cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Characteristics and Progression of Hearing Loss in Children with Down Syndrome

Objectives To evaluate hearing impairment in children with Down syndrome, and to describe the factors that influence the severity of hearing loss or changes in hearing over time. Study design Using the Audiological and Genetic Database (AudGenDB), audiograms of children with Down syndrome were analyzed retrospectively for type, severity, and laterality of hearing loss, as well as changes over time. Medical charts and imaging results were reviewed to identify factors influencing hearing loss. Results Among the 1088 patients with Down syndrome included in the study, 921 had hearing loss in at least 1 ear, 91.1% had bilateral hearing loss, and 8.9% had unilateral hearing loss (1760 total ears with hearing loss). Of the ears with hearing loss, 18.8% (n = 180) had moderate or worse hearing loss. “Undefined” hearing loss and pure conductive hearing loss (CHL) were the most common types, followed by mixed hearing loss and sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL). Three-quarters (75.4%) of the children had experienced chronic otitis media or more than 2 episodes of acute otitis media. Patients with bilateral, mixed hearing loss or a history of seizures were at risk for more severe hearing loss. CHL, absence of cholesteatoma, and placement of first ear tubes before age 2 years were associated with greater improvement in hearing over time, whereas SNHL and mixed hearing loss were associated with progressive decline. Conclusion Children with Down syndrome who have bilateral, mixed hearing loss or a history of seizures are at risk for more severe hearing loss. SNHL and mixed hearing loss should not be overlooked in patients with CHL. All patients with Down syndrome will benefit from serial audiograms, especially those children with SNHL or mixed hearing loss, which is likely to worsen over time.
Large signal linearity enhancement of AlGaN/GaN high electron mobility transistors by device-level V t engineering for transconductance compensation

This study is a first demonstration of a new technology to improve the linearity of GaN-based high electron mobility transistors (HEMTs) through device-level transconductance (g m )-compensation. The increasing demand for mobile devices and internet of things (IoT) necessitates efficient wireless communication. GaN-based HEMTs are emerging as the ideal candidates that can address the surging demand for highly efficient, linear amplification of digitally modulated information to cater to applications such as 5G-LTE, WIMAX, Sat-Com, CAT-TV and radar. While GaN-HEMTs can yield superior output power (Pout), and power-added-efficiency (PAE), GaN-based power amplifiers (PAs) suffer from severe non-linearities. Non-linearities in the PA transistors result in significant side-bands, saturation of output power at high input powers, as well as signal distortion [1]. In addition, the back-off in input power levels needed to meet typical linearity requirements significantly reduces the PAE of the amplifier. Previous works [2], [3] demonstrated a ‘g m -compensation’ method, which can be implemented at the circuit-level to improve linearity by lowering harmonics and intermodulation distortion (IMD).
Making Sense out of Incentives: A Framework for Considering the Design, Use, and Implementation of Incentives to Improve Attendance.

Accumulating evidence indicates that student attendance is closely tied to a range of educational outcomes, and yet millions of students are chronically absent each year. Under the Every Student Su...
Losing the elite: Caribbean educational policy responses to the emigration of skilled labor

The Caribbean ranks second only to Africa as the region with the highest levels of skilled emigration, which is defined as the outward migration of people holding a bachelor’s degree or extensive/e...
Is Excessive Daytime Sleepiness Related to Nocturnal Sleep in Parkinson’s Disease? (P1.047)

Objective: To study the relationship between excessive daytime sleepiness, nocturnal sleep quantity and quality in Veterans with Parkinson’s disease. Background: Excessive daytime sleepiness (ES) is common in Parkinson’s disease (PD). Modifiable factors are poorly defined. Nocturnal sleep duration and quality are expected to be contributory and are potentially modifiable. Design/Methods: 193 Veterans with PD followed at the Houston Parkinson’s Disease Research, Education and Clinical Center (PADRECC) were evaluated for excessive daytime sleepiness using Epworth Sleepiness Scale’s (ESS) cut off score of 8. Sleepy (ESS score > 8) group was compared to Non-Sleepy (ESS≤ 8) group with respect to nocturnal sleep duration, subjective sleep quality and presence of REM sleep behavior disorder using Pittsburg Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) and REM Behavior Disorder Questionnaire-HK (RBDQ-HK) respectively. PD disease severity was assessed using modified Hoehn and Yahr (H&Y) scale. Results: 137/193 (71%) subjects were “Sleepy” versus 56/193 (29%) “Non-Sleepy”. Mean nocturnal sleep duration (6.39 vs 6.41 hrs.) and total PSQI scores (7.54 vs 7.13) did not differ between the groups. More subjects in the “Sleepy” group took naps, (Chi-square 2-sided sig= 0.002) and had a higher frequency of naps (Mann Whitney U Sig=0.003) (median 6.0 vs 3.5) than the “Non-Sleepy” group. Mean RBDQ-HK scores for “Sleepy” and “Non-Sleepy” groups were 26 and 17 respectively. ( p . The two groups were similar in age, gender distribution, disease severity and nap time length. Conclusions: REM sleep behavior disorder is associated with excessive daytime sleepiness in Veterans with Parkinson’s Disease. Self-reported nocturnal sleep duration and sleep quality do not appear to share this association. Study Supported by: Department of Veterans Affairs Disclosure: Dr. Sarwar has nothing to disclose. Dr. Moore has nothing to disclose. Dr. Hirshkowitz has nothing to disclose.
Cytokines in the Treatment of Human Disease: The Interferon System—from the Laboratory to the Clinic

