cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Cytometric profiling in multiple sclerosis uncovers patient population structure and a reduction of CD8low cells

As part of a biomarker discovery effort in peripheral blood, we acquired an immunological profile of cell-surface markers from healthy control and untreated subjects with relapsing-remitting MS (RRMS). Fresh blood from each subject was screened ex vivo using a panel of 50 fluorescently labelled monoclonal antibodies distributed amongst 56 pools of four antibodies each. From these 56 pools, we derived an immunological profile consisting of 1018 'features' for each subject in our analysis using a systematic gating strategy. These profiles were interrogated in an analysis with a screening phase (23 patients) and an extension phase (15 patients) to identify cell populations in peripheral blood whose frequency is altered in untreated RRMS subjects. A population of CD8(low)CD4(-) cells was identified as being reduced in frequency in untreated RRMS subjects (P = 0.0002), and this observation was confirmed in an independent sample of subjects from the Comprehensive Longitudinal Investigation of MS at the Brigham & Women's Hospital (P = 0.002). This reduction in the frequency of CD8(low)CD4(-) cells is also observed in 38 untreated subjects with a clinically isolated demyelination syndrome (CIS) (P = 0.0006). We also show that these differences may be due to a reduction in the CD8(low)CD56(+)CD3(-)CD4(-) subset of CD8(low) cells, which have a natural killer cell profile. Similarities between untreated CIS and RRMS subjects extend to broader immunological profiles: consensus clustering of our data suggests that there are three distinct populations of untreated RRMS subjects and that these distinct phenotypic categories are already present in our sample of untreated CIS subjects. Thus, our large-scale immunophenotyping approach has yielded robust evidence for a reduction of CD8(low)CD4(-) cells in both CIS and RRMS in the absence of treatment as well as suggestive evidence for the existence of immunologically distinct subsets of subjects with a demyelinating disease.
Preparing Teachers for Diversity: Examination of Teacher Certification and Program Accreditation Standards in the 50 States and Washington, DC

State departments of education can play an important role in preparing teachers for effectively teaching diverse learners in our schools through state policies and standards on teacher certification and teacher education program accreditation. We conducted a content analysis of state standards on teacher certification and program accreditation in the 50 states and the District of Columbia to understand the type and characteristics of diversity-related requirements. We found that while all states addressed diversity in their standards, the type and characteristics of requirements varied across the states. The diversity requirements are ambiguous in most states, and only a small number of states utilize a “social reconstructionist” approach that focuses on preparing teachers to identify social inequality and take an active role to achieve educational and social equity.
Multiplicity of Sturm-Liouville eigenvalues

The geometric multiplicity of each eigenvalue of a self-adjoint Sturm-Liouville problem is equal to its algebraic multiplicity. This is true for regular problems and for singular problems with limit-circle endpoints, including the case when the leading coefficient changes sign.
Modification of the relationship between the Quetelet index and mortality by weight-loss history among older women

Abstract The effect of weight on mortality was examined using data from the first National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES I) Epidemiology Follow-up Study for white women aged 65 to 74 years at baseline. There was a U-shaped curve relating the Quetelet index categories to total mortality, with increased risk for both lean and heavy women. However, the increased risk to lean subjects occurred only among those who had lost more than 8.55% from their reported lifetime maximum weight. Controlling for baseline medical conditions, excluding early years of follow-up, and limiting the analysis to never-smokers did not greatly change the results. Lean women with stable weight have the lowest risk of mortality, while those who have lost weight have a high risk. Heavy women have a high risk of mortality regardless of weight-loss history. Thus, the effect of weight on mortality is modified by history of weight loss in older women, even when accounting for factors associated with weight loss and increased mortality risk.
The Effects of Tentoxin on Chlorophyll Synthesis and Plastid Structure in Cucumber and Cabbage

To determine if chlorosis caused by tentoxin, a toxin produced by Alternaria tenuis Nees., is due to interference with chlorophyll synthesis directly or to disruption of normal chloroplast development, the effects of the toxin on these processes in cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.) and cabbage (Brassica oleracea L., var. capitata) were studied. Cucumber cotyledons are highly sensitive to the toxin but exhibited no interference with the conversion of protochlorophyll(ide) to chlorophyll(ide) or with the general time course pattern of chlorophyll synthesis, although there was a 90% reduction in chlorophyll concentration. In cabbage, which shows no chlorosis in the presence of the toxin, there was a slight stimulation of chlorophyll synthesis in the presence of the toxin. Electron microscopy revealed that in cucumber, toxin treatment interferes with development of prolamellar bodies and lamellae, and results in deformed plastids. No such effects were noted in toxin-treated cabbage tissues. Plastids in toxin-treated cotyledons of both cucumber and cabbage contained more starch than plastids in nontreated tissues. It was concluded that tentoxin acts through disruption of normal plastid development, rather than through direct interference with chlorophyll synthesis.
Methods for comparing a DNA sequence with a protein sequence

