cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
467. Spatial-Temporal Prediction Model of COVID-19 Mortality across 62 Counties in New York State

Background: COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in considerable morbidity and mortality New York State (NY) is the hotspot with most coronavirus cases, while there are spatial/temporal variations Yet, few examined county-level factors of mortality in COVID-19 patients in NY Based on the sociological framework in health, this study links large and representative public data to understand COVID-19 mortality in NY over different stages of pandemic Methods: Mortality cases were from Mar 17 (state of emergency;0 1 per 100,000), Apr 18 (coronavirus peak;87 4), Apr 25 (expand testing;108 7), and May 11 (daily reduced to original;137 6) Three domains (compositional, contextual, and collective) and 28 county-level predictors of mortality were extracted from American Community Survey, Area Health Resources, US Crime Data, and Religious Data systems for each county Compositional domain covered socio-demographic characteristics in local areas (e g , age, sex, race/ethnicity, housing) Contextual domain covered include social and physical opportunities (e g , health insurance coverage, transportation, mental health providers) Collective domain covered neighborhood safety and religious adherents Mixed effect regression with the least absolute shrinkage selection operator (LASSO) was used to select the predictors and estimate the parameters after adjusting the time effect and cumulative prevalence of COVID-19 Results: NYC and the nearby boroughs (i e , Bronx, Kings, Manhattan, Queens) had the highest cumulative mortality (231 69 per 100,000 people) Counties far from New York Cities (e g , Allegany, Cortland, Delaware) had the lowest cumulative mortality Spatial variation showed counties with larger population density (β= 01, p= 022) and/or higher proportion of people with at least high school education (β=227 24, p= 03) were at risk of higher cumulative mortality in COVID-19 Conclusion: Unique spatial clustering mortality risk of COVID-19s was detected, highlighting important but understudied roles of contextual and collective factors Tailored policy efforts shall be designed to support counties with large population density and high levels of education to prevent the mortality related to COVID-19 infection in NY (Figure Presented)
Mental Illness and Gun Violence: Research and Policy Options:

This article provides an overview of current knowledge about the relationship between mental illness, violence, homicides, and suicides, with a view towards crafting sensible public policy options for reducing gun violence towards self or others. With this knowledge as a backdrop, the limitations of the federal National Instant Background Check System (NICS) as both over-inclusive and under-inclusive in identifying people with mental illness who pose potential risks are discussed. Finally, the article describes emerging approaches for identifying and removing firearms from persons who pose potential risks of gun violence towards self or others, including Extreme Risk Protection Orders ("Red Flag Laws") and other options.
We Are Teachers and Learners Together: Cross-Disciplinary Lessons from the Pilgrim Pipelines Dispute

Pipeline disputes present an opportunity to engage students in real-world contemporary environmental problems that relate directly to coursework in environmental studies and sciences (ESS). Using my own involvement with the Coalition against the Pilgrim Pipelines (CAPP) as an example, I demonstrate how community-based learning relates to course material in public health, Geographic Information Systems (GIS), and introductory environment and society courses. By threading together my advocacy work across courses, I express the ways that I came to encounter and value local knowledge and relationships. I also highlight the role of institutional arrangements in the support and promotion of community-based learning (CBL) pedagogy.
Dysphagia after cardiac surgery: Prevalence, risk factors, and associated outcomes

Abstract Objectives The study objectives were to determine the prevalence of swallowing impairment in adults after cardiac surgery and examine associated risk factors and health-related outcomes. Methods A prospective single-center study was conducted in postoperative adult cardiac surgery patients with no history of dysphagia. A standardized fiberoptic endoscopic evaluation of swallowing was performed within 72 hours of extubation. Blinded raters completed validated outcomes of swallowing safety and efficiency. Demographic, surgical, and postoperative health-related outcomes were collected. Univariate and multivariable regression analyses were performed with odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Results In 182 patients examined, imaging confirmed inefficient swallowing (residue) in 52% of patients and unsafe swallowing in 94% (65% penetrators, 29% aspirators). Silent aspiration was observed in 53% of aspirators, and 32% did not clear aspirate material. Independent risk factors for aspiration included New York Heart Association III and IV (OR, 2.9; CI, 1.2-7.0); reoperation (OR, 2.0; CI, 0.7-5.5); transesophageal echocardiogram images greater than 110 (OR, 2.6; CI, 1.1-6.3); intubation greater than 27 hours (OR, 2.1; CI, 0.8-5.3); and endotracheal tube size 8.0 or greater (OR, 3.1; CI, 1.1-8.6). Patients with 3 or 4 identified risk factors had a 16.4 (CI, 3.2-148.4) and 22.4 (CI, 3.7-244.7) increased odds of aspiration, respectively. Compared with nonaspirators, aspirators waited an additional 85 hours to resume oral intake, incurred $49,372 increased costs, and experienced a 43% longer hospital stay (P Conclusions Tracheal aspiration was prevalent, covert, and associated with increased morbidity and mortality.
Performance-based Bi-objective optimization of structural systems subject to stochastic wind excitation

