cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Lumbar Spondylolisthesis Progression: What is the Effect of Lumbar Medial Branch Nerve Radiofrequency Ablation on Lumbar Spondylolisthesis Progression? A Single-Center, Observational Study

Background Radiofrequency ablation (RFA) is a denervation therapy commonly performed for pain of facet etiology. Degenerative spondylolisthesis, a malalignment of the spinal vertebrae, may be a co-existing condition contributing to pain; yet the effect of RFA on advancing listhesis is unknown. To the extent that denervating RFA may weaken paraspinal muscles that provide stability to the spine, the therapy can potentially contribute to progressive spinal instability. Methods Single-center, prospective, observational pilot study in an interventional pain practice to test the hypothesis that RFA of painful facets in the setting of spondylolisthesis may contribute to advancement of further degenerative spondylolisthesis. Fifteen participants with pre-existing degenerative Grade I or Grade II spondylolisthesis and coexisting axial lumbar pain underwent lumbar RFA encompassing spondylolisthesis level and followed with post-RFA imaging at 12 months and beyond to measure percent change in spondylolisthesis. Results The primary outcome was the percent advancement of spondylolisthesis per year measured on post-RFA lateral lumbar spine imaging compared with non-intervention inferred baseline advancement of 2% per very limited observational studies. Among the 15 participants enrolled, 14 completed the study (median age 66; 64.3% women; median BMI 33.5; mean follow-up time 23.9 months). The mean advancement of spondylolisthesis per year after RFA was 1.30% (95% CI -0.14 to 2.78%), with 9/14 below 1.25%. Conclusion Among patients with lumbar pain originating from facets in the setting of degenerative spondylolisthesis who underwent lumbar RFA, the observed advancement of spondylolisthesis is clinically similar to the estimated maximum baseline of 2% per year change. The study findings did not find a destabilizing effect of lumbar RFA in advancing spondylolisthesis in this patient population.
Lewis Terman in Context: An Analysis of Citations of Genetic Studies of Genius Inside and Outside the Field of Gifted Education:

Scholars do not dispute that Lewis Terman is an influential figure in the field of gifted education. What is less well understood is the extent of that influence within the field and outside the fi...
Understanding Working from Home Practical Changes and Adaptations During the COVID-19 Pandemic.

While much work focuses on the impacts of the pandemic on people's psychological and physical health, it is still unclear about the practical changes and adaptations. In this work, we interviewed 46 participants who were forced to work from home. Results show that there is an increased reliance on asynchronous communication, which slowed communication efficiency and decreased initiative to communicate. The home environment causes distraction from households and lacked facilities but is embraced by a group of people. Many people had to passively adapt to the communication and environmental changes and accept the limitations of technology, a situation that is not sustainable in the long run. We pointed out how technology can potentially play a larger role in supporting communication and coping with environmental changes in the future.
Patient Propositions: $9.6 Billion of Medical Research Funding

Why did 7 million Californians vote for Proposition 71? In March 2004, California voters had to approve $15 billion in bonds to fund a deficit in the California budget to keep the state solvent as well as $12.3 billion for education facilities. Why would the same voters approve $6 billion ($3 billion in bond principal and $3 billion for interest over 35 years) in November of the same year? This was item 71 on the California state ballot and yet it received as many votes as US Senator Feinstein, the number one vote on the ballot; Senator Feinstein and Proposition 71 set a record for the highest vote count for any state ballot candidate or ballot measure in the history of the United States.
Earthquake Hazard Mitigation and Real-Time Warnings of Tsunamis and Earthquakes

With better understanding of earthquake physics and the advent of broadband seismology and GPS, seismologists can forecast the future activity of large earthquakes on a sound scientific basis. Such forecasts are critically important for long-term hazard mitigation, but because stochastic fracture processes are complex, the forecasts are inevitably subject to large uncertainties, and unexpected events will inevitably occur. Recent developments in real-time seismology helps seismologists cope with and prepare for such unexpected events, including tsunamis and earthquakes. For a tsunami warning, the required warning time is fairly long (usually 5 min or longer) and enables use of a rigorous method for this purpose. Significant advances have already been made. In contrast, early warning of earthquakes is far more challenging because the required warning time is very short (as short as three seconds). Despite this difficulty the methods used for regional warnings have advanced substantially, and several systems have been already developed and implemented. A future strategy for more challenging, rapid (a few second) warnings, which are critically important for saving properties and lives, is discussed.
The decay of 4.1 hour71Znm and the levels of71Ga by the unified model

Precision spectroscopy experiments were carried out on gamma-radiations emitted in the decay of 4.1 h71Znm, and several new transitions were identified. The presently accepted decay scheme has been modified to include these transitions, and several ambiguities in the level structure have been resolved. Using the intermediate-coupling unified model, the level energies of71Ga have been calculated. Vibrational phonon states of the core nucleus70Zn are coupled to proton single-particle states, 2p3/2, 1f5/2 and 2p1/2. The coupling interaction is taken as either Gaussian or derivative Saxon-Woods shape; radial wave functions are either harmonic-oscillator functions or those generated by a Saxon-Woods potential.
A framework for positive dependence

