cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Killer Ig-like receptor (KIR) compatibility plays a role in the prevalence of acute GVHD in unrelated hematopoietic cell transplants for AML.

Killer Ig-like receptor (KIR) is a major cluster of the natural killer cell receptors and may play a role in the outcome of hematopoietic cell transplants. A total of 65 AML cases transplanted with T-replete hematopoietic cells from unrelated donors were retrospectively KIR-genotyped by a multiplex PCR method of our own design. The KIR gene frequency and genotype patterns in these 130 samples were consistent with the data in the literature. Based upon overall inhibitory and activating KIR genes in both donors and patients, we developed an algorithm to calculate a compatibility score for each transplant case as plus, zero or minus. Significantly higher incidence (18/20, 90%) of acute (a) GVHD (grade II–IV) was found in the transplant cases with plus scores than that (25/45, 56%) in the cases with zero or minus scores (P<0.01). When the scores are sorted in the opposite way, fewer cases (13/26, 50%) of aGVHD were found in the transplants with minus scores than that (30/39, 77%) in the transplants with zero or plus scores (P<0.05). The difference of aGVHD prevalence between the plus score and minus score groups is highly significant (P<0.01). KIR genotype compatibility calculated by this algorithm may predict aGVHD incidence and be helpful in choosing donors.
Effects of a Single Session of Large-Group Meditation and Progressive Muscle Relaxation Training on Stress Reduction, Reactivity, and Recovery

Three hundred eighty-seven undergraduate students in a large-group setting were exposed to 20 min of either meditation, progressive muscle relaxation (PMR), or a control condition, followed by 1 min of stress induction and another 10 min of each intervention. Participants in the meditation and PMR groups decreased more in cognitive, somatic, and general state anxiety than controls. The PMR group had the greatest decline in somatic anxiety, lending some support to the cognitive/somatic specificity hypothesis. After exposure to a visual stressor, those in the relaxation conditions had higher levels of anxiety and recovered more quickly than controls. Findings demonstrated the effectiveness of brief group training in meditation or PMR in reducing state anxiety after exposure to a transitory stressor.
Theological Universalism in the Old Testament

and of relevance to modern theology, the most significant contribution of exilic and postexilic Hebrew religion is the concept of theological universalism. This may be briefly defined as belief in one God who is to be worshipped by all peoples, Jew and Gentile alike. It comprehends a single world religion and a common religious culture; it implies a single cultus. The pre-exilic Hebrews had achieved an insight into the nature of Yahweh as the God of the Hebrews, his moral attributes and cosmic scope, and his will for the Hebrew community. It remained for the later Hebrews, beginning with Deutero-Isaiah, effectively to universalize this belief; Yahweh demanded the allegiance and worship of all peoples of all nations. This universalism may take variant forms, all the way from a real or apparent encouragement of proselytism to a vision of a time when all nations will recognize and worship the true God, even going to Jerusalem to participate in the cultus. It may often have startling limitations and glorify the Hebrews to the detriment of the Gentiles.
Cognitive set and clinical inference: Referral information may not (always) affect psychosocial assessment

Participants ( N = 54) answered questions on the effects of general referral information about a client on subsequent clinical inferences about this client. They were randomly assigned to a "referral information" or "no referral information" condition before being presented with additional data. Clinical inferential tasks included the assessment of maladjustment, client stress, depressive status, psychiatric emergency, and global psychosocial functioning. Both univariate, and where applicable multivariate, tests consistently yielded nonsignificant results. It is concluded that general referral inform-ation may not affect, let alone bias, the clinical inference of depression. Drawing upon salience theory, it is cautioned that this may not be the case when specific data, high in diagnosticity, are included in a referral note.
Development of a near-real-time procedure to detect Staphylococcus aureus enterotoxin A in military rations

Using a chemiluminescent fiber optic biosensor and magnetic particles, a simple, sensitive and rapid method to determine Staphylococcus aureus enterotoxin A (SEA) in military ration components was developed. Anti-staphylococcal enterotoxin A (Anti-SEA) was immobilized on magnetic particles and incubated with SEA. The beads were then collected and rinsed on a membrane filter (0.45um). The captured toxin was then selectively labeled with a monoclonal-horseradish peroxidase (POD) conjugate. SEA concentration was detected with a luminometer and a chemiluminescent enhancing reagent. Total assay time was 1.25 hours. Chemiluminescent signal due to nonspecific binding was tested with various blocking agents. Phosphate buffered saline with casein had the lowest background signal. Primary antibody concentration, secondary labeled antibody concentration and chemiluminescent substrate type were also evaluated to optimize signal intensity. The chemiluminescent fiber optic biosensor assay was compared to the Analyte 2000, a commercial fluorescent fiber optic biosensor. This assay consisted of immobilizing Anti-SEA on polystyrene waveguides, and incubating the waveguides with the toxin. The waveguide was incubated with a selectively labeled monoclonal-CY5 Dye conjugate. The sensitivity of chemiluminescent and fluorescent immunoassays were 1 ng, significantly lower than the levels needed to cause illness.
Design and fabrication of wireless remotely readable MEMS accelerometers

