cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Control of bias in randomized controlled trials published in prosthodontic journals

Abstract Statement of Problem. Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) have become the gold standard for evaluating the effectiveness of treatment interventions. If not properly controlled, bias in the design of trial methodology can affect the validity of the study results. Purpose. The purpose of this investigation was to assess the methodological quality of RCTs published in 3 prosthodontic journals over a 10-year period. Material and Methods. Issues of The International Journal of Prosthodontics, The Journal of Prosthetic Dentistry, and The Journal of Prosthodontics published between 1988 and 1997 were searched manually to identify RCTs. Specific inclusion and exclusion criteria were established to identify articles about studies that qualified as RCTs. Two independent reviewers evaluated all qualified RCTs on the basis of how potential sources of bias in the trial methodology were controlled. Three areas—control of bias at entry, control of bias in assessment of outcome, and control of bias after entry—were evaluated with a scheme developed through the Cochrane Collaboration. A score of 1 or 0 was assigned for each of the 3 potential sources of bias, with the maximum quality score for an RCT being 3 (good bias control) and the minimum 0 (poor control). Frequencies were calculated for each dimension of trial methodology and overall quality scores of the RCTs. Results. Sixty-two RCTs were identified from 3631 articles screened. The method of randomization was explicit in only 47% of the RCTs. Forty percent of RCTs incorporated blinding in the assessment of outcome, and 76% accounted for all subjects at the end of the study. Overall quality scores revealed that only 16% of RCTs attempted to control bias in all 3 areas examined. Forty percent were deficient in 1 area, 34% were deficient in 2 areas, and 10% were deficient in all areas examined. Conclusion. The quality of RCTs published in prosthodontic journals may be improved by minimizing potential sources of bias and adequately reporting trial methodology. (J Prosthet Dent 2001;86:592-6.)
Concerns of the dry-cleaning industry: a qualitative investigation of labor and management.

Background Occupational scientists agree there are hazards associated with dry-cleaning, but do dry-cleaning owners and workers concur? Knowledge of owners' and workers' perceptions can help guide intervention efforts to reduce worker exposure. To better understand these issues, a qualitative study was conducted using focus group methodology and constant comparative analysis. Methods Two owner and four worker focus groups were held. Results Findings suggest that overall, health and safety issues were not of great concern. Owners were primarily concerned with the economic impact of regulations. Workers did express some anxiety about solvent exposure and burns, but most felt that these hazards were “just part of the job.” Also, other than the installation of air-conditioning in the shops and the provision of health benefits, workers could not think of ways health and safety on the job could be improved. Conclusions These findings will be used to develop comprehensive safety and health interventions (e.g., engineering plus education and training) in dry-cleaning shops. Am. J. Ind. Med. 35:112–123, 1999. Published 1999 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Intergenotic transformation of the Bacillus subtilis genospecies

A multiple auxotrophic derivative of Bacillus subtilis 168 (strain BR151 carrying lys-3, trpC2, metB10) was transformed with deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) isolated from B. subtilis 168, Bacillus amyloliquefaciens H, B. subtilis HSR, Bacillus pumilus, and Bacillus licheniformis. Transformation with heterologous DNA occurred at a very low frequency for the three auxotrophic markers. Heterologous transformation to rifampin resistance was 100 to 1,000 times more efficient than transformation to prototrophy. Transformants from the various heterologous exchanges were used to prepare donor DNA. The fragment of integrated DNA from the heterologous (foreign) species, termed the "intergenote," was capable of transforming BR151 with an efficiency almost equal to that of homologous DNA. When BR151 DNA contained the Rfm(R) (rifampin resistance) intergenote from B. amyloliquefaciens H, the frequency of transformation was frequently greater than that of the homologous DNA. Accompanying this increased efficiency was a marked change in the physiology of the cells. The growth rate of the transformants carrying this intergenote was approximately one-half that of either parental strain. Thus, in a prokaryotic transformation system, adverse side effects can occur after incorporation of a segment of foreign DNA.
B Cells Productively Engage Soluble Antigen-Pulsed Dendritic Cells: Visualization of Live-Cell Dynamics of B Cell-Dendritic Cell Interactions

Interactions between B lymphocytes and Ag-bearing dendritic cells (DC) likely occur at inflammatory sites and within lymphoid organs. To better understand these interactions we imaged B cells (TgB) from hen egg lysozyme (HEL) transgenic mice and DC pulsed with HEL (DC-HEL) in collagen matrices. Analysis of live-cell dynamics revealed autonomous movements and repeated encounters between TgB cells and DC-HEL that are best described by a “kiss-run and engage” model, whereas control B cells had only short-lived interactions. Ag localized at contact sites between TgB cells and DC-HEL, and both cell types rearranged their actin cytoskeletons toward the contact zone. The interaction of a TgB cell with a HEL-bearing DC triggered strong Ca2+ transients in the B cells. Thus, B cells can productively interact with DC displaying their cognate Ag.
Sex Hormones as Potential Modulators of Vascular Function in Hypertension

