cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Symptoms of Depression and Anxiety in Pediatric Epilepsy Patients

Summary: Purpose: We assessed rates of symptoms of anxiety and depression among pediatric patients with epilepsy. Methods: We administered the Revised Child Manifest Anxiety Scale (RCMAS), and Child Depression Inventory (CDI) to 44 epilepsy patients aged 7–18 years (mean age 12.4 years). Demographic, socioeconomic, and epilepsy-related information was examined in relation to depression and anxiety scores. Results: No patients had been previously identified to have depression or anxiety. However, 26% had significantly increased depression scores and 16% met critieria for significant anxiety symptomatology. Conclusions: Symptoms of depression and anxiety are common among pediatric patients with epilepsy and appear to be overlooked by care providers.
Baryon number violation at finite temperature in the standard model

We show that there are unsuppressed fluctuations in baryon number at finite temperature in the standard model, but the average rate at which baryon number relaxes to zero is exponentially small. This disagrees with previous results. The fluctuations are not large enough to produce the observed cosmological baryon asymmetry.
Longitudinal and temporal trends in the water chemistry of the North Branch of the Moose River

Surface water acidification is potentially a problem in regions with low ionic strength drainage waters. Atmospheric deposition of sulfuric acid has generally been implicated as the causative agent of this problem, although other sources of acidity may contribute. The Adirondack region of New York State is an area with “acid-sensitive” surface waters and an abundance of acidic lakes. The intent of this study was to evaluate the processes regulating the acid/base chemistry of a series of lakes draining a large heterogeneous watershed in the Adirondack region of New York. The study site, the North Branch of the Moose River, is heterogeneous in its soil and geological characteristics. This variability was reflected through differences in water chemistry that occurred within the basin. The northern headwaters generally drain subcatchments with shallow, acidic soils. The resulting water chemistry was acidic (equivalence of acidic anions exceeded equivalence of basic cations) with high concentrations of Al and dissolved organic carbon (DOC). As this water migrated through a large lake (Big Moose Lake) with a moderate hydrologic retention time (∼0.5 yr), considerable loss of DOC was evident. As acidic water was transported through the drainage area, it mixed with waters that were enriched in concentrations of basic cations from the eastern subbasins. As a result, there was a successive increase in the acid neutralizing capacity (ANC) and a decrease in Al concentrations as water migrated from the northern reaches to the outlet of the watershed. In addition to these general trends, short-term changes in water chemistry were evident. During low flow summer periods concentrations of basic cations were elevated, while concentrations of SO 4 2− and NO 3 − were relatively low. These conditions resulted in less acidic waters (higher ANC) with relatively low concentrations of Al. During high flow winter/spring conditions, elevated concentrations of SO 4 2− and NO 3 − were evident, while concentrations of basic cations were reduced resulting in low pH (low ANC) waters with high concentrations of Al. Variability in the processes regulating the pH buffering of waters was apparent through these short-term changes in water chemistry. In the northern subbasin short-term fluctuations in ANC were minimal because of the buffering of Al under low pH conditions. Seasonal changes in the ANC were more pronounced in the eastern subbasin because of the predominance of inorganic carbon buffering in the circumneutral pH waters. Lakes in the west-central Adirondacks have characteristically short hydraulic residence times and elevated nitric acid inputs. As a result these waters may be more susceptible to surface water acidification than other “acid-sensitive” lake districts in eastern North America. Given the apparent interregional differences, extrapolation of chemical trends in the Adirondacks to other areas may be tenuous.
Pennies-a-Day: The Effect of Temporal Reframing on Transaction Evaluation

To increase transaction compliance, marketers sometimes temporally reframe the cost of a product from an aggregate one-time expense to a series of small ongoing expenses, often in spite of the fact that the physical payments remain aggregated. This temporal reframing is identified in this article as the “pennies-a-day” (PAD) strategy. A two-step consumer decision-making process of (1) comparison retrieval and (2) transaction evaluation is posited to explain the effectiveness of this strategy. In a series of laboratory studies, general support for PAD effectiveness across a range of product categories and specific support for the proposed two-step model was found. The PAD framing of a target transaction is shown to systematically foster the retrieval and consideration of small ongoing expenses as the standard of comparison, whereas an aggregate framing of that same transaction is shown to foster the retrieval and consideration of large infrequent expenses. This difference in retrieval is shown to significantly influence subsequent transaction evaluation and compliance.
Inverting the blowtorch: studying the ‘slow’ molecular kinetics of proteins with nonequilibrium response spectroscopy

Nonequilibrium response spectroscopy (NRS) is a novel method of analyzing the molecular kinetics of voltage-sensitive proteins that involves measurement of the nonequilibrium response of the molecules driven in a thermodynamically irreversible way by fluctuating fields with large amplitudes and frequencies. NRS is sensitive to features of the conformational kinetics that can not be resolved by means of more traditional relaxation transient type experiments, and can be understood conceptually as an inversion of Landauer's blowtorch idea.
On the generation and elimination of lonely poly-silicon crater-defects and their impacts on gate oxide integrity (GOI) in dual-gate technology

