cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Rag-1 mutations associated with B-cell-negative scid dissociate the nicking and transesterification steps of V(D)J recombination.

Some patients with B-cell-negative severe combined immune deficiency (SCID) carry mutations in RAG-1 or RAG-2 that impair V(D)J recombination. Two recessive RAG-1 mutations responsible for B-cell-negative SCID, R621H and E719K, impair V(D)J recombination without affecting formation of single-site recombination signal sequence complexes, specific DNA contacts, or perturbation of DNA structure at the heptamer-coding junction. The E719K mutation impairs DNA cleavage by the RAG complex, with a greater effect on nicking than on transesterification; a conservative glutamine substitution exhibits a similar effect. When cysteine is substituted for E719, RAG-1 activity is enhanced in Mn2+ but remains impaired in Mg2+, suggesting an interaction between this residue and an essential metal ion. The R621H mutation partially impairs nicking, with little effect on transesterification. The residual nicking activity of the R621H mutant is reduced at least 10-fold upon a change from pH 7.0 to pH 8.4. Site-specific nicking is severely impaired by an alanine substitution at R621 but is spared by substitution with lysine. These observations are consistent with involvement of a positively charged residue at position 621 in the nicking step of the RAG-mediated cleavage reaction. Our data provide a mechanistic explanation for one form of hereditary SCID. Moreover, while RAG-1 is directly involved in catalysis of both nicking and transesterification, our observations indicate that these two steps have distinct catalytic requirements.
Systemic antibiotics after incision and drainage of simple abscesses: a meta-analysis

Background Over the last decade, there has been a significant increase in the number of cutaneous abscesses. While there is general agreement that abscesses should be treated with incision and drainage, it is unclear whether systemic antibiotics should be routinely prescribed. Objective To evaluate whether systemic antibiotics, when compared with a placebo, improve cure rates in patients with simple abscesses after incision and drainage. Methods Design Systematic review and meta-analysis using RevMan5. Patients and settings Children and adults with simple abscesses treated in outpatient clinics or emergency departments. Data sources Cochrane Central, Medline, Embase and bibliographies. Outcome measures Percentage of patients with complete resolution of abscess without the need for recurrent incision and drainage, additional antibiotics, or hospital admission within 7–10 days of treatment. Results We included four trials, consisting of 589 patients in total (428 adults and 161 children). Patients were randomised to one of three antibiotics (cephridine (27), cephalexin (82), or trimethoprim sulfamethoxazole (161)) or to placebo (285), with 34 lost to follow-up or having incomplete data. When given in addition to incision and drainage, systemic antibiotics did not significantly improve the percentage of patients with complete resolution of their abscesses 7–10 days after treatment (88.1% vs 86.0%; OR 1.17 (95% CI 0.70 to 1.95)). Conclusions When given in addition to incision and drainage, systemic antibiotics do not significantly improve the percentage of patients with complete resolution of their abscesses.
Short-Term Changes in the Abundance and Parity Rate of Anopheles quadrimaculatus Species C (Diptera: Culicidae) in a Central Florida Swamp

Updraft CDC traps baited with dry ice were used to monitor changes in the abundance and parity rate of Anopheles quadrimaculatus Say complex mosquitoes in an intermittently flooded swamp in Central Florida during an 18-d period. Mosquitoes collected each day were identified to species using DNA hybridization and isozyme electrophoretic techniques and were dissected to determine follicular maturation and parity. Of 1,178 An. quadrimaculatus mosquitoes identified to species, 4% were species A and 96% were species C. Dissections of females of both species indicated that 98% were nonblood fed and nongravid with ovariole development at Christophers' stage II. Overall parity rates were 0.19 and 0.51 for populations of species A and species C, respectively. The duration of the gonotrophic cycle for species C females was estimated to be 5 d based on the interval between peaks in the number of nulliparous females collected on days 1 and 6 and peaks in the number of parous females collected 5 d later. Significant trends were observed in the number of parous species C females collected each day, indicating that the parity rate could not be used as an unbiased estimator of survivorship.
Ceruloplasmin inhibits carbonyl formation in indogenous cell proteins

