cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
61 Differences in organ system involvement across racial/ethnic groups: results from the california lupus epidemiology study

Background SLE is a chronic disease that affects many organ systems and can cause permanent damage. We sought to determine if there are differences in patterns of SLE organ system damage among racial/ethnic groups. Methods Data derive from the baseline visit of the California Lupus Epidemiology Study (CLUES), an ongoing cohort of patients in the San Francisco Bay Area with confirmed SLE diagnoses. Participants provided access to medical records and had a visit with a study rheumatologist. Race/ethnicity (White, African American, Hispanic of any race, and Asian) was determined by patient report. Due to the small sample size, patients from other racial groups were excluded from this analysis (n=5). Disease damage was measured using the SLICC/ACR Damage Index (SDI), calculated at the study visit. We examined damage at the organ system level, using items from the SDI, and defined glucocorticoid-related damage as avascular necrosis, diabetes, cataracts, and osteoporosis. Logistic regression was used to estimate the prevalence of damage in each organ system and the prevalence of glucocorticoid-related damage by race/ethnicity controlling for current age. We ranked the prevalence of damage in each organ system that comprises the SDI for each racial/ethnic group. Results Among 323 participants, 89% were female, 39% Asian, 11% African American, 22% Hispanic of any race, and 29% White. Mean age was 45±14; mean age at diagnosis 29±12. SDI ranged from 0 to 10 points, mean 1.8±2.0; 70% of the cohort had SDI>0. There were no differences in mean SDI by race/ethnicity (p=0.4; see Table). Musculoskeletal and ocular damage were among the five most common systems for all groups. African Americans were significantly (p=0.02) more likely to have skin damage than the other racial/ethnic groups. Non-Hispanic whites were the only group that had malignancy in their top five systems of SDI damage. Renal damage was most prevalent among Hispanics and least prevalent among whites. Glucocorticoid-related damage was more prevalent among African Americans in comparison to whites, although this difference was not statistically significant. Conclusions There are differences in prevalence of damage by organ system among racial/ethnic groups, with blacks significantly more likely to have skin manifestations and whites more likely to have a history of cancer. There is also evidence of higher glucocorticoid-related damage among blacks. Further research is required to explain what leads to these differences; they could be related to quality and access to care and treatment, or to differential disease biology or environmental exposures. Funding Source(s): CDC (U01 DP005120)
Development of VM-REACT: Verbal memory RecAll computerized test.

Abstract When tracking the progression of neuropsychiatric or neurodegenerative diseases, assessment tools that enable repeated measures of cognition and require little examiner burden are increasingly important to develop. In the current study, we describe the development of the VM-REACT (Verbal Memory REcAll Computerized Test), which assesses verbal memory recall abilities using a computerized, automated version. Four different list versions of the test were applied on a cohort of 798 healthy adults (ages 20–80). Recall and learning scores were computed and compared to existing gender- and age-matched published norms for a similar paper-and-pencil test. Performance was similar to existing age-matched norms for all but the two oldest age groups. These adults (ages 60–80) outperformed their age-matched norms. Processing speed, initiation speed, and number of recall errors are also reported for each age group. Our findings suggest that VM-REACT can be utilized to study verbal memory abilities in a standardized and time efficient manner, and thus holds great promise for assessment in the 21st century.
Defining a Leader-Characteristics That Distinguish a Chair of Surgery.

Abstract Background Chair of the Department of Surgery, sometimes known as the Chief, holds a title that has significant historical connotations. Our goal was to assess a group of objectively measurable characteristics that unify these individuals as a group. Methods Utilizing publicly available data for all US teaching hospitals, demographic information was accumulated for the named chiefs/chairs of surgery. Information collected included location of their program, their medical/surgical training history, their surgical specialty, previous chair/chief titles held, and academic productivity. Results Of the 259 programs listed, data were available on 244 individuals who were trained in 19 different specialties. The top three specialties of these practitioners are General Surgery (40, 16.3%), Surgical Oncology (38, 15.5%), and Vascular Surgery (33, 13.5%). There were only 14 female chairs (5.7%) and only one chair with a doctor of osteopathic medicine degree. The majority (62.3%) had been a previous chief of a surgical subdivision with only 26% having been a previous chair/chief of the surgical department. The average chair had 72 peer-reviewed manuscripts with 28 published book chapters. Chair's at academic institutions with university affiliation had a significantly higher number of peer-reviewed manuscripts (P Conclusions There are no set characteristics that define the Chair of a Department of Surgery. By understanding a group of baseline characteristics that unify these surgical leaders, young faculty and trainees with leadership aspirations may begin to understand what is necessary to fill these roles in the future.
Every Moment Counts: Synchrophasors for Distribution Networks with Variable Resources

