cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Longitudinal accrual of neocortical amyloid burden is associated with microstructural changes of the fornix in cognitively normal adults.

Abstract The fornix and parahippocampal cingulum are 2 major limbic tracts in the core memory network of the hippocampus. Although these fiber tracts are known to degrade with Alzheimer's disease (AD), little is known about their vulnerability in the asymptomatic phase of AD. In this longitudinal study of cognitively normal adults, we assessed amyloid-beta (Aβ) plaques using positron emission tomography and white matter microstructure using diffusion tensor imaging. We found that an increase of neocortical Aβ burden over time was associated with an increase of radial diffusivity in the fornix but not in the parahippocampal cingulum. The effect of increasing neocortical Aβ burden on the fornix remained significant after controlling for baseline measures, head motion, global brain atrophy, regional Aβ burden in the hippocampus, or microstructural changes in the global white matter. In addition, microstructural changes in the fornix were not associated with decline of episodic memory or other cognitive abilities. Our findings suggest that microstructural changes in the fornix may be an early sign in the asymptomatic phase of AD.
Impact load wave transmission in elastic metamaterials

Abstract Structures that consist of resonating endo-structures within a load bearing exo-structure possess the ability to mitigate dynamic load within a fixed frequency range. Their dynamic behavior can be characterized by the enactment of negative effective mass density. This research work presents the design, fabrication and dynamic load characterization of a locally resonant elastic metamaterial. Mass–spring system with negative effective mass is experimentally investigated and numerically analyzed, with the aim to reveal stress wave transmission property in low-frequency range under impact loading. Local resonance frequencies of the basic unit cells are designed and generated using springs with different spring constants. Results evidently show that impact load mitigation occurs in the presence of internal resonators. Parametric studies reveal that wave attenuation performance is improved by using a variety of resonance frequencies in the local resonators design. In addition, alternating the arrangement of different local resonators have negligible influence on wave attenuation. A good agreement between numerical simulation and experimental testing is achieved. The significance of this work lies in the experimental and numerical evaluation of wave attenuation efficiency in elastic metamaterials, thus providing a strong foundation and design basis in the future potential of elastic metamaterials for impact protection applications.
On the effect of model mismatch for sequential Info-Greedy Sensing

We characterize the performance of sequential information-guided sensing (Info-Greedy Sensing) when the model parameters (means and covariance matrices) are estimated and inaccurate. Our theoretical results focus on Gaussian signals and establish performance bounds for signal estimators obtained by Info-Greedy Sensing, in terms of conditional entropy (related to the estimation error) and additional power required due to inaccurate models. We also show covariance sketching can be used as an efficient initialization for Info-Greedy Sensing. Numerical examples demonstrate the good performance of Info-Greedy Sensing algorithms compared with random measurement schemes in the presence of model mismatch.
Low-FODMAP Diet for Treatment of Irritable Bowel Syndrome

Functional bowel disorders, including irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), are common disorders that have a significant impact on patients' quality of life. These disorders present major challenges to healthcare providers, as few effective medical therapies are currently available. Recently, there has been increasing interest in dietary therapies for IBS, particularly a diet low in fermentable oligosaccharides, disaccharides, monosaccharides, and polyols (FODMAPs). Since ingestion of FODMAPs increases the delivery of readily fermentable substrates and water to the distal small intestine and colon-which results in luminal distention and gas-the reduction of FODMAPs in a patient's diet may improve functional gastrointestinal symptoms. This paper will review the pathophysiology of IBS and the role of FODMAPs for the treatment of this condition.
Same Bridge, New Destinations: Rethinking Paradigms for Mechanical Cardiac Support in Heart Failure

Mechanical cardiac support with ventricular assist devices is an established therapy for a variety of clinical scenarios, including postcardiotomy shock, “bridge to transplant,” and “destination therapy.” At present, device development, clinical trial design, regulatory approval, and reimbursement decisions for the clinical application of mechanical cardiac support devices continue to be considered in the context of these clinical indications. Although understandable from a historical perspective, these arbitrary divisions are inconsistent with the clinical realities of advanced heart failure therapy. By narrowly focusing on transplant eligibility at a static point in the clinical course, current guidelines impede the broader application of ventricular assist device technology to the growing population of patients who may benefit from this therapy.
Decomposition of probability measures on locally compact abelian groups

Let G be a locally compact, separable, Abelian metric group. Let B be the σ-field of Borel subsets of G and let P be the class of all probability measures on B. Let I ⊂ P be the class of all infinitely divisible probability measures. Let I0 ⊂ I be the class of all measures which have no indecomposable or idempotent factors. One of the fundamental problems in analytic probability theory is to obtain a precise description of the class I0. This problem is very difficult and has net yet been solved even for the case G = ℝ. It is therefore important to determine conditions under which a measure P∈I does or does not belong to I0. This paper surveys the recent work on this subject.
Fast linearized coronagraph optimizer (FALCO) III: optimization of key coronagraph design parameters

