cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System Reporting Source: A Possible Source of Bias in Longitudinal Studies

OBJECTIVE. The US Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System (VAERS) is a passive reporting system to which anyone can report an event. Publicity related to potential adverse events may change reporting patterns. The objective of this paper is to show how litigation-related reports have influenced the trends in possible adverse event reports to VAERS. METHODS. The VAERS public-use data files were downloaded in July 2004 and translated into identical SAS data sets for analysis. Cases that were related to litigation were identified using a word search algorithm. All cases for the most frequently reported symptoms in litigation (overdose, neuropathy, autism, “mental retardation,” arthralgia, and “speech disorder”) were reviewed. RESULTS. In recent years, most case reports to VAERS that were related to overdose, neuropathy, and thimerosal were related to litigation. Many cases that were related to autism and mental retardation were as well. CONCLUSIONS. This review shows a previously undisclosed rise in the number of reports to the VAERS related to pending litigation for vaccine injury. The implications of this for understanding longitudinal reporting patterns are discussed.
Cytokine Regulation of Disease Progression in Leprosy and Tuberculosis

Abstract Studies in our laboratory have focussed on the role of cytokines in the regulation of the cellular immune response and disease progression in two important mycobacterial infection of man, namely leprosy and tuberculosis. Our studies in leprosy have involved the use of key regulatory cytokines such as IFN-γ in the modulation of the cellular response of infected patients. We have investigated the effect of intradermal administration of low dose IFN-γ on the lesions of anergic lepromatous patients and have reported an accelerated bacillary clearance from the skin. This was associated with the local accumulation of mononuclear cells and killing of infected macrophages. However, IFN-γ administration also resulted in the induction of erythema nodosum leprosum, a toxic syndrome associated with excess TNF-a production. Both the toxic symptoms and the high levels of TNF-α production could be inhibited by thalidomide treatment, a drug we have shown reduces the half life of TNF-α mRNA. In preliminary clinical trials in tuberculosis patients we have attempted to use thalidomide to reduce TNF-α production and toxicities. These results are discussed.
Utilization of polyunsaturated fatty acids by human diploid cells aging in vitro.

Cultures of human diploid cell strain IMR-90 were supplemented with γ-linolenic acid, 18∶3ω6, by constant infusion over 72 hr. Cell growth was twice that observed when the same amount of fatty acid was supplied as a single dose at the start of a 72-hr incubation. Using the infusion method, growth of cells receiving monoenoic or polyenoic fatty acids was compared. The age of these cells in vitro was measured in terms of the culture mean population doubling level (PDL). Population doubling level refers to the mean number of doublings elapsed since establishment of a primary culture. At PDL from 24–53, the growth of cells from cultures supplemented with oleic acid was similar to that of noninfused cultures. Gamma linolenic acid, 18∶3ω6, and to greater extent arachidonic acid, 20∶4ω6, however, caused suppression of cell multiplication at PDL≤32, but not at PDL≥44. The polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) levels in cell phospholipids were reduced by exogenous oleic acid to half that of nonsupplemented cells at all PDL tested. Conversely, the PUFA levels in phospholipids were elevated by a factor of 1.6 at all PDL when cultures were infused with 18∶3ω6. Triglyceride levels at the end of 72 hr were similar, but much higher than the controls, regardless of the fatty acid supplied. Growth inhibition, modification of phospholipid acyl group content and triglyceride levels were not appreciably affected when the amount of monoenoic or polyenoic fatty acid infused into the cultures was doubled. The elongation of 18∶3, as well as the distribution of 18∶3 and its elongation products, between triglyceride and phospholipid, was dependent on whether the 18∶3 was of the ω3 or ω6 family.
Political Organization, Supernatural Sanctions and the Punishment for Incest on Yap

will confine myself to one problem among the many which bear on the nature of punishment-the problem of the relationship between political organization and the nature and severity of the punishment for incest. I do not thereby deny the relevance of other factors, but simply set aside their consideration. My intention is merely to demonstrate the relevance of the question of who has the right to inflict punishment to an understanding of the nature and severity of the punishment inflicted. The exposition which follows proceeds by a method of successive approximations. I will begin with a brief outline of the Yap incest regulations and of the punishment when those regulations are not observed, and follow this with a first approximation of the relationship between political organization and punishment in general terms. I will then analyze the empirical material more fully to see how well the generalizations apply to the data, and will continue to balance generalization against data until I believe that I have developed a set of precisely defined generalizations which apply to these Yap data. I make no pretense of presenting a full and complete theory of punishment. The incest taboo on Yap, a high island in the West Carolines, Micronesia, applies to members of the nuclear family, the patrilineal lineage, and the matrilineal clan. The prohibition on sexual relations among members of these groups applies to all and any, regardless of genealogical distance (Schneider 1953). Diffuse sanctions in the form of disapproval and shunning are applied if incest should occur, but these are actually mild. The guilty pair are not ostracized, but only whispered about and held to have behaved like animals. In the cases which I observed, as well as in reports of other cases, no one seemed severely embarrassed or emotionally upset, and in a few of these cases the relationship was sustained over a long period. The diffuse sanctions certainly did not break up the relationship. No organized sanctions are ever applied. The events are held to be no one's concern except the kin group of the participants. Consequences of incest are of two sorts. Where incest occurs between brother and sister, who should normally practice a mild avoidance and respect relationship which is explicitly phrased in terms of minimizing sexual interest
Boards of directors in international organizations: A framework for understanding the dilemmas of institutional design

