cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Purification and Characterization of Granulocytic Progenitor Cells (CFU-C) From Human Peripheral Blood Using Immunologic Surface Markers

The concentration of committed granulocytic progenitor cells (CFU-C) in functionally unique subpopulations of human peripheral blood mononuclear cells has been determined by the in vitro methyl-cellulose assay. Using immunoabsorbent column chromatography and rosette-depletion techniques, we have demonstrated that CFU-C, although not present in either purified T or B lymphocyte populations, are highly concentrated in the “null” cell population, which lacks sheep erythrocyte receptors and surface immunoglobulin. Further fractionation of this null subset has demonstrated that CFU-C do not bear complement receptors, but require the presence of peripheral blood mononuclear cell feeder layers for maximum proliferation.
When does pericarditis merit a workup for autoimmune or inflammatory disease

Further evaluation is required for recurrent pericarditis resistant to conventional therapy or for manifestations of systemic disease.
Designing Peptide Drugs/Ligands for Pathological States. A New Paradigm for Design of Bioactive Peptide Hormones and Neurotransmitters

G-protein coupled receptors and other membrane bound receptors are the target for over 45% of all current drugs. They are important targets because the ligands and receptors modulate or control most biological functions necessary for survival in man, such as fear-flight, feeding behavior, response to stress, response to pain, cardiovascular function, anxiety, learning, sexual behavior, etc. Most of the ligands are polypeptides. The present paradigm for drug discovery and development in this area is to identify the gene/cell/tissue/protein associated with the biological activity and develop a binding assay and functional (2nd messenger) assay. If no endogenous “ligand” is known, assays with “libraries” of “natural products,” peptides and other organic compounds are used. The receptors and the assays chosen utilize receptors, cells, tissues and animals that are “normal.” However, there is growing evidence that the ligands and their receptors/acceptors behave differently in normal and pathological states. Especially in the central nervous system (CNS), many drugs that are effective in normal states become ineffective or less effective in pathological disease states. Evaluation of this problem suggests that a new paradigm is needed.
The Gist of Delay of Gratification: Understanding and Predicting Problem Behaviors

Delay of gratification captures elements of temptation and self-denial that characterize real-life problems with money and other problem behaviors such as unhealthy risk taking. According to fuzzy-trace theory, decision makers mentally represent social values such as delay of gratification in a coarse but meaningful form of memory called "gist." Applying this theory, we developed a gist measure of delay of gratification that does not involve quantitative trade-offs (as delay discounting does) and hypothesize that this construct explains unique variance beyond sensation seeking and inhibition in accounting for problem behaviors. Across four studies, we examine this Delay-of-gratification Gist Scale by using principal components analyses and evaluating convergent and divergent validity with other potentially related scales such as Future Orientation, Propensity to Plan, Time Perspectives Inventory, Spendthrift-Tightwad, Sensation Seeking, Cognitive Reflection, Barratt Impulsiveness, and the Monetary Choice Questionnaire (delay discounting). The new 12-item measure captured a single dimension of delay of gratification, correlated as predicted with other scales, but accounted for unique variance in predicting such outcomes as overdrawing bank accounts, substance abuse, and overall subjective well-being. Results support a theoretical distinction between reward-related approach motivation, including sensation seeking, and inhibitory faculties, including cognitive reflection. However, individuals' agreement with the qualitative gist of delay of gratification, as expressed in many cultural traditions, could not be reduced to such dualist distinctions nor to quantitative conceptions of delay discounting, shedding light on mechanisms of self-control and risk taking.
Understanding racial differences in health-related quality of life in a population-based cohort of breast cancer survivors.

Although racial disparities in health-related quality of life (HRQOL) among women with breast cancer (BC) are well documented, less is known about HRQOL changes over time among women of different races. Our objective was to assess racial differences in HRQOL during active treatment and survivorship phases of BC care. We used data from the third phase of the Carolina Breast Cancer Study (CBCS-III). CBCS-III enrolled 3000 women in North Carolina aged 20–74 years diagnosed with BC between 2008 and 2013. HRQOL assessments occurred 5 and 25 months post diagnosis, representing distinct phases of care. HRQOL measures included the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy for BC and Functional Assessment of Chronic Illness Therapy for Spiritual Well-Being. Analysis of covariance models were employed to assess racial differences in changes in HRQOL. The cohort included 2142 Non-Hispanic White (n = 1105) and Black women (n = 1037) who completed both HRQOL assessments. During active treatment, Whites reported physical and functional scores 2–2.5 points higher than Blacks (p < 0.0001). Spiritual HRQOL was 2.1 points higher for Blacks (p < 0.0001). During survivorship, differences persisted. After adjusting for demographic, socioeconomic, tumor, and treatment characteristics, physical and functional HRQOL gaps narrowed, but spiritual HRQOL gaps widened. Racial differences in physical and functional HRQOL during active treatment and survivorship may be largely mediated by socioeconomic factors. However, our results suggest that among Black women, spiritual HRQOL is well supported throughout the BC care continuum. These results inform opportunities for improving the quality and equity of supportive services for women with BC.
What is the fate of the cholecystostomy tube following percutaneous cholecystostomy

