal natural language processing approach to aid in the identification of postoperative venous thromboembolism events from free-text clinical notes. Methods We abstracted clinical notes from 25,494 operative events from 2 independent health care systems. A venous thromboembolism detected as part of the American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program (ACS NSQIP) was used as the reference standard. A natural language processing engine, easy clinical information extractor-pulmonary embolism/deep vein thrombosis (EasyCIE-PEDVT), was trained to detect pulmonary embolism and deep vein thrombosis from clinical notes. International Classification of Diseases (ICD) discharge diagnosis codes for venous thromboembolism were used as baseline comparators. The classification performance of EasyCIE-PEDVT was compared with International Classification of Diseases codes using sensitivity, specificity, area under the receiver operating characteristic curve, using an internal and external validation cohort. Results To detect pulmonary embolism, EasyCIE-PEDVT had a sensitivity of 0.714 and 0.815 in internal and external validation, respectively. To detect deep vein thrombosis, EasyCIE-PEDVT had a sensitivity of 0.846 and 0.849 in internal and external validation, respectively. EasyCIE-PEDVT had significantly higher discrimination for deep vein thrombosis compared with International Classification of Diseases codes in internal validation (area under the receiver operating characteristic curve: 0.920 vs 0.761; P Conclusion Accurate surveillance of postoperative venous thromboembolism may be achieved using natural language processing on clinical notes in 2 independent health care systems. These findings suggest natural language processing may augment manual chart abstraction for large registries such as NSQIP.
Survivors of congenital diaphragmatic hernia repair face barriers to long-term follow-up care.

ABSTRACT Background : Congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH) carries high morbidity and mortality, and survivors commonly have neurodevelopmental, gastrointestinal, and pulmonary sequela requiring multidisciplinary care well beyond repair. We predict that following hospitalization for repair, CDH survivors face many barriers to receiving future medical care. Methods : A retrospective review was conducted of all living CDH patients between ages 0 to 12 years who underwent repair at Riley Hospital for Children (RHC) from 2010 through 2019. Follow-up status with specialty providers was reviewed, and all eligible families were contacted to complete a survey regarding various aspects of their child's care, including functional status, quality of life, and barriers to care. Bivariate analysis was applied to patient data (P Results : After exclusions, 70 survivors were contacted. Thirty-three (47%) were deemed lost to follow up to specialist providers, and were similar to those who maintained follow-up with respect to defect severity type (A-D, P = 0.57), ECMO use (P = 0.35), number of affected organ systems (P = 0.36), and number of providers following after discharge (P = 0.33). Seventeen (24%) families completed the survey, of whom eight (47%) were deemed lost to follow up to specialist providers. Families reported distance and time constraints, access to CDH-specific information and care, access to CDH-specific resources, and access to healthcare as significant barriers to care. All respondents were interested in a multidisciplinary CDH clinic. Conclusions : CDH survivors require multidisciplinary care beyond initial repair, but attrition to follow-up after discharge is high. A multidisciplinary CDH clinic may address caregivers’ perceived barriers.
Nonfinancial Performance Measures as Coordination Devices

ABSTRACT: We investigate how nonfinancial performance measures (NPMs) can be used to encourage cooperation across divisions. The implementation of a project often requires joint efforts by multiple divisions. However, privately informed division managers sometimes find it in their self‐interest to forgo profitable joint projects or to underinvest in relationship‐specific assets. By treating the implementation of a joint project (e.g., a major process improvement or new product development) as an NPM, we show that paying the division managers discrete bonuses tied to this NPM improves the efficiency of project implementation and upfront investments. We derive how the optimal implementation bonus trades off distortions in ex post implementation and ex ante investments. In a dynamic version of the base model with learning‐by‐doing, we show that conditional on a project being implemented early on, the implementation bonus in subsequent periods will be higher than if the earlier project had not been implemented.
Reply to letter by Margetts

Etude des relations entre pression arterielle et apports en lipides insatures du regime alimentaire
Giant magnon bound states from strongly coupled N = 4 super Yang-Mills theory

