cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
TSPO polymorphism in individuals with alcohol use disorder: Association with cholesterol levels and withdrawal severity

The translocator protein (TSPO) transports cholesterol into mitochondria and is involved in steroidogenesis. The TSPO polymorphism rs6971 influences binding of cholesterol and other TSPO ligands including positron-emission tomography (PET) imaging radiotracers. Although it is recognized that alcohol increases plasma high-density lipoproteins (HDLs), its effects on total cholesterol and triglycerides along with its relationship to TSPO genotype have not been assessed. Here, we evaluated whether plasma cholesterol and triglycerides are disrupted in alcohol use disorder (AUD) and their association with rs6971 in 932 AUD participants (DSM IV or 5) and 546 controls. AUD participants compared with controls had significantly higher plasma levels of total cholesterol, HDL, and triglycerides, but not of low-density lipoprotein (LDL). In the AUD group only, TSPO rs6971 had a significant effect on plasma levels of cholesterol, LDL, and triglycerides (AA (n = 62) > AG (n = 319) > GG (n = 551)), but not on HDL levels. Additionally, we showed a significant effect of TSPO rs6971 on withdrawal scores (Clinical Institute Withdrawal Assessment for Alcohol [CIWA]), with higher scores in AA (n = 50) compared with AG (n = 238) and GG (n = 428). CIWA scores in AUD participants correlated negatively with LDL and positively with HDL, but not with total cholesterol or triglycerides. These findings corroborate elevated plasma cholesterol and HDL levels in AUD and document significant increases in triglycerides. We also reveal for the first time an association in AUD participants between TSPO rs6971 genotype and plasma cholesterol, LDL, and triglyceride levels (not for HDL) and with withdrawal severity. Mediation analyses revealed that LDL (but not HDL) influenced the association between TSPO and alcohol withdrawal severity.
Ultrasound Criteria for Assessment of Vertebral Artery Origins.

Background and purpose We sought to validate ultrasound as a reliable means of assessing vessel stenosis of vertebral artery origins. Methods We reviewed 1,135 patient charts with ultrasound of the posterior circulation performed in 2008-2015 in a single hospital. Inclusion criteria for native vessels consisted of ultrasound and digital subtraction angiography (DSA) performed within 3 months. Patients with indwelling stents were analyzed separately from native vessels. Using DSA as the gold standard, we determined sensitivity and specificity of ultrasound in detecting occlusion at vertebral artery origin. All patients with nonoccluded native vertebral artery origins were evaluated for degree of stenosis on DSA, and compared to mean flow velocity (MFV), peak systolic velocity (PSV), and end-diastolic velocity (EDV) on ultrasound. Results Among 218 vertebral artery origins in 139 patients evaluated, ultrasound showed sensitivity of 85.7% (95% confidence interval (CI): 69.7-95.2%) for occlusion and specificity of 99.5% (95%CI: 96.9-99.9%). Among 126 arteries without occlusion, 50% (C-statistic: .81). PSV value of 97 cm/s corresponded with 72% sensitivity and 70% specificity to detect >50% stenosis (C-statistic: .77). MFV cutoff value of 60 cm/s corresponded with 70% sensitivity and 82% specificity to predict 70-99% stenosis (C-statistic: .83). PSV cutoff value of 110 cm/s corresponded with 80% sensitivity and 72% specificity to predict 70-99% stenosis (C-statistic: .84). Conclusion Ultrasound has good sensitivity and excellent specificity for detecting vertebral origin occlusion. Flow velocity can be used to screen for severe stenosis of vertebral artery at origin.
A CD3/CD28 microbead-based HIV-1 viral outgrowth assay

Abstract Aims Latently infected resting CD4 T cells represent a major barrier to HIV-1 eradication efforts. The standard assays used for measuring this reservoir induce activation of resting CD4 T cells with either phytohaemagglutinin (PHA) with irradiated feeder cells, or with anti-CD3 antibodies. We designed a study to compare the sensitivity of a new assay (based on the stimulation of CD4 T cells with anti-CD3 and anti-CD28 coated microbeads) with that of the traditional PHA- and feeder-based viral outgrowth assay. Methods Resting CD4 T cells from 10 HIV-1-infected patients on suppressive combination antiretroviral therapy (cART) regimens were cultured in the traditional PHA/feeders viral outgrowth assay and the new CD3/CD28 bead-based assay. Flow cytometry was used to assess the kinetics of activation of resting CD4 T cells in the two different assays. Results There was no significant difference in the sensitivity of the two assays. The median frequency of latently infected cells was 0.83 infectious units per million (IUPM) for the PHA/feeders assay and 0.54 IUPM with the CD3/CD28 bead-based assay. However, while virus was obtained from all 10 patients with the traditional PHA/feeders outgrowth assay, no virus was obtained from two of 10 patients with the novel anti-CD3/CD28 bead-based viral outgrowth assay (IUPM Conclusion The new CD3/CD28 bead-based assay has comparable sensitivity to the PHA/feeders assay and does not require the addition of feeders, making it a simpler and less labour-intensive alternative to the standard PHA/feeders-based assay.
Variability in antifungal stewardship strategies among Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America (SHEA) Research Network facilities.

