cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Hemispheric Involvement in the Perception of Syntactic Prosody Is Dynamically Dependent on Task Demands

The first aim of this study was to determine if there was a significant perceptual asymmetry for syntactic prosody and if it differed from the perceptual asymmetry for emotional prosody. The second aim of this study was to determine if the observed asymmetries were the product of task demands or stimulus features. Experiment 1 consisted of a Syntactic task and an Emotional task. In the Syntactic task, subjects identified Statement and Question prosody in dichotically presented sentences. In the Emotional task, subjects identified Angry and Sad prosody in dichotically presented sentences. There was a significant left ear advantage for the Emotional task and no significant ear advantage for the Syntactic task. In Experiment 2, subjects had to perform an Emotional prosody task with the syntactic Statement and Question prosody stimuli from Experiment 1. There was a significant left ear advantage, indicating that the perceptual asymmetry was determined by task demands and not stimulus features.
Science and instrumentation update from the Palomar testbed interferometer

The Palomar Testbed Interferometer (PTI) is a near-infrared, long-baseline interferometer located at the Palomar Observatory. PTI obtained first fringes in 1995, and has been in routine scientific operations since 1998. PTI was primarily designed as a technology demonstration experiment for the Keck Interferometer, and has been successful in demonstrating 100-uas-class differential astrometry and two-combiner phase referencing. In addition to its engineering development accomplishments, PTI has been extraordinarily scientifically productive, producing more than 25 refereed scientific papers to date. This contribution will provide an update on PTI’s operational, technical, and scientific status.
PHAZE II observations of lower hybrid burst structures occurring on density gradients

PHAZE II sounding rocket observations of VLF waves and plasma density measurements made with a HF wave instrument rather than a fixed bias Langmuir probe show conclusively that the observed lower hybrid solitary structures (LHSS) are associated with density fluctuations. LHSS occur on the positive and negative gradients of plasma density fluctuations of 25–50%. These findings lend support to theories of ambient lower hybrid waves exciting resonances created by pre-existing density gradients rather than wave collapse or refraction mechanisms; the issue of how the gradients are created is still unresolved.
Loss characterization of distributed space-time transmit beamforming with embedded channel probing

Distributed space-time transmit beamforming approaches potentially improve the throughput and robustness of wireless communications links. In this paper, we propose a distributed, space-time, transmit beamformer formulation that performs simultaneous data transmission and channel probing in the presence of interference. The difficulty is that the data signal corrupts the whitened channel estimate and leads to a loss in signal-to-interference and noise ratio. We examine this loss relative to the optimal solution and propose a diagonal loading technique to reduce the loss.
Efficacy of Tuned Mass Dampers for Bridge Flutter Control

This paper examines efficacy of tuned mass dampers (TMD) in controlling self-excited motion resulting from negative damping. New optimal TMD parameters are suggested which provide better performance than those suggested in the literature. The dependence of TMD performance on structural damping is highlighted. The equations of motion of a combined system comprised of multiple TMDs attached to a bridge deck are presented where the bridge motion is described in terms of reduced-order modal coordinates. Details concerning the multimode coupled flutter of long-span bridges with auxiliary TMDs are provided. The effectiveness and limitations of TMDs for controlling multimode bridge flutter are examined, emphasizing the dependence of TMD performance on the bridge dynamic and aerodynamic characteristics. This study shows that the effectiveness of TMDs is rather limited in controlling a hard-type flutter characterized by negative aerodynamic damping that grows rapidly with increasing wind speed beyond the onset of flutter. However, it is relatively effective in controlling a soft-type flutter in which the negative damping builds up slowly with increasing wind speed. Robust TMD design issues are also discussed in light of their sensitivity to design parameters in the vicinity of optimal values.
The Mughal Book of War: A Persian Translation of the Sanskrit Mahabharata

This article presents the first in-depth textual analysis of the Razmnamah ( Book of War ), the Persian translation of the Mahabharata sponsored by the Mughal emperor Akbar in the late sixteenth century. I argue that the Razmnamah was a central literary work in the Mughal court and of deep relevance to Akbar’s imperial and political ambitions. I pursue my analysis of the Mughal Mahabharata in two sections, focusing first on the work’s Sanskrit sources and then on the translation practices one finds evidenced in the Persian text. In the first section, I outline how the Mughal translators accessed Sanskrit materials and identify the Sanskrit texts that served as the basis for the Persian translation. This framework helps reconstruct the nature of the Mahabharata as the Mughals knew it and provides both the conceptual and literary tools needed to pursue comparative textual analysis. In the second section, I examine the text of the Razmnamah in comparison with its Sanskrit sources to highlight some of the Mughal translators’ key strategies in reimagining the epic in Persian. This close reading traces several literary paradigms that offer insight into the crucial role the Razmnamah played in the production and reproduction of Mughal imperial culture. Taken as a whole, my analysis argues that the Razmnamah was a crucial component of the politico-cultural fashioning of Akbar’s court, whereby the Mughals developed a new type of Indo-Persian imperial aesthetic.
Defining a model-based calibration process for a twin-independent valve timing engine