Exposure of cells to oxygen radicals results in cellular injury and protein oxidation. Ceruloplasmin is a plasma antioxidant that increases in concentration during inflammation. Therefore, the ability of ceruloplasmin to protect endothelial cells from neutrophil-mediated injury was investigated. The inhibition of protein oxidation by ceruloplasmin was also examined in neutrophil and endothelial cell proteins by analysis of carbonyl formation. In addition, the iron oxidation state was measured to determine the effect of ceruloplasmin ferroxidase activity in oxygen-radical generating systems. Ceruloplasmin significantly (p < .01) inhibited neutrophil-mediated cytotoxicity of endothelial cells by 48%. Carbonyl formation in phorbol myristate acetate (PMA)-stimulated neutrophil proteins was also significantly (p < .01) reduced by ceruloplasmin from 0.172±0.028 to 0.086±0.004 mole carbonyl/mole protein. Even though ceruloplasmin itselfhad a threefold increase in carbonyl formation (0.452±0.010 vs. 0.146±0.018 mole carbonyl/mole protein) in the presence of PMA-stimulated compared with unstimulated neutrophils, no loss of functional activity was detected. In xanthine oxidase-treated endothelial cells, ceruloplasmin significantly (p < .05) reduced carbonyl formation from 0.132 ± 0.010 to 0.097 ± 0.009 mole carbonyl/mole protein. Ceruloplasmin also significantly (p < .01) oxidized iron when added to PMA-activated neutrophils, thereby decreasing Fe(II) from 98±8 to 7±2 μM. Similarly, ceruloplasmin added to xanthine oxidase/hypoxanthine reactions resulted in significant (p < .01) iron oxidation, decreasing Fe(II) from 99±1 to 15±3 μM. The ability of ceruloplasmin to protect both endothelial cells and endogenous neutrophil and endothelial cell proteins from oxidative injury suggests that it may be important in regulating cellular and protein damage by oxygen radicals during inflammation.
Differential cross sections for state-selected reactions in the H2++H2 system

Abstract Product angular and velocity distributions for vibrationally state-selected ion-neutral reactions are measured with a new technique that uses resonantly enhanced multiphoton ionization and impulsive acceleration of reactant ions to achieve crossed-beam scattering conditions in a single molecular beam. Results are presented for H 2 + (ν=1) + H 2 (ν=0) → H 3 + + H at E c.m. = 2.0 eV and D 2 + (ν=1) + H 2 (ν=0)→D 2 H + + H at E c.m. = 1.3 eV.
Heterozygosity for recessive lethals in homosporous fern populations: Thelypteris palustris and Onoclea sensibilis

Sporophytes from natural populations of Thelypteris palustris and Onoclea sensibilis were subjected to breeding tests to reveal the presence of recessive lethal alleles in their genotypes. All sporophytes were found to be heterozygous for recessive sporophytic lethals. Despite the capability for producing completely homozygous genotypes by intragametophytic self-fertilization, ferns in natural populations seem to retain considerable genetic loads of deleterious recessive alleles. It is suggested that natural selection operates to strongly favour heterozygous rather than homozygous sporophytes under most conditions.
Rapid identification of motile Aeromonas

The clinical relevance and taxonomy of motile Aeromonas species are areas of current controversy. Strains of motile Aeromonas isolates (n = 60) from various sources were identified to species level using the following tests (all incubated at 30 degrees and 37 degrees C): esculin hydrolysis; formation of gas from glucose; production of acetoin; production of acid from mannitol and arabinose; decarboxylation of lysine and ornithine, dihydrolation of arginine; and pyrazinamide hydrolysis in a semisolid medium. The tests' results were similar at incubation temperatures of 30 degrees and 37 degrees C. Of the strains, 59 (98%) of 60 were identified to species level by the full battery of tests: 25 as A. hydrophila, 18 as A. caviae, 14 as A. sobria, one as A. veronii, and one as A. schubertii. (The only A. veronii and A. schubertii isolates identified were ATCC strains). All (25 of 25) strains of A. hydrophila and 17 (94%) of 18 of A. caviae hydrolyzed pyrazinamide in less than 24 hr, whereas all strains of A. sobria showed no pyrazinamidase activity. Absence of pyrazinamidase was, thus, a convenient phenotypic marker for A. sobria. Four additional tests (esculin hydrolysis, acetoin production, lysine decarboxylation, and gas production from glucose) identified within 24 hr all examples of the three common species of Aeromonas. Recently proposed species did not contribute to our ability to discriminate among stool, other clinical, and environmental isolates of Aeromonas spp.
The performance of a direct sequence spread spectrum acquisition system employing a linear prediction filter

The authors analyze the performance of a direct sequence spread spectrum acquisition system employing a linear prediction filter to suppress a tone interferer located at the carrier frequency. They present a bound on the probability of error in the search mode and expressions for detection and false-alarm probabilities in the lock mode. They also give numerical evaluations of these expressions and compare them to analogous results on the the performance of an acquisition system employing a rectangular notch filter. It is shown that, when sinusoidal interference is present at the carrier frequency, a system employing a linear prediction filter can significantly outperform a system employing a rectangular notch filter. >
Attitudes of Occupational Therapy Students Toward Older Persons

As the older population increases in number and proportion within the population, services adapted to the needs of the older person will be in demand. Ageism is believed to hinder the development of such services. Occupational therapy espouses a functional view of health congruent with the multifaceted needs of the elderly, yet a shortage of occupational therapists working with the older population exists. This survey was conducted to investigate attitudes and knowledge level of occupational therapy students (N = 162) toward the elderly. Results indicated that positive attitudes toward older persons were predominant in this sample and correlated with higher knowledge levels about the elderly. The perplexing question of why occupational therapists have not selected this area of practice in the face of increasing demands for service remains.
Anticancer and Cancer Chemopreventive Potential of Grape Seed Extract and Other Grape-Based Products

