cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Untargeted metabolomic analysis in non-fasted diabetic dogs by UHPLC–HRMS

We recently identified variances in serum metabolomic profiles between fasted diabetic and healthy dogs, some having similarities to those identified in human type 1 diabetes. Compare untargeted metabolomic profiles in the non-fasted state. Serum from non-fasted diabetic (n = 6) and healthy control (n = 6) dogs were analyzed by liquid chromatography-high resolution mass spectrometry. Clear clustering of metabolites between groups were observed, with multiple perturbations identified that were similar to those previously observed in fasted diabetic dogs. These findings further support the development of targeted assays capable of detecting metabolites that may be useful as biomarkers of canine diabetes.
IMPACT OF EARLY STATIN TITRATION ON SUBSEQUENT CARDIOVASCULAR EVENTS: ESTIMATES FROM SWEDISH POPULATION-BASED REGISTRY DATA

Clinical studies have demonstrated efficacy of intensive statin therapy in lowering low-density lipoprotein cholesterol and cardiovascular (CV) events. The study objective was to examine the association between statin titration patterns and subsequent CV events in very high CV risk patients using
Self-reported factors that influence rear seat belt use among adults

Abstract Introduction: While seat belt use among front seat occupants has significantly increased overtime a substantial usage gap still exists between front and back seat occupants. This study aims to identify factors that predict rear seat belt use among adult back seat passengers. Methods: We examined data from the 2016 Motor Vehicle Occupant Safety Survey, conducted by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, to determine the influence of front seat belt use, support of and belief of rear seat belt use laws, peer perception of seat belt use, nighttime belt use, and demographic factors on self-reported rear seat belt use. Rao-Scott chi-squared tests were used to determine significant associations between self-reported rear belt use and each predictor. Multivariate logistic regression was used to calculate adjusted odds ratios and determine the influence of significant predictors on rear seat belt use. Sampling weights were applied to produce nationally representative estimates; all statistical significance tests accounted for the complex survey design. Results: Among adults who reported riding in the back seat, 63% reported always using a rear seat belt. Front seat belt use, support and belief of state seat belt laws, nighttime seat belt use, age, and education were significantly associated with rear seat belt use. Multivariate regression results showed that adults who supported rear seat belt laws, reported front seat belt use and believed their state has a rear seat belt law were significantly more likely to report full-time use in the back seat. Conclusions: Seat belt laws and front seat belt use had the strongest association with reporting full-time use in the back seat. Practical Applications: Increasing familiarity with existing laws directed towards rear seat belt use as well as increasing awareness about the benefits of seat belts in all seating positions may help improve rear seat belt use.
The utility of a statewide prescription drug-monitoring database vs the Current Opioid Misuse Measure for identifying drug-aberrant behaviors in emergency department patients already on opioids

Abstract Background The most recent guidelines on prescribing opioids from the United States Centers for Disease Control recommend that clinicians not prescribe opioids as first-line therapy for chronic non-cancer pain. If an opioid prescription is considered for a patient already on opioids, prescribers are encouraged to check the statewide prescription drug monitoring database (PDMP). Some additional guidelines recommend screening tools such as the Current Opioid Misuse Measure (COMM) which may also help identify drug-aberrant behaviors. Objective To compare the PDMP and the Current Opioid Misuse Measure (COMM), a commonly-recommended screening tool for patients on opioids, in detecting drug-aberrant behaviors in patients already taking opioids at the time of ED presentation. Methods Patients on opioids were enrolled prospectively in a mixed urban-suburban ED seeing approximately 65,000 patients per year. The sensitivity, specificity, likelihood ratios, and diagnostic odds ratios of the PDMP and COMM were compared against objective criteria of drug-aberrant behaviors as documented in the electronic medical record (EMR) and medical examiner databases. Results Compared to the COMM, the PDMP had similar sensitivity (36% vs 45%) and similar specificity (79% vs 55%), but better positive predictive value, better negative predictive value, and better diagnostic odds ratio. The combination of the PDMP and the COMM did not improve the detection of drug-aberrant behaviors. Conclusions The PDMP alone is a more useful as a screening instrument than either the COMM or the combination of the PDMP plus COMM in patients already taking opioids at time of ED presentation. However, the PDMP misses a majority of patients with documented drug-aberrant behaviors in the EMR, and should not be used in isolation to justify whether a particular opioid prescription is appropriate.
Probing the subsurface lattice rotation dynamics in bronze after sliding wear

Abstract The subsurface lattice rotation of polycrystalline and single crystal Cu-Ni-Sn bronze after pin-on-disc wear test were characterized using electron-backscattered diffraction and transmission electron microscopy. The majority of grains were sheared in the sliding direction with rotation axis around the transverse direction of the pin, exhibiting a weak shear texture. The orientation spread along the sliding direction increased with subsurface plastic strain, following a power law relationship. The grain re-orientation magnitude in the pin normal direction was found to be related to the number of active slip systems, as indicated by the Schmid factors of the local grain orientation.
Characterization of AEBSF-antibody modifications for a protease inhibitor supplementation strategy

