cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Mother-Infant Dyads with COVID-19 at an Urban, Safety-Net Hospital: Clinical Manifestations and Birth Outcomes.

Objective This study aimed to describe maternal characteristics and clinical outcomes of infants born to mothers with positive severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) tests during pregnancy at an urban, safety-net hospital in Boston. Study Design We abstracted electronic chart data from 75 pregnant women with positive SARS-CoV-2 tests at any stage of gestation until 72 hours after birth who delivered consecutively between March 31 and August 6, 2020 at our center. We collected clinical data on maternal and infant characteristics, including testing, signs, and symptoms of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), delivery outcomes, newborn care practices (skin-to-skin care, location of care, and breastfeeding) and 30-day postdischarge infant emergency room visits and readmissions. We described categorical characteristics as percentages for this case series. Results Among 75 pregnant women, 47 (63%) were Hispanic, 10 (13%) had hypertension, 23 (30%) had prepregnancy obesity, and 57 (76%) had symptomatic SARS-CoV-2 infection. Regarding birth outcomes, 32 (41%) had cesarean delivery and 14 (19%) had preterm birth. Among 75 infants, 5 (7%) had positive SARS-CoV-2 polymerase chain reaction tests in the first week of life, all of whom were born to Hispanic mothers with symptomatic SARS-CoV-2 infection and had clinical courses consistent with gestational age. Six (8%) infants visited the emergency department within 30 days of discharge; one was admitted with a non-COVID-19 diagnosis. Conclusion At our urban, safety-net hospital among pregnant women with positive SARS-CoV-2 tests, 41% had a cesarean delivery and 19% had a preterm birth. Seven percent of infants had one or more positive SARS-CoV-2 tests and all infants had clinical courses expected for gestational age. Key Points
Wind turbine wake control strategies: A review and concept proposal

Abstract A wind farm’s overall power production is significantly less than its nominal power, defined as the sum of the wind turbines’ rated outputs. The primary cause for this significant loss is the exposure of downstream wind turbines to the aerodynamic wake of their upstream counterparts. Wind farm layout optimization aims at minimizing such adverse effects by finding optimal wind turbine positions that are less exposed to the upstream wake. Over the past few years, researchers have extended their fight against adverse wake effects beyond the layout optimization, i.e., the design process, onto the control and operation process. Several active wake control strategies have been proposed and studied to decrease the power loss of downstream wind turbines by steering or weakening the upstream wakes. First, the article reviews these strategies, including yaw control, pitch control, torque control, tilt control, and finally, cone angle control. Then, it proposes a novel wake steering technique where passive stationary vanes redirect the upstream wake. The authors conducted scaled wind tunnel experiments to investigate the performance of the proposed concept. Using a 3D-printed wake deflector between two in-line turbines increased the downstream turbine’s power production by more than 15%, which is significant compared to the existing wake control strategies. The article concludes by comparing the proposed technology’s effectiveness against existing wake control techniques.
Parental Incarceration and Other Family-Based Risks

We draw on structured data collected in connection with a three-generation study of a large heterogenous sample of youth to further develop our life-course perspective on parental incarceration and other family-based sources of risk and resilience. Whereas prior studies have inadequately accounted for negative dynamics connected to parents’ antisociality and problem behaviors, we uncover key differences in parents’ levels of crime, substance use, intimate partner violence, and parenting strategies among those with and without a history of incarceration. Looking beyond the parent-child dyad, we also identify important differences in youths’ broader social networks, including problem alcohol and drug use, mental health problems, criminal justice involvement, and employment difficulties among associates both within and outside the home. Despite this general portrait of greater social and economic disadvantage, we did find evidence of family-based strengths or resilience, as children exposed to parental incarceration fared better when they were also exposed to more positive parenting practices. We discuss the implications of approaches that similarly consider incarceration in tandem with other ongoing family experiences and dynamics for research, theorizing, and programmatic responses.
Isocitrate dehydrogenase mutations are associated with altered IL-1β responses in acute myeloid leukemia.

Mutations in isocitrate dehydrogenase 2 (IDH2) have been noted to impact cellular differentiation in addition to DNA and histone methylation. However, little is known about the impact of IDH2 mutations on intracellular signaling. Using an isogenic cell line model, we investigated both differentiation and signaling responses in IDH2 mutant cells and show augmented responses to inflammatory immune ligands. Using phospho-specific flow and mass cytometry, we demonstrate IDH2 mutant cells were significantly more sensitive to IL-1β at multiple downstream readouts. Further, bulk RNA sequencing confirmed increases in cytokine-related signaling pathways and NF-κB target genes. Single-cell RNA sequencing of unstimulated and stimulated cells confirmed altered IL-1β transcriptional responses in the IDH2 mutant cells. Targeted inhibition of the IKK complex reduced IL-1β responses and induced cell death in primary IDH-mutated leukemia samples. Together, these results confirm altered IL-1β signaling in IDH2 mutant cells and identify this pathway as a potential therapeutic target.
Fingerprinting of GPCR activity across multiple G protein substrates unveils complex profiles of functional selectivity (1066.12)

