cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Neither Serum Ferritin Nor Number of Red Blood Cell Transfusions Affect Overall Survival in Refractory Anemia with Ringed Sideroblasts.

Background: Most experts agree that iron chelation therapy is unlikely to benefit myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) patients with a bone marrow (BM) blast percentage of ≥ 5% because of the associated short life expectancy. In contrast, using a serum ferritin of 1,000 ng/mL as a surrogate for iron overload, a recent study suggested a negative impact of iron overload on overall survival in MDS patients with Methods: The diagnosis of RARS was based on the French-American-British cooperative group criteria. Serum ferritin levels obtained both at diagnosis and during follow-up as well as total number of packed red blood cells transfused were recorded. Standard statistical methods were used for survival and other analyses. Results: A total of 126 RARS patients (median age 73 years, range 44-90; 67% males) were seen at our institution over the last several years. At diagnosis, median (range) values were 9.4 g/dL (5.7-13.4) for hemoglobin (Hgb), 2.8 × 10 9 /L (0.3-13.7) for absolute neutrophil count (ANC) and 214× 10 9 /L (22-819) for platelet count; 38% of the patients had received red blood cell (RBC) transfusions at the time of initial diagnosis. International Prognostic Scoring System (IPSS) risk distributions in evaluable patients were 66% for low, 28% for intermediate-1 and 6% for intermediate-2 risk. Median follow-up was 36 months and during this time 83 patients (66%) had died and leukemic transformation was documented antemortem in 8 patients (6%). As expected, IPSS was highly predictive of survival outcome (p 5000 ng/mL during follow-up revealed similar curves (Figure). Conclusions: The current study suggests no significant association between transfusional hemosiderosis and survival even in good risk patients with MDS. The study also undermines the utility of serum ferritin as a surrogate for assessing the value of therapeutic iron chelation.
Synthesis of Spirooxindoles via the tert-Amino Effect

A new method is developed for the synthesis of spirooxindoles from amines and isatins via C–H functionalization. The reaction leverages the tert-amino effect to form an enolate–iminium intermediate via [1,5]-hydride shift followed by cyclization. Interestingly the hydride migrates to the N atom of a C═N, which is atypical for hydride additions to imines.
Interface Engineering of Earth-Abundant Transition Metals Using Boron Nitride for Selective Electroreduction of CO2.

Two-dimensional atomically thin hexagonal boron nitride (h-BN) monolayers have attracted considerable research interest. Given the tremendous progress in the synthesis of h-BN monolayers on transition metals and their potential as electrocatalysts, we investigate the electrocatalytic activities of h-BN/Ni, h-BN/Co, and h-BN/Cu interfaces for CO2 reduction by the first-principles density functional theory. We find that with the h-BN monolayer on the metal, electrons transfer from the metal to the interface and accumulate under the B atoms. By calculating the binding energies of three key intermediates (H, HCOO, and COOH) for hydrogen evolution and CO2 reduction, we find that H binding on the metal can be significantly weakened by the h-BN monolayer, preventing the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER). However, the binding strength of HCOO is strong on both the metal and h-BN/metal, especially for Ni and Co, promoting the CO2 reduction channel. On the basis of the free-energy diagrams, we predict that h-BN/Ni ...
Application of Problem Solving Therapy for Late-Life Anxiety

Abstract Cognitive behavioral therapy for anxiety has demonstrated lower efficacy in older compared with younger adults. Yet, few other evidence-based options for late-life anxiety have been examined. This case series aimed to demonstrate the application of Problem Solving Therapy (PST) to older adults with anxiety disorders building on PST’s strong empirical support for treating late-life depression. PST was implemented to treat three older primary-care patients diagnosed with anxiety disorders. We present treatment outcomes and discuss the feasibility and acceptability of using PST to treat these patients. Implications and lessons learned from these patients are discussed to inform further development of PST to better meet the needs of older patients suffering from late-life anxiety.
General Markov-Bernstein and Nikolskii type inequalities

In this paper, we demonstrate how the continuity properties of the logarithmic potential of certain equilibrium measure leads to very general polynomial inequalities. Typical inequalities considered are those which estimate the norm of the derivative of a polynomial in terms of the norm of the polynomial itself and those which compare different norms of the same polynomial.
[5.0] Post Ageing

To reinterpret the developments and shifts in gerontology from an historical perspective (in hindsight) by using inflection points is one thing, but to offer a prospective prevailing theme (such as [5.0]) before any critical mass has taken place to verify and corroborate the theme actually exists is bound to be a risky venture, a conjecture, even an adventure. But such is the purpose of this book: to tread carefully, but with courage and integrity, so as to look ahead and create the profile for what we think is the next inflection point in gerontological research, teaching, and application.
Organ of Corti vibration within the intact gerbil cochlea measured by volumetric optical coherence tomography and vibrometry.

