cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Indonesian Foreign Debt: Headed for A Crisis or Financing Sustainable Growth?

This paper examines the build-up in Indonesia's foreign debt between 1981 and 1993, and explores the potential for a debt crisis during Repelita VI. It concludes that Indonesia is not headed toward a crisis in the immediate future- Borrowed funds have generally financed productive investments, contributing to rapid growth in GDP and exports since the late 1980s. If recent trends continue, debt should ease gradually; if not, the economy could withstand a substantial balance of payments shock, at least for a while. A debt servicing problem, although unlikely, is conceivable by the end of the decade. Short-term debt is growing rapidly, non-oil export growth has slowed, and debt service remains high. Appropriate government actions to reduce the potential for a crisis include further deregulation to support growth in non-oil exports, discouraging implicit government guarantees for private sector projects, and reducing government exposure to yen-denominated debt.
Oxidized cellulose causes focal neuropathy, possibly by a diffusible chemical mechanism

We observed incidentally that rat sciatic nerve in contact with oxidized cellulose (OC), an absorbable hemostatic agent, underwent focal fiber degeneration, and we undertook studies to determine the mechanism of its production. Topically applied OC generated acute nerve damage within the adjacent nerve fascicle of rat sciatic nerve in a dose-dependent fashion (r=0.99, P<0.01, threshold amount: 9.9 mg). In signle teased fibers, the predominant type of myelinated fiber damage was axonal degeneration. The subperineurial blood flow of the rat sciatic nerve was serially measured by microelectrode hydrogen polarography, and the reduction at 90 min ather application of OC was not greater than that of controls. A thin polyethylene membrane interposed between OC and the sciatic nerve almost completely prevented the nerve damage. These data suggest that the chief mechanism of nerve damage by OC was neither compression nor ischemia, but was a diffusible chemical mechanism. Care should be taken to avoid direct OC application around preripheral nerves.
Observation of Resonance Condensation of Fermionic Atom Pairs

We have observed condensation of fermionic atom pairs in the BCS-BEC crossover regime. A trapped gas of fermionic $^{40}\mathrm{K}$ atoms is evaporatively cooled to quantum degeneracy and then a magnetic-field Feshbach resonance is used to control the atom-atom interactions. The location of this resonance is precisely determined from low-density measurements of molecule dissociation. In order to search for condensation on either side of the resonance, we introduce a technique that pairwise projects fermionic atoms onto molecules; this enables us to measure the momentum distribution of fermionic atom pairs. The transition to condensation of fermionic atom pairs is mapped out as a function of the initial atom gas temperature $T$ compared to the Fermi temperature ${T}_{F}$ for magnetic-field detunings on both the BCS and BEC sides of the resonance.
VELOCITY AND TEMPERATURE EFFECTS ON DISPERSION IN POROUS MEDIA: APPLICATIONS TO UNCONSOLIDATED LIGNITE COAL

A model is derived for the effective axial dispersion coefficient in unconsolidated porous media as a function of temperature and superficial velocity. We also demonstrate a technique for determini...
Sources and Information: Partnerships with Business and the Community.

An annotated bibliography of successful partnerships in community colleges is provided, including explanations of how the partnerships developed, discussions on current collaborations, reviews of statewide reports, samples of handbooks, and an analysis of one statewide effort to conduct an outcome measurement of its programs.
Effects of Microworld Training Experience on Sorting Tasks by Young Children.

The effects of microworld microcomputer training on sorting behaviors of 124 two-and three-year-old male and female day care children were studied. Subjects were divided into two age groups (mean ages were 2.5 and 3.0 years) and then into three treatment groups (microworld, real world, and combination) and a control group (no intervention). All treatment groups received one and one-half training hours on an inside/outside a house sorting task using ten familiar, age-appropriate objects. All subjects were pretested and posttested. To assess learning transfer, the posttest included objects on which the children were both trained and untrained. Findings from a 2 × 4 ANCOVA showed a significant age group difference on posttest objects for which children were not trained (p = .0317) and a near significant trend on objects for which the children were trained (p = .0654). Three-year-olds learned better than two-year-olds (p = .0001), with learning increasing over time. One-third of the three-year-olds manipulate...
Explicating symbolic execution (xSymExe): an evidence-based verification framework

Previous applications of symbolic execution (SymExe) have focused on bug-finding and test-case generation. However, SymExe has the potential to significantly improve usability and automation when applied to verification of software contracts in safety-critical systems. Due to the lack of support for processing software contracts and ad hoc approaches for introducing a variety of over/under-approximations and optimizations, most SymExe implementations cannot precisely characterize the verification status of contracts. Moreover, these tools do not provide explicit justifications for their conclusions, and thus they are not aligned with trends toward evidence-based verification and certification. We introduce the concept of "explicating symbolic execution" (xSymExe) that builds on a strong semantic foundation, supports full verification of rich software contracts, explicitly tracks where over/under-approximations are introduced or avoided, precisely characterizes the verification status of each contractual claim, and associates each claim with "explications" for its reported verification status. We report on case studies in the use of Bakar Kiasan, our open source xSymExe tool for SPARK Ada.
Input-output-to-state stability for discrete-time systems