Application of a protease inhibitor, 4-(2-aminoethyl) benzenesulfonyl fluoride (AEBSF), during the cell culture process was demonstrated to effectively reduce proteolytic activity at a specific amino acid site during the production of an HIV-1 broadly neutralizing antibody (bNAb). However, the addition of AEBSF could potentially introduce some modifications to the bNAb protein. Experimental design from sample preparation to LC-MS characterization was performed using middle-up and bottom-up approaches to identify AEBSF-modified species for the bNAb using an AEBSF supplementation in the cell culture media. Modified species along with the unmodified control sample were also subjected to binding activity assessment. The results showed that two amino acids (Tyr177 and Lys250) were susceptible to AEBSF modification in the bNAb test articles but at a negligible level and not in the CDR regions, which therefore did not reduce the in vitro binding activity of the bNAb.
Inferring Distributions of Parameterized Controllers for Efficient Sampling-Based Locomotion of Underactuated Robots

Sampling-based motion planning algorithms provide a means to adapt the behaviors of autonomous robots to changing or unknown a priori environmental conditions. However, as the size of the space over which a sampling-based approach needs to search is increased (perhaps due to considering robots with many degree of freedom) the computational limits necessary for real-time operation are quickly exceeded. To address this issue, this paper presents a novel sampling-based approach to locomotion planning for highly-articulated robots wherein the parameters associated with a class of locomotive behaviors (e.g., inter-leg coordination, stride length, etc.) are inferred in real-time using a sample-efficient algorithm. More specifically, this work presents a data-based approach wherein offline-learned optimal behaviors, represented using central pattern generators (CPGs), are used to train a class of probabilistic graphical models (PGMs). The trained PGMs are then used to inform a sampling distribution of inferred walking gaits for legged hexapod robots. Simulated as well as hardware results are presented to demonstrate the successful application of the online inference algorithm.
HathiTrust as a Data Source for Researching Early Nineteenth-Century Library Collections

An intriguing new opportunity for research into the nineteenth-century history of print culture, libraries, and local communities is performing full-text analyses on the corpus of books held by a specific library or group of libraries. Creating corpora using books that are known to have been owned by a given library at a given point in time is potentially feasible because digitized records of the books in several hundred nineteenth-century library collections are available in the form of scanned book catalogs: a book or pamphlet listing all of the books available in a particular library. However, there are two potential problems with using those book catalogs to create corpora. First, it is not clear whether most or all of the books that were in these collections have been digitized. Second, the prospect of identifying the digital representations of the books listed in the catalogs is daunting, given the diversity of cataloging practices at the time. This article will report on progress towards developing an automated method to match entries in early nineteenth-century book catalogs with digitized versions of those books, and will also provide estimates of the fractions of the library holdings that have been digitized and made available in the Google Books/HathiTrust corpus.
SureSelect targeted enrichment, a new cost effective method for the whole genome sequencing of Candidatus Liberibacter asiaticus

Huanglongbing (HLB) is a worldwide deadly citrus disease caused by the phloem-limited bacteria ‘Candidatus Liberibacter asiaticus’ (CLas) vectored by Asian citrus psyllids. In order to effectively manage this disease, it is crucial to understand the relationship among the bacterial isolates from different geographical locations. Whole genome sequencing approaches will provide more precise molecular characterization of the diversity among populations. Due to the lack of in vitro culture, obtaining the whole genome sequence of CLas is still a challenge, especially for medium to low titer samples. Hundreds of millions of sequencing reads are needed to get good coverage of CLas from an HLB positive citrus sample. In order to overcome this limitation, we present here a new method, Agilent SureSelect XT HS target enrichment, which can specifically enrich CLas from a metagenomic sample while greatly reducing cost and increasing whole genome coverage of the pathogen. In this study, the CLas genome was successfully sequenced with 99.3% genome coverage and over 72X sequencing coverage from low titer tissue samples (equivalent to 28.52 Cq using Li 16 S qPCR). More importantly, this method also effectively captures regions of diversity in the CLas genome, which provides precise molecular characterization of different strains.
Socio-Structural and Neighborhood Predictors of Incident Criminal Justice Involvement in a Population-Based Cohort of Young Black MSM and Transgender Women.

Black men who have sex with men (MSM) and transgender women are disproportionately affected by criminal justice involvement (CJI) and HIV. This study recruited 618 young Black MSM and transgender women in Chicago, IL, using respondent-driven sampling between 2013 and 2014. Random effects logistic regression evaluated predictors of incident CJI over 18 months of follow-up. Controlling for respondent age, gender and sexual identity, spirituality (aOR 0.56, 95% CI 0.33–0.96), and presence of a mother figure (aOR 0.41, 95% CI 0.19–0.89) were protective against CJI. Economic hardship (financial or residential instability vs. neither aOR 2.23, 95% CI 1.10–4.51), two or more past episodes of CJI vs. none (aOR 2.66, 95% CI 1.40–5.66), and substance use (marijuana use vs. none aOR 2.79, 95% CI 1.23–6.34; other drug use vs. none aOR 4.49, 95% CI 1.66–12.16) were associated with CJI during follow-up. Research to identify and leverage resilience factors that can buffer the effects of socioeconomic marginalization may increase the effectiveness of interventions to address the socio-structural factors that increase the risk for CJI among Black MSM and transgender women. Given the intersection of incarceration, HIV and other STIs, and socio-structural stressors, criminal justice settings are important venues for interventions to reduce health inequities in these populations.
Electroencephalography and follow-up of 128 cases of infantile convulsions with mild gastroenteritis

