cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Life Options Through Education: A Karnataka Village Study

In the 1960s, Havik Brahmins of the Karnataka village, Totagadde, regarded themselves as educationally backward. Narratives illustrating their progression from illiteracy to professional competence reveal the power of education as an agent of social change. The path toward professional achievement available initially to the few educated Brahmin men grew to include men and women of all castes. This encouragement of education for all allowed continued Brahmin dominance through respect. Educational opportunities enhanced community recognition of achievements. This intercaste fluidity and socialization made possible the retention of caste hierarchy and a transition from a caste to a class structure. The impact of education over a 53-year period has changed intercaste interactions, altered ritual practices, and moved societal identification from caste to merit based values.
Cardiac innervation imaging as a risk stratification tool for potential device therapy candidates

As a scintigraphic approach evaluating cardiac nerve integrity, 123I-metaiodobenzylguanidine (123I-mIBG) has been recently Food and Drug Administration approved. A great deal of progress has been made by the prospective ADMIRE-HF trial, which primarily demonstrated the association of denervated myocardium assessed by 123I-mIBG and cardiac events. However, apart from risk stratification, myocardial nerve function evaluated by molecular imaging should also be expanded to other clinical contexts, in particular to guide the referring cardiologist in selecting appropriate candidates for specific therapeutic interventions. In the present issue of the Journal of Nuclear Cardiology®, the use of 123I-mIBG for identifying cardiomyopathy patients, which would most likely not benefit from ICD due to low risk of arrhythmias, is described. If we aim to deliver on the promise of cardiac innervation imaging as a powerful tool for risk stratification in a manner similar to nuclear oncology, studies such as the one reviewed here may imply an important step to lay the proper groundwork for a more widespread adoption in clinical practice.
Hurricane Maria's Impact on Punta Santiago, Puerto Rico: Community Needs and Mental Health Assessment Six Months Postimpact

Objectives This pilot study aimed to assess the community needs and population health status for the low-income town of Punta Santiago, situated on the southeastern coast of Puerto Rico at the point where Hurricane Maria made landfall on September 20, 2017. Methods A cross-sectional, interviewer-administered survey was conducted 6 months after the storm with a representative random sample of 74 households. The survey characterized population demographics and resident needs in relation to storm damage and disruption. The survey also assessed prevalence and symptom severity of major depression, generalized anxiety, and posttraumatic stress disorder. Results Most of Punta Santiago was without electrical power and more than half of households sustained severe damage. Residents reported loss of jobs, decreased productivity, school closures, dependency on aid for basic necessities, increased risk for vector-borne diseases, unrelenting exposure to heat and humidity, and diminished health status. Two-thirds (66.2%) of the respondents had clinically significant symptom elevations for at least 1 of the 3 common mental disorders assessed: major depression, generalized anxiety, or posttraumatic stress disorder. Conclusions Pilot survey results, along with other studies conducted in Punta Santiago, can be used to provide guidance for interventions with this community as well as with other low-income, storm-affected areas. (Disaster Med Public Health Preparedness. 2019;13:18-23).
Regulation of cid and lrg expression by CcpA in Streptococcus mutans

The Streptococcus mutans Cid/Lrg system represents an ideal model for studying this organism's ability to withstand various stressors encountered in the oral cavity. The lrg and cid operons display distinct and opposite patterns of expression in response to growth phase and glucose levels, suggesting that the activity and regulation of these proteins must be tightly coordinated in the cell and closely associated with metabolic pathways of the organism. Here, we demonstrate that expression of the cid and lrg operons is directly mediated by a global transcriptional regulator CcpA in response to glucose levels. Comparison of the cid and lrg promoter regions with the conserved CcpA binding motif revealed the presence of two potential cre sites (for CcpA binding) in the cid promoter (designated cid-cre1 and cid-cre2), which were arranged in a similar manner to those previously identified in the lrg promoter region (designated lrg-cre1 and lrg-cre2). We demonstrated that CcpA binds to both the cid and lrg promoters with a high affinity, but has an opposing glucose-dependent effect on the regulation of cid (positive) and lrg (negative) expression. DNase I footprinting analyses revealed potential binding sequences for CcpA in both cid and lrg promoter regions. Collectively, these data suggest that CcpA is a direct regulator of cid and lrg expression, and are suggestive of a potential mechanism by which Cid/Lrg-mediated virulence and cellular homeostasis is integrated with signals associated with both the environment and cellular metabolic status.
Development of a decerebrate model for investigating mechanisms mediating viscero-sympathetic reflexes in the spinalized rat

In animal models commonly used to study spinal cord injury, quantification of sympathetic responses is particularly challenging due to the increased susceptibility of spinal reflex circuits to the ...
Special Considerations for Children

Cardiopulmonary exercise testing in children is often successful and informative, even in young children. However, to achieve success, a number of accommodations and special considerations will often be necessary. Basic pediatric exercise testing can begin as young as 4 years old, when indicated. Cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPET) can be undertaken successfully in patients as young as 6 years old, although the maturity required to cooperate adequately for CPET is often not present until 8 years of age or older. For any given individual, the minimal age of compliance for an exercise test depends on the individual’s maturity level, physical abilities, and often, the parent’s support.
Limb movements during sleep in children: effects of age, sex, and iron status in more than 1,000 patients referred to a pediatric sleep center.