The greater incidence of hypertension in men and postmenopausal women compared with premenopausal women has suggested gender differences in vascular function. Vascular effects of the female sex hormones estrogen and progesterone and the male hormone testosterone have been described. Sex steroid receptors have been identified in vascular endothelium and smooth muscle. Interaction of sex hormones with cytosolic/nuclear receptors initiates long-term genomic effects that stimulate endothelial cell growth but inhibit smooth muscle proliferation. Activation of sex hormone receptors on the plasma membrane triggers nongenomic effects that stimulate endothelium-dependent vascular relaxation via NO-cGMP, prostacyclin-cAMP, and hyperpolarization pathways. Sex hormones also cause endothelium-independent inhibition of vascular smooth muscle contraction, [Ca2+]i, and protein kinase C. These vasorelaxant/vasodilator effects suggested vascular benefits of hormone replacement therapy (HRT) during natural and surgically induced deficiencies of gonadal hormones. Although some clinical trials showed minimal benefits of HRT in postmenopausal hypertension, the lack of effect should not be generalized because it could be related to the type/dose of sex hormone, subjects' age, and other cardiovascular conditions. The prospect of HRT relies on continued investigation of the molecular mechanisms underlying the vascular effects of sex hormones and identification of compounds that specifically target the vascular sex hormone receptors. Naturally occurring hormones and phytoestrogens may be more beneficial HRT than synthesized compounds. Also, the type/dose, time of initiation, and duration of HRT should be customized depending on the subject's age and preexisting cardiovascular condition, and thereby enhance the outlook of sex hormones as potential modulators of vascular function in hypertension.
An investigation of the effectiveness of certain antioxidants in preserving the motility of reactivated bull sperm models.

Bull sperm that had been disrupted by freezing and thawing were reactivated with 1 mM Mg-adenosine 5’-triph osp hate. The an tioxidan ts superoxide dismutase, catalase, dithiothreitol, and reduced glutathione (GSH) were tested for their ability to prolong the motility of the reactivated sperm. GSH was employed both by itself and as part of a reducing system that maintained the tripep tide in the reduced form. Three of the test agents were found to increase the duration of motility in the sperm preparations; these were reduced glutathione, dithiothreitol, and superoxide dismutase. Glutathione was the most effective protective agent, yielding reactivated preparations with a half life for the decay of motility of 2.5 h. While dithiothreitol (DTT) is widely employed as an antioxidant, we found that DTT is measurably less effective than glutathione (half-life of 1.5 h). In spite of glutathione’s effectiveness in preserving motility, we have found, by direct assay, that mature bull sperm do not contain detectable amounts of this common biological antioxidant. Our results support the hypothesis that oxidative damage contributes to the loss of motility in reactivated sperm and suggest that oxidation could be a factor in motility loss in living sperm.
A Case of Idiopathic Hypomagnesemia with Hypocalcemia Presenting as Generalized Tonic-Clonic Seizure

Hypomagnesemia may arise from various disorders such as renal magnesium wasting, familial hypomagnesemia, inadequate intake and increased gastrointestinal loss. Hypomagnesemia and hypocalcemia were found in a month- old female patient with generalized tonic-clonic seizure. Twenty-four hour urine collection samples were used to assess renal magnesium wasting; fractional excretion of 24-hr urine magnesium was less than 1.45%, i.e., within the normal limits. The patient had no history of chronic diarrhea or failure to thrive, which supports the conclusion that intake was adequate. She had no family history of hypocalcemia, hypomagnesemia, or seizures. Here, we report a case of idiopathic hypomagnesemia.
Real 3D electro-thermal simulation and analysis for ESD protection structures

This paper presents a three-dimensional electro-thermal analysis for ESD (electrostatic discharge) protection structures, aiming for accurately predicting ESD electro-thermal failure threshold and better understanding ESD protection device thermal resistance. An accurate 3D electro-thermal analysis method using real 3D TCAD simulation as presented in Taurus-process user guide (2003) and Taurus-device user guide (2003) was developed. 3D simulation was compared with experimental data using transmission line pulse (TLP) measurements for characterizing ESD protection devices. Accurate electro-thermal analysis is essential to understanding thermal behaviors of ESD protection structures under high-current stressing.
Molecular basis of DNA sequence recognition by the catabolite gene activator protein: detailed inferences from three mutations that alter DNA sequence specificity.