Historically, with mostly radial power distribution and one-way power flow, it was only necessary to evaluate the envelope of design conditions, e.g., peak loads or fault currents, rather than continually observe the operating state. But the growth of distributed energy resources introduces variability, uncertainty, and opportunities to recruit diverse resources for grid services. This chapter addresses how the direct measurement of voltage phase angle might enable new strategies for managing distribution networks with diverse, active components.
Empathy deficits and perceived permissive environments: sexual harassment perpetration on college campuses

Sexual harassment is a common experience among college students, and its perpetration may be associated with deficits in perspective taking – a form of empathy – and institutional factors such as c...
Nuclear data sheets for A = 197*

Level schemes, spin and parity assignments, and decay properties are presented for all nuclei with mass number A = 197. Experimental data and adopted values are given along with conclusions as to the spin and parity assignments. The presentation of the nuclear properties is given in the light of the data and current theoretical ideas. In this transition region, level decay rates are seen to be of particular importance and so have been summarized in terms of multipole enhancement or hindrance. Some of the more important deficiencies in the data include the reaction data leading to 197Pt and the decay mode of 197mPb. Compilers have attempted to bring out some inconsistencies in the data and resolve discrepancies when possible.
Identifying Differences in the Prevalence of Psychological Symptoms between Underweight, Normal Weight, Overweight, and Obese Children in Primary Care.

Background The prevalence of childhood obesity continues to be a major public health problem. Nearly one-third of children in the United States can be classified as overweight or obese, which is particularly concerning given that obesity is associated with a number of physical and mental health problems. Past studies have examined childhood obesity and psychological symptoms using samples of referred children who have already been identified as overweight or obese, leaving out children who are classified as underweight or healthy weight. This study aims to bridge this gap in the literature by evaluating differences in psychological symptoms among children who fall within all weight ranges within primary care. Methods Data was obtained from a systematic chart review using EMR (Electronic Medical Record) for children ages 6 to 16 years from two primary care health clinics. Differences between weight groups regarding reported internalizing and externalizing symptoms were evaluated utilizing data from the Pediatric Behavioral Health Screen (PBHS). Results Significant overall psychological symptoms (internalizing and externalizing) were endorsed for 13.2% of the sample (p > .01). Chi-Square analyses determined that the relationship between internalizing symptoms and weight category were significant. Specifically, children who were classified as overweight or obese were more likely to report significant internalizing symptoms than underweight or healthy weight children. Conclusions Children who fall into the overweight and obese weight categories may need to be screened for psychological symptoms and referred for mental health services following overweight/obese classification in primary care.
Dietary inflammatory potential in relation to the gut microbiome: results from a cross-sectional study

Diet has direct and indirect effects on health through inflammation and the gut microbiome. We investigated total dietary inflammatory potential via the literature-derived index (Dietary Inflammatory Index (DII®)) with gut microbiota diversity, composition and function. In cancer-free patient volunteers initially approached at colonoscopy and healthy volunteers recruited from the medical centre community, we assessed 16S ribosomal DNA in all subjects who provided dietary assessments and stool samples (n 101) and the gut metagenome in a subset of patients with residual fasting blood samples (n 34). Associations of energy-adjusted DII scores with microbial diversity and composition were examined using linear regression, permutational multivariate ANOVA and linear discriminant analysis. Spearman correlation was used to evaluate associations of species and pathways with DII and circulating inflammatory markers. Across DII levels, α- and β-diversity did not significantly differ; however, Ruminococcus torques, Eubacterium nodatum, Acidaminococcus intestini and Clostridium leptum were more abundant in the most pro-inflammatory diet group, while Akkermansia muciniphila was enriched in the most anti-inflammatory diet group. With adjustment for age and BMI, R. torques, E. nodatum and A. intestini remained significantly associated with a more pro-inflammatory diet. In the metagenomic and fasting blood subset, A. intestini was correlated with circulating plasminogen activator inhibitor-1, a pro-inflammatory marker (rho = 0·40), but no associations remained significant upon correction for multiple testing. An index reflecting overall inflammatory potential of the diet was associated with specific microbes, but not overall diversity of the gut microbiome in our study. Findings from this preliminary study warrant further research in larger samples and prospective cohorts.
Profilin choreographs actin and microtubules in cells and cancer.

