cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Reducing aversion to side effects in preventive medical treatment decisions.

Laypeople tend to be overly sensitive to side effects of treatments that prevent illness, possibly leading them to refuse beneficial therapies. This Internet-based study attempted to reduce such side effect aversion by adding graphic displays to the numerical risk probabilities. It also explored whether graphics reduce side effect aversion by making it easier for respondents to determine how the treatment might change their net cancer risk. Participants (N=4,248) were presented with a hypothetical preventive treatment situation that was or was not accompanied by a small side effect. In both conditions, the net absolute risk reduction was 12%. Adding an array of stick figures to risk probabilities reduced side effect aversion substantially, but adding a bar graph was not beneficial. The ability of arrays to reduce side effect aversion was not attributable to greater accuracy in evaluating the treatment's net benefit. Language: en
Ultrafast Raman echoes in liquid acetonitrile.

Raman echoes are observed for the first time in the liquid phase. The symmetric methyl stretch of acetonitrile is shown to be homogeneously broadened, in disagreement with time-resolved coherent Raman scattering experiments and recent theory, but in agreement with line-shape studies and computer simulations. The vibration interacts primarily with rapid, collisional solvent motions, not with long-lived structural features.
Teaching Capstone Design to a Multiple Location Team

The Department of Mechanical Engineering at the University of Alabama offers its BSME degree through distance education to students in Dothan, Alabama, located approximately 240 miles from the campus in Tuscaloosa. These off-site students are full-time employees, many are machinists or technicians working swing shift, with the desire to become engineers. The goal of the program described here is to provide these non-traditional students with the same technical and professional content in their courses as students on campus. As the first group of students finished their degree program, the lates challenge has been to create a team-based design experience with traditional student team members and these distance education students. The purpose of this paper is to discuss the challenges and solutions for teaching capstone design to teams with members at multiple locations. For companies with multiple and multi-national locations, these students should be seen as having an important skill set as new employees.Copyright © 2003 by ASME
Neostriatal and mesolimbic neurons: Dose-dependent effects of clozapine

Abstract To determine whether clozapine, an antipsychotic drug devoid of extrapyramidal side effects, acts preferentially on neurons in the nucleus accumbens rather than in the neostriatum, an analysis of clozapine-induced changes in spontaneous neuronal activity was performed on locally anesthetized, immobilized rats. In both brain sites, intraperitoneal administration of clozapine (10, 20 or 80 mg/kg) produced a comparable dose-dependent increase in neuronal activity. Haloperidol, at a dose (2.0mg/kg) that typically elicits extrapyramidal side effects in rats, also increased the firing rate of neurons in the neostriatum and nucleus accumbens. However, haloperidol produced a greater effect on neuronal activity in the neostriatum during the first 15 min after injection, whereas 80 mg/kg clozapine was more effective during this period in the nucleus accumbens. In contrast, the neuronal response to the lower doses of clozapine paralleled that produced by haloperidol in the neostriatum; no differential regional effects were recorded at any time after injection of 10 or 20 mg/kg clozapine. The results suggest that the lack of extrapyramidal side effects associated with clozapine cannot be simply explained by a selective action of this drug on neurons in the nucleus accumbens.
Temperature alters ethanol-induced fluidization of C57 mouse brain membranes.

The interaction between temperature and ethanol-induced fluidization was investigated in brain synaptic plasma membranes from C57BL/6 mice. Changes in fluidity were measured using the fluorescent probe 1,6-diphenyl-1,3,5-hexatriene. Fluorescence polarization was tested in the presence and absence of ethanol at 25, 32 and 37°C. An increase in temperature resulted in a significant increase in the baseline fluidity of the membranes and an increase in the magnitude of ethanol-induced fluidization of brain membranes. The combined effect of temperature on baseline fluidity and the magnitude of the response to ethanol resulted in a significant temperature-related increase in the relative response to ethanol (% change in polarization). The minimum concentration of ethanol required to cause a significant increase in the fluidity of the membranes was 170.7 mM at 25°C and 85.3 mM at both 32 and 37°C. The present results indicate that temperature-related changes in the effects of ethanol on membrane properties may underlie the effects of temperature on ethanol sensitivity in C57 mice.
The long-term renal and cardiovascular consequences of prematurity

Infants born prematurely at <37 weeks' gestation account for over 80% of infants weighing <2,500 g at birth-low birth weight (LBW) infants. This designation remains the surrogate marker for developmental origins of adult disease. Landmark studies spanning four decades have shown that individuals born with a LBW are more likely to develop cardiovascular and renal disease in later life, which is believed to be related to 'developmental programming' of such adult disease during vulnerable periods of growth in utero and in the early postnatal period. There has long been ambiguity regarding the distinction between infants with intrauterine growth restriction and preterm infants since both show a low nephron endowment that is associated with subsequent hypertension and chronic kidney disease. Knowledge is growing specific to the preterm infant and the developmental associations of being born preterm with the interruption of normal organogenesis relative to the vascular tree and kidney. Both systems develop by branching morphogenesis and interruptions lead to considerable deficits in their structure and function. These developmental aberrations can lead to endothelial dysfunction, hypertension, proteinuria and metabolic abnormalities that persist throughout life. This Review will examine the effect of preterm birth on the development of cardiovascular and kidney disease in later life and will also discuss potential early interventions to alter the progression of disease.
Abstract IA12: Long-term, efficient inhibition of miRNA function in mice using Tough Decoys delivered by Adeno-associated virus vectors

