cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
T cell subsets and functions in atherosclerosis

Atherosclerosis is a chronic inflammatory disease of the arterial wall and the primary underlying cause of cardiovascular disease. Data from in vivo imaging, cell-lineage tracing and knockout studies in mice, as well as clinical interventional studies and advanced mRNA sequencing techniques, have drawn attention to the role of T cells as critical drivers and modifiers of the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis. CD4+ T cells are commonly found in atherosclerotic plaques. A large body of evidence indicates that T helper 1 (TH1) cells have pro-atherogenic roles and regulatory T (Treg) cells have anti-atherogenic roles. However, Treg cells can become pro-atherogenic. The roles in atherosclerosis of other TH cell subsets such as TH2, TH9, TH17, TH22, follicular helper T cells and CD28null T cells, as well as other T cell subsets including CD8+ T cells and γδ T cells, are less well understood. Moreover, some T cells seem to have both pro-atherogenic and anti-atherogenic functions. In this Review, we summarize the knowledge on T cell subsets, their functions in atherosclerosis and the process of T cell homing to atherosclerotic plaques. Much of our understanding of the roles of T cells in atherosclerosis is based on findings from experimental models. Translating these findings into human disease is challenging but much needed. T cells and their specific cytokines are attractive targets for developing new preventive and therapeutic approaches including potential T cell-related therapies for atherosclerosis. Accumulating evidence supports the critical role of T cells as drivers and modifiers of atherosclerosis. In this Review, Ley and colleagues describe the latest advances in our understanding of the role of T cell subsets in atherosclerosis, discuss the process of T cell homing to atherosclerotic plaques and highlight potential T cell-related therapies for atherosclerosis.
Black, Jeremy, Britain and Europe: A Short History: London: Hurst & Company, 256 pp., $24.95, ISBN 978-1787381186, Publication Date: April 2019

Jeremy Black, professor of history at Exeter University, attempts a difficult balance in Britain and Europe: between relevance to contemporary controversies, wisdom in bringing clarity to complex h...
Thermal hybrid exchange-correlation density functional for improving the description of warm dense matter

Finite-temperature density functional theory has become a standard tool for first-principles calculations of the properties of warm dense matter (WDM) relevant to high-energy-density physics (HEDP) applications. Here we present theoretical grounds of thermal hybrid exchange-correlation (XC) functionals within the generalized Mermin-Kohn-Sham scheme for an improved description of WDM. Building on the previously developed KSDT (Karasiev-Sjostrom-Dufty-Trickey) [Karasiev et al., Phys. Rev. Lett. 112, 076403 (2014)] local density approximation (LDA) and the KDT16 (Karasiev-Dufty-Trickey 2016) [Karasiev et al., Phys. Rev. Lett. 120, 076401 (2018)] generalized-gradient approximation (GGA) XC free-energy density functionals, we construct a novel thermal hybrid XC functional, referred to here as KDT0. The KDT0 model at low temperature reduces to the popular ground-state PBE0 hybrid due to properties of the used KDT16 density functional approximation. Application to static calculations of electronic band gap and band structure at a wide range of temperatures for various systems of interest to HEDP show that KDT0 provides a significant improvement to the lower LDA and GGA rung XC functionals and to the ground-state PBE0 hybrid.
Tractography Processing with the Sparse Closest Point Transform

We propose a novel approach for processing diffusion MRI tractography datasets using the sparse closest point transform (SCPT). Tractography enables the 3D geometry of white matter pathways to be reconstructed; however, algorithms for processing them are often highly customized, and thus, do not leverage the existing wealth of machine learning (ML) algorithms. We investigated a vector-space tractography representation that aims to bridge this gap by using the SCPT, which consists of two steps: first, extracting sparse and representative landmarks from a tractography dataset, and second transforming curves relative to these landmarks with a closest point transform. We explore its use in three typical tasks: fiber bundle clustering, simplification, and selection across a population. The clustering algorithm groups fibers from single whole-brain datasets using a non-parametric k-means clustering algorithm, with performance compared with three alternative methods and across four datasets. The simplification algorithm removes redundant curves to improve interactive visualization, with performance gauged relative to random subsampling. The selection algorithm extracts bundles across a population using a one-class Gaussian classifier derived from an atlas prototype, with performance gauged by scan-rescan reliability and sensitivity to normal aging, as compared to manual mask-based selection. Our results demonstrate how the SCPT enables the novel application of existing vector-space ML algorithms to create effective and efficient tools for tractography processing. Our experimental data is available online, and our software implementation is available in the Quantitative Imaging Toolkit.
Restoration Constitutionalism and Socialist Asia

In the course of political transformation in postcommunist East Europe, many nations chose to return to the constitutional order predating the domination of communism, the phenomenon scholarly characterized as “restoration constitutionalism.” Recently, China and Vietnam – two socialist nations in Asia – have witnessed the relatively similar phenomenon: past liberal constitutional values have been employed to struggle for constitutional reform, which challenges the communist status quo. This phenomenon is particularly striking in Vietnam in the circle of constitutional revision in the 2010s. This paper considers discourse of restoration constitutionalism in contemporary socialist Asia with particular focus on the case of Vietnam. The percept of this paper is that radical rupture is not a necessary condition for the operation of constitutionalism; instead, it is the constitutional continuity that provides the viability of constitutionalism. Discussing the discourse of restoration constitutionalism in China and Vietnam within this framework, the paper argues that restoration constitutionalism presents the new path of the development of constitutionalism in socialist Asia.
Diagnostic yield of coronary angiography in asymptomatic orthotopic liver transplantation candidates.

