cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The visual social environment affects non-additively neighbor spacing and interaction time in zebrafish

Abstract Many fish form schools and visually track the position of their neighbors in a 3D environment. In this study, we assessed whether zebrafish modified their spacing behavior and interaction time in an additive or multiplicative way relative to multiple sources of visual social information using video playbacks. We simultaneously manipulated: (a) the magnitude of the social cues (by varying the size of the virtual fish), (b) the level of social risk (low, high based on the position of the virtual fish in the water column), and (c) the perceived depth of the social cues (visual horizon absent or present). Each of these factors independently affected spacing behavior (zebrafish increased the separation distance with larger virtual fish, under lower visual social risk, and when depth perception was enhanced), but they did not affect interaction time. However, some of these factors interacted significantly, such that their effects on social behavior depended on each other. For instance, zebrafish decreased their separation distance under high vs. low risk conditions when the virtual fish was the same or smaller size, but this risk effect disappeared with larger virtual fish likely to avoid aggression. Also, zebrafish increased their separation distance when perceived depth was enhanced under low risk, but the perceived depth effect became less pronounced under high risk probably due to dilution effects. Overall, the effects of certain visual social parameters depend on the intensity of other visual social parameters, ultimately tuning up or down different social behavioral responses. We discuss the implications for the spatial organization of fish schools. Significance Statement Many fish form schools and visually track the position of their neighbors in a 3D environment. We found that zebrafish consider multiple visual social sources of information simultaneously to modify their neighbor distance. Thus, their spacing behavior appears to follow multiplicative rules, whereby the spacing response to a visual social parameter depend on the intensity of a different visual social parameter.
The Effects of Preoperative Steroid Therapy on Perioperative Complications After Elective Anterior Lumbar Fusion.

Objective To examine the effects of chronic preoperative steroid therapy on 30-day perioperative complications after anterior lumbar fusion (ALF). Methods We retrospectively analyzed data from the American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program between 2008 and 2015. Adult patients who underwent ALF were included and divided into 2 groups: steroids and no steroids. We compared baseline patient demographics, comorbidities, and operative variables between these 2 groups and then performed a multivariate regression analysis to determine complications that were independently associated with chronic steroid therapy. We also performed a subgroup analysis of the steroid group to identify additional risk factors that further predispose these patients to postoperative complications. Results A total of 9483 patients were included, of whom 289 (3.0%) were on chronic steroid therapy. Univariate analysis showed that chronic steroid use was independently associated with 4 perioperative complications, including deep surgical site infection (odds ratio [OR], 2.78; confidence interval [CI], 1.09–7.10; P = 0.033), pulmonary complications (OR, 1.98; CI, 1.02–3.86; P = 0.044), blood transfusion (OR, 1.60; CI, 1.15–2.23; P = 0.005), and extended length of stay (OR, 1.58; CI, 1.17–2.16; P = 0.003). In patients on chronic steroid therapy, pulmonary comorbidity and extended operative time were additional risk factors that further predisposed to perioperative complications, including deep surgical site infection, blood transfusion, and extended length of stay. Conclusions Chronic preoperative steroid therapy is associated with perioperative complications after ALF. Decisions about the discontinuing or holding steroid therapy preoperatively should be determined through an interdisciplinary approach between the medical and surgical teams.
Three-dimensional time-resolved trajectories from laboratory insect swarms

Aggregations of animals display complex and dynamic behaviour, both at the individual level and on the level of the group as a whole. Often, this behaviour is collective, so that the group exhibits properties that are distinct from those of the individuals. In insect swarms, the motion of individuals is typically convoluted, and swarms display neither net polarization nor correlation. The swarms themselves, however, remain nearly stationary and maintain their cohesion even in noisy natural environments. This behaviour stands in contrast with other forms of collective animal behaviour, such as flocking, schooling, or herding, where the motion of individuals is more coordinated, and thus swarms provide a powerful way to study the underpinnings of collective behaviour as distinct from global order. Here, we provide a data set of three-dimensional, time-resolved trajectories, including positions, velocities, and accelerations, of individual insects in laboratory insect swarms. The data can be used to study the collective as a whole as well as the dynamics and behaviour of individuals within the swarm. Machine-accessible metadata file describing the reported data (ISA-Tab format)
Genetic Resources of Herbaceous Ornamentals in North America

Herbaceous ornamental plants represent a crop category that includes hundreds of species used in diverse ways. Such plants have been an important component of constructed landscapes and represent a significant economic activity. There are many North American native species that are used as herbaceous ornamentals although worldwide trade tends to be dominated by species native elsewhere. While there are some North American herbaceous ornamentals that fit conventional definitions of a crop, and would thus benefit from availability of crop wild relatives for enhancement through breeding, many more are basically nearly wild utilized species that are readily propagated and fit the demands of the marketplace. The study and preservation of herbaceous ornamentals genetic resources significantly lags that of food and industrial crops as evidenced by scant germplasm collections and very limited representations in the collections that do exist. This chapter highlights general issues associated with crop wild relatives and wild utilized species of herbaceous ornamentals and provides examples of current status of and work with three genera: Coreopsis L., Rudbeckia L., and Phlox L. These are three priority genera for germplasm development and conservation at the Ornamental Plant Germplasm Center in Columbus, Ohio. The prospects for utilization of genetic resources of native herbaceous taxa are very good, but the limited resources and relatively low priority of this group of plants present considerable challenges to comprehensive conservation.
Machine learning for composite materials