Model-based calibration tools can be used to prototype a process for an advanced engine type, reducing the burden of developing optimal calibrations for complex modern engines. This paper is a practical example of using simulation to prototype a calibration process before the engine hardware is available. We produce optimized tables for spark and cam timings for a 2.2 L naturally aspirated 4-valve overhead-cam spark ignition engine with twin-independent variable valve timing. We use design of experiments techniques to minimize testing, and a novel boundary modeling technique to describe the surface of the engine operating envelope and to constrain optimizations to realistic bounds. Testing simulated prototypes rather than the real hardware can save time and money by catching process errors and clearly defining measurement data requirements early in the design cycle. Offline optimization can be carried out independently of the test bench, limiting expenditure. This can help obtain consistent results faster, strengthen the predictive capability of the design process, and increase test bed productivity.
Coccydynia: A REVIEW OF PATHOANATOMY, AETIOLOGY, TREATMENT AND OUTCOME

Coccydynia is a painful disorder characterised by coccygeal pain which is typically exaggerated by pressure. It remains an unsolved mystery because of the perceived unpredictability of the origin of the pain, some psychological traits that may be associated with the disorder, the presence of diverse treatment options, and varied outcomes. A more detailed classification based on the aetiology and pathoanatomy of coccydynia helps to identify patients who may benefit from conservative and surgical management. This review focuses on the pathoanatomy, aetiology, clinical features, radiology, treatment and outcome of coccydynia.
GaAs charge coupled devices for high speed signal processing applications

The use of GaAs Schottky gate charge coupled devices (CCDs) clocking at frequencies from 102MHz to 103MHz in signal processing applications is described. Included are discussions of the device physics which allows GHz clocking frequencies, the current state of the technology, and efforts in progress at Rockwell International to further develop the technology.
A least squares algorithm with one phase weight for adaptive cancelation of noise from biomedical signals

A least squares algorithm is presented which uses one weight for phase shift correction per reference input for adaptive noise canceling with one or multiple reference inputs. The method uses an iterative gradient search procedure which assumes that phase shifts between inputs are small compared to the frequency of meaningful, correlated, periodic noise components. In a simulation in which the primary signal contained additive, correlated sinusoidal and random noise, the weights converged stably and rapidly to the minimum of the performance surface. The algorithm is potentially useful in real-time medical applications, where minimizing the cost of implementation is essential. >
Malignant schwannoma in a goat.

Peripheral nerve sheath tumors (PNSTs) are tumors that originate from the cells that comprise the sheaths of peripheral nerves. One type of PNST originates from the Schwann cell and is thus termed Schwannoma. Two other types of cells, perineural cells and fibroblasts, are components of peripheral nerve sheaths and may give rise to tumors. Depending upon the cell of origin and the degree of differentiation, PNSTs may exhibit a wide range of histologic patterns of fibroblastic and sarcomatous growth. These tumors (particularly the malignant variety) may closely mimic histologic pattern characteristics of other fusiform tumors, including fibrosarcomas, leiomyosarcomas, and synovial cell sarcomas. Electron microscopic and/or immunohistochemical evaluation is often necessary in establishing the diagnosis of PNSTs. In this report, a malignant Schwannoma (malignant PNST) originating from a thoracic spinal nerve of a goat with metastasis to the liver, lungs, spleen, and vertebral canal is described. Schwannomas occur most frequently in cattle, in which they are usually benign and often multiple. Malignant Schwannomas are uncommon. Neoplastic disease is reportedly rare in the caprine. Abattoir surveys in the USA and South Africa have detected a lower incidence of neoplasia in goats than in other domestic species. Although there is at least 1 reported case of a Schwannoma (neurilemmoma) in the goat, an extensive review of the literature failed to find any report of a malignant Schwannoma in caprines. In this case, the diagnosis of a malignant Schwannoma was made using a combination of light and electron microscopy and immunohistochemical staining. A g-year-old female Alpine goat was evaluated for progressively worsening rear limb ataxia of 2 days duration. The goat was able to stand with assistance. Proprioception and nociception were decreased bilaterally. Cerebrospinal fluid analysis revealed an increased protein (59 mg/dl; normal < 40 mg/dl) and white blood cell (wbc) count (12 wbc/μl; normal < 5 wbc/dl), predominantly lymphocytes. A compressive spinal lesion in the lumbar spine was suspected. To minimize costs, radiographs were not obtained. Prednisolone (2.2 mg/kg orally every 12 hours) was administrated for 5 days. The goat’s condition deteriorated during this time, and when examined again, the animal was unable to rise. Nociception was absent bilaterally in the rear limbs. The goat was euthanized and presented for necropsy. Postmortem examination revealed multiple nodular tumors within several organs, including the liver, lungs, and
A global satellite-assisted precipitation climatology