Study Objectives:Limb movements during sleep (LMS) and periodic limb movements during sleep (PLMS) have been shown to vary by age in children. In the current study, we examined this relationship in...
Adverse Childhood Experiences and Internalizing Symptoms Among American Indian Adults with Type 2 Diabetes

Decades of evidence link adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) to worse health. Despite disproportionate rates of ACEs and health disparities in tribal communities, a gap exists in understanding the effects of ACEs on American Indian (AI) health. The purpose of this study is to estimate frequencies of eight categories of ACEs, assess the risk for internalizing symptoms by each ACE category, and determine if moderate and high levels of ACEs exposures have differential, increasing risk associated with internalizing symptoms for a sample of AI adults with T2D. Five tribal communities participated in a community-based participatory research study. Data from AI adults with T2D were analyzed (N = 192). Frequencies of eight childhood events and situations were assessed, and exposure levels of low (0–1), moderate (2–3), and high levels (4 +) of ACEs were calculated. Odds of screening positive for depression and generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) by each ACE type and moderate and high levels of ACEs were estimated using regression analyses. Relative to other studies, exposure estimates for each of the eight ACE categories and moderate and high levels of ACEs were high. Sexual and physical abuse, neglect, and household mental illness were positively associated with depressive symptoms, and physical abuse was positively associated with anxiety symptoms. Exposures to moderate and high levels of ACEs were associated with increased odds of screening positive for current depression in a dose-response fashion. A high level of ACEs exposure was also associated with an increased odds of a positive GAD screening. This research extends limited knowledge about ACEs and health among AIs. More research is needed to understand the health consequences of ACEs for a population exhibiting health inequities. Components of strategies for addressing ACEs, mental health, T2D complications, and comorbidities are proposed for AIs generally and AI adults with T2D specifically.
Preliminary Evidence of the Role of Medial Prefrontal Cortex in Self-Enhancement: A Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation Study.

Humans employ a number of strategies to improve their position in their given social hierarchy. Overclaiming involves presenting oneself as having more knowledge than one actually possesses, and it is typically invoked to increase one’s social standing. If increased expectations to possess knowledge is a perceived social pressure, such expectations should increase bouts of overclaiming. As the medial prefrontal cortex (MPFC) is sensitive to social pressure and disruption of the MPFC leads to decreases in overclaiming, we predicted that transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) applied to the MPFC would reduce overclaiming and the effects would be enhanced in the presence of social pressure. Twelve participants were given a test in which half of the words were real and half were fake, and they were asked how well they knew each word. They were not told that any of the words were fake. Half of the participants were exposed to social pressure while the other half were not. Following TMS delivered to the MPFC, overclaiming rates decreased, specifically under conditions of high social pressure. Medial PFC TMS did not influence real word responses and real words did not interact with the MPFC and social pressure. These preliminary findings support the significant role the MPFC plays in social cognition and the importance of the MPFC in mediating socially meaningful situations. We suggest the role of the MPFC as being highly influenced by the premium placed on social manipulation in human evolution.
Expanding the Reach of Evidence-Based Psychotherapy Through Remote Technologies

The present chapter provides an overview of (and supporting evidence for) leading formats of technology-involved youth mental health intervention, followed by a discussion of key cautions and concerns that warrant careful consideration at this early stage of digital technology-involved care. Although there has been much progress in the development and evaluation of evidence-based treatments for child and adolescent mental health problems, limitations in the accessibility and acceptability of supported care have significantly restricted actual service utilization among affected youth. In recent years, extraordinary advances in telecommunications and the increasing ubiquity of digital technologies in daily life afford new opportunities for meaningfully extending the reach and scope of supported youth mental health care. Remote technologies have potential to liberate mental health treatments from their traditional geographic confines and overcome geographic disparities in the mental health workforce, increase the cost-effectiveness of care, and expand the ecological validity and generalizability of care by affording in situ intervention, and systematically extend treatment engagement and skill rehearsal to children’s natural settings. The authors conclude by examining exciting new frontiers on the horizon for the incorporation of digital technologies into children’s mental health care.
Modeling and Control of Mid-flight Coupling of Quadrotors: A new concept for Quadrotor cooperation

Multirotor vehicles, quadrotors specifically, have formed a fast-growing field in robotics, with the range of applications spanning from surveillance and reconnaissance to agriculture and large area mapping. Although in most applications, a single quadrotors is used, there is an increasing interest in architectures controlling multiple quadrotors executing a collaborative task. This paper introduces a new concept of control involving more than one quadrotors, according to which two quadrotors can be physically coupled in mid-flight. This concept equips the quadrotors with new capabilities, e.g. increased payload or pursuit and capturing of other quadrotors. A comprehensive analysis of the approach is presented for the system of two coupled quadrotors. The dynamics and modeling of the coupled system is presented together with a discussion regarding the coupling mechanism and the overall control architecture. Controller gains were found using Linear Quadratic Control (LQR) techniques combined with Proportional Integral Derivative (PID) gain scheduling to account for the change in system dynamics to ensure stability and satisfactory response characteristics in actual experiments. Finally, the proposed methods are evaluated through an experiment that involved physical coupling and coupled flight of a pair of quadrotors.
GRB 970228 Revisited: Evidence for a Supernova in the Light Curve and La te Spectral Energy Distribution of the Afterglow