Deformable mirrors (DMs) are increasingly becoming part of nominal coronagraph designs, such as the hybrid Lyot coronagraph, in addition to their role counteracting optical aberrations. Previous studies have investigated the effects of the inter-DM Fresnel number on achievable contrast, throughput, and tip/tilt sensitivity for apodized coronagraphs augmented with DMs to suppress diffraction from struts and segment gaps. In this paper, we build upon that previous work by directly suppressing tip/tilt sensitivity with the controller, both for coronagraphs with and without apodizers. We also explore the effects of other important design parameters such as actuator density and tip/tilt controller weighting on performance. These comprehensive coronagraph design studies are enabled by the Fast Linearized Coronagraph Optimizer (FALCO) software toolbox, which provides rapid re-calculation of the DM response matrix for a variety of coronagraphs.
Feedback Design Considerations for Intelligent Team Tutoring Systems

Challenges arise when developing a computer-based Intelligent Team Tutoring System (ITTS) that attempts to deliver feedback to teams as effectively as a human tutor. The purpose of this current wor...
Nuclear FGFR2 regulates musculoskeletal integration within the developing limb

Background Bent bone dysplasia syndrome (BBDS), a congenital skeletal disorder caused by dominant mutations in fibroblast growth factor receptor 2 (FGFR2), is characterized by bowed long bones within the limbs. We previously showed that the FGFR2 mutations in BBDS enhance nuclear and nucleolar localization of the receptor; however, exactly how shifts in subcellular distribution of FGFR2 affect limb development remained unknown. Results Targeted expression of the BBDS mutations in the lateral plate mesoderm of the developing chick induced angulated hindlimbs, a hallmark feature of the disease. Whole-mount analysis of the underlying skeleton revealed bent long bones with shortened bone collars and, in severe cases, dysmorphic epiphyses. Epiphyseal changes were also correlated with joint dislocations and contractures. Histological analysis revealed that bent long bones and joint defects were closely associated with irregularities in skeletal muscle patterning and tendon-to-bone attachment. The spectrum of limb phenotypes induced by the BBDS mutations were recapitulated by targeted expression of wild-type FGFR2 appended with nuclear and nucleolar localization signals. Conclusions Our results indicate that the bent long bones in BBDS arise from disruptions in musculoskeletal integration and that increased nuclear and nucleolar localization of FGFR2 plays a mechanistic role in the disease phenotype. 248:233-246, 2019. © 2018 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Embodying Persephone’s Desire: Authentic Movement and Underworld Transformation

Jungian interpretations of the Homeric Hymn to Demeter that address the theme of woundedness focus primarily on the abduction/rape of the maiden and the inconsolable rage of Demeter. Another subtler wound implicit in the Hymn frequently goes unmentioned: Kore’s initial status as a nameless offshoot of the mother goddess. This essay shows how the author explores emotional implications of the myth through a ritualized enactment of the central Eleusinian mysteries using the principles of authentic movement, a process that generated a fresh interpretation of the Hymn to Demeter. The thesis is that an interpretive variation of the myth focusing on the mutual vulnerability and strength of Hades and Persephone—their willingness to recognize and be recognized, to penetrate and be penetrated—makes possible a shared healing, in turn contributing to the fertility of the underworld. It is through the coniunctio of Persephone and Hades that the underworld becomes a place of abundance.
Modeling the spread of infectious disease

The study of disease spread among large populations is a daunting task to perform without the aid of computers. Not only does this require extensive data retrieval and analysis, but it is impossible to test multiple scenarios. Pestilence is a program that allows students to explore the patterns of disease spread. Pestilence was developed using Netlogo, a programmable modeling environment. The user has control of over 20 variables that can be dynamically changed during program execution. Important factors such as the effect of geographic barriers, infection lifespan, population density, contagiousness, and hospital capability can be tested separately and related. Observed values are constantly updated during program execution. Graphs are also produced concurrently with execution to allow immediate observation of trends. There is an option to output all data into an Excel® spreadsheet in a selected time interval for further analysis. Macros are provided to automatically format spreadsheets for ease of reading and printing. There are eleven different backgrounds to choose from, including a moving subway system. All of the following can be dynamically set: initial positions and densities of two populations, percentage of each population having the infection initially, the number of travelers, those who move more, and meanderers and their number of movements per day of simulation, infection lifespan is established for both susceptible and healthy individuals, ranges of which are controlled, percent recovery and a period after which recovered people are immune to being infected again, transmission characteristics are provided through infection radius and percent infection per contact, latency period, hospital mobility and percent indifference, hospital capacity and capabilities, decrease in hospital capability due to the demand, treatment time and decrease in mobility of infected people each day the infection progresses. The time interval which the program runs can be modified to slow down and speed up at certain points. All of these variable settings are visible on-screen at all times through the use of sliders. All values of these sliders are saved to an Excel® file for comparison. This program automates data collection and provides data analysis on progressively produced on-screen graphs. It serves as a learning tool for disease spread as well as a practical projection tool for severity of possible disease epidemics.
Inducible knockout of ∆Np63 alters cell polarity and metabolism during pubertal mammary gland development.

