cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
164 AUTONOMIC CONTROL OF HEART RATE: DECREASED RESPONSES AND ALTERED SYMPATHETIC VAGAL INTERACTIONS IN PUPPIES

Heart rate responses to autonomic stimulation were compared in 11 adult dogs and 4 pups. Adults had greater heart rate changes. The mean % changes in heart rate at the highest stimulation frequencies used are shown in the table: Combinations of vagal and stellate stimulation were given to determine the effects of simultaneous vagal and stellate stimulation. Both adults and pups had a significant vagal-sympathetic interaction such that the vagal effects became greater the higher the background level of sympathetic activity. However, in the pups, the interactions were less pronounced than in the adults. Thus, both the vagi and the sympathetics are functionally incomplete in young puppies and the interactions between the two systems are not fully developed either.
Early Hepatitis C virus–RNA responses predict interferon treatment outcomes in chronic hepatitis C

In previous studies employing interferons (IFNs) in the treatment of chronic hepatitis C, there have been few reliable predictors of sustained responses. We retrospectively evaluated the predictive value of hepatitis C virus (HCV)-RNA measurements in the first few months during consensus interferon (CIFN) treatment using a sensitive reverse-transcriptase polymerase chain reaction assay to determine sustained responses. Data from two large treatment trials, one of IFN-naive patients and one of retreated relapsers and nonresponders, were used, including serum samples at 2-week intervals in the naive study and 8-week intervals in the retreatment study. Patients received initial CIFN (9 microgram) treatment for 6 months and were assessed 6 months after treatment. There were 28 sustained viral responders of 232 CIFN-treated patients. Of the sustained responders, 48% had already cleared HCV RNA from serum (<100 copies/mL) by week 2, 78% by week 4, 81% by week 6, and 96% by week 12. Patients with early HCV-RNA clearance were more likely to have sustained responses than those who responded later. Early clearance of HCV from serum was also associated with greater likelihood of a sustained response to 48 weeks of retreatment with 15 microgram CIFN. Ninety-five percent of the sustained responders were HCV-RNA-negative by week 8 of retreatment. Early assessment of HCV RNA may help in the prediction of sustained responses to IFN and allow the value of continued treatment to be determined early in the course of IFN therapy.
Acetyl CoA mediated specific inhibition of malic enzyme (EC 1.1.1.40) from rat liver and skeletal muscle cytoplasm.

Abstract Extramitochondrial malic enzyme (EC 1.1.1.40) of rat liver and skeletal muscle is shown for the first time to be subject to significant inhibition by acetyl CoA. The liver enzyme seems to be slightly more sensitive to inhibition than the muscle enzyme, and inhibition can only be observed at malate concentrations below Vmax. Since acetyl CoA is a metabolite of ethanol (acetate) oxidation in liver and muscle, its inhibitory effect on malic enzyme could explain (a) the prolonged disequilibrium of the liver malic enzyme reaction after acute ethanol injection in rats (1), and (b) the inhibition of alanine release from perfused rat hindquarters in the presence of acetate, the major metabolite of ethanol in the peripheral vascular system (2).
Effects of fetectomy on plasma estrogens and progesterone in monkeys (Macaca mulatta).

Effects of fetectomy on peripheral plasma levels of estrogens and progesterone were studied at 10 weeks (3 monkeys) and 16 weeks gestation (4 monkeys). Fetectomy was followed by a decrease in maternal peripheral plasma estradiol 17-β (E2) at a time when E2 levels remained elevated in intact pregnant monkeys. Estrone (E1) levels, initially low at fetectomy (10 weeks), were maintained at similar low levels in contrast to elevated concentrations observed in normal animals during the final 30 days of pregnancy. In the absence of the fetus, progesterone (P) levels were similar to those of the normal pregnancies. After removal or delivery of the placenta, P levels decreased rapidly. Maternal hypophysectomy in one animal (10 weeks) produced a transient decrease in E2 followed by recovery to control levels by 16 weeks. Subsequent fetectomy (16 weeks) was followed by a precipitous decline in maternal E2 levels. In conclusion, results indicate: a fetal origin, possibly from adrenal precursors, for the major contribution of E2 during the last 3 months and E1 during the last month of gestation; and placental production of most of the P found in peripheral plasma of pregnant rhesus monkeys.
Hepatic insulin responsiveness in patients with endogenous hypertriglyceridaemia.