At the time of its discovery, the optical and X-ray afterglow of GRB 970228 appeared to be a ringing endorsement of the previously untried relativistic fireball model of gamma-ray burst (GRB) afterglows, but now that nearly a dozen optical afterglows to GRBs have been observed, the wavering light curve and reddening spectrum of this afterglow make it perhaps the most difficult of the observed afterglows to reconcile with the fireball model. In this Letter, we argue that this afterglow's unusual temporal and spectral properties can be attributed to a supernova that overtook the light curve nearly two weeks after the GRB. This is the strongest case yet for a GRB/supernova connection. It strengthens the case that a supernova also dominated the late afterglow of GRB 980326, and the case that GRB 980425 is related to SN 1998bw.
Retinal vessel density correlates with cognitive function in older adults.

Abstract Purpose We examined the associations between retinal microvascular density, cognition, and physical fitness in healthy older adults with no reported cognitive decline. Methods Twenty cognitively normal older adults (age: 70.3 ± 4.6 years) were recruited. Both eyes of each subject were imaged using optical coherence tomography angiography. The vessel densities of the retinal vascular network (RVN), superficial vascular plexus (SVP), and deep vascular plexus (DVP) were measured. Cognitive function was assessed using the Mini-mental state examination (MMSE) and Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA), while physical performance was evaluated using the total work during the YMCA cycle ergometer test (TW-YMCA). Spearman correlations (rs) were computed between measures of retinal microvascular density, cognitive function, and physical performance. Results The MoCA was significantly correlated to vessel density of SVD (rs = 0.53, P = 0.02) but not RVN (rs = 0.39, P = 0.09) and DVP (rs = 0.02, P = 0.93). MoCA was not correlated with TW-YMCA (rs = 0.05, P = 0.83). Retinal microvascular densities were not related to TW-YMCA (rs = −0.05–0.18, P > 0.05). Additionally, MMSE was not related the retinal vessel densities (rs = −0.10–0.21, P > 0.05) and TW-YMCA (rs = −0.19, P = 0.41). Conclusions This is the first study to reveal the association between retinal vessel density and cognition as measured with MoCA in healthy older adults with no reported cognitive decline.
Electronic and magnetic signatures of low-lying spin-flip excitonic states of Mn12O12-acetate

Abstract Based upon recent work on the Mn 3 monomer and the Mn(taa) there is an expectation that Mn III centers can exist in local spin states with S = 2 (3 d ↑ ↑ ↑ ↑ ) or S = 1 (3 d ↑ ↑ ↑ ↓ ). While the high-spin states are usually more stable based on Hunds first rule, the Mn 3 monomer, the Mn(taa) and [ Mn 6 III Mn III ] 3 + triplesalen provide examples where the presence of S = 1 and S = 0 low-spin states is energetically favorable. In this paper we examine the possibility that such S = 1 centers, referred to as Spin-Flip Excitons (SFE) can exist in the Mn 12 O 12 ( COOR ) 16 [ H 2 O ] 2 molecule ( Mn 12 -Ac). Our results show that up to eight of these excitons can exist as metastable electronic states. We examine the relative stability per exciton as a function of the number of these excitons and determine spin-crossover paths between the Mn 12 -Ac zero-exciton ground state (S = 10), a four-exciton state (S = 6) and an eight-exciton state (S = 2). The magnetic anisotropy of these states decreases monotonically and significantly with the number of excitons.
P3 Midwestern Regional Grocery Store Chain Canned and Frozen Vegetable Sales

Background Canned vegetables contain higher sodium, which is associated with chronic disease, and are less expensive. Understanding purchasing patterns of low-income Oklahomans will provide information to guide future health interventions. Objective To describe the overall canned and frozen vegetable sales and determine differences in canned and frozen sales by store's shopper income. Study Design, Setting, Participants This study was a cross-sectional, secondary analysis of canned and frozen vegetable sales from December 2012 through August 2015 of a Midwestern regional grocery chain (n = 64 stores). Weekly units sold of canned and frozen vegetables were pair-matched by preparation type and averaged across 144 weeks. Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) sales were used as a proxy for the store's shopper socioeconomic status (SES; ie, high SNAP sales = lower shopper SES). High SES stores (n = 16, bottom quartile) had 5.7% SNAP sales and low SES stores (n = 16, top quartile) had 14.7% SNAP sales. Measurable Outcome/Analysis An independent t test was conducted to compare the percentage of canned to frozen units sold between high and low SES stores. All statistical tests were conducted assuming P ≤ 0.05, using SAS 9.4. Results Across all stores, 78.7% of canned and frozen vegetable sales were canned and 21.3% were frozen. Green beans were the highest canned sales and mixed vegetables were the highest frozen sales. Canned vegetable sales accounted for significantly more (84%) of total canned and frozen vegetable sales in low SES stores compared to high SES stores (74%) (P Conclusion Low SES stores sell more canned vegetables compared to high SES stores in Oklahoma. These data are representative of Oklahoma sales data and are comparable to national trends. Findings demonstrate a need to understand how individuals living in low SES households make purchasing decisions to improve public health intervention strategies attempting to improve diet quality.
Investigating Bacterial Volatilome for the Classification and Identification of Mycobacterial Species by HS-SPME-GC-MS and Machine Learning.