This paper presents Lyapunov characterizations of uniform output-to-state stability and uniform input-output-to-state stability (IOSS) (with respect to disturbances) for discrete-time (DT) nonlinear systems. We show the equivalence of the following three properties for DT systems: uniform IOSS, existence of a smooth Lyapunov function for uniform IOSS, and existence of a (state-)norm estimator. This equivalence result is a DT counterpart of Krichman et al. [2001. Input-output-to-state stability. SIAM Journal on Control and Optimization 39, 1874-1928. Theorem 2.4] and a generalization of Jiang and Wang [2002. A converse Lyapunov theorem for discrete-time systems with disturbances. Systems and Control Letters 45, 49-58. Theorem 1.1] and Jiand and Wang [2001. Input-to-state stability for discrete-time nonlinear systems. Automatica 37, 857-869. Theorem 1, [email protected]?4].
Stressful sequelae of disabling illness

SummaryFifty former rehabilitation patients completed the recent life changes questionnaire (RLCQ), an inventory of potentially stressful life events. Subjects indicated those events that had occurred to them during the 6 months prior to onset of illness/injury and during the 6 months following hospital discharge. Certain RLCQ items have associated point values (“life change units” or LCU) indicative of the amount of stress induced by that event. The average number of LCU reported for the post-discharge period exceeded by 3 1/2 times the average for the pre-injury epoch. Ranges for both sets of values were substantial. Forty-five of the fifty-seven events were reported more frequently for the later period, while eight occurred slightly more often before the onset of illness or injury. These findings have implications for the genesis, frequency, magnitude and individual variability of depression following the onset of disabling illness.Resume50 patients ayant termine leur programme de reeducation et readap...
The Writing Mechanism For Discontinuous Metal Films

Discontinuous metal films have been recently proposed as a potential archival optical storage material. This class of materials exhibits a unique writing mechanism that yields relatively low writing energies even when materials with high melting points are used. Here, the physics of this writing mechanism are examined. Transmission electron micrographs of exposed areas clearly indicate that the writing mechanism is laser induced coalescence of the metal particles resulting in a dramatic change in optical properties. It is shown that the observed coalescence mechanism is consistent with a theoretical analysis for the sintering of small particles. Calculations based on this mechanism indicate that writing can occur at temperatures well below the melting point of the bulk material. However, detailed thermal modeling of the writing process coupled with measured threshold energies, indicates that melting almost certainly occurs. Furthermore, experimental results indicate a sharp threshold to the writing process. This is inconsistent with the theory of particle coalescence, but a necessary characteristic for a practical optical storage material. This threshold can be attributed to the necessity of bringing the metal particles into physical contact before coalescence can proceed.© (1983) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Effect of increased perfusion pressure on proximal tubular reabsorption in the isolated kidney.

SummaryThe present experiments demonstrate that raising renal perfusion pressure in the isolated kidney caused a significant increase in sodium excretion in the absence of detectable changes in proximal tubule sodium transport suggesting that the natriuresis resulted primarily from a decrease in sodium transport along more distal nephron segments. The constancy of SNGFR/Cin argues against a role for redistribution of glomerular filtrate in the natriuresis.
Transcriptional analysis of type 1 capsule genes in Staphylococcus aureus

Serotype 1 capsule of Staphylococcus aureus plays an important role in staphylococcal infections. A 14.6 kb chromosomal DNA fragment containing 13 cap1 genes responsible for the synthesis of type 1 capsule in S. aureus strain M has been previously cloned and sequenced in our laboratory. These genes are closely linked and are transcribed in one orientation. To study the transcription of these genes, we employed genetic complementation using a set of plasmids with various deletions in the 14.6 kb region to complement mutants mapped in each of the 13 genes. We found that there were six transcriptional units. By Northern hybridization using the entire gene cluster as a probe, we identified a large 14 kb band and several smaller bands ranging from 0.3 to 6 kb. The 14 kb band was also identified by various individual gene probes, suggesting that all 13 genes are transcribed into a large transcript. The 14 kb transcript and the smaller bands were not detected when a 533 bp fragment containing the potential promoter region upstream of the first gene (cap1A) was deleted from the chromosome, suggesting that the small transcripts are the degradation (processing) products of the 14 kb transcript. The activities of the promoters identified by genetic complementation tests were quantitatively measured by transcriptional fusions using xylE as the reporter gene. The result showed that the promoter preceding the first cap1 gene was 45-198-fold higher than the downstream promoters. The result from gene-fusion studies is in agreement with the Northern analysis in that only the transcript transcribed from the first promoter was detected. Taken together, these results suggest that the cap1 genes are organized as a large operon with at least five weak internal promoters, and the long polycistronic transcript is processed (degraded) into several smaller transcripts. The transcription initiation site of the primary transcript was mapped by S1 nuclease mapping and the major promoter was defined by deletion analysis of the promoter-xylE fusion. In addition, we showed that the internal promoters, despite their weak activities, were sufficiently effective at expressing their downstream genes required for producing capsule, compared to the wild-type strain.
Influence of Pulmonary Arterial and Left Atrial Pressures on Pulmonary Vascular Resistance

