cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Gardony Map Drawing Analyzer: Software for quantitative analysis of sketch maps

Sketch maps are effective tools for assessing spatial memory. However, despite their widespread use in cognitive science research, sketch map analysis techniques remain unstandardized and carry limitations. In the present article, we present the Gardony Map Drawing Analyzer (GMDA), an open-source software package for sketch map analysis. GMDA combines novel and established analysis techniques into a graphical user interface that permits rapid computational sketch map analysis. GMDA calculates GMDA-unique measures based on pairwise comparisons between landmarks, as well as bidimensional regression parameters (Friedman & Kohler, 2003), which together reflect sketch map quality at two levels: configural and individual landmark. The configural measures assess the overall landmark configuration and provide a whole-map analysis. Individual landmark measures, introduced in GMDA, assess individual landmark placement and indicate how individual landmarks contribute to the configural scores. Together, these measures provide a more complete psychometric picture of sketch map analysis, allowing for comparisons between sketch maps and between landmarks. The calculated measures reflect specific and cognitively relevant aspects of interlandmark spatial relationships, including distance and angular representation. GMDA supports complex environments (up to 48 landmarks) and two software modes that capture aspects of maps not addressed by existing techniques, such as landmark size and shape variation and interlandmark containment relationships. We describe the software and its operation and present a formal specification of calculation procedures for its unique measures. We then validate the software by demonstrating the capabilities and reliability of its measures using simulation and experimental data. The most recent version of GMDA is available at www.aarongardony.com/tools/map-drawing-analyzer.
C-reactive protein in urologic cancers

C-reactive protein is an acute-phase reactant that is elevated in the setting of systemic infections, trauma, and malignancies. Urologic cancers have been shown to promote changes in c-reactive protein levels. Pre-treatment serum levels can predict disease characteristics, extent of disease, and prognosticate survival after intervention in renal cell carcinoma, prostate cancer, bladder cancer, upper tract urothelial carcinoma, and penile cancer. Changes in post-treatment serum levels have also shown promise in determining survival. As a result, c-reactive protein has been incorporated into various survival nomograms to improve predictive accuracy. While the association between c-reactive protein and survival in testicular cancer has not been studied, elevated serum levels may correlate with treatment side effects, such as cardiovascular disease and chronic cancer-related fatigue. Understanding the relationship between c-reactive protein and urologic cancers can help physicians determine the appropriate course of treatment and improve patient care.
Who has capacity

Should a patient be permitted to refuse potentially lifesaving care? As a psychiatry resident, Dr. Benjamin Brody is routinely asked to make decisions about whether a patient's judgment is impaired.
Logistics evolution: a comparison of military and commercial logistics thought

Purpose – This paper aims to look at the relative position of thought leadership between the areas of military and civilian logisticians.Design/methodology/approach – The paper provides a theoretical framework in an exploratory study using the literature to evaluate the constraints on the military side of logistics thought.Findings – The discussion identifies challenges that may preclude military logistics thought from becoming the leaders for the foreseeable future.Originality/value – The paper provides an examination of the changing role between military and civilian logistics that has not been carefully examined since just after the Gulf War in 1991.
Contiguous fiber Bragg grating arrays produced on-line during fiber draw

Arrays of fiber Bragg gratings (FBGs) have been produced on-line during fiber draw using a KrF excimer laser and a computer-controlled interferometer. A table of the desired Bragg wavelengths (lambda) B of the gratings is used by the computer to appropriately vary the intersection angle of the two interfering beams, maintain focus and beam intersection at the proper position relative to the fiber, and trigger the laser. A large number of narrow-line Type I gratings have been produced, and in some instances small Type II gratings have been found to overlap the Type I FBGs. The reflectance of the gratings in one series was found to be polarization-dependent, lending further support to our previous model whereby the index change induced by the excimer laser occurs at the core-clad interface asymmetrically on one side of the core.© (1994) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Orthopaedic leadership : W2 or WMD?

Distinguished leaders of the American Orthopaedic Association, guests, and ladies and gentlemen: I come to you humbled by the honor and privilege to serve as the 118th president of the American Orthopaedic Association (AOA)—the association of orthopaedic leaders. Like all others who have served before me, I owe the honor to those who have preceded me. I am thankful to God for the direct calling into the medical profession. I stand here today because of His guidance, protection, and direction. I owe much to those who were influential in my career: Fred Elliott, J. Paul Harvey, Sig Hansen, Bob Winquist, Dan Spengler, Mike Copass, Roby Thompson, and to the great foundation that has been given to me in a career as an orthopaedic trauma surgeon. My partner of thirty-three years, Beth, and our children have given me much support and have sacrificed a lot. I am grateful to them. The hard work in patient care, teaching, and research has been rewarding. The ultimate reward is the pulpit I have been given in front of the orthopaedic leaders of much of the world. I intend not to waste it and to speak to a phenomenon that I have witnessed evolving at an exponential rate over the last decade—the criteria for orthopaedic leadership. One of the duties and privileges that one takes on as First Vice President is the receipt of the copies of all 117 AOA presidential addresses—all thirty pounds of them. I enjoyed reading them and can attest to the dramatic range of topics. Seventeen presidents spoke on clinical issues; seventeen, on an aspect of orthopaedic history; seventeen, on issues related to specialization; nine, on medical education; thirty-seven, on issues related to AOA affairs; and eighteen, on controversial topics within the socioeconomic area of our specialty. More recently, presidents have …
Supramolecular Chain Assemblies Formed by Interaction of a π Molecular Acid Complex of Mercury with π-Base Trinuclear Gold Complexes