A volumetric optical coherence tomography and vibrometry system was used to probe cochlear mechanics within the intact gerbil cochlea. We found a gradual transition of the mechanical response of th...
The role of isostatic adjustment and gravitational effects on the dynamics of the Messinian salinity crisis

Abstract The Messinian Salinity Crisis (5.96 to 5.33 Ma) was one of the most dramatic periods of sea-level change in recent geologic history – a break in the longstanding connection between the Atlantic Ocean and Mediterranean Sea. Stratigraphic evidence throughout the Mediterranean basin records a series of sea-level oscillations during this period. We explore the contribution of isostatic adjustment and gravitational effects, in response to changing water loads in the Mediterranean, on sea-level change at the Gibraltar Strait using an ice-age sea-level model. During the filling of the Mediterranean basin, inflow is increased due to both the gravitational pull of the water in the basin and subsidence at the Gibraltar sill associated with the increased water load. These effects reverse as the basin empties. We show that sea-level changes at the sill depart dramatically from the average sea-level change in the global ocean, and that the relative contribution of deformational and gravitational effects to this departure varies with the period of the cyclicity. As a further illustration of the sea-level physics, we consider a model of the cyclical flooding and emptying of the Mediterranean driven by a competition between tectonic uplift and erosion at the Gibraltar Strait (with uplift leading to closure of the strait and erosion leading to opening of the strait). The positive feedback on both refilling and drying of the Mediterranean Sea associated with the sea-level physics significantly changes the uplift and erosion parameters that are required to generate the periodicity evident in the stratigraphy. We find that a tectonic uplift rate at the Gibraltar sill of 1.5 mm yr−1, three times smaller than previously published, yields a periodic sea-level curve when the feedback is included. This rate is consistent with uplift rates estimated by geodynamic models appropriate for the Gibraltar arc (
High Strain-rate Shear and Friction Characterization of Fully-Dense Polyurethane and Epoxy

Abstract A series of oblique plate impact experiments were conducted in an effort to observe the high strain-rate mechanical behaviors of two thermosetting polymers; fully dense, high durometer – low viscosity formulations of polyurethane (PUR) and epoxy. Two configurations of oblique impact experiments were utilized. For both, an angled projectile was accelerated towards an angled target via slotted-barrel light-gas gun, facilitating the oblique-planar impact of the projectile/target faces. This produced high strain-rate (~105 s−1) combined normal (pressure) and shear stress loading in specimens with magnitudes up to 1.0 and 0.2 GPa, respectively. To observe friction characteristics, a polymer flyer impacted an aluminum anvil and a coefficient of friction was calculated from the ratio of shear to normal stress measured at the interface. Alternatively, an aluminum flyer impacted a thin-polymer specimen confined between two aluminum anvils. Polymer strength was then calculated from measured shear stresses, observed over a range of confining pressures by increasing impact velocity. For both configurations, stresses were inferred from free surface particle velocity histories acquired through transverse photon Doppler velocimetry techniques. Coefficients of friction (COFs) of 0.11 and 0.33 were found for PUR, while values of 0.26 and 0.48 were found for epoxy. Both saw an increase in COF with decreasing pressure, a trend consistent with literature in polymer tribology. Shear strengths were found to increase with pressure for both tested polymers. For PUR only, a pressure threshold was observed after which strength decreased. The mechanism for this decrease is not known but has been previously observed in shock compression experiments conducted on polymethylmethacrylate. The applicability of results in demonstrated by implementing data into constitutive and equation-of-state models in CTH and successfully reproducing experimental results.
Investigate the variations of the head and brain response in a rodent head impact acceleration model by finite element modeling

Diffuse axonal injury (DAI) is a severe form of traumatic brain injury and often induced by blunt trauma. The closed head impact acceleration (IA) model is the most widely used rodent DAI model. However, this model results in large variations of injury severity. Recently, the impact device/system was modified to improve the consistency of the impact energy, but variations of the head kinematics and subsequent brain injuries were still observed. This study was aimed to utilize a Finite Element (FE) model of a rat head/body and simulation to investigate the potential biomechanical factors influencing the impact energy transfer to the head. A detailed FE rat head model containing detailed skull and brain anatomy was developed based on the MRI, microCT and atlas data. The model consists of over 722,000 elements, of which 310,000 are in the brain. The white matter structures consisting of highly aligned axonal fibers were simulated with transversely isotropic material. The rat body was modeled to provide a realistic boundary at the spine-medulla junction. Rodent experiments including dynamic cortical deformation, brain-skull displacement, and IA kinematics were simulated to validate the FE model. The model was then applied to simulate the rat IA experiments. Parametric studies were conducted to investigate the effect of the helmet inclination angles (0°-5°) and skull stiffness (varied 20%) on the resulting head kinematics and maximum principal strain in the brain. The inclination angle of the helmet at 5° could vary head linear acceleration by 8-31%. The change in head rotational velocity was inversely related to the change in linear acceleration. Varying skull stiffness resulted in changes in head linear acceleration by 3% but with no effect on rotational velocity. The brain strain in the corpus callosum was only affected by head rotation while the strain in the brainstem was influenced by the combined head kinematics, local skull deformation, and head-neck position. Validated FE models of rat impact head injury can assist in exploring various biomechanical factors influencing the head impact response and internal brain response. Identification of these variables may help explain the variability of injury severity observed among experiments and across different labs.
Arrhythmogenic Right Ventricular Cardiomyopathy