A method has been developed by which flow to each lung, as well as pulmonary artery and left atrial pressures can be measured and varied at will. Vascular resistances were determined over a wide range of these variables. Both pressures have a marked effect on vascular resistances; the higher either pressure, the lower the resistances. This effect is most marked at low levels of pressure and flow. The absolute levels of the pressures, by affecting vascular distension, are major determinants of pulmonary vascular resistance.
A collaborative effort to study mother—child interaction in three risk groups: Social risk mother, adolescent mother, preterm infant

Cet article decrit les efforts de collaboration de trois projets d'intervention avec des series de donnees similaires sur des populations a haut risque de meres et leurs enfants de 13 et 20 mois. Les trois projets ont recueilli des donnees sur un total de 190 dyades de trois groupes a risque: meres adolescentes et leurs enfants, meres a risque social eleve et leurs enfants, et meres a risque social eleve et leurs enfants prematures. Les auteurs definissent les series de measures en commun et les variables resultant utilisees en collaboration pour mesurer l'interaction parent-enfant et comparent les trois groupes a risque a 13 mois et a 20 mois.
Recent advances in understanding and managing Chlamydia trachomatis infections.

Worldwide, Chlamydia trachomatis infections rank among the most common sexually transmitted infections (STI), and cause notable reproductive morbidity in women. Although advances in highly accurate and non-invasive diagnostic testing have allowed for better estimation of the burden of disease—especially the asymptomatic state—we still lack a true point-of-care test, and many infections go undetected and untreated. Moreover, limited resources and effort for managing sexual partners of those in whom infection is actually identified comprise a major challenge to control. Here, we review the current state of understanding of this common infection, and efforts to control it.
Activation of Intracellular Metabotropic Glutamate Receptor 5 in Striatal Neurons Leads to Up-regulation of Genes Associated with Sustained Synaptic Transmission Including Arc/Arg3.1 Protein

The G-protein coupled receptor, metabotropic glutamate receptor 5 (mGluR5), is expressed on both cell surface and intracellular membranes in striatal neurons. Using pharmacological tools to differentiate membrane responses, we previously demonstrated that cell surface mGluR5 triggers rapid, transient cytoplasmic Ca2+ rises, resulting in c-Jun N-terminal kinase, Ca2+/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase, and cyclic adenosine 3′,5′-monophosphate-responsive element-binding protein (CREB) phosphorylation, whereas stimulation of intracellular mGluR5 induces long, sustained Ca2+ responses leading to the phosphorylation of extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK1/2) and Elk-1 (Jong, Y. J., Kumar, V., and O'Malley, K. L. (2009) J. Biol. Chem. 284, 35827–35838). Using pharmacological, genetic, and bioinformatics approaches, the current findings show that both receptor populations up-regulate many immediate early genes involved in growth and differentiation. Activation of intracellular mGluR5 also up-regulates genes involved in synaptic plasticity including activity-regulated cytoskeletal-associated protein (Arc/Arg3.1). Mechanistically, intracellular mGluR5-mediated Arc induction is dependent upon extracellular and intracellular Ca2+ and ERK1/2 as well as calmodulin-dependent kinases as known chelators, inhibitors, and a dominant negative Ca2+/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II construct block Arc increases. Moreover, intracellular mGluR5-induced Arc expression requires the serum response transcription factor (SRF) as wild type but not SRF-deficient neurons show this response. Finally, increased Arc levels due to high K+ depolarization is significantly reduced in response to a permeable but not an impermeable mGluR5 antagonist. Taken together, these data highlight the importance of intracellular mGluR5 in the cascade of events associated with sustained synaptic transmission.
Intracellular calcium response is reduced in CD4+ lymphocytes in Alzheimer's disease and in older persons with down's syndrome

Abnormalities in intracellular free calcium ([Ca2+]i) regulation are likely to play a role in brain aging and have been described in cells from patients with Alzheimer's disease (AD). [Ca2−]iacts as a second messenger in transmembrane signaling and regulates diverse functions in many cell types. Therefore, abnormalities in [Ca2+]iresponse may have far-ranging effects. Using flow cytometric assay for [Ca2+]i we examined whether mitogen-induced increases in [Ca2+]i are abnormal in CD4+ T-lymphocytes from patients with familial AD (FAD), other AD, and Down's syndrome (DS) compared to age-matched controls. We observed that the peak [Ca2+]iresponses were significantly decreased in CD4+ cells from 6 FAD patients (59% of control), 34 other AD patients (69% of age-matched control), and 6 older persons with DS (> 25 years old, 47% of control), after stimulation with 10 μg/ml anti-CD3 monoclonal antibody (mAb). The number of CD3 receptors on T lymphocytes of the AD patients was not decreased. In contrast, lymphocytes from subjects with FAD, other AD and older DS patients had no decrease in response to phytohemagglutinin (30 μg/ml). CD3 and related classes of membrane receptors are present on many cells of the central nervous system. Therefore, receptor signaling defects via this receptor in T lymphocytes of AD patients may be relevant to the central nervous system pathology seen in AD and DS.
Dependence of Emission Spectra of Phosphors upon Activator Concentration and Temperature