Dipartimento di Scienze Chimiche dell’ UniVersita`Via S. Agostino 1, I-62032 Camerino, ItalyDepartment of Chemistry and Laboratory for MolecularStructure and Bonding, Texas A&M UniVersityCollege Station, Texas 77843Department of Chemistry and Chemical BiologyHarVard UniVersity, 12 Oxford StreetCambridge, Massachusetts 02138ReceiVed July 11, 2000The trinuclear cyclic Au
Nitroxides as potential contrast enhancing agents for MRI application: influence of structure on the rate of reduction by rat hepatocytes, whole liver homogenate, subcellular fractions, and ascorbate.

With an eye toward the development of nitroxides as potential contrast enhancing agents for MRI applications, we have compared the rates of reduction of 24 nitroxides of diverse structures by rat whole liver homogenate, hepatocytes, subcellular fractions, and ascorbate (10 eq excess). Our results indicate that five-membered ring nitroxides and α-carboxy α-aryl tert-butyl nitroxides are significantly more resistant toward bioreduction than six-membered ring and heterocyclic-substituted nitroxides in all systems. In the case of six-membered ring nitroxides the presence of either negatively charged or positively charged groups increases the susceptibility toward ascorbate reduction. The presence of carboxylate groups tends to enhance the resistance of all the nitroxides toward reduction by liver homogenate, hepatocytes, and subcellular fractions. trans-Azethoxyl nitroxides exhibited the best overall resistance toward bioreduction. The T1 relaxivities of selected nitroxides were measured and found to be similar. © Academic Press, Inc.
Tongue Necrosis as an Initial Manifestation of Giant Cell Arteritis: Case Report and Review of the Literature

Giant cell arteritis (GCA) is a systemic vasculitis of medium and large arteries that mainly affects the external carotid artery. It is a diagnosis of the elderly that typically presents as low-grade fever, temporal tenderness, claudication of the jaw, and in some patients vision loss. In cases where GCA presents with atypical manifestations, the diagnosis may be more difficult, causing a delay in both diagnosis and treatment and ultimately leading to irreversible complications. In this paper, we present an atypical presentation of GCA with symptoms of neck swelling and lingual pain in an elderly female. These symptoms progressed to bilateral necrosis and eventual dislodgement of the tongue. Lingual necrosis is a severe potential complication in GCA. In patients presenting with lingual swelling, pain, and discoloration, GCA should be suspected and prompt therapy should be initiated to avoid irreversible complications.
Hemispherectomy procedures in children: haematological issues.

In literature, excessive perioperative haemorrhage and related haemodynamic instability have been described as major risk factors in hemispherectomy. In this report we analyse the impact of neurosurgical operation on both the haematological and coagulative patterns of these children, especially focusing on younger patients. From 1993 to 2003, 18 consecutive children suffering from intractable epilepsia and treated by hemispherectomy were admitted to the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU) of Catholic University Medical School, Policlinico Gemelli, Rome. Eight children had an entire hemisphere removed (anatomical hemispherectomy), whereas the remaining 10 underwent disconnective procedures (functional hemispherectomy) or cerebral cortex ablations (e.g. hemicorticectomy). Eleven out of these 18 children underwent hemispherectomy because of hemimegalencephaly (HME): their mean age was 14.5 months (range 3-56 months); non-HME patients underwent surgery for epileptogenic lesions involving the cerebral hemisphere to a great extent or diffusely. Data have been compared with an historical cohort of 13 children operated on before 1992 at the same institution comparable for age, aetiology of epilepsy and the modalities of surgical operation. Blood losses and haemotransfusions showed a profound influence on the haematologic/coagulative status of the children operated upon. A strict correlation was demonstrated between estimated red cell volume (ERCV) loss and haemostatic impairment in this series. Recent surgical techniques appear to reduce blood losses and related haemocoagulative risks even in younger patients.
The Portrayal of Christopher Columbus and the Natives of San Salvador in Rousseau's La Découverte du Nouveau Monde

Critics have paid minimal attention to Jean-Jacques Rousseau's libretto for an opera he entitled La Decouverte du Nouveau Monde, or The Discovery of the New World (1739). Here we examine the text to point out the ways in which Rousseau depicts Christopher Columbus and the Spanish explorers who accompanied him when he first set foot on the island now named San Salvador as well as Rousseau's portrayal of its native inhabitants. We pay special attention to the treatment of the Noble Savage theme and the relationship between this text and Rousseau's subsequent theoretical works such as the two Discourses and The Social Contract as well as his fictional works, including La Nouvelle Heloise and Emile.
Preparing preservice teachers to use computers effectively in elementary schools

Abstract Computers and computer software have become integral components of the elementary school curriculum. Classroom teachers often express concern about the inadequate training they receive in the use of technology in the classroom. To meet the needs of future teachers, three university professors added issues related to using technology with young children to existing courses for elementary education majors. In addition, they introduced criteria for evaluating software and gave students opportunities to select software for instruction. After completing the courses, students were more comfortable with using computers, felt more competent about reviewing software, and were more aware of the issues related to using technology for instruction.
Structure-activity studies on 4-substituted-2-anilinopyrimidine corticotropin releasing factor (CRF) antagonists.

