cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Failure mode analysis in adrenal vein sampling: a single-center experience.

Abstract Purpose To analyze failure modes in a high-volume adrenal vein sampling (AVS) practice in an effort to identify preventable causes of nondiagnostic sampling. Materials and Methods A retrospective database was constructed containing 343 AVS procedures performed over a 10-year period. Each nondiagnostic AVS procedure was reviewed for failure mode and correlated with results of any repeat AVS. Data collected included selectivity index, lateralization index, adrenalectomy outcomes if performed, and details of AVS procedure. All AVS procedures were performed after cosyntropin stimulation, using sequential technique. Results AVS was nondiagnostic in 12 of 343 (3.5%) primary procedures and 2 secondary procedures. Failure was right-sided in 8 (57%) procedures, left-sided in 4 (29%) procedures, bilateral in 1 procedure, and neither in 1 procedure (laboratory error). Failure modes included diluted sample from correctly identified vein (n = 7 [50%]; 3 right and 4 left), vessel misidentified as adrenal vein (n = 3 [21%]; all right), failure to locate an adrenal vein (n = 2 [14%]; both right), cosyntropin stimulation failure (n = 1 [7%]; diagnostic by nonstimulated criteria), and laboratory error (n = 1 [7%]; specimen loss). A second AVS procedure was diagnostic in three of five cases (60%), and a third AVS procedure was diagnostic in one of one case (100%). Among the eight patients in whom AVS ultimately was not diagnostic, four underwent adrenalectomy based on diluted AVS samples, and one underwent adrenalectomy based on imaging; all five experienced improvement in aldosteronism. Conclusions A substantial percentage of AVS failures occur on the left, all related to dilution. Even when technically nondiagnostic per strict criteria, some "failed" AVS procedures may be sufficient to guide therapy. Repeat AVS has a good yield.
Quantum mechanical studies of residue-specific hydrophobic interactions in p53-MDM2 binding.

Quantum chemistry calculations at the levels of MP2/cc-pVDZ and MP2/cc-PVTZ have been carried out to study residue-specific interactions at the hydrophobic p53−MDM2 binding interface. The result of the calculation, based on structures from nanosecond molecular dynamics simulation, revealed that 19Phe, 22Leu, and 23Trp of p53 have the strongest binding interaction with MDM2 followed by 26Leu and 27Pro. The specific residues of MDM2 that have dominant binding interactions with p53 are specifically identified to be 51Lys, 54Leu, 62Met, 67Tyr, 72Gln, 94Lys, 96His, and 100Tyr. The p53−MDM2 binding interaction is dominated by van der Waals interaction and to a lesser degree by electrostatic interaction. The MP2 results are in generally good agreement with those from the force field calculation while the DFT/B3LYP calculation failed to give attractive interaction energies for certain residue−residue interactions due to the lack of dispersion energy.
The case for full Ada as a design language

This paper proposes the use of Ada for a design language. It suggests the use of full Ada constructs to represent a design which can be rigorously checked both syntactically and semantically. First it reviews the objectives of Ada and of design languages and, discusses the relationship between Ada and the design process, and reviews current design strategies. It cites the constructs of Ada relevant to the design process and surveys rurrent industry PDL efforts. Finally it suggests how to use Ada for design by giving examples of how and when to use appropriate Ada constructs and the appropriate forms hy which to convey the design information.
Antagonistic action between cyclic AMP and estrogen in phosphorylation of mammary tumor nuclear proteins.

Summary A new protein kinase-dependent phosphorylation occurs in the nuclei of hormone-dependent, 7,12-dimethylbenz[α]anthracene (DMBA)-induced mammary carcinoma following preincubation of tumor slices with cyclic adenosine 3′,5′-monophosphate (cAMP). The presence of 17β-estradiol in the medium inhibits this effect. Both events have been observed in vivo in the nuclei of DMBA-induced tumors. The phosphorylation pattern of nuclei in hormone-independent mammary tumor, DMBA No. 1, however, is not affected by preincubation with either cAMP or estrogen. These findings suggest that the antagonistic effect of cAMP and estrogen in the growth control of mammary tumors is exerted through a specific action on nuclear protein phosphorylation and that these events correlate with the hormone-dependency of the tumors.
FLUID AND ELECTROLYTE ABNORMALITIES

Because of the complex nature of their disease and the effects of different drugs, oncologic patients frequently develop fluid and electrolyte abnormalities. This article briefly reviews the pathophysiology of these disturbances and provides some therapeutic suggestions.
Comparison of flexural and shear properties of southern pine LVL and lumber from young plantation and natural stands

Des poutres en bois massif reconstitue (LVL) sont realisees a partir de placages deroules (section 5,08 x 10,16 cm 2 ) de pin (Pinus taeda L). Trois type de poutres sont testees en flexion sur chant et en cisaillement. Elles sont realisees i) a partir de placages deroules dans des pins de plantation âges de 20 ans, ii) a partir de placages d'arbres âges de 28 et 40 ans provenant de peuplements naturels et iii) en melangeant des placages d'arbres de plantation et des placages d'arbres de 40 ans. Les mesures de flexion obtenues sont correlees a l'epaisseur des placages et a leur classement ainsi qu'a l'âge des arbres. Les proprietes de flexion et de cisaillement du LVL sont comparees aux proprietes du bois massif mesurees sur des arbres comparables en âge et qualite. Les distributions de contrainte admissible (Fb) et de module d'elasticite admissible (E) qui sont definies dans les regles de classement du LVL (SPIB91) sont determinees et presentees.
Comparative gene transfer efficiency of low molecular weight polylysine DNA-condensing peptides