This article develops an analytical framework for studying international organization (IO) boards of directors and applies the framework to a sample of 12 international organizations. It argues that the boards of IOs are asked by their political masters to play four distinct roles: (1) political counterweight, (2) performance police, (3) democratic forum, and (4) strategic thinker. Because there are trade-offs among them, no IO board can play all four roles effectively. Policymakers must therefore choose among them, and they must make choices of institutional design accordingly. The article also shows how in practice, international organizations fall into three governance “models” based on the characteristics of their boards of directors. Each model has a different combination of strengths and weaknesses. The analysis suggests that because trade-offs are inescapable, state actors sometimes willingly surrender a measure of control in order to strengthen other aspects of institutional performance. IO autonomy is often not something that surprises or annoys governments, but rather something that was been built into the institutional design as the result of a conscious trade-off.
Analytical land atmosphere radiometer model (ALARM) applied to a dense canopy

Abstract Directional radiometric surface temperature ( θ r ), obtained from remote sensing, can be useful in estimating the energy fluxes from the land surface, especially the sensible heat flux into the atmosphere, H . Since plant canopies are often anisothermal, θ r is view-angle dependent, such that the “surface” temperature needed to estimate H may be different from a measured θ r . This study used the analytical land atmosphere radiometer model (ALARM) to target such a problem on a relatively dense canopy (leaf area index of 4.0), and to compare ALARM performance with models developed by Massman and by Lhomme et al. Data from the Southern Great Plains 1997 (SGP97) experiment were chosen for this study. The root mean square difference (RMSD) between measured and simulated H at the 0° view angle was smaller for ALARM (46.9 W/m 2 ), than for the Lhomme (53.0 W/m 2 ) and Massman (70.9 W/m 2 ) models. At the 45° view angle, RMSDs for the ALARM (59.1 W/m 2 ) and Lhomme (58.6 W/m 2 ) models were somewhat smaller than for the Massman (85.4 W/m 2 ) model. All three models did better at a view angle of 0° than at one of 45°. In conclusion, ALARM used surface temperatures at view angles of 0 and 45° to estimate H for a dense canopy, with errors comparable to or smaller than other available models.
Physiological responses to clicks during Zen, Yoga, and TM meditation.

Two studies have been widely quoted as indicating the differing states of consciousness in Zen vs Yoga meditation. A replication and extension were attempted. Very experienced Zen, Yoga, and TM meditators with average lengths of experience of 7.5 yrs, 5 yrs, and 7 yrs, respectively, and two groups of controls were presented with auditory clicks during meditation. EEG alpha suppression and skin conductance response both showed clear habituation which did not differ among groups, thus failing to replicate the earlier studies. The N100, P200, and P300 components of the EEG average evoked potential were also measured.
A cell-averaging Chebyshev spectral method for the controlled Duffing oscillator

In order to maintain spectral accuracy, the grids on which a physical problem is to be solved must also be obtained by spectrally accurate techniques. This paper presents a spectral method of solving the controlled Duffing oscillator. The method is based upon constructing the Mth-degree interpolation polynomials, using Chebyshev nodes, to approximate the state and the control vectors. The differential and integral expressions which arise from the system dynamics and the performance index are converted into an algebraic nonlinear programming problem. The results of computer simulation studies compare favorably to optimal solutions obtained by closed-form analysis and/or by other numerical schemes.
A nickel oxide amperometric detector in the chromatographic separation of amino acids

Abstract Reverse-phase ion-pair chromatography with a nickel oxide amperometric detector is evaluated for separation and detection of several amino acids. A simple T-junction allows post-column mixing of detector electrolyte. Mixer and detector dimensions are shown to contribute negligibly to band spreading. Picomole amounts of some amino acids can be detected. The system is evaluated for determination of amino acids in hydrolyzed bovine A-chain insulin and urine samples.
Dynamics of electromagnetic two-stream interaction processes during longitudinal and transverse compression of an intense ion beam pulse propagating through background plasma

Abstract To achieve maximum energy density, an intense ion beam must be compressed radially and longitudinally while its space-charge is neutralized by background plasma. An ion beam propagating through background plasma may be subject to the electrostatic two-stream instability and the electromagnetic Weibel instability. The electrostatic two-stream instability may lead to longitudinal bunching of the beam pulse, and eventual longitudinal beam heating. Consequently, this could degrade the longitudinal compression of the beam pulse. Similarly, the electromagnetic Weibel instability may cause transverse filamentation of the beam, which may degrade transverse compression. In this paper, we use an eikonal (Wentzel–Kramer–Brillouin, WKB) approach to analyze the space–time development of the two-stream and Weibel instabilities during transverse and longitudinal compression of an intense heavy ion beam pulse propagating through neutralizing background plasma.
Measurement of the effect of inhomogeneities and compensating bolus in clinical pion beams