This paper presents, for bivariate distributions, a unified framework for studying and relating three basic concepts of positive dependence. These three concepts are positive dependence orderings, positive dependence properties and measures of positive dependence. The latter two concepts are formally defined and their properties discussed. Interrelationships among these three concepts are given, and numerous examples are presented.
Novel deployable reflectarray antennas for CubeSat communications

Two novel high gain deployable reflectarray antennas to support CubeSat telecommunications are described and compared with other high gain CubeSat antenna technologies. The first reflectarray is the Integrated Solar Array and Reflectarray Antenna (ISARA), a K/Ka-band antenna that also incorporates a dense packing of solar cells used to provide electrical power for the spacecraft. The second is an X-band reflectarray designed to provide a bent pipe telecom link. These reflectarrays are ideal for CubeSat applications because they require negligible stowed volume and impose a modest mass increase. The antenna designs and measured performance results are presented.
SOCIOLOGY FACES NO-GROWTH AND DECLINE IN ENROLMENTS

UNIVERSITY RESPONSES How did universities respond in the middle 1960's to the sudden arrival of waves of freshmen for whom they had not planned? In the way that pUblic institutions in the United States almost always respond that is, by crisis response. Buildings that should have been planned and built 5 years earlier were suddenly put on the drawing boards. New PhD's were produced in all academic fields in great volume, and no longer only by the schools that had been awarding that degree for a long time. The market for college teachers was so firm and believed to be so permanent that we escalated academic appointments by one whole rank almost overnight. College teachers were hired without benefit of the doctorate as assistant professors and given tenure within 3 to 4 years after being hired. People who would not have been hired as instructors on temporary status in the 1930's and 1940's were hired as assistant professors and given· tenure at the age of 30 in the 1960's. One academic department in a prestigious university, a science department in which knowledge turns over every 10 years, consists of 20 faculty members, none of whom is as old as 45, and 17 of them have tenure. Remember that this was happening in the middle 1960's, afterthe birthrate had already declined dramatically. For the past three years, colleges and universities have experienced either stability or slight declines in enrolment, though there have been a few instances of small increase. Such declines are attributable to several factors, prominent among which is the fact that fewer high school graduates now choose to go to college, compared to 5 or 6 years ago. Other SOCIOLOGY FACES NO-GROWTH AND DECLINE IN ENROLMENTS
Controlled substances model guidelines and standards of practice: response to commentary.

Dr. Gilson, in a cogent commentary [1], presents a number of “additional issues” that relate to our report [2]. I will comment on some of these issues: 1. The first issue relates to whether guidelines in general can or should be utilized as a “standard of practice” in litigation proceedings. Our case [2], demonstrated that medical experts are prepared to use guidelines, in this case, the Model Guidelines as the standard of practice. However, as we have pointed out [2], failing to adhere to the Model …
Androgen receptor non-nuclear regulation of prostate cancer cell invasion mediated by Src and matriptase

Castration-resistant prostate cancers still depend on nuclear androgen receptor (AR) function despite their lack of dependence on exogenous androgen. Second generation anti-androgen therapies are more efficient at blocking nuclear AR; however resistant tumors still develop. Recent studies indicate Src is highly active in these resistant tumors. By manipulating AR activity in several different prostate cancer cell lines through RNAi, drug treatment, and the use of a nuclear-deficient AR mutant, we demonstrate that androgen acting on cytoplasmic AR rapidly stimulates Src tyrosine kinase via a non-genomic mechanism. Cytoplasmic AR, acting through Src enhances laminin integrin-dependent invasion. Active Matriptase, which cleaves laminin, is elevated within minutes after androgen stimulation, and is subsequently shed into the medium. Matriptase activation and shedding induced by cytoplasmic AR is dependent on Src. Concomitantly, CDCP1/gp140, a Matriptase and Src substrate that controls integrin-based migration, is activated. However, only inhibition of Matriptase, but not CDCP1, suppresses the AR/Src-dependent increase in invasion. Matriptase, present in conditioned medium from AR-stimulated cells, is sufficient to enhance invasion in the absence of androgen. Thus, invasion is stimulated by a rapid but sustained increase in Src activity, mediated non-genomically by cytoplasmic AR, leading to rapid activation and shedding of the laminin protease Matriptase.
Drosophila Eye: Progressive Neural Development

The compound eye of the fruitfly Drosophila melanogaster has geometrically precise development which synergizes with the technological power of fly genetics and molecular biology to form one of the most powerful genetic model systems for studying nervous system development. This system has provided important data for our current understanding of developmental signalling processes and the development and regulation of neural cell types, pattern and structure. Keywords: compound eye; development; gene; pattern; signalling
Pathogenesis of Tularemia in Monkeys Aerogenically Exposed to Francisella tularensis 425

