cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Traveling Waves in Relation to the Surface Fields on a Semi-Infinite Cone

For a plane electromagnetic wave at nose-on incidence on a semi-infinite perfectly conducting cone expressions for the surface field components are obtained. These have been programmed for numerical computation and data are presented for the magnitudes and phases as functions of the distance from the tip for three different cone angles. Comparison with results derived from the physical optics approximation and from a simple wedge approximation shows that the differences between the exact and physical optics values are not attributable to a tip-excited wave.
Full mitochondrial genome sequences reveal new insights about post-glacial expansion and regional phylogeographic structure in the Atlantic silverside ( Menidia menidia )

One of the biggest challenges in population genetics of marine species is to uncover subtle phylogeographic patterns masked by large effective population sizes and/or high gene flow. In this paper, we use 189 full mitochondrial genome sequences from the Atlantic silverside (Menidia menidia), obtained during whole nuclear genome re-sequencing, to address this challenge. With this approach, we were able to provide a high-resolution analysis of the demographic history and current genetic structure of the species. We clearly defined a regional genetic structure that is stronger than previously thought. This structure groups the species into three regional subdivisions: (1) south of Cape Cod; (2) Gulf of Maine; and (3) Gulf of St. Lawrence. Among the regional subdivisions, our data reveal that the two northern groups show the greatest divergence despite their adjacency along the latitudinal gradient, while genetic homogeneity within the southern subdivision suggests connectivity throughout its broad geographical distribution. Furthermore, using approximate Bayesian computation (ABC) methods, we inferred that both northern populations are the result of independent colonization events from the south after the Last Glacial Maximum (LGM). Our analyses indicate that at least one of the northern populations has received two waves of colonization, one timed immediately after the LGM and the other timed after the end of the Younger Dryas glacial re-advance. Finally, we found one locus potentially under positive selection in the mitochondrial genome. The results of this study illustrate the power of full mitochondrial genome sequencing in phylogeographic research, and because the Atlantic silverside is known for its clinal phenotypic variation throughout its range, our findings have important implications for the study of local adaptation.
Modified approach to sphincterotomy in spinal cord injury patients

Indications, technique and results of a modified approach to an extended sphincterotomy in spinal cord injury patients with voiding dysfunctions is presented. There were 32 patients who underwent surgery and were subjected to analysis for their dysfunctional bladder and bladder-neck problems. Overall satisfactory results were obtained in about 90 per cent patients following sphincterotomy. Early recognition of patients where intermittent catheterisation may not succeed is presented to intervene and establish an early catheter-free status in such patients. Foley indwelling catheter in ten patients, being worn from seven months to four years, where intermittent catheterisation had not succeeded elsewhere, were decatheterised following surgery. Excellent results were obtained in ten patients with vesico-urethral reflux; external sphincterotomy, therefore, seems to be the treatment of choice for complete spinal cord transection with vesico-ureteral reflux. An attempt has also been made to present physiology of micturition reflex in spinal cord injury patients.
Acute Clinical Care for Transgender Patients: A Review.

Importance Transgenderis an umbrella term used to describe individuals whose gender identity and/or gender expression differs from assigned sex at birth. There are an estimated 1.4 million transgender adults in the United States, and this number is increasing. Clinicians will increasingly be caring for transgender patients. Topics considered in this narrative review include terminology, how to address transgender patients, obtaining an inclusive history that takes into account gender-affirming surgery, managing hormone therapy and other clinical issues, consideration for hospitalized patients, interpreting laboratory values in the setting of hormone use, legal issues, and considerations for health systems. Observations Best practices in caring for a transgender patient include using a patient-identified name and pronoun, using gender-neutral terminology until the appropriate term is identified by the patient, and obtaining a surgical history inclusive of an anatomic inventory. Gender-affirming hormones can modify disease-specific risk factors or confer risk for in-hospital complications. They can also cause changes in laboratory values; however, studies are limited to observational studies and case series. Some data are derived and extrapolated from cisgender populations. There are also unique systems-based concerns, including lack of procedures for standardized collection of gender identity and lack of sufficiently comprehensive electronic health record platforms. Vulnerabilities exist for hospitalized transgender patients in the transition from the inpatient to outpatient care that require dedicated institutional efforts to address. Conclusions and Relevance Clinicians should learn how to engage with transgender patients, appreciate that unique anatomy or the use of gender-affirming hormones may affect the prevalence of certain disease (eg, cardiovascular disease, venous thromboembolism, and osteoporosis), and be prepared to manage specific issues, including those related to hormone therapy. Health care facilities should work toward providing inclusive systems of care that correctly identify and integrate information about transgender patients into the electronic health record, account for the unique needs of these patients within the facility, and through education and policy create a welcoming environment for their care.
Microstructure and mechanical behavior of an additive manufactured (AM) WE43-Mg alloy

