cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Prognosis of patients suffering an acute coronary syndrome while already under chronic clopidogrel therapy.

Objective: To assess the prognosis of patients presenting with an acute coronary syndrome (ACS) despite chronic clopidogrel therapy (CCT). Background: CCT has been shown to be beneficial in decreasing the frequency of major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) in patients after an ACS or drug-eluting stent (DES) implantation. Some patients, however, still suffer thrombotic events while on CCT. The outcome of this particular subgroup of patients is unknown. Methods: A cohort of 1,281 patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) for an ACS was studied. They were divided according to their treatment prior to the ACS. The CCT group was composed of all patients who had been taking clopidogrel for ≥30 days before the onset of the ACS (n = 175) and the no CCT group of all patients not on clopidogrel before the ACS (n = 1,106). Rates of cardiovascular death and myocardial infarction at 6 months' follow-up were compared. Results: Patients in the CCT group were older (66 ± 11 vs. 63 ± 13; P< 0.001), and more often diabetic (46.8 vs. 31.9%; P < 0.01). In-hospital outcomes were similar, including the rate of death and myocardial infarction (no CCT vs. CCT group: 4.2 vs. 2.3%; P = 0.2). At 6 months, patients already taking clopidogrel before the ACS had a higher rate of MACE than patients who were not (18.3 vs. 11.8%; P = 0.02). In multivariate analysis, CCT before the ACS was associated with a hazard ratio of 1.7 for MACE. Conclusion: This study suggests that patients suffering an ACS while under on CCT have a poor long-term prognosis, which could be linked to clopidogrel low-response. © 2008 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Simulated performance of a contrast-enhancement material

SAMPLE simulations of the performance of the contrast-enhancement material CEM-388 from General Electric were made using measured material parameters. Addition of an enhancement layer to a single-layer resist process significantly reduces the linewidth variations due to the standing-wave effect. Addition of an enhancement layer to a bilevel resist process containing dye in the bottom layer marginally improves defocus performance.
Psychometric Analysis of the Life Perspectives Inventory and Implications for Assessing Characteristics of Adolescent Spirituality.

The psychometric properties of the Life Perspectives Inventory (LPI-English language version), a new instrument designed to assess characteristics associated with nonreligious spirituality in high ...
The mouse: An “average” homeotherm

Abstract Mice, rats, and nearly all mammals and birds are classified as homeothermic, meaning that their core temperature is regulated at a constant level over a relatively wide range of ambient temperatures. In one sense, this homeothermic designation has been confirmed by the advent of radiotelemetry and other techniques that allow for the remote monitoring of awake, unrestrained animals in laboratory or natural settings. This technology confirmed that, when averaged over many hours, core temperature of mammals is regulated at a nearly constant level. On the other hand, telemetric sampling in relatively small mammals such as mice and rats also revealed that their core temperature often varies markedly from hour to hour. In other words, the mouse could be defined as a homeotherm only when core temperature is averaged over a relatively long period. Many researchers ascribe equal homeothermic capabilities to mice and other small rodents as they do to humans. Such an assumption could lead to errors in extrapolating physiological, pharmacological, and toxicological findings from experimental test species to humans.
Use of Neighborhood Characteristics to Improve Prediction of Psychosocial Outcomes: A Traumatic Brain Injury Model Systems Investigation

Abstract Corrigan JD, Bogner J, Pretz C, Mellick D, Kreider S, Whiteneck GG, Harrison-Felix C, Dijkers MP, Heinemann AW. Use of neighborhood characteristics to improve prediction of psychosocial outcomes: a Traumatic Brain Injury Model Systems investigation. Objective To determine whether use of neighborhood characteristics derived from U.S. Census Bureau information contributes to the prediction of outcomes after traumatic brain injury (TBI) beyond the variance accounted for by individual characteristics. Design Cross-sectional analysis of follow-up interviews conducted 1, 2, and 5 years postinjury. Setting Twelve Traumatic Brain Injury Model Systems (TBIMS) centers. Participants Patients 16 years of age and older with moderate or severe TBI enrolled in the TBIMS National Database (N=472). Interventions None. Main Outcome Measures Satisfaction With Life Scale and Participation Assessment with Recombined Tools-Objective. Results Individual characteristics alone accounted for 26% and 48% of variance in life satisfaction and participation, respectively; neighborhood characteristics alone accounted for 6% and 9% of variance, respectively. Models combining both types of characteristics included significant neighborhood and individual predictors for participation but not life satisfaction; however, for participation, prediction only improved beyond that found for individual characteristics alone by 1.2%. Conclusions The results did not support the hypotheses that characteristics of a person's neighborhood would increase outcome prediction beyond that which can be accomplished based on characteristics of the individual alone. Though neighborhood characteristics were statistically significant in prediction models, the improvement in percent of variance accounted for was negligible. Refinements in conceptualization and methodology are suggested for continued exploration of the contribution of neighborhood characteristics to TBI outcomes.
Anomalous multilayer electrosorption of n-heptanol and n-hexanol on mercury in comparison to the similar adsorption by the corresponding aliphatic acids