Introduction Cholecystectomy is the preferred treatment for acute cholecystitis with percutaneous cholecystostomy (PC) considered an alternative therapy in severely debilitated patients. The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy and outcomes of PC at a tertiary referral center.
Analysis of the genetic reprogramming that defines cell maturation along the intestinal crypt-villus axis

Proc Amer Assoc Cancer Res, Volume 45, 2004 1653 To define the genetic reprogramming events that drive epithelial cell maturation along the intestinal crypt-villus, enterocytes were sequentially isolated along the villus-crypt axis in mouse small intestine using the Weiser fractionation method. The fractionation process was validated by measurement of alkaline phosphatase and maltase activities, and PCNA expression in the various cellular fractions. Changes in gene expression were assessed using 27K cDNA microarrays. Of the 27,000 sequences analyzed, approximately 15% were altered in expression along the crypt-villus axis. Among those upregulated in expression in cells in the villus tip were the well-established differentiation markers villin, dipeptidylpeptidase IV, trefoil factor 3 and p21WAF1/Cip1 . Consistent with the confinement of cell proliferation to the crypts, several cyclins ( A, B1, B2, C and D2 ), cell division cycle proteins ( cdc3, cdc20 and cdc28 ) and checkpoint control genes ( bub1, mad2 ) were maximally expressed in cells isolated from the crypts. Categorization of genes on the arrays according to biological function demonstrated that the 15% of sequences altered in expression during the maturation program were significantly enriched for genes with a role in cell cycle regulation, apoptosis, differentiation, cytoskeletal organization, xenobiotic detoxification, lipid metabolism uptake and transport, membrane channel formation, metabolism, and membrane trafficking. Further dissection of genes involved in metabolism indicated a coordinate upregulation of genes encoding proteins in the glycolysis / gluconeogenesis pathways in the differentiated cells of the villus tip. Consistent with this, multiple genes encoding components of the mitochondrial electron transport chain were similarly upregulated in expression. Several transcription factors both up and down regulated in expression were also identified. Among those upregulated in the villus tip were KLF4, MAD4, aryl hydrocarbon receptor and ID-2 , while c-myc and HDAC2 were downregulated in expression. This database should serve as an important resource for the study of intestinal cell maturation, and to further our understanding of how perturbations in the maturation process may lead to the onset of gastrointestinal tumorigenesis.
Translation in ethnography: Representing Latin American studies in English

Ethnography refers to in-depth participant observation research and to the written report that results, and is often described metaphorically as a type of “cultural translation.” Little attention has been paid, however, to the actual linguistic translation that occurs in the process of research and writing, even in the interdisciplinary field of Latin American Studies, in which research is often conducted in a language other than English and written up in English. The privileging of academic Standard English in ethnographic texts creates dilemmas for ethnographers whose research participants speak “foreign” languages. These dilemmas are rarely discussed in the ethnographic texts or the literature on ethnographic methodology. Based on content analysis of 47 book-length ethnographies on Latin Americans, we investigate how ethnographers typically deal with language difference in their texts and why language matters. Language is intimately connected to power dynamics in the field, and ethnographers’ decisions about how to represent language can indicate rigor and thoughtfulness about their position vis-a-vis participants, yet such linguistic reflexivity is rare.
Iridium-Based Nanowires as Highly Active, Oxygen Evolution Reaction Electrocatalysts

Iridium–nickel (Ir–Ni) and iridium–cobalt (Ir–Co) nanowires have been synthesized by galvanic displacement and studied for their potential to increase the performance and durability of electrolysis systems. Performances of Ir–Ni and Ir–Co nanowires for the oxygen evolution reaction (OER) have been measured in rotating disk electrode half-cells and single-cell electrolyzers and compared with commercial baselines and literature references. The nanowire catalysts showed improved mass activity, by more than an order of magnitude compared with commercial Ir nanoparticles in half-cell tests. The nanowire catalysts also showed greatly improved durability, when acid-leached to remove excess Ni and Co. Both Ni and Co templates were found to have similarly positive impacts, although specific differences between the two systems are revealed. In single-cell electrolysis testing, nanowires exceeded the performance of Ir nanoparticles by 4–5 times, suggesting that significant reductions in catalyst loading are possible...
First-Known High-Nuclearity Copper-Nickel Carbonyl Cluster: [Cu~xNi~3~5~-~x(CO)~4~0]^5^- (with x = 3 or 5) Containing an Unprecedented 35-Atom Three-Layer hcp Triangular Stacking Metal-Core Geometry