We describe two methods for constructing an optimal global alignment of, and an optimal local alignment between, a DNA sequence and a protein sequence. The alignment model of the methods addresses the problems of frameshifts and introns in the DNA sequence. The methods require computer memory proportional to the sequence lengths, so they can rigorously process very huge sequences. The simplified versions of the methods were implemented as computer programs named NAP and LAP. The experimental results demonstrate that the programs are sensitive and powerful tools for finding genes by DNA-protein sequence homology.
Homocysteine activates NADH/NADPH oxidase through ceramide-stimulated Rac GTPase activity in rat mesangial cells

Homocysteine activates NADH/NADPH oxidase through ceramide-stimulated Rac GTPase activity in rat mesangial cells. Background We recently demonstrated that homocysteine (Hcys) increases superoxide (O 2 − ) production via NADH/NADPH oxidase in renal mesangial cells. This O 2 − production contributes to increased expression of tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase (TIMP-1) and consequent deposition of collagen in response to Hcys. However, the mechanism by which Hcys activates NADH/NADPH oxidase remains unknown. Given that ceramide is an intracellular activator of this oxidase in several cell types, the present study tests the hypothesis that Hcys activates NADH/NADPH oxidase through a ceramide-mediated signaling pathway in rat mesangial (MG) cells, resulting in O 2 − production. Methods Rat MG cells were incubated with L-homocysteine (L-Hcys) to determine the mechanism by which Hcys activates NADH/NADPH oxidase. Thin layer chromatography (TLC), Western blot analysis, Rac GTPase activity pull down assay, and NADH/NADPH oxidase activity measurements were performed. Results TLC analysis demonstrated that L-Hcys increased de novo production of ceramide in MG cells. L-Hcys and increased ceramide did not alter the amount of NADH/NADPH oxidase subunit p47 phox and p67 phox in both membrane and cytosolic fractions from MG cells. However, L-Hcys or ceramide markedly increased the level of GTP-bound Rac, which was accompanied by enhanced activity of NADH/NADPH oxidase. These Hcys or ceramide-induced actions were substantially blocked by a Rac GTPase inhibitor, GDPβS, and a de novo ceramide synthesis inhibitor, fumonisin B 1 (FB 1 ). Conclusion These results indicate that Hcys activates NADH/NADPH oxidase by stimulating de novo ceramide synthesis, and subsequently enhancing Rac GTPase activity in rat MG cells. This ceramide-Rac GTPase signaling pathway may mediate Hcys-induced oxidative stress in these glomerular cells.
The duelling models: NEG vs amenity migration in explaining US engines of growth

Abstract The new economic geography (NEG) has become a mainstay of regional science in the last two decades, as signified by the awarding of Paul Krugman, the Nobel Prize. Yet, most American regional scientists and urban/regional economists do not use NEG in determining regional growth patterns. Instead, they rely on factors such as natural amenity migration, whose roots lie back to the work of Philip Graves in the mid 1970s. Conversely, two of the world's leading economic geographers – Allen Scott and Michael Storper – have strongly argued that job availability not household amenities have determined US regional dynamics. Given the disparity of views over the largest developed economy in the world, we hold a competition to determine which of these leading contenders accurately predict US interregional growth dynamics over the last 40–60 years. The runaway winner of the duel is natural amenity led growth with the crown going to Graves. Implications are drawn for both empirical research and EU economic integration. Resumen La nueva geografia economica (NEG, siglas en ingles) se ha convertido en un pilar de las ciencias regionales de las dos ultimas decadas, ratificado por el Premio Nobel otorgado a Paul Krugman. A pesar de ello, la mayoria de cientificos y economistas de ciencias urbanas/regionales no utilizan la NEG para determinar patrones de crecimiento regionales. En su lugar, se apoyan en factores tales como la migracion natural por recreo, cuyas raices se sustentan en el trabajo de Philip Graves de mediados de los 70. Por el contrario, dos de los lideres en geografia economica – Allen Scott y Michael Storper – han defendido energicamente que es la disponibilidad de empleos, y no la calidad de vida familiar, la que ha determinado las dinamicas regionales en los EE.UU. Dada la disparidad de opiniones acerca de la economia mas desarrollada del mundo, organizamos un torneo para determinar cuales de estos contendientes importantes son capaces de predecir la dinamica de crecimiento interregional en los EE.UU. durante los ultimos 40–60 anos. La victoria abrumadora del torneo es para el crecimiento motivado por recreo publico natural, con los laureles para Graves. Formulamos implicaciones tanto para estudios empiricos como para la integracion economica con la UE.
Toward Sustainable Transport: Conventional and Disruptive Approaches in the U.S. Context