Abstract Magnesium alloys are highly attractive in aerospace and auto industries due to their high strength-to-weight ratio. Additive manufacturing of Mg alloys can further save cost from materials and machining time. This paper investigates the microstructure and dynamic mechanical behavior of WE-43 Mg alloy built through the powder bed fusion process. Samples from four different combinations of processing parameters were built. These builds were studied in both as-built and hot isostatically pressed conditions. The resultant complex microstructures were studied under scanning and transmission electron microscopes while their dynamic mechanical behavior was evaluated using a split-Hopkinson pressure bar testing system. Effects of initial porosity and microstructural evolution during HIP treatment on mechanical response are discussed.
Impact of Malicious SCADA Commands on Power Grids’ Dynamic Responses

Control-related attacks can use malicious commands crafted in legitimate formats to initiate perturbations to power systems. Our previous work used the steady state of power systems (e.g., through power flow analysis) to estimate the consequences of such commands [1]. However, when power systems move from one steady state to another, their physical components go through a transient period, during which the system state can experience oscillations. An anomaly in an oscillation can make power systems lose synchronisms and experience catastrophic consequences. Analysis based on the steady state cannot understand and predict those harmful oscillations. In this paper, we study the impacts of control-related attacks on the dynamic responses of a power grid, by mapping malicious commands (e.g., that disconnect transmission lines) delivered via communication networks to power systems’ electromechanical models. Based on theoretical analysis and numerical simulations, we find that it is challenging for attackers to destabilize a power system, but they can introduce large oscillations in the transient period and thereby cause physical damage.
Work and School in Young Adulthood: The Role of Personal Financial Responsibilities and Parental Social Support.

Combining work while attending college is a common strategy for youth with limited financial means to pursue postsecondary education. However, we know relatively little about the socioeconomic cont...
Assessment of Consistency Between Peer-Reviewed Publications and Clinical Trial Registries.

Importance Clinical trial registries are intended to increase clinical research transparency by nonselectively identifying and documenting clinical trial designs and outcomes. Inconsistencies in reported data undermine the utility of such registries and have previously been noted in general medical literature. Objective To assess whether inconsistencies in reported data exist between ophthalmic literature and clinical trial registries. Design, Setting, and Participants In this retrospective, cross-sectional study, interventional clinical trials published from January 1, 2014, to December 31, 2014, in theAmerican Journal of Ophthalmology,JAMA Ophthalmology, andOphthalmologywere reviewed. Observational, retrospective, uncontrolled, and post hoc reports were excluded, yielding a sample size of 106 articles. Data collection was performed from January through September 2016. Data review and adjudication continued through January 2017. Main Outcomes and Measures If possible, articles were matched to registry entries listed in the ClinicalTrials.gov database or in 1 of 16 international registries indexed by the World Health Organization International Clinical Trials Registry Platform version 3.2 search engine. Each article-registry pair was assessed for inconsistencies in design, results, and funding (each of which was further divided into subcategories) by 2 reviewers and adjudicated by a third. Results Of 106 trials that met the study criteria, matching registry entries were found for 68 (64.2%), whereas no matching registry entries were found for 38 (35.8%). Inconsistencies were identified in study design, study results, and funding sources, including specific interventions in 8 (11.8%), primary outcome measure (POM) designs in 32 (47.1%), and POM results in 48 (70.6%). In addition, numerous data pieces were unreported, including analysis methods in 52 (76.5%) and POM results in 38 (55.9%). Conclusions and Relevance Clinical trial registries were underused in this sample of ophthalmology clinical trials. For studies with registry data, inconsistency rates between published and registered data were similar to those previously reported for general medical literature. In most cases, inconsistencies involved missing data, but explicit discrepancies in methods and/or data were also found. Transparency and credibility of published trials may be improved by closer attention to their registration and reporting.
Fixing bug reporting for mobile and GUI-based applications

Smartphones and tablets have established themselves as mainstays in the modern computing landscape. It is conceivable that in the near future such devices may supplant laptops and desktops, becoming many users primary means of carrying out typical computer assisted tasks. In turn, this means that mobile applications will continue on a trajectory to becoming more complex, and the primary focus of millions of developers worldwide. In order to properly create and maintain these "apps" developers will need support, especially with regard to the prompt confirmation and resolution of bug reports. Unfortunately, current issue tracking systems typically only implement collection of coarse grained natural language descriptions, and lack features to facilitate reporters including important information in their reports. This illustrates the lexical information gap that exists in current bug reporting systems for mobile and GUI-based apps. This paper outlines promising preliminary work towards addressing this problem and proposes a comprehensive research program which aims to implement new bug reporting mechanisms and examine the impact that they might have on related software maintenance tasks.
Association of Treatment With 5α-Reductase Inhibitors and Prostate Cancer Mortality Among Older Adults.