Abstract The pathogenesis of tularemia was studied in groups of rhesus monkeys (Macaca mulatta) that inhaled graded 10-fold doses ranging from 10 through 106 organisms of Francisella tularensis 425, a strain highly virulent for the white mouse but of reduced virulence for the domestic rabbit. Mean incubation periods ranged from 3 to 6 days followed by acute illness lasting 5 to 11 days with subsequent recovery of most animals. The higher inhaled doses resulted in shorter incubation periods, longer and more severe acute illnesses, and 18% mortality at the highest dose. Strain 425 multiplied in the lungs, disseminated to the regional lymph nodes, and became systemic. Maximal bacterial populations in tissues were reached by the 7th day after exposure of the animals regardless of the number of organisms inhaled. F. tularensis was no longer recoverable from any of six tissues examined 2 months after exposure. The most significant tissue changes occurred in the lungs; these consisted of foci of liquefaction necrosis, lobular consolidation, and pleural effusion and adhesions. The data indicate that the inhaled dose of strain 425 determined the maximal growth of the organism in the lungs which in turn influenced the severity of the usually self-limiting pneumonia and systemic infection. Although the monkey is less resistant to tularemia than is man, this laboratory animal when infected with F. tularensis 425 provides a useful model for the self-limiting type of human pulmonary tularemia usually observed in Europe and Asia but to a lesser extent in North America.
American Muslims and Religious Pluralism1

The issue of whether or not Islam as a religion allows for pluralism, or whether the Qur’an is a pluralistic scripture, seems to have taken on new urgency for some American Muslim scholars in light of 9/11 and reactions to Islam from other Americans. In this article I look at some of the ways these scholars have interpreted pluralism, grouping their responses into the general categories of concern for justice, internal critique of current realities within Islam, and the question of whether or not the Qur’an is truly open to the truth of religions other than Islam.
Cholesterol-7α-hydroxylase of pigeon liver microsomes

Abstract The assay conditions and properties of pigeon liver cholesterol-7α-hydroxylase were studied to provide a basis for comparison of the enzyme activity in pigeon strains. The specific activity of 7α-tritium in [7α, 7β-3H]cholesterol was obtained by determining the ratio of tritiated water to 7α-hydroxy [7β-3H]cholesterol following catalysis by microsomal cholesterol-7α-hydroxylase. The incorporation of tritium from the 7α-position into water was kinetically correlated to the amount of 7α-hydroxy[4-14C]cholesterol and 7α-hydroxy[7β-3H]cholesterol produced in the reaction. The effect of microsomal protein concentration and reaction time on the velocity of the reaction was determined. These data validate the measurement of tritiated water as an assay for cholesterol-7α-hydroxylase activity and are consistent with the idea that the hydroxylation mechanism is a mixed-function oxidase. The pH optima for the pigeon liver enzyme was 7.5, and the Km (apparent) for 7α-hydroxycholesterol solubilized with the detergent Cutscum was 2.4 × 10−4 m . Inhibitors of lipid peroxidation, i.e., EDTA, enhanced the activity of the enzyme and reduced the autoxidation of cholesterol. The cholesterol pool size in microsomes from pigeons fed grain or cholesterol-grain diets was not different. Cholesterol feeding enhanced the activity of cholesterol-7α-hydroxylase in the pigeon liver.
Pre-cretaceous flowering plants: further evidence from utah

Palm roots discovered in place in the Jurassic Arapien Shale Formation are further evidence for pre-Cretaceous flowering plants.
Nuclei production in alaska air masses under the action of short wave (1850åa) ultraviolet irradiation

Abstract Large numbers of nuclei with diameters approx. 0.02 μm are produced when uncontaminated filtered atmospheric air from Pacific Marine air masses originating to the south of interior Alaska are irradiated with the 1850A emission line of Hg. Filtered atmospheric air from air masses originating in the Eurasia Arctic, however, failed to produce particles under the action of u.v. irradiation. There is evidence that the reaction may involve NH 3 .
Mineralogy and petrology of chondrules and inclusions in the Mokoia CV3 chondrite

The inclusions and chondrules of the Mokoia CV3 chondrite are studied systematically and compared with those in the Allende meteorite. Five polished thin sections of Mokoia were examined by optical microscopy, backscattered scanning electron microscopy, and electronprobe microanalysis, and objects greater than about 100 microns in apparent diameter were measured and classified petrographically. Three major types of olivine chondrules are distinguished: igneous chondrules, which evidently crystallized from droplets of silicate melt; recrystallized chondrules, apparently metamorphosed at relatively high temperatures; and accretional aggregates, which are probably fragments of igneous chondrules. Refractory inclusions in Mokoia are generally similar to those found in Allende, although Mokoia inclusions include phyllosilicates rather than feldspathoids and melilite-rich Ca, Al-rich inclusions (CAIs) are more abundant in Allende. The small, fine-grained CAIs, which are more abundant than coarse-grained CAIs in both meteorites, are observed to represent aggregates of three distinct constituents: concentric objects, chaotic material and inclusion matrix. It is concluded that most of the CAIs probably formed during metamorphism, partial melting, and incomplete distillation of primitive dust aggregates heated in the solar nebula.
Four analogies between biological and cultural/linguistic evolution