As a crosscutting element of human activity, transportation is an appropriate arena for pursuing sustainability. Conventional transportation in the U.S., based largely on private autos, is untenable in the long run for reasons of congestion, energy consumption, safety, and environmental and human health. To date, response to a growing sustainability movement has been largely incremental. Proactive tools focusing on environmental, economic and social impacts of transportation have the potential to disrupt the status quo, and provide an opening for sustainable practices. Focusing on surface passenger travel, this discussion paper considers four sectors in which transportation-relevant policies or programs are conceived and delivered, orders them roughly along a continuum from conventional to disruptive, and assesses their potential for moving the U.S. toward a more sustainable future. Questions are posed about conventional vs. disruptive, and incremental vs. large-scale, changes.
Efficient and accurate methods for updating generalized linear models with multiple feature additions

In this paper, we propose an approach for learning regression models efficiently in an environment where multiple features and data-points are added incrementally in a multistep process. At each step, any finite number of features maybe added and hence, the setting is not amenable to low rank updates. We show that our approach is not only efficient and optimal for ordinary least squares, weighted least squares, generalized least squares and ridge regression, but also more generally for generalized linear models and lasso regression that use iterated re-weighted least squares for maximum likelihood estimation. Our approach instantiated to linear settings has close relations to the partitioned matrix inversion mechanism based on Schur's complement. For arbitrary regression methods, even a relaxation of the approach is no worse than using the model from the previous step or using a model that learns on the additional features and optimizes the residual of the model at the previous step. Such problems are commonplace in complex manufacturing operations consisting of hundreds of steps, where multiple measurements are taken at each step to monitor the quality of the final product. Accurately predicting if the finished product will meet specifications at each or, at least, important intermediate steps can be extremely useful in enhancing productivity. We further validate our claims through experiments on synthetic and real industrial data sets.
The Institute of Medicine: ensuring integrity and independence in scientific advice on health

Summary National science and medical academies across the world serve a range of roles and functions. In particular, the benefits of an independent academy tasked with the provision of formal advice are compelling. For nearly half a century, the Institute of Medicine (IOM) has served the USA and the world by providing independent, authoritative advice on issues related to health and medicine. Its influence reaches deep into the health and policy worlds. This paper provides insight into the principles, processes, and governance that confer unique credibility to IOM advice. The IOM can serve as a useful model for other academies to consider for strengthening their work or when other countries contemplate the creation of a new academy.
Small signal stability analysis of a shipboard MVDC power system

Recent developments in high power rated Voltage Source Converters (VSCs) have resulted in their successful application in Multi-Terminal HVDC (MTDC) transmission systems and also have potential in the Medium Voltage DC (MVDC) distribution systems. A multi-zonal MVDC architecture has been identified by the US Navy as one of the possible architectures for the shipboard power distribution. Selection of a particular architecture for the shipboard power system will require extensive studies to be carried out with respect to various protection, control and stability issues. This paper presents the findings of small signal stability studies carried out on a zonal MVAC as well as a MVDC architecture for the ship board power distribution system.
Vibration reduction in 0-g using input shaping on the MIT Middeck Active Control Experiment

The performance of many spacecraft can be improved by using closed-loop control and command-shaping techniques to reduce problematic vibration. However, due to uncertainties about the operation of controlled structures in zero-gravity, little information exists to give designers confidence in eventual on-orbit performance. The Middeck Active Control Experiment (MACE), scheduled for launch aboard the Space Shuttle Endeavor in March 1995, is designed to investigate these issues by collecting on-orbit data from a controlled flexible structure. In addition to providing a description of the MACE project, this paper presents 0-g predictions for some of the MACE command shaping experiments and describes how the anticipated mission results will be used to understand how to improve the performance of other space systems.
Modeling of narrow-width SOI devices: the impact of quantum mechanical size quantization effects and unintentional doping on device operation

The ultimate limits in scaling of conventional MOSFET devices have led the researchers to look for novel device concepts such as dual-gate SOI devices, FinFETs, focused ion beam MOSFETs, etc. However, a lot of the old issues still remain and new issues begin to appear. For example, in both dual-gate SOI MOSFETs and in FinFET devices, quantum mechanical size-quantization effects significantly affect the overall device behavior. In addition, unintentional doping leads to considerable fluctuation in the device parameters, and the electron-electron interactions affect the thermalization of the carriers at the drain end of the device. In this work, we investigate the influence of these relatively new and challenging issues on the operation of a narrow-width SOI device structure.
Subjective cognitive concerns, amyloid-β, and neurodegeneration in clinically normal elderly

