cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Abstract W MP85: Prostacyclin Receptor Activation With MRE-269 Reduces Infarct Size and Improves Long-term Neurological Recovery Following Ischemic Stroke in Both Young and Aged Rats

Activation of the prostacyclin (PGI2) IP receptor is protective in brain ischemia. However, there is very limited information of the molecular mechanisms of protection and the feasibility to target this pathway in stroke. MRE-269, a highly selective PGI2/IP receptor agonist, has been recently discovered. This IP agonist has a long half-life in vivo and is currently in phase III clinical trials for pulmonary hypertension. We hypothesized that post-ischemic treatment with MRE-269 provides neuroprotection in a rat ischemic stroke model. Young male rats (3-4-month old) were subjected to middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) for 90 min and treated intravenously with either vehicle (n=14) or MRE-269 (0.1, 0.25, 0.5, and 1 mg/kg, n=10-14/group) at the start of reperfusion. At 48 h post-MCAO, rats were sacrificed to determine infarct size, blood-brain barrier (BBB) damage (IgG extravasation), hemorrhagic transformation (brain hemoglobin levels), and matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-9 activity. In a separate experiment, aged male rats (18-20-month old) underwent 90 min of MCAO and randomly selected to receive intravenously either vehicle (n=11) or MRE-269 (0.25 mg/kg, n=11) starting at 4.5 h post-MCAO. Additional doses were given every 12 h for the first 48 h, and then one injection daily for 7 days post-MCAO. The accelerating rotarod and the adhesive removal tests were conducted before and at 3, 7, 14 and 21 days after MCAO by an investigator blinded to treatment groups. Infarct volume was quantified by MRI at 48 h and 21 days post-MCAO. In young rats, MRE-269 dose-dependently reduced cortical infarct size. MRE-269-treated rats (0.25 mg/kg) had significantly reduced BBB damage and less hemorrhagic transformation. Compared with the vehicle group, MRE-269-treated animals showed a significant reduction in brain MMP-9 activity. In aged rats, MRE-269 treatment resulted in a significant long-term recovery in both locomotor and somatosensory functions following MCAO. Quantitative MRI data showed that MRE-269 significantly reduced infarct volume compared with vehicle-treated rats. Our data suggest that targeting the PGI2/IP receptor with MRE-269 is a novel strategy to reduce neurovascular injury and promote long-term neurological recovery in ischemic stroke.
Religion, Schools, and Judicial Decision Making: An Empirical Perspective

We analyze various influences on judicial outcomes favoring religion in cases involving elementary and secondary schools and decided by lower federal courts. A focus on religion in the school context is warranted as the most difficult and penetrating questions about the proper relationship between Church and State have arisen with special frequency, controversy, and fervor in the often-charged atmosphere of education. Schools and the Religion Clauses collide persistently, and litigation frames many of these collisions. Also, the frequency and magnitude of these legal collisions increase as various policy initiatives increasingly seek to leverage private and religious schools in the service of education reform. Our analyses include all digested Establishment and Free Exercise Clause decisions by federal court of appeals and district court judges from 1996 through 2005 that involved elementary and secondary schools. As it relates to differences between school and other (or non-school) cases, our main finding is that both measures of judicial ideology correlate with the likelihood of a pro-religion decision. That is, Republican-appointed judges were more likely than their Democratic-appointed counterparts to reach a pro-religion decision in school cases, and ideology did not correlate with a pro-religion outcome in non-school cases. Results using common space scores as a proxy for ideology were similar. Although these results dilute the strength of the “legal model” of judicial decision making, this type of case (religion) in this particular context (schools) are particularly amenable to ideological influence.
Regulation of Experimental Autoimmune Encephalomyelitis (EAE) by CD4+CD25+ Regulatory T Cells

Multiple endogenous mechanisms exist to inhibit thymic development of functional autoreactive T cells. In spite of this, autoreactive CD4+ T cell populations persist in normal individuals and retain the capacity to initiate autoimmune disease. Thus, additional regulatory mechanisms operative in the peripheral immune system are required to protect against both the generation of self-directed immune responses and the initiation of autoimmune diseases. One such mechanism involves the active inhibition of T cell responses by CD4+CD25+ regulatory T (T(reg)) cells. In this study, we investigated the protective role of T(reg) cells during experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE), a model of multiple sclerosis (MS). Our findings indicate that T(reg) cells confer significant protection from the development of MOG(35-55)-induced EAE that may result from the promotion of a protective Th2 response and decreased homing of autoreactive cells to the CNS. Importantly, T(reg) cells differentially expressed elevated levels of ICAM1 and P selectin, molecules which may facilitate T-T cell interactions and contribute to the mechanism by which T(reg) cells inhibit CD4+ T cell responses. Collectively, these findings support a role for T(reg) cells as an active regulatory mechanism that may protect individuals from the onset of MS, as well as other autoimmune diseases.
Kalven's Way