Abstract Previously, we reported that substitution of Glu-181 of the catabolite gene activator protein (CAP) by lysine, leucine, or valine results in a protein that has specificity for A X T base pairs at positions 7 and 16 of the DNA recognition site, rather than G X C base pairs as is the case with the wild-type CAP. In this paper, we deduce from these genetic data both (i) the specific chemical interactions by which amino acid side chains at position 181 interact with base pairs 7 and 16 and (ii) the precise alignment between the structures of the CAP and DNA in the intermolecular CAP-DNA complex. Our analysis supports the idea that the two symmetry-related F alpha-helices of the CAP dimer interact with successive major grooves of right-handed B-type DNA [Pabo, C. & Lewis, M. (1982) Nature (London) 298, 443-447; and Steitz, T., Weber, I. & Matthew, J. (1983) Cold Spring Harbor Symp. Quant. Biol. 47, 419-426].
Low-Loss Two-Pole Tunable Filters With Three Different Predefined Bandwidth Characteristics

Low-loss tunable filters with three different fractional-bandwidth variations were designed and fabricated on epsivr = 2.2, 0.787 mm Duroid substrates for 850-1400-MHz applications. A detailed analysis for realizing predefined bandwidth characteristics is presented, and a design technique to take into account the source and load impedance loading is discussed. It is found that independent electric and magnetic coupling makes it possible to realize three different coupling coefficient variations with the same filter structure. The proposed topology is different from the comb-line design in that all three filters have identical electrical lengths, the same varactors, and the same filter Q values. Three different filters are built using Schottky varactor diodes with a tuning range from ~ 850 to ~ 1400 MHz. The constant fraction-bandwidth filter has a 1-dB bandwidth of 5.4%plusmn0.3% and an insertion loss of 2.88-1.04 dB. The decreasing fractional-bandwidth filter shows a 1-dB bandwidth decrease from 5.2% to 2.9% with an insertion loss of 2.89-1.93 dB (this is effectively a 40-45-MHz constant absolute-bandwidth filter). The increasing fractional-bandwidth filter shows a 1-dB bandwidth increase from 4.3% to 6.5% with an insertion loss of 3.47-1.18 dB. The measured Q of the filters are between 53-152 from ~ 850 to ~ 1400 MHz. The measured third-order intermodulation intercept point ranges from 11.3 to 20.1 dBm depending on the bias voltage. To our knowledge, these planar tunable filters represent state-of-the art insertion-loss performance at this frequency range.
Effects of virus on plant fecundity and population dynamics.

Summary Microorganisms are ubiquitous and thought to regulate host populations. Although microorganisms can be pathogenic and affect components of fitness, few studies have examined their effects on wild plant populations. As individual traits might not contribute equally to changes in population growth rate, it is essential to examine the entire life cycle to determine how microorganisms affect host population dynamics. In this study, we used data from common garden experiments with plants from three Cucurbita pepo populations exposed to three virus treatments. These data were used to parameterize a deterministic matrix model, which allowed us to estimate the effect of virus on components of fitness and population growth rate. Virus did not reduce fruit number, but population growth rates varied among virus treatments and wild C. pepo populations. The effect of virus on population growth rate depended on virus species and wild C. pepo population. Contributions of life-history transitions and life-history traits to population growth rates varied among populations and virus treatments. However, this population–virus interaction was not evident when examining individual components of fitness. Thus, caution must be used when interpreting the effects of changes in individual traits, as single traits do not always predict population-level change accurately.
Extremely efficient and deterministic approach to generating optimal ordering of diffusion MRI measurements.

Purpose: Diffusion MRI measurements are typically acquired sequentially with unit gradient directions that are distributed uniformly on the unit sphere. The ordering of the gradient directions has significant effect on the quality of dMRI-derived quantities. Even though several methods have been proposed to generate optimal orderings of gradient directions, these methods are not widely used in clinical studies because of the two major problems. The first problem is that the existing methods for generating highly uniform and antipodally symmetric gradient directions are inefficient. The second problem is that the existing methods for generating optimal orderings of gradient directions are also highly inefficient. In this work, the authors propose two extremely efficient and deterministic methods to solve these two problems. Methods: The method for generating nearly uniform point set on the unit sphere (with antipodal symmetry) is based upon the notion that the spacing between two consecutive points on the same latitude should be equal to the spacing between two consecutive latitudes. The method for generating optimal ordering of diffusion gradient directions is based on the idea that each subset of incremental sample size, which is derived from the prescribed and full set of gradient directions, must be as uniform as possible in terms of the modified electrostatic energy designed for antipodally symmetric point set. Results: The proposed method outperformed the state-of-the-art method in terms of computational efficiency by about six orders of magnitude. Conclusions: Two extremely efficient and deterministic methods have been developed for solving the problem of optimal ordering of diffusion gradient directions. The proposed strategy is also applicable to optimal view-ordering in three-dimensional radial MRI.
Size dependence of nanoparticle dissolution in a matrix: Gold in bismuth

We discuss the dissolution of Au nanoparticles in a Bi matrix. The particles were produced by vapor deposition at room temperature, and they burrowed to minimize their free energy. Using in situ transmission electron microscopy, we measured the rate of dissolution as a function of particle size and deduced the activation energy for this process. We also followed the structural changes in the system by high-resolution electron microscopy and nanobeam diffraction. This study develops an important understanding of the dependence of size on the stability and reactivity of nanoparticles.
Computer-assisted surgery is here to stay

Dear Sir, We read with great enthusiasm our UK colleagues’ commentary: Are robots taking over orthopaedic surgery .1 In this age of cost savings and budget reductions, the push for more robotics and patient-specific instrumentation is inspiring. It reminds us of Franklin Delano Roosevelt’s response to the crushing Great Depression in the United States by instituting increased spending in the New Deal. It is unclear what will be the full embodiment of this change - will robots be driving …
Focusing and matching properties of the AtR transfer line

