cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Is There a Role for Chemotherapy in the Era of Targeted Therapies

The treatment landscape of chronic lymphocytic leukemia has been rapidly evolving over the past few years. The prior standard of care, chemoimmunotherapy, is being replaced by targeted agents, and the utility of chemotherapy has come under question. In this review, we examine recent data comparing chemoimmunotherapy to targeted agents, how these data impact clinical management, and whether there are potential future roles for cytotoxic chemotherapy. Clinical trials have shown improved clinical outcomes with targeted agents compared to traditional chemoimmunotherapy. Based on these data, the current treatment paradigm primarily favors targeted agents over chemoimmunotherapy, with a few exceptions. However, targeted agents have notable limitations, and thus, there may be a future role of cytotoxic chemotherapy when administered in combination with targeted agents. Although targeted agents have nearly replaced chemoimmunotherapy in the treatment of chronic lymphocytic leukemia, novel combinations utilizing chemotherapy are being developed that may lead to better outcomes.
A Person-Centered Approach to Examining Polytraumatization Among Traumatized and Bereaved Youth

The current study examined how polytraumatization classes predicted mental health outcomes among a sample of treatment-seeking, traumatized, and bereaved youth. A latent class analysis identified t...
Advantages of Cardiac CT Scan over Other Diagnostic Techniques

Congenital heart disease is generally evaluated with the use of echocardiography. Transthoracic echocardiography image quality may be suboptimal due to poor acoustic window with limited depiction of extracardiac vascular structures. Catheter angiography produces overlapping views of adjacent vascular structures, causing difficulty in the simultaneous depiction of the systemic and pulmonary vascular systems, leads to undesirable catheter-related sequelae (vascular injury), and delivers relatively high doses of ionizing radiation. Even though magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is eminently capable in the anatomic and functional evaluation of the heart, it is time-consuming and often requires lengthy sedation; therefore, the use of MRI in seriously ill newborns or young infants is usually restricted. Cardiac computed tomography (CT) is the preferred imaging modality for evaluation of young infants with coronary anomaly, major aortopulmonary collaterals or airway issues. Cardiac CT gives superior image quality for three-dimensional modeling and image fusion with fluoroscopy or merged to electroanatomic mapping to precisely visualize complex anatomy and guide intervention.
Identifying Endogenous Peer Effects in the Spread of Obesity

Recent research in the New England Journal of Medicine (NEJM) purports to show the existence of peer effects in the spread of obesity. Using a dataset of 5124 residents from Framingham, Massachusetts spanning the years 1971 to 2003, the authors show correlations between own weight gain and friends’ and relatives’ weight gain over this period. They find, furthermore, that these results are strongest for males and weaker for females. We use the Adolescent Health Survey, a nationally representative dataset of seventh through twelfth graders in 1994 and 1996 to examine the effect of peers on weight gain. Despite the differences in the samples, we are able to replicate the pattern of results in the NEJM study. However the results are not robust to alternative definitions of the outcome variable. Furthermore, due to the various identification issues that are unresolved in both this and the NEJM paper, we conclude that the evidence for contagion effects in the spread of obesity is only suggestive at best.
Prediction of head movement time using Fitts' Law

Fitts’ movement time prediction equation has been applied and manipulated in analyzing movements of the upper and lower extremities in healthy populations. One common job modification for physicall...
Histochemical Analysis of Nitric Oxide Synthase by NADPH Diaphorase Staining

The presence of NOS coincides with that of NADPH diaphorase activity; therefore, NADPH diaphorase staining is widely used to detect NOS-containing cells in neural and non-neural tissues. With the appropriate fixation procedure, this method is capable of detecting cells containing any of the NOS isoforms.
Bond Holding Period Return Decomposition

The problem of decomposing bond portfolio holding period returns is addressed in this paper. Bond holding period returns are decomposed into four main components, the non-random horizon component, the spread component, the base-rate component, and an interaction component. The horizon component captures the return attributable to the mere passage of time over the holding period horizon based solely on the selected base spot rate curve. The spread component captures the return attributable to any change in the spread over the fitted base spot rate curve. The base-rate component captures movement in the fitted base spot rate curve using the LSC model introduced in this paper. The base-rate component of returns can be further decomposed into three components attributable to modified duration, convexity, and cross-convexity using the Taylor series approximation. Each of these three base-rate components can be further decomposed into three subcomponents tied to movement in level, movement in slope, and movements in a set of curvature components. We illustrate our results with several numerical examples, generic as well as actual U.S. Treasury data.
Comparison of the accuracy of methods of computational haplotype inference using a large empirical dataset