Interferons can modulate a number of biological functions including cell growth and differentiation, the immune response, and virus multiplication. Considerable progress has been made in the understanding of the molecular biology of the interferon (IFN) system. The genes encoding the interferons, their receptors, and the proteins that mediate many of their biological effects have been molecularly cloned and characterized. The multiplication of animal viruses, representative of a number of different RNA and DNA virus families, is inhibited by IFN. However, the relative sensitivity to IFN of the different animal viruses varies immensely. The relative effectiveness of an antiviral response mediated by interferon is determined by three components: (1) the kind of interferon administered, (2) the kind of cell treated, and (3) the kind of virus with which the interferon-treated host is infected. The molecular mechanism primarily responsible for the inhibition of interferon-sensitive virus replication may differ considerably between virus types and even host cells. For viruses not sensitive to the antiviral effects of interferon, the insensitivity may result from a virus-mediated direct antagonism of the interferon system.
Accommodation Assessments for Vehicle Occupants Using Augmented Reality

This paper presents a new accommodation assessment method for vehicle occupants using a statistical body shape model in an augmented reality (AR) environment. Vehicle occupant accommodation assessment is an important aspect of vehicle interior design. Variability in body dimensions of the target population is a key component in determining the overall user accommodation. Statistical body shape modeling enables quantitative representation and assessment a wide range of variability in anthropometry and posture. These statistical models provide a way to efficiently generate a realistic 3d body shape surface along with the standard body dimensions, anatomical landmark locations and joint locations. In the current study, an automotive posture body shape model based on data from 255 men and women ages 20 to 95 years old was used in a demonstration of AR technology. Typically, quantitative assessment of a physical vehicle requires time-consuming scanning to obtain a computer model that can be used with virtual assessment tools. We addressed this issue by using AR to enable assessment without explicit model building. Apple ARKit on an iPhone was employed in this study to implement the model in an augmented vehicle environment. The system allows the user to place a human model in a vehicle by detecting the seat surfaces. The user is able to manipulate the body shape to assess accommodation across the range of anthropometric variability. Interior accommodation was assessed by measuring the distances between the certain points from both the model and the augmented physical environment, in addition to a qualitative visual inspection. Opportunities and impacts of the proposed AR approach with digital human models in more applications are discussed.
Voice therapy associated with a decrease in the reflux symptoms index in patients with voice complaints.

Objectives/hypothesis Patients with muscle tension dysphonia often demonstrate an elevation in Reflux Symptom Index (RSI) and 10-item Voice Handicap Index (VHI-10) scores, and may be erroneously diagnosed with laryngopharyngeal reflux disease. In this study we assessed the effects of voice therapy on RSI and VHI-10 scores in patients with voice complaints not responsive to antireflux medications. Study design Retrospective cohort study. Methods A study of patients was conducted at a single tertiary-care center over 1 year (January 2012-January 2013). Patients were included if they had dysphonia not responsive to proton pump inhibition, did not have neurologic or neoplastic disease, and participated in at least three voice-therapy sessions in the absence of antireflux therapy. Primary analysis assessed change in RSI scores between the initial and follow-up visits with a laryngologist. Results A total of 18 patients were included (mean age = 49.9 ± 14.5 years, 89% female, 83% with a primary complaint of dysphonia). From initial to follow-up visit, the median RSI score (18.5 [interquartile range {IQR}, 9.5-22.8] vs. 10.5 [IQR, 4.5-14]; P = .02) and median VHI-10 score (25.5 [IQR, 11.3-30.0] vs. 13.5 [IQR, 9.5-20.8]; P = .03) significantly decreased. A significant inverse correlation was found between the number of voice therapy sessions/month and change in RSI score (r = -0.4; P = .05). Conclusions In this study of patients with muscle tension dysphonia or vocal hyperfunction not responsive to antireflux therapy, RSI and VHI-10 scores improved following voice therapy. Results suggest that self-reported symptoms typically attributed to laryngopharyngeal reflux disease may actually be secondary to inefficient voice use patterns or anxiety about dysphonia that are responsive to voice therapy. Level of evidence 4 Laryngoscope, 129:1169-1173, 2019.
Breast cancer treatment according to pathogenic variants in cancer susceptibility genes in a population-based cohort.