Abstract Actin and microtubules play essential roles in aberrant cell processes that define and converge in cancer including: signaling, morphology, motility, and division. Actin and microtubules do not directly interact, however shared regulators coordinate these polymers. While many of the individual proteins important for regulating and choreographing actin and microtubule behaviors have been identified, the way these molecules collaborate or fail in normal or disease contexts is not fully understood. Decades of research focus on Profilin as a signaling molecule, lipid-binding protein, and canonical regulator of actin assembly. Recent reports demonstrate that Profilin also regulates microtubule dynamics and polymerization. Thus, Profilin can coordinate both actin and microtubule polymer systems. Here we reconsider the biochemical and cellular roles for Profilin with a focus on the essential cytoskeletal-based cell processes that go awry in cancer. We also explore how the use of model organisms has helped to elucidate mechanisms that underlie the regulatory essence of Profilin in vivo and in the context of disease.
Does tumor profile in gastric and gastroesophageal (GE) junction cancer justify off-label use of targeted therapy?—a narrative review

Despite significant therapeutic progress, gastric cancer remains among the most deadly forms of cancer encountered in clinical practice, and this remains true even in the context of declining incidence. Outcomes in advanced disease remain poor and therapy is rarely curative in this setting. As our understanding of tumor profile gains sophistication, a growing interest in targeted therapies and moreover the use of tumor profile to inform these therapies has developed in the hopes of altering nearly uniformly poor outcomes. A wide and growing array of molecular targets have been identified in the recent past. Targets of potential clinical interest include human epidermal growth factor receptor-2 (HER2), epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP), mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR), c-MET, and fibroblast growth factor receptor (FGFR). This advanced molecular understanding has been increasingly used to justify the off-label usage of targeted therapies, though the efficacy of this approach warrants careful consideration. While targeted agents have demonstrated efficacy across a wide range of malignancies, even with molecular profiling data, efficacy is not assured. It will also be demonstrated that even within the same malignancy, what holds true in the metastatic setting does not necessarily apply to the adjuvant or neoadjuvant setting. This review will assess the current evidence for the use of targeted therapies utilizing these biomarkers in the context of gastric and gastroesophageal (GE) junction cancers.
Extending AD biomarker studies into the Hispanic community

A major advance in Alzheimer disease (AD) research over the past decade has been the development of PET and CSF biomarkers for amyloid and tau. They are now part of the most recent National Institute on Aging–Alzheimer’s Association AD research framework, which defines AD on the basis of biomarkers or neuropathology rather than the clinical syndrome.1 This represents an important advance because it allows us to investigate the relationship of risk factors with cognitive impairment at the level of the etiology of AD. This is urgently needed because more than a dozen neurodegenerative and cerebrovascular brain pathologies are relevant to cognitive decline in later life.2 Other factors that increase or decrease resilience to these neuropathologies are also relevant.2 Among the most well studied and robust risk factors for amyloid in non-Hispanic Whites is APOE e4, with some data suggesting similar findings in self-identified African Americans (Blacks).3 However, data on Hispanics are more limited.4 In the current issue of Neurology ®, Palta et al.5 examine the relation of APOE e4 to amyloid in middle-aged Hispanics.
Actively tunable plasmonic nanogap cavities in the near-infrared using VO2

Actively tunable optical materials integrated with engineered subwavelength structures could enable a new generation of optoelectronic devices with low power consumption for on-chip hyperspectral focal plane arrays or optical beam steering. Phase-change materials, such as vanadium dioxide (VO2), are a promising solid-state solution for dynamic tuning; however, previous demonstrations have focused on VO2 films with >50 nm thickness, limiting their use in e.g. optical memory devices. Here we integrate nanometer-thick VO2 films with plasmonic metasurfaces to demonstrate tunable near-perfect absorption in the near-IR ranging from 900 nm to >1500 nm. Upon heating to induce the phase transition, the absorption resonance can be blue-shifted by up to 40 nm, a process that can be completely reversed by cooling and repeated over multiple cycles. Finite-element simulations follow the experimental spectral dependence and demonstrate that ~160 nm of tuning may be possible with further optimization.
US False Claims Act Investigations of Unnecessary Percutaneous Coronary Interventions

This case-control study assess the association of US False Claims Act investigations of the overuse of PCIs with PCI volumes.
Prednisolone withdrawal followed by recombinant alfainterferon in chronic non-A, non-B hepatitis: An interim results of a randomized controlled trial

To determine the efect of a recombinant α interferon 2b (Intron-A) and possible benefit of prednisolone pretreatment in chronic non-A, non-B hepatitis, 75 Chinese patients with clinico-histologically proven chronic hepatitis were randomly allocated to one of the following regimens: (A) 3 million units of Intron-A trice weekly for 6 months; (B) dose titration according to ALTAST values; (C) prednisolone withdrawal followed by regimen A; (D) control group: no treatment for 6 months but followed by alternating treatment with 3 million units of Intron-A trice weekly for 2 weeks followed by 2 weeks no treatment for 6 months. Up to September 30, 1990, 67 patients have been followed for a minimum of 2 months. At the end of the second month, compelte response (normal ALT) was achieved in 71% of group A, 50% of groupB, 50% of group C and 0% of group D. At the end of the 6th month, the compelte response rate was 62%, 47% and 64% respectively in groups A, B and C. The response rates in groups A and C were significantly better than the 7% in the control group. Complete resonse usually (91%) occurred within 2 months after the first dose of interferon. Relapse occurred in 40% of the compelte responders, usually within 2 months of the last dose. The cumulative relapse rate was significantly lower in responders of group C (11% vs 43% in group A and 86% in group B during a period of 6 months). Only mild adverse effects were reported though two patients withdrew because of intolerable fatigue. The interim results appear very promising, particularly those pretreated with prednisolone.
Social Interactions in Post-design Phases in Product Development and Consumption: Computational Social Science Modeling