The various observations of poly-silicon (poly-Si) crater-defects and their impacts on the gate oxide integrity (GOI) in a dual-gate technology were first described. The electrochemical kinetics of selectively corroding poly-silicon has been elucidated for the first time in generating lonely crater-defects into the unnoticeable spots of damage due to the intermittent micro-arcing events during implantation. By largely shunting the electrochemical corrosion process in a weak electrolyte (HF), the crater-defects in poly-silicon have been eliminated for significantly improving the gate oxide integrity.
A continuous approach to inductive inference

In this paper we describe an interior point mathematical programming approach to inductive inference. We list several versions of this problem and study in detail the formulation based on hidden Boolean logic. We consider the problem of identifying a hidden Boolean functionź:{0, 1}n ź {0, 1} using outputs obtained by applying a limited number of random inputs to the hidden function. Given this input--output sample, we give a method to synthesize a Boolean function that describes the sample. We pose the Boolean Function Synthesis Problem as a particular type of Satisfiability Problem. The Satisfiability Problem is translated into an integer programming feasibility problem, that is solved with an interior point algorithm for integer programming. A similar integer programming implementation has been used in a previous study to solve randomly generated instances of the Satisfiability Problem. In this paper we introduce a new variant of this algorithm, where the Riemannian metric used for defining the search region is dynamically modified. Computational results on 8-, 16- and 32-input, 1-output functions are presented. Our implementation successfully identified the majority of hidden functions in the experiment.
DNA bending and the curious case of Fos/Jun

DNA bending has been implicated as an important regulatory mechanism in several processes involving protein—DNA interactions. Various methods for examining intrinsic and protein-induced DNA bending may lead to different conclusions. For the Fos and Jun transcription factors, this has resulted in controversy over whether these factors significantly bend DNA at all.
Cross sections of some reactions of Ar, Ti, Ni, Cd and Pb with 14.1 MeV neutrons

Abstract The following reaction cross sections have been measured using the activation method: 40 Ar(n, α) 37 S, 31±5 mb; 48 Ti(n, α) 45 Ca, 39±6 mb; 50 Ti(n, α) 47 Ca, 9.4±3 mb; 62 Ni(n, α) 59 Fe, 22±3 mb; 106 Cd(n, α) 103 Pd, 100±40 mb; 108 Cd(n, 2n) 107 Cd, 504± mb; 110 Cd(n, p) 110 Ag, 27±5 mb; 111 Cd(n, p) 111 Ag, 14±1.4 mb; 112 Cd(n, α) 109 Pd, 2.4±0.4 mb; 112 Cd(n, p) 112 Ag, 11±1 mb; 113 Cd(n, p) 113 Ag, 7.9±0.8 mb; 114 Cd(n, α) 111m Pd, 0.2±0.03 mb; 114 Cd(n, α) 111g Pd, 0.5±0.08 mb; 116 Cd(n, α) 113 Pd, 0.5±0.5 mb; 116 Cd(n, p) 116 Ag, 0.2±0.1 mb; 116 Cd(n, 2n) 115m Cd, 730±60 mb; 116 Cd(n, 2n) 115g Cd, 857±70 mb; and 206 Pb(n, α) 203 Hg, 2.7±0.5 mb. The results were found to be in fairly good agreement with the semi-empirical predictions of Gardner, Yu and Rosenblum.
Inhibition of Bovidae Oocyte Meiosis by Serine Protease Inhibitors

SummarySpecific inhibitors of serine proteases have been shown for the first time to inhibit meiotic progression in mammalian oocytes, suggesting involvement of these enzymes in the process of maturation.
Consultation-based Academic Interventions for Children with ADHD: Effects on Reading and Mathematics Achievement

The purpose of this investigation was to evaluate the relative efficacy of two consultation-based models for designing academic interventions to enhance the educational functioning of children with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Children (N=167) meeting DSM-IV criteria for ADHD were randomly assigned to one of two consultation groups: Individualized Academic Intervention (IAI; interventions designed using a data-based decision-making model that involved ongoing feedback to teachers) and Generic Academic Intervention (GAI; interventions designed based on consultant-teacher collaboration, representing “consultation as usual”). Teachers implemented academic interventions over 15 months. Academic outcomes (e.g., standardized achievement test, and teacher ratings of academic skills) were assessed on four occasions (baseline, 3 months, 12 months, 15 months). Hierarchical linear modeling analyses indicated significant positive growth for 8 of the 14 dependent variables; however, trajectories did not differ significantly across consultation groups. Interventions in the IAI group were delivered with significantly greater integrity; however, groups did not differ with respect to teacher ratings of treatment acceptability. The results of this study provide partial support for the effectiveness of consultation-based academic interventions in enhancing educational functioning in children with ADHD; however, the relative advantages of an individualized model over “consultation as usual” have yet to be established.
A Sample of Gifted and Talented Educators’ Attitudes About Academic Acceleration:

Despite extensive research supporting its use, including the 2004 publication of A Nation Deceived, acceleration is an underutilized strategy for meeting the academic needs of gifted and talented s...
Peptostreptococcal infection in children.

