cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Higher-harmonic production in a model atom with short-range potential

Production of higher harmonics in a model atom described by a three-dimensional \ensuremath{\delta}-function potential in the presence of a monochromatic linearly polarized field is investigated. The rates for production of the individual harmonics can be expressed as one-dimensional integrals. The only property of the atom that enters the model is its ionization energy. The results are in qualitative agreement with many of the data. In particular, the model exhibits a ``rising plateau.''
Current status of transcatheter management of neoplasms: a surgeon's view.

Drs. Chuang and Wallace present an overview of an increasingly complex multidisciplinary area that is of interest to medical and surgical oncologists and radiation therapists as well as to radiologists. Interventional angiographic techniques often allow complex, aggressive treatment programs to be carried out in ill patients with limited life expectancies without subjecting these patients to major surgery. I will limit my further comments to the area of the liver malignancies. The authors describe various approaches to the treatment of hepatic neoplasms by arterial occlusions. Central arterial occlusion using a spring device or glue injection, or more peripheral occlusion using Gelfoam embolization may be complementary. Whether such transcatheter techniques are as effective as surgical devascularization of the liver remains unclear. There is little doubt, however, that arterial occlusion can result in tumor necrosis and may be particularly valuable in treatment of patients with hormone-producing metastases, such as carcinoids. It is also intriguing to speculate on the role of hepatic artery thrombosis or peripheral embolization during arterial infusion chemotherapy. In patients who have had long-term infusion chemotherapy via hepatic artery catheters serial angiograms document a high incidence of thrombosis. Future studies involving regional chemotherapy should investigate the arterial status in all patients who have allegedly responded to the infusion chemotherapy. Infusion chemotherapy of liver tumors has usually involved long-term hepatic artery drug infusions. Some surgical oncology groups have been interested in hepatic artery ligation and portal vein infusion, which is an area yet to be explored by radiologists.
RORTY VERSUS HARTSHORNE, OR, POETRY VERSUS METAPHYSICS

: The purpose of this article is to explore the relationship between the thought of Richard Rorty and that of his former teacher, Charles Hartshorne. There are important similarities between the two, but ultimately the differences are more readily apparent, especially in terms of the battle between poetry (in the wide sense of the term conceived by Rorty) and (Hartshornian) metaphysics. Hartshorne is defended against Rorty.
Co-localization of hyaluronic acid and chondroitin sulfate proteoglycan in rat cerebral cortex

The distribution of hyaluronate (HA) and chondroitin sulfate (CS) proteoglycan in the rat cerebral cortex was compared. For the localization of HA, the sections were incubated with human glial hyaluronate-binding protein (GHAP) and then reacted with monoclonal or polyclonal antibodies to GHAP. Polyclonal antibodies raised in rabbit were used for double-labeling experiments with monoclonal antibodies raised in mice and reacting with CS proteoglycans. Little reactivity was observed in rat cerebral cortex with polyclonal GHAP antibodies if the sections were not incubated with GHAP. Monoclonal antibodies to GHAP did not react with murine tissues. CS proteoglycans were localized in chondroitinase-digested sections with monoclonal antibodies reacting with the 4-sulfated oligosaccharide stubs formed by the digestion with chondroitinase ABC of CS side chains. In the rat cerebral cortex, the distribution of CS proteoglycans was similar to that reported by Bertolotto, A., Rocca, G. and Schiffer, D.,J. Neurol. Sci., 100 (1990) 113–123, and his collaborators using the same antibodies. Many neurons mainly located in the upper and deep cortical layers were surrounded by CS immunoreactive material. Several (but not all) CS-positive neurons also stained for HA with an identical distribution except that in most instances the staining was confined to the periphery of the perikaryon and did not extend to the dendritic tree. The finding suggests that cerebral cortex CS proteoglycan is capable of interacting with HA.
Nanoliter-scale sample preparation methods directly coupled to polymethylmethacrylate-based microchips and gel-filled capillaries for the analysis of oligonucleotides.

Abstract We are currently developing miniaturized, chip-based electrophoresis devices fabricated in plastics for the high-speed separation of oligonucleotides. One of the principal advantages associated with these devices is their small sample requirements, typically in the nanoliter to sub-nanoliter range. Unfortunately, most standard sample preparation protocols, especially for oligonucleotides, are done off-chip on a microliter-scale. Our work has focused on the development of capillary nanoreactors coupled to micro-separation platforms, such as micro-electrophoresis chips, for the preparation of sequencing ladders and also polymerase chain reactions (PCRs). These nanoreactors consist of fused-silica capillary tubes (10–20 cm×20–50 μm I.D.) with fluid pumping accomplished using the electroosmotic flow generated by the tubes. These reactors were situated in fast thermal cyclers to perform cycle sequencing or PCR amplification of the DNAs. The reactors could be interfaced to either a micro-electrophoresis chips via capillary connectors micromachined in polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) using deep X-ray etching (width 50 μm; depth 50 μm) or conventional capillary gel tubes using zero-dead volume glass unions. For our chips, they also contained an injector, separation channel (length 6 cm; width 30 μm; depth 50 μm) and a dual fiber optic, near-infrared fluorescence detector. The sequencing nanoreactor used surface immobilized templates attached to the wall via a biotin–streptavidin–biotin linkage. Sequencing tracks could be directly injected into gel-filled capillary tubes with minimal degradation in the efficiency of the separation process. The nanoreactor could also be configured to perform PCR reactions by filling the capillary tube with the PCR reagents and template. After thermal cycling, the PCR cocktail could be pooled from multiple reactors and loaded onto a slab gel or injected into a capillary tube or microchip device for fractionation.
Surface energy of liquids isolated in narrow capillaries

