cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Social Determinants of Health in Managed Care Payment Formulas.

Importance Managed care payment formulas commonly allocate more money for medically complex populations, but ignore most social determinants of health (SDH). Objective To add SDH variables to a diagnosis-based payment formula that allocates funds to managed care plans and accountable care organizations. Design, Setting, and Participants Using data from MassHealth, the Massachusetts Medicaid and Children's Health Insurance Program, we estimated regression models predicting Medicaid spending using a diagnosis-based and SDH-expanded model, and compared the accuracy of their cost predictions overall and for vulnerable populations. MassHealth members enrolled for at least 6 months in 2013 in fee-for-service (FFS) programs (n = 357 660) or managed care organizations (MCOs) (n = 524 607). Exposures We built cost prediction models from a fee-for-service program. Predictors in the diagnosis-based model are age, sex, and diagnoses from claims. The SDH model adds predictors describing housing instability, behavioral health issues, disability, and neighborhood-level stressors. Main Outcomes and Measures Overall model explanatory power and overpayments and underpayments for subgroups of interest for all Medicaid-reimbursable expenditures excepting long-term support services (mean annual cost = $5590 per member). Results We studied 357 660 people who were FFS participants and 524 607 enrolled in MCOs with a combined 806 889 person-years of experience. The FFS program experience included more men (49.6% vs 43.6%), older patients (mean age of 26.1 years vs 21.6 years), and sicker patients (mean morbidity score of 1.16 vs 0.89) than MCOs. Overall, the SDH model performed well, but only slightly better than the diagnosis-based model, explaining most of the spending variation in the managed care population (validated R 2 = 62.4) and reducing underpayments for several vulnerable populations. For example, raw costs for the quintile of people living in the most stressed neighborhoods were 9.6% ($537 per member per year) higher than average. Since greater medical morbidity accounts for much of this difference, the diagnosis-based model underpredicts costs for the most stressed quintile by about 2.1% ($130 per member per year). The expanded model eliminates the neighborhood-based underpayment, as well as underpayments of 72% for clients of the Department of Mental Health (observed costs of about $30 000 per year) and of 7% for those with serious mental illness (observed costs of about $16 000 per year). Conclusions and Relevance Since October 2016, MassHealth has used an expanded model to allocate payments from a prespecified total budget to managed care organizations according to their enrollees’ social and medical risk. Extra payments for socially vulnerable individuals could fund activities, such as housing assistance, that could improve health equity.
Landscape complementation revealed through bipartite networks: an example with the Florida manatee

Landscape complementation, or how landscapes that contain two or more non-substitutable and spatially separated resources facilitate resource use, is critical for many populations. Implicit to the problem of landscape complementation is the movement of individuals to access multiple resources. Conventional measures of complementation, such as habitat area or distance between habitats, do not consider the spatial configuration of resources or how landscape features impede movement. We advanced a bipartite network approach to capture the spatial configuration and connectivity of two habitat types and contrasted this framework to conventional approaches in a habitat selection model. Using satellite-telemetry of the Florida manatee (Trichechus manatus latirostris), a marine mammal that relies on two distinct, spatially separate habitats for foraging and thermoregulating, we parameterized and compared mixed conditional logistic models with covariates describing classic habitat selection metrics, conventional measures of landscape complementation, and bipartite network metrics. The models best supported included habitat area, resistance distance between habitats, and the bipartite network metric eigenvector centrality. The connectivity between habitats and the spatial configuration of one habitat type relative to other types better described habitat selection than conventional measures of landscape complementation alone. The type of habitat, i.e. seagrass or thermal refuge, influenced both the direction and magnitude of the response. Landscape complementation is an important predictor of selection and thus classic complementation measures are not sufficient in describing the process. Formalization of complementation with bipartite network can therefor reveal effects potentially missed with conventional measures.
Excellence and Devotion: Black Women in Mathematics in the United States

This reflective essay explores the rich history of Black women in mathematics in the United States, and their contributions to academe, research, and industry. Despite their significant activity in the field, Black women’s contributions are often “hidden”—their work and research undervalued, their mentoring of others unacknowledged. This essay explores three interrelated themes—excellence, opportunity, and devotion—in the formative, educational, and professional experiences of Black women in mathematics. The essay concludes by exploring directions for future efforts to continue to build upon this group’s incredible potential and achievements in mathematics. This chapter draws extensively from research conducted for and reported in the author’s book about Black mathematicians, Beyond Banneker: Black Mathematicians and the Paths to Excellence, published by SUNY Press in 2014.
Improving cyber-attack predictions through information foraging

This paper describes how information foraging is useful in the implementation of new algorithms to anticipate cyber attacks. The exploration of publicly available data has been used to predict events in the socio-political domain, but the adversarial and covert behavior of actors in cyber security creates additional challenges. This paper describes a framework for Information Foraging for Algorithm Discovery (IFAD) that addresses standard data-science issues of volume and variety, by balancing human intuition with automation, and thus taking initial steps toward supporting the increasing need for rapid analysis of, and tool development for, big data. Our results demonstrate that cognitive augmentation, and information foraging in particular, is useful in the development of tools to anticipate cyber attacks using publicly available data.
Freshly Formed Aerosol Particles: Connections to Precipitation