With emerging trends in the incidence of cancer of various organ sites, additional approaches are needed to control human malignancies. Intervention or prevention of cancer by dietary constituents, a strategy defined as chemoprevention, holds great promise in our conquest to control cancer, because it can be implemented on a broader population base with less economic burden. Consistent with this, several epidemiological studies have shown that populations that consume diets rich in fruits and vegetables have an overall lower cancer incidence. Based on these encouraging observations, research efforts from across the globe have focused on identifying, characterizing, and providing scientific basis to the efficacy of various phytonutrients in an effort to develop effective strategy to control various human malignancies. Cancer induction, growth, and progression are multi-step events and numerous studies have demonstrated that various dietary agents interfere with these stages of cancer, thus blocking malignancy. Fruits and vegetables represent untapped reservoir of various nutritive and nonnutritive phytochemicals with potential cancer chemopreventive activity. Grapes and grape-based products are one such class of dietary products that have shown cancer chemopreventive potential and are also known to improve overall human health. This review focuses on recent advancements in cancer chemopreventive and anticancer efficacy of grape seed extract and other grape-based products. Overall, completed studies from various scientific groups conclude that both grapes and grape-based products are excellent sources of various anticancer agents and their regular consumption should thus be beneficial to the general population.
Swimmeret Evoked Control of Abdominal Posture in Lobsters: Inhibition of Extension Antagonists

Tactile stimulation of an abdominal swimmeret appendage in lobster alters the activity of most intersegmental extension and flexion producing interneurons (EPIs and FPIs) in the abdominal nerve cord. The resulting EPI excitation and FPI inhibition are appropriate for the postural motor program evoked by swimmeret stimulation. This program includes simultaneous extension excitation and flexion inhibition.
An open simulation architecture for Force XXI

Force XXI will be America's Army in the 21st century. New technology, a post-Cold War world and a declining force structure have made simulation a critical means for defining and implementing Force XXI. Military organizations are hierarchical. In combat, these command levels operate simultaneously with varying levels of coupling. A platoon on platoon operation can be significantly affected by unilateral actions of higher level friendly or enemy headquarters. A high-fidelity simulation must be able to represent the simultaneous actions of several command echelons. A multi-level simulation approach is presented in which different echelons of command can view objects at varying levels of detail consistently. A task force commander should be able to view the position and movement of a tank platoon on a map or a virtual view of the battlefield as seen from the platoon leader's hatch or real-time live video from an actual tank on the ground. Each view must be logically consistent with each other, so that the mountain on the map sheet affects movement in the same manner as the virtual mountain and the actual mountain seen via live video. Various combinations of live, virtual and constructive simulations will run concurrently in the same simulation infrastructure. Expert systems will control constructive simulation nodes lacking human players. At any level in the simulation human players and expert system players may be interchanged. The opposing force will be similarly configured. Force on force virtual simulations will be supported in the simulation infrastructure. The resulting open simulation architecture (OSA) is discussed in detail.
A low-area flexible MIMO detector for WiFi/WiMAX standards

MIMO wireless technology is required to increase the data rates for a broad range of applications, including low cost mobile devices. In this paper we present a very low area reconfigurable MIMO detector which achieves a high throughput of 103Mbps and uses 27 Kilo Gates when implemented in a commercial 180nm CMOS process. The low area is achieved by the proposed in-place architecture. This architecture implements the K-best algorithm and reduces area 4-fold compared to the widely used multi-stage architecture, while provides reconfigurability in terms of antenna configuration during real-time operation.
Comparison of Problem-Gambling and Non–Problem-Gambling Youths Seeking Treatment for Marijuana Abuse

ABSTRACT Objective To evaluate the prevalence and correlates of problem gambling (PG) in marijuana-abusing adolescents. Method A retrospective analysis was conducted of data collected from participants entering treatment for marijuana abuse in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and Hartford, Connecticut, between 1998 and 2000. Results Of 255 adolescents interviewed, 22% experienced gambling problems. Compared with non–problem gamblers (NPGs), PGs were more likely to be male, of African-American ethnicity, and to live in single-parent homes. Multivariate general linear models compared the two groups with respect to psychosocial problems. After controlling for age, gender, and race, differences between the groups emerged in drug use severity, legal difficulties, psychiatric problems, and human immunodeficiency virus risk behaviors. PGs reported a greater frequency of overall drug and alcohol use and greater intensity of marijuana use than their NPG counterparts. They had more illegal activity and greater somatization and anxiety symptoms, as well as higher levels of victimization. Compared with NPGs, PGs also reported more recent sexual partners. Conclusions These data suggest that PG is common in marijuana-abusing youths and that they have increased psychosocial problems. These data suggest the need for early identification and treatment of PG in substance-abusing adolescents.
SEU rate prediction and measurement of GaAs SRAMs onboard the CRRES satellite