: In a previous report (M.S. Wadhwa et al. (1997) Bioconjugate Chem.8, 81–88), we synthesized a panel of polylysine-containing peptides and determined that a minimal repeating lysine chain of 18 residues followed by a tryptophan and an alkylated cysteine residue (AlkCWK18) resulted in the formation of optimal size (78 nm diameter) plasmid DNA condensates that mediated efficient in vitro gene transfer. Shorter polylysine chains produced larger DNA condensates and mediated much lower gene expression while longer lysine chains were equivalent to AlkCWK18. Surprisingly, AlkCWK18 (molecular weight 2672) was a much better gene transfer agent than commercially available low molecular weight polylysine (molecular weight 1000–4000), despite its similar molecular weight. Possible explanations were that the cysteine or tryptophan residue in AlkCWK18 contributed to the DNA binding and the formation of small condensates or that the homogeneity of AlkCWK18 relative to low molecular weight polylysine facilitated optimal condensation. To test these hypotheses, the present study prepared AlkCYK18 and K20 and used these to form DNA condensates and conduct in vitro gene transfer. The results established that DNA condensates prepared with either AlkCYK18 or K20 possessed identical particle size and mediated in vitro gene transfer efficiencies that were indistinguishable from AlkCWK18 DNA condensates, eliminating the possibility of contributions from cysteine or tryptophan. However, a detailed chromatographic and electrospray mass spectrometry analysis of low molecular weight polylysine revealed it to possess a much lower than anticipated average chain length of dp 6. Thus, the short chain length of low molecular weight polylysine explains its inability to form small DNA condensates and mediate efficient gene transfer relative to AlkCWK18 DNA condensates. These experiments further emphasize the need to develop homogenous low molecular weight carrier molecules for nonviral gene delivery.
The role of episodic structure and of story length in children's recall of simple stories

This paper examined the role of length and of episodic structure on second graders' recall of simple stories. Story length affected the number of statements accurately recalled but did not affect the organization of that information. Conversely, episodic structure was related to the organization of recall; variations in episodic structure achieved by either changing the number of episodes in a story or by changing the type of temporal relationship existing between episodes, did not affect the amount recalled. Episodic length was related to inferential additions; proportionally more inferences were added in the recall protocols of stories containing the shortest episodes. It was argued that the (a) a story's episodic structure as defined by a story grammar corresponds to subjects' logical organization of that information in memory; (b) length is a measure of the elaboration of the episodic structure; and (c) inferential additions are often a response to inadequately developed passages and presumably serve to increase the comprehensibility and/or memorability of a passage.
Hexafluoro-1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 has markedly increased potency in inhibiting proliferation of cultured human keratinocytes compared with 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3.

Background Although topical 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 (calcitriol, 1,25(OH) 2 D 3 ) and its analogues, calcipotriol and tacalcitol, are effective for patients with psoriasis, some patients show little or no response, There is a need to develop more potent analogues of 1,25(OH) 2 D 3 . Hexafluoro-1,25(OH) 2 D 3 (F 6 -1,25(OH) 2 D 3 ) is at least 10 times more potent than 1,25(OH) 2 D 3 on calcium metabolism. Objectives We were interested in whether F 6 -1,25(OH) 2 D 3 was also more potent than 1,25(OH) 2 D 3 in inhibiting normal human and psoriatic keratinocyte proliferation. Methods The antiproliferative activity of F 6 -1,25(OH) 2 D 3 and 1,25(OH) 2 D 3 was determined by 3 H-thymidine incorporation into keratinocyte DNA and by counting basal cells. Results F 6 -1,25(OH) 2 D 3 was approximately 10-fold more active and had a longer lasting antiproliferative effect than 1,25(OH) 2 D 3 on normal human keratinocytes, and was about 100-fold more potent than 1,25(OH) 2 D 3 on human psoriatic keratinocytes as determined by 3 H-thymidine incorporation. F 6 -1,25(OH) 2 D 3 also caused a dose-dependent decrease in the number of basal cells and was 100-fold more active than 1,25(OH) 2 D 3 . Conclusions The increased potency and the long-lasting effects of F 6 -1,25(OH) 2 D 3 suggest that F 6 -1,25(OH) 2 D 3 may be a potent candidate agent for treating psoriasis.
The Jupiter‐Io session at the 1980 AGU Spring Meeting

This session provided new results from the Voyager investigations of Jupiter and lo as well as several further, more mature studies of the Pioneer 11 magnetic field models. J. K. Alexander reported studies of the Jovian decameter wavelength radio emission from Voyager. The decameter sources at Jupiter seem to be distinct and multiple—both lo-related and non-lo-related. The lo-related source seems to be active regularly whenever lo passes over a specific Jovian longitude. A diurnal effect was noted for the more sporadic non-lo-related emission, which suggested some control of this by the ionosphere.
Long term stability of mitochondrial superoxide dismutase activity in NIST diets I–V