Species of Mycobacteriaceae cause disease in animals and humans, including tuberculosis and leprosy. Individuals infected with organisms in the Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex (MTBC) or non-tuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) may present identical symptoms, however the treatment for each can be different. Although the NTM infection is considered less vital due to the chronicity of the disease and the infrequency of occurrence in healthy populations, diagnosis and differentiation among Mycobacterium species currently require culture isolation, which can take several weeks. The use of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) is a promising approach for species identification and in recent years has shown promise for use in the rapid analysis of both in vitro cultures as well as ex vivo diagnosis using breath or sputum. The aim of this contribution is to analyze VOCs in the culture headspace of seven different species of mycobacteria and to define the volatilome profiles that are discriminant for each species. For the pre-concentration of VOCs, solid-phase micro-extraction (SPME) was employed and samples were subsequently analyzed using gas chromatography–quadrupole mass spectrometry (GC-qMS). A machine learning approach was applied for the selection of the 13 discriminatory features, which might represent clinically translatable bacterial biomarkers.
Data Security Issues Arising from Integration of Wireless Access into Healthcare Networks

The versatility of having Ethernet speed connectivity without wires is rapidly driving adoption of wireless data networking by end users across all types of industry. Designed to be easy to configure and work among diverse platforms, wireless brings online data to mobile users. This functionality is particularly useful in modern clinical medicine. Wireless presents operators of networks containing or transmitting sensitive and confidential data with several new types of security vulnerabilities, and potentially opens previously protected core network resources to outside attack. Herein, we review the types of vulnerabilities, the tools necessary to exploit them, and strategies to thwart a successful attack.
Multivariate Linear Models

Chapters I, II, and III examine topics in multivariate analysis. Specifically, they discuss multivariate linear models, discriminant analysis, principal components, and factor analysis. The basic ideas behind these subjects are closely related to linear model theory. Multivariate linear models are simply linear models with more than one dependent variable. Discriminant analysis is closely related to both Mahalanobis’s distance (cf. Christensen, 1987, Section XIII.1) and multivariate one-way analysis of variance. Principal components are user-constructed variables which are best linear predictors (cf. Christensen, 1987, Section VI.3) of the original data. Factor analysis has ties to both multivariate linear models and principal components.
Effect of waste form size on the leachability of radionuclides contained in cement-solidified evaporator concentrates generated at nuclear power stations

Abstract Leach tests were conducted on different sized specimens of cement-solidified evaporator concentrate waste obtained from two commercial nuclear power stations to correlate radionuclide leaching from small- and full-scale waste forms. Five specimens were solidified boric acid waste collected from a pressurized water reactor and three were solidified sulfate waste obtained from a boiling water reactor. The samples were leached in deionized water at 25°C using a modified International Atomic Energy Agency leaching procedure. Release rates, effective diffusivities, and leachability indexes of 60Co, 137Cs, and combined 89Sr and 90Sr were determined using diffusion release models given in the American National Standard ANS-16.1. The results indicate that when the effective diffusivities determined for small-scale waste-form specimens are used to predict long-term releases of 60Co from large-scale waste forms, releases are overpredicted by as much as a factor of five after one year of leaching.
Tactics for probing aryne reactivity: mechanistic studies of silicon–oxygen bond cleavage during the trapping of (HDDA-generated) benzynes by silyl ethers

We report mechanistic aspects of the trapping of thermally (HDDA) generated benzyne derivatives by pendant silyl ether groups, which results in net insertion of the pair of benzyne Csp-hydribized carbon atoms into the silicon–oxygen sigma bond. Cross-over experiments using symmetrical, doubly labeled bis-silyl ether substrates established that the reaction is unimolecular in nature. Competition experiments involving either intramolecular or intermolecular dihydrogen transfer clock reactions (from within a TIPS isopropyl group or cyclooctane, respectively) vs. the silyl ether cyclization were used to gain additional insights. We evaluated effects of the steric bulk of the silyl ether trapping group and of the ring-size of the cyclic ether being formed (furan vs. pyran). These types of competition experiments allow the relative rates of various product-determining steps to be determined. This previously has only rarely been possible because aryne formation is typically rate-limiting, making it challenging to probe the kinetics of subsequent trapping reactions. Solvent effects (polarity of the medium) and computational studies were used to probe the question of stepwise vs. concerted pathways for the Si–O insertion.
Transmission of electric dipole radiation through an interface