This chapter presents a system to model social interactions between producers and consumers in the post-design phase. Producers form their expectations about consumer behavior during the pre-design and design phases. Consumers’ behaviors are a result of their interactions with designs based on their experiences that form their value systems as well as their social interactions with other consumers. Because the post-design phase includes consumer behavior, producers reevaluate their plans and strategies for future designs. A subset of the system is implemented to model social interactions where the producers and consumers are modeled as computational agents. The agents’ values that are used to guide their decision-making are modified through the agents’ interactions with products and other agents. One of the goals of this work is to demonstrate the viability of agent-based modeling to study innovation ecosystems and their social aspects. Through computational experiments, we are able to test hypotheses regarding the mutual influence of producer and consumer values on the trajectory of design improvements. Exemplary results are presented.
Gordon Tullock's Critique of the Common Law

This article is part of a symposium on the work of Gordon Tullock, to be held in connection with the presentation to Tullock of the Lifetime Achievement Award of the Fund for the Study of Spontaneous Orders at the Atlas Research Foundation, for his contributions to the study of spontaneous orders and methodological individualism. This contribution to the symposium studies Tullock's critique of the common law. Tullock critiques two specific aspects of the common law system: the adversary system of dispute resolution and the common law process of rulemaking, contrasting them with the inquisitorial system and the civil law systems respectively. Tullock's general critique is straightforward: litigation under the common law system is plagued by the same rent-seeking and rent-dissipation dynamics that Tullock famously ascribed to the process of legislative rent-seeking. This article reviews Tullock's theoretical critique and empirical studies on both issues. The article concludes that Tullock's critique of the adversary system appears to be stronger on both theoretical and empirical grounds than his critique of the common law system of rulemaking.
Challenges and changes: A review of issues surrounding the digital migration of government information

This paper presents a review of recently proposed policy changes for the dissemination of government information and a critical look at the arguments being made for and against an immediate migration to electronic-only dissemination and preservation of government publications. Issues of authenticity, security, permanence of records, access, format, and cost are examined.
Coronary endothelial dysfunction induced by Nlrp3 inflammasome activation during hypercholesterolemia: beyond inflammation (851.13)

Recent studies have shown that Nlrp3 inflammasomes function as a major intracellular molecular machinery to switch on the inflammatory response upon sensing danger signals such as elevated plasma l...
Double-Flash Steam Power Plants

Double-flash plants are fairly numerous and are in operation in nine countries. The double-flash steam plant is an improvement on the single-flash design, in that it can produce 15–25% more power output for the same geothermal fluid conditions. The plant is more complex, more costly and requires more maintenance, but the extra power output often justifies the installation of such plants. This chapter draws comparison between single flash plant and double flash plant. The fundamental new feature is a second flash process imposed on the separated liquid leaving the primary separator in order to generate additional steam, albeit at a lower pressure than the primary steam. A temperature entropy diagram shows the processes for the double-flash plant. The computation of all the states needed to accomplish this optimization can be easily programmed and the results can be plotted for any combination of reservoir and condenser conditions. Nearly all minerals exhibit higher solubility in water as the temperature of the water increases. The study examines the potential problems associated with the dissolution of silica from the waste brines leaving the power plant. Since the equipment used at double-flash plants is very similar to that found at single-flash plants, this chapter presents non-annotated list and includes annotations only for items unique to double-flash plants.
Going with the Flow - Computer Visualization of Road Traffic Information:

Advanced road traffic management systems provide numerous opportunities for the application of sophisticated computer visualization concepts. The operating staff in a traffic control center are required to assimilate large quantities of incoming data in order to determine the real state of traffic flow and congestion. Part of the incoming data relates to vehicular speed and density, and is often not subjected to sufficient pre-processing before presentation in tabular form on a video display terminal (VDT). Improvements in the format of the tabular information are therefore worthy of investigation. A traffic control simulation experiment was conducted to examine how human subjects extract information from VDT data presented in several different formats. Subjects were asked to respond to exceptional values which occurred randomly in tabular columns of frequently changing data. Their accuracy and reaction time were measured for data columns which were sorted or unsorted, and for data which was presented eit...
Some Classical Economists, Laissez Faire, and the Factory Acts

Until very recently scholars have been able to solve certain problems of historical interpretation to their own and presumably to their reader's satisfaction by merely uttering the magic words, “laissez faire.” Thus, much of what was done and most of what was not done, some of what was good and practically all of what was evil in nineteenth-century England and America have been accounted for by a facile reference to laissez faire. During the past few years, however, several studies have cast much doubt on the validity of this catchall interpretation. Laissez faire, it seems now, is a principle more easily imposed upon nineteenth-century data than found there; and in successive investigations supposed instances of this principle have dropped away one by one.
Esophageal obstruction due to granulomatous mediastinal lymphadenopathy.