Analyses of genetic data at the level of haplotypes provide increased accuracy and power to infer genotype-phenotype correlations and evolutionary history of a locus. However, empirical determination of haplotypes is expensive and laborious. Therefore, several methods of inferring haplotypes from unphased genotypic data have been proposed, but it is unclear how accurate each of the methods is or which methods are superior. The accuracy of some of the leading methods of computational haplotype inference (PL-EM, Phase, SNPHAP, Haplotyper) are compared using a large set of 308 empirically determined haplotypes based on 15 SNPs, among which 36 haplotypes were observed to occur. This study presents several advantages over many previous comparisons of haplotype inference methods: a large number of subjects are included, the number of known haplotypes is much smaller than the number of chromosomes surveyed, a range in values of linkage disequilibrium, presence of rare SNP alleles, and considerable dispersion in the frequencies of haplotypes. In contrast to some previous comparisons of haplotype inference methods, there was very little difference in the accuracy of the various methods in terms of either assignment of haplotypes to individuals or estimation of haplotype frequencies. Although none of the methods inferred all of the known haplotypes, the assignment of haplotypes to subjects was about 90% correct for individuals heterozygous for up to three SNPs and was about 80% correct for up to five heterozygous sites. All of the methods identified every haplotype with a frequency above 1%, and none assigned a frequency above 1% to an incorrect haplotype. All of the methods of haplotype inference have high accuracy and one can have confidence in inferences made by any one of the methods. The ability to identify even rare (≥ 1%) haplotypes is reassuring for efforts to identify haplotypes that contribute to disease in a significant proportion of a population. Assignment of haplotypes is relatively accurate among subjects heterozygous for up to 5 sites, and this might be the largest number of SNPs for which one should define haplotype blocks or have confidence in haplotype assignments.
Relationship between penalties for road traffic infringements and crash risk in Queensland, Australia: a case-crossover study

BACKGROUND: Most countries have detailed lists of traffic rules and elaborate legal regimes for penalizing drivers who break them. Previous research has suggested that drivers tend to drive more safely after receiving penalties for traffic infringements. METHODS: We linked driver-level data on infringements and crashes in Queensland, Australia (1995-2010) with information on the licence histories of all drivers in the state. We used a case-crossover design to examine drivers' risk of crashing in the month following an infringement penalty. We also examined whether changes in crash risk following infringement penalties varied according to driver age and gender, type of infringement and whether the offender was at fault in a subsequent crash. RESULTS: Drivers had higher risks of crashes following infringement penalties [odds ratio (OR) 1.32; 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.29-1.36], especially crashes in which the offender was at fault (1.41; 1.36-1.46). Crash risk relative to a comparable period was particularly high for teenage drivers (1.55; 1.34-1.78) and among drivers penalized for dangerous driving (3.19; 2.52-4.03) or driving under the influence of alcohol (1.99; 1.67-2.37). The risk remained relatively high for more than 6 months after the penalty, but declined steadily over this period. CONCLUSIONS: Crash risk among drivers in Queensland was higher, not lower, following receipt of penalties for traffic infringements. Penalties themselves are unlikely to increase crash risk. A more likely explanation is that penalties (or the corresponding infringements) mark episodes of risky driving. Our findings suggest that such episodes trounce any deterrent effect penalties may produce. Language: en
Processing of 9E3 mRNA and regulation of its stability in normal and Rous sarcoma virus-transformed cells.

Abstract We studied the expression of 9E3 mRNA, which is known to be induced in chicken embryo fibroblasts by p60v-src activity and by serum. In addition to full-length 9E3 mRNA, we identified several smaller RNAs that hybridized with 9E3 cDNA. One of these RNAs hybridized with a 5' 9E3 cDNA probe but not with a 3' cDNA probe. The other hybridized with a 3' cDNA probe but lacked 5' sequences, including the entire 9E3 coding region. Only the latter RNA was polyadenylylated, as determined by RNase H digestion in the presence of oligo(dT). The level of the small RNAs increased after treatment with cycloheximide and actinomycin D, indicating that the small RNAs were produced by processing of preexisting transcripts. The derivation of the small RNAs from 9E3 mRNA rather than from a related gene was confirmed by S1 nuclease analysis. The 3' terminus of the 5' RNA and the 5' terminus of the 3' RNA mapped to the same position, which suggested that the small RNAs were formed by endonucleolytic cleavage of 9E3 mRNA at a specific site in the 3' noncoding region. We also found that the stability of 9E3 mRNA was increased after serum stimulation and was greater in Rous sarcoma virus-transformed than in uninfected cells. The relative amount of the small RNAs as compared with the full-length transcript was greatest under conditions in which the full-length transcript was least stable. These data suggest that site-specific endonucleolytic cleavage regulates the stability of 9E3 mRNA.
Hyperammonaemia does not impair brain function in the absence of net glutamine synthesis.

