cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Differential Susceptibility and Kindergarten Peer Status

This study examined the interaction of infant inhibited temperament and maternal personality to predict peer relations in kindergarten. While the literature is abundant with goodness of fit models, these models typically use parenting practices rather than parent personality to explore interactions with infant temperament. This research addresses the assumed relation between personality and temperament that is missing in the current literature. Based on the differential susceptibility hypothesis, inhibited infants were hypothesized to be more affected by maternal personality than infants who were less inhibited. Using longitudinal data from the NICHD Study of Early Child Care, mothers and kindergarten teachers provided information on 986 children. Maternal agreeableness and education positively predicted children’s peer status. The differential susceptibility hypothesis was partially supported, as less adaptable infants were more affected by both positive and by negative factors than infants with high adaptability.
Enzymes indigenous to milk | other enzymes

Several enzymes have been identified or purified from mammalian milk in trace amounts. Some of these enzymes have specific and established functions in the mammary gland, in milk, or in the newborn (e.g., catalase, lysozyme, lactate dehydrogenase). Their activities in milk may reflect physiological changes or a pathological state of the mammary gland during lactation. They may play a role in gastrointestinal function, nutrient digestion, and delivery to the newborn (e.g., amylases, γ-glutamyltranspeptidase). Others function by protecting the newborn against oxidative damage and bacterial and viral infections (e.g., lysozyme). Some of the enzymes have been exploited technologically (e.g., catalase and lysozyme) and may play a role in dairy foods. This review focuses on individual enzymes indigenous to milk that are not discussed in detail in other sections of this encyclopedia. Their functions, properties, and established functions in milk are described.
A Defense of Humeanism from Nagel's Persimmon

This paper defends Humeanism: the view that an agent has a reason for an intentional action if and only if it fulfills, or is a means to fulfilling, a current desire of that agent. Thomas Nagel presents an example involving a short-lived desire for eating a persimmon tomorrow. He claims that, contrary to Humeanism, this example is a clear case of irrationality. Furthermore, the Humean cannot simply dismiss all current desires with future objects, because desires of this sort are crucial to the Humean account of prudence. I respond that, correctly understood, Humeanism can simultaneously account for prudent conduct and other conduct motivated by present desires with future objects.
A Virtual Design Engineering Environment for Control System Design and Validation

Companies are looking for a more efficient way to design, validate, test and commission a control system. In near future, automated intelligence Agents/Holons that will support the control logic actions will need some form of environment for easing the validation of the decision making rules. This paper discusses tools to help increase design efficiency and productivity, by enabling virtual multi-disciplinary engineering collaboration through an integrated set of design software products. This article proposes an integration of information from different design, simulation, control and visualization systems into a common platform for simulation and control validation. The proposed technology provides an analytical framework for system design, including virtualized control technology connected to a simulation engine coupled with 3D visualization. The capability of this prototype to visualize real time control of mechanisms in a virtual environment, proves how a virtual design engineering environment for control system design and validation, can help qualify the production controller before connecting it to the real machine. It will also assist in understanding the behavior of the system, detect problems early in the design process, reduce downtime, troubleshooting and project cost. These tools will help reduce development time of control systems and improve productivity.
Terabytes of Tobler: evaluating the first law in a massive, domain-neutral representation of world knowledge

The First Law of Geography states, "everything is related to everything else, but near things are more related than distant things." Despite the fact that it is to a large degree what makes "spatial special," the law has never been empirically evaluated on a large, domain-neutral representation of world knowledge. We address the gap in the literature about this critical idea by statistically examining the multitude of entities and relations between entities present across 22 different language editions of Wikipedia. We find that, at least according to the myriad authors of Wikipedia, the First Law is true to an overwhelming extent regardless of language-defined cultural domain.
Linear Supramolecular Polymers Driven by Anion-Anion Dimerization of Difunctional Phosphonate Monomers Inside Cyanostar Macrocycles

Supramolecular polymers have enabled far-reaching fundamental science and the development of diverse macromolecular technologies owing to the reversible and noncovalent chemical connectivities that define their properties. Despite the unabated development of these materials using highly tailorable recognition elements, anion-based polymers remain rare as a result of the weak interactions they mediate. Here, we use design rules inspired by cation-driven polymers to demonstrate a new noncovalent link based on receptor-stabilized anion–anion interactions that enables the efficient linear polymerization of simple difunctional phosphonates. The linear main chain connectivity and molecular topology were confirmed by single crystal X-ray diffraction, which demonstrates the rare 2:2 stoichiometry between the anionic phosphonate end groups and a pair of π-stacked cyanostar macrocycles. The stability of these links enables rapid polymerization of difunctional phosphonates employing different aliphatic linkers (C6H1...
Accelerated positive contrast MRI of interventional devices using parallel compressed sensing imaging.