The ∆Np63 isoform of the p53-family transcription factor Trp63 is a key regulator of mammary epithelial stem cells that is involved in breast cancer development. To investigate the role of ∆Np63 at different stages of normal mammary gland development, we generated a ∆Np63-inducible conditional knockout (cKO) mouse model. We demonstrate that the deletion of ∆Np63 at puberty results in depletion of mammary stem cell-enriched basal cells, reduces expression of E-cadherin and β-catenin, and leads to a closed ductal lumen. RNA-sequencing analysis reveals reduced expression of oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS)-associated proteins and desmosomal polarity proteins. Functional assays show reduced numbers of mitochondria in the mammary epithelial cells of ΔNp63 cKO compared to wild-type, supporting the reduced OXPHOS phenotype. These findings identify a novel role for ∆Np63 in cellular metabolism and mammary epithelial cell polarity.
Membrane stabilizer Poloxamer 188 improves yield of primary isolated rat cardiomyocytes without impairing function

Intact cardiomyocytes are used to investigate cardiac contractility and evaluate the efficacy of new therapeutic compounds. Primary enzymatic isolation of adult rodent cardiomyocytes has limitations, including low cardiomyocyte survival, which is likely due to ischemic conditions and/or membrane damage. The addition of Poloxamer 188 (P188) has been used to reduce ischemia- and membrane-related damage in ischemia-reperfusion and muscular dystrophy studies. P188 stabilizes membranes, reducing cell death. Cardiomyocytes were isolated from rats, under three conditions: (1) using standard isolation solutions, (2) with P188 added during cannulation (ischemic event), and (3) with P188 added during cannulation, enzymatic digestion, and trituration. Cell survival was assessed by quantifying the number of rod-shaped versus contracted cells on the day of isolation and up to 3 days post-isolation. Adding P188 only during cannulation yielded improved survival on the day of isolation. Little difference in survival was seen among the three conditions in the days post-isolation. Cardiomyocyte function was assessed by measuring calcium transients and unloaded sarcomere lengths for up to 2 days post-isolation. P188 did not consistently alter calcium handling or sarcomere shortening in the isolated cardiomyocytes. We conclude that the addition of P188 to the cannulation (e.g., wash) of the isolated heart may improve initial survival of cardiomyocytes upon primary enzymatic isolation.
Investigation of food products containing garlic or onion for a false positive sulphite response by LC-MS/MS

In the US, sulphites must be declared on the label if they are present in concentrations greater than 10 mg/kg (determined as) SO2 because an allergic-like response has been reported in a small subset of the population upon consumption of sulphite-containing products. The most widely used method for sulphite determination, the optimised Monier-Williams (OMW), produces false positive results with vegetables from the Allium (garlic) and Brassica (cabbage) genera due to extraction conditions that are thought to cause endogenous sulphur compounds to release SO2. Recently, an LC-MS/MS method was developed for sulphites but has only been tested with samples that are 100% Allium or Brassica. Since regulatory samples may contain these vegetables as ingredients, additional investigations were necessary to determine the potential extent of false positives. Four blank matrices, chips, phyllo shells, hummus, and quinoa were spiked with various concentrations of onion and garlic powders. The sulphite concentrations were determined using an LC-MS/MS method. The matrix is extracted with a buffered formaldehyde solution, converting free and reversibly bound sulphite to the stable formaldehyde adduct, hydroxymethylsulfonate (HMS). It was determined that even at concentrations up to 8% garlic powder or 2% onion powder, the measured sulphite concentration was below the 10 mg/kg SO2 labelling threshold. Commercial dried garlic powders were evaluated to determine the variation in responses that might be encountered in future regulatory samples. Recovery studies were conducted to determine if these methods would detect added sulphite. The ability to eliminate false positives due to these ingredients will result in a greater reliability in the accurate determination of added sulphite to ensure compliance with labelling requirements.
Different Scan Protocols Affect the Detection Rates of Diabetic Retinopathy Lesions by Wide-Field Swept-Source Optical Coherence Tomography Angiography

Purpose To compare different scan protocols of wide-field swept-source optical coherence tomography angiography (SS-OCTA) for the detection of diabetic retinopathy (DR) lesions. Design Comparison of diagnostic approaches. Methods A prospective, observational study was conducted at Massachusetts Eye and Ear from December 2018 to July 2019. Proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR), nonproliferative diabetic retinopathy (NPDR), and diabetic patients without DR were included. All patients were imaged using SS-OCTA using the following scan protocol: 3- × 3-mm Angio centered on the fovea; 6- × 6-mm Angio centered on the fovea and the optic disc; 15- × 9-mm Montage; and 12- × 12-mm Angio centered on the fovea and the optic disc. Images were independently evaluated by 2 graders for the presence or absence of DR lesions including microaneurysms, intraretinal microvascular abnormalities, neovascularization, nonperfusion areas, venous looping, and hard exudates. All statistical analyses were performed using commercial software. Results A total of 176 eyes in 119 participants were included in the study. The detection rate of neovascularization on 6- × 6-mm Angio centered on the fovea was approximately one-half that on 15- × 9-mm Montage (P .05). For microaneurysms, 6- × 6-mm Angio had better performance than 15- × 9-mm Montage (P Conclusions Wide-field SS-OCTA images were useful in detecting DR lesions. The 12- × 12-mm Angio imaging centered on the fovea and on the optic disc may be an optimal balance between speed and efficacy for evaluation of DR in clinical practice.
Time for an Alzheimer’s disease cocktail