560Background: Increasing use of germline genetic testing may have unintended consequences on breast cancer treatment. We do not know whether treatment deviates from guidelines for women with patho...
Novel Printed Carbon Nanotubes Based Resistive Humidity Sensors

A resistive flexible humidity sensor based on carbon nanotubes (CNT) was designed and fabricated. Screen and gravure printing processes were used for the fabrication of the humidity sensor containing interdigitated electrodes (IDE), a sensing layer and a meandering conductive heater. The capability of the printed sensor was investigated by subjecting it to relative humidity (RH) ranging from 30% to 60%. This response demonstrated an overall resistance change of ~29% when the sensor was subjected to 60% RH, when compared to 30% RH. A maximum hysteresis of ~5.8%, at 40% RH, was calculated for the resistive response of the sensor. The fabrication method and sensor response are analysed and presented in this paper.
Correcting CFTR: New Gene Editing Strategies for Rescuing CFTR Function Ex Vivo.

Gene correction presents one of few options for a cure for all patients with cystic fibrosis. This commentary discusses new applications of CRISPR-based gene editing technology with increased efficiency and specificity to correct the cystic fibrosis transmembrane regulator (CFTR) function in patient-specific primary epithelial cells.
ASHP national survey of pharmacy practice in hospital settings: Prescribing and transcribing—2019

PURPOSE Results of the 2019 ASHP national survey of pharmacy practice in hospital settings are presented. METHODS Pharmacy directors at 4,863 general and children's medical/surgical hospitals in the United States were surveyed using a mixed-mode method of contact by email and mail. Survey completion was online, using an online survey application. IQVIA supplied data on hospital characteristics; the survey sample was drawn from the IMS Health hospital database. RESULTS The response rate was 10.8%. Pharmacists are increasingly managing medication use in the areas of vancomycin therapy, antibiotic selection and dosing, and anticoagulation. Electronic health record (EHR) decision support is guiding prescribing, and nearly 50% of hospitals are customizing drug warnings. Adoption of compounding technology continues, with 43.6% of hospitals using technology in their sterile compounding processes. Nearly half of hospitals have active opioid stewardship programs, and pharmacists are leading these efforts. Specialty pharmacy operations are growing in health systems. Human resource commitments to support new services are increasing; however, vacancy rates for technicians are challenging. Staff credentialing continues to expand for pharmacist and technicians. CONCLUSION Pharmacists continue to assume greater responsibility for writing medication orders, dosing, ordering laboratory tests, and monitoring outcomes. Health-system pharmacists are taking a leading role in addressing the opioid crisis, advancing safety in compounded sterile preparations through adoption of intravenous workflow technologies, and optimizing EHR applications to leverage clinical decision support tools to improve the safe prescribing and use of medications.
Learning the Correct Robot Trajectory in Real-Time from Physical Human Interactions

We present a learning and control strategy that enables robots to harness physical human interventions to update their trajectory and goal during autonomous tasks. Within the state of the art, the robot typically reacts to physical interactions by modifying a local segment of its trajectory, or by searching for the global trajectory offline, using either replanning or previous demonstrations. Instead, we explore a one-shot approach: here, the robot updates its entire trajectory and goal in real time without relying on multiple iterations, offline demonstrations, or replanning. Our solution is grounded in optimal control and gradient descent, and extends linear-quadratic regulator controllers to generalize across methods that locally or globally modify the robot’s underlying trajectory. In the best case, this Linear-quadratic regulator + Learning approach matches the optimal offline response to physical interactions, and—in more challenging cases—our strategy is robust to noisy and unexpected human corrections. We compare the proposed solution against other real-time strategies in a user study and demonstrate its efficacy in terms of both objective and subjective measures.
Information literacy in the reference environment : Preparing for the future

Summary The academic information environment is changing greatly as we enter the millennium. These changes are affecting libraries and, specifically, reference services. In the past and even in recent times librarians have been concerned with library orientation, library instruction, and bibliographic instruction. Now they have to worry about teaching students and others viable information and computer skills to cope effectively in the information society. Reference work as practiced this century will undergo major changes in the electronic information environment, and the teaching of effective information skills will become a very important component of reference services. The challenges thus presented to academic librarians will be great but success in this area will mean effective professional survival.
Superhydrophobic and superoleophilic membranes for oil-water separation application: A comprehensive review

Abstract Superhydrophobic and superoleophilic (SHSO) membranes have gained remarkable attention, particularly in selective and efficient oil-water separation applications. This paper provides a comprehensive review of the SHSO membranes, fabrication and characterization methods, the advantages and disadvantages of the fabrication techniques, current status and prospects of SHSO surfaces, and potential future research directions. Chemicals such as silanes, thiols, fatty acids, carbon nanotubes, and polyethylene-based polymers are commonly used to adjust the surface energy for the SHSO membranes. These membranes have been proven successful in selectively separating oil from oil-water mixtures with oil separation efficiency >99%. Although there are limited studies on the short-term stability assessment of the SHSO coatings upon exposure to acid and alkaline environments, the effects of temperature, and adsorption of heavier components of the crude oils (such as asphaltenes, and resins) on the separation efficiency have not been adequately investigated yet. Moreover, the fouling performance of the SHSO membranes with water-derived fouling is surprisingly missing in oil-water separation applications in the literature. With the breakthrough in technology, the use of 2D materials such as graphene and high-resolution 3D printers to create hierarchical features on membranes, research on application of SHSO membranes in oil-water separation processes can be further advanced.
Experiences with Remote Teaching an Embedded Systems Course

