cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Supporting awareness among virtual teams in a web-based collaborative system: the teamSCOPE system

This paper overviews a Web-based collaborative system called TeamSCOPE that has been designed to support awareness needs of globally distributed teams. Four types of awareness needs of virtual teams are defined and the awareness support features of TeamSCOPE are described. The use of TeamSCOPE in a project involving a number of globally distributed engineering design teams is outlined, and evaluation results are provided. Findings illustrate how group process interacts with technology to create design challenges in the support of virtual team awareness needs.
Intranigral or intrastriatal injections of GDNF: effects on monoamine levels and behavior in rats

The present studies were designed to determine whether administration of recombinant human glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor (rhGDNF) into either the substantia nigra or striatum is capable of augmenting dopamine function of the nigrostriatal pathway in normal rats. Single bolus intracranial injections of rhGDNF at either site increased locomotor activity and decreased food and water consumption and body weight in a dose-dependent manner when compared to vehicle-treated animals. These behavioral responses returned to pre-control levels within 3 weeks post rhGDNF administration. Administration of rhGDNF intranigrally increased dopamine, dihydroxyphenylacetic acid (DOPAC) and homovanillic acid (HVA) levels of the ipsilateral substantia nigra at 2 and 6 weeks post injection but had no augmenting effects on dopamine or its metabolites in the striatum. Administration of rhGDNF intrastriatally increased DOPAC and HVA levels of the ipsilateral striatum, although striatal dopamine levels were unchanged. Ipsilateral nigral dopamine levels were increased after intrastriatal injection of rhGDNF. The effects of intracranial rhGDNF were not specific to the nigrostriatal dopamine system, since nigrostriatal serotonin, 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid (5-HIAA), epinephrine and norepinephrine transmitter levels were altered depending on administration route for rhGDNF and dose. Taken together, these data demonstrate long-lasting neurochemical and behavioral changes which suggest that rhGDNF can augment function in adult rat dopamine neurons. Therefore, rhGDNF may have therapeutic potential for Parkinson's disease.
The effect of anion substitution on bioelectric potentials in the moth heart

Abstract 1. 1. Transmembrane potentials in single cells of the moth myocardium were measured during exposure to physiological bathing solutions in which the chloride content was completely replaced with a series of anions (acetate, nitrate, bromide and sulfate) of varying molecular size known to exhibit varying degrees of penetrability in vertebrate muscle fibers. 2. 2. The degree of penetrability of these anions was assessed according to the transient and long-term effects produced on spontaneous bioelectric activity. 3. 3. Both acetate and sulfate solutions produced cardiac standstill, acetate by hyperpolarization of the membrane and sulfate by depolarization of the membrane. A transient slowing followed by an increase in spontaneous heartbeat frequency resulted from nitrate solution. Bromide solution had little if any effect. 4. 4. This evidence suggests that the order of penetrability of these anions is acetate > nitrate > bromide > chloride. The membrane is impermeable to sulfate.
Pulmonary Rehabilitation for Respiratory Disorders Other than Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease

Pulmonary rehabilitation (PR) is an important therapeutic intervention that should no longer be considered suitable only for patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). A strong rationale exists for providing PR to persons with a broad range of respiratory disorders other than COPD. Evidence shows that PR for these patients is feasible, safe and effective. A disease-relevant approach should be undertaken, based on individual patients' needs. Further research is needed to better understand the optimal program content, duration and outcomes measures, to enable diverse patients to achieve maximal benefits of PR.
Caregiver perceptions associated with risk of nursing home admission for people with multiple sclerosis

Abstract Background About one quarter of people with multiple sclerosis (MS) will need long term care during their disease, with about 5% to 10% requiring extended nursing home care. The study objective was to identify perceptions of informal caregivers associated with the possibility of future nursing home admission for people with MS. Methods Data were collected in a national survey of informal caregivers (78% were spouses) to people with MS. An ordered logistic regression model analyzed contributions that characteristics of the person with MS and caregiver made to the perceived probability of future nursing home admission. Results Aging, bowel dysfunction, poorer health, and functional decline in the person with MS, as well as caregiver burden, were associated with increased probability of future admission. Higher family income and greater satisfaction with access to MS-focused care were associated with lower risk of nursing home admission. Conclusions The rehabilitative, therapeutic, supportive, and maintenance services that contribute to MS-focused care could assist the person with MS and the caregiver adapt to the symptoms that interfere with the ability of the person with MS to function independently in daily life. Informal caregivers provided insights into factors associated with the perceived probability of future nursing home admission, gaining a better understanding of people with MS at risk for institutional care.
Topology and physics