Objective: To characterize antifungal stewardship among antimicrobial stewardship programs (ASPs) at a diverse range of hospitals and to correlate antifungal stewardship with hospital characteristics. Design: Cross-sectional survey. Participants: ASP physician and/or pharmacist members at Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America (SHEA) Research Network (SRN) hospitals. Methods: An electronic survey administered August–September 2018 via the SRN to 111 hospitals. The χ2 test was used to test associations between ASP and hospital characteristics and use of antifungal stewardship strategies. Results: Of 111 hospitals, 45 (41%) responded; most were academic medical centers (65%) caring for stem-cell patients (73.3%) and solid-organ transplant patients (80.0%). Most hospitals have large, well-established ASPs: 60% had >5 team members and 68.9% had a duration ≥6 years. In 43 hospitals (95.6%), ASPs used antifungal stewardship strategies, most commonly prospective audit and feedback (73.3%) by a pharmacist (71.4%). Half of ASPs (51.1%) created guidelines for invasive fungal infection (IFI) management. Most hospitals (71.1%) offered rapid laboratory tests to diagnose IFI, but polymerase chain reaction (PCR) testing and antifungal susceptibility testing varied. Also, 29 ASPs (64.4%) perform surveillance of antifungal utilization, but only 9 (31%) reported to the CDC National Healthcare Safety Network. ASP size, duration, and presence of transplant populations were not associated with a higher likelihood of using antifungal stewardship strategies (P > .05 for all). Conclusions: The use of antifungal stewardship strategies was high at SRN hospitals, but they mainly involved audit and feedback. ASPs should be encouraged (1) to disseminate guidelines for IFI management, (2) to promote access to laboratory tests for rapid and accurate IFI diagnosis, and (3) to perform surveillance for antifungal utilization with reporting to the CDC.
Early and Significant Reduction in C-Reactive Protein Levels After Corticosteroid Therapy Is Associated With Reduced Mortality in Patients With COVID-19.

Background Corticosteroids may be beneficial in a subset of patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), but predictors of therapeutic response remain unknown. C-reactive protein (CRP) is a routinely measured biomarker, and reduction in its levels after initiation of therapy may predict inpatient mortality. Methods In this retrospective cohort study, the charts of patients who were admitted to Montefiore Medical Center between March 10, 2020, and May 2, 2020 for the management of COVID-19 were examined. Of all patients who met inclusion criteria, patients who received corticosteroid treatment were categorized as CRP responders (≥50% CRP level reduction) and CRP nonresponders ( Results Of 2,707 patients admitted during the study period, 324 received corticosteroid treatment. Of patients who received corticosteroid treatment, CRP responders had reduced risk of death compared with risk among CRP nonresponders (25.2% vs 47.8%; unadjusted odds ratio [OR], 0.37; 95% CI, 0.21-0.65; P Conclusion Reduction in CRP by 50% or more within 72 hours of initiating corticosteroid therapy potentially predicts inpatient mortality. This may serve as an early biomarker of response to corticosteroid therapy in patients with COVID-19.
Understanding emerging regulation: The role of frontal electroencephalography asymmetry and negative affectivity.

The present study examined frontal electroencephalography (EEG) asymmetry and negative affectivity (NA) as predictors of infant behaviors during the Still-Face Paradigm (SFP). It was hypothesized that infants with lower NA subscale scores who also demonstrate greater left frontal activation would exhibit more frequent social engagement and self-soothing behaviors during the SFP. Mothers reported infant temperament at 6-12 months of age (N = 62), and EEG was recorded during a baseline task and the SFP. Social engagement, distress, and self-soothing behaviors were coded during the SFP. A three-factor solution emerged based on exploratory factor analysis of eight infant behaviors. After considering bivariate relations, multiple regression analyses predicting the behavior factor labeled social engagement (containing vocalizations and handwaving; average factor loading = .56) were conducted separately for asymmetry and NA subscales, controlling for infant sex and age. The SFP asymmetry predicted social engagement after controlling for covariates and baseline asymmetry; however, NA subscales (falling reactivity and distress to limitations) did not uniquely explain significant variance. These findings highlight the importance of frontal EEG asymmetry in contributing to emerging social engagement and regulation in infancy. Implications include potentially utilizing asymmetry markers as screening and intervention targets in the first year of life.
Comparison of pediatric performance athlete injuries presenting to emergency departments.