Abstract This paper outlines the development of a stochastic simulation-based design optimization approach for dynamic wind excited structures in which correlations between component damages and losses are explicitly treated. The proposed approach integrates a bi-objective design optimization scheme with a probabilistic performance-based wind engineering methodology which systematically accounts for the various sources of uncertainties involved in system loss estimation. Through the ∊ -constraint technique, the bi-objective optimization problem is transformed into a series of single-objective stochastic optimization problems. To solve each ∊ -constraint optimization problem, a pseudo-simulation scheme is proposed that allows for the formulation of an approximate sub-problem that can be solved sequentially to identify solutions that define a set of Pareto optimal designs. In the proposed scheme, samples of engineering demands are approximated in terms of auxiliary variable vectors, which are by-products of an augmented simulation carried out in a fixed design point. Analytical expressions are derived that relate the engineering demand samples to the second-order statistics of wind-induced losses based on the concept of fragility. Potential correlations between the component capacities and component losses are explicitly treated. The effectiveness of the proposed approach and its scalability to high-dimensional problems are illustrated through optimal designs of moment-resisting frames subject to stochastic wind loads.
Synthesis and Purification of N 3 -Methylcytidine (m 3 C) Modified RNA Oligonucleotides

This protocol describes a step-by-step chemical synthesis approach to prepare N3 -methylcytidine (m3 C) and its phosphoramidite. The method for synthesizing m3 C starts from commercially available cytidine, and proceeds via N3 -methylation in the presence of MeI, which generates the N3 -methylcytidine (m3 C) nucleoside, followed by the installation of several protecting groups at sites that include the 5'-hydroxyl group (4,4'-dimethoxytrityl protection), the 4-amino group (benzoyl protection), and the 2'-hydroxyl group (tert-butyldimethylsilyl, TBDMS, protection). Standard phosphoramidite chemistry is applied to prepare the final m3 C phosphoramidite for solid-phase synthesis of a series of RNA oligonucleotides. © 2021 Wiley Periodicals LLC. Basic Protocol 1: Synthesis of N3 -methylcytidine (m3 C) and its phosphoramidite Basic Protocol 2: Automated synthesis of m3 C modified RNA oligonucleotides.
European Aspects of the Distribution Network Design. Problems and Models

In Germany, the design of distribution networks for consumer goods has focused, in most companies in the last three years, on the extension of the current structure for supplying Eastern Germany. After the gradual changes of the eighties — concentration of the production locations, more frequent supply of smaller quantities, stagnation of rail transports — we were faced with a sudden additional increase of the volume and distances of transportation which has caused a crisis of the road traffic in Germany.
Creating business value through E-commerce

Electronic commerce (E-Commerce) has been the world's fastest growing industry and has made a big impact on businesses. The impact of e-commerce on industry, businesses and firms' competitive advantage has been phenomenal. Various business models have evolved in last few years. But, despite of this, the business value returned by e-business environment is being viewed with increasing skepticism by researchers and practitioners. How does e-commerce framework enhance business value? What are the different factors where business value can be measured? These are the kinds of questions addressed in our chapter.
Morphogenesis in Selaginella. III. Meristem determination and cell differentiation.

Abstract Selaginella willdenovii Baker is a prostrate vascular cryptogam with a dorsiventral stem. At each major branching of the stem tip a dorsal and a ventral angle meristem are formed. The ventral meristem becomes determined as a root and the dorsal meristem as a shoot. Indoleacetic acid (IAA) is transported basipetally in the stem and has been found to be the regulatory agent for meristem determination both in vitro and in vivo. Growth measurements of intact plants indicated that the sequence of development for each stem unit is frond expansion, internodal elongation, ventral meristem growth as a root, and dorsal meristem growth as a shoot. The principal experimental findings of this study are as follows. Triiodobenzoic acid (TIBA), an inhibitor of auxin transport alters the normal pattern of development in intact plants, causing ventral meristems to develop as shoots and dorsal meristems to develop precociously. Dorsal meristems grown in sterile culture on an auxin-free medium develop as shoots, but in the presence of IAA develop as roots. Meristems transferred after excision from auxin-free to plus-auxin medium on successive days showed an increasing tendency to develop as shoots, with more than 50% doing so by day 5. The mitotic index is low at the time of excision of the meristem, rises to a peak on day 5 and then declines.
Chaotic Mixing in the Earth's Mantle

Publisher Summary This chapter presents the results of the studies of mixing in chaotic convection with applications to mantle convection. The isotopic observations of midocean ridge basalts (MORBs) and oceanic island basalts (OIBs) that pertain to mantle mixing are discussed first, followed by a discussion of recent advances in understanding mixing, using as an example, the mixing accomplished in a simple time-dependent periodic flow. The smallest scale is probably the minimum scale of mantle heterogeneity visible in MORBs; magma mixing is likely to smear out any smaller heterogeneities. Rapid mixing of the entire mantle by convection would disperse these heterogeneities and is incompatible with the observations. The uniformity of MORBs indicates that the shallow mantle is depleted; hence, some type of compositional stratification is required to supply the undepleted sources of OIBs. Much further work is needed both to resolve the form of convection in the mantle and to further understand the mechanics of mixing.
On Representation and Invariant Recognition of Complex Objects Based on Patches and Parts