Upset rate predictions using heavy ion data are shown to overestimate the observed rates on CRRES (Combined Release and Radiation Effects Satellite) for the GaAs C-EJFET (complementary enhancement junctions FET) SRAM (static random-access memory) for both heavy ion and proton upset rates. The predicted heavy ion rates were an order of magnitude high, while the predicted proton upset rates were two orders of magnitude high. Predictions based on heavy ion data for the D-MESFET/resistor technology fell within an order of magnitude of the observed rate for both cosmic ray and proton upset rates. SPICE calculations underpredicted the upset rates for the C-EJFET SRAMs and overestimated the D-MESFET/resistor SRAM upset rates. The underestimate of comsic ray rates may be attributed to either a minimal assumption of collection depth or the possibility of enhanced charge collection. Incorrect use of the circuit-derived critical charge relative to the average measured critical charge would lead to the estimation of the heavy ion upset rate predictions for the D-MESFET/resistor SRAM. Observation of upset rates following onset of the solar flare event suggests that solar protons were responsible for high upset rates at the higher altitudes. >
Social Networking as an Admission Tool: A Case Study in Success

The concept of social networking, the focus of this article, targets the development of online communities in higher education, and in particular, as part of the admission process. A successful case study of a university is presented on how one university has used this tool to compete for students. A discussion including suggestions on how to enhance the success of this tool in your recruitment process is also provided.
Tristetraprolin Impairs Myc-Induced Lymphoma and Abolishes the Malignant State

Myc oncoproteins directly regulate transcription by binding to target genes, yet this only explains a fraction of the genes affected by Myc. mRNA turnover is controlled via AU-binding proteins (AUBPs) that recognize AU-rich elements (AREs) found within many transcripts. Analyses of precancerous and malignant Myc-expressing B cells revealed that Myc regulates hundreds of ARE-containing (ARED) genes and select AUBPs. Notably, Myc directly suppresses transcription of Tristetraprolin (TTP/ZFP36), an mRNA-destabilizing AUBP, and this circuit is also operational during B lymphopoiesis and IL7 signaling. Importantly, TTP suppression is a hallmark of cancers with MYC involvement, and restoring TTP impairs Myc-induced lymphomagenesis and abolishes maintenance of the malignant state. Further, there is a selection for TTP loss in malignancy; thus, TTP functions as a tumor suppressor. Finally, Myc/TTP-directed control of select cancer-associated ARED genes is disabled during lymphomagenesis. Thus, Myc targets AUBPs to regulate ARED genes that control tumorigenesis.
ONE ENCHANTED BEING: NEUROEXISTENTIALISM AND MEANING

. The Really Hard Problem: Meaning in a Material World is my attempt to explain whether and how existential meaning is possible in a material world, and how such meaning is best conceived naturalistically. Neuroexistentialism conceives of our predicament in accordance with Darwin plus neuroscience. The prospects for our kind of being-in-the-world are limited by our natures as smart but fully embodied short-lived animals. Many find this picture disenchanting, even depressing. I respond to four criticisms of my relentless upbeat naturalism: that naturalism can make no room for norms, for values; that I overvalue truth at the expense of happiness; that I underestimate the extent to which supernaturalism has made peace with naturalism; and that I can give no account for why humans as finite animals should want to overcome our given natures and seek impersonal, self-transcendent value.
Advancing urban sustainability theory and action: Challenges and opportunities

a b s t r a c t Urban ecology and its theories are increasingly poised to contribute to urban sustainability, through both basic understanding and action. We present a conceptual framework that expands the Indus- trial → Sanitary → Sustainable City transition to include non-sanitary cities, "new cities", and various permutations of transition options for cities encountering exogenous and endogenous "triggers of change". When investigating and modeling these urban transitions, we should consider: (1) the triggers that have induced change; (2) situations where crisis triggers change; (3) why cities transition toward more sustainable states on their own, in the absence of crisis; (4) what we can learn from new city transitions, and non-sanitary city transitions; and (5) how resource interactions affect urban transition s. Several existing theoretical frameworks, including sustainability, resilience, adaptation, and vulnera- bility, may be helpful when considering urban transitions. We suggest that all of these theories interact through inertia in urban systems, and that this multi-faceted inertia—e.g. institutional inertia, infras- tructural inertia, and social inertia—imparts degrees of rigidity that make urban systems less flexible and nimble when facing transitional triggers and change. Given this, solutions to urban sustainability challenges may be categorized as those: (1) that "tweak" the current systems and work with or even take advantage of the inertia in those systems, versus; (2) that are more "transformative", that confront systemic inertia, and that may require new systems. We propose that a model for addressing urban sustainability in the context of relevant theory, and for bridging research and practice, should focus on intercity comparisons. And one mechanism to facilitate this approach is a newly formed interdisci- plinary Research Coordination Network (RCN) that focuses on urban sustainability by integrating urban research while incubating solutions-oriented products and collaborative partnerships with practitioners. The Network includes more than two dozen cities in five continents that are in various degrees of tran- sition. In the true vein of sustainability science, our Network activities are incubating societally-relevant
A variable structural control of a damped sandwich beam