Abstract. Accurate representations of mean climate conditions, especially in areas of complex terrain, are an important part of environmental monitoring systems. As high-resolution satellite monitoring information accumulates with the passage of time, it can be increasingly useful in efforts to better characterize the earth's mean climatology. Current state-of-the-science products rely on complex and sometimes unreliable relationships between elevation and station-based precipitation records, which can result in poor performance in food and water insecure regions with sparse observation networks. These vulnerable areas (like Ethiopia, Afghanistan, or Haiti) are often the critical regions for humanitarian drought monitoring. Here, we show that long period of record geo-synchronous and polar-orbiting satellite observations provide a unique new resource for producing high-resolution (0.05°) global precipitation climatologies that perform reasonably well in data-sparse regions. Traditionally, global climatologies have been produced by combining station observations and physiographic predictors like latitude, longitude, elevation, and slope. While such approaches can work well, especially in areas with reasonably dense observation networks, the fundamental relationship between physiographic variables and the target climate variables can often be indirect and spatially complex. Infrared and microwave satellite observations, on the other hand, directly monitor the earth's energy emissions. These emissions often correspond physically with the location and intensity of precipitation. We show that these relationships provide a good basis for building global climatologies. We also introduce a new geospatial modeling approach based on moving window regressions and inverse distance weighting interpolation. This approach combines satellite fields, gridded physiographic indicators, and in situ climate normals. The resulting global 0.05° monthly precipitation climatology, the Climate Hazards Group's Precipitation Climatology version 1 (CHPclim v.1.0, doi:10.15780/G2159X ), is shown to compare favorably with similar global climatology products, especially in areas with complex terrain and low station densities.
Everyday State Formation: Territory, Decentralization, and the Narco Landgrab in Colombia

Since the 1980s rural Colombia has been torn asunder by the deadly conflation of political violence and the cocaine boom, fueling the displacement of four million campesinos. The northwest frontier region surrounding the Gulf of Uraba has been an unruly epicenter for this mass of dispossessed humanity, mainly displaced by paramilitaries. As an outgrowth of a complex alliance between narcos (drug traffickers) and agrarian elites, paramilitary groups simultaneously act as drug-trafficking private militias and counterinsurgent battalions, while using land appropriation and agribusiness as favored conduits for money laundering and illicit profit. Drawing on investigative ethnographic fieldwork into these dynamics in Uraba, this paper shows how state formation in Uraba is produced through the convergence of narco-paramilitary strategies, counterinsurgency, and government reforms aimed at territorial restructuring through decentralization. Relying on the conceptual cues offered by Lefebvre and Gramsci on state,...
A training program in cardiovascular cell-based therapy: from the NHLBI Cardiovascular Cell Therapy Research Network

Stem/progenitor cell-based therapies offer novel treatment for many prevalent diseases. However, most physicians are not trained or introduced to cell therapy. We describe a model of a training program aimed at empowering physician–scientists with the knowledge and skills necessary for advancing the field of cardiovascular cell therapy. To date, five full-time scholars have completed this training program, obtained a full-time academic appointment in Cardiovascular Disease, and continue to actively contribute to the advancement of cell therapy applications. Another has returned to his parent institution to complete his PhD and several part-time scholars have continued in scholarly activities in other academic programs.
Effect of oxygen concentration on the protein content of spirulina biomass

carried out with a rectangular culture chamber (15 X 30 X 5 cm) with glass walls. The desired O2 concentration was obtained by bubbling an appropriate amount of filter sterilized air into the culture. The 02 concentration in the culture was monitored polarographically with a Dissolved O2 meter (model 1010, Delta Scientific Corp.). Oxygen concentration in the gas phase of the bottles was determined with a gas chromatograph (PerkinElmer, model Sigma-2) equipped with Porapack Q columns (2 m length and 2 mm width). Gas carrier N2 was used. The temperatures of the injector, detector, and oven were 150, 150, and 4SoC, respectively. Chlorophyll a, phycocyanin, and total carotenoids were assayed following the procedures described by Parson and Strickland,’ and O’Heocha,2 and Paoletti and co-~orkers.~ Protein content and amino acid composition were determined with a model 31\27 amino analyzer (Carlo ErbaL4
Analytic formulation of optimal structural intervention strategies in Boolean Networks

Boolean Networks (BNs) as simplified gene regulatory network models enable us to study their dynamics, which is critical for developing future genetic therapeutic intervention. In this paper, we alter the long term behavior of BNs by modifying the underlying regulatory rules, which we term as function perturbations. As the long-run behavior of BNs reflects the phenotype of the cell, we search for the optimal way to perturb BNs to avoid undesirable aberrant cellular states, such as cancer. For a network constructed from melanoma gene expression data, the optimal function perturbation has been found based on the derived results to achieve a more favorable steady-state distribution and reduce the risk of metastasis in melanoma.
Cervical Cancer Screening: The Complex Interplay of Medical Infrastructure, Society, and Culture

Cervical cancer remains a leading cause of cancer death in many low- and middle-income countries. Key issues that must be addressed include the obstacle of poverty, the importance of community representatives, and the credibility of the medical establishment. Better understanding of the complex layers of social ecology and the social determinants of health will allow public health planners to build sustainable programs.
Susceptibility of Bacillus anthracis, Bacillus cereus, Bacillus mycoides, Bacillus pseudomycoides and Bacillus thuringiensis to 24 antimicrobials using Sensititre® automated microbroth dilution and Etest® agar gradient diffusion methods