Reactions of [Ni6(CO)12]2- (1) with CuBr2 have given rise in small yields (∼10%) to the first example of a close-packed copper-nickel carbonyl cluster; its formulation as [CuxNi35-x(CO)40]5- (with x=3 or 5) is based upon a low-temperature CCD X-ray crystallographic determination coupled with an elemental analysis and X-ray fluorescence measurements. This air-unstable black pentaanion (2) together with one co-crystallized bromide anion, six [NMe4]+ counterions, and one solvated acetone molecule comprise the crystallographic independent part in a monoclinic unit cell of P21/n symmetry (with Z=4). The geometrically unprecedented 35-atom hcp M(A)2M(B)3Ni30 polyhedron of pseudo-D3h symmetry consists of a central 15-atom equilateral ν4M(B)3Ni12 triangle that is capped on both sides by two symmetry-related 10-atom equilateral ν3M(A)Ni9 triangles. The 35-atom M(A)2M(B)3Ni30 core is encapsulated by 40 COs, whose connectivities, due to an “extra” CO ligand on one of the three triangular sides, reduce the pseudo D3h symmetry of the metal core to Cs. An elemental analysis via AA and X-ray fluorescence measurements resulted in Cu/Ni ratios of 3.2/31.8 and 3.7/31.3, respectively, that are consistent with the metal core being either Cu5Ni30 (i.e., M(A)=M(B)=Cu) or Cu3Ni32 (i.e., M(A)=Ni; M(B)=Cu). Several attempts to determine the actual stoichiometry of the metal core by use of electrospray FT/MS/ICR measurements were unsuccessful. The maximum metal-core diameter of 2 is ca. 0.41 nm parallel and 0.85 nm perpendicular to the principal 3-fold axis.
Application of Statistical Models to Engineering Problems

This report describes two applications of the use of distributional procedures. They deal with the solution of engineering problems. The techniques employed are all straight forward and well known. The purpose of the paper is to illustrate how simple techniques can be used to solve otherwise difficult problems.
Supervisory control of a DaVinci surgical robot

This paper presents an approach to supervisory control of a DaVinci surgical robot. At present, such robots are controlled by teleoperation, with dissimilar kinematics of the operator interface vs. the robot. As a result, it can be difficult for the operator to visualize the kinematic restrictions on the robot, particularly for desired extended, precise trajectories, such as circular needle driving. The interface presented here constitutes a means to elevate the operator from teleoperation mode to supervisory mode. The operator interacts directly with a point-cloud display, allowing selection of task specifications from which the system automatically computes and executes precise trajectories to achieve the task goals. The intent is to allow the operator to focus on task specifications and rely on automation to achieve faster and more precise execution.
Near- and far-field wireless power transfer

This paper presents and overview of near and far-field wireless power transfer at RF and microwave frequencies for a variety of applications, ranging from near-field capacitive kW-level powering for cars in motion at MHz frequencies, to harvesting very low statistically-varying power densities across the microwave range and a study of directive beaming for space applications. In all applications, the primary consideration is both transmit and receive power efficiency, but at higher power levels, other factors such as safety regulations, become relevant and require new approaches. Specific examples are given for a near-field phased array at 6.78 MHz for vehicle powering, an airborn 4.3GHz harvester and a study for a microwave large array lunar directive beaming scenario.
Sporolithon sinusmexicanum sp. nov. (Sporolithales, Rhodophyta): a new rhodolith-forming species from deepwater rhodolith beds in the Gulf of Mexico

Sporolithon is a non-geniculate, marine taxon that occurs in tropical to subtropical and warm temperate habitats worldwide. On the basis of specimens collected from offshore Louisiana and Florida in the Gulf of Mexico, Sporolithon sinusmexicanum sp. nov. is described. rbc L and psb A sequence analyses showed that S. sinusmexicanum is closely related to Sporolithon yoneshigueae (type locality: Bahia, Brazil). These two species can be distinguished by the number of rosette cells (10–12 in S. sinusmexicanum vs. 19–24 in S. yoneshigueae ) and by the habit of the tetrasporangial structures after spore release (sloughed off in S. sinusmexicanum vs. overgrown and buried in Sporolithon yoneshigueae ).
The Thiele-van den Bos Method

The radii vectors to two positions in an orbit subtend an ellipse sector and a triangle, the sector being related to the time interval through the law of areas. Gauss introduced the use of the differences sector minus triangle between three positions into the orbit computation of planets, and Thiele (1883) applied the idea to binary stars. Van den Bos’ merit is not merely a modification of the method (transcribing it for the use with the Innes constants) but chiefly in its pioneeringly successful application. The device, having gone entirely unnoticed before, now became most widely applied.
Time and Motion Study: Beyond the Taylor — Gilbreth Controversy