1. It has been established that chronic hyperammonaemia, whether caused by portacaval shunting or other means, leads to a variety of metabolic changes, including a depression in the cerebral metabolic rate of glucose (CMRGlc) increased permeability of the blood-brain barrier to neutral amino acids, and an increase in the brain content of aromatic amino acids. The preceding paper [Jessy, DeJoseph & Hawkins (1991) Biochem. J. 277, 693-696] showed that the depression in CMRGlc caused by hyperammonaemia correlated more closely with glutamine, a metabolite of ammonia, than with ammonia itself. This suggested that ammonia (NH3 and NH4+) was without effect. The present experiments address the question whether ammonia, in the absence of net glutamine synthesis, induces any of the metabolic symptoms of cerebral dysfunction associated with hyperammonaemia. 2. Small doses of methionine sulphoximine, an inhibitor of glutamine synthetase, were used to raise the plasma ammonia levels of normal rats without increasing the brain glutamine content. These hyperammonaemic rats, with plasma and brain ammonia levels equivalent to those known to depress brain function, behaved normally over 48 h. There was no depression of cerebral energy metabolism (i.e. the rate of glucose consumption). Contents of key intermediary metabolites and high-energy phosphates were normal. Neutral amino acid transport (tryptophan and leucine) and the brain contents of aromatic amino acids were unchanged. 3. The data suggest that ammonia is without effect at concentrations less than 1 mumol/ml if it is not converted into glutamine. The deleterious effect of chronic hyperammonaemia seems to begin with the synthesis of glutamine.
An Analysis of Autologous Blood Donor Motivational Factors

Little is known about the patient's reasons for participating in an autologous blood (AUB) collection program. We surveyed 110 AUB donors in our hospital-based collection program. Although fear of infection from an allogeneic blood transfusion was cited by 20% of AUB donors, 68.2% indicated that their physician's recommendation was a motivating factor. For 18.2% self-initiated motivation was a factor in pursuing AUB. The overwhelming majority (97.1%) stated they would donate AUB even if the risk of getting AIDS from a blood transfusion was zero. Fear of infection does not appear to be the primary reason for patients to donate AUB. Recommendation by their personal physician is an important component in the patients' decision-making process to set aside their own blood for upcoming surgery.
Light-microscopic and microspectrofluorometric characterization of porphyrin-containing astrocytes in mouse optic nerve

Fluorescence spectroscopy has been employed to investigate the emission spectrum of unusual orange-red fluorescence found in the mouse optic nerve. Comparison of the spectra obtained with those of a number of porphyrins used as standards (protoporphyrin, uroporphyrin, and coproporphyrins) shows that the autofluorescence excited at about 400 nm (Soret band) is due to the presence of a mixture of these or other porphyrins in the nerve. Phase contrast, dark-field, and light-microscopy techniques demonstrated that the fluorescence is emitted by dense, coarse inclusions in the cytoplasm of astrocytes. The inclusions also exhibit high activity of endogenous peroxidase, a heme (porphyrin)- containing enzyme, characteristic for process of phagocytosis. A possible participation of these astrocytes in phagocytosis is delineated.
Yeast artificial chromosome cloning in the glycerol kinase and adrenal hypoplasia congenita region of Xp21

Abstract The adrenal hypoplasia congenita (AHC) and glycerol kinase (GK) loci are telomeric to the Duchenne muscular dystrophy locus in Xp21. We developed a pair of yeast artificial chromosome (YAC) contigs spanning at least 1.2 Mb and encompassing the region from the telomeric end of the Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) locus to beyond YHX39 (DXS727), including the genes for AHC and GK. The centromeric contig consists of 13 YACs reaching more than 600 kb from DMD through GK. The telomeric contig group consists of 8 YACs containing more than 600 kb including the markers YHX39 (DXS727) and QST-59 (DXS319). Patient deletion breakpoints in the region of the two YAC contigs define at least eight intervals, and seven deletion breakpoints are contained within these contigs. In addition to the probes developed from YAC ends, we have mapped eight Alu -PCR probes amplified from a radiation-reduced somatic cell hybrid, two anonymous DNA probes, and one Alu-PCR product amplified from a cosmid end, for a total of 26 new markers within this region of 2 Mb or less. One YAC in the centromeric contig contains an insert encompassing the minimum interval for GK deficiency defined by patient deletion breakpoints, and this clone includes all or part of the GK gene.
Regulation of mitochondrial fission by intracellular Ca2+ in rat ventricular myocytes.

Mitochondria are dynamic organelles that constantly undergo fission, fusion, and movement. Increasing evidence indicates that these dynamic changes are intricately related to mitochondrial function, suggesting that mitochondrial form and function are linked. Calcium (Ca2+) is one signal that has been shown to both regulate mitochondrial fission in various cell types and stimulate mitochondrial enzymes involved in ATP generation. However, although Ca2+ plays an important role in adult cardiac muscle cells for excitation–metabolism coupling, little is known about whether Ca2+ can regulate their mitochondrial morphology. Therefore, we tested the role of Ca2+ in regulating cardiac mitochondrial fission. We found that neonatal and adult cardiomyocyte mitochondria undergo rapid and transient fragmentation upon a thapsigargin (TG)- or KCl-induced cytosolic Ca2+ increase. The mitochondrial fission protein, DLP1, participates in this mitochondrial fragmentation, suggesting that cardiac mitochondrial fission machinery may be regulated by intracellular Ca2+ signaling. Moreover, the TG-induced fragmentation was also associated with an increase in reactive oxygen species (ROS) formation, suggesting that activation of mitochondrial fission machinery is an early event for Ca2+-mediated ROS generation in cardiac myocytes. These results suggest that Ca2+, an important regulator of muscle contraction and energy generation, also dynamically regulates mitochondrial morphology and ROS generation in cardiac myocytes.
Age- and density-related Oviposition behavior of the European corn borer, Ostrinia nubilalis (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae)