This paper presents an outline of our view of 3D object modeling and recognition. The problem of interest is the recognition of which free-form object from a large possible set of articulated deformable objects in arbitrary positions is present in sensed data when clutter is also present and the objects are partially occluded. The modeling approach is to represent complex objects by patches or parts that individually capture significant local information and to geometrically relate them in order to provide the complete structure of an object. A representation that we use generally consists of implicit polynomial curves and surfaces for 2D data and 3D data, respectively. Recognition is based on geometric invariants-functions of patches or parts that capture the shape but are invariant to the geometric transformations. Since an object to be recognized may be a member of a class, or since the invariants for an object may take values in a class, recognition of class membership is necessary, and for this we use Bayesian recognizers. The technology of self and mutual invariants and Bayesian recognizers for implicit polynomial patches or parts is touched on in the paper. Another topic briefly discussed is representation by generalized cylinders within the framework of algebraic curves and invariants.
Management Communication: History, Distinctiveness, and Core Content

Management communication is the study of managers’ stewardship of writing and speaking to get work done with and through people. This paper overviews the field of management communication, its history, distinctiveness from other professional communication fields, and its content. The diversity of management communication training across the Financial Times’ top twenty MBA schools and of the theories influencing award-winning researchers’ work prompted a search for fundamental constructs. These training and researcher data, coupled with a review of the field’s most read journals and literature on the nature of managerial work, suggested a place to begin. Five core management communication activities are proposed: predicting audience response, selecting workplace language, seeing and shaping organizational genres, diagnosing communication effectiveness, and using discourse interaction.
Comparison of point-of-care testing (POCT): i-STAT(®) international normalized ratio (INR) vs reference laboratory INR in pediatric patients undergoing major surgery

Background: The aim of the study was to compare international normalized ratio (INR) results obtained by point-of-care testing (i-STAT® device) with the reference laboratory INR in children undergoing major surgery with expected significant blood loss. Methods: Pediatric patients undergoing craniofacial, spine, hip, or cancer surgery were included. Blood samples for coagulation testing were tested at several intraoperative time points and generally withdrawn from the arterial catheter, if accessible. A volume of 1.4 ml citrated blood was used for the reference laboratory INR test, and 0.1 ml of blood was taken for the whole blood INR test using the i-STAT® device. Blood samples for both tests were withdrawn at the same time and immediately analyzed with both devices. Results: A total of 169 paired blood samples were taken intraoperatively from 44 pediatric patients [IQR 0.9–10.7 years (median 3.3)]. Reference laboratory INR ranged from 0.96 to 3.43 (mean 1.40; sd 0.32) and INR of i-STAT® from 0.95 to 2.29 (mean 1.26; sd 0.22). The correlation coefficient was 0.83 (P 2.0, respectively. Conclusions: In the perioperative setting, point-of-care INR testing in children using the i-STAT® device is a reliable and easy-to-handle method for INR values ≤2.0, while INR values >2.0 might be underestimated.
Novel Interface to Biological Systems for Retinal Prosthetics

The development of retinal prostheses requires a method for interconnecting an imaging system to the retina. Such a system must be able to individually address and stimulate retinal neurons, a significant advance from current technology. As a step toward this goal, we present a novel electronic-to-biologic interface using microfabricated apertures in a silicon substrate. Apertures are created in a thin silicon nitride membrane, after which the surface is appropriately modified to support cell growth. Excitable cells are seeded on the device and imaged using Ca 2+ -sensitive fluorescent dyes in either an inverted or confocal microscope. Using rat pheochromocytoma (PC12) cells, we show the ability to stimulate locally through the apertures. The device allows for the stimulation of cells at precise locations, a necessary requirement for future high-resolution retinal prostheses.
Verifying ADS-B navigation information through Doppler shift measurements

Recent efforts to modernize aviation traffic control have mandated the gradual replacement of the existing analogue radar system with a next-generation (NextGen) digital one. Part of this NextGen system is the Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast (ADS-B) standard. ADS-B aims at improving aviation safety by enabling aircraft broadcast navigation information. However, the current ADS-B standard does not provide mechanisms for verifying the integrity of navigation broadcasts. Consequently, aircraft trajectories can be easily spoofed. In this paper, we address the problem of verifying the navigation information of ADS-B transmissions. Fundamentally, this is a classical message integrity problem that can be addressed with cryptographic methods. However, cryptographic primitives are not part of ADS-B, primarily due to standardization and key management challenges. To address the shortcomings of ADS-B, we propose a PHY-layer verification method that exploits RF attributes of ADS-B transmissions to verify the aircraft's velocity and position. Specifically, we exploit the short coherence time of the wireless channel and the Doppler spread phenomenon to detect spoofed ADS-B messages broadcasted by a rogue ground station. We show that the security offered by our verification method is equivalent to the hardness of under defied quadratic equation systems, which are used in public-key cryptography.
Retrovirally Mediated Expression of Decorin by Macrovascular Endothelial Cells EFFECTS ON CELLULAR MIGRATION AND FIBRONECTIN FIBRILLOGENESISIN VITRO