The integration of MEMS, SAW devices and required microelectronics and conformal antenna to realize a programmable wireless accelerometer is presented in this paper. This unique combination of technologies results in a novel accelerometer that can be remotely sensed by a microwave system with the advantage of no power requirements at the sensor site. The microaccelerometer presented is simple in construction and easy to manufacture with existing silicon micromachining techniques. The relatively small size of the sensor makes it an ideal conformal sensor. The accelerometer finds application as air bag deployment sensors, vibration sensors for noise control, deflection and strain sensors, inertial and dimensional positioning systems, ABS/traction control, smart suspension, active roll stabilization and four wheel steering. The wireless accelerometer is very attractive to study the response of a 'dummy' in automobile crash test.
New glucuronic acid donors for the modular synthesis of heparan sulfate oligosaccharides

Although hundreds of heparan sulfate (HS) binding proteins have been implicated in a myriad of physiological and pathological processes, very little information is known about ligand requirements for binding and mediating biological activities by these proteins. We report here a streamlined approach for the preparation of modular disaccharide building blocks that will facilitate the assembly of libraries of HS oligosaccharides for structure-activity relationship studies. In particular, we have found that glucuronic acid donors, which usually perform poorly in glycosylations, can give high yields of coupling products when the C-2 hydroxyl is protected with a permanent 4-acetoxy-2,2-dimethyl butanoyl- (PivOAc) or temporary levulinoyl (Lev) ester and the C-4 hydroxyl modified with a selectively removable 2-methylnaphthyl (Nap) ether. It has been shown that the PivOAc ester can be removed without affecting sulfate esters making it an ideal protecting group for HS oligosaccharide assembly. Iduronic acid donors exhibit more favorable glycosyl donating properties and a compound protected with a Lev ester at C-2 and an Fmoc function at the C-4 hydroxyl gave coupling products in high yield. The new donors avoid post-glycosylation oxidation and therefore allow the facile preparation of modular disaccharide building blocks.
Modeling Pavement Temperature for Use in Binder Oxidation Models and Pavement Performance Prediction

The ability to accurately predict pavement temperature variation with time and depth is critical to calculating binder oxidation in pavements, understanding asphalt material behavior, and predicting pavement performance. In this work, an improved one-dimensional model, coupled with methods to obtain model-required climate data from available databases and optimization of site-specific pavement parameters was developed to calculate hourly pavement temperatures nationwide. Hourly solar radiation and daily average wind speed were obtained from existing databases. Hourly air temperatures were interpolated using a daily air temperature pattern developed from time-series analysis and commonly recorded daily maximum and minimum air temperatures. Parameter estimation identified three critical site-specific pavement parameters: the albedo, the difference between the emissivity and absorption coefficient, and the absorption coefficient. The values of these parameters, optimized at 29 pavement sites nationwide based on the average hourly absolute error objective function, appear to correlate with climatic patterns, suggesting that these parameters be interpolated based on climate. The temperature model, proposed data sources, and site-specific pavement parameters provided calculations that agreed well with experimental measurements.
Thyroid storm following radioactive iodine (RAI) therapy for pediatric graves disease.

Patient Female, 11 FINAL DIAGNOSIS: Thyroid storm Symptoms: Diarrhea • tachycardia • tachypnea • tremor • wheezing Medication - Clinical Procedure: - Specialty: - Objective Rare disease. Background A growing number of pediatric endocrinologists treat Graves disease with radioactive iodine (RAI) therapy due to the typically definitive nature of I-131 therapy. Given the published benefits and perceived low risks of RAI when compared to surgery or long-term anti-thyroid medication, the trend towards therapy with RAI is likely to continue. Nevertheless, RAI is not without significant risk. Case report An 11-year-old girl with newly diagnosed Graves disease received RAI for definitive treatment of her hyperthyroidism. Within 24 hours of receiving I-131, she developed increasing sleepiness and eventually became unresponsive. Upon arrival at the emergency department she had a tonic-clonic seizure and was diagnosed with thyroid storm. Despite best efforts to manage her hyperthyroidism, she suffered a stroke of the left cerebral hemisphere that left her with persistent neurological deficits. Conclusions Although thyroid storm after thyroid ablation is rare, the significant morbidity and potential mortality of pediatric thyroid storm warrant further studies to determine if children with markedly elevated thyroid hormone concentrations at diagnosis should receive prolonged pretreatment with anti-thyroid drugs. While such an approach may reduce the efficacy of I-131 ablation, it can also reduce and hopefully eliminate the risk of post-ablative thyroid storm.
How IRBs view and make decisions about coercion and undue influence