I came to The University of Chicago six years ago. I was hired as a teacher; but that was a mild form of deception. As it now seems clear to me, I came here not to teach, but to learn-more specifically, to begin an apprenticeship with Harry Kalven. It was a spontaneous apprenticeship. It grew gradually and informally, with little self-consciousness. It began in March, 1968, with a question from Harry, which was followed by a muddled answer on my part and which then became an intense, all-absorbing conversation-in the Law School's freight elevator. That was during my first, bewildering day of interviews for the Law School faculty. Over the years, the pattern repeated itself a million times. Only the details changed. We moved out of the freight elevator and into the perennial flower garden in Jackson Park and to the lakefront at 63rd Street-places that will always have a special meaning to me because they were, in truth, Harry's classrooms. Harry's method was conversation. Harry would manage to find in the words of the apprentice glimmers of insight-which he would restate in terms so eloquent and profound that they deepened understanding and encouraged further inquiry and comment. The apprentice felt obliged to say more, to think harder, to look at the problem from a new perspective. The conversation became an escalation of insights. That was the core of the apprenticeship. It was one of the most extraordinary experiences of my life. I speak of it today because it meant so much to me, because I suspect the audience is filled with his apprentices and because it so amply revealed the extraordinary qualities of the master. Harry Kalven was a genius, a completely original intelligence-probably one of the few the law has ever known. I used to thirst for conversation with him. My view of the world would change whenever I listened to Harry reflect about the most recent Supreme Court decision, the latest political event, an important social institution, or the future of legal education. Perhaps one could expect that much of an eminent scholar. What might not have been
Teaching blood morphology: audiovisual method compared to microscope slides with written text and instructor.

Two methods of teaching first-year medical students peripheral blood morphology were compared. A group of 27 students learned using a self-teaching audiovisual method of 35-mm color slides accompanied by an audio tape explanation. A group of 20 students were taught using the classic method of microscope slides explained by a written text, with an instructor to point out morphology. Both methods presented the same information to the students. Both groups were evaluated by a quiz consisting of actual blood smears. Although the mean learning time per student for the color slide group was significantly shorter than that for the microscope group, there was no significant difference between the mean quiz scores of the two groups, and both were significantly greater than the mean score of a control group which had no learning session.
The Law School of the Future: From Legal Realism to Policy Science in the World Community

(Thefollowing address was delivered before the Yale Law School Association on June 17, I947. In thefirst section, entitled "From Legal Realism to Policy Science," Professor McDougal summarizes a proposed reorientation of legal education. In the second section, "Objectives at Yale," Professor McDougal indicates the present impact of this proposed reorientation on the Yale Law School curriculum. The Editors of the JOURNAL wish to thank the Yale Law School Association for the opportunity of presenting to a wider audience Professor McDougal's views on the function of the law school.)
An In Vitro Selection Protocol for Threose Nucleic Acid (TNA) Using DNA Display

Threose nucleic acid (TNA) is an unnatural genetic polymer composed of repeating threofuranosyl sugars linked by 2' and 3' phosphodiester bonds. TNA is capable of forming antiparallel Watson-Crick duplex structures in a self-pairing mode, and can also cross-pair opposite complementary strands of DNA and RNA. The solution NMR structure of a self-complementary TNA duplex reveals that TNA adopts an A-form helical structure, which explains its ability to exchange genetic information with natural genetic polymers. In a recent advance, a TNA aptamer was evolved from a pool of random sequences using an engineered polymerase that can copy DNA sequences into TNA. This unit details the steps required to evolve functional TNA molecules in the laboratory using a method called DNA display. Using this approach, TNA molecules are physically linked to their encoding double-stranded DNA template. By linking TNA phenotype with DNA genotype, one can select for TNA molecules with a desired function and recover their encoding genetic information by PCR amplification. Each round of selection requires ∼3 days to complete and multiple rounds of selection and amplification are required to generate functional TNA molecules.
Transforming plans into actions by tuning passive behavior: a field-approximation approach

The issue of transforming motor plans into actions as a field-approximation problem is considered. The approach is based on the idea that planning and control processes may use force fields for representing the interactions of a manipulator with its environment. On one hand, it is assumed that planning specifies targets, obstacles and other features as patterns of vectors over a manipulator's workspace. On the other hand, a manipulator operated by a set of impedance controllers acting in parallel is considered. Each controller modulates an output-force field according to a predefined law. The problem of setting the controller inputs is solved as a least-squares approximation of the planned vector field. The fields generated by the controllers are considered as basis fields, that is, as the vectorial equivalent of basis functions. In this context, the approximation problem is equivalent to finding which element of the functional space spanned by the basis fields is closest to the planned field. The relevance of this approach with respect to biological and artificial systems is discussed. >
An investigation of myocardial aerobic capacity as a measure of both physical and cognitive workloads