Plasma insulin response to oral glucose, insulin resistance, and insulin suppression of hepatic glucose production were studied in 11 normal subjects and 11 hypertriglyceridaemic patients. Patients with hypertriglyceridaemia had a significantly higher insulin response to oral glucose. Insulin resistance was also significantly greater in hypertriglyceridaemic subjects as determined by measuring the steady-state plasma glucose response during a continuous infusion of epinephrine, propranolol, glucose, and exogenous insulin. Insulin suppression of hepatic glucose production was calculated from the results of two studies in which glucose turnover rate was measured by a continuous infusion of3H-2-glucose. The first study was performed under conditions of basal insulin secretion, and the second carried out at steady state exogenous insulin levels of approximately 100 μU/ml. The results indicated that basal hepatic glucose production was the same in both groups, and was suppressed to an equal degree by physiological levels of insulin. These data demonstrate that hepatic glucose production can be suppressed to an equal degree in normal and hypertriglyceridaemic subjects at comparable circulating insulin levels, at the same time that resistance to insulin-stimulated glucose uptake is observed in the hypertriglyceridaemic individuals.
The TiAl phase diagram: the α-α2 phase boundary

Abstract Magnetic susceptibility measurements were used to determine the phase boundaries between the disordered hexagonal α and the ordered hexagonal α 2 phases in titanium-rich TiAl alloys.
Popsicle-Induced Anaphylaxis Due to Carmine Dye Allergy

Background IgE-mediated hypersensitivity is a suggested mechanism to explain adverse reactions from carmine-containing products. Objective To describe a patient who experienced anaphylaxis after ingestion of a popsicle colored with carmine and to provide additional evidence that the adverse reaction was IgE-mediated. Methods The patient and her husband underwent skin prick tests to the popsicle and carmine. The patient also received skin prick tests and/or open oral challenge to each of the other components of the incriminated food. Topical application of cosmetics with and without carmine to the patient's forearm was also performed. To confirm carmine-specific IgE, a Prausnitz-Kustner (P-K) test was performed using the patient's husband as recipient. Twenty control subjects also were tested to carmine by skin prick test. Results The patient showed 4+ skin prick test responses to the popsicle and carmine. Skin prick tests and/or open oral challenge to each of the other components of the popsicle were negative. The patient's husband's and 20 control subjects' skin prick tests to carmine were negative as was the patient's husband's skin prick test to the popsicle. Skin prick test reactivity to the popsicle and carmine were successfully transferred to the patient's husband in P-K format. Cosmetics applied to the patient's forearm elicited no immediate response. Conclusion The positive skin prick tests to the popsicle and carmine and the successful (P-K) transfer of skin prick test reactivity support a carmine-specific, IgE-mediated mechanism in explaining our patient's popsicle-induced anaphylaxis.
Development of the large increment method for elastic perfectly plastic analysis of plane frame structures under monotonic loading

Abstract The displacement-based finite element method dominates current practice for material nonlinear analysis of structures. However, there are several characteristics that may limit the effectiveness of this approach. In particular, for elastoplastic analysis, the displacement method relies upon a step-by-step incremental approach stemming from flow theory and also requires significant mesh refinement to resolve behavior in plastic zones. This leads to computational inefficiencies that, in turn, encourage the reconsideration of force-based approaches for elastoplastic problems. One of these force algorithms that has been recently developed is the large increment method. The main advantage of the flexibility-based large increment method (LIM) over the displacement method is that it separates the global equilibrium and compatibility equations from the local constitutive relations. Consequently, LIM can reach the solution in one large increment or in a few large steps, thus, avoiding the development of cumulative errors. This paper discusses the extension of the large increment methodology for the nonlinear analysis of plane frame structures controlled by an elastic, perfectly plastic material model. The discussion focuses on the power of LIM to handle these nonlinear problems, especially when plastic hinges form in the frame and ultimately as the structure approaches the collapse stage. Illustrative planar frame examples are presented and the results are compared with those obtained from a standard displacement method.
Application of environmental accounting information to the decision-making for the environmentally conscious design and end-of-life management of cellular phones

The aim of this paper is to construct a practical methodological framework on how to implement the environmental accounting information to aid the decision-making for the environmentally conscious design and end-of-life management of cellular phones, highlighting the social impact and economic drivers behind the environmental performance within the electronics industry. Given the critical issues and methodological challenges to construct a single-value life cycle cost estimation model for the cellular phone product system, a combination of "top-down" and "bottom-up" state-of-the-art approaches is proposed
Differences in enzyme levels and physiological processes in mice of different ages

Recent literature age differences in enzyme levels of mice is reviewed and related to reported differences in physiological processes. It is concluded that differences in enzyme levels to not provide a simple characterization of aging processes.
Genetic Relationships among Southwestern Populations of the Brazilian Free-Tailed Bat

Electrophoretic methods were used to test the hypothesis that migrationally distinct populations of Tadarida brasiliensis are distinct genetically. No fixed allelic differences were found, and genic differentiation among samples was slight. Excessive homozygosity within samples relative to that expected at Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium likely represents the Wahlund effect rather than inbreeding. Genetic relationships among southwestern populations of T. brasiliensis apparently are the result of at least some site tenacity of breeding populations but subsequent intermingling of gene pools in maternity and bachelor colonies.
Hydrolytic and enzymatic degradation of poly(γ-glutamic acid) hydrogels and their application in slow-release systems for proteins