Objective Pediatric injuries in performance sports represent a significant healthcare burden and account for over 50,000 annual Emergency Department (ED) visits in the United States. The objective of this study was to characterize and compare pediatric injury presentation across the most common performance sports. Methods The National Electronic Injury Surveillance System (NEISS) database was retrospectively analyzed for pediatric injuries (3-18 years) related to gymnastics, dance, or cheerleading from 2015-2019. Cases were categorized as children (˂11 years) or adolescent (≥11 years). Injuries were categorized as orthopaedic (fractures, dislocations, sprain, strains), non-orthopaedic (contusion, internal injury, laceration), concussion, or other/unknown. Case narratives were used to categorize mechanism of injury as contact or non-contact. Appropriate sample NEISS weights estimation was applied for statistical analysis and Confidence Intervals (CI). Results A total of 393,110 injuries were observed over the five-year study period, with a mean of 78,622 annual injuries. Gymnastics, dance, and cheerleading accounted for 136,422 injuries, 96,416 injuries, and 160,272 injuries, respectively. Most cases were adolescent (71%; 95% CI: 68-74%) and occurred in a sports-related setting (65%, 95% CI: 57-72%). Gymnastics had the highest proportion of injuries among children (50%) as compared to dancers (25%) or cheerleaders (12%) (p Conclusion Pediatric gymnasts, cheerleaders, and dancers have important similarities and differences in injury pattern which may lead to the development of sport-specific injury prevention programs for pediatric performance athletes.
Reporting of recombinant adenovirus-based COVID-19 vaccine adverse events in online versions of three highly circulated US newspapers.

Newspapers’ reporting of adverse vaccine events may influence their readers vaccination behaviors. The purpose of this study was to examine the nature and extent of coverage of Johnson and Johnson ...
Technical Skill Impacts the Success of Sequential Robotic Suturing Sub-Steps.

Introduction Robotic surgical performance, in particular suturing, has been associated with post-operative clinical outcomes. Suturing can be deconstructed into sub-step components (needle positioning, needle entry angle, needle driving, and needle withdrawal) allowing for the provision of more specific feedback while teaching suturing and more precision when evaluating suturing technical skill and prediction of clinical outcomes. This study evaluates if the technical skill required for particular sub-steps of the suturing process is associated with the execution of subsequent sub-steps in terms of technical skill, accuracy, and efficiency. Materials and Methods Training and expert surgeons completed standardized sutures on the MimicTM Flex virtual reality robotic simulator. Video recordings were deidentified, time annotated, and provided technical skill scores for each of the four suturing sub-steps. Hierarchical Poisson regression with Generalized Estimating Equation was used to examine the association of technical skill rating categories between sub-steps. Results 22 surgeons completed 428 suturing attempts with 1,669 individual technical skill assessments made. Technical skill scores between sub-steps of the suturing process were found to be significantly associated. When needle positioning was ideal, needle entry angle was associated with a significantly greater chance of being ideal (RR=1.12, p = 0.05). Additionally, ideal needle entry angle and needle driving technical skill scores were each significantly associated with ideal needle withdrawal technical skill scores (RR=1.27, p =0.03; RR=1.3, p =0.03, respectively). Our study determined that ideal technical skill was associated with increased accuracy and efficiency of select sub-steps. Conclusions Our study found significant associations in the technical skill required for completing sub-steps of suturing, demonstrating inter-relationships within the suturing process. Together with the known association between technical skill and clinical outcomes, training surgeons should focus on mastering not just the overall suturing process, but each sub-step involved. Future machine learning efforts can better evaluate suturing, knowing these inter-relationships exist.
Dynamic of Separable Multistory Buildings

The wide multistory building having a set of identical parallel transverse frames and a set of identical floors is an example of a separable structure. Certain problems of such structures can be solved by combining solutions for a typical frame and a typical floor. Thus, the eigenvalues and two-dimensional eigenvectors for a separable building with mass concentrated at the joints can be found by calculating the eigenvalues and eigenvectors of a typical frame and a typical floor. A procedure for computing all of the frequencies of transverse vibration and all of the associated modes for such a building is presented along with the mathematical theory on which it is based.
Bonding and Integration of C‐C Composite to Cu‐Clad‐Molybdenum for Thermal Management Applications

Two- and three-dimensional carbon-carbon composites with either resin-derived matrix or CVI matrix were joined to Cu-clad-Mo using active Ag-Cu braze alloys for thermal management applications. The joint microstructure and composition were examined using Field-Emission Scanning Electron Microscopy and Energy-Dispersive Spectroscopy, and the joint hardness was characterized using the Knoop microhardness testing. Observations on the infiltration of the composite with molten braze, dissolution of metal substrate, and solute segregation at the C-C surface have been discussed. The thermal response of the integrated assembly is also briefly discussed.
Learning from Other Disciplines

Multidisciplinary perspectives are becoming more important as our technology becomes more pervasive. It's important for us to think about security and privacy broadly so that we understand the context in which our technology will be perceived and used.
Sexualities, South Asia

This entry describes normative and variant forms of sexuality in South Asia, primarily focusing on the colonial and postcolonial periods. It outlines the relation of regional forms of social stratification, such as caste, with sexuality and gender, and it shows how colonialism and nationalism were important forces in contributing to the emergence of sexual and gender norms. It surveys the tense relations between nationhood, religion, and sexuality in the postcolonial period. Finally, it sketches the increasing visibility of gender-variant and same-sex desiring persons and communities and the emergence of an organized movement for their rights. Keywords: caste; colonialism; nationalism; reform
Experimental evolution: Bugs and bytes

Comparative studies of living organisms and their genomes, along with the fossil record, provide evidence for the history of life on Earth and the evolutionary processes that have shaped living systems. However, it can be difficult or impossible to resolve certain issues or test particular hypotheses given the inherent limitations in such observational data. The field of experimental evolution seeks to overcome these limitations by using model systems to test particular hypotheses and explore complex issues by means of rigorously replicated and controlled experiments. Model organisms typically have rapid generations, are easy to grow, can be stored in suspended animation, and are amenable to precise environmental and genetic manipulations.
Pigment production by Basidiobolus in the presence of tyrosine.