Introduction Scholars have debated how to define coercion and undue influence, but how institutional review boards (IRBs) view and make decisions about these issues in actual cases has not been explored. Methods I contacted the leadership of 60 US IRBs (every fourth one in the list of the top 240 institutions by National Institutes of Health funding), and interviewed 39 IRB leaders or administrators from 34 of these institutions (response rate=55%), and 7 members. Results IRBs wrestled with defining of ‘coercion’ and ‘undue inducement’, most notably in deciding about participant compensation. IRBs often use these terms synonymously and define undue inducement in varying ways, often wrestling with these issues, relying on ‘gut feelings’, and seeking compromises. Ambiguities arose, partly reflecting underlying tensions: whether subjects should ‘get paid’ versus ‘volunteer’ (ie, whether subjects should be motivated by compensation vs altruism), and whether subjects should be paid differently based on income, given possible resultant selection bias. Lack of consistent standards emerged between and even on single IRBs. Questions arose concerning certain aspects and types of studies; for example, how to view and weigh providing free care in research, whether and how recruitment flyers should mention compensation, and how to avoid coercion in paediatric, developing world, or students research. Conclusions These data, the first to probe qualitativel y how IRBs view and approach questions about coercion, undue influence and participant compensation, and to examine how IRBs have reviewed actual cases, reveal several critical ambiguities and dilemmas, and have vital implications for future practice, education, policy and research.
Sensitivity of Tropical Cyclone Inner-Core Size and Intensity to the Radial Distribution of Surface Entropy Flux

Abstract The surface energy (entropy) flux is critical to the development and maintenance of a tropical cyclone (TC). However, it is unclear how sensitive the inner-core size and intensity of a TC could be to the radial distribution of the surface entropy flux under the TC. Such a potential sensitivity is examined in this study using the multiply nested, fully compressible, nonhydrostatic TC model TCM4. By artificially eliminating the surface entropy fluxes in different radial extent in different experiments, the effect of the surface entropy flux in the different radial ranges on the inner-core size and intensity of a simulated TC is evaluated. Consistent with recent findings from axisymmetric models, the entropy flux in the eye region of a TC is found to contribute little to the storm intensity, but it plays a role in reducing the radius of maximum wind (RMW). Although surface entropy fluxes under the eyewall contribute greatly to the storm intensity, those outside the eyewall up to a radius of about 2–...
The information hierarchy for the future grid

This panel presentation will present results from the Department of Energy project on “The Future Grid to Enable Sustainable Energy Systems: An Initiative of the Power Systems Engineering Research Center”. That initiative included four white papers on broad analysis needs related to information issues in the smart grid. These needs typically take the form of questions that comprise a future research agenda. The highlights of these four white papers will be presented in this panel presentation.
Ultrafast infrared near-field molecular nano-spectroscopy

We demonstrate molecular radiative infrared vibrational free-induction decay on the nano-scale and its control via near-field coupling between the transient molecular polarization and optical antenna properties of the metallic scanning near-field probe tip. This allows for pushing the sensitivity of infrared vibrational spectroscopy into the single molecule regime.
Unimolecular Electronic Devices

The first active electronic components used vacuum tubes with appropriately-shaped electrodes, then junctions of appropriately-doped Ge, Si, or GaAs semiconductors. Electronic components can now be made with appropriately-designed organic molecules. As the commercial drive to make ever-smaller and faster circuits approaches the 3-nm limit, these unimolecular organic devices may become more useful than doped semiconductors. Here we discuss the electrical contacts between metallic electrodes and organic molecular components, and survey representative organic wires composed of conducting groups and organic rectifiers composed of electron-donor and -acceptor groups, and the Aviram-Ratner proposal for unimolecular rectification. Molecular capacitors and amplifiers are discussed briefly. Molecular electronic devices are not only ultimately small (<3 nm in all directions) and fast, but their excited states may be able to decay by photons, avoiding the enormous heat dissipation endured by Si-based components that decay by phonons. An all-organic computer is an ultimate, but more distant, goal.
Recognition of partially occluded and/or imprecisely localized faces using a probabilistic approach

New face recognition approaches are needed, because although much progress has been recently achieved in the field (e.g. within the eigenspace domain), still many problems are to be robustly solved. Two of these problems are occlusions and the imprecise localization of faces (which ultimately imply a failure in identification). While little has been done to account for the first problem, almost nothing has been proposed to account for the second. This paper presents a probabilistic approach that attempts to solve both problems while using an eigenspace representation. To resolve the localization problem, we need to find the subspace (within the feature space, e.g. eigenspace) that represents this error for each of the training images. To resolve the occlusion problem, each face is divided into n local regions which are analyzed in isolation. In contrast with other previous approaches, where a simple voting space is used, we present a probabilistic method that analyzes how "good" a local match is. Our method has proven to be superior to a local voting PCA on a set of 2600 face images.
How many degrees-of-freedom does a biped need?