We calculate in a very simple way the spectrum of giant magnon bound states at strong coupling in $\mathcal{N}=4$ super Yang-Mills theory (SYM), by utilizing the description of the field theory vacuum in terms of a condensate of eigenvalues of commuting matrices. We further show that these calculations can be understood in terms of the central charge extension that permits the calculation of Bogomol'nyi-Prasad-Sommerfield masses in the Coulomb branch of $\mathcal{N}=4$ SYM. This paper shows further evidence that the strong coupling expansion of the maximally supersymmetric Yang-Mills theory in four dimensions can be done systematically from first principles, without the assumption of integrability.
Attaching instance variables to method realization1 instead of classes

The authors discuss an object model in which instance-variable definitions are associated with the implementations of each method in a class, rather than with the class as a whole. This allows avoidance of recompilation of methods and invalidation of existing objects when new instance variables are introduced for a class, smooth integration of temporary objects with objects in persistent stores, freedom to optimize the physical database organization of instance variables without recompiling method implementations, exposure of a separate 'view' of an object to each of its methods, reuse of method implementations to obtain similar functions on different instance variables of an object and on objects of different classes with differently structured instance variables, and separate compilation of classes and method implementations. >
Effects of suspended sediment and desiccation on the benthic tailwater community in the Colorado River, USA

We demonstrated that differences in habitatrequirements by C. glomerata and Oscillatoria havea profound bottom-up influence on the foodweb in thetailwaters below Glen Canyon Dam in the Colorado Riverthrough Grand Canyon National Park, USA. We examinedthe effects of suspended sediment and desiccation onthe colonization sequence of Cladophora glomerata andOscillatoria spp. and the consequent effects onmacroinvertebrates in each algal community in a seriesof reciprocal transplants in the regulated ColoradoRiver, AZ. Our experiments showed that C. glomeratagrows best in continuously submerged, clear-water,stable habitats, whereas Oscillatoria forms densemat-like matrices of trichomes and sand in varialzones and habitats with high suspended sedimentstypical of many southwestern USA streams. Varial zoneconditions have a stronger influence on communitystructure than habitats with high suspended sediments. Recruitment by chironomid larvae was less dependent onC. glomerata and less affected by suspended sedimentand periodic desiccation than Gammarus lacustris. Weestimated the energy from macroinvertebrate biomassassociated with tufts of C. glomerata to be an orderof magnitude higher than that in Oscillatoriamatrices. Therefore, loss of C. glomerata andreplacement of habitat more suitable for Oscillatoriaas a result of regulated flows indirectly reducespotential energy flow in the Colorado Riverfoodweb.
Control of Distributed Parameter Systems with Spillover using an Augmented Observer

Modern modal control methods for flexible structures, based on a truncated model of the structure's dynamics, have control and observation spillover which can reduce the stability margin of the controlled structure. The sensor output is often filtered to reduce observation spillover, however, it introduces signal distortion which perturbs the closed-loop system pole locations. This can reduce stability margins and jeopardize convergence of the observer. When the filter equation is included in the standard observer equations the separation principle between the controller and the observer will no longer holds, and the closed-loop poles cannot be located using standard pole placement methods. A new method is presented, where a first order filter is included in an augmented observer. The separation principle, and controllability and observability properties of the original system are shown to remain when using the augmented observer. Filter and spillover produced pole perturbations in the different methods are illustrated with a numerical example.
Autonomous replication and addition of telomerelike sequences to DNA microinjected into Paramecium tetraurelia macronuclei

Abstract Paramecium tetraurelia can be transformed by microinjection of cloned serotype A gene sequences into the macronucleus. Transformants are detected by their ability to express serotype A surface antigen from the injected templates. After injection, the DNA is converted from a supercoiled form to a linear form by cleavage at nonrandom sites. The linear form appears to replicate autonomously as a unit-length molecule and is present in transformants at high copy number. The injected DNA is further processed by the addition of paramecium-type telomeric sequences to the termini of the linear DNA. To examine the fate of injected linear DNA molecules, plasmid pSA14SB DNA containing the A gene was cleaved into two linear pieces, a 14-kilobase (kb) piece containing the A gene and flanking sequences and a 2.2-kb piece consisting of the procaryotic vector. In transformants expressing the A gene, we observed that two linear DNA species were present which correspond to the two species injected. Both species had Paramecium telomerelike sequences added to their termini. For the 2.2-kb DNA, we show that the site of addition of the telomerelike sequences is directly at one terminus and within one nucleotide of the other terminus. These results indicate that injected procaryotic DNA is capable of autonomous replication in Paramecium macronuclei and that telomeric addition in the macronucleus does not require specific recognition sequences.
Ripple: a formally specified prototyping system