Summary Two additional cases of mediastinal lymph node granuloma with pain and dysphagia have been reported. This brings the total of reported cases to 10. The lesion characteristically is seen in the younger age group and is cured by surgical intervention. The etiology of these granulomas is unknown. Submucosal lesions seen at esophagoscopy in young patients with dysphagia should suggest the possible diagnosis of mediastinal granuloma.
JRipples: a tool for program comprehension during incremental change

Incremental software change adds new functionality to software. It is the foundation of software evolution, maintenance, iterative development, agile development, and other software processes. Highly interactive tool JRipples provides the programmer with the organizational support that makes the incremental change process easier and more systematic. JRipples supports impact analysis and change propagation, the two most difficult activities of the incremental change.
Construct Validation of the Arizona Clinical Interview Rating Scale.

The Arizona Clinical Interview Rating Scale is examined for construct validity as an instrument to evaluate the interviewing techniques of medical students. Evidence was gathered in the areas of co...
Minimum entrainer flows for extractive distillation: A bifurcation theoretic approach

In addition to a minimum reflux, every extractive distillation exhibits a maximum reflux, above which the desired separation is impossible, and a minimum entrainer flow rate, below which the separation is also impossible. Both of these quantities correspond to bifurcations of the finite difference equations describing the middle section of the column and, given a VLE model, can be easily calculated knowing only information about the column feed and the desired product compositions, that is, prior to any column design calculations. Both maximum reflux and minimum entrainer flows have important implications for the design and operation of extractive distillations. By limiting the range of feasible operating reflux ratios, the maximum reflux affects the flexibility, operability and controllability of the column. Ranking a set of feasible extractive entrainers according to their minimum entrainer flows provides a simple effective method for identifying the most promising candidates. Near optimal design values of the entrainer flow can then be estimated using the heuristic presented.
Cog Is to Us as We Are to God: A Response to Anne Foerst

Foerst says that a robot must have human features if it is to learn to relate to human beings. She argues that the image of God (imago dei) represents no more than a promise of God to relate to us. In our view, however, the principle of embodied artificial intelligence (AI) in the robot suggests some kind of embodiedness of the image of God in human beings if they are to learn to relate to God. Foerst's description of how people react to a humanoid robot reads like Otto's description of the divine as mysterium fascinans et tremendum (awesome and alluring mystery). Her description makes robot-human interaction seem more religious than human-God interaction.
Virtual reality for education

It is still unclear what, if any, impact virtual reality will have on public education. The virtual reality gorilla system is being used as a testbed to study if and how virtual reality might be use ful as an aid in educating middle school children, and to investigate the issues that arise when building virtual reality systems for knowledge acquisition and concept formation.
Genome instability in progeria: when repair gets old.

Genome instability and DNA repair defects have been discovered in the premature aging disease Hutchinson-Gilford progeria syndrome. These findings provide the first hint of a molecular mechanism for a group of human conditions caused by defects in the nuclear structural protein lamin A (pages 780–785).
On the mechanism of dynamic stall.

The sequence of events comprising dynamic stall of an airfoil is discussed, with emphasis on the role of the leading edge laminar separation bubble and shed vortex. A simple bubble model, based on a combination of theoretical and experimental investigations, is used to discuss the events prior to the shedding of the vortex, and provides the basis for a heuristic estimate of the delay in the occurrence of dynamic stall on a pitching airfoil. The evidence for the existence and dominant effect of the leading edge vortex on the dynamic stall required (but in most cases not presently available) for the prediction of the effects of stall on helicopter rotor blades are discussed. It is the intention of this paper to focus attention on the laminar separation bubble and the shed leading edge vortex as the dominant features of the dynamic stall mechanism in the hope of stimulating greater emphasis on these features in future dynamic stall research.
Repeated gambles, learning, and risk aversion