Abstract The multilayer electrosorption of n -heptanol, n -hexanol, n -heptanoic acid, and n-hexanoic acid from KCI, H 2 SO 4 , and HCl base electrolyte solutions was studied by double layer capacity measurements. While capacity-polarization curves for saturated solutions of the organic acids showed the expected polylayer dips with all electrolytes at all electrolyte concentrations studied, those for the aliphatic alcohols showed such behavior with KCl and H 2 SO 4 electrolytes but only at low concentrations of HCl electrolyte. At high HCl concentrations the polylayer dips, in the case of the alcohols, were completely suppressed and minimum capacity exceeded the monolayer capacity.
Development of butterfly scales. II. Struts, lattices and surface tension

An investigation of the structure of the iridescent scales of the green hairstreak, Callophrys rubi, reveals an internal lattice which is probably cubic close-packed in form. We present a model which explains the formation of the lattice in terms of packing of spheres and surface tension forces and generalize these results to internal structures in other Lepidopteran scales.
Removing export-credit subsidies to the Soviet bloc: Who gets hurt and by how much

Abstract Estimates of Soviet Bloc import elasticities and of the value of credit subsidies on loans to the bloc in 1981 are used in order to simulate the impact on OECD exports, if these subsidies had been eliminated in that year. The elasticity estimates indicate that price changes have little bearing on hard currency spent on a particular commodity by the Soviet Bloc. If subsidies had been eliminated in 1981, the total decline in OECD exports to the Bloc would have been less than 5%, and for any country, if proportionally distributed among suppliers, no more than 6%, no less than 2%.
Newspaper journalism in crisis: Burnout on the rise, eroding young journalists’ career commitment:

The three-component Maslach Burnout Inventory-General Survey was implemented to examine burnout among newspaper journalists (N = 770). With a moderate rate of exhaustion, a high rate of cynicism an...
Increased bone marrow allograft rejection by depletion of NK cells expressing inhibitory Ly49 NK receptors for donor class I antigens

Natural killer (NK) cells are the major effectors of acute rejection of incompatible bone marrow cell (BMC) grafts in lethally irradiated mice. The immunogenetics of BMC rejection are largely controlled by the coexpression (or not) of inhibitory and stimulatory Ly49 receptors whose ligands are class I major histocompatibility complex (MHC) molecules. The majority of the BMC rejection studies involved low numbers of BMCs that were resisted by host NK cells. In the present study, larger numbers of BMCs were given in which rejection was not detected and the role of different Ly49 NK subsets not presumably involved in the rejection of a particular BMC haplotype was examined. Surprisingly, the data show that the removal of NK cell subsets expressing Ly49 inhibitory receptors for donor class I antigens, which would be predicted to have no effect on the BMC rejection capability, resulted in the marked rejection of BMCs where no resistance was normally seen. These results extend the “missing self” hypothesis to suggest that NK Ly49 inhibitory receptors can both inhibit activation and killing by those cells, but also can in some way influence the function of NK cells that do not express that inhibitory receptor in a cell-cell interaction. This suggests that caution must be exercised before removal of host NK cell subset is applied clinically because enhanced BMC rejection may result. Altering the balance of Ly49 NK subsets may also affect other in vivo activities of these cells.
Supine Craniospinal Irradiation Using a Proton Pencil Beam Scanning Technique Without Match Line Changes for Field Junctions

Purpose To propose and validate a craniospinal irradiation approach using a proton pencil beam scanning technique that overcomes the complexity of the planning associated with feathering match lines. Methods and Materials Ten craniospinal irradiation patients had treatment planned with gradient dose optimization using the proton pencil beam scanning technique. The robustness of the plans was evaluated by shifting the isocenter of each treatment field by ±3 mm in the longitudinal direction and was compared with the original nonshifted plan with metrics of conformity number, homogeneity index, and maximal cord doses. An anthropomorphic phantom study using film measurements was carried out on a plan with 5-cm junction length. To mimic setup errors in the phantom study, fields were recalculated with isocenter shifts of 1, 3, 5, and 10 mm longitudinally, and compared with the original plans and measurements. Results Uniform dose coverage to the entire target volumes was achieved using the gradient optimization approach with averaged junction lengths of 6.7 ± 0.5 cm. The average conformity number and homogeneity index equaled 0.78 ± 0.03 and 1.09 ± 0.01, respectively. Setup errors of 3 mm per field (6 mm in worst-case scenario) caused on average 4.6% lower conformity number 2.5% higher homogeneity index and maximal cord dose of 4216.1 ± 98.2 cGy. When the junction length was 5 cm or longer, setup errors of 6 mm resulted in up to 12% dosimetric deviation. Consistent results were reached between film measurements and planned dose profiles in the junction area. Conclusions Longitudinal setup errors directly reduce the dosimetric accuracy of the proton craniospinal irradiation treatment with matched proton pencil beam scanning fields. The reported technique creates a slow dose gradient in the junction area, which makes the treatment more robust to longitudinal setup errors compared to conventional feathering methods.
Amdahl's Law in the Multicore Era