A total of 29 isolates of Basidiobolus were studied which included 9 human isolates, 6 B. ranaritm, 7 B. meristosporus, 4 B. microsporus, 1 B. haptosporus, and 2 unidentified species. All 9 human i...
A managed care world. Can academic activities survive

As a guest speaker at the Brown University Medical School Graduation, the author described some aspects of managed care that impact on academics and more specifically teaching and research. The issues for education included the reduction in numbers of residents and fellows; the rapidity with which the patients must be treated; the reduction in monies for educational activities; and consuming and at times needless paperwork. As far as research is concerned the reduction in time and money have had a negative effect on this important aspect of academic life for physicians. Several proposals are put forth to maintain the quality of these educational and investigational pursuits, and the students soon to be residents and, hopefully, academicians are advised to maintain the highest standards and appreciation for quality care, education, and research.
A Newton-Kantorvich theorem for equations involving m Fréchet differentiable operators and applications in radiative transfer

Abstract In this study we approximate a locally unique solution of a nonlinear operator equation in Banach space using Newton's method. A complete error analysis showing the quadratic convergence of our method is also given. Our new theorem uses Lipschitz or Holder continuity assumptions on m-Frechet-differentiable operators where m⩾2 is a positive integer. A numerical example is given to show that our results provide a better information on the location of the solution as well as finer error bounds on the distances involved than earlier results. A second numerical example shows how to solve a nonlinear integral equation appearing in radiative transfer.
Establishing a SCiP list for year-round discussion: Keeping the information ball rolling

Many academic and other professional institutions are expanding their communicative range and inclusiveness in discussion by establishing Internet-based computer conferencing systems. This paper will discuss characteristics of a SCiP discussion list that could serve the needs of SCiP members, including the possibility of virtual conference sessions in 1995, a year-round discussion group, and a system for recruitment of new members.
Modulation of neural circuits: how stimulus context shapes innate behavior in Drosophila

Remarkable advances have been made in recent years in our understanding of innate behavior and the underlying neural circuits. In particular, a wealth of neuromodulatory mechanisms have been uncovered that can alter the input–output relationship of a hereditary neural circuit. It is now clear that this inbuilt flexibility allows animals to modify their behavioral responses according to environmental cues, metabolic demands and physiological states. Here, we discuss recent insights into how modulation of neural circuits impacts innate behavior, with a special focus on how environmental cues and internal physiological states shape different aspects of feeding behavior in Drosophila.
Persistent physiological reactivity in a pilot study of partners of firefighters after a terrorist attack.

Twenty-four female partners of firefighters participating in recovery efforts associated with the 1995 terrorist bombing in Oklahoma City were assessed 43 to 44 months later. Disaster experiences, psychiatric diagnoses, posttraumatic stress symptoms, and autonomic reactivity in response to an interview about the bombing were examined. Most of the participants with postbombing disorders suffered from pre-existing conditions. The majority found the bombing a "terrible" or "shocking" experience. One participant met all DSM-III-R symptom group criteria for bombing-related posttraumatic stress disorder, and 40% met both B (intrusive re-experiencing) and D (hyperarousal) criteria. More than one half of the sample exhibited autonomic reactivity on at least one measurement. Those who met symptom group criterion D evidenced greater autonomic reactivity than those who did not, suggesting a link between self-reported posttraumatic stress disorder symptoms of arousal and biological manifestations. Thus, it may be important to assess partners of disaster recovery workers for mental health and physiological consequences related to their indirect exposure as these may persist years after the event, even in the absence of a diagnosable mental disorder. Language: en
Attentional nonspecificity in depressive and generalized anxious affective states

Separate but parallel lines of theory and research have suggested that heightened self-focused attention is an important factor in both depression and anxiety. While studies have shown increased self-focusing in both of these dysfunctional states, adequate conclusions cannot be drawn because of the high cooccurrence of depressive and anxious affect in studies of this type. The present study separated subjects into depressed and anxious groups and examined levels of self-focused attention on two different measures. Results indicated that both affective states are separately characterized by heightened self-focused attention. These findings suggest conceptual difficulties for theoretical models of either depression or anxiety that separately propose self-focused attention variables as central to these disorders.
Comparison of atomic-level simulation methods for computing thermal conductivity