Decorin is a member of the widely expressed family of small leucine-rich proteoglycans. In addition to a primary role as a modulator of extracellular matrix protein fibrillogenesis, decorin can inhibit the cellular response to growth factors. Decorin expression is induced in endothelial cells during angiogenesis, but not when migration and proliferation are stimulated. Thus, decorin may support the formation of the fibrillar pericellular matrix that stabilizes the differentiated endothelial phenotype during the later stages of angiogenesis. Therefore, we tested whether constitutive decorin expression alone could modify endothelial cell migration and proliferation or affect pericellular matrix formation. To this end, replication-defective retroviral vectors were used to stably express bovine decorin, which was detected by Northern and Western blotting. The migration of endothelial cells that express decorin is significantly inhibited in both monolayer outgrowth and microchemotaxis chamber assays. The inhibition of cell migration by decorin was not accompanied by decreased proliferation. In addition, endothelial cells that express decorin assemble an extensive fibrillar fibronectin matrix more rapidly than control cells as assessed by immunocytochemical and fibronectin fibrillogenesis assays. These observations suggest that cell migration may be modulated by the influence of decorin on the assembly of the cell-associated extracellular matrix.
Bathymetry and body size in marine gastropods: a shallow water perspective

Spatial patterns of species body size across major environmental gradients are being quantified for terrestrial organisms, but similar efforts are largely lacking for marine invertebrates. Bathymetry represents a major environmental gradient in the oceans, and existing theoretical mod- els predict that species body size should decrease with increasing depth, especially for deep-sea spe- cies. Previous analyses of body size in deep-sea gastropods have shown size to increase with depth and hence contradict model predictions. In this study, I use data for 636 species of gastropods (in 10 major groups) living on the NE Pacific continental shelf to test hypotheses about processes that determine size-depth trends in marine gastropods. Results show that the gastropod family Turridae, a major component of both shallow-water and deep-sea biotas, shows similar size-depth trends in both environments but that predominantly shallow water families may show different patterns. In addition, size-depth trends may differ between clades and between different trophic groups. The implications of these results for better understanding the processes that underlie bathymetric trends in body size are discussed.
Restenosis after successful percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty

R ESTENOSIS after initially successful percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA) remains one of the most important unresolved problems associated with this procedure, occurring in approximately 25% to 35% of patients. The peculiar pattern of restenosis is such that the recurrence of signs and symptoms of ischemia appears in the vast majority of patients between 2 and 5 months after the procedure, and is rarely seen after 8 months.‘-4 Although restenosis usually can be effectively managed by repeat PTCA,596 the large number of patients so affected adds significantly to the morbidity and detracts from the potential economic advantages of this therapeutic modality. It might even be argued that PTCA is medically ineffective and financially wasteful in the occasional patient who requires multiple repeat PTCAs’ and ultimately, coronary bypass surgery. Ever mindful that restenosis is a common problem with obvious clinical implications, physicians routinely monitor post-PTCA patients with frequent stress tests, adding to its financial and emotional cost. Restenosis rates have remained constant despite improved initial results in ever more complex cases; hence, better catheter and guidewire technoIogy and increased operator experience are not the answers to this problem.3*8*g Recognition that recent clinical trials of antiplatelet agents and vasodilators have proven ineffective as preventive measures is a further sobering thought. Where do we go from here? This review of potential mechanisms of restenosis and the factors influencing its occurrence is undertaken on the premise that a compilation of such information will benefit both the clinician and the investigator.
Antibodies against synthetic amphipathic helical sequences of surfactant protein SP-B detect a conformational change in the native protein.

Abstract Synthetic peptides based on the native human sequence of surfactant protein B have been used to generate polyclonal monospecific antibodies against specific segments of the native SP-B protein. Circular dichroism analysis of the synthetic peptides shows they have a dominant helical content in structure promoting environments and tensiometric measurements indicate these peptides lower surface tension at air—water interfaces implying that they contain amphipathic alpha helical motifs. Antibodies directed against the C-terminal segment of SP-B react with the native protein in the oxidized and reduced state. Antibodies directed against the N-terminal sequence of SP-B react with the native protein only in the reduced state suggesting that this domain has a conformation dependent on disulfide bond formation.
Human wapl is a cohesin-binding protein that promotes sister-chromatid resolution in mitotic prophase

Summary Background The linkage between duplicated chromosomes (sister chromatids) is established during S phase by the action of cohesin, a multisubunit complex conserved from yeast to humans. Most cohesin dissociates from chromosome arms when the cell enters mitotic prophase, leading to the formation of metaphase chromosomes with two cytologically discernible chromatids. This process is known as sister-chromatid resolution. Although two mitotic kinases have been implicated in this process, it remains unknown exactly how the cohesin-mediated linkage is destabilized at a mechanistic level. Results The wings apart-like (Wapl) protein was originally identified as a gene product that potentially regulates heterochromatin organization in Drosophila melanogaster . We show that the human ortholog of Wapl is a cohesin-binding protein that facilitates cohesin's timely release from chromosome arms during prophase. Depletion of Wapl from HeLa cells causes transient accumulation of prometaphase-like cells with chromosomes that display poorly resolved sister chromatids with a high level of cohesin. Reduction of cohesin relieves the Wapl-depletion phenotype, and depletion of Wapl rescues premature sister separation observed in Sgo1-depleted or Esco2-depleted cells. Conversely, overexpression of Wapl causes premature separation of sister chromatids. Wapl physically associates with cohesin in HeLa-cell nuclear extracts. Remarkably, in vitro reconstitution experiments demonstrate that Wapl forms a stoichiometric, ternary complex with two regulatory subunits of cohesin, implicating its noncatalytic function in inactivating cohesin's ability to interact with chromatin. Conclusions Wapl is a new regulator of sister chromatid resolution and promotes release of cohesin from chromosomes by directly interacting with its regulatory subunits.
[Radio-guided parathyroidectomy: successful intraoperative parathyroid localization diagnosis with 99mTc-sestamibi in primary and recurrent hyperparathyroidism].