Despite the tractability of G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) as drug targets, there are substantial challenges in understanding the mechanisms of drug action at these receptors. Since more than ...
What's In a Name?: The Troublesome Analogies Between Real and Intellectual Property

Increased use of the intellectual property label to describe copyright and related areas of law has spawned analogies to the protections afforded real property. These analogies ignore significant differences between the foundations that undergird real and intellectual property rights. In particular, real property rights operate to avoid breaches of the peace and tragedies of the commons - problems that do not arise with intellectual works, while copyright and other intellectual property rights are designed to provide an incentive to create, an incentive irrelevant when land is at issue. These disparities in justification caution against routine importation of real property concepts into copyright law. After exploring the weak correlation between justifications for rights in land and in works of authorship, the article explores how the disparate justifications should and do shape doctrine. In particular, the article suggests that differences in duration of rights, in the scope or the right to exclude, and in the availability of injunctive relief can be explained by differences in justification for property rights. The article then turns to the interplay between copyright and contract, and suggests that here, too, the difference in foundation for real and intellectual property rights cautions against resort to easy analogies to resolve unique and difficult problems.
Quasi-optical stabilisation of millimetre wave sources

A novel tunable quasi-optical scheme is presented to provide stabilization of both fundamental and second-harmonic oscillators at w-band (75-100 GHz), with excellent isolation from the load. A reduction of phase noise by more than 40 dB on free-running Gunn oscillators at 90 GHz was demonstrated with single sideband phase noise better than -120 dBc/Hz at 100 kHz away from the carrier. This stabilization scheme uses external high-Q transmission and reaction stabilizing cavities, where coupling was achieved by using beam-splitters with low power loss. This technique is applicable to almost any existing oscillator at W-band or above, at any frequency. >
Sterilization of Biologic Scaffold Materials

Biologic materials are currently used for tissue and organ repair and are typically regulated as medical devices and subjected to established sterilization guidelines. Sterilization of biologic materials involves unique considerations that may have an impact on their performance and clinical utility. This article discusses the advantages, disadvantages, and physical effects upon synthetic and naturally occurring materials of four commonly used methods of sterilization: heat, ethylene oxide, gamma irradiation, and electron beam irradiation. Alternative methods of sterilization and disinfection are briefly discussed, with emphasis on methods typically used for naturally occurring biomaterials. The majority of the biologic materials currently available for clinical use are sterilized by exposure to either ethylene oxide (ETO) or ionizing radiation (IR). Although there are dose-dependent effects associated with both ETO and IR, effective doses can be used with minimal effects upon the structure and function of naturally occurring biologic materials. Keywords: sterilization methods; disinfection; medical devices; biologic materials; ECM; polymers; biomaterials; ionizing radiation; ethylene oxide; heat sterilization
Implementation of an Alpha microprocessor in SOI

Conversion of a 150 million transistor microprocessor from a 0.18 /spl mu/m bulk process to a 0.13 /spl mu/m SOI process is described. Shorter channels and SOI characteristics cause leakage that must be managed. System requirements drive duplication of signal characteristics and integrity for all I/O. Adaptation of the Si to a 200 /spl mu/m bump structure that is 50 /spl mu/m smaller than the previous generation is shown.
Unity and Plurality in the Concept of Causation

[Introduction] It has become common in the scientific realism literature to distinguish between the empirical and super-empirical virtues of scientific theories. Empirical virtues include predictive accuracy, fit with data, and so forth. The super-empirical virtues include unity, simplicity, mathematical elegance, explanatory power, and so forth. Both types of virtue are believed to play a role in theory choice.
Bandwidth efficient signal sets with partitioned equicorrelated properties for the AWGN channel

Signal sets are considered which give rise to multitone M-ary frequency shift keying (MT-MFSK) modulation, which represents a bandwidth efficient alternative to optimum performance modulation schemes for the AWGN channel (simplex signaling for coherent detection and orthogonal signaling for noncoherent detection). The channel is examined in the power-limited region, and it is shown that MT-MFSK modulation exhibits optimum asymptotic performance with bandwidth efficiency gains of an order of magnitude over the orthogonal MFSK modulation technique for sets of finite size. MT-MFSK is viewed as a class of signal sets derived from combinatorial designs. The main properties and structure of such sets are presented and exploited to derive tight upper bounds for the error probability. >
An Analysis of the Israeli XBRL Adoption Experience

eXtensible Business Reporting Language (XBRL) is a language for the electronic communication of business and financial data which is revolutionizing business reporting around the world. It is a tool to bridge potential language barriers and unify financial reporting. This has appeal to foreign investors among others, who can rely on information in XBRL-tagged financial reports to make investment decisions without having to translate financial statements from local language. In 2008, Israel required most public companies to adopt International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) for financial reporting and all public companies to use XBRL-tagged reporting format, as part of an aggressive effort to make its capital markets more transparent and attractive for foreign investors. In this paper we study all Israeli public companies and analyze their XBRL-tagged financial statements that are available on MAGNA, the Israel Securities Authority’s electronic system. We describe the unique process by which the XBRL-based data was collected and reported. In addition we examine these companies’ original full body Hebrew-based financial statements. We document deficiencies in the XBRL-tagged filings, and inconsistencies between them and the Hebrew-based annual reports. Further, we conduct numerous interviews with professionals in the American and Israeli financial communities to gain additional insight on the conversion. This unique analysis allows us to better understand the benefits and challenges of the adoption of XBRL, particularly when coupled with the adoption of IFRS.
The diagnostic yield of the first episode of a periodic health evaluation: a descriptive epidemiology study