Results: Both methods yielded near-identical results at both temperatures for all antimicrobials except trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole. Resistance to trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole in 97% (92/95) was not always evident until tests were incubated for 48 h at 308C. All B. anthracis isolates were susceptible to 22 antimicrobials and resistant to trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole while three isolates were erythromycin-intermediate. Whereas the B. thuringiensis were resistant to the b-lactams, two B. cereus, one B. mycoides ,fi veB. pseudomycoides and two B. mycoides/pseudomycoides were susceptible. Three B. cereus were solely clindamycin-resistant. Of the seven erythromycin-intermediate or -resistant B. cereus, three were resistant to clindamycin and one was resistant to clarithromycin and clindamycin. One B. mycoides was intermediately resistant to quinupristin/dalfopristin and meropenem and one was clindamycin-resistant. All B. pseudomycoides were clindamycin-resistant with one quinupristin/ dalfopristin-resistant. Two B. mycoides/pseudomycoides were intermediately resistant to quinupristin/ dalfopristin and clindamycin and a third was intermediately resistant to clindamycin alone. All isolates were susceptible to chloramphenicol, ciprofloxacin, gatifloxacin, gentamicin, levofloxacin, linezolid, moxifloxacin, rifampicin, streptomycin, tetracycline, tigecycline and vancomycin. Conclusions: This paper expands the list of therapeutic or prophylactic antimicrobials potentially effective against B. cereus group isolates using two testing methods that produced comparable results.
Global tropospheric and total ozone monitoring with a double-etalon Fabry–Perot interferometer. II. Feasibility analysis

The feasibility of observing global tropospheric and total ozone (O(3)) fields with a double-etalon Fabry-Perot interferometer (FPI) has been assessed. The FPI provides high spectral resolution and high-throughput capabilities that enable observation in pressure-broadened wings of strong O(3) lines while minimizing the impact of undesirable signal contributions (i.e., from the terrestrial surface and interfering species). A retrieval technique has been implemented and is demonstrated for a tropical atmosphere possessing enhanced tropospheric ozone amounts. An error analysis assessing the impact on retrieved O(3) amounts from the most significant uncertainties associated with this particular measurement has been performed, and findings for a tropical atmosphere are presented. Results show the proposed instrumentation to enable a good measurement of absolute ozone amounts and an even better determination of relative changes.
Mining Entity Types from Query Logs via User Intent Modeling

We predict entity type distributions in Web search queries via probabilistic inference in graphical models that capture how entity-bearing queries are generated. We jointly model the interplay between latent user intents that govern queries and unobserved entity types, leveraging observed signals from query formulations and document clicks. We apply the models to resolve entity types in new queries and to assign prior type distributions over an existing knowledge base. Our models are efficiently trained using maximum likelihood estimation over millions of real-world Web search queries. We show that modeling user intent significantly improves entity type resolution for head queries over the state of the art, on several metrics, without degradation in tail query performance.
Murine B cells regulate serum IgE levels in a CD23-dependent manner.

The manifestations of allergic disorders are closely tied to the biologic effects of IgE activation with Ag. In immediate hypersensitivity reactions, IgE effector function requires prior binding to innate immune cells, primarily mast cells and basophils, with the blood acting as a reservoir for unbound IgE. As the severity of allergic disease is proportional to the size of this unbound IgE pool, we hypothesized that cellular mechanisms exist to limit the size and/or enhance the clearance of free IgE molecules. We examined this in mice by engineering a reporter IgE molecule that allowed us to track the fate of IgE molecules in vivo. The absence of FceRI-expressing cells did not affect serum IgE levels, but B cells regulated serum IgE by controlling the size of the free IgE pool. B cells captured IgE by direct binding to the low-affinity IgE receptor, CD23. These data indicate a mechanism regulating serum IgE and additionally clarify the role of CD23 in this process.
The response equations for a cross-tie track

Early analyses of the lateral response of cross-tie railroad tracks are based on the assumption that the rail-tie structure responds like a beam in bending. Because of the difficulties encountered in determining the lateral bending rigidity of a cross-tie track, a more recent approach is to model the rail-tie structure as a beam in bending that is also subjected to continuous resistance moments, transmitted to the rails by the fasteners. Also this approach exhibits a number of shortcomings. To date there are no generally accepted equations for the lateral response of the the cross-tie track. The main purpose of the present paper is to derive such equations. Since the rail-tie structure consists of a repeated pattern of identical units, the corresponding difference equations are derived first. Then, by a limiting process, in which the tie spaces tend to zero, the difference equations are reduced to differential equations. This approach yields equations with well-defined coefficients, in terms of the geometrical and mechanical parameters of the track structure. Difference and differential equations are derived for the track response in the lateral, as well as the vertical, plane. The derived equations are then discussed and compared with those suggested by other investigations.
Robust Classification of Dialog Acts from the Transcription of Utterances