We compare the results of equilibrium and nonequilibrium methods to compute thermal conductivity. Using Sillinger-Weber silicon as a model system, we address issues related to nonlinear response, thermal equilibration, and statistical averaging. In addition, we present an analysis of finite-size effects and demonstrate how reliable results can be obtained when using nonequilibrium methods by extrapolation to an infinite system size. For the equilibrium Green-Kubo method, we show that results for the thermal conductivity are insensitive to the choice of the definition of local energy from the many-body part of the potential. Finally, we show that the results obtained by the equilibrium and nonequilibrium methods are consistent with each other and for the case of Si are in reasonable agreement with experimental results.
Evaluation of finite lowest-order self-energies

We show that the various lowest-order self-energies can all be made finite on account of the proposal by Danos and Rafelski that the space-time integrations in the covariant perturbation expansion of theS-matrix are to be open instead of closed. We also discuss how we can evaluate these finite lowest-order self-energies.
Nonstatistical Translational Energy Distribution of H2 Elimination Products from Co+(3F4) + Propane

The velocity map imaging technique is applied to mass-selected CoC2H4+ + CH4 and CoC3H6+ + H2 elimination products from the Co+(3F4) + propane reaction studied under crossed-beam conditions at 0.19 eV collision energy. For both products, we obtain the joint scattering probability distribution P(E,ϑ), where E and ϑ are the product translational energy and scattering angle. Both angular distributions are forward-backward symmetric and only modestly anisotropic. Both product translational energy distributions P(E) are in fairly good agreement with earlier results of Bowers and co-workers, indicating that the earlier distributions were dominated by reaction of ground-state Co+. The fraction of the total available energy deposited into product translation is 0.13 for CH4 and 0.44 for H2. For CH4 products, P(E) is cold and would be readily fit by orbiting-transition-state phase-space theory (OTS−PST) without an exit-channel barrier. Evidently, incipient CoC2H4+ + CH4 products equilibrate in the Co+(C2H4)(CH4) e...
A model of the human skull as a poroelastic spherical shell subjected to a quasistatic load

Abstract Two-phase isotropic homogeneous poroelastic material is taken as a model of the living bone in the sense that the osseous tissue is considered as a linear perfectly elastic solid and the fluid substances filling the cavities as a Newtonian viscous fluid. Using the Heinrich-Desoyer formulation of the consolidation theory of Terzaghi-Biot adapted to the spherical bodies and the Laplace transformation, the pressure head function is determined first. The complimentary solution of the equation for the displacement of the solid phase is then adapted from the classical elastic solution in terms of the Legendre polynomials. For simplicity, only the axisymmetric case is considered. The integration constants are determined from the third governing equation as well as from the boundary and initial conditions. Three illustrative examples are investigated in detail, assuming hydrostatic load: (1) a thick-walled shell if the fluid pressure may be disregarded, (2) a solid poroelastic sphere, (3) a thin-walled poroelastic shell. In case 2, the rheological model describing the behavior of the body seems to correspond to the Kelvin-Voigt model proposed for osseous tissues by Zarek and Edwards.
Encouraging Creativity in the Social Work Classroom: Insights from a Qualitative Exploration

Creativity is vital to the learning process of social work students. Despite its importance, educators are still uncertain of ways to enhance creativity and translate it from classroom to practice. Therefore, this study examines social work student perspectives on ways to define creativity, infuse it into the classroom, and apply it as practitioners. This study qualitatively explores the open-ended insights of 37 social work students. Through an unguided semantic analysis and application of Kolb’s experiential learning theory, the following themes emerged: classroom, creativity, performance, activities, and ideas. These themes indicate that students believe that additional creative opportunities in their classrooms would eventually benefit them as practitioners. Further pedagogical emphasis on increasing student creativity through experiential learning activities would be beneficial.
Developing fluid flow in a curved duct of square cross-section and its fully developed dual solutions

Developing fluid flow in a curved duct of square cross-section is studied numerically by a factored ADI finite-difference method on a staggered grid. A central-difference scheme with primitive variables is used inside the computational domain to reduce numerical diffusion. Two Reynolds numbers, 574 and 790, based upon a bulk velocity and hydraulic diameter are chosen for curvature ratios of 1/6.45 and 1/2.3, respectively. It is found that the secondary flow is far more complicated than expected, with the appearance of at least two pairs of vortices. Main-flow separation is also observed for the higher curvature ratio. Furthermore, it is observed that the flow develops into two quite different states downstream, depending upon the inlet conditions. Solutions of the fully developed Navier-Stokes equations is shown to be not unique beyond a certain critical Reynolds number. Developing flow seems to evolve into the fully developed state along a particular branch into which the fully developed solution bifurcates.
Generalizability of the vertical dyad linkage model of leadership.

The validity of the Vertical Dyad Linkage model of leadership was tested under conditions differing substantially from those investigated in past research on the model. In over 90 percent of the un...
Asking the right questions.