The benefits of a periodic health evaluation remain debatable. The incremental value added by such evaluations beyond the delivery of age appropriate screening and preventive medicine recommendations is unclear. We retrospectively collected data on a cohort of consecutive patients presenting for their first episode of a comprehensive periodic health evaluation. We abstracted data on new diagnoses that were identified during this single episode of care and that were not trivial (i.e., required additional testing or intervention). The cohort consisted of 491 patients. The rate of new diagnoses per this single episode of care was 0.9 diagnoses per patient. The majority of these diagnoses was not prompted by patients’ complaints (71%) and would not have been identified by screening guidelines (51%). Men (odds ratio 2.67; 95% CI, 1.76, 4.03) and those with multiple complaints at presentation (odds ratio 1.12; 95% CI, 1.05, 1.19) were more likely to receive a clinically relevant diagnosis at the conclusion of the visit. Age was not a predictor of receiving a diagnosis in this cohort. The first episode of a comprehensive periodic health evaluation may reveal numerous important diagnoses or risk factors that are not always identified through routine screening.
Surface cleaning effects on reliability for devices with ultrathin oxides or oxynitrides

A new wafer cleaning procedure has been developed for ultra-thin thermal oxidation process (<EQ 50 angstrom). This involves a modified RCA clean and a two-step dip, first in diluted HF and then in a methanol/HF solution, with no final DI water rinse. Ultrathin thermal oxides (48 angstrom) and oxynitrides grown in N2O (42 angstrom) were prepared using this new cleaning and other commonly used cleaning methods to investigate the effects of surface preparation on dielectric integrity. It has been found that this two-dip method produces dielectrics with reduced leakage current and stress-induced leakage current, which are believed to be the critical parameters for ultrathin oxides. Furthermore, this new cleaning procedure improves both intrinsic and defect-related breakdown as well as the uniformity of the current- voltage characteristics across a 4-inch wafer. The methanol/HF dip time has also been optimized. The improvement is believed to be due to enhanced silicon surface passivation by hydrogen, the reduced surface micro-roughness and the absence of native oxide.© (1994) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
The virtual supermarket: Interactive educational tools for reducing diabetes risks

The development of a virtual supermarket as an educational tool is of great relevance in the evaluation of interventions to reduce diabetes risk. This tool allows the consideration of population-specific dietary preferences and provides the opportunity of adapting the educational experience to high-risk groups. Using NeuroVR 2.0, we modeled a local area supermarket to create a testing and training environment with a real world correlate. The aim is to provide a valid means to study the shopping behavior of persons with diabetes. The results of which can guide the development of an educational tool that trains healthy eating habits.
Funding Agricultural Economics Research: Discussion

new policies might emerge. Most people involved with agriculture feel that agricultural economists collectively bear some responsibility for the state of the art in agricultural policy analysis, development, and implementation. Of course, we do. The knowledge, insights, and consensus needed in the 1980s to facilitate change in farm policy have yet to emerge. Papers presented at this session trace trends in funding for agricultural economic research. The general empirical observations are probably accurate, although there are many measurement problems inherent in the methods used. While these trends are interesting and may lead to useful observations, I wish to focus, instead, on some questionable presumptions shared by these papers. I believe they deserve the attention of the profession. One argument goes like this: the lack of clear answers and direction in agricultural policy today reflects too little investment in agricultural economics research. More money will yield more answers. What agricultural economists need-both those employed in academia and in ERS-is a stronger unified voice in Washington to make the profession's case. Perhaps, the suggestion was made, agricultural economists need to hire a lobbyist skilled in the art of making voices heard in Washington. Six years working in and around the agricultural policy process in Washington have given me a few opportunities to watch how various in rest groups fare in making their voices heard in Washington. The arguments present d in this session are not likely, in my judgment, to be persuasive. Indeed, I would urge the profession to evaluate more fully why it has not fared so well in contrast to other
In Plane Permeability Measurements for Gas Diffusion Layers

A radial flow device was fabricated to experimentally characterize the in-plane flow behavior of gas diffusion layers (GDL). Radial flow of gas and liquid through the GDL result in the same permeability values. Finally, four types of commercially available GDL are characterized at various levels of compression.Copyright © 2005 by ASME
Interaction of the Isolated Nucleotide Binding Domains of CFTR Channels

The cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) is a chloride channel that belongs to the ATP binding cassette (ABC) superfamily. Defective function of CFTR is responsible for cystic fibrosis, a lethal genetic disease manifested in defective chloride transport across the epithelial cells in various tissues. The structure of CFTR comprises two transmembrane domains (TMDs) that form the channel pore, two intracellular nucleotide-binding domains (NBDs) and a unique regulatory domain. The opening of CFTR channels is coupled to ATP binding to the NBDs and subsequent NBD dimerization. ATP hydrolysis leads to dimer separation and channel closure. In the past few years tremendous progress has been made in the characterization of CFTR gating, but the conformational changes behind the gating transitions observed in these functional studies can only be inferred based mostly on the crystal structures available from a few ABC transporters. Dynamic structural information governing the mechanisms behind CFTR function at the molecular level is still lacking. Recent biochemical breakthroughs in purifying CFTR now make it possible to address some of the outstanding questions in the CFTR field. Our goal is to investigate the NBD dimer formation and separation (dimerization dynamics) using the state-of-the-art single-molecule Forster resonance energy transfer (smFRET) technique for WT and mutant CFTR channels. Here we show our progress so far in this work, namely the characterization of the purified NBDs: the apparent biding affinity, hydrolysis competence and FRET data demonstrating the association of the two isolated domains in the presence of ATP. The purpose of this study is to address fundamental questions about the molecular mechanisms behind the function of CFTR channels, and when completed, will no doubt enhance our understanding of the relationship between structure, dynamics and function.
GEOGRAPHIC VARIATION IN THE PHEROMONE SYSTEM OF THE SATURNIID MOTHHEMILEUCA EGLANTERINA

The common sheep moth,Hemileuca eglanterina (Boisduval), appears to have at least two distinct pheromone types. Male moths from the population in the San Gabriel Mountains of southern California are attracted optimally to a blend ofE10,Z12-hexadeca-10,12-dien-1-yl acetate (acetate);E10,Z12-hexadeca-10,12-dien-1-ol (alcohol); andE10,Z12-hexadeca-10,12-dienal (aldehyde), whereas males from the population at Robinson Summit, northwest of Ely, Nevada, are attracted to the two-component blend of alcohol and aldehyde. Populations along the eastern edge of the Sierra Nevada Mountains are composed of individuals of both pheromone types and a type intermediate between the two. Antennae from male moths from the different pheromone types give distinctly different electroantennographic responses when challenged with blends of the pheromone components, with San Gabriel Mountains males showing a large response to acetate and lesser responses to alcohol and aldehyde. In contrast, antennae from Robinson Summit males, which are attracted to lures containing only alcohol and aldehyde, exhibit a large response to alcohol, a smaller response to aldehyde, and minimal or no response to acetate. Male moths from the eastern Sierra Nevada Mountains give antennal responses similar to those of either San Gabriel Mountains or Robinson Summit males. However, eastern Sierra populations also contain an intermediate type that does not occur in areas where the major pheromone types do not occur together. This third type may be a hybrid between the two other pheromone types, and it is attracted in approximately equal numbers to synthetic pheromone lures with and without acetate. The antennae of male moths in all populations tested responded toE10,E12-16:Ac, a major pheromone component of the congenerH. nuttalli, which is sympatric with someH. eglanterina populations, and in mostH. eglanterina populations tested, the addition ofE10,E12-16:Ac antagonized responses to otherwise attractive lure blends. Overall, the existence of different pheromone types in the differentH. eglanterina populations may represent a case of reproductive character displacement.
Carboxylic acid–pyridine supramolecular heterocatemer in a co-crystal

Abstract Robustness of carboxylic acid–pyridine supramolecular heterosynthon was examined in three 1:2 binary co-crystals of 4,4′-bipyridine with monocarboxylic acids, (4,4′-bipyridine)·( dl -hydroxyphenylacetic acid)2, 1; (4,4′-bipyridine)0.5·(4-bromonaphthalene-1-carboxylic acid), 2 and (4,4′-bipyridine)0.5·(4-methylbenzoic acid), 3. All the three co-crystals form “two-component supermolecules” (consisting of one molecule of 4,4′-bipyridine and two molecules of the relevant carboxylic acid) stabilized through carboxylic acid–pyridine heterosynthons. Co-crystals 1 and 2 exhibits the expected carboxylic acid–pyridine dimer (heterodimer I) whereas co-crystal 3 forms a novel carboxylic acid–pyridine catemer (heterocatemer II).
Identification and quantification of mixed air pollutants based on homotopy method for gas sensor array

Accurate recognition of air pollutants and estimation of their concentrations are critical for human health and safety monitoring and can be achieved using gas sensor arrays. In this paper, an efficient method based on a homotopy algorithm is presented for the analysis of sensor arrays responding to binary mixtures. The new method models the responses of a gas sensor array as a system of nonlinear equations and provides a globally convergent way to find the solution of the system. Real data measurement for CH4 and SO2 are used to model sensor responses. The model is applied to the method for prediction and it shows the prediction results are within 1% variation of true values for both gas models.
Alterations in proestrous LH, FSH, and prolactin surges in middle-aged rats.