The fibrofatty changes in arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy most commonly affect the RV free wall segments. Involvement of the interventricular septum and left ventricle is also quite common and may increase the complexity of ventricular tachycardia ablation in these patients.
Fake News Detection Based on Subjective Opinions

Fake news fluctuates social media, leading to harmful consequences. Several types of information could be utilized to detect fake news, such as news content features and news propagation features. In this study, we focus on the user spreading news behaviors on social media platforms and aim to detect fake news more effectively with more accurate data reliability assessment. We introduce Subjective Opinions into reliability evaluation and proposed two new methods. Experiments on two popular real-world datasets, BuzzFeed and PolitiFact, validates that our proposed Subjective Opinions based method can detect fake news more accurately than all existing methods, and another proposed probability based method achieves state-of-art performance.
Machinic enculturation, copyright bots, and the aesthetics of composing mashups for machines

Sample-based media producers compose their art for machines. They implement aural effects and editing techniques to their source media, which very directly affect the sound of their music, but the ...
Deconvoluting chain heterogeneity from driven translocation through a nanopore

We study translocation dynamics of a driven compressible semi-flexible chain consisting of alternate blocks of stiff and flexible segments of size m and n, respectively, for different chain length N in two dimensions (2D). The free parameters in the model are the bending rigidity which controls the three-body interaction term, the elastic constant kF in the FENE (bond) potential between successive monomers, as well as the segmental lengths m and n and the repeat unit and the solvent viscosity γ. We demonstrate that due to the change in entropic barrier and the inhomogeneous viscous drag on the chain backbone a variety of scenarios are possible, amply manifested in the waiting time distribution of the translocating chain. This information can be deconvoluted to extract the mechanical properties of the chain at various length scales and thus can be used to nanopore based methods to probe bio-molecules, such as DNA, RNA and proteins.
Elective Percutaneous Coronary Intervention in Ambulatory Surgery Centers.

Abstract Objectives The aim of this study was to explore characteristics and outcomes of patients undergoing elective percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) in ambulatory surgery centers (ASCs). Background Little is known about patients who underwent ASC PCI before Medicare reimbursement was instituted in 2020. Methods Using commercial insurance claims from MarketScan, adults who underwent hospital outpatient department (HOPD) or ASC PCI for stable ischemic heart disease from 2007 to 2016 were studied. Propensity score analysis was used to measure the association between treatment setting and the primary composite outcome of 30-day myocardial infarction, bleeding complications, and hospital admission. Results The unmatched sample consisted of 95,492 HOPD and 849 ASC PCIs. Patients who underwent ASC PCI were more likely to be younger than 65 years, to live in the southern United States, and to have managed or consumer-driven health insurance. ASC PCI was also associated with decreased fractional flow reserve utilization (odds ratio [OR]: 0.31; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.20 to 0.48; p Conclusions Commercially insured patients undergoing ASC PCI were less likely to undergo fractional flow reserve testing and had higher odds of bleeding complications than HOPD-treated patients. Further study is warranted as Medicare ASC PCI volume increases.
Reengineering the Library: Issues in Electronic Resources Management: By George Stachokas, Editor, Chicago, IL: American Library Association, 2018, 320pp., $79.00, ISBN 978-0838916216

To varying degrees, libraries have migrated away from the print-only collection development model and have moved into the realm of electronic resources. This is a change for all library workers and...
Contexts and Mechanisms for Implementation Success: A Realist Evaluation of Behavior Checker in Integrated Primary Care

Despite the increased knowledge of the contextual determinants of implementation, the mechanisms leading to implementation success are not well understood. Explicating and testing program theories underlying implementation strategies designed through participatory processes involving intervention users with the expert knowledge of the practice context can lead to a better understanding of strategies that work in a real-world implementation. The purpose of this study was to identify facilitating and interfering contexts and mechanisms in implementing a pilot parenting intervention, Behavior Checker, as a part of routine service delivery in a rural primary care facility in the USA. This study was an organizational case study informed by the realist evaluation paradigm. Multiple methods of data collection were used, including key informant interviews with organizational representatives, a focus group and surveys with healthcare staff, and direct observation. The results indicated that the following mechanisms were central to facilitating and interfering with Behavior Checker implementation in the participating clinic: (1) staff knowledge and confidence; (2) complexity compression; (3) perceptions of sustainability; (4) workflow efficiency; (5) a systematic method of prompting intervention delivery and documentation; (6) capability for ongoing performance evaluation; (7) perception of fit; and (8) innovation-specific and general organizational resources. Understanding mechanisms can contribute to identifying strategies that support successful implementation and sustainable adoption of interventions that may benefit society.
Social and Emotional Supports During College Years: Associations with Post-college Outcomes Among Alumni of Foster Care