This paper presents a robust classification of dialog acts from text utterances. Two different types, namely, bag-of-words and syntactic relationship among words, were used to extract the discourse level features from the transcript of utterances. Subsequently a number of feature mining methods have been used to identify the most relevant features and their roles in classifying dialog acts. The selected features are used to learn the underlying models of dialog acts using a number of existing machine learning algorithms from the WEKA toolbox. Empirical analyses using the HCRC Map Task Corpus dialog data was conducted to evaluate the performance of the proposed approach.
Word learning, phonological short-term memory, phonotactic probability and long-term memory: towards an integrated framework

Word learning is studied in a multitude of ways, and it is often not clear what the relationship is between different phenomena. In this article, we begin by outlining a very simple functional framework that despite its simplicity can serve as a useful organizing scheme for thinking about various types of studies of word learning. We then review a number of themes that in recent years have emerged as important topics in the study of word learning, and relate them to the functional framework, noting nevertheless that these topics have tended to be somewhat separate areas of study. In the third part of the article, we describe a recent computational model and discuss how it offers a framework that can integrate and relate these various topics in word learning to each other. We conclude that issues that have typically been studied as separate topics can perhaps more fruitfully be thought of as closely integrated, with the present framework offering several suggestions about the nature of such integration.
The 2008 American Federation for Aging Annual Research Conference: Aging and Cancer: Two Sides of the Same Coin?

The 2008 Research Conference of the American Federation for Aging Research took place in New York City on October 6-7 and had, as its theme, the interface between the biology of cancer and the biology of aging. The first day was devoted to a series of 5-year progress reports by grantees of an innovative program jointly sponsored by the National Cancer Institute and the National Institute on Aging aimed at fostering both basic and clinical interactions and integrations among investigators with primary research interests in either the biology of aging or the biology of cancer. This was followed by a series of presentations on cell biology (Judith Campisi), evolutionary biology (Steven N. Austad), mitochondrial damage (Lawrence A. Loeb), stem cell functionality (Thomas A. Rando), oxidative stress and cancer resistance (Rochelle Buffenstein), signal transduction and replicative senescence in cancer and aging (Norman E. Sharpless), and telomere biology (Jack D. Griffith). Overview presentations were given by John W. Rowe and Harvey Jay Cohen. The conference closed with a roundtable discussion with representatives of industry in an effort to enhance communications with academicians.
Network-dosage compensation topologies as recurrent network motifs in natural gene networks

Global noise in gene expression and chromosome duplication during cell-cycle progression cause inevitable fluctuations in the effective number of copies of gene networks in cells. These indirect and direct alterations of network copy numbers have the potential to change the output or activity of a gene network. For networks whose specific activity levels are crucial for optimally maintaining cellular functions, cells need to implement mechanisms to robustly compensate the effects of network dosage fluctuations. Here, we determine the necessary conditions for generalized N-component gene networks to be network-dosage compensated and show that the compensation mechanism can robustly operate over large ranges of gene expression levels. Furthermore, we show that the conditions that are necessary for network-dosage compensation are also sufficient. Finally, using genome-wide protein-DNA and protein-protein interaction data, we search the yeast genome for the abundance of specific dosage-compensation motifs and show that a substantial percentage of the natural networks identified contain at least one dosage-compensation motif. Our results strengthen the hypothesis that the special network topologies that are necessary for network-dosage compensation may be recurrent network motifs in eukaryotic genomes and therefore may be an important design principle in gene network assembly in cells.
Coronary flow dynamics measured by computed tomography angiography.

Multidetector computed tomography (MDCT) technology has rapidly evolved, and coronary imaging is largely responsible for current computed tomography (CT) hardware releases that have extended beyond “64-generation” scanners ([1][1]) to offer superior temporal resolution, volume coverage, and
Abstract 628: Hepatic Insulin Signaling Regulates ApoA-I Gene Expression Through the Type I Deiodinase.

People with low levels of high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDLC) and apolipoprotein A-I (ApoA-I) have a higher risk of cardiovascular disease. Low levels of HDLC are common in individuals who are insulin resistant (IR), e.g., with metabolic syndrome and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Despite the high prevalence of these two disorders, very little work has been reported regarding the molecular pathways linking insulin signaling or action and the levels of either HDLC or ApoA-1. We reported previously that liver specific insulin receptor (InsR) knockout mice (LIRKO) have markedly reduced plasma HDLC levels that increase after restoration of hepatic Akt signaling. In the present study, we created acute LIRKO mice by injecting an albumin-Cre adenovirus (Ad) into InsR floxed mice and observed marked reductions in HDLC, the expression of ApoA-I, and the expression of the gene coding Type1 iodothyronine deiodinase1, a selenoenzyme expressed highly in the liver that converts thyroxine to 3,5,3’-triiodothyronine (T3) or reverse T3. Deiodinase 1 knockout mice also had significantly reduced hepatic ApoA-I mRNA levels. Overexpression of Dio1 in LIRKO restored HDLC and significantly increased the expression of ApoA-I mRNA. In vitro studies showed that the expression of ApoA-I was significantly reduced after knockdown of either InsR or Dio1 expression in HepG2 cells. Moreover, overexpression of Dio1 restored ApoA-I promoter activity that had been decreased by knockdown of InsR. Deletion analysis of ApoAI promoter regions showed that insulin signaling regulated ApoA-I expression by acting on a region which does not contain any thyroid response elements. Pulse-chase experiments in HepG2 cells showed that deficiency of insulin signaling resulted in decreased synthesis and secretion of ApoAI. Our results indicates that defective hepatic insulin signaling results in reduced expression of Dio1 which, in turn, leads to reduced expression of ApoA-I and decreased synthesis and secretion of ApoA-I from hepatocytes. We believe our studies have defined a novel pathway from insulin signaling to ApoA-I synthesis that may lead to new approaches for increasing HDL levels in people with defective insulin signaling.
Privatization and Public Choice: Lessons for the LDCs