Abstract We consider the transmission of electric dipole radiation through an interface between two dielectrics, for the case of a vertical dipole. Energy flows along the field lines of the Poynting vector, and in the optical near field these field lines are curves (as opposed to optical rays). When the radiation passes through the interface into a thicker medium, the field lines bend to the normal (as rays do), but the transmission angle is not related to the angle of incidence. The redirection of the radiation at the interface is determined by the angle dependence of the transmission coefficient. This near-field redistribution is responsible for the far-field angular power pattern. When the transmission medium is thinner than the embedding medium of the dipole, some energy flows back and forth through the interface in an oscillating fashion. In each area where field lines dip below the interface, an optical vortex appears just above the interface. The centers of these vortices are concentric singular circles around the dipole axis.
Introduction to the Special Issue: Under Pressure

This article introduces this special issue on the theme "Under Pressure." It uses an analysis of experimental lesbian filmmaker Su Friedrich's Seeing Red (2005) to frame the issue's focus on the ways that the category "lesbian" is placed under pressure and/or the pressure "lesbian" places on twentieth- and twenty-first-century cultural production. After this overview, the introduction summarizes all seven articles in the order that they appear in the issue. These summaries also show the connections between the articles and suggest possibilities for future critical dialogues on the theme.
Resource seasonality and fish diets in an Illinois stream

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the intensity of competition for food among 9 species of stream fishes that primarily eat aquatic invertebrates. The taxonomic and size composition, and numerical abundance of aquatic invertebrates were monitored for one year using drift and benthic samples. Diet data were obtained from stomachs of fishes captured at the same time and place that invertebrate sampling was done. Diet characteristics examined included taxonomic and size composition, number of prey per fish, and diet breadth. Drifting invertebrates were more abundant early in the year (March–June) than later (July–January). The summer-early fall scarcity of invertebrates was especially notable among those>3.6 mm long, which comprised the bulk of prey found in fish stomachs. Average prey size eaten by a fish species was positively correlated with fish mouth size, but interspecific overlap in prey size was extensive. Cyprinids as a group (5 species) ate proportionally fewer small (< 3.6 mm long) prey from July to January than did the centrarchids and stonecat. Taxonomic compositions of available invertebrates and fish diets varied markedly among sampling dates, but the use of prey taxa by fishes was not correlated with the availability of those taxa. Use of aquatic prey taxa was generally similar among fish species, but cyprinids as a group ate proportionally more terrestrial prey from July to January than did the centrarchids and stonecat. Diet breadths for all species increased as food levels declined, indicating that these fishes experienced resource depression. Food scarcity was evidently more severe for cyprinids since their stomachs contained few prey through the summer and fall relative to the centrarchids and stonecat. Though the fish species studied probably compete for food in the summer and fall, this competition did not account for the community structure observed.
Infrared spectroscopic determination of lactide concentration in polylactide: An improved methodology

In this study, a new Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy method for measuring lactide concentration in a polylactide (PLA) matrix is presented. The lactide ring breathing mode peak at 935 cm-1 is rationed against the asymmetric bending mode of methyl groups at 1454 cm-1; because the methyl group is present both in lactide monomer and the polymer, this ratio provides a direct measure of lactide concentration. Using well-defined mixtures of lactide and PLA, a calibration curve is established. For lactide concentrations corresponding to conversions above 75%, a linear relationship between conversion and the peak area ratio exists. Below 75% conversion, the development of a double peak at 1454 cm-1 leads to deviations from linearity; data can then be accurately represented by a second-order polynomial relating conversion to the peak area ratio. Kinetic data for the bulk polymerization of lactide at different temperatures are also obtained and independently verified using rigorous NMR techniques. Fi...
Control of estrogen receptor ligand binding by Hsp90

The molecular chaperone Hsp90 interacts with unliganded steroid hormone receptors and regulates their activity. We have analyzed the function of yeast and mammalian Hsp90 in regulating the ability of the human estrogen receptor (ER) to bind ligands in vivo and in vitro. Using the yeast system, we show that the ER expressed in several different hsp82 mutant strains binds reduced amounts of the synthetic estrogen diethylstilbestrol compared to the wild type. This defect in hormone binding occurs without any significant change in the steady state levels of ER protein. To analyze the role of mammalian Hsp90, we synthesized the human ER in rabbit reticulocyte lysates containing geldanamycin, an Hsp90 inhibitor. At low concentrations of geldanamycin we observed reduced levels of hormone binding by the ER. At higher concentrations, we found reduced synthesis of the receptor. These data indicate that Hsp90 functions to maintain the ER in a high affinity hormone-binding conformation.
Guinea pigs as models to study the hypocholesterolemic effects of drugs.