Understanding the function of individual miRNA species in mice would require the production of hundreds of loss-of-function strains. To accelerate analysis of miRNA biology in mammals, we combined recombinant adeno-associated virus (rAAV) vectors with miRNA ‘Tough Decoys’ (TuDs) to inhibit specific miRNAs. Intravenous injection of rAAV9 expressing anti-miR-122 or anti-let-7 TuD depleted the corresponding miRNA and increased its mRNA targets. rAAV producing anti-miR-122—but not anti-let-7—TuD reduced serum cholesterol by 40% for 18 weeks in wild-type mice. High throughput sequencing of liver miRNAs from the treated mice confirmed that the targeted miRNAs were depleted and revealed that TuD RNAs induce miRNA tailing and trimming in vivo. rAAV-mediated miRNA inhibition thus provides a simple way to study miRNA function in adult mammals and a potential therapy for dyslipidemia and other diseases caused by miRNA deregulation. Citation Format: Phillip D. Zamore. Long-term, efficient inhibition of miRNA function in mice using Tough Decoys delivered by Adeno-associated virus vectors [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the AACR Special Conference on Noncoding RNAs and Cancer; 2012 Jan 8-11; Miami Beach, FL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2012;72(2 Suppl):Abstract nr IA12.
Effects of gonadotropins on bovine oocytes matured in TCM-199.

Abstract The effects of follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and luteinizing hormone (LH) during in vitro maturation of bovine oocytes in TCM-199 without serum were evaluated. Bovine oocytes with compact cumulus cells were collected from slaughterhouse-derived ovaries and cultured in Hepes-buffered TCM-199 supplemented with 5 mg/mL BSA, 1 μg/mL estradiol-17β, FSH (0, 0.015, 0.05, 0.15, 1.5 or 15 ng/mL; Experiment 1), LH (0, 0.14, 1, 7 or 49 μg/mL; Experiment 2) and combinations of 1 or 10 ng/mL FSH and 1 or 10 μg/mL LH (Experiment 3) at 39°C in 5% CO 2 in air. After 22 h of maturation, cumulus expansion was estimated by scoring from 0 (no expansion) to 4 (full expansion of cumulus mass). In vitro fertilization was done with Percoll (45/90%) separated bull sperm at 1 × 10 6 sperm/mL in tert-TALP with 5 U/mL heparin. At 18 to 20 h post-insemination, presumptive zygotes were transferred to a chemically defined medium (CDM-1) supplemented with 0.5% BSA and nonessential amino acids for 72 h and then moved to CDM-2, additionally supplemented with essential amino acids. Zygotes were cultured at 39°C in 5% CO 2 , 5% O 2 and 90% N 2 for 8 days. During Experiments 1 and 2, cumulus expansion increased in proportion to concentrations of FSH and LH. Cleavage rates and development to blastocysts were not significantly different among FSH and LH treatments. In Experiment 3, cumulus expansion of bovine oocytes was maximal when 1 ng/mL FSH and 1 μg/mL LH were added to IVM medium, but cumulus expansion again was not related to developmental ability, although cleavage rates were improved slightly (P
Correlation of measures of regional lung ventilation from 4DCT vs. hyperpolarized helium-3 MR

Radiation induced pulmonary diseases can change the tissue material properties of lung parenchyma and the mechanics of the respiratory system. Recent advances in multi-detector-row CT (MDCT), 4DCT respiratory gating methods, and image processing techniques enable us to follow and measure those changes noninvasively during radiation therapy at a regional level. This study compares the 4DCT based ventilation measurement with the results from hyperpolarized helium-3 MR using the cumulative distribution function maps and the relative overlap (RO) statistic. We show that the similarity between the two measurements increases as the increase of the B-Spline grid spacing and Laplacian weighting which result a smoother ventilation map. The best similarity is found with weighting of 0.5 for linear elasticity and B-Spline grid spacing of 32 mm. Future work is to improve the lung image registration algorithm by incorporating hyperpolarized helium-3 MR information so as to improve its physiological modeling of the lung tissue deformation.
Multimodal techniques for diagnosis and prognosis of Alzheimer's disease

Alzheimer's disease affects millions of people around the world. Currently, there are no treatments that prevent or slow the disease. Like other neurodegenerative diseases, Alzheimer's disease is characterized by protein misfolding in the brain. This process and the associated brain damage begin years before the substantial neurodegeneration that accompanies dementia. Studies using new neuroimaging techniques and fluid biomarkers suggest that Alzheimer's disease pathology can be detected preclinically. These advances should allow the design of new clinical trials and early mechanism-based therapeutic intervention.
Dynamical averaging in terms of periodic orbits