Abstract Background The ideal cardiac risk stratification strategy for orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT) is unknown. Our institution performed coronary angiography for asymptomatic OLT candidates at high risk for CAD : ≥65 years of age, diabetic and ≥55 years of age or diagnosed ≥5 years, abnormal stress test, or at the discretion of the OLT committee. Methods The analysis included 301 consecutive, asymptomatic OLT candidates who underwent coronary angiography. The primary outcome was the prevalence of obstructive CAD. Results At 2-year follow-up, OLT was performed in 44.9%, and 42.2% died. The prevalence of obstructive CAD, involvement of the proximal or mid LAD, and 3-vessel CAD were 10.3%, 6.6%, and 0.7%, respectively. Percutaneous and surgical revascularization were performed in 7.0% and 1.3%, respectively. Stress test was performed in 54.8%. The sensitivity and specificity of stress testing were 0% and 87.1%, respectively. The negative and positive predictive values of stress testing were 91.4% and 0%, respectively. Chest computed tomography (CT) was performed in 83.1%. Moderate or severe coronary artery calcification (CAC) was present in 47.8%. The sensitivity and specificity of moderate or severe CAC were 88.9% and 57.3%, respectively. The negative and positive predictive values of moderate or severe CAC were 97.7% and 20.2%, respectively. Multivariate analysis demonstrated that CAC was an independent predictor of obstructive CAD (HR 10.7; 95% CI 3.2–37.9; p Conclusions The prevalence of obstructive CAD in asymptomatic OLT candidates at high risk was uncommon. Alternative diagnostic strategies may be preferred to coronary angiography.
A fresh look at primary prevention for health risks.

The author analyzes how risk preferences affect primary prevention for health risks using Kihlstrom and Mirman (1974) transformation function approach. This ensures consistency of ordinal preferences. Higher risk aversion may increase or decrease optimal prevention depending on a probability threshold. Higher downside risk aversion always has a negative effect on optimal prevention. Our findings corroborate the role of downside risk aversion as an important determinant of optimal prevention for health risks but renders fear of sickness irrelevant. We also point out several unique properties of prevention for health risks compared to financial risks.
Promoting stability and peace in multi-ethnic African countries by reducing the marginalisation of ethnic minorities

I address four major objections that have been advanced against the system of multiparty majority democracy that I proposed as an alternative to Wiredu’s non-party consensual democracy. First, that...
The unintended consequences of US immigration enforcement policies

US immigration enforcement policy seeks to change the behaviors and views of not only individuals in the United States but also those of prospective migrants outside the United States. Yet we still know relatively little about the behavioral and attitudinal effects of US enforcement policy on the population abroad. This study uses a randomized experiment embedded in a nationally representative survey that was administered in El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and Mexico to analyze the effects of US deterrence policies on individuals' migration intentions and their attitudes toward the US immigration system. The two policies that the current study examines are immigration detention and nonjudicial removals. The survey results provide no evidence that a heightened awareness of these US immigration enforcement policies affects individuals' intentions to migrate to the United States. But heightened awareness about the widespread use of immigration detention in the United States does negatively impact individuals' assessments about the procedural and outcome fairness of the US immigration system. These findings suggest that immigration detention may foster delegitimating beliefs about the US legal system without producing the intended deterrent effect.
Has the Alien Tort Statute Made a Difference? A Historical, Empirical, and Normative Assessment