Objective In present study,we aimed to investigate the ictal and interictal electroencephalography (EEG) changes in patients with infantile convulsions with mild gastroenteritis,to understand the evolution of EEG and recurrence of convulsion by follow-up.Methods In this retrospective study,all patients with infantile convulsions with mild gastroenteritis visited our hospital from January 2005 to December 2009 were included,and were followed up for 3 to 7 years.All their clinical data were summarized and analyzed.Results Fist of all,we collected 128 interictal EEGs and 4 ictal (5 episodes) reports.Based on interictal EEGs,no discharge was observed in 63 subjects,and epileptic waves were discovered in other 65 patients.In most cases (48/65) epileptic waves were found to be located in the central area.For all 5 recorded ictal EEGs (2 were from same patient),epileptic waves were originated from different regions.Two months later,epileptic waves disappeared in 52/57 cases,but there were still discharge in 5 cases.Secondly,in the 103 cases who were successfully followed up,96 were seizure free,5 had recurrence during fever (3 cases) or gastroenteritis (2 cases),but remained seizure free for last 1.5 to 3.0 years.Overall,convulsion was recurred in 2 cases and finally diagnosed as epilepsy and then treated with antiepileptic drug,keeping seizure free for recent 1.5 to 2.5 years.Conclusion (1) Discharge can be found in nearly half of interictal EEGs in cases with infantile convulsion with mild gastrocnteritis,and most of them are located in central region.(2) All discharge come from local origin in ictal EEGs.(3) Seizure may recur in cases with infantile convulsion with mild gastroenteritis,especially in the presence of causative factors.Some children have risk of developing epilepsy. Key words: Gastroenteritis; Electroencephalography; Convulsion; Epilepsy; Infant
Hormones and Thrombosis: Risk Across the Reproductive Years and Beyond

Endogenous and exogenous hormones have significant effects on coagulation and may tip the hemostatic balance toward thrombosis. The endogenous hormonal changes in pregnancy and polycystic ovary syndrome, and exogenous hormonal contraception, menopause replacement, and transgender cross-hormone replacement may increase thromboembolism risk. Using the lowest effective dose is critical for prevention, but once thrombosis occurs, anticoagulation may be required, in some, long term. We review the relative risk of thrombosis in these conditions, risk factors, and anticoagulation treatment and prevention. Implementation of lowest effective hormonal therapies, thrombosis reduction strategies, and current anticoagulation management are critical for optimal patient outcomes.
Discriminatory questions asked during residency programme interviews: perspective from both interviewers and applicants.

Background The National Resident Matching Program (NRMP) policy requires interview officials to refrain from asking illegal or coercive questions that may introduce discrimination; however, compliance is insufficient. Method An Institutional Review Board-approved 12 question survey was distributed to 130 allopathic medical schools with 551 responses from 18 187 students applying in the 2015–2016 residency match. In addition, a 16-question survey was distributed through residency coordinators to residency programme interviewers with 481 responses from 21 of 22 residency specialities. Results Discriminatory topics were frequently discussed across all specialities. Surgical interviews were significantly more likely to discuss age (relative risk (RR) 2.0, p Conclusions In modern recruitment where differential attainment is of interest, the presence of such explicit discrimination is worrisome. Formal interview training might reduce discrimination, but more active overnight is needed and a zero-tolerance approach to overt discrimination should be the ambition.
The Impact of Moderate or High-Intensity Combined Exercise on Systemic Inflammation Among Older Persons With and Without HIV

BACKGROUND We investigated whether higher-intensity exercise provided greater decrease in markers of inflammation, and whether responses differed by HIV serostatus. METHODS People with HIV (PWH; n = 32) and controls (n = 37) aged 50-75 years completed 12 weeks moderate-intensity exercise, then were randomized to moderate- or high-intensity exercise for 12 additional weeks (n = 27 and 29, respectively). Inflammation biomarkers were measured at 0, 12, 24 weeks. Mixed and multiple regression models were adjusted for baseline inflammation, age, and body mass index. RESULTS Baseline tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), soluble TNF receptor 2 (sTNFR2), and soluble CD14 (sCD14) were significantly higher among PWH than controls (P < .04). From week 0-12, changes in interleukin-6 (IL-6), TNF-α, and sTNFR1 were not significantly different by HIV serostatus. We found no significant interaction between HIV serostatus/exercise intensity on week 12-24 changes in IL-6, TNF-α, and sTNFR1. Among high-intensity exercisers, PWH and controls had significant increases in sCD14 (P ≤ .003), controls significant increases in IL-10 (P = .01), and PWH nonsignificant decrease in highly sensitive C-reactive protein (P = .07). Other markers were not significantly different by serostatus or intensity. CONCLUSIONS Moderate and high-intensity exercise elicited similar effects on inflammation among PWH and controls, with additional beneficial effects seen among high-intensity exercisers. Increase in sCD14 and attenuated IL-10 increase (PWH only) merit further study. CLINICAL TRIALS REGISTRATION NCT02404792.
Fatigue damage prognosis in adhesive bonded composite lap-joints using guided waves