Objective: To determine whether neuroimaging biomarkers of amyloid-β (Aβ) and neurodegeneration (ND) are associated with greater self-reported subjective cognitive concerns (SCC) in clinically normal older individuals. Methods: A total of 257 participants underwent Pittsburgh compound B PET, PET with fluorodeoxyglucose 18 F, and structural MRI, as well as a battery of neuropsychological measures including several questionnaires regarding SCC. Individuals were classified into 4 biomarker groups: biomarker negative (Aβ−/ND−), amyloidosis alone (Aβ+/ND−), amyloidosis plus ND (Aβ+/ND+), and ND alone (Aβ−/ND+). Results: Both Aβ and ND were independently associated with greater SCC controlling for objective memory performance. By contrast, neither Aβ nor ND was associated with objective memory performance controlling for SCC. Further examination revealed greater SCC in individuals with Aβ or ND positivity compared to biomarker-negative individuals. In addition, greater SCC predicted Aβ positivity when controlling for ND status. Conclusions: When individuals were grouped by biomarker status, those who were positive on Aβ or ND had the highest report of SCC compared to biomarker-negative individuals. Findings were consistent when SCC was used to predict Aβ positivity. Taken together, results suggest that both Aβ and ND are associated with SCC, independent of objective memory performance. Enrichment of individuals with SCC may increase likelihood of Aβ and ND markers in potential participants for secondary prevention trials.
Sensor integration of multiple tripolar concentric ring electrodes improves pentylenetetrazole-induced seizure onset detection in rats

As epilepsy affects approximately one percent of the world population, electrical stimulation of the brain has recently shown potential for additive seizure control therapy. Previously, we applied noninvasive transcranial focal stimulation via tripolar concentric ring electrodes on the scalp of rats after inducing seizures with pentylenetetrazole. We developed a system to detect seizures and automatically trigger the stimulation and evaluated the system on the electrographic activity from rats. In this preliminary study we propose and validate a novel seizure onset detection algorithm based on exponentially embedded family. Unlike the previously proposed approach it integrates the data from multiple electrodes allowing an improvement of the detector performance.
An efficient scheduling algorithm for combined input-crosspoint-queued (CICQ) switches

With today's ASIC technology, a large amount of memory can be easily implemented in a single chip. This makes the combined input-crosspoint-queued (CICQ) crossbar switch a more attractive solution than the traditional input-queued (IQ) crossbar switch because of the simplicity of the CICQ switch scheduling. We propose a shortest crosspoint buffer first (SCBF) scheme, and prove that it achieves 100% throughput for any admissible traffic. To facilitate hardware implementation, a maximal SCBF solution is also proposed. Our simulations show that the maximal SCBF performs almost identically to the maximum solution, and better than existing IQ and CICQ schemes. The time complexity of the maximal SCBF is O(log N), feasible for fast hardware implementation.
NTS neurons with carotid chemoreceptor inputs arborize in the rostral ventrolateral medulla

Neurons that were excited by hypoxic stimulation of carotid chemoreceptors were recorded in the caudal portion of the nucleus of the solitary tract (cNTS) of urethan-anesthetized, vagotomized, aortic-deafferented, artificially ventilated rats (n = 23). The focus of the study is on 26 chemosensitive neurons (classified as early- and late-response cells) that were tonically activated by chemoreceptor stimulation and never fired in bursts synchronized with the phrenic nerve discharge (PND) cycle. The discharge of early-response cells (n = 14) started up to 2.5 s before the onset of PND activation, whereas the discharge of late-response cells (n = 14) started 1.5-5 s after onset of PND response. Four early-response cells were antidromically activated from the rostral ventrolateral medulla (RVLM; latencies: 7-13 ms), and two had axenal collaterals in the region of the nucleus ambiguus. Four late-response neurons were antidromically activated from the RVLM (latencies: 6-12 ms), but no collateral was found in this area. The basal discharge of early- and late-response cells ranged from 0 to 10 and 0 to 30 spikes/s, respectively, but most of them had a very low spontaneous firing rate (median: 0.2 and 0.6 spikes/s, respectively). Neither type was excited by baroreceptor stimulation. The cNTS also contained neurons that were firing in bursts synchronized with the PND cycle. These cells were activated by chemoreceptor stimulation and were not antidromically activated from the RVLM. Chemosensitive neurons made up 33% of cNTS neurons antidromically activated from the RVLM (8/24). In conclusion, a population of cNTS chemosensitive neurons devoid of respiratory modulation projects through the RVLM and arborizes in this region.
Comparative Carcinogenicity of 5-Nitrothiophenes and 5-Nitrofurans in Rats

We investigated the carcinogenicity of five 5-nitrothiophenes with heterocyclic substituents at the 2-position of the thiophene ring by feeding the chemicals to Sprague-Dawley rats and comparing the type and incidence of lesions with those appearing after exposure to two 5-nitrofurans. Benign and malignant mammary tumors and intestinal tract sarcomas were the most frequent lesions induced by 5-nitrothiophenes. 4-Bis(2-hydroxyethyl)amino-2-(5-nitro-2-thienyl)quinazoline caused a 100% incidence of mammary adenocarcinomas in 28 female rats at risk; it induced 3 benign and 5 malignant mammary tumors and 13 small intestine sarcomas in 20 male rats. A high incidence of similar lesions was observed in male and female rats fed the corresponding 5-nitrofuran analogue, 4-bis(2-hydroxyethyl)amino-2-(5-nitro-2-furyl)quinazoline. In marked contrast, 4 of 28 female rats receiving 4-bis(2-hydroxyethyl)amino-2-(2-thienyl)quinazoline, which lacks the nitro group at the 5-position on the thiophene ring, had solitary benign mammary tumors (P greater than 0.2). Additional 5-nitrothiophenes demonstrating significant oncogenic activity for female rats were 4-morpholino-2-(5-nitro-2-thienyl)quinazoline, 4-(2-hydroxyethylamino)-2-(5-nitro-2-thienyl)quinazoline 4-(2,3-dihydroxypropylamino)-2-(5-nitro-2-thienyl)quinazoline, and 1,2-dihydro-2-(5-nitro-2-thienyl)quinazolin-4(3H)-one. Another nitrofuran, 4,6-dimethyl-2-(5-nitro-2-furyl)-pyrimidine, provided the following types of neoplasms in 30 female rats at risk: squamous cell carcinomas of the forestomach (30), sarcomas of the intestine (21), adenocarcinomas of the kidney (2).
Growth of Human Nervous System. I. Growth of Cerebral Surface