The Alien Tort Statute (ATS), which allows aliens to file civil suit in U.S. courts for violations of the law of nations, has been considered by many to be one of the most important legal tools for human rights litigation in the United States and perhaps even the world. The effectiveness of this tool, however, has been gradually eroded in a series of Supreme Court decisions. The statute’s latest trip to the Supreme Court came in October Term 2020 in a pair of cases: Nestle USA, Inc. v. Doe and Cargill, Inc. v. Doe, brought by former enslaved children trafficked from Mali to Cote d’Ivoire to work on cocoa plantations. The Court granted certiorari to consider whether the ATS could be used to seek compensation from corporations. The majority never reached the issue, holding instead that the plaintiffs sought inappropriately to apply the ATS extraterritorially. While the decision was not as bad for plaintiffs as some had expected, commentators lamented that the decision could have broad implications. This is an essential moment, then, to step back and assess the ATS. Before deciding how to move forward, it is necessary to assess where we have been, what the ATS has achieved, where it has fallen short, and to assess the range of options for human rights victims seeking justice. To do that, this Article undertakes the most comprehensive empirical study of the ATS to date. Using a database of every single case brought under the ATS in U.S. federal court that has resulted in a published opinion, this Article provides a detailed picture of ATS litigation from 1789 to the present. This quantitative data is augmented with detailed interviews with participants on both sides of the cases. The Article arrives at three main conclusions that lead to three sets of recommendations. First, the greatest barrier to ATS suits is the limitation on extraterritorial effect of the statute. In light of this finding, we recommend alternative strategies to provide accountability for human rights violations that take place outside the United States. Second, plaintiffs generally do not receive significant material benefits from ATS litigation, but they still benefit from the opportunity to be heard and to bring attention to the harms they have suffered. Given this finding, we suggest greater attention to options for alternative dispute resolution. Third, the ATS and other existing tools have proven inadequate for reaching corporate contributions to human rights violations. Hence serious consideration should be given to legislation, including due diligence requirements, aimed directly at this problem.
Monolayer organic thin films as contamination resistant coatings in optical elements

Silica substrates coated with organic thin films were exposed to stainless steel and silica micro-particles to determine the effectiveness in preventing particle contamination and cleaning efficiency by air flows. Three specially designed monolayers coatings were developed and tested. Laser induced damage tests were conducted to confirm that the coatings do not affect the LIDT values. The results suggest that although the accumulation of particles is not significantly affected, the coated substrates exhibit significantly improved cleaning efficiency with air flow. A size distribution analysis was conducted to study the adsorption and cleaning efficiency of particles of different sizes.
Algebraic Fuzzy Automata

A fuzzy finite state machine (ffsm) is a triple M = (Q, X, µ), where Q and X are finite nonempty sets and µ is a fuzzy subset of Q × X × Q, i.e., µ : Q × X × Q → [0, 1] . Let X* denote the set of all words of elements of X of finite length.
Central Projections of Intrinsically-photosensitive Retinal Ganglion Cells in the Macaque Monkey

Circadian rhythms generated by the suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN) are entrained to the environmental light/ dark cycle via intrinsically photosensitive retinal ganglion cells (ipRGCs) expressing the photopigment melanopsin and the neuropeptide pituitary adenylate cyclase-activating polypeptide (PACAP). The ipRGCs regulate other nonimage-forming visual functions such as the pupillary light reflex, masking behavior, and lightinduced melatonin suppression. To evaluate whether PACAP-immunoreactive retinal projections are useful as a marker for central projection of ipRGCs in the monkey brain, we characterized the occurrence of PACAP in melanopsin-expressing ipRGCs and in the retinal target areas in the brain visualized by the anterograde tracer cholera toxin subunit B (CtB) in combination with PACAP staining. In the retina, PACAP and melanopsin were found to be costored in 99% of melanopsinexpressing cells characterized as inner and outer stratifying melanopsin RGCs. Two macaque monkeys were anesthetized and received a unilateral intravitreal injection of CtB. Bilateral retinal projections containing colocalized CtB and PACAP immunostaining were identified in the SCN, the lateral geniculate complex including the pregeniculate nucleus, the pretectal olivary nucleus, the nucleus of the optic tract, the brachium of the superior colliculus, and the superior colliculus. In conclusion, PACAP-immunoreactive projections with colocalized CtB represent retinal projections of ipRGCs in the macaque monkey, supporting previous retrograde tracer studies demonstrating that melanopsin-containing retinal projections reach areas in the primate brain involved in both image- and nonimage-forming visual processing. J. Comp. Neurol. 522:2231–2248, 2014.
On the Multi-Threaded Computation of Modular Polynomial Greatest Common Divisors

We present a parallelization of the Brown-Collins algorithm in the PARSAC-2 Computer Algebra system, and we describe the design of our S- threads parallelization environment. PARSAC-2 is a parallel extension of SAC-2 built upon multiple threads of control provided by S-threads. The Brown-Collins algorithm computes the g.c.d. and its co-factors of two polynomials in Zp[x1,..., xr], r ≥ 2, by first reducing the problem to multiple g.c.d. calculations of modular homomorphic images (MHI) in Zp[x2,..., x r ], and then recovering the result by interpolation. After studying timings of the SAC-2 implementation, we first parallelize the interpolation algorithm, and then we parallelize the main MHI loop by executing the modular g.c.d. computations concurrently. We determine speed-up's and speed-up efficiencies over a wide range of polynomials.
Rewards to Improving Governance in Rich and Poor Countries: Evidence from Sovereign Credit Ratings