This cohort study examines the association between use of 5α-reductase inhibitors and prostate cancer mortality among US Medicare beneficiaries.
Associations Between Perioperative Crystalloid Volume and Adverse Outcomes in Five Surgical Populations.

Abstract Background Optimal administration of fluids is an important part of enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) protocols. We sought to examine the relationship between perioperative crystalloid volume and adverse outcomes in five common types of surgical procedures with ERAS fluid guidelines in place where large randomized controlled trials have not been conducted: breast reconstruction, bariatric, major urologic, gynoncologic, and head and neck oncologic procedures. Methods This retrospective cohort study included patients who had undergone any one of the aforementioned procedures within any facility in a large multihospital alliance (Premier, Inc, Charlotte, NC) between 2008 and 2014. We used multivariable generalized additive models to examine relationships between the total crystalloid volume (TCV) on the day of surgery and a composite adverse outcome of prolonged (>75th percentile) hospital or intensive care unit stay or in-hospital mortality. Models were constructed separately within each surgical category and adjusted for demographic, clinical, and hospital characteristics. Informed consent requirements were waived because deidentified data were used. Results We identified 83,685 patients within 312 US hospitals undergoing breast reconstruction (n = 8738), bariatric surgery (n = 8067), major urologic surgery (n = 28,654), gynoncologic surgery (n = 34,559), and head/neck oncology surgery (n = 3667). There was significant patient-independent variation in TCV. Probabilities of adverse outcomes increased at a TCV below 3 L and above 6 L for all types of surgeries except bariatric surgery, where larger volumes were associated with progressively better outcomes. Conclusions and Relevance Relationships between TCV and adverse outcomes were generally J shaped with higher volumes (>6 L) associated with increased risk. As per current ERAS guidelines, it is important to avoid excessive crystalloid volume in most surgical procedures except for bariatric surgery.
Perceptions of plea bargaining in cases of elder financial abuse

The present study investigated perceptions of plea bargains in elder financial abuse. Approximately 78-90% of felony convictions are the result of plea bargains, yet very little work examines the p...
FiberSim: a flexible open-source model of myofilament-level contraction

Abstract FiberSim is a flexible open-source model of myofilament-level contraction. The code uses a spatially explicit technique, meaning that it tracks the position and status of each contractile molecule within the lattice framework. This allows the model to simulate some of the mechanical effects modulated by myosin binding protein-C, as well as dose-dependence of myotropes and the effects of varying isoform expression levels. This paper provides a short introduction to FiberSim and presents simulations of tension-pCa curves with and without regulation of thick filament transitions by myosin-binding protein C. The software was designed to be flexible (the user can define their own model and/or protocol) and computationally efficient (simulations can be performed on a regular laptop). We hope that other investigators will use FiberSim to explore myofilament level mechanisms and to accelerate research focusing on the contractile properties of sarcomeres. Statement of significance Myotropes, such as omecamtiv mecarbil and mavacamten, are new therapeutics that bind directly to sarcomeric proteins. Their clinical development has reenergized interest in mechanistic understanding of sarcomere level function. FiberSim is an open-source spatially-explicit computer model that simulates myofilament level mechanics and can predict how modulating the function of a sarcomeric protein will impact contractility. The software was specifically designed to be flexible and user-friendly and may help to further accelerate myofilament-research.
Options Trading Costs Are Lower than You Think

Conventionally measured bid-ask spreads of liquid equity options are large. This presents a puzzle, which we resolve. At high frequency, changes in option prices can be predicted using recent changes in stock prices. A large proportion of option trades exploit this predictability to take liquidity at low cost, buying and selling immediately before option prices are expected to change. Conventional measures of effective spreads and price impact do not account for this execution timing but can be adjusted to do so. For the average trade, effective spreads that take account of trade timing ability are one-third smaller than the conventionally measured effective spreads; for trades that reflect execution timing, they are five times smaller. These findings have striking implications for the profitability of options trading strategies that involve taking liquidity. In addition, conventional measures of price impact overstate it by a factor of more than two. Our results also indicate that most option trades originate from investors who time executions, for example proprietary traders and institutional investors who have access to execution algorithms.
Substantial oxygen consumption by aerobic nitrite oxidation in oceanic oxygen minimum zones.