Mitochondrial superoxide dismutase (MnSOD) is a ubiquitos, manganese containing enzyme common to most plant and animal cells. In order to determine the stability of an enzyme in frozen diet composites after long term storage, MnSOD activity was measured over a three year period in five different NIST samples. The CuZn SOD activity was below the detectable limits of the method employed. MnSOD activity was found in unhomogenized, well mixed portions of US Diets I and III. Recently, frozen aliquots of the five diet samples, which had been thawed and refrozen in April 1988, were again thawed and analyzed for SOD enzyme activity. The total enzyme activity was reduced from 50 to 60% as compared to that found in April 1988. The effect of extremes in temperature as a result of repetitive freezing and thawing is known to reduce the biological activity of other peptides. The results of this project indicate that NIST frozen diet composite samples will retain enzyme activity for as long as two years, and this may provide an additional organic substance measurable in these diet composite materials.
Examinations of Antibody Structure using Single Molecule Förster Resonance Energy Transfer

The crystallizable fragment (Fc) region of IgG antibodies interacts with a variety of molecules in the immune system. Some of these interactions are negatively impacted by the removal of the oligosaccharides bound to the antibodies in the Fc region. In order to study the structure of the Fc region of IgG antibodies, we have mutated a surface-exposed serine residue to a cysteine, allowing the antibodies to be labeled with thiol-reactive dye molecules and studied via single molecule Forster resonance energy transfer (FRET). We have also applied single molecule FRET to the study of the distance between the antigen-binding sites of an antibody. All FRET measurements performed involved the examination of photon bursts from freely diffusing donor-acceptor labeled antibodies, from which a histogram of the conformations present was constructed.
Testing a new sterile neutrino dark matter candidate

Abstract A new class of sterile neutrino dark matter is suggested by an explanation for time variations in the solar neutrino flux in which coupling of sterile neutrinos to other matter is via a very small flavor off-diagonal transition magnetic moment, TMM. The dark matter sterile neutrino’s decay in the radiative channel then depends on the local magnetic field and the unknown value of the TMM. An interesting application of this model uses the DAMA/LIBRA claimed detection of dark matter (assuming they are observing the electromagnetic signal) to provide the decay rate in the Earth’s field, and hence the TMM value. That version of the model is then examined to see if it can be falsified by cosmic X-ray observations or by other direct detection experiments. Particularly the latter could provide a simple, definitive test of this dark matter candidate, which would bring concordance to these experiments.
Selective facilitatory effect of vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (VIP) on muscarinic firing in vesical ganglia of the cat

Abstract VIP immunoreactivity was identified in nerve fibers and in 10–13% of the neurons in pelvic and bladder ganglia of the cat. Ninety percent of the VIP positive neurons contained acetylcholinesterase. VIP immunoreactivity was not altered in decentralized ganglia 1 week to 8 months after transection of the pelvic and hypogastric nerves indicating that VIP fibers arose from neurons within the peripheral nervous system. The intra-arterial administration of VIP (1–50 μg/kg) enhanced the postganglionic discharge elicited by the muscarinic agonist, acetyl-s-methylcholine, but did not alter the postganglionic firing elicited by the nicotinic agonist, tetramethylammonium or by electrical stimulation of preganglionic axons in the pelvic nerve. VIP did not elicit a postganglionic discharge in untreated ganglia, but did evoke a prolonged discharge in ganglia treated with an irreversible anticholinesterase agent, 217AO. This discharge was not affected by hexamethonium but was blocked by atropine. VIP suppressed the muscarinic inhibition of ganglionic transmission produced by acetyl-s-methylcholine without altering the response to other inhibitory agents (norepinephrine, leucine-enkephalin and γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA). VIP (0.1–0.3 μg/kg) also had a direct inhibitory effect on bladder smooth muscle. These findings raise the possibility that intraganglionic pathways containing VIP may exert a selective modulatory influence on muscarinic transmission in vesical parasympathetic ganglia.
RATIONING AND THE LONG‐TERM‐CARE SYSTEM

Rationing is a concept newly introduced in health‐systems analysis in the United States. Although rationing, when applied to health care, is a fearful word to the elderly, at the most basic level it is simply a method that enables government to intervene in the private marketplace to allocate resources to achieve particular policy ends. This intervention to affect allocation of health care resources has long been used by all levels of government in the United States. Intervention by government in the private marketplace is examined as a means of expanding or limiting the supply of health care services or expanding or limiting the demand for such services. The Oregon rationing experiment with Medicaid services has significantly contributed to the introduction of the concept of rationing of health care. As expected, there is a disproportionate interest by the elderly in rationing health care; thus the effect of the Oregon rationing experiment on the elderly is discussed, as are other allocation intervention...
A neutron balance approach in critical parameter determination