One of the primary motivations for designing a biped robot is to perform tasks in environments that are too dangerous for human beings. To be a satisfactory substitute for a human being the robot must be able to enter a region originally designed for human access and perform tasks that are not already automated and normally require the capabilities of a person. One measure of the success of a biped design is how well it can emulate the agility of a human being. This paper examines the degrees of freedom required for a biped robot to emulate the 'most significant' gaits and standing reflexes of a human counterpart. The first concern is the number of degrees of freedom required to provide a stable platform. Additional degrees-of-freedom will be added to enable the biped to perform locomotion gaits that permit human agility. The actuator torque required for each degree of freedom is also considered. >
Slob, a Slowpoke channel-binding protein, modulates synaptic transmission.

Modulation of ion channels by regulatory proteins within the same macromolecular complex is a well-accepted concept, but the physiological consequences of such modulation are not fully understood. Slowpoke (Slo), a potassium channel critical for action potential repolarization and transmitter release, is regulated by Slo channel–binding protein (Slob), a Drosophila melanogaster Slo (dSlo) binding partner. Slob modulates the voltage dependence of dSlo channel activation in vitro and exerts similar effects on the dSlo channel in Drosophila central nervous system neurons in vivo. In addition, Slob modulates action potential duration in these neurons. Here, we investigate further the functional consequences of the modulation of the dSlo channel by Slob in vivo, by examining larval neuromuscular synaptic transmission in flies in which Slob levels have been altered. In Slob-null flies generated through P-element mutagenesis, as well as in Slob knockdown flies generated by RNA interference (RNAi), we find an enhancement of synaptic transmission but no change in the properties of the postsynaptic muscle cell. Using targeted transgenic rescue and targeted expression of Slob-RNAi, we find that Slob expression in neurons (but not in the postsynaptic muscle cell) is critical for its effects on synaptic transmission. Furthermore, inhibition of dSlo channel activity abolishes these effects of Slob. These results suggest that presynaptic Slob, by regulating dSlo channel function, participates in the modulation of synaptic transmission.
Transcriptome Profile and Cytogenetic Analysis of Immortalized Neuronally Restricted Progenitor Cells Derived from the Porcine Olfactory Bulb

Recently, we established and phenotypically characterized an immortalized porcine olfactory bulb neuroblast cell line, OBGF400 (1). To facilitate the future application of these cells in studies of neurological dysfunctions and neuronal pathogen interactions, a comprehensive knowledge of their genomic variability and overall gene expression capacity was pursued. Accordingly, the OBGF400 cells were subjected to karyotyping and more extensive transcriptome analyses. Cytogenetic characterization of these cells revealed a genetic mosaicism of neuronal hyperdiploidy. A direct comparison of the OBGF400 cell transcriptome pattern, generated by utilizing the Affymetrix GeneChip® Porcine Genome Array, to that of a non-neural, porcine epithelial cell line facilitated the identification of 831 probe sets preferentially hybridized by the neuroblast transcripts. Subsequent functional annotation of these OBGF400 RNAs using the Database for Annotation, Visualization and Integrated Discovery 2008 enabled their allocation...
Recipient Reactions to Social Support: Contributions of Enacted Support, Conflicted Support and Network Orientation

There is a need for a greater understanding of factors that influence individuals' satisfaction with social support. Theory and research on recipient reactions to aid guided the selection of variables for this study and its hypotheses. Results for seventy-eight mental health outpatients indicated that network orientation, conflicted support and enacted support had significant unique effects on support satisfaction. When psychological distress was the criterion, network orientation was a significant predictor, but its effect was not mediated by support satisfaction. The discussion focused on how network orientation, conflicted support and enacted support add to our understanding of recipient reactions to support.
The Spatial Sorting of Ecological Species: Ghost of Competition or of Hybridization Past?

Congeneric species that have evolved on oceanic islands rarely grow with one another. This spatial sorting is thought to be the result of niche pre-emption, where the first species to occupy a given habitat would exclude its relatives through competition. The evidence that competition shapes local species distributions is scant. I propose that hybridization thwarts the invasion of congeners. We know that crossing barriers between products of recent adaptive radiations typically are weak. Colonization of occupied patches would be sporadic, because invaders would be moving from habitats where they are adapted to those where they are not. Nearly all progeny of the scant invaders would be ill-adapted hybrids, because the pollen pool would consist almost exclusively of indigenous pollen. Only if aliens were predominantly inbreeders or apomicts would they have a chance of escaping the deluge of local pollen and becoming established in the occupied patch. The spatial reach of hybridization is much greater than that of competition.
Betting on the Baccalaureate: The Odds by Academic Discipline and Gender