Abstract Structure–activity studies around the 4-position of 2-anilinopyrimidine corticotropin releasing factor (CRF) antagonists suggest that there is a large lipophilic cavity in the rat CRF receptor, which can accommodate a wide variety of substituents at this position in contrast to the steric constraints observed for other positions on the 2-anilinopyrimidine core. The chemical syntheses and biological activities of 2-anilinopyrimidine CRF antagonists with carbon-linked substituents at the 4-position are reported. Significant improvements in rat pharmacokinetic parameters were achieved relative to those for the lead structure. While the lead compound 1 (rCRF Ki=44 nM) afforded no detectable rat plasma levels after intraperitoneal (ip) or oral (po) dosing, compounds 3 Download : Download high-res image (104KB) Download : Download full-size image Scheme 1 . (A) HNR′R″, NaH, THF or DMF (35–90% yields); (B) BH3-THF (60–80% yields); (C) (i) LiBH4, THF, (ii) MsCl, Et3N, CH2Cl2, 0 °C, (30–70% yields); (D) R′MgBr, THF, −78°C (30–80% yields); (E) (i) 1 N NaOH, EtOH, (ii) R′Li, CeCl3, THF, −78°C (30–70% yields); (F) R′Li, THF, −78°C (30–70% yields); (G) NaBH4, EtOH (60–80% yields); (H) 1 equiv R′Li, THF, −78°C (30–70% yields); (I) R′Li, THF, −78°C (30–70% yields). - 3 (rCRF Ki=16 nM) and 3 -4 (rCRF Ki=59 nM) gave high rat plasma levels at 30 mg/kg (ip, po) (Cmax=1389 nM and 8581 nM (ip) respectively; Cmax=113 nM and 988 nM (po), respectively). Furthermore 3 - 3 and 3 -4 had superior bioavailabilities at these doses (59 and 46% (ip), respectively; 2 and 10% (po), respectively).
FLATTENING OF BOND YIELD CURVES

Putting no restrictions on forward interest rates, earlier research has shown that yield curves for coupon-bearing bonds will become flat for long maturities. This paper shows that weak restrictions on forward rates imply flattening of bond yield curves for maturities of 10 to 15 years.
Abstract 5365: Cdt2-mediated XPG degradation promotes DNA repair synthesis following DNA damage excision in nucleotide excision repair

Proceedings: AACR Annual Meeting 2014; April 5-9, 2014; San Diego, CA Xeroderma pigmentosum group G (XPG) protein is a structure-specific repair endonuclease, which cleaves DNA strands on the 3′ side of the DNA damage during nucleotide excision repair (NER). In addition, XPG plays a crucial role in initiating DNA repair synthesis through recruitment of PCNA to the repair sites. However, the fate of XPG protein subsequent to the excision of DNA damage has remained unresolved. Here, we show that XPG is degraded through proteasome-mediated proteolysis upon induction of bulky lesions from exposures to UV irradiation and cisplatin. NER process is required for XPG degradation because both UV and cisplatin treatment-induced XPG degradation is compromised in NER-deficient XP-A, XP-B, XP-C, and XP-F cells. In addition, the NER-related XPG degradation requires Cdt2, a component of an E3 ubiquitin ligase, CRL4Cdt2. Micropore local UV irradiation and in situ Proximity Ligation assays demonstrated that Cdt2 is recruited to the UV-damage sites and interacts with XPG in the presence of PCNA. Importantly, Cdt2-mediated XPG degradation is crucial to the subsequent recruitment of DNA polymerase δ and DNA repair synthesis. Collectively, our data supports the idea of PCNA recruitment to damage sites in conjunction with XPG, recognition of the PCNA-bound XPG by CRL4Cdt2 for specific ubiquitylation and protein degradation. Thus, XPG removal clears the space needed at the damage site for the subsequent recruitment of DNA pol δ and initiation of DNA synthesis. (This work was supported by grants from NIH). Note: This abstract was not presented at the meeting. Citation Format: Chunhua Han, Ran Zhao, Jiang Qian, Nidhi Sharma, Gulzar Wani, Jinshan He, Qianzheng Zhu, Qi-En Wang, Altaf A. Wani. Cdt2-mediated XPG degradation promotes DNA repair synthesis following DNA damage excision in nucleotide excision repair. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 105th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2014 Apr 5-9; San Diego, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2014;74(19 Suppl):Abstract nr 5365. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2014-5365
D2 dopamine receptors in the human retina : cloning of cDNA and localization of mRNA