680 Peptostreptococcus sp. (Ps) were recovered from 598 (34%) of 1,750 specimens obtained from 554 patients. They included 103 Ps asaccharolyticus, 74 Ps magnus, 56 Ps prevotii, 51 Ps micros, 46 Ps anaerobius, 11 Ps morbilorium, and 10 Ps saccharolyticus. Most infections were polymicrobial (in 553 instances or 92%) but in 45 (8%), Ps were recovered in pure culture. Most Ps were isolated from abscesses (237), ears (104), peritoneal fluid (95), lung infections (66), bone (30) and sinuses (24). Predisposing conditions were present in 224 (40%) children. These were previous surgery (54), immunodeficiency (43), malignancy (35), trauma (34), diabetes (23), prematurity (22), steroid therapy (19), foreign body (10) and sickle-cell anemia (7). The organisms most commonly isolated with Ps were Bacteroides sp. (276, including 190 B. fragilis group), Prevotella sp. (159), Fusobacterium sp. (122), Escherichia coli (114), and Staphylococcus aureus (97). Antimicrobial therapy was administered to all but 14 patients. Sur...
What to Do When You Suspect Gastrointestinal Lymphoma: A Pathologist’s Perspective

Although primary gastrointestinal (GI) lymphomas are an infrequent occurrence and represent 1%-4% of the malignant tumors of the GI tract, secondary involvement of the GI tract by lymphoma is not uncommon. Several controversies remain about the prognostic stratification and the optimal treatment modalities for these lymphomas. A crucial component of answering these questions is an accurate and complete characterization of the tumor. The currently used World Health Organization classification of hematologic malignancies requires integration of morphologic, immunophenotypic, and genotypic features to define a disease type. Through the use of a representative case we highlight how this information is used for the appropriate diagnosis of a GI lymphoma. We also discuss the clinical features, including radiologic and endoscopic findings in patients presenting with a GI lymphoma. The review is a pathologist's perspective on what to do when suspecting a lymphoma of the GI tract.
Catalytic Mechanisms for Phosphotriesterases

Phosphotriesters are one class of highly toxic synthetic compounds known as organophosphates. Wide spread usage of organophosphates as insecticides as well as nerve agents has lead to numerous efforts to identify enzymes capable of detoxifying them. A wide array of enzymes has been found to have phosphotriesterase activity including phosphotriesterase (PTE), methyl parathion hydrolase (MPH), organophosphorus acid anhydrolase (OPAA), diisopropylfluorophosphatase (DFP), and paraoxonase 1 (PON1). These enzymes differ widely in protein sequence and three-dimensional structure, as well as in catalytic mechanism, but they also share several common features. All of the enzymes identified as phosphotriesterases are metal-dependent hydrolases that contain a hydrophobic active site with three discrete binding pockets to accommodate the substrate ester groups. Activation of the substrate phosphorus center is achieved by a direct interaction between the phosphoryl oxygen and a divalent metal in the active site. The mechanistic details of the hydrolytic reaction differ among the various enzymes with both direct attack of a hydroxide as well as covalent catalysis being found. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled: Chemistry and mechanism of phosphatases, diesterases and triesterases.
Photogrammetry in oil-film interferometry

Theapplication of photogrammetry to the measurement of skin friction using oil-film interferometry isdiscussed. Oil-film interferometry and photogrammetry are first described to justify the need for photogrammetry, and then the method is applied to two flows. The results indicate that when model curvature is high or the camera-to-model distanceisshort,largeuncertainties(oftheorderof10%)inskinfrictioncanbeintroducedifphotogrammetryisnot applied. For most applications demanding high-accuracy skin-friction measurements, approaches such as those described in this article should be considered. HEmeasurementofwallshearstressinaerodynamictestinghas increased significantly in the last decade. The increased use is primarily a result of the growth of image-based oil-film interferometry, which provides measurements of the mean wall shear stress that can be obtained relatively quickly and with good accuracy. The technique has been applied to simple laboratory flows as well as in large wind tunnels. Accompanying the increased use of oil-film interferometry has been a demand for higher accuracy and less time-intensive analysis. One way that these two issues can be addressedisthroughtheuseofphotogrammetry.Althoughthisisthe case, photogrammetry has only been applied to oil-film interferometry in a few cases (e.g., Zilliac [1]), and an in-depth discussion of its importance has not been presented. The use of photogrammetry to facilitate oil-film interferometry measurement of skin friction is the focus of this paper. The theory behind photogrammetry is presented, and specific issues related to oil-film interferometry are discussed. Specific examples of oil-film interferometry measurements that include photogrammetry are then provided. From these example cases, it is clear that photogrammetry reduces and quantifies geometric/imaging bias errors, and it substantially simplifies the handling of geometry in the analysis process. With uncertainty analyses of oil-film interferometry indicatingaccuraciesof2–3%whenperformedwithcare[2,3],these geometric/imaging bias errors become increasingly important if that level of accuracy is to be maintained in complex geometries. Althoughaparticularanalysismethodfordeterminingthewallshear stress from the fringe patterns obtained using oil-film interferometry isusedheretodemonstratetheapplicationofphotogrammetry,itwas simply chosen for convenience. The photogrammetry method discussed here can be used by other oil-film interferogram-analysis approaches to improve the geometry handling.
Host-controlled restriction and modification of deoxyribonucleic acid in Escherichia coli

