cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Characterization of a Stark-Wannier superlattice waveguide modulator

A waveguide modulator with a Stark- Wannier superlattice incorporated into the rib waveguide has been fabricated and tested. Transmission modulation as large as 50 dB has been observed in a 2.2-mm long waveguide using a tunable titanium: sapphire laser (wavelength range of 777-960 nm).
Pathfinder networks for content based image retrieval based on automated shape feature discovery

In this paper, we present a computer-assisted image browsing system based on pathfinder networks. Similarity of images to one another is determined through a proposed method of automatic shape feature discovery. Local features are generated by clustering small (on the order of 10 by 10 pixels) binary image blocks culled from the edge analysis of images in the database and using the cluster means as the local feature detectors. The clustering method for the binary image blocks is based on the Hausdorff metric of distance between sets of points. Relationships between local features then determine the similarity between images. Pathfinder networks are then used to visually represent similarity between images. The results are presented on a database containing three categories of images.
A randomized problem-solving trial for adolescent brain injury: Changes in social competence.

PURPOSE/OBJECTIVE: Traumatic brain injury (TBI) in adolescence has well documented effects on social competence. Few studies have examined the effects of behavioral interventions on social competence or identified factors associated with changes in social competence after injury. Research Method/Design: Adolescents with moderate to severe TBI ages 12-17 years were randomized within 6 months of injury to either a problem solving and communication (CAPS) group that received online counseling (n = 65) or an Internet resources comparison (IRC) group (n = 67) for a comparative effectiveness trial. Parent-report measures of social competence (Child Behavior Checklist, CBCL; Home and Community Social Behavior Scales, HCSBS; Behavioral and Emotional Rating Scale, BERS-2) were administered at baseline (preintervention) and approximately 6 months later. Analyses examined these measures in relation to treatment group, TBI severity, and age. Regression analyses were also conducted to examine baseline measures of cognition as predictors of social competence after TBI. RESULTS: CAPS had a more positive effect than the comparison condition on the HCSBS and BERS-2 for younger teens with moderate TBI and older teens with severe TBI. More parent-rated executive dysfunction at baseline was related to both lower concurrent levels of social competence and less positive gains in competence over time, whereas higher baseline IQ predicted greater gains in competence. CONCLUSIONS/IMPLICATIONS: CAPS may be effective for improving social competence for teens after TBI, with benefits dependent on the teen's age and injury severity. Parent-rated executive dysfunction, moreover, has utility in predicting both lower concurrent levels of social competence and subsequent postinjury gains in competence. (PsycINFO Database Record(c) 2016 APA, all rights reserved). Language: en
A MAYA CURIA REGIS: EVIDENCE FOR A HIERARCHICAL SPECIALIST ORDER AT XULTUN, GUATEMALA

This article presents an in-depth analysis of an important mural painting discovered within Structure 10K2 of the Los Sabios Group at the Classic Maya site of Xultun, Guatemala. We first discuss the composition of the mural scene and its central protagonist, a Late Classic period (a.d. 550–900) ruler of Xultun named Yax We'nel Chan K'inich, suggesting that it presents a ritual performance associated with an ancient New Year ceremony. Several attendant figures in the mural are labeled as members of a specialist order or category called Taaj, “obsidian,” and are marked by an unusual shared appearance. This “obsidian order” exhibits internal hierarchical ranking and is attested at other Classic Maya centers. In addition to discussing the overall content of the Xultun mural scene, we conduct a focused inquiry into these various Taaj individuals by presenting associated archaeological evidence and considering related epigraphic data. Through this analysis of the Taaj, we shed light on a previously unknown aspect of Maya courtly life and organization that is relevant to models of sovereignty, governance, and ritual performance in the Classic Maya world.
Foreign Issuer Puzzle in Emerging Growth Company IPOs

The prominence of foreign issuers in the US market has grown significantly over time. In this paper we examine the IPOs of foreign issuers around the 2012 JOBS Act, which provided emerging growth companies (EGCs) with disclosure and offering process accommodations. We find systematic differences in the effects of the EGC regime on foreign issuers, complementing existing evidence on domestic issuers. In particular, underpricing of foreign issuer IPOs decreases – rather than increases – under the EGC regime. We further find evidence that greater flexibility in pre-IPO access to potential investors, which is consistent with reduced valuation uncertainty, helps explain the lower underpricing of foreign EGC IPOs. We also find that the EGC status is associated with higher long-run returns for foreign issuers relative to other issuers. We conduct a number of robustness tests to show that our results are not explained by differences in issuer characteristics, likely confounding effects, or changes in other IPO costs. Our findings highlight the differential effects of regulatory shocks on foreign issuers accessing US markets.
State ownership and transparency in foreign direct investment