1. We have obtained a cDNA clone encoding a human retinal D2 dopamine receptor. 2. The longest open reading frame (1242 bp) of this clone encodes a protein of 414 amino acids having a predicted molecular weight of 47,000 and a transmembrane topology similar to that of other G protein-coupled receptors. 3. Transient transfection of COS-7 cells with an expression vector containing the clone resulted in expression of a protein possessing a pharmacological profile similar to that of the D2 dopamine receptor found in striatum and retina. 4. Northern blot analysis indicated that, in rat brain and retina, the mRNA for this receptor was 2.9 kb in size. 5. In situ hybridization was performed to examine the distribution of the mRNA for this receptor in human retina. Specific hybridization was detected in both the inner and the outer nuclear layers. 6. These findings are consistent with prior physiological and autoradiographic studies describing the localization of D2 dopamine receptors in vertebrate retinas. Our observations suggest that photoreceptors as well as cells in the inner nuclear layer of human retinas may express the mRNA for this D2 dopamine receptor.
Rodinia: A benchmark suite for heterogeneous computing

This paper presents and characterizes Rodinia, a benchmark suite for heterogeneous computing. To help architects study emerging platforms such as GPUs (Graphics Processing Units), Rodinia includes applications and kernels which target multi-core CPU and GPU platforms. The choice of applications is inspired by Berkeley's dwarf taxonomy. Our characterization shows that the Rodinia benchmarks cover a wide range of parallel communication patterns, synchronization techniques and power consumption, and has led to some important architectural insight, such as the growing importance of memory-bandwidth limitations and the consequent importance of data layout.
An evaluation of space-filling information visualizations for depicting hierarchical structures

A variety of information visualization tools have been developed recently, but relatively little effort has been made to evaluate the effectiveness and utility of the tools. This article describes results from two empirical studies of two visualization tools for depicting hierarchies, in particular, computer file and directory structures. The two tools examined implement space-filling methodologies, one rectangular, the Treemap method, and one circular, the Sunburst method. Participants performed typical file/directory search and analysis tasks using the two tools. In general, performance trends favored the Sunburst tool with respect to correct task performance, particularly on initial use. Performance with Treemap tended to improve over time and use, suggesting a greater learning cost that was partially recouped over time. Each tool afforded somewhat different search strategies, which also appeared to influence performance. Finally, participants strongly preferred the Sunburst tool, citing better ability to convey structure and hierarchy.
Lowered Prealbumin Levels in Patients with Familial Amyloid Polyneuropathy (FAP) and Their Non-Affected But At Risk Relatives

Amyloid fibrils in familial amyloid polyneuropathy, the familial (AF) form of systemic amyloidosis, are composed of the monomeric unit (14,000 MW) of prealbumin molecules. By radioimmunoassay, the serum level of prealbumin was measured in 25 patients from 12 different kinships with this dominantly inherited form of amyloidosis and 56 unaffected, but at risk, relatives from two of the kinships. Results were compared to prealbumin levels in normal individuals and patients with primary (AL) and secondary (AA) forms of systemic amyloidosis. Significantly lowered prealbumin levels were found in the AF patients (149.2 micrograms/ml) and their at risk relatives (169.0 micrograms/ml) when compared to normal individuals (232.9 micrograms/ml), AL patients (221.9 micrograms/ml) and AA patients (211.7 micrograms/ml). No abnormality was found in levels of retinol binding protein (RBP), which is carried by prealbumin, in the serum of either the AF patients or their relatives. The depressed prealbumin levels may indicate a structural variant molecular form, an extra hepatic synthesis or an abnormality in catabolism of this protein that is present prior to the clinical or histopathologic onset of the AF disease.
Developmental and biochemical studies of adhesive specificity among embryonic retinal cells.

One pattern of cell-cell adhesion within the chick embryo neural retina follows a dorsoventral gradient in which cells at either end show maximal affinity for each other. Developmental and biochemical approaches have been applied to analyze the basis of this adhesive pattern. When retinal cells were prepared from eyes that had been inverted 180° in situ prior to retinal differentiation, an inverted pattern of adhesive preference resulted. These data suggest that adhesive preference is determined early in embryogenesis. Trypsinization of either dorsal or ventral retinal cells destroyed their adhesive preference. Treatment with neuraminidase resulted in a differential loss of adhesive preference by dorsal retinal cells. This effect could be mimicked by mild oxidation with NaIO4. Since periodate inactivation of adhesive preference could be reversed by subsequent borohydride treatment, borotritiate was used to label those cell surface molecules crucial to the reactivation of adhesive preference. Fluorographs prepared after polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis revealed that periodate stimulated the appearance of a small number of radioactively labeled bands. These data suggest that adhesive preference is mediated by glycoconjugates, possibly sialoglycoproteins, on the dorsal cell surface.
AIDS Risk Behaviors, Knowledge, and Attitudes among Pregnant Adolescents and Young Mothers

This study assessed AIDS risk behaviors, knowledge, and related attitudes of pregnant adolescents and young mothers (n = 151). Results revealed that a substantial portion of the sample engaged in sexual behaviors (e.g., unprotected sex and multiple sex partners) that increased their risk for acquiring HIV and possibly transmitting the disease to their children. Knowledge about major modes of HIV transmission was high; however, commonly held misconceptions were expressed concerning the spread of disease and methods of prevention. Results suggest that neither the experience of having an unplanned pregnancy nor knowing about HIV transmission was a sufficient motivator to reduce risk behaviors in this sample.
Is capital really mobile across the border