Two groups of oxygen-containing phosphors are examined for the effect of activator concentration and temperature upon the location of their peak emission. The first group includes five phosphors whose emission is distributed between two main spectral bands to an extent dependent on activator concentration. Sufficient decrease in activator content causes all of the emission to appear in the shorter wave-length band. An increase in temperature has the same effect. In the second group, represented by three phosphors, the emission cannot be resolved into component bands by change in activator content. An increase in temperature shifts the emission to shorter wave-length.
MODEL AND OBSERVER LEARNING OF LOW, MEDIUM, AND HIGH LEVEL CONCEPTS

Low (conjunctive), medium (disjunctive), and high (biconditional) level concept attainment problems were used to assess whether high level versus low and/or medium difficulty concept rules yield less positive transfer for observers than models. Direct learning and transfer of models were compared with vicarious learning and transfer of observers. 30 subjects in the latter condition observed 30 yoked models solve the initial problem before solving the intrarule-transfer task themselves. Conjunctive results were similar for models and observers with efficient solution occurring for both. However, greater positive transfer was apparent for models than observers in the biconditional task. Significant positive transfer occurred for both models and observers attaining the disjunctive rule.
Endless Rots Most Beautiful

Fungal rots that decay wood were not prominent among the “endless forms most beautiful” that Darwin chronicled, but if he had known of the biochemical and evolutionary processes at work, they might have been. Woody plants fix an extraordinary amount of carbon during their lifetimes, building towering trees of decayresistant lignocellulose. On page 1715 of this issue, Floudas et al. performed deep phylogenetic sampling of fungal genomes to describe how white rot Agaricomycetes fungi have evolved an arsenal of enzymes to degrade lignin and unlock its stored carbon ( 1 ).
Noise stress and in vitro adrenocortical responsiveness to ACTH in wild cotton rats, Sigmodon hispidus.

Abstract Wild cotton rats, Sigmodon hispidus , were utilized in an attempt to clarify further the interaction of intermittent high-intensity noise with the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis. Animals were collected during 3-week periods in the spring and autumn of the year. Within seasonal groups paired adrenals from control animals and from animals exposed to recorded jet aircraft noise were either (a) incubated in the presence or absence of ACTH and analyzed for cAMP content as well as corticosterone secreted or (b) subjected to an initial incubation in the presence or absence of ACTH followed by a second incubation in the presence of ACTH after which corticosterone content of the incubation media was analyzed. During initial incubations glands from noise-exposed animals within both seasonal groups exhibited slight but insignificant elevations in basal corticosterone secretion rates as compared to their control counterparts. However, ACTH elicited a significantly smaller response in terms of corticosterone secreted in (a) the noise-exposed as compared to control groups within either season and (b) the autumn as compared to the spring control groups. Additionally ACTH induced significantly smaller cAMP accumulations in noise-exposed as compared to control animals. Analysis of ACTH-stimulated corticosterone secretion after preincubation in the presence or absence of ACTH indicated either similar significant increases in both the control and noise-exposed groups (preincubation without ACTH) or significantly greater responsiveness in the noise-exposed as compared to the control group (preincubation with ACTH). The data suggest the increase of a noise-related factor of unknown origin which has the ability to diminish the expression of ACTH upon the adrenal cortex.
Sickle Cell Disease Patients With and Without Extremely High Hospital Use: Pain, Opioids, and Coping

Abstract Context Patients with sickle cell disease (SCD) and extremely high hospital use (EHHU) encounter significant challenges in pain management because of opioid medication use for pain and providers' concerns about addiction. Objectives To characterize engagement with the health care system surrounding opioid pain management among SCD patients with EHHU by comparing their experiences with low–hospital-using (LHU) patients and their medical providers' perspectives. Methods One-on-one, semistructured qualitative interviews with patients and medical providers were audiotaped and transcribed. Participants were eight SCD patients with EHHU; matched by age, gender, and hemoglobinopathy type with eight SCD patients with low hospital use; and five providers identified by patients with EHHU as important to their care. A multidisciplinary team conducted chart review, created narrative summaries from the interviews, and used qualitative software to code transcripts based on themes. Results High–hospital-using patients and LHU patients had similar descriptions of their experience of pain and pain management with opioids. Patients and medical providers shared concerns about addiction. LHU patients described themselves as allies using specific interpersonal and symptom-related strategies, whereas high–hospital-using patients took a defensive and reactive stance toward their providers, who were similarly defensive about their care. Conclusion The prescription of opioid medications for SCD pain management exacerbates issues of distrust in the patient-provider relationship. Such issues dominate patient care in patients with EHHU. Patients with EHHU and providers may learn from the proactive nature of LHU patients' engagement with the health care system as further research and interventions are designed for EHHU.
A General Method to VLSI Polyphase Filter Analysis and Design for Integrated RF Applications