We analyze a decision problem with repeated gambles and find that under some seemingly reasonable risk-averse utility functions, recommended behavior for the initial decision can be highly risk-taking and counterintuitive. Further analysis reveals that the derived utility function for the return on the first gamble is discontinuous because gains or losses carry with them positive or negative signals regarding future prospects. A variant of the basic model without a discontinuity in derived utility has essentially the same implications. The issues raised in this paper present no conceptual difficulties for the standard expected utility theory; in principle, we can model the grand world and understand fully all implications of grand-world utility functions. In practice, however, this ideal may not always be attainable and as a result we may be faced with serious modeling and assessment problems.
Chaotic quantum billiards in magnetic field: A semiclassical analysis of mesoscopic effects

Abstract Using the relationship between the correlation function of level density and classical probability of periodic motion, derived recently by Agraman, Imry, and Smilansky, we reinterpret the mesoscopic aspects of orbital response from the semiclassical perspective. We show that the semiclassical analysis conforms closely to the diagrammatic method and argue the equivalence of mesoscopic propeties of small disordered metals and quantum chaotic billiards. Following Berry and Robnik, we consider Aharonov-Bohm billiards containing a magnetic flux line and generalize to the case of a uniform magnetic field.
Models and theories I: The semantic view revisited

Abstract The paper, as Part I of a two‐part series, argues for a hybrid formulation of the semantic view of scientific theories. For stage‐setting, it first reviews the elements of the model theory in mathematical logic (on whose foundation the semantic view rests), the syntactic and the semantic view, and the different notions of models used in the practice of science. The paper then argues for an integration of the notions into the semantic view, and thereby offers a hybrid semantic view, which at once secures the view's logical foundations and enhances its applicability. The dilemma of either losing touch with the practice of science or yielding up the benefits of the model theory is thus avoided.
An Immigrant Frame for American Identity

For an immigrant, becoming American represents a process of acquiring a new social identity. This article discusses three issues relevant to that process: (1) diverse meanings associated with the American identity; (2) variations in immigrant experience, particularly as they vary by ethnicity; and (3) civic engagement by members of the immigrant community.
Ensemble canonical correlation prediction of precipitation over the Sahel

[1] Ensemble canonical correlation (ECC) prediction method is applied to predict summer rainfall over the Sahel. The predictors are the global sea surface temperature (SST), 200-hPa streamfunction with zonal means removed (PSI), and forecasts or simulations from the climate models. The canonical correlation analysis (CCA) is performed for each variable separately. These predicted precipitation fields form an ensemble. The ensemble mean is the equal weighted average of its members. For both the multi-model simulations and seasonal hindcasts, the CCA correction improves forecast skill. The ensemble, which consists of the CCA precipitation forecasts based on SST, PSI and the CCA corrected model simulations gives the highest skill. Each member has forecast skill over the different parts of the Sahel. Therefore, the ensemble mean has higher skill than its individual members.
Rebuttal from Jeremy R. Beitler, Rolf D. Hubmayr and Atul Malhotra

More than a decade after low tidal volume ventilation for acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) first gained widespread acceptance, it is still unknown how best to manage its effects on minute ventilation. High respiratory rate, or permissive hypercapnia? Limiting respiratory rate has been shown in preclinical models to reduce lung injury even at a constant arterial CO2 tension (; Vaporidi et al. 2008). Curley and colleagues (2013) go one step further, making the case for additional benefit from hypercapnia during low tidal volume ventilation. As we find no great fault with the balanced case put forward by our Canadian colleagues, our rebuttal focuses on challenges in designing more definitive trials. First, how might the independent effects of respiratory rate, and pH each be considered? Tris-hydroxymethyl amino-methane (THAM) buffer might be used to identify the effects of hypercapnia independent of acidaemia. To isolate the effects of respiratory rate from , inspired CO2 could be administered during high respiratory rate to induce hypercapnia to a degree comparable to a low-rate strategy. Optimizing respiratory rate must also consider airflow dynamics since high rates may lead to auto-positive end-expiratory pressure (auto-PEEP). Second, what is the minimum acceptable pH, and how should severe acidaemia be managed? A minimum pH approaching 7.15 was well tolerated haemodynamically in a heterogeneous ARDS population (Carvalho et al. 1997), while other studies specified a pH nadir between 7.05 (Brochard et al. 1998) and 7.30 (Brower et al. 2000) before encouraging intervention. THAM has shown promise as an effective buffer during fixed minute ventilation (Kallet et al. 2000), although further study is warranted before its widespread adoption as a rescue therapy. Finally, how do we ensure the protection of patients at highest risk of harm from hypercapnia? Patients with intracranial hypertension may fare poorly from hypercapnia-induced cerebral vasodilatation, as may patients with pre-existent right ventricular compromise facing hypercapnic pulmonary vasoconstriction (Curley et al. 2010). Similarly, anti-inflammatory effects of hypercapnia may be deleterious in pulmonary or extra-pulmonary sepsis compared to other ARDS precipitants. Moreover, increased sedation or paralysis, with associated risk of iatrogenic injury, may be required during hypercapnia to maintain patient–ventilator synchrony and minimize large swings in transpulmonary pressures from spontaneous breathing efforts (Malhotra & Drazen, 2013). Only with carefully designed studies will the role be defined for optimizing respiratory rate, and pH in individual patients with varying comorbidities and ARDS severity. The range of preclinical findings and heterogeneity of current clinical practice indicate a great need for further research in this area.
Transmissibility of the contagious equine metritis organism for the cat