Abstract Periodic orbit theory methods for evaluation of average values of observables for chaotic dynamical systems are reviewed and illustrated by several examples, such as evaluation of the Lyapunov exponents and the diffusion constants.
CPI2: CPU performance isolation for shared compute clusters

Performance isolation is a key challenge in cloud computing. Unfortunately, Linux has few defenses against performance interference in shared resources such as processor caches and memory buses, so applications in a cloud can experience unpredictable performance caused by other programs' behavior.Our solution, CPI2, uses cycles-per-instruction (CPI) data obtained by hardware performance counters to identify problems, select the likely perpetrators, and then optionally throttle them so that the victims can return to their expected behavior. It automatically learns normal and anomalous behaviors by aggregating data from multiple tasks in the same job.We have rolled out CPI2 to all of Google's shared compute clusters. The paper presents the analysis that lead us to that outcome, including both case studies and a large-scale evaluation of its ability to solve real production issues.
Winter and Summer Home Ranges and Core use Areas of Double-Crested Cormorants Captured near Aquaculture Facilities in the Southeastern United States

Abstract. Numbers of Double-crested Cormorants (Phalacrocorax auritus) wintering in the southeastern United States have increased dramatically during the last 30 years concomitant with the rise of the aquaculture industry in this region. These cormorants commonly foraged at commercial aquaculture facilities and thereby came into conflict with farmers. Various interest groups are seeking ecologically sound strategies for minimizing the effects of burgeoning cormorant populations. Therefore, this study was conducted to estimate winter and summer home ranges of cormorants captured in the southeastern U.S. and determine whether age class, body mass, density of aquaculture facilities and availability of roost sites influenced size of these home ranges. Mean ± SE home range size and core use area of satellite transmitter-marked cormorants wintering in the southeastern U.S. from 1999 to 2001 were 17,490 ± 1,986 km2 (N = 37) and 1,550 ± 265 km2 (N = 37), respectively. Winter home range size was not affected by re...
Tests of Mach's Principle With a Mechanical Oscillator

Abstract James F. Woodward has made a prediction, based on Sciama's formulation of Mach's Principle in the framework of general relativity, that in the presence of an energy flow the inertial mass of an object may undergo sizable variations, changing as the second time derivative of the energy. We describe an attempt to test for the predicted effect with a charging capacitor, using a technique that does not require an unbalanced force or any local violation of Newton's 3 rd law of motion. We attempt to observe (1) the gravitational effect of the varying mass and (2) the effect of the mass variation on a driven harmonic oscillator with the charging capacitor as the oscillating mass. We report on the predicted effect, the design and implementation of the measurement apparatus, and initial experience with the apparatus. At this time, however, we will not report on observations of the presence or absence of the Woodward effect. † E-mail address: cramer@phys.washington.edu Introduction
Microbial and color quality of fillets obtained from steam-pasteurized deheaded and eviscerated whole catfish

Abstract The present study reports on the microbiological quality and surface color of skinless catfish fillets obtained from steam-treated catfish. Total aerobic (APC), psychrotrophic (PPC), coliform (CPC) plate counts, and Hunter color analysis of fillets were performed after treatment and during 14 days of storage at 4°C. Results indicated that as steam treatment duration increased (15–120 s), greater reduction of fillet microflora population was achieved. Microbial counts on fillets obtained from steam-treated catfish were lower than controls at all sample times. Steam treatment for 120 s produced fillets with APC, PPC, and CPC that were 1·6, 1·7, and 1·9 log 10 cfu g −1 lower than control fillets after 4 days at 4°C. Hunter color analysis of fillets revealed no color differences (L, a, b, and Whiteness) between steam-treated and control fillets. The reduction of skin microbial loads by steam prior to skinning of catfish resulted in fillets with superior microbiological quality and no Hunter surface color changes.
Hospital stressors experienced by elderly medical inpatients: developing a Hospital Stress Index

Objective:To develop a long and short version of an index to measure experiences during hospitalization perceived by elderly patients as stressful.Samples and Methods:Consecutive patients aged sixty or over admitted to a university teaching hospital were assessed for hospital-related stressors during two separate studies. In the first study, seventy-six patients were asked an open-ended question exploring what they found most stressful about being in the hospital. Responses were grouped into major categories, and questions were developed to address concerns in each category; the resulting forty items were called the Hospital Stress Index (HSI). The HSI was then administered to a separate group of ninety-two patients; data were also collected on functional disability (impaired ADLs), dysfunctional attitudes (DAS), and depressive symptoms (CES-D).Results:Spontaneously reported hospital stressors were grouped into seven categories: 1) adverse effects of diagnostic or therapeutic procedures/treatments, 2) for...
Peripheral nerve regeneration in CNTF knockout mice.