Measurements of the effects of Teflon and air inhomogeneities on the ionization distributions of clinical negative‐pion beams have been made at the Los Alamos Meson Physics Facility. Inhomogeneity location and pion‐beam energy vary the effect of multiple coulomb scattering on the dose distribution lying in the penumbra of the inhomogeneity. CH2 bolus adequately corrects for the effects of these inhomogeneities. Bolus misalignment less than 0.5 cm does not seem critical because of large multiple coulomb scattering of the pionbeam. However, this and secondary particles emitted from pion stars prevent the pionbeam from being precisely shaped with sharp edges, as demonstrated by measurements under a patient bolus.
The Immune Response to Insulin in Man: Interaction of HLA Alloantigens and the Development of the Immune Response

In both mice and guinea pigs, the immunologic response to insulin has been demonstrated to be under immune response (Ir) gene control. In the present study, we have attempted to identify Ir genes to insulin in man by correlating HLA allotype with immunologic response to insulin. Three groups of patients were studied: (1) 117 diabetic patients with a history of exaggerated immunologic response to insulin (insulin allergy, resistance, or systemic reactions); (2) 95 insulin-taking diabetics without clinically significant immune response; and (3) 109 nondiabetic controls. Determination of HLA alloantigen frequencies in the “insulin allergic” population and the nonallergic diabetics revealed only modest increases of HLA-Bw44 (29% versus 16%, P
Design recommendations based on cognitive, mood and preference assessments in a sunlit workspace

This paper reports a study that aimed to establish a method of improving daylighting design using a behavioural approach. It underscores why daylighting design guidelines need to change in order to reflect the idea that human activities are important design criteria alongside the physical parameters. Design recommendations for sunlit offices have been developed based on experiments that investigated room occupants’ emotional, attitudinal and cognitive responses to various sunlight conditions. The design guidelines developed in this study, for the first time, present a comprehensive evaluation of a sunlit office from an architectural point of view, one that is focused on the characteristics of a workspace — involving sunlight, window view, privacy and control — and room occupants’ behavioural responses to these environmental factors.
The Modern Silk Road: The Global Raw-Silk Market, 1850–1930

From the mid-nineteenth century, the raw-silk trade served as the most important trade linkage between the then still largely closed economies of East Asia and the industrialized West. This article traces the evolution of the global raw-silk market during the period 1850 through 1930. Using comprehensive data on raw-silk prices and quantities and applying co-integration techniques, I find a well-integrated global raw-silk market evolved during this period. This article also examines the evolution of technologies and institutions of the global silk industry, which exhibited characteristics of path dependency and technical interrelatedness. S ilk and its trade are almost as ancient as civilization. The lure of profits induced adventurous men to trek through unknown lands by foot and camel caravans. Centuries went by, towns, civilizations, and dynasties were formed, prospered, or perished, but the route that linked the continents of Europe and Asia survived and expanded, becoming known as the Silk Road. Traders also ventured to the open sea, carried by the wind along the shores of the South China Sea, the Indian Ocean, the Arabian Sea, and the Mediterranean. In the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries, the silk trade was extended to the Pacific Ocean, in particular, between China and the Spanish empire in Latin America. However, scholars' long-standing fascination with the ancient silk road stemmed, perhaps, less from its commercial aspect than from the important role it once played in the diffusion of culture, religion, technology, and institutions among the greatest civilizations. The modern global silk trade began in about 1850 when East Asia regained its position as the world's major supplier of raw silk. During this period, silk was carried from East to West, reached the Mediterranean as the ancient silk road once did, and then crossed the Atlantic and arrived at the northeast coast of America, which witnessed the rise of the world's largest silk manufacturing industry. On the other side of the globe, silk from East Asia went farther eastward. During the 1870s, silk was brought to the west coast of the United States via the Pacific Ocean, then rerouted
Producer perceptions and attitudes toward hog marketing contracts

The objective of this research is to use survey respondent perceptions and demographic data to assess factors affecting producer's attitudes towards hog marketing contracts. Six statements related to marketing contracts were presented to subjects to measure their attitudes toward the dominant method used by packers to procure hogs. The results suggest that the profitability of the producer, marketing method employed by the producer and the number of packers to whom the producer sold hogs significantly influences attitudes towards marketing contracts. These results suggest that low-cost producers who market hogs via individual or group marketing contracts are more positive, or in some cases less negative, in their attitudes towards marketing contracts. Although prior nonparametric analyses provide some insight into factors influencing producers' views of marketing contracts, this analyses allows inference of statistical significance. [EconLit citations: D400, L100]. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Homocysteine and α-Lipoic Acid Regulate p44/42 MAP Kinase Phosphorylation in NIH/3T3 Cells