Guinea pigs are useful models to investigate the mechanisms of the hypocholesterolemic effects of drugs. Like humans, guinea pigs are one of the few species that carry the majority of cholesterol in LDL. This animal model has also been shown to develop atherosclerosis when challenged with hypercholesterolemic diets. In addition, plasma lipid profiles in males, females and ovariectomized guinea pigs, a model for menopause, follow similar patterns to those observed in humans. In this report, drugs aimed at lowering plasma cholesterol and triglycerides in hyperlipidemic individuals are reviewed. Studies analyzing the hypolipidemic effect of HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors, acyl CoA cholesterol acyltransferase inhibitors, fibrates, bile acid resins, apical sodium bile acid transporter inhibitors, and others show that guinea pigs and humans have comparable responses to drug therapy. In addition, results from the limited clinical reports addressing specific effects of drugs on LDL catabolism or VLDL synthesis are in agreement with observations in guinea pigs. From the review of these studies, it is apparent that the guinea pig is a useful animal model to further explore the mechanisms of action of lipid lowering drugs including effects on specific receptors and regulatory enzymes involved in cholesterol metabolism and on early atherosclerosis development.
Development of Human Lymphocyte-Engrafted SCID Mice as a Model for Immunotoxicity Assessment

Mice with the severe combined immunodeficient (SCID) and triple-deficient (bg/nu/xid) mutations lack select populations of functional immune cells. Studies by several laboratories have demonstrated the ability to restore certain missing immune components in these mice by reconstituting with various lymphoid tissues including peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBL) from mice and humans. Such a model could provide an opportunity to examine human lymphoid cells in an in vivo environment for immunotoxicity assessment. In the present studies, bg/nu/xid and SCID mice were reconstituted by intraperitoneal or intravenous injection with either tetanus-immunized syngeneic mouse splenocytes (mo-SPL) or tetanus-immunized human PBLs (hu-PBL) under various test conditions. Hu-PBL-SCID mice from the C.B-17 strain produced more successful human engraftments than mice from the bg/nu/xid or C3H-SCID strains. Using optimal conditions, mo-SPL-SCID and hu-PBL-SCID mice were engrafted and administered either 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin or cyclosporin A (Cys A) and periodically bled to measure tetanus-specific antibody and class-specific immunoglobulin concentrations. Comparison of the chemical-related changes in immunoglobulin and tetanus antibody concentrations revealed some similarities between control mice and mo-SPL-SCID or hu-PBL-SCID mice, particularly with Cys A groups. However, under the various conditions examined, hu-PBL-SCID mice demonstrated considerable variability in their ability to provide consistent reconstitution, thus, limiting the ability to determine whether human cells are more or less susceptible than mouse cells to the test agents. Provided that this system can be refined to provide consistent reconstitution, hu-PBL-SCID mice may be a promising in vivo model for assessment of potential immunotoxic agents.
Tosh Demands and Generative Thinking: What Changes and What Remains the Same?

Generative thinking can be characterized as the development of novel instantiations of existing concepts. Using this framework, the present study examined the impact of three conditions on the way subjects generated ideas about imaginary extraterrestrials. Control subjects developed alien animals but were given no special instructions. Those in the Wildly Different Condition were asked to generate creatures that were as wildly different from Earth animals as they could be. Both groups were highly and equally likely to imagine creatures that were symmetric and possessed standard senses and appendages, but the latter introduced significantly more novel variations, particularly on the number of sense organs and appendages. A third group was asked to imagine and describe things that might live on another planet, but were not initially instructed to provide drawings or limit themselves to considering living things that would be considered to be animals. This last group also preserved symmetry, but was significantly more likely to develop creatures without standard senses and appendages. Even so, 75% of this group developed creatures with standard senses and appendages. The results are discussed in terms of constraints on innovation, ways of overcoming those constraints, and the general tendency for new ideas to preserve many of the central properties of existing concepts.
Benign vascular malformation of the diaphragm

Lesions of the diaphragm are rare and often ominous neoplasms with a broad range of presenting symptoms. While benign diaphragmatic masses have been described, they comprise the minority of these lesions and imaging is ineffective at differentiating between the two. We describe an unusual case of a 15 year-old girl presenting with a benign vascular malformation of the diaphragm.
MANAGEMENT OF THROMBOSIS IN ANTIPHOSPHOLIPID ANTIBODY SYNDROME

Antiphospholipid antibody positive patients are at risk for venous and arterial thrombosis. The risk of recurrent thromboembolism is high. Although the standard of care is high-intensity warfarin after a thromboembolic event, some studies indicate that this degree of anticoagulation is not needed. There is an urgent need of clinical trials to address management of thrombosis in antiphospholipid syndrome.
Prevalence and risk factors of pulmonary hypertension in patients with elevated pulmonary venous pressure and preserved ejection fraction