Abstract The determination of a critical parameter, process known also as criticality or eigenvalue search, is one of the major functionalities in neutronics codes. The determination of the critical boron concentration or the critical control rod position are two examples. Classical procedures used to solve this problem are based on the iterative Newton–Raphson method where the value of the parameter is changed until the eigenvalue matches the target. We present here a different approach where an equation, derived from the neutron balance, is set and the critical parameter is the unknown. Solving this equation is equivalent to solve an eigenvalue problem where the critical parameter is the eigenvalue. It is also shown that this approach can be seen as an application of inverse perturbation theory. This method reduces considerably the computation time in situations where changes on the critical parameter make a high distortion on the flux distribution, as it is the case of the control rods. Some numerical examples illustrate the performances and the gain in stability in cases of simultaneous control of criticality and axial offset of the power distribution. The application to the determination of the critical uranium enrichment in a transport code is also presented. The simplicity of the method makes its implementation in fuel bundle lattice and reactor codes very easy.
Los sistemas de información geográfica como herramienta para monitorear las desigualdades de salud

OBJETIVOS: Mostrar la aplicacion de los sistemas de informacion geografica (SIG) como instrumento tecnologico para apoyar las actividades en las areas de politica sanitaria y salud publica. METODOS: Se evaluo la relacion entre la mortalidad infantil y diversos factores determinantes de caracter socioeconomico y geografico. Al ilustrar la aplicacion, se hace hincapie en la capacidad integradora de los SIG, que permite simplificar, agilizar y automatizar la evaluacion epidemiologica, tomando en cuenta el analisis multiple simultaneo de variables determinantes con diferentes niveles de agregacion. La aplicacion de los SIG abarco, en este estudio, el analisis de la mortalidad infantil en tres niveles de agregacion en paises de las Americas entre 1995 y 2000. RESULTADOS: La mortalidad infantil estimada para la Region tuvo un promedio de 24,4 defunciones por 1 000 nacidos vivos, pero las desigualdades observadas indican que la probabilidad de una muerte infantil es casi 20 veces mayor en los paises de menos recursos que en los mas prosperos. El mapeo de la mortalidad infantil a escala regional permitio identificar los paises que requieren mayor atencion en sus politicas y programas de salud, pero no distinguir donde se requerian acciones mas prioritarias. Un analisis de las unidades geopoliticas mas pequenas (estados y municipios) revelo importantes diferencias dentro de los paises y permitio reproducir el patron de desigualdad regional, que no se ve reflejado por el valor promedio de los indicadores a escala nacional. Al analizarse la relacion entre el analfabetismo femenino y la desnutricion como factores determinantes de la mortalidad infantil en Brasil y Ecuador, se identificaron estratos sociales y epidemiologicos con distribuciones diferenciales de factores de riesgo que requieren intervenciones sanitarias adecuadas para sus respectivos perfiles socioepidemiologicos. CONCLUSIONES: Gracias a este tipo de analisis epidemiologico a escala local de los servicios de salud mediante el uso de los SIG, es facil reconocer como se comportan un fenomeno de salud y sus factores de riesgo determinantes en un periodo definido. Asimismo, es posible identificar patrones en la distribucion espacial de los factores de riesgo y sus posibles efectos sobre la salud. La utilizacion adecuada de los SIG permitira lograr mayor eficacia y equidad en la prestacion de los servicios de salud publica.
Synthesis of o-geranyl (1-thio)diphosphate

Abstract O-Geranyl (1-thio)diphosphate was synthesized from geraniol via H-phosphonate and thiophosphate intermediates in 5 steps with an overall yield of 20%.
The immune response to a chemically induced fibrosarcoma: a comparison of cytolytic T lymphocyte stimulation by transformed and non-transformed fibroblasts.

A clone of C3H10T 1/2 fibroblasts transformed in vitro with the carcinogen 3-methylcholanthrene readily produced tumors when as few as 103 cells were injected into immunocompetent adult syngeneic mice. A non-transformed clone of the same parentage did not produce tumors. Because the cell-mediated immune response has an important role in inhibiting the growth of tumors, we have compared the ability of both these transformed and non-transformed fibroblasts to stimulate and to act as targets in cell-mediated cytotoxicity (CMC) assays. This model is unique in that studies of the immune response to tumors rarely have or utilize appropriate normal controls. When both types of irradiated fibroblasts were used as stimulators in vitro, neither syngeneic nor allogeneic effector spleen cells capable of efficiently lysing the tumor fibroblasts were generated. In contrast, the normal fibroblasts could both stimulate and be lysed by allogeneic cytolytic T cells (CTL). However, the tumor fibroblasts could be lysed by allogeneic effector spleen cells that had been sensitized to C3H/He spleen cells. These results suggest that the expression of alloantigenic determinants necessary for stimulating a CMC response may vary substantially among ‘normal’ cell types. They further indicate that the tumor cells are not resistant to lysis by appropriately stimulated effector cells. Thus, they must express antigenic determinants necessary for immune lysis and they do not inhibit the functional expression of cytolytic cells once generated. Consequently, tumor growth in vivo may be dependent, in part, upon a failure of the syngeneic host's immunocompetent cells to respond appropriately to the tumor cells. Additional data are provided which suggest that this failure is attributable in large part to immunosuppressive properties of the tumor cells.
Comparison of the serial and parallel algorithms of generalized ensemble simulations: An analytical approach