Treatment of Alzheimer’s disease with drugs that target single mechanisms has not been successful. Therefore, new approaches must be considered. Since late onset AD is an age-related disease it shares many of the same mechanistic processes of growing old and should benefit from a multidrug targeting approach designed to enhance healthy aging. Aging intervention drugs are available to combine as cocktails for expanding the coverage from just one to multiple aging pathways. This geroscience concept is set to replace the narrow-focused neuroscience approach of trying to identify a single magic bullet target that has seen only failure. Scientific review groups and funding agencies must recognize the opportunity to fund preclinical and clinical research before Alzheimer’s disease patients can benefit from a multitargeted anti-aging approach that is currently underappreciated both clinically and scientifically. Keywords: Alzheimer’s disease, aging, aging processes, drug cocktails, Alzheimer’s disease intervention
Call Me by Your Name: The Effect of Analyst-CEO First Name Commonality on Analyst Forecast Accuracy

In this paper we document that the earnings forecasts of security analysts who share a first name with the CEO of a covered firm (referred to as ‘matched’ analysts) are more accurate, on average, than those of analysts who do not share a first name (referred to as ‘unmatched’ analysts). This result is consistent with findings in psychology which show that individuals have an affinity for those who share first names and suggests that the CEO is more likely to share private information with a matched analyst. We find this phenomenon to be concentrated among those matched analysts with less common first names, perhaps because the salience of sharing a first name is lower for analysts with more common names. It is also stronger in situations where there is greater information asymmetry between management and analysts.
Pediatric and Adolescent Gynecology

Gynecologic concerns can arise during infancy, childhood, adolescence, and young adulthood. Understanding the anatomy and physiology of the female reproductive system will aid in the evaluation and management of conditions that might be encountered by the pediatric urologist. Vulvovaginitis, labial adhesions, and lichen sclerosus are unique to the pediatric population and are reviewed in this chapter. Vulvar concerns and vaginal anomalies often present in adolescence; those reviewed in this chapter are labial hypertrophy, non-sexually acquired genital ulcers, hymenal anomalies, longitudinal vaginal septum, obstructed hemi-vagina, and vaginal agenesis.
Essential roles of the dystrophin-glycoprotein complex in different cardiac pathologies

The dystrophin-glycoprotein complex (DGC), situated at the sarcolemma dynamically remodels during cardiac disease. This review examines DGC remodeling as a common denominator in diseases affecting heart function and health. Dystrophin and the DGC serve as broad cytoskeletal integrators that are critical for maintaining stability of muscle membranes. The presence of pathogenic variants in genes encoding proteins of the DGC can cause absence of the protein and/or alterations in other complex members leading to muscular dystrophies. Targeted studies have allowed the individual functions of affected proteins to be defined. The DGC has demonstrated its dynamic function, remodeling under a number of conditions that stress the heart. Beyond genetic causes, pathogenic processes also impinge on the DGC, causing alterations in the abundance of dystrophin and associated proteins during cardiac insult such as ischemia-reperfusion injury, mechanical unloading, and myocarditis. When considering new therapeutic strategies, it is important to assess DGC remodeling as a common factor in various heart diseases. The DGC connects the internal F-actin-based cytoskeleton to laminin-211 of the extracellular space, playing an important role in the transmission of mechanical force to the extracellular matrix. The essential functions of dystrophin and the DGC have been long recognized. DGC based therapeutic approaches have been primarily focused on muscular dystrophies, however it may be a beneficial target in a number of disorders that affect the heart. This review provides an account of what we now know, and discusses how this knowledge can benefit persistent health conditions in the clinic.
A roadmap to operationalize and evaluate impact in a learning health system

Background: Many health systems invest in initiatives to accelerate translation of knowledge into practice However, organizations lack guidance on how to develop and operationalize such Learning Health System (LHS) programs and evaluate their impact Kaiser Permanente Washington (KPWA) launched our LHS program in June 2017 and developed a logic model as a foundation to evaluate the program's impact Objective: To develop a roadmap for organizations that want to establish an LHS program, understand how LHS core components relate to one another when operationalized in practice, and evaluate and improve their progress Methods: We conducted a narrative review on LHS models, key model components, and measurement approaches Results: The KPWA LHS Logic Model provides a broad set of constructs relevant to LHS programs, depicts their relationship to LHS operations, harmonizes terms across models, and offers measurable operationalizations of each construct to guide other health systems The model identifies essential LHS inputs, provides transparency into LHS activities, and defines key outcomes to evaluate LHS processes and impact We provide reflections on the most helpful components of the model and identify areas that need further improvement using illustrative examples from deployment of the LHS model during the COVID-19 pandemic Conclusion: The KPWA LHS Logic Model is a starting point for future LHS implementation research and a practical guide for healthcare organizations that are building, operationalizing, and evaluating LHS initiatives © 2021 The Authors Learning Health Systems published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of the University of Michigan
Preparation and Characterization of Nanostructures in Glasses