Machine learning (ML) has been perceived as a promising tool for the design and discovery of novel materials for a broad range of applications. In this prospective paper, we summarize recent progress in the applications of ML to composite materials modeling and design. An overview of how different types of ML algorithms can be applied to accelerate composite research is presented. This framework is envisioned to revolutionize approaches to design and optimize composites for the next generation of materials with unprecedented properties.
Influence of Alloy Additions on the Microstructure, Texture, and Hardness of Low-Pressure Cold-Sprayed Al-Cu Alloys

This paper examines a series of Al-Cu binary alloy coatings, ranging from 2 to 5 weight percent copper, produced using low-pressure cold spray (CS) deposition with helium as the carrier gas. Binary Al-Cu alloy feedstock powder was produced through inert gas atomization and was sprayed over a variety of temperatures and pressures. Using helium gas, this set of Al-Cu alloys was successfully deposited as high-density coatings. Raising the carrier gas pressure increased the particle velocity and deposition efficiency (DE) in the case of spraying the Al-5 wt.% Cu powders. A clear composite deformation structure was formed in all coatings with clear prior particle centers surrounded by severely deformed regions with ultrafine grains. Microstructural deformation generated by the CS process produced a weak but clear fiber texture for both Al-2 wt.% Cu and Al-5 wt.% Cu coatings. The copper content of the feedstock powder directly influenced the coating hardness and porosity, while having no systematic effect on the DE.
Deep Learning Approach to Point Cloud Scene Understanding for Automated Scan to 3D Reconstruction

AbstractConstruction progress estimation to ensure high productivity and quality is an essential component of the daily construction cycle. However, using three-dimensional (3D) laser-scanned point...
Modulation and Visualization of EF‐G Power Stroke During Ribosomal Translocation

During ribosome translocation, the elongation factor EF-G undergoes large conformational change while maintaining its contact with the moving tRNA. We previously measured a power stroke accompanying EF-G catalysis, which was consistent with structural studies. However, the role of power stroke in translocation fidelity remains unclear. Here, we report quantitative measurements of the power strokes of structurally modified EF-Gs by using two different techniques and reveal the correlation between power stroke and translocation efficiency and fidelity. We discovered that the reduced power stroke only lowered the percentage of translocation but did not introduce translocation error. The established force -structure-function correlation for EF-G indicates that power stroke drives ribosomal translocation, but the mRNA reading frame is probably maintained by ribosome itself. Furthermore, the microscope detection method reported here can be simply implemented for other biochemical applications.
P-TEFb as A Promising Therapeutic Target

The positive transcription elongation factor b (P-TEFb) was first identified as a general factor that stimulates transcription elongation by RNA polymerase II (RNAPII), but soon afterwards it turned out to be an essential cellular co-factor of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) transcription mediated by viral Tat proteins. Studies on the mechanisms of Tat-dependent HIV transcription have led to radical advances in our knowledge regarding the mechanism of eukaryotic transcription, including the discoveries that P-TEFb-mediated elongation control of cellular transcription is a main regulatory step of gene expression in eukaryotes, and deregulation of P-TEFb activity plays critical roles in many human diseases and conditions in addition to HIV/AIDS. P-TEFb is now recognized as an attractive and promising therapeutic target for inflammation/autoimmune diseases, cardiac hypertrophy, cancer, infectious diseases, etc. In this review article, I will summarize our knowledge about basic P-TEFb functions, the regulatory mechanism of P-TEFb-dependent transcription, P-TEFb’s involvement in biological processes and diseases, and current approaches to manipulating P-TEFb functions for the treatment of these diseases.
Chapter 2 – Analyzing Requirements

Publisher Summary This chapter introduces the goals and methods of requirements analysis, the phase of software development in which the needs of clients with respect to a proposed project or technology are analyzed. Requirements analysis usually starts with a mission statement or orienting goals, then becomes more elaborate through studies and meetings with prospective clients. Some of the important issues in analyzing the needs of the situation have been summarized. The virtual science-fair case study is introduced and used to illustrate requirements analysis activities in SBD. A work setting must be analyzed from the perspective of diverse stakeholders, and work activities must be observed in their real-world context, to be fully understood. The objects and materials of a workplace can provide insights into work processes that are often only understood tacitly by individual workers, or that are distributed across many elements of a work setting. To gain the most from field studies, it is critical to plan in advance the questions to be asked, what and how data will be collected, and how a comfortable exchange between analysts and work participants will be ensured. Problem scenarios synthesize a range of workplace needs and opportunities, with an emphasis on typical or critical issues uncovered through stakeholder, artifact, and theme analysis. Usability engineers participate in requirements analysis by studying how work currently takes place to see if they can identify problems or opportunities that might be addressed by new technology. This analysis provides crucial input to the design of new computing systems: at a minimum, a project team hopes to enhance the current situation.
Sentiment Analysis for Stock Price Prediction