The interest in the extent and variability of the cortex of the human brain has led to a number of estimates of the surface area of the cerebrum (generally in the adult) by a variety of ingenious methods.1-7 We have attempted to extend these studies by an experimental investigation of this area through a portion of the developmental period (from the fourth fetal or lunar month of prenatal life to 2 postnatal years) and in maturity. Our technique is described in detail in a forthcoming paper.8 Briefly stated, the method consists of sectioning formalin fixed brains enclosed in a matrix with a mechanical device into slices 2 to 3.5 mm. in thickness. The area is then determined by measuring the outline of each section with a chartometer and multiplying the reading by the thickness of the section. The surface of the cerebrum is approximated by the sum of the values so obtained. Attempts to improve this technique by computing the sections as segments of cones and taking the means of their anterior and posterior...
New approaches to communication and the public

In considering the prospect of a new journal focused on “Communication and the Public,” it is impossible to avoid the question of whether these concepts— broad and expansive as they are—have already been adequately addressed in other venues. Certainly, in a narrow conception of mere topical coverage, they have. Such a limited assessment, however, would overlook two vitally important dimensions of this exciting new outlet. The first of these lies in the rich set of extremely timely themes that I would argue emerge from the intertwining of communication and the public that the journal’s theme occasions. The second, and I think more important, can be found in the set of vitally important directives found within the journal’s mission statement, which challenge researchers to explore the themes just alluded to with a focus on understudied empirical contexts and a broad array of epistemological and methodological approaches. In this brief essay, I will articulate my own particular vision of these two dimensions, with the hope of contributing in some small part to what I expect will become a rich and productive conversation to take place over the course of future volumes. In each case, I will suggest that there are both more and less common ways of engaging the associated themes and directives, both of which I think can be part of the journal’s future success. To begin with the basic conceptual issues, it is certainly uncontroversial to note that in many ways, the most pressing research questions of our time engage the interrelationship between communication and publics, as well as the sense in which both are experiencing dynamic transformations. In light of sweeping socio-technical change, we explore the ways that communication affirms or negates, facilitates or hinders, and constitutes or forecloses vital democratic processes that unfold in the public sphere. In doing so, much contemporary work further examines the sense in which a changing communication environment suggests or highlights an array of public-related conceptualizations, including counter-, mini-, and issue-publics (Kim, 2009; Toepfl & Piwoni, 2015; Warren & Gastil, 2015). Whether or not one agrees with the argument that the classic paradigm of media effects has become a clear casualty of these developments (Bennett & Iyengar, 2008), one cannot deny that broader questions concerning the fundamental relationships between communication and the public, writ large, continue to gain currency and significance, despite the fact that they have also been with us for quite a long time. The most common lines of research engaging these issues deal at some level with dynamics of fragmentation, either based on levels of political interest (Prior, 2007), or among those with at least a modicum of interest in politics, according to ideological and/or partisan leanings (e.g. Sunstein, 2001), made possible and more pronounced by abundant media choice. These themes are important, and work oriented toward the study of fragmentation
Sports Organization Construction and Operational Mechanism Study of Xi′an Communities in New Era

Community sports organizations play an important role in mass sports operation and managements and have positive effects in the modern economical society.This paper has investigated and studied the current situations of sports organization construction and operational mechanism of Xi'an communities.The findings suggest thatthe sports environment keeps optimizing and the health keeping awareness of the citizens has been enforced constantly in Xi'an communities.The sports organization network has become healthier.The field facilities have been improved.The investment of community sports has been increased constantly and the socialization is enhanced.The sports activities in communities are rich and wonderful with distinct characteristics.However,the operational mechanism of the community sports organization is not mature and sound in resource exploration and utilization,optimization of sports activities and enhancement of stuff.
Synthesis and Antimalarial Activity of Mallatojaponin C and Related Compounds

The phloroglucinol mallotojaponin C (1) from Mallotus oppositifolius, which was previously shown by us to have both antiplasmodial and cytocidal activities against the malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum, was synthesized in three steps from 2',4',6'-trihydroxyacetophenone, and various derivatives were synthesized in an attempt to improve the bioactivity of this class of compounds. Two derivatives, the simple prenylated phloroglucinols 12 and 13, were found to have comparable antiplasmodial activities to that of mallotojaponin C.
The Chameleon Syndrome