Adhesive bonding have been increasingly employed in composite structures owing to several advantages over mechanically fastened or riveted joints. Adhesively bonded composite lap joints not only yield light-weighted structures but also provide a more uniform stress distribution than riveted joints resulting in higher fatigue life. However, modeling the physics behind crack initiation and propagation inside bonded regions is challenging especially under fatigue loading. As a result, NDE techniques such as guided wave sensing is required to monitor composite lap-joints. In addition to monitoring the damage state, prediction of disbond area inside the joints or the remaining useful life of the structure is imperative. This paper discusses a guided wave sensing technique to monitor damage area in Glass Fiber Reinforced Plastic (GFRP) lap-joints. Further, a damage propagation model based on Paris law is developed to estimate remaining useful life in terms of the GW signal features. Finally, the remaining useful life of the lap-joint is predicted for lap-joints subjected to fatigue cycles.
Optical Buffering in a Bottle Microresonator on an Optical Fiber

Manufacturing highly efficient optical communications and computing devices requires designing dense integrated photonic circuits. Unfortunately, surface roughness of microscopic optical signaling devices results in light attenuation, decreasing the efficiency of the optical devices. A microscopic optical buffer would alleviate these issues; a potential solution is the Surface Nanoscale Axial Photonics (SNAP) platform. The SNAP platform operates because of the propagation of whispering gallery modes (WGMs) around the surface of an optical fiber. Because WGMs undergo slow axial propagation, they can be mathematically described by the one-dimensional Schrodinger equation. In this project, we calculate solutions to the effective wave equation to model the circulation of whispering gallery modes. We study the evolution of Gaussian-shaped wave pulses in a bottle microresonator on an optical fiber. By analyzing the propagation of WGMs within the bottle microresonator, we can examine the feasibility of creating a microscopic optical buffer for use in optical signal processing. In this project, we find analytical and numerical solutions to the effective wave equation, which is strikingly similar to the Schrodinger equation. We then use the numerical solutions to the effective wave equation to develop a model of the system in Mathematica.
Basolateral amygdala CB1 receptors gate HPA axis activation and context-cocaine memory strength during reconsolidation.

Re-exposure to a cocaine-associated context triggers craving and relapse through the retrieval of salient context-drug memories. Upon retrieval, context-drug memories become labile and temporarily sensitive to modification before they are reconsolidated into long-term memory stores. The effects of systemic cannabinoid type 1 receptor (CB1R) antagonism indicate that CB1R signaling is necessary for cocaine-memory reconsolidation and associated glutamatergic plasticity in the basolateral amygdala (BLA); however, the contribution of BLA CB1R signaling to cocaine-memory reconsolidation is unknown. Here, we assessed whether intra-BLA CB1R manipulations immediately after cocaine-memory retrieval alter cocaine-memory strength indexed by subsequent drug context-induced cocaine-seeking behavior in an instrumental rodent model of drug relapse. Administration of the CB1R antagonist, AM251 (0.3 µg/hemisphere) into the BLA increased subsequent drug context-induced cocaine-seeking behavior in a memory retrieval-dependent and anatomically selective manner. Conversely, the CB1R agonist, WIN55,212-2 (0.5 or 5 µg/hemisphere) failed to alter this behavior. In follow-up experiments, cocaine-memory retrieval elicited robust hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis activation, as indicated by a rise in serum corticosterone concentrations. Intra-BLA AM251 administration during memory reconsolidation selectively increased this cocaine-memory retrieval-induced corticosterone response. Intra-BLA corticosterone administration (3 or 10 ng/hemisphere) during memory reconsolidation did not augment subsequent cocaine-seeking behavior, suggesting that CB1R-dependent effects of corticosterone on memory strength, if any, are mediated outside of the BLA. Together, these findings suggest that CB1R signaling in the BLA gates cocaine-memory strength, possibly by diminishing the impact of cue-induced arousal on the integrity of the reconsolidating memory trace or on the efficacy of the memory reconsolidation process.
Repetitive Anodal Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation Hastens Isoflurane-Induced Emergence and Recovery and Enhances Memory in Healthy Rats.