Einleitung: In der praoperativen Lokalisationsdiagnostik pathologisch veranderter Nebenschilddrusen bei Hyperparathyreoidismus (HPT) ist neben Sonographie, CT, MRT und selektiver Halsvenenkatheterisierung in jungster Zeit die nuklearmedizinische Untersuchung mit 99 mTc-MIBI in den Vordergrund geruckt. Die praoperative Sensitivitat der Methode erreicht 87 % beim primaren (p), 58 % beim sekundaren (s) und 75 % beim rezidivierenden HPT. Ziel der retrospektiven Untersuchung war es, den Stellenwert der intraoperativen Lokalisationsdiagnostik mit 99 mTc-MIBI bei HPT zu ermitteln. Methoden: Es wurden Daten von 24 Patienten im Behandlungszeitraum September 1998 bis Mai 2000 analysiert, die sich an unserer Klinik einer HPT-Operation (18 pHPT, 4 sHPT, 2 rezidivierender HPT) unterzogen. Nach praoperativer 99 mTc-MIBI-Szintigraphie wurden den Patienten 2 Std vor der Operation 700 MBq 99 mTc-MIBI verabreicht. Durch intraoperative Messungen mit Gammasonden lies sich der Ort maximaler Aktivitat fokussieren. Die an dieser Stelle identifizierte Nebenschilddruse wurde exstirpiert und histopathologisch aufgearbeitet. Ergebnisse: Bei 15 der 18 Patienten mit pHPT konnte das Nebenschilddrusenadenom mittels 99 mTc-MIBI intraoperativ eindeutig lokalisiert werden. Die Aktivitat des Nebenschilddrusenadenoms lag bei diesen Patienten 30–310 % uber der Hintergrundaktivitat, im Gegensatz zu 0–20 % bei den 3 frustranen Versuchen. Eine minimal-invasive Operationstechnik uber einen Minischnitt war bei 67 % der Patienten moglich. Bei rezidivierendem HPT konnten zweimal ektope Nebenschilddrusenadenome lokalisiert werden. Demgegenuber war die Methode beim sHPT ineffektiv. Schlusfolgerung: Mit der Sondenmessung nach 99 mTc-MIBI-Markierung steht eine intraoperative Lokalisationsmethode zur Verfugung, die mit hoher Sensitivitat Nebenschilddrusenadenome bei primarem und rezidivierendem HPT nachweist und minimal-invasive Operationstechniken erleichtern kann.
Biotic and abiotic factors affecting stability of Beauveria bassiana conidia in soil

Abstract Beauveria bassiana conidia were stored in sterile and nonsterile soil under various temperature, relative humidity, soil water content, and p H regimes. Survival of the conidia was primarily dependent on temperature and soil water content. Conidia half-lives ranged from 14 days at 25°C and 75% water saturation to 276 days at 10°C and 25% water saturation. Conidia held at −15°C exhibited little or no loss in viability regardless of water content, relative humidity, or p H. Conidia were not recoverable after 10 days from soils held at 55°C. Conidia survival in nonsterile soil that was amended with carbon sources, nitrogen sources, or combinations of carbon and nitrogen was greatly decreased and loss was often complete in less than 22 days whereas sterile soil treated in the same manner showed dramatic increases in number, demonstrating that B. bassiana is capable of growth in sterile soil. The obvious fungistatic effect in amended nonsterile soils was possibly related to Penicillium urticae which was routinely isolated from the soils and is shown to produce a water-soluble inhibitor of B. bassiana . The fungistatic effect was shown to be an active inhibition rather than due to competition.
Language Instruction in Czechoslovakia

6) The bivariate tables indicated that some high scoring pupils on the Metropolitan Reading Test obtained average and low scores in French and that some low scoring pupils in the Metropolitan Test scored high or average in French. Hence, the use of a cut-off score based on the scores obtained on the Metropolitan Reading Test would lead to many errors in screening students for a FLES program such as the one evaluated in this study. 7) The Metropolitan Elementary Reading Test was equally inadequate for the boys and girls when used as a prediction instrument for scores on the French Listening Comprehension Test.
EVALUATION OF COLORIMETRIC METHODS IN THE ESTIMATION OF SIALIC ACID IN BACTERIA.