Don C. Rockey, in a recent letter ( Science 's Compass, 7 May, p. [915][1]), suggests that “‘professional scientists’…constitute a distinct minority of those performing disease-orientated research” and goes on to say that “without a sound understanding of clinical issues (that is, clinical training), how does one ask the appropriate questions?” We suspect that more disease-orientated research is actually conducted by Ph.D. scientists than this statement would imply. However, do such scientists ask the appropriate questions? Clearly so, unless many of the most dramatic pharmacological and behavioral advances made over the last century were only made by clinicians, which is not the case. Physicians, physician-scientists, and basic scientists all have contributed to biomedical research through questioning and formatting hypotheses and rigorous experimentation, and then re-questioning the original hypotheses. [1]: /lookup/doi/10.1126/science.284.5416.913d
The cincinnati lipid research clinic family study: Familial determinants of plasma uric acid

Commingling analysis of plasma uric acid levels in a random sample of 160 nuclear families supports the hypothesis that there is a mixture of three distributions. Assuming one, two, and three components in the underlying distribution, we obtained the corresponding p-values (for power transformation) as 0.059, 1.040, and 1.643, respectively. Path analysis with p=0.059 gives genetic (h2) and cultural (c2) heritabilities as 0.256 and 0.199, without much support for intergenerational differences, assortative mating, or maternal effects. Complex segregation analysis with p=0.059 supports multifactorial inheritance, consistent with the findings of Gulbrandsen et al. (1979) and Morton (1979) in other populations. This study also fails to support a major locus hypothesis, contrary to earlier reports.
Does the stock market react to unexpected inflation differently across the business cycle

I find that nominal equity returns respond to unexpected inflation more negatively during contractions than expansions. In particular, returns on firms with lower book-to-market ratio, or of medium size, demonstrate strong asymmetric correlations with unexpected inflation across the business cycle. The cross-sectional correlations of returns on book-to-market and size portfolios with unexpected inflation mostly reflect the heterogeneous factor loadings of these portfolios on one of the Fama–French factors, namely, the excess market return. By examining the cyclical responses to unexpected inflation of the three primitive forces which determine stock prices: the discount rate, the expected growth rate of real activity and the equity risk premium, I find that changes in expected real activity and the equity premium, signalled by unexpected inflation, are important in explaining the asymmetric responses of the stock market to unexpected inflation across the business cycle.
The sodium salts of sulphonated poly(aryl-ether-ether-ketone) (PEEK): Preparation and characterization

Two complementary methods were developed to produce sulphonated poly(oxy-1,4-phenylene-oxy-1,4-phenylene-carbonyl-1,4-phenylene) (SPEEK) with random, homogeneous compositions over the range of zero to one sulphonate group per repeat unit. The sodium salts (Na-SPEEK) were prepared from about 5 to 100% sodium sulphonate. They displayed excellent thermal stability. The behaviour of Tg, ΔTg and ΔCp at the glass transition as a function of composition suggested the onset of ionic clustering below 25 to 30% sodium sulphonate—an observation confirmed by preliminary SAXS studies. In particular, Tg increased sigmoidally from about 150°C for 5% Na-SPEEK to 415°C for 100% Na-SPEEK. No evidence of crystallinity was observed by d.s.c. in melted and quenched samples above 9% sodium sulphonate. The equilibrium water content at room temperature and 58% relative humidity was four molecules of water per sodium sulphonate group for all compositions. For immersed films, this value increased from 8 molecules of water per sodium sulphonate group for 38% Na-SPEEK to an indeterminably large number for 100% Na-SPEEK, which slowly dissolved. Upon re-equilibration at 58% relative humidity, the water content of the films decreased to about 5.5 molecules per sodium sulphonate group. A low temperature (−80°C to −60°C) mechanical relaxation peak was present in the films conditioned at 58% relative humidity.
Diagnosis and Management of an Esophagogastric Fistula as a Rare Complication of Nissen Fundoplication

Esophagogastric fistula is a rare complication following Nissen fundoplication, with symptoms usually developing within weeks to 3 years postoperatively.1-3 Proposed mechanisms include recalcitrant reflux, erosion of sutures with Teflon pledgets, and damage associated with repeat procedures.1-3 Past reports describe management of the esophagogastric fistulae with antireflux medications, dilation of both lumens, and repeat fundoplication.1-3
Detection of VX contamination in soil through solid-phase microextraction sampling and gas chromatography/mass spectrometry of the VX degradation product bis(diisopropylaminoethyl)disulfide.

Abstract A solid-phase microextraction (SPME) and gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC–MS) sampling and analysis method was developed for bis(diisopropylaminoethyl)disulfide (a degradation product of the nerve agent VX) in soil. A 30-min sampling time with a polydimethylsiloxane-coated fiber and high temperature alkaline hydrolysis allowed detection with 1.0 μg of VX spiked per g of agricultural soil. The method was successfully used in the field with portable GC–MS instrumentation. This method is relatively rapid (less than 1 h), avoids the use of complex preparation steps, and enhances analyst safety through limited use of solvents and decontamination of the soil before sampling.
Comparison of the calculated and the measured efficiencies of a normal-incidence grating in the 125–225-Å wavelength range