With the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, colleges and universities had to switch abruptly to remote teaching. This paper describes our experiences teaching an undergraduate Embedded Systems course in a synchronous-remote format to students spread across the globe. Lectures were delivered via Zoom with recordings provided as backup for students who missed lectures. For the laboratory, low-cost lab kits were assembled and shipped to each student consisting of a microcontroller development board, and LCD display, a breadboard, and a collection of electronic parts. Students worked in lab each week in Zoom breakout rooms with the instructor available to answer questions and help troubleshoot problems. The course culminated with a project defined by each student group and constructed from the parts kit and, in some cases, a few additional parts that were purchased separately. Despite the inevitable difficulties of remote instruction, students developed interesting projects and reported a positive learning experience overall.
Impact of Stress on Menstrual Cyclicity During the Covid-19 Pandemic: A Survey Study.

Background: The Covid-19 pandemic has introduced acute and persistent psychosocial stressors for many individuals, with emerging gender differences that suggest women may be at greater risk for poorer mental health outcomes. This may have unintended consequences for women's overall health and well-being, including disruptions to reproductive function as elevated stress is often associated with menstrual cycle irregularities. The objective of this study was to determine if and how the Covid-19 pandemic and its related stressors have impacted women's menstrual cyclicity. Materials and Methods: An online survey instrument designed to capture self-reported information on menstrual cycle changes and perceived stress levels was distributed between July and August 2020. A total of 210 women between the ages of 18-45 years met stringent inclusion and exclusion criteria and completed the survey. Results: Of the 210 respondents, more than half (54%) reported changes in their menstrual cycles. These included changes in menstrual cycle length (50%), the duration of menses (34%), and changes in premenstrual symptoms (50%). Respondents with high perceived stress scale (PSS) scores during Covid were more likely to experience a longer duration of menses (p < 0.001) and heavier bleeding during menses (p = 0.028) compared with those with moderate Covid PSS scores. Conclusions: By uncovering a trend in increased menstrual cycle irregularities during the early months of the Covid-19 pandemic, this study contributes to our understanding of the implications that the pandemic may have on women's reproductive health.
Influence of Contact Resistance on the Field Emission Characteristics of a Carbon Nanotube

Recently, we introduced an accurate algorithm to calculate the spatial dependence of the temperature distribution along a carbon nanotube (CNT) during field emission (FE). The algorithm considers the effects of Joule heating in the CNT, radiative losses from the CNT sidewall and tip, as well as the rate of heat exchange per unit area at the CNT tip due to either Henderson-cooling or Nottingham-heating effects. The previous work assumed that the temperature at the base of the CNT was the same as the temperature of the chuck to which it is attached and that the latter acts as a perfect heat sink. In this work, we consider the effects of contact resistance between the base of the CNT and the chuck and investigate its influence on the CNT FE properties. All other parameters being equal, our simulations show that the temperature profile along a CNT and its emission current are actually found to be larger those determined assuming a constant temperature T 0 = 300 K at the CNT/chuck contact [1].
Proton gradient-dependent transport of glycine in rabbit renal brush-border membrane vesicles.

This study describes evidence for the existence of a H+/glycine symport system in rabbit renal brush-border membrane vesicles. An inward proton gradient stimulates glycine transport across the brush-border membrane, and this H+-driven glycine uptake is attenuated by the protonophore carbonyl cyanide p-trifluoromethoxyphenylhydrazone. It is a positive rheogenic process, i.e. the H+-dependent glycine uptake is further enhanced by an intravesicular negative potential. Glycine uptake is stimulated to a lesser degree by an inward Na+ gradient. H+-dependent glycine uptake is inhibited by sarcosine (69%), an analog amino acid, imino acids (proline 81%, hydroxy proline 67%), and beta-alanine (31%), but not by neutral (L-leucine) or basic (L-lysine) amino acids. The results demonstrate that H+ glycine co-transport system in rabbit renal brush-border membrane vesicles is a carrier-mediated electrogenic process and that transport is shared by imino acids and partially by beta-alanine.
CFET-a new high quality MMIC control device

A new GaAs device developed for use in microwave monolithic control circuitry has been demonstrated. Known as a CFET, for Control Field Effect Transistor, this device eliminates the need for a conventional submicron gate by achieving control by use of a gate located behind the source-drain channel. The resulting capacitance is smaller than a conventional MESEET, resulting in a figure of merit of 800 GHz as compared to 250 GHz for a conventional MESFET. The device capabilities are demonstrated by measured performance of a SPDT switch providing 0.35-dB insertion loss and 20-dB isolation over the DC -10.0-GHz frequency band. >
Fuzzy ontologies for multilingual document exploitation