Augmenting Amdahl's law with a corollary for multicore hardware makes it relevant to future generations of chips with multiple processor cores. Obtaining optimal multicore performance will require further research in both extracting more parallelism and making sequential cores faster.
Physiologic and related behavioral outcomes from the Women’s Lifestyle Heart Trial

The Women's Lifestyle Heart Trial was a small (N = 28) randomized controlled trial to evaluate the effects of a comprehensive lifestyle self-management program (very low-fat vegetarian diet, stress-management training, exercise, group support, and smoking cessation) on reduction of cardiovascular risk factors in postmenopausal women with coronary heart disease (CHD). Women assigned to the treatment condition (Prime Time) participated in a week-long retreat followed by twice-weekly 4-hour meetings. Endpoints were program adherence; changes in lipid profiles, body mass, blood pressure, hypolipidemic and antihypertensive medications; and quality of life. Risk factor and psychosocial evaluations were conducted at baseline and at 4, 12, and 24 months. Repeated measures analyses of covariance revealed that the dietary, stress management, and physical activity changes made by intervention women were dramatic and lasting. There were significantly greater improvements in the Prime Time condition compared to the usual care control group on body mass, angina symptoms, and quality of life, and a tendency for a greater reduction in blood pressure-lowering medications. Similar patterns were seen in lipids, blood pressure, and lipid-lowering medications, but did not reach significance. These results demonstrate that postmenopausal CHD women can make lasting lifestyle changes, and that these changes may reduce the need for cardiac medications and improve CHD risk factors and quality of life.
Increased kinetic efficiency for silicic acid uptake as a driver of summer diatom blooms in the North Pacific subtropical gyre

We examined Si limitation of silica production as a factor contributing to summer-bloom dynamics in the North Pacific subtropical gyre (NPSG). Substrate limitation of Si uptake was pervasive, but in most samples the degree of Si limitation was not severe enough to induce growth limitation as observed in the North Atlantic subtropical gyre. These results revise previous interpretations, because the difference in the degree of kinetic limitation between gyres appears to be driven by differences in both substrate and kinetic efficiency. In the NPSG, diatom bloom assemblages tended to show more efficient Si-uptake kinetics and higher Si-uptake rates than did nonbloom assemblages. A bloom dominated by Mastogloia woodiana exhibited the most efficient Si-uptake kinetics observed in the ocean to date. Enhanced kinetic efficiency for Si uptake was previously hypothesized to facilitate bloom development, but we suggest the efficient kinetics indirectly affects blooms because [Si(OH)4] does not appear to limit growth or division rates. Rather, efficient kinetics allows further depletion of the prevailing low [Si(OH)4] without inducing secondary growth limitation by Si, thereby maximizing biomass yield. Si-uptake limitation was not detected in the lower euphotic zone despite similar [Si(OH)4] as in well-lit waters, which suggests transition to light limitation of Si uptake with depth. These results suggest that enhanced silica production in the M. woodiana bloom was driven by a synergy between diatom species composition, where M. woodiana was highly efficient at Si uptake, and high irradiance, which lead to enhanced diatom division rates in the upper euphotic zone.
The mechanism of nasal tolerance in lupus prone mice is T-cell anergy induced by immature B cells that lack B7 expression

To determine if B cells of lupus prone NZB mice possess intrinsic defects that directly lead or contribute to T-cell hyper-responsiveness, we injected age-, sex- and MHC II-matched NZB and Balb/c mice with histone peptide H471 representing a dominant Th cell epitope in histone H4 of the nucleosome. We found that B220+ B cells of NZB mice express high levels of surface CD86 following antigen priming. We cocultured CD4+ T and B220+ B cells of naive or peptide primed NZB and Balb/c mice in the presence of peptide. Antigen presentation by autoimmune B cells of NZB mice induced hyper-responsiveness from normal CD4+ T cells of Balb/c mice. T-cell hyper-responsiveness is a result of CD86 costimulation by B cells of NZB mice. Induction of nasal tolerance to H471 in NZB mice suppressed CD86 surface expression and led to downregulation of T-cell proliferative response and cytokine production. More interestingly, B220+ B cells from nasally tolerized NZB mice induced T-cell anergy to anti-CD3 and anti-CD28 antibody stimulation in vitro. The anergic T cells do not possess suppressive function in coculture with naive responder T cells nor produce suppressive cytokines interleukin 10 and transforming growth factor-beta in vitro.
An enkephalinergic mechanism involved in amygdaloid suppression of affective defence behavior elicited from the midbrain periaqueductal gray in the cat