Frederick Winslow Taylor introduced stop watch time study in 1881 in the MIDvale Steel Company in Philadelphia (1). The IDea was not his, but came from one of his instructors at the Phillips — Exeter academy in Massachusetts, the mathematician (Bull) Wentworth, who used a stopwatch to determine how long it would take an average student to solve a specific problem. In 1895, at a meeting of the American Society of Industrial Engineers (ASME), Taylor mentions his experiments for the first time. In a lecture, entitled, “A Piece Rate System” he talks about the “estimating department” at MIDvale, also described as “rate-fixing department”, which has the task of setting elementary rates. The term “elementary” refers to elementary operations of which any job is a combination. The times in which the study of elementary operations result are called “unit-times”. The combination of elementary operations may be unique, but similar elementary operations will be performed in differing combinations almost every day, and according to Taylor “a man whose business it is to fix rates soon becomes so familiar with the time required to do each kind of elementary work performed by the men, that he can write down the time from memory” (Taylor, 1895, 16). The method may seem complicated, but is in fact more simple and effective than what Taylor calls the “ordinary system of rate-fixing”, where a rate-fixer would look through his records until he finds a piece of work as nearly as possible similar to the job for which he has to set a time-standard, and then guess the time required to do the new piece of work.
Metabolism and Action of 2′, 2′ -Difluorodeoxycytidine: Self-Potentiation of Cytotoxicity

The clinical success of arabinosylcytosine evoked an interest in other deoxycytidine analogues. One such congener is 2′,2′-difluorodeoxycytidine (dFdC., Gemcitabine), which has to pass through a repertoire of steps catalyzed by several cellular enzymes to exert cytotoxicity (1). Once transported into the cell, dFdC is phosphorylated to its active nucleotide metabolites. Several kinases are involved in the intracellular synthesis of dFdC nucleotides, but the first step, the phosphorylation of dFdC to its monophosphate by dCyd kinase, is rate-limiting (1,2). dCyd kinase is therefore the most important enzyme in the activation of dFdC. The activity of this enzyme is tightly regulated by endogenous deoxynucleotide pools, in particular deoxycytidine triphosphate (dCTP) (3). dCTP is of further interest and importance because dFdCTP competes with it for incorporation into the growing DNA strand, a mechanism of dFdC cytotoxicity (4). Cellular dCTP pools are maintained by the de novo pathway, the principal step of which is catalyzed by ribonucleotide reductase. Another enzyme influenced by the cellular dCTP pool is dCMP deaminase, which plays a major role in the elimination of phosphorylated dFdC metabolites (5). The aim of the present investigation was to analyze the role of dFdC metabolites on these key enzymes. A positive influence of dFdC on these enzymes would augment its own cytotoxicity, an action termed self-potentiation (6).
Dynamic changes in gene expression and alternative splicing mediate the response to acute alcohol exposure in Drosophila melanogaster

Environmental changes typically cause rapid gene expression responses in the exposed organisms, including changes in the representation of gene isoforms with different functions or properties. Identifying the genes that respond to environmental change, including in genotype-specific ways, is an important step in treating the undesirable physiological effects of stress, such as exposure to toxins or ethanol. Ethanol is a unique environmental stress in that chronic exposure results in permanent physiological changes and the development of alcohol use disorders. Drosophila is a classic model for deciphering the mechanisms of the response to alcohol exposure, as it meets the criteria for the development of alcohol use disorders, and has similar physiological underpinnings with vertebrates. Because many studies on the response to ethanol have relied on a priori candidate genes, broad surveys of gene expression and splicing are required and have been investigated here. Further, we expose Drosophila to ethanol in an environment that is genetically, socially, and ecologically relevant. Both expression and splicing differences, inasmuch as they can be decomposed, contribute to the response to ethanol in Drosophila melanogaster. However, we find that while D. melanogaster responds to ethanol, there is very little genetic variation in how it responds to ethanol. In addition, the response to alcohol over time is dynamic, suggesting that incorporating time into studies on the response to the environment is important.
Establishing the Right to Education for Children of Refugees (1949–1955)

During the 1940s, millions of individuals were displaced on account of Nazi atrocities and the brutal aftermath of victory. As the dust settled, the new Federal Republic of Germany had to decide how the displaced persons left in the country as well as hundreds of thousands of refugees and exiles (including Aussiedler) from the East fit into West German society. Determined to reshape its international reputation, the West German government turned to the new United Nations and Council of Europe for guidance. Following international recommendations and the requirements of the Allied High Command, the new Lander sought to enable “stateless and homeless” children to attend public schools but also maintain their ethnic heritage, a decision which would establish trends for subsequent waves of migration.
Cultural Leadership and Entrepreneurship As Antecedents of Estonia’s Singing Revolution and Post-Communist Success