Biological thiols can regulate cell signal transduction. The effects of two biothiols, homocysteine (Hcy), a risk factor for cardiovascular disease, and alpha-lipoic acid (alphaLA), a therapeutic antioxidant, on p44/42 mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPK) phosphorylation were examined in NIH/3T3 fibroblasts. Cells grown in serum-containing media had constitutive levels of MAPK phosphorylation as determined by Western blot analysis using the phospho-specific MAPK antibody. Treatment of cells with 20 microM Hcy for 0-60 min resulted in a transient enhancement of MAPK phosphorylation. In contrast, 20 microM alphaLA inhibited serum-mediated phosphorylation of MAPK. The differential effects of these two thiols are not due to their redox states as oxidized Hcy (Hcy thiolactone) enhanced MAPK phosphorylation. The effect of alphaLA appears to be serum-dependent because Hcy or alphaLA treatment of serum-deprived cells activated MAPK phosphorylation. Thus, alphaLA and Hcy can either induce common signal transduction pathways or differentially modulate MAPK phosphorylation, depending on the state of the cell. This relationship may be important to understand how some biothiols are associated with pathogenic events while others offer potential as therapeutic agents.
Parallel algorithms for maximum a posteriori estimation of spin density and spin-spin decay in magnetic resonance imaging

A maximum a posteriori (MAP) algorithm is presented for the estimation of spin-density and spin-spin decay distributions from frequency and phase-encoded magnetic resonance imaging data. Linear spatial localization gradients are assumed: the y-encode gradient applied during the phase preparation time of duration /spl tau/ before measurement collection, and the x-encode gradient applied during the full data collection time t/spl ges/0. The MRI signal model developed in M.I. Miller et al., J. Magn. Reson., ser. B (Apr. 1995) is used in which a signal resulting from M phase encodes (rows) and N frequency encode dimensions (columns) is modeled as a superposition of MN sinc-modulated exponentially decaying sinusoids with unknown spin-density and spin-spin decay parameters. The nonlinear least-squares MAP estimate of the spin density and spin-spin decay distributions solves for the 2MN spin-density and decay parameters minimizing the squared-error between the measured data and the sine-modulated exponentially decay signal model using an iterative expectation-maximization algorithm. A covariance diagonalizing transformation is derived which decouples the joint estimation of MN sinusoids into M separate N sinusoid optimizations, yielding an order of magnitude speed up in convergence. The MAP solutions are demonstrated to deliver a decrease in standard deviation of image parameter estimates on brain phantom data of greater than a factor of two over Fourier-based estimators of the spin density and spin-spin decay distributions. A parallel processor implementation is demonstrated which maps the N sinusoid coupled minimization to separate individual simple minimizations, one for each processor. >
A case study of enteric virus removal and insights into the associated risk of water reuse for two wastewater treatment pond systems in Bolivia.

Wastewater treatment ponds (WTP) are one of the most widespread treatment technologies in the world; however, the mechanisms and extent of enteric virus removal in these systems are poorly understood. Two WTP systems in Bolivia, with similar overall hydraulic retention times but different first stages of treatment, were analyzed for enteric virus removal. One system consisted of a facultative pond followed by two maturation ponds (three-pond system) and the other consisted of an upflow anaerobic sludge blanket (UASB) reactor followed by two maturation (polishing) ponds (UASB-pond system). Quantitative polymerase chain reaction with reverse transcription (RT-qPCR) was used to measure concentrations of norovirus, rotavirus, and pepper mild mottle virus, while cell culture methods were used to measure concentrations of culturable enteroviruses (EV). Limited virus removal was observed with RT-qPCR in either system; however, the three-pond system removed culturable EV with greater efficiency than the UASB-pond system. The majority of viruses were not associated with particles and only a small proportion was associated with particles larger than 180 μm; thus, it is unlikely that sedimentation is a major mechanism of virus removal. High concentrations of viruses were associated with particles between 0.45 and 180 μm in the UASB reactor effluent, but not in the facultative pond effluent. The association of viruses with this size class of particles may explain why only minimal virus removal was observed in the UASB-pond system. Quantitative microbial risk assessment of the treated effluent for reuse for restricted irrigation indicated that the three-pond system effluent requires an additional 1- to 2-log10 reduction of viruses to achieve the WHO health target of <10−4 disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) lost per person per year; however, the UASB-pond system effluent may require an additional 2.5- to 4.5-log10 reduction of viruses.
Emerging questions about the macromolecular machines of muscle

### Introduction The purpose of the Perspectives in General Physiology is to provide a forum where scientific uncertainties or controversies are discussed in an authoritative, yet open, manner. Perspectives are solicited by the editors—often based on recommendations by members of the editorial
TOTAL FACTOR PRODUCTIVITY GROWTH AND AGGLOMERATION ECONOMIES IN MANUFACTURING, 1959-73*

ABSTRACT This paper investigates the determinants of productivity growth in the manufacturing sector of states over the period 1959-1973. Special emphasis is placed on isolating the effects of a state's urbanization characteristics on productivity growth. Urbanization characteristics considered include the spatial arrangement of cities along with the standard measures of urbanization. The results indicate that while both scale economies and technical change are related to urbanization characteristics the effects tend to be offsetting; no relationship is found between urbanization and overall productivity growth as measured by total factor productivity growth.
Faults of the central part of the Lewis and Clark line and fragmentation of the Late Cretaceous foreland basin in west-central Montana