The intent of the research is to cast the prototyping method in a formal setting and to demonstrate the feasibility of such a formalization. As such, a formal basis for developing and analyzing prototyping methods and prototyping environments is formulated. Concurrently, an objective definition of prototyping is provided. To grasp the nature of prototyping, as opposed to traditional methods, concepts and issues that form the essence of prototyping are identified. These are: linguistic framework, formality, and abstraction levels. Denotational semantics and a corresponding implementation are used to formalize the notion of transformation from one level to the next. >
Surface Properties of Membrane Systems: Interaction of Electrolyte and Lipid with Ca2+ Ionophores

When spread from organic solvents onto electrolyte solutions, the Ca2+ ionophores A23187 (I) and X537A (II) formed films with relatively high surface pressures and surface potentials. Ionophore I had collapse pressures between 16 and 19 dynes/cm and nearly equal surface activity on distilled water and on 1000 mEq of either sodium chloride or calcium chloride. Film pressure did not reveal appreciable ion selectivity. However, the surface potential of I on calcium chloride solution was higher than that on sodium chloride, and the potential difference, Δ(Δ V), of 40 mv was independent of the electrolyte concentration. In contrast, the ion selectivity of II was dependent on the electrolyte concentrations since the Δ(Δ V) value between calcium chloride and sodium chloride was maximal (130 mv) on 1000 mEq and negligible on 500- and 2000-mEq salt solutions. The isotherms of phospholipid-ionophore films were markedly different from those of the individual components, although they revealed ionophore characteristics at low film pressures and phospholipid behavior at high film pressures. The magnitude of the surface potential indicated that dipalmitoyl phosphatidylcholine enhanced, whereas mitochondrial lipid and cardiolipin reduced, the preference of the two ionophores for Ca2+ over Na+. Since the ion selectivity was manifested most at both high electrolyte and high lecithin concentrations, the ionophore probably prefers the low dielectric constant of neutral lipid membranes to complex with the selected cation.
The voltammetric performance of interdigitated electrodes with different electron-transfer rate constants

Abstract To explore ways to improve the performance of affinity-based biosensors, we simulated, with 2D and 3D finite element analyses, the cyclic voltammetric (CV) curves for interdigitated electrodes (IDEs) at various electron-transfer rate constants (i.e., the k 0 value). The CV curves and the relationships between the limiting current and k 0 were obtained and examined. From the 2D models, it is found that the limiting current of IDEs is very sensitive to the change of k 0 , especially at larger k 0 values. As the electrode width ( w ) decreases, significant enhancements in the sensitivity and lower-detection-limit can be achieved due to the enhanced mass transport near the IDEs. From the 3D models, it is found the limiting current can be further improved by using 3D nanorod-modified IDEs. This study presents some important information for improving the design and development of future electrochemical-based biosensors.
Isoprenoids and related pharmacological interventions: potential application in Alzheimer's disease.

Two major isoprenoids, farnesyl pyrophosphate and geranylgeranyl pyrophosphate, serve as lipid donors for the posttranslational modification (known as prenylation) of proteins that possess a characteristic C-terminal motif. The prenylation reaction is catalyzed by prenyltransferases. The lipid prenyl group facilitates to anchor the proteins in cell membranes and mediates protein–protein interactions. A variety of important intracellular proteins undergo prenylation, including almost all members of small GTPase superfamilies as well as heterotrimeric G protein subunits and nuclear lamins. These prenylated proteins are involved in regulating a wide range of cellular processes and functions, such as cell growth, differentiation, cytoskeletal organization, and vesicle trafficking. Prenylated proteins are also implicated in the pathogenesis of different types of diseases. Consequently, isoprenoids and/or prenyltransferases have emerged as attractive therapeutic targets for combating various disorders. This review attempts to summarize the pharmacological agents currently available or under development that control isoprenoid availability and/or the process of prenylation, mainly focusing on statins, bisphosphonates, and prenyltransferase inhibitors. Whereas statins and bisphosphonates deplete the production of isoprenoids by inhibiting the activity of upstream enzymes, prenyltransferase inhibitors directly block the prenylation of proteins. As the importance of isoprenoids and prenylated proteins in health and disease continues to emerge, the therapeutic potential of these pharmacological agents has expanded across multiple disciplines. This review mainly discusses their potential application in Alzheimer’s disease.
From spindle checkpoint to cancer.