Abstract Susceptibility-based magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) method can image small MR-compatible devices with positive contrast. However, the relatively long data acquisition time required by the method hinders its practical applications. This study presents a parallel compressive sensing technique with a modified fast spin echo to accelerate data acquisition for the susceptibility-based positive contrast MRI. The method integrates the generalized autocalibrating partially parallel acquisitions and the compressive sensing techniques in the reconstruction algorithm. MR imaging data acquired from several phantoms containing interventional devices such as biopsy needles, stent, and brachytherapy seeds, used for validating the proposed technique. The results show that it can speed up data acquisition by a factor of about five while preserving the quality of the positive contrast images.
Cultural Brokering Intervention for Families of Children Receiving Special Education Supports

The intersection of disability and other identities can present significant challenges to culturally diverse families and schools. Cultural brokering is an emerging practice that shows promise for helping parents navigate the special education system. In the past decade, cultural brokering has been increasingly used in healthcare and education as an intervention to provide appropriate and effective services to culturally diverse families. Using an intersectionality theory framework, this chapter highlights a cultural brokering initiative in a statewide parent to parent program to introduce the practice and utility of a cultural brokering intervention for diverse families of children with disabilities. Program evaluation for the project demonstrates that the cultural brokering intervention is effective in engaging parents to build connections and collaborations with schools and other service agencies and to be more confident in navigating educational and healthcare systems.
Understanding Comorbidity Between Specific Learning Disabilities

Current definitions of specific learning disability (SLD) identify a heterogeneous population that includes individuals with weaknesses in reading, math, or writing, and these academic difficulties often co-occur in many of the same individuals. The Colorado Learning Disabilities Research Center (CLDRC) is an interdisciplinary, multisite research program that uses converging levels of analysis to understand the genetic and environmental etiology, neuropsychology, and developmental outcomes of SLDs in reading (RD), math (MD), and writing (WD), along with the comorbidity between these SLDs and other developmental disorders. The latest results from the CLDRC twin study suggest that shared genetic influences contribute to the significant covariance between all aspects of reading (word reading, reading fluency, and reading comprehension) and math (calculations, math fluency, and word problems), and distinct genetic or environmental influences also contribute to weaknesses in each specific academic domain. RD and MD are associated with a range of negative outcomes on both concurrent measures and measures of functional outcomes completed 5 years after the twins were first assessed. Over the next several years the CLDRC will continue to expand on this work by administering a comprehensive test battery that includes measures of all dimensions of academic achievement that are described in current definitions of SLD and incorporating these measures in new neuroimaging and molecular genetic studies.
Novel Solder Pads for Self-Aligned Flip-Chip Assembly

Self-alignment via solder-surface tension in flip-chip bonding opens the door to low-cost, high-throughput assembly of components with sub-micron accuracy. This is especially impactful to integrated photonics as used for high speed optical communication and sensors [1,2]. Assembly yield hinges on the details of solder-induced forces and on the geometry of the melted solder surface. Low curvature of melted solder is best to balance solder forces for optimal re-alignment yield but leads to shallow contact angles and solder de-wetting on traditional solder pads. We introduce and demonstrate the concept of recessed solder pads with shallow angled edges. Such geometry enables arbitrarily-low curvature of the molten solder surface and even flat or slightly concave shapes. The solder stays anchored at the angled edges of recessed pads and can be made to flow in long and narrow conduits. Both aspects are key to widening the fabrication and process window for the solder-induced chip-alignment technology.
Longitudinal associations of neighborhood socioeconomic status with cardiovascular risk factors: A 46-year follow-up study.

Abstract Objectives Neighborhood characteristics are increasingly recognized as important determinants of cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk. However, longitudinal studies on the health impacts of neighborhood characteristics are rare. We sought to investigate whether neighborhood socioeconomic status (NSES) during birth, childhood and adulthood is associated with CVD risk factors in adulthood. Methods Using longitudinal data from the New England Family Study (n = 671) with 46-years of follow-up, participants' home addresses were geocoded at birth (mean age = 1.6 months), childhood (mean age = 7.1 years), and adulthood (mean age = 44.2 years) across Massachusetts and Rhode Island in the US from 1961 to 2007. We used multilevel models to evaluate associations of NSES across the life-course with systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure and body mass index (BMI) in adulthood, adjusting for age, sex, race/ethnicity, mother's race, individual SES, and parental SES. Results In fully adjusted models, one standard deviation higher NSES at birth was associated with a 1.9 mmHg lower SBP (95% CI: 3.8, −0.1) and 1.3 mmHg lower DBP (95%CI: 2.6,-0.03) in adulthood; while one standard deviation of higher NSES at adulthood was associated with 0.87 kg/m2 lower BMI (95%CI: 1.7, −0.1). Conclusions We found that living in a socioeconomically disadvantaged neighborhood early in life and in adulthood was associated with blood pressure and BMI, respectively, two established risk factors for CVD. Our findings support a longitudinal association between exposure to socioeconomically disadvantaged neighborhoods in early life and CVD risk factors in adulthood.
Killing Me Softly: Organizational E-mail Monitoring Expectations’ Impact on Employee and Significant Other Well-Being:

This paper tests the relationship between organizational expectations to monitor work-related electronic communication during nonwork hours and the health and relationship satisfaction of employees...
Impact of 2,4-D and potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) tuber age on anthocyanin content of skin and phellem anatomy of Red Norland

Attractive appearance is highly desirable for fresh market red-skinned potatoes. Red potatoes derive their skin color from anthocyanins. Some growers attempt to enhance red potato skin color by treating vines with the synthetic auxin 2,4-D. In this study, 2,4-D was applied twice at early bloom stage to ‘Red Norland’ potatoes and tubers were harvested weekly until plants senesced. 2,4-D rapidly increased anthocyanin quantity and altered anthocyanin composition. Average tuber mass at the final harvest was less for the 2,4-D-treatment than untreated controls. Elevated anthocyanin content resulting from 2,4-D persisted through 3 months storage. 2,4-D-treated potatoes did not differ from untreated controls in the number and depth of red pigmented cells in the phellem. Thus, changes in periderm cell division and expansion may not contribute to the 2,4-D response of ‘Red Norland’. Instead, the data suggest that 2,4-D application initiated a rapid change in anthocyanin accumulation that persisted into storage.
Renally Clearable PSMA Inhibitors Conjugated Ultrasmall Silica Nanoparticles Enhance the Specific Detection of Prostate Cancer In Vivo

467 Objectives: To investigate in vivo pharmacokinetics and prostate cancer active targeting capability of novel renally-clearable zirconium-89 (89Zr, t1/2=78.4 h)-labeled, PSMA inhibitor (PSMAi)-conjugated, ultrasmall fluorescent silica nanoparticles. Methods: Sub-10-nm diameter, DFO-, PSMAi-, PEG- and Cy5-functionalized C’ dots (i.e., DFO-PSMAi-PEG-Cy5-C’ dots) were synthesized in water-based environments. High resolution chromatographic techniques, including size exclusion/gel permeation chromatography, high-performance liquid chromatography, and fluorescence correlation spectroscopy were used to initially purify and characterize synthesized DFO-PSMAi-PEG-Cy5-C’ dots. Optimized nano-conjugates were additionally assessed in terms of their radio-stability, pharmacokinetic/clearance profiles, radiation dosimetry, PSMA- targeting and tumor-to-background ratios using serial positron emission tomography (PET) imaging. Results: DFO-PSMAi-PEG-Cy5-C’ dots were surface-functionalized with 3-4 DFO chelators and ~10 PSMA inhibitors for 89Zr radiolabeling and active prostate cancer targeting, respectively. Fluorescence-activated cell sorting showed significantly enhanced uptake of DFO-PSMAi-PEG-Cy5-C’ dots in LNCaP (PSMA positive) cells when compared with PC-3 (PSMA negative) cells. Radiolabeled C’ dots (89Zr-DFO-PSMAi-PEG-Cy5-C’ dots) demonstrated high in vivo radiostability, indicated by low bone and joint uptake in healthy nude mice. The biodistribution study confirmed dominant renal clearance within the first 24 hours. Unlike other PSMA-targeting molecular probes, which exhibit high uptake and retention in the kidneys and salivary glands, radiolabeled particles demonstrate only minimal accumulation in the liver, spleen, kidney and salivary glands, yielding favorable dosimetry. PET scans revealed marked radioactivity in the heart and bladder at 2 h post-injection, suggesting dominant blood pool activity and renal clearance in murine models. Significantly enhanced prostate tumor uptake (9.0 %ID/g vs 3.5 %ID/g) and tumor-to-muscle ratios (>13 vs
Effect of Obesogenic Medication on Weight- and Fitness-Change Outcomes: Evidence from the Look AHEAD Study.

Objective This study evaluates whether obesogenic medications may decrease the effectiveness of lifestyle interventions. The authors of this study hypothesized that participants who took obesogenic medications would be less responsive to the intervention in the Look AHEAD trial. Methods In the trial, 5,145 participants with overweight or obesity, aged 45 to 76 years with type 2 diabetes, were randomly assigned to an intervention (vs. support and education). In this analysis, the association of exposure to obesogenic medications and successful weight loss (≥5% and ≥10% of total weight) and fitness gain (≥1 and ≥2 metabolic equivalents) was examined. For each outcome, multiple logistic regression models were fitted. Results Analytic sample sizes were 4,496 for weight-change analyses and 4,051 for fitness-change analyses. After adjusting for covariates, exposure to one or more obesogenic medications significantly decreased the odds of achieving ≥5% weight loss by 32% (odds ratio [OR] 0.68) and achieving ≥10% weight loss by 19% (OR 0.81). The association was dose-dependent-participants using two or more medications were less likely to achieve weight loss than those using one medication. Obesogenic medication exposure was not associated with decreased odds of achieving fitness gain overall. Conclusions The results suggest that exposure to obesogenic medications could hinder successful weight loss in a lifestyle intervention for people with diabetes.
A Pilot Study of Train-of-Four and Post-Tetanic Count Monitoring with the TetraGraph Electromyograph Compared to the TwitchView Monitor Electromyograph