The hydrolytic and enzymatic degradation of newly developed hydrogels, produced by cross-linking purified poly(γ-glutamic acid) (γPGA) with dihaloalkane compounds, was studied and is reported in this paper. Analysis of hydrolysis of the hydrogel as a function of pH indicated that the hydrolysis occurred slowly at neutral pH, but fast in both acidic and alkaline solutions, while the polymer could be hydrolyzed rapidly only in acidic solutions. The ester bonds were more sensitive to hydrolysis than peptide bonds. The biodegradability of the hydrogel and polymer was further confirmed when enzymatic degradation was studied by three enzymes (cathepsin B, pronase E, and trypsin), which were able to cleave both ester and peptide bonds gradually. A slow-release system for porcine somatotropin (pST) formed by using the hydrogel as matrix to entrap the hormone was evaluatedin vitro andin vivo. Results demonstrated that the hydrogel was able to release the hormone for a period of 20–30 days and indicated its potential application in slow-release systems for bioactive materials, especially macromolecules, such as peptides and proteins.
Small airway pathology and bronchoreversibility in advanced emphysema.

ABSTRACTBackground: Poorly reversible airflow obstruction is a hallmark feature of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). However, some COPD patients demonstrate significant bronchodilator reversibility (BDR). The pathologic features associated with the presence or absence of this phenomenon are not known. Methods: We analyzed 67 patients with advanced upper lobe predominant emphysema who underwent lung volume reduction surgery and divided them into 2 groups: the reversible group [BD(+)] had a >12% and >200 mL increase in FEV1 or FVC with bronchodilator; the irreversible group [BD(−)] had a ≤12% and ≤20 mL increase in FEV1 and FVC. We measured the epithelial height (EH) and areas of epithelium (EA), subepithelium (SEA), smooth muscle (SMWA), and total wall (TWA) of the small airways (<2 mm in internal diameter) in the resected specimens, and adjusted these measurements for basement membrane area (BMA) or perimeter (BMP). Results: Despite similar baseline characteristics, the BD(+) group had a small...
Bose Condensation of Fermion Composites

A simple theory of fermion pair composites is described and applied to the situation where, at low density, Bose condensation into the lowest self- consistent composite state takes place.
Reliability-adjusted disease maps

Bayesian methods for adjusting mortality and morbidity rates to account for variations caused by small numbers are presented. Although such methods produce statistically biased morbidity and mortality rate estimates, these approaches are superior for any applications that depend on a relative ordering of a set of rates because the total error of prediction for the maps taken as a whole is smaller. This approach is especially relevant for identifying cancer 'hot spots' for a set of geographic areas. The theory and usefulness of making such adjustments for geographic data sets are described and an example presented, comparing classical and Bayesian rate estimation methods for rank ordering female breast cancer data in the San Francisco-Oakland SMSA.
Anatomy and systematic position of Centaurodendron and Yunquea (Compositae)

The genera Centattrodendron and Yunquea are remarkable in that they are both "rosette trees" which have been interpreted as belonging to the tribe Cynareae (Skottsberg 1938) and are endemic to the island Masatierra in the Juan Fernandez Islands. Centaurodendron consists of two species, C. dracaenoides Johow and C. palmiforme Skottsberg, whereas Yunquea tenzii Skottsberg is the single species of its genus. The main purpose of the present study is to show how anatomical evidence bears on the systematic relationships which have been proposed on the basis of gross morphology. Because Centaurodendron and Yunquea are the only arboreseent genera referred to Cynareae, and because they show little superficial similarity to other Cynareae in vegetative characters, a study of their anatomy is desirable in determining if this is, indeed, the correct disposition of these genera. A secondary problem is created by the genus Yutnquea, which Skottsberg (1929) erected on the basis of scanty vegetative material. Although subsequent collections have furnished no flowers of this plant, which evidently flowers with extreme infrequency, anatomical data from the vegetative portions of the plant and from recently collected mature achenes appear to be decisive in assessing Skottsberg's (1929) suggestion that it should be regarded as a genus closely related to Centaurodendron. Individuals of Yunquea are rare, and the localities in which they grow are difficult of access (Kunkel 1957; Skottsberg 1953). It iray become extinct, as has so much of the autochthonous Juan Fernandez vegetation,without having been collected in the flowering state. The recent discovery (Skottsberg 1957) of Centaurodendron paalmiforme is significant, for this species shows greater similarity to Yunquea than does C. dracaenoides. Moreover, anatomical characters can be used in contrasting the two species of Centaurodendron.
Automated analysis of pharyngeal pressure data obtained with high-resolution manometry

We present an algorithm developed in MATLAB that can be applied to both normal and disordered swallowing to automatically extract a wide array of measurements from the spatiotemporal plots produced by high-resolution manometry (HRM) of the pharyngeal swallow. The algorithm was developed from data from 12 normal and 3 disordered subjects swallowing 5-ml water boluses. Automated extraction was compared to manual extraction for a subset of seven normal and the three disordered subjects to evaluate algorithm accuracy. Area and line integrals, pressure wave velocity, and pressure gradients during upper esophageal sphincter opening were also measured. Automated extraction showed strong correlations with manual extraction, producing high correlation coefficients in both normal and disordered subjects for maximum velopharyngeal pressure and maximum tongue base pressure. Timing data were also strongly correlated for all variables, including velopharyngeal pressure duration, tongue base pressure duration, and total swallow duration. Preliminary descriptive data on area and line integrals are presented. Our results indicate that the algorithm can effectively extract data automatically from HRM spatiotemporal plots. The efficiency of the algorithm makes it a valuable tool to supplement clinical and research use of HRM.
Discourse on a High Speed Image Dissection Camera