Truncating and missense mutations in BUB1B, encoding the mitotic spindle checkpoint protein BUBR1, have been identified in individuals with mosaic variegated aneuploidy. This finding supports the idea that there is a genetic basis for aneuploidy in cancers.
Scale Economies and Inefficiency of U.S. Dairy Farms

This study employs data drawn from the 2000 Agricultural Resource Management Survey, a U.S. Department of Agriculture-sponsored farmers' survey. The article estimates returns to scale relationships across dairy farms of different sizes and across different regions, incorporating variables hypothesized to influence farm performance. Results point to significant scale economies in U.S. dairy farms and underscore the importance of taking account of inefficiency when estimating scale economies. Contrary to previous research, the preferred cost function specification does not show a region of decreasing returns to scale. This finding helps explain why the average size of dairy farms has been increasing.
The Effects of Juvenile American Shad Planktivory on Zooplankton Production in Columbia River Food Webs

Abstract Columbia River reservoirs support a large population of nonnative American Shad Alosa sapidissima that consume the zooplankton that native fishes also rely on. We hypothesized that the unprecedented biomass of juvenile American Shad in John Day Reservoir is capable of altering the zooplankton community if these fish consume a large portion of the zooplankton production. We derived taxon-specific estimates of zooplankton production using field data and a production model from the literature. Empirical daily ration was estimated for American Shad and expanded to population-level consumption using abundance and biomass data from hydroacoustic surveys. Daphnia spp. production was high in early summer but declined to near zero by September as shad abundance increased. American Shad sequentially consumed Daphnia spp., copepods, and Bosmina spp., which tracked the production trends of these taxa. American Shad evacuation rates ranged from 0.09 to 0.24/h, and daily rations ranged from 0.008 to 0.045 g·g−...
Estrogen Carcinogenesis: Specific Identification of Estrogen-modified Nucleobase in Breast Tissue from Women

Prolonged exposure to estrogens correlates with an increased risk for breast cancer. One explanation is that estrogen metabolites cause mutations by reacting with DNA, leading to depurination. We describe an extraction procedure and a liquid chromatographic tandem mass spectrometric (LC/MS/MS) assay to detect estrone-metabolite-modified adenine (Ade) in 100−200 mg samples of human breast tissue. To ensure reliable analyses, we used a synthetic estrone-metabolite-modified, U-15N-labeled Ade as an internal standard (IS). Appropriate high-pressure liquid chromatography gives sharp (∼5 s at half-height) and identical retention times for the analyte and the IS. In breast tissue from women with and without cancer, we found a coeluting material with similar MS/MS fragmentation as the IS, providing high specificity in the identification of the modified Ade; the recovery was approximately 50%. For women with and without breast cancer, the levels of the modified Ade are in the range of 20−70 fmol/g of breast tissue...
Role of sintering additives in the production of lime refractories

A production technology is proposed for lime refractories covering the preparation of high-density lime clinker, followed by crushing, batching, adding waterproof bond, pressing the goods, and firing at 2020 K.
Fermions and parity violation in dimensional reduction schemes

Abstract Dimensional reduction, previously applied to Yang-Mills theories, is extended to gauge theories with spinor fields. It is shown that a fairly realistic model in Minkowski space can be obtained from the simplest initial lagrangian, defined in a space-time with extra, compact dimensions. Left-right asymmetry in the fermion sector in four dimensions is possible, and its occurrence is related to a non-vanishing Atiyah-Singer index.
Impedance-derived cardiac indices in supine and upright exercise.