Data from a sample of alumni of foster care college graduates (N = 241) are examined to explore the role that social and emotional supports formed during college play in their post-college experiences, including achieving successful outcomes in employment, income, and perceptions of happiness. Social and emotional supports included having supportive relationships and social activities in college. The findings reveal that the odds of perceiving themselves as happy were greater for respondents who had higher levels of social support while they were in college, and the odds of receiving public assistance were lower for individuals who frequently socialized with other students. These findings suggest that social and emotional supports formed during college may contribute to achieving positive outcomes post-college, as it relates to both financial and emotional well-being.
The Volume and Value of Information

The measurement of the volume of information is fraught with difficulties. However, trends in availability and usage can be very revealing, as is shown by some examples. This article argues that considerations of the volume of information should not be divorced from those of the value of information. In communications, informative comparisons appear to be possible by classifying technologies in just a few dimensions, associated with the features of cost, speed, availability, and usability. An argument also is made that as a rough approximation, the value of information in terms of its volume is best thought of on a logarithmic scale. This approach provides a rough quantitative guide to the diminishing marginal utility delivered by the rapid progress in computing, storage, and communication technologies. It offers a partial explanation for slow uptake of ultra-high speed broadband and related phenomena.
Spatial discrimination reversal and incremental repeated acquisition in adolescent and adult BALB/c mice

Adolescence is characterized by neural and behavior development that includes increases in novel experiences and impulsive choice. Experimental rodent models can characterize behavior phenotypes that typify adolescence. The present experiment was designed to characterize differences between adolescent (post-natal day (PND) 34-60) and adult (PND 70-96) BALB/c mice using a response-initiated spatial discrimination reversal (SDR) and incremental repeated acquisition of response chains (IRA) procedures. During SDR, adolescents omitted more trials and were slower to initiate trials than adults, but the age groups did not differ on accuracy and perseveration measures. During IRA, adolescents displayed poorer overall performance (measured by progress quotient), lower accuracy at individual chain links, and completed fewer long response chains (>3 links) than adults. In both procedures (SDR and IRA), the poorer performance of adolescents appeared to be related to the use of a response device that was spatially removed from reinforcer delivery. These results indicate that SDR and IRA performance can be established during the brief rodent adolescent period but that these two age groups' performances differ. We hypothesize that adolescent behavior is more sensitive than adult behavior to the spatiotemporal distance between response device and location of reinforcer delivery.
Temperature and Abscisic Acid Can Be Used to Regulate Survival, Growth, and Differentiation of Cultured Guard Cell Protoplasts of Tree Tobacco

Guard cell protoplasts isolated from leaves of Nicotiana glauca (Graham) were cultured. Conditions were sought that would maximize survival and maintain cells in their differentiated state. Temperature was an important determinant of survival, growth, and differentiation. As temperatures were increased from 24 to 32[deg]C, survival for 1 week in culture increased from approximately 20% to approximately 80% of cells used to initiate cultures. At all of these temperatures, approximately 90% of surviving cells divided to form callus tissue. “Footprint” areas of cells cultured for 1 week at 32[deg]C increased almost 30-fold. Cells cultured for 1 week at 34 to 40[deg]C also survived in high percentages (approximately 80%), but they retained a morphology similar to that of guard cells and they did not divide. Footprint areas of cells cultured for 1 week at 38[deg]C increased 6-fold. Cells cultured at 36 to 40[deg]C in media containing 0.1 or 1.0 [mu]M abscisic acid survived in high percentages and did not divide. At 38[deg]C their footprint areas did not increase, but cells so cultured increased in diameter when treated with fusicoccin. Morphologies and electrophoretic profiles of total sodium dodecyl sulfate-extractable proteins suggest that cells cultured at 38[deg]C in media containing abscisic acid remain differentiated. L-[alpha]-(2-Aminoethoxyvinyl)-glycine reduced survival to
Volume transmission in the year 2000

Publisher Summary Volume transmission (VT) has been stimulating but controversial concept in search of experimental evidence, at present, VT has become a largely accepted idea with many compelling examples. From the studies, it is found that VT as an internalization of this chemical communication, and seen in this light, it is hardly surprising that it is so ubiquitous. VT is tied to classical synaptic transmission in many instances; much of the evidence is based on seeking transmitter-filled vesicles in unlikely places or pre-synaptic structures without post synaptic. As some of the studies involving metabolites suggest, there is no reason that some forms of VT should not be entirely liberated from the classical synapse structures, perhaps involving the reversal of transporters or other release mechanisms. VT has been paradigm shift in the understanding of communication in the CNS (central nervous system), possibly equal in importance to the revolution that occurred when the classical synapse was defined. Perhaps in another decade, research workers may view VT as the normal mode of intercellular communication and see wiring transmission as just a specialization of this modality.
Conformational changes in the myosin subfragment-2: Effect of pH on synthetic rod filaments