We contribute to IB literature on state-owned multinationals by examining an understudied element of MNE strategy – transparency. Drawing insight from accounting, finance, and political science, we develop theory and hypotheses regarding ownership effects on FDI disclosure. We argue that transparency of outward FDI depends on both state ownership and home and host country institutions. We also posit that host governments harness their SOEs to exploit information disclosed by foreign MNEs, discouraging inward FDI transparency. We test our hypotheses using a unique transaction-level database from the global petroleum industry. Analyzing a sample of 965 investment disclosures across 81 developing and developed countries, we find state ownership reduces MNE transparency; SOEs are less sensitive to host country political risk than private firms; SOEs from better-governed countries are more transparent; and regardless of ownership, foreign MNEs are more opaque when investing in the presence of a host country SOE.
A 6-week hip muscle strengthening and lumbopelvic-hip core stabilization program to improve pain, function, and quality of life in persons with patellofemoral osteoarthritis: a feasibility pilot study.

Patellofemoral joint (PFJ) osteoarthritis (OA) is prevalent in middle-aged and older adults. Despite this, there are minimal studies which have examined conservative interventions for PFJ OA. Weakness of proximal lower extremity muscles is associated with PFJ OA. It is unknown if a hip muscle strengthening and lumbopelvic-hip core stabilization program will improve symptoms and function in persons with PFJ OA. This study examined the feasibility and impact of a 6-week hip muscle strengthening and core stabilization program on pain, symptoms, physical performance, peak muscle torques, and quality of life in persons with PFJ OA. Ten females with PFJ OA and ten age- and sex-matched controls participated in baseline tests. PFJ OA participants attended ten twice-a-week hip strengthening and core stabilization exercise sessions. Outcome measures included questionnaires, the Timed-Up-and-Go, and peak isometric torque of hip and quadriceps muscles. Data were tested for normality; parametric and non-parametric tests were used as appropriate. At baseline, the PFJ OA group had significantly worse symptoms, slower Timed-Up-and-Go performance, and lower muscle torques than control participants. PFJ OA group adherence to supervised exercise sessions was adequate. All PFJ OA participants attended at least nine exercise sessions. Five PFJ OA participants returned 6-month follow-up questionnaires, which was considered fair retention. The PFJ OA participants’ self-reported pain, symptoms, function in daily living, function in sport, and quality of life all improved at 6 weeks (P < 0.05). Timed-Up-and-Go time score improved at 6 weeks (P = 0.005). Peak hip external rotator torque increased (P = 0.01). Improvements in pain and self-reported function were no longer significant 6 months following completion of the intervention. PFJ OA participants were adherent to the supervised sessions of the intervention. Improvement in symptoms, physical performance, and muscle torque were found after 6 weeks. Participant retention at 6 months was fair, and significant changes were no longer present. Our findings suggest that a hip strengthening and core stabilization program may be beneficial to improve symptoms, function, and physical performance in persons with PFJ OA. Future studies are needed, and additional measures should be taken to improve long-term adherence to exercise. ClinicalTrials.gov NCT02825238 . Registered 6 July 2016 (retrospectively registered).
Designing for Clinical Change: Creating an Intervention to Implement New Statin Guidelines in a Primary Care Clinic

Background: Recent clinical practice guidelines from major national organizations, including a joint United States Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and Department of Defense (DoD) committee, have substantially changed recommendations for the use of the cholesterol-lowering statin medications after years of relative stability. Because statin medications are among the most commonly prescribed treatments in the United States, any change in their use may have significant implications for patients and providers alike. Prior research has shown that effective implementation interventions should be both user centered and specifically chosen to address identified barriers. Objective: The objectives of this study were to identify potential determinants of provider uptake of the new statin guidelines and to use that information to tailor a coordinated and streamlined local quality improvement intervention focused on prescribing appropriate statins. Methods: We employed user-centered design principles to guide the development and testing of a multicomponent guideline implementation intervention to improve statin prescribing. This paper describes the intervention development process whereby semistructured qualitative interviews with providers were conducted to (1) illuminate the knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors of providers and (2) elicit feedback on intervention prototypes developed to align with and support the use of the VA/DoD guidelines. Our aim was to use this information to design a local quality improvement intervention focused on statin prescribing that was tailored to the needs of primary care providers at our facility. Cabana’s Clinical Practice Guidelines Framework for Improvement and Nielsen’s Usability Heuristics were used to guide the analysis of data obtained in the intervention development process. Results: Semistructured qualitative interviews were conducted with 15 primary care Patient Aligned Care Team professionals (13 physicians and 2 clinical pharmacists) at a single VA medical center. Findings highlight that providers were generally comfortable with the paradigm shift to risk-based guidelines but less clear on the need for the VA/DoD guidelines in specific. Providers preferred a clinical decision support tool that helped them calculate patient risk and guide their care without limiting autonomy. They were less comfortable with risk communication and performance measurement systems that do not account for shared decision making. When possible, we incorporated their recommendations into the intervention. Conclusions: By combining qualitative methods and user-centered design principles, we could inform the design of a multicomponent guideline implementation intervention to better address the needs and preferences of providers, including clear and direct language, logical decision prompts with an option to dismiss a clinical decision support tool, and logical ordering of feedback information. Additionally, this process allowed us to identify future design considerations for quality improvement interventions.
Differentiation of Esophageal pH-Impedance Characteristics Classified by the Mucosal Integrity Marker in Human Neonates