NUMEROUS reports have appeared claiming the presence of the sialic acids in various Gram-negative bacteria1–9. In several communications7–9 the detection and estimation of these acids were made solely by the colorimetric procedure of Warren10. In others, a modified direct Ehrlich procedure was used1–5.
4th Annual Dysferlin Conference 11-14 September 2010, Washington, USA.

The 4th Annual Dysferlin Conference, sponsored and organized by the Jain Foundation, was held from September 11–14, 2010 in Bellevue, WA, USA. Participants included 36 invited speakers from 10 countries around the world, 16 additional scientists and clinicians, 26 poster presenters, 4 dysferlinopathy patients, 2 representatives of other muscular dystrophy foundations, and 7 members of the Jain Foundation scientific team. The objective of the annual Dysferlin Conferences is to accelerate research on the dysferlinopathies, Limb Girdle Muscular Dystrophy 2B (LGMD2B) and Miyoshi Myopathy, by promoting collaboration and sharing between leading scientists and clinicians in the field. LGMD2B/MM are caused by mutations in dysferlin, and are characterized by progressive muscle wasting that begins in the late teenage years. Although dysferlin has been implicated in muscle fiber membrane repair, effective therapy development requires a more complete understanding of dysferlin’s function and how it leads to muscle pathology. This year’s meeting implemented a novel “lab-meeting” conference format that emphasized the open exchange of information by multiple researchers that converged on a specific scientific question or topic. This format allowed a detailed analysis of key questions in the field, and a venue to air potential solutions.
IMPACT OF PROSTATE SIZE ON THE OUTCOME OF TRANSURETHRAL LASER EVAPORATION OF THE PROSTATE FOR BENIGN PROSTATIC HYPERPLASIA

Abstract Objectives The aim of this study was to evaluate efficacy and safety of transurethral evaporation of the prostate (TUEP) using neodymium:yttrium-aluminumgarnet (Nd:YAC) laser in prostate glands of various sizes. Methods One hundred consecutive patients with benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) and prostate volumes less than 40 cc (group I, n = 41), 41 to 80 cc (group II, n = 39), and more than 80 cc (group III, n = 20), who had preoperative prostate volume estmation by transrectal ultrasound and had completed a minimum of 3 months' followup, underwent TUEP. At baseline, and at 3 and 6 months, American Urological Assocation (AUA) score, peak flow rate (PFR), postvoid residual urine (PVR), and complications, if any, were documented. Results There were no significant differences in failure rates, complications, or ability to improve symptom score, PFR, and PVR between patients with prostate glands of various sizes. The mean improvement in PFR at 6 months was: group 1, 9.9 cc/s (1 16%); group II, 7.4 cc/s (81%); and group III, 9.2 cc/s (107%). Reduction in AUA score was: group 1, 14.6 (63%); group II, 17.7 (71%); and group III, 16.2 (70%). PVR was: group I, 62.5 cc (51%); group II, 31.4 cc (16%), and group III, 71 cc (83%) (differences not significant). The patients in urinary retention were separately analyzed (group I, 9, group II, 12, and group III, 5) and mean PFR at 6 months was: group I, 18.5 cc/s, group II, 15 cc/s, and group III, 17.1 cc/s. Mean AUA score at 6 months was: group I, 25.8; group II, 21; and group III, 23.6. Mean PVR score was: group I, 370 cc, group II, 439 cc; and group III, 400 cc (differences not significant). Mean postoperative catheterization time was higher in patients with glands larger than 80 cc (2.2 versus 2.9 versus 4.7 days in groups I, II, and III, respectively, P Conclusions TUEP appears to be a safe and effective treatment for relief of symptom of BPH and improvement of PFR in patients with all sizes of prostate glands.
Rational design of targeted cancer therapeutics through the multiconjugation of folate and cleavable siRNA to RAFT-synthesized (HPMA-s-APMA) copolymers.

A well-defined N-(2-hydroxypropyl)methacrylamide-s-N-(3-aminopropyl)methacrylamide (HPMA-s-APMA) copolymer, synthesized via reversible addition−fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) polymerization, was utilized for the rational design of multiconjugates containing both a gene therapeutic, small interfering RNA (siRNA), and a cancer cell targeting moiety, folate. The copolymer contains a biocompatible poly(HPMA) portion (91 mol %) and a primary amine, APMA, portion (9 mol %). A fraction (20 mol %) of the APMA repeats were converted to activated thiols utilizing the amine- and sulfhydryl-reactive molecule N-succinimidyl 3-(2-pyridyldithio)-propionate (SPDP). 5′-Thiolated sense strand RNAs were then coupled to the polymer through a disulfide exchange with pendant pyridyldithio moieties, giving an 89 ± 4% degree of conjugation. The unmodified APMA units (80 mol %) were subsequently coupled to amine reactive folates with 81 ± 1% efficiency. This yielded a multiconjugate copolymer with 91 mol % HPMA, 2 mol % RNA,...
Movie stars and box office revenues: an empirical analysis