This paper addresses issues related to weights and acceptance rates in generalized ensemble simulations, while comparing two algorithms: serial (e.g., simulated tempering or expanded ensemble method) and parallel (e.g., parallel tempering or replica exchange). We derive a cumulant approximation for weights and discuss its effectiveness in practical applications. We compare the acceptance rates of the serial and parallel algorithms and prove that the serial algorithm always has higher acceptance rates. The duality between forward and backward transitions plays a crucial role in the derivations throughout the paper.
Toward stable 3D numerical evolutions of black-hole spacetimes

Three dimensional (3D) numerical evolutions of static black holes with excision are presented. These evolutions extend to about 8000M, where M is the mass of the black hole. This degree of stability is achieved by using growth-rate estimates to guide the fine tuning of the parameters in a multiparameter family of symmetric hyperbolic representations of the Einstein evolution equations. These evolutions were performed using a fixed gauge in order to separate the intrinsic stability of the evolution equations from the effects of stability-enhancing gauge choices.
Adaptive Technological Substitution Models

This article demonstrates the use of feedback estimation approaches to develop self-adaptive innovation diffusion models for forecasting technological substitution. Data from three innovations are analyzed, and limitations of the proposed procedures are discussed.
Transition functions: A method for semantic extensions

Syntactic extension methods (see, for example (5)) usually involve the following steps: (1) recognize a syntactic pattern in the program and find its (string) parameters (2) call the appropriate string function, substituting actual for formal parameters (3) execute the result of the string function The specification of syntactic extensions results in modifying the translator incrementally. We will not be further concerned with syntactic extensions in this paper.
Prospective Phase 2 Trial of Moderate Dose Image Guided Stereotactic Lung Radiation Therapy (SBRT) for Early Stage Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer (NSCLC) and Pulmonary Metastases With Serial 18FDG-PET Imaging and Pulmonary Function Testing (PFT)

(SUVmax) in the pretreatment setting, but other metrics of FDG avidity are possible and may be more predictive, either in the preor post-CRT setting. We therefore evaluated the association of multiple preand postCRT PET metrics with outcomes in LS-SCLC. Materials/Methods: We identified 79 LS-SCLC patients who had fully analyzable PET-CT data either before or after CRT. Sixty-seven patients had analyzable pre-CRT PET data, and 35 had analyzable post-CRT PET data. All patients received chemotherapy, mostly concurrently with radiation therapy (84%). Forty-nine patients received twice-daily radiation (median 45 Gy), while 30 patients received oncedaily radiation (median 54 Gy). All scans were independently reanalyzed by a nuclear medicine physician. Using region of interest analysis, SUVmax, mean standardized uptake value (SUVmean), metabolic tumor volume (MTV), and total lesion glycolysis (TLG) were calculated for the index lesion in each patient. Kaplan-Meier analysis was used to evaluate overall survival (OS), locoregional failure-free survival (LFFS), distant metastasis-free survival (DMFS), and disease-free survival (DFS). The log-rank test was used to assess correlation between survival and the PET-CT metrics. Results: Median follow-up was 19 months, and OS of the whole cohort was 50% at 2 years and 21% at 5 years. With respect to pre-CRT PET, neither SUVmax, SUVmean, MTV nor TLG were significantly associated with any endpoint, nor was there any trend in that direction. With respect to post-CRT PET, a significant association was seen between higher residual MTV and worse DFS (p Z 0.026), but not with LFFS, DMFS or OS. No other significant associations with post-CRT PET metrics were identified. Conclusions: By analyzing multiple PET metrics in both preand postCRT settings, this study presents a comprehensive attempt to identify correlation between FDG avidity and outcome in LS-SCLC. A significant association between post-CRT metabolic tumor volume and disease-free survival was observed, but this finding is difficult to interpret given the lack of significant or near-significant correlations in other analyzed interactions of survival and FDG avidity. Prospective evaluation in a larger cohort may be more revealing; however, this study suggests that PET is unlikely to provide meaningful prognostic information in LS-SCLC patients treated with CRT. Author Disclosure: L. Ong: None. C.A. Perez: None. A. Foster: None. M.C. Pietanza: None. K. Rosenzweig: None. D.Y. Gelblum: None. M.P. Dunphy: None. A. Rimner: G. Consultant; General Electric. A.J. Wu: None.
Racism, Parent Support, and Math-Based Career Interests, Efficacy, and Outcome Expectations Among African American Adolescents

Using an extended model of social cognitive career theory, this study investigated ways in which African American middle school adolescents perceive racism and the associations among various aspects of perceptions of racism, other background factors, and math-based career interests, efficacy, and outcome expectations. Results indicated that African American adolescents clearly delineated among various types of interpersonal and institutional racism. Results also showed that various types of perceived racism were negatively associated with math efficacy and outcome expectations but positively associated with math and science interests. Greater interests in math were negatively related to poor academic performance, which in turn was negatively related to lack of peer support. Math outcome expectations was positively related to math efficacy and parent support. Adolescents who had lower academic performance also received greater parental support. The authors suggest that perceptions of racism be included as ...
Combat Social Work During the Surge in Iraq

The military has long recognized the short-term psychiatric effects of war upon soldiers, a significant factor for combat operational readiness and strength (NATO, 2008). Currently referred to as combat stress reaction or combat operational stress reaction (COSR), the condition has debilitating, immediate effects as well as long-term consequences for soldiers and military units. For the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, commanders expected psychiatric casualties rates equaling physical ones, stemming from the intensity and duration of these conflicts, nonlinear nature of the battlefields, unit morale, and soldier experiences and preparedness. For these recent wars, the concept of behavioral health, combat stress, and its military importance has dramatically changed, as have the protocols dictating the delivery of preventive and restorative combat behavioral health care. This article outlines the conceptual foundation of modern combat stress control, protocols, and the efforts of one social worker–led combat s...
Endocrine effects of prenatal exposure to PCBs, dioxins, and other xenobiotics: implications for policy and future research.