Oceanic oxygen minimum zones (OMZs) are globally significant sites of biogeochemical cycling where microorganisms deplete dissolved oxygen (DO) to concentrations <20 µM. Amid intense competition for DO in these metabolically challenging environments, aerobic nitrite oxidation may consume significant amounts of DO and help maintain low DO concentrations, but this remains unquantified. Using parallel measurements of oxygen consumption rates and 15N-nitrite oxidation rates applied to both water column profiles and oxygen manipulation experiments, we show that the contribution of nitrite oxidation to overall DO consumption systematically increases as DO declines below 2 µM. Nitrite oxidation can account for all DO consumption only under DO concentrations <393 nM found in and below the secondary chlorophyll maximum. These patterns are consistent across sampling stations and experiments, reflecting coupling between nitrate reduction and nitrite-oxidizing Nitrospina with high oxygen affinity (based on isotopic and omic data). Collectively our results demonstrate that nitrite oxidation plays a pivotal role in the maintenance and biogeochemical dynamics of OMZs.
Processing and Opto-mechanical Characterization of Transparent Glass-Filled Epoxy Particulate Composites

A transparent glass-filled epoxy composite was developed by matching the refractive index of the filler and the matrix. This material was processed at varying volume fractions (V f) from 0 to 15 % of filler with transparency being maintained at each V f. Initial investigation included quasi-static three-point bending to determine the critical SIF (K Icr) values. Improvement over the neat epoxy was seen in each case with a maximum improvement of approximately 30 %. Furthermore, this material was observed to exhibit birefringent properties, thus making mechanical characterization through photoelastic methods feasible. The samples were loaded using a symmetric four-point bending set up and isochromatics were observed using a dark-field polariscope. The stress intensity factors for each sample were evaluated at various loads and compared to those determined analytically. Experimental measurements closely matched analytically determined ones, thus validating the use of this method. This work-in-progress includes investigating the fracture behavior of these composites under low and high strain rate conditions.
Evaluation of a Biological Pathogen Decontamination Protocol for Animal Feed Mills

Animal feed and ingredients are potential vectors of pathogenic bacteria. Contaminated ingredients can contaminate facility equipment, leading to cross-contamination of other products. This experiment was conducted to evaluate a standardized protocol for decontamination of an animal feed manufacturing facility using Enterococcus faecium (ATCC 31282) as an indicator. A pelleted swine diet inoculated with E. faecium was manufactured, and environmental samples (swabs, replicate organism detection and counting plates, and air samples) were collected (i) before inoculation (baseline data), (ii) after production of inoculated feed, (iii) after physical removal of organic material using pressurized air, (iv) after application of a chemical sanitizer containing a quaternary ammonium–glutaraldehyde blend, (v) after application of a chemical sanitizer containing sodium hypochlorite, (vi) after facility heat-up to 60°C for 24 h, (vii) for 48 h, and (viii) for 72 h. Air samples collected outside the facility confirme...
A novel M3 muscarinic acetylcholine receptor is expressed in chick atrium and ventricle.

Prior studies have suggested that heart expresses only the M2 isoform of the muscarinic receptor (Peralta, E.G., Ashkenazi, A., Winslow, J.W., Smith, D.H., Ramachandran, J., and Capon, D.J. (1987) EMBO J. 6, 3923-3929). Tietje and Nathanson (Tietje, K.M., and Nathanson, N. M. (1991) J. Biol. Chem. 266, 17382-17387) have recently demonstrated that the chick heart may be unique since it expresses both the M2 and M4 isoforms of the muscarinic receptor. In this study, in order to determine whether other isoforms of the muscarinic receptor were present in the chick heart, a chick M3 muscarinic receptor receptor was cloned, characterized, and its expression in chick tissues determined. Using a human M3 muscarinic receptor cDNA as a probe, a 2.4-kilobase pair cDNA was isolated from a chick brain cDNA library which contained an open reading frame coding for a 639 amino acid protein. This protein demonstrated an 87 and 86% homology to the human and rat M3 muscarinic receptor, respectively. Chinese hamster ovary (CHO-GRA) cells were stably transfected with the chick M3 muscarinic receptor and one clone (CHO-CM3) expressed the M3 receptor, as measured by the binding of quinuclidinly benzilate at 116 +/- 14 (+/- S.E., n = 3) fmol/mg protein with a Kd of 76 +/- 17 pM. This receptor demonstrated a rank order of potency for muscarinic antagonist binding characteristic for the M3 receptor: with high affinity binding for hexahydrosiladifenidol, Kd: 16 +/- 2 nM (+/- S.E., n = 3); intermediate affinity for pirenzepine, Kd: 383 +/- 47 nM, and low affinity for methoctramine, Kd: 533 +/- 185 nM (+/- S.E., n = 3). Carbamylcholine stimulation of CHO-CM3 cells resulted in a 1.6-fold increase in cyclic AMP accumulation and a 3.5-fold increase in a pertussis toxin-insensitive inositol phosphate release. These data demonstrate that the chick M3 muscarinic receptor has the properties characteristic of M3 receptors from other species. RNase protection studies demonstrated the presence of M3 muscarinic receptor mRNA in the brain, atria, and ventricle of chicks 17 days in ovo. Hence, the chick heart appears to have the unique capacity to express mRNAs coding not only for the M2 and M4 muscarinic receptors but also for the M3 muscarinic receptor.
Fertility, income distribution, and growth