Age-related oviposition patterns ofOstrinia nubilalis were studied at three population densities in the laboratory by releasing newly eclosed adults in wire-screened cages and analyzing their oviposition throughout the adult stage with digital analysis. Oviposition sequences of individual females depositing egg masses were documented on the third and seventh nights after eclosion with a video camcorder. During a sequence, a female produced an egg in an average time of 15 or 26 s on the third and seventh nights, respectively, and completed depositing an egg mass the size of 20–39 eggs in an average time of 316 and 525 s, respectively. Females were not easily disturbed during egg mass deposition and pulsated their abdomen before deposition of each egg. Females produced few egg masses the first night after eclosion. Oviposition increased on nights 2 and 3 but declined steadily thereafter as females matured. Females older than 6 nights produced fewer egg masses; the proportion of egg masses with fewer than 20 eggs increased gradually. By the end of the adults' lifetime, nearly 100% of the egg masses had fewer than 20 eggs. The data are fundamental to our research to define the role of phytochemicals in modifying oviposition behavior of the European corn borer.
Visualizing the effects of filtering chaotic signals

Abstract It is well-known that filtered chaotic signals can exhibit increases in observed fractal dimension. However, there is still insufficient knowledge regarding the underlying causes of this phenomenon. We provide further insight into this problem through the use of computer animations and three-dimensional ray-tracings. Specifically, we show that lowpass filters can induce a nonuniform convergence to a dynamical system's mean state-space location. With chaotic attractors, this convergence distorts the attractor's normal geometrical configuration such that the observed system acquires increased dimensionality.
Modeling survival data with informative cluster size

Analysis of clustered data focusing on inference of the marginal distribution may be problematic when the risk of the outcome is related to the cluster size, termed as informative cluster size. In the absence of censoring, Hoffman et al. proposed a within-cluster resampling method, which is asymptotically equivalent to a weighted generalized estimating equations score equation. We investigate the estimation of the marginal distribution for multivariate survival data with informative cluster size using cluster-weighted Weibull and Cox proportional hazards models. The cluster-weighted Cox model can be implemented using standard software. Simulation results demonstrate that the proposed methods produce unbiased parameter estimation in the presence of informative cluster size. To illustrate the proposed approach, we analyze survival data from a lymphatic filariasis study in Recife, Brazil.
The impact of anterior urethropexy during robotic prostatectomy on urinary and sexual outcomes.

Abstract Objectives: We determined the effect of an anterior urethropexy (AU) stitch on postoperative urinary continence, irritative urinary symptoms, and sexual function after robotic radical prostatectomy (RP). Methods: Consecutive patients undergoing robotic RP for prostate cancer were prospectively evaluated. The Expanded Prostate Cancer Index Composite (EPIC) questionnaire was administered pre- and postoperatively to all patients. Patients were then grouped by AU status. A linear mixed model was used to compare the rate of recovery in incontinence (UIN), irritative (UIR), and sexual domain scores between the two groups. A t-test was used to compare UIN, UIR, and sexual domain scores at specific time points. Results: A total of 229 patients underwent robotic RP and filled out a preoperative and at least one postoperative EPIC questionnaire. In this population, 87 did have and 142 did not have an AU performed. The mean EPIC-UIN score at 3 months was 68 in the AU group and 58 in the non-AU group (p = 0....
Volatiles Release Rates and Temperatures during Large Particle Refuse Derived Fuel—Municipal Solid Waste Devolatilization

Abstract Practices to minimize pollutants from municipal solid waste combustion devices include preparation steps to provide relatively uniform feed particles. This is the rationale behind commercially available densified refuse-derived fuel (d-RDF). However the solid phase devolatilization rate, the composition and rate of production of reaction products and pollutants, and the influence of waste feed properties on these processes have not been quantified. Devolatilization experiments were performed on single, well-characterized d-RDF particles under carefully controlled conditions of practical importance. Intrapar-ticle temperature histories, gas evolution rates and compositions were measured. The results presented here quantify the simultaneous effects of both initial moisture and particle heating rate on the intraparticle temperature field which controls the extent of local reaction. It appears moisture does not strongly alter the overall production of both gases and condensibles (tars) from the devol...
Graphical Models over Multiple Strings

We study graphical modeling in the case of string-valued random variables. Whereas a weighted finite-state transducer can model the probabilistic relationship between two strings, we are interested in building up joint models of three or more strings. This is needed for inflectional paradigms in morphology, cognate modeling or language reconstruction, and multiple-string alignment. We propose a Markov Random Field in which each factor (potential function) is a weighted finite-state machine, typically a transducer that evaluates the relationship between just two of the strings. The full joint distribution is then a product of these factors. Though decoding is actually undecidable in general, we can still do efficient joint inference using approximate belief propagation; the necessary computations and messages are all finite-state. We demonstrate the methods by jointly predicting morphological forms.
Evolution of C2H2-zinc finger genes revisited