University of Wyoming Department of Atmospheric Science Abstract Aerosol particle measurements made onboard the Wyoming King Air research aircraft during the summer and winter of 2006 are examined in the context of aerosol particle source and sink processes. These measurements were obtained over the North-Eastern Pacific (off the coast of northern California) and over a high-elevation valley in southeastern Wyoming. Our focus is on measurements of the concentration of recently formed particles with diameters between 0.003 and 0.015 μm; these are supplemented with airborne radar observations of precipitation. The summer/marine measurements suggest that recently formed particles appear in response to removal of larger particles by precipitation. The winter/continental measurements demonstrate that the recently formed particles are scavenged via their interaction with precipitation. It appears that attachment to ice crystals is the dominating sink process in this context. Emphasis on these recently formed particles, and their interaction with precipitation, is motivated by recognition that both their genesis and removal are linked to the hydrologic cycle.
Bhattacharyya Error and Divergence using Variational Importance Sampling

Many applications require the use of divergence measures between probability distributions. Several of these, such as the Kullback Leibler (KL) divergence and the Bhattacharyya divergence,aretractableforsingleGaussians,butintractableforcomplex distributions such as Gaussian mixture models (GMMs) used in speech recognizers. For tasks related to classification error, theBhattacharyyadivergenceisofspecialimportance. Here we derive efficient approximations to the Bhattacharyya divergence for GMMs, using novel variational methods and importance sampling. We introduce a combination of the two, variational importance sampling (VISa), which performs importance sampling using a proposal distribution derived from the variational approximation. VISa achieves the same accuracy as naive importance sampling at a fraction of the computation. Finally we apply the Bhattacharyya divergence to compute word confusability and compare the corresponding estimates using the KL divergence. Index Terms: Variational importance sampling, Bhattacharyya divergence, variational methods, Gaussian mixture models.
How Do Subcellular Organelles Participate in Preconditioning-Conferred Neuroprotection?

Preconditioning or tolerance is a natural phenomenon of endogenous adaptation, whereby subtoxic stress protects against subsequent higher dose stress. Although preconditioning is likely to be a ubiquitous stress response relevant to many disease conditions, it has been most successfully employed in ischemia research. Enormous efforts have focused on identifying the intrinsic mechanisms so that they can be translated into pharmacological interventions aimed at counteracting neurodegeneration following stroke. A firm grasp of the molecular events at the level of each subcellular organelle will aid researchers to move closer towards this elusive clinical goal. Fortunately, technological innovations such as the confocal and transmission electron microscopes have transported preconditioning research into the subcellular organelle level. This has deepened our knowledge of how preconditioning affects these organelles and triggers subcellular signaling pathways that eventually lead to neuroprotective processes and cellular survival. In this chapter, the participation of mitochondria, the endoplasmic reticulum, proteasomes, lysosomes, the Golgi apparatus, the peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors on the nuclear membrane, and gene expression regulating factors in the nucleus will thus be considered.
Basal epithelial tissue folding is mediated by differential regulation of microtubules.

ABSTRACT The folding of epithelial tissues is crucial for development of three-dimensional structure and function. Understanding this process can assist in determining the etiology of developmental disease and engineering of tissues for the future of regenerative medicine. Folding of epithelial tissues towards the apical surface has long been studied, but the molecular mechanisms that mediate epithelial folding towards the basal surface are just emerging. Here, we utilize zebrafish neuroepithelium to identify mechanisms that mediate basal tissue folding to form the highly conserved embryonic midbrain-hindbrain boundary. Live imaging revealed Wnt5b as a mediator of anisotropic epithelial cell shape, both apically and basally. In addition, we uncovered a Wnt5b-mediated mechanism for specific regulation of basal anisotropic cell shape that is microtubule dependent and likely to involve JNK signaling. We propose a model in which a single morphogen can differentially regulate apical versus basal cell shape during tissue morphogenesis.
Challenging students with high abilities in inclusive math and science classrooms

The overall purpose of this study was to better understand how US math and science teachers perceived and supported the learning of high-ability students in inclusive, urban general education class...
Feasibility and outcomes: Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial of a home-based integrated physical exercise and bladder-training program vs usual care for community-dwelling older women with urinary incontinence.