BackgroundQuantitative twitch monitoring is recommended for avoiding residual neuromuscular blockade. Electromyograph twitch monitors are a form of quantitative twitch monitoring. The TwitchView electromyograph has been previously validated against "gold standard" mechanomyography, and may serve as a comparator for other monitors. We have previously shown that the GE electromyograph monitor overcounted twitches, frequently misinterpreting noise as a twitch. This is a pilot study to evaluate the performance of the TetraGraph electromyograph in comparison to the TwitchView electromyograph. MethodsTwitchView and TetraGraph electrodes were applied to opposite arms of patients prior to induction of anesthesia. Post-tetanic count, train-of-four count and train-of-four ratio were then measured approximately every 5 minutes during an unrestricted general anesthetic. Measurements were not made for 10 minutes following neuromuscular blocking drugs or reversal agents. ResultsEight patients were enrolled. The mean baseline train-of-four ratio was 1.02 (SD=0.04) for the TwitchView and 0.99 (SD=0.03) for the TetraGraph (p=0.22). Bland Altman analysis of all of the train-of-four ratio data found that average TwitchView train-of-four values were larger with a bias of 0.10. Train-of-four counts and train-of-four ratios were generally less when measured with TetraGraph than when measured with TwitchView.In 83% (209/253) of data pairs, the result from TetraGraph was less than the result from TwitchView and in 6% (16/253) of data pairs, the result from TetraGraph was greater than the result from TwitchView (p<0.0001). In 11% (28/253) of data pairs, the result from TetraGraph was the same as TwitchView [95%CI 7.35% 16.0%]. Evaluation of individual patient results confirmed the overall results. In some cases there were large discrepancies, such as 4 twitches reported by the TwitchView when the TetraGraph reported a post-tetanic count. ConclusionsUsers of the TetraGraph electromyograph should be aware that significant underestimation of post-tetanic-count, train-of-four count and train-of-four ratio may occur. This could result in administration of unnecessary reversal agents, excessive doses of reversal agents, or delay in extubation. We are undertaking a comparison of the TetraGraph monitor to mechanomyography to confirm the results of this pilot study.
Costs and predictors of early readmissions in patients with Infective Endocarditis Utilizing the Nationwide Readmission Database

ABSTRACT BACKGROUND There have been previous studies detailing the variables involved in readmissions in patients with a primary admission diagnosis of infective endocarditis – however those studies were done prior to the 2015 change in AHA guidelines and introduction to ICD-10 codes. OBJECTIVES The aim of this study was to describe the frequency, causes, factors, and costs associated with infective endocarditis encounters. METHODS Utilizing the 2017 national readmission database (NRD), we identified all patients that were admitted with infective endocarditis. These patients were evaluated for the rates, predictors, and costs of unplanned 30 days readmissions. Weighted analysis was performed to obtain nationally representative data. RESULTS 56,357 patients were identified to have been admitted with a diagnosis of infective endocarditis of whom 13,004 patients (23%) were readmitted within 30 days of the index discharge. The most common causes of readmission were septicemia (15.1%), endocarditis and endocardial disease (10.5%), heart failure (9.5%), and complication of cardiovascular device, implant or graft, initial encounter (5.6%). Data showed that there were certain comorbidities that resulted in a higher risk of being readmitted, these include chronic kidney disease, COPD, tobacco use, and hepatic failure. Cost of readmissions per patient was approximately $22,059 (IQR $11,630 - $49,964). CONCLUSIONS Thirty-day unplanned readmissions remain a significant issue affecting nearly 1 in 6 patients with infective endocarditis. This is associated with significant mortality and financial burden. Multi-disciplinary approach may help decrease readmissions, reduce complications, and improve overall outcomes as well as the overall quality of life of our patients.
Renaissance Italian City-States: The Triumph of Oligarchy and Tyranny

Greek science was revived during the Arabic Golden Age, and then fully revived during the Italian Renaissance. The Italian city-states were dominated by rich trade merchants and bankers. Attempts at democracy were met with repression. The repression generated political disorder, and, tyrants stepped in to restore order through violence and terror. Machiavelli describes this in The Prince.
Neurostimulator for Hippocampal Memory Prosthesis