The intricate phenomena of biology on the one hand, and language and culture on the other, have inspired many writers to draw analogies between these two evolutionary systems. These analogies can be divided into four principal types: species/language, organism/concept, genes/culture, and cell/person. Here, it is argued that the last analogy--between cells and persons--is the most profound in several respects, and, more importantly, can be used to generate a number of empirical predictions. In the first half of the paper, the four analogies are each evaluated after briefly describing criteria for a good predictive analogy. In the second half of the paper, the cell/person analogy and predictions deriving from it are explored in detail.
A relationship for non-conser vative-volume creep under different states of stress☆

Abstract A relationship was developed which provides correlation of Newtonian flow (linear stress dependent creep) under different stress states during non-conservative-volume creep. Results of postirradiation creep annealing and differences between torsional and tensile in-pile relaxation experiments indicate that about 5 6 of the observed tensile strain can be attributed to stress-induced isotropic swelling.
A novel class of organometallic complexes: 1,1-bimetallics of boron and zirconium

Abstract Representatives of a new class of 1,1-bimetallics of boron and zirconium, chlorobis(cyclopentadienyl)[1-(1,3,2-dioxaborinane-2-yl)hexyl]zirconium(IV) ( 1 ) and E -chlorobis(cyclopentadienyl)[1-(4,4,5,5-tetramethyl-1,3,2-dioxa borolane-2-yl)-3,3-dimethylbutenyl]zirconium(IV) ( 2 ) were prepared by hydrozirconation of the corresponding unsaturated boronates. X-ray analysis and NMR studies confirmed the configuration of the four-coordinated zirconium complexes with two cyclopentadienyl rings, Cl and Csp 3 or Csp 2 as four ligands, forming almost regular tetrahedrons. There are no intraor intermolecular interactions between zirconium and boron or oxygen atoms. The heterocyclic rings — 1,3,2-dioxaborinane and 1,3,2-dioxaborolane — adopt the envelope conformations. The planar part, COBO, of the five-membered boracycle and the alkene moiety of 2 are not conjugated.
Peking's Attitudes Toward International Law

Serious debates on the universality of international law emerged in Communist China after 1957. These centered on a few interrelated questions: Is traditional international law bourgeois in origin and character? Is there a separate socialist international law? Is there one international law equally applicable to states of different ideologies? If so, what is it? The resurgence of Soviet interest after the 20th Party Congress, a landmark in the development of Soviet theory of international law, may have provoked the debates in mainland China. On the other hand, during the late 1950s mainland China manifested a belated interest in law as a whole, including international law, which somehow continued at least until the outbreak of the Cultural Revolution in 1966.
Worker reallocation during Estonia’s transition to market

Based on consecutive labor force surveys, this study examines labor market dynamics during the first decade of the Estonian transition to market. The results show that, similar to other transition economies: Estonia’s employment and labor force was reduced; patterns of mobility profoundly changed – labor market flows intensified and previously nonexistent transitions emerged; and some groups of workers were disproportionally affected, chief among them the less educated and ethnic minorities. But Estonian fundamental free market reforms also produced labor market outcomes that differ significantly from those in other transition economies – above all, the intensity of worker and job flows in Estonia’s transition have surpassed those in most other transition economies. This was achieved by deliberate policies aimed at stimulating job creation and employment, above all by low employment protection and other policies geared toward increasing employability and strengthening the incentives of workers. Moreover, ...
Rate constants for the analysis of alkyl iodide mechanistic probe studies

Abstract Rate constants for reactions of octyl radical at 22°C with ethyl, butyl and cyclohexyl iodide and with ether and THF were determined; these values and other radical rate constants from the literature can be used to analyze the results of mechanistic probe studies.
Cluster space control of autonomous surface vessels utilizing obstacle avoidance and shielding techniques

Multi-robot systems offer many advantages over a single robot system including redundancy, coverage and flexibility. One of the key technical challenges in fielding multi-robot systems for real-world applications is the coordination and relative motion control of the individual units. The cluster space control technique addresses the motion control challenge by providing formation control and promoting the simplified specification and monitoring of the motion of mobile multi-robot systems. Previous work has established this approach and has experimentally verified its use for dynamic marine surface vessels consisting of 2 or 3 robots and with varying implementations ranging from automated cluster trajectory control to human-in-the-loop piloting. In this research program, we apply the cluster space control technique to a larger group of marine vessels and include both obstacle avoidance and threat detection with shielding formations. The resulting system is capable of autonomous navigation utilizing a centralized controller, currently implemented via a shore-based computer, that wirelessly receives ASV data and relays control commands. Using the cluster space control approach, these control commands allow a cluster supervisor to oversee a flexible and mobile perimeter formed by the ASV cluster or to detect a threat and establish a shield between the operation and the threat. Theoretical formulation and simulation results demonstrating these capabilities are provided, and plans for future work are discussed.
Niclosamide ethanolamine–induced mild mitochondrial uncoupling improves diabetic symptoms in mice