The technique of image-dissection is one of many methods developed for photographically recording high speed phenomena. Patented by Kanolt in 1912, the principle involves dividing an image into a large number of small elements. These lines or dots are deposited on the recording medium with spaces between them which are large as compared to the element size. All that is then necessary is to displace subsequent images a distance equal to the size of one element before depositing their respective elements on the emulsion. High recording rates are achieved since the displacement of each image is quite small.
Paleoclimatic reconstruction for the Albian–Cenomanian transition based on a dominantly angiosperm flora from the Cedar Mountain Formation, Utah, USA

Abstract The Soap Wash flora from the Cedar Mountain Formation of Emery County, Utah (Albian–Cenomanian boundary) consists almost entirely of angiosperms and is positioned stratigraphically near the first appearance of flowering plants in this region. We applied both univariate (leaf margin analysis—LMA, and leaf area analysis—LAA) and multivariate (Climate Leaf Analysis Multivariate Program—CLAMP) methods to the 17 morphotypes recognized in the flora to reconstruct palaeoclimate. LMA produced a mean annual temperature (MAT) estimate ranging from 19 °C to 26 °C. CLAMP yielded 16 °C–18 °C. LAA produced a mean annual precipitation (MAP) of 81 cm, while CLAMP generated a mean growing season precipitation of 134–187 cm, within the range of standard error for the LAA estimation. CLAMP also estimated a nine to ten month growing season with some temperature seasonality and substantial seasonality in precipitation. This reconstruction is broadly consistent with sedimentological data that suggested a semiarid to monsoonal precipitation regime for the region and with climate models that predict warm summers and strong winter seasonality in precipitation. Leaf physiognomic parameters of the Soap Wash flora fall within the range of variation circumscribed by the calibration sets of all three methods, so the differences in reconstructed MAT values cannot be explained exclusively by this kind of systematic error. We propose two alternative hypotheses: First, modern leaf form-climate relationships may not yet have evolved. This seems unlikely because CLAMP has been successfully applied to older material elsewhere. Second, the Soap Wash flora may be out of equilibrium with its prevailing climate due to contemporaneous rapid climate flux. If correct, this pattern may suggest a link between mid-Cretaceous environmental perturbations and the rapid diversification and geographic spread of flowering plants.
Growth hormone maintains its own receptors in rat adipocytes.

Hypophysectomy decreased the capacity of adi-pocytes isolated from epididymal fat to bind [125I]human GH ([125I]hGH) specifically without changing the apparent affinity for hGH. Specific binding of hGH by adipocytes of both normal and hypophysectomized rats appeared saturated when incubated with 75–80 ng/ml or higher concentrations of GH regardless of whether binding was studied for 2 h at 37 C or for 16 h at 0 C. Maximum binding of hGH by normal adipocytes was approximately 0.45 ng/106 cells, and that by adipocytes of hypophysec-tomized rats ranged from 0.15–0.25 ng/106 cells. In cells of both normal and hypophysectomized rats, only 25–30% of the hormone specifically bound at 37 C was removed by digestion with trypsin, and about 75% was displaced by incubation with 5 m magnesium chloride, suggesting that these adipocytes internalized a significant fraction of bound hormone and that hypoph-ysectomy did not alter the extent of internalization. Previously boupd hormone was lost from normal adipocytes with a...
Statistical tests of relative substitutabilities of near-monies over time☆

Abstract Chetty's direct utility approach was an innovative attempt to measure substitution relationships between money and near-monies. Moroney and Wilbratte, and more recently Boughton, have generalized the functional form used by Chetty to include income as an independent variable in a manner which subsumes Chetty's model as a special case. This paper modifies the. direct utility approach of these authors to alleviate estimation problems and provide a method of testing relative substitutabilities to obtain a ranking of assets. A three-equation model is estimated by Zellner's seemingly unrelated regressions procedure, with a linear constraint to eliminate identification problems. The Chi-square test developed by Zellner is used to choose a functional form and to compare relative substitutabilities. The stability of relationships over time is also tested.
Participation of NADPH-Cytochrome C Reductase in Thyroid Hormone Biosynthesis

Purified rat liver NADPH-cytochrome c reductase supports iodination of tyrosine in a system including NADPH, cytochrome c and thyroid peroxidase. Catalase inhibits the iodination of tyrosine, while superoxide dismutase has no effect. Antibody developed in the rabbit against purified rat liver NADPH-cytochrome c reductase inhibits both reduction of cytochrome c and tyrosine iodination supported by the enzyme. The antibody forms a single precipitation line with thyroid extract, and inhibits NADPH cytochrome c reductase activity of the thyroid. The antibody partially inhibits iodination in a thyroid mitochondrialmicrosomal fraction, but does not inhibit NADHdependent iodination. The immunochemical studies indicate the participation of NADPHcytochrome c reductase in thyroidal H2O2 generation, and the independent existence of NADPHdependent and NADH-dependent H2O2 generation mechanisms in the thyroid. (Endocrinology 96: 1022, 1975)
On identifiability of impulse-response in compartmental systems