A general approach to the analysis and design of polyphase filters is presented. This method, which is based on the symmetry property and the polyphase signal constraint of the VLSI polyphase filter circuit structures, provides a systematic and significantly simplified path for the analysis and design of various types of VLSI polyphase filters.
Influence of Fasting on the Formation of Cholesterol Arachidonate by the Serum Cholesterol Esterifying Enzyme

SummaryThe serum cholesterol ester transferase enzyme is more active in the serum of fasted than fed rats. This increase in activity is associated with principally one cholesterol ester, namely, cholesterol arachidonate. The serum cholesterol esters and phosphatidyl choline of fasted rats contain a higher proportion of arachidonic acid and less linoleic acid than those of fed animals. The findings indicate that the types of cholesterol esters synthesized by the serum enzyme are dependent, in part, on the nutritional state of the animal.
Stimulating Social Entrepreneurship: Can Support From Cities Make a Difference?

The article considers social entrepreneurship, the initiation of public-spirited ventures designed to address such community social problems as illiteracy, substance abuse, and environmental degradation. The author cites research by Ronnie L. Korosec of the University of Central Florida and Evan M. Berman of Louisiana State University on how governmental support affects such efforts in U.S. cities. The reserachers found that city support made a difference in both the quantity and quality of social entrepreneurs' activities, and that supportive city governments were more likely to improve settings for business.
HOT FLASHES AND BLOOD PRESSURE IN MIDLIFE WOMEN

Abstract Objectives Recent epidemiological studies suggest that hot flashes may have a detrimental impact on the cardiovascular system. The purpose of this study was to examine the associations between hot flashes and blood pressure among women aged 45–54 years who had never used hormone therapy. Study design Data were analyzed from 603 women who participated in the Midlife Health Study, a cross-sectional study conducted in the Baltimore Metropolitan region. Main outcome measures All participants came to the clinic where systolic and diastolic blood pressures were measured, height and weight were assessed, and a questionnaire was administered that ascertained detailed data on history of hot flashes and participant demographics and health habits. Results The data showed that 56.9% of the participants reported ever experiencing hot flashes. In the age-adjusted analyses, both systolic and diastolic blood pressures were significantly and positively associated with hot flashes. However, the estimates were markedly attenuated and not statistically significant after adjustment for age, race, smoking status, current alcohol use, body mass index, and use of an anti-hypertensive agent or a cholesterol-lowering medication. Similar results were observed for moderate or severe hot flashes, hot flashes experienced for one or more years, and hot flashes experienced within the previous 30 days. Conclusions These findings indicate that hot flashes are not significantly associated with blood pressure during midlife.
Unusual demyelinating disease A form of diffuse‐disseminated sclerosis

A young man, in good health until the age of 22, developed progressive personality changes, lethargy, motor difficulties, urinary bladder dysfunction, and convulsions. Spinal fluid abnormalities included monocytic pleocytosis and selective increase of gamma globulins. The clinical features and the structural lesions in the central nervous system are reminiscent of disseminated-diffuse sclerosis. Oligodendrocytes appeared normal in number and showed nonspecific abnormalities. Comparison of the structural lesions found in this case with those described in several reports of demyelination indicates that the separation of this syndrome, as a distinct entity, may not be justified. We suggest that such cases be classified as myelinoclastic disorders, in the same category with multiple sclerosis and its variants.
SMMART: using context-awareness in m-commerce

A new class of m-commerce applications is emerging due to the unique features of handheld devices, such as mobility, personalization and location-awareness. We present SMMART, a context-aware, adaptive and personalized m-commerce application designed to deliver targeted promotions to the users of mobile wireless devices. Promotions distributed by SMMART are personalized by matching the user's shopping interests to current promotions available at a retail site. SMMART adapts to changing interests of its user by monitoring his or her shopping habits. We describe a fully functional prototype of SMMART built for Pocket PCs running Windows CE with .NET Compact Framework. The main focus of the proposed demonstration is on the aspects of the user interaction with SMMART and its diverse features.
Growth hormone administration during pregnancy: a behavioural difference in offspring rats.

IT has been demonstrated1 that, as compared with the normal animal, the polyploid salamander suffers an impairment in maze learning and, to a lesser extent, in retention. This has been attributed to the increased size of neural cells with a resulting decrease in their number and, perhaps, in their interconnexions.
Nuclear linear response to electroweak interactions in a relativistic theory for 16O.