Abstract Chemical cross-linking and chymotryptic digestions of synthetic rod filaments were carried out in order to examine the conformational properties of the subfragment-2 (S-2) element. In these experiments, molded after those of K. Sutoh, Y. C. Chiao and W. F. Harrington, the rates of S-2 and light meromyosin (LMM) cross-linking were followed over the pH range from 7.0 to 8.3. The normalized rate of S-2 crosslinking, k s − 2 k LMM , decreased sharply in this pH range, in analogy with previous observations on myosin filaments, myofibrils, and glycerinated fibers. The proteolytic susceptibility of rod filaments greatly increased over the same pH range, mimicking a similar increase that has been observed in myosin filaments. These results demonstrate that the S-2 region of myosin is readily affected by small changes in charge balance and suggest that conformational changes in this part of the molecule may lead to changes in the disposition of myosin heads.
Attack plan recognition and prediction using causal networks

Correlating and analyzing security alerts is a critical and challenging task in security management. Recently, some techniques have been proposed for security alert correlation. However, these approaches focus more on basic or low-level alert correlation. In this paper, we study how to conduct probabilistic inference to correlate and analyze attack scenarios. Specifically, we propose an approach to solving the following problems: 1) How to correlate isolated attack scenarios resulted from low-level alert correlation? 2) How to identify attacker's high-level strategies and intentions? 3) How to predict the potential attacks based on observed attack activities? We evaluate our approaches using DARPA's grand challenge problem (GCP) data set. The results demonstrate the capability of our approach in correlating isolated attack scenarios, identifying attack strategies and predicting future attacks.
Abstract 2942: NRAS mutation as a predictor of response to immune-based therapies in patients with metastatic melanoma

Proceedings: AACR Annual Meeting 2014; April 5-9, 2014; San Diego, CA Background: Immune-based therapies are playing an expanding role in the treatment of advanced melanoma. Reliable biomarkers to predict benefit from these agents have not yet been identified. Specifically, the relationship between melanoma genotype and immune-based therapy has not been well characterized. Approximately 15-20% of patients with melanoma harbor an NRAS mutation in their tumor tissue. We assessed whether NRAS mutations impact the response to immune-based therapy in patients with advanced melanoma. Methods: The current study involved 171 patients from three institutions with advanced melanoma and documented tumor genotype. All patients were treated with immune-based therapy (defined as IL-2, anti-CTLA-4, or anti-PD1/PD-L1 inhibitors). We compared the rates of clinical response between patients with NRAS mutant melanoma and those without NRAS or BRAF mutations (wild type, WT). The primary study end-point was complete or partial response (CR/PR); secondary end-points included clinical benefit (CB; defined as CR/PR or stable disease for >24 weeks), progression-free survival (PFS), and overall survival (OS). Results: In our study cohort, 59 patients (35%) had NRAS-mutant metastatic melanoma and 112 patients (65%) had WT metastatic melanoma. We observed a significantly higher rate of CR/PR and CB in patients with NRAS-mutant melanoma treated with immune-based therapy compared to patients with WT melanoma (32% vs 18%, p=0.04, for CR/PR; 49% vs 29%, p=0.01, for CB). Within specific immune-therapy types, patients with NRAS-mutant melanoma experienced the greatest benefit in CR/PR compared to patients with WT melanoma when treated with anti-PD1/PD-L1 agents (70% vs 20%, p=0.01). No statistically significant differences in median PFS (4.1 months for NRAS-mutant vs 3.3 months for WT, p=0.22) or median OS (14.6 months for NRAS-mutant vs 15.4 months for WT, p=0.63) were observed. Conclusions: Patients with NRAS-mutant metastatic melanoma experience a higher rate of CR/PR and CB when treated with immune-based therapy compared to patients with WT metastatic melanoma. The underlying mechanism for this finding merits further exploration, and these data suggest that routine assessment for NRAS mutations in patients with melanoma is warranted. Citation Format: Wade T. Iams, Douglas B. Johnson, Marisa Flavin, Katherine Panageas, Gregory D. Ayers, Zhiguo Zhao, Anthony John Iafrate, Ryan J. Sullivan, Richard D. Carvajal, Jeffrey A. Sosman, Christine M. Lovly. NRAS mutation as a predictor of response to immune-based therapies in patients with metastatic melanoma. [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 2942. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2014-2942
Application load imbalance on parallel processors

This paper addresses the issue of dynamic load imbalance in a class of synchronous iterative applications, and develops a model to represent their workload dynamics. Such models of application load dynamics help in more accurate performance prediction and in the design of efficient load balancing algorithms. Our model captures the workload dynamics across iterations, and predicts the workload distribution at any given iteration as the cumulative effect of workload dynamics during the preceding iterations. The model parameters are derived using empirical data from initial runs of the application. The model development is illustrated using data from a parallel N-body simulation application.
The genetic variance for viability and its components in a local population of Drosophila melanogaster.