A series of recent studies in our laboratory have provided evidence that opioid peptides powerfully suppress feline affective defense behavior at the level of the midbrain periaqueductal gray (PAG). In the present study, we tested the hypothesis that the central (CE) nucleus of the amygdala constitutes a significant inhibitory input to the PAG which utilizes enkephalins as its neurotransmitter or neuromodulator. Cannula-electrodes were implanted into the PAG for the elicitation of affective defense behavior as well as for infusion of opioid antagonists. Monopolar stimulating electrodes were also implanted into the central, lateral and medial amygdaloid nuclei from which suppression or facilitation of affective defense behavior could be obtained. Initially, 4 trials of concurrent, subseizure stimulation of the CE or lateral amygdala at very low (100 microA, 60 Hz) currents and PAG resulted in an immediate suppression of this response which displayed a time dependent decline after 30 min. In the next stage of the experiment, naloxone (2.7, 18.9 and 27.5 nM) was microinjected through the cannula-electrode into the PAG affective defense site and the experimental procedures noted above were repeated. Naloxone treatment (at 27.5 and 18.9 nM) blocked the suppressive effects of CE and lateral amygdaloid stimulation in a dose and time dependent manner. Further analysis revealed that this effect is likely mediated via the mu receptor since the suppressive effects of amygdaloid stimulation were blocked by the selective mu antagonist, beta-Funaltrexamine (0.05 and 0.2 nM) but not by the selective delta-antagonist, ICI 174,864 (0.7 nM).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Short note: A kernel independent fast multipole algorithm for radial basis functions

We present a fast multipole algorithm for the evaluation of pairwise interaction through the radial basis functions such as 1/r^a, r^2+a^2 and 1/r^2+a^2 (with a>0) in both two and three dimensions. Our algorithm is an extension of the kernel independent fast multipole method presented in Ying et al. [L. Ying, G. Biros, D. Zorin, A kernel-independent adaptive fast multipole algorithm in two and three dimensions, J. Comput. Phys. 196(2) (2004) 591-626]. Numerical results are provided to illustrate the accuracy and complexity properties of the algorithm.
Hoop-stress fractures of the proximal femur during hip arthroplasty. Management and results in 19 cases

Retrospective review of 730 consecutive primary uncemented and cemented total hip arthroplasties revealed 19 intra-operative hoop-stress fractures of the femoral neck. These were incomplete, linear, and minimally displaced. Management was by cerclage wiring (12), bone graft and cerclage (two), further impaction (two), and the use of cement (three), with no change from our standard postoperative management and rehabilitation. Eighteen patients had excellent or good results with an average Harris hip score of 93. Radiographically, all but one patient had Engh stability-fixation scores consistent with stable bone ingrowth. We conclude that hoop-stress fractures of the proximal femur, properly managed, do not detract from the results of total hip arthroplasty.
Isolation of Toxoplasma gondii from the Keel-Billed Toucan (Ramphastos sulfuratus) From Costa Rica

Abstract Pectoral muscles from a captive keel-billed toucan (Ramphastos sulfuratus) from Costa Rica were fed to a Toxoplasma gondii– free cat, and the cat shed oocysts. Laboratory mice fed these oocysts developed antibodies to T. gondii in their sera and T. gondii tissue cysts in their brains. The DNA extracted from the brains of infected mice was characterized using 10 polymerase chain reaction–restricted fragment length polymorphic markers (SAG1, SAG2, SAG3, BTUB, GRA6, c22-8, c29-2, L358, PK1, and Apico). The isolate designated TgRsCr1 was found to be non-clonal with Type I, II, and III alleles at different loci. This is the first isolation of T. gondii from this host.
Inflammatory cells and cancer: think different!

It is well established that cancer is a progressive disease, occurring in a series of well-defined steps, typically arising as a consequence of activating mutations (oncogenes) or deactivating mutations (tumor suppressor genes) in proliferating cells. From studies exploiting cultured tumor cells,
A Kalman filter approach for accurate 3-D motion estimation from a sequence of stereo images

Abstract This paper presents a Kalman filter approach for accurately estimating the 3-D position and orientation of a moving object from a sequence of stereo images. Emphasis is given to finding a solution for the following problem incurred by the use of a long sequence of images: the images taken from a longer distance suffer from a larger noise-to-signal ratio, which results in larger errors in 3-D reconstruction and, thereby, causes a serious degradation in motion estimation. To this end, we have derived a new set of discrete Kalman filter equations for motion estimation: (1) The measurement equation is obtained by analyzing the effect of white Gaussian noise in 2-D images on 3-D positional errors (instead of directly assigning Gaussian noise to 3-D feature points) and by incorporating an optimal 3-D reconstruction under the constraints of consistency satisfaction among 3-D feature points. (2) The state propagation equation, or the system dynamic equation, is formulated by describing the rotation between two consecutive 3-D object poses, based on quaternions and representing the error between the true rotation and the nominal rotation (obtained by 3-D reconstruction) in terms of the measurement noise in 2-D images. Furthermore, we can estimate object position from the estimation of object orientation in such a way that an object position can be directly computed once the estimation of an object orientation is obtained. Simulation results indicate that the Kalman filter equations derived in this paper represent an accurate model for 3-D motion estimation in spite of the first-order approximation used in the derivation. The accuracy of this model is demonstrated by the significant error reduction in the presence of large triangulation errors in a long sequence of images and by a shorter transition period for convergence to the true values.
Self-Determination Theory and Motivational Interviewing: Complementary Models to Elicit Voluntary Engagement by Partner-Abusive Men