Background Attaining a rapid and smooth return to consciousness after general anesthesia is a goal for clinical anesthesiologists. This study aimed to investigate the effects of repeated anodal transcranial direct current stimulation (atDCS) on emergence and recovery from isoflurane anesthesia in rats. Methods Four days after surgery for atDCS socket implantation, rats received either sham stimulation or repetitive anodal direct electrical current of 0.2 mA intensity applied to the right motor cortex for 20 minutes/d for 10 consecutive days. Isoflurane potency and emergence and recovery from a 2-hour isoflurane challenge were evaluated 24 hours after the last atDCS session. Cognitive performance on novel object recognition and spontaneous alternation Y-maze tests were measured 48 hours after the last atDCS session. Locomotor activity was assessed via automated counting of electric infrared beam crossings. Results Data are expressed as mean ± standard error of mean (SEM). Isoflurane potency was not affected by atDCS (sham: 1.69% ± 0.06%, transcranial direct current stimulation [tDCS]: 1.73% ± 0.11%, mean difference [MD]: 0.045, 95% confidence interval [CI]: -0.22 to 0.30; P = .72). However, the time to appearance of emergence behavioral marker (eg, return of righting reflex) was hastened in rats receiving atDCS (sham: 486 ± 31 seconds, tDCS: 330 ± 45 seconds, MD: 157, 95% CI: 30-284; P = .008). Similarly, time to acknowledgment of adhesive tape ("sticky dot" applied while anesthetized) was also decreased in atDCS-treated rats as compared to sham (sham: 1374 ± 179 seconds, tDCS: 908 ± 151 seconds, MD: 466, 95% CI: 73-858; P = .015), indicating a faster recovery of isoflurane anesthesia. Rats treated with atDCS spent more time exploring the novel object and environment when compared to sham without affecting activity cycles, indicating visual and working memory can be enhanced by atDCS. Conclusions Taken together, our findings suggest that atDCS over cortical areas might hasten recovery from isoflurane anesthesia and could potentially be used as a preventative strategy for disruptions in higher order functions related to sedation/anesthesia.
Influences of Extreme Upwelling on a Coastal Retention Zone

Coastal retention zones occur in the lee of headlands and within bays of coastal upwelling environments. Because retention zones can concentrate and retain communities of coastal planktonic organisms that would otherwise be advected offshore by wind-driven transport, they are ecologically significant. While the consequences of these zones for plankton retention and recruitment have been examined, the degree to which they remain retentive under variable upwelling intensity is less well understood. This aspect of coastal plankton ecology was studied during the summer of 2012 in the retentive upwelling shadow of northern Monterey Bay, California. Environmental and biological data show that exceptionally strong upwelling can greatly diminish resident plankton populations in the upwelling shadow. Results indicate that wind-driven circulation, essential to primary productivity and the formation of retention zones, can surpass levels that allow accumulation and retention of plankton communities.
Potential of ozonated-air (OA) application to reduce the weight and volume loss in fresh figs (Ficus carica L.)

Abstract This study investigated the effect of ozonated air (OA) on weight loss, volume reduction (shriveling), and skin firmness on fresh figs and monitored the changes in the epidermis of OA-treated fruits within 14 d of storage at 4 °C and 65 % RH. In Phase 1 of the study, fresh Kadota figs at two different maturity levels, commercial-ripe and tree-ripe, were exposed to OA for up to 11 h at room temperature to find the optimum parameters for ozone treatment. The 3-h OA-treated (15 ppm) fig samples showed 10 % less weight loss, 16 % less shrivel, had a better appearance, showed fewer brown spots, and had less fungal growth than the control. In Phase 2, Kadota and Black Mission figs were treated with OA (15 ppm for 3 h) and their aging parameters were evaluated. The Mission figs in the control group showed the highest rate of weight loss (25.8 %) and volume reduction (32.5 %). Kadota figs had the lowest weight loss (18.8 %) and volume reduction (9.8 %) in 14 d. Due to the oxidation, the OA treatment resulted in a considerable decrease in skin firmness in both Kadota and Mission figs; however, the skin firmness increased in the Kadota samples on Day 7. The recovery of Kadota epidermises continued at a very slow rate until Day 14. However, Mission samples did not show any firmness increase on Day 7. Scanning electron microscopy showed the differences between the control and the OA-treated Kadota and Mission figs. Ozone treatment affected the epidermis of figs, specifically the stomata and epicuticular wax crystals, resulting in stomata blockage or deformation, and irregular shapes in the wax platelets. Although the fruit epidermis was affected by OA treatment, the self-assembly properties of the epicuticular wax layer helped the fruit to recover from the oxidative damage caused by ozone by Day 7. Small microcracks and cell wall disassembly were observed on the fruit surface after 14 d of cold storage; they were very noticeable in the control samples and resulted in considerable water loss and weight loss, decreased shelf life, and significant fungal infection. This study showed that OA treatment of fresh figs can be used to minimize the volume and weight loss and improve the overall quality of fresh figs.
Threshold and Trend Artifacts in Localized Multi-Frequency Bioimpedance Measurements

Abstract Localized tissue bioimpedance is being widely investigated as a technique to identify physiological features in support of health focused applications. In support of this method being translated into wearable systems for continuous monitoring, it is critical to not only collect measurements but also evaluate their quality. This is necessary to reduce errors in equipment or measurement conditions from contributing data artifacts to datasets that will be analyzed. Two methods for artifact identification in resistance measurements of bioimpedance datasets are presented. These methods, based on thresholding and trend detection, are applied to localized knee bioimpedance datasets collected from two knee sites over 7 consecutive days in free-living conditions. Threshold artifacts were identified in 0.04% (longitudinal and transverse) and 0.69% (longitudinal)/3.50% (transverse) of the total data collected.
Those Illusive Peasants Redux