This paper examines the relationship between star power and box office revenues using box office data from nine countries and a continuous measure of star power based on the number of visits to a star’s web page on IMDB, the most popular web site for movie-related information. The degree of star power is computed for the top star, top three stars, and the director for the films in our sample. The results indicate that replacing an average star with a top star would increase revenues by an average of $16,618,570, while replacing three average stars with three top stars would increase revenues by an average of $64,410,381.
Decreased sperm motility is associated with air pollution in Salt Lake City

Objective To study the correlation between indices of air pollution and sperm parameters. Design Ecological study. Setting Contained geographic area. Patient(s) Resident men presenting for semen analysis or artificial insemination. Intervention(s) Analysis of levels of particulate air pollution (particulate matter [PM] 2.5) over a five-year period in relation to sperm parameters obtained from semen analyses and separately in relation to sequences of sperm parameters at the time of semen preparations for artificial insemination. To account for the duration of spermatogenesis (72 days), "corrected" variables were created by shifting backward 1, 2, 3 and 4 months each of the semen parameters. The final analysis corrected for season of the year and current temperature. Main Outcome Measure(s) Sperm concentration, sperm motility and sperm morphology. Result(s) The study included 1,699 semen analyses and 877 inseminations. PM 2.5 levels were highest in the winter months, when the ambient temperature was the lowest. Semen analysis data showed that values of PM 2.5 were negatively correlated to sperm motility two months and three months following the recording of the PM 2.5 values. Artificial insemination data also showed that sperm motility correlated negatively with PM 2.5 values recorded three months previously. Conclusion(s) Both semen analysis and sperm parameters data obtained from men presenting for multiple inseminations over time showed that air pollution is associated with reduced sperm motility two to three month after exposure.
In vitro selection for methomyl resistance in CMS-T maize.

Many plants resistant to methomyl (Lannate), an insecticide which selectively damages maize with the Texas (T) type of cytoplasmic male sterility (CMS-T), were obtained by in vitro selection and also without selection. The selection procedure used 0.6–0.7mM methomyl and callus from CMS-T versions of several field and sweet corn genotypes (W182BN, Wf9, P39, MDM1, SW1 and hybrids of SW1, IL766A1, IL766A2, and 442 with W182BN-N). Addition of 1 mM methomyl to the regeneration medium greatly reduced recovery of methomyl-sensitive escapes. Resistance was linked with reversion to male fertility and maternally inherited. Most progeny of resistant plants exhibited stable maternally inherited resistance for two generations in field tests. First-generation progeny of seven culture-derived plants segregated for resistance and sensitivity; this suggests that ears of these seven regenerants were cytoplasmically chimeral. Resistance to methomyl was associated with resistance to T toxin from Helminthosporium maydis race T and with changes in mitochondrial physiology. Prolonged culture (14–16 months versus 6–8 months) increased the frequency of resistance among both selected and non-selected regenerants. Little or no resistance was found among regenerants from certain genotypes. Selection with methomyl may be useful for production of improved sweet corn lines and as a source of mitochondrial mutants. This system is also convenient for studies of the effects of nuclear background and of culture and selection systems on the generation of cytoplasmic mutants.
40AR/39Ar ages of six Apollo 15 impact melt rocks by laser step heating

We have obtained 15 high resolution (21–51 step) 40Ar/39 age spectra on six Apollo 15 impact melt rocks of different compositions using a continuous laser system on submilligram subsamples and on single crystal plagioclase clasts. Four of the six samples gave reproducible age spectra with well-defined intermediate temperature plateaus over 48% or more of the 39Ar released; the plateaus are interpreted as crystallization ages. Samples 15304,7,69, 15294,6,21, and 15314,26,156 gave virtually identical plateau ages whose weighted mean is 3,870±6 Ma. These three melt rocks differ in composition and likely formed in three separate impact events. Sample 15356,9 gave replicate plateau ages that average 3,836±12 Ma and date a fourth and younger impact event. The age spectra for samples 15308,9 and 15414,3,36 increase with increasing increment temperature and may have been formed in or affected by impacts at about 2,700 Ma and 3,870 Ma, respectively. So far there continues to be no convincing evidence in the lunar record for impact melts older than about 3.9 Ga.
Performer-centered visual feedback for human-machine improvisation

This article describes the design and implementation of the Multimodal Interactive Musical Improvisation (Mimi) system. Unique to Mimi is its visual interface, which provides the performer with instantaneous and continuous information on the state of the system, in contrast to other human-machine improvisation systems, which require performers to grasp and intuit possible extemporizations in response to machine-generated music without forewarning. In Mimi, the information displayed extends into the near future and reaches back into the recent past, allowing the performer awareness of the musical context so as to plan their response accordingly. This article presents the details of Mimi's system design, the visual interface, and its implementation using the formalism defined by Francois' Software Architecture for Immersipresence (SAI) framework. Mimi is the result of a collaborative iterative design process. We have recorded the design sessions and present here findings from the transcripts that provide evidence for the impact of visual support on improvisation planning and design. The findings demonstrate that Mimi's visual interface offers musicians the opportunity to anticipate and to review decisions, thus making it an ideal performance and pedagogical tool for improvisation. It allows novices to create more contextually relevant improvisations and experts to be more inventive in their extemporizations.
Calcium in the toad (Bufo marinus) cornea: Binding by the stroma