The Lewis and Clark line is a prominent zone of strike-slip, dip-slip, and oblique-slip faults that extends from near Wallace, Idaho, to east of Helena, Montana. Faults of this zone have been intermittently active from Middle Proterozoic to Holocene time, and because of numerous tectonic overprints, controversy continues about displacement directions and times of displacement along specific faults. Geologic mapping shows evidence that many principal faults of the Lewis and Clark line, such as the St. Marys-Helena Valley, Bald Butte, Ninemile, and Osburn faults, had right separation or slip that ranged between 28 and 11 km, and this displacement probably occurred during Late Cretaceous time. Other faults, such as the Elevation Mountain, Placer Creek, and Ranch Creek faults, have Late Cretaceous right separations that range between 8 and 3.2 km, and the Mount Sentinel fault zone has between 6.5 and 3 km of right separation of probable Late Cretaceous age. Subsidiary structures of the Lewis and Clark line postdate Paleozoic and Lower Cretaceous rocks and predate Late Cretaceous stocks at some places; subsidiary faults and folds that have age constraints have slip directions compatible with right slip along adjacent, principal faults. Sedimentation patterns of Lower and Upper Cretaceous rocks indicate that faults of the Lewis and Clark line fragmented the foredeep region of the foreland basin into separate northern and southern basins in Late Cretaceous time. The Lower and Upper Cretaceous Blackleaf Formation (Albian and lower Cenomanian) was deposited in a continuous foredeep basin that extended across the Lewis and Clark line from north of the Canadian border to southwestern Montana, a distance of about 450 km. North of the Lewis and Clark line, middle and upper Cenomanian rocks are absent, and a thin sequence of uppermost Cenomanian to Campanian rocks was deposited in a marine environment that changed to a strand-line and continental environment in early Campanian time. South of the Lewis and Clark line, middle and upper Cenomanian deposits are also absent, but a thick sequence of Turonian-to-Campanian rocks was deposited in brackish water and strand-line environments, and during later Campanian time, in a continental environment. In the region between the St. Marys-Helena Valley and Bald Butte faults, a barrier may have formed that served as a local sediment source between foredeep regions in the northern and southern foreland basin during the period 91 to 75 Ma. South of the Bald Butte fault, an extensional tectonic regime contributed to a higher sediment-accumulation rate in the foredeep region along the north border of the southern basin (30 cm/1,000 yr), as compared to lower sediment-accumulation rates (6.9 and 7.8 cm/ 1,000 yr) in the foredeep region of the south part of the northern basin.
Wireless resonant frequency detection of SiCN ceramic resonator for sensor applications

A wireless passive sensing approach is proposed to measure the resonant frequency of a dielectrically-loaded cavity resonator. This resonator is made of SiCN ceramic material which is very stable inside harsh environments with temperatures up to 1500°C. The resonator is coupled to CPW lines with one antenna placed at each end of the CPW lines. A wide-band signal is transmitted through two antenna pairs and passes the resonator with the maximum transfer of energy at the resonant frequency of the resonator, i.e. 12.6 GHz. This allows for measuring the resonant frequency of the resonator in a wireless manner. Measurement results are provided for distances up to 40 mm with good agreement with simulations. The proposed methodology is aimed for temperature/pressure sensor development inside gas turbine engines.
An empirical study of on-chip parallelism

This paper presents a methodology for empirically determining the amount of parallelism on a CMOS VLSI chip. Six chips are measured, and the effect of input choice and circuit size is studied. The unexpectedly low parallelism measured here suggests that certain strategies for parallel simulators may be doomed, and earlier efforts to extrapolate parallelism from small circuits to large circuits may have been overly optimistic.
Mice lacking Nf1 in osteochondroprogenitor cells display skeletal dysplasia similar to patients with neurofibromatosis type I

Mutations in NF1 cause neurofibromatosis type I (NF1), a disorder characterized, among other clinical manifestations, by generalized and focal bony lesions. Dystrophic scoliosis and tibial pseudoarthrosis are the most severe skeletal manifestations for which treatment is not satisfactory, emphasizing the dearth of knowledge related to the biology of NF1 in bone cells. Using reporter mice, we report here that the mouse Col2α1-Cre promoter (collagen, type II, alpha 1) is active not only in chondrocytes but also in adult bone marrow osteoprogenitors giving rise to osteoblasts. Based on this finding, we crossed the Col2α1-Cre transgenic and Nf1(flox/flox) mice to determine whether loss of Nf1 in axial and appendicular osteochondroprogenitors recapitulates the skeletal abnormalities of NF1 patients. By microtomographic and X-rays studies, we show that Nf1(Col2)(-/-) mice display progressive scoliosis and kyphosis, tibial bowing and abnormalities in skull and anterior chest wall formation. These defects were accompanied by a low bone mass phenotype, high bone cortical porosity, osteoidosis, increased osteoclastogenesis and decreased osteoblast number, as quantified by histomorphometry and 3D-microtomography. Loss of Nf1 in osteochondroprogenitors also caused severe short stature and intervertebral disc defects. Blockade of the RAS/ERK activation characteristic of Nf1(-/-) osteoprogenitors by lovastatin during embryonic development could attenuate the increased cortical porosity observed in mutant pups. These data and the skeletal similarities between this mouse model and NF1 patients thus suggest that activation of the RAS/ERK pathway by Nf1 loss-of-function in osteochondroprogenitors is responsible for the vertebral and tibia lesions in NF1 patients, and that this molecular signature may represent a good therapeutic target.
Dual-learning systems during speech category learning