Objectives: To determine the role of ciliary neurotrophic factor (CNTF) in the regeneration of the mouse sciatic nerve following injury by studying the CNTF knockout mouse in a blinded, randomized and controlled evaluation. Study Design: Fifty-eight wild-type and 57 CNTF knockout mice were randomly assigned to one of four treatment groups: sham surgery (sciatic nerve exposure), sciatic nerve crush, nerve transection without repair, and nerve transection followed by epineurial suture repair using 10-0 monofilament suture. Walking track analysis was performed before and after surgery at weekly intervals for 7 weeks, using a previously described formula At the completion of walking track analysis, morphometric histological analysis of axon number and axon diameter in the distal sciatic nerves was performed. Results: The wild-type and knockout mice that underwent only sham surgery had no change in their walking tracks during the study interval (P = .30 on postoperative day 49). The wild-type mice that underwent sciatic nerve crush showed complete functional recovery (P = .66 on postoperative day 28), but the CNTF knockout mice whose sciatic nerves were crushed did not fully recover (P = .05 on postoperative day 49). The CNTF knockout and wild-type mice showed similar levels of recovery after transection without repair (P = .78), and the rate of contracture formation was not significantly different (P = .40). The CNTF knockout and wild-type mice showed similar levels of recovery after epineurial repair (P >.31), however the rate of severe contractures was greater in the CNTF knockout mice (6 of 13) than in the wild-type mice (2 of 12) (P =.11). Conclusion: The absence of CNTF impairs the ability of mice to recover from a sciatic nerve crush injury. There is also a trend toward a greater rate of contracture formation after sciatic nerve transection and epineurial suture repair when CNTF is unavailable. These findings suggest that CNTF is important for recovery of neuronal function following crush and transection nerve injuries.
Phenotypic selection of a wild Saccharomyces cerevisiae strain for simultaneous saccharification and co-fermentation of AFEX™ pretreated corn stover

Background: Simultaneous saccharification and co-fermentation (SSCF) process involves enzymatic hydrolysis of pretreated lignocellulosic biomass and fermentation of glucose and xylose in one bioreactor. The optimal temperatures for enzymatic hydrolysis are higher than the standard fermentation temperature of ethanologenic Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Moreover, degradation products resulting from biomass pretreatment impair fermentation of sugars, especially xylose, and can synergize with high temperature stress. One approach to resolve both concerns is to utilize a strain background with innate tolerance to both elevated temperatures and degradation products. Results: In this study, we screened a panel of 108 wild and domesticated Saccharomyces cerevisiae strains isolated from a wide range of environmental niches. One wild strain was selected based on its growth tolerance to simultaneous elevated temperature and AFEX™ (Ammonia Fiber Expansion) degradation products. After engineering the strain with two copies of the Scheffersomyces stipitis xylose reductase, xylitol dehydrogenase and xylulokinase genes, we compared the ability of this engineered strain to the benchmark 424A(LNH-ST) strain in ethanol production and xylose fermentation in standard lab medium and AFEX pretreated corn stover (ACS) hydrolysates, as well as in SSCF of ACS at different temperatures. In SSCF of 9% (w/w) glucan loading ACS at 35°C, the engineered strain showed higher cell viabilities and produced a similar amount of ethanol (51.3 g/L) compared to the benchmark 424A(LNH-ST) strain. Conclusion: These results validate our approach in the selection of wild Saccharomyces cerevisiae strains with thermo-tolerance and degradation products tolerance properties for lignocellulosic biofuel production. The wild and domesticated yeast strains phenotyped in this work are publically available for others to use as genetic backgrounds for fermentation of their pretreated biomass at elevated temperatures.
The Princeton Theology: One Source of Biblical Literalism in American Protestantism

Although dependence upon a literally inspired Bible has been one of the most common beliefs among American Protestants, theological justifications for this doctrine of the Scripture have not been common. Eighteenth century infidelity from Thomas Jefferson to Thomas Paine attacked the possibility of special revelation more than any particular form of revelation. In order to refute these adversaries, the great champions of orthodoxy, such as Timothy Dwight, never found it necessary to become specific about the nature of biblical inspiration. The growing influence of biblical criticism after the Civil War ended this period of Edenic innocence and compelled the churches to theologize about the nature of biblical authority. The results were not unanimous, and the ensuing controversy focused attention as never before upon the doctrine of inspiration. Only one of the conservative defenses of inspiration, the Princeton Theology, will be discussed in this paper, but there are good reasons for considering it the most influential theological support for biblical literalism in the twentieth century. J. Gresham Machen carried the Princeton Theology with him into his new denomination and seminary after 1929, and others in Bible institutes and seminaries not connected with the Presbyterian church have looked up to the Princeton professors as their great teachers and champions. In the Fundamentals series published just before World War I, six articles were devoted to the problem of inspiration, and three of these took much of their argument from the Princeton Theology. The history of the Princeton Theology is not well known nor its importance widely appreciated, but some good monograph and periodical literature has been written.
A Steganalysis Method Based on the Distribution of Space Characters

Space-steganograhpy is a method using texts to hiding secret information, which embeds invisible space characters into texts to camouflage messages. This paper anatomizes the differences of statistical features between stego-texts and natural texts by modeling the latter. A steganalysis method is designed based on the distributing of the space characters according to the differences. The method is easy to achieve, and experiments prove the efficiency and reliability of the method.
Factor analysis of asthma and atopy traits shows 2 major components, one of which is linked to markers on chromosome 5q.