Once again we are being treated to the spectacle of peasant-production-as-milch-cow-of-development. At least, that has been the plan. Investing approximately eleven percent of its expenditures in agriculture the "revolutionary government of Ethiopia" sought to enlist the Ethiopian peasantry nearly forty million strong in the great leap from feudalism to freedom and dignity. Alas, the peasants seem to be quietly resisting their capture. The spectacle of the Chinese troops massacring hundreds, possibly thousands, of civilians in Beijing jogged our memory of the pre-Deng days, of the Maoist experiment that seemed to hold such promise for fundamental change in a predominantly rural society. In the wake of the state's recent assertion of its power, we asked: Would the grip of the Party elite hold? Would the hundreds of millions of Chinese acquiesce to continued rule by those who had for so long opposed Mao's commitment to a socialist transformation centred on the advancement of rural society? On the basis of William Hinton's (1989) appraisal of the Responsibility System that has been imposed in place of the collectivism of the Great Leap Forward, it seems that rural China is in for the same treatment peasants everywhere have been given. That this was not in dispute between the Chinese students and the Party elite can only bode ill for the farmers and peasants but may make them the wild card in the continuing struggle over the future of China. Alemneh Dejene describes the students who descended on the Ethiopian countryside in the "Development Through Cooperation Campaign" as Maoist in orientation. They were intent on building a peasant political base in order to depose the new military regime that overthrew the Emperor Haile-Selassie and laid claim to the state. Their reception by the peasantry and hasty retreat to the city raises doubts about a Maoist label, but it does bring into stark focus the course of the recent Ethiopian experience.
Physical and mental health status of older long-term cancer survivors.

Objectives: To assess the physical and mental health status of older long-term cancer survivors. Design: Cohort study using propensity score methods to control for baseline differences between cancer survivors and controls. Setting: General community population in the United States. Participants: Nine hundred sixty-four cancer patients who had survived for more than 4 years and 14,333 control patients who had never had cancer from a population-based sample of Americans aged 55 and older responding to the 2002 Health and Retirement Study. Measurements: Medical conditions, symptoms, health behaviors, health status, mobility, activities of daily living, mental health diagnoses, self-rated memory, depressive symptoms, cognitive function, and self-reported life expectancy. Results: Cancer survivors reported higher rates of lung disease (13.9% vs 9.6%; P=.001), heart condition (29.3% vs 22.9%; P .2) but were less optimistic about their life expectancy (P=.004). Conclusion: The physical health status of older long-term cancer survivors is somewhat worse than that of comparable persons who have never had cancer, but they have surprisingly similar mental health status. Future research is needed to understand factors contributing to poorer health status and identify patients at highest risk of long-term cancer-related problems.
Growing Public: Keys to the Free-Lunch Puzzle

It is well known that higher taxes and transfers reduce productivity. Well known – but unsupported by statistics and history. This chapter dramatizes a conflict between intuition and evidence. On the one hand, many people see strong intuitive reasons for believing that the rise of national tax-based social transfers should have reduced at least GDP, if not true well-being. On the other, the fairest statistical tests of this argument find no cost at all. Multivariate analysis leaves us with the same warnings sounded by the raw historical numbers (back in Chapter 1). A bigger tax bite to finance social spending does not correlate negatively with either the level or the growth of GDP per capita. How can that be? Why haven't countries that tax and transfer a third of national product grown any more slowly than countries that devote only a seventh of GDP to social transfers? The conflict between intuition and evidence can be explained with better tests and a closer look at institutions. Those well-known demonstrations of the large deadweight losses from social programs have overused imagination and assumption. There are good reasons why statistical tests keep coming up with near-zero estimates of the net damage from social programs on economic growth. It's not just that the tales of deadweight losses describe peculiarly bad policies. It's also that the real-world welfare states benefit from a style of taxing and spending that is in many ways more pro-growth than the policies of most free-market countries.
A clustering-based selective probing framework to support internet quality of service routing

Two Internet-based frameworks, IntServ and Differentiated DiffServ, have been proposed to support service guarantees in the Internet. Both frameworks focus on packet scheduling; as such, they decouple routing from QoS provisioning. This typically results in inefficient routes, thereby limiting the ability of the network to support QoS requirements and to manage resources efficiently. To address this shortcoming, we propose a scalable QoS routing framework to identify and select paths that are very likely to meet the QoS requirements of the underlying applications. Scalability is achieved using selective probing and clustering to reduce signaling and routers overhead. A thorough study to evaluate the performance of the proposed d-median clustering algorithm is conducted. The results of the study show that for power-law graphs the d-median clustering based approach outperforms the set covering method. The results of the study also show that the proposed clustering method, applied to power-law graphs, is robust to changes in size and delay distribution of the network. Finally, the results suggest that the delay bound input parameter of the d-median scheme should be no less than 1 and no more than 4 times of the average delay per one hop of the network. This is mostly due to the weak hierarchy of the Internet resulting from its power-law structure and the prevalence of the small-world property.
Conformational analysis of mesocyclic polythioethers : Gas phase conformational analysis of five mesocyclic polythioethers using photoelectron spectroscopy

Abstract The helium I photoelectron spectra of the mesocyclic polythioethers 1,4-dithiacycloheptane (1,4-DTCH), 1,5-dithiacyclooctane (1,5-DTCO), 1,5-dithiacyclononane (1,5-DTCN), 1,4,7-trithiacyclononane (1,4,7-TTCN), and 1,6-dithiacyclodecane (1,6-DTCD) are reported. The conformations of these molecules in the gas phase are deduced from correlations of the observed spectra with semi-empirical MO calculations, as well as molecular mechanics analysis.
trans-Diaqua­bis(2,2′-bipyridine-κ2 N,N′)ruthenium(II) bis­(trifluoro­methane­sulfonate)