Multilingual document exploitation (MDE) involves assessing the relevance of individual foreign language documents to the course of a military mission. The current approach to relevance assessment (RA) in FALCon, an MDE system, runs a machine translation (MT) program to convert the documents into English and then provides a simple keyword search with a frequency count of the matched keywords. This paper explores the potential that fuzzy mathematics and ontologies have for improving performance in MDE. Research on information retrieval and filtering is examined and fuzzy extensions to these applications are presented for inclusion in RAVEN, an alternate MDE system design to FALCon.
Phonology and Second Language Acquisition edited by EDWARDS, JETTE G. HANSEN, & MARY L. ZAMPINI

The article reviews the book "Phonology and Second Language Acquisition," edited by Jette G. Hansen Edwards and Mary L. Zampini.
Concurrent Validity of the Peabody Picture Vocabulary Test-R and the Expressive One-Word Picture Vocabulary Test for Language-Delayed and Non-Language-Delayed Young Children:

This study investigated the concurrent validity of the Peabody Picture Vocabulary Test-Revised and Expressive One-Word Picture Vocabulary Test with the Wechsler Preschool and Primary Scale of Intelligence for a sample of 15 language-delayed and 36 non-language-delayed children. The children's ages ranged from 45 months to 76 months. A 2 x 5 analysis of variance with repeated measures was used to analyze the data. The Newman-Keuls multiple-comparison test was used to identify pairwise differences between specific means. Pearson product-moment correlations were also computed for the two groups between scores on the Peabody Picture Vocabulary Test-Revised and Expressive One-Word Picture Vocabulary Test scores, Verbal, Performance, and Full-Scale IQs on the Wechsler Preschool and Primary Scale of Intelligence. The 2 x 5 ANOVA (group x test) yielded a significant main effect across the five tests, but no effects related to the groups. The interaction effect was not statistically significant. Implications for t...
The aged recluse—An exploratory study with particular reference to community responsibility

Abstract 1. 1. The characteristics of the aged recluse are described on the basis of 105 cases reported with varying degrees of completeness by newspapers in the New York City metropolitan area. 2. 2. The limitations of this method of case finding are discussed, but enough factual material has been collected to emphasize the social amd medical implications of this extreme type of aberrant behavior and to generate a typology of reclusiveness which consists in differentiating absolute and partial, as well as joint, reclusiveness. Suggestions are made for future methods of study and the value of more accurate information on incidence, as well as more intensive study along social, medical, and psychiatric lines, has been emphasized. 3. 3. The complex aspects of community responsibility are outlined with reference to dangers to the individuals themselves, but more importantly to the community as a whole. Many of these recluses are harmless, while others constitute potential menaces to public health in the form of fire and explosion hazards, breeding places for vermin, unregulated mental disease, in resisting cooperation with community agencies, and in offering opportunities for criminals who expect all old people living alone to have large sums of money concealed. 4. 4. In view of the increasing numbers of old people living alone, unsupervised and unprotected, further studies should alert community health and welfare agencies to the problems posed and should help to develop policies and to delimit responsibilities.
Analysis and design problems for PR composite frames subjected to seismic loads

Abstract The design and analysis of partially restrained frames for seismic loads present some interesting and challenging issues to practicing engineers. The most important are how to determine the moment-rotation characteristics for the connections, the effect of floor slabs, and the influence of the partially-restrained connections on the dynamic characteristics of the frames. The use of databases for the determination of the appropriate moment-rotation curves is discussed and found lacking. A more rational, mechanistic approach to the problem is described and its merits discussed. The influence of floor slabs is shown to be important and simplified techniques to handle this effect are proposed. The behavior of FR frames under seismic loads is shown to be equivalent to that of PR frames once the dynamic characteristics are properly modeled. The design of PR frames will require both the development of new preliminary design approaches and advanced analysis tools because the conventional equivalent lateral load analysis cannot account for the dynamic effects properly.
Qualitative Research in Marriage and Family Therapy: Who is in the Interview?

Qualitative interviews are a rich means of gathering information from families. The qualitative interviewer has a choice of interviewing individual family members, multiple family members at the same time, or a combination. The configuration of interviewees is a choice guided by the epistemology of the researcher, research aims, and questions. This article reviews the literature on interviewing different configurations of family members. A content analysis was conducted on articles in the marriage and family therapy literature from 1990 to 2005. Over half of the articles were conducted with individual family members separate from their families. This finding is discussed in the context of the decision regarding whom to interview.
Future Role of Extension Programs

Abstract Poultry programs of the future must be more flexible in their planning and execution. To maintain industry support they must involve industry volunteers in planning, on advising groups, and even in teaching. More emphasis must be placed on solving problems–especially nonproduction problems. We must recognize that we are well into the information age and take steps to develop organizational structures which will accommodate survival in the future.
Gender-specific gene expression in Brugia malayi☆