A few months ago I was asked to speak at a fest honoring my father. I had also been invited to visit Germany for 2 months. Well, I know very little physics or German. The first thing I did in preparation for my trip to Heidelberg was to buy a good English-German dictionary. Unfortunately there was no mathematics-physics dictionary. So I have created the beginnings of one here. Certain words mean the same thing in both subjects. Thus it is easy to translate group or say Lie algebra. This can give one a sense of confidence. I am reminded of a short story in the New Yorker a number of years ago. An american visits Italy for the first time and discovers that he really knows Italian, despite never having studied it. Finally at the end of the day he decides to take a cold shower, turns on the faucet labelled caldo, and ends up in the hospital. Of course we need not worry about such dire consequences. Nevertheless one does run across examples of this phenomenon. An example is field, which has many meanings in mathematics. We translate only one of these.
Implementation and evaluation of one-group interfacial area transport equation in TRACE

Abstract The present study implements the one-dimensional interfacial area transport equation into the TRACE code, being developed by the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission. The interfacial area transport equation replaces the conventional flow regime dependent correlations and the regime transition criteria for furnishing the interfacial area concentration in the two-fluid model. This approach allows dynamic tracking of the interfacial area concentration by mechanistically modeling bubble coalescence and disintegration mechanisms. Thus, it eliminates potential artificial bifurcations or numerical oscillations stemming from the use of conventional static correlations. To implement the interfacial area transport equation, a three-field version of TRACE is utilized, which is capable of tracking both the continuous liquid and gas fields as well as a dispersed gas field. To demonstrate the feasibility of the present approach, the steady-state one-group interfacial area transport equation applicable to adiabatic air–water bubbly two-phase flow is first tested in the present study. Data obtained in 18 different flow conditions from two vertical co-current upward air–water bubbly two-phase flow experiments performed in round pipes (25.4 mm and 48.3 mm) are used to help evaluate the implementation. Results obtained from TRACE with the interfacial area transport equation (TRACE-T) and those from TRACE without the transport equation (TRACE-NT) are compared to demonstrate the enhancement in prediction accuracy. The predictions made by TRACE-T agree well with the data with an average percent difference of approximately ±8%. It is also evident from the results that while TRACE-T accounts for dynamic interaction of bubbles along the flow field, the predictions made by TRACE-NT are attributed primarily to the pressure change.
Coal sulphur transformations monitored by hyperthermophilic archaebacteria

Abstract The hyperthermophilic archaebacterium Pyrococcus furiosus can reduce polysulphidic compounds as well as elemental sulphur bound in coal. The presence of elemental sulphur in coals is thought to be a result of low temperature oxidation, or weathering, of coal pyrite. Results of controlled coal weathering experiments, in which the transformation of sulphur moieties was monitored using P. furiosus as well as standard chemical analyses, suggest that there may be changes in the organic sulphur content of coal during treatment. Observed transformations make coal sulphur more amenable to reduction by P. furiosus and, perhaps, other sulphur-reducing bacteria. Along these lines, the potential basis for combined biological and chemical treatment of coal to remove organic sulphur should be given serious consideration in developing coal cleaning technology.
Spin L-functions for GSO 10 and GSO 12

Two multi-variable Rankin-Selberg integrals are studied. They may be regarded as extending the theory begun in [G-H1]. Each is shown to be Eulerian with the unramified contribution given explicitly in terms of partial Langlands L-functions.
Conduct Problems in Adopted and Non-adopted Adolescents and Adoption Satisfaction as a Protective Factor.

The present study compared the level of conduct problems at age 17 in a large nonclinical sample of adopted participants placed in infancy and children in non-adoptive families matched to the adoptive families on demographic characteristics. Higher levels of adolescent and parent adoption satisfaction were associated with lower levels of conduct problems. Gender by adoption status interactions were not significant. However, female adopted participants had higher levels of conduct problems than female non-adopted participants, whereas male adopted and non-adopted participants had similar levels of conduct problems. In the overall sample, differences between adopted and matched control participants on all conduct problem measures were nonsignificant.
Surfactant and polyelectrolyte gel particles for encapsulation and release of aromatic oils

Associative phase separation occurs when oppositely charged surfactants and polyelectrolytes are mixed in near-stoichiometric proportions. This behavior has been exploited in the production of gel particles that range between approximately 100 and 4000 µm in diameter. Here, we investigate their performance as materials for the encapsulation and release of the aromatic oil cymene. The gel particles (ca. 1500 µm in diameter) are prepared by dropwise addition of an oil-in-water suspension made of cymene droplets dispersed in a viscous solution of sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) and N,N,N-trimethylammonium derivatized hydroxyethyl cellulose (JR-400™) to a gelling solution of excess SDS. The release of cymene into aqueous (5 wt.% SDS and 4 wt.% pentanol in water) and organic (isooctane) solutions is measured using UV–VIS spectroscopy and analyzed with the shrinking core model. The experimental data and model analysis indicate that the release rate is determined by the effective diffusivity and solubility of the oil in the aqueous gel matrix, both of which depend on the presence of surfactant in the receiving solution, and the swelling of the gel particle.
Fiber optic pH/Ca2+ fluorescence microsensor based on spectral processing of sensing signals