People with a degree beyond high school earn significantly more than those with only a high school diploma. But does the benefit of a college degree in any major justify the expense, or are there some majors in which the average borrowing levels of student loans represent a debt burden that is not cost effective? This study assesses the average debt-to-income ratios of eleven different undergraduate majors, and based on average salaries in those fields, attempts to define a reasonable maximum aggregate student loan debt level by major. Factors considered include other consumer debt and predictive lifetime earnings by gender.
Comparing fundamental frequency within and across speakers of Hindi and English

Introduction: The objective of this study was to compare fundamental frequency (F0) during vowel phonation, reading, and monolog in Indian Hindi speakers as compared to native English speakers. Methods: Thirty normal, age-matched native English and 30 Indian Hindi speakers participated in the study. Participants' F0values were extracted from samples obtained during sustained/a/, reading, and monolog. Analyses centered on F0differences during (a) sustained/a/, comparing native English and Hindi speakers; (b) reading and monolog production, comparing native English and Hindi speakers speaking English and Hindi, respectively; (c) reading and monologs, comparing native English versus Hindi speakers speaking English; and (d) Hindi participants speaking English versus the same participants speaking Hindi. Results: Analyses did not reveal significant differences between F0during sustained/a/for native English and Hindi speakers. All other comparisons, which involved reading and monolog, revealed significantly higher F0in Hindi speakers. Relationships between language learning variables and mean F0were statistically insignificant. Conclusions: The finding of equivalent F0for sustained vowel phonation across groups, in comparison to between- and within-group differences for reading and monolog tasks, suggests that F0differences that were found were largely linguistically determined. Proposals are provided for evaluating additional anatomical and cultural factors determining F0.
Smoothed Particle Hydrodynamics with Stress Points and Centroid Voronoi Tessellation (CVT) Topology Optimization

Various formulations of smoothed particle hydrodynamics (SPH) have been presented by scientists to overcome inherent numerical difficulties including instabilities and inconsistencies. Low approximation accuracy could cause a result of particle inconsistency in SPH and other meshfree methods. In this study, centroid Voronoi tessellation (CVT) topology optimization is used for rearrangement of particles so that the inconsistency due to irregular particle arrangement can be corrected. Using CVT topology optimization method, the SPH particles, which are generated randomly inside a predetermined domain, are moved to the centroids, i.e., the center of mass of the corresponding Voronoi cells based on Lloyd’s algorithm. The volume associated with each particle is determined by its Voronoi cell. On the other hand, it has been shown that particle methods with stress point integration are more stable than the ones using nodal integration. Conventional SPH approximations only use SPH particles, and it results in the so-called tensile instability. In this paper, a new approach of using stress points is introduced to assist SPH approximations and stabilize the SPH methods.
Business interrupted: remote resources and environmental knowledge flows in times of global crisis (Alcan and Greenland 1940–1945)

AbstractThis article examines the process through which the Aluminium Company of Canada (Alcan) obtained information regarding the Greenlandic cryolite industry during World War 2 in order to explore the ways in which distance affects the circulation of environmental knowledge for resource extraction in times of crisis. It argues that the war forced Alcan to radically alter its means of acquiring information about the Greenlandic operations. The information eventually acquired about the nature of the cryolite mine revealed the environmental and logistical challenges of doing business in the Arctic, and encouraged the company to seek synthetic alternatives to the scarce natural resource it obtained from the region.
3rd generation squark searches at CMS

Abstract Searches for the direct production of third generation supersymmetry at CMS are presented. The analyses use the full 8 s = 8 TeV dataset recorded by the CMS experiment, corresponding to approximately 20 fb − 1 . This paper presents a search for top squark production in the final state with a single lepton. The statistical combination of the single lepton search with an inclusive hadronic search significantly extends the reach. A search utilizing single and double lepton final states is sensitive to the production of the heavier top squark mass eigenstate. Bottom squark production is probed with a fully hadronic search. No statistically significant excesses above the Standard Model background expectation are observed.
10 Examining the corticospinal pathways of the tibialis anterior muscle in chronic ankle instability individuals in different body positions