Abstract Background: A variety of definitions of asthma and atopy traits have been used in genetic studies. The variables used may be correlated, increasing the likelihood of type I error. Objective: We sought to clarify and quantify phenotypes that may be characterized by related traits. Principal components and factor analysis were applied to the correlation matrix of asthma and atopy traits before linkage analysis. Methods: Factor analysis was performed on 468 Hispanic and non-Hispanic white children enrolled in the Tucson Children's Respiratory Study, with complete information on 24 items, including skin test response to 7 allergens, total serum IgE levels, presence or absence of asthma attacks, wheezing episodes, hay fever, and cough. Factor score coefficients were then applied to all siblings (n = 877), and quantitative factor scores were derived. Single-point and multipoint nonparametric sib-pair analyses were performed to assess linkage to markers on chromosome 5q31-33. Analyses were also performed for individual items. Results: Two main factors were identified: Factor I had high loadings on atopic items, including skin test responses, IgE, and hay fever, and Factor II had high loadings that included asthma diagnosis, wheezing, cough, and Alternaria species skin test response. Factors I and II were correlated at an r value of 0.19. For the quantitative factor scores, significant single-point linkage ( P Conclusion: These analyses suggest evidence for a locus or loci mapping to chromosome 5q31-33 associated with this composite atopic phenotype. (J Allergy Clin Immunol 2001;108:772-80.)
Competence and impact of tools for BPR

Software tools for Business Process Reengineering (BPR) promise to reduce cost and improve quality of projects. This paper discusses the contribution of BPR tools in BPR projects and identifies critical factors for their success. A model was built based on previous research on tool success. The analysis of empirical data shows that BPR tools are related to effectiveness rather than efficiency of the projects. Process visualization and process analysis features are key to BPR tool competence. Also success factors for BPR tools are different from those for CASE tools.
Comparison of Chemonucleolysis with Chymopapain to Percutaneous Automated Discectomy: A Surgeon’s First 50 Cases of Each

The results of one surgeon’s first 50 patients treated with chemonucleolysis with chymopapain are compared to the first 50 patients treated with percutaneous automated discectomy.
Sex differences in patient recovery patterns after coronary artery bypass surgery

Objective: To describe sex differences in physical, psychologic, and social recovery patterns after coronary artery bypass surgery (CABS). Design: Repeated measures between groups (men versus women) design. Data were collected before discharge from the hospital and at 1, 3, and 6 weeks after discharge. Setting: Five teaching hospitals: one urban, three suburban, and one midstate hospital that serves rural and urban clients Sample: The initial sample consisted of 187 men and 70 women; 132 men and 47 women completed the study. Outcome Measures: Physical recovery was assessed by three subscales of the Sickness Impact Profile—ambulation, sleep-rest, body care and movement; a Symptom Inventory, and a Cantril Ladder Scale. Psychologic recovery was measured by the Beck Depression Inventory, the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale, and a Cantril Ladder Scale. Social recovery was measured by three subscales of the Sickness Impact Profile—home management, social interaction, and recreation and pastimes. Results: All measures indicated significant improvement over time with the exception of self-esteem and perception of mental health, which remained stable. There were significant differences between men and women on five recovery variables: ambulation dysfunction, physical symptoms, perceptions of physical health, symptoms of depression, and home management dysfunction. Conclusions: Though it is encouraging that both sex groups experienced significant improvement in recovery over time, men and women show some differences in recovery experiences that need to be considered when planning their care.
Michaelis–Menten Kinetics for Enzymatic Depolymerization of a Linear Polyester Synthesized from Z-Protected Glutamic Acid

A biodegradable polyester resin was polymerized from N-benzyloxycarbonyl-L-glutamic acid and ethylene glycol. Rhizopus delemar lipase was used as a biocatalyst for the rupture of ester bonds during the hydrolysis studies. Depolymerization was observed to follow a Michaelis-Menten mechanism, with the maximum rate of monomer formation dP/dt max = 1.12 X 10 -8 mol/s and the rate constant K m X 2.03 X 10 4 mol. Subject to initial conditions described by the most probable distribution and Michaelis-Menten-type depolymerization rate expressions, population density distribution dynamics of the polymeric molecules that formed the resin were explicitly described using a deterministic approach.
NF-κB Modulates TNF-α Production by Alveolar Macrophages in Asymptomatic HIV-Seropositive Individuals

Local TNF-α production in different organs may affect HIV replication and pathogenesis. Alveolar macrophages (AMs) obtained by bronchoalveolar lavage from asymptomatic HIV-seropositive and HIV-seronegative individuals did not spontaneously release TNF-α, but LPS stimulation of these cells significantly increased TNF-α production. We tested whether NF-κB affects TNF-α production by AMs using N -tosyl-l-phenylalanine chloromethylketone (TPCK) or N -benzoyl-l-tyrosine ethyl ester (BTEE), which inhibit the degradation of IκB, or tricyclodecan-9-yl-xanthogenate-potassium (D609), which inhibits phospholipase C. Alveolar macrophages were exposed to LPS alone and with the chemical protease inhibitors TPCK, BTEE, and D609. NF-κB DNA binding induced by LPS treatment of AMs was inhibited by TPCK, BTEE, and D609. These agents also inhibited TNF-α mRNA and TNF-α protein production. After 24 h, the levels of TNF-α mRNA reached equilibrium, as assessed by RT-PCR. The levels of NF-κB mRNA remained constant under all conditions. The levels of IκB-α mRNA were similar after 30, 60, and 180 min, but the IκB-β mRNA concentration was initially low and increased over time under all conditions. IκB-α and IκB-β protein production was not affected by the chemical protease inhibitors. Our data show that TNF-α production by LPS-stimulated AMs from asymptomatic HIV-seropositive and -seronegative individuals is regulated via the phospholipase C pathway and by NF-κB DNA binding activity without obvious changes in IκB-α or IκB-β protein concentrations.
A heterostructure barrier varactor sideband generator