A group of SPF cats were moderately susceptible to the causal organism of contagious equine metritis (CEM) following intra-uterine or intrapreputial challenge with an Irish streptomycin resistant strain isolated from a clinically infected mare. Subclinical infections were established in only 50% of the cats, none of which became long-term carriers of the organism. Cytological examination of vaginal smears was of no diagnostic value in confirming infection in inapparently infected cats. Bacteriological responses after primary or secondary challenge with the CEM organism were essentially similar, with one exception, a female cat in which there was possible evidence of local immunity persisting after the primary infection. Efforts to reactivate shedding subsequent to the immediate post-challenge period were unsuccessful. Throughout the experimental period, the cats remained sero-negative to the complement-fixation test, and they failed to develop any significant increase in the levels of antibody activity as measured by the kinetics-based ELISA or KELA system. On day 89 after primary challenge, the cats were euthanized and various sites in the genitourinary tract and the internal iliac lymphatic glands subjected to bacteriological and pathological examination for evidence of CEM infection with negative results. The findings of this study, although establishing the transmissibility of the CEM organism for the cat, demonstrate the limited value of this species as an experimental model system for the disease in the horse.
On posterior consistency in nonparametric regression problems

We provide sufficient conditions to establish posterior consistency in nonparametric regression problems with Gaussian errors when suitable prior distributions are used for the unknown regression function and the noise variance. When the prior under consideration satisfies certain properties, the crucial condition for posterior consistency is to construct tests that separate from the outside of the suitable neighborhoods of the parameter. Under appropriate conditions on the regression function, we show there exist tests, of which the type I error and the type II error probabilities are exponentially small for distinguishing the true parameter from the complements of the suitable neighborhoods of the parameter. These sufficient conditions enable us to establish almost sure consistency based on the appropriate metrics with multi-dimensional covariate values fixed in advance or sampled from a probability distribution. We consider several examples of nonparametric regression problems.
APPLICATION OF A DAMPED SPRING-MASS HUMAN VIBRATION SIMULATOR IN VIBRATION TESTING OF VEHICLE SEATS

Abstract There is a need for standardized methods for testing vehicle seats. Such methods would allow for the direct comparison of the merits of seats of diverse types and designs. At the present time standardized testing procedures are not possible because the dynamic characteristics of the human subjects occupying the seat during testing vary widely from man to man and affect the seat response. Testing with dead weight loading does not accurately portray the dynamic characteristics of the seat. A damped spring-mass system closely approximating to the dynamic characteristics of a seated man to vertical modes of vibration has been developed as the basis on which a standardized vehicle seat testing procedure can be built. Analysis of the problem by means of mechanical impedance techniques indicated that a two-degree-of-freedom system was sufficient to simulate the major dynamic characteristics of man in the frequencies below 10 Hz where seat vibration is most severe. Test procedures have been developed whi...
Integration of synthetic globin genes into an E. coli plasmid

Rabbit globin mRNA has been purified and used as a template by reverse transcriptase. The resulting duplex molecule consisting of rabbit globin mRNA/cNDA has been linked in vitro to Eco RI cleaved plasmid Col E1 DNA. Transformation of E. coli C6OO by this recombinant molecule has been achieved. Transformed bacteria acquire the colicin EQ immunity of Col E1 and a closed circular DNA species of 4.40-4.45 x 10 (6) daltons in molecular weight, an increase of 2.0-2.5 x 10(5) daltons compared to that of the parent plasmid DNA. In addition , 3H cDNA synthesized from globin RNA hybridized perferentially to the recombinant plasmid DNA.
Application of magnetic resonance imaging in animal models of perinatal hypoxic-ischemic cerebral injury

Brain injury occurring in the perinatal period is an important etiology of subsequent neurodevelopmental disabilities. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is a tool that is used to evaluate the nature of brain injury in the human infant. MRI techniques have also been applied to various animal models of perinatal injury. The most commonly used model is the immature rat, but there have also been imaging studies in mice, rabbit kits and piglets. The studies have been carried out using MR systems of various magnetic field strengths, ranging from 1.5 to 11.7tesla (T), with applications for quantification of infarct volume, T1 measurements, T2 measurements, proton and phosphorus spectroscopy and diffusion imaging. The MR findings are then related to histopathology and, in a few cases, behavioral evaluations. There is also a growing number of studies utilizing MRI in evaluating the efficacy of neuroprotective treatments, such as hypothermia.
Automated, high-throughput platform for protein solubility screening using a split-GFP system