Abstract 1. 1. The Ca concentration in the toad (Bufo marinus) cornea was 2.6 mmol/kg wet wt compared at 1.0 mmol/l in the bathing aqueous humor and 2.8 mmol/kg wet wt in the separated corneal stromal layer. Cell Ca content was calculated to be about 1.8 mmol/kg wet wt. 2. 2. About 80% of the total Ca appears to be sequestered or bound to tissue components most of which (68% of the total) is associated with the stroma (2.2 mmol/kg wet wt stroma). 3. 3. About 85–90% of the Ca in the stroma is readily exchangeable with external 45Ca. 4. 4. The loss of accumulated 45Ca from the stroma was measured in vitro. This efflux of the isotope was enhanced by multivalent ions and was greatest when Ca2+ or La3+ was present in the external media. Other alkaline earth metal ions were not as effective. The relative effectiveness of this displacement of 45Ca was Ca = La > Sr > Ba > Mg. 5. 5. The results suggest that the Ca2+ is bound by the amphibian stroma at sites that have a preference or specificity for this divalent ion as compared to the other alkaline earth metals. 6. 6. The possible functional role of this bound Ca is discussed.
Tumor-related prognostic factors for breast cancer

Interest in prognostic factors for breast cancer has been stimulated by the success of systemic adjuvant therapy for early-stage operable disease. Patients destined for recurrence can be selected for systemic adjuvant therapy, while patients not likely to recur can be spared the morbidity of unnecessary treatment. The number of tumor-related features available for prognosis has grown impressively in recent years. The purpose of this article is to review tumor-related biologic factors and relate them to prognosis and treatment objectives.
Longitudinal analysis of T-cell receptor gene use by CD8+ T cells in early human immunodeficiency virus infection in patients receiving highly active antiretroviral therapy

The effects of early antiretroviral therapy on the peripheral CD8+ T-cell population were assessed by sequentially determining the T-cell receptor (TCR) repertoire complexity in a cohort of 15 individuals recently diagnosed with human immunodeficiency virus infection. Analysis was based on quantitative TCR variable B gene ( TCRBV ) usage and complementary-determining region 3 length assessment. Repertories were assessed at baseline and at weeks 2, 4, 12, 24, and 72 after initiation of therapy. Early administration of highly active antiretroviral therapy has a positive effect on the preservation and homeostasis of the CD8+ cell repertoire. Nevertheless, differences from average baseline and control TCR profiles and initial development of repertoire perturbations were observed. The findings suggest that additional therapeutic protocols will be required during primary infection to significantly prevent long-term erosion of the T-cell–mediated immune response.
The fragility of cooperation: A false feedback study of a sequential iterated prisoner's dilemma

We examined the mutability of naturally occurring mutual cooperation and mutual defection. Forty-five pairs of subjects participated in an extended iterated prisoner's dilemma (median duration 1807 trials) using a monetary payoff matrix. When stable cooperation or defection emerged, false feedback was provided indicating to each subject that his partner was choosing contrary to previously stable play. This was followed by recovery trials in which false feedback indicated to each subject that his partner had resumed making the previously stable choice. While stable cooperation occurred more frequently than stable defection, it was considerably more vulnerable to the false feedback manipulation. This was true both in terms of the extent to which choice changed in response to false feedback (p=0.006) and in terms of the extent to which the disruption persisted (p<0.001). While the effect of four false feedback cooperations was undone by a single recovery false feedback defection, the effect of even a single false feedback defection was still apparent after seven false feedback recovery cooperations. These results are discussed in relation to the analogy between interpersonal bargaining and intertemporal bargaining within individuals.
Moon based global field airglow: For artemis or any common lunar lander

Abstract An inexpensive, small mass, airglow experiment consisting of a suite of airglow detectors is planned for one or more lunar landers. Solid state detectors measuring light through narrow band filters or concave gratings can integrate emissions from lunar atmospheric constituents and store the information for relay to earth when convenient. The proposed instrument is a simplified version of the Shuttle-borne Arizona Imager-Spectrograph. These zenith and near horizon viewing detectors may allow us to monitor fluctuations in atomic species of oxygen, calcium, sodium, potassium, argon, and neon and OH, if present. This choice of observations would monitor outgassing from the interior (Ar), meteoritic dust flux (Na, K) solar wind sputtering (O, Ca), and outgassing from the surface (implanted Ne, Na, K). A global network could be inexpensively deployed aboard landers carrying a variety of other selenographic instrumentation. Powered by solar cells such a field network will return data applicable to a wide variety of interplanetary medium and solar-lunar interaction problems.
New Species of Cavernicolous Japygid (Diplura: Japygidae) from Texas

Mixojapyx reddelli , n. sp., from southwestern Texas, is described and illustrated. This species is characterized by its numerous antennal segments (53 in holotype), the presence of placoid sensilla on the last three antennal segments, the high number of macrosetae on all thoracic and abdominal sclerites, the anterolateral projection of tergites IV–VII into sharp weakly sclerotized points, and the dentation of the cerci. This species is unique among the North American japygid fauna because it is the only known species that leads an entirely cavernicolous existence and is the largest known North American japygid; some specimens are nearly 50 mm long.