The title compound, trans-[Ru(bpy)2(H2O)2](CF3SO3)2 (bpy = 2,2′-bipyridine, C10H8N2), crystallized from the decomposition of an aged aqueous solution of a dimeric complex of cis-Ru(bpy)2 in 0.1 M triflic acid. The RuII ion is located on a crystallographic inversion center and exhibits a distorted octa­hedral coordination with equivalent ligands trans to each other. The Ru—O distance is 2.1053 (16) A and the Ru—N distances are 2.0727 (17) and 2.0739 (17) A. The bpy ligands are bent, due to inter-ligand steric inter­actions between H atoms of opposite pyridyl units across the Ru center. The crystal structure exhibits an extensive hydrogen-bonding network involving the water ligands and the trifluoromethane­sulfonate counter-ions within two-dimensional layers, although no close hydrogen-bond inter­actions exist between different layers.
Growth of shigellae in monolayer tissue cultures.

Gerber, Dolores F. (University of California, Berkeley) and H. M. S. Watkins. Growth of shigellae in monolayer tissue cultures. J. Bacteriol. 82: 815–822. 1961.—The influence of environment on virulence, antigenicity, and antibiotic susceptibility of infectious agents is well recognized. The development of tissue culture monolayer techniques has stimulated new interest in manifestations of these attributes at the cellular level. Shigella flexneri and S. sonnei were grown intracellularly in Henle epithelial cell monolayer tissue cultures; uptake of the bacteria was induced by 50% normal horse serum in the infection medium. Since preliminary experiments indicated that streptomycin in the extracellular fluid depressed intracellular multiplication of these organisms, the antibiotic was later omitted from the tissue culture growth fluid. Extracellular multiplication of shigellae was controlled by thorough washing of the infected monolayers and replacement with fresh medium at 2-hr intervals during incubation. Intracellular growth patterns of two S. flexneri and two S. sonnei strains were established. Differences in the capacity of strains to adapt to the intracellular environment was reflected in the number of organisms subsequently produced, and appeared to be associated with the degree of intracellular resistance to streptomycin. No such variation was seen in cultures grown in broth. Microscopic examination of stained monolayers showed that intracellular bacterial growth was confined to the cytoplasm, which became filled with organisms prior to cellular disintegration. Biological implications of the variable response of Shigella strains to the intracellular environment are discussed. Images
Co-Regulation of NF-κB and Inflammasome-Mediated Inflammatory Responses by Myxoma Virus Pyrin Domain-Containing Protein M013

NF-κB and inflammasomes both play central roles in orchestrating anti-pathogen responses by rapidly inducing a variety of early-response cytokines and chemokines following infection. Myxoma virus (MYXV), a pathogenic poxvirus of rabbits, encodes a member of the cellular pyrin domain (PYD) superfamily, called M013. The viral M013 protein was previously shown to bind host ASC-1 protein and inhibit the cellular inflammasome complex that regulates the activation and secretion of caspase 1-regulated cytokines such as IL-1β and IL-18. Here, we report that human THP-1 monocytic cells infected with a MYXV construct deleted for the M013L gene (vMyxM013-KO), in stark contrast to the parental MYXV, rapidly induce high levels of secreted pro-inflammatory cytokines like TNF, IL-6, and MCP-1, all of which are regulated by NF-κB. The induction of these NF-κB regulated cytokines following infection with vMyxM013-KO was also confirmed in vivo using THP-1 derived xenografts in NOD-SCID mice. vMyxM013-KO virus infection specifically induced the rapid phosphorylation of IKK and degradation of IκBα, which was followed by nuclear translocation of NF-κB/p65. Even in the absence of virus infection, transiently expressed M013 protein alone inhibited cellular NF-κB-mediated reporter gene expression and nuclear translocation of NF-κB/p65. Using protein/protein interaction analysis, we show that M013 protein also binds directly with cellular NF-κB1, suggesting a direct physical and functional linkage between NF-κB1 and ASC-1. We further demonstrate that inhibition of the inflammasome with a caspase-1 inhibitor did not prevent the induction of NF-κB regulated cytokines following infection with vMyxM013-KO virus, but did block the activation of IL-1β. Thus, the poxviral M013 inhibitor exerts a dual immuno-subversive role in the simultaneous co-regulation of both the cellular inflammasome complex and NF-κB-mediated pro-inflammatory responses.
The conduction velocity and segmental distribution of afferent fibers in the rectal nerves of the female rat

Abstract The conduction velocity and segmental distribution of afferent fibers in the rectal nerves of the female rat were determined. These afferent fibers had conduction velocities ranging from 0.5−23.5 m/s (Mode= 0.5m/s;Median= 1m/s). Sixty-six percent of the fibers had conduction velocities less than 2.5 m/s and were thus considered to be unmyelinated. Of a total of 135 afferent fibers studied, only 5 (4%) were found in the L6 dorsal root, whereas 130 (96%) were found in the S1 dorsal root. Neuroanatomic tracing studies (Fluoro-Gold applied to the transected rectal nerves) labelled an overwhelming majority of neurons in the S1 dorsal root ganglion, confirming the results of the conduction velocity experiments. Although the conduction velocity distribution of afferent fibers in the rectal nerves is similar to that of the afferent fibers innervating the bladder, the segmental distribution is quite different since most of the bladder afferent fibers (84%) were found in the L6 dorsal root.
Prognostic value of immunohistochemical expressions of p53, HER-2/neu, and bcl-2 in stage I non-small-cell lung cancer.