Dominant groups often treat the groups beneath them with condescension and contempt. Not content simply to curtail the access of outsiders to society’s resources, not satisfied merely to keep the good jobs and high income for itself, the dominant group also heaps ridicule upon the unfortunate minority, calling it lazy, timid, stupid, lacking in creativity and achievement, hence basically inferior, and then uses these judgements to justify the discriminatory practices frequently directed against hapless minorities. Equally damaging, these judgements enter the general culture, whose values the dominant group usually defines, as indictments of the minority and as perceptions of its inferiority. Coalesced into stereotypes, they become powerful tools of social control.
Gender Differences in Clinical Outcomes After Catheter Ablation of Atrial Fibrillation

AbstractObjectives: This study sought to explore gender differences in real-world outcomes after catheter ablation of atrial fibrillation (AF).Background: Compared with men, women with AF have grea...
The effect of maternal haematocrit on offspring IQ at 4 and 7 years of age: a secondary analysis.

Objective To determine whether maternal haematocrit during pregnancy is associated with offspring IQ. Design/setting/population A secondary analysis of the Collaborative Perinatal Project, which enrolled women between 1959 and 1966 at 12 university hospitals in the United States. Methods We evaluated the relation between maternal haematocrit and IQ at 4 and 7 years of age. Linear and log-linear regression models were used to adjust for possible confounders. Marginal structural models with stabilised weights were used to account for selection bias due to children lost to follow up. Main outcome measures Offspring IQ at 4 and 7 years of age. Results Of 35 959 patients, 1521 (4.2%) had moderate anaemia, 13 769 (38.3%) had mild anaemia, 18 227 (50.7%) had a normal haematocrit, and 2442 (6.8%) had a high haematocrit. The mean IQ at 4 and 7 years was significantly lower in the moderate and mild anaemia groups than in the normal haematocrit group (92.3 and 94.7 versus 100.6, respectively, P < 0.01, at 4 years; and 90.2 and 93.4 versus 99.1 at 7 years, P < 0.01). The high haematocrit group had a significantly higher mean IQ (104.5 at 4 years; 103.2 at 7 years) when compared with the normal haematocrit group (P < 0.01). Women with moderate anaemia were more likely to have children with IQ of 70–84 at 4 years (RR 1.22, 95% CI 1.08–1.38) and <70 at 7 years (RR 1.59, 95% CI 1.14–2.23). Women with a high haematocrit were more likely to have children with an IQ ≥120 at 7 years (RR 1.22, 95% CI 1.08–1.39). Conclusions Maternal haematocrit is associated with offspring IQ at 4 and 7 years of age. Tweetable abstract There is a nonlinear relation between maternal haematocrit and offspring IQ at 4 and 7 years of age.
Katrina's Legacy: Processes for Patient Disaster Preparation Have Improved but Important Gaps Remain

Abstract Background Ensuring continuity of care for patients with chronic illness, who are elderly or indigent presents unique challenges after disasters; this population has fewer financial resources, is less likely to evacuate, has limited access to recovery resources and is significantly dependent on charitable and government-funded institutions for care. This study expands a previous investigation of the extent to which healthcare providers in coastal Mississippi and Alabama have made changes to facilitate continued care to these populations after disasters. Methods Key informants representing healthcare and social services organizations serving health-disparate residents of the Mississippi and Alabama Gulf Coast were interviewed regarding disaster preparation planning for the period of 2009-2012. Interview transcripts were qualitatively coded and analyzed for emerging themes using ATLAS.ti software. Results Participant organizations have implemented changes to ensure continuity of care for patients with chronic illness in case of disasters. Changes include patient assistance with predisaster preparation and training; evacuation planning and assistance; support to find resources in evacuation destinations; equipping patients with prescription information, diagnoses, treatment plans and advance medications when a disaster is imminent; multiple methods for patients to communicate with providers and more mandated medical needs shelters. Patients whose chronic conditions were diagnosed post-Katrina are more likely to underestimate the need to prepare. Further, patients’ lack of compliance tends to increase as time passes from disasters. Conclusions Although changes were implemented, results indicate that these may be inadequate to completely address patient needs. Thus, additional efforts may be needed, underscoring the complexity of adequate disaster preparation among disparate populations.
Exploring the Impact of Community Service on Career Exploration, Self-Determination, and Social Skills for Transition-Age Youth With Autism Spectrum Disorders

Abstract Bleak transition outcomes for youth with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), coupled with the surge in incidence, has led to the need for focused and innovative transition strategies. While structured community service reveals promise, documentation of how community service experiences contribute to building employment skills for youth with intellectual and developmental disability (IDD), including those with ASD, is underresearched. The purpose of this paper is to explore the impact of a community service experience on employment skill-building for youth with ASD. Findings from 23 qualitative interviews with a range of stakeholders showed positive perceptions in the areas of career exploration, self-determination, and social skill building. Implications emphasize the likely benefits of structured community service and the potential to maximize the connection to employment, and thus community inclusion, for transition-age youth with ASD.
Left atrial volume predicts atrial fibrillation recurrence after radiofrequency ablation: a meta-analysis