Abstract In Escherichia coli strain C600 (which has the host specificity of K12), restrictions against infection by phage λ of host specificities B and C have the same sensitivity to heat inactivation. Likewise, in strain B, restrictions against phage λ of host specificities C600 and C have an identical heat sensitivity. Strain C600(P1) has a heat sensitivity for loss of its P1-directed restriction different from that of its C600-controlled restriction. Mutants of K12-type strains and of B which are impaired in their restriction and modification activities have been isolated. In K12 strains, restrictions toward phage λ of host specificities C and B are impaired by the same mutation. In B, restrictions toward phage λ of host specificities C and C600 also are lost simultaneously by mutation. The coordinate changes in restriction by heat treatment and by mutation indicate that a common mechanism for restriction of λ of host specificities C and B operates in K12 strains, and that a single mechanism for restriction of phage λ of host specificities C and K12 occurs in strain B. Restrictionless mutants of B, unlike their parent, act as fertile F − in crosses with K12 Hfr strains. Modificationless mutants of K12 Hfr, unlike their parent, are no longer fertile with restricting C600 strains. Thus, the same mutations affect the modification and/or restriction of the DNA of bacteria as well as phage. Models are proposed for host restriction and modification. The models visualize restriction as either a screening of new DNA by a DNA-site specific degrading activity—successful passage permitting the DNA to operate in that cell—or a scavenging of new DNA by a nonspecific degrading activity when such DNA fails to be complexed with a site-specific protecting agent.
Injection Molding Poly(Para-phenylene) with a Rapidly Heated Mold

Poly(para-phenylene), a self-reinforced rigid-chain polymer, has superb mechanical properties. Its use as a thermoplastic polymer in injection molding, however, is prohibited because of its extremely high viscosity. In this study, an injection molding process with a rapidly heated mold was used to enhance the moldability. The mold can be heated from room temperature to 250°C in 5 s and thermally cycled for 10,000 cycles without a fatigue failure. The effect of the mold heating temperature on cavity filling was investigated. The status of filling in the cavity was found to be significantly affected by the mold heating temperature. At a mold temperature of 350°C, complete fill of a 4 mm thick and 50 mm long cavity was achieved and the jetted polymer streams in the mold cavity caused by a high injection rate were thermally fused. Rheological data showed that, although it has an extremely high viscosity, poly(para-phenylene) is an extremely pseudoplastic polymer, with its viscosity strongly dependent on the s...
Parenteral nutrition in a pregnant cystic fibrosis patient.

This case report describes a 30-year-old pregnant woman with cystsic fibrosis who had marasmus as evidenced by clinical examination. The patient was maintained on central venous hyperalimentation for 18 days in her last trimester. The patient delivered a full-term infant via cesarian section with Apgar of 8 and 9, at 1 and 5 minutes, respectively, and adverse affects. (Journal of Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition11:205-207, 1987)
Hydrogeologic responses to three‐dimensional temperature variability, Costa Rica subduction margin

[1] Seaward of the subduction zone off Nicoya Peninsula, Costa Rica, differences in the thermal state of the ocean crust occur across a transition between crust generated at the Cocos-Nazca Spreading Center and crust formed at the East Pacific Rise. This change in the thermal state of the subducting plate results in along-strike differences in subduction zone temperature. These temperature variations are significant because they modulate diagenetic reaction progress and hydraulic conductivity. A numerical simulation of fluid production from opal-to-quartz and smectite-to-illite diagenesis displays an offset along strike due to the different temperatures of subduction inputs. Additionally, fluid viscosity is lower on the warm side of the margin than on the cool side. As a result, for the same permeability, hydraulic conductivity within the first 30 km from the trench is 1.25–2.0 times greater on the warm side of the margin than on the cool side. Spatial differences in hydraulic conductivity and sources of fluid likely combine to drive some flow along strike. A coupled model of fluid flow and solute transport indicates that for margin-wedge permeability <10−19 m2, decollement permeability must be ≥10−14 m2 in order to drain fluid sources and maintain fluid pressures below lithostatic. A steady-state model of chloride concentrations within the frontal decollement results in values higher (more saline) than those measured at Ocean Drilling Program Site 1040. One way to explain this discrepancy is for transient fluid flow to occur in a system with temporary enhancement of decollement permeability, thereby allowing transport to Site 1040 from deep zones of dehydration reactions. The onset of microseismicity on the plate boundary coincides with locations where modeled fluid overpressures dissipate in the decollement.
Monitoring and Modeling Cropland Loss in Rapidly Growing Urban and Depopulating Rural Counties Using Remotely Sensed Data and GIS

Abstract Iowa is the leading agricultural state in the USA. Increasing suburban and rural development as well as industrial and commercial growth threaten Iowa's unique farmlands and cause their rapid conversion into other land uses. Thus, detecting spatial patterns of cropland loss and predicting future loss are important issues for better agricultural planning and management. This study provides a unique approach for monitoring and modeling cropland loss in Iowa, focusing on differences between rapidly growing urban counties and rural depopulating counties. The monitoring of farmland loss is based on classified 1984, 1992, and 2000 two‐season Landsat Thematic Mapper (TM) and Enhanced Thematic Mapper Plus (ETM+) satellite imagery. The modeling approach used joint cellular automata ‐ Markov simulation procedures to predict cropland loss for 2008 and 2016. Mapping of cropland dynamics, using remotely sensed data in urban and rural counties between 1984 and 2000, revealed that there was a significant declin...
Genetic polymorphism and function of glutathione S-transferases in tumor drug resistance