In this chapter, we discuss the design, fabrication, and evaluation of a neurostimulator for generating neural code–based electrical stimulation pulses. We show that, through multiplexing, this system can deliver constant current biphasic pulses, with arbitrary temporal patterns and pulse parameters to 32 electrodes using one pulse generator. Furthermore, a stimulus artifact suppression component is integrated with commercial amplifiers for recording short latency neural response to stimulation for feedback control. The key of this feature is to use CMOS switches to disconnect electrodes from recording amplifiers during stimulation, while shorting the recording system to ground through another CMOS switch to suppress ringing in the recording system. It is crucial to pay close attention to the timing of the switches used to block and suppress the stimulus artifact as it should be determined by the electrochemical properties of the electrode. Furthermore, the timing and stimulus magnitude of each pulse depends on the application and should be controlled by inputs from an external source that takes feedback commands from neural response from the region of stimulation. In this chapter, the reader will learn how to implement this system with low-power and compact packaged microchips to constitute an effective, cost-efficient, and miniaturized neurostimulator. The reader will then learn how to evaluate the design in phantom preparations and then in rat hippocampus. This neurostimulator design is desirable in a variety of neural interface applications, particularly hippocampal memory prosthesis aiming to restore cognitive functions by reinstating neural code transmissions in the brain.
Pediatric Neurovascular Conditions

Pediatric neurovascular diseases can profoundly affect brain development, growth, and a child’s quality of life. Appropriately managing these conditions in children requires a thorough understanding of their etiologies, diagnoses, treatment options, and prognoses. In this chapter, the authors review pediatric stroke and Moyamoya disease as well as vascular lesions such as AVMs, cavernous malformations, aneurysms, hemangiomas, vein of Galen malformations and dural sinus malformations.
Repeatability of peripapillary optical coherence tomography angiography in neurodegenerative disease

ABSTRACT Purpose To assess the repeatability of peripapillary optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA) in Alzheimer disease (AD), Parkinson disease (PD), mild cognitive impairment (MCI), and normal cognition. Design Cross-sectional. Participants Patients with a clinical diagnosis of AD, PD, MCI, or normal cognition were imaged. Those with glaucoma, diabetes mellitus, vitreoretinal pathology, and poor-quality images were excluded. Methods Each eligible eye of each participant underwent two OCTA 4.5x4.5mm peripapillary scans in a single session using a Zeiss Cirrus HD-OCT 5000 with AngioPlex. The Zeiss software (v11.0.0.29946) quantified measures of perfusion in the radial peripapillary capillary (RPC) plexus in four sectors (superior, nasal, inferior, temporal). The average of these sectors was calculated and reported. Main Outcome Measures RPC plexus perfusion was quantified using two parameters: capillary perfusion density (CPD) and capillary flux index (CFI). Intraclass correlation coefficients (ICC) were used to quantify repeatability. For subjects who had both eyes included, the average values of each scan pair were used to assess interocular symmetry of CPD and CFI. Results Of 374 eyes, 46 were from participants who had AD, 87 PD, 85 MCI, and 156 with normal cognition. CPD ICC in AD=0.88 (95% CI, 0.79-0.93), PD=0.91 (0.87-0.94), MCI=0.95 (0.92-0.96), controls=0.90 (0.87-0.93). CFI ICC in AD=0.82 (0.70-0.90), PD=0.91 (0.87-0.94), MCI=0.87 (0.80-0.91), controls=0.85 (0.79-0.89). There were no significant differences in interocular variation in average CPD and CFI in AD, PD, or MCI (all p > 0.05). Isolated interocular sectoral CPD differences were noted in AD (nasal, p=0.049; temporal, p=0.024), PD (nasal, p=0.036), and controls (nasal, p=0.016). Interocular differences in CFI in the superior sector in MCI (p=0.028) and in average CFI for controls (p=0.035) were observed. Conclusions Peripapillary OCTA repeatability in AD, PD, and MCI is good-excellent and similar to those with normal cognition. Insignificant interocular asymmetry in peripapillary OCTA suggests neurodegeneration may proceed uniformly; future studies may reveal the appropriateness of single-eye imaging.
Economic and Environmental Considerations

Materials scientists often need to advise other engineers who work in different and more specialized areas as to the best suitability of certain materials for specific applications. An airplane, for example, requires light-weight and high-strength materials such as aluminum or titanium alloys, whereas rotor blades for turbine engines, which have to withstand extremely high temperatures, are better served by certain nickel alloys. However, cost, availability, safety, aesthetic appearance, and recyclability of materials likewise need substantial consideration. The latter issues shall be discussed in the present chapter.
Countermeasures for Space Travel

Given the various stressors of on-orbit spaceflight that we have discussed previously, the question arises as to how to deal with the resultant stress. Certainly, appropriate crewmember selection is one way of preparing for the vicissitudes of a space mission. In addition, relevant training before launch is critical to help the crewmembers identify problematic areas and teach them ways of dealing with them. Once underway, in-flight monitoring and support are important to identify problems and initiate strategies for coping, such as encouraging positive crew interactions and providing opportunities for crewmembers to pursue personal interests and communicate with family and friends on Earth. Finally, the post-mission period may be difficult for both space travelers and their families to deal with, especially for high-visibility missions accompanied by fame and glory or where the separation from loved ones on Earth is extreme. This chapter takes a closer look at countermeasures for dealing with psychosocial problems in space in terms of pre-launch training, in-flight monitoring and support, and post-mission readaptation.
The Aorta and Great Vessels

Technological improvements with 64 multidetector computed tomography (MDCT) have greatly advanced its role for diagnostic imaging in patients with vascular disease. CT angiography has thus become a useful tool in evaluating patients with various diseases of the aorta and the great vessels such as aortic dissection, aortic aneurysm and carotid artery disease.
Studies on the specificity of autoantibodies in acquired hemolytic anemia.