Recent reports have suggested that environmental chemicals may be associated with endocrine alterations in people, wildlife, and experimental animals. Pharmacological investigations as well as natu...
Mesoporous magnetic carbon nanocomposite fabrics for highly efficient Cr(VI) removal

We have demonstrated that magnetic carbon nanocomposite fabrics prepared by microwave assisted heating are advanced adsorbents in the removal of Cr(VI) with a much higher removal capacity of 3.74 mg g−1 compared to 0.32 mg g−1 for cotton fabrics and 0.46 mg g−1 for carbon fabrics. The enhanced Cr(VI) removal is attributed to the highly porous structure of the nanocomposites. The adsorption kinetics follow the pseudo-second-order model, which reveals a very large adsorption capacity and high adsorption rate. The removal process takes only 10 min, which is much faster than conventional adsorbents such as activated carbon and biomass that often requires hours of operation. The significantly reduced treatment time and the large adsorption capacity make these nanocomposite fabrics promising for the highly efficient removal of heavy metals from polluted water.
Selective degradation of AU-rich mRNAs promoted by the p37 AUF1 protein isoform.

An AU-rich element (ARE) consisting of repeated canonical AUUUA motifs confers rapid degradation to many cytokine mRNAs when present in the 3′ untranslated region. Destabilization of mRNAs with AREs (ARE-mRNAs) is consistent with the interaction of ARE-binding proteins such as tristetraprolin and the four AUF1 isoforms. However, the association of the AUF1-mRNA interaction with decreased ARE-mRNA stability is correlative and has not been directly tested. We therefore determined whether overexpression of AUF1 isoforms promotes ARE-mRNA destabilization and whether AUF1 isoforms are limiting components for ARE-mRNA decay. We show that the p37 AUF1 isoform and, to a lesser extent, the p40 isoform possess ARE-mRNA-destabilizing activity when overexpressed. Surprisingly, overexpressed p37 AUF1 also destabilized reporter mRNAs containing a noncanonical but AU-rich 3′ untranslated region. Since overexpressed p37 AUF1 could interact in vivo with the AU-rich reporter mRNA, AUF1 may be involved in rapid turnover of mRNAs that lack canonical AREs. Moreover, overexpression of p37 AUF1 restored the ability of cells to rapidly degrade ARE-mRNAs when that ability was saturated and inhibited by overexpression of ARE-mRNAs. Finally, activation of ARE-mRNA decay often involves a translation-dependent step, which was eliminated by overexpression of p37 AUF1. These data indicate that the p37 AUF1 isoform and, to some extent, the p40 isoform are limiting factors that facilitate rapid decay of AU-rich mRNAs.
Understanding a New Typology of Batterers: Implications for Treatment

This article reviews early theories of the phenomenology of battering as well as more recent empirical research on batterer personality and behavioral characteristics. These studies yielded inconsistent findings. Most recently, Chiffriller and Hennessy (Chiffriller, 2002; Chiffriller & Hennessy, in press) conducted an extensive study that attempted to expand and correct for the methodological limitations of previous research. Cluster analysis yielded five distinct profiles of men who batter women. Based on the behavioral and personality characteristics that defined each cluster, the following five labels were chosen: (a) pathological batterers, (b) sexually violent batterers, (c) generally violent batterers, and (d) psychologically violent batterers, and (e) family-only batterers. These five profiles, and the implications for understanding battering and developing appropriate interventions, are discussed.
Live Rhesus Offspring by Artificial Insemination Using Fresh Sperm and Cryopreserved Sperm

Artificial insemination (AI) and the cryopreservation of sperm with full reproductive capabilities are vital in the armamentarium of infertility clinics and reproductive laboratories. Notwithstanding the fantastic successes with AI and sperm cryopreservation in numerous species, including humans and cattle, these assisted reproductive technologies are less well developed in other species of importance for biomedical research, such as genetically modified mice and nonhuman primates. To that end, AI at high efficiency in the rhesus macaque (Macaca mullata) and the successful cryopreservation of rhesus sperm is presented here, as are the complexities of this primate model due to differences in reproductive tract anatomy and gamete physiology. Cryopreservation had no effect on the ability of sperm to fertilize oocytes in vitro or in vivo. Post-thaw progressive motility was not affected by cryopreservation; however, acrosome integrity was lower for cryopreserved (74.1%) than for fresh sperm (92.7%). Fertilization rates did not differ when fresh (58.1%; n = 32/55) or cryopreserved sperm (63.8%; n = 23/36) were used for in vitro fertilization. Similarly, pregnancy rates did not differ significantly after AI with fresh (57.1%; n = 8/14) or cryopreserved sperm (62.5%; n = 5/8). Seven live rhesus macaques were born following AI with fresh sperm, and three live offspring and two ongoing pregnancies were obtained when cryopreserved sperm were used. Cryopreservation of rhesus sperm as presented here would allow for the cost-effective storage of lineages of nonhuman primates with known genotypes. These results suggest that either national or international centers could be established as repositories to fill the global needs of sperm for nonhuman primate research and to provide the experimental foundation on which to explore and perfect the preservation of sperm from endangered nonhuman primates.
FAIT: a systematic methodology for identifying system design issues and tradeoffs

