cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The business cycle is alive and well

Have the dynamic relations among macro variables changed markedly since the financial crisis? A dynamic factor model provides consistent evidence of stability across 248 variables The Great Moderation appears to be ongoing; you cannot reject the hypothesis that the standard deviation of four-quarter GDP growth is the same over 1984–2007 and over 2008–2018. Even so, the apparent slower GDP growth trend implies a substantial probability that a recession may start in the next 2 years, even not adding the risk that some large unprecedented negative event may occur. Because of low interest rates and already-large deficits, the ability of Congress and the Fed to mitigate the effects of a recession are historically constrained.
Phytomorphizing performance: plant performance in an expanded field

ABSTRACTThis essay embraces the possibilities offered by the “nonhuman turn” (Grusin vii) in the humanities and social sciences, and forwards the claim that plants are performers. In so doing, the essay analyzes the common claims about the ontology of performance, demonstrates how plants meet a strict rubric of evaluation for consideration as performers, and offers potential repercussions and opportunities for performance theory, if a plant performance is seriously considered.
Project Butterfly: Synergizing Immersive Virtual Reality with Actuated Soft Exosuit for Upper-Extremity Rehabilitation

Immersive Virtual Reality paired with soft robotics may be syner-gized to create personalized assistive therapy experiences. Virtual worlds hold power to stimulate the user with newly instigated low-cost, high-performance commercial Virtual Reality (VR) devices to enable engaging and accurate physical therapy. Soft robotic wear-ables are a versatile tool in such stimulation. This preliminary study investigates a novel rehabilitative VR experience, Project Butterfly (PBF), that synergizes VR Mirror Visual Feedback Therapy with soft robotic exoskeletal support. Nine users of ranging ability explore an immersive gamified physio-therapy experience by following and protecting a virtual butterfly, completed with an actuated robotic wearable that motivates and assists the user to perform rehabilitative physical movement. Specifically, the goals of this study are to evaluate the feasibility, ease-of-use, and comfort of the proposed system. The study concludes with a set of design considerations for future immersive physio-rehab robotic-assisted games.
"Jacob's Voice, Esau's Hands": Transparency as a First Amendment Right in an Age of Deceit and Impersonation

Changes in media technology often require a reevaluation of the underlying assumptions that guide policymakers. A case in point is the electronic media’s move to digital technology. The literature that describes this transition and its policy implications has focused on the more efficient use of the electromagnetic spectrum and the increased interoperability between broadcasting, telecommunications and computers, on new applications, fragmentation of audiences, globalization, the weakening of public service broadcasting, and on expanding user control amid increasing data collection. This Article will illustrate the dangers looming in the manipulative capabilities of these new technologies, their obstructive impact on free speech, and the obstacles they pose to conducting truthful ethical discourse in society resulting in the rise of a new “culture of deceit.” As a result, it will offer a new First Amendment right—the right for transparency. Indeed, technology alone cannot explain the motivations behind its excessive manipulative use, motivations that are deeply rooted in the rising culture of consumerism and the commercialization of the public sphere; however, technological change should be seen as a major
The era of RNA interference medicines: the clinical landscape of synthetic gene silencing drugs

Therapeutic oligonucleotides, such as small interfering RNAs (siRNAs), provide a simple and effective tool to modulate expression of any gene. siRNAs harness the RNA interference (RNAi) pathway to degrade disease-associated messenger RNAs (mRNAs). The inherent sequence specificity and potency of siRNAs makes them ideal drug candidates that are expected to transform drug development and our approach to human health. However, the first wave of clinical trials were not immediately successful and temporarily dampened the excitement over this newly discovered technology. Most studies did not meet desired efficacy and failed to achieve clinically-relevant endpoints. Poor chemical design, lack of enzymatic stability and inadequate delivery strategies were found to be the main issues stifling success. Recent advancements in RNA chemistry, biology, and mechanistic understanding of factors that define oligonucleotide pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic behavior have resulted in a fundamental shift in the clinical landscape of this novel class of therapeutic modalities . As a result, there has been a dramatic increase in both the numbers of clinical trials and, more importantly, the level of observed clinical efficacy. In 2018, we witnessed a major landmark for the field with the first RNAi-based therapeutic, Patisiran (Onpattro TM ), being approved by the Food and Drug Administration and the European Medicines Agency . Several other lead compounds have achieved unprecedented levels of activity following a single treatment dose, and hold great promise as new therapeutic strategies for liver diseases. This review gives an overview of the clinical landscape of synthetic RNAi drugs, contextualizing how advances in RNAi chemistry and formulation strategies have helped define the clinical utility of this promising class of drugs.
Edge Based Decision Making In Disaster Response Systems

Disaster response systems utilizing device analytics can help rescue teams to identify needs, prioritize responses, and increase response efficiency. Machine Learning (ML) refers to methods that can processes vast amounts of data observed during crises and can also predict future events, such as the potential aftershocks of an earthquake or additional flooding. Critical analytics require time-sensitive data processing that make optimal use of distributed edge computing to ensure realtime computation. This paper discusses the current progress in developing edge analytic decision-making systems for aerial vision processing. The system will use AI-driven techniques to analyze aerial footage and recreate a real-time model of the environment. Most importantly, the system will be able to detect and identify individuals in distress and immediately alert disaster responders. In the proposed framework, disaster scenarios are created in the virtual domain and environmental information collected at the edge is used to develop and test decision making systems that can generate an in-depth model of the entire environment for disaster responders.
Safety and feasibility of various fasting-mimicking diets among people with multiple sclerosis.