The Baltic people of Estonia, Lithuania, and Latvia gained recognition with their successful use of a cultural tool, singing folkloric songs, to protest collectively against their common Soviet oppressor in the summer of 1988, preceding the collapse of the Soviet Union. Rational-choice theorists have argued that large rebellious movements are paradoxical because the larger the number of potential revolutionaries, the greater the leadership, participation, and coordination problems they face (Olson, 1971; Tullock, 1974). This paper investigates Estonia’s Singing Revolution and illustrates how ethnic Estonians used their shared cultural beliefs and singing traditions as a tacit, informal institutional solution to overcome the collective-action problems with organizing and participating in mass singing protests against the Soviet regime. The paper goes further to extend the standard rational-choice framework and to include a more dynamic, entrepreneurial-institutional perspective on socio-cultural change by accounting for the role of cultural leaders as cultural entrepreneurs, a subset of institutional entrepreneurs. The success of Estonia’s Singing Revolution can be ultimately attributed to leadership in the form of cultural entrepreneurship going back to pre-Soviet Estonian times. The revived legacy of ancient shared beliefs, folkloric practices, and singing tradition represented the necessary social capital for the Estonian people to voice collectively shared preferences for political and economic governance during a window of constitutional opportunity. Mikhail Gorbachev’s Glasnost, a policy aimed to improve Soviet formal institutions by fostering freedom of speech and political transparency, also provided a context propitious for the Singing Revolution because it lowered the perceived costs of participation in the rebellious singing and opened a window of opportunity for political change.
Identification and Quantification of DNA Repair Protein poly(ADP Ribose) Polymerase 1 (PARP1) in Human Tissues and Cultured Cells by Liquid chromatography/isotope-dilution Tandem Mass Spectrometry

Poly(ADP ribose) polymerase 1 (PARP1) is a multifunctional DNA repair protein of the base excision repair pathway and plays a major role in the repair of DNA strand breaks and in replication and transcriptional regulation among other functions. Mounting evidence points to the predictive and prognostic value of PARP1 expression in human cancers. Thus, PARP1 has become an important target in cancer therapy, leading to the development of inhibitors as anticancer drugs. In the past, PARP1 expression levels in tissue samples have generally been estimated by indirect and semi-quantitative immunohistochemical methods. Accurate measurement of PARP1 in normal tissues and malignant tumors of patients will be essential for evaluating PARP1 as a predictive and prognostic biomarker in cancer and other diseases, and for the development and use of its inhibitors in cancer therapy. In this work, we present an approach involving liquid chromatography-isotope-dilution tandem mass spectrometry to positively identify and accurately quantify PARP1 in human tissues and cultured cells. We identified and quantified PARP1 in human normal ovarian tissues and malignant ovarian tumors, and in three pairs of human cell lines, each pair consisting of a normal cell line and its cancerous counterpart. Significantly greater expression of PARP1 was observed in malignant ovarian tissues than in normal ovarian tissues. In the case of one pair of cell lines, the cancerous cell line also exhibited greater expression of PARP1 than in normal cell line. We also show the simultaneous measurement of PARP1 and apurinic/apyrimidinic endonuclease 1 (APE1) in a given protein extract. The approach presented in this work is expected to contribute to the accurate quantitative assessment of PARP1 levels in basic research and clinical studies.
Abstract 3920: Differential effects of Jumonji family demethylase and EZH2 H3K27 methyltransferase inhibition on radiation sensitivity of H3K27M mutant DIPG

Diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma (DIPG) is an aggressive pediatric brainstem tumor with a 5-year survival of Citation Format: Anatoly Y. Nikolaev, John B. Fiveash, Eddy S. Yang. Differential effects of Jumonji family demethylase and EZH2 H3K27 methyltransferase inhibition on radiation sensitivity of H3K27M mutant DIPG [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2019; 2019 Mar 29-Apr 3; Atlanta, GA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2019;79(13 Suppl):Abstract nr 3920.
A brief experiential school counseling site supervisor training approach

ABSTRACTSchool counseling site supervisors report several challenges in obtaining the amount of supervision training they desire. In this article, we propose a brief supervision training approach, ...
Structure of papain-like protease from SARS-CoV-2 and its complexes with non-covalent inhibitors

ABSTRACT The number of new cases world-wide for the COVID-19 disease is increasing dramatically, while efforts to contain Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 is producing varied results in different countries. There are three key SARS-CoV-2 enzymes potentially targetable with antivirals: papain-like protease (PLpro), main protease (Mpro), and RNA-dependent RNA polymerase. Of these, PLpro is an especially attractive target because it plays an essential role in several viral replication processes, including cleavage and maturation of viral polyproteins, assembly of the replicase-transcriptase complex (RTC), and disruption of host viral response machinery to facilitate viral proliferation and replication. Moreover, this enzyme is conserved across different coronaviruses and promising inhibitors have already been discovered for its SARS-CoV variant. Here we report a substantive body of structural, biochemical, and virus replication studies that identify several inhibitors of the enzyme from SARS-CoV-2 in both wild-type and mutant forms. These efforts include the first structures of wild-type PLpro, the active site C111S mutant, and their complexes with inhibitors, determined at 1.60–2.70 Angstroms. This collection of structures provides fundamental molecular and mechanistic insight to PLpro, and critically, illustrates details for inhibitors recognition and interactions. All presented compounds inhibit the peptidase activity of PLpro in vitro, and some molecules block SARS-CoV-2 replication in cell culture assays. These collated findings will accelerate further structure-based drug design efforts targeting PLpro, with the ultimate goal of identifying high-affinity inhibitors of clinical value for SARS-CoV-2.
Scalp EEG interictal high frequency oscillations as an objective biomarker of infantile spasms.