Abstract Structural identifiability in compartmental systems deals with the map fromimpulse-response parameters to model parameters. If the data are analyzed in terms of integral transforms s k (Fourier, moments, etc.), then we may study also the map from the s k to impulse-response parameters. This paper is mainly concerned with the latter correspondence. In other words, we discuss the possibility of removing (inadvertently or intentionally) decay terms in the process of forming integral transforms.
TOWARDS A COMPREHENSIVE SYSTEM OF STRATEGIC CONTROL

New strategic initiatives often take several years to execute fully and relatively few succeed. Unfortunately, classical control processes have contributed to this situation because they have been designed as feedback systems that detect problems and deviations from planned results only after they have already occurred, and because the standards to which measurements are compared are assumed to be correct or good. Recent conceptual contributors to the strategic control literature have argued for anticipatory feedforward controls, that recognize a rapidly changing and uncertain external environment. These new systems are designed to operate on a continuous basis, checking and critically evaluating assumptions, strategies, and results. This article adds to these conceptual developments by providing and explicit strategic control component to deal with low probability, high impact threatening events, namely, special alert control. In an effort to make all the latest strategic control components operationally useful, mechanisms, methods, and approaches to their efficient implementation are presented and then summarized in tabular form. An overall strategic control process diagram is provided to act as a guide for future strategic control systems. The result is a more comprehensive and workable system of strategic control.
Stability of fronts and transient behaviour in KPP systems

We consider a system of two reaction diffusion equations with the Kolmogorov–Petrovsky–Piskunov (KPP) type nonlinearity which describes propagation of pressure-driven flames. It is known that the system admits a family of travelling wave solutions parameterized by their velocity. In this paper, we show that these travelling fronts are stable under the assumption that perturbations belong to an appropriate weighted L 2 space. We also discuss an interesting meta-stable pattern the system exhibits in certain cases.
The Xeroderma Pigmentosum Group E Gene Product DDB2 Activates Nucleotide Excision Repair by Regulating the Level of p21Waf1/Cip1

The xeroderma pigmentosum group E gene product DDB2, a protein involved in nucleotide excision repair (NER), associates with the E3 ubiquitin ligase complex Cul4A-DDB1. But the precise role of these interactions in the NER activity of DDB2 is unclear. Several models, including DDB2-mediated ubiquitination of histones in UV-irradiated cells, have been proposed. But those models lack clear genetic evidence. Here we show that DDB2 participates in NER by regulating the cellular levels of p21Waf1/Cip1. We show that DDB2 enhances nuclear accumulation of DDB1, which binds to a modified form of p53 containing phosphorylation at Ser18 (p53S18P) and targets it for degradation in low-dose-UV-irradiated cells. DDB2−/− mouse embryonic fibroblasts (MEFs), unlike wild-type MEFs, are deficient in the proteolysis of p53S18P. Accumulation of p53S18P in DDB2−/− MEFs causes higher expression p21Waf1/Cip1. We show that the increased expression of p21Waf1/Cip1 is the cause NER deficiency in DDB2−/− cells because deletion or knockdown of p21Waf1/Cip1 reverses their NER-deficient phenotype. p21Waf1/Cip1 was shown to bind PCNA, which is required for both DNA replication and NER. Moreover, an increased level of p21Waf1/Cip1 was shown to inhibit NER both in vitro and in vivo. Our results provide genetic evidence linking the regulation of p21Waf1/Cip1 to the NER activity of DDB2.
Better simulation metamodeling: the why, what, and how of stochastic kriging

Stochastic kriging is a methodology recently developed for metamodeling stochastic simulation. Stochastic kriging can partake of the behavior of kriging and of generalized least squares regression. This advanced tutorial explains regression, kriging, and stochastic kriging as metamodeling methodologies, emphasizing the consequences of misspecified models for global metamodeling. It provides an exposition of how to choose parameters in stochastic kriging and how to build a metamodel with it given simulation output, and discusses future research directions to enhance stochastic kriging.
Design of Experiments within the Mobius Modeling Environment

Models of complex systems often contain model parameters for important rates, probabilities, and initial state values. By varying the parameter values, the system modeler can study the behavior of the system under a wide range of system and environmental assumptions. However, exhaustive exploration of the parameter space of a large model is computationally expensive. Design of experiments techniques provide information about the degree of sensitivity of output variables to various input parameters. Design of experiments makes it possible to find parameter values that optimize measured outputs of the system by running fewer experiments than required by less rigorous techniques. This paper describes the design of experiments techniques that have been integrated in the Mobius tool.
Thermodynamics of mantle minerals – I. Physical properties