Research examining intimate partner violence (IPV) has lacked a comprehensive theoretical framework for understanding and treating behavior. The authors propose two complementary models, a treatment approach (Motivational Interviewing, MI) informed by a theory (Self-Determination Theory; SDT), as a way of integrating existing knowledge and suggesting new directions in intervening early with IPV perpetrators. MI is a client-centered clinical intervention intended to assist in strengthening motivation to change and has been widely implemented in the substance abuse literature. SDT is a theory that focuses on internal versus external motivation and considers elements that impact optimal functioning and psychological well-being. These elements include psychological needs, integration of behavioral regulations, and contextual influences on motivation. Each of these aspects of SDT is described in detail and in the context of IPV etiology and intervention using motivational interviewing.
Twin-block appliance is effective for the correction of Class II Division I malocclusion during mixed dentition

Original Article O'Brien K, Wright J, Conboy F, Sanjie Y, Mandall N, Chadwick S, et al. Effectiveness of early orthodontic treatment with the twin-block appliance: a multicenter, randomized, controlled trial. Part 1: Dental and skeletal effects. Am J Orthod Dentofacial Orthop 2003;124(3):234-43. Level of Evidence 1b Purpose To determine the effectiveness of the twin-block appliance for the correction of Class II Division I malocclusion during the mixed dentition Source of Funding Information not available Type of Study/Design Randomized controlled trial
On design of test structures for lithographic process corner identification

Lithographic process variations, such as changes in focus, exposure, resist thickness introduce distortions to line shapes on a wafer. Large distortions may lead to line open and bridge faults and the locations of such defects vary with lithographic process corner. Based on lithographic simulation, it is easily verified that for a given layout, changing one or more of the process parameters shifts the defect location. Thus, if the lithographic process corner of a die is known, test patterns can be better targeted for both hard and parametric defects. In this paper, we present design of control structures such that preliminary testing of these structures can uniquely identify the manufacturing process corner. If the manufacturing process corner is known, we can easily attain highest possible fault coverage for lithography related defects during manufacturing test. Parametric defects such as delay defects are notorious to test because such defects may affect paths that are subcritical under nominal conditions and not ordinarily targeted for test. Adoption of the proposed approach can easily flag such paths for delay tests.
A Glucose Fuel Cell for Implantable Brain–Machine Interfaces

We have developed an implantable fuel cell that generates power through glucose oxidation, producing steady-state power and up to peak power. The fuel cell is manufactured using a novel approach, employing semiconductor fabrication techniques, and is therefore well suited for manufacture together with integrated circuits on a single silicon wafer. Thus, it can help enable implantable microelectronic systems with long-lifetime power sources that harvest energy from their surrounds. The fuel reactions are mediated by robust, solid state catalysts. Glucose is oxidized at the nanostructured surface of an activated platinum anode. Oxygen is reduced to water at the surface of a self-assembled network of single-walled carbon nanotubes, embedded in a Nafion film that forms the cathode and is exposed to the biological environment. The catalytic electrodes are separated by a Nafion membrane. The availability of fuel cell reactants, oxygen and glucose, only as a mixture in the physiologic environment, has traditionally posed a design challenge: Net current production requires oxidation and reduction to occur separately and selectively at the anode and cathode, respectively, to prevent electrochemical short circuits. Our fuel cell is configured in a half-open geometry that shields the anode while exposing the cathode, resulting in an oxygen gradient that strongly favors oxygen reduction at the cathode. Glucose reaches the shielded anode by diffusing through the nanotube mesh, which does not catalyze glucose oxidation, and the Nafion layers, which are permeable to small neutral and cationic species. We demonstrate computationally that the natural recirculation of cerebrospinal fluid around the human brain theoretically permits glucose energy harvesting at a rate on the order of at least 1 mW with no adverse physiologic effects. Low-power brain–machine interfaces can thus potentially benefit from having their implanted units powered or recharged by glucose fuel cells.
Reminiscences and Reflections of a Codebreaker

Many books have now been published about the work of the Bletchley Park codebreakers during World War II. Outstanding among these are Alan Turing: The Enigma, by Andrew Hodges [Ho], a sensitive and enormously informative biography of a genius who made a unique contribution to winning the war while he was simultaneously inventing the computer; and Codebreakers, edited by F. H. Hinsley and Alan Stripp [Hin], a series of articles providing detailed information on the methods employed by the codebreakers of Bletchley Park. Particularly to be commended among the latter is the article by Professor I. J. (Jack) Good, entitled “Enigma and Fish”, in which Jack, one of the key members of the teams working first on Naval Enigma and then on the even more sophisticated Geheimschreiber code (which we called Fish!), describes the machines employed by the Germans and the machines we developed to help to read messages encrypted by these machines. It is a great advantage, of course, for those able, like Jack Good, to provide precise descriptions of these machines and of our methods, that much of the necessary information has now, at long last, been declassified.
Randomized controlled trial and uncontrolled 9-month follow-up of an adjunctive emotion regulation group therapy for deliberate self-harm among women with borderline personality disorder.