Abstract With increased automation and supervisory control, the physical content of jobs has decreased while cognitive workload has increased. The cardiovascular system responds to both physical and cognitive stresses, and their combination, by causing an increase in both heart rate (HR) and blood pressure. The increase in HR and blood pressure cause an increase in myocardial contractility, which results in an increase in myocardial oxygen consumption ( MV O 2 ) . The rate–pressure product (RPP), given by the product of HR and systolic blood pressure, is a very reliable indirect measure of MV O 2 . With this in mind, an experiment was conducted on 12 able-bodied male students from the University population. Subjects were required to perform three cognitive tasks (Stroop Incongruent Color-Word Test, simulated public speaking, and calculating task) under two physical conditions (riding a Schwinn Airdyne at a constant speed of 1/3 of their estimated maximum HR, and seated at rest on the Schwinn Airdyne). HR and blood pressure were monitored throughout the testing period. Results of the analysis of the randomized block design indicated that both cognitive and physical tasks had a significant effect on RPP. Additionally, the findings from this study indicated that RPP can be used as an objective measure to separate the components of cognitive workload and cognitive stress in combined tasks. Relevance to industry Rate–pressure product may be used as a measure of occupational workload, both cognitive and physical. It may be possible to use RPP measures to set limits on workloads and for establishing work allowance.
Polymorphism among NILE-related glycoproteins from different types of neurons

We have used biosynthetic, degradative and immunochemical techniques to examine some of the structural features of the NILE (nerve growth factor inducible large external) glycoprotein. Biosynthetic experiments show that the NILE species present on PC12 cells has a core polypeptide with a molecular weight of 160,000 dalton. This polypeptide is initially glycosylated by immature, high mannose oligosaccharides to yield a precursor glycoprotein of 190,000 dalton. Oligosaccharide processing of this precursor in the Golgi apparatus yields the mature 230,000 dalton NILE glycoprotein. NILE-related glycoproteins from different neuronal cell types have molecular weights ranging from 215,000 to 230,000 dalton. Degradative experiments using neuraminidase to remove sialic acid residues and endoglycosidase F to remove all N-linked oligosaccharides indicate that the polymorphism of the NILE-related glycoproteins may be due to differences both at the polypeptide level and at the level of glycosylation. Although NILE glycoproteins and the neural cell adhesion molecule (N-CAM) both appear to be involved in neurite fasciculation, NILE and N-CAM components can be shown to be different from each other by several criteria. (1) The electrophoretic mobilities of NILE and N-CAM are different. NILE-related molecules from various sources migrate as single bands in the range of 215,000–230,000 dalton, while N-CAM from these same sources can exist as 3 separate components of 180,000, 140,000 and 120,000 dalton. (2) Rabbit antibody against NILE does not recognize N-CAM, and rabbit antibody against N-CAM does not recognize NILE. (3) N-CAM is present on some cell types that lack NILE. (4) The core polypeptides of NILE components have apparent molecular weights of about 160,000 dalton, while the N-CAM core polypeptide is about 120,000 dalton in size.
Value of additional two-hour myoglobin for the diagnosis of myocardial infarction in the emergency department.

Abstract Myoglobin has been described as an early marker of myocardial injury. It increases within 1 to 3 hours of myocardial injury, and falls back to normal early after the event. Few data suggest that myoglobin can be used to triage patients with chest pain. To assess the diagnostic utility of second myoglobin levels drawn within 2 to 3 hours after presentation to the emergency department for detecting myocardial infarction, we prospectively collected myoglobin levels in 368 patients aged ≥30 years who were admitted with chest pain. Myoglobin levels were measured at admission and 2 to 3 hours later. Sensitivity and specificity for detecting acute myocardial infarction for a twofold increase in myoglobin level from baseline were 39% and 98%, respectively. The early diagnostic performance of myoglobin at admission, the second level drawn 2 to 3 hours later, and creatine kinase-MB mass drawn at admission were similar (receiver-operating characteristic curves 0.80, 0.86, and 0.85). The diagnostic performance of each of these markers was significantly superior to the absolute change from baseline to second myoglobin (receiver-operating characteristic curve 0.77). In patients who presented within 4 hours of symptom onset, myoglobin drawn 2 to 3 hours later had the highest yield for detecting myocardial infarction. These results suggest that serial myoglobin measurement aiming to detect changes over time is not superior to single marker determinations. Myoglobin measured in 2 to 3 hours from admission may be helpful in triaging patients who present within 4 hours from onset of symptoms.
Deciphering the V-Chip: An Examination of the Television Industry's Program Rating Judgments.