SUMMARY We present a theory for the computation of phase equilibria and physical properties of multicomponent assemblages relevant to the mantle of the Earth. The theory differs from previous treatments in being thermodynamically self-consistent: the theory is based on the concept of fundamental thermodynamic relations appropriately generalized to anisotropic strain and in encompassing elasticity in addition to the usual isotropic thermodynamic properties. In this first paper, we present the development of the theory, discuss its scope, and focus on its application to physical properties of mantle phases at elevated pressure and temperature including the equation of state, thermochemical properties and the elastic wave velocities. We find that the Eulerian finite strain formulation captures the variation of the elastic moduli with compression. The variation of the vibrational frequencies with compression is also cast as a Taylor series expansion in the Eulerian finite strain, the appropriate volume derivative of which leads �
Concordance of Self-Report and Informant Assessment of Emotional Well-Being in Nursing Home Residents With Dementia

The emotional well-being of persons with dementia is an aspect of their quality of life. We examined the stability of informant-rated and self-reported emotion, and the influence of mental status and physical dependence on ratings; we modeled concordance between ratings at both the within- and between-person levels of analysis. We used multilevel modeling to examine data collected over 12 days from 31 nursing home residents. We found significant within-person variation in both informant-rated and self-reported emotion, such that between 40% and 60% of the overall variance in each occurred within persons. We found little correspondence between or within persons between ratings of the informants and residents, regardless of mental status. We recommend statistical techniques that describe these high levels of daily variation in persons with dementia.
Patients' literacy skills: more than just reading ability.

Limited literacy contributes to suboptimal care and outcomes for patients. The Institute of Medicine noted that future work in health literacy should consider multiple literacy skills. However, lacking empirical evidence of the relationship between different literacy skills, reading skills are often used as proxies of literacy in research and practice. Using a community-based sample of 618 individuals residing in Boston, MA and Providence, RI, we conducted a principal component analysis on measures of four literacy skills: reading, numeracy, oral (speaking) and aural (listening) to examine whether and to what extent literacy can, or should, be represented by a single measure. The first principal component represented overall literacy and could only explain 60% of the total variation in literacy skills within individuals. The second principal component differentiated between numeracy/reading and the oral/aural exchange. While reading and numeracy best represent overall literacy, patients’ relative strengths may vary. Those with moderate reading ability may have high oral and aural language skills. Conversely, people who have difficulties speaking with or understanding a provider may read well. Effective communication with patients should rely on both the oral exchange and written health information, and not rely on a single literacy skill.
Using real-world scenes as contextual cues for search

Research on contextual cueing has demonstrated that with simple arrays of letters and shapes, search for a target increases in efficiency as associations between a search target and its surrounding visual context are learned. We investigated whether the visual context afforded by repeated exposure to real-world scenes can also guide attention when the relationship between the scene and a target position is arbitrary. Observers searched for and identified a target letter embedded in photographs of real-world scenes. Although search time within novel scenes was consistent across trials, search time within repeated scenes decreased across repetitions. Unlike previous demonstrations of contextual cueing, however, memory for scene-target covariation was explicit. In subsequent memory tests, observers recognized repeated contexts more often than those that were presented once and displayed superior recall of target position within the repeated scenes. In addition, repetition of inverted scenes, which made the s...
Robust variable selection through MAVE

Dimension reduction and variable selection play important roles in high dimensional data analysis. The sparse MAVE, a model-free variable selection method, is a nice combination of shrinkage estimation, Lasso, and an effective dimension reduction method, MAVE (minimum average variance estimation). However, it is not robust to outliers in the dependent variable because of the use of least-squares criterion. A robust variable selection method based on sparse MAVE is developed, together with an efficient estimation algorithm to enhance its practical applicability. In addition, a robust cross-validation is also proposed to select the structural dimension. The effectiveness of the new approach is verified through simulation studies and a real data analysis.
The genetic and environmental etiology of decision-making : a longitudinal twin study

The present study examined the genetic and environmental etiology of decision-making (Iowa Gambling Task; Bechara, Damasio, Damasio, & Anderson, 1994), in a sample of twins at ages 11-13, 14-15 ...
Orthognathic Surgery in Patients Over 40 Years of Age: Indications and Special Considerations

Purpose To assess indications, incidence, patient experience, and outcomes of orthognathic surgery in patients over 40 years of age. Patients and Methods This was a retrospective cohort study of all patients who underwent orthognathic surgical procedures at Massachusetts General Hospital from 1995 to 2012. Demographic variables, including age, gender, indications, date, and type of operation, were documented. Patients were divided into 2 groups by date of operation: 1) 1995 to 2002 and 2) 2003 to 2012. The predictor variable was age (>40 vs Results During the study period, 1,420 patients underwent 2,170 procedures; 911 patients (1,343 procedures) met the inclusion criteria. Group 1 consisted of 260 subjects (346 procedures, 35 patients ≥40 yr old, 13.5%) and group 2 consisted of 651 subjects (997 procedures, 89 patients ≥40 yr old, 13.8%). Subjects over 40 had longer hospital stays ( P ≤ .0001) than those under 40. Indications for men were more frequently functional problems, whereas women sought esthetic improvements ( P = .0001). Subjects over 40 were 2.51, 2.44, and 2.72 times more likely to require hardware removal 6 months ( P = .0245), 12 months ( P = .0073), and 24 months ( P = .0003) postoperatively than those younger than 40. Conclusion Motivation to undergo orthognathic surgery varies by age and gender. Older patients, particularly men, tend to seek treatment for functional rather than esthetic reasons. Patients older than 40 years had longer hospital stays and an increased rate of postoperative hardware removal.
Some properties of a nuclear binding site of estradiol.