BACKGROUND: Despite the clinical importance of deliberate self-harm (DSH; also referred to as non-suicidal self-injury) within borderline personality disorder (BPD), empirically supported treatments for this behavior among individuals with BPD are difficult to implement in many clinical settings. To address this limitation, a 14-week, adjunctive emotion regulation group therapy (ERGT) for DSH among women with BPD was developed. The current study examined the efficacy of this ERGT in a randomized controlled trial (RCT) and the durability of treatment gains over a 9-month uncontrolled follow-up period. METHOD: Female out-patients with BPD and recent recurrent DSH were randomly assigned to receive this ERGT in addition to their ongoing out-patient therapy immediately (n = 31) or after 14 weeks (n = 30). Measures of DSH and other self-destructive behaviors, psychiatric symptoms, adaptive functioning and the proposed mechanisms of change (emotion dysregulation/avoidance) were administered pre- and post-treatment or -waitlist (to assess treatment efficacy), and 3 and 9 months post-treatment (to assess durability of treatment gains). RESULTS: Intent-to-treat (ITT) analyses (n = 61) revealed significant effects of this ERGT on DSH and other self-destructive behaviors, emotion dysregulation, BPD symptoms, depression and stress symptoms, and quality of life. Analyses of all participants who began ERGT (across treatment and waitlist conditions; n = 51) revealed significant improvements from pre- to post-treatment on all outcomes, additional significant improvements from post-treatment to 9-month follow-up for DSH, emotion dysregulation/avoidance, BPD symptoms and quality of life, and no significant changes from post-treatment to 9-month follow-up on the other measures. CONCLUSIONS: The results support the efficacy of this ERGT and the durability of treatment gains. Language: en
Tropomyosin expression and dynamics in developing avian embryonic muscles.

The expression of striated muscle proteins occurs early in the developing embryo in the somites and forming heart. A major component of the assembling myofibrils is the actin-binding protein tropomyosin. In vertebrates, there are four genes for tropomyosin (TM), each of which can be alternatively spliced. TPM1 can generate at least 10 different isoforms including the striated muscle-specific TPM1α and TPM1κ. We have undertaken a detailed study of the expression of various TM isoforms in 2-day-old (stage HH 10–12; 33 h) heart and somites, the progenitor of future skeletal muscles. Both TPM1α and TPM1κ are expressed transiently in embryonic heart while TPM1α is expressed in somites. Both RT-PCR and in situ hybridization data suggest that TPM1κ is expressed in embryonic heart whereas TPM1α is expressed in embryonic heart, and also in the branchial arch region of somites, and in the somites. Photobleaching studies of Yellow Fluorescent Protein-TPM1α and -TPM1κ expressed in cultured avian cardiomyocytes revealed that the dynamics of the two probes was the same in both premyofibrils and in mature myofibrils. This was in sharp contrast to skeletal muscle cells in which the fluorescent proteins were more dynamic in premyofibrils. We speculate that the differences in the two muscles is due to the appearance of nebulin in the skeletal myocytes premyofibrils transform into mature myofibrils. Cell Motil. Cytoskeleton 2008. © 2008 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Why Petition an Omnipotent, Omniscient, Wholly Good God?

Orthodox Christian theists frequently petition God in the sense that they ask him to bring about some state of affairs which they believe may not occur without divine intervention. Such petitions basically fall into three categories: (i) requests in which the petitioner is asking God to influence significantly the natural environment – e.g. calm a hurricane, (2) requests in which the petitioner is asking God to influence significantly the lives ofother individuals – e.g. reconcile the broken marriage of friends, and (3) requests in which the petitioner is asking God to influence significantly his or her own life – e.g. soothe his or her troubled mind.
Cardiac Disorders Predisposing to Embolic Stroke

Data from 4,558 consecutive complete necropsies in patients 16 years of age or older were analyzed to ascertain the influence of certain variables upon the frequency of embolic encephalomalacia. Embolic lesions of the central nervous system occurred more commonly in the female, regardless of age, race, diabetic status, nutritional status or heart size, partly because the cardiovascular lesions responsible for embolic dissemination were more common in women. While affecting only a small percentage of patients at any age, cerebral embolism assumes more importance in strokes of young adulthood. Embolic infarcts demonstrate a predilection for cerebral and cerebellar cortical locations via the long circumferential arterial branches and tend to spare the parasagittal perforating branches supplying the brain stem and diencephalic nuclei. Certain cardiac states predispose to cerebral embolism. Patients with endocarditis show the greatest risk of embolic lesions, although patients with rheumatic valvular disease o...
Software Engineering for Spreadsheets