This study investigated the validity of the television industry’s labeling of sensitive program content following the advent of the V-chip television ratings system. The analysis is based on a large program sample gathered from 10 of the most frequently viewed channels including broadcast network, independent broadcast, basic cable, and premium cable channels. Programs were examined for the nature and extent of portrayals of violence, sexual behavior and dialogue, and adult language. The content-based findings were then compared to the ratings applied to the program to evaluate the accuracy of the rating judgments. The study found that the age-based ratings (TV-G, TV-PG, TV-14, and TV-MA) reasonably reflect the content of programs, but that content descriptors (V, S, D, and L) are not being used on the vast majority of programs containing violence, sexual behavior or dialogue, and adult language. The study also shows that children’s programs contain a significant amount of violence, most of which is not identified by the applicable FV (fantasy violence) content descriptor. The findings suggest there are substantial limitations in the ability of the V-chip technology to effectively limit children’s exposure to most forms of sensitive content.
The effect of computer-assisted prescription writing on emergency department prescription errors.

Objective To determine whether computer-assisted prescription writing reduces the frequency of prescription errors in the emergency department (ED). Methods A pre-post retrospective analysis was used to compare errors between handwritten (HW) and computer-assisted (CA) ED prescriptions. Prescriptions were reviewed for pharmacist clarifications. A clarification was defined as an error if missing information, incorrect information, incorrect dose, non-formulary medication, or illegibility was the reason for clarification. The HW and CA error rates were compared using odds ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence intervals (95% CIs). Results During the pre-intervention period, there were 7,036 patient visits with 2,326 HW ED prescriptions filled for 1,459 patients. There were 91 clarifications, with a rate of 3.9%. There were 54 HW errors, for an error rate of 2.3%. During the post-intervention period, there were 7,845 patient visits with 1,594 CA prescriptions filled for 1,056 patients. There were 13 clarifications, with a clarification rate of 0.8%, and 11 errors, for a CA error rate of 0.7%. The CA prescriptions were substantially less likely to contain an error [OR 0.31 (95% CI = 0.10 to 0.36)] or to require pharmacist clarification [OR 0.19 (95% CI = 0.10 to 0.36)] than were the HW prescriptions. Conclusions Computer-assisted prescriptions were more than three times less likely to contain errors and five times less likely to require pharmacist clarification than handwritten prescriptions.
Pyroelectric and piezoelectric properties of SbSI composites

Abstract Antimony sulphur iodide (SbSI), in the ferroelectric phase below 20°C belongs to the orthorhombic point group symmetry mm2 and has very large pyroelectric coefficient, piezoelectric strain coefficients (d33) and dielectric constant along the polar c-axis.
The Effects of Low Self-Control and Childhood Maltreatment on Stalking Victimization among Men and Women

This study examines sex differences among stalking victimization using two theoretical perspectives: self-control and the intergenerational transmission of violence. A sample of 1,490 undergraduate students at a large southeastern university were surveyed and asked to report their experiences with stalking, childhood maltreatment, and self-control. Given that men and women may experience stalking, self-control, and child maltreatment differently, logistic regression models were estimated separately to disentangle sex differences. Findings indicate that women are more likely than men to be victims of stalking. Childhood maltreatment was significantly related to stalking victimization for both men and women whereas low self-control was significantly related to stalking victimization for women only. Implications for policy and directions for future research are discussed.
What is the rate of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus and Gram-negative infections in open fractures?

There have been increasing reports of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) infections in the community, but it is unclear whether infectious organisms in open fracture infections have changed and if our current regimen of antibiotic prophylaxis is therefore obsolete. We determined the recent incidence of MRSA and Gram-negative organism infections after open fractures. We performed a retrospective cohort study on 189 patients with 202 open fractures treated from 2009 to 2010. During the followup, patients were evaluated for signs of infection using the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention criteria. We determined the organisms using routine microbiology culture. The minimum followup was 3 months (median, 47 months; range, 3–108 months). Of the 202 open fractures, 20 (10%) developed infections. The most common organism was Staphylococcus, whereas five (25%) of those infected were positive for MRSA, and 11 (55%) of those with infection were cultured for at least one Gram-negative organism. Six (30%) open fractures had infections that grew out multiple organisms. The incidence of MRSA infections in our open fracture population was 2.5%. There is a high incidence of MRSA and Gram-negative infections after open fractures, which may indicate that current antibiotic regimens need to be changed. Level IV, retrospective case-series. See the Guidelines for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.
Theoretical and experimental investigation of the thermochemistry of CrO2(OH)2(g).