Evidence is presented that [3H]estradiol-17β, upon incubation with calf endometrium tissue, is (1) concentrated from the medium into the cell, and (2) additionally concentrated from the cytoplasm into the nucleus. The selective binding to the nuclear fraction (chromatin) is hormone- and tissue-specific. In addition it appears to be stereospecific. The number of binding sites per nucleus (2000 to 2500) and the equilibrium constant (2 × 10−8 molar) are estimated. Cesium chloride density-gradient centrifugation suggests that estradiol is bound to a protein component of the chromosomal material. The binding is reversible at 37 °C and easily cleaved by organic solvents, suggesting a non-covalent linkage. It is shown that estradiol-17β is not metabolized prior to or during association with chromatin.
Estimating dynamic instability risk by measuring critical slowing down

Cascading failures typically involve a wide variety of power system dynamic phenomena, including cascading transmission line overloads, generator tripping, voltage collapse and/or rotor dynamic instability. Metrics that estimate proximity to critical points with respect to any of these phenomena could be useful as indicators of cascading failure risk. With the growing deployment of phasor measurement units (PMUs) in power systems, there is a rapidly increasing quantity of high-resolution, time-synchronized phasor data available to operators. Information in these data that could be formed into metrics of proximity to critical transition could be valuable to system operators who need to make timely, and costly, decisions to avert large blackouts. This paper provides preliminary evidence that time-series data alone, without intricate network models, can signal a pending critical transition in power systems. Our method is based on identifying “critical slowing down” in time series data. Results from a single machine stochastic infinite bus model and the Western US blackout of 10 August 1996 illustrate the utility of the proposed method.
Randomized controlled trial of depot leuprolide in patients with chronic pelvic pain and clinically suspected endometriosis

Objective: To evaluate and compare the safety and efficacy of leuprolide versus placebo in managing chronic pelvic pain in women with clinically suspected endometriosis. Methods: Women 18–45 years of age with moderate to severe pelvic pain of at least 6 months’ duration underwent extensive, noninvasive diagnostic testing and laboratory evaluation, including pelvic ultrasound, complete blood count, determination of erythrocyte sedimentation rate, and endocervical cultures. Those with clinically suspected endometriosis were randomized to double-blind treatment for 3 months with depot leuprolide (3.75 mg/mo) or placebo. The accuracy of the clinical diagnosis of endometriosis was evaluated by posttreatment laparoscopy. Results: Of 100 women randomized, 95 completed the study: 49 in the leuprolide group and 46 in the placebo group. Women in the leuprolide group had clinically and statistically significant (P ≤ .001) mean improvements from baseline after 12 weeks of therapy in all pain measures. These mean improvements were significantly greater (P ≤ .001) than those in the placebo group. At 12 weeks, mean decreases in physician-rated scores for dysmenorrhea, pelvic pain, and pelvic tenderness were 1.7, 1.0, and 0.8 points greater, respectively, in the leuprolide group than in the placebo group (on a four-point scale). Thirty-eight (78%) of 49 and 40 (87%) of 46 patients in the leuprolide and placebo groups, respectively, had laparoscopically confirmed endometriosis after 12 weeks of treatment. No women withdrew from the study because of adverse events. Conclusion: Depot leuprolide was effective and safe for treating patients with chronic pelvic pain and clinically suspected endometriosis, confirming the potential of its empiric use in these patients.
Scenario Liquefaction Hazard Maps of Santa Clara Valley, Northern California

Maps showing the probability of surface manifestations of liquefaction in the northern Santa Clara Valley were prepared with liquefaction probability curves. These curves were based on complementary cumulative frequency distributions of the liquefaction potential index (LPI) for surficial geologic units in the study area. LPI values were computed with extensive cone penetration test soundings. Maps were developed for three earthquake scenarios, an M 7.8 event on the San Andreas fault comparable to the 1906 event, an M 6.7 event on the Hayward fault comparable to the 1868 event, and an M 6.9 event on the Calaveras fault. Ground motions were esti- mated with the Boore and Atkinson (2008) attenuation relation. Liquefaction is pre- dicted for all three events in young Holocene levee deposits along the major creeks. Liquefaction probabilities are highest for the M 7.8 earthquake, ranging from 0.33 to 0.37 if a 1.5 m deep water table is assumed, and from 0.10 to 0.14, if a 5 m deep water table is assumed. Liquefaction probabilities of the other surficial geologic units are less than 0.05. Probabilities for the scenario earthquakes are generally consistent with observations during historical earthquakes.
Venous thoracic outlet syndrome