Aims To assess the feasibility of a randomized controlled trial of a home-based integrated physical exercise and bladder-training program vs usual care in community-dwelling women with urinary incontinence (UI). Methods We conducted a parallel arm, nonblinded, pilot randomized controlled trial of a home-based integrated physical exercise and bladder training with urge suppression and fall prevention program (ExerciseUP) vs usual care in women aged 65 and older with UI. Outcomes included feasibility (process, resources, management, and acceptability), urinary symptoms, and falls risk using self-administered questionnaires. Objective physical activity was measured using accelerometry. Results A total of 37 of 38 (97%) eligible women were willing to participate in the study. In the ExerciseUP intervention cohort, 17 of 19 (89%) women completed all 6 weeks of intervention and follow-up, and 16 of 18 (89%) women in the usual group completed follow-up. Ten (53%) women in the ExerciseUP group achieved at least 70% adherence to exercise prescription. The improvement in UI severity scores from baseline was greater in the ExerciseUP intervention group than the usual care group (- 6.2 ± 5.8 vs - 2.4 ± 4.2, P = 0.04). Fall-risk score decreased (improved) in both groups. There were no significant between-group differences in change in physical activity or sedentary behavior. Conclusions We determined that it would be feasible to conduct a home-based exercise intervention in older women with UI. Our clinical outcomes were modestly favorable for the ExerciseUP intervention group.
Postharvest Longevity and Viability of Cooler-stored Lotus Propagules

Abstract Storage of enlarged lotus rhizomes used as a vegetable crop has been extensively studied, but little is known about the viability of lotus propagules (rhizomes with shoots) during storage....
Big Data and the Search for Balanced Insight in the Digital Humanities: Macroscopic and Microscopic Reading of Citation Strategies in the Encyclopédie of Diderot (and Jaucourt), 1751-1772

Consisting of seventeen folio volumes and eleven volumes of engraved illustrations - over seventy-four thousand articles and twenty-one million words - the Encyclopedie (1751-1772) remains a monumental contribution to Western literature for its promotion of free inquiry into all areas of knowledge and human endeavor. At least one hundred and forty contributors produced this massive corpus, but (perhaps due in part to the pressures under which they worked) passages borrowed from other texts are occasionally included in Encyclopedie articles without attribution to their true authors or even acknowledment as quotation. This is a major shortcoming for which the Encyclopedie has been criticized since its very inception. Even so, its accessible framing of philosophical and political ideas with lasting importance make the Encyclopedie a work of enduring interest for cultural historians and literary scholars, some of whom are now utilizing digital technology to develop new insights on the colossal text. This paper builds upon the groundbreaking work of scholars Dan Edelstein, Robert Morrissey, and Glenn Roe in the burgeoning field of the digital humanities. By utilizing the search capabilities offered with a digitized version of Diderot's Encyclopedie , I find that the "macroscopic" methodology of Edelstein et al. must be tempered by ongoing "microscopic" analysis of digitzed source material. The use of sequence alignment programs and massive online databases can yield important new insights in literary studies, but these findings must be balanced by "close" reading of documents relevant to the research question(s) at hand.
Gabapentin for pain, movement disorders, and irritability in neonates and infants.

We aimed to report our institution's experience with gabapentin therapy to manage agitation and pain in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) setting. This was a retrospective, single-center study of NICU patients admitted between January 2015 and December 2017, who received gabapentin. Data on neonatal agitation, pain, Neonatal Pain, Agitation and Sedation Scale (N-PASS) scores, neurosedative medications, and adverse events were collected. Gabapentin was initiated in 16 patients at a corrected gestational age of 44 weeks (range 36.2-75wks) for agitation (n=9), pain (n=6), and movement disorders (n=1). A neurological diagnosis was present in 13 patients. Neonatal agitation, pain, and N-PASS scores and the need for other neurosedatives were significantly decreased 14 days after treatment initiation. Gabapentin is well tolerated in neonates and infants; it is associated with decreased pain scores and decreased need for multiple neurosedative medications 2 weeks after initiation. WHAT THIS PAPER ADDS: Gabapentin is well tolerated in neonates and infants. Gabapentin decreases pain scores and the need for other neurosedative medications in neonates and infants.
Nitrous oxide emissions associated with ammonia-oxidizing bacteria abundance in fields of switchgrass with and without intercropped alfalfa

The nitrogen (N) fertilizer required to supply a bioenergy industry with sufficient feedstocks is associated with adverse environmental impacts, including loss of oxidized reactive nitrogen through leaching and the production of the greenhouse gas nitrous oxide (N2 O). We examined effects on crop yield, N fate and the response of ammonia-oxidizing bacteria (AOB) and ammonia-oxidizing archaea (AOA) to conventional fertilizer application or intercropping with N-fixing alfalfa, for N delivery to switchgrass (Panicum virgatum), a potential bioenergy crop. Replicated field plots in Prosser, WA, were sampled over two seasons for reactive nitrogen, N2 O gas emissions, and bacterial and archaeal ammonia monooxygenase gene (amoA) counts. Intercropping with alfalfa (70:30, switchgrass:alfalfa) resulted in reduced dry matter yields compared to fertilized plots, but three times lower N2 O fluxes (≤ 4 g N2 O-N ha-1 d-1 ) than fertilized plots (12.5 g N2 O-N ha-1 d-1 ). In the fertilized switchgrass plots, AOA abundance was greater than AOB abundance, but only AOB abundance was positively correlated with N2 O emissions, implicating AOB as the major producer of N2 O emissions. A life cycle analysis of N2 O emissions suggested the greenhouse gas emissions from cellulosic ethanol produced from switchgrass intercropped with alfalfa cultivation would be 94% lower than emissions from equivalent gasoline usage.
Eukaryotic Translation Initiation Factor 4 Gamma 1 (EIF4G1): a target for cancer therapeutic intervention?