The linear response of the /sup 16/O nucleus to an external electroweak current is studied in a relativistic model. The relativistic form for the nuclear linear response is applied using the random-phase approximation, Dirac-Hartree single-nucleon orbitals obtained along with Lorentz-vector and scalar self-consistent meson mean fields, and various particle-hole residual interactions. Form factors for inelastic electron scattering are combined into complexes and compared with experiments and previous nonrelativistic predictions. The agreement with electron scattering experiments is of similar quality for both nonrelativistic and relativistic theories with no obvious signature obtained motivating the superiority of a relativistic treatment. For weak interactions, the relativistic approach yields a considerable variation in predictions depending on the residual interaction adopted and whether pseudovector or pseudoscalar /pi/NN coupling is assumed.
Impact of Aging on Central Pressure Wave Reflection Characteristics During Exercise

Background Age is associated with increases in elastic artery stiffness and pulse wave velocity, which cause profound changes in arterial pressure waves, including increases in the augmentation index (AIx) and wasted left ventricular (LV) energy. We examined the impact of aging on the central blood pressure (BP) waveform and wave reflection responses during exercise. Methods Central BP and wave reflection characteristics were measured non-invasively using radial artery applanation tonometry at rest and during cycling exercise (45-65% of age predicted maximal heart rate (HR)) in 16 older (48 +/- 2 years) and 14 younger (24 +/- 1 years) men. Results Older men had increased central pressure values and AIx (26 +/- 2% vs. 12 +/- 2%) and lower pulse pressure amplification (PPA; 1.29 +/- 0.03 vs. 1.50 +/- 0.04) than their younger counterparts at rest (P 0.05). Conclusions The findings of this study suggest that older men have a greater central BP and AIx and lower PPA during exercise. However, the magnitude of the central hemodynamic responses (i.e., change from baseline) during exercise does not differ between older and younger men.
Families formed outside of marriage.

Cohabitation and childbearing outside of marriage are increasingly common family arrangements in the US. Cohabitation is becoming more like formal marriage in that both are childrearing institutions. Attempts to study the meaning of families formed outside of marriage face the challenge of studying a moving target because the rapid rise in nonmarital families contributes to new meanings and institutional supports. Among these institutions are state policies that formalize ties between members of nonmarital families. This review summarizes the changing demography of cohabitation and nonmarital childbearing considers the causes and effects of these changes describes some recent policies that formalize the relationship between members of families formed outside of marriage. These policies may affect family members behavior. (authors)
Behavioral Health Service Utilization and Preferences of Older Adults Receiving Home-Based Aging Services

Objective: To examine use of behavioral health services, treatment preferences, and facilitators and barriers to service use in older adults receiving home-based services within the aging network. Design: Cross-sectional survey. Setting: Interviews were conducted in participants’ homes. Participants: One hundred forty-two clients receiving home-based aging services. Measurements: Structured Clinical Interview for Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition; Brief Symptom Inventory-18; Discrimination-Devaluation Scale; utilization of behavioral health services; and preferences, facilitators, and barriers for behavioral health services. Results: Use of psychotropic medication was high (54.2%), primarily received in primary care settings (58.8%), with a few visits a year (54.0%). Participants were more likely to be taking psychotropic medication if they were younger and white. Approximately one-third of participants on antidepressant or antianxiety medication still met criteria for an Axis I disorder. Twenty-one participants (14.8%) reported receiving counseling within the past year, with a few visits or less a year for most (57.1%). Almost all were willing to see at least one professional (97.2%) and try prescribed medications or counseling (90.1%). The most common barriers to service use were practical: affordability (71.8%), difficulty traveling (62.7%), and lack of transportation (45.8%). Conclusions: Aging network clients receiving home-based services have ready access to psychotropic medications but receive very few specialty behavioral health services and medication monitoring visits. They are willing to use a variety of behavioral health services and perceive mainly practical barriers to using services. The aging network has significant potential to enhance access to service utilization; strategies for integrating behavioral health services in the aging network are discussed.
Endovascular Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm Repair Using the AneuRx® Stent Graft: Impact of Excluding Accessory Renal Arteries

The aim of this study was to evaluate clinical sequelae of accessory renal artery exclusion during endo-AAA repair. Medical records and pre- and postoperative CT scans were reviewed from 114 AAA patients treated with the AneuRx® stent graft between 1996-2001. Thirty-seven accessory renal arteries were identified in 32/114 patients (28%) with 19/32 patients having infrarenally located accessory renal arteries. In group I (11 patients), the stent graft excluded 11 accessory renal arteries. In group II (8 patients), eight accessory renal arteries were not excluded. Average infrarenal neck length was 24.9 mm in group I vs. 30.7 mm in group II (p = 0.07). The average length of device seal was similar in both groups (19.4 vs. 18.5 mm, p = 0.67). There were no perioperative deaths, significant postoperative hypertension, rise in serum creatinine, or postoperative renal infarctions in either group. Three of eight patients (38%) in the non-excluded group developed type I proximal endoleaks whereas none in the excluded patient group did (p = 0.06). Accessory renal arteries may be safely excluded during endovascular AAA repair and may result in a more secure proximal device fixation.
Individual error in radiology