Type 2 diabetes (T2D) has reached an epidemic level globally. Most current treatments ameliorate the hyperglycemic symptom of the disease but are not effective in correcting its underlying cause. One important causal factor of T2D is ectopic accumulation of lipids in metabolically sensitive organs such as liver and muscle. Mitochondrial uncoupling, which reduces cellular energy efficiency and increases lipid oxidation, is an appealing therapeutic strategy. The challenge, however, is to discover safe mitochondrial uncouplers for practical use. Niclosamide is an anthelmintic drug approved by the US Food and Drug Administration that uncouples the mitochondria of parasitic worms. Here we show that niclosamide ethanolamine salt (NEN) uncouples mammalian mitochondria at upper nanomolar concentrations. Oral NEN increases energy expenditure and lipid metabolism in mice. It is also efficacious in preventing and treating hepatic steatosis and insulin resistance induced by a high-fat diet. Moreover, it improves glycemic control and delays disease progression in db/db mice. Given the well-documented safety profile of NEN, our study provides a potentially new and practical pharmacological approach for treating T2D.
The Role of Hand/Load Coupling in Strength Assessment

The limiting human subsystems for strength testing involve motivation, perception, muscular strength and biomechanics. This contribution examines the role of perception and pain as limiting factors in strength assessment. It is concluded that the body/test equipment coupling can affect both perceived effort and reported pain, and hence that considerable care should be taken to ensure correct body/test equipment fit.
Using Partial Frequency Domain Data to Improve Reconstruction Accuracy in Continuous Wave Breast Tomosynthesis Guided Diffuse Optical Spectroscopy

Limited frequency domain data measured with a handheld probe provides scattering information for a continuous wave multimodal system. Phantom measurements are used to quantify chromophore recovery and characterize the instrument performance.
Acyl dihydroxyacetone phosphate: precursor of alkyl ethers

Abstract 1-0-Alkyl dihydroxyacetone phosphate is biosynthesized in guinea pig liver mitochondria and in rat brain microsomes by direct reaction of a long chain alcohol and acyl dihydroxyacetone phosphate. ATP and Mg ++ are stimulatory but coenzyme A is not necessary for the reaction.
Protein kinase C-δ activation and tyrosine phosphorylation in platelets

Several protein kinase C (PKC) isoforms are expressed in human platelets. We report that PKC-delta is tyrosine phosphorylated within 30 s of platelet activation by thrombin. This correlated with a 2-3-fold increase in the kinase activity of PKC-delta relative to unstimulated platelets. The tyrosine phosphorylated PKC-delta isoform was associated with the platelet particulate (100,000 x g insoluble) fraction. Alpha(IIb)beta3 integrin mediated platelet adhesion to fibrinogen did not significantly affect PKC-delta activity. Tyrosine phosphorylation of PKC-delta was similarly not detected in fibrinogen adherent platelet lysates. Treatment of the platelets with mAb 7E3 prior to the addition of thrombin blocked aggregation having no effect on the thrombin induced PKC-delta activation. We conclude that PKC-delta is activated in platelets by an alpha(IIb)beta3 independent pathway.
The primary optic projections in the rabbit. An experimental degeneration study

The brains of ten rabbits (4 pigmented and 6 albino) sacrificed 6–21 days after unilateral ocular enucleation were prepared by Nauta and Nissl methods and used to study the projection and terminal destribution of degenerating optic axons. The retina is bilaterally represented in the alpha sectors of both ventral and dorsal lateral geniculate nuclei (LGv and LGd), in n. tractus opticus (NTO), in the dorsolateral portions of nn. praetectalis anterior (NPA) and posterior (NPP), and in the superior colliculus (SC). The retina is unilaterally represented in the contralateral terminal accessory optic nuclei. The mode of termination of crossed and uncrossed retinal projections endows the LGd with a concealed laminar organization. Four laminae are recognized and numbered consecutively from lateral to medial. Lamina one is extensive and formed entirely of crossed retinal input. The remaining three laminae occupy the medial zone of the LGd. Of these, laminae two and four are innervated predommantly by the ipsilateral retina while lamina three is supplied mainly by the contralateral retina. Uncrossed retinal innervations of LGv, NTO, NPA, NPP and SC are scant and overlapped entirely by crossed retinal inputs. Chiasmal decussation of the optic nerve is 90–95% complete with the uncrossed component, and specifically the uncrossed retino-LGd and -SC projections, being larger in pigmented as compared with albino rabbits.
Incidence and recurrence rates of colorectal adenomas : a prospective study

Abstract Background/Aims: The frequency of colorectal adenomas, the precursor lesions for most cases of colorectal carcinoma, has been generally measured as prevalence rates of adenomas at autopsy or colonoscopy. The aim of this study was to estimate the incidence rate of adenomas and compare it with the adenoma recurrence rate. Methods: Data on colonoscopies performed in three New York City practices were collected prospectively. The cumulative rate of adenoma diagnosis on repeat colonoscopy was calculated for patients with no abnormalities on index colonoscopy ("incidence" rate) and for patients with adenomas on the index colonoscopy ("recurrence" rate). Results: The cumulative incidence rate of adenomas at 36 months was 16%, and the cumulative recurrence rate at 36 months was 42% ( P
Epilepsy and outcome in FOXG1-related disorders.