Two hundred and ninety second chromosomes extracted from a natural population of Drosophila melanogaster were analyzed to estimate the genetic variance of viability and its components by means of a partial diallel cross (Design II of Comstock and Robinson 1952). The additive and dominance variances are estimated to be 0.009 and 0.0012. Using the dominance variance and the inbreeding depression, the effective number of overdominant loci contributing to the variance in viability is estimated to be very small, a dozen or less. Either the actual number of loci is small, or the distribution of viabilities is strongly skewed with a large majority of very weakly selected loci. The additive variance in viability appears to be too large to be accounted for by recurrent harmful mutants or by overdominant loci at equilibrium with various genetic parameters estimated independently. The excess might be due to frequency-dependent selection, to negative correlations between viability and fertility, or possibly to the presence of a mutator. The selection for viability and fertility, or possibly to the presence of a mutator. The selection for viability at the average polymorphic locus must be very slight, of the order of 10-3 or less.
Restitution of function in the CNS: The pathologic grasp in Macaca mulatta

The pathologic grasp reflex (“forced grasping”) was used to study restitution of function in monkeys conditioned to grasp and release a stick for food. Cortical lesions (area 6) made it impossible for the animals to relinquish the stick or to avoid grasping an unconditioned (tactile) stimulus. Normal tactile evasion was abolished but returned during recovery, i.e. as forced grasping waned. Pyramidal lesions alone provoked no forced grasping but abolished all tactile reflexes. Seriatim cortical and pyramidal (1 year later) lesions brought back pathological grasping after “total” restitution of normal grasping had occurred, whereas ventrolateral spinal lesions hastened restitution and enhanced tactile evasion. The possible mechanisms underlying restitution are discussed; it is suggested that the abnormal grasp is compensated by enhancement of its opposing reflex, tactile evasion, which is subserved by the pyramid. The fundamental physiological change due to area 6 lesion is a reflex imbalance which endures covertly in spite of behavioral restitution and is exposed once again when tactile evasion is abolished by pyramidotomy. Therefore, during “recovery”, pyramidal function vis a vis tactile evasion was enhanced in response to loss of inhibitory control over tactile and proprioceptive grasp reflex activity. This model is offered as an alternative to “functional reorganization” and “vicarious function”.
Ageing and midline crossing inhibition

Age-related deficits of lower extremity lateral movements were investigated to identify a specific age range for the reappearance of midline crossing inhibition (MCI) along a developmental continuum. Ten individuals (five men and five women) representing each decade between the ages of 40 and 89 (five age groups) performed 108 seated trials on a lower extremity apparatus that measured choice reaction time and movement time. Midline crossing inhibition was operationally defined as statistically slower contralateral reaction times when compared to ipsilateral reaction times. The two eldest age groups (70- and 80-year-olds) exhibited MCI only on the first day of testing. Practice may facilitate cross lateral integration in normal ageing adults, even those of advanced age. There were no significant differences for movement times across age groups.
An Inverted geometry, high voltage polarized electron gun with UHV load lock

Abstract The design of a high voltage electron source with a GaAs photocathode and a load lock system is described. The inverted high voltage structure of the gun permits a compact and simple design. Test results demonstrate that the load lock system provides a reliable way to achieve high quantum efficiency of the photocathode in a high voltage device.
The effects of breastfeeding and birth spacing on infant and early childhood mortality in Ethiopia

Research conducted in developing countries clearly demonstrates the positive effects of breastfeeding and widely spaced births on infant survival. The evidence is less clear as to whether these beneficial effects extend into early childhood, and under what conditions. In this paper we examine the effects of breastfeeding and birth spacing on neonatal, post-neonatal, and early childhood mortality in Ethiopia using data from the 1990 National Family and Fertility Survey. Our results provide clear evidence that the increased mortality risks associated with closely-spaced births continue beyond the first year of life into early childhood. Competition between siblings for food and maternal attention is the most probable explanation for this finding. We also find that breastfeeding beyond the second year of life is associated with higher mortality. Given that delayed weaning in Ethiopia is a common response to food shortages, we interpret this finding as further evidence of the negative consequences of resource deprivation for child survival.
Autocrine signaling in carcinoma: VEGF and the α6β4 integrin

This review highlights an emerging function for vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in carcinoma and discusses mechanisms involved in the elaboration of VEGF autocrine loops. Evidence is provided that autocrine VEGF contributes to the two major components of invasive carcinoma: survival and migration. Moreover, the findings discussed support the hypothesis that carcinoma progression selects for cells that depend on VEGF as a survival factor. Furthermore, a related hypothesis, which is developed, is that the function of the 64 integrin, which has been implicated in carcinoma progression, is linked to its ability to regulate VEGF translation and, consequently, autocrine VEGF signaling. The findings reviewed challenge the notion that the function of VEGF in cancer is limited to angiogenesis and suggest that VEGF and VEGF receptor-based therapeutics, in addition to targeting angiogenesis, may also impair tumor cell survival and invasion directly. © 2003 Published by Elsevier Ltd.
Clinical methods in psychiatric genetics. II. The high risk approach