A recent study by Tadepally et al. describes the clustering of zinc finger (ZF) genes in the human genome and traces their evolutionary history among several placental mammals with complete or draft genome sequences. One of the main conclusions from the paper is that there is a dramatic rate of gene duplication and gene loss, including the surprising result that 118 human ZF genes are absent in chimpanzee. The authors also present evidence concerning the ancestral order in which the ZF-associated KRAB and SCAN domains were recruited to ZF proteins. Based on our analysis of two of the largest human ZF gene clusters, we find that nearly all of the human genes have plausible orthologs in chimpanzee. The one exception may be a result of the incomplete sequence coverage in the draft chimpanzee genome. The discrepancy in gene content analysis may result from the authors' dependence on the preliminary NCBI gene prediction set for chimpanzee, which appears to either fail to predict or to mispredict many chimpanzee ZF genes. Similar problems may affect the authors' interpretation of the more divergent dog, mouse, and rat ZF gene complements. In addition, we present evidence that the KRAB domain was recruited to ZF genes before the SCAN domain, rather than the reverse as the authors suggest. This discrepancy appears to result from the fact that the SCAN domain did indeed arise before the KRAB domain but is present only in non-ZF genes until a much later date. When comparing gene content among species, especially when using draft genome assemblies, dependence on preliminary gene prediction sets can be seriously misleading. In such studies, genic sequences must be identified in a manner that is as independent as possible of prediction sets. In addition, we present evidence that provides a more parsimonious explanation for the large proportion of mammalian KRAB-ZF genes without a SCAN domain.
Substance abuse and dependence in physicians: detection and treatment

Substance abuse continues to increase and permeate all sectors of US society including the medical profession. This article details the importance of testing everyone associated with health care organizations, including physicians, as a means of protecting patient welfare, increasing quality of care, and reducing negligence lawsuits, as well as providing treatment and recovery opportunities for those with addictions.
Prompt compound nuclear K X-rays in fusion reactions induced by a heavy projectile

Abstract Prompt K X-rays were studied in compound nuclear reactions induced by a heavy projectile. Total production cross sections and multiplicities of K X-rays were measured for the systems 32 S + 116, 120, 124 Sn by determining X-ray singles, X-ray—X-ray coincidence, and direct evaporation residue yields over the incident energy range 130 MeV ⩽ E lab ⩽202 MeV. We find a slow dependence of the multiplicities and cross sections on target mass and incident energy, establishing the prompt K X-ray yields as a useful indicator of the complete fusion cross section behavior induced by a heavy projectile in this mass region.
Stereospecific polymerization with metallocenes: Macromolecular design via catalysis

Forty years after Natta's discoveries of stereospecific olefin polymerization with Ziegler catalysts, new catalysts are causing a renaissance in stereospecific olefin polymerization. Metallocene Ziegler-Natta catalysts are unprecedented in their ability to polymerize α-olefins to a variety of polymer microstructures.1 Isotactic, syndiotactic, atactic and stereoblock poly(α-olefins) have been produced using catalysts derived from group 4 metallocene catalyst precursors.
Intermediate-range order in permanently densified vitreous SiO2 : a neutron-diffraction and molecular-dynamics study

The structure of pressure-densified vitreous ${\mathrm{SiO}}_{2}$ has been investigated using neutron-diffraction and molecular-dynamics techniques. After compression to 16 GPa at room temperature, recovered samples have densities 20% higher than normal vitreous ${\mathrm{SiO}}_{2}$ and show substantial changes in the first sharp diffraction peak (FSDP): an indication of modification in the intermediate-range order. The changes in the FSDP are due to increased frustration caused by the decrease in the Si-O-Si bond angle and a shift in the Si-Si and O-O correlations in the range of 4--8 \AA{} toward lower distances.
Integrated Mathematics Interfaced With Science

This study is a description of a high school mathematical curriculum designed to implement the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics Standards. The curriculum is teacher written, application based, uses technology where appropriate, has students working in groups, and incorporates open-ended problem solving. For one year, twenty-two classrooms of mainly ninth-grade students studied this new curriculum. Students took a pre- and post-treatment attitude questionnaire, PSAT examination, and an authors written open-ended end-of-the-year assessment. A control group of six classes of ninth-grade students also took the PSAT and the open-ended End-of-Year Tasks. Paired t-tests found significant attitude improvement in experimental students' mathematical confidence. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) found no significant differences between experimental and control classes on the PSAT. Multivariate ANOVA found significant differences on the end-of-the-year test favoring experimental classes. These results suggest that a Standards-based curriculum can improve students' mathematics attitude and problem-solving skills.
Central nervous system lesion triggers inappropriate pathway choice in adult vertebrate system