In adults, distal baseline impedance (BI) is a determinant of esophageal mucosal integrity with values 2000 Ω). Regression analysis was used to identify potential contributing factors of BI. In BI 2000 Ω), and (2) positive symptom correlations were noted with bolus (73%) and acid events (55%). Significant predictors of BI included chronological age, acid reflux index, and BPD diagnosis (all P 2000 Ω likely involves little or no inflammation because acid exposure is minimal. Combination of SAP, pH-impedance metrics, and BI along with the clarification of dysmotility mechanisms provides the rationale for personalized anti-reflux therapies as needed.
Genome aware CRISPR gRNA target prediction for parasitic nematodes.

Abstract The pace of research towards a genetic model to understand the unique molecular biology of parasitic nematodes has increased recently. This research has developed a diverse suite of genetic tools for a variety of parasitic nematodes. CRISPR/Cas9 technology in particular offers much promise as a game changing tool for researchers studying parasitic nematodes. Unlike RNAi, which depends on diverse nematode effectors to silence gene expression, the effectors for CRISPR/Cas9 mutations are typically supplied by the experimenter, making gene editing via CRISPR/Cas9 ideal for testing on genetically intractable nematode systems. To facilitate the development of CRISPR/Cas9 technology for parasitic nematodes, I here describe a tool for identifying gRNA targets and diagnostic primers to a user supplied sequence. The software attempts to minimize non-specific targets by interrogating the genomes of parasitic nematodes. This software is freely available online and features an intuitive interface to help researchers design effective CRISPR experiments for parasitic nematodes.
Sipuleucel-T to modify the B7-H3 immune checkpoint in men with castrate resistant prostate cancer.

273Background: B7-H3 is a T cell costimulatory molecule whose expression correlates with increased prostate cancer stage and mortality. We measured serum B7-H3 (sB7-H3) levels in men undergoing sip...
Mental health conditions and the risk of chronic opioid therapy among patients with rheumatoid arthritis: a retrospective veterans affairs cohort study

Patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) often receive opioid analgesics for pain management. We examined the association between mental health conditions and the risk of chronic opioid therapy. A retrospective cohort of veterans with RA initiating opioid use was assembled using Veterans Health Administration databases (2001–2012). Mental health conditions included anxiety (N = 1108, 12.9%), depression (N = 1912, 22.2%), bipolar disease (N = 131, 1.5%), and post-traumatic stress disorder (N = 768, 8.9%) and were identified by ICD coded diagnoses and use of specific medications. Cohort members were followed from opioid initiation through chronic opioid therapy, defined as the continuous availability of opioids for at least 90 days. Multivariable Cox proportional hazard regression models assessed the association between mental health conditions and chronic opioid therapy accounting for relevant covariates. Subgroup analyses examined whether the strength of the observed association varied by the duration of the initial opioid prescription. We identified 14,767 patients with RA with 22,452 episodes of opioid use initiation. Mental health conditions were identified in 8607 (38.3%) patients. Compared with patients without mental health conditions, patients with mental health conditions have a higher risk of developing chronic opioid therapy (469.3 vs 378.1 per 1000 person-years, adjusted hazard ratio [aHR] 1.18, 95% CI 1.09, 1.29). The increased risk was highest for those with a history of opioid use disorder (aHR 1.94, 95% CI 1.09, 3.46) and also elevated for those with other substance use disorders (aHR 1.35, 95% CI 1.05, 1.73). Duration of the initial opioid prescription was independently associated with chronic opioid therapy, regardless of the estimated opioid daily dose. History of mental health conditions and duration of the initial opioid prescription were associated with an increased risk of chronic opioid therapy among patients with RA.
Targeted Intracellular Degradation of SARS-CoV-2 RBD via Computationally-Optimized Peptide Fusions

The COVID-19 pandemic, caused by the novel coronavirus SARS-CoV-2, has elicited a global health crisis of catastrophic proportions. With no approved cure or vaccine currently available, there is a critical need for effective antiviral strategies. In this study, we report a novel antiviral platform, through computational design of ACE2-derived peptides which both target the viral spike protein receptor binding domain (RBD) and recruit E3 ubiquitin ligases for subsequent intracellular degradation of SARS-CoV-2 in the proteasome. Our engineered peptide fusions demonstrate robust RBD degradation capabilities in human cells, thus prompting their further experimental characterization and therapeutic development.
Volvox and volvocine green algae