Stock prices and financial markets are often sentiment-driven, which leads to research efforts to predict stock market trend using public sentiments expressed on social media such as Facebook and Twitter. In this project, we investigate the impact of sentiment expressed through StockTwits on stock price prediction. StockTwits is a relatively new microblogging website, which is becoming increasingly popular for users to share their discussions and sentiments about stocks and financial markets. Specifically, we analyze the StockTwits tweet contents and extract financial sentiment using a set of text featurization and machine learning algorithms. The correlation between the aggregated daily sentiment and daily stock price movement is then studied. Finally, the sentiment information is used in addition to the past stock time series data to improve the accuracy of stock price movement prediction. The effectiveness of the proposed work on stock price prediction is demonstrated through experiments on five companies (Apple, Amazon, General Electric, Microsoft, and Target) using nine-month StockTwits data and daily stock data.
Optimizing DXA to Assess Skeletal Health: Key Concepts for Clinicians

Context The diagnosis of osteoporosis and assessment of fracture risk prior to a sentinel fracture was transformed by the widespread clinical use of dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry (DXA) for the assessment of bone mineral density (BMD). Evidence acquisition This review is based on a collection of primary and review literature gathered from a PubMed search of "dual energy X-ray absorptiometry", "trabecular bone score" and "atypical femur fracture" among other keywords. PubMed searches were supplemented by the authors' prior knowledge of the subject. Evidence synthesis While uncertainty exists for some aspects of osteoporosis care, patient and clinician familiarity with BMD assessment for screening and monitoring is firmly established. Beyond BMD, lateral spine images obtained with DXA can diagnose osteoporosis and refine fracture risk through the detection of unrecognized vertebral fractures. In addition, analysis of DXA lumbar spine images can reflect changes in trabecular bone microarchitecture, a component of bone "quality" that predicts risk of fracture independent of BMD. Finally, monitoring of bone health by DXA may be extended to include assessment of the femoral cortices for rare but serious adverse effects associated with antiresorptive therapies. Conclusions Increasing technologic sophistication requires additional consideration for how DXA imaging is performed, interpreted and applied to patient care. As with any test, clinicians must be familiar with DXA performance, pitfalls in analysis, and interpretation within each clinical context in which DXA is applied. With this perspective, care providers will be well-positioned to contribute to continuous improvement of DXA performance and, in turn, quality of osteoporosis care.
A Search for Radio Transients in Very Large Array Archival Images of the 3C 286 Field

We present a search for radio transients (RTs) in the field of the bright radio source 3C 286 using archival observations from the Very Large Array (VLA). These observations span 23 years and include 1852 epochs at 1.4 GHz in the C and D configurations. We find no transients in the field. The sensitivity of the observations is limited by dynamic range effects in the images. At large flux densities (>0.2 Jy), single-epoch observations provide a strong limit on the transient surface density. At flux densities near the dynamic range threshold, we use the requirement that transient sources must appear in consecutive epochs to be confirmed as real. This sets the sensitivity at low flux densities to transient durations of τ ~ 1 day, while τ>1 minute for high flux densities. At 70 mJy, we find a 2σ limit on the surface density Σ < 3 × 10–3 deg–2. At 3 Jy, we find a 2σ limit Σ < 9 × 10–4 deg–2. A future systematic search of the VLA archives can provide one to two orders of magnitude more sensitivity to RTs.
Depression, smoking, and lung cancer risk over 24 years among women.

Background Studies evaluating depression's role in lung cancer risk revealed contradictory findings, partly because of the small number of cases, short follow-up periods, and failure to account for key covariates including smoking exposure. We investigated the association of depressive symptoms with lung cancer risk in a large prospective cohort over 24 years while considering the role of smoking. Methods Women from the Nurses' Health Study completed measures of depressive symptoms, sociodemographics, and other factors including smoking in 1992 (N = 42 913). Depressive symptoms were also queried in 1996 and 2000, whereas regular antidepressant use and physician-diagnosed depression were collected starting in 1996. Multivariable Cox regression models estimated hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) of lung cancer risk until 2016. Results We identified 1009 cases of lung cancer. Women with the highest v. lowest level of depressive symptoms had an increased lung cancer risk (HRsociodemographics-adjusted = 1.62, 95% CI 1.34-1.95; HRfully-adjusted = 1.25, 95% CI 1.04-1.51). In a test of mediation, lifetime pack-years of smoking accounted for 38% of the overall association between depressive symptoms and disease risk. When stratifying by smoking status, the elevated risk was evident among former smokers but not current or never smokers; however, the interaction term suggested no meaningful differences across groups (p = 0.29). Results were similar or stronger when considering time-updated depression status (using depressive symptoms, physician diagnosis, and regular antidepressant use) and chronicity of depressive symptoms. Conclusions These findings suggest that greater depressive symptoms may contribute to lung cancer incidence, directly and indirectly via smoking habits, which accounted for over a third of the association.
Olfactory cleft mucus inflammatory proteins in CRS: a case-control study