Impedance cardiography was used to determine the classical systolic time intervals (STI's) (i.e., pre-ejection period (PEP), left ventricular ejection time (LVET) and the quotient PEP/LVET), in young, healthy, male subjects during supine and seated exercise. With increasing exercise, there was a tendency toward decreases in PEP, LVET, and PEP/LVET. In the seated position, there was an increase in transthoracic Zo incident to the caudal migration of thoracic blood—a result of the postural change. With seated exercise, there were—in contrast to supine exercise—greater decreases in PEP/LVET and greater increases in the Heather index. Similarly, there was a tendency toward increases in dZ/dtmin and the Rapid Ejection Index. We suggest that these differences are related to increased myocardial contractility resulting from the postural augmentation of cardio-sympathetic activity, added to that of exercise per se. This study, as well as previous ones, indicates that impedance cardiography is reliable, effective, and more practicable than the arteriographic method for monitoring STI's. We also believe that certain impedance-derived indices (i.e., transthoracic Zo, dZ/dtmin and the Heather Index) have considerable potential value for physiologic and clinical investigation.
Scatter Rejection By Interferometry

It has been proposed to use interferometry to suppress scattered radiation in optical systems. We have measured gains in signal-to-noise ratio using a model interferometric design with monochromatic light and an extended scatter source. The available gains are about an order of magnitude.
Development of the magnetic tunnel junction MRAM at IBM: from first junctions to a 16-Mb MRAM demonstrator chip

This paper reviews the remarkable developments of the magnetic tunnel junction over the last decade and in particular, work aimed at demonstrating its potential for a dense, fast, and nonvolatile random access memory. The initial focus is on the technological roots of the magnetic tunnel junction, and then on the recent progress made with engineered materials for this device. Following that, we discuss the development of the magnetic random access memory (MRAM) technology, in which the magnetic tunnel junction serves as both the storage device and the storage sensing device. The emphasis is on work at IBM, including demonstrations of basic capabilities of the technology and work on a 16-Mb "product demonstrator" design in 180-nm node technology, which was targeted to be a realistic test bed for the MRAM technology. Performance and cost are compared with those of competing technologies. The paper also serves as an introduction to more specialized papers in this issue on MRAM device physics, magnetic tunnel junction materials and device characterization, MRAM processing, and MRAM design.
Peak circulatory power as an indicator of clinical status in children after Fontan procedure.

Peak circulatory power (CircP), a product of peak exercise oxygen uptake (VO2) and peak mean or systolic arterial blood pressure, has proved to be a strong predictor of poor outcome in adults with congenital heart disease. This study sought to compare CircP with other cardiopulmonary exercise (CPX) test variables and to assess whether CircP is superior in categorizing patients into well-functioning vs. poorly functioning at-risk groups in the pediatric population after a Fontan procedure. The CPX test reports of 50 patients were retrospectively reviewed after the Fontan procedure. The patients were divided into two groups. The well-functioning group included patients in New York Heart Association (NYHA) classes 1 and 2 (n = 36). The poorly functioning at-risk group included patients in NYHA classes 3 and 4 and those with significant indicators or outcomes of a poor prognosis (n = 14). The patients in the well-functioning group had significantly higher CircP values based on mean blood pressure (MBP) (P < 0.001), higher CircP values based on systolic blood pressure (SBP) (P < 0.001), and higher peak VO2 (P = 0.004) than those in the poorly functioning at-risk group. At a cutoff value less than 2100.4 mmHg/mlO2/kg/min, CircP MBP had a sensitivity of 85% in categorizing children to the poorly functioning at-risk group. CircP correlated well with the clinical status of our patients. CircP and peak VO2 did not differ significantly in ability to identify poorly functioning patients. Further prospective analysis is needed to assess whether CircP can serve as a prognostic marker for the pediatric population after Fontan procedure.
T helper-cell phenotype regulates atherosclerosis in mice under conditions of mild hypercholesterolemia.