In this paper I develop a unified theory of fertility, inequality, and growth. The model is consistent with a phase of stagnation during which the economy exhibits Malthusian features, followed by a transition to a balanced-growth regime. A special emphasis is placed on the role of education and child labor policies. I use the model to explain the different transition experiences of Brazil and Korea. While Korea had a fast demographic transition and consistently low inequality, the demographic transition was slow in Brazil, and the income distribution was unequal. Numerical experiments show that policy differences can explain these observations. In a further empirical application I show that the model can reproduce observed patterns in inequality and fertility in nineteenth-century England, once policy changes towards the end of the century are accounted for. Preliminary, comments welcome. I thank the members of my thesis committee Robert Lucas (chair), Gary Becker, Edward Prescott, and Robert Townsend for their guidance and encouragement. Participants in the Money and Banking and Theory and Development workshops provided many helpful comments. I also benefited from suggestions by Daria Zakharova. e-mail: mdoepke@midway.uchicago.edu. Address: 5118 S Kimbark Ave, Chicago, IL 60615.
Glucose induces insulin gene transcription in a murine pancreatic beta-cell line

The ability of insulin secretagogues to stimulate insulin gene transcription was analyzed in the murine insulinoma cell line beta TC3, which had been derived from a transgenic mouse expressing SV40 T antigen under control of the rat insulin II gene regulatory region. Glucose induced a 3-fold increase in the transcription of both the endogenous mouse insulin genes and the transgene. This effect was inhibited by D600, a calcium channel blocker, which also inhibited glucose-induced insulin secretion in these cells. This suggests that similar signals may be involved in glucose-stimulated insulin secretion and insulin gene transcription. Agents that increase intracellular levels of cAMP did not have a significant effect on the transcription of either the insulin genes or the transgene. Stimulation of transcription of the RIP-Tag transgene by glucose suggests that the 695-base pair fragment of the insulin gene regulatory region that is included in the transgene contains the cis elements required for response to the glucose-induced signal.
An algebraic solution to the time difference of arrival equations

A closed form, algebraic solution to the time difference of arrival equations is presented. Prior derivations assumed that the receiving antennas are coplanar. Our derivation allows the receiving antennas to be located anywhere in three dimensional space. Previous techniques address the over-determined problem by considering a weighted average of the set of minimally determined solutions. Our technique employs the generalized inverse as a means of forming an optimal solution based on the geometry of the receiving sites. Our solution is additionally compared with a gradient search method to demonstrate its ability to avoid local minima. Finally, analysis is presented to demonstrate the effect of noisy measurements on the solution.
Mapping Mantle Melting

Most of Earth9s volume is silicate mantle, hidden from view by a layer of surface crust. A large geophysical experimental collaboration called MELT (mantle electromagnetic and tomography) has in recent years sought to detect and map a region of mantle partial melting to better understand its behavior. As Buck discusses in his Perspective, Evans et al. report in the same issue results from the latest phase of the MELT study. Seismic and electromagnetic data indicate the presence of a small amount of melt over a region several hundred kilometers wide and more than 100 km deep under the East Pacific Rise. The findings run counter to the current picture of the mantle flow and should spur attempts to refine the present models of mantle flow.
Planar Manipulation on a Conveyor with a One Joint Robot

This paper explores a method of manipulating a planar rigid body on a conveyor belt using a robot with just one joint. This approach has the potential of offering a simple and flexible method for feeding parts in industrial automation applications. In this paper we outline our approach, develop some of the theoretical properties, present a planner for the robot, and describe an initial implementation.
Equilibrium models with land: A criticism and an alternative☆

Models of economies either of urban areas or with local public goods often involve the use of a continuum of consumers along with the use of a commodity called land; each consumer generally owns a parcel of land of positive area. The purpose of the present study is to show that such models are internally inconsistent (independent of the other assumptions employed) in that only countably many consumers can own parcels of land of non-zero area if land lies in a Euclidean space. This result applies, in particular, to monocentric city models. Moreover, it is shown that the standard justification for the use of economies with an infinity of agents, that they approximate large economies with a finite number of consumers, does not necessarily apply in the case of economies with land and a continuum of consumers. A model where land is represented by subsets of R2 is presented as an alternative.
Interactive visualization of higher dimensional data in a multiview environment

We develop multiple view visualization of higher dimensional data. Our work was chiefly motivated by the need to extract insight from four dimensional Quantum Chromodynamic (QCD) data. We develop visualization where multiple views, generally views of 3D projections or slices of a higher dimensional data, are tightly coupled not only by their specific order but also by a view synchronizing interaction style, and an internally defined interaction language. The tight coupling of the different views allows a fast and well-coordinated exploration of the data. In particular, the visualization allowed us to easily make consistency checks of the 4D QCD data and to infer the correctness of particle properties calculations. The software developed was also successfully applied in material studies, in particular studies of meteorite properties. Our implementation uses the VTK API. To handle a large number of views (slices/projections) and to still maintain good resolution, we use IBM T221 display (3840 X 2400 pixels).
A SURVEY OF BLOOD AND OTHER TISSUE PARASITES OF LEOPARD FROGS Rana pipiens IN THE UNITED STATES