Abstract In this paper, we describe the fabrication of a dual function pH/Ca 2+ fluorescence microsensor. Dextran conjugates of the fluorescence indicators Oregon Green BAPTA-1, a calcium ion probe, and SNARF (seminaphtorhodafluor)-1, a ratiometric pH probe, are immobilized in a 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate (PHEMA) matrix support adsorbed to the distal end of an optical fiber. Both dyes are excited at 488 nm. The emission peak maximum of Oregon Green Bapta-1 is at 520 nm, and the emission peak maxima of SNARF-1 are at 584 and 630 nm. The pH and [Ca 2+ ] in the analyte sample are determined by spectral processing of the fluorescence sensing signals. The sensor covers a pH range between pH 6 and pH 8, and calcium ion concentrations between 0.03 and 1.5 μM. The response times of the sensor are about 1 s for pH and 5 s for [Ca 2+ ] changes. The sensor is highly reversible and maintains its function for over 10 days of continuous use. The sensor is stored for 3 months in a dry, light tight environment, at room temperature with no significant degradation of its analytical properties.
Resonances in atomic photoionization

Abstract Resonances give rise to the most interesting features in atomic photoionization spectra. Over the past forty years, the study of these resonances has stimulated much excitement in theories as well as in experiments. The close agreement finally achieved between theory and experiment has verified the predictions of the theory which in turn lead to better understanding of the physical process and advances the knowledge on the physical system. In this work, we will discuss some of the advances made in this area for low-Z atomic systems with emphasis on the lithium atom as an example. In particular, we will discuss the calculation of resonance parameters using the saddle-point method and saddle-point complex method.
Effects of Outer Mouth Mutations on hERG Channel Function: A Comparison with Similar Mutations in the Shaker Channel

The fast-inactivation process in the hERG channel can be affected by mutations in the pore or S6 domain, similar to the C-type inactivation in the Shaker channel. However, differences in the kinetics and voltage dependence of inactivation between these two channels suggest that different structural determinants may be involved. To explore this possibility, we mutated a serine in the outer mouth region of hERG (S631) to residues of different physicochemical properties and compared the resulting changes in the channel's inactivation process with those resulting from mutations of an equivalent position in the Shaker channel (T449). The most dramatic differences are seen when this position is occupied by a charged residue: S631K and S631E disrupted C-type inactivation in hERG, whereas T449K and T449E facilitate C-type inactivation in Shaker. S631K and S631E also disrupted the K selectivity of hERG pore, a change not seen in T449K or T449E of Shaker. To further study why there are such differences, we replaced S631 with cysteine. This allowed us to manipulate the properties of thiol groups at position 631 and correlate side-chain properties here with changes in channel function. S631C behaved like the wild-type channel when the thiol groups were in the reduced state. Oxidizing thiol groups with H2O2 or modifying them with MTSET or MTSES disrupted C-type inactivation and K selectivity, similar to the phenotype of S631K and S631E. The same thiol-modifying maneuvers did not affect the wild-type channel function. Our results suggest differences in the outer mouth structure between hERG and Shaker, and we propose a "molecular spring" hypothesis to explain these differences.
ESCA: Semi-empirical correlation between core-electron binding energy and valence-electron density including monopole, dipole and quadrupole forces

Abstract A new theoretical formula for correlating K-electron chemical shifts with valence-electron density is derived. Interaction of the 1s-electron with valence electrons on the same atom involves either one parameter (correlation with total valence-electron density on that atom) or two parameters (separate correlation with 2s- and 2p-electron densities). The Madelung energy is expanded to include not only charge monopoles centered at all other atoms in the molecule, but also electronic dipoles and quadrupoles. The models are tested by making use of one-electron density matrices from CNDO/2 and INDO calculations. The two-parameter model provides better chemical shift predictions than the one-parameter model. However, under approximations used here, inclusion of dipole and quadrupole forces does not afford further significant improvement.
Health as a Factor in Institutionalization: Disparities between African Americans and Whites

The purpose of this article is to examine African American and White disparities in factors associated with institutionalization and differences in the effects of health on the use of this form of long-term care. The research was conceptualized within the context of the double-jeopardy hypothesis. Data for this study were taken from the first and third wave of the Longitudinal Study on Aging (N = 7,440 persons aged 70 and older). Results showed that African Americans were in poorer health than Whites. Help received from relatives for IADL's did not vary by race. However, African Americans received less help from relatives for ADLs than did their White peers. Despite poorer health and less reliance on help from relatives, African Americans were less likely than Whites to be institutionalized. Further research is called for that examines the interconnections between race, discrimination, culture, and the later life experiences and opportunities of the elderly.
Apicoaortic Conduits for Complex Left Ventricular Outflow Obstruction: 10-Year Experience

We interposed valved conduits between the left ventricular apex and aorta in 38 patients over a 10-year period. Indications included tunnel subaortic stenosis, aortic annular hypoplasia, tubular supravalvular aortic hypoplasia, and severe calcification of the ascending aorta. Operative mortality was 11%, but 78% of the survivors were alive at 5 years, and 70% had had no major complication. The results were better in adolescents and adults than in young children. Although complications included calcific degeneration of the valve and disruption of the conduit at the site of insertion into the ventricular apex, we continue to believe in the utility of this procedure in a few patients with complex left ventricular outflow tract obstruction.
Counting techniques to label constant weight Gray codes with links to minimal generating sets of semigroups