In this paper, we report the results of equilibrium pressure measurements designed to identify the volatile species in the Cr−O−H system and to resolve some of the discrepancies in existing experim...
Surface soil carbon size–density fractions altered by loblolly pine families and forest management intensity for a Spodosol in the southeastern US

The effects of genotypic differences on soil organic carbon (SOC) cycling and their interactions with forest management systems are poorly understood. This study was undertaken to examine the effects of family and family × management interactions on SOC and to evaluate the distribution of SOC across different size–density fractions in a forested Spodosol. The study site consisted of a 6-year-old loblolly pine plantation that was managed under two intensities (high and low level of fertilization and chemical understory control) and included three full-sib families (fast, medium and slow growers, designated a priori based on above ground growth). The fast growing family exhibited 59% higher C (p = 0.04) than the slow growing family in the 2,000 to 250-μm light density fraction. The medium grower exhibited 8% higher aggregate C than the fast grower in the 250 to 150-μm medium density (p = 0.05) and 2,000 to 250-μm heavy density (p = 0.06) fractions. Family and management effects were detected among all three density fractions. The 2,000 to 250-μm medium density fraction contained the most C. A modified size–density fractionation and sonication procedure proved sensitive for detecting significant family and management effects in as few as 6 years. These results highlight the potential of genotypic deployment as a factor influencing C sequestration and the need to fully understand the long-term effects of genotypic differences and forest management activities on SOC pools.
Coronary Computed Tomography Angiography: Costs and Current Reimbursement Status

Coronary computed tomography angiography (CCTA) has evolved as the most sensitive diagnostic non-invasive test for diagnosing coronary artery disease (CAD). Outcomes data is accumulating and demonstrating that CCTA has excellent prognostic value. Given CCTA’s consistently proven accuracy and improved safety related to radiation sparing techniques, public health officials have called for comparative cost-effectiveness research of CCTA vs other diagnostic testing strategies for assessing possible angina in symptomatic patients. In this article, we review the available cost studies of CCTA in comparison with other diagnostic strategies. Currently available data are limited but include 5 completed randomized trials, 11 observational studies, 7 studies using theoretical mathematical modeling, and 4 reports of the cost impact of incidental findings on CCTA. Additional randomized trials including cost considerations are ongoing, but evidence from available randomized, observational, and theoretical modeling data mostly support CCTA as a potentially cost-saving, non-invasive test for the evaluation of CAD in symptomatic patients.
Optic disk edema with cotton-wool spots

A 43-year-old man with high blood pressure developed visual loss in his left eye. He was found to have bilateral disk edema with cotton wool spots present in the temporal arcades and peripapillary hemorrhages. The presence of the cotton wool spots in the arcades is highly suggestive of hypertension as the etiology of the disk edema. The pathophysiology of cotton wool spots (inner retinal ischemic spots) due to focal ischemia from occlusion of terminal retinal arterioles is discussed.
Circadian rest-activity disturbances in children with seasonal affective disorder.

ABSTRACT Objective Seasonal affective disorder (SAD) affects from 1.7% to 5.5% of children. Previous studies found that nonseasonally depressed children had a blunted circadian rhythm, while adults with SAD had a delayed and poorly entrained rhythm. The purpose of this study was to determine whether pediatric SAD more closely resembles nonseasonal pediatric depression or adult SAD. Method Twelve normal, healthy volunteers (11.6 ± 3.7 years; 6 female, 6 male) and 14 unmedicated children with SAD (11.0 ± 3.3 years; 9 female, 5 male) meeting Rosenthal/NIMH criteria for SAD and Schedule for Affective Disorders and Schizophrenia for School-Age Children-Epidemiologic version criteria for major depression had their levels of activity recorded for 72 hours (weekdays) using belt-worn actigraphs. Results The SAD group had blunted circadian amplitudes that were 10% lower than normal ( p = .004). They were more poorly modeled by the standard cosinor equation ( p = .001), and a circadian rhythm accounted for 39% less of the variability in their activity profile ( p = .007). The amplitude of the 12-hour harmonic rhythm was markedly increased. There were no differences between SAD and control children in the timing of the circadian rhythm and degree of entrainment. Conclusions Children with SAD displayed dysregulated circadian activity rhythms comparable with those reported in nonseasonally depressed children, yet different from those observed in adults.
Nutrient-phytoplankton-zooplankton models with a toxin

Models of nutrient-plankton interaction with a toxic substance that inhibits either the growth rate of phytoplankton, zooplankton or both trophic levels are proposed and studied. For simplicity, it is assumed that both nutrient and the toxin have the same constant input and washout rate as the chemostat system. The effects of the toxin upon the existence, magnitude, and stability of the steady states are examined. Numerical simulations demonstrate that the system can have multiple attractors when the phytoplankton's nutrient uptake rate is inhibited by the toxin.
Effects of morning versus evening bright light exposure on REM latency.