BACKGROUND Multiple hypotheses are evolving that suggest several, potentially overlapping etiologies for olfactory dysfunction (OD) in chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS). Understanding inflammatory cytokine profiles of the olfactory cleft (OC) and their association with olfactory function is foundational for future clinical care and research. METHODS This cross-sectional, case-control study evaluates associations among OC mucus inflammatory proteins, psychophysical olfactory testing, and computed tomography (CT) analysis of the OC and sinuses. Normative reference intervals were determined for each protein and odds ratios (ORs) were used to compare proportions of altered expression between CRS without nasal polyposis (CRSsNP) and CRS without nasal polyposis (CRSwNP). RESULTS Case subjects with CRS (n = 151) and controls (n = 74) were evaluated. A majority of OC proteins tested were found within detectable ranges for cases and controls. The CRS cohort had significantly higher concentrations for 23 of 26 proteins. CRS cases with abnormal levels of C-C motif chemokine ligand 2 (CCL2), CCL3, interleukin 5 (IL5), IL10, and IL13 associated with greater olfactory deficits. The prevalence of elevated IL5 and IL13 in anosmic patients was 64.6% and 62.5%, respectively (p < 0.004). CRS cases with the highest odds of elevated expression in CRSwNP were IL5 (OR = 10.83) and IL13 (OR = 8.36). However, both IL5 and IL13 were still elevated in approximately 14% of CRSsNP patients. The highest magnitude of correlation between the total percent of OC opacification was found to be with IL5 (r = 0.543; p < 0.001), whereas other moderate correlations were noted with immunoglobulin E (IgE), IL10, and IL13. CONCLUSION This study confirmed that OC inflammatory proteins vary both by disease phenotype and in their association with OD. Type 2 inflammatory mediators are increased in CRS, especially within the CRSwNP group. However, a substantial proportion of CRSsNP also express type 2 inflammatory mediators. Further research is necessary to understand the complex roles OC mucous inflammatory proteins might play in defining endotype and in impacting CRS-related OD. ©2021 ARSAAOA, LLC.
Knocking out alpha-synuclein in melanoma cells dysregulates cellular iron metabolism and suppresses tumor growth.

The protein alpha-synuclein (α-syn) is unusual because, depending on its conformation and the type of cell in which it is expressed, it is pro-death or pro-survival, triggering neurodegeneration in Parkinson’s disease and enhancing cell survival of some melanomas. To probe the function of α-syn in melanoma, we used CRISPR/Cas9 to knockout SNCA, the gene that codes for α-syn, in SK-Mel-28 melanoma cells. The SNCA-knockout clones in culture exhibited a decrease in the transferrin receptor 1 (TfR1), an increase in ferritin, an increase of reactive oxygen species and proliferated slower than control cells. These SNCA-knockout clones grafted into SCID mice grew significantly slower than the SK-Mel-28 control cells that expressed α-syn. In the excised SNCA-knockout xenografts, TfR1 decreased 3.3-fold, ferritin increased 6.2-fold, the divalent metal ion transporter 1 (DMT1) increased threefold, and the iron exporter ferroportin (FPN1) decreased twofold relative to control xenografts. The excised SNCA-KO tumors exhibited significantly more ferric iron and TUNEL staining relative to the control melanoma xenografts. Collectively, depletion of α-syn in SK-Mel-28 cells dysregulates cellular iron metabolism, especially in xenografts, yielding melanoma cells that are deficient in TfR1 and FPN1, that accumulate ferric iron and ferritin, and that undergo apoptosis relative to control cells expressing α-syn.
Risks to Student Achievement in Higher Education

A university system sets out to deliver educational experiences that meet set goals such as the achievement of learning outcomes for individual courses and program outcomes for degree programs. There are many factors that impact the successful achievement of student learning outcomes and therefore successful program design and implementation. If courses are not effectively designed with assessments properly aligned to learning outcomes, student achievement is challenging to measure. If faculty do not consistently adhere to college and/or university policies regarding submission of assignments, student behavior and perceptions of expectations in future courses may be skewed. In addition, students may, for various reasons make choices that result in failure to submit assignments that serve as measures of achievement for learning objectives. All of these factors could lead to a system breakdown and subsequent research location failure to meet the established goals, i.e. student learning outcomes. In this case study, an introduction to aeronautics course used to determine if the failure to submit assignments significantly impacted the achievement of stated program outcomes using a systems engineering approach. Data from core courses required for degree completion were used in the study. The results indicated that the lack of assignment submission presents a flaw in the system design and that the risk of not meeting learning objectives and program outcomes is very high when students fail to submit assignments.
Transcription and topoisomerases bring new twists to DNA loop extrusion by cohesin.