The AGS to RHIC (AtR) beam transfer line has been constructed and will be used to transfer beam bunches from the AGS machine into the RHIC machine which is presently under construction at BNL. The original design of the AtR line has been modified. This article presents the optics of the various sections of the existing AtR beam line, as well as the matching capabilities of the AtR line to the RHIC machine.
The influence of bacteria on the passive film stability of 304 stainless steel

The stability of stainless steel 304 in the presence of aerobic and anaerobic bacteria was investigated in a continuous flow system using electrochemical impedance spectroscopy and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) examinations. The results show that the open circuit potential (OCP) of stainless steel was ennobled (shifted in the electropositive direction) by about 150 mV in the presence of the aerobic bacteria. The observed change of OCP in the electropositive direction can be explained by an increase in the rate of the cathodic reaction. Also the presence of an aerobic biofilm led to a decrease in the polarization resistance of stainless steel is not only due to the growth of micropits, as shown from SEM micrographs, but also due to thinning of the passive film. In the presence of only Pseudomonas fragi, the electrochemical impedance response showed a capacitive behavior with RP on the order of 500 kV. The addition of anaerobic sulfate reducing bacteria (SRB) to the test medium decreased RP to 12 kV due to an increase in localized corrosion, as indicated by SEM examination. © 1999 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.
Introduction: Good Things Come to Those Who Negotiate

On May 15, 2008, the Harvard Union of Clerical and Technical Workers (HUCTW) held its twentieth birthday celebration at the Agassiz Theatre in Radcliffe Yard. I was next door at Harvard University's Schlesinger Library, sleepily perusing my next fat folder of government documents. As the laughter and singing wafted its way across the quad, the choice of whether to stay or go was clear. I followed the trail of balloons to the theater, grabbed my complimentary union tote bag, smiled at all the lovingly crafted refreshments that awaited the revelers, and squeezed into a tiny space in the front as the lights went down. Long familiar with the upbeat and bold spirit of the union, I was still caught off guard when the lights came back up. Seated a few feet from me on the stage was a 1940s femme fatale who began to belt out “A Union Is a Girl's Best Friend.”
The Role of Shape and Heart Rate on the Performance of the Left Ventricle

The left ventricle function is to pump the oxygenated blood through the circulatory system. Ejection fraction is the main noninvasive parameter for detecting heart disease (healthy >55%), and it is thought to be the main parameter affecting efficiency. However, the effects of other parameters on efficiency have yet to be investigated. We investigate the effect of heart rate and left ventricle shape by carrying out 3D numerical simulations of a left ventricle at different heart rates and perturbed geometries under constant, normal ejection fraction. The simulation using the immersed boundary method provide the 3D flow and pressure fields, which enable direct calculation of a new hemodynamic efficiency (H-efficiency) parameter, which does not depend on any reference pressure. The H-efficiency is defined as the ratio of flux of kinetic energy (useful power) to the total cardiac power into the left ventricle control volume. Our simulations show that H-efficiency is not that sensitive to heart rate but is maximized at around normal heart rate (72 bpm). Nevertheless, it is more sensitive to the shape of the left ventricle, which affects the H-efficiency by as much as 15% under constant ejection fraction.
Challenges of Portfolio Management in Pharmaceutical Development

Pharmaceutical companies have leveraged traditional portfolio management approaches for over 20 years. This has brought benefits in prioritization of projects and resources and the development of portfolio strategies and goals. However, the nature of drug development creates challenges to a pure implementation of these portfolio management approaches. This paper highlights these challenges and offers approaches to overcome the challenges.
Loads and Allowable Stresses

This chapter is in two parts. Part I deals with loads—the forces to which timber structures may be subjected. It concerns the sources of these loads and shows how to compute their magnitudes. Part II covers the method code writers use to establish allowable stresses and shows how the structural designer selects and modifies those allowables to design by the service load method.
A Survey Of Architectural Approaches for Data Compression in Cache and Main Memory Systems

As the number of cores on a chip increases and key applications become even more data-intensive, memory systems in modern processors have to deal with increasingly large amount of data. In face of such challenges, data compression presents as a promising approach to increase effective memory system capacity and also provide performance and energy advantages. This paper presents a survey of techniques for using compression in cache and main memory systems. It also classifies the techniques based on key parameters to highlight their similarities and differences. It discusses compression in CPUs and GPUs, conventional and non-volatile memory (NVM) systems, and 2D and 3D memory systems. We hope that this survey will help the researchers in gaining insight into the potential role of compression approach in memory components of future extreme-scale systems.
Urban Power and Community Development in the ‘World Risk Society’: Post-Hurricane Katrina New Orleans (usa)