Background—T cells are implicated in atherosclerosis, but little is known about the genetic control or molecular pathways, especially under conditions of mild hypercholesterolemia. Methods and Resu...
Lebed's resonance in organic conductors

Abstract In quasi-one dimensional conductors like Bechgaard salts the magnetoresistance exhibits a series of resonance like dips when the magnetic field is applied in a plane perpendicular to the most conducting direction and tilted from the least conducting direction by certain angles “the resonance angles”. We show that these dips signal appearance of the new quantized states characterized by a set of integers ( N , M ), which we call the Lebed state will exhibit doubly quantized Hall conductivity.
Application of immunostaining for muscle specific actin in detection of myoepithelial cells in breast fine-needle aspirates

Myoepithelial cells play an important role in the interpretation of breast fine-needle aspiration biopsy, since these cells are believed to be a component of a benign process in breast lesions. Myoepithelial cells are usually easy to recognize, however, other cells can morphologically simulate myoepithelial cells and make the distinction difficult. To assess the feasibility of immunostaining as an adjunct to identify myoepithelial cells, we have used immunocytochemistry using monoclonal antibody against muscle specific actin (MSA) in our breast fine-needle aspirates. Herein, we report our experience in immunocytochemical detection of myoepithelial cells using labeled Streptavidin Biotin Detection System on destained Papanicolaou stained smears and cell block preparations obtained from breast aspirates.
Multichannel FT-Raman Spectroscopy: Noise Analysis and Performance Assessment

A Raman spectrometer based on forming an interferogram on a charge-coupled device (CCD) detector is evaluated further with respect to signal-to-noise ratio (SNR), stability, response correction, and resolution. The multichannel Fourier transform technique differs fundamentally from dispersive spectrometers and FT-Raman systems based on Michelson interferometers. Changes in entrance optics permitted multitrack operation and an improvement in collection efficiency. Both hardware and a more facile software procedure were examined for correction of noise caused by nonuniformity of the CCD response. The instrumental linewidth (ILW) for the multichannel Fourier transform (MCFT) system examined here was 14 cm -1 (full width at half-maximum), close to the 13.5 cm -1 predicted theoretically. An optical heterodyne method was used to downshift the observed Raman features and further reduce the ILW to 8 cm -1. The unheterodyned MCFT spectrometer has a lower SNR than do dispersive systems for most samples, but has the advantages of frequency precision and large throughput. Several applications of MCFT are discussed, including examination of photolabile samples, multiple sample monitoring with fiber optics, and identification of MCFT spectra with a dispersive library.
Evolutionary and functional morphology of the knee in fossil and extant horses (Equidae)

ABSTRACT The hindlimb of modern Equus caballus is distinguished by the presence of a passive stay-apparatus, i.e., a system of bones, muscles, and ligaments that facilitate long periods of standing with reduced muscular activity. Gravitational forces normally collapse (flex) the knee (stifle) joint. Thus, either muscular activity in the knee extensors must counter this action, or there must be a passive “locking” of the knee in extension. The latter situation has evolved through a complex arrangement of patellar ligaments, medial enlargement of the patella, and significant enlargement of the medial trochlear ridge (MTR) of the femur. Together, these elements facilitate a passive “lock” of the knee joint in an extended position without continued high levels of muscular activity. Primitive horses, such as Mesohippus from about 25 to 35 Ma, have a distal femoral morphology similar to that seen in outgroups, including tapirs, primitive rhinoceroses, and most artiodactyls. Specimens of Protohippus from about 1...
Highly resolved double absorption 2D NMR spectra from complex severely truncated 2D phase-modulated signals by filter-diagonalization-averaging method

Abstract Application of the filter diagonalization method (FDM) to the spectral estimation of purely phase-modulated 2D-J NMR data is described. It is shown that obtaining an entire 2D line list of spectral parameters is not a prerequisite for constructing a spectral estimate of the data. Common problems with 2D FT analysis, such as phase-twist lineshapes, spectral broadening from the time-frequency uncertainty principle, and vanishing phase-sensitive 45° projections, can be ameliorated using 2D FDM. Averaging over several different FDM calculations improves the spectral presentation. Examples are shown with complex spectra obtained using only a handful of time increments.
An experimental card game for teaching software engineering processes