Abstract Background Fasting-mimicking diets have shown promise in experimental autoimmune encephalitis and are currently being investigated among people with multiple sclerosis (MS). Ensuring adherence to diet changes is critical to determining the efficacy of such interventions. Objective Our primary aim was to evaluate the safety and feasibility of several fasting-mimicking diets and investigate whether various levels of clinical support improve diet adherence among people with MS. Secondarily, this study evaluated the impact of fasting-mimicking diets on weight and patient-reported outcomes (PROs). Methods We conducted three pilot studies (two randomized controlled for 6 months; one randomized with transition to single arm) restricting either the amount or timing of calorie intake over 24 or 48 weeks. Interventions included calorie restriction (daily or intermittently) or time-restricted feeding. Adherence measures varied across studies but were collected at study visits along with weight and PRO data. Results A total of 90 participants enrolled; 70 completed the studies, with no serious adverse events reported. Overall adherence to the calorie restriction diets was poor. When participants were tasked with maintaining a diet in a pragmatic setting, neither previously completed intense clinical support and education, nor weekly electronic communication throughout the diet period appeared to improve diet adherence. Participants who were able to adhere to a calorie restriction diet predictably lost weight. In contrast to calorie restriction, adherence to a time-restricted feeding (TRF) diet was relatively good. No statistically significant changes in PROs were observed in an intention-to-treat analysis. Conclusion The role diet may play in clinical outcomes in MS remains unknown, as class I evidence is lacking. Diet adherence remains a primary barrier to the feasible conduct of large, randomized controlled diet trials. Strict adherence to a TRF dietary change may be more feasible than calorie restriction and should be considered in future fasting-mimicking diet trials. ClinicalTrials.gov Registry:A Pilot Study of Intermittent Calorie Restriction in Multiple Sclerosis – NCT02647502. A Pragmatic Trial of Dietary Programs in People with Multiple Sclerosis (MS) – NCT02846558
Federal Interference with State and Tribal Sports Betting Regulations Will Not Work: Where the Sports Wagering Integrity Act of 2018 Went Wrong and How Federal Legislation Might Be Effective

On Monday, May 14, 2018, the Supreme Court of the United States struck a fatal blow to the federal Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act (PASPA) when it determined PASPA violated the Tenth Amendment of the United States Constitution. Prior to the PASPA repeal, Nevada had been the only state in the United States (US) authorized to offer a full complement of legal sports betting options. Because, Nevada’s race books and sports pools have had the ability to offer wagers on sports since 1947, those legal sports betting operations were “grandfathered” into PASPA when it was passed by Congress in 1992. Having anticipated repeal as a possible outcome, four states passed laws making sports betting legal in case the Supreme Court ruled in New Jersey’s favor, and one state pre-emptively legalized sports betting through a ballot measure. With barriers removed by the PASPA repeal, state gambling regulators were able to grant licenses and adopt regulations. State legislatures were also able legalize sports wagering during their upcoming legislative sessions. And they did!
A Call to Action to Address Disparities in Palliative Care Access: A Conceptual Framework for Individualizing Care Needs

Palliative care is a values-driven approach for providing holistic care for individuals and their families enduring serious life-limiting illness. Despite its proven benefits, access and acceptance is not uniform across society. The genesis of palliative care was developed through a traditional Western lens, which dictated models of interaction and communication. As the importance of palliative care is increasingly recognized, barriers to accessing services and perceptions of relevance and appropriateness are being given greater consideration. The COVID-19 pandemic and recent social justice movements in the United States, and around the world, have led to an important moment in time for the palliative care community to step back and consider opportunities for expansion and growth. This article reviews traditional models of palliative care delivery and outlines a modified conceptual framework to support researchers, clinicians, and staff in evaluating priorities for ensuring individualized patient needs are addressed from a position of equity, to create an actionable path forward.
Examination of the trade-off between intrinsic and extrinsic properties in the optimization of a modern internal tin Nb3Sn conductor