Damaged neurons within the CNS of the goldfish are able to regrow to appropriate target areas with resultant recovery of swimming behavior. However, after a whole spino-medullary level crush, many adult goldfish do not recover all behavior. Brain neurons regenerating past a crush wound at this level have a choice between the spinal cord and the first ventral root. Many CNS neurons faced with this decision do not make the same pathway choice as they made during development but rather project axons into the first ventral root, away from their normal target areas in the spinal cord. In fact, more regenerating fibers, including those of reticulospinal and vestibulospinal neurons, choose the peripheral nervous system (PNS) over the CNS, which may limit behavioral recovery. The goldfish PNS may present a more permissive environment to regenerating fibers than the CNS, as is the case in mammals. We suggest that the goldfish is a better model for mammalian regeneration than previously thought.
Performance Evaluation of Loss Networks via Factor Graphs and the Sum-Product Algorithm

Loss networks provide a powerful tool for the analysis and design of many communication and networking systems. It is well known that a large number of loss networks have product-form steady-state probabilities. However, for most networks of practical interest, evaluating the system performance is a difficult task due to the presence of a normalization constant. In this paper, we present a new framework based on probabilistic graphical models to tackle this task. Specifically, we propose to use factor graphs to model the stationary distribution of a network. Based on the factor graph model, we can easily derive recursive formulas for symmetric networks. Most importantly, for networks with arbitrary topology, we can apply efficient message-passing algorithms like the sum-product algorithm to compute the exact or approximate marginal distributions of all state variables and the related performance measures such as call blocking probabilities. Through extensive numerical experiments, we show that the sum-product algorithm returns very accurate blocking probabilities and greatly outperforms the reduced load approximation for both single-service and multiservice loss networks with a variety of topologies.
Apparent metabolizable energy value of meat and bone meal for white pekin ducks

Abstract Apparent metabolizable energy and AMEn values of 12 samples of meat and bone meal (MBM) were determined using 288 ducks with an average weight of 3.4 kg. Diets were formulated for each of the 12 MBM samples by substituting 0, 5, or 10% MBM in a basal corn-soybean meal diet; corn and soybean meal were adjusted at the same ratio to account for the substitution. Each diet was fed to 8 ducks in individual cages in a metabolism assay that employed a 4-d acclimation period followed by 3 d of excreta collection. The gross energy (GE), CP, crude fat (CF), ash, Ca, and P contents of the MBM samples, on a per kilogram of DM basis, ranged from 3,493 to 4,732 kcal, 496.7 to 619.1 g, 91.1 to 151.2 g, 200.3 to 381.9 g, 54.3 to 145.8 g, and 25.6 to 61.7 g, respectively. The AME and AMEn values of the MBM samples were calculated from the slope of the regression of MBM contribution (in kcal) to AME and AMEn intake, respectively, against the amount (in kg) of MBM in diet. The AME or AMEn of the 12 MBM samples ranged from 1,781 to 3,916 kcal/kg of DM or 1,772 to 3,662 kcal/kg of DM, respectively. The variation in AME was described by the regression equation AME = -7,272 + 5.000 GE (kcal/kg) - 19.43 CP (g/kg) - 29.51 CF (g/kg) - 297.17 P (g/kg) + 106.09 Ca (g/kg) + 17.03 ash (g/kg), with R2 = 0.552 and SD = 753. The corresponding equation for AMEn was = -7,389 + 4.584 GE (kcal/kg) - 16.74 CP (g/kg) - 25.11 CF (g/kg) - 218.24 P (g/kg) + 97.29 Ca (g/kg) + 7.95 ash (g/kg), with R2 = 0.598 and SD = 586. The results reveal that variation in each of the chemical components of MBM alone is not the sole determinant of AME or AMEn value of MBM, but that the interactions among these components influence energy utilization in MBM for ducks.
Nonlinear Tracking Control of a Transient Hydrostatic Dynamometer for Hybrid Powertrain Research

With its superior power to weight ratio, the hydrostatic dynamometer is an ideal candidate for transient engine or powertrain testing. Given its high bandwidth, the hydrostatic dynamometer can be further used as a virtual power source to emulate the dynamics of the automotive hybrid power sources. This will greatly expedite the investigation of various hybrid powertrain architectures and control methodologies without building the complete hybrid system. This paper presents the design, modeling, nonlinear tracking control and experimental investigation of a transient hydrostatic dynamometer. An electronically controlled load sensing mechanism is employed to facilitate the supply pressure control, and a two-stage high bandwidth valve is used as the primary actuator for the loading pressure control. To enable the model-based control, a 9th order physics-based model is formulated and then, identified and validated with experimental data. On this basis, model-based nonlinear tracking controls are designed for this multivariable nonlinear system to realize the precise engine speed tracking. A nonlinear model-based inversion plus PID control is first implemented and then, a state feedback control via feedback linearization is designed for reference tracking. Experimental results demonstrate precise tracking performance with less than 5% tracking error for both transient and steady state operations.Copyright © 2010 by ASME
Ensuring the Enfranchisement of People With Disabilities

In a representational democracy, the process of selecting people to represent the electorate is critical. To accomplish this goal, it is crucial that elections be fair and accurate reflections of t...
Comment on “Crisis and Recovery: What Have We Learned from the South Korean Experience?”