A heterostructure barrier varactor (HBV) sideband generator (SBG) is investigated for the first time. Compared with Schottky varactor SBGs, odd sidebands are suppressed and higher output power is possible. Preliminary measurements at 200 GHz have shown conversion efficiencies of 10-15 dB over a 10 GHz tuning range. Simulations and theoretical models are presented to predict and confirm these results. The subharmonic SBG design described in this paper is scaleable to submillimeter wavelengths and can yield a highly tunable CW power source when used in conjunction with a fix-tuned laser.
Five New Subspecies of Braya (Brassicaceae) from Canada

ABSTRACT Five new Canadian subspecies of Braya are described and illustrated, three within B. humilis (C. A. Meyer) B. L. Robinson (subsp. ellesmerensis J. G. Harris, subsp. maccallae J. G. Harris, and subsp. porsildii J. G. Harris), one within B. glabella Richardson (subsp. prostrata J. G. Harris), and one within B. thorild-wulffii Ostenfeld (subsp. glabrata J. G. Harris). Keys to the North American subspecies of B. humilis, B. glabella, and B. thorild-wulffii are provided. Brief comments about the possible phylogenetic and phytogeographic significance of the subspecies of B. humilis are presented.
Thoughts on the Resistance Chapters

I must confess to having experienced considerable resistance in writing my comments on the psychoanalytically oriented chapters. Although initially I was very enthused over the prospect of reading about the thoughts and experiences of Basch, Schlesinger, Dewald, and Blatt and Erlich on the topic of patient resistance, the actual task proved far more difficult than I had anticipated. In reading and then rereading these chapters, I found it very difficult to point to anything specific that I could comment on. I looked closely for guidelines on how to deal with patient resistance, but was unable to find any that I could readily comprehend. Not surprisingly, my first reaction was to attribute the cause of this difficulty to the individuals who wrote these chapters. It took very little reflection to realize, however, that to do so was not appropriate, as the authors could in no way be faulted for their clinical sensitivity, experience, or sophistication. I then began to blame myself for being obtuse in not being able to comprehend what a group of experts in psychoanalytically oriented therapy had to say about resistance. On further reflection, however, I had to remind myself that my original training was psychoanalytically oriented and that I still retained some familiarity with the relevant writings of Freud, Reich, and Fenichel. My interest and motivation were not a factor either, as I have recently become more involved in the search of common therapeutic principles that cut across all theoretical orientations (Goldfried, 1980, in press).
Institutional-level norms and organizational involvement in a service-implementation network

This article, which focuses on organizations that serve seriously mentally ill adults in a single community, is an attempt to explain the involvement of these organizations in a network of service delivery, a "service-implementation network." With the use of an institutional theory perspective four hypotheses were developed, each focusing on an aspect of an organization's service orientation thought to reflect its commitment to and support of institutional-level professional norms with regard to network involvement. Data were collected on twenty-eight of the thirty-one health and social service agencies that made up the service-implementation network for adults with serious mental illness in one city. Results were generally supportive of the hypotheses, although the strength of the findings varied depending on whether network involvement was measured as either service-link density or multiplexity.
Gas chromatographic method for ethylene dibromide in grains and grain-based products: collaborative study.

La methode de dosage des residus de ce fumigant decrite est adoptee a l'essai, apres application a des echantillons de cereales, de farines et de pains
Using Virtual Reality to Enhance Vision for People Who Are Blind in One Eye

People who are blind in one eye or have low vision in one eye have issues dealing with the lack of binocular stereoscopic vision and reduced peripheral vision. Current virtual reality hardware allows all visuals to be presented through a screen built into a headset. The idea presented here, utilizes two wide angle cameras affixed to the headset and presents the combined video feed to the user’s better performing eye. A user study with 11 participants, including 3 participants who are blind in one eye, was performed to understand the feasibility of increasing the peripheral vision of a person with only one functioning eye. Three different types of image combination were tested and user preference and performance were recorded.
Cyanobacterial Transformation: Expression of Col E1 Plasmids in Anacystis Nidulans 6301