We measure the effect of governance on sovereign creditworthiness, as measured by sovereign credit ratings. Governance may affect the government's ability to raise tax revenue to service its debt, with poor enough governance leading to insolvency. Data for 1996-2005 indicate that countries with better governance have higher probabilities of getting top ratings and that improving governance increases the likelihood of a top rating more for lower income countries than for higher income countries. Governance thus plays a role in reducing the likelihood of default, thereby facilitating countries' access to international credit markets and their financial sector development.
Limited Literacy in Older People and Disparities in Health and Healthcare Access

OBJECTIVES: To determine the relationship between health literacy, demographics, and access to health care. DESIGN: Cross-sectional study, Health, Aging and Body Composition data (1999/2000). SETTING: Memphis, Tennessee, and Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. PARTICIPANTS: Two thousand five hundred twelve black and white community-dwelling older people who were well functioning at baseline (without functional difficulties or dementia). MEASUREMENTS: Participants’ health literacy was assessed using the Rapid Estimate of Adult Literacy in Medicine. Scores were categorized into 0 to sixth-, seventh- to eighth-, and ninth-grade and higher reading levels (limited health literacy defined as o9th grade). Participants’ demographics, socioeconomic status, comorbidities, and three indicators of healthcare access (whether they had a doctor/ regular place of medical care, an influenza vaccination within the year, or insurance for medications) were also assessed. RESULTS: Participants’ mean age was 75.6, 52% were female, 38% were black, and 24%had limited health literacy. After adjusting for sociodemographics, associations remained between limited health literacy and being male, being black, and having low income and education, diabetes mellitus, depressive symptoms, and fair/poor self-rated health (Po.02). After adjusting for sociodemographics, health status, and comorbidities, older people with a sixthgrade reading level or lower were twice as likely to have any of the three indicators of poor healthcare access (odds ratio 51.96, 95% confidence interval 51.34‐2.88). CONCLUSION: Limited health literacy was prevalent and was associated with low socioeconomic status, comorbidities, and poor access to health care, suggesting that it may be an independent risk factor for health disparities in older people. J Am Geriatr Soc 54:770–776, 2006.
Sinoaortic denervation prevents postexercise reductions in arterial pressure and cardiac sympathetic tonus

Arterial pressure, cardiac sympathetic tonus (ST), and heart rate (HR) are reduced after a single bout of dynamic exercise in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR). To test if the arterial barorefl...
The Effect of Dissolved Polyunsaturated Aldehydes on Microzooplankton Growth Rates in the Chesapeake Bay and Atlantic Coastal Waters

Allelopathy is wide spread among marine phytoplankton, including diatoms, which can produce cytotoxic secondary metabolites such as polyunsaturated aldehydes (PUA). Most studies on diatom-produced PUA have been dedicated to their inhibitory effects on reproduction and development of marine invertebrates. However, little information exists on their impact on key herbivores in the ocean, microzooplankton. This study examined the effects of dissolved 2E,4E-octadienal and 2E,4E-heptadienal on the growth rates of natural ciliate and dinoflagellate populations in the Chesapeake Bay and the coastal Atlantic waters. The overall effect of PUA on microzooplankton growth was negative, especially at the higher concentrations, but there were pronounced differences in response among common planktonic species. For example, the growth of Codonella sp., Leegaardiella sol, Prorodon sp., and Gyrodinium spirale was impaired at 2 nM, whereas Strombidium conicum, Cyclotrichium gigas, and Gymnodinium sp. were not affected even at 20 nM. These results indicate that PUA can induce changes in microzooplankton dynamics and species composition.
Differential selection within the Drosophila retinal determination network and evidence for functional divergence between paralog pairs.

SUMMARY The retinal determination (RD) network in Drosophila comprises 14 known nuclear proteins that include DNA-binding proteins, transcriptional coactivators, kinases, and phosphatases. The composition of the network varies considerably throughout the animal kingdom, with the network in several basal insects having fewer members and with vertebrates having potentially significantly higher numbers of RD genes. One important contributing factor for the variation in gene number within the network is gene duplication. For example, 10 members of the RD network in Drosophila are derived from duplication events. Here we present an analysis of the coding regions of the five pairs of duplicate genes from within the RD network of several different Drosophila species. We demonstrate that there is differential selection across the coding regions of all RD genes. Additionally, some of the most significant differences in ratios of non-silent-to-silent site substitutions (dN/dS) between paralog pairs are found within regions that have no ascribed function. Previous structure/function analyses of several duplicate genes have identified areas within one gene that contain novel activities when compared with its paralog. The evolutionary analysis presented here identifies these same areas in the paralogs as being under high levels of relaxed selection. We suggest that sequence divergence between paralogs and selection signatures can be used as a reasonable predictor of functional changes in rapidly evolving motifs.
AN OPTICALLY-TRIGGERED I-RTD HYBRID THz OSCILLATOR DESIGN