The idiosyncratic structure of spreadsheets allows the adaptation of proven software engineering principles to an end-user domain and thus makes software engineering accessible to many users.
Classification of Mutations by Functional Impact Type: Gain of Function, Loss of Function, and Switch of Function

Genomic variations have been intensively studied since the development of high-throughput sequencing technologies. There are numerous tools and databases predicting and annotating the functional impact of genetic variants, such as determining whether a variant is neutral or deleterious to the functions of the corresponding protein. However, there is a need for methods that not only identify neutral or deleterious mutations but also provide fine grained prediction on the outcome resulting from mutations, such as gain, loss, or switch of function. This paper proposes the deployment of multiple hidden Markov models to computationally classify mutations by functional impact type.
Initial investigation of the wavelength dependence of optical properties measured with a new multi-pass Aerosol Extinction Differential Optical Absorption Spectrometer (AE-DOAS)

Abstract. Atmospheric aerosols directly affect climate by scattering and absorbing radiation. The magnitude of the impact is dependent upon the wavelength of light, but is often estimated near 550 nm. When light scattering and absorption by aerosols is approximated, the wavelength dependence of the refractive index for specific components is lost. As a result, climate models would have inherent uncertainties for aerosol contributions to radiative forcing when considering the entire solar spectrum. An aerosol extinction differential optical absorption spectrometer has been developed to directly measure aerosol extinction at mid-ultraviolet to near infrared wavelengths. The instrument consists of a spectrometer coupled to a closed White-type multi-pass gas cell with an adjustable path length of up to approximately 20 m. Laboratory measurements of various gases are compared with known absorption cross sections. Additionally, the extinction of monodisperse samples of polystyrene latex spheres are measured and compared to Mie theory generated with refractive index values from the literature to validate the new instrument. The polystyrene experiments also emphasize the ability of the new instrument to retrieve the wavelength dependent refractive index, especially in the ultraviolet wavelength regions where variability is expected. The spectrometer will be a significant advancement for determining wavelength dependent complex refractive indices in future laboratory studies as well as provide the ability to monitor ambient aerosol light extinction.
Bayesian spatial prediction of the site index in the study of the Missouri Ozark Forest Ecosystem Project

This paper presents a Bayesian spatial method for analysing the site index data from the Missouri Ozark Forest Ecosystem Project (MOFEP). Based on ecological background and availability, we select three variables, the aspect class, the soil depth and the land type association as covariates for analysis. To allow great flexibility of the smoothness of the random field, we choose the Matern family as the correlation function. We adopt the reference prior as an appropriate prior because there is no previous knowledge of the parameters in the model. An efficient algorithm based on the generalized Ratio-of-Uniforms method is developed for the posterior simulation. One advantage of the algorithm is that it generates independent samples from the required posterior distribution, which is much more efficient for both statistical inference of the parameters and prediction of the site indexes at unsampled locations. Our results show that the aspect class and the soil depth are both significant while the land type association is less significant. The model validation is briefly discussed. In addition, our simulation method allows easy realization for computing quantities from the posterior predictive distributions.
Care arrangements of AIDS orphans and their relationship with children’s psychosocial well-being in rural China

There is an estimated 100 000 children orphaned by AIDS in China, but data on the care arrangement of these orphans are limited. In this study, we examine the relationship between AIDS orphans’ care arrangement and their psychosocial well-being among a sample of AIDS orphans in rural China. A total of 296 children who lost both parents to AIDS participated in the study, including 176 in orphanages, 90 in kinship care and 30 in community-based group homes. All participants completed a cross-sectional survey assessing their traumatic symptoms, physical health and schooling. Data reveal that the AIDS orphans in group homes reported the best outcomes in three domains of psychosocial well-being, followed by those in the orphanages and then the kinship care. The differences in psychosocial well-being among the three groups of children persist after controlling for key demographic characteristics. The findings suggest that the appropriate care arrangement for AIDS orphans should be evaluated within the specific social and cultural context where the orphans live. In resource-poor regions or areas stricken hardest by the AIDS epidemic, kinship care may not sufficiently serve the needs of AIDS orphans. Community-based care models, with appropriate government and community support preserving the family style and low child-to-caregiver ratio may constitute an effective and sustainable care model for the best interest of the AIDS orphans in developing countries.
ALS motor phenotype heterogeneity, focality, and spread: Deconstructing motor neuron degeneration

Heterogeneity of motor phenotypes is a clinically well-recognized fundamental aspect of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and is determined by variability of 3 independent primary attributes: body region of onset; relative mix of upper motor neuron (UMN) and lower motor neuron (LMN) deficits; and rate of progression. Motor phenotypes are determined by the anatomy of the underlying neuropathology and the common defining elements underlying their heterogeneity are that motor neuron degeneration is fundamentally a focal process and that it spreads contiguously through the 3-dimensional anatomy of the UMN and LMN levels, thus causing seemingly complex and varied clinical manifestations. This suggests motor neuron degeneration in ALS is in actuality a very orderly and actively propagating process and that fundamental molecular mechanisms may be uniform and their chief properties deduced. This also suggests opportunities for translational research to seek pathobiology directly in the less affected regions of the nervous system.
Keep Calm and Carry On: Reducing Elective Early‐Term Deliveries