Chapter 17 from Luisa Perrotti and Vincent Wright's "Privatization and Public Policy: Volume I."
Cultural and Genetical Studies of Certain Agarics

Tissue cultures were secured of the following species: 2 Coprinus atramentarius Fries, C. comatus Fries, C. fimetarius macrorhizus Fries, C. micaceus Fries, C. plicatilis Fries, C. quadrifidus Peck, C. radians Fries, C. radiatus Fries, C. semilantanus Peck, Galera crispa Longyear, G. tenera (Fries) Quel., Panaeolus campanulatus (Fries) Quel., P. retirugis (Fries) Quel., P. solidipes (Fries) Quel., Psilocybe subviscida Peck, Stropharia semiglobata (Fries) Quel. The stock cultures of these fungi were grown on potato maltextract agar, and transfers were made from this to the eightyseven media that were tested either in test-tubes or Erlenmeyer flasks for their value for the growth of the fungi and the production of fruiting-bodies. There were five general types of media: those consisting of more or less unchanged, natural substances; those containing some known carbohydrate for the food supply; those consistipg of potato malt-extract agar to which were added poisons or weak antiseptics; those consisting of potato malt-extract agar to which
Mechanism of Anti-Cancer Activity of 9-Aminoacridine Based Drugs

by CANHUI GUO In the tumors that maintain the wild type p53 tumor suppressor gene, p53 activity is frequently inactivated by a variety of mechanisms, such as, overexpression of Mdm2 or MdmX, loss of Arf, or expression of human papilloma virus protein E6. None of these mechanisms, however, explains the suppressed p53 function in the majority of renal cell carcinomas (RCC), tumors that largely have wild type p53. In our previous study, we found that a small molecule, 9-aminoacrindine (9AA) can restore p53 function in RCC and strongly stimulate activity of wild type p53 in other types of cancer cells. In addition, this compound was found capable of inhibiting NF-kB signaling, the pathway that is constitutively active in RCC as well as in the majority of other tumor types. To determine the mechanism of simultaneous modulation of p53 and NF-kB by 9AA we compared global gene and protein expression profiles of two 9AA-treated and untreated RCC cell lines. The set of genes that changed their expression in response to 9AA treatment contained many known p53and NF-kB targets and therefore was consistent with p53 activation and NF-kB suppression by this compound. Proteomics analysis revealed P110gamma, one of the catalytic subunits of PI3K, to be one of
Parcellations and Connectivity Patterns in Human and Macaque Cerebral Cortex

To decipher brain function, it is vital to know how the brain is wired. This entails elucidation of brain circuits at multiple scales, including microscopic, mesoscopic, and macroscopic levels. Here, we review recent progress in mapping the macroscopic brain circuits and functional organization of the cerebral cortex in primates—humans and macaque monkeys, in particular. There are many similarities across species in terms of overall patterns of cortical gray matter myelination as well as functional areas that are presumed to be homologous. However, there are also many important species differences, including cortical convolutions that are much more complex and more variable in humans than in monkeys. Our ability to analyze structure and function has benefited from improved methods for intersubject registration that cope with this individual variability. To characterize long-distance connectivity, powerful but indirect methods are now available, including resting-state functional connectivity and diffusion imaging coupled with probabilistic tractography. We illustrate how connectivity inferred from diffusion imaging and tractography can be evaluated in relation to ‘ground truth’ based on anatomical tracers in the macaque. Interspecies registration between human and macaque cortex based on presumed interspecies homologies demonstrates an impressive degree of areal expansion in regions associated with higher cognitive function.
Prediction of Bladder Tumor Invasion with the Mixed Cell Agglutination Test

AbstractThe mixed cell agglutination test was used to investigate 30 patients with initially superficial (stage 0 to A) transitional cell bladder tumors who had been followed a minimum of 5 years, until cystectomy or until death in an effort to select those patients who would suffer invasive disease. All tumor-bearing tissue was coded and studied without knowledge of the blood type or clinical status of the patient. Of the 15 patients with a negative mixed cell agglutination test 9 (60 per cent) suffered invasive disease. None of the patients with a positive mixed cell agglutination test had invasive disease. The ultimate outcome then was predicted correctly in 24 of 30 patients (80 per cent) (p <0.001). When the mixed cell agglutination test is positive it is associated with a good prognosis, while the majority of patients with a negative test are destined to suffer invasive disease.
Discontinuation and Nonpublication of Randomized Clinical Trials Conducted in Children