Abstract Objective To investigate the diagnostic utility of high frequency oscillations (HFOs) via scalp electroencephalogram (EEG) in infantile spasms. Methods We retrospectively analyzed interictal slow-wave sleep EEGs sampled at 2,000 Hz recorded from 30 consecutive patients who were suspected of having infantile spasms. We measured the rate of HFOs (80–500 Hz) and the strength of the cross-frequency coupling between HFOs and slow-wave activity (SWA) at 3–4 Hz and 0.5–1 Hz as quantified with modulation indices (MIs). Results Twenty-three patients (77%) exhibited active spasms during the overnight EEG recording. Although the HFOs were detected in all children, increased HFO rate and MIs correlated with the presence of active spasms (p Conclusions Increased rate of HFOs and coupling between HFOs and SWA are associated with active epileptic spasms. Significance Scalp-recorded HFOs may serve as an objective EEG biomarker for active epileptic spasms.
Theorizing Religion in Its Meanings for Bioethics.

H. Tristam Engelhardt has said that “in the 1960s and 1970s . . . religious bioethics fell into the shadow of established secular bioethics. I don't think that religious bioethics has ever really c...
Corruption and Destructive Entrepreneurship: How Corruption Affects the Allocation of Resources

The negative effects of corruption at the macro level are well documented. Corruption reduces economic growth, lowers investment, and corrodes trust in government officials creating an institutional environment which pushes entrepreneurs from productive to destructive activities. In corrupt regimes, rent-seeking and cronyism crowd out value-creating entrepreneurship. Corruption also has effects at the micro level because some industries are better situated to profit from corruption than others. Corruption not only lowers economic output but also shifts resources toward some industries and away from others. Using convictions for violations of federal corruption laws in the United States as a measure of corruption, regression results show that increased corruption shifts resources toward the construction industry and away from non-profit firms and education. The evidence also shows that the distance from state capitals and voter turnout moderate the relationship between corruption and firm concentrations.
Electrochemical Performance of LixSiON Polymer Electrolytes Derived from an Agriculture Waste Product, Rice Hull Ash

The electrochemical performance of LixSiON (x = 2, 4, and 6) polymer electrolytes derived from the agricultural waste, rice hull ash (RHA, 80–90 wt % SiO2), is reported. Silica can be extracted fro...
Temperature Effects on Stability and Integrity of Geomembrane–Geotextile Interface in Municipal Solid Waste Landfill

Review of the limited experimental studies available in the published literature that investigate the effects of temperature on the shear strength of typical geomembrane (GM) and geotextile (GTX) interface is performed. These studies suggest that the shear strength of GM–GTX interfaces generally increase with an increase in temperature. However, there is no study that examined the combined effect of the temperatures along the bottom liner and the large displacement induced by the waste settlement on the short-term and long-term stability and integrity of the GM–GTX interface in a composite bottom liner system in municipal solid waste (MSW) landfills. This paper presents the application of a thermal model to predict the evolution and distribution of temperatures within the waste and along the bottom liner system of a typical landfill cell model, while simultaneously evaluating the influence of the predicted temperatures on the shear response of GM–GTX interfaces in the composite bottom liner system. The predicted temperatures along the liner interface of the simulated landfill cell varied between 4 and 32 °C, which are well within the reported temperatures in and around the bottom liners in MSW landfills. The results also suggest that beginning the placement of waste in summer is favorable than in winter, since the high temperatures at the GM–GTX during summer mobilize higher shear strengths resulting in lower shear displacements. Further, if stability analysis using limit equilibrium method is performed, then the shear strength of GM–GTX interface corresponding to the low temperature ranges expected at the site should be used for conservative and reliable estimates of the stability of the bottom liner system.
Novel methods to assess cell-free circulating tumor DNA in acute lymphoblastic leukemia.

10034Background: Acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) is the most common pediatric cancer, with a relatively high relapse rate, which is associated with poor prognosis. Currently, minimal residual di...
A Causal Estimate of Long-Term Health Care Spending Attributable to Body Mass Index Among Adults.

Abstract While high body mass index (BMI) is believed to be a major driver of poor health, there is little evidence about whether it leads to higher health care spending. Understanding the causal contribution of BMI to health care spending is necessary to estimate the returns to investment in weight loss efforts. We exploit genetic variation in BMI across siblings as a natural experiment to estimate the impact of BMI on cumulative third party and out-of-pocket health care spending among adults using the Panel Study of Income Dynamics data from 1999 through 2011. We estimate a two-stage residual inclusion model with a generalized linear model. We find a $611.60 increase in cumulative insurer spending for each one-unit increase in BMI. This amounts to $130.49 in mean annual spending, and is two times higher than the non-causal estimate. We find no difference in out-of-pocket spending by BMI. These findings suggest that having a higher BMI in young/middle adulthood leads to significantly higher insurer health expenditures over the life course, which can help to inform public and private insurer policies on BMI reduction and control.
Salmonella in Wastes Produced at Commercial Poultry Farms