This article examines urban power and community movements when a city is consumed by a major disaster. Using New Orleans following Hurricane Katrina as its case study, this investigation will identify discriminatory police practices, public-private development policies, and ethnopolitical leadership that reproduced historic racial and class inequality in post-Katrina New Orleans. This study will argue that it was not so-called disaster capitalism, but automatic or “reflexive” re-development (Ulrich Beck’s concept) that revived the city’s traditional racial caste and structural class stratification. Finally, this policy mix in disaster response initiatives overshadowed specific strategies and goals for rebuilding advocated by community-based movements.
Best Possible Inequalities for the Probability of a Logical Function of Events

(1965). Best Possible Inequalities for the Probability of a Logical Function of Events. The American Mathematical Monthly: Vol. 72, No. 4, pp. 343-359.
Adaptation of Rehabilitation System Based on User’s Mental Engagement

Recognition of user’s mental engagement is imperative to the success of robotic rehabilitation. The paper explores the novel paradigm in robotic rehabilitation of using Passive BCI as opposed to the conventional Active ones. We have designed experiments to determine a user’s level of mental engagement. In our experimental study, we record the brain activity of 3 healthy subjects during multiple sessions where subjects need to navigate through a maze using a haptic system with variable resistance/assistance. Using the data obtained through the experiments we highlight the drawbacks of using conventional workload metrics as indicators of human engagement, thus asserting that Motor and Cognitive Workloads be differentiated.Additionally we propose a new set of features: differential PSD of Cz-Poz at alpha, Beta and Sigma band, (Mental engagement) and relative C3-C4 at beta (Motor Workload) to distinguish Normal Cases from those instances when haptic where applied with an accuracy of 92.93%. Mental engagement is calculated using the power spectral density of the Theta band (4–7 Hz) in the parietal-midline (Pz) with respect to the central midline (Cz). The above information can be used to adjust robotic rehabilitation parameters I accordance with the user’s needs. The adjustment may be in the force levels, difficulty level of the task or increasing the speed of the task.Copyright © 2015 by ASME
Effects of alkaline pretreatment on the enzymatic hydrolysis efficiency of corn straw

Alkaline pretreatment was done on corn straw powder under different conditions.The impact on the total yield of reducing sugar is investigated,which will lay foundation for the fractal characterization of lignocellulose pretreatment and enzymatic hydrolysis.Results show that the solid content in the filtrate is higher for higher alkaline concentration,which maybe the cause of lignin degradation,while the variation trend of xylose yield is increased.There is remarkable difference of sugars yield throughout the total process among different pretreatment conditions.Based on the orthogonal experimental design,the optimum condition within the range of our experiments is alkali dosage 15%at 70℃for 6hours,which is evaluated by the total reducing sugar yield.Range analysis results show that the order in effects of total sugars yield is:alkali concentrationtemperaturereaction time.The variance analysis indicates that alkali concentration has significant impact on the total sugars yield,while temperature and time are insignificant.
Clinical effect observation of repirinast in treatment of cough variant asthma in children

Objective To observe clinical efficacies of repirinast for treatment of cough variant asthma( CVA) in children. Methods From February 2012 to March 2014 in Wuxi Children's Hospital,120 children with CVA were randomly assigned into research group( 60 cases) and control group( 60 cases). On the basis of conventional therapy,the control group received montelukast,while the research group was given repirinast. The efficacy and adverse reactions were observed in the two groups. Results There were not significant differences in efficacy,improvement of lung function,adverse events and recurrence rate between the two groups( P 0. 05). Conclusions Repirinast can achieve the same efficacy as montelukast in the treatment of children with CVA,which has the advantages of low recurrence rate as well as insignificant adverse reactions and is worthy to be promoted and applied in clinic.
The Infected Wound and Its Management

The infected wound is one of the most frequent causes of delayed wound healing. Even in the face of appropriate antibiotic prophylaxis, infections can occur in 10% to 20% of clean-contaminated procedures in the head and neck. The authors describe their comprehensive approach to prevent and manage the infected wound at the head and neck area.
Reappraisal of the 'coma cocktail': Dextrose, flumazenil, naloxone, and thiamine

Flumazenil is an important adjunct to the diagnosis and treatment of benzodiazepine toxicity. It must be used cautiously with attention to a number of clinical caveats. Currently it is advised that flumazenil should not be used routinely in all patients with altered mental status, but when used selectively, it is a very safe and extremely useful antidote.
Expression of stem cell factor and c-kit in human neuroblastoma. The Children's Cancer Group