Background Recent evidence has suggested that corticospinal excitability alterations are present in the surrounding ankle musculature in individuals with chronic ankle instability (CAI). However, there is limited support for the effect of CAI on corticospinal excitability of the tibialis anterior (TA) muscle, specifically. Traditional corticospinal excitability measurements are performed in a less functional, seated position. However, it is suggested that corticospinal excitability measures may depend on changes in body positions and the type of task. Assessing corticospinal excitability of the TA during a more dynamic task may reveal corticospinal deficits not observed in seated assessments. Objective To examine differences in corticospinal excitability and inhibitory mechanisms of the TA in seated and single leg balance positions. Design Single-blinded; case-control. Setting Research laboratory. Participants Twelve participants with CAI (2 male, 10 female; age = 20.75 ± 1.60 years; height = 167.91 ± 8.96 cm; body mass = 69.00 ± 15.35 kg), 11 copers (2 male, 9 female; age = 22.81 ± 5.65 years; height = 166.09 ± 7.41 cm; body mass = 66.89 ± 9.60 kg), and 15 healthy controls (4 male, 11 female; age = 20.73 ± 1.62 years; height = 166.78 ± 9.39 cm; 65.91 ± 9.66 kg) volunteered. Intervention Single-pulse transcranial magnetic stimulation was used to measure corticospinal excitatory and inhibitory pathways in seated and single-leg balance positions. Main outcome measurements Active motor threshold (AMT) and corticospinal silent period (CSP) at 120% of AMT were assessed. Separate one-way ANOVAs were used to compare each dependent variable between groups for both conditions. Tukeys post hoc analyses were performed as needed. Significance was set a priori at p Results There were no statistically significant group differences in AMT or CSP during the seated position (AMT: F 28,2 = 1.36, p = 0.87; CSP: F 27,2 = 0.294, p = 0.75) or the standing position (AMT: F 28,2 = 0.603, p = 0.55; CSP: F 28,2 = 1.35, p = 0.28). Conclusions Corticospinal alterations in the tibialis anterior muscle were not observed in CAI participants during seated or standing positions. The testing position of corticospinal excitability and inhibitory mechanisms should be explored in other stabilising muscles (soleus, fibularis longus) that have shown greater influence from CAI.
Clinical practice guidelines for resuscitation in acute care hospitals

The development of the AHA Guidelines for CPR and ECC and the AARC RACH Clinical Practice Guideline should both be instrumental in improving the performance of RCPs on in-hospital resuscitation teams. The AARC and AHA are assuming important leadership roles in this movement by publishing CPGs for CPR and ECC. RCPs with ACLS training are in a prime position to assume more responsibility on resuscitation teams within acute care facilities. They should be prominent members of the resuscitation team--committed to the entire team's performance--and be actively involved in ACLS training. The first step in that process is to study the current levels of RCP competence in ACLS. Further, RCPs and health-care providers should define the goals of resuscitation in terms of long-term survival, quality of life, and years of useful life after CPR. The cost of inadequate attention to which patients should have DNR orders is a drain on the entire health-care system. Research on the impact of disease categories on CPR outcome should be used to educate physicians, nurses, and RCPs so they can help patients better understand their chances of regaining their pre-CPR quality of life. Successful CPR outcome should be carefully defined using the patient's disease category. Each patient should be individually evaluated for DNR orders. As suggested by Schwenzer, "Patients' perception of their quality of life before and after CPR should guide their and our decisions." However, we must all accept the responsibility for defining the limitations of medical technology and try to determine when CPR is futile.
Renal Cell Carcinoma Involving the Inferior Vena Cava: Radiologic Evaluation and Surgical Management

The evaluation and management of 3 patients with renal cell carcinoma and varying degrees of vena caval involvement are described. Extrinsic compression, intraluminal tumor thrombus and direct invasion have characteristic features on the inferior venacavograms. With knowledge of the nature and extent of vena caval disease total removal of the tumor is possible in most cases with an acceptably low morbidity. Extensive vena caval pathology by no means precludes long-term survival and should not be regarded as a sign of inoperability.
An efficient algorithm for information decomposition and extraction

The Hirschfeld-Gebelein-Renyi maximal correlation is a well-known measure of statistical dependence between two (possibly categorical) random variables. In inference problems, the maximal correlation functions can be viewed as so called features of observed data that carry the largest amount of information about some latent variables. These features are in general non-linear functions, and are particularly useful in processing high-dimensional observed data. The alternating conditional expectations (ACE) algorithm is an efficient way to compute these maximal correlation functions. In this paper, we use an information theoretic approach to interpret the ACE algorithm as computing the singular value decomposition of a linear map between spaces of probability distributions. With this approach, we demonstrate the information theoretic optimality of the ACE algorithm, analyze its convergence rate and sample complexity, and finally, generalize it to compute multiple pairs of correlation functions from samples.
Epoetin Alfa inhibits stabilization and transcriptional activity of HIF-1α in ovarian cancer cells.