A damped flexible sandwich beam system described by partial differential equations with boundary conditions is investigated in this paper. The system is transferred to an abstract evolution equation in terms of the system operators defined on appropriate Hilbert spaces. A variable structural control problem for the system is proposed, and an equivalent control theorem for the system are obtained by means of semigroup of linear operators. Finally, a simulation result is presented.
A Test of the Emergent Norm Theory of Collective Behavior

Objective: The paper uses the timing of evacuation behavior of occupants of the World Trade Center at the time of the explosion of February 26, 1993, to test predictions from Emergent Norm Theory. Method: It uses ordinary least square multiple regression analysis to examine data from a survey done in the first week in May 1993 of 415 people who worked at the World Trade Center. Results: The theory's predictions regarding the additive effects of size of group and preexisting social relationships on the timing of evacuation are supported. However, the findings document important and unexpected interaction effects of these two variables on the effects of perceived threat, resources, and cooperativeness on the timing of evacuation. Conclusion: The results augment the theory by showing the continued importance of enduring social relationships as determinants of collective behavior. Enduring social relationships are not only useful to differentiate collective behavior from institutionalized behavior but also specify the dynamics attending the occurrence of collective behavior.
Do We Expect Too Much From Our IT Vendors? What Can We Do About It?

What a time to be a radiologist! Whether you are a battle-hardened veteran or new to the field, you face a daunting landscape combining economicpressures,clinicalopportunities, and political uncertainty. It is clear that imaging has become a vital component of diagnostic and therapeuticmedicalpractice,andadvances in molecular imaging and imageguidedprocedurespromisetocon
Idelalisib-associated Colitis: Histologic Findings in 14 Patients

Idelalisib is an inhibitor of the PI3Kδ isoform approved for treatment of patients with relapsed chronic lymphocytic leukemia and indolent non-Hodgkin lymphoma. Many patients develop gastrointestinal symptoms during idelalisib therapy; however, the pathologic effects of this drug have not been characterized. We identified 50 patients who received at least 3 months of idelalisib therapy. Clinical findings and symptoms were noted for each patient, and endoscopic findings were recorded for those who underwent colonoscopic examination. Hematoxylin and eosin-stained sections from colonic biopsy samples were evaluated for histologic patterns of injury. Twenty-three (46%) patients experienced diarrhea during treatment with idelalisib, including 8 with severe symptoms (≥7 stools/d above baseline and/or requiring hospitalization). Fourteen patients underwent colonoscopic examination with mucosal biopsy. Twelve (86%) of these had colitis characterized by intraepithelial lymphocytosis, crypt cell apoptosis, and neutrophilic infiltration of crypt epithelium. Eleven patients had symptoms severe enough to warrant drug withdrawal, including 9 who were also treated with corticosteroids. Idelalisib commonly causes diarrheal symptoms in patients undergoing therapy for B-cell neoplasia, which may be severe in nearly 20% of patients. Characteristic histologic features include the combination of intraepithelial lymphocytosis and crypt cell apoptosis, often accompanied by neutrophils. Discontinuation of the drug results in symptomatic improvement and resolution of histologic changes.
On the first degree Fejér–Riesz factorization and its applications to X + A⁎X−1A = Q

Abstract Given a Laurent polynomial with matrix coefficients that is positive semi-definite over the unit circle in the complex plane, the Fejer–Riesz theorem asserts that it can always be factorized as the product of a polynomial with matrix coefficients and its adjoint. This paper exploits such a factorization in its simplest form of degree one and its relationship with the nonlinear matrix equation X + A ⁎ X − 1 A = Q . In particular, the nonlinear equation can be recast as a linear Sylvester equation subject to unitary constraint. The Sylvester equation is readily obtainable from hermitian eigenvalue computation. The unitary constraint can be enforced by a hybrid of a straightforward alternating projection for low precision estimation and a coordinate-free Newton iteration for high precision calculation. This approach offers a complete parametrization of all solutions and, in contrast to most existent algorithms, makes it possible to find all solutions if so desired.
Developing student competencies: An integrated approach to a financial statement analysis project

This paper presents an instructional resource for an integrated financial statement analysis project. The project requires a quantitative analysis of a company's financial statements and a written research report. The project is designed to develop students' critical thinking and analytical capabilities through the application of course concepts to a real company, while also providing opportunities to develop professional competencies. Following Anson's Instructional Design Model (2007), the integrated project includes supporting activities, which are designed to aid students in achieving the project's learning goals. The supporting activities include in-class instruction on financial ratios, a computer lab session on Excel, draft papers, peer reviews of writing, and paper revisions. The integrated project also serves as an example of an assignment that is consistent with two recent education frameworks, the Integrated Competency-Based Framework (Lawson et al., 2014) and the AICPA Core Competency Framework (2015), which both advocate for increased integration of professional competencies within the accounting curriculum. Our instructional resource provides project instructions, supporting activities, as well as implementation guidance and a grading rubric. The paper discusses adaptations to tailor the project to various courses and audiences. The resources in this article are useful for instructors implementing a financial statement analysis project into accounting, finance, financial statement analysis and investment courses targeted at either the undergraduate or graduate levels.
Evaluating Public Service Reforms in India: A Combined Experimental and Survey-Based Approach