Dual-system models of visual category learning posit the existence of an explicit, hypothesis-testing reflective system, as well as an implicit, procedural-based reflexive system. The reflective and reflexive learning systems are competitive and neurally dissociable. Relatively little is known about the role of these domain-general learning systems in speech category learning. Given the multidimensional, redundant, and variable nature of acoustic cues in speech categories, our working hypothesis is that speech categories are learned reflexively. To this end, we examined the relative contribution of these learning systems to speech learning in adults. Native English speakers learned to categorize Mandarin tone categories over 480 trials. The training protocol involved trial-by-trial feedback and multiple talkers. Experiments 1 and 2 examined the effect of manipulating the timing (immediate vs. delayed) and information content (full vs. minimal) of feedback. Dual-system models of visual category learning predict that delayed feedback and providing rich, informational feedback enhance reflective learning, while immediate and minimally informative feedback enhance reflexive learning. Across the two experiments, our results show that feedback manipulations that targeted reflexive learning enhanced category learning success. In Experiment 3, we examined the role of trial-to-trial talker information (mixed vs. blocked presentation) on speech category learning success. We hypothesized that the mixed condition would enhance reflexive learning by not allowing an association between talker-related acoustic cues and speech categories. Our results show that the mixed talker condition led to relatively greater accuracies. Our experiments demonstrate that speech categories are optimally learned by training methods that target the reflexive learning system.
Real-Time Fluid Interaction with a Haptic Device

Imagine an interactive video game in which the player impersonates the role of a witch that desires to create a potion. Through a haptic probe, shaped as a baton, users are able to stir and feel the magical fluid inside a bowl. As players follow the potion recipe, they are able to feel how the fluid changes its viscosity, density, velocity and other properties. This haptic interface enables users to interact with the digital world and receive realistic kinesthetic and tactile cues in a computer-generated environment. The novel techniques described on this paper may bring this simulation to a higher degree of human-computer interaction and immersion. We present an experimental framework for assessing haptic effects in stirred fluid simulations. The system imitates the physical forces generated by the real-time fluid animation, stirring movements and fluid changes. We discuss the integration of both the haptics and graphics workspaces for an efficient interaction.
Fast dual-mode adaptive algorithms for the equalization and timing recovery of TDMA mobile radio signals

Adaptive algorithms with rapid convergence properties for the equalization of time division multiple access (TDMA) mobile radio signals are presented. When the symbol timing is known, these algorithms approximate maximum a posteriori (MAP) sequence estimators that generate reliable estimates of the transmitted signal. For channels with timing jitter (from random Doppler shifts), joint estimation of the channel parameters and the symbol timing using an extended Kalman filter (EKF) algorithm is proposed. Various methods to reduce the computational complexity of the MAP sequence estimator are also described. >
Pharmacy collected medication histories in an observation unit.

Background: Clear processes to facilitate medication reconciliation in a hospital setting are still undefined. The observation unit allows for a high patient turnover rate, where obtaining accurate medication histories is critical. Objectives: The objective of this study was to assess the ability of pharmacists and student pharmacists to identify discrepancies in medication histories obtained at triage in observation patients. Methods: Pharmacists and student pharmacists obtained a medication history for each patient placed in observation status. Patients were excluded if they were unable to provide a medication history and family, caregiver, or community pharmacy was also unable to provide the history. A comparison was made between triage and pharmacy collected medication histories to identify discrepancies. Results: A total of 501 medications histories were collected, accounting for 3213 medication records. There were 1176 (37%) matched medication records and 1467 discrepancies identified, including 808 (55%) omissions, 296 (20.2%) wrong frequency, 278 (19%) wrong dose, 51 (3.5%) discontinued, and 34 (2.3%) wrong medication. There was an average of 2.9 discrepancies per patient profile. In all, 76 (15%) of the profiles were matched. The median time to obtain a medication history was 4 min (range: 1-48 min). Conclusion: Pharmacy collected medication histories in an observation unit identify discrepancies that can be reconciled by the interdisciplinary team.
Applied Production Analysis: A Dual Approach

This book contains a modern treatment of production economics from a dual perspective, with a special emphasis on recent developments in the field. The book prepares the reader to apply the tools and concepts of the dual approach production economics to real world problems and data sets. Among other topics covered are flexible function forms, aggregation across inputs and outputs using the theory of separable structures, aggregation over economic optimizing firms, the representation of multioutput technologies, and the analysis and measurement of technical change from both a primal and dual perspective.
The Temporal Relation between a Corneal Neuronotrophic Factor and Corneal Nerve Regeneration