The human glutathione S-transferase, GSTs, possess both enzymatic and non-enzymatic functions and are involved in many important cellular processes, such as, phase II metabolism, stress response, cell proliferation, apoptosis, oncogenesis, tumor progression and drug resistance. The non-enzymatic functions of GSTs involve their interactions with cellular proteins, such as, JNK, TRAF, ASK, PKC, and TGM2, during which, either the interacting protein partner undergoes functional alteration or the GST protein itself is post-translationally modified and/or functionally altered. The majority of GST genes harbor polymorphisms that influence their transcription and/or function of their encoded proteins. This overview focuses on recent insights into the biology and pharmacogenetics of GSTs as a determinant of cancer drug resistance and response of cancer patients to therapy.
Emerging pharmacological targets in overactive bladder therapy: experimental and clinical evidences.

Antimuscarinics are the mainstay of the medical therapy for overactive bladder, but their side effects and often modest success have prompted studies on novel pharmacological approaches. In this paper, we give a systematic literature review of peer-reviewed papers on the subject. Effective nonantimuscarinic treatments are currently scarce, but many new promising compounds are emerging, which target key molecular pathways involved in micturition control. The most promising potential therapeutic targets include: nervous GABAergic, glycinergic, dopaminergic, and serotonergic systems; b-adrenoceptors and cAMP metabolism; nonadrenergic–noncholinergic mechanisms such as purinergic and neuropeptidergic systems; vanilloid receptors; bladder afferent nerves; nonneuronal bladder signaling systems including urothelium and interstitial cells; prostanoids; Rho-kinase; and different subtypes of potassium and calcium channels. Despite the enormous amount of new biologic insight, very few drugs with mechanism of action other than antimuscarinics have passed as yet the proof-of-concept stage. Further preclinical and clinical studies are urgently needed in this rapidly moving field.
A segmented model for studying water transport in a PEMFC

Abstract Water management plays an important role in the durability and efficiency of a proton exchange membrane fuel cell (PEMFC). In this study, a single cell is modeled as a lumped model consisting of 15 interconnected segments, which are linked according to the flow field patterns of the anode and cathode but they are treated as lumped elements individually. Parameters of this model were calibrated based on neutron radiography experimental results obtained at the NIST Center for Neutron Research (NCNR). The model can be used to predict distributions of current density, water content in the membrane, relative humidity (RH) in the flow channels, and water accumulation in the gas diffusion layer (GDL).
The effect of certain anions upon the accumulation and retention of iodide by the thyroid gland.

THE goitrogenic action of thiocyanate has been known since 1936 when Barker reported the occurrence of goiter in patients receiving thiocyanate therapy for hypertension and the correction of such goiter by the administration of desiccated thyroid. Astwood later (1943) produced goiter in rats with thiocyanate, but found no goitrogenic effect when iodide was given simultaneously. The action of thiocyanate was poorly understood until Franklin, Chaikoff and Lerner (1944) demonstrated that it interfered with thyroidal accumulation of iodine, in contrast to thiouracil which blocked the organic incorporation of iodine but did not inhibit its collection by the thyroid. In this way the process of iodine accumulation was clearly distinguished from that of hormone synthesis. Vanderlaan and Vanderlaan (1947) and Taurog, Chaikoff and Feller (1947) showed that iodine accumulated by animals treated with propylthiouracil was held in the form of the iodide ion.
Citizen views about public meetings

The current study seeks to demonstrate that a citizen views about public meeting structure and related groups matter in predicting satisfaction with public engagement and willingness to attend future meetings. Public health agencies frequently use public meetings to communicate risk information, but relatively little social science research has examined how potential meeting participants view them. Using survey data (N = 866) collected in seven US communities where health agencies were investigating possible local cancer clusters and holding public meetings to communicate with local residents, the current study replicates and extends an earlier inquiry related to citizens satisfaction with public meetings used for risk communication. Whereas previous research found that expectations, health agency credibility, and risk perceptions predicted satisfaction with public meetings, the current results did not show a significant relationship between agency credibility, risk perceptions, and satisfaction. Further,...
Modeling of Ionic Polymer Metal Composite (IPMC) Actuator Dynamics Using Large Deflection Beam Model

In this paper, we introduce a novel approach to model the dynamics of segmented Ionic Polymer Metallic Composite (IPMC) actuator. The IPMC actuator is activated using input voltage to its various segments. The proposed finite element approach combines the RC electrical model and a model that describes large deformations of mechanical beams. In the proposed modeling scheme, a local coordinate frame is attached to each beam element that undergoes rigid body motion in addition to elastic deformation. The elastic deformation of the element is modeled using the assumptions of the large deformation beam model. The proposed method has the advantage of accurately modeling large deflection of the IPMC beam actuator using relatively small number of elements. Experiments are conducted to validate the proposed method.© 2007 ASME
Human Tumors: Enzyme Activities And Isozyme Profiles