Do public service reforms improve citizen services? Over the last two decades both public-private partnerships and information and communication technologies have been promoted as tools for reforming service delivery in developing countries, with the goal of providing both economic and political benefits to citizens. However, observational studies of policies intended to promote these reform models are hindered by selection bias. Experimental evaluations, on the other hand, can be limited in the potential for generalization to broader populations. In this study, I adopt a combined experimental and observational approach to evaluate the independent effects of privatization and computerization in an initiative to improve citizen services in the south Indian state of Karnataka. Through the use of a large citizen survey and field experiment, I show that privatization of service delivery has a larger positive effect on a number of service quality measures than computerization, most important of which is the reduced demand for, and size of, bribes from citizens. While private, computerized centers do not improve all facets of service delivery and, interestingly, do not engender higher levels of satisfaction from citizens, their effect on corruption in the service delivery process is marked.
Bruton's Tyrosine Kinase Deficiency Inhibits Autoimmune Arthritis in Mice but Fails to Block Immune Complex-Mediated Inflammatory Arthritis.

Objective Bruton's tyrosine kinase (BTK) is a B cell signaling protein that also contributes to innate immunity. BTK inhibitors prevent autoimmune arthritis but have off-target effects, and the mechanisms of protection remain unknown. We undertook these studies using genetic deletion to investigate the role of BTK in adaptive and innate immune responses that drive inflammatory arthritis. Methods BTK-deficient K/BxN mice were generated to study the role of BTK in a spontaneous model that requires both adaptive and innate immunity. The K/BxN serum-transfer model was used to bypass the adaptive system and elucidate the role of BTK in innate immune contributions to arthritis. Results BTK deficiency conferred disease protection to K/BxN mice, confirming outcomes of BTK inhibitors. B lymphocytes were profoundly reduced, more than in other models of BTK deficiency. Subset analysis revealed loss of B cells at all developmental stages. Germinal center B cells were also decreased, with downstream effects on numbers of follicular helper T cells and greatly reduced autoantibodies. In contrast, total IgG was only mildly decreased. Strikingly, and in contrast to small molecule inhibitors, BTK deficiency had no effect in the serum-transfer model of arthritis. Conclusion BTK contributes to autoimmune arthritis primarily through its role in B cell signaling and not through innate immune components.
Effects of the War on the Agricultural Working Force and on the Rural-Farm Population

A T THE time of the last Census, the ruralfarm population 14 years of age and over included 10 million employed persons, 1 million unemployed, and about 10.4 million persons who were not in the labor force inasmuch as they were neither at work nor seeking work. Of the 10 million employed persons about 8 million were workers on farms and approximately 2 million in nonfarm occupations. By April of this year the picture has changed drastically. Employment has increased by 1.2 million, unemployment has virtually disappeared, while the rural-farm population 14 years of age and over outside of the labor force has decreased by 2.5 million as a result of migration, both civilian and military, and entrance into the labor force of many people who normally are not in the labor market. These broad shifts have resulted in divergent trends as between the employment of rural-farm persons in agriculture and in nonagricultural occupations. It is estimated that nearly 600,000 fewer rural-farm persons were employed on farms in April 1943 than in April 1940, while 1.8 million more were employed in nonfarm work. The changes indicated by these total employment figures hide even more marked shifts in the sex composition of the rural-farm labor force. Male farm workers decreased from 7.4 million to 6.3 million in this 3-year period, while female farm workers increased from .5 million to .9 million, partially replacing the men who left for industry and the armed forces. Many other women and men shifted into nonagricultural occupations without moving away from farms. These changes in the rural-farm labor force have profoundly affected the manpower resources available for meeting farm production goals in 1943.
Chemosterilization of the American Dog Tick (Acari: Ixodidae): Effects of Metepa on the Cytology and Fertility of Males in Two Nutritional States

The effects of metepa on the cytology and fertility of male Dermacentor variabilis (Say) treated at 2 nutritional states were determined. Cellular damage was found in posterior testicular areas in ticks fed for 3 days prior to treatment and in anterior testicular areas in those fed 6 days prior to treatment. These areas correspond to the respective areas where actively dividing spermatocytes and elongating spermatids are located. The amount of cellular damage correlated positively to the concentration of metepa applied. Egg masses from untreated female × treated male crosses hatched normally, but variations were noted in fecundity, engorgement, and preovipositional and incubation periods.
Measuring the meaning of miscarriage: revision of the Impact of Miscarriage Scale

Background and purpose The purpose of this study was to determine a factor structure for the Impact of Miscarriage Scale (IMS). The 24 items comprising the IMS were originally derived from a phenomenological study of miscarriage in women. Initial psychometric properties were established based on a sample of 188 women (Swanson, 1999a). Method Data from 341 couples were subjected to confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) and exploratory factor analysis (EFA). Results CFA did not confirm the original structure. EFA explained 57% of the variance through an 18-item, 4-factor structure: isolation and guilt, loss of baby, devastating event, and adjustment. Except for the Adjustment subscale, Cronbach's alpha coefficients were > or = .78. Conclusion Although a 3-factor solution is most defensible, with further refinement and additional items, the 4th factor (adjustment) may warrant retention.
Model-based programming tools for integrated monitoring, simulation, diagnosis and control