SummaryObjective FOXG1-related disorders are associated with severe intellectual disability, absent speech with autistic features, and epilepsy. Children with deletions or intragenic mutations of FOXG1 also have postnatal microcephaly, morphologic abnormalities of the corpus callosum, and choreiform movements. Duplications of 14q12 often present with infantile spasms, and have subsequent intellectual disability with autistic features. Long-term epilepsy outcome and response to treatment have not been studied systematically in a well-described cohort of subjects with FOXG1-related disorders. We report on the epilepsy features and developmental outcome of 23 new subjects with deletions or intragenic mutations of FOXG1, and 7 subjects with duplications. Methods Subjects had either chromosomal microarray or FOXG1 gene sequencing performed as part of routine clinical care. Development and epilepsy follow-up data were collected from medical records from treating neurologists and through telephone parental interviews using standardized questionnaires. Results Epilepsy was diagnosed in 87% of the subjects with FOXG1-related disorders. The mean age of epilepsy diagnosis in FOXG1 duplications was significantly younger than those with deletions/intragenic mutations (p = 0.0002). All of the duplication FOXG1 children with infantile spasms responded to hormonal therapy, and only one required long-term antiepileptic therapy. In contrast, more children with deletions/intragenic mutations required antiepileptic drugs on follow-up (p < 0.0005). All subjects with FOXG1-related disorders had neurodevelopmental disabilities after 3 years of age, regardless of the epilepsy type or intractability of seizures. All had impaired verbal language and social contact, and three duplication subjects were formally diagnosed with autism. Subjects with deletion/intragenic mutations, however, had significantly worse ambulation (p = 0.04) and functional hand use (p < 0.0005). Significance Epilepsy and developmental outcome characteristics allow clinicians to distinguish among the FOXG1-related disorders. Further genotype–phenotype studies of FOXG1 may help to elucidate why children develop different forms of developmental epilepsy. A PowerPoint slide summarizing this article is available for download in the Supporting Information section here
Unilateral transfer of abatement capital

Abstract In a model of global carbon dioxide control, Yang (Yang, Z., 1999. Should the North make unilateral technology transfers to the south? North–South cooperation and conflicts in responses to global climate change. Resource and Energy Economics 21 (1), 67–87.) advocates the unilateral transfer of abatement capital from North to South. It is argued here that such transfers should be contingent on the South's willingness to equiproportionally abate and sequester emissions according to an efficient version of Rose and Stevens' (Rose, A., Stevens, B., 1993. The efficiency and equity of marketable permits of CO2 emissions. Resource and Energy Economics 15, 117–146.) sovereignty criterion, a straightforward and popular, though not necessarily equitable, burden sharing rule for reducing greenhouse gases on a global scale. Under this program, the North would abate less and preserve a smaller quantity of forests than it would if there were equiproportional reductions in the absence of capital transfers.
Radiographic evaluation of complex dysphagic patients: comparison with videoendoscopic technique.

Swallowing is a highly coordinated sequence of physiologic events. Many disease processes affect the patient’s ability to have a functional swallow. The traditional videofluoroscopic swallowing study is an effective and established method for evaluating these patients and is the current examination of choice. Videoendoscopic evaluation is a safe and affordable procedure that can be used in an outpatient or office setting. It can also be a complementary technique, allowing direct visualization of pharyngeal structures and aspiration. We discuss the use of both techniques.
Industrial de-licensing, trade liberalization, and skill upgrading in India

Abstract We investigate the relationship between industrial de-licensing, trade liberalization, and skill upgrading during the 1980s and 1990s among manufacturing plants in India. We use a unique dataset on India's industrial licensing regime to test whether industrial de-licensing during the 1980s and 1990s played a role in skill upgrading, as measured by the employment and wagebill shares of white-collar workers. In addition, we assess the relative contribution of industrial de-licensing and trade liberalization to skill upgrading. We identify two main channels through which industrial de-licensing affects skill upgrading: capital- and output-skill complementarities. Using both difference-in-differences as well as regression discontinuity techniques, we find two important results. First, after controlling for the size-based exemption rule that determined whether or not a plant faced licensing restrictions, industrial de-licensing during the 1980s appears to have increased the relative demand for skilled workers via capital- and output-skill complementarities. Capital- and output-skill complementarities exist for plants in both licensed and de-licensed industries but were stronger in de-licensed industries during the 1980s, prior to India's massive trade liberalization reforms in 1991. Second, regardless of de-licensing, capital- and output-skill complementarities are generally weaker after trade was liberalized during the early 1990s. Together, capital- and output-skill complementarities contributed 75% (57%) and 31% (29%), respectively, of the growth in the employment and wagebill shares of white-collar workers in de-licensed (licensed) industries before trade was liberalized. After trade liberalization, these contributions were smaller. This suggests that trade liberalization may not have played a major role in raising the relative demand for skilled labor during the early 1990s.
LYSYL oxidase dependent synthesis of a collagen cross-link containing histidine.