As the role of automation in complex systems grows, so does the complexity of the system design process. Unintended consequences of automation may arise from unforeseen system failures, human errors, miscommunication between human and machine, and a great many other aspects of the interactions, among human, machine, and environment. To address these concerns, a methodology to identify and prioritize design issues associated with complex systems, called the function allocation issues and trade-offs process, is presented. The process is intended to be used very early in system design as an aid in allocating design resources and evaluating system concepts. >
"LOVE YOUR ENEMIES"—EVEN IN THE AGE OF TERRORISM? *

The contemporary situation of the "war on terrorism" provides a particularly challenging environment in which to seek to interpret and apply Jesus' commandment to love our enemies. This commandment received major emphasis during the first few centuries of the church, but subsequent interpretation of it has become increasingly complex. Nevertheless, I argue for the broad applicability of the commandment and show that it provides a check against the polarizing and dehumanizing tendencies which accompany modern warfare, because an understanding of the love of enemies reveals that the real enemy is enmity itself. Finally, the article examines a group of sermons preached in the immediate aftermath of September 11 and concludes that while the majority neglect to speak of love for enemies, those preachers that do are able to bring it to bear in relevant and powerful ways.
Use of Digital Image Modeling for Evaluation of Concrete Pavement Macrotexture and Wear

Modeling of the pavement image formation process by using reflection properties of macrotexture showed that digital images of concrete pavements can be used to monitor pavement wear. The specific optical characteristics of images and the optimum camera settings that can be used for this purpose were determined by theoretically formulating the Bidirectional Reflection Distribution Function (BRDF) of surface texture with uniform color. In the analytical phase of the study, desired levels of pavement texture were generated by combining a series of 3D sine surfaces of varying wavelengths and amplitudes. The optimum specular settings of the overhead point light source and the digital area-scan camera for effective highlighting of the imaged wheel path macrotexture were determined with an analytical formulation on the basis of a simplistic and physically meaningful BRDF model. It was also shown that the images obtained by the theoretical formulation closely resemble those captured from a similarly textured experimental surface under identical lighting and imaging conditions. In particular, the pavement image formation model revealed that quantifiable changes in the brightness of images do occur because of changes in texture depth and spacing (wavelength). In the next phase of the study, the traffic-induced pavement wearing process was simulated by gradual smoothening of the modeled surfaces, and then images corresponding to each wearing stage were generated. The theoretically predicted variation of the image brightness resulting from wear was experimentally verified by using images from a gradually worn-out concrete specimen. Finally, it was illustrated how the brightness evaluation of wheel path images has the potential to be a screening tool to monitor the degradation of macrotexture and, hence, the skid-resistance of pavements at the network-level.
Patient tolerance of awake, in‐office laryngeal procedures: A Multi‐Institutional Perspective

Objectives/Hypothesis: An increasing number of laryngeal procedures are performed in the office. However, little is known about how well these procedures are tolerated and what factors determine success or failure. Study Design: Prospectively collected patient and physician surveys from five surgeons at two institutions describe patient tolerance of awake, in-office laryngeal procedures (AIOLPs). Methods: There were 154 procedures performed in a 6-month period, including vocal fold injection (VFI) (72%), laser treatment (19%), and transnasal esophagoscopy (3%). Average duration of procedure was 13 ± 8 minutes. Results: Patients reported an average of 37 of 100 on a discomfort scale, with 0 representing no discomfort and 100 representing maximal discomfort. Ninety-three percent of patients would undergo another procedure, and 96% would recommend AIOLPs to other patients. Procedures were completed successfully in 92%. Most common surgeon-reported difficulties included copious secretions and uncontrolled gag reflex. Procedures that involved such difficulties had a significantly lower rate of procedure completion, 73% vs. 96%, P = .0001. High preprocedure anxiety did not adversely impact patient comfort or procedure completion rate. There was no difference in discomfort scores based on VFI approach or patient familiarity with AIOLPs. There was a significant difference in discomfort score between patients with successful first-approach VFI and those who required a change in VFI approach, 36.0 vs. 61.3, respectively, P = .003. The rate of requiring a second and third VFI approach was 4.6% and 2.8%, respectively. Conclusions: This study encompasses multiple diagnoses, procedures, VFI techniques, and methods of anesthesia. AIOLPs are exceptionally well tolerated by patients, resulting in extremely high completion and satisfaction rates.
Tracking performance of the RLS algorithm applied to an antenna array in a realistic fading environment