BACKGROUND: Trial discontinuation and nonpublication represent potential waste in research resources and lead to compromises in medical evidence. Pediatric trials may be particularly vulnerable to these outcomes given the challenges encountered in conducting trials in children. We aimed to determine the prevalence of discontinuation and nonpublication of randomized clinical trials (RCTs) conducted in pediatric populations. METHODS: Retrospective, cross-sectional study of pediatric RCTs registered in ClinicalTrials.gov from 2008 to 2010. Data were collected from the registry and associated publications identified (final search on September 1, 2015). RESULTS: Of 559 trials, 104 (19%) were discontinued early, accounting for an estimated 8369 pediatric participants. Difficulty with patient accrual (37%) was the most commonly cited reason for discontinuation. Trials were less likely to be discontinued if they were funded by industry compared with academic institutions (odds ratio [OR] 0.46, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.27–0.77). Of the 455 completed trials, 136 (30%) were not published, representing 69 165 pediatric participants. Forty-two unpublished trials posted results on ClinicalTrials.gov. Trials funded by industry were more than twice as likely to result in nonpublication at 24 and 36 months (OR 2.21, 95% CI 1.35–3.64; OR 3.12, 95% CI 1.6–6.08, respectively) and had a longer mean time to publication compared with trials sponsored by academia (33 vs 24 months, P CONCLUSIONS: In this sample of pediatric RCTs, discontinuation and nonpublication were common, with thousands of children exposed to interventions that did not lead to informative or published findings. Trial funding source was an important determinant of these outcomes, with both academic and industry sponsors contributing to inefficiencies.
Septic Arthritis of the Shoulder

Various common injuries in the shoulder, humerus, and elbow are investigated in this chapter. Significant attention is paid not only to proper diagnostic examination and imaging, but also to optimal nonoperative and operative treatment options to manage these conditions.
Intensively Timed Induction (ITI) Chemotherapy in Adults with Acute Myelogenous Leukemia (AML).

The Children’s Cancer Group (CCG) demonstrated that children with AML have longer event free survival (EFS) and disease free survival (DFS), 42 +/− 7% and 55 +/− 9%, at a minimum of two years off of therapy when randomly assigned to ITI rather than standard chemotherapy (Woods, et al Blood 1996 Jun 15;87(12):4979–89). This led us to administer an almost identical regimen of ITI chemotherapy to 50 adults less than 50 years of age with untreated AML, excluding patients (pts) with inv16 or t(8;21). Each pt who remains alive in 1st complete remission (CR) has been followed for more than 3 years: the risk of relapse decreases sharply after this time (de Lima, et al. Blood 1997 Dec 15;90(12):4719–24). Daunorubicin 20 mg/m2/day intravenously (IV) on days 1–4 and 11–14, cytarabine 200 mg/m2/day IV on days 1–4 and 11–14, etoposide 100 mg/m2/day IV on days 1–4 and 11–14 and dexamethasone 6 mg/m2/day PO days 1–4 and 11–14 were given initially along with intrathecal cytarabine 70 mg on day 1 and 11 (DCTER regimen). G-CSF started on day 7 and continued until the ANC was more than 1000 for 2 days. The day 11 chemotherapy was given unless there was hypotension or clinical colitis. All pts started therapy in a protected environment. Pts in CR after the above chemotherapy repeated the induction course. After recovery, cytarabine 3 g/m2 every 12 hours for four doses was infused on days 0–3 and on days 12–15. L-asparaginase 6000 IU/m2 IV was given at hour 18 on days 3 and 15. The cytarabine and L-asparaginase were repeated upon recovery of the granulocyte count. The study was ongoing from 2/15/02 to 8/10/04. The 50 pts, median age 41 years, represented 62% of all pts eligible during this time period. Table 1 compares results in the 50 DCTER pts with the results in 35 non-core binding factor AML pts, median age 41 years, given idarubicin/cytarabine (IA) for induction and consolidation without intensive timing. The results in the IA pts treated from 1991–1993 were similar to those treated 1994–2001 (proportion alive in CR 16% and 19%). The lower CR rate in pts given DCTER reflected an increased death rate in the first 12 weeks after starting treatment. This was counterbalanced by a higher rate of potential cure, considering all 85 pts (95% confidence interval for the true difference [−.09, .34] suggesting that a difference of 26% is as plausible as no difference since .26 and 0 are each equidistant from the midpoint of the confidence interval). A larger cohort is needed to know if the higher early risk associated with DCTER is potentially justified by a better long-term prognosis.
Microscale In-Plane Knudsen Radiometric Actuator: Design, Characterization, and Performance Modeling

Thermally driven gas flow is exploited in a microscale device for the purpose of gas pressure dependent actuation in rarefied environments. The device relies on the in-plane motion of a shuttle mass in response to Knudsen thermal forces. The shuttle response is measured capacitively and the magnitude is used to estimate ambient pressure. Combined with heating element resistance, these measurements, in principle, enable the simultaneous determination of gas composition if the constituents are known. Numerical simulations using direct simulation Monte Carlo are carried out to elucidate the mechanisms of force production. Results reveal highly vortical flow structures forming high pressure regions at the shuttle surface. The experimental and numerical results are expressed in terms of a non-dimensional Knudsen force coefficient, allowing force magnitude to be estimated for dynamically similar geometries.
Major FDA medical device recalls in ophthalmology from 2003 to 2015.