This paper presents a software technique which is useful for building the monitoring, simulation, diagnosis and control software for complex systems, like the ones found in aerospace systems. The technique is based on the extensive use of models, which include description of the equipment as well as the software configuration itself. The system has been successfully used in various practical applications, and it is being evaluated by various sites. The development of complex automation systems, like the ones in aerospace systems, is a formidable task. People implementing these systems must have training both in the methods of the domain engineering, as well as in software engineering. The two fields are not separable, because almost all of the monitoring and control systems are now computer-based which means "implemented in software". We argue that these software systems cannot and should not be developed independently of each other. If they are, simply because of interfacing problems, solutions are prone t o serious problems. On the other hand, both fields, i.e. the domain-engineering and the software-engineering, are large enough on their own, that we cannot expect from a person proficient in one of them t o grasp the other. In this paper we propose a technology, called the Multigraph Architecture (MGA), which provides ways for building complex, hardware-close software systems in such a manner, that domain engineers are capable of building complex applications on their own. I t is based on our multi-year research effort in model-based programming methods and environments. The technology 'Dr H. Franke is currently with IBM T.J. Watson Research Center has been useful in many of our research projects 4 ~ 5 . 6 , as well as in various practical, real-life applications .
Congenital deficiency of proconvertin: a clinical and laboratory report.

Abstract 1. A case of congenital deficiency of proconvertin in a Hopi Indian boy is reported. This is the eleventh case of "pure" proconvertin deficiency and the second reported in the American literature. 2. Laboratory studies revealed normal intrinsic blood coagulation but markedly abnormal tests when coagulation was studied in the presence of tissue extracts. 3. An accompanying mild deficiency of prothrombin was suggested by the results of some tests. 4. The concept that the role of proconvertin in hemostasis is primarily as a co-thromboplastin is supported by the clinical and laboratory studies carried out on this patient. The differentiation of this disorder from other cases with deficiencies of "serum" factors is discussed, and the previously reported cases are reviewed.
Magnetic susceptibility‐induced echo‐time shifts: Is there a bias in age‐related fMRI studies?

Purpose To evaluate the potential for bias in functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) aging studies resulting from age-related differences in magnetic field distributions that can impact echo time and functional contrast. Materials and Methods Magnetic field maps were taken on 31 younger adults (age: 22 ± 2.9 years) and 46 older adults (age: 66 ± 4.5 years) on a 3T scanner. Using the spatial gradients of the magnetic field map for each participant, an echo planar imaging (EPI) trajectory was simulated. The effective echo time, time at which the k-space trajectory is the closest to the center of k-space, was calculated. This was used to examine both within-subject and across-age-group differences in the effective echo time maps. The blood oxygenation level-dependent (BOLD) percent signal change resulting from those echo time shifts was also calculated to determine their impact on fMRI aging studies. Results For a single subject, the effective echo time varied as much as ±5 msec across the brain. An unpaired t-test between the effective echo time across age groups resulted in significant differences in several regions of the brain (P < 0.01). The difference in echo time was only ∼1 msec, however, which is not expected to have an important impact on BOLD fMRI percent signal change (<4%). Conclusion Susceptibility-induced magnetic field gradients induce local echo-time shifts in gradient echo fMRI images, which can cause variable BOLD sensitivity across the brain. However, the age-related differences in BOLD signal are expected to be small for an fMRI study at 3T. Level of Evidence: 1 J. Magn. Reson. Imaging 2017;45:207–214.
Do Young Mothers and Fathers Differ in the Likelihood of Returning Home

Building on research examining "boomerang" adult children, I examine multigenerational living among young parents. Returning home likely differs between young mothers and fathers given variation in socioeconomic characteristics, health and risk-taking, their own children's coresidence, and union stability. Using the National Longitudinal Survey of Youth 1997 (NLSY97), I find that more than 40% of young parents (N = 2,721) live with their own parents at first birth or subsequently. Mothers are generally less likely to move home than fathers but only when not controlling for child coresidence and union stability. Individuals who live with all their children are less likely to return home, and controlling for child coresidence reverses gender differences, though this association disappears in the full model. Young parents who are stably single and those who experience dissolution are highly likely to return home compared to the stably partnered, with the association significantly stronger for fathers than mothers.
Outcome of Childhood Epilepsy

Factors predictive of remission of epilepsy were evaluated in 504 patients followed for an average of 7 years at the Departments of Pediatrics and Mathematics, Dalhousie University and Children’s Hospital, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada.
Development of a novel probabilistic algorithm for localization of rotors during atrial fibrillation