Aims Left atrial (LA) diameter is a predictor of atrial fibrillation (AF) recurrence following radiofrequency catheter ablation (RFA). However, LA volume (LAV) is more accurate in assessing LA size. Studies evaluating LAV as a predictor of AF recurrence are contradictory; therefore, we performed a meta-analysis to assess whether LAV is an independent predictor of AF recurrence following RFA. Methods and results All studies reporting LAV/LAV index (LAVi) as a predictor of AF recurrence following RFA were included. For studies reporting mean LAV/ LAVi in patients with and without AF recurrence, standard difference in means (SDM) and standard errors were calculated, and combined using meta-analytical techniques. For studies reporting adjusted odds ratio (OR) for AF recurrence based on LAV/LAVi, log ORs were combined using generic inverse variance. Twenty one studies (3822 subjects) were included. Meta-analysis of 11 studies (1559 subjects) reporting LAV, showed that patients with AF recurrence had a higher mean LA volume compared to patients with no recurrence (SDM 0.801; CI 0.387-1.216). Data from 9 studies (1425 subjects) comparing LAVi showed that, patients with AF recurrence had a higher mean LAVi compared to patients with no recurrence (SDM-0.596; CI 0.305-0.888). Thirteen studies (2886 patients) reporting ORs for AF recurrence based on LAV/ LAVi, showed that LAV/LAVi was independently predictive of AF recurrence post-RFA (OR-1.032, CI- 1.012-1.052). Conclusions Patients with AF recurrence following RFA have a higher mean LAV/LAVi compared to patients with no recurrence. Large LAV/LAVi increases the odds of AF recurrence post RFA.
Multistate Landau-Zener models with all levels crossing at one point

We discuss common properties and reasons for integrability in the class of multistate Landau-Zener models with all diabatic levels crossing at one point. Exploring the Stokes phenomenon, we show that each previously solved model has a dual one, whose scattering matrix can be also obtained analytically. For applications, we demonstrate how our results can be used to study conversion of molecular into atomic Bose condensates during passage through the Feshbach resonance, and provide purely algebraic solutions of the bowtie and special cases of the driven Tavis-Cummings model.
An X-Band Crossed-Loop EPR Resonator

A copper X-band (9.22 GHz) cross-loop resonator has been constructed for use with 4 mm sample tubes. The Q for the two resonators is 380 and 350, respectively. The resonator efficiency is about 1 G per square root of watt. Operation has been demonstrated with measurement of T 1 by saturation recovery for samples of coal and an immobilized nitroxide.
Adaptive prediction resolution video coding for reduced DRAM bandwidth

Abstract We present a novel approach to video coding that can dramatically reduce decoder DRAM bandwidth requirements while incurring a minimal reduction in compression efficiency, and which may yield an increase in compression efficiency under certain circumstances. Our approach is based on the principle that areas of video pictures where there is high motion are typically captured with significant blur along the direction of motion. This blur permits the judicious use of reduced resolution reference pictures for prediction without significantly reducing prediction quality. Our approach makes it feasible to limit worst-case DRAM bandwidth through the use of reasonably sized on-chip caches for pixel data, which can lead to provably compliant real-time behavior. The reductions in DRAM bandwidth can be expected to yield commensurate reductions in DRAM power dissipation, and consequently improvements in battery life for mobile devices. Although we concentrate our analysis on decoders, our approach can yield even greater advantages for encoders, which require additional bandwidth for motion estimation. We show that the compression efficiency of our encoder can approach that of a standard reference encoder on natural video sequences, but that it may fall short by a modest amount on pathological synthetic sequences.
Telemedicine Delivery and Successful Reimbursement in Toxicology.

Telemedicine and its use in medical toxicology have existed for some time. There are varied definitions, but existing ones center on using currently available forms of audio, video, and internet communications to provide “real-time” patient care. Definitions have historically limited reimbursement but recently expanded CMS guidelines have improved this. Here we describe our experience with telemedicine and reimbursement. A retrospective study was conducted of all toxicology and billing reimbursement for fiscal year 2016 for a solo Medical Toxicology service. Clinical identifiers were used to match telemedicine consults to hospital financial databases and then removed. Telemedicine consults were isolated, quantified, and described. A total of 16 telemedicine consults were conducted. Average age was 37.2 (range 2 months–82 years). Gender was evenly split at 8:8. Twenty-five percent were pediatric consultations. The main purposes of consultation were as follows: diagnosis and disease management in drug ingestion, triage assistance, clearance consults, antidote administration, and buprenorphine induction. At the time of the work, $1896.00 for 9.3 h of teletoxicology services was reimbursed equating to an hourly reimbursement rate of $203.90/h. Our data was obtained from a toxicology practice with a surrounding infrastructure dedicated to telemedicine. All sites may not have this robust ancillary support. Furthermore, not all states have reimbursement mandates such as New York State. To our knowledge, this is the first published work describing pilot data in the successful reimbursement for Medical Toxicology services delivered via telemedicine. Toxicology via telemedicine represents a great opportunity for advancing the practice of toxicology in an economically feasible way, particularly in rural or underserved areas.
A student-designed language as a multicourse project: enabling students to construct connections