3585 Cancerous tumors adjust their signaling pathways to facilitate survival in a hypoxic environment. Hypoxia inducible factor-1α (HIF-1α) is a transcription factor that is stabilized in hypoxic situations and induces transcription of target genes such as vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and erythropoietin (EPO). We have previously shown increases in both HIF-1α and VEGF in advanced stages of ovarian cancer. Although EPO may stimulate proliferation of tumors through growth factor pathways, some studies have shown slightly improved response to chemotherapy with exogenous administration of EPO (Epoetin Alfa). In this study, we used cultured human ovarian cancer cells (SK-OV-3) to investigate the hypothesis that exogenous Epoetin Alfa will exert negative feedback regulation of HIF-1α and will consequently reduce VEGF transcription in ovarian cancer cells. Expression of EPO-receptor (EPO-R) in SK-OV-3 cells was demonstrated by RT-PCR and immunofluorescence (IMF). To measure the effect of Epoetin Alfa on HIF-1α, cells were exposed to hypoxia with or without Epoetin Alfa for 16 hrs and HIF-1α levels were determined by immunoblot and IMF. Epoetin Alfa had no effect on HIF-1α levels under normoxic conditions. However, Epoetin Alfa significantly inhibited hypoxia-induced HIF-1α expression in a dose-dependent fashion. To determine if the observed loss of HIF-1α also resulted in loss of VEGF transcription, SK-OV-3 cells were treated for 48 hrs in hypoxia with or without Epoetin Alfa and VEGF transcription was evaluated using RT-PCR. Epoetin Alfa significantly reduced hypoxia-induced VEGF transcription to near basal levels. The effect of Epoetin Alfa on HIF-1α was not restricted to ovarian cancer cells as induction of HIF-1α by hypoxia was also inhibited by Epoetin Alfa in MCF-7 breast cancer cells. These studies indicate that Epoetin Alfa treatment not only inhibits HIF-1α levels induced by hypoxia, but also inhibits synthesis of VEGF, a potent angiogenic growth factor and downstream target gene of HIF-1α. These data broaden the potential clinical applications of Epoetin Alfa as an anti-angiogenic chemotherapy agent and may explain why patients taking Epoetin Alfa show improved response to chemotherapy. Future directions include characterizing the molecular target of Epoetin Alfa in the HIF-1α signaling pathway and developing a mouse model to test the ability of Epoetin Alfa to alter tumor size and angiogenesis in vivo . This research was supported by Ortho Biotech #PR03-27-029.
Finding frogs: using game-based learning to increase environmental awareness

We explored how game-based learning (GBL) can influence environmental awareness in undergraduate college students using an original 3D application. GBL approaches posit that learners who interact with educational materials with playful and dynamic tasks will learn better. In a two-condition laboratory experiment, participants (N = 84) interacted with game and non-game versions of a 3D GIS interactive visualization of Blacksburg, Virginia, containing information about local waterways. A questionnaire assessed enjoyment, general environmental awareness, local environmental awareness, and awareness of local environmental installations. Participants who interacted with the game version reported more enjoyment of the application than participants using the non-game version, and exploratory analyses suggested that the game-based version induced greater interest in seeking more information than the non-game version. Lessons learned from outcomes may inform development of future environmental campaigns employing game-based learning.
Media Devices in Parents' and Children's Bedrooms and Children's Media Use.

Objectives The American Academy of Pediatrics advises having no media devices in children's bedrooms. We examined the link between media devices in parents' and children's bedrooms and children's media use. Methods Ninety parent-child dyads participated in a community- based healthy weight management study targeting 8-to-12-year-olds with body mass index (BMI)-for-age ≥75th percentile. Parents and children reported the number of media devices in their bedrooms and hours spent using media devices on weekdays and weekend days. Results Most children (61%) and parents (92%) had at least one media device in their bedrooms. The numbers of devices in parents' and children's bedrooms were positively correlated. Children with no bedroom media devices reported less weekday media use compared to children with bedroom devices. A similar non-significant pattern was found for children's weekend media use. Conclusions Study findings indicate similar media devices in the bedrooms of parents and children and a significant association between media devices in children's bedrooms and their weekday media use. Efforts to reduce media in parent bedrooms may enhance interventions targeting reduction of media use among children, especially those with higher BMI.
Effect of Impairment-Based Rehabilitation on Lower Leg Muscle Volumes and Strength in Patients With Chronic Ankle Instability: A Preliminary Study.

Context: Patients with chronic ankle instability (CAI) have demonstrated atrophy of foot and ankle musculature and deficits in ankle strength. The effect of rehabilitation on muscle morphology and ...
Evaluating Tau-U With Oral Reading Fluency Data and the Impact of Measurement Error.

Recently, researchers have argued that using quantitative effect sizes in single-case design (SCD) research may facilitate the identification evidence-based practices. Indices to quantify nonoverlap are among the most common methods for quantifying treatment effects in SCD research. Tau-U represents a family of effect size indices that were developed to address criticisms of previously developed measures of nonoverlap. However, more research is necessary to determine the extent to which Tau-U successfully addresses proposed limitations of other nonoverlap methods. This study evaluated Tau-U effect sizes, derived from multiple-baseline designs, where researchers used curriculum-based measures of reading (CBM-R) to measure reading fluency. Specifically, we evaluated the distribution of the summary Tau-U statistic when applied to a large set of CBM-R data and assessed how the variability inherent in CBM-R data may influence the obtained Tau-U values. Findings suggest that the summary Tau-U statistic may be s...
Identity Work of a Prospective Teacher: An Argumentation Perspective on Identity