Sack K. Lcwy AJ. Erb D, Vollmcr W. Singer C ( 1985): Human melatonin production decrease5 with apt (submitted for publication). Schricr BK. Klein DC (1974): Absence ot choline acetyltransferasc in rat and rabbit pineal gland. Umir~ R<JY 793-t-35 I Sisak ME, Markey SP, Colbum RW, Zavadil AP, Kopin IJ (1979): Identification of 6-hydroxymelatonin in normal human urine by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. Life Sci 25:803-806. Sulser F, Vetulani J, Mobley PL (1978): Mode of action of antidepressant drugs. Biochem Pharmad 271257-26 1. Tetsuo M, Markey SP, Kopin IJ (1980): Measurement of 6-hydroxymelatonin in human urine and its diurnal variations. L$e Sci 27: 105. 109. Tetsuo M, Markey SP. Colbum RW, Kopin IJ (1981 I. Quantitative analysis of h-hydroxymelatonin in human urine by gas chromatography-negatlvc chemical ionization mass \pectrometry And Rioc~hem I 10:208-l? 15.
Anti-HIV Activity of the Antisense Oligonucleotides Bearing Lipophilic and Alkylating Groups at the 5′-Terminus

Abstract Experiments with the HIV-1 infected MT-4 cells evidence that coupling of lipophilic and alkylating groups to the antisense oligonucleotides improve their anti-HIV efficiency.
The epigenetic landscape of Alzheimer's disease

Two independent epigenome-wide association studies of Alzheimer’s disease cohorts have identified overlapping methylation signals in four loci, ANK1, RPL13, RHBDF2 and CDH23, not previously associated with Alzheimer’s disease. These studies also suggest that epigenetic changes contribute more to Alzheimer’s disease than expected.
Towards probabilistic projections of climate change impacts on global crop yields

[1] There is a widely recognized need in the scientific and policy communities for probabilistic estimates of climate change impacts, beyond simple scenario analysis. Here we propose a methodology to evaluate one major climate change impact - changes in global average yields of wheat, maize, and barley by 2030 - by a probabilistic approach that integrates uncertainties in climate change and crop yield responses to temperature, precipitation, and carbon dioxide. The resulting probability distributions, which are conditional on assuming the SRES A1B emission scenario and no agricultural adaptation, indicate expected changes of +1.6%, −14.1%, −1.8% for wheat, maize, and barley, with 95% probability intervals of (−4.1, +6.7), (−28.0, −4.3), (−11.0, 6.2) in percent of current yields, respectively. This fully probabilistic analysis aims at quantifying the range of plausible outcomes and allows us to gauge the relative importance of different sources of uncertainty.
Critical Thinking in Child Welfare Supervision

Decision making in child welfare is complex. As administrators seek to prepare their workforce for this challenging task, agencies commonly look to trainings as the primary way to develop new workers. This article asserts supervision as an essential part of enhancing the knowledge of workers. In addition, reflective supervision that prompts critical thinking can also develop the analytical skills needed to respond to the complex situations commonly seen in child welfare. To assess the degree to which reflective supervision is being used, a mixed methods online survey was administered to 348 caseworkers, supervisors, and administrators at a large public child welfare agency to measure activities indicative of critical thinking in supervision. Results suggest that despite some level of critical thinking, supervision in child welfare could be advanced through an increase in supervisory interaction that fosters critical thinking ultimately supporting decision making.
New concepts in nonlinear infinite-horizon stochastic estimation and control: The finite element case

A finite probabilistic system (FPS) is a discrete-time controlled stochastic process having finite input, output, and (internal) state sets. (A partially-observed Markov decision process is an example of an FPS). It may be viewed as the simplest formulation of a nonlinear estimation and control problem. Under conditions similar to observability and controllability in linear systems, the problem of selecting inputs, on the basis of past inputs and outputs (with perfect recall), so as to maximize a time-averaged expected reward, is shown to be meaningful as the horizon increases without bound or as a discount approaches unity: an optimal strategy exists; it may be realized by, a (strategy-independent) state estimator along with a stationary policy on the state estimate; and its performance does not depend on the initial state of information. Dual control aspects of the problem, and potential extention of the results to more general systems are briefly discussed.
Codimensions of Newton strata for SL3(F) in the Iwahori case

We study the Newton stratification on SL 3(F), where F is a Laurent power series field. We provide a formula for the codimensions of the Newton strata inside each component of the affine Bruhat decomposition on SL 3(F). These calculations are related to the study of certain affine Deligne–Lusztig varieties. In particular, we describe a method for determining which of these varieties is non-empty in the case of SL 3(F).
First-Trimester Maternal Serum C-reactive Protein as a Predictor of Third-Trimester Impaired Glucose Tolerance

Objective:We evaluated whether first-trimester high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP), a suggested marker of pregnancy-associated hyperglycemia, predicts third-trimester impaired glucose tolerance (IGT) in a secondary analysis of a prospective cohort of nondiabetic singletons enrolled at <26 weeks gestation.Study Design:We measured the association between hsCRP collected at <14 weeks among women classified as IGT (gestational diabetes screening results, 135 to <200 mg/dL) and those among normoglycemic women. Multivariable modeling estimated the association between log hsCRP and IGT, adjusted for maternal body mass index (BMI).Results:Among 300 women, 13% (39 of 300) had IGT. The hsCRP was positively associated with glucose (P = .005). Compared with normoglycemic women, women with IGT had higher log hsCRP (0.87 ± 0.66 vs 0.67 ± 0.60, P = .04), but the association was not significant in adjusted models (adjusted odds ratio 1.20, 95% confidence interval 0.65-2.21). The hsCRP did not predict third-trimes...
Thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura in the setting of systemic sclerosis.