The existing theories on capital mobility use either the saving–investment parity condition or the interest parity condition. The assumptions of balanced budget or purchasing power parity condition underlying these theories, however, are rarely met. This study, therefore develops a different approach called ‘current account surplus saving surplus parity condition’ to measure the degree of capital mobility and apply the model on US time series data. It is found that US capital is mobile internationally.
Reduced sodium current in GABAergic interneurons in a mouse model of severe myoclonic epilepsy in infancy

Voltage-gated sodium channels (Na(V)) are critical for initiation of action potentials. Heterozygous loss-of-function mutations in Na(V)1.1 channels cause severe myoclonic epilepsy in infancy (SMEI). Homozygous null Scn1a-/- mice developed ataxia and died on postnatal day (P) 15 but could be sustained to P17.5 with manual feeding. Heterozygous Scn1a+/- mice had spontaneous seizures and sporadic deaths beginning after P21, with a notable dependence on genetic background. Loss of Na(V)1.1 did not change voltage-dependent activation or inactivation of sodium channels in hippocampal neurons. The sodium current density was, however, substantially reduced in inhibitory interneurons of Scn1a+/- and Scn1a-/- mice but not in their excitatory pyramidal neurons. An immunocytochemical survey also showed a specific upregulation of Na(V)1.3 channels in a subset of hippocampal interneurons. Our results indicate that reduced sodium currents in GABAergic inhibitory interneurons in Scn1a+/- heterozygotes may cause the hyperexcitability that leads to epilepsy in patients with SMEI.
Diet and Heart Disease Risk Factors in Adult American Men and Women: The Framingham Offspring-Spouse Nutrition Studies

The 1984-1988 dietary and cardiovascular disease risk factor profiles of the Framingham Offspring-Spouse population (n = 3787 Framingham males and females, 22-79 years) were compared to earlier estimates from the 1976-1980 NHANES II and 1977-1978 USDA Nationwide Food Consumption surveys. The goals were to assess whether differences exist among population estimates, to determine whether national population-based nutrition recommendations for cardiovascular disease risk reduction are appropriately targeted, and to identify focus areas for future preventive nutrition interventions. Overall, population mean levels of cardiovascular disease risk factors were high but mean total cholesterol and blood pressure levels and rates of dyslipidaemia were lower in Framingham men and women and hypertension appeared higher in Framingham compared with NHANES II. Severe overweight appeared more prevalent in Framingham men but similar in Framingham women in comparison with NHANES. Population estimates of total fat (36-41% of calories) and saturated fat (12.5-13.7% of calories) intakes were higher and carbohydrate intakes were lower (40-46% of calories) than current recommended levels. Dietary cholesterol and sodium intakes in Framingham women appeared to have reached recommended levels but were high in men. While the goals of current nutrition recommendations remain appropriate, future population-based preventive nutrition interventions to lower cardiovascular disease risk need to emphasize weight reduction, lowering intakes of foods rich in animal and plant fats, increases in dietary sources of complex carbohydrates, fibre and micronutrients, and lower sodium intakes, particularly in adult men.
MEMBRANE POTENTIALS IN THE DONNAN EQUILIBRIUM.

Measurements were made of electromotive force in the Donnan equilibrium of systems containing dilute solutions of protein and acid. Removal of the membrane produced a decrease of no more than 2 to 4 mv. in electromotive force, while the membrane potentials, as estimated by the usual arbitrary assumption, were of the order of 12 to 34 mv. Ion ratios, as calculated from analyses for total chloride, were definitely greater than those calculated from the electromotive force of cells with salt bridges, as if there had been combination of some of the chloride ion with protein.
Multifragment Production in Reactions of 112Sn+112Sn and 124Sn+124Sn at E/A=40 MeV.

Multiplicities of intermediate-mass fragments (IMFs), neutrons, and charged particles were measured for ${}^{112}\mathrm{Sn}{+}^{112}\mathrm{Sn}$ and ${}^{124}\mathrm{Sn}{+}^{124}\mathrm{Sn}$ at $E/A\phantom{\rule{0ex}{0ex}}=\phantom{\rule{0ex}{0ex}}40\mathrm{MeV}$. Significantly different scalings of the mean IMF multiplicities with neutron and charged-particle multiplicities are observed for the two reactions. These differences can be qualitatively understood in terms of fragment emission from an expanding evaporating source for which the initial rates of cooling by neutron and light-charged-particle emission depend on the neutron and proton numbers of the source according to statistical expectations.
AWTY (are we there yet