Cap-dependent mRNA translation is essential for the translation of key oncogenic proteins at optimal levels and is highly regulated by the rate limiting, initiation step in protein synthesis. Eukaryotic Translation Initiation Factor 4 Gamma 1 (EIF4G1) serves as a scaffold for assembly of cap-dependent translation components in EIF4F complex formation. In the current study, we analyzed the role and expression of EIF4G1 in Pan human cancer panels through various approaches. Immunohistochemistry analysis of EIF4G1 protein was done on high-density multi-organ Human Cancer tissue microarray (TMA) derived from the patient samples from different cancers. We used multiple clinical cohorts to analyze the EIF4G1 mRNA expression across human cancers. TCGA data analysis of EIF4G1 was done through Ualcan and c-bioportal web servers. Western blots for EIF4G1 protein was done for different cell lines in representing the multiple cancer types. Dependency score was calculated through Cancer Dependency Map. Clonogenic, tumorosphere assay and cell invasion assay were done with EIF4G complex inhibitor. Association of EIF4G1 mRNA and Kaplan–Meier survival analysis was done on available TCGA datasets. We observed an increase in EIF4G1 protein levels in tissue sections from different cancers as compared to their respective normal tissue. Our analysis of the TCGA data revealed that EIF4G1 mRNA expression is significantly increased in tumor tissues compared to respective control tissues across human cancers and variable expression was observed among different datasets. We discovered that alteration frequency in EIF4G1 is prevalent in human cancers e.g. prostate cancer (~ 25%), ovarian cancer (~ 15%), Head and Neck cancer (~ 13%) and cervical cancer (~ 12.5%). EIF4G1 mRNA and protein levels were high across cancer cell lines from multiple organs. Our analysis of DepMap datasets utilizing depletion assays revealed that EIF4G1 is critical for cancer cell survival. Treatment with EIF4G complex inhibitor impaired clonogenic, tumorosphere formation potential and inhibited cell invasion. Moreover, higher EIF4G1 mRNA level was associated with a lower median survival of patients in multiple tumor types. These studies show that EIF4G1 is amplified/over-expressed in multiple cancers and plays an essential role in cancer cell survival, as such EIF4G1 could serve as a novel potential target for therapeutic intervention across many cancers.
Conservative physics-informed neural networks on discrete domains for conservation laws: Applications to forward and inverse problems

Abstract We propose a conservative physics-informed neural network (cPINN) on discrete domains for nonlinear conservation laws. Here, the term discrete domain represents the discrete sub-domains obtained after division of the computational domain, where PINN is applied and the conservation property of cPINN is obtained by enforcing the flux continuity in the strong form along the sub-domain interfaces. In case of hyperbolic conservation laws, the convective flux contributes at the interfaces, whereas in case of viscous conservation laws, both convective and diffusive fluxes contribute. Apart from the flux continuity condition, an average solution (given by two different neural networks) is also enforced at the common interface between two sub-domains. One can also employ a deep neural network in the domain, where the solution may have complex structure, whereas a shallow neural network can be used in the sub-domains with relatively simple and smooth solutions. Another advantage of the proposed method is the additional freedom it gives in terms of the choice of optimization algorithm and the various training parameters like residual points, activation function, width and depth of the network etc. Various forms of errors involved in cPINN such as optimization, generalization and approximation errors and their sources are discussed briefly. In cPINN, locally adaptive activation functions are used, hence training the model faster compared to its fixed counterparts. Both, forward and inverse problems are solved using the proposed method. Various test cases ranging from scalar nonlinear conservation laws like Burgers, Korteweg–de Vries (KdV) equations to systems of conservation laws, like compressible Euler equations are solved. The lid-driven cavity test case governed by incompressible Navier–Stokes equation is also solved and the results are compared against a benchmark solution. The proposed method enjoys the property of domain decomposition with separate neural networks in each sub-domain, and it efficiently lends itself to parallelized computation, where each sub-domain can be assigned to a different computational node.
Characterization and prognostic implication of delayed complete response in AL amyloidosis.

INTRODUCTION Little is known on continued response following completion of therapy in light chain (AL) amyloidosis. METHODS We studied 373 AL amyloidosis patients who achieved complete response (CR) or very good partial response (VGPR) to first-line therapy. RESULTS By end of therapy (EOT), 46% of patients achieved a CR and 54% a VGPR. With no further therapy, 17.5% of patients were upstaged from VGPR to CR (delayed CR), with a median of 9 months. Compared with CR and VGPR at EOT, patients with a delayed CR were characterized by higher proportion of t(11;14) and lower rate of trisomies. Autologous stem cell transplant was more frequent in the delayed CR group. Patients with a delayed CR were characterized by minimal residual disease negativity and organ response rates similar to patients with CR at EOT and higher than patients achieving VGPR at EOT. Patients with a delayed CR had a longer PFS/OS compared to patients with CR or VGPR by EOT (median PFS 149 vs 92 vs 52 months, P < .001; 10-year OS 87% vs 71% vs 56%, P < .001). CONCLUSIONS This study characterizes delayed CR in AL amyloidosis, highlights its prognostic impact which is at least similar to those who achieved CR at EOT, and underlines another aspect of response monitoring.
“All-in-One” Thixotropic Polysiloxane Pastes for UV-Activated Room Temperature Hydrosilylation Cross-Linking in Additive Manufacturing

In search of “inks” for additive manufacturing of silicone rubber parts, three different types of “all-in-one” pastes with suitable rheological flow properties, ultraviolet (UV)-activated fast cros...
Cutaneous adverse events caused by immune checkpoint inhibitors.