The transition of life from single cells to more complex multicellular forms has occurred at least two dozen times among eukaryotes and is one of the major evolutionary transitions, but the early steps that enabled multicellular life to evolve and thrive remain poorly understood. Volvocine green algae are a taxonomic group that is uniquely suited to investigating the step-wise acquisition of multicellular organization. The multicellular volvocine species Volvox carteri exhibits many hallmarks of complex multicellularity including complete germ–soma division of labor, asymmetric cell divisions, coordinated tissue-level morphogenesis, and dimorphic sexes—none of which have obvious analogs in its closest unicellular relative, the model alga Chlamydomonas reinhardtii. Here, I summarize some of the key questions and areas of study that are being addressed with Volvox carteri and how increasing genomic information and methodologies for volvocine algae are opening up the entire group as an integrated experimental system for exploring the evolution of multicellularity and more.
Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion for Some but Not All: LGBQ Asian American Youth Experiences at an Urban Public High School.

This article reports on a two-year study on the in-school experiences of 10 ethnically and generationally diverse Asian American LGBQ-identified adolescents who attended a racially integrated urban...
Social support and siblings of children with cancer: A scoping review.

Objective Social support is essential in healthy adjustment to life stressors. This scoping review examines how social support has been conceptualized, operationalized, and studied among siblings of children with cancer. Gaps in the current literature are identified, and future research directions are proposed. Methods A rigorous systematic scoping review framework guided our process. Medline, Embase, CINAHL, PsycINFO, and Scopus were searched for literature regarding social support and siblings of children with cancer. After screening, 57 articles were identified (n = 26 quantitative, n = 21 qualitative, and n = 10 multi-method) and their content extracted for summarization. Results The majority of studies (n = 43, 75.4%) were descriptive; 14 (24.6%) included interventions, and of those, four were experimental. Few studies used a clearly defined theoretical framework, or validated tools to measure social support. Studies explored perceived social support needs of siblings, the provision and availability of formal support through interventions and related outcomes, and informal family social supports. A variety of support types were found to be helpful to siblings in different ways. Conclusions Social support is a prevalent topic in the literature regarding siblings of children with cancer. It is unclear what types of support are most important due to how it has been conceptualized and measured. Despite some methodological limitations, greater levels of social support have been linked to better adaptation among siblings of children with cancer. Future work is warranted to identify the most beneficial types of support for siblings based on their age, developmental stage, and the cancer trajectory.
Evidence for Hope?: Mississippi Christians’ Views Toward Gay and Lesbian Equality Post Obergefell v. Hodges

Despite the legalization of same-sex marriage, gay and lesbian people still lack full rights and equality in the USA. People in the USA who adhere to conservative religion and politics continue to create obstacles to full equality for gay and lesbian citizens. Through semi-structured, qualitative interviews, I provide an exploratory look at the shifting views toward gay and lesbian equality by highlighting the stories of six Mississippi Christians’ over a 6-year period. Overall, the six Mississippi Christians who agreed to participate in a follow-up interview in 2019 all became more accepting of gay and lesbian people and more open to gay and lesbian equality in the USA to various degrees. Continued social contact with gay and lesbian people, along with policy changes in the USA, led to more acceptance of gay and lesbian Americans by southern Christians. Striving to bring conservative Christians along on this journey toward more acceptance and support of gay and lesbian equality is not a futile effort. Christians who are “on-the-fence” are slowly progressing toward more acceptance. While religion may serve as a negative feature that deters the positive benefits of social contact, knowing someone who identifies as gay or lesbian remains a vital component of bringing more moderate Christians to acceptance of gay and lesbian people and rights.
First Bites—Why, When, and What Solid Foods to Feed Infants

Humans are the only mammals who feed our young special complementary foods before weaning and we are the only primates that wean our young before they can forage independently. There appears to be a sensitive period in the first several months of life when infants readily accept a wide variety of tastes and this period overlaps with a critical window for oral tolerance. As a result, infants should be exposed to a wide variety of flavors while mother is pregnant, while mother is nursing and beginning at an early age. There also appears to be a sensitive period between 4 and 9 months when infants are most receptive to different food textures. There remains debate about when it is best to begin introducing solid foods into an infant's diet however, the available evidence suggests that provided the water and food supply are free of contamination, and the infant is provided adequate nutrition, there are no clear contraindications to feeding infants complementary foods at any age. There is emerging evidence that introduction of solid foods into an infant's diet by 4 months may increase their willingness to eat a variety of fruits and vegetables later in life, decrease their risk of having feeding problems later in life, and decrease their risk of developing food allergies, and the early introduction of solid foods into an infant's diet does not appear to increase their risk of obesity later in childhood.
Pregnancy loss and risk of cardiovascular disease: the Nurses' Health Study II.