To date, collagen appears unique among proteins in that it contains histidine in certain of its cross-links. Synthesis of histidine containing collagen cross-links was studied in vitro with lathyritic L-14C histidine or L-14C lysine labelled bone collagen fibrils and purified lysyl oxidase. Synthesis of the tetrafunctional cross-link, dehydrohistidinohydroxymerodesmosine occurred with lysyl oxidase and was inhibited by β-aminopropionitrile. Synthesis began after a lag period of sixteen hours and then proceeded linearly for four days. These data indicate that enzyme dependent synthesis of dehydrohistidinohydroxymerodesmosine occurs in vitro in a biochemically defined system. Biosynthesis in vivo might occur under similar conditions.
Selective distribution and pregnancy-specific expression of DC-SIGN at the maternal-fetal interface in the rhesus macaque: DC-SIGN is a putative marker of the recognition of pregnancy.

We performed immunohistochemical analysis of DC-SIGN expression at the maternal–fetal interface at different stages of pregnancy in the rhesus monkey. Natural killer cells, monocytes and macrophages were observed in the nonpregnant endometrium, particularly in the luteal phase, and were increased in pregnant endometrium. No DC-SIGN + cells were observed in the nonpregnant uterus. We observed decidual DC-SIGN + cells within 1 week of implantation, and they increased in number during the first 5 weeks of gestation. DC-SIGN + cells showed a clear differential distribution in the decidua in the first 2 weeks of pregnancy, being found only adjacent to the implantation site, in marked contrast to the widespread distribution of CD68 + macrophages and CD56 + NK cells throughout the endometrium. DC-SIGN + cells also showed a more dendritic morphology than the general CD68 + cell population, and analysis of serial sections indicated an overlapping but not identical localization of these markers. Mature dendritic cells could not be detected as judged by total absence of immunostaining for CD83, CD86, DEC-205, or CD1a. DC-SIGN + cells were defined as MHC class II + and CD14 + by flow cytometry. We conclude that DC-SIGN expression is an early response by the primate maternal immune system to the implanting embryo. The selectively distributed population of DC-SIGN + decidual leukocytes may represent a morphologically and phenotypically distinct subpopulation of decidual macrophages of early pregnancy that could contribute to the establishment of maternal–fetal immune tolerance.
The policy content of the yield curve slope

Abstract The slope of the yield curve, defined as the difference between 10 year and 3 month government bond yields, has been shown to predict both inflation and real economic activity. This paper investigates whether the forecasting ability of the yield curve slope is solely due to its relationship to monetary policy or whether it contains independent information about the future course of inflation and output growth. The predictive content of the yield curve slope is measured over three separate monetary policy regimes. The empirical results suggest that the yield curve slope contains independent predictive information about a variable only when the Federal Reserve does not react to changes in that variable.
Corrigendum Formaldehyde exposure and leukemia: A new meta-analysis and potential mechanisms [Mutat. Res. 681 (2009) 150-168]

Corrigendum ‘‘Formaldehyde exposure and leukemia: A new meta-analysis and potential mechanisms’’ [Mutat. Res. 681 (2009) 150–168] Luoping Zhang *, Craig Steinmaus , David A. Eastmond , Xianjun K. Xin , Martyn T. Smith a a School of Public Health, 50 University Hall, University of California, Berkeley, CA 94720-7356, USA California Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment, 1515 Clay Street, Oakland, CA 94612, USA c Environmental Toxicology Graduate Program, Department of Cell Biology and Neuroscience, University of California, Riverside, CA 92521, USA
Numerical integration in the finite element method

Abstract The theoretical predictions of [1] concerning the needed accuracy in the numerical integration of curvilinear (isoparametric) finite elements is confirmed experimentally. The theoretical arguments and numerical results arrived at here suggest a way to lump the mass matrix with no accuracy loss. In the finite element analysis of almost inextentional shells and nearly incompressible materials where the lack of zero energy modes severely impedes convergence, numerical integration has the beneficial effect of reducing the rank of some stiffness matrices assuring thereby the presence of discrete zero modes.
Section 404 Wetland Mitigation and Permit Success Criteria in Pennsylvania, USA, 1986–1999