Pulmonary hypertension (PH) is a well-recognized complication of left-sided heart failure with preserved left ventricular systolic function that portends a worse prognosis. The identification of risk factors may provide insight into possible mechanisms for the development of PH in this population. Targeting these risk factors could possibly attenuate the development of PH. The limited data available regarding the prevalence of PH and its risk factors in patients with heart failure with preserved left ventricular systolic function are based on echocardiography. To further study this, an institutional database was searched for all patients who underwent right-sided and left-sided cardiac catheterization with ventriculography from October 1996 to September 2007 who met the following criteria: left ventricular end-diastolic pressure (LVEDP) >15 mm Hg, a left ventricular ejection fraction ≥50%, and no significant left-sided cardiac valvular disease. The demographic, clinical, and hemodynamic data of these patients were then analyzed. Of 455 patients who met these criteria, 239 (52.5%) had PH, defined as mean pulmonary artery pressure >25 mm Hg. Using multivariate logistic regression, PH was strongly and independently associated with LVEDP ≥25 mm Hg (odds ratio 4.3), morbid obesity (odds ratio 3.4), and atrial arrhythmias (odds ratio 3.1). Other significant associations were age ≥80 years, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and dyspnea on exertion. In conclusion, PH is a frequent finding in patients with elevated LVEDPs and preserved left ventricular systolic function. Factors associated with its development are LVEDP ≥25 mm Hg, morbid obesity, atrial arrhythmias, age ≥80 years, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and dyspnea on exertion.
Modeling of the aerodynamic moment acting upon a satellite

We consider the issues of modeling the moments of aerodynamic forces acting upon a satellite with gravitational system of stabilization. It is assumed that satellite orbits are almost circular with heights in the range 550–750 km. Simplified analytical expressions are suggested for the aerodynamic moment in the case when a satellite moves in the regime of gravitational orientation. Accuracy of the obtained expressions is estimated to be compared with that of expressions derived under the assumption of constant coefficient of frontal resistance. An analysis is made of short-periodic variations of the atmosphere density occurring due to orbital motion of a satellite. It is demonstrated that these variations can result in a substantial change of the aerodynamic moment, and their approximation by a truncated Fourier series is suggested. Estimates of the accuracy of the suggested approximation are given.
[PhSiO1.5]8 promotes self-bromination to produce [o-BrPhSiO1.5]8: further bromination gives crystalline [2,5-Br2PhSiO1.5]8 with a density of 2.32 g cm−3 and a calculated refractive index of 1.7 or the tetraicosa bromo compound [Br3PhSiO1.5]8

We describe here the synthesis and characterization of the octa-, hexadeca- and tetraicosa-brominated derivatives of octaphenylsilsesquioxane, [PhSiO1.5]8 or OPS, which offer high 3-D symmetry. Surprisingly OPS catalyzes its own bromination in refluxing CH2Cl2, in the absence of a traditional Lewis acid catalyst, leading unexpectedly and with high selectivity (≥85%) to the ortho-bromo product, [o-BrPhSiO1.5]8. It appears that the electrophilic character of the cage polarizes the Br2 molecule promoting bromination at the ortho position. Thereafter, with the introduction of a Lewis acid catalyst or simply through prolonged bromination without a catalyst, it is possible to double the number of Br's to produce primarily crystalline [2,5-Br2PhSiO1.5]8 in yields of 80+%. Extended catalytic bromination provides the disordered tetraicosa-brominated compound [Br3PhSiO1.5]8 in low yields. The latter two compounds have bromine densities of 9.5 and 8.4 Br per nm3, respectively, some of the highest densities of Br compounds found in the literature. Crystalline [2,5-Br2PhSiO1.5]8 offers single crystal densities of 2.32 g cm−3 and a calculated refractive index of 1.7 where sapphire is 1.76. The brominated compounds were characterized using NMR, FTIR, TGA and single crystal X-ray diffraction. This set of compounds offers the potential viacatalytic cross-coupling reactions to produce spherical molecules with some of the highest degrees of functionality possible for any first generation star/hyperbranched cores.
Elemental distribution and macrophyte growth downstream from an organic soil

Abstract Little Conesus Creek, which drains a cultivated organic soil deposit in central New York State, was monitored at several sites for over a year (March 1975–June 1976) for flow, concentrations of dissolved N, P, K, O 2 , minor elements, pH, alkalinity, sediment characteristics, aquatic plant growth and tissue content. The stream was well-oxygenated and near saturation with CO 2 most of the time. Dissolved concentrations ranged from 0.003 to 7 mg l −1 for N, 0.05–1 mg l −1 for P, 2–5 mg l −1 for K, 70–90 mg/l −1 for Ca, 0.04–0.5 mg l −1 for Fe, and 0.001–0.006 mg l −1 for Zn. Concentrations generally increased as flows increased, so that by far the greatest quantity of nutrients was carried by the water in spring and early summer when the aquatic macrophytes were growing at the maximum rate. Phosphorus levels exceeded N levels in the late summer and autumn. Maximum standing crop (387 g dry wt. m −2 ) was achieved by a pure stand of Myriophyllum spicatum L. in October. Mineral content of the aquatic macrophyte tissue peaked in early summer, but total nutrients in the plants peaked at the time of maximum standing crop. High nutrient levels in the water, sediments and plant tissues indicated the nutrient-rich status of this stream. Plant growth was limited by physical factors, not nutrient availability. Of the major nutrients at least 20 times more was transported down the stream than was absorbed during the period of maximum growth. Absorption of nutrients by roots may have occurred, as interstitial water concentrations of all plant nutrients were higher than in the stream. Sediments probably acted as a sink for most nutrients. When flow and stream concentrations are low, such as in autumn, the N, P, and Zn released by macrophyte senescence could be a large fraction of total stream load. Cadmium and Pb were not concentrated by macrophytes to any great extent.
Redox regulation of calcineurin in T-lymphocytes