In modern Nb3Sn wires there is a fundamental compromise to be made between optimizing the intrinsic properties associated with the superfluid density in the A15 phase (e.g. Tc, Hc, Hc2, all of which are composition dependent), maximizing the quantity of A15 that can be formed from a given mixture of Nb, Sn and Cu, minimizing the A15 composition gradients within each sub-element, while at the same time generating a high vortex pinning critical current density, Jc, by maximizing the grain boundary density with the additional constraint of maintaining the RRR of the Cu stabilizer above 100. Here we study these factors in a Ta-alloyed Restacked-Rod-Process (RRP®) wire with ∼70 μm diameter sub-elements. Consistent with many earlier studies, maximum non-Cu Jc(12 T, 4.2 K) requires preventing A15 grain growth, rather than by optimizing the superfluid density. In wires optimized for 12 T, 4.2 K performance, about 60% of the non-Cu cross-section is A15, 35% residual Cu and Sn core, and only 5% a residual Nb-7.5 wt% Ta diffusion barrier. The specific heat and chemical analyses show that in this 60% A15 fraction there is a wide range of Tc and chemical composition that does diminish for higher heat treatment temperatures, which, however, are impractical because of the strong RRR degradation that occurs when only about 2% of the A15 reaction front breaches the diffusion barrier. As this kind of Nb3Sn conductor design is being developed for sub-elements about half the present size, it is clear that better barriers are essential to allowing higher temperature reactions with better intrinsic A15 properties. We present here multiple and detailed intrinsic and extrinsic evaluations because we believe that only such broad and quantitative descriptions are capable of accurately tracking the limitations of individual conductor designs where optimization will always be a compromise between inherently conflicting goals.
Algorithms for Management Recommendations

The treatment to any condition commonly follows a stepwise approach once the correct diagnosis is made. This chapter presents treatment algorithms for the multitude of trigeminal nerve-related diagnoses that are straightforward and can be used as a quick reference.
Current approaches for the purification of antibody–drug conjugates

In the past two decades, antibody-drug conjugates have gained increasing attention because they expand the therapeutic index when compared with that of traditional chemotherapies. Antibody-drug conjugates are highly complex structures consisting of antibodies covalently conjugated with small-molecule cytotoxic drugs. The complex structure of antibody-drug conjugates makes chemistry, manufacturing, and control difficult. In contrast to antibody production, distinct purification methods following conjugation of antibodies with drug-linkers are required for the manufacturing. For process development of antibody drug conjugates, the drug-to-antibody ratio, free drug-linkers, and aggregates are critical quality attributes that must be strictly controlled and removed by appropriate purification techniques. In this review, features of various purification methods used to purify antibody drug conjugates are described and evaluated. The future landscape of the antibody-conjugates field is also discussed briefly.
Office Management of the Oppositional Child

Few things are more exasperating to the primary health care provider than the child who refuses to do anything and everything that he is told. Technically, to be diagnosed as oppositional, a child must be over three and under 18 with a least a 6-month history of disobedience, negativism, and provacative opposition to authority figures. The truly oppositional child has no trouble meeting and exceeding these criteria. While some parents will try very hard to convince themselves that “It’s a stage he’s going through,” few adults really believe that. An oppositional 3-year-old child may still have a number of behaviors that some adults will describe as “cute,” but, the word cute simply does not fit the older oppositional child. In practice, the parents’ reluctance to admit that their child is oppositional may prevent early diagnosis and delay treatment recommendations. For this reason, many primary providers have begun to ask parents to complete parent rating scales or inventories on their children. Two such inventories are the Conners’ Parent Symptom Questionnaire (Goyette et al, 1978) and the Eyberg Child Behavior Inventory (Robinson et al, 1980). Both are only one page in length and can be completed by the parent in a matter of minutes. Rather than compulsively score the answers and compare them to standardized names, most providers just scan the answers, mentally comparing them to the hundreds of completed forms that they have previously viewed.
WE‐EF‐207‐09: Single‐Scan Dual‐Energy CT Using Primary Modulation

Purpose: Compared with conventional CT, dual energy CT (DECT) provides better material differentiation but requires projection data with two different effective x-ray spectra. Current DECT scanners use either a two-scan setting or costly imaging components, which are not feasible or available on open-gantry cone-beam CT systems. We propose a hardware-based method which utilizes primary modulation to enable single-scan DECT on a conventional CT scanner. The CT imaging geometry of primary modulation is identical to that used in our previous method for scatter removal, making it possible for future combination with effective scatter correction on the same CT scanner. Methods: We insert an attenuation sheet with a spatially-varying pattern - primary modulator-between the x-ray source and the imaged object. During the CT scan, the modulator selectively hardens the x-ray beam at specific detector locations. Thus, the proposed method simultaneously acquires high and low energy data. High and low energy CT images are then reconstructed from projections with missing data via an iterative CT reconstruction algorithm with gradient weighting. Proof-of-concept studies are performed using a copper modulator on a cone-beam CT system. Results: Our preliminary results on the Catphan(c) 600 phantom indicate that the proposed method for single-scan DECT is able to successfully generate high-quality high and low energy CT images and distinguish different materials through basis material decomposition. By applying correction algorithms and using all of the acquired projection data, we can reconstruct a single CT image of comparable image quality to conventional CT images, i.e., without primary modulation. Conclusion: This work shows great promise in using a primary modulator to perform high-quality single-scan DECT imaging. Future studies will test method performance on anthropomorphic phantoms and perform quantitative analyses on image qualities and DECT decomposition accuracy. We will use simulations to optimize the modulator material and geometry parameters.
Potassium transport in roots