Epithelial neuronotrophic factor (ENF) is a protein secreted specifically by cultured corneal and conjunctival epithelial cells of rabbit (1,2). It is absent in corneal fibroblasts and endothelial cells (1), or epithelial cells of the lens, retina, skin, and kidney (2). ENF acts selectively on cultured sensory neurons (trigeminal and dorsal root ganglia) by both prolonging their survival and inducing neurite outgrowth (1, 2). It has no effect on sympathetic neurons. ENF also stimulates protein synthesis in cultured trigeminal neurons, such as glycoproteins (independent of sprouting) and proline-labeled proteins (neurite-dependent), including collagens that are deposited extracellularly (3). The newly-synthesized proteins are increasingly distributed to both the particulate (somata) and neurite fractions with time. Indirect evidence suggests that ENF is not NGF, collagen, fibronectin, laminin or certain glycosaminoglycans (4). Presumably, ENF belongs to a class of endogenous trophic factors that are secreted by tissues to initiate and maintain proper innervation by neurons.
Effect of Above-Freezing Temperatures on Temporary Storage of Honeybee Spermatozoa

SummaryHoneybee (Apis mellifera) semen was diluted 1: 1 with saline and stored at 5, 10, 15, 20, 25 or 35°C for 2 days, or was not stored (control). Each of 111 queens was inseminated with 4 μ1 of the diluted semen. The effects of storage temperatures were evaluated by counting the number of spermatozoa that entered the spermatheca. Mean counts were ⩽3·1 × 105 when spermatozoa were stored ⩽10°C; storage at 20°C and 25°C resulted in the highest counts (mean = 1·4 × 106). The response in millions of spermatozoa in the spermatheca (Y) to storage temperature between 10 and 25°C (X) was Y = −2·74 + 0·397X–0·00935X2 (r = 0·78, n = 34).
The Advocacy Efforts of African American Mothers of Children with Disabilities in Rural Special Education: Considerations for School Professionals.

Legislation maintains expectations that educators form partnerships with parents, specifically within the field of special education (IDEA, 2004), and requires schools to allow parents to participa...
Ferritin synthesis by free and membrane-bound (poly)ribosomes of rat liver.

SummaryTo learn where ferritin is synthesized—on free and/or membrane-bound (poly)ribosomes—fractions rich in (poly)ribosomes were isolated from rat livers by the method of Blobel and Potter (5), with modifications. The degree of separation of membrane-bound (poly)ribosomes from free (poly)ribosomes was checked by electron microscopy, biochemically, and with a radioactive tracer. Results of experiments on the incorporation of labeled amino acids into the protein of ferritin (apoferritin) indicate that both, membrane-bound (poly)ribosomes and free (poly)ribosomes are implicated in the synthesis of apoferritin, and that free (poly)ribosomes synthesize substantially more apoferritin per milligram RNA than bound (poly) ribosomes.
“A DIAMOND IS FOREVER” AND OTHER FAIRY TALES: THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN WEDDING EXPENSES AND MARRIAGE DURATION

In this study, we evaluate the association between wedding spending and marriage duration using data from a survey of more than 3,000 ever-married persons in the United States. Controlling for a number of demographic and relationship characteristics, we find evidence that marriage duration is inversely associated with spending on the engagement ring and wedding ceremony. (JEL J12, Z1, D1)
Another Look at the Mechanisms of Hydride Transfer Enzymes with Quantum and Classical Transition Path Sampling

The mechanisms involved in enzymatic hydride transfer have been studied for years, but questions remain due, in part, to the difficulty of probing the effects of protein motion and hydrogen tunneling. In this study, we use transition path sampling (TPS) with normal mode centroid molecular dynamics (CMD) to calculate the barrier to hydride transfer in yeast alcohol dehydrogenase (YADH) and human heart lactate dehydrogenase (LDH). Calculation of the work applied to the hydride allowed for observation of the change in barrier height upon inclusion of quantum dynamics. Similar calculations were performed using deuterium as the transferring particle in order to approximate kinetic isotope effects (KIEs). The change in barrier height in YADH is indicative of a zero-point energy (ZPE) contribution and is evidence that catalysis occurs via a protein compression that mediates a near-barrierless hydride transfer. Calculation of the KIE using the difference in barrier height between the hydride and deuteride agreed well with experimental results.
Assessment and treatment of pain in thalassemia

Pain is a subjective symptom whose prevalence can be grossly underestimated. The high proportion of adults with thalassemia who experience chronic pain is evident from recent surveys. However, pain has not received enough attention in the overall management of thalassemia. The association of pain with the type and treatment of thalassemia or with its comorbidities is unclear. Abnormal spine imaging is seen in patients reporting pain, although the role of osteopenia has not been established. Pain becomes more frequent with age. The lower back is the most common site and can be particularly disabling and difficult to treat. Treatable causes, such as extramedullary masses or disc herniation or fractures, must be ruled out. Some adults experience increasing pain when the hemoglobin drops at the end of transfusion cycles. Interdisciplinary management of pain is necessary, while overreliance on medications can be counterproductive. The impact of chronic pain on the quality of life must be acknowledged. Physical therapy, psychological counseling, and vocational rehabilitation are vital to management. I recommend a proactive approach for prevention of pain by maintaining optimal bone density and an active lifestyle. I further propose that a universal tool be adopted to document and characterize pain at routine clinic visits.
NEW DIRECTIONS AND AN OLD PROBLEM: THE DEFINITION OF NORMALITY.