Objectives To describe the association between thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP) and systemic sclerosis (SSc) and the methods to distinguish TTP from scleroderma renal crisis (SRC). Methods A case of TTP that developed in a patient with preexisting SSc is described. Medline/PubMed was searched for literature pertaining to an association between TTP and SSc, with special attention given to distinguishing TTP from SRC. In addition, the role of von Willebrand cleaving protease in the pathogenesis of TTP is reviewed. Results Including the present case, there have been 9 reports of TTP in association with SSc in the literature. In the majority of these cases TTP presented with features compatible with SRC such as renal dysfunction, thrombocytopenia, hypertension, and microangiopathic hemolytic anemia. Von Willebrand cleaving protease activity is depressed in patients with acute TTP. Conclusions TTP in association with SSc has been reported rarely. The diagnosis of TTP, and the distinction from SRC, may be challenging, as these cases may resemble SRC. However, the correct diagnosis is critical because treatment differs substantially for each of these life-threatening conditions. Currently, the assessment of von Willebrand factor cleaving protease activity may assist in making this distinction.
Supporting Voice over LTE: Solutions, Architectures, and Protocols

Modern cellular networks are expected to support both voice and a growing volume of data traffic. The rapid growth in data traffic has promoted network operators to move to Long Term Evolution (LTE), a 4th generation of wireless network infrastructure. However, LTE architecture does not support native circuit switching services and relies on the IP Multimedia Subsystem (IMS) for supporting voice and Short Messaging Service (SMS). Unfortunately, the uptake of IMS has not been as rapid as expected and deployments of IMS cores have been limited. This poses a major issue for operators who wish to deploy LTE in the near future. In particular, voice and SMS drive a majority of service provider revenue, who are concerned with voice quality, call continuity, and reliable SMS delivery in deployed LTE networks. In this paper we analyze several contending approaches to delivering voice services over LTE networks. Each approach will be illustrated with sequence diagrams to explain how voice and SMS services are rendered. We compare the proposed solutions in terms of complexity, cost, features, and interoperability.
Spawning success of the male plainfin midshipman. I. Influences of male body size and area of spawning site

Abstract A field population of the plainfin midshipman fish Porichthys notatus Girard was provided with additional artificial breeding sites in order to assess the relative influence of male body size and the area of spawning substratum on male spawning success (numbers of embryos acquired). In general, larger males had greater success using the largest of three sizes of sites than did smaller males occupying small — and medium-sized sites. In each of 2 successive yr, male success was a positive function of male body size and area of the site occupied by the male. The general equivalence of site area and male size indicates that resources, as well as male quality, importantly influence male success in this paternal-tending species. Spawning sites are clearly in short supply for the population studied. Area of spawning substratum also may be limiting, but additional field experiments are needed that test this specific hypothesis before conclusions are possible. Despite the importance of male body size, the largest males were unable to monopolize the largest breeding sites. Data on movements and disappearances of tending males, plus incidental observations of predation, suggest that predation by marine birds and mammals may prevent such monopolization of breeding sites.
Methods of identifying and inseminating nonpregnant beef females after synchronization of second estrus with norgestomet implants.

Beef females (547) were included in three experiments to evaluate methods of identifying and inseminating nonpregnant beef females after synchronization of second estrus with norgestomet implants. In the first experiment, heifers not pregnant to the first insemination were identified for insemination via estrus (inseminated via the a.m./p.m. rule or 48 h after implant removal). In the second experiment, females not pregnant to the first insemination were identified for insemination via estrus (inseminated via the a.m./p.m. rule) or progesterone concentrations 0.10) and did not effect (P > 0.10) calving rates from the first and second AI.
Extended Kalman filter target tracker for spatially resolved targets with dynamic signatures

An extended Kalman filter was developed by Maybeck and Mercier [1] to track unresolved or point targets whose spatial signature in the point spread function of the sensor. An extension of this filter which takes into account the target shape and its variations with aspect angle will be developed and should offer improvement in several areas: performance against structured clutter; Maybeck considered only a white noise background; the errors and computations associated with segmentation are eliminated.
Meta-Analysis Comparing the Effectiveness and Adverse Outcomes of Antifibrinolytic Agents in Cardiac Surgery