My own interest in tumor metabolism was sparked by the unique availability in South Africa, where I was located at the time, of human hepatoma specimens. Human primary hepatoma has a fairly low incidence in Western countries, but an incidence of 1:1,100 in Mozambique. We were able to obtain hepatoma material from migrant workers, mostly from Mozambique, who showed evidence of the disease while working in South Africa. Since I have been in the United States, I have extended these studies to human breast and lung tumors, and found, as I will indicate to you, that they do not show the same enzyme and isozyme profiles. This is an important point to note, since too often generalizations are made about “cancer”, as if all cancers were the same, irrespective of cause or tissue of origin.
SAGE storytellers: learning about identity, language and technology

Storytelling is an ancient art that allows us to share experiences, thoughts and values. In the oral tradition, stories were told in a conversational way by the elders in order to give indirect advice and communicate morals. Each culture or community has its repertoire of inspirational stories or "literature of the spirit" (Campbell, 1988) that serves similar pedagogical functions as myths. They indirectly transmit how to live a human life and are not intended to perfectly match the addressed situation: time, characters, historical period and plot vary from the listener's situation. The power of this kind of storytelling lies in enabling the listeners to learn more about themselves by constructing personal meaning and interpretation. It is believed that in the very act of finding relevance the listener will find answers.
Nucleoplasmic mobilization of nucleostemin stabilizes MDM2 and promotes G2-M progression and cell survival

Nucleolar disassembly occurs during mitosis and nucleolar stress, releasing several MDM2-interactive proteins residing in the nucleolus that share the common activity of p53 stabilization. Here, we demonstrate that mobilization of nucleostemin, a nucleolar protein enriched in cancer and stem cells, has the opposite role of stabilizing MDM2 and suppressing p53 functions. Our results show that nucleostemin increases the protein stability and nucleoplasmic retention of MDM2, and competes with L23 for MDM2 binding. These activities were significantly elevated when nucleostemin is released into the nucleoplasm by mutations that abolish its nucleolar localization or by chemotherapeutic agents that disassemble the nucleoli. Nucleostemin depletion decreases MDM2 protein, increases transcription activity without affecting the level of p53 protein, and triggers G2-M arrest and cell death in U2OS cells but not in H1299 cells. This work reveals that nucleoplasmic relocation of nucleostemin during nucleolar disassembly safeguards the G2-M transit and survival of continuously dividing cells by MDM2 stabilization and p53 inhibition.
THE RABBIT ZYGOTE III. Formation of the Blastomere Nucleus

The formation of the blastomere nucleus was examined in the rabbit zygote with the electron microscope. In late anaphase the chromosomes are bare and vesicles of the smooth endoplasmic reticulum are numerous in the vicinity of the chromosomes. In early telophase individual chromosomes attain their own nuclear envelope and they are called karyomeres. The envelope of the karyomeres contains small gaps within it at several places where the chromatin is exposed to the cytoplasm. Nuclear pores are also observed. In the cytoplasm short annulate lamellae appear adjacent to the karyomeres, and clusters of punctate substance are also present. From early telophase onward the karyomeres extend pseudopod-like structures, called karyopods, which extend toward other karyomeres or karyopods, and consequently fuse together and serve as chromosomal bridges. Eventually all of the karyomeres fuse into a dense nucleus and decondensation of the chromosomes occurs.
Dominantly Inherited Alzheimer Network: facilitating research and clinical trials.

The Dominantly Inherited Alzheimer Network (DIAN) is an international registry of individuals at risk for developing autosomal dominant Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Its primary aims are to investigate the temporal ordering of AD pathophysiological changes that occur in asymptomatic mutation carriers and to identify those markers that herald the transition from cognitive normality to symptomatic AD. DIAN participants undergo longitudinal evaluations, including clinical and cognitive assessments and measurements of molecular and imaging AD biomarkers. This review details the unique attributes of DIAN as a model AD biomarker study and how it provides the infrastructure for innovative research projects, including clinical trials. The recent design and launch of the first anti-amyloid-beta secondary prevention trial in AD, led by the related DIAN Trials Unit, also are discussed.
Cognitive Skills and Noncognitive Traits and Behaviors in Stratification Processes

▪ Abstract I review studies of the roles played by cognitive skills and noncognitive traits and behaviors in stratification processes. Bowles & Gintis (1976) were among the first to argue that noncognitive traits and behaviors are more important than cognitive skills in determining schooling and employment outcomes. Now, 25 years later, these authors (Bowles & Gintis 2002) claim that the ensuing literature vindicates their position. There is much evidence for this claim, although it remains unresolved. I locate their discussion within the larger literature that has appeared during this time period. This literature provides an emerging interdisciplinary paradigm for the study of socioeconomic attainment, including differentials by social class, race, and ethnic background.
Word-of-mouth effects on short-term and long-term product judgments