Importance Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) have emerged as active therapies for a variety of cancers. Cutaneous toxicities are common immune-related adverse events and patients will often be referred to dermatologists for evaluation. Observations Cutaneous adverse events to ICIs can have a variety of clinical presentations. Among the more common are eczematous, morbilliform, and lichenoid dermatoses, as well as vitiligo and pruritus. Less common adverse events include psoriasiform dermatoses, bullous disorders, and severe cutaneous adverse reactions, including Stevens–Johnson syndrome, toxic epidermal necrolysis, and drug reaction with eosinophilia and systemic symptoms. Because of the immunologic mechanism of ICIs, there are also a variety of rheumatologic adverse reactions with cutaneous manifestations, such as scleroderma, dermatomyositis, cutaneous lupus erythematosus, and various vasculitides. These cutaneous reactions often respond to topical or systemic steroids, although specific toxicities may have alternative treatments available. Conclusions and relevance As they become more widely prescribed, dermatologists will see an increasing number of patients with cutaneous adverse events caused by ICI therapies. Accurately diagnosing and treating these toxicities is paramount to achieving the most favorable outcomes for patients.
Deficient auditory gamma-BOLD coupling in schizophrenia is related to sensory gating deficits

Background: Schizophrenia is associated with aberrant gamma band power, hypothesized to reflect imbalance in the excitation-inhibition (E/I) ratio and undermine neural signal efficiency. Relationships between resting-state gamma, E/I balance, and regional hemodynamics from the fMRI BOLD signal are unknown. Methods: We recorded simultaneous EEG-fMRI at rest, with eyes open, in people with schizophrenia (n= 57) and people without a psychiatric diagnosis (n= 46) and identified gamma and aperiodic EEG parameters associated with E/I balance. Measures from all EEG channels were entered into a whole-brain, parametric modulation analysis followed by statistical correction for multiple comparisons. Sensory gating was assessed using the Sensory Gating Inventory, and psychotic symptoms were assessed using the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale. Results: Across groups, gamma power modestly predicts a steeper aperiodic slope (greater inhibition), without group differences in either gamma power or aperiodic slope. In schizophrenia, gamma-BOLD coupling was reduced in bilateral auditory regions of the superior temporal gyri and inversely correlated with sensory gating deficits and symptom severity. Analysis of the spectral features of scanner sounds revealed distinct peaks in the gamma range, reflecting a rapidly repeating scanner pulse sound present throughout the resting state recording. Conclusion: Regional hemodynamic support for putative inhibitory and excitatory contributions to resting EEG are aberrant in SZ. Deficient gamma coupling to auditory BOLD may reflect impaired gating of fMRI-scanner sound.
Design of a K-band power amplifier for high gain, output power and efficiency on 0.18-µm SiGe BiCMOS process

The design of a K-band power amplifier (PA) on a 0.18 µm SiGe BiCMOS process for high gain, output power and power-aided efficiency (PAE) is presented. The designed PA is composed of a drive amplifier, two identical main amplifiers, and lumped-element Wilkinson power divider and combiner. The PA achieves 37.5–39.5 dB of small-signal gain, 18.6–20.6 dBm of saturated output power, and 18–29% of PAE over the entire K-band (18–26.5 GHz). Specifically at 24 GHz, it achieves 19.4 dBm output power, 22.3% PAE, and 37.6-dB gain.
Identification of a Structural Element in Phospholipase C β2 That Interacts with G Protein βγ Subunits

Abstract To delineate the specific regions of phospholipase C β2 (PLC β2) involved in binding and activation by G protein βγ subunits, we synthesized peptides corresponding to segments of PLC β2. Two overlapping peptides corresponding to Asn-564–Lys-583 (N20K) and Glu-574–Lys-593 (E20K) inhibited the activation of PLC β2 by βγ subunits (IC50 50 and 150 μm, respectively), whereas two control peptides did not. N20K and E20K, but not the control peptides, inhibited βγ-dependent ADP-ribosylation of Gαi1 by pertussis toxin and βγ-dependent activation of phosphoinositide 3-kinase. To demonstrate direct binding of the peptides to βγ subunits, the peptides were chemically cross-linked to purified β1γ2. N20K and E20K cross-linked to both β1 and γ2 subunits, whereas the control peptides did not. Cross-linking to β and γ was inhibited by incubation with excess PLC β2 or PLC β3, whereas cross-linking to γ but not β was inhibited by r-myr-αi1. These data together demonstrate specificity of N20K and E20K for G βγ binding and inhibition of effector activation by βγ subunits. The results suggest that an overlapping region of the two active peptides, Glu-574–Lys-583, mimics a region of PLC β2 that is involved in binding to βγ subunits. Changing a tyrosine to a glutamine in this overlapping region of the peptides inhibited binding of the peptide to βγ subunits. Alignment of these peptides with the three-dimensional structure from PLC δ1 identifies a putative α helical region on the surface of the catalytic domain of PLC β2 that could interact with βγ subunits.
Electro-optics program at Indiana University of Pennsylvania