(1964). New Directions and an Old Problem: The Definition of Normality. Psychiatry: Vol. 27, No. 2, pp. 107-115.
Modernity. The Fundamentalist Dimension

T he basic argument in this paper is that fundamentalism is modern not only or primarily in terms of the material and organizational technologies that it uses: it is also modern in terms of its basic sociostructural features, features which have an elective affinity with the unique characteristics of modernity. Choosing Islamic fundamentalism as an example, I will also try to see how the sociostructural level of the phenomenon relates, not only to the cultural but also to the psychodynamic/psychoanalytic level.
Extended preoperative assessment of patients undergoing pulmonary resection.

Summary and conclusions 1. A series of 16 patients in whom extended preoperative assessment preceded pulmonary resection has been presented. 2. Findings suggestive of cardiovascular insufficiency do not uniformly parallel reduction in ventilatory function. 3. The value of preoperative right heart catheterization with derivation of right ventricular max. dp/dt has been emphasized. 4. In selected patients with marginal pulmonary function, such studies permit detection of those whose hearts may react unfavorably to a decrease in the pulmonary vascular bed by pulmonary resection.
Strain-Specific Virolysis Patterns of Human Noroviruses in Response to Alcohols

Alcohol-based hand sanitizers are widely used to disinfect hands to prevent the spread of pathogens including noroviruses. Alcohols inactivate norovirus by destruction of the viral capsid, resulting in the leakage of viral RNA (virolysis). Since conflicting results have been reported on the susceptibility of human noroviruses against alcohols, we exposed a panel of 30 human norovirus strains (14 GI and 16 GII strains) to different concentrations (50%, 70%, 90%) of ethanol and isopropanol and tested the viral RNA titer by RT-qPCR. Viral RNA titers of 10 (71.4%), 14 (100%), 3 (21.4%) and 7 (50%) of the 14 GI strains were reduced by > 1 log10 RNA copies/ml after exposure to 70% and 90% ethanol, and 70% and 90% isopropanol, respectively. RNA titers of 6 of the 7 non-GII 4 strains remained unaffected after alcohol exposure. Compared to GII strains, GI strains were more susceptible to ethanol than to isopropanol. At 90%, both alcohols reduced RNA titers of 8 of the 9 GII.4 strains by ≥ 1 log10 RNA copies/ml. After exposure to 70% ethanol, RNA titers of GII.4 Den Haag and Sydney strains decreased by ≥ 1.9 log10, whereas RNA reductions for GII.4 New Orleans strains were < 0.5 log10. To explain these differences, we sequenced the complete capsid gene of the 9 GII.4 strains and identified 17 amino acid substitutions in the P2 region among the 3 GII.4 variant viruses. When comparing with an additional set of 200 GII.4 VP1 sequences, only S310 and P396 were present in all GII.4 New Orleans viruses but not in the ethanol-sensitive GII.4 Sydney and GII.4 Den Haag viruses Our data demonstrate that alcohol susceptibility patterns between different norovirus genotypes vary widely and that virolysis data for a single strain or genotype are not representative for all noroviruses.
Radiographic Improvement of Hepatic Steatosis After Laparoscopic Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is the most common form of liver disease and the leading cause of cirrhosis in developed nations. Studies confirm improvement of liver histopathology after significant weight loss, but biochemistry and sonography do not always show this. Computed tomographic (CT) findings of NAFLD include low attenuation of liver parenchyma and hepatomegaly. We hypothesized that patients experiencing significant weight loss after laparoscopic Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (LRYGB) would show CT improvement of NAFLD. A retrospective review was performed on primary LRYGB patients at this institution from 2006 to 2014. We identified patients with either a preoperative abdominal CT or an early postoperative scan (prior to significant weight loss) as well as those with scans performed at >60 days postoperation. Radiologic interpretations were reviewed; descriptions of steatosis, hypodensity, fatty infiltration, fatty liver, fatty changes, or liver parenchyma measuring ≤40 Hounsfield units averaged at three locations on non-contrast CT were documented. Later, scans were reviewed for improvement by these criteria. Nineteen patients had perioperative radiographic evidence of NAFLD, with 89.5 % female, average age 41.5, and median body mass index (BMI) 46.9 kg/m2. Sixteen (84.2 %) showed radiographic improvement of NAFLD. The median time between scans was 826 days, with median BMI at that point of 30.5 kg/m2. The three without radiographic improvement still experienced significant weight loss (average BMI points lost = 19.3 kg/m2, ±5.6). While weight loss and comorbidity improvement are common, they are not universal after LRYGB. Radiographic improvement of NAFLD in 84 % of patients was salutary.