Abstract In this article, the effect of word-of-mouth (WOM) communications on product judgments is investigated. Additionally, the moderating influence of several situational, personal, and source characteristics are studied in three experiments. These investigations show that WOM influences short-term and long-term judgments. This influence is greater when a consumer faces a disconfirmation experience and when the WOM communication is presented by an expert. Interestingly, personal characteristics such as susceptibility to interpersonal influence and product knowledge do not appear to moderate WOM.
The Interpersonal Consequences of Self-Disclosure and Internal Attributions for Successl

Two experiments were conducted to examine the effects of an actor's internal attributions for success on observers' sub sequent treatment of the actor. The actor self-disclosed inform ation of moderate intimacy to some observers, but not to others. In both experiments it was found that when the actor attributed his success to ability he was treated less favorably when he was perceived to be friendly because he had self-disclosed, than when he was regarded neutrally because there had been no opportunity for him to self-disclose. In the first experiment, but not in the second, it was found that when the actor attributed his success to effort, he was treated more favorably when he had self-disclosed than when he had not.
Rapid and refined separation of human IgG2 disulfide isomers using superficially porous particles

A rapid reversed-phase HPLC separation of recombinant human immunoglobulin gamma 2 (IgG2) disulfide isomers using columns packed with superficially porous particles is reported. Under optimal conditions, a separation of monoclonal IgG2 disulfide isomers was achieved in 10 min using a Poroshell™ 300SB-C8 column via a combination of high column temperature (85°C), mobile phases with high eluotropic strength (e.g. isopropanol) and high flow rate (1.5 mL/min). Thermodynamic stability analyses of chromatographically enriched IgG2 disulfide isomers revealed differences in their individual denaturation temperatures, which correlate with the observed temperature-dependent refinement of peak profiles by reversed-phase HPLC. This reversed-phase HPLC method in conjunction with other orthogonal analytical techniques (e.g. capillary gel electrophoresis, peptide mapping, ion exchange chromatography, etc.) is being used to characterize disulfide isomers in the development of therapeutic IgG2 antibodies.
Review of health information technology usability study methodologies

Usability factors are a major obstacle to health information technology (IT) adoption. The purpose of this paper is to review and categorize health IT usability study methods and to provide practical guidance on health IT usability evaluation. 2025 references were initially retrieved from the Medline database from 2003 to 2009 that evaluated health IT used by clinicians. Titles and abstracts were first reviewed for inclusion. Full-text articles were then examined to identify final eligibility studies. 629 studies were categorized into the five stages of an integrated usability specification and evaluation framework that was based on a usability model and the system development life cycle (SDLC)- associated stages of evaluation. Theoretical and methodological aspects of 319 studies were extracted in greater detail and studies that focused on system validation (SDLC stage 2) were not assessed further. The number of studies by stage was: stage 1, task-based or useretask interaction, n¼42; stage 2, systemetask interaction, n¼310; stage 3, useretaskesystem interaction, n¼69; stage 4, useretaskesysteme environment interaction, n¼54; and stage 5, useretaskesystemeenvironment interaction in routine use, n¼199. The studies applied a variety of quantitative and qualitative approaches. Methodological issues included lack of theoretical framework/model, lack of details regarding qualitative study approaches, single evaluation focus, environmental factors not evaluated in the early stages, and guideline adherence as the primary outcome for decision support system evaluations. Based on the findings, a three-level stratified view of health IT usability evaluation is proposed and methodological guidance is offered based upon the type of interaction that is of primary interest in the evaluation.
A Mixture Model System for Medical and Machine Diagnosis

Diagnosis of human disease or machine fault is a missing data problem since many variables are initially unknown. Additional information needs to be obtained. The joint probability distribution of the data can be used to solve this problem. We model this with mixture models whose parameters are estimated by the EM algorithm. This gives the benefit that missing data in the database itself can also be handled correctly. The request for new information to refine the diagnosis is performed using the maximum utility principle. Since the system is based on learning it is domain independent and less labor intensive than expert systems or probabilistic networks. An example using a heart disease database is presented.
Impulse noise reduction circuit for communication receivers

In this paper a comparatively simple scheme of reducing the impulse noise is suggested. This system consists of a gating signal generator and a balanced gate. It functions as follows: the impulse noise in the antenna triggers the gating signal generator. This generator produces a gating signal which in turn controls a balance gate. The function of the gate is to block the transmission during the gating period. Both the principle and the circuits of this impulse noise reduction scheme are described. Experimental results give the improvement of signal to noise ratio at the audio output ranging from 14 to 18 db.
‘RESOURCEFUL AND PROGRESSIVE BLACKMEN’: MODERNITY AND RACE IN BIAFRA, 1967–70

Propaganda from Biafra and pro-Biafran rhetoric generated by its supporters drew heavily on ideas of modernity. This continued a pattern of associations rooted in colonial-era policies and ethnic stereotypes, and also represented a deliberate rhetorical strategy aimed at both internal and external audiences. During the second half of the Nigeria-Biafra War, the concept of race assumed an increasingly prominent role in both Biafran and pro-Biafran discourse, in part because of the diminished persuasiveness of Biafran claims about Nigeria's genocidal intentions. Arguments about race dovetailed with established claims about modernity in ways that persist today.
Effects of acidic deposition on forest and aquatic ecosystems in New York State.