This paper reviews the new Electro-Optics (EO) program at Indiana University of Pennsylvania (IUP), launched in August 2002 . The Electro-Optics (EO) degree program is designed to train a wide range of students for entry into the rapidly-evolving photonics workforce by offering both 2- year AAS/AS and 4-year BS degree. The more recent developments of the program are also outlined, including the high school outreach and visitation program, the proposed 2+2+2 educational pathway to promote early participation of bright students in photonics-related disciplines, as well as the integration of nanotechnology into the core EO curriculum.
PAWS: collective interactions and data transfers

The authors discuss problems and solutions pertaining to the interaction of components representing parallel applications. We introduce the notion of a collective port which is an extension of the Common Component Architecture (CCA) ports and allows collective components representing parallel applications to interact as one entity. We further describe a class of translation components, which translate between the distributed data format used by one parallel implementation to that used by another. A well known example of such components is the MxN component which translates between data distributed on M processors to data distributed on N processors. We describe its implementation in Parallel Application Work Space (PAWS), as well as the data structures PAWS uses to support it. We also present a mechanism allowing the framework to invoke this component on the programmer's behalf whenever such translation is necessary, freeing the programmer from treating collective component interactions as a special case. In doing that, we introduce framework-based, user-defined distributed type casts. Finally, we discuss our initial experiments in building optimized complex translation components out of atomic functionalities.
Epidemiological studies of natural family planning

The prevalence of the use of natural family planning (NFP) can be estimated from sample surveys of married women in the reproductive ages (MWRA). Surveys in developed and developing countries during the past decade indicate that the prevalence of NFP use varies from 0 to 11%. In addition, if one considers NFP use in relation to other contraceptive methods, the percentage of all current contraceptors who use NFP varies from 1 to 35%. This suggests that NFP is an important method in certain countries. Pregnancy rates for NFP vary widely, but most reliable studies report 1-year life-table pregnancy rates between 10 and 25/100 woman-years. The Billings ovulation method consistently has higher pregnancy rates than the sympto-thermal method and NFP users generally have among the highest pregnancy rates compared to other methods. The major safety issue concerning NFP is the risk of adverse pregnancy outcomes associated with aged gametes. There are suggestions from a number of investigations that conceptions distant from ovulation have a higher risk of spontaneous abortion and a higher proportion of male births. The findings with respect to birth defects or multiple pregnancies are less consistent, although some studies have reported an increased risk of chromosomal anomalies.
Aggressive Communication By Lar Us Gla Ucescens Part IV : Experiments On Visual Communication

The results of dummy-experiments with Glaucus-winged Gulls on the selection of aggressive display postures for attack, the importance of head and neck level versus the angle of the head with the neck in the discrimination between postures, and the effect of head and neck movement on the response to automated models, were included in this study. It was found that when a pair of models was placed in a territory, the model mounted in a posture with a higher head-neck level, would consistently be attacked first. These results confirmed the importance of head-neck level as a visual cue used in discriminating between the postural components of aggressive displays. It was further demonstrated that the angle of the head with the neck (bill angle) was a relatively unimportant visual cue used in descrimination between postures. Experiments with models capable of making head-neck movements controlled by the experimenter demonstrated that responding gulls reacted to the model from a greater distance, moved away more frequently, and attacked less frequently when the model head-neck was in a low (horizontal) position. These results suggested that the observed greater frequency of attack on static models having a higher head-neck position was due to an inhibition of attack by models with a low head-neck positions. Thus, it was hypothesized that the displays using these low head-neck positions conveyed greater "threat" (as defined by STOUT, 1975), and would be more effective in preventing attack and/or hastening the escape of the bird toward which they were directed.
Repeatability of the modified Oxford foot model during gait in healthy adults.

Background: The Oxford foot model (OFM) is a multi-segment model for calculating hindfoot and forefoot motion. Limited information is available regarding the repeatability and error of this model in adults. Therefore the purpose of this study was to assess the intra-tester reliability of OFM hindfoot and forefoot gait kinematics in adults at initial contact (IC) and toe-off (TO). Methods: Seventeen healthy adults (age = 25.1 4.8 years, height = 1.75 0.10 m, weight = 74.0 12.4 kg) were tested on a single visit, during which 1 examiner recorded 2 sessions. For each session, 10 walking trials were recorded using a 12-camera motion analysis system (Vicon, Oxford, UK). Markers were removed and reapplied between sessions. Dynamic hindfoot and forefoot angles were calculated both with and without referencing to neutral stance (assuming neutral stance angles are zero in all planes). Using the 10 trial average, intraclass correlation coefficients (ICC2,k) and standard errors of the measurement were calculated for each reference condition, anatomical plane, and joint (hindfoot, forefoot). Results: Referencing to neutral stance resulted in good reliability (ICC 0.83) and small error (2.458) for hindfoot and forefoot angle in all planes. Without referencing to neutral stance, sagittal and transverse plane reliability were also good (ICC 0.90) and error small (3.148); however, frontal plane reliability was poor (ICC 0.77), with large error (4.868). Discussion: Our results show that overall the OFM is reliable during adult gait. Reliability for adults is higher than previously reported in children. Referencing joint angles to neutral stance decreased error by up to 28 from previous reports.
Walker-Wang models and axion electrodynamics