AbstractPlasma LH, FSH, and prolactin were measured in middle-aged (7- to 9-month-old) breeder and young (3-4 month old) female rats on proestrus. Sixty-eight percent of the middle-aged rats exhibited regular 4-day estrous cycles; the remainder showed irregular cycles 4-7 days in length. All young rats exhibited at least two consecutive 4-day cycles prior to use. The right atria of all rats were cannulated under ether anesthesia between 0700 and 0800 hr (14:10 light-dark cycle, lights on at 0400 hr). Blood was drawn at 0900 hr and at hourly intervals from 1200 to 2200 hr; each rat was bled a maximum of nine times. Plasma LH and FSH rose significantly later and peak concentrations were significantly lower in middle-aged rats. Baseline prolactin concentrations at 0900 and 2000-2200 hr were significantly higher in middle-aged female rats. These data indicate that alterations in the proestrous gonadotropin and prolactin surges occur early during the aging process in the female rat. Such changes may be importa...
Pandora’s Well Hubris, Deregulation, Fossil Fuels, and the BP Oil Disaster in the Gulf

The BP oil disaster in the Gulf of Mexico—the largest environmental disaster in U.S. history—represents far more than an oil rig “accident” caused by human error, mechanical failure, or poor engine...
The Experimental Control of the Hungerdrive

Resume Deux difficultes fondamentales s'opposent a une manipulation quantitative satisfaisante de la motivation. (1) On ne peut controler la motivation que d'une facon indirecte puisqu'elle comprend une alteration complexe de la condition organique a la base. (2) La motivation comprend souvent nombre de mecanismes distincts plutot qu'un seul mecanisme facilement controle. Les diverses methodes employees dans le controle experimental de la faim sont ici resumees et critiquees a la lumiere de ces difficultes. On discute deux des mecanismes qui se trouvent a la base de la faim et on offre des suggestions pour le controle plus satisfaisant de ce mobile.
Specialty Matters in the Treatment of Lung Cancer

The effect of surgeon volume, hospital volume, and surgeon specialty on operative outcomes has been reported in numerous studies. Short-term and long-term outcome comparisons for pulmonary resection for lung cancer have been performed between general surgeons (GS), cardiothoracic surgeons (CTS), and general thoracic surgeons (TS), using large administrative and inpatient databases. In the United States, general surgeons perform more pulmonary resection than thoracic surgeons. Studies have found that in cases involving thoracic surgeons, there is a lower operative mortality and morbidity, improved long-term survival, better adherence to established practice standards, and a lower cost compared with cases involving general surgeons. Some specific processes of care that account for these improved economic, operative, and oncological outcomes have been identified. Others are not yet specifically known and associated with specialization in thoracic surgery.
Improved complexometric determination of calcium in cheese

Abstract Accuracy and repeatability of complexometric methods for measuring calcium in cheese are limited by titration endpoints that are difficult to recognize. Much of this difficulty results from turbidity during titration. An alternative procedure is described in which 2 to 3g of cheese are ashed, dissolved in dilute acid, and added calcium chloride is back titrated with ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid using hydroxy naphthol blue as indicator. Samples remain free of turbidity, and the titration endpoint is recognized easily. Recovery of calcium from solutions containing magnesium and phosphate was 100.9±.3%, indicating that a portion of sample magnesium (about 12%) also was measured. Error caused by magnesium recovery represented less than 1% of true calcium content. Analyses of 10 Cheddar cheese samples by the proposed method and by atomic emission differed by an average of .010% calcium. Mean values of the 10 samples did not differ significantly ( P >.05) between methods. Duplicate analyses of 67 Cheddar cheese samples differed by an average of .008±.006% calcium. Similar repeatability was achieved by several inexperienced analysts. The method is applied readily to other dairy products.
Epistemology factualized : New contractarian foundations for epistemology

Many epistemologists are interested in offering a positive account of how it is that many of our common sense beliefs enjoy one or another positive epistemological status (e.g., how they are warranted, justified, reasonable, or what have you). A number of philosophers, under the influence of Wittgenstein and/or J. L. Austin, have argued that this enterprise is misconceived. The most effective version of this argument is to be found in Mark Kaplan’s paper “Epistemology on Holiday”. After explaining what this criticism amounts to and why it is important, I then respond to it. My response is based upon, and is intended to display the explanatory power of, a contractarian account of our practice of epistemic appraisal.
Image Filtering via Generalized Scale

In medical imaging, low signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) and/or contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR) often cause many image processing algorithms to perform poorly. Postacquisition image filtering is an important off-line image processing approach widely employed to enhance the SNR and CNR. A major drawback of many filtering techniques is image degradation by diffusing/blurring edges and/or fine structures. In this paper, we introduce a scale-based filtering method that employs scale-dependent diffusion conductance to perform filtering. This approach utilizes novel object scale information via a concept called generalized scale, which imposes no shape, size, or anisotropic constraints unlike previously published ball scale-based filtering strategies. The object scale allows us to better control the filtering process by constraining smoothing in regions with fine details and in the vicinity of boundaries while permitting effective smoothing in the interior of homogeneous regions. A new quantitative evaluation strategy that captures the SNR to CNR trade-off behavior of filtering methods is presented. The evaluations based on the Brainweb data sets show superior performance of generalized scale-based diffusive filtering over two existing methods, namely, ball scale-based and nonlinear complex diffusion processes. Qualitative experiments based on both phantom and patient magnetic resonance images demonstrate that the generalized scale-based approach leads to better preservation of fine details and edges.
Restriction endonuclease analysis of human globin genes in cellular DNA.