Acidic deposition is comprised of sulfuric and nitric acids and ammonium derived from atmospheric emissions of sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxides, and ammonia, respectively. Acidic deposition has altered soil through depletion of labile pools of nutrient cations (i.e. calcium, magnesium), accumulation of sulfur and nitrogen, and the mobilization of elevated concentrations of inorganic monomeric aluminum to soil solutions in acid-sensitive areas. Acidic deposition leaches essential calcium from needles of red spruce, making this species more susceptible to freezing injury. Mortality among sugar maples appears to result from deficiencies of nutrient cations, coupled with other stresses such as insect defoliation or drought. Acidic deposition has impaired surface water quality in the Adirondack and Catskill regions of New York by lowering pH levels, decreasing acid-neutralizing capacity, and increasing aluminum concentrations. Acidification has reduced the diversity and abundance of aquatic species in lakes and streams. There are also linkages between acidic deposition and fish mercury contamination and eutrophication of estuaries.
Trajectories of Alzheimer disease-related cognitive measures in a longitudinal sample.

Abstract Background The delineation of the relative temporal trajectories of specific cognitive measures associated with Alzheimer's disease (AD) is important for evaluating preclinical markers and monitoring disease progression. Methods We characterized the temporal trajectories of measures of verbal episodic memory, short-term visual memory, and mental status using data from 895 participants in the Baltimore Longitudinal Study of Aging. Results The California Verbal Learning Test (CVLT) immediate recall was the first measure to decline, followed by CVLT delayed recall. However, further along the disease progression scale, CVLT delayed recall and visual memory changed more rapidly than CVLT immediate recall. Conclusions Our findings reconcile reports of early changes in immediate recall with greater reliance on delayed recall performance in clinical settings. Moreover, the utility of cognitive markers in evaluating AD progression depends on the stage of cognitive decline, suggesting that optimal endpoints in therapeutic trials may vary across different stages of the disease process.
Cocaine- and opiate-related fatal overdose in New York City, 1990–2000

In New York City (NYC), the annual mortality rate is higher for accidental drug overdoses than for homicides; cocaine and opiates are the drugs most frequently associated with drug overdose deaths. We assessed trends and correlates of cocaine- and opiate-related overdose deaths in NYC during 1990–2000. Data were collected from the NYC Office of the Chief Medical Examiner (OCME) on all fatal drug overdoses involving cocaine and/or opiates that occurred between 1990–2000 (n = 8,774) and classified into three mutually exclusive groups (cocaine only; opiates-only; cocaine and opiates). Risk factors for accidental overdose were examined in the three groups and compared using multinomial logistic regression. Overall, among decedents ages 15–64, 2,392 (27.3%) were attributed to cocaine only and 2,825 (32.2%) were attributed to opiates-only. During the interval studied, the percentage of drug overdose deaths attributed to cocaine only fell from 29.2% to 23.6% while the percentage of overdose deaths attributed to opiates-only rose from 30.6% to 40.1%. Compared to New Yorkers who fatally overdosed from opiates-only, fatal overdose attributed to cocaine-only was associated with being male (OR = 0.71, 95% CI 0.62–0.82), Black (OR = 4.73, 95% CI 4.08–5.49) or Hispanic (OR = 1.51, 95% CI 1.29–1.76), an overdose outside of a residence or building (OR = 1.34, 95% CI 1.06–1.68), having alcohol detected at autopsy (OR = 0.50, 95% CI 0.44–0.56) and older age (55–64) (OR = 2.53 95% CI 1.70–3.75)). As interventions to prevent fatal overdose become more targeted and drug specific, understanding the different populations at risk for different drug-related overdoses will become more critical.
Commentary on "The Third Canadian Consensus Conference on the Diagnosis and Treatment of Dementia, 2006."--an appraisal.

Since the second series of consensus documents from Canadian Alzheimer’s disease (AD) experts was published in 1999, the field has undergone major changes in the areas of genetics, risk and prevention, prodromal stages, diagnosis, and management. The methodology utilized by this Canadian group is well-constructed, and has yielded a new collection of papers that represents a major resource to students, general practitioners, specialists, and research scientists. It was a large effort, but the payoff is substantial. Most important, though, will be the efforts to assure optimal translation of the recommendations into clinical practice. I offer comments on a few specific areas within this very broad project. 1. There continue to be many areas of confusion surrounding the interpretation of observational studies of modifiable risk factors of dementia [1], such as blood pressure, cholesterol, smoking, and depression. This probably reflects the very difficult issue of bias in nonrandomized studies; it is a major problem with no ready solution. 2. With regard to the genetics of susceptibility to AD [2], the apolipoprotein E genotype is unquestionably important, but it remains uncertain whether any other genetic risk factor will have much impact. 3. The relationship between homocysteine, B vitamins, and cognitive impairment and dementia [3] is given a balanced review. Whereas homocysteine elevation is linked to both cerebrovascular disease and AD, there is insufficient evidence to justify testing for or treating homocysteine in the older population with or without cognitive dysfunction. We recently presented the results of a randomized, controlled trial of high-dose B vitamin supplementation in mild-to-moderate AD (conducted by the Alzheimer’s Disease Cooperative Study), with over