Sodium borate and sodium-lead-germano-tellurite (SLGT) oxyfluoride glasses embedded with Er3+ and /or Ag were made by the melt quenching technique. Thermal analysis, X-ray diffraction and optical spectroscopy measurements were performed to characterize the glasses. Nanoparticles were induced by heat treating the glasses. Er3+ luminescence increased 4× due to enhanced field in the vicinity of silver particles. Strong room temperature upconversion emissions were observed at 415, 540, 554 and 667 nm from Er3+ doped SLGT sample under 972 nm Ti-sapphire laser excitation. Changes in the optical spectral characteristics supported the formation of nanocrystals.
Stalin: passage to revolution: by Ronald Grigor Suny, Princeton, NJ, Princeton UP, 2020, xix, 859 pp., $39.95 (hardback), ISBN: 9780691182032

Ronald Grigor Suny has enjoyed a prolific career as a historian of late Imperial Russia and, especially, of the Soviet Union. He is one of the few scholars who has written at length in English abou...
Association Between KRAS Variant Status and Outcomes With First-line Immune Checkpoint Inhibitor-Based Therapy in Patients With Advanced Non-Small-Cell Lung Cancer.

This cohort study examines the association of KRAS status with outcomes following immune checkpoint inhibition monotherapy vs chemoimmunotherapy.
Changing Hearts and Plates: The Effect of Animal-Advocacy Pamphlets on Meat Consumption

Social movements have driven large shifts in public attitudes and values, from anti-slavery to marriage equality. A central component of these movements is moral persuasion. We conduct a randomized-controlled trial of pro-vegan animal-welfare pamphlets at a college campus. We observe the effect on meat consumption using an individual-level panel data set of approximately 200,000 meals. Our baseline regression results, spanning two academic years, indicate that the pamphlet had no statistically significant long-term aggregate effects. However, as we disaggregate by gender and time, we find small statistically significant effects within the semester of the intervention: a 2.4 percentage-point reduction in poultry and fish for men and a 1.6 percentage-point reduction in beef for women. The effects disappear after 2 months. We merge food purchase data with survey responses to examine mechanisms. Those participants who (i) self-identified as vegetarian, (ii) reported thinking more about the treatment of animals or (iii) expressed a willingness to make big lifestyle changes reduced meat consumption during the semester of the intervention. Though we find significant effects on some subsamples in the short term, we can reject all but small treatment effects in the aggregate.
Understanding Decision Making and Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities

Previous studies have shown that individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) have difficulty with decision making across a range of decision tasks and that their abilities and decision styles are linked to etiology or specific type of IDD. This chapter provides a comprehensive review of decision-making research involving adolescents and adults with IDD by examining key sources of difficulty emerging from the interplay of the basic processes of cognition, motivation, and emotion. Using the Pathways Model of Decision Processing as a guiding framework, the chapter also explores a range of personal and situational factors as possible explanations for observed differences, and limitations, in decision making by individuals with IDD. Viewing individual differences in decision making from a neurodevelopmental perspective, different pathways of decision processing are examined for likely utilization by individuals with various types of IDD to allow for a better understanding of how individual characteristics may influence decision functioning across different domains, including interpersonal and social situations. The chapter establishes a clear need for developing and evaluating effective approaches for strengthening the decision-making capabilities in individuals with IDD.
Plasma Immersion Ion Implantation: A Perspective

Many kilovolts can be sustained in the sheath between the boundary of a high ion density plasma generated by Electron Cyclotron Resonance (ECR) and a negatively biased substrate in the plasma. Very high dose rate implantation can occur as ions are accelerated from the edge of the sheath towards the substrate. This, combined with simple reactor design, allows plasma immersion ion implantation (PHI) to be used in thin film modification applications that are not viable for conventional implanters. We have used PIII to form sub-100nm p+/n junctions and to getter impurities by backside implantation. By using a separately biased target, ionization of sputtered material can occur and plasma assisted vapor deposition can be achieved. This can also be done with concurrent ion beam mixing of the interface. These capabilities have been demonstrated in Pd seeding for selective electroless copper plating. Through collisions with neutrals in the sheath, the ions can acquire an energy and angular distribution dependent on processing conditions. This has been used to conformally dope high aspect-ratio trenches. As with any high dose implantation, wafer heating is potential problem for PIII as well as substrate sputtering during low implant energy operations. Other potential problems of PIII include pasma/substrate interactions in the forms of etching, deposition, or particulate formation on the substrate.
The Search for Causes