A design and analysis study is presented for a new optically-triggered (OT) interband resonant-tunneling-diode (I-RTD) device that has potential for generating terahertz (THz) frequency oscillations and achieving enhanced output power levels under pulsed operation. The proposed device utilizes novel nanoscale mechanisms to achieve externally driven oscillations that consist of two phases – i.e., an initial transient phase produced by a natural Zener (interband) tunneling process and a second discharging transient phase induced by optical annihilation of stored hole-charge by externally-injected photon flux. The specific focus of this paper will be on an OT-I-RTD oscillator that utilizes In1-xGaxAs /GaSbyAs1-y hetero-systems and the application of band-engineering to enable triggering by 1.55 μm laser technology. The paper presents performance results for the hybrid circuit design, along with a practical implementation strategy for integrating the optical triggering and an analysis of the heating induced during large signal operation.
Viscoelastic Deformation Of Fluoride Glass Fibers

Oxide fibers were shown to undergo permanent deformation under a stress of 1.7 G Pa at a temperature 350°C below Tq . Similar experiments were performed on ZBLAN (ZrF4-BaF2-LaF3- AlF3-NaF)glass fibers which have a much lower Tq (268°C) than oxide glasses. These fluorozirconate fibers undergo deformation undeg relatively low stress and at temperatures ranging from room temperature to 100°C. It is suggested that the bending may well be related to the large specific volume of the fibers compared to the bulk glass.
Natriuresis associated with elevated plasma atrial natriuretic hormone during supraventricular tachycardia.

Abstract Elevated plasma levels of atrial natriuretic hormone (ANH) have been found in patients during paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardia (SVT) and other clinical syndromes. However, physiologic effects of this endogenous ANH have not been demonstrated. To determine whether the rise in ANH during SVT is associated with either a natriuresis or kalluresis, urine sodium and potassium levels were measured in five patients at baseline and during SVT simulated by rapid atrioventricular pacing. Plasma ANH levels increased from 149 ± 35 pmol/L at baseline to 387 ± 31 pmol/L ( p = 0.007) during SVT. Plasma vasopressin and renin levels were unchanged. Urine sodium levels increased 49% from 1.54 ± 0.66 mEq/hr at baseline to 2.29 ± 0.89 mEq/hr ( p = 0.044) during SVT, and urine potassium levels increased 22% from 4.14 ± 0.10 mEq/hr to 5.04 ± 1.25 mEq/hr ( p = 0.018). Urine sodium and potassium levels returned to baseline values 1 hour after pacing. Thus elevated plasma levels of ANH during SVT are associated with both a natriuresis and kalluresis, which may represent physiologic effects of the endogenously secreted hormone.
Signature Recognition for Nuclear Detonations

Experiments have been performed on the recognition of nuclear detections by using coherent optical data-processing systems. The data, E-field signals recorded with a 10 khz bandwidth, were available from only ten events, all airdrops. Since the signals were of an unknown form, they were classified into sub-groups by using a cross-correlation technique. Spatial carrier-frequency filters, constructed for these signals, were then tested to determine their ability to recognize all ten signals while rejecting noise from atmospheric sources. The experiments, although of a preliminary nature, show that all the test signals can be recognized with a two-channel filter and that the nearest noise peak (from six samples) is 6–8 db less than the minimum correlation peak from any of the ten signals.
Neurochemical changes following the administration of precursors of biogenic amines.

Abstract Male Wistar rats were injected intraperitoneally with either saline, L-trytophan, D,L-5hydroxytryptophan, L-tyrosine, L-DOPA or choline and killed by the near-freezing method 15 and 45 min after injection. The brains were removed, pulverized and acetylcholine, dopamine, norepinephrine, 5-hydroxytryptamine, aspartate, glutamate, glycine and γ-aminobuttyric acid wwere extracted and concurrently measured using previously reported methods. Compared to saline injected controls, some precursors not only resulted in changes in the specific neurotransmiter systems being pertubated, but also changes in the content of other neurotransmitters.
A formulation for the relative permittivity of water and steam to high temperatures and pressures evolved using genetic programming

The relative permittivity (or static dielectric constant) of water and steam has been experimentally obtained from a relatively wide range of temperatures and pressures. A suite of functions for predicting the relative permittivity in four distinct thermodynamic regions is evolved using genetic programming. A data set comprised of all of the most accurate relative permittivity values, along with temperature, pressure, and density values, is used for this task. The accuracy of these functions is evaluated by comparing the values for the relative permittivity calculated using the evolved function and the values calculated using the latest formulation of Fernandez et al, to the aforementioned data set. In all regions, the newly evolved function performs comparably to or better than the most current formulation in terms of difference between calculated and experimental values for the dielectric constant. This research represents a successful application of artificial evolutionary techniques to relative permittivity prediction in physical chemistry.
Selection criteria among gastroenterologists and surgeons for laparoscopic antireflux surgery