Abstract Using samples of human cellular DNA digested with restriction endonucleases Eco RI, Hind III, Hinc II, Bam HI, Alu I, or Hae III, we were able to localize globin gene fragments separated by agarose gel electrophoresis. The fragments were transferred to nitro-cellulose filters and identified by hybridization to [ 32 P] cDNA for total adult globin mRNA. The α-globin gene fragments were specifically identified by their presence in normal controls and absence in DNA from homozygous α-thalassemia, a genetic disorder due to deletion of α-globin genes. In addition, the patterns with Hind III indicate a 4.1 kb distance between the centers of the normal duplicated α-globin gene loci.
Reconstructing the past from imprecise knowledge of the present: Effective non-uniqueness in solving parabolic equations backward in time

Identifying sources of ground water pollution and deblurring astronomical galaxy images are two important applications generating growing interest in the numerical computation of parabolic equations backward in time. However, while backward uniqueness typically prevails in parabolic equations, the precise data needed for the existence of a particular backward solution is seldom available. This paper discusses previously unexplored non-uniqueness issues, originating from trying to reconstruct a particular solution from imprecise data. Explicit 1D examples of linear and nonlinear parabolic equations are presented, in which there is strong computational evidence for the existence of distinct solutions wred(x,t) and wgreen(x,t), on 0 ≤ t ≤ 1. These solutions have the property that the traces wred(x,1) and wgreen(x,1) at time t = 1 are close enough to be visually indistinguishable, while the corresponding initial values wred(x,0) and wgreen(x,0) are vastly different, well-behaved, physically plausible functions, with comparable L2 norms. This implies effective non-uniqueness in the recovery of wred(x,0) from approximate data for wred(x,1). In all these examples, the Van Cittert iterative procedure is used as a tool to discover unsuspected, valid, additional solutions wgreen(x,0). This methodology can generate numerous other examples and indicates that multidimensional problems are likely to be a rich source of striking non-uniqueness phenomena. Published 2012. This article is a US Government work and is in the public domain in the USA.
Dietary bovine lactoferrin increases resistance of juvenile channel catfish, Ictalurus punctatus, to enteric septicemia.

Juvenile channel catfish, Ictalurus punctatus, were fed nutritionally complete, practical basal diets supplemented with bovine lactoferrin (Lf) at 0, 200, 400, 800, or 1600 mg/kg diet for 5 wk. Feed intake was significantly higher in fish-fed diets supplemented with Lf compared to the control diet, but the increased feed intake did not translate to significant increases in growth performance. Hemoglobin, white and red blood cell counts, and resistance to low-water stress also were not different among dietary groups (P > 0.05). Levels of Lf in diets had a significant effect on survival of channel catfish following challenge with Edwardsiella ictaluri: catfish fed 800 or 1600 mg/kg Lf had higher survival than the groups fed the control or 200 mg Lf diet. We established the break point minimum concentration of Lf for resistance to E. ictaluri infection as 1136 mg/kg. There was not a corresponding increase in activity of nonspecific or specific immune parameters with addition of Lf to diets, but plasma iron decreased significantly in channel catfish fed bovine Lf compared to the control group. However, no clear trend for level of dietary Lf, iron status, and resistance to E. ictaluri infection could be established.
The Healing Power of Laughter: The Applicability of Humor as a Psychotherapy Technique With Depressed and Anxious Older Adults

The nation’s older adult population is steadily increasing in numbers as the Baby Boomer generation ages over time. Mental health providers are encountering older adults who are presenting to therapy with problems related to depression and anxiety. The authors demonstrate how empirically-supported treatments such as Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy, Problem Solving Therapy, and Interpersonal Therapy are effective in treating older adults within the individual and group counseling setting. Humor as a therapeutic tool is introduced as an easily integrated instrument of positive change through several case studies as depicted by the authors.
The interaction of burn injury and zinc nutriture as assessed by the humoral response to sheep red blood cells in a burn rat model.