AIMS The aim of this study was to explore the association of pregnancy loss (PL) with the incidence of cardiovascular disease (CVD) and examine the extent to which this relation is mediated by subsequent metabolic disorders. METHODS AND RESULTS We followed 95 465 ever-gravid women participating in the Nurses' Health Study II between 1993 and 2017. Cox proportional hazards models were used to estimate the hazard ratios (HRs) of CVD, including coronary heart disease (CHD), and stroke, according to the occurrence of PL. A mediation analysis was conducted to explore the intermediating effect of subsequent type 2 diabetes, hypertension, or hypercholesterolaemia. During 2 205 392 person-years of follow-up (mean 23.10 years), 2225 (2.3%) incident CVD cases were documented. After adjusting for confounding factors, PL was associated with an HR of 1.21 [95% confidence interval (CI) 1.10-1.33] for CVD during follow-up. A similar association was observed for CHD (HR 1.20; 95% CI 1.07-1.35) and stroke (HR 1.23; 95% CI 1.04-1.44). The risk of CVD increased with the number of PLs [HR 1.18 (95% CI 1.06-1.31) for 1 and 1.34 (95% CI 1.13-1.59) for ≥2 times] and was greater for PL occurring early in reproductive lifespan [HR 1.40 (95% CI 1.21-1.62) for age ≤23 years, 1.25 (95% CI 1.09-1.43) for age 24-29 years, and 1.03 (95% CI 0.88-1.19) for age ≥30 years]. Hypertension, hypercholesterolaemia, and type 2 diabetes all explained <1.80% of the association between PL and CVD. CONCLUSION PL was associated with a greater CVD risk, independently of subsequent development of metabolic disorders.
Laboratory Aids for Diagnosing Neuromuscular Diseases

Frequently, laboratory studies are necessary to arrive at the specific cause of a neuromuscular problem. Electrodiagnostic studies and microscopic examination of muscle tissue are particularly essential for this purpose. A basic knowledge of neuromuscular anatomy and physiology is helpful for the best use of these tests.
Affinity and Chemical Enrichment for Mass Spectrometry-Based Proteomics Analyses

Collective improvements in mass spectrometry, separations, enrichment techniques, and related sample processing, along with integrated data analytic strategies, have advanced the objectives of proteomics studies from generation of peptide and protein catalogs to construction of dynamic networks that seek to correlate changes in protein expression and post-translational modification status to biological state. While researchers pursue the analysis of increasingly complex mixtures, the goal of compiling a comprehensive proteome sequence at an organism level remains beyond our reach. Nevertheless the use of proteomics techniques to characterize specific pathways, modifications, and protein interactions has provided a wealth of insight not otherwise available for biological studies. Continued progress in targeted analyses will yield sufficient temporal and spatial resolution in proteomics studies to support predictions of phenotype as a function of biological perturbation.
Conditionals and Prediction: Time, Knowledge and Causation in Conditional Constructions

Acknowledgements 1. Conditionals as a category 2. Prediction and distance: time and modality in conditional clauses 3. Relations between the clauses in conditional constructions 4. Knowledge and conditional protases 5. Conditional clauses: form and order 6. If and other conditional conjunctions 7. Conclusion: prototypical conditionality and related constructions Bibliography Indexes.
A subunit of mammalian signal peptidase is homologous to yeast SEC11 protein.

Canine signal peptidase consists of a complex of five proteins (Evans, A. E., Gilmore, R., and Blobel, G. (1986) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 83, 581-585). A cDNA encoding the 21-kDa subunit of the signal peptidase complex was isolated from a liver cDNA library using an 88-base pair probe, generated by the polymerase chain reaction. The 820-base pair cDNA was sequenced and found to encode a protein of 21,585 daltons. The deduced amino acid sequence from the canine cDNA was found to be 47% identical to the yeast SEC11 protein. SEC11 has been shown to be required for signal peptide cleavage, normal rate of secretion, and cell survival in Saccharomyces cerevisiae (Bohni, P. C., Deshaies, R. J., and Schekman, R. W. (1988) J. Cell Biol. 106, 1035-1042). It is, therefore, likely that the 21-kDa subunit of signal peptidase complex is the structural and functional homologue of the yeast SEC11 gene product.
Superconducting instrumentation for precision measurement and control

The Josephson series-array voltage standard (JAVS) has dramatically improved the level to which high-accuracy electrical equipment may be monitored and stabilized. For example, a small pressure dependence in the output of some solid-state voltage standards has been measured with the JAVS. The use of two such series-arrays in a superconductive loop promises to be a new method of ultra-small frequency difference measurement. The accuracy of these new measurement configurations is set by the superconductive loop inductance and the Josephson junction parameters.
Problems and challenges in patient information retrieval: a descriptive study.