In the preceding two chapters, we discussed how parents are able to restore a sense of meaning and mastery in the unfolding crisis of newborn intensive care. Next, we explore how the search for meaning and mastery can be aided by parents’ ability to find a cause of their infant’s medical problems. It is crucial to recognize that the causes of a premature or hazardous delivery are, in individual cases, difficult to identify with much certainty. Thus, physicians and other health professionals may be unable or unwilling to provide a confident answer to parents who are searching for a specific cause. Nonetheless, as we demonstrate in this chaper, most parents construct their own causal theories. We discuss how some of their theories seem to aid their adaptation whereas others seem to impede it.
An Information-Geometric Approach to Learning Bayesian Network Topologies from Data

This work provides a general overview of structure learning of Bayesian networks (BNs), and goes on to explore the feasibility of applying an information-geometric approach to the task of learning the topology of a BN from data. An information-geometric scoring function based on the Minimum Description Length Principle is described. The info-geometric score takes into account the effects of complexity due to both the number of parameters in the BN, and the geometry of the statistical manifold on which the parametric family of probability distributions of the BN is mapped. The paper provides an introduction to information geometry, and lays out a theoretical framework supported by empirical evidence that shows that this info-geometric scoring function is at least as efficient as applying BIC (Bayesian information criterion); and that, for certain BN topologies, it can drastically increase the accuracy in the selection of the best possible BN.
Limitations of the surface electrocardiogram in diagnosis of atrial arrhythmias: Further observations on dissimilar atrial rhythms☆

Electrophysiologic studies with recordings of multiple intracavitary electrograms were performed in two patients with atrial dysrhythmias. In Case 1 the arrhythmic pattern in the surface electrocardiogram resembled atrial flutter. Electrophysiologic studies revealed the arrhythmia to be paroxysmal left atrial tachycardia, with separation of left and right atrial components of the P wave by an isoelectric period secondary to marked interatrial conduction delay. In Case 2 the surface electrocardiogram indicated paroxysmal atrial tachycardia with block. Electrophysiologic studies revealed right atrial standstill with atrial inexcitability and two dissimilar rhythms involving the left atrium. The electrocardiograms did not accurately reflect atrial arrhythmias in these two patients and only multiple direct recordings permitted the correct diagnoses. New electrophysiologic observations concerning intraatrial block and dissimilar atrial rhythms are presented.
Stability modeling of HEV/EV electric drives as a small-scale distributed power system

Stability modeling of Hybrid Electric Vehicle and Electric Vehicle (HEV/EV) electric drives as a small-scale distributed power system is presented. Three fundamental questions in applying the impedance-based stability analysis are broached, those are “Is output/input impedance stability modeling sensitive to 1) input-output boundary location?, 2) power-flow direction?, and 3) voltage-stiff or current-stiff representation?”. The validity of the answers to these questions presented in this paper is not restricted to vehicle electric drive applications. The stability modeling description is presented with an example of an HEV electric drive (e-drive) system consisting of a dc-dc converter and two three-phase inverters sharing a common dc-bus. It is shown that there is good correlation of the stability analysis results between the presented approach and the time-domain circuit simulations.
Molecular characterization of dental development in a toothed archosaur, the American alligator Alligator mississippiensis

SUMMARY Few skeletal structures are as informative of the adaptive natural history of vertebrate animals as their teeth. Understanding principles of tooth development is key to understanding evolution of the vertebrate dentition in general and emergence of multiple specialized tooth types in particular. Morphological and phylogenetic considerations suggest that crocodilians have the most primitive mode of dentition within extant tetrapods, displaying simple, conical, socketed, and continuously replaced teeth. Previous histological studies revealed several dental fates, including functional and non-functional teeth (rudiments) in the developing alligator embryos. We analyze expression of key odontogenic regulators and markers to better characterize the molecular patterning of crocodilian dentition. Importantly, we demonstrate that the morphologically distinct tooth types in Alligator mississippiensis are distinguishable by differences in their developmental programs. We also present evidence showing that tooth maturation is accompanied by dynamic gene expression in the epithelial and mesenchymal cells involved in tooth development. Our data reveal a significant morphological and genetic variation in early dental fates. We believe that this underlying developmental variation reflects modularity, or the ability of teeth to develop semi-autonomously along the alligator jaw. We propose that such modularity may have been a crucial for adaptive evolution within Amniota, allowing for the progressive modifications to tooth replacement, number, and shape.
Cost-effectiveness of high-dose MR contrast studies in the evaluation of brain metastases.