Abstract Objective To assess recent high-risk ophthalmic medical device recalls. Methods The publicly available Food and Drug Administration Center for Devices and Radiological Health database was mined for Class I (high-risk) ophthalmic device recalls from January 1, 2003 to December 31, 2015. The number of Class I ophthalmic device recalls was quantified. Additionally, recall characteristics and market entry data were determined for each device. Results Twelve Class I ophthalmic device recall events were identified, collectively affecting over 68 million units in distribution. A median of 147,491 units (range 20 to 57,252,581) were recalled per event. 9 out of 12 recalls (75%) had at least one documented occurrence of an adverse event to a patient. Pre-market related issues accounted for one device recall (8%), post-market related issues accounted for nine device recalls (75%), and two device recalls (17%) were indeterminate. 510(k) clearance was the most common pathway to market, accounting for 50% of Class I recalls. Three devices were approved through pre-market approval (PMA) pathway, two devices were exempt from review, and one device failed to register with the FDA. Conclusion Class I recalls surrounding ophthalmology are relatively infrequent compared to other medical specialties. However, given the impact of Class I recalls in the field, ophthalmologists have an impetus to advocate for stronger device regulation particularly in the context of post-marketing surveillance.
On the Cusp of Middle School…With Minimal Reading and Writing Skills

This article uses a case study to consider how speech-language pathologists (SLPs) and the Individualized Education Program (IEP) team meets the challenges of students with speech sound disorder pl...
Principal Leadership and School Performance: An Examination of Instructional Leadership and Organizational Management

Recent research work in school leadership highlighting the importance of principals’ organizational management skills has prompted scholars to consider their importance in relation to instructional...
Temperamental Emotionality Attributes as Antecedents of Children’s Social Information Processing

This study examined temperament dimensions of emotion as precursors of children's social information processing (SIP) of stressful peer events. Two hundred and forty-three preschool children (M = 4.60 years) and their primary caregivers participated in two measurement occasions spaced 2 years apart. Observations of temperamental anger, fearful distress, positive affect, and effortful control were assessed in multiple laboratory tasks across two visits at Wave 1. SIP assessments from vignettes of peer challenges were repeated across two waves and included: eye tracking measures of attention to peer emotion displays, hostile attribution bias, hostile solutions, and subjective distress. Findings from structural equation models with inclusion of autoregressive controls indicated that effortful control, fear, and anger predicted subsequent changes in specific SIP dimensions.
Rules Versus Discretion in Criminal Sentencing

Does a system of fixed punitive rules or an adaptive system of discretionary authority better assure proportionate punishment and incarceration outcomes? Do fixed rules or discretionary interventions better avoid the social consequences of mass incarceration? This chapter leverages theoretical insights from the Public Choice tradition regarding monetary policy to inform and progress applied debates surrounding mass incarceration.
Forecasting the Decay of Hybrid Perovskite Performance Using Optical Transmittance or Reflected Dark-Field Imaging

The practicality and economic viability of hybrid perovskite solar cells hinge on their operational lifetime, and methods for forecasting the performance of perovskites under different operational ...
Major Donors and Higher Education: Are STEM Donors Different from Other Donors?:

Philanthropic support of higher education is a growing area of interest among academic fundraisers and philanthropy scholars. The academic fields of science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM...
Fast Diffuse Correlation Spectroscopy with a low-cost, fiberless embedded diode laser

We demonstrate that fast blood flow measurement with Diffuse Correlation Spectroscopy (DCS) can be achieved with a small, low-cost, fiber-less single-mode diode laser, that can be embedded into an optical probe.
An in-situ millimeter-wave diagnostic for droplet characterization during jetting-based additive manufacturing processes

Additive manufacturing systems are becoming progressively more capable of printing geometrically complex structures from a wide range of materials. To ensure the print quality of these materials over the duration of the build process, there is a need for in-situ diagnostics which can provide real-time information during fabrication, as well as information that can be processed after print completion. Here we present an in-situ radio frequency diagnostic for liquid metal jetting, which employs a millimeter-wave waveguide device to monitor the impedance changes caused by moving droplets. Experimental results indicate promise for the characterization of size, timing, and motion of metal droplets in an advanced manufacturing system.
Seeking performance or control? Tethered party innovation in China’s performance evaluation system

In the Xi Jinping era of rising central power and reduced local autonomy, is there still room for policy experimentation? If any, what is the nature of this innovative behavior? This article argues...