Abstract Many patients now turn to the Web for health care information. However, a lack of domain knowledge and unfamiliarity with medical vocabulary and concepts restrict their ability to successfully obtain information they seek. The purpose of this descriptive study was to identify and classify the problems a patient encounters while performing information retrieval tasks on the Web, and the challenges it poses to informatics research. In this study, we observed patients performing various retrieval tasks, and measured the effectiveness of, satisfaction with, and usefulness of the results. Our study showed that patient information retrieval often failed to produce successful results due to a variety of problems. We propose a classification of patient IR problems based on our observations.
Enzyme-catalyzed polycondensation reactions for the synthesis of aromatic polycarbonates and polyesters.

Aromatic polymers are widely used in products ranging from optical lenses to milk bottles because of their strength, thermal durability, and high glass transition temperatures. All of the commonly used routes employed to generate aromatic polycarbonates and polyesters generate large amounts of waste as by-products and require high energy input. For these reasons, alternate routes to aromatic polymers which involve either less energy input or less waste generation are being investigated. One such route may be enzymatic. Herein we describe enzyme-catalyzed AA-BB condensation polymerizations to form aromatic polycarbonates and polyesters with six different aromatic diols and molecular weights of up to 5,200 Daltons are generated. In addition, for reactions with benzenedimethanol the enzyme exhibits regioselectivity for parahydroxyls over meta- and orthohydroxyls.
Modeling the word recognition data of Vitevitch and Luce (1998): is it ARTful?

Vitevitch and Luce (1998) showed that the probability with which phonemes co-occur in the language (phonotactic probability) affects the speed with which words and nonwords are named. Words with high phonotactic probabilities between phonemes were named more slowly than words with low probabilities, whereas with nonwords, just the opposite was found. To reproduce this reversal in performance, a model would seem to require not merely sublexical representations, but sublexical representations that are relatively independent of lexical representations. ARTphone (Grossberg, Boardman, & Cohen, 1997) is designed to meet these requirements. In this study, we used a technique called parameter space partitioning to analyze ARTphone’s behavior and to learn if it can mimic human behavior and, if so, to understand how. To perform best, differences in sublexical node probabilities must be amplified relative to lexical node probabilities to offset the additional source of inhibition (from top-down masking) that is found at the sublexical level.
Influence of female sex hormones on neuroleptic-induced behavioral supersensitivity

Abstract The influence of various states of female sex hormones were investigated on the development of neuroleptic-induced behavioral supersensitivity to a dopamine agonist. The chronic administration of haloperidol induced behavioral hypersensitivity in male guinea-pigs. This effect has often been reported with male animals. In female guinea-pigs, haloperidol failed to induce any behavioral changes. Oophorectomy of female guinea-pigs significantly reduced the behavioral response to apomorphine when compared to normal female animals. This behavioral hyposensitivity increased as a function of time after oophorectomy. Chronic haloperidol treatment in oophorectomized animals produced behavioral hypersensitivity. Chronic treatment of either estradiol or progesterone in oophorectomized animals caused a significant enhancement of the behavioral response. In oophorectomized animals treated chronically with estradiol plus haloperidol or progesterone plus haloperidol no greater behavioral response was observed than with treatment with estradiol or progesterone alone. These results suggest that female sex hormones are able to modify dopamine receptor sensitivity and alter the development of behavioral supersensitivity induced by neuroleptics.
Oxygen sag equation for second-order BOD decay

Abstract A dissolved oxygen (DO) equation for a stream is developed in which the biochemical oxygen demand (BOD) deoxygenation rate is described as a second-order reaction. Rate constants for a second-order BOD equation may be evaluated by graphical or numerical methods. The DO sag equation incorporates exponential integral functions. These functions are available in tabular form or they may be calculated by exact or approximate series. The time at which the minimum DO concentration occurs is calculated numerically. The DO sag equation using a second-order BOD model fills a gap in the literature, as a number of investigators had explored describing BOD decay as a second-order reaction but the corresponding DO sag equation was not available to predict the impact of such wastes on a river.
Optimal layout of cantilever trusses

For given allowable stress, Michell (Ref. 1) has investigated the optimal design of a cantilever truss that is to transmit a given load to two given fixed points of support. Disregarding the weight of the connections between the bars, he found that the truss of minimum weight is a truss-like continuum with an infinity of joints, and with bars that are mostly of infinitesimal length. In the present paper, a finite number of joints is enforced by including in the structural weight, which is to be minimized, not only the weight of the bars but also the weight of their connections, which is assumed to be proportional to the number of joints. The concept of two adjoint trusses is introduced, each of which coincides with the Maxwell diagram of the other truss. Two adjoint trusses have the same weight, and an optimal truss is therefore self-adjoint. The optimal configurations of 6-joint and 11-joint cantilever trusses are discussed, and the range of the weight of the typical joint is determined for which the 6-joint truss is optimal.
Circadian variation of aqueous humor dynamics in older healthy adults