Publisher Summary The involvement of K+ in a number of plant functions (enzyme activation, maintenance of turgor, protein synthesis), along with the relatively high permeability of plant cell membranes to K+, has been the basis for the study of K+ transport as a model system for plant ion transport. Numerous investigations have been conducted over the past 40 years, aimed at furthering the understanding of the mechanism(s), energetics, and cellular location of K+ transport systems in roots. Despite the surfeit of literature in these areas, it can be said with some confidence that the processes by which K+ ions are transported into and across the root are still far from being fully resolved. This is because of the complex nature of the root, with its various cell types and tissues. Additional complications arise from the fact that the individual cells are coupled (both electrically and physiologically) via plasmodesmata, and also simply from the complex nature of individual cells, with their multiple compartments and subcompartments. This chapter outlines and summarizes what is known (or at least thought to be known) concerning mechanistic aspects of K+ transport in roots. The regulation of these transport processes are discussed in the context of the integration of these cellular processes at the organ and whole plant level.
FastFDs: A Heuristic-Driven, Depth-First Algorithm for Mining Functional Dependencies from Relation Instances - Extended Abstract

The problem of discovering functional dependencies (FDs) from an existing relation instance has received considerable attention in the database research community. To date, even the most efficient solutions have exponential complexity in the number of attributes of the instance. We develop an algorithm, FastFDs, for solving this problem based on a depth-first, heuristic-driven (DFHD) search for finding minimal covers of hypergraphs. The technique of reducing the FD discovery problem to the problem of finding minimal covers of hypergraphs was applied previously by Lopes et al. in the algorithm Dep-Miner. Dep-Miner employs a levelwise search for minimal covers, whereas FastFDs uses DFHD search. We report several tests on distinct benchmark relation instances involving Dep-Miner, FastFDs, and TANE. Our experimental results indicate that DFHD search is more efficient than Dep-Miner's levelwise search or TANE's partitioning approach for many of these benchmark instances.
Modulation of granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor mRNA stability in vitro by the adenosine-uridine binding factor.

In vitro decay of granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) mRNA was examined on polysomes prepared from normal human peripheral blood mononuclear cells stimulated with phorbol ester (TPA) and phytohemagglutinin for 14 h. GM-CSF mRNA decayed with a half-life of 90 min while 18 S rRNA was stable. RNA gel mobility assay performed on crude cytosolic lysate (S20) with radiolabeled AUUUA containing RNA identified a 42-kDa RNA-protein complex on SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. The binding specificity was identical to that of the previously described adenosine-uridine binding factor (AUBF) (Malter, J. S. (1989) Science 246, 664-666). Further fractionation of the S20 cytosol through a sucrose gradient showed > 90% of AUBF activity associated with polysomes and 95% of polysome-associated AUBF. A decay system thus depleted of AUBF activity also showed accelerated decay of GM-CSF mRNA (t1/2 = 20 min). These data show that AUBF is preferentially located on polysomes and that its removal destabilizes GM-CSF mRNA. Therefore, AUBF likely prevents GM-CSF mRNA decay by binding to the AUUUA instability determinants in the 3'-untranslated region.
Further Studies on a Defect in the Intracellular Transport and Secretion of Proteins by the Liver of Choline-deficient Rats

Abstract The synthesis and transfer of proteins by the liver to the plasma have been studied in rats fed a choline-supplemented or a choline-deficient diet for 1 to 3 days. In choline-deficient rats, the pool of circulating lipoproteins, but not that of albumin, is measurably reduced. Acute choline deficiency impairs neither the incorporation in vitro or in vivo of 14C-leucine into proteins by the liver nor the catabolism of plasma total proteins or of albumin. However, after injection of 14C-leucine the labeling of plasma albumin is delayed, while that of plasma lipoproteins is persistently lower in choline-deficient rats than in controls. The results suggest the rapid induction by choline deficiency of a defect in the intracellular transport and secretion into plasma of proteins synthesized by the liver. In the case of albumin the basic lesion appears to be a slowdown in its intracellular transport, with only a transient effect on its rate of secretion and an insignificant decrease of its pool in the circulation. In the case of plasma lipoproteins, however, the rate of secretion also appears to be significantly affected. These defects are in all likelihood related to changes in the membrane system of hepatocytes and to a failure in the conjugation of plasma lipoproteins, stemming from alterations in the synthesis of choline-containing phospholipids by the liver of choline-deficient rats.
Mathematics teachers' abilities to use and make sense of drawn representations