Let τ be a partition of the positive integer n. A partition of the set Xn={1,2,…,n} is said to be of type τ if the sizes of its classes form the partition τ of n. Given 1<r<n, an r element subset A of Xn and a partition π of Xn are said to be orthogonal if every class of π meets A in exactly one element. Let Gn,r be the graph whose vertices are the r-element subsets of Xn, with two sets being adjacent if they intersect in r−1 elements. The graph Gn,r is Hamiltonian; Hamiltonian cycles of Gn,r are early examples of error-correcting codes, where they came to be known as constant weight Gray codes. A Hamiltonian cycle A1,A2,…,Anr in Gn,r is said to be orthogonally τ-labeled if there exists a list of distinct partitions π1,π2,…,πnr of type τ such that πi is orthogonal to both Ai and Ai+1 where i=1,2,…,nr taken modulo nr. For all but a finite class of partition types τ we present counting arguments to prove that any Hamiltonian cycle in Gn,r can be orthogonally τ-labeled. The remaining cases, with the exception of cases which are equivalent to the celebrated Middle Levels Conjecture, are treated via constructive arguments in a sequel. A semigroup of transformations of Xn is Sn-normal if it is closed under conjugation by the permutations of Xn. The combinatorics results here and in the sequel lead to a determination of the rank and idempotent rank of all Sn-normal semigroups, thereby broadly generalizing the known result that the rank and idempotent rank of K(n,r) is S(n,r), a Stirling number of the second kind.
Characterization of In-Based Eutectic Alloys Used in Josephson Packaging

InBiSn and InSn eutectic alloy solders used for Josephson packaging were characterized for the basic understanding of their behavior. Both physical structures and mechanical properties of these solders were studied under various conditions which partly simulate the processing and environmental exposure of these materials. Their interaction with the interface material (Pd/Au) was also probed in an attempt to understand the failure mechanism and to assess the package reliability.
Discordance in Current Procedural Terminology Coding for Foot and Ankle Procedures Between Residents and Attending Surgeons

Objective Because of the importance of current procedural terminology (CPT) coding in both resident education evaluation and practice management, this study was undertaken to evaluate the correlation and interrater reliability between residents and attending physicians in CPT coding for orthopedic foot and ankle surgeries as well as to determine attending surgeons’ and residents’ familiarity with and confidence in the coding process. Methods CPT codes from resident case logs were compared with those submitted by attending surgeons, and Pearson’s correlation coefficient and interrater reliability were calculated to examine coding congruency. An online survey was also used to examine attending surgeon and resident perceptions and habits regarding CPT codes and the coding process. Results CPT codes recorded by 20 residents (1164) were compared with those recorded by 3 attending foot and ankle surgeons (1259). Correlation between attending and resident codes was poor (r = −0.015). Interrater reliability demonstrated a kappa value of 0.04, indicating poor agreement. Compared with attending CPT coding, residents concordantly coded 42% of the time, with an individual resident range from 2% to 65%. Additionally, 43% of residents reported being uncomfortable about foot and ankle CPT coding, and they reported rarely or never discussing CPT codes with attending surgeons in the perioperative period. Conclusions Resident and attending surgeon concordance in CPT coding for foot and ankle procedures is poor, and residents have a low level of confidence in logging CPT codes, possibly because of a lack of training and preparation in coding. Because CPT coding is used not only for practice management but also has implications for evaluating institutions by accreditation bodies, educational initiatives to improve resident confidence and accuracy with CPT coding may be warranted.
Temporal dynamics of receptor-induced apoptosis in an affinity microdevice

The temporal dynamics of Fas-induced apoptosis is elucidated. Jurkat cells are captured on the affinity surface of a microdevice coated with anti-CD95, an antibody known to induce apoptosis in cells via the extrinsic (caspase 8) pathway. The timing of apoptosis induction is controlled by the binding of the cells to the surface. Once bound, the cells are continuously stained with the caspase probe, l-bisaspartic acid rhodamine 110 (D2R), and the fluorescence of the cells was monitored for 6 h by light microscopy. This approach normalizes the temporal dynamics for each cell, as the binding event is also the start of apoptosis. In addition to providing the number of apoptotic cells over time, the fluorescence of individual cells can be monitored, providing information about the timing of caspase activity in each cell. The rate of caspase cleavage of D2R in each cell is also measured and shows good agreement between the cells in a given population. The effects of the caspase inhibitor, z-VAD-FMK, on the timing of caspase activity are also investigated and are shown to dramatically slow the apoptotic process. In the future, other caspase probes could be used to provide additional information about the temporal dynamics of caspase activation. Additional techniques, such as fluorescence correlation spectroscopy, can be coupled to these methods to provide faster temporal response and help to elucidate the heterogeneity of the apoptosis process.
Lernende Regionen als Innovationsinstrumente für die Erwachsenenbildung