— The study of individuals at “high” risk for developing psychiatric disorders is useful in confirming that a biological trait marker identified in patient populations is also present in genetically susceptible individuals who have never been ill, and predicts the future onset of illness. We outline a systematic method for deciding which variables to choose and how many individuals are required in order for a study to have sufficient power. We demonstrate how these decisions depend on the assumptions that can be made with regard to 1) the mode of inheritance of the biological trait, 2) the relationship of the biological trait to illness, and 3) the magnitude of the mean difference observed between patients and controls. We also quantify the increased power of studying offspring of two affected parents rather than offspring of one affected parent.
Protestantism and the American Labor Movement: The Christian Spirit in the Gilded Age

LABOR historians and others have puzzled over precisely how and why American workers, especially those critical of the new industrial order, reacted to the profound changes in the nation's social and economic structure and in their own particular status between I850 and I900, but in seeking explanations they have studied almost exclusively working-class behavior and trade-union organization and have neatly catalogued the interminable wranglings between "business" unionists, "utopian" dreamers, and "socialist" radicals. Although their works have uncovered much of value, the "mind" of the worker-the modes of thought and perception through which he confronted the industrialization process and which helped shape his behavior-has received scant and inadequate attention. American workers, immigrant and native-born alike, brought more than their "labor" to the factory and did not view their changing circumstances in simple "economic" terms. So narrow an emphasis ignores the complexity of their lives and experiences and, in general, distorts human behavior. "Events, facts, data, happenings," J. L. Talmon reminds us, "assume their significance from the way in which they are experienced."' These pages examine one of several important but overlooked influences on the disaffected worker's thought: the way certain strands of pre-Gilded Age Protestantism affected him in a time of rapid industrialization and radical social change. Before i85o relatively few Americans had direct contact with an in-
Why Do Migraines Often Decrease As We Age

Migraine undergoes both an evolving state in the formative years but also has a remitting state which bears resemblance to the former. Underlying genetics may contribute to the initiating sequence for these processes but the patient’s lifetime environment may influence the expression of the disease. Systems rarely thought of in terms of neurologic disease such as the inflammatory system may have significant contributions to modulating this process and accounting for the clinical presentation of migraine.
Cystatin domains in alpha-2-HS-glycoprotein and fetuin

We have found that chain A of alpha-2-HS-glycoprotein contains two cystatin domains that show closest similarity to those of kininogen. Most likely, the two proteins diverged after the primary duplication of a single cystatin domain as the two cystatin domains of alpha-2-HS-glycoprotein are more similar, especially in disulfide bonding, to the corresponding domains of kininogen than to each other. We also propose that the carboxyl-terminal (non-cystatin) parts of kininogen and alpha-2-HS-glycoprotein contain homologous segments. We suggest that alpha-2-HS-glycoprotein may act as an inhibitor of the cysteine proteinases responsible for bone resorption. We have also found that fetuin is closely related to alpha-2-HS-glycoprotein.
Relationship of blood pressure, behavioral mood state, and physical activity following caffeine ingestion in younger and older women.

The purpose of this study was to examine the age-related differences in blood pressure, heart rate, and behavioral mood state after caffeine ingestion in younger and older women. Using a placebo-co...
Synthesis of Fluorinated and Hydrocarbon Ester Functionalized Poly(p-phenylenes) and Their Solubility in Supercritical Fluids

Monomers of the structure 2,5-dichloro-1,4(RO 2 C) 2 benzene, where R = CH 2 CF 2 CF 3 (la), -(CH 2 ) 2 CH 3 (1b), -CH 2 CH 2 (CF 2 ) 5 CF 3 (1c), and -(CH 2 ) 7 CH 3 (1d), were prepared and characterized in the study. Polymerization by the Ni-catalyzed/Zn-mediated homocoupling methodology afforded poly(p-phenylenes) 2a-2d. The polymers obtained after precipitation into methanol showed molecular weights (M n , relative to polystyrene standards) in the range 7000-13 000. The regiochemistry in the polymer was deduced to be approximately 70% head-to-tail with the remainder head-to-head. The polymers displayed excellent solubility in common polar organic solvents such at THF and chloroform. The poly-(p-phenylenes) 2a and 2b showed no solubility in supercritical ethane, propane, butane, and carbon dioxide even at 190 °C and 35 000 psia. Polymer 2d was remarkably soluble in the supercritical hydrocarbon solvents at low pressures (1000 psia). However, 2d does not dissolve in supercritical carbon dioxide. The fluorinated poly(p-phenylene) 2c dissolved in the supercritical hydrocarbons at pressures below 6000 psia, and it dissolved in carbon dioxide at pressures as low as 1000 psia at 25 °C.
Must antidepressants be anticholinergic to inhibit muricide

Two classical tricyclic antidepressants possessing anticholinergic side effects, amitriptyline and desipramine, were compared to newer antidepressants lacking such activity, mianserin, trazodone, and bupropion, for their ability to inhibit muricidal behavior. As has been previously shown for the tricyclic antidepressants, the newer antidepressants without anticholinergic activity also depressed mouse-killing behavior. Scopolamine HBr, at a dose which lacked antimuricidal activity, was tested for its ability to potentiate the antimuricidal effect of these antidepressants. Although potentiation was not demonstrated, there was a trend for scopolamine to enhance the antimuricidal effect of all drugs tested, regardless of whether or not they had anticholinergic activity.
Bring Workplace Assessment into Business Communication Classrooms: A Proposal to Better Prepare Students for Professional Workplaces.