This qualitative study considers middle grades' mathematics teachers' abilities to make sense of drawn representations of fraction and decimal operations. Our interest was in understanding how teachers interpret these drawings and whether they can flexibly move within and between the various drawings. Our findings focus issues of relevant mathematics that emerged as well as teachers' abilities to move between and within the various drawings of interest. The conclusions tie our findings to the need for more professional development to support teachers in using drawn representations.
Delay versus deviance in autistic social behavior

The pattern of acquisition of social, communication, and daily living skills was examined for autistic children, compared to retarded and normal controls, by quantifying intradomain scatter on the Vineland Adaptive Behavior Scales. Autistic children were matched to normal children and mentally retarded children on Vineland raw scores; group differences in scatter were examined for each domain of adaptive behavior. Autistic children had significantly more scatter on Communication and Socialization than both control groups. Item analyses showed that the autistic children had particular weaknesses on items reflecting attention to and pragmatic use of language, as well as play and reciprocal social interaction; the autistic children had particular strengths on items reflecting written language and rote language skills, and rule-governed social behavior. The number of items showing consistent group differences, however, was small, suggesting that although autistic development appears sequentially deviant and not merely delayed, individual autistic children derive their scatter from different items, and are a developmentally heterogeneous group.
The role of IEEE computer society in the Information Age

The Vilnius Declaration key to success is finding a practical, affordable way to promote education. The IEEE Computer Society pioneered the use of the ICT technology to deliver continuing education to its members at an affordable cost. Through the use of the internet, our members can learn at their leisure basic elements in many popular programming languages, operating systems, data base and network systems and project management, among others. Members have free access to 100 Web-based training courses and in 2004 will have free access to 100 online reference books through our new Online Books program. They can also take a course to study elements of software engineering to help them prepare for an examination that would certify them as a qualified software engineer. The digital library provides practicing engineers and researchers key developments in the entire computing field in the last 15 years. Based on the success in the last five years, the Computer Society plans to expand this service to cover even more ground. Long-term plans include additional certification programs, such as a credential for software project management, and additional tutorials to include more advanced topics. Perhaps even in partnership with universities to facilitate the earning of academic credentials by members. The same technology and data base is accessible worldwide and can be used to help engineers and scientists in the developing countries to acquire new knowledge. With the help and cooperation of organizations such as UNESCO and other similar professional societies, we believe the IEEE Computer Society can play an important role in bridging the digital divide.
T-cells and macrophages in HIV disease

HIV infection in humans is associated with a broad spectrum of immunologic abnormalities (1). This brief article focuses on immunological changes that occur in the major targets for HIV infection, the T-cell, and the macrophage.
Surface and grain boundary segregation of sulfur and boron in nickel

Abstract Auger Electron Spectroscopy and Secondary Ion Mass Spectrometry were used to study surface and grain boundary segregation of B and S in Ni. Sulfur segregation was not influenced by the presence of boron and resulted in a uniform monolayer surface and grain boundary coverage. Segregation of boron differed from that of sulfur and resulted in the precipitation of Ni 3 B in the near surface layer. At temperature analysis showed that bondes dissolved into the matrix at temperatures above 923 K and precipitated during cooling. This process did not affect the segregation of sulfur, which covered the bondes and matrix uniformly. Grain boundary segregation of boron, its effect on the co-segregation of sulfur and on the tendency for intergranular fracture were studied using hydrogen charged in situ fractured samples. Addition of boron to Ni reduced the tendency for intergranular fracture. A small amount of boron was found at the grain boundaries, together with sulfur and carbon; the sulfur and carbon levels were about 20% smaller than in the boron-free sample. These results suggest that boron has a beneficial effect on the strength of the grain boundaries and also reduces the negative effect of sulfur segregation on the boundary properties.
An improved pCO2 microelectrode

Abstract By utilizing the recently developed glass-membrane pH microelectrode an improved pCO 2 microelectrode has been manufactured. The new pCO 2 microelectrode described here has been made with tip diameters ranging from 2 to 200 μm. In addition, the sensitivity (slope) was nearly theoretical, 56 to 60 mV/log pCO 2 , the response time was 1–3 min, and the intercept stability (drift) was less than 3 mV/20-min time interval. Finally, the lifetime of this electrode was several days to a week when stored correctly. The most unique quality of this pCO 2 microelectrode was that the eperatienal characteristics, tip diameter, sensitivity, and response time, could be controlled by adhering to predetermined design considerations.
Effect of Bilateral Atrial Appendectomy on Postprandial Sodium Excretion in Conscious Monkeys