Background: Symptomatic gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) affects a substantial proportion of the American population. The diagnosis and treatment of GERD has advanced tremendously over the past 30 years. However, there remains a lack of understanding about the differences and advantages that laparoscopic antireflux surgery offers and a lack of agreement on the ideal surgical candidate. The purpose of this study was to determine whether a significant difference exists in the practice habits and selection criteria for surgery between gastroenterologists and laparoscopic surgeons. Methods: Surveys were sent to 1,000 randomly selected members of the American Gastroenterological Association (AGA) and to 1,000 randomly selected members of the Society of American Gastrointestinal Endoscopic Surgeons (SAGES). As a result, 20% of the AGA surveys and 33% of the SAGES surveys were completed and returned. Results: The AGA group considered patients whose symptoms are not well controlled, those who have complications of disease, and those who require significant lifestyle changes to control their symptoms as the best candidates for surgical evaluation. As a group, gastroenterologists remain somewhat hesitant to refer patients for laparoscopic antireflux surgery. Surgeons considered patients whose symptoms have been well controlled with medical therapy, those who have complications of disease, and those who require significant lifestyle changes to control their symptoms as ideal candidates for fundoplication. Conclusion: A consensus should be reached between surgeons and gastroenterologists in establishing criteria for surgical intervention to manage GERD.
PEDIATRIC CHRONIC RHINOSINUSITIS: A STEP-WISE APPROACH TO MEDICAL AND SURGICAL MANAGEMENT

The diagnosis of chronic rhinosinusitis in children is clinical and is based on a well-described complex of symptoms. When these symptoms fail to resolve with typical medical therapies, options include continuation of the less-than-satisfactory-medical-management, reevaluation and treatment of less common causes, or surgical intervention. The authors report their approach to children with this common complaint and suggest that pursuing other causes of chronic sinusitis besides bacterial infection has been extraordinarily effective. Most children can be managed without sinus surgery. An exception to this is the child with severe, lifestyle-affecting headaches and computed tomography-demonstrated contact points. When surgery is indicated for a child with chronic sinusitis, minimally invasive techniques and a limited surgical plan should be considered. Aggressive tissue removal and membrane stripping are strongly discouraged.
Mitochondrial changes accompanying acriflavine-induced petite mutation in saccharomyces fragilis

Unlike the highly fermentative bakers' yeast varieties of Saccharomyces , the faculatively anaerobic Saccharomyces fragilis does not exhibit glucose repression of respiration, or the Crabtree effect, nor of mitochondrial formation. Subjection of an actively fermenting culture of the latter species to acriflavine and replica plating on appropriate media resulted in a low yield of respiratory-deficient mutants. Electron microscopy of cells of a culture derived from one of the mutants revealed grossly modified mitochondria, as compared with those of its wild-type parent, although the numbers of this structure per cell were essentially unaffected. Glucose failed to repress mitochondrial formation in this mutant, as it does in both wild-type and respiratory-deficient mutants of S. cerevisiae , or bakers' yeasts, and, unlike these latter organisms, continuous feeding of low concentrations of glucose does not restore the formation of morphologically normal mitochondria.
Concurrent Docetaxel and Thoracic Radiation in non—small-Cell Lung Cancer

Locally advanced (stages IIIA and IIIB) non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) represents approximately 25% of new cases of NSCLC diagnosed annually. The treatment strategy for these patients involves combined-modality therapy with chemotherapy and thoracic radiation. Furthermore, a subset of patients with stage IIIA disease undergo surgical resection. Docetaxel is a chemotherapy agent with activity in both first- and second-line treatment of patients with advanced NSCLC. Several recent studies have also incorporated docetaxel in the treatment of patients with stage III NSCLC as neoadjuvant therapy, alone or in combination with cisplatin or carboplatin and thoracic radiation. Docetaxel has also been used as consolidation therapy. This review will summarize the data to date on the use of docetaxel and thoracic radiation in the treatment of patients with stage III NSCLC.
Which study when? Iodinated contrast-enhanced CT versus gadolinium-enhanced MR imaging.

Robert A. Halvorsen, MD Until 2006, conventional radiologic wisdom suggested that a patient with renal failure who needed a contrast material–enhanced study should undergo magnetic resonance (MR) imaging instead of computed tomography (CT). Patients with renal failure were at risk of developing contrast material– induced nephropathy (CIN) if given iodinated contrast material, but there was little or no known risk with contrast-enhanced MR imaging. However, since the description of nephrogenic systemic fibrosis (NSF) (1,2), a systemic disorder that occurs in some patients with renal failure who were given gadolinium-based contrast agents, the relative risks of CIN from iodinated contrast media compared to the relative risk of developing NSF from gadolinium-based agents have become unclear. Daily, radiologists are presented with a dilemma in patients with renal insufficiency. Which type of study should be performed? What type of contrast agent, if any, should be administered? This article will describe CIN and the multiple controversies related to CIN itself and CIN in comparison with NSF. The problems of contrast medium extravasation, allergic and allergic-type reactions, and the role of iodinated contrast media in the pregnant patient will also be discussed.
Selected mechanisms of diuretic-induced electrolyte changes