Lee and Rhee’s paper (2007) is very good at what it sets out to accomplish. I would like to step back and raise some issues that are not considered in this paper; consequently, these comments should be interpreted as supplementary or complementary in nature. The paper disposes with the background to the crisis rather perfunctorily in the opening paragraphs, vaguely alluding to institutional weaknesses and panic. Although this can be justified in terms of focus on the ex post “lessons,” the neglect of any deeper consideration of the sources of the crisis limits eliciting broader lessons for either South Korea or other countries. During its period of rapid growth, South Korea pursued a policy of financial repression as part of a state-led development strategy. Problems arose as the country approached the international technological frontier and opportunities for easy technological catch-up attenuated. The disappearance of straightforward paths for industrial upgrading based on imitating the prior trajectories of more advanced economies put a heightened premium on the ability of corporate managements and their financiers to discern emerging profit opportunities. Decades of state-led growth had bureaucratized the financial system, however, and created a formidable constellation of incumbent stakeholders opposed to liberalization and transition toward a more market-oriented development model. As the paper observes, alternative sources of corporate finance were suppressed: the development of money markets and bond markets was retarded and issuance was effectively dependent on bank-guarantees. The government discouraged the development of an efficient auction and secondary market for bonds, and no swap, bond, or interest futures markets existed. As for the stock market, in 1990, the government established a quarterly quota on new issues and criminal proceedings documented how firms resorted to bribing officials to bring their initial public offerings to the market. Comprehensive capital controls were used to insulate the domestic financial market from the global market (Noland 2007). Portfolio flows and even direct investments were discouraged through various prohibitions and limitations. Interventions create their own constituencies, and the liberalization undertaken in the early 1990s was a function of political competition among domestic financial and corporate institutions over declining rents and foreign financial service providers seeking to enter South Korea. A combination of South Korean policy, its accession to the Organization for
Traditional political structures in the contemporary context : the chieftaincy in the Kweneng

(1975). Traditional political structures in the contemporary context : the chieftaincy in the Kweneng. African Studies: Vol. 34, No. 1, pp. 39-56.
Bacteriostatic Action of Penicillin on Hemolytic Streptococci in vitro

SummaryThe effect of penicillin in vitro varies with the concentration of penicillin, the number of organisms present, and the rate of growth of the organisms. It is most effective when rapid multiplication takes place.Penicillin is inhibited by a substance round in resistant strains of bacteria and not in the sensitive strains tested. The presence of this inhibiting substance in resistant strains and its absence in sensitive strains suggests that resistance to penicillin may depend upon the capacity of an organism to elaborate this substance. The degree of sensitivity of any strain not producing the inhibiting substance appears to be correlated with the rate of growth exhibited by that strain.
Optimal end-organ protection for thoracic and thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysm repair using deep hypothermic circulatory arrest.

Background Despite the advent of numerous protective strategies, thoracic and thoracoabdominal aortic replacement remains a high risk. While mortality rates have improved over the last 15 years, the incidence of adverse outcomes (including stroke, renal failure, and paraplegia, as well as death) remains at 13% to 30% in all published series. The use of deep hypothermic cardiopulmonary bypass with circulatory arrest has been associated with high morbidity in the past; however, we report a single surgeon's experience of improved end-organ protection with low morbidity and mortality utilizing this technique. Methods One hundred seventy-three consecutive patients with descending thoracic and thoracoabdominal aneurysms were operated on between April 1995 and March 2005. Hypothermic (15°C) cardiopulmonary bypass with circulatory arrest and open proximal anastomosis were utilized in all subjects. Visceral arteries were uniformly reimplanted as an island while additional renal artery bypasses were performed as required. Lower intercostals and lumbar arteries were aggressively reimplanted or preserved at the aortic anastomosis. No other adjuncts for spinal cord protection were routinely employed. Results Sixty-three patients with isolated descending thoracic aortic aneurysms and 27 patients with extent I, 49 with extent II, 20 with extent III, and 14 with extent IV thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysms underwent operative repair. Ninety percent of cases were elective while 10% were urgent or emergent. There were seven hospital deaths, and the hospital mortality was 4.0%. Operative complications included stroke in seven patients (4.1%), paraplegia in four (2.4%), including 0 of 62 ambulatory patients with isolated thoracic aneurysm repairs, and acute renal failure requiring dialysis in two of 168 operative survivors that were not dialysis-dependent before surgery. Conclusions Deep hypothermic circulatory arrest allows replacement of complex aortic pathology with low mortality. End-organ protection is excellent with lower incidences of dialysis-dependent renal failure and paraplegia than are reported with other currently used surgical techniques.
Formation of Quantum Wires by Strain-Induced Lateral-Layer Ordering Process: Growth Mechanism and Device Applications