We have shown that bilateral atrial appendectomy attenuates the increase in atrial natriuretic factor and sodium excretion that occurs after acute blood volume expansion. These findings suggest that the atrial appendages influence renal sodium excretion. The purpose of the present study was to determine whether atrial appendectomy alters the increase in sodium excretion that occurs postprandially. One to two weeks after surgery, conscious monkeys (Macaca fascicularis) were given a meal through a nasogastric tube. The meal consisted of water (20 ml/kg), sodium (2.5 mmol/kg), carbohydrate (2.65 g/kg), protein (0.68 g/kg), and fat (0.89 g/kg). Postprandial changes in renal function were monitored for 210 min after the meal was started. In the sham animals, urine flow increased from 0.23 +/- 0.04 to 0.55 +/- 0.05 ml/min, sodium excretion increased from 28.6 +/- 7.8 to 84.4 +/- 12.3 mumol/min and fractional sodium excretion increased from 1.35 +/- 0.38% to 3.06 +/- 0.43%. Bilateral atrial appendectomy (ATX) significantly attenuated the renal responses to the meal. Urine flow in the ATX animals increased from 0.19 +/- 0.03 to 0.30 +/- 0.02 ml/min, sodium excretion increased from 26.5 +/- 5.8 to 45.8 +/- 15.2 mumol/min, and fractional sodium excretion increased from 0.99 +/- 0.02% to 1.53 +/- 0.34%. Postprandial changes in renal and systemic hemodynamics were also monitored and were similar in both groups. Plasma levels of atrial natriuretic factor were also similar in both groups and did not increase postprandially. These findings demonstrate that bilateral atrial appendectomy attenuates postprandial-induced increases in sodium excretion by mechanisms that do not involve an increase in atrial natriuretic factor.
Multistrain comparison of three antimicrobial prophylaxis regimens in experimental postoperative Pseudomonas endophthalmitis

We compared subconjunctivally administered ceftazidime and BMY 28142, two third-generation cephalosporins, to a regimen of gentamicin and cefazolin for their ability to prevent experimental Pseudomonas postoperative endophthalmitis in rabbits. After extracapsular lens extraction, an inoculum of Pseudomonas was injected into the vitreous; one of the three antimicrobial regimens was then administered subconjunctivally. All 25 eyes treated with gentamicin and cefazolin became infected (P = 1). Two of 25 eyes treated with BMY 28142 became infected (P
Initial report of percutaneous right ventricular assist for right ventricular shock secondary to right ventricular infarction

A 57-year-old female suffered an acute inferior ST segment elevation myocardial infarction. The patient failed thrombolysis and was urgently transferred for rescue percutaneous coronary intervention of the right coronary artery. She decompensated after reperfusion of the occluded RCA and developed cardiogenic shock from severe right heart failure refractory to IABP support and maximal pressors. A percutaneous right ventricular assist device was successfully implanted, which improved mean arterial pressure to a viable range and allowed withdrawal of inotropic medications. Right ventricular failure after infarction remains difficult to manage and has a high mortality. Intraaortic balloon pump and LVAD support have not proven beneficial in cardiogenic shock secondary to RV infarction. This is a report of the first insertion of a percutaneous right ventricular assist device for right ventricular support in a human. Further evaluation is warranted to evaluate the potential benefits of such a device as well as optimal timing of initiation of RV support.
Is a low viscosity bonding resin necessary

Summary Low viscosity bonding resins have been introduced for use on etched enamel surfaces prior to the application of the viscous composite resins. In this in vitro study the effects of a low viscosity bonding resin on the bond strength, adaptation and microleakage of a composite resin to etched enamel were evaluated. The low viscosity bonding resin did not improve the tensile bond strength of a composite resin to etched enamel, did not increase resin penetration into etched enamel and did not decrease marginal leakage at the composite resin/etched enamel interface. The continued use of low viscosity bonding resins in clinical dentistry is questioned.
Epoprostenol for Treatment of Pulmonary Hypertension in Patients With Systemic Lupus Erythematosus

Objective Pulmonary hypertension with pathologicalchanges similar to those observed in primary pulmonary hypertensionoccurs in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Theefficacy of chronic epoprostenol therapy in SLE has not been welldescribed. The objective of this paper is to describe our experiencewith long-term epoprostenol therapy in patients with pulmonaryhypertension associated with SLE. Design Case seriesof six patients with SLE and associated pulmonary hypertensionreceiving chronic treatment with epoprostenol. Results All 6 patients had severe pulmonary hypertension.Mean pulmonary artery pressure (mPAP) was 57 ± 9 mm Hg (mean±SD), and pulmonary vascular resistance was 14 ± 7 units beforebeginning therapy with epoprostenol. In 4 patients who underwent repeathemodynamic evaluation (9 to 16 months after starting epoprostenol), mean pulmonary artery pressure decreased by 38 ± 21% andpulmonary vascular resistance by 58 ± 12%. Clinically, allpatients improved from New York Heart Association class III or IV toclass I or II. Doses of epoprostenol ranged from 4 to 46 ng/kg/min, andthe longest duration of therapy has been 2.5 years. Side effects fromepoprostenol have not differed from those seen in patients with primarypulmonary hypertension, and except for one patient, there has been noexacerbation of SLE. Conclusion Epoprostenol waseffective for the treatment of pulmonary hypertension in this smallgroup of patients with SLE. Further evaluation of epoprostenol therapyfor patients with SLE and other diseases associated with pulmonaryhypertension is warranted.
Female Delinquents and Restorative Justice