In a survey of blood and other tissue parasites from 137 leopard frogs, Rana pipiens complex, purchased from 13 commercial vendors in 8 states in the United States, Trypanosoma pipientis was found in 2 R. p. berlandieri, Toxoplasma ranae in 1 R. pipiens, Isospora lieberkuehni in 1 leopard frog, Haemogregarina magna in 44, Lankesterella minima in 3, Leptotheca ohlmacheri in 3 and microfilariae of Foleyella sp. in 6. The report of I. lieberkuehni is presumably a new host record. Haemogregarina temporariae (Noller, 1920) nov. comb. is established as a new combination for Nematopsis temporariae.
First record: a methodological approach to counter sampling bias.

Summary One goal of survey research is to optimize sampling procedures so that the collected data will produce accurate population estimates. In this context, sampling bias is a primary threat to a study's validity. If individuals who do not respond are a random sample of the population, then the estimates obtained from such a subsample are unbiased. However, as the percentage of nonrespondents increases, the assumption of unbiased estimation becomes increasingly tenuous. At this point an investigator has two choices: delete all subjects who have not provided data as part of the first data collection, or allow a respondent's point of entry to define his baseline measures for the study. No previous discussion of the latter option has been noted in the methods literature. Therefore the authors have termed this approach to baseline the “first record”. Conditions under which the “first record” technique would be appropriate or inappropriate are discussed.
Salt-enhanced enzyme-linked lectinosorbent assay (SELLA)

Abstract Spores of Bacillus anthracis adhere strongly to polysterene in the presence of ammonium sulfate. The adherent spores can then be detected using an enzyme-linked lectinosorbent assay, based on the binding of soybean agglutinin to the spores. It is likely that the ammonium sulfate promoted hydrophobic interactions between the spores and the polystyrene resulting in increased adhesion of the spores to the plastic. In addition to the spores, ammonium sulfate also increased the binding of a soybean agglutinhorseradish peroxidase conjugate to plastic. salting out reactions may enhance the sensitivity of enzyme-linked assays on plastics.
Variations in onset of action potential broadening: effects on calcium current studied in chick ciliary ganglion neurones

1The voltage dependence and kinetic properties of stage 40 ciliary ganglion calcium currents were determined using short (10 ms) voltage steps. These properties aided the interpretation of the action potential-evoked calcium current described below, and the comparison of our data with those observed in other preparations. 2Three different natural action potential waveforms were modelled by a series of ramps to generate voltage clamp commands. Calcium currents evoked by these model action potentials were compared before and after alterations in the repolarization phase of each action potential. 3Abrupt step repolarizations from various time points were used to estimate the time course of calcium current activation during each action potential. Calcium current evoked by fast action potentials (duration at half-amplitude, 0·5 or 1·0 ms) did not reach maximal activation until the action potential had repolarized by 40-50 %. In contrast, calcium current evoked by a slow action potential (duration at half-amplitude, 2·2 ms) was maximally activated near the peak of the action potential. 4Slowing the rate of repolarization of the action potential (broadening) from different times was used to examine effects on peak and total calcium influx. With all three waveforms tested, broadening consistently increased total calcium influx (integral). However, peak calcium current was either increased or decreased depending on the duration of the control action potential tested and the specific timing of the initiation of broadening the repolarization phase. 5The opposite effects on peak calcium current observed with action potential broadening beginning at different time points in repolarization may provide a mechanism for the variable effects of potassium channel blockers on transmitter release magnitude.
Club Drug Use Among Young Adults Frequenting Dance Clubs and Other Social Venues in New York City

ABSTRACT A convenience sample of young adults (ages 18–25) in New York City was recruited to complete anonymous surveys in social venues (either dance clubs or other social settings, such as coffee shops and university “hangouts”) regarding their use of “club drugs” (e.g., MDMA/Ecstasy, GHB, ketamine, crystal methamphetamine, cocaine, and LSD). Participants indicated their frequency of use for each drug and whether or not they had used each drug for the first time in the past six months. A total of 566 surveys were collected and 38.9% of participants reported the use of at least one club drug. Overall, males were significantly more likely than females to report club drug use. There were some differences in club drug use based on sexual orientation, comparing heterosexually identified youth to gay/bisexually identified youth. There were no differences in use among those recruited at dance clubs compared with those recruited from other social venues. The use of club drugs is a growing problem among young ad...
Group psychotherapy with gifted underachieving college students