Die Zukunft der landlichen Raume und ihrer Entwicklungsperspektiven sind seit geraumer Zeit wieder zu einem offentlichen und politischen Thema geworden. Es geht um „Problemregionen“, um einen „schleichenden Tod des landlichen Raumes“ und um Revitalisierungsstrategien angesichts einer „sozialen Verodung“. Demographische Entwicklungen wie die Uberalterung der Bevolkerungsstruktur, die Abwanderung junger Menschen, ein spurbarer wirtschaftlicher Schrumpfungsprozess und soziale Erosionsprozesse als Folge von Individualisierungstendenzen, Mobilitat und Migration stellen die Zukunftsfrage fur landliche Raume neu und deuten eine Dynamik an, die bereits begonnen hat und mit exponentieller Geschwindigkeit fortschreitet.
Induction Therapy With Antithymocyte Globulin Before Reperfusion

Background The use of induction immunosuppressive agents in pediatric lung transplantation is not universal. The rationale of induction therapy is to use the strongest immunosuppressive drugs at the time when the risk of acute cellular rejection (ACR) is highest. The timing of induction is not universal. We hypothesize that early treatment with antilymphocyte globulin (ATG) prior to reperfusion of the first donor lung will decrease the incidence of ACR. Methods The initial dose of ATG was given during the operative procedure when the recipient was on cardiopulmonary bypass after removal of the recipient lungs and prior to implantation. Patients received additional doses daily for four days. All children were monitored for ACR during the first 6 months posttransplant with transbronchial biopsies at defined intervals (weeks-months) and when clinically indicated. Presence of ACR was defined by International Society for Heart & Lung Transplantation guidelines. Results Recipients from two pediatric centers received ATG based on this protocol. A total of 18 patients were treated with this protocol, and the follow-up period was 6 to 45 months. A total of 63 flexible bronchoscopies with transbronchial biopsies were performed during the first 6 months. A single episode of ACR (≥ grade A2) was identified in this patient population for an incidence of 5.2% ACR grade A2 or above in this patient population. Conclusions Induction therapy with ATG prior to donor lung reperfusion is associated with a low incident of ACR during the first 6 months posttransplant in our patient cohort. Long-term follow-up is needed to ascertain the full effect of this treatment protocol.
Effects of physical and mental health on relationship satisfaction: a dyadic, longitudinal examination of couples facing prostate cancer

Objectives Prostate cancer may affect quality of life in men diagnosed as well as their spouses. Changes in health may disrupt the couple's relationship functioning which disrupts recovery. This study examined how mental and physical health relates to relationship satisfaction for couples at diagnosis through the year following treatment. Methods Patients with stage I–II prostate cancer and their spouses (N = 159 couples) were recruited from a urology clinic and completed questionnaires at diagnosis, 1 month, 6 months, and 12 months post prostatectomy on demographics, mental and physical health quality of life, and relationship satisfaction. The Actor–Partner Interdependence Model was employed to examine effects of each partners' mental and physical health on their own and their partner's relationship satisfaction. Results Patients and spouses had declined mental and physical health at 1 month post-surgery. Health improved at 6 and 12 months but did not fully return to pre-surgery levels. Actor effects showed that patient's physical health consistently predicted own relationship satisfaction. Both patient's and spouse's mental health consistently related to their own relationship satisfaction. Partner effects showed that patient's and spouse's physical health had an effect on each other's relationship satisfaction at 1 month. Spouse's mental health predicted patient's relationship satisfaction throughout the year following treatment. Conclusion The effects of patient and spouse mental and physical health quality of life on their own as well as their partner's relationship satisfaction differed across time which will inform psychosocial interventions for couples with prostate cancer. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
An Expanding Universe of FSGS Genes and Phenotypes: LMX1B Mutations Cause Familial Autosomal Dominant FSGS Lacking Extrarenal Manifestations

At present, there are 24 genes associated with FSGS that follow Mendelian patterns of inheritance. These patterns of inheritance include autosomal recessive, autosomal dominant, and X-linked as well as inheritance of mitochondrial DNA. The phenotypes include syndromic FSGS, in which manifestations
Intraoperative preplanning for transperineal ultrasound-guided permanent prostate brachytherapy.

Abstract Purpose: To describe our approach to intraoperative preplanning (INTRA-OP) for prostate implants and compare it to our standard method using a pre-implant volume study (STAND). Methods and Materials: Twenty patients (10 STAND, 10 INTRA-OP) were evaluated. Time required for each step of the INTRA-OP procedure was recorded. Overall procedure times and operating room times were obtained for all sessions. Postimplant dosimetry was CT-based. Results: Mean times required for each stage of the INTRA-OP procedure were as follows: Pre-implant TRUS/prostate stabilization, 26 min; image transfer, 4 min; volume outlining, 8 min; plan generation, 18 min; initial needle loading, 17 min; seed implantation, 57 min. Mean time for the implantation session was 150 min for the INTRA-OP and 120 min for the STAND groups ( p = 0.002). However, this difference is negated if the preplanning volume study is included. In addition, there was a trend toward a shorter time for the INTRA-OP patients when evaluating mean total operating room times (200 min vs. 220 min; p = 0.07). The mean postimplant %D80 for the INTRA-OP patients was 104.8% vs. 116.2% for the STAND group ( p = 0.1). The corresponding %D90 values were 85.3% and 94.6%, respectively ( p = 0.08). Conclusion: Intraoperative preplanning increased the time required for the implantation session, but appeared to decrease overall operating room time. The overall convenience of the procedure makes intraoperative preplanning an attractive technique for transperineal ultrasound-guided prostate brachytherapy.
Soy Reactivity May be Better Identified By Component Testing with Gly m 8 Than Traditional Testing Methods