Abstract Brugia malayi is a mosquito-borne filarial nematode that causes lymphatic filariasis and elephantiasis in humans. The purpose of this study was to identify and characterize genes that are expressed differentially in male and female B. malayi in hopes of gaining new insight into the reproductive biology of the parasite. Two approaches were used. A 5′ differential display PCR (splice leader differential display PCR, SL DD-PCR) was performed by PCR with splice leader and random primers on cDNA templates, and electronic subtraction was performed on expressed sequence tag (EST) cluster databases developed by the Filarial Genome Project (FGP). Gender-specific expression of candidate clones was confirmed by RT-PCR for six of 22 (27%) clones identified by DD and in seven of 15 (47%) clones identified by electronic subtraction. One clone was identified by both methods. Several female-specific clones had homology to known nematode genes that encode a fatty acid binding protein, a high mobility group protein, an eggshell protein, a glutamate-gated ion channel, and a collagen. However, most of the clones have no significant homology to known genes or proteins in computer databases. This project has confirmed the value of SL DD-PCR and electronic subtraction for analysis of gene expression in filariae. These two complimentary techniques may be generally applicable to the study of gender-specific (and by analogy stage specific) gene expression in other nematodes.
Conflict and Liberation: Personal Aspects of the Mathematics Experience

(1978). Conflict and Liberation: Personal Aspects of the Mathematics Experience. Curriculum Inquiry: Vol. 8, No. 3, pp. 251-271.
Role of the Insulin-like Growth Factors and Their Binding Proteins in Lactation

Insulin-like growth factor (IGF)-I is thought to mediate a portion of the effects of bST on lactation in dairy cows. Serum concentrations of IGF-I are increased in lactating cows that were treated with bST, and IGF-I receptors are present in bovine mammary tissue. In addition, close arterial infusion of IGF-I into the mammary gland of goats increases milk yield. Little evidence exists to support a direct galactopoietic effect of IGF-I in ruminants. However, IGF-I is a potent mitogen for mammary epithelial cells and may also influence the inhibition of apoptosis of this cell type. The IGF are found in association with a family of individual binding proteins. The high affinity of the IGF for these proteins relative to the IGF receptor allows them to modulate IGF-I bioactivity in the mammary gland at the cellular level. Mammary epithelial cells synthesize multiple forms of IGF binding proteins, and one of these, IGF binding protein-3, is specifically regulated by the IGF. Stimulation of DNA synthesis by IGF-I is enhanced in bovine mammary epithelial cells that overexpress the IGF binding protein-3. These data indicate that IGF-I can stimulate the synthesis of an IGF binding protein, which enhances its own mitogenic activity. However, whether this mechanism is operative in the lactating mammary gland in vivo is unknown. Given the complexity of the interactions between the IGF and their binding proteins, more information is needed before the role of these growth factors in regulating growth, differentiation, and apoptosis of mammary epithelial cells is delineated.
Mechanisms of Climate Change in the Semiarid African Sahel: The Local View

Abstract Application of the moist static energy framework to analyses of vertical stability and net energy in the Sahel sheds light on the divergence of projections of climate change. Two distinct mechanisms are sketched. In one, anthropogenic warming changes continental climate indirectly: warming of the oceans increases moist static energy at upper levels, affecting vertical stability globally, from the top down, and driving drying over the Sahel, in a way analogous to the impact of El Nino–Southern Oscillation on the global tropical atmosphere. In the other, the increase in anthropogenic greenhouse gases drives a direct continental change: the increase in net terrestrial radiation at the surface increases evaporation, favoring vertical instability and near-surface convergence from the bottom up. In both cases the surface warms, but in the first precipitation and evaporation decrease, while in the second they increase. In the first case, land surface warming is brought about by the remotely forced decre...
Broadband active acoustic absorbing coating with an adaptive digital controller

A modified active acoustic coating system using an adaptive digital controller has been developed for absorbing the sound incident on an underwater object. The redesigned control system, featuring a digital delay-line feedforward scheme, is predicted theoretically and verified experimentally to have a broader control bandwidth than the analog phase-shifter system which was developed previously. Another significant improvement to the system is the use of a multichannel delay-line network to achieve on-board monitoring of sound reflection from the coating, so that the system performance can be self-evaluated and the optimized by adjusting its control parameters. The adaptive adjustment function is realized through software on a personal computer interfaced with the digital delay-line network. This adaptive digital controller design enables the active absorbing coating to achieve a high echo reduction over a wide frequency band.
The Irish Joke, Migrant Networks, and the London Irish in the 1680s

This essay analyzes the Irish jokes that circulated in London in the 1680s, paying particular attention to those that emanated from the stage and from the two earliest Irish joke books, Bog Witticisms; or, Dear Joy’s Common-Places (1682) and Teagueland Jests, or Bogg-Witticisms (1690). Like ethnic jokes in general, these Irish jokes sought to stereotype and ridicule the population that they depicted, in this case, the London-Irish. But, as this essay illustrates, these comic representations can also serve as a rich source of information on the cultural, social, and economic life of that population during that period, documenting its resilience and energy as it mapped itself onto the landscape of that city. To recover this information, however, requires a different mode of reading, one that focuses on the “ground,” or background detail of the joke, rather than its “figure,” the material that is on its surface.
Butyrate-induced G2/M block in caco-2 colon cancer cells is associated with decreased p34cdc2 activity