The efficiency of a diffraction grating was measured near normal incidence in the 125–225-A wavelength range with synchrotron radiation. The grating pattern had 2400 grooves/mm and was recorded on a concave fused-silica blank by a holographic technique. The grooves were shaped by ion-beam etching to provide a facet with a blaze angle of 2.5° as determined by atomic force microscopy. Because of the characteristics of the etching process the groove profile was approximately triangular, with the other facet inclined at an angle of 5.5° to the surface. The measured efficiency was compared with the efficiency calculated by a computer program, small enough to run on a personal computer, that solved the periodic boundary-value problem corresponding to electromagnetic radiation incident on a diffraction grating with finite conductivity. The calculation was based on the nominal groove profile that was determined by atomic force microscopy. The measured and the calculated efficiencies were in good agreement. This investigation indicates that the diffraction efficiency of a normal-incidence grating can be calculated in the soft-x-ray region with a personal computer.
Effects of ration level on immune functions in chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha)

The relationship between nutritional status and disease resistance in cultured salmonids can be affected by dietary manipulations. Careful attention to feeding levels may be important to avoid imbalances in nutrient levels that could ultimately impair a fish's ability to resist infectious microorganisms. In the current study, fish in three feed-level groups were fed an experimental diet either to satiation, 64% of satiation or 40% of satiation. A fourth group of fish were fed a commercial diet at the 64% of satiation level and served as controls. To evaluate certain indices of disease resistance in the test and control fish, a panel of assays was employed to measure humoral and cellular immune functions 30, 39 and 54 weeks after starting the dietary treatments. The panel included measures of blood hematocrit and leucocrit levels, plasma protein concentration and serum lysozyme and complement activity. Cellular analyses included differential blood leucocyte counts, NBT reduction and phagocytosis by pronephros macrophages and myeloperoxidase activity of pronephros neutrophils. No differences were observed in those indices between fish tested from the control-diet group (commercial diet fed at the 64% rate) and fish tested from the 64% feed-level group, except that fish fed the commercial diet had a greater concentration of plasma protein. Leucocrit values and plasma protein concentrations tended to increase among the experimental feed groups as the ration increased from 40% to satiation. More importantly, phagocytic activity by anterior kidney leucocytes was found to be inversely proportional to the feed level. Whereas the results of this study provide evidence that the salmonid immune system may be fairly robust with regard to available metabolic energy, the significant changes observed in phagocytic cell activity suggest that some cellular immune functions may be affected by the feed level.
Metal-Insulator-Semiconductor Transmission Line Model

This paper investigates the one-dimensional metal-insulator-semiconductor transmission line. It develops closed-form expressions for equivalent-circuit parameters, compares them to exact calculations, and explores their limitations. It also investigates the usual assumption of single-mode propagation and shows that, in certain fairly common circumstances, the fundamental mode of propagation becomes so lossy that it can no longer be considered to be the dominant propagating mode.
Superiority of practolol versus propranolol in protection against ventricular fibrillation induced by coronary occlusion

The ability of practolol and propranolol of prevent ventricular fibrillation in experimental anterior myocardial infarction was compared in dogs subjected to ligation of the left anterior descending and first septal coronary arteries. This procedure, which causes ventricular fibrillation in 90 percent of animals within 30 minutes, was performed in control dogs and in dogs pretreated with propranolol (0.5 mg/kg body weight) or with practolol (1.5 to 2.5 mg/kg). These doses produced nearly equivalent shifts in isoproterenol-induced chronotropic dose-response curves, indicating equivalent degrees of beta adrenergic blockade. In 21 dogs with confirmed ligation, cardiogenic shock did not develop. Six of seven control dogs died with ventricular fibrillation. Six of seven dogs pretreated with propranolol also had fibrillation, whereas only one of the seven dogs pretreated with practolol manifested ventricular fibrillation during the 45 minute postligation observation period. Practolol afforded significant protection compared with no treatment or treatment with propranolol (P less than 0.05).
Component adaptation for event-based application integration using active rules

Enterprise applications integrate information and applications in a distributed, networked environment to develop a global application of interconnected components and applications. This paper presents the design and implementation of the wrappers generated to adapt components to a middleware environment that employs active rules to build an enterprise application using an event-driven approach to integrating distributed black-box components. The components adapted in this implementation are based on the Enterprise JavaBeans component model. An application integrator declares the components to be integrated, and may define additional attributes, relationships, and events to be used in the integration process. The metadata for the components to be integrated is used to adapt and enhance the black-box components through the use of wrappers. The wrappers act as a proxy to the black-box component. The adaptation of the wrappers provides for the storage of additional properties for component instances and for the detection of events within the components to generate event notifications. The wrappers are automatically generated from the component metadata using the Extensible Stylesheet Language. The design and implementation of the wrappers establishes a framework that supports an active approach to component-based software integration.
MULTIPLE PTERYGIUM SYNDROME IN IDENTICAL TWINS