S A T U R D A Y 107 Soy Reactivity May be Better Identified By Component Testing with Gly m 8 Than Traditional Testing Methods Jacob D. Kattan, MD, Hugh A. Sampson, MD; Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, Department of Pediatrics, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA. RATIONALE: Skin prick testing and serum food-specific IgE (sIgE) levels are sensitive tests for identifying soy allergy, but positive test results are common even when soy is tolerated. We sought to perform soy component testing on patients undergoing an oral food challenge (OFC) to soy to determine if this modality would improve predictability. METHODS: We recruited children in our university-based, outpatient practice referred for OFC. Challenge outcomes were compared with soy sIgE levels and the sIgE levels to the soy components Gly m 4, 5, 6, and 8. IRB approval was obtained for this study. RESULTS: We performed component testing on 16 patients, ages 4 to 19 years, who underwent an OFC to soy. Six patients passed theOFC (37.5%), while 10 failed (62.5%). The median soy-sIgE in the patients who passed OFC (16.5 kUA/L) was lower, but not significantly different from those who failed (31.9 kUA/L). The median Gly m 4, 5, and 6 levels were not significantly different between those with a negative OFC (0.16, 8.95, and 15.05 kUA/L respectively) and the soy reactive patients (0.40, 18.20, and 25.85 kUA/L respectively). There were significant differences in the median Gly m 8 levels between patients who passed their soy OFC (2.47 kUA/L) and the soy reactive patients (5.03 kUA/L; P50.023). CONCLUSIONS: Soy component testing using the component Gly m 8 may improve the specificity of soy allergy testing. Further testing is planned with a larger number of soy sensitive patients to validate the utility of soy component testing.
Where Are You From? Why Are You Here? An African Perspective on Global Warming

Global warming, although usually associated with imminent environmental disasters, also presents splendid opportunities for research and education and for collaboration between the rich and the poor that will benefit both groups. Unfortunately, efforts to take advantage of these opportunities are handicapped by the misperception that scientific disputes concerning imminent global climate changes have been settled—that the science “is over”— in addition to a failure to appreciate that some people face problems more urgent than adaptation to and mitigation of the climate changes scientists predict. Changes over the past few decades in the way we conduct our affairs in the Earth sciences, specifically the atmospheric and oceanic sciences, contribute to these misunderstandings. This is a subjective, personal account of those changes.
Regulation and Properties of an NADP+ Oxidoreductase Which Functions as a γ‐Hydroxybutyrate Dehydrogenase

A number of naturally occurring biological intermediates have been found to inhibit competitively the activity of a highly purified NADP+-dependent oxidoreductase which catalyzes the simultaneous oxidation of gamma-hydroxybutyrate to succinic semialdehyde, and the reduction of D-glucuronate to L-gulonate. Of the inhibitors studied, those with the lowest Ki are the alpha-keto analogues of the branched chain or aromatic amino acids. The Vmax and Km for this enzyme are affected by pH; consequently, changes in substrate concentration can markedly alter the pH optimum. The enzyme has been found to be inhibited by reducing agents such as dithiothreitol and mercaptoethanol, protected against this inhibition by oxidizing agents such as oxidized glutathione or H2O2, and finally, protected against heat inactivation by the presence of either NADP+ or NADPH.
An efficient access scheme for a CATV-based high-speed packet-switching metropolitan area network

High-speed packet-switched communications to the home can be provided using an existing community antenna television (CATV) system. The author focuses on an efficient access scheme for a network that operates on a CATV system. The scheme takes advantage of packet address locality to minimize the expected network access overhead. Its efficiency is compared with that of other access schemes that might be used on a CATV-based network. >
The Impact of Age Stereotypes on Self-perceptions of Aging Across the Adult Lifespan

Objectives. Individuals ’ perceptions of their own age(ing) are important correlates of well-being and health. The goals of the present study were to (a) examine indicators of self-perceptions of aging across adulthood and (b) experimentally test whether age stereotypes infl uence self-perceptions of aging. Method. Adults 18 – 92 years of age were presented with positive, negative, or no age stereotypes. Before and after the stereotype activation, aging satisfaction and subjective age were measured. Results. The activation of positive age stereotypes did not positively infl uence self-perceptions of aging. Quite the contrary, priming middle-aged and older adults in good health with positive age stereotypes made them feel older. After the activation of negative age stereotypes, older adults in good health felt older and those in bad health wanted to be younger than before the priming. Even younger and middle-aged adults reported younger desired ages after the negative age stereotype priming. Persons in bad health also thought they looked older after being primed with negative age stereotypes. Discussion. Taken together, although we fi nd some support for contrast effects, most of our results can be interpreted in terms of assimilation effects, suggesting that individuals integrate stereotypical information into their self-evaluations of age(ing) when confronted with stereotypes.
Thinking with your gonads: testosterone and cognition