An investigation on the identity work of a prospective teacher is conducted to better understand how the participant argued for recognition of her projective mathematics teacher identity. Characteristics of the claims, evidence, and anticipatory statements used are explored. Using an argumentation framework, the participant’s discourse demonstrated differing strength for the claims she was making. These were referred to as levels of ownership depending on the number of criteria met (I-statements, hedging, and intensifiers). This helped find the ideas central to how she wanted to be perceived as a mathematics teacher. Evidence for the participant’s claims came in two different ways, anecdotal and belief oriented. The anticipatory statements were used in three ways (a) provide details; (b) recognize constraints or limitations; or (c) defensive/protective practices.
Consciousness and relativity: anekāntavāda and its role in Jaina epistemology

Among the numerous intellectual traditions indigenous to South Asia, the Jaina or Jain tradition is distinctive in a number of important ways. Not least among these is its view of consciousness as ...
On roundoff error distributions in floating point and logarithmic arithmetic

Probabilistic models of floating point and logarithmic arithmetic are constructed using assumptions with both theoretical and empirical justification. The justification of these assumptions resolves open questions in Hamming (1970) and Bustoz et al. (1979).
The Bony Fish

The bony fish evolved in the late Silurian—early Devonian Age, about 300 MYA. Their ossified fossil remains show incredible diversity that continues today in the 35,000–40,000 species extant. There are more species of living fish than of all other vertebrates combined. With a rare peculiar exception, each species is subtly different from the next and can breed only within its own natural group.
Behavior Analysis for Developmental Disabilities

Developmental disabilities are generally considered to comprise mental retardation, autism, and cerebral palsy. This chapter focuses on mental retardation and autism because the large majority of behavioral treatment focuses on those two disabilities. Mental retardation involves impaired functioning in social, educational, intellectual, and adaptive behavior. Some forms of mental retardation have organic etiology that is understood, such as Down syndrome; other forms are clearly congenital with unknown etiology. Most forms are considered “familial,” with the role of genes, organic trauma, and social/environmental factors being less clear. Systems of classification are based upon the degree of retardation, educability, and adaptive behavior. The total incidence of mental retardation in the United States is approximately 3% (Scheerenberger, 1971). Autism occurs in 1 of 2,500 children born in the United States (Schriebman, 1988).
Modeling Hand Trajectories during Sequential Reach Movements in a Pulley Threading Task.

Modeling of human motion is common in ergonomic analysis of industrial tasks and can help improve workplace design. We propose a method for modeling the trajectories of hand movements in the fronta...
Predatory feeding of two marine mysids

Predatory feeding of the marine mysids Mysidopsis bigelowi and Neomysis americana on several species of co-occurring copepods was examined in laboratory experiments. M. bigelowi exhibited a curvilinear functional response; there was a negative logarithmic relationship between prey density and clearance rates. N. americana also exhibited higher clearance rates at lower prey densities. Increased clearance rates at lower prey densities were probably due to increased swimming speed or reaction distance as hunger increased. This response occurred only when mysids could visually locate prey; in complete darkness clearance rates were significantly lower and independent of prey density. Feeding rates on different prey species were only partially dependent on prey size; prey movement patterns and escape behavior also strongly affected feeding rates. M. bigelowi showed active prey selection when offered a choice of different prey species. Estimates of predation rates of estuarine mysid populations indicate that they could have a significant effect on co-occurring copepod populations.
U.S. Productivity Growth: The Slowdown Has Returned After a Temporary Revival

There was never any slowdown in productivity growth in U.S. manufacturing during the postwar period, and indeed there was an unprecedented explosion of manufacturing productivity growth between 1996 and 2004. But the share of the manufacturing sector in the total economy has declined from 30 to 10 per cent since the 1950s. The record for the other 90 per cent, consisting of all the economy outside of manufacturing, is far less encouraging; in non-manufacturing labour productivity growth fell from 2.95 per cent per year in 1948-72 to 1.29 per cent per year in 1972-96. After a brief revival to 2.63 per cent in the brief eight-year period 1996-2004, the growth rate slumped again to 1.47 in the past eight years. This examination of the data provides evidence that the revival of productivity growth associated with the dot.com revolution is over, that multifactor productivity growth in the total economy has returned to the rate achieved in the post-1972 slowdown years.
The specialized features of outer hair cells of the bat cochlea

Objective To investigate the specialized features of the bat’s outer hair cells(OHC) and stereocilia. Methods The bat cochlear hair cells were observed by the scanning and transmission electron microscope. Results The stereocilia bundles of OHC are extremely short. The OHC body exhibits a flask-or dumbbell-shape in the basal turn of the cochlea and are held in the cup formation of the deiters cell. Conclusion The specialized aspects of the cochlear outer hair cells and their stereocilia in the basal turn may represent adaptations for ultra-high frequency echolocation.
Abstract 604: Doxorubicin-induced microRNA-377 Alters Cardiomyocyte and Endothelial Cell Function

Background: microRNAs (miRNA/miR) dysregulation has been implicated in cardiac remodeling after injury or stress. We have previously shown that miR-377 negatively affects bone marrow progenitor cel...