Venous thoracic outlet syndrome is a complex but rare disease that often can have excellent outcomes if quickly recognized and treated. The syndrome results from compression of the subclavian vein along its exit from the thoracic cavity and frequently affects young otherwise healthy patients. Modern diagnosis is made with a combination of clinical exam, appropriate non-invasive imaging, and, finally, contrast venography, which can be both diagnostic and therapeutic. Treatments have evolved over time to the point where patients can undergo less extensive procedures than previously performed and still maintain excellent outcomes. One of the most important predictors of outcome is the initiation of treatment within 14 days of symptoms. Hence, the importance of the accurate and prompt diagnosis of this syndrome in patients with an upper-extremity deep vein thrombotic episode cannot be further underscored. This review is a concise summary of the background and treatment algorithm for this patient population.
Proponents or Opponents of Casino Gaming: A Qualitative Choice Model Approach:

This study pursues who the proponents and opponents of casino gaming are, focusing on the currently debated introduction of land-based casinos in Kentucky. A survey was conducted with 600 randomly sampled residents. Qualitative Choice Models were considered to identify the factors that contributed to residents’ support for or opposition to casino gaming. A Logistic Regression (Logit) model was chosen and education, employment status, and religion were found significant in the model. The fact that more respondents opposed the legalization of the proposed land-based casino gaming leaves the debate wide open to continued discussion.
Mutational analysis of the tyrosine kinome in serous and clear cell endometrial cancer uncovers rare somatic mutations in TNK2 and DDR1.

Endometrial cancer (EC) is the 8th leading cause of cancer death amongst American women. Most ECs are endometrioid, serous, or clear cell carcinomas, or an admixture of histologies. Serous and clear ECs are clinically aggressive tumors for which alternative therapeutic approaches are needed. The purpose of this study was to search for somatic mutations in the tyrosine kinome of serous and clear cell ECs, because mutated kinases can point to potential therapeutic targets. In a mutation discovery screen, we PCR amplified and Sanger sequenced the exons encoding the catalytic domains of 86 tyrosine kinases from 24 serous, 11 clear cell, and 5 mixed histology ECs. For somatically mutated genes, we next sequenced the remaining coding exons from the 40 discovery screen tumors and sequenced all coding exons from another 72 ECs (10 clear cell, 21 serous, 41 endometrioid). We assessed the copy number of mutated kinases in this cohort of 112 tumors using quantitative real time PCR, and we used immunoblotting to measure expression of these kinases in endometrial cancer cell lines. Overall, we identified somatic mutations in TNK2 (tyrosine kinase non-receptor, 2) and DDR1 (discoidin domain receptor tyrosine kinase 1) in 5.3% (6 of 112) and 2.7% (3 of 112) of ECs. Copy number gains of TNK2 and DDR1 were identified in another 4.5% and 0.9% of 112 cases respectively. Immunoblotting confirmed TNK2 and DDR1 expression in endometrial cancer cell lines. Three of five missense mutations in TNK2 and one of two missense mutations in DDR1 are predicted to impact protein function by two or more in silico algorithms. The TNK2P761Rfs*72 frameshift mutation was recurrent in EC, and the DDR1R570Q missense mutation was recurrent across tumor types. This is the first study to systematically search for mutations in the tyrosine kinome in clear cell endometrial tumors. Our findings indicate that high-frequency somatic mutations in the catalytic domains of the tyrosine kinome are rare in clear cell ECs. We uncovered ten new mutations in TNK2 and DDR1 within serous and endometrioid ECs, thus providing novel insights into the mutation spectrum of each gene in EC.
Bridging between organizations and the public: volunteer coordinators' uneasy relationship with social computing

We present the results of a qualitative study of the use of social computing technologies by volunteer coordinators at nonprofit organizations. The work of volunteer coordinators is bridge-building work - bringing together numerous public constituencies as well as constituencies within their organizations. One might expect this class of work to be well supported by social software, some of which has been found to enable bridging social capital. However, we find that, in many ways, this class of technology fails to adequately support volunteer coordinators' bridge-building work. We discuss a number of strategies for bridge-building via social computing technologies, numerous challenges faced by volunteer coordinators in their use of these technologies, and opportunities for designing social software to better support bridge-building between organizations and the public.
Shape memory polymers with silicon-containing segments

Thermoresponsive shape memory polymers are stimuli-responsive materials whose shape is modulated by heat. They have been investigated as smart materials in a variety of biomedical, industrial and aerospace applications. The vast majority of shape memory polymers have been limited to those prepared from organic polymers. In this present work, shape memory polymers comprised of inorganic silicon-containing polymer segments (polydimethylsiloxane, PDMS) and organic poly(e-caprolactone) (PCL) segments were developed. Because of its low Tg, PDMS served as a highly effective soft segment. The photochemical cure of diacrylated PCLn-block-PDMS37-block-PCLn macromers with tailored PCL segment lengths produced networks with excellent mechanical properties, shape fixity, and shape recovery.