Overproduction of soluble and stable proteins for functional and structural studies is a major bottleneck for structural genomics programs and traditional biochemistry laboratories. Many high-payoff proteins that are important in various biological processes are “difficult to handle” as protein reagents in their native form. We have recently made several advances in enabling biochemical technologies for improving protein stability (http://www.lanl.gov/projects/gfp/), allowing stratagems for efficient protein domain trapping, solubility-improving mutations, and finding protein folding partners. In particular split-GFP protein tags are a very powerful tool for detection of stable protein domains. Soluble, stable proteins tagged with the 15 amino acid GFP fragment (amino acids 216–228) can be detected in vivo and in vitro using the engineered GFP 1–10 “detector” fragment (amino acids 1–215). If the small tag is accessible, the detector fragment spontaneously binds resulting in fluorescence. Here, we describe our current and on-going efforts to move this process from the bench (manual sample manipulation) to an automated, high-throughput, liquid-handling platform. We discuss optimization and validation of bacterial culture growth, lysis protocols, protein extraction, and assays of soluble and insoluble protein in multiple 96 well plate format. The optimized liquid-handling protocol can be used for rapid determination of the optimal, compact domains from single ORFS, collections of ORFS, or cDNA libraries.
Experimental determination of the solubility of carbon dioxide in molten basalt at low pressure

We report the first measurements of CO_2 solubility in molten basalt at pressures comparable to those at which submarine basalts erupt. A basalt from the Juan de Fuca ridge was equilibrated with CO_2-rich vapor at 1200°C, 100–1500 bar for up to four hours. After quenching, the glass was analyzed for dissolved carbonate ions by infrared spectroscopy. No forms of dissolved CO_2 other than carbonate were detected. CO_2 solubility is roughly a linear function of pressure at these low pressures. The experimentally determined solubility differs from previous estimates based on CO_2 concentrations of submarine glasses, on CO_2 solubilities in basaltic liquids at significantly higher pressures, and on CO_2 concentrations of glasses equilibrated with H_2O-CO_2 vapor. Our results are compatible with those obtained previously at higher pressures on a molten Kilauea tholeiite only if there is a significant positive dependence of carbonate solubility on temperature. CO_2 contents of mid-ocean ridge glasses measured by infrared spectroscopy are generally higher than would be expected based on solubilities at the hydrostatic pressures for the water depths from which the glasses were recovered, but the lowest dissolved CO_2 contents agree with the experimentally determined solubilities. We propose that submarine glasses with low CO_2 contents were quenched from magmas that were able to degas because they rose slowly from depth. The common occurrence of glasses with dissolved CO_2 contents in excess of the experimentally determined solubility suggests they were quenched from magmas that ascended too rapidly to degas fully. In conjunction with our solubility data, the highest CO_2 contents allow minimum estimates of depths to magma chambers. Depths of ⩾ 2.3 km beneath the ridge are indicated for the East Pacific Rise at 21°N, in agreement with geophysical constraints.
Observed relationships between large-scale tropical convection and the tropical circulation on subseasonal time scales during Northern Hemisphere winter

Abstract The work presented is a correlative study of the interaction between large-scale tropical convection and midlatitude wind anomalies, and the tropical wind field on subseasonal time scales. Outgoing longwave radiation (OLR) is used as a proxy for convection. Correlations are calculated from six years of 5-day averaged data for the December–February (DJF) season. The seasonal cycle and interannual variability are removed before computing the correlations. The results show that it is appropriate to classify the tropics into two regimes based on the direction of the time-mean 200-mb zonal wind at the equator. In the easterly regime there is abundant convective activity, a large standard deviation of OLR, and a small standard deviation of zonal wind. At longitudes of upper-level westerlies there is little convection, a small standard deviation of OLR, and a large standard deviation of wind. These results imply that convection is an important determinant of time-mean flow asymmetries along the equator....
Bible Belt immigrants: Latino religious incorporation in new immigrant destinations

This article examines how three congregations influence the incorporation of Mexican, Colombian and Guatemalan immigrants in the South, where churches are central to social and civic life. By shaping various dimensions of assimilation, churches are intervening institutions that promote integration for some and hinder it for others. I argue that distinctions within rather than between Protestant and Catholic congregations drive how churches affect Latinos’ divergent pathways. The dynamics of a liberal Protestant congregation are more conducive to integration than those of more conservative counterparts. Similarly, the dynamics of a Catholic church with a grass-roots organization promote integration, while the hierarchical organization of other Catholic congregations delays incorporation.