Thiazide diuretic therapy has been associated with several biochemical electrolyte imbalances including potassium loss. The onset, duration and magnitude of potassium excretion can influence decisions concerning drug therapy, particularly in hypertensive patients at risk if they develop diuretic-induced hypokalemia. The potassium depletion seen during the course of antihypertensive therapy with thiazides is brought about by 2 primary mechanisms: the increased delivery of sodium to the distal tubules for sodium-potassium exchange, and the development of secondary hyperaldosteronism, which causes resorption of sodium with a loss of potassium into the urine. The diuresis caused by thiazides is maximal between 8 and 12 hours. However, resultant volume contraction stimulates elevated serum aldosterone levels, which can be present for 24 hours or longer. Therefore, potassium loss may exceed the period of diuresis. Diuretics are effective antihypertensive therapy in many patients with mild hypertension. Potassium-sparing agents can offset potassium imbalance that often occurs with diuretics, and thus, these agents have become an important addition to the physician's treatment armamentarium for appropriate patients.
Growth Hormone Releasing Hormone (GHRH) Signaling Modulates Intermittent Hypoxia-Induced Oxidative Stress and Cognitive Deficits In Mouse

Intermittent hypoxia (IH) during sleep, such as occurs in obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), leads to degenerative changes in the hippocampus, and is associated with spatial learning deficits in adult mice. In both patients and murine models of OSA, the disease is associated with suppression of growth hormone (GH) secretion, which is actively involved in the growth, development, and function of the central nervous system (CNS). Recent work showed that exogenous GH therapy attenuated neurocognitive deficits elicited by IH during sleep in rats. Here, we show that administration of the Growth Hormone Releasing Hormone (GHRH) agonist JI-34 attenuates IH-induced neurocognitive deficits, anxiety, and depression in mice along with reduction in oxidative stress markers such as MDA and 8-hydroxydeoxyguanosine, and increases in hypoxia inducible factor-1α DNA binding and up-regulation of insulin growth factor-1 and erythropoietin expression. In contrast, treatment with a GHRH antagonist (MIA-602) during intermittent hypoxia did not affect any of the IH-induced deleterious effects in mice. Thus, exogenous GHRH administered as the formulation of a GHRH agonist may provide a viable therapeutic intervention to protect IH-vulnerable brain regions from OSA-associated neurocognitive dysfunction. Sleep apnea, characterized by chronic intermittent hypoxia (IH), is associated with substantial cognitive and behavioral deficits. Here, we show that administration of a GHRH agonist (JI-34) reduces oxidative stress, increases both HIF-1α nuclear binding and downstream expression of IGF1 and erythropoietin (EPO) in hippocampus and cortex, and markedly attenuates water maze performance deficits in mice exposed to intermittent hypoxia during sleep.
Accessing Social Capital through the Academic Mentoring Process

This article explores how mentors and mentees create and maintain social capital during the mentoring process. I employ a sociological conceptual framework and rigorous qualitative analytical techniques to examine how students of color and first-generation college students access social capital through mentoring relationships. The findings indicate that mentors and mentees enter into these relationships because they believe they can either provide or receive important academic knowledge and resources during the mentoring process.
Microstructure design by twinning in high-temperature superconductor YBa2Cu3O7−δ for enhanced Jc at high magnetic fields

Abstract The principles of microstructure design by twinning in YBa 2 Cu 3 O 7− δ (YBCO) crystals for enhanced J c at high magnetic fields are developed. The resources of twin microstructure design in YBCO by twining are analyzed by comparing pinning capability of different microstructures: system of plane-parallel twin lamellas; system of wedge-shaped twins; microstructure composed of twin intersections. Rough estimations of relative pinning strength of the basic crystal defect for each specific type of twin microstructure were done.
Argument and verbal aggression in constructive and destructive family and organizational disagreements

This study explored the extent to which argumentative and verbally aggressive behavior is perceived in family and organizational disagreement situations which are either constructive or destructive. The comparison of participants’ and observers’ perceptions was of interest. Three hypotheses were derived from a recently developed model of aggressive forms of communication. Participants (N = 137) described in writing an experienced family or organizational disagreement which was either constructive or destructive. Later, 137 persons (observers) read the descriptions. Both participants and observers rated the communication described in terms of argumentative and verbally aggressive conduct. Considerable support was observed for two of the three hypotheses. More argument and less verbal aggression were observed in constructive as compared to destructive disagreements regardless of context. More verbal aggression was reported in family as compared to organizational disagreements. Finally, participants, when co...
Differences in osteogenic differentiation of adipose-derived stromal cells from murine, canine, and human sources in vitro and in vivo.