Butyrate, a short-chain fatty acid, has been reported to inhibit proliferation and stimulate differentiation in multiple cancer cell lines. Whereas the effects of bu- tyrate on cellular differentiation are well documented, the relationship between buty- rate-induced differentiation and its effect on cell cycle traverse is less well under- stood. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of butyrate on the regulatory proteins of the G2/M traverse in the Caco-2 colon cancer cell model. We demonstrated that the inhibition of proliferation and increased cellular differentiation after treatment of Caco-2 cells with butyrate were associated with a significant G2/M cell cycle block. Although protein levels of the major G2/M regulatory protein, p34 cdc2 , were unchanged, a decrease in p34 cdc2 activity was noted. Despite this decrease in activity, the inhibitory tyrosine phosphorylation of p34 cdc2 was decreased, suggesting that other factors are responsible for the decreased kinase activity. The reduced activity of p34 cdc2 provides a possible mechanism for the accumulation of Caco-2 cells in the G2/M cell cycle compartment following exposure to butyrate. This cell system provides a new model for studies of G2/M cell cycle perturbations. (P.S.E.B.M. 1999, Vol 222)
Stem cells and aging in the hematopoietic system.

Abstract The effector cells of the blood have limited lifetimes and must be replenished continuously throughout life from a small reserve of hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) in the bone marrow. Although serial bone marrow transplantation experiments in mice suggest that the replicative potential of HSCs is finite, there is little evidence that replicative senescence causes depletion of the stem cell pool during the normal lifespan of either mouse or man. Studies conducted in murine genetic models defective in DNA repair, intracellular ROS management, and telomere maintenance indicate that all these pathways are critical to the longevity and stress response of the stem cell pool. With age, HSCs show an increased propensity to differentiate towards myeloid rather than lymphoid lineages, which may contribute to the decline in lymphopoiesis that attends aging. Challenges for the future include assessing the significance of ‘lineage skewing’ to immune dysfunction, and investigating the role of epigenetic dysregulation in HSC aging.
Significance of serum tumor marker levels in peritoneal carcinomatosis of appendiceal origin

Background The significance of tumor markers in patients with appendiceal carcinomatosis is poorly defined. We determined preoperative and postoperative tumor marker levels in patients undergoing cytoreductive surgery (CRS) and heated intraperitoneal chemoperfusion (HIPEC) and examined their association with clinicopathologic features and survival.
The biochemistry and physiology of urokinase.

Abstract Development of methods for isolating, purifying and assaying urokinase, the urinary enzyme activator of plasma profibrinolysin, is described. Properties of the enzyme are given and the unit of activity is defined and related to units of other workers. Studies of urokinase excretion are reported and note made of limitations which must be imposed on interpretation of variations in amount of enzyme excreted. Of particular importance is the possible existence of more than one molecular species of urokinase. Plasma profibrinolysin preparations obtained from representatives of species ranging from man through lower mammals to fish can be activated by human urokinase. Profibrinolysin preparations from pig plasma are susceptible to urokinase activation only following removal of inhibitors. Human urokinase has been used as a major tool in the detection of profibrinolysin in a variety of plasma protein preparations and in the development of procedures designed to remove profibrinolysin from such preparations as fibrinogen and thrombin. Human urokinase injected into heterologous species has been shown to be an antigen. This property has been utilized to demonstrate that parenterally administered human urokinase is excreted in the urine of injected rabbits with no apparent alteration in either enzymatic or immunologic characteristics.
Neuropsychological significance of children's Wechsler intelligence scores.

The relationships of Wechsler test scores (WISC and WISC-R) to 6 neuropsychological conditions in one sample of children (N = 120) were compared to those of a second sample (N = 36). Only 6 of the 84 IQ-diagnosis correlations showed comparable relationships in both samples. These consistent correlations were: Arithmetic and Digit Span scores with auditory perceptual dysfunction; Block Design with visual perceptual dysfunction; Verbal IQ with speech and language disability and with auditory perceptual dysfunction; and Performance IQ with visual perceptual dysfunction. The notable lack of consistency of most correlations obtained across the two samples for the test scores to diagnoses of minimal brain dysfunction, hyperkinesis, and learning disability suggests that (a) these diagnoses need greater specificity and definitiveness if they are to relate meaningfully to cognitive dysfunction or that (b) the Wechsler subtests are not sufficiently sensitive to these neuro-psychological conditions to have diagnosti...
A STRATEGIC FRAMEWORK FOR SUPPLY CHAIN ORIENTED LOGISTICS