PURPOSE To investigate the cost-effectiveness of high-dose MR contrast studies in the management of brain metastases. METHODS During the phase III clinical trial of high-dose contrast studies (0.3 mmol/kg), 11 of 27 patients were judged by the reviewers to have potential treatment changes based on the additional information provided by the high-dose studies. We retrospectively evaluated how many of these 27 patients had actual treatment changes because of the results of the high-dose study. Using the fee schedule at our institution, the cost-effectiveness was analyzed based on the cost savings from treatment changes and the additional expense of implementing the high-dose studies. RESULTS A total of 3 craniotomies ($22,800 each) and 2 aggressive courses of radiation therapy ($1122 each) were avoided in 4 patients because of the additional lesions detected by the high-dose studies. This resulted in a treatment cost savings of $70,644. The extra expense for implementing the high-dose study is $9126 for a single injection in all 27 patients, $9295 for 2 separate injections completed in 1 visit in the 11 patients, and $11,154 for 2 separate injections completed in 2 separate visits. The cost savings in management (diagnosis and treatment) therefore ranged from $59,490 to $61,518 for all patients and from $2203 to $2278 per patient. CONCLUSION Based on our limited data, the high-dose study seems to impact positively on the cost-effectiveness in the management of brain metastases. However, because our study had limitations, our results need to be confirmed with a larger patient population and a more standardized treatment approach and fee schedule.
Patterns of failure in endometrial carcinoma stage IB grade 3 and IC patients treated with postoperative vaginal vault brachytherapy.

Abstract Objective. The vagina is the most common site of locoregional failure in surgical stage IB, IC, and II (occult) endometrial adenocarcinoma. The objective of this study is to evaluate the therapeutic efficacy of vaginal vault brachytherapy alone for surgical stage I patients with high-risk features. Materials and methods. The study group consists of high-risk stage I patients with either stage IB grade (G) 3 or any grade IC disease. From February 1991 to August 1997, 124 patients with endometrial carcinoma were treated postoperatively with high-dose-rate vaginal vault brachytherapy as the only adjuvant treatment. All patients were surgically staged. Among them, 38 patients were identified as high risk. Twelve patients had stage IBG3, 14 had ICG1, 9 had ICG2, and 3 had ICG3 disease. The median age was 67 years (range 41 to 86 years). A dose of 21 Gy in three fractions of 7 Gy each was delivered to a prescription depth of 0.5 cm from the surface of the vaginal applicator using high-dose-rate brachytherapy. Results. The median follow-up was 30 months (range 7 to 91 months). No patient has developed a vaginal or pelvic recurrence. Three patients developed tumor recurrence in the upper abdomen at 11, 18, and 37 months. Two of the three patients with recurrent disease also had history of breast cancer. In one patient, breast cancer was diagnosed 4.8 years prior and in the second 3 years subsequent to the diagnosis of endometrial cancer. The 5-year actuarial overall survival and disease-free survival are 93 and 87%, respectively. There was no treatment-related grade 3 or 4 morbidity observed. Conclusions. For patients with surgical stage IBG3 and IC, excellent local control and minimal morbidity has been observed with the selective use of vaginal brachytherapy alone. Further studies and longer follow-up are warranted.
Ran in the spindle checkpoint: a new function for a versatile GTPase

The small GTPase Ran has a well-established role in nucleocytoplasmic trafficking. In recent years, the repertoire of Ran has expanded to include regulation of spindle assembly, formation of the nuclear envelope and DNA replication. Now, new studies further extend the role of Ran to regulating the spindle checkpoint during mitosis.
Engineered RNase P ribozymes increase their cleavage activities and efficacies in inhibiting viral gene expression in cells by enhancing the rate of cleavage and binding of the target mRNA.

Engineered RNase P ribozymes are promising gene-targeting agents that can be used in both basic research and clinical applications. We have previously selected ribozyme variants for their activity in cleaving an mRNA substrate from a pool of ribozymes containing randomized sequences. In this study, one of the variants was used to target the mRNA encoding thymidine kinase (TK) of herpes simplex virus 1 (HSV-1). The variant exhibited enhanced cleavage and substrate binding and was at least 30 times more efficient in cleaving TK mRNA in vitro than the ribozyme derived from the wild type sequence. Our results provide the first direct evidence to suggest that a point mutation at nucleotide 95 of RNase P catalytic RNA from Escherichia coli (G95 → U95) increases the rate of cleavage, whereas another mutation at nucleotide 200 (A200 → C200) enhances substrate binding of the ribozyme. A reduction of about 99% in TK expression was observed in cells expressing the variant, whereas a 70% reduction was found in cells expressing the ribozyme derived from the wild type sequence. Thus, the RNase P ribozyme variant is highly effective in inhibiting HSV-1 gene expression. Our study demonstrates that ribozyme variants increase their cleavage activity and efficacy in blocking gene expression in cells through enhanced substrate binding and rate of cleavage. These results also provide insights into the mechanism of how RNase P ribozymes efficiently cleave an mRNA substrate and, furthermore, facilitate the development of highly active RNase P ribozymes for gene-targeting applications.
Factor XIIIA (cross)links AT1 receptors to atherosclerosis

Angiotensin II, a small peptide hormone that plays key roles in the regulation of blood pressure, also contributes to inflammatory processes that promote the development of atherosclerosis. In this issue of Cell, AbdAlla et al. (2004) provide evidence that pathogenic actions of angiotensin II involve covalent crosslinking of angiotensin AT1 receptors by factor XIIIA transglutaminase, resulting in stable receptor dimers with enhanced signaling properties.
Localization of Calcium Pump Activity in Smooth Muscle