Summary: A key element to a successful Markov chain Monte Carlo (MCMC) inference is the programming and run performance of the Markov chain. However, the explicit use of quality assessments of the MCMC simulations—convergence diagnostics—in phylogenetics is still uncommon. Here, we present a simple tool that uses the output from MCMC simulations and visualizes a number of properties of primary interest in a Bayesian phylogenetic analysis, such as convergence rates of posterior split probabilities and branch lengths. Graphical exploration of the output from phylogenetic MCMC simulations gives intuitive and often crucial information on the success and reliability of the analysis. The tool presented here complements convergence diagnostics already available in other software packages primarily designed for other applications of MCMC. Importantly, the common practice of using trace-plots of a single parameter or summary statistic, such as the likelihood score of sampled trees, can be misleading for assessing the success of a phylogenetic MCMC simulation. Availability: The program is available as source under the GNU General Public License and as a web application at http://ceb.scs.fsu.edu/awty Contact: jwilgenb@scs.fsu.edu
Improving the accuracy of an artificial neural network using multiple differently trained networks

When either detection rate (sensitivity) or false alarm rate (specificity) is optimized in an artificial neural network trained to identify myocardial infarction, the increase in the accuracy of one is always done at the expense of the accuracy of the other. To overcome this loss, two networks that were separately trained on populations of patients with different likelihoods of myocardial infarction were used in concert. One network was trained on clinical pattern sets derived from patients who had a low likelihood of myocardial infarction, while the other was trained on pattern sets derived from patients with a high likelihood of myocardial infarction. Unknown patterns were analyzed by both networks. If the output generated by the network trained on the low risk patients was below an empirically set threshold, this output was chosen as the diagnostic output. If the output was above that threshold, the output of the network trained on the high risk patients was used as the diagnostic output. The dual network correctly identified 39 of the 40 patients who had sustained a myocardial infarction and 301 of 306 patients who did not have a myocardial infarction for a detection rate (sensitivity) and false alarm rate (1-specificity) of 97.50 and 1.63%, respectively. A parallel control experiment using a single network but identical training information correctly identified 39 of 40 patients who had sustained a myocardial infarction and 287 of 306 patients who had not sustained a myocardial infarction (p = 0.003).
EVALUATION OF SERVICE RELIABILITY IMPACTS OF TRAFFIC SIGNAL PRIORITY STRATEGIES FOR BUS TRANSIT

Recent progress in technology has facilitated the design, testing, and deployment of traffic signal priority strategies for transit buses. However, a clear consensus has not emerged about the evaluation of these strategies. Each agency implementing these strategies can have differing goals, and there are often conflicting issues, needs, and concerns among the various stakeholders. To assist in the evaluation of such strategies an evaluation framework and plan was developed that provides a systematic method to assess potential impacts. The use of this framework and plan is illustrated on the Columbia Pike corridor in Arlington, Virginia, with the use of the INTEGRATION simulation package. In building on previous efforts on this corridor, the work presents a method of simulating conditional priority to late buses to investigate the impacts of priority on service reliability. By using the measures developed in this research, a conditional priority strategy designed to increase bus service reliability without resulting in severe traffic-related impacts was tested. Simulation results indicated statistically significant improvements of 3.2% in bus service reliability and 0.9% for bus efficiency, whereas negative traffic-related impacts were found in the form of increased overall delay to the corridor of 1.0% on a vehicle basis or 0.6% on a person basis. These results are also comparable and consistent with the results of other research.
Exon 3 deletion of ryanodine receptor causes left ventricular noncompaction, worsening catecholaminergic polymorphic ventricular tachycardia, and sudden cardiac arrest

Catecholaminergic polymorphic ventricular tachycardia (CPVT) is a highly malignant genetic channelopathy associated with exertional syncope and reproducible polymorphic ventricular tachycardia with exercise. Approximately 65% of patients with CPVT are found to have a disease causing mutation in the RYR2 gene. RYR2 encodes a calcium ion transporter in the sarcomeric reticulum, and is responsible for the calcium induced calcium release that results in ventricular contraction. Recently, exon 3 deletion of RYR2 has been reported to be associated with left ventricular noncompaction. Herein we describe a patient with a novel, de novo deletion of exon 3 in the RYR2 gene that resulted in a severe CPVT phenotype and sudden cardiac arrest (SCA), and the development of left ventricular non-compaction (LVNC) coinciding with worsening arrhythmias. This case is unique in that the patient initially presented with exertional syncope and developed LVNC that coincided with increasingly severe ventricular arrhythmias and multiple episodes of SCA. This case supports the idea that RYR2 deletions cause a severe subtype of CPVT associated with LVNC and suggests LVNC may play a role in exacerbating the arrhythmias of CPVT. Deletion duplication testing should be considered in the context of CPVT and LVNC or SCA.
Test-time, run-time, and simulation-time temporal assertions in RSP

For cost-effective prototyping, system designers should have a clear understanding of the intended use of the prototype under development. This paper describes a classification of formal specification (temporal) assertions used during system prototyping. The classification introduces two new classes of assertions in addition to the well-known class of test-time assertions: (i) assertions used only during simulation, and (ii) deployable assertions integrated with run-time control flow. Separating the formal specification into three distinct classes allows system designers to develop more effective prototypes to evaluate the different system behaviors and constraints. A prototype of a naval torpedo system is used to illustrate the concept.
Competition for a Forest Palm: Use of Phoenix reclinata by Human and Nonhuman Primates