Multiple pterygium syndrome is a relatively rare disorder characterized by pterygia of the neck, axilla, digits, antecubital, popliteal and intercrural areas. Affected individuals may also have multiple congenital contractures and the diagnosis of arthrogryposis is frequently the presenting complaint. We describe monochorionic diamniotic female twins with multiple pterygium syndrome. The twins were born at 32 weeks' gestation to a 19-year-old G2 P1001. The suspicion of cystic hygroma in one twin was raised during ultrasound screening of the pregnancy at 22 weeks' gestation and the cystic mass was found in Twin B at delivery; it resolved in the first few days of life. Each newborn presented with flexion deformities of the upper and lower extremities, pterygia of the neck, upper arms, antecubital and popliteal regions. The most prominent pterygia involved the upper extremities and neck. Each had angular facies with micrognathia. Twin A had left sided talipes equino varus with right side vertical talus. Twin B has bilateral talipes equino varus. Twin A had a cleft of the soft palate. Twin B had Tetralogy of Fallot requiring a modified Blalock Taussig shunt in the newborn period. Chromosomal studies showed normal female karyotypes in both. Although most cases are sporadic, some appear to be familial and may follow an autosomal recessive pattern of inheritance. Cardiac anomalies in this condition are infrequently reported. Twin A responded well to treatment and was discharged to the referring hospital. Twin B remains in our hospital and still requires ventilatory assistance. Affected identical twins have not previously been reported. This diagnosis should always be considered on a newborn with pterygia.
Hume’s Knave and Nonanthropocentric Virtues

This essay offers a critical assessment of environmental virtue ethics (EVE). Finding an environmental ethical analogy with Hume’s critique of the sensible knave, I argue that EVE is limited in much the same way as morality is on the Humean view. Advocates of nonanthropocentrism will find it difficult to engage those whose virtues comport them to anthropocentrism. Nonetheless, EVE is able to ground confidence in nonanthropocentric virtues by explicating specific key virtues, thereby holding open the possibility of bridging the motivational gap between anthropocentrism and nonanthropocentrism.
Distinct focal lesions of the femoral head: imaging features suggesting an atypical and minimal form of bone necrosis.

Objective. To document the imaging findings observed in patients with an unusual pattern of abnormality of the femoral head, most likely representing osteonecrosis.
Acid in the airways. Focus on “Hyperacidity of secreted fluid from submucosal glands in early cystic fibrosis”

cystic fibrosis (CF) is caused by defects in an anion channel called CF transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) that is found primarily in the apical membranes of epithelial cells. Most CF symptoms, such as high salt in sweat and obstruction of the pancreatic ducts, intestine, or vas deferens
Psychosocial factors in athletic injuries: development and application of the social and athletic readjustment rating scale (SARRS)

The possible role of psychosocial factors in athletics, namely football injuries, is examined. Initially Holmes and Rahe's Social Readjustment Rating Scale (SRRS) was modified to the Social and Athletic Readjustment Scale (SARRS). Additions to the scale and differences in football players from the general population are discussed. Life change scores over one- and two-year intervals were obtained for college varsity football players. Players suffering major time loss injuries had significantly higher predictive scores than noninjured players.
Introduction and Methodology

This chapter will provide a preliminary theoretical and empirical overview of the transition from adolescence to adulthood referred to as emerging adulthood. Recent theoretical contributions by Arnett (2000) suggest that this developmental phase, defined as the years following secondary school, should be viewed independently from adolescence or adulthood due to the dynamic and changeable features of this period. The chapter will also provide an introduction to the methodology of this book including an explanation of the way the quantitative research reviewed will be supplemented with qualitative data providing a rich account of relationship dynamics during emerging adulthood. Considering that quantitative research is limited in its ability to convey the personal story behind the data, the integration of qualitative work in this book will assist in capturing the intricacies of relationships during emerging adulthood in a holistic fashion.
Simultaneous adsorption of MIB and NOM onto activated carbon: II. Competitive effects

The adsorption of an odour compound common in drinking water, 2-methylisoborneol (MIB), was studied on six activated carbons in the presence of six well-characterised natural organic matter (NOM) solutions. It was found that, although the carbons and the NOM solutions had a wide range of characteristics, the major competitive mechanism was the same in all cases. The low-molecular-weight NOM compounds were the most competitive, participating in direct competition with MIB for adsorption sites. Equivalent background compound calculations indicated a relatively low concentration of directly competing compounds in the NOM. Some evidence of pore blockage and/or restriction was also seen, with microporous carbons being the most affected by low-molecular-weight NOM and mesoporous carbons impacted by the higher-molecular-weight compounds.
Impacts of services trade barriers: a study of the insurance industry

Barriers, especially non‐tariff barriers (NTBs), have been shown to have an important impact upon international trade in services. Foreign direct investment and market entry strategy theory do not adequately address the importance of NTBs in the decision‐making process. Previous studies indicate that service firms need to establish local presence to be successful in a foreign market. Where firms are unable to enter a market because it is blocked by trade barriers, some researchers suggest managers engage in specific entry strategies or strategic actions to overcome barriers. This study, based on in‐depth interviews with insurance executives, shows that trade barriers are one of several factors managers evaluate when deciding whether to enter a market. However, barriers can become a critical factor if they create prohibitive costs or difficulties. Based on the findings, this study proposes a new model of market entry decision making which hypothesizes that barriers can become a go/no‐go decision factor.