In this paper, frequency domain techniques are used to derive the tracking properties of the recursive least squares (RLS) algorithm applied to an adaptive antenna array in a mobile fading environment, expanding the use of such frequency domain approaches for nonstationary RLS tracking to the interference canceling problem that characterizes the use of antenna arrays in mobile wireless communications. The analysis focuses on the effect of the exponential weighting of the correlation estimation filter and its effect on the estimations of the time variant autocorrelation matrix and cross-correlation vector. Specifically, the case of a flat Rayleigh fading desired signal applied to an array in the presence of static interferers is considered with an AR2 fading process approximating the Jakes' fading model. The result is a mean square error (MSE) performance metric parameterized by the fading bandwidth and the RLS exponential weighting factor, allowing optimal parameter selection. The analytic results are verified and demonstrated with a simulation example.
Teaching Research and Practice Evaluation Skills to Graduate Social Work Students

Objective: The authors examined outcomes of a graduate course on evaluating social work practice that required students to use published research, quantitative measures, and single-system designs in a simulated practice evaluation project. Method: Practice evaluation projects from a typical class were analyzed for the number of research references cited, type of client, goals or problems, measures, interventions, single-system designs, and outcomes. Results: More than half of the students conducted self-improvement projects monitored with self-report measures, and goals or problems selected and interventions applied varied widely. More than 80% of the projects were evaluated with simple AB designs, over 45% of which were associated with statistically significant improvements and an additional 43% showed gains that did not reach statistical significance. Conclusions: Results suggest that students can be taught techniques and skills needed to formulate interventions derived from published research and to ev...
Haemophilus influenzae Rd KW20 has virulence properties.

Haemophilus influenzae is a human-adapted commensal and pathogen that can cause mucosal infections such as sinusitis, otitis media and bronchitis. Certain strains also cause bacteraemia and meningitis. Clinical isolates are genetically heterogeneous and are often recalcitrant to standard genetic manipulation. H. influenzae strain Rd KW20 has traditionally been considered avirulent, since it does not survive in the bloodstream of animals, is readily killed by normal adult human sera and cannot colonize the nasopharynx of infant rats. The purpose of this study was to determine whether Rd KW20 could be used in certain infection models. It is shown here that strain Rd KW20 can invade certain human epithelial cell lines grown either as monolayers or as differentiated epithelium at the air–liquid interface. In addition, Rd KW20 can invade a monolayer of immortalized human brain microvascular endothelial cells. Finally, this strain can replicate and survive in human bronchial xenografts for up to 3 weeks. The complete genomic sequence of Rd KW20 is available and it is readily amenable to genetic manipulation. These properties and the results reported here indicate that this strain is a viable alternative to the use of clinical isolates for the investigation of H. influenzae virulence.
Depth from Familiar Objects: A Hierarchical Model for 3D Scenes

We develop an integrated, probabilistic model for the appearance and three-dimensional geometry of cluttered scenes. Object categories are modeled via distributions over the 3D location and appearance of visual features. Uncertainty in the number of object instances depicted in a particular image is then achieved via a transformed Dirichlet process. In contrast with image-based approaches to object recognition, we model scale variations as the perspective projection of objects in different 3D poses. To calibrate the underlying geometry, we incorporate binocular stereo images into the training process. A robust likelihood model accounts for outliers in matched stereo features, allowing effective learning of 3D object structure from partial 2D segmentations. Applied to a dataset of office scenes, our model detects objects at multiple scales via a coarse reconstruction of the corresponding 3D geometry.
The pathophysiology of cardiac syndrome X--a tale of paradigm shifts.

See article by Gulli et al. [18] (pages 208–216) in this issue. The aetiology of cardiac syndrome X — the problem of the patient with chest pain of anginal quality, ischaemic-like changes on the stress electrocardiogram (ECG) but a normal coronary arteriogram — continues to fascinate many engaged in cardiovascular research. It is a field of endeavour which has gone through a number of ‘paradigm shifts’ during the 28 years since the term was coined by Harvey Kemp [1], commenting on the ‘Group X’ subset of patients in Arbogast and Bourassa’s seminal paper on patients with angina and ‘normal or near normal’ coronary angiograms [2]. The first and most obvious mechanism of chest pain to be indicated was that of true myocardial ischaemia, but since the epicardial vessels were normal by definition, the microcirculation seemed the likely site of impairment of flow (or flow reserve) [3]. In recent years, newer methods of measurement of myocardial blood flow, especially non-invasive techniques that have permitted comparison with true normal controls, have done much to undermine this notion [4]. This is because in the vast majority of syndrome X patients, coronary vasodilator reserve is within the normal range and besides this, no relationships have been demonstrable amongst coronary vasodilator reserve, pain perception and ECG changes [5]. In addition, the preservation of left ventricular function and the absence of unequivocal evidence of lactate release during stress, call into question whether ischaemia as it is usually understood has very much pathophysiological relevance [6–9]. It is should be acknowledged with admiration that in Arbogast and Bourassa’s original paper [2], almost all of these points are made explicitly. (Furthermore, in this author’s opinion, the position has not been altered to any significant extent by more recent explorations of other mediators … * Correspondence address: Department of Cardiology, Ealing Hospital, Uxbridge Road, Middlesex UB1 3HW, UK. Tel.: +44-20-8967-5359; fax: +44-20-8967-5007 stuart.rosen{at}ic.ac.uk