The procaryotic organization of cyanobacteria and their highly evolved photosynthetic and nitrogen metabolism make them a potentially ideal model system to study these complex processes at the molecular level. This organization also facilitates the introduction of genes into the environment for insect or pest control. However, genetic engineering of cyanobacteria has been hampered by the lack of effective means to introduce genetic material and also because all naturally occurring cyanobacteri al Plasmids are phenotypically cryptic. Recently, we reported the first transformation of Anacystis nidulans by the Escherichia coli plasmid pBR322 using permeaplasts (1). Direct evidence for the amplification and expression of genes for ribulose bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase in the transformants due to integration of segments of pBR322 into the recipient chromosome has also been obtained (H. Daniel 1, J. Torres-Ruiz and B. A. McFadden, unpublished). Characterization of the initial steps of transformation including binding and uptake of nick-translated 32p-pBR322 by A. nidul ans has revealed that the binding and entry of donor DNA, unlike that in other bacteria, is an energy independent, passive process unaffected by light, uncouplers or even cations; but ATP inhibited both the binding and uptake of labeled DNA by permeaplasts of A. nidulans (2).
Pharmacokinetics of gentamicin by intravenous and intratracheal administrations

This paper investigates the pharmacokinetics of a drug delivery system for the purpose of understanding the biodistribution of gentamicin delivered to the blood and tissues by intravenous (IV) and intratracheal (IT) administrations. Numerical solutions for both two-compartment (plasma and tissue) and three-compartment (lung + PFC, plasma, and tissue with IV, IT-Top-fill and IT-Slow fill administrations) models are developed using Euler's method. The drug elimination rate and the rate constants describing the first-order transport between compartments are determined by parameter estimation. The numerical solution is validated against the analytical solution for a two-compartment model with IV injection. The numerical results are statistically compared with the experimental data. It is determined that the IT administration provides efficient drug delivery to the lungs while avoiding the toxicity level in the plasma.
Response of Scoliosis in Children with Myelomeningocele to Surgical Release of Tethered Spinal Cord

Objective: To examine the effect of surgical tethered cord release (TCR) on scoliosis in children with myelomeningocele. Methods: A retrospective review of 65 pediatric patients with myelomeningocele and TCR. The final sample consisted of 20 patients with scoliosis who were managed conservatively after TCR. Results: Average age at TCR was 6.2 years with average follow-up of 3.8 years. Scoliosis of 1 (5%) patient improved, 7 (35%) were stable, and 12 (60%) worsened (≥10°). Fifty percent of patients ultimately required definitive spinal surgery. TCR release delayed definitive spine surgery for an average of 3.2 years. Sixty-four percent of patients with curves less than or equal to 45° had progression of their curves compared to 50% with curves greater than 45°. For patients with curves less than or equal to 45°, curves progressed in 80% of those younger than 10 years as compared to 25% of those older than 10 years. For patients with curves less than or equal to 45°, 43% required definitive spine surgery as opposed to 83% with curves greater than 45°. Level of neurological involvement (ie, lumbar versus thoracic) and age at untethering emerged as factors influencing the effects of TCR for patients with curves less than or equal to 45°. Lumbar curves had more favorable results. Conclusion: Pediatric patients with myelomeningocele and scoliosis should be closely assessed and monitored. A selective approach for youth with lumbosacral level myelomeningocele and progressive curves less than or equal to 45° may result in scoliosis stabilization and avoidance of definitive surgery.
Floral function: effects of traits on pollinators, male and female pollination success, and female fitness across three species of milkweeds (Asclepias)

PREMISE OF THE STUDY Central questions in plant reproductive ecology are whether the functions of floral traits in hermaphrodites create conflict between sexes that could slow evolution, and whether individual floral traits function in pollinator attraction, efficiency, or both. We studied how floral traits affect pollinator visitation and efficiency, and how they affect male and female function and female fitness within and across three Asclepias species that differ in floral morphology. METHODS Using separate multiple regressions, we regressed pollen removal, deposition, and fruit number onto six floral traits. We also used path analyses integrating these variables with pollinator visitation data for two of the species to further explore floral function and its effects on fruit production. KEY RESULTS Most traits affected male pollination success only, and these effects often differed between species. The exception was increased slit length, which increased pollinia insertion in two of the species. There were no interspecific differences in the effects of the traits on female pollination success. All traits except horn reach affected pollination efficiency in at least one species, and horn reach and two hood dimensions were the only traits to affect pollinator attraction, but in just one species. CONCLUSIONS Traits tended to function in only one sex, and more traits affected function through pollinator efficiency than through attraction. There was no significant link between female pollination success and female fitness in any of the three species; this pattern is consistent with fruit production not being limited by pollen deposition.
Polydioxanone plates are safe and effective for L-strut support in functional septorhinoplasty