The Council of Logistics Management's (CLM) name change to the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals (CSCMP) has intensified discussions regarding the difference between supply chain management and logistics. This paper merges broadly accepted paradigms from strategic management and marketing to introduce a theoretically consistent framework that differentiates supply chain management from logistics while highlighting the complementary relationship. Supply chain management is portrayed as a firm or SBU level phenomena while logistics is expressed as a competency within supply chain management possessing both strategic and structural capabilities focused exclusively on managing the move/store activities used to fulfill customer orders. Research propositions regarding the interfaces and nature of logistics within a strategic supply chain orientation are drawn to guide thought and development in the discipline.
Noninvasive Mechanical Ventilation for Children and Adolescents with Spinal Cord Injuries

Many children and adolescents with SCI have impairment of respiratory function because of decreased innervation to muscles of respiration. This article discusses the anatomy and physiology of respiration, evaluation following SCI, indications for use of noninvasive mechanical ventilation (NMV) following SCI, types of NMV, and the use of assisted cough and the exsufflator.
Morphometric replicability using chords and cartesian coordinates of the same landmarks

Morphometric differences and distances are theoretically equivalent whether based on Cartesian coordinate locations of landmarks, or on the linear measurements between those same landmarks. In two examples: (a) two-dimensional primate odontometrics and (b) three- dimensional hominoid pelvic osteometrics, much similarity is found between analyses using input data in the form of chords and coordinates. The subtle differences attain statistical significance, however, with the greater interspecific separation and delineation of trends consistently favouring chords in one example and coordinates in the other.
Resonance ionization mass spectrometry of thorium: determination of the autoionization level structure and a re-determination of the ionization potential

Abstract We report on the use of resonance ionization mass spectrometry (RIMS) for the analysis of thorium isotopes. The 238U/230Th decay pair is useful for the dating of geologic samples in the ⩽ 350 000 year range, and details are needed on the resonance ionization spectrum of thorium in order to most efficiently effect ionization. This report describes the use of a two-color, two photon ionization process for thorium near the ionization threshold. A large number of autoionizing states are observed, a new value for the ionization potential, 50 890 ± 20cm−1 (6.310 ± 0.002 eV), is reported, and electric field effects are described.
Mourning to Death: Love, Altruism, and Stephen Dedalus's Poetry of Grief

Joyce writes Ulysses during the first two decades of the 20th century, first in Trieste and then in Paris. In this period two distinct concerns about the psychology of mourning flourish in Paris. The gradual publication of Proust's In Search of Lost Time promotes an interconnection between voluntary and involuntary memory on the one hand, and the psychology of mourning on the other. In turn, the anthropologists guided by Emile Durkheim devote several coordinated studies to the funerary rites prevalent among the aboriginal tribes in Australia. Joyce contributes to this cultural climate with the representation of Stephen Dedalus's sense of loss after the death of his mother. This essay discusses the relationship between Stephen's mourning and his poetic agenda, aimed at the poetic expression of inconsolable grief.
Laser range measurements using non-Gaussian pulse shapes.

Many optical ranging systems currently use laser pulses of approximately Gaussian shape with widths of a few nanoseconds or less. The present paper shows that a substantial improvement in accuracy can be obtained for a given pulse length by means of laser ranging systems using conventional length (long) pulses with a sharp leading edge pulse distribution. The accuracy in such a case will improve roughly linearly with the signal strength. Order statistics is used to estimate the round-trip level travel time from the arrival time of the earliest photoelectron.
A systematic review of diagnostic studies in myasthenia gravis

We performed a systematic review to identify studies that reported the accuracy of tests for the diagnosis of myasthenia gravis. We identified 20 studies of reasonable, although variable, methodological quality upon which to base estimates of the accuracy of the ice test, rest test, Tensilon test, acetylcholine receptor antibodies, repetitive nerve stimulation and single fiber electromyography for the diagnosis of myasthenia gravis. After examining inter-study heterogeneity for each diagnostic modality, we calculated pooled estimates of sensitivity and specificity as well as positive and negative likelihood ratios. Results are reported separately for ocular and generalized myasthenia. Studies that have examined the performance of anti-acetylcholine receptor antibody testing and single fiber electromyography were generally of better quality than those that examined other diagnostic modalities. We suggest that caution should be exercised in the interpretation of the diagnostic performance of these tests given the methodological limitations of the studies upon which test performance is based.
Cyclic Response of Reinforced Concrete Members at Low Temperatures

An experimental study was undertaken to investigate the influence of cold temperatures on the seismic behavior of reinforced concrete members. This paper summarizes the results of Phase I of a multiphase research project that consisted of the reversed cyclic testing of four identical large scale reinforced concrete circular columns subjected to temperatures ranging from −40°C (−40°F) to 20°C (68°F) . An extensive literary review is also presented. It was found that most of the past research focused on the material level, i.e., the independent behavior of plain concrete and reinforcing bars. Data collected from past works were complemented with the results obtained from the material tests performed in this research, and used to develop empirical equations for the estimation of the mechanical properties of concrete and steel reinforcement at low temperature. Past research shows an increase in strength without any loss in the deformation capacity of plain concrete and reinforcing steel bars tested at low tem...