Abstract The outcomes of patients with stage I non–small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) vary greatly, with a 5-year survival rate of approximately 60%. This study evaluated a number of molecular markers that may aid in predicting prognosis in stage I NSCLC after surgical resection. Immunohistochemical (IHC) staining of p53, HER-2/ neu, bcl-2 proteins was performed on paraffin-embedded sections from 85 stage I NSCLC patients who underwent surgery and were followed up for 32 to 44 (median, 39.0; mean, 37.1) months postoperatively. Differences in survival rates were evaluated by log rank test. The prevalence of p53, HER-2/ neu, and bcl-2 expression in stage I NSCLC is 59%, 29%, and 46%, respectively. HER-2/ neu expression is seen more frequently in adenocarcinomas, and bcl-2 is seen more frequently in squamous carcinomas. p53 and HER-2/ neu expression in stage I NSCLC is associated with significantly short survival. Patients whose tumors were both p53 and HER-2/ neu positive had the worst outcome, with a survival rate of only 20%, compared with 80% in those whose tumors were both p53 and HER-2/ neu negative ( P =.0003). The survival rates were 54% in patients who were p53 positive but HER-2/ neu negative and 50% in those who were in p53 negative, HER-2/ neu positive. The differences among these 4 groups were statistically significant ( P =.001). Bcl-2 does not seem to be a prognostic factor for survival. Multivariate analysis showed that overexpression of p53 and HER-2/ neu, presence of angiolymphatic invasion, and tumor size > 3.0 cm were independent factors predicting poor survival. p53 and HER-2/ neu by IHC staining appear to be valuable prognostic markers in stage I NSCLC patients after surgery. The worst outcome was seen in patients who expressed both p53 and HER-2/ neu, suggesting that these patients might benefit from additional adjuvant therapy. HUM PATHOL 33:105-110. Copyright © 2002 by W.B. Saunders Company
Nonlinear mappings associated with the generalized linear complementarity problem

We show that the Cottle—Dantzig generalized linear complementarity problem (GLCP) is equivalent to a nonlinear complementarity problem (NLCP), a piecewise linear system of equations (PLS), a multiple objective programming problem (MOP), and a variational inequalities problem (VIP). On the basis of these equivalences, we provide an algorithm for solving problem GLCP.
Approaches to polymeric nonlinear optical materials. Theoretical and synthetic design strategies

Abstract Two aspects of the rational construction of polymeric frequency doubling materials are described. First, a computationally effecient SCF-LCAO MECI π-electron theoretical approach has been developed to aid in chromophore design and to better understand molecular electronic structure/architectural features which give rise to high quadratic molecular optical nonlinearities (β). Selected high-β chromophores are then covalently linked via several synthetic procedures to robust, glassy, film-forming chloromethylated or hydroxylated polystyrenes. By this procedure, it is possible to achieve very high chromophore densities in polymeric films with good optical transparency and chemical stability characteristics. Coating of these polymers onto conductive glass, followed by electric field poling near Tg yields robust films with high persistent SHG efficiencies. As an example, films of poly( p -hydroxystyrene) functionalized with N-(4-nitrophenyl)-L-prolinol exhibit d33 as high as 18 × 10−9 esu at 1.06 μm (16 times the corresponding value for KDP).
Beat relationships between orbital periodicities in insolation theory

Variations in insolation are examined in terms of beat relationships. The relations between eccentricity periods, precessional parameters, and obliquity periods are analyzed. Beat periods are calculated and compared with orbital periodicities from Berger's (1978) series expansions. It is noted that the data, which correlate eccentricity, obliquity, and precessional-parameter periods, are applicable to the study of orbital periodicities in time-series analyses of long-term climatic records.
Wireless Non-contact EEG/ECG Electrodes for Body Sensor Networks

A wireless EEG/ECG system using non-contact sensors is presented. The system consists of a set of simple capacitive electrodes manufactured on a standard printed circuit board that can operate through fabric or other insulation. Each electrode provides 46dB of gain over a .7-100Hz bandwidth with a noise level of 3.80uV RMS for high quality brain and cardiac recordings. Signals are digitized directly on top of the electrode and transmitted in a digital serial daisy chain, minimizing the number of wires required on the body. A small wireless base unit transmits EEG/ECG telemetry to a computer for storage and processing.
Use of Preoperative Magnetic Resonance Imaging for Invasive Lobular Cancer: Good, Better, but Maybe not the Best?

Background Invasive lobular cancer (ILC) of the breast is difficult to diagnose clinically and radiologically. It is hoped that preoperative magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) can improve evaluation of extent of disease.