Purpose. Intraocular pressure in the sitting position changes minimally during sleep, although aqueous humor flow decreases by 50% or more at night. The explanation for this apparent discrepancy has been unclear. This study investigated the roles of outflow facility, episcleral venous pressure (EVP), and uveoscleral outflow in maintaining IOP at night.
Effect of undertreatment on the disparity in age-related breast cancer-specific survival among older women

Assess the relationship between age and breast cancer-specific survival among older women and determine whether the observed age-related disparities in survival is explained by differences in breast cancer treatments received. Women ≥65 years old at diagnosis with stage I–IIIA breast cancer diagnosed between 1997 and 1998 were recruited from four regions of the United States and followed prospectively for 5 years after diagnosis. Data was obtained from tumor registries, medical records, and telephone interviews. The primary endpoint was breast cancer-specific survival. Our independent variables were age operationalized as ≤75 years vs. >75 years, and receipt of recommended guideline therapy, adapted from the National Institutes of Health guideline consensus conference. Of 689 women, 36% were >75 years. Women >75 years were less likely to have received the following; axillary lymph node dissection (84% vs. 93%, P = 0.0003), radiotherapy (40% vs. 54%, P = 0.0003), definitive primary therapy (71% vs. 84%, P 75 years who received guideline therapy and 83% (95% CI, 74%, 89%) for those >75 years who did not receive guideline therapy, (P = 0.002) by the log-rank test. Receipt of guideline therapy may reduce the age-related disparity in breast cancer survival among older women.
Tidal effects on globular clusters

It was von Hoerner (1957) who pointed out that the tidal field of the Galaxy imposed a boundary condition on the size of globular clusters, a fact that had observational consequences when the first deep star counts became available (King 1962). More recently, though, dispute (cf Innanen, et al. 1983) has arisen over the identification of the observed limiting radius from star counts with that predicted by simple dynamical theory (King 1962, 1966; Szebehely 1967). Straightforward application of the classical three body problem seemed to imply that no stable stellar orbits would be found beyond the collinear Lagrangian points. Thus, to first order, the observed limiting radius would be just the radius of the inner Langrangian point L2 from the cluster center. For clusters in eccentric orbits, the tidal radius would be set at perigalacticon, where the tidal force is strongest. Numerical models of stellar orbits about a cluster in a realistic galactic potential by several authors (Jefferys 1976; Keenan and Innanen 1975; Keenan 1981) showed that stable orbits can exist with apocluster distances greater than rL2, due to the presence of non algebraic integrals of the motion that constrained the stars to move in a restricted region about the cluster rather than escaping.
A case of Cotard syndrome: (123)I-IBZM SPECT imaging of striatal D(2) receptor binding.

A case of 'delire de negation' that suddenly appeared in a 43-year-old male is presented. No alteration in regional cerebral blood, as measured by (99m)Tc-HMPAO-SPECT, was found, but (123)I-IBZM-SPECT analysis showed reduced striatal D(2) receptor binding that further decreased after treatment.
Ellipticine-induced protein-associated dna breaks in isolated l1210 nuclei.

DNA intercalating agents have been found to produce protein-associated DNA strand breaks in mammalian cells. At a first step towards a subcellular system for the study of this reaction, we demonstrate that the reaction can take place in isolated cell nuclei. Ellipticine induces in these nuclei DNA strand breaks and stable DNA-protein complexes. Complexes and breaks are present in equivalent amounts. DNA breaks are revealed only if protein-mediated DNA adsorption to filters is abolished. These findings make it unlikely that similar effects observed in cells in culture after treatment with intercalating agents are caused by metabolically activated drugs.
Multimodality cardiac image review station using dynamic decompression of JPEG images

A cardiology review station for clinical use has been developed which can decompress, zoom, and display full resolution JPEG-encoded cardiac angiograms and echocardiograms in real- time (30 frames/second). The review station is installed in a network which includes a digital image archival system throughout Duke University Medical Center. The review station consists of a DEC 3000/600 AXP workstation with a DEC J300 sight and sound multimedia board. The J300 is used to decompress up to 45 true color JPEG-encoded frames/sec. at normal (512 X 512) resolution and 30 frames/sec. at 1.5 X zoom. Digitally acquired 512 X 512 X 8 bit monochrome angiograms as well as 600 X 430 X 8 bit color and monochrome echocardiograms are transferred to the workstation where they are JPEG-encoded in real time using the J300 board. A compression factor of approximately 15:1 is being used. A graphical user interface (GUI) developed using OSF/Motif 1.2 enables a clinical user to simultaneously display and control several image sequences. A sequence can be retrieved in under three seconds and displayed dynamically in forward or reverse directions with instantaneous speed control. Utilizing a commercial relational database (Sybase), the GUI organizes image sequences for a patient by image modality, location, time, and view. A schematic representation of cardiac anatomy allows a user to view specific angiographic image sequences by selecting appropriate objects in the anatomic diagram.© (1995) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Molecular pathology of dilated cardiomyopathies