Abstract A significant proportion of patients with autoimmune hemolytic anemia form autoantibodies of blood group specificity, rather than nonspecific autoantibodies. Ashby survival studies suggest that in such cases properly selected blood, lacking the antigens against which autoantibody has been formed, can be transfused successfully. These concepts are important not only for a better understanding of the nature of autoantibodies, but also can be applied to the practical management of patients with autoimmune hemolytic anemia.
Neutrophil Nuclear Segmentation in Mild Cobalamin Deficiency: Relation to Metabolic Tests of Cobalamin Status and Observations on Ethnic Differences in Neutrophil Segmentation

Neutrophil hypersegmentation is considered the most sensitive peripheral blood cell marker of cobalamin deficiency. However, its diagnostic value in the mild deficiency states that accompany most low cobalamin levels and its relation to metabolic tests of cobalamin status are unknown. The authors compared neutrophil lobe averages and percent neutrophils with 5 or more lobes (%5+ lobes) in 169 subjects with their mean corpuscular volume (MCV) and serum cobalamin, methylmalonic acid (MMA), homocysteine, and folate levels and, in 65 cases, with the deoxyuridine suppression test (dUST). Only 9 subjects had hypersegmentation by lobe average and 20 subjects by %5+ lobes. They were not more often cobalamin-deficient than subjects without hypersegmentation. Moreover, only one of 34 subjects with dUST results diagnostic for cobalamin deficiency had neutrophil hypersegmentation. Both indices of neutrophil segmentation in the 169 subjects correlated significantly with homocysteine levels. They also showed weak inverse correlation with cobalamin levels, but did not correlate with MMA, folate, or MCV values. Cobalamin therapy for 6 months did not significantly change neutrophil lobe averages in 35 subjects with mild deficiency, compared with 8 nondeficient controls, and only marginally improved the %5+ lobes. A surprising, incidental observation was that blacks had significantly greater neutrophil segmentation by both criteria than did whites and others. This difference was unrelated to cobalamin or folate status. Our results indicate that dUST abnormalities precede all morphologic changes of deficiency, including hypersegmentation. Although a tendency exists for neutrophil segmentation to increase very slightly as some serum values, especially homocysteine, start to worsen in mild cobalamin deficiency, the metabolic changes precede overt hypersegmentation. Neutrophil nuclear segmentation is insufficiently sensitive in relation to metabolic evidence of deficiency to be used as a clinical tool in the diagnosis of mild cobalamin deficiency.
Multiscale Discrete Dislocation Dynamics Plasticity

The Discrete Dislocation (DD) analysis and its computional modeling have been advanced significantly over the past decade. This progress has been further magnified by the idea to couple DD with continuum mechanics analysis in association with computational algorithms such as finite elements. This coupling may pave the way to better understanding of the local response of materials at the micro scale and globally at the macroscale, increasing the potential for future applications in material, mechanical, structural and process engineering analyses.
Poverty and couple relationships: Implications for welfare policy

SUMMARY Previous welfare policies have discouraged men from assuming active roles with their partners and children, leaving many single-mother families without the relational and financial involvement of men. In an effort to inform social policy, this study explores the impact of economic, human and relationship capital on couple relationships. Focus groups, conducted with 95 low-income African-American and White adults, revealed that economic security, relationship skills, employment support, fathering classes, and couples counseling are critical to successful couplehood. Based on these findings, we suggest that family policies be designed to strengthen at-risk couple relationships by promoting sustained father-family attachment, bolstering men's employment and educational opportunities, and providing parenting and relationship skills training.
Ikaros to the rescue of TCR-α chain gene rearrangement

Ikaros is a transcriptional regulator critical for B- and T-cell development. Recently, it has been shown to play a central role in facilitating rearrangement of antigen-receptor genes in B cells. Whether or not it had a similar function in this process in T cells, however, was a mystery. In this issue of the European Journal of Immunology, a role for Ikaros in T-cell receptor (TCR) rearrangement and expression of TCR-α chain genes is revealed in the study by Collins et al. [Eur. J. Immunol. 2013. 43: 521-532]. Ikaros functions in this capacity as an “accessibility factor,” facilitating increased TCR-α chain gene transcription and accessibility of the locus to promote rearrangement. Interestingly, this study has also revealed differences in the mechanisms by which Ikaros promotes antigen-receptor rearrangement in B versus T cells, thereby suggesting that Ikaros may have lineage-specific functions in coordinating antigen-receptor rearrangement.
The emotional and psychosexual aspects of hysterectomy

The emotional sequelae of hysterectomy have long been suggested as a concern of the gynecologist. A review of the literature reveals that there are surely concrete changes in the functioning, attitudes, and behavior of patients who undergo this procedure. Since the gynecologist acts as the "uterus remover," it is our specialty that should be dealing with these women patients to carry them through the possible effects of such surgery. In addition, it would be wise for all of us to examine our own indications for this procedure in order to be confident when faced with criticisms that our specialty considers the uterus less valuable than other organs, rendering it more vulnerable to the unthinking surgeon.
Compensatory mutations, antibiotic resistance and the population genetics of adaptive evolution in bacteria.