As imprisonment rates increase in America, women are being adversely affected. Although women are still a minority in terms of the total number of persons incarcerated, their numbers are rising faster than those of men. This article looks at this disheartening trend and makes the case the restorative justice can be used as gender-specific programming for female delinquents.
THE VITAMIN A‐ZINC CONNECTION: A REVIEW

A general summary of typical results involving animal studies is shown in TABLE 7. A consistent and established finding is a reduction of plasma vitamin A concentration in zinc-deficient animals despite diets adequate in vitamin A. However, it appears that the depressed plasma vitamin A is not a result of zinc deficiency per se but rather is nonspecific, resulting from food- and growth-restriction factors associated with zinc deficiency. Food restriction apparently is the critical factor, since both immature and mature nongrowing zinc-deficient animals have exhibited the decreased plasma vitamin A concentration. However, this point needs clarification. Liver vitamin A concentration is usually unaltered by the zinc deficiency, suggesting no defect in absorption or transport to the liver. In regard to retinol-binding protein, it appears from the animal studies that zinc deficiency per se has an effect on both the plasma and liver RBP concentrations. We have hypothesized that zinc deficiency impairs RBP synthesis. It is speculated that only severe zinc deficiency results in a deficit of a sufficient magnitude for impairment of vitamin A metabolism at the cellular level. For example, retinene reductase, an apparent zinc-metallo alcohol dehydrogenase of the retina, appears to be sensitive to a severe zinc deficiency in animal studies. In humans, impaired dark adaptation may be a result of inadequate supplies of the metabolizable zinc necessary to maintain the activity of the enzyme system. Thus, the conversion (dehydrogenation) of vitamin A alcohol to vitamin A aldehyde is impaired, with a resulting abnormality in dark adaptation, i.e., night blindness. Indeed, the limited number of human studies suggest that zinc supplementation may be beneficial to vitamin A metabolism only in conditions where zinc deficiency is prevalent as indicated by low (less than 70 micrograms/100 ml) plasma zinc. Conversely, zinc supplementation is of little benefit in conditions where vitamin A metabolism is altered but zinc status is normal. Therefore, definitive clinical studies involving primary zinc deficiency must be conducted before final conclusions can be made regarding the interrelationships of zinc and vitamin A in health and disease.
Effect of the Northern Fowl Mite, Ornithonyssus sylviarum (Canestrini and Fanzago) on White Leghorn Roosters,

Abstract The mean body weight of White Leghorn roosters was approximately 100 g. less than that of uninfested roosters 4 weeks after they were infested with the northern fowl mite, Ornithonyssus sylviarum (Canestrini and Fanzago). Both groups increased in weight throughout the 20 weeks of the test, but the differences in weight remained. Reproductive potential studies showed that after moderate populations of mites (101-1000 mites/rooster) were observed, the volume of seminal fluid decreased. Four weeks before the test ended, one-half of the infested roosters produced an average of less than 0.1 ml. of seminal fluid per week while the other half showed a decrease of 0.07 ml. in volume of seminal fluid produced when compared with the control. Sperm concentration of mite-infested roosters increased as the volume of seminal fluid decreased but was not significantly different from the controls. Motility and live/dead ratios of sperm did not show significant differences. Serum testosterone levels were significantly decreased by mite populations. Hematology studies showed the greatest decrease in red blood cell counts, and packed cell volume occurred from the 4th to the 8th week when infestations were initially increasing rapidly. Mean hemoglobin concentrations for the infested birds were numerically lower but not significantly different from the controls. No specific anemia could be attributed to mite populations as all hematological values were within normal ranges.
Design, development, and flight qualification of the optical receiver for the NEAR laser range finder

The Near Earth Asteroid Rendezvous (NEAR) Laser Rangefinder (NLR) is a bistatic system using a diode pumped Nd:YAG laser and a Dall-Kirkham telescope for a receiver. The NLR is one of a suite of five scientific data gathering instruments on the NEAR spacecraft. The NLR receiver is sensitive to incident IR radiation (1064 nm) and can detect return signals from the asteroid as low as 0.1 fJ per pulse, which corresponds to an average power of 9 nW (10 ns pulse). The design, development,a nd testing of the receiver will be discussed in this paper. Technological legacies from other space based programs were significant in meeting the schedule and cost requirements of a Discovery series program and will be discussed herein. Finally, the development of a cost effective, low impact, Level 50 clean area (pivotal in achieving the required environment for integration and test) will be presented.
Maternal complement C1q and increased odds for psychosis in adult offspring