We connect a family of gauge theories (Maxwell theories with a magnetoelectric coupling $\ensuremath{\theta}=2\ensuremath{\pi}k,k\ensuremath{\in}\mathbb{Z}$) to the family of 3D topological lattice models introduced by Walker and Wang. In particular, we show that the lattice Hamiltonians capture a certain strong-coupling limit of these gauge theories, in which the system enters a gapped (confined) phase. We discuss the relationship between the topological order exhibited by certain of these lattice Hamiltonians and the characteristic electromagnetic response of the symmetry-protected bosonic topological insulator.
The Utility of Adaptation vs. Signaling Action Tendencies in the Competition for Resources

We explore strategies to resolve conflicts in multiagent environments that arise when agents compete for resources they need for survival and procreation. As expected, social strategies are better than asocial strategies and adaptive strategies are better than non-adaptive ones.
Synthesis, Characterization, and Electrospinning of Zwitterionic Poly (Sulfobetaine Methacrylate)

Abstract Poly(sulfobetaine methacrylate) (PSBMA) can be potentially utilized in filtration and wound dressing applications for which nanofibers structures are highly desirable. In this work, a series of PSBMAs with different molecular weights were synthesized, characterized, and electrospun into nanofibers. The polymer molecular weight was controlled by varying the amount of redox initiators in the free radical polymerization of SBMA, with the highest molecular weight achieved at an intermediate initiator concentration. From the intrinsic viscosity measurements, the Mark–Houwink parameters for PSBMA (at 21 °C in 0.2 M NaCl solution) was determined as a = 0.4071 and k = 2.06 × 10 −3 . Thermogravimetric (TGA) analysis shows that the PSBMAs were thermally stable up to at least 250 °C. Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectra indicate major structural changes of both polymer backbone and pendant groups by thermal degradation. Results from differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), TGA, and FTIR characterizations all demonstrate the existence of water strongly bound in PSBMA. DSC analysis also indicates different degrees of crystallinity for the PSBMAs of different sizes. Viscosity of the PSBMA solutions, a critical parameter for electrospinning, increased with the solution concentration and the polymer molecular weight. For the electrospinning of PSBMA, it was found that high solution concentration and high molecular weight favored the formation of smooth fibers while low solution concentration or low molecular weight led to the formation of beaded fibers or beads. Fiber diameters ranging from 200 to 570 nm were achieved by controlling solution concentration and polymer molecular weight. The characterization data and electrospinning results were finally correlated to explore the relationships between fiber formation, viscosity, molecular weight, and concentration.
Fluidic Force Discrimination Assays: A New Technology for Tetrodotoxin Detection

Tetrodotoxin (TTX) is a low molecular weight (~319 Da) neurotoxin found in a number of animal species, including pufferfish. Protection from toxin tainted food stuffs requires rapid, sensitive, and specific diagnostic tests. An emerging technique for the detection of both proteins and nucleic acids is Fluidic Force Discrimination (FFD) assays. This simple and rapid method typically uses a sandwich immunoassay format labeled with micrometer-diameter beads and has the novel capability of removing nonspecifically attached beads under controlled, fluidic conditions. This technique allows for near real-time, multiplexed analysis at levels of detection that exceed many of the conventional transduction methods (e.g., ELISAs). In addition, the large linear dynamic range afforded by FFD should decrease the need to perform multiple sample dilutions, a common challenge for food testing. By applying FFD assays to an inhibition immunoassay platform specific for TTX and transduction via low magnification microscopy, levels of detection of ~15 ng/mL and linear dynamic ranges of 4 to 5 orders of magnitude were achieved. The results from these studies on the first small molecule FFD assay, along with the impact to detection of seafood toxins, will be discussed in this manuscript.
Ethanol inhibits the naloxone-induced release of luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone from the hypothalamus of the male rat.