Twenty-three Section 404 permits in central Pennsylvania (covering a wetland age range of 1-14 years) were examined to determine the type of mitigation wetland permitted, how the sites were built, and what success criteria were used for evaluation. Most permits allowed for mitigation out-of-kind, either vegetatively or through hydrogeomorphic class. The mitigation process has resulted in a shift from impacted wetlands dominated by woody species to less vegetated mitigation wetlands, a trend that appears to be occurring nationwide. An estimate of the percent cover of emergent vegetation was the only success criterion specified in the majority of permits. About 60% of the mitigation wetlands were judged as meeting their originally defined success criteria, some after more than 10 years. The permit process appears to have resulted in a net gain of almost 0.05 ha of wetlands per mitigation project. However, due to the replacement of emergent, scrub-shrub, and forested wetlands with open water ponds or uplands, mitigation practices probably led to a net loss of vegetated wetlands.
An object-based approach for verification of precipitation estimation

Verification has become an integral component in the development of precipitation algorithms used in satellite-based precipitation products and evaluation of numerical weather prediction models. A number of object-based verification methods have been developed to quantify the errors related to spatial patterns and placement of precipitation. In this study, an image processing technique known as watershed transformation, capable of detecting closely spaced, but separable precipitation areas, is adopted in the object-based approach. Several key attributes of the segmented precipitation objects are selected and interest values of those attributes are estimated based on the distance measurement of the estimated and reference images. An overall interest score is estimated from all the selected attributes and their interest values. The proposed object-based approach is implemented to validate satellite-based precipitation estimation against ground radar observations. The results indicate that the watershed segm...
MEASURING CUSTOMERS' VIEWS OF TRANSPORTATION PLANNING SERVICES: A REUSABLE SURVEY

Customers of the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) who use its transportation planning services include towns, cities, counties, planning district commissions (PDCs), metropolitan planning organizations (MPOs), and advocacy groups. To assess VDOT's delivery of these services and identify areas for potential improvement, approximately 300 questionnaires were distributed to customers statewide. The questionnaire categorized planning functions into seven services (performing strategic long-range planning, providing liaison services, conducting passenger planning, conducting freight planning, performing site plan reviews, assisting with modeling and quantitative analysis, and answering questions and providing technical assistance) and asked recipients to identify the providers, evaluate service delivery, and rank the services in order of importance. Customers were most interested in strategic long-range planning. Localities were most interested in site plan reviews, and MPOs, PDCs, and VDOT's urban districts were most interested in modeling and quantitative analysis. Urban respondents ranked modeling and quantitative analysis as the service that VDOT performs best, whereas rural respondents gave answering questions and providing technical assistance this ranking. The survey cannot replace in-depth discussions between a provider of transportation planning services and its customers, but it can yield practical customer input stratified across the seven services described.
Processing demands associated with relational complexity: Testing predictions with dual-task methodologies

We discuss how modified dual-task approaches may be used to verify the degree to which cognitive tasks are capacity demanding. We also delineate some of the complexities associated with the use of the “double easy-to-hard” paradigm for testing claim of Halford, Wilson & Phillips that hierarchical reasoning imposes processing demands equivalent to those of transitive reasoning.
Hopelessness as a predictor of cervical cancer.

Abstract As a result of a series of studies on the psychological setting of disease onset, we selected a group of healthy women considered biologically predisposed (atypical cervical cytology) to a disease (cancer of the cervix) and predicted (1) the disease would be present in those who had a “hopelessness prone personality” or who recently experienced feelings of hopelessness and (2) disease would be absent in those who did not have the high hopelessness predisposition or had not experienced feelings of hopelessness. Criteria for hopelessness prone personality and feelings of hopelessness were applied to interview data and the predictions were matched with the pathological reports of cone biopsies and were found to be statistically predictive of cancer and no cancer.
Coexistence of parentalBacillus brevis and its gramicidin S-negative mutant during spore germination stages

Bacillus brevis strain Nagano and its gramicidin S-negative mutant, BI-7, were compared in separate as well as in mixed cultures with respect to germination of their spores in several media. Mixed-culture experiments were facilitated by the observation that colonies of wild and mutant cultures are distinctly different in appearance on nutrient agar. We found that there was complete coexistence in both strains throughout the outgrowth phase of germination, during which gramicidin S-induced suicide normally occurs in the wild-type prior to vegetative growth. Coexistence was also observed in media supporting germination but not growth, i.e., alanine-salts and alanine-water. The same was found when spores of the two strains were incubated in a soil suspension. We found that both strains become sensitive to starvation in a salts mixture only after development into vegetative cells, the mutant strain being more sensitive than the parent in this regard, but again coexistence was observed in mixed culture.
Adaptive multistage 2D image motion field estimation

This paper addresses the problem of robust 2D image motion estimation in natural environments. We develop an adaptive tracking-region selection and optical-flow estimation technique. The strategy of adaptive region selection locates reliable tracking regions and makes their motion estimation more reliable and computationally efficient. The multi-stage estimation procedure makes it possible to discriminate between good and poor estimation areas, which maximizes the quality of the final motion estimation. Furthermore, the model fitting stage further reduces the estimation error and provides a more compact and flexible motion field representation that is better suited for high-level vision processing. We demonstrate the performance of our techniques on both synthetic and natural image sequences.