The author conducted an experimental pilot study of a group of nine students at Brooklyn College, all of whom were identified as “gifted underachievers.” Each student was selected on a random basis, in consecutive order of referral, and was tested psychologically before and after 22 weekly group therapy sessions. Every member of the group demonstrated signficant gains in intellectual functioning, as well as positive personality changes. The value of short-term group psychotherapy seemed to be evidenced. The manner in which a community mental health center could collaborate with a local college or university was illustrated.
The role of leucine-rich repeat kinase 2 (LRRK2) in Parkinson’s disease

Parkinson's disease, like many common age-related conditions, is now recognized to have a substantial genetic component. Here, I discuss how mutations in a large complex gene--leucine-rich repeat kinase 2 (LRRK2)--affect protein function, and I review recent evidence that LRRK2 mutations affect pathways that involve other proteins that have been implicated in Parkinson's disease, specifically α-synuclein and tau. These concepts can be used to understand disease processes and to develop therapeutic opportunities for the treatment of Parkinson's disease.
Biological and Analytical Variability of a Novel High-Sensitivity Cardiac Troponin T Assay

Background: High-sensitivity cardiac troponin assays will augment the frequency of increased results, making important the determination of reference change values to distinguish acute from chronic increases. We assessed short- and long-term biological variability of cardiac troponin T (cTnT) in healthy subjects with a novel high-sensitivity (hs) assay. Methods: We collected blood from 20 healthy volunteers at 5 time points for short-term study and biweekly at 4 times from the same volunteers for long-term study. We analyzed serum samples in duplicate with a hscTnT assay on the Roche Modular E170 and computed reference change values (RCVs) for analytical, intraindividual, interindividual, and total change values (CVA, CVI, CVG, and CVT, respectively) and the index of individuality (II). We calculated RCVs by using a log-normal approach, owing to the skewed results of the data. Results: Short- and long-term CVA values were 53.5% and 98%. CVI and CVG were 48.2% and 85.9%, respectively, for short-term studies and 94% and 94% for long-term studies. Mean δ values for the within-day study were 58% and −57.5%, and between-day mean δ values were 103.4% and −87%. Within- and between-day IIs were 0.8 and 0.14, respectively. Conclusions: The biological variation demonstrated with the hscTnT assay is higher than prior data for cardiac troponin I. This may be attributed to differences in biology or assay imprecision at low concentrations. A short-term change (RCV log normal) of 85% and a long-term change of 315% is necessary to define a changing pattern.
IDEOLOGY AS BRAIN DISEASE

. The brain evolved not to think but to act, and ideology is an act of social affiliation which can be compared to kin affiliation, both satisfyingly emotional and expressing a perception about the nature of the real world central to the nature of being human. Males may affiliate to macrosocial ideologies more enthusiastically than females because of their relative lack of certainty of kin relationships. Exogamy was the necessary solution to kin-related strife in prehistory. Perhaps what the world needs is not only a moral equivalent to war but an ideological equivalent to exogamy to resolve social differences on a much larger scale.
Pressure-controlled advanced distillation curve analysis and rotational viscometry of swine manure pyrolysis oil

Abstract Pyrolysis is an effective method of converting agricultural byproducts to a tarry complex fluid suitable for use as a liquid fuel. While superficially similar in appearance to crude petroleum, pyrolysis oil contains significantly more oxygenated and nitrogenous compounds and up to 30% water by mass. These differences in composition affect both the heating value and viscosity of the fuel. We used the reduced-pressure advanced distillation curve (ADC) method to characterize the boiling point and composition of pyrolysis oil derived from swine manure. The swine manure pyrolysis oil was found to contain ∼15% water by mass. Thermal cracking of the sample was observed near 300 °C at 3.5 kPa. The pyrolysis oil viscosity decreases exponentially as a function of temperature from 50 to 75 °C.
Measurement of Central Blood Volume by External Monitoring

Central blood volume was measured in 39 normal subjects, using external monitoring and interrupted arterial samples. The volume obtained by external counting was 15 per cent of the total blood volume, compared with 42 per cent obtained with the arterial curve. The importance of collimation and counter position was evaluated, and only with a dualcounter setup could a mean circulation time (MCT) for each ventricle be obtained. An MCT was necessary for satisfactory reproducibility of externally measured central blood volume. While the method has limitations, it does appear to offer a technique for measuring just the amount of blood in the heart and lungs with a satisfactory reproducibility, and would appear to be worth further application in problems involving measurement of central blood volume.
Visualizing genotype × phenotype relationships in the GAW15 simulated data

We have developed a graphical display tool called SIMLAPLOT for visualizing different ways in which continuous covariates may influence the genotype-specific risk for complex human diseases. The purpose of our study was to examine continuous covariates in the Genetic Analysis Workshop 15 simulated data set using our novel graphical display tool, with knowledge of the answers. The generated plots provide information about genetic models for the simulated continuous covariates and may help identify the single-nucleotide polymorphisms associated with the underlying quantitative trait loci.
Losing Sleep at the Market: Comment