: The palm, Phoenix reclinata, is heavily exploited by people of the Tana River District of northeastern Kenya and provides an important food source for an endangered forest primate, the Tana River crested mangabey (Cercocebus galeritus galeritus). Humans use all parts of the palm; preferential harvesting of the reproductive size classes may affect the palm's population structure, and excessive leaf removal may influence reproduction. Phoenix reclinata accounts for up to 62% of the monthly diet of the mangabey. Mangabeys rely heavily on the fruits and seeds of P. reclinata when other fruits are unavailable; therefore, the elimination of palms and the reduction of fruit production degrade the mangabey's habitat. Human exploitation of P. reclinata may not be sustainable. Regulated harvesting outside protected areas and cessation of harvesting within protected areas are necessary to provide benefits to both the humans and the endangered Tana River crested mangabey. Resumen: La palmera, Phoenix reclinata, es excesivamente explotada por la poblacion del distrito del Rio Tana en el Noreste de Kenya y constituye un importante recurso alimenticio para una especie de primate de bosques en peligro de extincion, el “mangabey” crestado del Rio Tana (Cercocebus galeritus galeritus). Los humanos usan todas las partes de la palmera; la cosecha preferencial de las clases de talla reproductiva podria afectar la estructura poblacional de la palmera y la excesiva remocion del follaje podria influenciar la reproduccion. Phoenix reclinata constituye hasta un 62% de la dieta mensual del “mangabey.” Los “mangabeys” dependen en gran medida de los frutos y semillas de P. reclinata cuando otros frutos no se encuentran disponibles; por consiguiente, la eliminacion de las palmeras y/o reduccion de la produccion de frutos degrada el habitat del “mangabey.” La explotacion humana de P. reclinata podria no ser sostenible. La regulacion de las cosechas fuera de areas protegidas y el cese de la mismas dentro de areas protegidas es necesaria para proveer beneficios tanto a los humanos como al “mangabey” crestado del Rio Tana, especie en peligro de extincion.
Creative Work: On the Method of Howard Gruber

This article is an introduction to and systematic exposition of the key insights of cognitive psychologist Howard Gruber (Teachers College, Columbia University), whose "deeply phenomenological" cas...
Maternal corticosteroids influence primary offspring sex ratio in a free-ranging passerine bird

When fitness benefits of investment in sons and daughters differ, animals are predicted to manipulate the sex ratio of their offspring. Sex ratio manipulation occurs in many taxa, but the mechanisms underlying the phenomenon in vertebrates remain largely unknown. Factors favoring skewed sex ratios, such as reduced maternal condition or food availability, also induce elevated corticosteroids. Recent experimental studies support a causal relationship between corticosteroids and sex ratio. Evidence of a natural correlation between maternal corticosteroids and offspring sex ratio has been lacking, however. Without such evidence, the importance of corticosteroids in influencing sex ratios in natural populations was unknown. We measured baseline corticosteroids in 19 free-ranging female white-crowned sparrows (Zonotrichia leucophrys) and the sex ratios of their offspring. Females with high corticosteroids produced more daughters than females with low hormone levels. We then conducted a controlled, fieldbased experiment investigating the effects of moderately increased maternal corticosteroids on offspring sex ratios to determine if the observed correlation reflects a causal relationship between maternal corticosteroids and offspring sex ratio. Hormoneimplanted females produced more female embryos than control females. These findings provide the first evidence of a natural correlation between maternal corticosteroids and offspring sex ratios in free-ranging birds, and the first experimental evidence of a causal link between moderate increases in corticosteroids and biased primary sex ratios. Key words: avian, corticosterone, sex ratio, Trivers-Willard model, Zonotrichia leucophrys. [Behav Ecol]
Interspecific Variation in Susceptibility of Frog Tadpoles to the Pathogenic Fungus Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis

As part of an overall biodiversity crisis many amphibian populations are in decline throughout the world. Numerous causes have been invoked to explain these declines. These include habitat destruction, cli- mate change, increasing levels of ultraviolet radiation, environmental contamination, and the introduction of non-native species and diseases. Several types of pathogens have been implicated in contributing to amphibian population declines: viruses, bacteria, oomycetes, and fungi. One particular fungus, the chytridiomycete Batra- chochytrium dendrobatidis may have caused amphibian population declines in several regions. This pathogen causes chytridiomycosis, which is fatal to newly metamorphic and adult amphibians of certain species. We present experimental evidence that larval stages may also be susceptible to exposure to Batrachochytrium .T here was, however, differential sensitivity to B. dendrobatidis in larvae we examined. In laboratory experiments, lar- va lw estern toads ( Bufo boreas )e xposed to B. dendrobatidis experienced increased mortality and behaviors that suggested they were affected by exposure compared with unexposed control tadpoles. Larvae of Cascades frogs ( Rana cascadae), bullfrogs ( R. catesbeiana), and Pacific treefrogs ( Hyla regilla) did not die after exposure to Batrachochytrium and appeared to behave normally. R. cascadae larvae exposed to B. dendrobatidis ,h owever, showed an increase incidence in mouthpart abnormalities, a characteristic effect of chytridiomycosis, com- pared with unexposed controls. These results show that Batrachochytrium can negatively affect some species of amphibians at the larval stage and not others. The implications of interspecific variation in susceptibility to fungal infection are broad.
Chip Assemblers: Concepts and Capabilities