Objectives/hypothesis To evaluate the safety, efficacy, and result stability of polydioxanone (PDS) plate use for L-strut stabilization. Study design Retrospective analysis of a prospective cohort. Methods Patients who underwent functional septorhinoplasty with the use of PDS plates between January 2013 and January 2017 were administered the Nasal Obstruction Symptom Evaluation (NOSE) scale pre- and postoperatively at 2, 4, 6, and 12 months. Patient demographics, reason for PDS use, graft type, complications, and outcomes were analyzed. Results Eighty-eight patients aged 34.3 years (standard deviation [SD] = 15.7 years; range, 7.5-71.5 years) were included. All patients were found to have a fracture and/or severe deviation of the L-strut for which the PDS plate was used for rigid support. Mean preoperative NOSE score 65.2 (SD = 22.1) significantly decreased to 19.6 (SD = 21.6) at 7.2 months (SD = 5.5 months) postoperatively. There were no significant differences in NOSE scores between follow-up time points. There was one complication, a septal abscess, and one revision. Conclusions A PDS plate is a safe and effective material to be utilized in functional septorhinoplasty for patients with a fracture or iatrogenic injury to the septal L-strut or poor quality septal cartilage that requires stability without additional width. Outcomes are stable at 6 and 12 months, after the plate has dissolved. The use of a PDS plate may decrease the need for rib grafting in patients with a history of previous septoplasty and persistent nasal obstruction with a dorsal or caudal C-shaped septal deformity or fracture of the L-strut. Level of evidence 2c. Laryngoscope, 127:2725-2730, 2017.
Sm-Wrls Algorithms with an Efficient Test for Innovation

Abstract This paper is concerned with the set membership weighted recursive least squares (SM-WRLS) algorithm which can be used for estimating the parameters of linear system or signal models in which the error sequence is pointwise "energy bounded." This algorithm works with bounding hyperellipsoidal regions to describe the solution sets. A new strategy is developed which can be applied to virtually any version of the SM-WRLS algorithm to improve the computational efficiency. A significant reduction in computational complexity can be achieved by employing a "sub- optimal" test for information content in an incoming equation. The proposed check is argued to be a useful determiner of the ability of incoming data to shrink the ellipsoid. The performance of this strategy is compared to that of SM-WRLS using simulation studies.
Factors associated with increased odds of cesarean delivery in ART pregnancies.

Objective To quantify the effect of medical and obstetrical factors on the odds of cesarean delivery, comparing assisted reproductive technology (ART)–treated women and women with subfertility not treated with ART versus fertile women. Design Retrospective cohort. Setting Not applicable. Patient(s) Singleton deliveries to primiparous women; with the source of this data being the Massachusetts vital and hospital records linked to the Society for Assisted Reproductive Technology Clinic Outcome Reporting System data (2004-2010). Intervention(s) None. Main Outcome Measure(s) Mode of delivery. Result(s) The 173,130 deliveries included 5,768 ART-treated, 2,657 subfertile (1,627 non-ART medically assisted reproduction [MAR] and 1,030 unassisted infertile), and 164,705 fertile pregnancies and 117,743 vaginal and 55,387 cesarean deliveries. ART-treated women were older, more often white and non-Hispanic, and with more private insurance, previous uterine surgery, gestational diabetes, pregnancy hypertension, bleeding, and placental complications than fertile women. Overall rates of cesarean delivery were 45.7%, 43.3%, and 31.1% for ART-treated, subfertile, and fertile women and 41.7% and 45.9% for MAR and unassisted infertile deliveries. When adjusted for demographics, underlying medical factors, previous uterine surgery, and placental and delivery complications, adjusted odds ratios (ORs) compared with fertile women were 1.27 for ART-treated and 1.15 for subfertile women, with greater odds among unassisted infertile (OR 1.26) but not MAR (OR 1.09) women. The strongest confounders of odds of cesarean delivery were age and previous uterine surgery. Conclusion(s) ART and unassisted infertility were associated with greater odds of cesarean compared with fertile women. Underlying medical and obstetrical risks had strong confounding effects strongly attenuating the odds for cesarean delivery.
Children at Risk: Diversity, Inequality, and the Third Demographic Transition

We draw on a variety of current data sources to examine racial change and diversity, the changing living arrangements of U.S. children, and the shifting patterns of poverty and economic inequality. The so-called second demographic transition has been linked to the “diverging destinies” of America’s children. Here, we argue that inequality is amplified as the second demographic transition gives way to a newly-emerging third demographic transition, one characterized by unprecedented growth of racial and ethnic minority populations in the developed world. Inequality and poverty among America’s children are reinforced by a new and growing intergenerational divide, one marked by an aging white population and a rapidly growing population of minority children. We conclude our chapter by exploring the options available to U.S. policymakers and identifying lessons from other low-fertility and aging countries in the developed world that face similar demographic challenges.
Sleeve-Related Thrombosis: A New Form of Catheter-Related Thrombosis

In a detailed study of central venous catheter-related sleeve and thrombosis in experimental animals, a new form of thrombosis was detected and termed sleeve-related thrombosis. A silastic catheter was placed in the jugular vein and the anterior vena cava of 22 rabbits and 54 rats. After intervals of 1, 3, 7 days, 2, 3, 4 weeks and 1, 2, 4, 6 months the veins were examined by light microscopy and by transmission electron microscopy. In about 50% of the rats a thrombus was observed at the end of the catheter sleeve. Consecutive cutting allowed the visualization of a transition from a sleeve via part of sleeve and part of thrombus to a pure thrombus. This thrombus was separated from the vein wall and could not be considered a mural thrombus. As the thrombus was only attached to the terminal part of the organized catheter sleeve we propose the name sleeve-related thrombosis.