The typical software engineering course consists of lectures in which concepts and theories are conveyed, along with a small "toy" software engineering project which attempts to give students the opportunity to put this knowledge into practice. Although both of these components are essential, neither one provides students with adequate practical knowledge regarding the process of software engineering. Namely, lectures allow only passive learning and projects are so constrained by the time and scope requirements of the academic environment that they cannot be large enough to exhibit many of the phenomena occurring in real-world software engineering processes. To address this problem, we have developed Problems and Programmers, an educational card game that simulates the software engineering process and is designed to teach those process issues that are not sufficiently highlighted by lectures and projects. We describe how the game is designed, the mechanics of its game play, and the results of an experiment we conducted involving students playing the game.
Photoinduced ESR signals from the primary electron donors in deuterated highly 13C enriched photosynthetic bacteria and algae

In purple photosynthetic bacteria such as Rhodopseudomonas sphaeroides the oxidized primary donar P865/sup +/ exhibits a single Gaussian ESR signal posessing a line width that is narrowed by 1/%2 relative to that of monomeric BChl a/sup +/ in vitro. Data show that P700/sup +/ from the green plant photosystem I donor is a single oxidized Chl a type macrocycle. New data confirm that P865/sup +/ is a dimer of a BChl a type macrocycle. A method that accounts for the entire spin is needed in order to count the number of spins per macrocycle. The solution to this problem is to make each carbon atom of the ..pi.. system over which the electron is distributed magnetic resonance active. This requires that each position in the ..pi.. framework be highly enriched in /sup 13/C. Under these conditions the total ESR line width is the sum of the hyperfine lines due to each carbon atom of the ..pi.. system. Data indicate that the spin in P700/sup +/ is located on only one Chl a type macrocycle whereas that of P865/sup +/ is shared between two BChl a type macrocycles. (MWF)
Abuse of Women with Disabilities: Toward an Empowerment Perspective

Abuse of women with disabilities is a significant societal problem of which practitioners, service providers, and other professionals must be aware, respond to, and work to alleviate. Practitioners in most settings will encounter client systems impacted by disability, and many of their clients may be victims of abuse. Primary objectives of this paper are (1) to summarize issues and problems relevant to abuse of women with disabilities (2) to describe some of the empowering, proactive attitudes and behaviors of victim-survivors and their support networks, and (3) to further emphasize the need for practitioners to give primacy to helping such clients empower themselves to (re)take and maintain charge of their lives.
Microstructural effects on wave propagation in solids

Abstract Two microstructural phenomena appear important in controlling the evolution of large amplitude stress waves in solids. First is the inherent microstructure of the material which leads to local stress concentration during passage of the wave and influences first order moduli through yielding, fracture, or phase transformation. Second is the evolution of microstructure during stress-wave deformation through heterogeneous yielding and flow. The first phenomenon appears to dominate behavior in stress waves on the order of the material strength while the second phenomenon becomes increasingly important at higher stress levels. Careful stress-wave experiments combined in some cases with pre- and post-shock microstructural analysis illustrate the effects. Studies on certain geological materials have revealed that microstructural effects coupled with nonhydrostatic stresswave loading leads to complicated wave propagation, including wave separation and rarefaction shocks. Further shock-wave work on metals and insulating solids indicates that a heterogeneous dynamic thermal and deformational microstructure controls shock transformation process and leads to unusual and useful changes in physical and mechanical properties.
Infinite Number of Conservation Laws in Two-Dimensional Superconformal Models

Abstract Superconformal theories in two-dimensional space-time are considered. Noether's theorem and the Belinfante improvement procedure are extended to superspace where they are used to construct the supercurrent. With its aid, an infinite number of classical conservation laws are derived. These laws are shown to survive quantization in the supersymmetric, non-linear, O( N ) sigma model.
Surface fluorination of poly (phenylene oxide) composite membranes Part I. Transport properties