Sex hormones play a crucial role during brain development, but do they modulate or maintain cognition throughout life? Despite several million prescriptions annually for testosterone supplementation, we do not really know the answer. Here I review recent evidence that testosterone alters neural activity essential for learning and memory, and plays an important role as a neuroprotective agent in aging. In particular, testosterone deprivation is associated with poor memory in men and replacement can enhance memory and spatial cognition. However, there is little evidence that testosterone selectively affects only those cognitive domains where sex differences in performance have been found. There are also gaps in our knowledge surrounding the individual cognitive processes altered by testosterone, their neural basis, and the degree to which testosterone affects cognitive performance in women.
Androgen Spares Androgen-Insensitive Motoneurons from Apoptosis in the Spinal Nucleus of the Bulbocavernosus in Rats

Abstract The spinal nucleus of the bulbocavernosus (SNB) is a sexually dimorphic motor nucleus in the rat lumbar spinal cord. The sex difference arises through the androgenic sparing of the motoneurons and their target muscles from ontogenetic cell death. Indirect evidence suggests that androgen acts on the target muscles rather than directly on SNB motoneurons to spare them from death. The testicular feminization mutation ( Tfm ), a defect in the androgen receptor (AR), blocks androgenic sparing of SNB motoneurons and their targets. The pattern of AR immunocytochemistry was previously found to be different in adult Tfm and wild-type rats: immunostaining was nuclear in most SNB cells of wild-type rats, but very few SNB cells display nuclear AR immunostaining in affected Tfm rats. Because the Tfm mutation is carried on the X chromosome, random X inactivation during development makes female carriers of Tfm (+/ Tfm ) genetic mosaics for androgen sensitivity. Tfm carriers, their wild-type sisters, and affected Tfm males were treated with perinatal testosterone and immunocytochemistry was used to detect androgen receptor in the SNB when the rats reached adulthood. Mosaic females could be distinguished from their wild-type sisters by external morphology. In such perinatally androgenized mosaics, adult SNB cells were equally divided between wild-type and Tfm genotype, as indicated by AR immunocytochemistry. In contrast, the pattern of AR immunocytochemistry in target muscles of mosaics appeared similar to that of wild-type females. These results indicate that early androgen spared both androgen-sensitive and -insensitive motoneurons from cell death, confirming a site of androgen action other than the motoneurons themselves.
EARLY MISSISSIPPIAN POLYPLACOPHORA (MOLLUSCA) FROM IOWA

A diverse fauna of numerous, well-preserved polyplacophorans are present in the Mississippian (Osagean) Gilmore City Formation, Humboldt Member at Humboldt, Iowa. Specimens were collected from oolitic and skeletal packstones. New taxa include Gryphochiton demissus new species, Euleptochiton ellipticus new species Platychiton gerki new genus and species, Angulochiton humboldtensis new genus and species, and Systenochiton triangulus new genus and species.
Emotional Expression During Mid- to Late-Stage Dementia

This study examined the quality of emotional responsivity in mid-to late-stage dementia patients. Eighty-two nursing home patients with a DSM-III-R diagnosis of primary degenerative dementia of the Alzheimer type served as subjects. Patients were staged using the Global Deterioration Scale. The level and type of patient affectivity were assessed by family reports, aide reports, and direct observation and coding of patient facial expressions during a family visit. All three measures indicated that patients with Alzheimer's disease expressed a range of affective signals. Some showed an intact and functional emotion system even during the last stage of the disease; one third of end-stage dementia patients expressed sadness at the departure of their relatives as coded by an objective facial affect coding system.
The evolution, ecology, and systematics of marmots

The first species of Marmota occurred about 9.5 MYA in the United States. All modern species are known from the Pleistocene where they lived in the periglacial zone. With the retreat of the glaciers and expansion of forests, marmots became restricted to open mountain landscapes or the forest steppe or plain steppe zones. Marmots became adapted to habitats with grassland for foraging, a slope providing good drainage, southern to eastern exposure, and a soil structure appropriate for burrowing. Marmots adapted to habitats characterized by a seasonal food shortage, low temperature, and precipitation as snow by hibernating for an average among species of 7.2 months. Environmental harshness is characterized by large home ranges and reproductive skipping and the evolution of large body size, which increases the efficiency with which fat is utilized. A major consequence for this large animal living where the active season is short is that at least one additional summer of growth is necessary for young to reach maturity. Young are retained in their natal areas; this delayed dispersal results in the formation of social groups. Four types of social groups may be recognized: solitary, female kin group, restricted family, and extended family. Sociality evolved at least twice in marmots, once in North America and once in Eurasia. In those species that form extended families where dispersal is delayed beyond reproductive maturity, subordi- nate adults may engage in alloparental care and polyandry may occur. Evidence that marmot populations adapt to local conditions indicates that population differentiation continues and that there may be more species than the currently recognized fourteen.
Beyond Legal Sanctions: The Correlates of Self-imposed and Socially Imposed Extralegal Risk Perceptions