Neguembor et al. (2021) use super-resolution microscopy to illuminate genome packaging inside the cell nucleus. They discover that transcription and topoisomerases protect chromatin from collapsing in a crumpled state refractory to DNA loop extrusion by cohesin proteins.
A Natural Orbital Branching Scheme for Time Dependent Density Functional Theory Nonadiabatic Simulations

Real time time dependent density functional theory (rt-TDDFT) has now been used to study a wide range of problems, from optical excitation, to charge transfer, to ion collision, to ultrafast phase transition. However, conventional rt-TDDFT Ehrenfest dynamics for nuclear movement lacks a few critical features to describe many problems: the detail balance between state transition, decoherence for the wave function evolution, and stochastic branching of the nuclear trajectory. There are many-body formalisms to describe such nonadiabatic molecular dynamics, especially the ones based on mixed quantum/classical simulations, like the surface hopping and wave function collapsing schemes. However, there are still challenges to implement such many-body formalisms to the rt-TDDFT simulations, especially for large systems where the excited state electronic structure configuration space is large. Here we introduce two new algorithm for nonadiabatic rt-TDDFT simulations: the first is a Boltzmann factor algorithm which introduces decoherence and detailed balance in the carrier dynamics, but uses mean field theory for nuclear trajectory. The second is a natural orbital branching (NOB) formalism, which use time dependent density matrix for electron evolution, and natural orbital to collapse the wave function upon. It provides decoherence, detailed balance and trajectory branching properties. We have tested these methods for a molecule radiolysis decay problem. We found these methods can be used to study such radiolysis problem in which the molecule is broken into many fragments following complex electronic structure transition paths. The computational time of NOB is similar to the original plain rt-TDDFT simulations
Discussion of ADRs, Analysts, and Accuracy: Does Cross-Listing in the United States Improve a Firm's Information Environment and Increase Market Value?

Lang, Lins, and Miller [2002] investigate the relation between cross-listing in the United States and information intermediation by analysts. The results suggest that cross-listing in the United States increases analyst following and forecast accuracy and that both variables are associated with Tobin's Q. These findings are interesting and advance the cross-listing literature in several ways. This discussion raises two issues. First, I highlight that the sources of cross-listing effects are not obvious and are difficult to disentangle. To illustrate this point, I replicate the analysis using cross-listed Canadian firms, for which mandated disclosures are held constant. Thus, if disclosure effects are important for documented cross-listing effects, I expect to find no relation in the Canadian sample. The findings for forecast accuracy are consistent with this hypothesis. However, analyst following continues to be significantly higher for cross-listed Canadian firms. These findings suggest that the sources of cross-listing effects differ for analyst coverage and forecast accuracy. Second, I discuss the link between analyst variables, firm value, and cost of capital. As they are only tenuously related, I draw attention to some unresolved questions and areas for future research.
Mining Westerns: Seeking Sustainable Development in Pale Rider and McCabe and Mrs. Miller

McCabe and Mrs. Miller illustrates how Western U.S. legal history works for and against community building and the sustainable development ideals behind it. The film inspires an ecocentric postmodern reading for several reasons. First the film rests on a naturalist philosophy and takes a connection between dying men and a dying landscape even further than Ride the High Country, since the film’s hero, McCabe (Warren Beatty), literally dies in the snow, his body buried in a blowing drift while the rest of the town of Presbyterian Church attempts to put out a fire burning down their house of worship. The film also grapples with the same “big guys” versus “little guys” conflict found in other mining films, catalyzing with an altercation between McCabe and a mining corporation from Bear Claw, the town down the mountain from Presbyterian Church, but in McCabe and Mrs. Miller, the community nearly fails and is either bought or destroyed by a corporate mining company. In McCabe and Mrs. Miller, eco-resistance destroys corporate gunslingers. But McCabe and Mrs. Miller illustrates the cost of that vigilante justice: the death of a hero and the community he attempts to build.
VEHICLE ACCIDENTS IN HIGHWAY WORK ZONES

The magnitude and characteristics of safety problems associated with moving vehicular traffic through and around highway work zones are examined through an analysis of all of the reported work zone accidents that occurred in Virginia during 1977. The accident characteristics analyzed include: the general and specific location of the accident, time of the accident, roadway and environmental factors, characteristics of the work zone, causes of the accidents, and accident severity. Comparisons were made between the work zone accidents, the entire Virginia accident data base, and the work zone accident characteristics reported by others. An assessment was also made of the consistency and completeness of work zone accident reporting. It was found that: (1) Some aspect of the work zone was cited as the cause of roughly 17 percent of all work zone accidents; (2) there was substantial evidence of a rear end accident problem in work zones; and (3) there was an overrepresentation of work zone accidents in urban areas. Language: en
The U.S. Army's Industrial Hygiene Sampling Guide