This issue of Academic Radiology contains an interesting article by Siegle et al (1) from the University of Texas, San Antonio, and the American Medico-Legal Foundation regarding rates of disagreement in radiologists' interpretations of studies at a community hospital. Their report makes several points, the first of these being that by employing moderate resources, a quality audit of radiologic practice in a community hospital is possible. The study indicates an error rate by radiologists of about 5% in the practices surveyed. This approximates results of investigations of the past 5 decades, as applied to a community hospital. The authors note several limitations regarding their study, such as the changes possible with different disease prevalence. In addition, their study design did not permit analysis of results by means of receiver operating characteristic methods. Further, it can be difficult to judge retrospectively if a lesion has been missed (2). One finding of their data demonstrates vividly the difficulty in judging performance of individual radiologists on the basis of a single incident. Twenty-one of the 35 radiologists evaluated had one or more errors "below an acceptable standard of care"; that is, the finding should have been observed by most radiologists (class III error) or even by any physician (class IV error) (3). It is difficult to imagine a situation in which the standard of performance of two-thirds of the radiolggists in practice was below an acceptable standard of care in occasional in-
FGF-23 is a negative regulator of prenatal and postnatal erythropoiesis.

Abnormal blood cell production is associated with chronic kidney disease (CKD) and cardiovascular disease (CVD). Bone-derived FGF-23 (fibroblast growth factor-23) regulates phosphate homeostasis and bone mineralization. Genetic deletion of Fgf-23 in mice (Fgf-23−/−) results in hypervitaminosis D, abnormal mineral metabolism, and reduced lymphatic organ size. Elevated FGF-23 levels are linked to CKD and greater risk of CVD, left ventricular hypertrophy, and mortality in dialysis patients. However, whether FGF-23 is involved in the regulation of erythropoiesis is unknown. Here we report that loss of FGF-23 results in increased hematopoietic stem cell frequency associated with increased erythropoiesis in peripheral blood and bone marrow in young adult mice. In particular, these hematopoietic changes are also detected in fetal livers, suggesting that they are not the result of altered bone marrow niche alone. Most importantly, administration of FGF-23 in wild-type mice results in a rapid decrease in erythropoiesis. Finally, we show that the effect of FGF-23 on erythropoiesis is independent of the high vitamin D levels in these mice. Our studies suggest a novel role for FGF-23 in erythrocyte production and differentiation and suggest that elevated FGF-23 levels contribute to the pathogenesis of anemia in patients with CKD and CVD.
Interaction of int protein with specific sites on λ att DNA

We have studied the interaction of highly purified Int protein with DNA restriction fragments from the lambda phage attachment site (attP) region. Two different DNA sequences are protected by bound Int protein against partial digestion by either pancreatic DNAase or neocarzinostatin. One Int binding site includes the 15 bp common core sequence (the crossover region for site-specific recombination) plus several bases of sequence adjoining the core in both the P and P′ arms. The second Int-protected site occurs 70 bp to the right of the common core in the P′ arm, just at the distal end of the sequence encoding Int protein. The two Int binding sites are of comparable size, 30–35 bp, but do not share any extensive sequence homology. The interaction of Int with the two sites is distinctly different, as defined by the observation that only the site in the P′ arm and not the site at the common core region is protected by Int in the face of challenge by the polyanion heparin. Restriction fragments containing DNA from the bacterial attachment site (attB) region exhibit a different pattern of interaction with Int. In the absence of heparin, a smaller (15 bp) sequence, which includes the left half of the common core region and the common core-B arm juncture, is protected against nuclease digestion by Int protein. No sequences from this region are protected by Int in the presence of heparin.
Correlation and Causation: A Logical Snafu

AbstractPage and various collaborators (Keith, Page, & Robertson, 1984; Page, 1981; Page & Keith, 1981, 1982) have defended the use of data from investigations (correlational studies) to make causative conclusions. These methods are not defensible logically or statistically. They can only suggest hypotheses that then should be tested by proper experiments. At worst, as in the Coleman studies, they have been used to make social policy based on unjustified conclusions. The logical flaw of the methods of path analysis or structural equation modeling is shown. A proper evaluation of the role of investigations versus experiments is cited in the work of Cochran (as described by Rubin [1983]).
Matrix Metalloproteinase-9 Delays Wound Healing in a Murine Wound Model

Background Metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) is a type IV collagenase found at elevated levels in chronic wounds. As wounds heal, MMP-9 diminishes. In this study, we investigated whether MMP-9 directly contributes to chronic wound pathogenesis. Methods Recombinant proMMP-9 was prepared using immortalized keratinocytes transduced by a lentivirus. ProMMP-9 was purified from cell culture media and activated using 4-aminophenylmercuric acetate. Active MMP-9 was then suspended in xanthan gum to a concentration paralleling that found in human chronic wounds. Two parallel 6-mm punch biopsies were made on the backs of C57BL mice. Wounds were treated daily with MMP-9 or vehicle. Wound areas were measured and tissues examined by densitometry, real-time RT-PCR, histology, and immunohistochemistry at days 7, 10, and 12. Results Exogenous MMP-9, at the level found within chronic wounds, delayed wound healing in this animal model. By 7 days, wounds in the MMP-9–injected group were 12% larger than control wounds ( P = .008). By day 12, wounds in the MMP-9–injected group were 25% larger than those of the control group ( P = .03). Histologic examination shows that high levels of active MMP-9–impaired epithelial migrating tongues ( P = .0008). Moreover, consistent with elevated MMP-9, the collagen IV in the leading edge of the epithelial tongue was diminished. Conclusion MMP-9 appears to directly delay wound healing. Our data suggests that this may occur through interference with re-epithelialization. We propose that MMP-9 interferes with the basement membrane protein structure, which in turn impedes keratinocyte migration, attachment, and the reestablishment of the epidermis.
Nationwide mobile telephone operation