Research on the formation of sanction risk perceptions has concentrated virtually exclusively on the bases of legal sanction perceptions. This article examines the correlates of extralegal risk perceptions. Theoretical arguments relate previous offending experiences to current perceptions of self-imposed (guilt) and socially imposed (social disapproval) sanctions. The empirical implications of these arguments are tested. Findings indicate that individuals' perceptions of the risk of social disapproval are associated with their own offending experiences, and individuals' perceptions of the risk of guilt are associated with their friends', as well as their own offending experiences. The findings suggest that research on the formation and modification of sanction risk perceptions should not be limited to perceptions of legal sanctions.
A practical guide to concentrated insulin for pharmacists.

Purpose: Insulin improves glycemic control in several ways, for example, by stimulating glucose uptake in the muscle and inhibiting hepatic glucose production. It has other mechanisms of action for correcting the abnormal metabolism of proteins, fats, and carbohydrates. The formulation of concentrated insulin (U-500) is a higher potency of insulin than the U-100 regular formulation. It is indicated for children and adults with type 1 and type 2 diabetes who have not achieved adequate glycemic control with exercise and proper dietary habits. However, the unique characteristics of concentrated insulin require that a patient be educated on its use. This article provides a practical guide for pharmacists on the use of concentrated insulin in both inpatient and outpatient settings and highlights specific concerns and management strategies. Conclusion: Concentrated insulin works in the same mechanism as U-100 insulin formulations for treating type 1 and type 2 diabetes. Pharmacists are knowledgeable about manag...
Modulation of macrophage phenotype by cell shape

Phenotypic polarization of macrophages is regulated by a milieu of cues in the local tissue microenvironment. Although much is known about how soluble factors influence macrophage polarization, relatively little is known about how physical cues present in the extracellular environment might modulate proinflammatory (M1) vs. prohealing (M2) activation. Specifically, the role of cell shape has not been explored, even though it has been observed that macrophages adopt different geometries in vivo. We and others observed that macrophages polarized toward different phenotypes in vitro exhibit dramatic changes in cell shape: M2 cells exhibit an elongated shape compared with M1 cells. Using a micropatterning approach to control macrophage cell shape directly, we demonstrate here that elongation itself, without exogenous cytokines, leads to the expression of M2 phenotype markers and reduces the secretion of inflammatory cytokines. Moreover, elongation enhances the effects of M2-inducing cytokines IL-4 and IL-13 and protects cells from M1-inducing stimuli LPS and IFN-γ. In addition shape- but not cytokine-induced polarization is abrogated when actin and actin/myosin contractility are inhibited by pharmacological agents, suggesting a role for the cytoskeleton in the control of macrophage polarization by cell geometry. Our studies demonstrate that alterations in cell shape associated with changes in ECM architecture may provide integral cues to modulate macrophage phenotype polarization.
Is Hypertension Beneficial to the Conventional Hemodialysis Patient

Hypertension is common in the conventional hemodialysis population. While hypertension in the general population has been shown to reduce survival, the issue is less clear in the dialysis population. This review focuses on recent studies showing a favorable outcome in hypertensive hemodialysis patients compared to those with lower blood pressure. Possible explanations for this paradoxical relationship are examined and practical suggestions given for the management of hypertension in the hemodialysis patient.
Surgical Value of Elective Minimally Invasive Gallbladder Removal: A Cost Analysis of Traditional 4-Port vs Single-Incision and Robotically Assisted Cholecystectomy

Background As the cost of health care is subjected to increasingly greater scrutiny, the assessment of new technologies must include the surgical value (SV) of the procedure. Surgical value is defined as outcome divided by cost. Study Design The cost and outcome of 50 consecutive traditional (4-port) laparoscopic cholecystectomies (TLC) were compared with 50 consecutive, nontraditional laparoscopic cholecystectomies (NTLC), between October 2012 and February 2014. The NTLC included SILS (n = 11), and robotically assisted single-incision cholecystectomies (ROBOSILS; n = 39). Our primary outcomes included minimally invasive gallbladder removal and same-day discharge. Thirty-day emergency department visits or readmissions were evaluated as a secondary outcome. The direct variable surgeon costs (DVSC) were distilled from our hospital cost accounting system and calculated on a per-case, per item basis. Results The average DVSC for TLC was $929 and was significantly lower than NTLC at $2,344 (p 0.05), respectively. The relative SV was significantly higher for TLC (1) compared with NTLC (0.34) (p Conclusions Nontraditional, minimally invasive gallbladder removal (SILS and ROBOSILS) offers significantly less surgical value for elective, outpatient gallbladder removal.