The U.S. Army Environmental Hygiene Agency (USAEHA) has developed an industrial hygiene (IH) sampling guide for collecting over 100 types of air and bulk samples. The guide includes the minimum, maximum, and optimum air volumes, recommended sampling rates, and sampling methods for air samples. For bulk samples, the types of containers and amounts of sample required are noted. This sampling guide is used by all Army industrial hygienists and industrial hygiene technicians involved in IH sampling. It provides a summary of sampling procedures and provides a range of flow rates and volumes which enables the field personnel to sample using methods which are compatible with the Agency's state-of-the-art laboratory procedures.
Comte, Auguste (1798–1857)

Auguste Comte is the founder of the philosophy of positivism, the disciplines of sociology and the history of science, and the Religion of Humanity. These innovations were inspired by his desire to reorganize society after the upheaval of the French Revolution of 1789. Influenced by his education at the Ecole Polytechnique and his 7-year association with the social reformer Henri de Saint-Simon and disillusioned by the revolutions, monarchical regimes, republics, and empires that punctuated his existence, Comte rejected purely political and institutional reforms as ineffective. In the Cours de philosophie positive (1830–42) and the Systeme de politique positive (1851–54), he argued that social harmony could occur only if individuals were brought together by a consensus that was both intellectual and emotional in nature. Ideas as well as feelings had to be reordered. He first created positivism and its keystone, sociology, and then devised the secular ‘Religion of Humanity’ in order to construct a new cohesive society that would encompass the conservatives' call for order and the leftists' insistence on progress. Comte's doctrine had a large impact in Europe, the USA, and Latin America. It also influenced sociology, the history and philosophy of science, historiography, and anthropology.
ORIGINAL RESEARCH—ERECTILE DYSFUNCTION: The Hemodynamics of Erectile Dysfunction Following External Beam Radiation for Prostate Cancer

ABSTRACT Introduction Radiation to the pelvis is associated with erectile dysfunction (ED). The mechanisms include neural injury, vascular alterations, and corporal smooth structural changes. There exists little data on the vascular assessment of men who present with ED following radiation therapy for prostate cancer. This study was conducted to evaluate the erectile hemodynamics in such a patient population. Methods Men who presented for the evaluation of ED following radiation therapy for prostate cancer underwent vascular evaluation in the form of dynamic infusion cavernosometry and cavernosography (DICC). Established parameters were recorded to define arterial insufficiency and venocclusive function including cavernosal artery occlusion pressure, flow‐to‐maintain, and pressure decay. Results Sixteen men with a mean age of 61 years presenting with ED after radiation underwent DICC at a mean duration post radiation of 11 months. All of the patients in whom arterial hemodynamics were measurable had abnormal arterial parameters, and 85% had abnormal venocclusive parameters. Of the patients who could undergo cavernosography, 80% had venous leak, most commonly from the crura. Conclusions Men presenting with ED following radiation therapy for prostate cancer are likely to have significant alterations in erectile hemodynamics, often of a combined arterio‐venogenic nature. In patients with venous leak the majority had venocclusive dysfunction with venous leak emanating from the crura.
Cadmium alteration of hexobarbital action: Sex-related differences in the rat☆

Abstract Three days after ip administration of a single cadmium dose (0.84 mg of Cd/kg), duration of hexobarbital hypnosis was significantly potentiated in male but not in female rats. Cadmium in larger doses of 2, 4, and 6 mg/kg, ip, did not alter duration of hexobarbital hypnosis in female rats, although lethality was observed 24 hr after administration of the two higher cadmium doses. Hepatic microsomal metabolism of hexobarbital was significantly decreased in male rats but not in females when measured 72 hr after cadmium administration (2 mg/kg, ip). Addition of cadmium in concentrations ranging from 5 × 10−6 m to 5 × 10−3 m to microsomes isolated from untreated male and female rats produced a dose-dependent inhibition of hexobarbital metabolism at all Cd concentrations in males. In female-derived microsomes a significant inhibition of hexobarbital metabolism was observed only at higher cadmium concentrations (5 × 10−4 m and 5 × 10−3 m ). These data suggest that a sex-related difference exists in the ability of cadmium to alter response to hexobarbital in the rat which appears to be mediated through differences in hepatic microsomal metabolism.
How The Affordable Care Act Can Help Move States Toward A High-Performing System Of Long-Term Services And Supports

The United States may advance toward a high-performing health care system that offers long-term services and supports for people with disabilities and chronic conditions, or it may retreat from gains achieved in recent years. Since the 1980s, policy makers and advocates for the disabled have sought to move from a system that emphasizes nursing homes and institutional care to one that includes a broader range of care options. The Affordable Care Act of 2010 gives this movement a considerable boost by offering states timely new options and enhanced federal funding to create a care system that meets the diverse needs and preferences of people with disabilities and that also recognizes the role of family caregivers. In this paper we outline the five key characteristics of a high-performing system of long-term services and supports. We describe an emerging "scorecard" that could help measure states' progress toward this goal. And we itemize aspects of the Affordable Care Act intended to support the creation of such a high-performing system for the disabled and those with chronic conditions.
Embedding matrices in Hadamard matrices