Ga x In 1−x As and Ga x In 1−x P quantum wire (QWR) arrays were grown by a single-step molecular beam epitaxy. Lateral Ga(In composition modulation perpendicular to the growth direction occurs spontaneously during the growth of (GaAs) m /(InAs) n or (GaP) m /(InP) n shortperiod superlattices on InP or GaAs substrates, respectively, by the strain-induced lateral-layer ordering (SILO) process, producing lateral quantum wells. This straightforward method employs standard on-axis (001)-oriented substrates, and requires no pre-growth substrate patterning, nor does it involve post-growth processing for the formation of QWRs. Both Ga x In 1−x As infrared (1.7 μm) lasers and Ga x In 1−x P visible (0.7 μm) lasers with QWR active regions have been successfully fabricated. These lasers showed many unique features that have never been observed in quantum well lasers.
Mutant Trp repressors with new DNA-binding specificities

Oligonucleotide-directed mutagenesis of the codons for glutamine-68 (Gln68), lysine-72 (Lys72), isoleucine-79 (Ile79), alanine-80 (Ala80), and threonine-81 (Thr81) of the Escherichia coli trpR (tryptophan aporepressor) gene was used to make mutant repressors with each of 36 different amino acid changes. Mutant repressors were tested for binding to each member of a set of 28 different operators closely related to the consensus trp operator. Of the 36 mutant repressors, 11 bind a subset of the 28 operators; 5 of these have new binding specificities. These new specificities indicate that the hydroxyl group of Thr81 makes a specific contact with one of the four critical base pairs in a trp operator half-site, and the methyl group of Thr81 determines specificity at a second, critical base pair. The Trp repressor does not use the first two amino acids of its "recognition alpha-helix," Ile79 and Ala80, to make sequence-specific DNA contacts, and interacts with its operator in vivo in a way fundamentally different from the way that phage lambda repressor, lambda Cro protein, and coliphage 434 repressor contact their respective binding sites.
Coral Reef Morphogenesis: A Multidimensional Model

Windward reef morphogenesis is a dynamic process directly controlled by the growth potential of dominant corals and coralline algae relative to wave energy and sea level rise. Moderate wave energy favors vertically rapid growth that is porous and uncemented; high wave energy favors slow but compact growth. Growth potentials of Caribbean and Indo-Pacific reefs are probably equivalent. Major differences are probably not due to biological or direct climatic factors but are in part related to differing patterns of sea level rise resulting from Holocene crustal adjustment. The nature and position of antecedent foundations developed by high interglacial and interstadial sea levels is especially critical and is largely controlled by regional tectonic factors, especially long-term subsidence.
Bradypus Pygmaeus (Pilosa: Bradypodidae)

Abstract Bradypus pygmaeus Anderson and Handley, 2001, the pygmy three-toed sloth, is a dwarf bradypodid that is 1 of 4 species of Bradypus. It is easily distinguished from its conspecifics by its small size and restricted distribution (endemic to Isla Escudo de Veraguas of Bocas del Toro, off the Caribbean coast of Panama). B. pygmaeus is found exclusively in red mangroves at sea level, and it is listed as critically endangered by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources because of its restricted range and declining population size that is due to hunting and tourism.
Program Evaluation in a Challenging Authorizing Environment: Intergovernmental and Interorganizational Factors.

In today's environment, social services are provided by complex institutional and political networks comprising multiple program sponsors, implementers, and stakeholders. This environment exacerbates many problems that can occur, even in the simplest of evaluations. The authors outline the major intergovernmental and interorganizational challenges associated with doing program evaluation in today's environment and offer recommendations designed to improve evaluation efforts.
Application of a partially automated solid-phase peptide synthesis apparatus to the synthesis of a protected peptide fragment of cytochrome c.

Abstract In solid-phase peptide synthesis, more than 80% of the discrete steps involve washing the resin with various solvents to remove unreacted reagents and byproducts. A simple, inexpensive apparatus has been designed to perform automatically up to three successive washing cycles, each consisting of the addition of a measured volume of solvent, stirring for a fixed time interval, and then draining off the solvent. The apparatus is a very useful labor-saving device because the time period between operator interventions (about 10 min) is long enough to permit other work to be done, whereas the manual peptide shaker approach requires virtually constant attendance by the operator. This peptide synthesizer proved to be both reliable and convenient during synthesis of a protected pentadecapeptide corresponding to amino acid residues 66 to 80 of horse heart cytochrome c.
A propionate-inducible expression system for enteric bacteria

A series of new expression vectors (pPro) have been constructed for the regulated expression of genes in Escherichia coli. The pPro vectors contain the prpBCDE promoter (PprpB) responsible for expression of the propionate catabolic genes (prpBCDE) and prpR encoding the positive regulator of this promoter. The efficiency and regulatory properties of the prpR-PprpB system were measured by placing the gene encoding the green fluorescent protein (gfp) under the control of the inducible PprpB of E. coli. This system provides homogenous expression in individual cells, highly regulatable expression over a wide range of propionate concentrations, and strong expression (maximal 1,500-fold induction) at high propionate concentrations. Since the prpBCDE promoter has CAP-dependent activation, the prpR-PprpB system exhibited negligible basal expression by addition of glucose to the medium.
The language of geodesics for Garside groups

We prove that the language of all geodesics of any Garside group, with respect to the generating set of divisors of the Garside element, forms a regular language. In particular, the braid groups admit generating sets where the associated language of geodesics is regular.