It has been inferred that ethanol suppresses the secretion of luteinizing hormone (LH) in the male by depressing the release of LH-releasing hormone (LH-RH) from the hypothalamus. Direct support for this inference has been difficult to obtain, however, because of significant technical difficulties in measuring LH-RH release under in vivo conditions. To circumvent these problems, we made use of the opiate antagonist naloxone, as a neuroendocrine probe, to elicit the release of LH-RH under in vivo conditions. We found that ethanol was a potent suppressor of the increase in serum LH levels evoked by naloxone at extremely low blood ethanol concentrations (<60 mg/dl). Furthermore, we observed that the antagonism between ethanol and naloxone appeared to be competitive in nature since a fixed dose of ethanol (1 g/kg, blood ethanol concentration 60 mg/dl) shifted the naloxone dose-response curve significantly to the right and high doses of the antagonist overcame ethanol's effects. Finally, we found that the interaction between ethanol and naloxone took place at the level of the hypothalamus. Our results, therefore, seem to provide the first in vivo evidence supporting the widely-held hypothesis that ethanol reduces serum LH levels by depressing the hypothalamically-mediated release of LH-RH. The mechanisms underlying ethanol's depression of naloxone-induced increases in the release of LH-RH are not fully understood at this time, but one prominent possibility is that ethanol enhances the synthesis or release of endogenous opioids which in turn override naloxone's effects.
MODELS OF LANGUAGE DEVELOPMENT: AN ''EMERGENTIST'' PERSPECTIVE

Much of the field of child language makes the assumption that language learning involves a maturationally determined bioprogram and innately prespecified rules and representations. However, several key experimental and modeling findings, in conjunction with recent theoretical insights regarding the dynamics of learning and change, have motivated researchers to abandon key premises of this approach. In this chapter, we provide an overview of several contributions of Connectionism (Elman et al. [1996] Cambridge, MA: MIT Press) and Dynamic Systems Theory (Thelen and Smith [1994] Cambridge, MA: MIT Press; Smith and Thelen [1993] Cambridge, MA: MIT Press) in the context of current empirical findings in this field. These perspectives have contributed to a reframing of the nature–nurture debate, the domain specific nature of linguistic abilities, and the importance of individual differences. MRDD Research Reviews 1997;3:293–299. © 1997 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Hydrophilic interaction liquid chromatographic tandem mass spectrometric determination of atenolol in human plasma

A hydrophilic interaction liquid chromatographic method with tandem mass spectrometry for the determination of atenolol, a beta-blocking agent, in human plasma has been developed and validated over the curve range of 10--2000 ng/mL. The assay was based on protein precipitation followed by evaporation of the extraction solvent, reconstitution with acetonitrile, and chromatography on an Hypersil silica column (50 x 4.6 mm) using a low aqueous--high organic mobile phase. The mobile phase consists of 85% acetonitrile, 15% water, 0.5% acetic acid and 0.04% trifluoroacetic acid and runs isocratically at a flow rate of 2.0 mL/min. The column ef fluent was split so that 50% of it was transferred into the LC-MS/MS interface operated in positive electrospray ionization mode. The chromatographic run time was 2.0 min per injection. Atenolol and the internal standard, atenolol-d(7), showed a retention time of 1.0 min. The inter-day and intra-day precision and accuracy of the quality control samples were <5.3% relative standard deviation and <8.0% relative error, respectively. To explore the application of the current method for the analysis of other beta-blocking agents, propranolol and metoprolol were tested under the same chromatographic conditions with retention times of 0.68 and 0.75 min, respectively. The present method could be used for therapeutic drug monitoring, pharmacokinetic and drug--drug interaction studies of beta-blocking agents.
Fatty acid composition of Tilia spp. seed oils

As part of a study of the seed oil fatty acid composition of Malvaceae plants, the seeds of seven Tilia species (lime or linden trees) were evaluated for their fatty acid profiles. Seeds were obtained from the Germplasm Research Information Network and from various commercial sources. After extraction of the seed oil with hexane, the glycerides were trans-methylated and analyzed by gas chromatography on two polar stationary phases. All of the seed oils analyzed were composed primarily of linoleic acid (49-60%) with lesser amounts of oleic (16-22%) and palmitic (8-10%) acids. The usual secondary components were also found. In addition, cyclopropenoid acids (i.e., sterculic and malvalic acids) were present at levels between 6 and 17%. In all samples, the level of malvalic acid was approximately twice the level of sterculic acid, indicating that considerable a-oxidation of sterculic acid had occurred in these seeds. Two additional a-oxidation products, 8-heptadecenoic acid and 8,11-heptadecadienoic acid were also detected. Combined, the level of these fatty acids was between 1.3 and 2.3%, roughly comparable to the levels of these acids recently reported in the seed oil of Thespesia populnea.
Vocal Music and the Classroom Teacher, 1885 to 1905

One hundred years ago, public school vocal music was taught primarily by regular classroom teachers and not by music specialists. What was the quality of the preparation of these teachers and the extent of their music teaching? What can today's music educators learn from a time when music could have been called a “basic” in the classroom? This study reviewed educational philosophies of the period from 1885 to 1905, teacher preparation at normal institutes, certification examinations in vocal music, techniques of classroom teacher supervision by music specialists, and methods of teaching vocal music. Four contemporary national surveys regarding the status of public school music were also examined. The study found that teachers trained at normal schools received between ten and fifty hours of music instruction, primarily in music theory. Supervision of grade teachers (instuctors of the period who were primarily responsible for grades one through eight) by music supervisors produced some striking successes a...