Abstract The effect of surface fluorination on the gas transport properties of composite membranes, comprising an inert porous ceramic support and a selective layer consiting of poly (phenylene oxide), was examined. A small reactor volume permitted the treatment time and the fluorine feed concentration to be investigated independently. The gas transport properties of the treated membranes were evaluated for six gases (N2, O2, CH4, H2, He and CO2), in terms of permeance (P/l or pressure-normalized flux) and the ideal selectivity for eight pairs of these gases. It was generally found that fluorination at different fluorine feed concentrations and reaction times reduced the permeance of all of the gases. The permeance of the lighter gases (He and H2) was reduced by a smaller factor than that of the heavier gases (N2 and CH4). Fluorination increased the selectivity of He and H2 relative to N2 or CH4 by a small factor, but reduced the selectivity of O2 and CO2 relative to N2 or CH4. When the membranes were coated with a layer of poly(dimethylsiloxane) (PDMS) subsequent to fluorination, the permeance decreased, considerably more for N2 and CH4 than for the other gases. Surface coating also substantially increased the selectivities of all the gas pairs. The largest gains in selectivity after fluorination and coating were found at the higher concentration (0.1 % F2) and intermediate treatment times of 3 to 5 min. Based on these results, surface coating with PDMS is recommended as a post-treatment step in the fluorination process.
Pancreatic beta cells synthesize neuropeptide Y and can rapidly release peptide co-transmitters.

Background In addition to polypeptide hormones, pancreatic endocrine cells synthesize a variety of bioactive molecules including classical transmitters and neuropeptides. While these co-transmitters are thought to play a role in regulating hormone release little is known about how their secretion is regulated. Here I investigate the synthesis and release of neuropeptide Y from pancreatic beta cells. Methodology/Principal Findings NPY appears to be an authentic co-transmitter in neonatal, but not adult, beta cells because (1) early in mouse post-natal development, many beta cells are NPY-immunoreactive whereas no staining is observed in beta cells from NPY knockout mice; (2) GFP-expressing islet cells from an NPY(GFP) transgenic mouse are insulin-ir; (3) single cell RT-PCR experiments confirm that the NPY(GFP) cells contain insulin mRNA, a marker of beta cells. The NPY-immunoreactivity previously reported in alpha and delta cells is therefore likely to be due to the presence of NPY-related peptides. INS-1 cells, a beta cell line, are also NPY-ir and contain NPY mRNA. Using the FMRFamide tagging technique, NPY secretion was monitored from INS-1 beta cells with high temporal resolution. Peptide release was evoked by brief depolarizations and was potentiated by activators of adenylate cyclase and protein kinase A. Following a transient depolarization, NPY-containing dense core granules fused with the cell membrane and discharged their contents within a few milliseconds. Conclusions These results indicate that after birth, NPY expression in pancreatic islets is restricted to neonatal beta cells. The presence of NPY suggests that peptide co-transmitters could mediate rapid paracrine or autocrine signaling within the endocrine pancreas. The FMRFamide tagging technique may be useful in studying the release of other putative islet co-transmitters in real time.
The Use of Molecular Genetics to Refine Prognosis in Acute Myeloid Leukemia

The discovery and application of advanced molecular techniques, such as gene and microRNA expression profiling, whole genome and exome sequencing, proteomic analysis and methylation assays, have allowed for the identification of recurrent molecular abnormalities in acute myeloid leukemia (AML) that have revolutionized our understanding of the genetic landscape of the disease. These modalities have emerged as valuable tools that permit a more comprehensive and detailed molecular characterization of AML. Many of these molecular abnormalities have been shown to predict prognosis, particularly within the context of cytogenetically normal AML. This review will discuss the major techniques and platforms that have been used to identify novel recurrent gene mutations in AML and briefly describe how these discoveries have impacted on outcome prediction.
GROWING UP ETHNIC IN TRANSNATIONAL WORLDS: IDENTITIES AMONG SECOND-GENERATION CHINESE AND DOMINICANS

Transnationalism refers to the phenomenon of immigrants maintaining connections to their country of origin and using a dual frame of reference to evaluate their experiences and outcomes in the country in which they have settled. How does transnationalism matter in the identities among the second generation? This article argues that growing up with parents who want children to participate in their homeland imaginary and in a strong transnational social field does not necessarily mean second-generation Dominicans and Chinese will themselves adopt transnational orientations and/or practices. I find that my Chinese respondents, because of authoritarian parent-child relationships, relative loss of the ethnic language, and scarcity of contact with their parents’ countries of origin, viewed themselves as mainly ethnic subjects. Identities for my Chinese respondents involved a generational- and class-specific ethnic identity grounded in the enclaves and perceived rarefaction vis-a-vis mainstream America. My Domin...