During development, mice with mutations of stem cell factor (SCF) or its receptor c-kit exhibit defects in melanogenesis, as well as hematopoiesis and gonadogenesis. Because melanocytes derive from neural crest cells, the role of SCF and c-kit was investigated in the neural crest-derived childhood tumor neuroblastoma. Using reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction analysis, simultaneous expression of steady-state mRNA for the SCF ligand and its receptor c-kit was found in 14 of 14 (100%) human neuroblastoma cell lines and clones and in 8 of 18 (45%) human neuroblastoma tumor samples. Functional blockade of c-kit receptors in the cell lines SK-N-BE(2) and SH-SY5Y using the mouse monoclonal anti-c-kit antibody SR-1 resulted in a significant decrease in cellular growth rate when measured by either 3H-thymidine incorporation or clonogenicity. In addition, higher levels of c-kit mRNA expression were associated with parental neuroblastoma cell lines and subclones with a neuronal (N) differentiation phenotype, whereas lower levels of c-kit mRNA were associated with neuroblastoma cell line subclones having a schwannian/glial/melanocytic pattern of differentiation. However, the differentiation phenotype of neuroblastoma cell lines was not directly altered when c-kit expression was blocked using the SR-1 antibody. In summary, these data indicate that c-kit receptor expression may play a significant role in the growth regulation of the two neuroblastoma cell lines examined and suggest that c-kit may also play a similar role in neuroblastoma growth regulation in vivo. Simultaneous expression of SCF and c-kit mRNA in both neuroblastoma cell lines and tumors implies that c-kit may act as part of an autocrine growth loop in conjunction with endogenous production of SCF in this disease.
A Large Concentration of Roosting Golden Eagles in Southeastern Idaho

Observations effectuees de fevrier a mi-acril 1982, en soiree sur les terrains du Idaho National Engineering Laboratory. Les grands rassemblements d'Aquila chrysaetos sont ici probablement lies a l'abondance des lapins au cours de l'hiver 82
Neurotrophic factors: Towards a restorative therapy of Parkinson's disease

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses the role or neurotrophic factors in restorative therapy of Parkinson's disease. Neurotrophic factors can be loosely classified into two categories based on the range of their biological actions within the organism. The first category consists of protein factors that act primarily on cells of the central and peripheral nervous systems and that are largely produced either by neurones or glial cells within the nervous system, or by the primary targets of peripheral nerves. A second group of growth factors with neurotrophic activity consists of widely distributed proteins, which in addition to their trophic actions on neurones, also act as mitogens and growth factors on nonneural tissues. Neurotrophic factors tend not to be restricted in their actions to neurones of one particular phenotype. Infusions of basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) attenuate the degeneration of axotomized basal forebrain cholinergic neurons. The activating effects of brain-derived neurotrophic factor or neurotrophin-4/5 on dopamine neurone metabolism, release, and firing rates may in part be mediated indirectly through striatonigral neuropeptide, nigral GABAergic systems, midbrain serotonergic neurones, or other neural systems.
The rhythms of head, eyes and hands at intersections

In this paper, we study the complex coordination of head, eyes and hands as the driver approaches a stop-controlled intersection. The proposed framework is made up of three major parts. The first part is the naturalistic driving dataset collection: synchronized capture of sensors looking-in and looking-out, multiple drivers driving in urban environment, and segmenting events at stop-controlled intersections. The second part is extracting reliable features from purely vision sensors looking in at the driver: eye movements, head pose and hand location respective to the wheel. The third part is in the design of appropriate temporal features for capturing coordination. A random forest algorithm is employed for studying relevance and understanding the temporal evolution of head, eye, and hand cues. Using 24 different events (from 5 drivers resulting in ∼ 12200 frames analyzed) of three different maneuvers at stop-controlled intersections, we found that preparatory motions range in the order of a few seconds to a few milliseconds, depending on the modality (i.e. eyes, head, hand), before the event occurs.
Soft Sphere Detection with Bounded Search for High-Throughput MIMO Receivers

We propose a soft sphere detection algorithm where search-bounds are determined based on the distribution of candidates found inside the sphere for different search levels. Detection accuracy of unbounded search is preserved while significant saving of memory space and reduction of latency is achieved. This probabilistic search algorithm provides significantly better frame-error rate performance than the soft K-best solution and has comparable performance and smaller computational complexity than the bounded depth-first search method. Techniques for efficient and flexible architecture design of soft sphere detectors are also presented. The estimated hardware cost is lower than the hardware cost of other soft sphere detectors from the literature, while high detection throughput per channel use is achieved.
Updating the Rey Dot Counting Test for Use in Collegiate Baseline Concussion Testing.

Athletes occasionally attempt to lower their baseline scores to mask the effects of a concussion during post-trauma assessment, a phenomenon known as sandbagging. In order to help prevent this from occurring, the Rey Dot Counting Test (DCT) was examined as a potential measure to be added to a Division II university screening battery. Investigators utilized samples of athletes at baseline and non-athlete students instructed to provide honest effort or suppressed effort, either naively or coached. The results support the use of the DCT as a valid measure of suboptimal performance when using modified norms established from collegiate populations.
Large-scale sparse functional networks from resting state fMRI

Delineation of large-scale functional networks (FNs) from resting state functional MRI data has become a standard tool to explore the functional brain organization in neuroscience. However, existing methods sacrifice subject specific variation in order to maintain the across-subject correspondence necessary for group-level analyses. In order to obtain subject specific FNs that are comparable across subjects, existing brain decomposition techniques typically adopt heuristic strategies or assume a specific statistical distribution for the FNs across subjects, and therefore might yield biased results. Here we present a novel data-driven method for detecting subject specific FNs while establishing group level correspondence. Our method simultaneously computes subject specific FNs for a group of subjects regularized by group sparsity, to generate subject specific FNs that are spatially sparse and share common spatial patterns across subjects. Our method is built upon non-negative matrix decomposition techniques, enhanced by a data locality regularization term that makes the decomposition robust to imaging noise and improves spatial smoothness and functional coherences of the subject specific FNs. Our method also adopts automatic relevance determination techniques to eliminate redundant FNs in order to generate a compact set of informative sparse FNs. We have validated our method based on simulated, task fMRI, and resting state fMRI datasets. The experimental results have demonstrated our method could obtain subject specific, sparse, non-negative FNs with improved functional coherence, providing enhanced ability for characterizing the functional brain of individual subjects.
Criticality safety evaluation of shutdown diffusion cascade coolers