Childbearing Poster Presentation Purpose for the Program Delivery before 39-week gestation is associated with increased neonatal morbidity and mortality. Significant risks associated with early-term delivery (defined as 37–38 6/7 weeks of gestation) include respiratory distress, transient tachypnea of newborn, admission to the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU), temperature instability, hypoglycemia, feeding difficulties, and high rates of hospital readmission. Elective delivery frequently is used to accommodate patient and physician convenience, with an increased risk that it may be performed earlier than is appropriate. In an effort to reduce neonatal complications, the March of Dimes and American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists recommend that elective delivery should not occur before 39 weeks of gestation. A multidisciplinary team of professionals at Baptist Hospital of Miami collaborated to adopt the 39th week of gestation elective early-term delivery initiative, with voluntary data collection reported to Leapfrog Group. Proposed Change The staff at Baptist Hospital of Miami (BHM) proposed to evaluate their elective early-term delivery scheduling processes and implement changes aimed to decrease elective early-term delivery rate to a benchmark proposed by the Leapfrog Group. Implementation, Outcomes, and Evaluation The first step of the evaluation involved retrospective data collection that demonstrated the elective early-term delivery rate was 30%. Educational programs were then presented to physicians and obstetric personnel that emphasized the importance of the initiative with the ultimate goal to decrease the incidence of elective early-term deliveries to the nationally proposed benchmark rate. Through implementation of educational programs for medical personnel and patient population, surveillance of elective delivery schedules, and enforcement of practice policies, including elimination of psychosocial indications for early delivery scheduling, the rate of elective early-term delivery steadily decreased from 30% to 5.1% during a period of 4 years. This decrease in early delivery rate occurred simultaneously with a decrease in associated NICU admissions from 14 cases in 2009 to 2 cases in 2013. These results demonstrate a necessity for multidisciplinary vigilance against needless early-term deliveries and shared responsibility for policy compliance to ensure optimal patient outcomes. Implications for Nursing Practice Improved adherence to The Joint Commission recommendations with reduction of early-term elective deliveries can be accomplished through initiatives that involve education, surveillance of elective delivery schedules, enforcement of practice policies, and ongoing outcome data collection and evaluation. Through the application of evidence-based practice, nurses are empowered to monitor elective deliveries with direct result to patient outcomes.
Sleepiness in Parkinson's disease: a controlled study.

Sudden-onset sleep episodes while driving have been reported in Parkinson's disease (PD) patients, and termed sleep attacks because they were reported to be irresistible and to occur without warning. We postulate that these episodes are due to excessive daytime sleepiness secondary to the high frequency of sleep disorders in PD patients and the sedative effects of dopaminergic medications. We assessed the frequency and relationship between excess daytime sleepiness and sleep episodes while driving (SE) in patients with PD. We evaluated 101 consecutive PD patients presenting to the Movement Disorder Center at the Mount Sinai School of Medicine using a questionnaire that incorporated a subjective estimate of sleepiness, the Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS) and information on disease severity and dopaminergic medications. One hundred age-matched respondents without PD served as a control population. Excess daytime sleepiness was reported in 76% of PD patients compared to 47% of controls (P or =10 were observed in 40.6% of PD patients compared to 19% of controls (P or =15, compared to 5% of controls (P < 0.001). Sleep episodes while driving were experienced by 20.8% of PD drivers compared to 6% of control drivers (P < 0.05). The mean daily levodopa (L-dopa) dose equivalent was 1,142 +/- 858 mg in PD drivers who experienced a SE while driving compared to 626 +/- 667 mg in those who had not (P < 0.05). Similarly, ESS was significantly greater in drivers with a SE than in those without (11.6 +/- 6.4 vs. 8.4 +/- 4.1; P < 0.05). Logistic regression analysis demonstrated that ESS and mean daily L-dopa dose equivalents were predictors of sleep episodes while driving, whereas age, gender, disease severity, and individual dopaminergic agents were not. These findings support the notion that sleep episodes while driving in PD patients are related to excess daytime sleepiness and dopaminergic load. Physicians should advise and treat patients accordingly.
Spiritual Transformation, Relation and Radical Empathy: Core Components of the Ritual Healing Process:

Based on studies of spirit healing, this article proposes a model of the process of ritual healing that is focused on the core components of spiritual transformation, relatedness and empathy. It describes the central role of spiritual transformation in healers from which emerges their capacity for relation and empathy. Many spirit healers, following a spiritual transformation, begin to exercise 'radical empathy,' in which individual differences between healer and sufferer are melded into one field of feeling and experience. The model is compared and contrasted with aspects of healing processes in some psychotherapeutic and analytic therapies. These comparisons are offered in the light of the growing interest in incorporating spirituality into psychological and medical treatments.A concluding section briefly explores some implications of aspects of the model of healing process that support the claim that it is widely applicable and identifies foundational components.