To help students better understand and be better prepared for professional workplaces, the author suggests that business communication teachers examine and learn from workplace assessment methods. ...
Crystallographic and Solution Studies of an Activation Loop Mutant of the Insulin Receptor Tyrosine Kinase INSIGHTS INTO KINASE MECHANISM

The tyrosine kinase domain of the insulin receptor is subject to autoinhibition in the unphosphorylated basal state via steric interactions involving the activation loop. A mutation in the activation loop designed to relieve autoinhibition, Asp-1161 --> Ala, substantially increases the ability of the unphosphorylated kinase to bind ATP. The crystal structure of this mutant in complex with an ATP analog has been determined at 2.4-A resolution. The structure shows that the active site is unobstructed, but the end of the activation loop is disordered and therefore the binding site for peptide substrates is not fully formed. In addition, Phe-1151 of the protein kinase-conserved DFG motif, at the beginning of the activation loop, hinders closure of the catalytic cleft and proper positioning of alpha-helix C for catalysis. These results, together with viscometric kinetic measurements, suggest that peptide substrate binding induces a reconfiguration of the unphosphorylated activation loop prior to the catalytic step. The crystallographic and solution studies provide new insights into the mechanism by which the activation loop controls phosphoryl transfer as catalyzed by the insulin receptor.
Resonant properties of conducting polyhedral spheres with polygon mesh surfaces

A spherical polyhedron constructed from open surface polygons is an electromagnetic wave resonator that can be excited by an external plane wave. After an initial transient, a plane wave pulse achieves a balance of EM wave energy entering the sphere though the surface polygons and the internal EM wave leaking out of the sphere through the same polygons. The resonant frequencies of the porous sphere are primarily determined by the radius of the sphere and, to a lesser degree, by the size of the openings in the surface of the sphere. The strength of the internal electric fields is influenced by the width of the conducting edges that comprise the polyhedron frame. With thin edges, the internal resonance is too weak to produce large electric fields. With thick edges that nearly close the openings in the sphere, not much of the external electric field is available to excite the internal fields and again they are weak. The optimum edge width is found where the external EM wave field excites the strongest internal field amplitudes. The WIPL-D EM simulation model is used to determine the optimum porous resonator for a polyhedron with 180 vertices, 92 open polygon faces, and 270 conducting edges [1]. With a sphere radius of 5 meters, the resonance for the TM 101 like mode occurs at a frequency of 25.228 MHz with edges having a radius of 225 mm. Excited with a right-hand-circular EM wave at 1 V/m, the internal resonant electric field is calculated to be 91.5 V/m. The Q of this resonator is 885 assuming infinitely conducting edges. With this high Q, an EM pulse takes about 100 micro seconds to build up a large electric field inside the sphere. Other spherical cavity modes were simulated to provide different distributions of electric fields on the interior of the porous spherical cavity resonator (PSCR). The PSCR may be used to greatly increase the electric fields in a high power radio beam for the purpose of plasma generation. For certain wavelengths, the porous sphere becomes a resonator with large internal electric fields. At resonance, the radar cross section increases by over 40 dB. The radar wavelength is small relative to the size of the surface holes. The resonator theory is being tested at 2.45 GHz using an open-face, sphere with 960 vertices and tuned conducting edges. The large variations in RCS with frequency are studied with inside a compact range, anechoic chamber at the Naval Research Laboratory.
Vastutas tu: Methodology and the New School of Sanskrit Poetics

Recognizing newness is a difficult task in any intellectual history, and different cultures have gauged and evaluated novelty in different ways. In this paper we ponder the status of innovation in the context of the somewhat unusual history of one Sanskrit knowledge system, that of poetics, and try to define what in the methodology, views, style, and self-awareness of Sanskrit literary theorists in the early modern period was new. The paper focuses primarily on one thinker, Jagannātha Paṇḍitarāja, the most famous and influential author on poetics in the seventeenth century, and his relationship with his important sixteenth-century predecessor, Appayya Dīkṣita. We discuss Jagannātha’s complex system of labeling of ideas as “new” and “old,” the new essay style that he used to chart the evolution of ideas in his tradition, his notion of himself as an independent thinker capable of improving the system created by his predecessors in order to protect its essential assets, and the reasons his critique of Appayya was so harsh. For both scholars what emerges as new is not so much their opinions on particular topics as the new ways in which they position themselves in relation to their system.