A criticality safety study of diffusion cascade coolers in a shutdown state is presented. The coolers represent six typical cascade coolers at a gaseous diffusion plant with accumulated deposits of UO 2 F 2 . The study involves k eff calculations for the coolers with various distributions of UO 2 F 2 , which are assumed as part of several hypothetical accident scenarios. The results show that at least two independent failures must occur in order to have a criticality. Additionally, the distributions chosen represent the upper bounds for k eff . Individual results show that the k eff values for the cascade coolers designed for 80 and 97% enriched UF 6 with deposit amounts <2.409 and 2.185 kg, respectively, will not exceed 0.9 for the accident scenarios modeled. All other coolers require shell-side flooding with H 2 O in order to cause a criticality, which is possible only if two or more independent failures occur.
Lead removal from water using carboxycellulose nanofibers prepared by nitro-oxidation method

Carboxycellulose nanofibers were extracted from untreated jute using a simple nitro-oxidation method based on nitric acid/sodium nitrite. The characteristics of nitro-oxidized carboxycellulose nanofibers (NOCNF) with low crystallinity (35%), high carboxylate content (1.15 mmol/g) and high surface charge (− 70 mV) made them an excellent substrate for Pb(II) ion removal from water. For example, a low concentration of NOCNF suspension (0.23 wt%) could remove a wide range of Pb(II) ions ranging from 50 to 5000 ppm in a short time-interval ( 1000 ppm). Evidence of nanoscale lead hydroxide crystallization, induced by the lead(II)-NOCNF aggregated scaffold, was confirmed by FTIR, UV–visible spectroscopy, SEM/EDS, WAXD and TEM measurements.
Tonometers—which one should I use?

Although several factors are known to play a role in the development and progression of glaucoma, intraocular pressure (IOP) remains the only modifiable risk factor. Medical and surgical treatments for glaucoma both aim to reduce IOP to minimize disease progression. Tonometry is therefore an essential element of the ophthalmological exam. There are several types of tonometers available currently. These range from well-established instruments that have been in clinical use for decades to new devices, which are the result of recent technological advances. The various instruments have advantages and disadvantages that affect their suitability for a given setting, purpose, and patient population. In this review, we aim to describe the most commonly available tonometers today along with their advantages, disadvantages, and applicability.
Veterans health administration information systems as a resource for rare disorders research: Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease as a paradigm.

ABSTRACTObjective: To illustrate the application of Veterans Health Administration (VHA) information systems in both clinical and epidemiologic investigations of a rare disease, our specific aims were: (1) to determine the number and incidence of Creutzfeldt–Jakob disease (CJD) diagnoses in the VHA from fiscal year (FY) 1997 through FY 2010 and (2) to describe the relevant clinical features associated with those diagnoses. Methods: The VHA Medical SAS Datasets were queried for all unique, incident CJD diagnoses between FY 1997 and 2010. Electronic health records were then reviewed to validate diagnoses using modified criteria. Results: During the study period, 115 CJD diagnoses (43 definite, 27 probable, 19 possible, and 26 suspected) were identified. Annual incidence ranged between 0.8 per million (95% CI, 0.3–1.7) in FY 2009 and 3.7 per million (95% CI, 2.1–6.4) in FY 1997. Dementia was documented in 111 cases (96.5%) and myoclonus in 73 (63.5%). Discharges consistent with CJD were noted in 31 of 78 pat...
Higher Level of Obesity Is Associated with Intensive Personal Care Assistance in the Nursing Home.