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is an irregular heart rhythm that can lead to stroke and other heart-related complications. Catheter ablation has been commonly used to destroy triggering sources of AF in the atria and consequently terminate the arrhythmia. However, efficient and accurate localization of the AF sustaining sources known as rotors is a major challenge in catheter ablation. In this paper, we developed a novel probabilistic algorithm that can adaptively guide a Lasso diagnostic catheter to locate the center of a rotor. Our algorithm uses a Bayesian updating approach to search for and locate rotors based on the characteristics of electrogram signals collected at every catheter placement. The algorithm was evaluated using a 10 × 10 cm 2 D atrial tissue simulation of the Nygren human atrial cell model and was able to successfully guide the catheter to the rotor center in 3.37 ± 1.05 (mean±std) steps (including placement at the center) when starting from any location on the tissue. Our novel automated algorithm can potentially play a significant role in patient-specific ablation of AF sources and increase the success of AF elimination procedures.
The potential rural development impacts of utilizing non-merchantable forest biomass

Abstract The development of a market for currently non-merchantable forest material, such as harvest residues or small diameter trees, has been suggested as a possible win-win solution that could: (i) provide a material that can be processed in rural communities reeling from changes in the forest products industry and policy environment; (ii) capture more value from timber management activities; and (iii) provide a financial incentive for treatments to reduce wildfire risk or restore forest stands. Modeling the supply of this material with spatially-explicit potential demand locations allows for a realistic analysis of the feasibility of such a market to stimulate rural development. We model multiple scenarios for the utilization of harvest residues within the current forest products market in western Oregon. Sensitivity analysis explored the effects of cost of the depots on feasibility, including policy designed to support depot establishment through subsidies. Scenarios were also used to assess the effects of increases in federal harvest activities. Results suggest that with relatively high biomass prices, there is some potential for investment in depots to aid rural communities in western Oregon, but there is little change in either the overall feasibility or the location of depot establishment under scenarios of increased federal harvest.
Reacquisition of E-cadherin expression in metastatic deposits of signet-ring cell carcinoma of the upper gastrointestinal system: a potential anchor for metastatic deposition.

Aims To examine the expression of E-cadherin in paired primary and metastatic signet-ring cell carcinomas (SRCC) of various organ systems in order to explore the potential role of the molecule in metastatic dissemination of this unique tumour type. Methods Thirty-seven consecutive cases of SRCC from various organs with paired primary and metastatic tumorous tissue available were retrieved. The intensity of membranous E-cadherin expression was semiquantitatively scored on a scale of 0–3+. Results Reduced E-cadherin expression was a distinct feature of primary SRCC and was observed in 78% of primary tumours. Interestingly, the E-cadherin reduction was less frequently seen in metastatic SRCC when compared with their primary counterparts, and was only found in 57% of tumours in lymph node metastases or at distant sites of relapse. Furthermore, the mean score of E-cadherin expression of primary SRCC was significantly lower than that of their metastatic counterparts (2.3 vs 1.8; p=0.008). When divided by organ systems, the reacquisition of E-cadherin expression in the metastatic deposits was most remarkable in the SRCC of upper gastrointestinal tract origin (2.3 vs 1.4; p=0.003), whereas no significant difference was observed in other organ systems. Conclusions While the reduction of E-cadherin in primary SRCC supports its pivotal role in epithelial-mesenchymal transition, a process crucial in tumour progression and metastatic dissemination, the re-expression of this molecule in metastatic SRCC cells implies a reversal to their epithelial phenotype (thus mesenchymal-epithelial transition) which, in turn, theoretically helps tumour cells to anchor and form cohesive metastatic deposits.
Hidden IgG Antibodies to the Tumor-Associated Thomsen-Friedenreich Antigen in Gastric Cancer Patients: Lectin Reactivity, Avidity, and Clinical Relevance

Natural antibodies to the tumor-associated Thomsen-Friedenreich antigen (TF) are related to tumor immunosurveillance and cancer patients' survival. Hidden IgG antibodies (HAbs) to TF, their lectin reactivity, avidity, and clinical relevance were studied. HAbs were present in cancer patients and controls. A decreased level of IgG HAbs was detected in cancer. The HAbs level positively correlated with the sialospecific SNA lectin binding in purified total IgG (tIgG) in donors and cancer patients, indicating that HAbs are higher sialylated. The avidity of anti-TF IgG in tIgG samples was lower in cancer patients (P = 0.025) while no difference in the avidity of free anti-TF IgG was established. A negative correlation between the avidity of anti-TF IgG in tIgG and SNA binding in both groups was observed (P < 0.0001). The HAbs level negatively correlated with the anti-TF IgG avidity in tIgG only in donors (P = 0.003). Changes in the level of HAbs and Abs avidity showed a rather good stage- and gender-dependent diagnostic accuracy. Cancer patients with a lower anti-TF IgG avidity in tIgG showed a benefit in survival. Thus the TF-specific HAbs represent a particular subset of anti-TF IgG that differ from free serum anti-TF IgG in SNA reactivity, avidity, diagnostic potential, and relation to survival.