In the absence of the selecting drugs, chromosomal mutations for resistance to antibiotics and other chemotheraputic agents commonly engender a cost in the fitness of microorganisms. Recent in vivo and in vitro experimental studies of the adaptation to these “costs of resistance” in Escherichia coli, HIV, and Salmonella typhimurium found that evolution in the absence of these drugs commonly results in the ascent of mutations that ameliorate these costs, rather than higher-fitness, drug-sensitive revertants. To ascertain the conditions under which this compensatory evolution, rather than reversion, will occur, we did computer simulations, in vitro experiments, and DNA sequencing studies with low-fitness rpsL (streptomycin-resistant) mutants of E. coli with and without mutations that compensate for the fitness costs of these ribosomal protein mutations. The results of our investigation support the hypothesis that in these experiments, the ascent of intermediate-fitness compensatory mutants, rather than high-fitness revertants, can be attributed to higher rates of compensatory mutations relative to that of reversion and to the numerical bottlenecks associated with serial passage. We argue that these bottlenecks are intrinsic to the population dynamics of parasitic and commensal microbes and discuss the implications of these results to the problem of drug resistance and adaptive evolution in parasitic and commmensal microorganisms in general.
An evaluation of resistance of corn leaf tissue to feeding by European corn borer larvae.

Five related inbred lines of field corn were evaluated for resistance to leaf feeding by the European corn borer, Pyrausta dubilalis (Hubn.), using field and laboratory methods. These lines were Minnesota resistant lines A288 and A295, susceptible line A291, and their common parents, resistant line L317 and susceptible line A344. Studies reported here have shown that results obtained in laboratory studies of survival of corn borer larvae feeding on resistant and susceptible leaf tissue were generally similar to results obtained in field studies. This work has shown that the resistance present in the lines studied was due primarily to antibiosis. It has also shown that there are differences in survival of newly hatched corn borer larvae reflecting differences in planting date, stage of growth of the plants, and maturity of corn leaf tissue, as well as differences in overall plant resistance. Although care must be taken whenever data obtained in the laboratory are compared with field data and data obtained in other types of laboratory studies, the available evidence indicates that the laboratory technique employed will prove useful as another tool in furthering our understanding of resistance. This technique has the advantage that small samples (1½ inches by 3 inches) of leaf tissue from areas of the plant where resistance is most effective may be evaluated for presence of resistant factors. The use of related inbred lines has demonstrated some of the genetic implications of resistance studies.
Most games violate the common priors doctrine

The type of a player in a game describes the beliefs of that player about the types of others. We show that the subset of vectors of such player-type beliefs which obey the consistency condition sometimes called the Harsanyi doctrine is of Lebesgue measure zero. Furthermore, as the number of players becomes large the ratio of the dimension Harsanyi-consistent beliefs to the set of all beliefs tends to zero.
Approximating compensated income from ordinary demand functions

Abstract This paper proposes a REversible Second-ORder Taylor (RESORT) approximation to compensated income from ordinary demand functions. RESORT yields the Malmquist-Vartia (M-V) algorithm as a first-order case. Using the Slutsky equation, RESORT obtains the substitution matrix and checks it for symmetry and negative semi-definiteness to validate compensated income. This validation procedure is an improvement over M-V.
Optimization of stability-constrained geometrically nonlinear shallow trusses using an arc length sparse method with a strain energy density approach

A technique for the optimization of stability-constrained geometrically nonlinear shallow trusses with snap-through behavior is demonstrated using the arc length method and a strain energy density approach within a discrete finite-element formulation. The optimization method uses an iterative scheme that evaluates the performance of the design variables and then updates them according to a recursive formula that is controlled by the arc length method. A minimum weight design is achieved when a uniform nonlinear strain energy density is found in all members. This minimal condition places the design load just below the critical-limit load that causes snap-through of the structure. The optimization scheme is programmed into a nonlinear finite-element algorithm to find the large strain energy at critical-limit loads. Examples of highly nonlinear trusses that are found in literature are presented to verify the method.
High energy electron impact ionization for elemental analysis by energy dispersive X-ray spectrometry