Abstract Clinical and animal studies suggest that burn injury induces alterations in zinc metabolism. It also has been established that zinc nutriture can cause alterations in the immune response, but there is a paucity of information concerning the interrelationship between burn injury, zinc nutriture and the immune response. In the present study, rats were subjected to full skin thickness dorsal scald injuries covering 30 per cent of the total body surface and then maintained on sufficient or deficient zinc intake. The rats were immunized with sheep red blood cells (SRBC) on day 6 postburn and killed 4 days later. The spleens were excised and spleen lymphocytes isolated and used in a Jerne plaque assay to determine the number of plaque-forming cells (PFC). The burn/zinc-sufficient regimen significantly increased ( P P
Dietary Intervention with Vitamin D, Calcium and Whey Protein Reduced Fat Mass and Increased Lean Mass in Rats

The aim of the current study was to determine the effects and the mechanisms of inclusion of dietary whey protein, high calcium, and high vitamin D intake with either a high-sucrose or high-fat base diets on body composition of rodents. Male Wistar rats were assigned to either no whey protein, suboptimal calcium (0.25%), and vitamin D (400 IU/kg) diet (LD), or a diet containing whey protein, high calcium (1.5%), and vitamin D (10 000 IU/kg) diet (HD), and either high-fat (40% of energy) or high-sucrose (60%) base diets for 13 weeks. Liver tissue homogenates were used to determine [(14)C]glucose and [(14)C]palmitate oxidation. mRNA expression of enzymes related to energy metabolism in liver, adipose, and muscle, as well as regulators of muscle mass and insulin receptor was assessed. The results demonstrated that there was reduced accumulation of body fat mass (P = .01) and greater lean mass (P = .03) for the HD- compared to LD-fed group regardless of the background diet. There were no consistent differences between the LD and HD groups across background diets in substrate oxidation and mRNA expression for enzymes measured that regulate energy metabolism, myostatin, or muscle vascular endothelial growth factor. However, there was an increase in insulin receptor mRNA expression in muscle in the HD compared to the LD groups. In conclusion, elevated whey protein, calcium, and vitamin D intake resulted in reduced accumulation of body fat mass and increased lean mass, with a commensurate increase in insulin receptor expression, regardless of the level of calories from fat or sucrose.
Global Text Matching for Information Retrieval

An approach is outlined for the retrieval of natural language texts in response to available search requests and for the recognition of content similarities between text excerpts. The proposed retrieval process is based on flexible text matching procedures carried out in a number of different text environments and is applicable to large text collections covering unrestricted subject matter. For unrestricted text environments this system appears to outperform other currently available methods.
Petrotectonic Summary of Less Intensively Studied UHP Regions

This paper summaries tectonic settings and mineral parageneses of several recognized ultrahigh-pressure (UHP) terranes other than the well-studied Kokchetav Massif of northern Kazakhstan, the Western Gneiss Region of Norway, the Dora-Maira massif of the Western Alps, and the Dabie-Sulu terrane of east-central China. Diamond-bearing terranes include the Beni Bousera/Ronda peridotite massif, the Erzgebirge Crystalline Complex, mantle peridotite from a Tibetan ophiolite, and possibly the Maksyutov Complex. Coesite-bearing UHP terranes are the Zermatt-Saas area, Western Alps; the Mali eclogites from West Africa; the Makabal complex of western Tien Shan; the Bohemian massif; and the newly reported Central Indonesia terrane and Himalayan eclogites from the upper Kaghan Valley of Pakistan. Except for the diamond-bearing Tibetan ophiolite, most UHP terranes share similar petrotectonic assemblages and lie within major continental collision belts in Eurasia and Africa. Using new approaches (including new geobaromet...
Compound heterozygous c-Mpl mutations in a child with congenital amegakaryocytic thrombocytopenia: Functional characterization and a review of the literature

Objective To genetically and functionally characterize mutations of c-Mpl that lead to thrombocytopenia in a child with congenital amegakaryocytic thrombocytopenia. Materials and Methods We identified two c-Mpl mutations in a child with clinical features of congenital amegakaryocytic thrombocytopenia, one a previously described mutation in the extracellular domain (R102P) and the other a novel mutation leading to truncation of the receptor after the box 1 homology domain (541Stop). Cell line models were created to examine the ability of the mutant receptors to signal in response to thrombopoietin and thrombopoietin-like agonists. Results Data from cell-line models indicate that c-Mpl R102P does not support significant signaling in response to thrombopoietin due to impaired trafficking of the mutant receptor to the cell surface. Alternative thrombopoietic agents do not circumvent this block to signaling, likely due to the inaccessibility of the receptor. In addition, previous data indicate that c-Mpl 541Stop does not support intracellular signaling due to the loss of critical intracellular domains. Conclusions This case demonstrates two different mechanisms by which c-Mpl mutations can impair thrombopoietin signaling, and suggests that mutations in the extracellular domain will not be rescued by c-Mpl agonists if they interfere with normal receptor expression.
Hydroxyapatite pseudopodagra in a young man: Acute calcific periarthritis of the first metatarsophalangeal joint

Pain and swelling at the first metatarsophalangeal joint can be caused by acute calcific periarthritis (ACP), an inflammatory condition resulting from deposition of hydroxyapatite crystals. A case is reported of a 23-year-old man in whom ACP was initially mistaken for gout, septic arthritis, and cellulitis. The diagnosis of ACP is based on the finding of inflammation around a joint along with radiographic evidence of periarticular soft tissue calcifications. Calcifications may disappear over time, as they did in this case. Failure to recognize this condition can lead to unnecessary testing and inappropriate treatment.
INTERTRIAL INTERVAL RANGE SHIFT IN CLASSICAL EYELID CONDITIONING