Composite samples of freshly voided excreta from 91 poultry houses were tested qualitatively for Salmonella; 26 (29%) were positive. The houses were located on 36 farms, 18 of which (50%) yielded one or more positive samples. In a separate, quantitative study, Salmonella densities ranged from less than 1 to over 34,000 per g of excreta (dry weight). High densities were noted in waste from cage houses, but not in waste from floor houses (litter or wire floors). Salmonella-shedding chickens were located in only one small area of the row of cages examined in detail. A total of 15 Salmonella serotypes were identified during the study.
Traditionalist, Technicians, and Legal Education

An examination of the two school of thoughts that have dominated pedagogical inquiry in the law: traditionalists and technicians, along with a proposed method of combining the two in curriculum design.
Serum and cells from Theiler's virus-infected mice fail to injure myelinating cultures or to produce in vivo transfer of disease: The pathogenesis of Theiler's virus-induced demyelination appears to differ from that of EAE

Intracerebral inoculation of SJL mice with Theiler's Murine Encephalomyelitis virus (TMEV) results in a biphasic disease characterized by early grey matter involvement followed by late, chronic white matter inflammation and demyelination. Morphological parameters of TMEV-induced demyelination are essentially identical to those of experimental allergic encephalomyelitis (EAE) and immunosuppression has been shown to prevent demyelination. To test whether the pathogenesis of demyelination in TMEV infection is based on an autoimmune attack on myelin as in EAE, we tested sera and cells from infected animals for their ability to produce in vitro demyelination and cells for their ability to transfer disease in vivo. Isogeneic organotypic cultures were exposed to either serum or splenocytes from diseased animals. Neither serum nor splenocytes demyelinated or prevented myelination in these cultures. Splenocytes from diseased animals were also incubated with basic protein or whole spinal cord and assayed for their proliferative response or their ability to transfer disease to naive recipients. Neither proliferation nor transfer of disease was observed. These results show that the immunopathology of demyelination in the Theiler's model differs from that of EAE in a number of important parameters and support the contention that demyelination in this viral infection is produced by immunological mechanisms different from those operating in EAE.
Complexity Estimation for Real Time Application Specific Circuits

Complexity estimation is an essential task in the design process of real time systems. It is the primary driving force behind such important design decisions such as algorithm and architecture selection, design partitioning and architectural composition. This paper will present a set of techniques to efficiently estimate accurate minimum and maximum implementation bounds on the implementation cost of an application specific integrated circuit. The applications of the proposed techniques in a number of design synthesis areas will be discussed.
Limiting similarity and functional diversity along environmental gradients

Recent developments in community models emphasize the importance of incorporating stochastic processes (e.g. ecological drift) in models of niche-structured community assembly. We constructed a finite, spatially explicit, lottery model to simulate the distribution of species in a one-dimensional landscape with an underlying gradient in environmental conditions. Our framework combines the potential for ecological drift with environmentally-mediated competition for space in a heterogeneous environment. We examined the influence of niche breadth, dispersal distances, community size (total number of individuals) and the breadth of the environmental gradient on levels of species and functional trait diversity (i.e. differences in niche optima). Three novel results emerge from this model: (1) niche differences between adjacent species (e.g. limiting similarity) increase in smaller communities, because of the interaction of competitive effects and finite population sizes; (2) immigration from a regional species pool, stochasticity and niche-assembly generate a bimodal distribution of species residence times (transient and resident) under a heterogeneous environment; and (3) the magnitude of environmental heterogeneity has a U-shaped effect on diversity, because of shifts in species richness of resident vs. transient species. These predictions illustrate the potential importance of stochastic (although not necessarily neutral) processes in community assembly.
Measuring heat transfer during spray cooling using controlled induction-heating experiments and computational models

Abstract This paper presents a methodology combining experimental measurements with computational modeling to find the heat flux extracted during spray cooling of a metal surface. Controlled experiments are performed to impinge air-mist spray onto a metal probe surface while applying induction heating to follow a desired temperature history. A transient axisymmetric computational model of induction heating which couples electromagnetics and heat conduction has been developed and validated with a test problem. The model is calibrated to match transient dry measurements and then used to simulate a steady-state air-mist spray cooling experiment in order to quantify the heat extracted from the probe surface by the boiling water droplets. A detailed example is presented to illustrate this approach.
Analysis and design of tradable credit schemes under uncertainty

Market-based instruments for congestion mitigation can be generally classified into two groups: price-based and quantity-based. The former, widely known as congestion pricing, charges tolls to influence travelers' decisions; the latter directly regulates congestion. More specifically, credits or permits are first distributed by a government agency, and travelers are then required to pay a certain number of credits to access transportation facilities. The credits can be traded between travelers, and the price is determined by the market through free trading. In this study the identity between congestion pricing and tradable credit schemes in managing network mobility is formally established. A numerical example demonstrates how the identity falls apart when uncertainty is associated with transportation supply or demand. A sensitivity analysis of the coupled network and market equilibrium is then conducted to predict how credit price varies with respect to the perturbation associated with the supply or dema...
Systematic bias in recording the history in patients with chest pain.