A method has been demonstrated in which the emission of characteristic X-rays following impact ionization by electrons of several MeV energy is used for quantitative elemental analysis. Because of the unique properties of MeV electrons with respect to their X-ray production yield and range in solids, the method has comparable sensitivity over a wide range of elements and relatively less stringent sample preparation requirements. By using energy dispersive techniques to detect the X-rays, a simultaneous determination of the weight fraction of the elements in an unknown sample is possible from a procedure based entirely on empirically determined relative X-ray yields. The method was tested by analyzing three standard metal alloy samples obtained from the National Bureau of Standards. Elements reaging from iron (Z=26) to lead (Z=82) with concentrations from 0.06% to 88% were quantitatively determined. In general, good approximate agreement was found wit the reported assays even for the minor constituents.
Effects of polarization-mode dispersion on dual-pump fiber-optic parametric amplifiers

We study the impact of residual random birefringence and the resulting polarization-mode dispersion and show that they limit the performance of dual-pump parametric amplifiers even when two pumps are chosen to be orthogonally polarized initially.
Percutaneous transcatheter patent foramen ovale closure using the right internal jugular venous approach.

Percutaneous transcatheter closure of a patent foramen ovale (PFO) is a therapeutic option in patients with paradoxical embolism. For patients in whom PFO closure is indicated when a femoral venous approach is not possible, we describe the successful closure of two PFOs using the right internal jugular venous approach.
Processing guayule for latex and bulk rubber

Abstract The production of latex or bulk rubber from guayule has been pursued at various times since guayule rubber ceased being an article of commerce more than 60 years ago. Hypo-allergenic guayule latex has been prepared in 25–50-kg laboratory batches. Dilute latex was first washed from ground shrub and then concentrated by a combination of multi-stage centrifugation and creaming steps. This material was used to fabricate prototype medical products. A total of 8.8 t of dry guayule rubber was produced by simultaneous extraction of rubber and resin with a mixed organic solvent, followed by fractionation of the polymer stream. This material was tested in aircraft and light truck tires. At present, those seeking to process guayule must be prepared to meet several challenges: increasing the bulk viscosity of the rubber polymer, reducing the level of entrained resin and assuring oxidative and thermal stability. From this standpoint, latex process development remains in its early stages, whereas processing guayule for bulk rubber has been more thoroughly and successfully evaluated.
Continuous precipitation of uranium peroxide from high-vanadium mill solutions

Etude de la recuperation de l'uranium a partir des solutions de broyage a teneur elevee en vanadium (le rapport molaire de V:U etant de 1:5) par precipitation au peroxyde d'hydrogene. On montre que les problemes lies a la presence excessive de vanadium (precipitation incomplete, contamination des precipites) peuvent etre resolus par simple addition de sulfate de sodium a l'alimentation du reacteur
Glucose 6-phosphate dehydrogenase in Drosophila malanogaster: starch gel electrophoretic variation due to molecular instability.

Two starch gel electrophoretic variants of glucose 6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) in Drosophila melanogasterwere partially purified and characterized biochemically. The difference in their migration on starch gel is not due to a charge difference, but rather to a difference in molecular size due to instability of one of the variants. Crosses between the two variants did not produce offspring showing an intermediate electrophoretic band in the heterozygous female. That an hybrid molecule does exist in the heterozygous female, however, was demonstrated by taking advantage of differences in heat lability and structural stability of the two variants. Hence, we conclude that the G6PD locus in both X-chromosomes is active in each cell in female Drosophila.Our findings with DrosophilaG6PD emphasize the importance to protein variation and enzyme function of mutations leading to amino acid substitutions which do not produce a change in net charge.
Optimal Computed Tomography Imaging of the Midfoot: An Improved Technique

A new protocol for computed tomography (CT) imaging of the midfoot is described. This imaging technique places the CT cuts parallel to and perpendicular to the talus-first metatarsal axis, as viewed on the lateral CT scout image. For imaging the midfoot, this technique is an improvement over previously described hindfoot or midfoot protocols.
Ligand-centered redox activity: redox properties of 3d transition metal ions ligated by the weak-field tris(pyrrolyl)ethane trianion.

First-row transition metal complexes of the tris(pyrrolyl)ethane (tpe) trianion have been prepared. The tpe ligand was found to coordinate in a uniform η1,η1,η1-coordination mode to the divalent metal series as revealed by X-ray diffraction studies. Magnetic and structural characterization for complexes of the type [(tpe)MII(py)][Li(THF)4] (M: Mn, Fe, Co, Ni) reveal each divalent ion to be high-spin and have a distorted trigonal-monopyramidal geometry in the solid state. The pyridine ligand binds significantly canted from the molecular C3 axis due to a stabilizing π-stacking interaction with a ligand mesityl substituent. Cyclic voltammetry on the [(tpe)MII(py)]− series reveals a common irreversible oxidation pathway that is entirely ligand-based, invariant to the divalent metal bound. This latter observation indicates that fully populated ligand-based orbitals from the tpe construct are energetically most accessible in the electrochemical experiments, akin to their dipyrromethane analogues. Chemical oxida...