A chip assembler is a tool for managing design information. It encourages a structured design methodology, wherein a design is described by a collection of hierarchical design decompositions, one for each of its representations. It assists in the enforcement of consistency constraints up, down, and across the different hierarchies. We argue that a chip assembler, as an integrated design environment, requires an integrated approach for the management of design data. We describe what a chip assembler is, how it is used for design management, and what are its desirable features.
Correlation Coefficients: Mean Bias and Confidence Interval Distortions

Non-zero correlation coefficients have non-normal distributions, affecting both means and standard deviations. Previous research suggests that z transformation may effectively correct mean bias for N's less than 30. In this study, simulations with small (20 and 30) and large (50 and 100) N's found that mean bias adjustments for larger N's are seldom needed. However, z transformations improved confidence intervals even for N = 100. The improvement was not in the estimated standard errors so much as in the asymmetrical CI's estimates based upon the z transformation. The resulting observed probabilities were generally accurate to within 1 point in the first non-zero digit. These issues are an order of magnitude less important for accuracy than design issues influencing the accuracy of the results, such as reliability, restriction of range, and N.
Investigating Information Adoption Tendencies Based on Restaurants’ User-Generated Content Utilizing a Modified Information Adoption Model

Social media has boosted information sharing and user-generated content. Consequently, many restaurant goers rely on online reviews for dining recommendations. This study adds to the sparse literature on the influence of review extremeness, source credibility, website quality, and information usefulness on information adoption. Most notably, a modified information adoption model with the addition of website quality was tested in the context of restaurant review websites. Respondents answered survey questions based on what they saw in a simulated restaurant review website, which depicted one of eight scenarios. Results showed that the more negative a review, the more useful it is perceived to be. Perceived source credibility of the review writer was positively related to the perceived information usefulness. The only component of website quality that played a significant role in determining information adoption tendency of the review readers was the quality of the information disseminated in the website. L...
Canalicular Bile flow and Bile Secretory Pressure: Evidence for a non-bile salt dependent fraction in the isolated perfused rat liver

The relationship between bile salt secretion, bile flow, and bile secretory pressure was examined in the isolated perfused rat liver during alternating infusions of saline and sodium taurocholate or sodium dehydrocholate. A large fraction of bile (1.25 μliter per min per g of liver) as well as bile secretory pressure was found to be independent of bile salt secretion. Since the biliary clearance of 14C-mannitol was closely related to the rate of bile production, the canaliculus was presumed to be the main source of bile in this system. These studies indicate a primary mechanism for the production of canalicular bile and bile secretory pressure which is independent of the biliary secretion of bile salts.
Cyclic Peptides for Protein−Protein Interaction Targets: Applications to Human Disease

Protein-protein interactions (PPIs) represent a significant portion of functionally relevant biological interactions, and therefore potential therapeutic targets. Small molecules were traditionally used to target PPIs. However, many PPI surfaces lack binding pockets due to their large and flat structures. Antibodies can also be used to modulate PPIs, but they are expensive and not cell permeable. Linear peptides are less expensive to produce than antibodies and are generally more selective than small molecules, but they are limited by decreased stability and poor permeability. Modified peptides (peptidomimetics, e.g., cyclic peptides) can overcome these obstacles. Advantages of using cyclic peptidomimetics to modulate PPIs derive from their conformational constraint, which supports target specificity, cell permeability, and metabolic stability. Methods for rational design coupled with high-throughput techniques continue to support advances in the field. Further development of cyclic peptidomimetics to modulate PPIs will improve treatment of human diseases, such as cancer, infection, neurodegeneration, and autoimmunity. Here we describe several cyclic peptidomimetics that are currently used as drugs and many potential cyclic peptides PPI inhibitors in different stages of pre-clinical and clinical development. Further development of cyclic peptidomimetics to modulate PPIs will continue to improve treatment of human diseases, such as cancer, infection, neurodegeneration, and autoimmunity.
An Interview With Craig Dean

Craig Dean is Orrick, Herrington, and Sutcliffe’s Chief Technology Officer. Orrick is a Global Law Firm, with over 1,200 lawyers practicing in 25 offices across the United States, Europe, and Asia....
A course in occupational science for occupational therapy students

ABSTRACTThis is a description of a course in occupational science for first semester occupational therapy students in an entry level Master’s degree program. The course is organized around readings chosen from occupational science and other fields and is taught using the learning through discussion process. The author’s reflections on the course follow the description.
Hypertension, Cerebral Small Vessel Disease, and Cognitive Function

The relationship of cerebral small vessel disease, hypertension, and cognitive functioning is complex. Evidence to date suggests that WMH on MRI are not “benign” insignificant incidental findings. Just as they serve as markers for cerebrovascular disease and increased risk for stroke, the cumulative impact of WMH and poorly controlled hypertension raise the risk for cognitive deterioration, dementia, and mood and behavior disturbance due to frontal-subcortical disconnection. It is less clear, however, what later-life treatment can be used to preserve cognitive functioning or to prevent cognitive decline or behavioral change. Additional well-designed clinical trials of blood pressure lowering in those at risk of cognitive decline or dementia are needed to guide clinicians in the treatment of these patients.