BACKGROUND Given the diversity of species from which adipose-derived stromal cells are derived and studied, the authors set out to delineate the differences in the basic cell biology that may exist across species. Briefly, the authors found that significant differences exist with regard to proliferation and osteogenic potentials of adipose-derived stromal cells across species. METHODS Adipose-derived stromal cells were derived from human, mouse, and canine sources as previously described. Retinoic acid, insulin-like growth factor-1, and bone morphogenetic protein-2 were added to culture medium; proliferation and osteogenic differentiation were assessed by standardized assays. In vivo methods included seeding 150,000 adipose-derived stromal cells on a biomimetic scaffold and analyzing healing by micro-computed tomography and histology. RESULTS Adipose-derived stromal cells from all species had the capability to undergo osteogenic differentiation. Canine adipose-derived stromal cells were the most proliferative, whereas human adipose-derived stromal cells were the most osteogenic (p < 0.05). Human cells, however, had the most significant osteogenic response to osteogenic media. Retinoic acid stimulated osteogenesis in mouse and canine cells but not in human adipose-derived stromal cells. Insulin-like growth factor-1 enhanced osteogenesis across all species, most notably in human- and canine-derived cells. CONCLUSIONS Adipose-derived stromal cells derived from human, mouse, and canine all have the capacity to undergo osteogenic differentiation. Canine adipose-derived stromal cells appear to be the most proliferative, whereas human adipose-derived stromal cells appear to be the most osteogenic. Different cytokines and chemicals can be used to modulate this osteogenic response. These results are promising as attempts are made to optimize tissue-engineered bone using adipose-derived stromal cells.
Exploring Societal and Ethical Views of Nanotechnology REUs

Little previous research has examined attitudes about societal and ethical issues (SEI) among interns participating in research experience for undergraduate programs (REUs) in nanotechnology, thus neglecting an important population for understanding the burgeoning views of the next generation of nanotechnology researchers. This study surveyed a sample of interns (N = 85) participating in the National Nanotechnology Infrastructure Network’s (NNIN) REU program during the summer of 2012. Our questions focused on interns’ experiences with education on ethical issues, as well as their attribution of responsibility for considering ethical issues, motivations to talk about ethical issues, and comfort level of discussing ethical issues with faculty, mentors, lab staff, and other REU students. Among key findings was that lab culture related to the extent to which REU interns felt comfortable discussing ethical issues. In addition, those who reported more discussions about ethical issues with their mentors were more likely to consider themselves as responsible for considering ethical issues. We conclude with recommendations and future research directions.
Minimum Variance Estimation Without Regularity Assumptions

Following the essential steps of the proof of the Cramer-Rao inequality [1,2] but avoiding the need to transform coordinates or to differentiate under integral signs, a lower bound for the variance of estimators is obtained which is (a) free from regularity assumptions and (b) at least equal to and in some cases greater than that given by the Cramer-Rao inequality. The inequality of this paper might also be obtained from Barankin’s general result [3]. Only the simplest case—that of unbiased estimation of a single real parameter—is considered here but the same idea can be applied to more general problems of estimation.
On the time to first failure in multicomponent exponential reliability systems

Abstract Consider an n -component reliability system having the property that at any time each of its components is either up (i.e., working) or down (i.e., being repaired). Each component acts independently and we suppose that each time the i th component goes up it remains up for an exponentially distributed time having mean μ i , and each time it goes down it remains down for an exponentially distributed time having mean υ i . We further suppose that whether or not the system itself is up at any time depends only on which components are up at that time. We are interested in the distribution of the time of first system failure when all components are initially up at time zero. In section 2 we show that this distribution has the NBU (i.e., new better than used) property, and in Section 3 we make use of this and other results to obtain a lower bound to the mean time until first system failure.
Participatory function allocation in manufacturing

Much of the allocation of functions in manufacturing environments has been technologically driven, leaving leftover tasks for humans to perform and failing to consider sociotechnical characteristics. An exploratory experiment is reported that sought a greater empirical understanding of participation in function allocation. The experiment involved student-based design teams charged with allocating functions for a real-life inspection task. Specific techniques such as the Nominal Group Technique (NGT) and the “think aloud” problem-solving technique were seen as useful to augment function allocation methodologies. Results suggest that design teams may be more effective than individuals for the task of function allocation in manufacturing. © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
The Cold War Origins of the U.S. Central Command

Abstract During the Carter administration the Middle East and Southwest Asia became a third major theater in the Cold War struggle along with Europe and the Far East. Initially, President Jimmy Carter tried to remove this region from the Cold War competition, but the collapse of the shah's regime in Iran prompted Carter to reverse course and to build a “Persian Gulf security framework” that later allowed the United States to deal with three wars and many smaller clashes. The interagency process implementing this dramatic change was rent with clashes of departmental interests. The State Department and the military services resisted the structural changes they would later need to confront not only the Soviet threat but also intraregional conflicts. Moreover, the Reagan administration, after forcing the Joint Chiefs of Staff to make the Central Command formal, actually slowed the process of its growth, leaving it far from ready to embark on the Gulf War in 1990–1991.