In a recent provocative paper in this journal, Mark J. Kamstra et al. (2000) test and reject the hypothesis that the mean weekend return following changes in daylight saving time equals the mean weekend return throughout the rest of the year. The authors report that the average Friday-to-Monday return on daylight-saving weekends is 200–500 percent larger than the average negative return for the other weekends of the year. The  nding appears to hold not only in the United States and Canada where daylightsaving date patterns are similar, but also in the United Kingdom, whose patterns ostensibly differ from those in North America. The results also appear robust to alternative statistical methods based on time-varying conditional heteroscedasticity and/or bootstrapping. This paper provides further robustness tests of the results reported by Kamstra et al. I show that the difference between mean weekend returns for daylight-saving and non-daylightsaving weekends is signi cant only for fall changes in daylight saving time and that the fall difference is driven by two outliers associated with international stock market crises. Two separate adjustments for the heteroscedasticity these outliers induce cause the signi cance of the fall difference to vanish. The total sample (spring plus fall) difference remains marginally signi cant for some indexes after heteroscedasticity adjustments with classical  xed-level hypothesis tests. However, Bayesian sample-size adjustments produce posterior odds ratios that consistently favor the null hypothesis of no daylight-saving anomaly over the alternative that the anomaly exists. I also fail to reject the hypothesis that daylight-saving and nondaylight-saving weekend returns have equal distributions. For these reasons, I question the robustness of the  ndings reported by Kamstra et al. (2000). Section I presents more details of my tests, and Section II summarizes my  ndings and discusses their interpretation.
Application of 1D FIR filter methods to 3D polygonal meshes

This paper discusses a procedure of filtering a three dimensional (3-D) polygonal mesh by utilizing the basic methods of finite impulse response (FIR), one dimensional (1-D) filtering. A method of linearizing a 3-D mesh was developed in order to apply the 1-D filter methods. With the development of low cost 3-D scanners, which physically scan and digitize real-world objects, the amount of "noise" that is found on these models has increased. This noise can come from various sources, including unwanted imperfections in the object itself, and from the device being used to scan the object. This newly developed filtering method will provide not only a way to decrease the noise in models, but increase details of the model as well, using low-pass and high-pass filters respectively.
Security vulnerabilities in physical layer of cognitive radio

Cognitive Radio (CR) with Dynamic Spectrum Access (DSA) is a promising technology to alleviate spectrum shortage problem in wireless communications. Military and commercial interests in the technology are high, to promote greater spectrum efficiency. The CR/DSA radio networking, however, introduces entirely new classes of security threats and providing strong security may prove to be the most difficult aspect of making CR/DSA a viable technology. In this paper, we focus on security vulnerabilities in the physical (PHY) layer of CR/DSA radio networks with energy based spectrum sensing. Various types of threats in PHY layer will be described, a testbed was developed and the results of security assessments on Primary User Emulation attack, Denial of Service attack and Spectrum Honeypot attack will be presented.
A discussion of activity-dependent forms of synaptic weakening and their possible role in ocular dominance plasticity

Activity-dependent synaptic weakening is likely to be involved in numerous types of developmentally regulated cortical plasticity. The possible roles of two models of synaptic weakening, homosynaptic- and heterosynaptic-long-term-depression (LTD), are discussed. Metabotropic glutamate receptors (mGluRs) as they relate to LTD and ocular dominance plasticity will also be considered.
The impact of postgraduate training on USMLE® step 3® and its computer-based case simulation component.

BACKGROUND The United States Medical Licensing Examination® (USMLE®) Step 3® examination is a computer-based examination composed of multiple choice questions (MCQ) and computer-based case simulations (CCS). The CCS portion of Step 3 is unique in that examinees are exposed to interactive patient-care simulations.
A VECTORCARDIOGRAPHIC STUDY OF RIGHT BUNDLE BRANCH BLOCK WITH THE FRANK LEAD SYSTEM. CLINICAL CORRELATION IN VENTRICULAR HYPERTROPHY AND CHRONIC PULMONARY DISEASE.

Abstract A series of 77 patients with electrocardiographically and vector car diographically observed advanced right bundle branch block was studied with reference to the correlation between the electrocardiogram and vectorcardiogram and the presence or absence of associated heart disease or chronic pulmonary emphysema. Particular emphasis was placed upon the horizontal QRS loop patterns observed in the vectorcardiograms of patients with roentgenographic evidence of coexisting right, left and biventricular enlargement or pulmonary emphysema. Vectorcardiograms showing right bundle branch block with coexisting myocardial infarction were excluded from the study series. Three horizontal QRS loop patterns have been described, along with their clinical correlations. In contrast, the frontal QRS loops in these vectorcardiograms were not found to be helpful in the detection of coexisting ventricular hypertrophy.