The term idiopathic, defined as being of unknown etiology or mechanism, is no longer applicable to the dilated cardiomyopathies. The tools of molecular biology and clinical investigation have made significant progress, and it is now to the rare and exceptional case that one is forced to apply the term idiopathic. Further, having arrived at more precise cause, direct therapeutic intervention will become possible. The concept of gene insertion and "genetic therapy" is under active investigation. Unfortunately, the significant advances in the cause and disease mechanisms of DCM have not been matched in therapeutics. With few exceptions, we indirectly treat the DCMs by managing the CHF syndrome. However, several important points have emerged. The concept of LV afterload reduction is valid and efficacious. The use of vasodilator therapy has significantly reduced both mortality and morbidity and, in certain forms of cardiomyopathy (e.g., hypertensive, alcoholic, and doxorubicin-related), have significantly altered hemodynamics and permitted the injured heart to heal and return to a near normal functional state. However, as much as we want to congratulate ourselves on the progress bought with the use of vasodilators and ACE inhibitors, one must keep in mind that under the best of circumstances, the DCMs still carry an unacceptably high morbidity and mortality. A 40% to 50% 4- to 5-year mortality rate is depressing. Herein lies the challenge. With the significant progress in pathogenesis and etiology, we now stand at the threshold of new, innovative advances in therapeutics. These new concepts in both therapeutics and prevention will require courage, dedication, and hard work. But bit by bit, these seemingly insolvable problems will yield to the discipline and imagination of the investigator. The DCMs will continue to be a challenging problem for future investigators. Progress has been dramatic, and it should continue even at an accelerated pace as we approach the twenty-first century.
Shifts in associative hierarchies as a function of associative training

Response hierarchies of individual S s were assessed in Stage 1 by obtaining 16 different responses to each of six stimuli. Stage 2 consisted of learning paired associates composed of the six stimulus words and responses from S 's six Stage-1 hierarchies (R 1 , R 2 , R 4 , R 8 , R 16 , or a control R). Control conditions with respect to Stage-2 training were employed. After Stage 2, the response hierarchies were reassessed (Stage 3). The results indicate that response-repetition frequency in Stages 1 and 3 is greater for the responses employed in Stage-2 training. Furthermore, the responses employed in Stage-2 training shifted upward in the hierarchy from Stage 1 to Stage 3.
Microhardness and indentation toughness versus average coordination number in isostructural chalcogenide glass systems

Abstract Several high purity chalcogenide glasses were prepared by vacuum melting of previously distilled and/or surface oxide removed 5 to 6-nines pure Ge, Sb, Se, As and Te. Vickers hardness number and indentation toughness were measured using the microindentation technique. A previously proposed empirical relation between average coordination number and Vickers hardness number for chalcogen-rich chalcogenide glasses was refined and is discussed in relation to ‘rigidity percolation’ concepts.
DESIGN AND FABRICATION OF MICROFLAP ACTUATORS FOR STEERING OF MICRO AIR VEHICLES

This paper presents the design, analysis, and fabrication of an array of microflap actuators that can produce a substantial aerodynamic force for course corrections of Micro Air Vehicles (MAVs) and low speed projectiles. In the past, several actuation principles, including microjet, magnetic and bubble actuators, and flapping wings have been proposed, and had varying degrees of success. In this paper, we discuss the benefits and drawbacks of past attempts, and the technology that can be used to address the microflap steering problem. We propose a hybrid microflap actuation scheme that combines two types of actuators including: 1) a MEMS fabricated "active" microactuator connected to a microflap, and 2) a "passive" fluidic channel system that harvests the potential energy in the high pressure field on the leading edge of the MAV or high speed projectile to achieve a desired deflection. An array of microflap actuators was prototyped using silicon MEMS fabrication and microassembly. A Silicon On Insulator (SOI) wafer with 100 micron thick device layer was used to as a substrate material to fabricate microflap structures with springs. Front and back side DRIE process was used to etch and release the microstructures including microflaps. Then, the microactuator was assembled on top of the microflap. The static and dynamic behaviors of a microflap were measured using a laser displacement sensor and were compared to the analytic model. In the near future, a prototyped microflap will be tested inside of a wind tunnel to measure the lift and drag at various air speeds.
The determination of urinary estrogens in pregnancy using an automated fluorometric assay.

Abstract A semi-automated method for the determination of total urinary estrogens in pregnant women has been developed. The procedure employs the salting-out of the urinary estrogens with ammonium sulfate as outlined by Cohen (1). The solutions made of the resulting precipitates are then assayed by an automatized Ittrich-Kober fluorescence reaction. This method meets the criteria of speed, accuracy and reproducibility needed for the assessment of fetal health and/or threatened abortion. In fetal health programs it can be applied to the mass screening of the pregnant status.