It is shown that if A is any n×n matrix of zeros and ones, and if k is the smallest number not less than n which is the order of an Hadamard matrix, then A is a submatrix of an Hadamard matrix of order k2 .
Does bilateral damage to the human amygdala produce autistic symptoms

A leading neurological hypothesis for autism postulates amygdala dysfunction. This hypothesis has considerable support from anatomical and neuroimaging studies. Individuals with bilateral amygdala lesions show impairments in some aspects of social cognition. These impairments bear intriguing similarity to those reported in people with autism, such as impaired recognition of emotion in faces, impaired theory of mind abilities, failure to fixate eyes in faces, and difficulties in regulating personal space distance to others. Yet such neurological cases have never before been assessed directly to see if they meet criteria for autism spectrum disorders (ASD). Here we undertook such an investigation in two rare participants with developmental-onset bilateral amygdala lesions. We administered a comprehensive clinical examination, as well as the Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule (ADOS), the Social Responsiveness Scale (SRS), together with several other standardized questionnaires. Results from the two individuals with amygdala lesions were compared with published norms from both healthy populations as well as from people with ASD. Neither participant with amygdala lesions showed any evidence of autism across the array of different measures. The findings demonstrate that amygdala lesions in isolation are not sufficient for producing autistic symptoms. We suggest instead that it may be abnormal connectivity between the amygdala and other structures that contributes to autistic symptoms at a network level.
PTSD and Comorbid Psychotic Disorder: Comparison with Veterans Diagnosed with PTSD or Psychotic Disorder

Symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), psychosis, general psychopathology, role functioning, violence potential, and cognitive and emotional aspects of psychotic states were compared in three groups of veterans. Groups were defined on the basis of their DSM-IV diagnoses: Psychotic disorder and war-related PTSD, war-related PTSD without psychotic symptoms, and psychotic disorder without PTSD. Veterans with PTSD and a comorbid psychotic disorder showed significantly higher levels of positive symptoms of psychosis, general psychopathology, paranoia, and violent thoughts, feelings, and behaviors than the other two groups. These data show that patients with comorbid PTSD and psychotic disorder show levels of cognitive, emotional, and behavioral disturbance that far exceed the levels of disturbance seen in patients with PTSD without psychosis or in patients with psychotic disorder.
Building China’s Social Service Capacity: Lessons Learned from Professional Training Program Collaborations

Both the general economy and the provision of social services have grown in recent years in China. An opportunity has evolved for U.S.-based schools of social work to collaborate with counterparts in China to provide social service training and professional development programs. This article describes the lessons learned from two such programs that were developed, implemented, and evaluated by a continuing education division of a U.S. school of social work in conjunction with a Chinese university. Evaluation data are presented from the Training Skills Certificate Program (TSCP) and the Non-governmental Organization Leadership Development Program (NGO-LDP). The development and delivery processes of both of these programs are also explained. Implications for similar cross-cultural training programs are discussed. This article aims to provide a basic roadmap for U.S.-based social work institutions seeking to help China develop its capacity in social service delivery by way of training and professional develo...
Rapid Analysis of Chromosome Aberrations in Mouse B Lymphocytes by PNA-FISH

Defective DNA repair leads to increased genomic instability, which is the root cause of mutations that lead to tumorigenesis. Analysis of the frequency and type of chromosome aberrations in different cell types allows defects in DNA repair pathways to be elucidated. Understanding mammalian DNA repair biology has been greatly helped by the production of mice with knockouts in specific genes. The goal of this protocol is to quantify genomic instability in mouse B lymphocytes. Labeling of the telomeres using PNA-FISH probes (peptide nucleic acid - fluorescent in situ hybridization) facilitates the rapid analysis of genomic instability in metaphase chromosome spreads. B cells have specific advantages relative to fibroblasts, because they have normal ploidy and a higher mitotic index. Short-term culture of B cells therefore enables precise measurement of genomic instability in a primary cell population which is likely to have fewer secondary genetic mutations than what is typically found in transformed fibroblasts or patient cell lines.
Ron receptor tyrosine kinase signaling as a therapeutic target

Introduction: Since its discovery nearly 20 years ago, the Ron receptor tyrosine kinase has been extensively studied. These studies have elucidated many of the major signaling pathways activated by Ron. In the context of the inflammation and cancer, studies have shown that Ron plays differential roles; Ron activation limits the inflammatory response, whereas in cancer, Ron activation is associated with increased metastases and poor prognosis. Areas covered: This review discusses the current literature with regard to Ron signaling and consequences of its activation in cancer as well as its role in cancer therapy. Further, we discuss the mechanisms by which Ron influences the inflammatory response and its role in chronic inflammatory diseases. Finally, we discuss Ron's connection between chronic inflammation and progression to cancer. Expert opinion: The complex nature of Ron's signaling paradigm necessitates additional studies to understand the pathways by which Ron is functioning and how these differ in i...
Impurity Absorption Bands in Thermoluminescent LiF