Prokasy and Whaley (1961) gave 1 2 human Ss extensive training in the classical eyelid conditioning situation, where the independent variable was the set of ITIs (intertrial intervals) of 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, and 30 sec. They were interspersed in an unpredictable order over 679 uials administered in seven sessions. It was found that probability of response following the different 1TIs did not vary as a function of ITI. This result was interpreted as incompatible with the hypothesis that response-produced inhibition (Hull, 1952, p. 9) explains the superiority of spaced to massed practice obtained in earlier classical eyelid conditioning studies (e.g., Spence & Norris, 1950; Prokasy, Granc, & Myers, 1958) . It was the purpose to test other implications of the response-produced inhibition hypothesis. Specifically, if inhibition is assumed to cumulate with massed trials, then a later switch to spaced trials should result in an increase in response probability. Similarly, after training with relatively spaced trials, a shift to massed trials should result ic, a decrement in response probability. PROCEDURE The apparatus is described in Prokasy and Whaley ( 1 9 6 1 ) . The CS was a brightness change of 3.8 to 190 mL. lasting 500 msec. The UCS, a 50-msec. puff of nitrogen, was delivered to the right cornea from .75 in., and was of sufficient intensity to support a 210-mm. column of mercury. The interstimulus interval was 500 msec. Ss were 27 male students between the ages of 18 and 22, who received course credit in introductory psychology for volunteering. One was terminated due to failure to condition; 2 failed to complete the training sessions because of end-of-semester scheduling problems. Two IT1 ranges were selected: a massed range including ITIs of 5, 10, 15, and 2 0 sec., and a spaced range including ITIs of 20, 25, 30, and 35 sec. The 24 Ss were assigned at random to two groups. Group MS received 5 sessions of 65 trials each with the massed IT1 range followed by 5 sessions of 65 trials each with the spaced IT1 range. Group SM received the spaced range for the initial 5 sessions and the massed range for the final 5 sessions. In all sessions, with both ranges, the 4 lTIs were administered in a pre-determined, unpredictable order, with the resrrlcuon that each IT1 appear 1 6 times in each session and that no one IT1 follow itself more than once. Thus, across the 10 sessions Ss in Group MS received each of the 4 massed ITIs 8 0 times each, followed by each of the 4 spaced ITIs 8 0 times each. Ss in Group SM received the same treaunent except that the 5 spaced sessions preceded the 5 massed sessions. Instructions were read S ac the beginning of Session 1. S was given neutral instructions which indicated that he should not try to control his responses in any way and that he should keep the CS panel in view at all times. In subsequent sessions Ss were reminded of instructions informally. Although it was not possible to run Ss on 1 0 consecutive days, rarely was there a break between sessions of longer than 3 days.
Surgical treatment of rectal cancer.

The surgical treatment of rectal cancer has evolved dramatically over the past century. Indeed, initially thought to be only a surgical disease, it is now best approached from a multi-disciplinary standpoint. The correct staging of the tumor, selection of appropriate adjuvant therapy, and timing of surgery in relation to adjuvant therapy ultimately determines outcome. Surgical approaches toward preoperative evaluation of rectal cancer, operative decision-making, and postoperative outcomes such as tumor recurrence, bowel function, and complications are addressed.
The effect of cross-links on the conformational dynamics of duplex DNA

The base pair lifetimes and apparent dissociation constants of a 21 base DNA hairpin and an analog possessing a disulfide cross-link bridging the 3'- and 5'-terminal bases were determined by measuring imino proton exchange rates as a function of exchange catalyst concentration and temperature. A comparison of the lifetimes and apparent dissociation constants for corresponding base pairs of the two hairpins indicates that the cross-link neither increases the number of base pairs involved in fraying nor alters the lifetime, dissociation constant, or the opened structure from which exchange occurs for the base pairs that are not frayed. The cross-link does, however, stabilize the frayed penultimate base pair of the stem duplex. Significantly, it appears that the disulfide cross-link is more effective at preventing fraying of the penultimate base pair than is the 5 base hairpin loop. Because this disulfide cross-link can be incorporated site specifically, and does not adversely affect static or dynamic properties of DNA, it should prove very useful in studies of nucleic acid structure and function.
Are U.S. CEOs Overpaid? A Partial Response to Kaplan

Professor Steven Kaplan and I have had a spir ited public conversation about CEO compen sation and the responsibilities of the business scholar to society (Kaplan, 2008a; Walsh, 2008; Kaplan, 2008b). We differ in our assessments of whether or not CEOs are overpaid, paid for per formance, and dismissed for poor performance; we also hold very different views of our professional responsibilities. I am grateful for the opportunity to offer a few words in response to Professor Kaplan's most recent remarks. The key words here are "few words." I am bound by the rules of debate. These kinds of conversations cannot go on for ever. Indeed, the rules say that the first author has the last word. I am able to respond Professor Kaplan only because I offered new data in my essay. That makes me something of a first author too. I can respond to his comments about my empirical research, and no more. There are three issues in play.