The presence of maternal antibodies to food and infectious antigens may confer an increased risk of developing schizophrenia and psychosis in adult offspring. Complement factor C1q is an immune molecule with multiple functions including clearance of antigen-antibody complexes from circulation and mediation of synaptic pruning during fetal brain development. To determine if maternal C1q was associated with offspring schizophrenia and psychosis, we evaluated 55 matched case-control maternal serum pairs from the National Collaborative Perinatal Project. Sample pairs were composed of mothers whose offspring developed psychoses as adults and those whose offspring were free from psychiatric disease. Matching criteria for offspring included birth date, delivery hospital, race, and gender, with further matching based on mother's age. IgG markers of C1q, bovine milk casein, egg ovalbumin, and wheat gluten were measured with enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays. C1q levels were compared to food antigen IgG and to previously generated data for C-reactive protein, adenovirus, herpes simplex viruses, influenza viruses, measles virus, and Toxoplasma gondii. C1q was significantly elevated in case mothers with odds ratios of 2.66-6.31 (conditional logistic regressions, p ≤ 0.008-0.05). In case mothers only, C1q was significantly correlated with antibodies to both food and infectious antigens: gluten (R(2)=0.26, p ≤ 0.004), herpes simplex virus type 2 (R(2)=0.21, p ≤ 0.02), and adenovirus (R(2)=0.25, p ≤ 0.006). In conclusion, exposure to maternal C1q activity during pregnancy may be a risk factor for the development of schizophrenia and psychosis in offspring. Prenatal measurement of maternal C1q may be an important and convergent screening tool to identify potentially deleterious immune activation from multiple sources.
PHOTOSYNTHETIC PHYSIOLOGY AND CHEMICAL COMPOSITION OF SPORES OF THE KELPS MACROCYSTIS PYRIFERA, NEREOCYSTIS LUETKEANA, LAMINARIA FARLOWII, AND PTERYGOPHORA CALIFORNICA (PHAEOPHYCEAE)1

Recently released spores of the kelps Macrocystis pyrifera (L.) C. Ag., Nereocystis luetkeana (Mert.) Post. and Rupr., Laminaria farlowii Setch., and Pterygophora californica Rupr. had different levels of net photosynthesis. Spore-specific photosynthesis–irradiance relationships were similar in many respects for M. pyrifera, N. luetkeana, and L. farlowii spores. All three species had low rates of net light-saturated photosynthesis. In contrast, spores of P. californica had higher photosynthetic potential and overall net photosynthesis than the other three species. On a cell carbon basis, however, photosynthetic rates in N. luetkeana spores were similar to those of P. californica spores and higher than those of M. pyrifera spores. Chlorophyll a content of spores varied 10-fold among species. The rank order of significant differences in chlorophyll a content was P. californica > L. farlowii > N. luetkeana > M. pyrifera. As a result, chlorophyll-specific measurements suggest M. pyrifera and N. luetkeana spores had much higher quantum efficiency and photosynthetic potential than either P. californica or L. farlowii spores. Maternal carbon and nitrogen investment significantly differed in spores of M. pyrifera, N. luetkeana, and P. californica with P. californica > M. pyrifera > N. luetkeana. Carbon content in spores of each of these three species increased by about 30% during 12 h of saturating irradiance. We suggest that the photosynthetic capabilities of and maternal investment in spores may be related to the spore as a unit of dispersal, to the reproductive ecology of the parental sporophytic stages, and to the growth and physiology of the germling gametophyte stages.
Motor Outcomes in 4-Year-Old Children Born at Various Degrees of Perinatal Risk 1292

The first purpose of this study was to provide preschool (age 4) motor outcome data on four different groups of premature children categorized by perinatal insult and one full-term control group. The hypothesis states that motor outcomes will vary as a function of birth group. Preschoolers who suffered severe neurological insult at birth will have the lowest fine, oral, gross, and visual motor integration scores compared to all other groups. The second purpose was to determine the effects of three variable sets in understanding preschool motor ability. The hypothesis asserts that proximal, distal, and child sets will each have an independent effect in determining 4-year-old motor outcomes. The sample included 184 preschoolers and their mothers who were participating in a longitudinal child development study. To assure variability in perinatal risk status and socioeconomic status, the five groups included fullterm infants, healthy preterms, as well as, sick, central nervous system, and small for gestational age preterm infants. Three predictor sets, proximal, distal, and child, and four motor outcomes were measured by multiple methods. Children born prematurely scored lower on all dimensions of motor function. As predicted, the central nervous system group performed the poorest on all assessment dimensions. Impaired developmental functioning in this group appears to be related to the severity of intraventricular hemorrhage (IVH) experienced by these children. All children in this group had Grade 3 or 4 IVH. Prematurity complications had a differential effect on motor function. Hierarchical regression models explained 16-40% of motor score variance. Results are discussed in relation to heterogeneity of prematurity and proximal, distal, and child influences on motor outcomes.