Background— Since the 1980s, antifibrinolytic therapies have assisted surgical teams in reducing the amount of blood loss. To date, however, serious questions remain regarding the safety and effectiveness of these agents. Methods and Results— We conducted a meta-analysis to compare aprotinin, e-aminocaproic acid, and tranexamic acid with placebo and head to head on 8 clinical outcomes from 138 trials. Published randomized controlled trial data were collected from OVID/PubMed. Outcomes included total blood loss, transfusion of packed red blood cells, reexploration, mortality, stroke, myocardial infarction, dialysis-dependent renal failure, and renal dysfunction (0.5-mg/dL increase in creatinine from baseline). All agents were effective in significantly reducing blood loss by 226 to 348 mL and the proportion of patients transfused with packed red blood cells over placebo. Only high-dose aprotinin reduced the rate of reexploration (relative risk, 0.49; 95% CI, 0.33 to 0.73). There were no significant risks o...
Theorizing on the Role of Individualism-Collectivism in Tacit Knowledge Transfer Between Agents in International Alliances

Taking insights from the extant literatures in cross-cultural management and organizational knowledge management, this paper explores the role of cultural dimensions of individualism and collectivism in transfer of tacit knowledge between foreign agents. Tacit knowledge transfer is positively influenced by four key factors: absorptive capacity of target unit, source unit's motivational disposition to share knowledge, cultural compatibility, and the extent of personal communication between foreign agents. It is proposed that the level of transfer of tactic knowledge between agents from collectivist cultures will be higher than the level of tacit knowledge transfer between agents from individualist cultures. It is also proposed that when there is cultural difference between foreign agents, the level of tacit knowledge transfer involving a source from a collectivist culture and a target from an individualist culture will be lower than transfer between an individualist source and a collectivist target. However, the proposed relationships are influenced by factors such as nature of knowledge, expectations of reciprocity, and the quality of interpersonal relationship between foreign agents. Several ideas for overcoming knowledge transfer obstacles and enhancing the effectiveness of knowledge transfer, as well as research implications of the proposed model are also discussed in detail.
Laryngeal Muscle Activity During Speech Breaks in Adductor Spasmodic Dysphonia

To determine the laryngeal muscle activation abnormalities that are associated with speech symptoms in adductor spasmodic dysphonia (ADSD), electromyographic measures of extrinsic and intrinsic laryngeal muscles during speech compared 1) muscle activity when ADSD patients had breaks in words with when they produced the same words without breaks; and 2) muscle activity in ADSD patients during speech without voice breaks with normal control producing phonetically similar words. Simultaneous electromyographic recordings were made from the thyroarytenoid (TA), cricothyroid (CT), sternothyroid (ST), thyrohyoid (TH) and the posterior cricoarytenoid (PCA) muscles during speech testing in 11 ADSD patients and 10 control subjects. Speech breaks were identified and mean muscle activity measured starting 100 ms preceding a voice break and for the remainder of the word. Mean muscle activity level was significantly greater on break than non break words in ADSD patients only for the thyroarytenoid muscle (p<.001). No significant differences were found between the ADSD and control subjects during non break words for any of the laryngeal muscles studied. The results demonstrated that 1) only the thyroarytenoid, of the muscles tested, was affected in ADSD, 2) that muscle activation abnormalities were spasmodic, only appearing when symptoms occurred and 3) no imbalances of muscle tone were evident when speech disruptions did not appear.
Pharmacologic Treatment of Tremor

Tremor is a common neurologic symptom that can also be incapacitating to the patient, so effective therapy is needed. The causes of tremor are heterogeneous. Essential tremor (ET) and the tremor associated with Parkinson's disease (PD) are the most common encountered in clinical practice. Beta-adrenergic blockers and primidone remain the mainstay of treatment for ET, whereas carbidopa/levodopa and anticholinergics are most beneficial in PD. However, the efficacy of various other medications has been studied in ET and PD, and also in patients with tremor resulting from other conditions, with varying results.
The effect of reflective activities on instrumental learning in adult work-related education: A critical review of the empirical research

Abstract Structured learning events termed reflective activities are now widely used throughout work-related learning. These activities are thought to occasion reflection, critical reflection and reflective practice. Although researchers have established benefits and outcomes associated with reflective activities in work-related communicative learning contexts, the effect of reflective activities in work-related instrumental learning contexts is largely unknown. Stakeholders remain dependent on contradictory and conceptual suppositions to justify their use of these activities. This article reviews empirical studies examining the relationship between reflective activities and instrumental learning outcomes with adult learners. Prominent adult learning theories are assessed for relevant predictions. Consequently, empirical studies examining skill-adaptation as a theoretically predicted outcome are examined. This review found few empirical studies with sufficient methodological controls to establish causal or correlative relationships between reflective activities and instrumental learning outcomes—including skill-adaptation. Conceptual discoveries are extended to expedite future investigations of this issue.
Detection and characterization of neurotoxicity in cancer patients using proton MR spectroscopy

Objective The study objective was to detect abnormalities and identify relationships between brain metabolic ratios determined by proton magnetic resonance spectroscopic imaging (1H-MRSI) and neuropsychological (NP) function in cancer patients at risk for neurotoxicity.