Abstract Objectives To examine whether higher obesity level was associated with extensive staffing assistance (from 2 or more persons) for completing activities of daily living (ADL) among older nursing home residents. Design Retrospective cross-sectional study. Setting US government–certified nursing homes. Participants Medicare beneficiaries residing in a nursing home on April 1, 2015. Exclusion criteria were age less than 65 years and body mass index (BMI) below 18.5 (underweight). Measures Residents were divided by obesity level according to established BMI cutoffs, as follows: nonobese (BMI = 18.5-29.9) or mild (BMI = 30.0-34.9), moderate (BMI = 35.0-39.9), or severe (BMI ≥40) obesity. Level of staffing assistance for completing each of 10 ADL (bed mobility, transfer, walking in room, walking in corridor, on- and off-unit locomotion, dressing, eating, toileting, and personal hygiene) was dichotomized as below 2 and 2 or more. Robust Poisson regression was used to test whether obesity conferred excess risk for needing 2 or more staff to complete each ADL. Adjusted models included individual-level covariates and nursing home fixed effects. Results A total of 1,063,383 nursing home residents were identified, including 309,263 (29.0%) with obesity. Adjusted relative risks (95% confidence intervals) for 2-person assistance with bed mobility associated with mild, moderate, and severe obesity were 1.17 (1.15, 1.18), 1.28 (1.25, 1.31), and 1.40 (1.36, 1.43), respectively. Adjusted relative risks for 2-person assistance with transferring associated with mild, moderate, and severe obesity were 1.15 (1.13, 1.17), 1.24 (1.22, 1.27), and 1.36 (1.33, 1.39), respectively. Obesity was associated with 2-person assistance for all other ADL except for eating. Conclusions Higher obesity level was significantly associated with assistance from 2 or more staff for completing 9 of 10 ADL. Given increasing obesity rates in nursing homes, payment mechanisms that do not adjust for obesity or comprehensively account for excess ADL assistance may need revision to prevent adverse impacts on the long-term care system.
Modeling tourist and community decision making: The SAVE Market

Abstract The Scientific, Academic, Volunteer and Educational (SAVE) tourist markets seek destinations that offer a highly educational experience, provide opportunity to meet and work with local residents, and require little tourism infrastructure. Because of the ‘low-maintenance’ nature of the SAVE market, it is a good seed market for developing countries and rural areas of developed nations wishing to increase tourism traffic and receipts. However, little is known about how the SAVE market makes travel decisions, or about the real impacts it has on community development. This conceptual paper models the choices made from both the demand (tourist) and supply (destination) side of the tourism industry within the context of the SAVE market. The application for community-based planning and development is discussed.
Soil community composition and ecosystem processes Comparing agricultural ecosystems with natural ecosystems

Soil organisms play principal roles in several ecosystem functions, i.e. promoting plant productivity, enhancing water relations, regulating nutrient mineralisation, permitting decomposition, and acting as an environmental buffer. Agricultural soils would more closely resemble soils of natural ecosystems if management practices would reduce or eliminate cultivation, heavy machinery, and general biocides; incorporate perennial crops and organic material; and synchronise nutrient release and water availability with plant demand. In order to achieve these goals, research must be completed to develop methods for successful application of organic materials and associated micro-organisms, synchronisation of management practices with crop and soil biota phenology, and improve our knowledge of the mechanisms linking species to ecosystem processes.
THE DYNAMIC USE OF MEMORY

This chapter discusses the use of memory by computing systems. The memory used by Fortran variables can be divided into three classes, namely, common, local, and parametric. These variables appear on the SUBROUTINE or FUNCTION card. All variables that are not common or parametric are local. The chapter also discusses the software techniques for using memory. It discusses techniques for using memory, which are dependent on hardware. These techniques cannot be implemented unless the hardware is available. The chapter presents an idealized example of virtual memory and then discusses some specific examples. It also presents some techniques that utilize a virtual memory. The concept of virtual memory applies to all of the systems routines except the page interrupt and the I/O routines. The page interrupt routine uses the normal system I/O routines to read and write the pages from the drum. The first practical application of the virtual-memory technique was on the I.C.T. Atlas computer. To be used efficiently, the virtual memory must be used in a time-sharing system. When a page interrupt occurs, the current program cannot proceed until the requested page is brought from the drum.
Single sample sequencing (S3EQ) of epigenome and transcriptome in nucleus accumbens.

Abstract Background High-throughput sequencing has been widely applied to uncover the molecular mechanisms underlying neurological and psychiatric disorders. The large body of data support the role of epigenetic mechanisms in neurological function of both human and animals. Yet, the existing data is limited by the fact that epigenetic and transcriptomic changes have only been measured in separate cohorts. This has limited precise correlation of epigenetic changes in gene expression. New method Single Sample Sequencing (S3EQ) is an innovative approach to analyze both epigenetic and transcriptomic regulation within a single neuronal sample. Using this method, we analyzed chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP)- and RNA-sequencing data from the nucleus accumbens (NAc) of the same animal. Results ChIP-S3EQ of neuronal nuclei reliably identified hPTM enrichment in the adult mouse NAc with high precision. Comparing cellular compartments, we found that the spliceosome of whole cell RNA-seq was more closely recapitulated by cytosolic RNA-S3EQ than nuclear RNA-seq. Finally, S3EQ showed increased sensitivity for correlating chromatin modifications with gene expression, especially for lowly expressed transcripts. Comparison with existing methods S3EQ accurately generates both RNA- and ChIP-seq from a single sample, providing a clear advantage over existing methods which require two samples. ChIP-S3EQ performance was comparable to ChIP-seq, while RNA-S3EQ generated an almost identical expression profile to nuclear-enriched and whole cell RNA-seq. Finally, we directly compared RNA-seq by cellular compartments, addressing a limitation of RNA-seq studies limited to neuronal nuclei. Conclusion The S3EQ method can be applied to improve the correlative power of transcriptomic and epigenomic studies in neuronal tissue.