Growing demand for more efficient communications combined with increasing mobility of system users has resulted in plans for very large mobile telephone systems. Systems cover large cities, states or even entire countries. A service need has developed for nationwide roaming operation. Since mobile telephone is connected to the wireline telephone system, call placement, routing and control must be coordinated between them. The mobile system must deal with the changing location of the subscriber and still meet land network interface requirements. Ideally, the mobile system should make maximum use of land network facilities as they are. The most difficult problem is selection of a numbering and routing plan for mobile users which is compatible with existing land network conventions. The optimum solution is a mobile network which is "overlaid" on the land network and is accessed by a nationwide "area" or access code. The mobile network then deals with the RF management and user mobility independently of land network hiearchy while maintaining a fully coordinated interface between the two systems.
Modeling Permeation of CO2/CH4, CO2/N2, and N2/CH4 Mixtures Across SAPO-34 Membrane with the Maxwell−Stefan Equations

The objective of this paper is test the capability of the Maxwell−Stefan (M−S) diffusion formulation to predict binary mixture permeation fluxes across a SAPO-34 membrane using only data on pure-component adsorption isotherms and diffusivities. Experiments were carried out for permeation of CO2/CH4, CO2/N2, and N2/CH4 mixtures across a SAPO-34 membrane with upstream pressures ranging to 7.2 MPa, ensuring that high occupancies within the zeolite layer are reached. Good agreement between the M−S mixture model and experiments are obtained provided the binary exchange coefficients Đ12 in the M−S equations are assumed to have high enough values to ensure that intercage hops of the species occur independently of one other.
Spatial simulation model for infectious viral diseases with focus on SARS and the common flu

This paper focuses on simulating the infectious process on a computer. To simulate how an infectious viral disease spreads not only shows how people get sick, it can also be a powerful tool in disease prevention. You can test actions such as to isolate people that get sick and analyze if the disease spread can be circumscribed or stopped. Special focus is given to SARS and the Common Flu.
Homocysteine, Marfan syndrome and arteriosclerosis.

See doi:10.1016/j.ehj.2003.08.020for the article to which this editorial refers Homocystinuria is an inherited disease of homocysteine metabolism most commonly caused by deficiency of the pyridoxal phosphate-dependent enzyme, cystathionine synthase. The disease is manifested in many cases by accelerated growth in childhood, dislocated ocular lenses, skeletal abnormalities, retarded mental development, and propensity to thrombosis with increasedmortality from vascular disease.1Before the discovery of homocystinuria in 1962, many of these subjects were considered to have Marfan Syndrome, because of accelerated growth, dislocated ocular lenses, and vascular disease. Subsequent screening of the urine for homocysteine revealed a number of cases of homocystinuria that were originally attributed to MarfanSyndrome.2 Review of an archival case of homocystinuria originally reported in 1933 disclosed generalized arteriosclerosis and death from carotid thrombosis and stroke in an eight-year-old boy with mental retardation, dislocated ocular lenses, and skeletal abnormalities.3Review of a second case of homocystinuria, caused by deficiency of methionine synthase, a folate- and cobalamin-dependent enzyme, disclosed severe and widespread arteriosclerotic plaques in arteries throughout the major organs. Because of the difference in metabolic pattern between these two cases of homocystinuria caused by different enzyme abnormalities, the amino acid homocysteine was concluded to have atherogenic properties because of a direct effect on the cells and tissues of the arteries.3A subsequent case of a nine-year-old girl with homocystinuria caused by deficiency of methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase, a folate-dependent enzyme, was also found by other investigators to have widespread arteriosclerotic plaques, independently corroborating this conclusion. Early reports of the pathological manifestations of …
A Not-so-Silent Cry for Help Older Female Cancer Caregivers’ Need for Information

Cancer family caregivers face uncertainty every day. The holistic health care practitioner is in a unique position to alleviate some of this uncertainty by providing information. Although this may appear to be straightforward, unfortunately, more often than not, information is not provided or is provided in such a way that it is more harmful than helpful. This article presents findings from a qualitative study conducted with 21 older female caregivers of persons with advanced-stage cancer. Six areas of concern or need arose from the data and are presented with caregiver narrative examples. This article's purpose is not to be prescriptive (e.g., telling holistic health care practitioners what to say and how to say it). Instead, the purpose is to highlight the need for holistic health care practitioners to evaluate their caregivers' individual needs for information and to attempt to provide this information in a sensitive yet factually accurate manner.