Group projects are widely used in computer science education. However, projects that span more than one semester are typical only in capstone sequences. In addition to the typical advantages of group project work, there are significant motivational and cognitive benefits for students who have a group project that continues into a second course. This paper presents these benefits and describes the content of a multicourse project in language design and development as it relates to these benefits. The project description is presented as a model for applications in other multicourse contexts.
Hilfsmittel Semantischer Modellierung

Ein wesentlicher Anteil der Losung typischer Aufgabenstellungen der angewandten Mathematik und Informatik besteht in der Darstellung der Semantik vorgegebener Realitatsausschnitte durch formale und abstrakte Modelle. Der Abstraktionsprozes ermoglicht es, die fur eine gegebene Problemstellung relevanten Aspekte eines wahrgenommenen Realitatsausschnittes auszuwahlen und unabhangig von der Vielzahl aller ubrigen Aspekte der Realitat abstrakt zu beschreiben. Die durch Anwendung formaler Techniken unterstutzte Auswertung und Analyse eines abstrakten Realitatsmodells ermoglichen es, formale Ergebnisse herzuleiten, die dann wieder als Aussagen im Kontext des gesamten modellierten Realitatsausschnittes interpre-tiert werden konnen.
Venous Thromboembolic Disease (VTE)

DVT is the most serious venous disease of the legs. DVT and its dreaded complication, pulmonary embolism, are collectively called “venous thromboembolic” disease. VTE is the third most common cardiovascular disease after ischemic heart disease and stroke. It is associated with more than 300 000 hospitalizations and at least 50 000 fatalities annually in the USA. [1]
QueE: A Radical SAM Enzyme Involved in the Biosynthesis of 7-Deazapurine Containing Natural Products

7-Carboxy-7-deazaguanine (CDG) is a common intermediate in the biosynthesis of 7-deazapurine-containing natural products. The biosynthesis of CDG from GTP requires three enzymes: GTP cyclohydrolase I, 6-carboxy-5,6,7,8-tetrahydropterin (CPH4) synthase, and CDG synthase (QueE). QueE is a member of the radical S-adenosyl-l-methionine (SAM) superfamily and catalyzes the SAM-dependent radical-mediated ring contraction of CPH4 to generate CDG. This chapter focuses on methods to reconstitute the activity of QueE in vitro.
The Road to Cynicism: The Political Consequences of Online Satire Exposure in China:

This article examines two competing theories explaining the effects of political satire on citizens in an authoritarian context. The “activism” proposition argues that political satire works as a f...
Comparative histochemical study of the nuclei of the specific systems and reticular formation of the brain in a series of mammals

Histochemical methods were used to study the comparative distribution of succinate dehydrogenase (SDH) and acetylcholinesterase (ACE) activity in the reticular formation nuclei of the predulla and in the “specific” formation of the medulla and the nuclei of Goll and Burdach in the spinal cord, the nucleus of the hypoglonal nerve and the motor nuclei of the spinal cord in mammals with a different complexity of organization of the nervous system. The activity of SDH and ACE differed in the representatives of various orders of mammals. It decreased in the series: hedgehog, rat, cat, monkey. The nuclei of the “specific” brain formations chiefly possessed higher enzymatic activity than the reticular nuclei and the activity distribution in them was the same in all the animals. In the reticular nuclei changes occurred in the correlation of the activity level between the neuron bodies and “intercellular” structures compared with the hedgehog, in other animals the activity in the nerve cell bodies fell to the level of enzyme activity in the structures surrounding the cells. A gradual division of reticular formations into lateral and medial areas becomes evident; the SDH activity was higher in the medial area structures. This process is evidently connected with the functional differentiation of the reticular formation of the medulla during evolution.
Fontan Revision: Presurgical Planning Using Four-Dimensional (4D) Flow and Three-Dimensional (3D) Printing:

Pulmonary arteriovenous malformations (AVMs) can be a complication of certain postoperative Fontan patients whose hepatic venous blood return is not distributed evenly to both lungs. A ten-year-old female, who had previously undergone staged single ventricle palliation for complex congenital heart disease, underwent a Fontan revision due to significant left-sided pulmonary AVMs and increasing arterial oxygen desaturation. The combination of four-dimensional flow cardiac magnetic resonance imaging and three-dimensional printing enabled presurgical planning for a Fontan takedown and diversion of hepatic venous flow to the azygous vein that resulted in significant clinical improvement.