A microsomal fraction isolated from longitudinal smooth muscle of guinea pig ileum actively sequesters calcium ion in the presence of magnesium and adenosine triphosphate in a fashion previously described for microsomes of the rabbit aorta. This activity in guinea pig ileum appears to be associated primarily with the plasma membrane as is found in the red cell. By contrast the uptake of calcium in aortic smooth muscle appears to be associated to an appreciable extent with intracellular membranes, possibly analogous to the sarcoplasmic reticulum of skeletal muscle.
Clonidine for sleep disturbances associated with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder : A systematic chart review of 62 cases

ABSTRACT Objective Children and adolescents with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), with or without psychostimulant treatment, frequently suffer from sleep disturbances. This report evaluates the use of clonidine in the treatment of sleep disturbances associated with ADHD. Method A systematic search of a computerized database in an outpatient pediatric psychopharmacology unit of patients treated with clonidine for ADHD-associated sleep disturbances (N= 62; 42 children and 20 adolescents) was performed. Patients were rated retrospectively about the type and severity of sleep disturbances at baseline and after treatment with clonidine. Results A majority of patients (85%) treated with clonidine for ADHD-associated sleep disturbances were considered to be much to very much improved by the National Institute of Mental Health global assessment of improvement (sleep). Nighttime clonidine doses ranged from 50 to 800 µg (mean ± SEM; 157 ± 14 µg), and subjects received clonidine for 35.5 ± 3.5 months. There was no association between response and age group, gender, comorbidity, or concurrent pharmacotherapy. Children and adolescents with ADHD with baseline, medicine-induced, or medicine-exacerbated sleep disturbances responded equally well to clonidine treatment. Mild adverse effects were reported in 19 subjects (31%). Conclusions These findings suggest that clonidine may be an effective agent for sleep disturbances associated with ADHD, or its treatment, and warrant further controlled investigations.
Exact solution of mixed boundary value problems of elasticity theory

Abstract A general case of the mixed boundary value problem of an elastic layer is solved by reducing it to an initial value problem with initial conditions, using invariant imbedding. The Cauchy system thus obtained has the advantage that computations can be done on the computer with high precision and in short time. It has special advantages in the case of a non-plane punch in partial penetration. The radius of penetration is computed directly by the initial value method and there is no need of an elaborate iterative procedure. In the case of zero radius a particular solution is obtained directly for the case of a concentrated force acting on an elastic layer. When the thickness of the layer increases indefinitely solutions are obtained as well for a half-space. Therefore, this paper describes the most general case for all punch problems on an elastic layer.
Characterization of urban aerosol using aerosol mass spectrometry and proton nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy

Abstract Particulate matter was measured during August and September of 2006 in Houston as part of the Texas Air Quality Study II Radical and Aerosol Measurement Project. Aerosol size and composition were determined using an Aerodyne quadrupole aerosol mass spectrometer. Aerosol was dominated by sulfate (4.1 ± 2.6 μg m−3) and organic material (5.5 ± 4.0 μg m−3), with contributions of organic material from both primary (∼32%) and secondary (∼68%) sources. Secondary organic aerosol appears to be formed locally. In addition, 29 aerosol filter samples were analyzed using proton nuclear magnetic resonance (1H NMR) spectroscopy to determine relative concentrations of organic functional groups. Houston aerosols are less oxidized than those observed elsewhere, with smaller relative contributions of carbon-oxygen double bonds. These particles do not fit 1H NMR source apportionment fingerprints for identification of secondary, marine, and biomass burning organic aerosol, suggesting that a new fingerprint for highly urbanized and industrially influenced locations be established.
Standards for Discussion and Presentation of Errors in Survey and Census Data

(1975). Standards for Discussion and Presentation of Errors in Survey and Census Data. Journal of the American Statistical Association: Vol. 70, No. 351b, pp. 5-23.
Persistent Disruption of a Traumatic Memory by Postretrieval Inactivation of Glucocorticoid Receptors in the Amygdala

Background Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is characterized by acute and chronic changes in the stress response, which include alterations in glucocorticoid secretion and critically involve the limbic system, in particular the amygdala. Important symptoms of PTSD manifest as a classical conditioning to fear, which recurs each time trauma-related cues remind the subject of the original insult. Traumatic memories based on fear conditioning can be disrupted if interfering events or pharmacological interventions are applied following their retrieval. Methods and Results Using an animal model, here we show that a traumatic memory is persistently disrupted if immediately after its retrieval glucocorticoid receptors are inactivated in the amygdala. The disruption of the memory is long lasting and memory retention does not re-emerge following strong reminders of the conditioned fear. Conclusions We propose that a combinatorial approach of psychological and pharmacological intervention targeting the glucocorticoid system following memory retrieval may represent a novel direction for the treatment of PTSD.