To explore whether the Ca2+/calmodulin-dependent protein phosphatase calcineurin is subject to redox regulation in vivo, we used a luciferase reporter gene construct whose expression was controlled by the transcription factor NF-AT (the nuclear factor of activated T-cells) to monitor intracellular calcineurin activity following redox state perturbations. The NF-AT reporter construct was transfected into Jurkat cells, and luciferase activity was assessed following treatment with phorbol ester and ionomycin in the presence of either hydrogen peroxide or dithiothreitol (DTT). While DTT had no effect, H2O2 completely abrogated NF-AT transactivation in response to stimulation. The inhibitory effect was specific for NF-AT as comparable levels of H2O2 had only minor effects on constituitive transcription factors while an analogous construct under AP-1 control showed a 5-fold stimulation in transactivation in the presence of H2O2. The inhibitory effect of H2O2 was observed up to approximately 3 h following mitogen stimulation, a time point where NF-AT activity begins to increase under normal conditions. Protein serine/threonine phosphatase activities from Jurkat lysate indicated that calcineurin activity was inhibited not only by H2O2 but also by high concentrations of DTT. These results indicate that calcineurin activity is subject to redox regulation in vivo and are discussed in the context of redox reactions involving active site metal ions.
Validity of the Student Interest and Engagement Scales: Associations with Student Learning Outcomes

This study builds validity evidence for the Student Interest Scale and Student Engagement Scale. Confirmatory factor analysis indicates that the factor structures of the new measures are stable, reliable, and valid. The results indicate a positive association between student emotional and cognitive interest and engagement, providing initial evidence for construct validity. Results reveal positive relationships between student interest, learner empowerment, motivation, and affective learning, offering evidence of convergent validity. Analyses reveal that the Student Interest Scale is distinct from Weber, Martin, and Cayanus' (2005) Learner Empowerment Scale, McCroskey's (1994) Affective Learning Scale, and Christophel's (1990) Motivation Scale, while the Student Engagement Scale is distinct from Frymier and Houser's (1999) Learning Indicators Scale, providing discriminant validity evidence.
Dynamics of phytoplankton-zooplankton systems with toxin producing phytoplankton

We propose periodic systems of phytoplankton-zooplankton interactions with toxin producing phytoplankton to study the effects of TPP upon extinction and persistence of the populations. Using the concept of uniform persistence, it is proved that the two populations can coexist for certain parameter regimes. The numerical investigation demonstrates that toxin producing phytoplankton may promote survival of zooplankton population on one hand and may destabilize the interactions on the other hand. Moreover, passive diffusion of both populations can simplify the dynamics of the interactions and exhibit plankton patchiness.
X-linked agammaglobulinemia diagnosed late in life: case report and review of the literature

Common variable immune deficiency (CVID), one of the most common primary immunodeficiency diseases presents in adults, whereas X-linked agammaglobulinemia (XLA), an inherited humoral immunodeficiency, is usually diagnosed early in life after maternal Igs have waned. However, there have been several reports in the world literature in which individuals have either had a delay in onset of symptoms or have been misdiagnosed with CVID and then later found to have mutations in Bruton's tyrosine kinase (BTK) yielding a reclassification as adult-onset variants of XLA. The typical finding of absent B cells should suggest XLA rather than CVID and may be a sensitive test to detect this condition, leading to the more specific test (Btk mutational analysis). Further confirmation may be by mutational analyses. The records of 2 patients were reviewed and appropriate clinical data collected. BTK mutational analysis was carried out to investigate the suspicion of adult-presentation of XLA. A review of the world literature on delayed diagnosis of XLA and mild or "leaky" phenotype was performed. 2 patients previously diagnosed with CVID associated with virtual absence of CD19+ B cells were reclassified as having a delayed diagnosis and adult-presentation of XLA. Patient 1, a 64 yr old male with recurrent sinobronchial infections had a low level of serum IgG of 360 mg/dl (normal 736–1900), IgA <27 mg/dl (normal 90–474), and IgM <25 mg/dl (normal 50–415). Patient 2, a 46 yr old male with recurrent sinopulmonary infections had low IgG of 260 mg/dl, low IgA <16 mg/dl, and normal IgM. Mutational analysis of BTK was carried out in both patients and confirmed the diagnosis of XLA These two cases represent an unusual adult-presentation of XLA, a humoral immunodeficiency usually diagnosed in childhood and the need to further investigate a suspicion of XLA in adult males with CVID particularly those associated with low to absent CD19+ B cells. A diagnosis of XLA can have significant implications including family counseling, detecting female carriers, and early intervention and treatment of affected male descendents.