Abstract Because of its central importance in medical diagnosis, sources of bias in the patient history must be identified. We report here a study of interobserver agreement in chest pain histories. Histories were obtained by physicians, nurse practitioners, and self-administered questionnaires. We used a discriminant rule to classify the histories as being more or less typical of angina pectoris. A sub-group of the subjects underwent coronary arteriography after the histories were obtained. In subjects with positive coronary arteriograms, physicians consistently obtained histories typical of angina pectoris more often than a self-administered questionnaire. There was no significant systematic bias when comparing physician interviews to the questionnaire among subjects with negative arteriograms nor when comparing two physicians' interviews or a nurse practitioner interview to a questionnaire. When compared to physician interviews, nurse practitioner interviews produced histories less typical of angina pectoris. We conclude that there are systematic differences between the histories obtained by physicians, nurse practitioners, and self-administered questionnaires. Questionnaires can produce biased patient histories and should be carefully validated before being used in patient care activities or health care research.
Near-infrared Spectrophotometry of HH 7-11

Near-infrared emission-line imaging and long-slit spectroscopy of H2 and [Fe II] emission lines in the 1.25-2.25 μm wavelength range at multiple positions toward the Herbig-Haro objects HH 7-11 and a nearby H2 emission-line source, ASR 57, are presented. The relative line strengths are used to examine the processes responsible for exciting H2 emission in these objects. All of the H2 emission-line ratios are consistent with collisional excitation in these objects, and no evidence is seen for noncollisional excitation mechanisms. Nonetheless, the H2 level populations in HH 7-11 are inconsistent with LTE predictions and show underpopulations relative to a Boltzmann distribution in accordance with the different critical densities of each level. The level populations are consistent with either a purely molecular gas or gas containing a mixture of H and H2, provided that the gas has a range of temperatures and relatively low density. The slit positions toward HH 7-11 sample a wide range of H2 surface brightness and relative brightness of [Fe II] versus H2 emission lines. The H2 emission from HH 7 is assumed to originate in a bow shock with decreasing shock velocity from the bow shock apex to the wings. Spectra are taken across HH 7 using a series of slit positions in order to observe any changes in the spectra with velocity. The slit positions are chosen to include a wide range in shock conditions among the spectra; however, the H2 line ratios are similar at all of the observed positions, a result interpreted as evidence that the emission originates behind J-shocks.
Coronary artery bypass graft surgery in a patient with hereditary protein S deficiency

p ROTEIN S is a plasma protein integral to the maintenance of normal function of the coagulation system. It is a cofactor of protein C, a strong inhibitor of actwated coagulation factors V and VIII, that when deficient or abnormal, results in a tendency to spontaneous thrombosis (thrombophilia). The setting of cardiac surgery represents a paradox for the patient with thrombophalaa. During surgery, although there is a strong hypercoagulable state induced by the trauma and stress response of surgery, there is also a strong anticoagulant or fibrinolytic state reduced as a result of the inflammatory response to cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB). As such, even patients with an otherwise normal coagulation system exhibit an increased risk of hemorrhage after CPB. There are no published reports detailing the natural history of patients with protein S deficiency undergoing cardiac surgacal procedures Reported is a case of a patient wath protein S deficiency who underwent successful coronary artery bypass graft surgery (CABG) and discusslon of the perioperative considerations for pataents wath protein S deficiency with emphasas on the use of anticoagulants and avoidance of antifibrinolytics.
Activation of NF-kappa B requires proteolysis of the inhibitor I kappa B-alpha: signal-induced phosphorylation of I kappa B-alpha alone does not release active NF-kappa B.

Abstract The transcription factor NF-kappa B is retained in the cytoplasm by its inhibitor I kappa B-alpha. Upon cellular stimulation with a variety of pathogen- or stress-related agents, I kappa B-alpha is functionally inactivated and NF-kappa B translocates to the nucleus to trigger transcription of a large array of genes, many of which encode proteins critical for immune or stress responses. Here, we demonstrate that signal-induced proteolysis of I kappa B-alpha is an obligatory step for activation of NF-kappa B: calpain inhibitors I and II, which inhibit cysteine proteases, block activation of NF-kappa B by blocking degradation of I kappa B-alpha without affecting signal-induced phosphorylation of this inhibitor. This contrasts with previous models in which phosphorylation of I kappa B-alpha was postulated to be sufficient for activation. We demonstrate further that signal-induced phosphorylation of I kappa B-alpha does not by itself lead to dissociation of the inhibitor from NF-kappa B, providing a rationale for and confirmation of the need to proteolyze I kappa B-alpha in order to activate NF-kappa B. Signal-controlled, target-specific proteolysis is an unexpected, yet likely more general, mechanism for regulating transcription factors.