Impurity absorption bands in the ultraviolet (1370 and 1960 A) and infrared (2.8 μm) which may occur in various commercial crystals of LiF cannot be correlated with the thermoluminescence glowpeak at 210 °C, with the Mg or OH− content, or with each other. The present data fail to support the argument that impurity centers absorbing in the 2000 A region play an essential role in the thermoluminescence process. Storstellenabsorptionsbanden im UV-Bereich (1370 und 1960 A) und im IR-Bereich (2,8 μm), die in verschiedenen handelsublichen LiF-Kristallen auftreten, sind nicht mit dem Glowmaximum bei 210 °C der Thermolumineszenz, der Mg- oder OH−-Beimischung oder miteinander korreliert. Die vorgelegten Ergebnisse konnen nicht das Argument unterstutzen, das die Verunreinigungszentren, die im Bereich um 2000 A absorbieren, eine wesentliche Rolle bei den Thermolumineszenzprozessen spielen.
Nifedipine nanoparticle agglomeration as a dry powder aerosol formulation strategy

Efficient administration of drugs represents a leading challenge in pulmonary medicine. Dry powder aerosols are of great interest compared to traditional aerosolized liquid formulations in that they may offer improved stability, ease of administration, and simple device design. Particles 1-5microm in size typically facilitate lung deposition. Nanoparticles may be exhaled as a result of their small size; however, they are desired to enhance the dissolution rate of poorly soluble drugs. Nanoparticles of the hypertension drug nifedipine were co-precipitated with stearic acid to form a colloid exhibiting negative surface charge. Nifedipine nanoparticle colloids were destabilized by using sodium chloride to disrupt the electrostatic repulsion between particles as a means to achieve the agglomerated nanoparticles of a controlled size. The aerodynamic performance of agglomerated nanoparticles was determined by cascade impaction. The powders were found to be well suited for pulmonary delivery. In addition, nanoparticle agglomerates revealed enhanced dissolution of the drug species suggesting the value of this formulation approach for poorly water-soluble pulmonary medicines. Ultimately, nifedipine powders are envisioned as an approach to treat pulmonary hypertension.
Computational studies of bond dissociation energies, ionization potentials, and heat of formation for NH and NH+. Are hybrid density functional theory methods as accurate as quadratic complete basis set and Gaussian-2 ab initio methods?

Ionization potentials, bond dissociation energies, and heat of formation for NH and NH+ molecular species as well as for their elements were computed with highly reliable quadratic complete basis set and Gaussian-2 ab initio methods. The results are compared with experimental results and the assurance of these ab initio approaches is assessed. The same studies were also performed with three hybrid density functional methods (B3LYP, B3P86, and B3PW91) in combination with variously sized basis sets. The computational results are discussed in light of density functional theory reliability for exploring the potential energy of small polar molecular systems.
Regulated progression of a cultured pre-B-cell line to the B-cell stage

The variable (V) regions of heavy and light immunoglobulin chains are encoded by multiple germline DNA elements which are assembled into complete variable-region genes in precursor(pre-) B lymphocytes. The heavy-chain V region (VH) is assembled from three separate germline DNA elements, the variable (VH), diversity (D) and joining (JH) segments; whereas light-chain variable regions of either the kappa or lambda type are assembled from two elements, the VL and JL. Analysis of tumour cell lines or sorted cell populations which represent early and late pre-B cells has suggested that heavy-chain assembly and expression generally precedes that of light chains; but, primarily because of the lack of appropriate model systems to study the phenomenon, the mechanism and significance of this apparently orderly differentiation process are much debated. Here we describe for the first time a transformed cell line, 300-19, which sequentially undergoes all of the immunoglobulin gene rearrangement and expression events associated with the differentiation of pre-B cells to surface immunoglobulin-positive B lymphocytes. Analysis of the in vitro differentiation of 300-19 cells provides direct evidence for distinct differentiation phases of first VH and subsequently VL assembly during B-cell differentiation. Furthermore, these analyses suggest that the mu heavy chain, resulting from a productive VHDJH rearrangement, has both a positive and a negative regulatory role in mediating this ordered differentiation process, that is, signalling the cessation of VH gene assembly and simultaneously signalling the onset of VL assembly.
Unusual Sequelae of Colon Interposition for Esophageal Reconstruction: Late Obstruction Requiring Reoperation

Colon interposition has become a favored technique for esophageal reconstruction. Late morbidity is generally related either to technical problems associated with the procedure or to the development of new disorders in the transposed segment. Two patients are discussed who were seen with obstruction of colon interposition grafts ten and five years after esophageal reconstruction. In the first patient, a volvulus of the interposed colon associated with a chronically narrowed area distal to the looped segment resulted in obstruction. In the second patient, the redundant intrathoracic segment of the colon interposition became kinked at the diaphragmatic hiatus leading to dilatation and incomplete emptying. Both patients underwent successful reoperations and are doing well 10 and 12 months later. The causes and possible prevention of these and other late complications of colon interposition are discussed.