Abstract This paper presents a conceptual and mathematical model for the surface tension of liquids in narrow capillaries isolated from a reservoir. A pure liquid is viewed as a two component system consisting of vacancies as well as the molecules of the liquid. Desorption of vacancies takes place at the solid-liquid interface. The attendent increase in vacancy concentration at the liquid-vapor interface results in a greater average intermolecular distance and higher attractive forces. The equation relating the change in surface tension at the liquid-vapor interface is, dγ dA SL = (F SV − F SL ) A LV . This relation is used to derive the Fisher equation for the strength of liquid bridges between two spheres without the use of the reduced pressure device. This approach considers the properties of a liquid in small capillaries as part of a composite system and the results support the work of Shereshefsky and Derjaguin who have observed the abnormal behavior of liquids in small capillaries.
Ferroelectric Polarization Mechanism of the Odd-Numbered Nylons.

Abstract Following studies of the ferroelectric behavior of the odd-numbered nylons, the ferroelectric switching mechanisms have been investigated in terms of the crystal orientation or reorientation using wide angle X-ray diffraction method. It has been found that the degree of double crystallite orientation resulting from uniaxial stretching below Tg for the odd-numbered nylon films decreases with increasing amide content. The electric field poling results in a reorientation of unit cells without changing the crystal structure or chain packing in the nylon films. Moisture absorbed by the nylon samples can strongly affect the resultant reorientation of the crystal unit cell. With the presence of some level of moisture, a 90° reorientation of the unit cells is observed for all the nylons studied. A 72° unit cell reorientation is observed for nylon 11 samples when poled using a dry-air purge. This difference may be attributed to the increase in electric field applied to the crystalline phase when moisture ...
Performance of shared-channel multihop lightwave networks

Channel sharing is an attractive approach to improve the performance of multihop optical networks. It can be used to implement virtual topologies with higher connectivity, to reduce the number of hops taken by a packet and therefore, to reduce delay and increase throughput. In this paper, we study the effect of channel sharing on the performance of multihop networks when channel sharing is achieved by using a time-division multiple-access (TDMA) technique. If TDMA is used, the same wavelength channel is shared by more than one virtual link, which reduces capacities of the virtual links that share the wavelength. As a result of this, the throughput may decrease with the increase in channel sharing. We present a result which gives an upper bound on the throughput that can be achieved with any virtual topology that can be established with N stations assuming that the traffic distribution is uniform and that all virtual links have the same capacity. Using this result we determine the optimal degree of channel sharing which maximizes throughput. We also determine the optimal degree of channel sharing when the criterion is to maximize the network power, which is defined as a ratio of throughput and delay.
Esophageal Rupture Complicated by a Gastrocardiac Fistula: Review of the Literature and Report of a Successfully Treated Case

A 62-year-old man developed a fistula between the right ventricle and the stomach after Thal fundic patching of an emetogenic rupture of the esophagus. He underwent emergency surgical correction of the fistula and survived.
Teledermatology: Issues in remote diagnosis and management of cutaneous disease

Abstract Since the 1970s, long distance communication technology has become highly developed. Along with the communications revolution has been a parallel in the use of the technology to deliver health care. Early work in rural Western states, Canada, and Europe laid the groundwork for the rapid expansion of telemedicine programs throughout the world in the 1990s. Dermatology has played an important role in many programs because of the visual nature of the field. Pilot programs in both interactive video and store-and-forward have demonstrated effectiveness in diagnosing cutaneous disease and skin tumors. Equally important to the delivery of teledermatologic care is the ability of dermatologists to make management recommendations beyond the training of most primary care physicians. Telemedicine technology is continuing to advance with improvements in cameras, lenses, and monitors and increased access to higher-end communications options such as integrated services digital network and digital subscriber lines. Further advances over the next decade in both hardware and software will likely further enhance the ability to diagnose cutaneous disease at a distance. As with any clinical practice, understanding the legal ramifications is very important before entering into a field. Licensure issues continue to be a barrier for teleconsultations across state lines. Consent for teleconsultations, credentialing where applicable, and liability and liability insurance issues are very important to address before starting a teleconsultation service. The technology of telemedicine, although decreasing in cost, still has a high price tag. To date there are few good data to justify teleconsultations on a cost savings basis. Intangible factors such as distance traveled for a live consultation and time away from work become important in the overall cost-effectiveness analysis but have little direct financial benefit for a practicing physician. Improvements in technology and increased accessibility often mean lower costs, which may eventually favor teleconsultations. Despite the cost and difficulties associated with teledermatology, it still presents itself as a very viable form of health care for rural or underserved populations and may serve to reach communities where dermatologists are not readily available. (Curr Probl Dermatol 2002;14:1-40.)
Annular α-Synuclein Protofibrils Are Produced When Spherical Protofibrils Are Incubated in Solution or Bound to Brain-Derived Membranes†

The Parkinson's disease substantia nigra is characterized by the loss of dopaminergic neurons and the presence of cytoplasmic fibrillar Lewy bodies in surviving neurons. The major fibrillar protein of Lewy bodies is α-synuclein. Two point mutations in the α-synuclein gene are associated with autosomal-dominant Parkinson's disease (FPD). Studies of the in vitro fibrillization behavior of the mutant proteins suggest that fibril precursors, or α-synuclein protofibrils, rather than the fibrils, may be pathogenic. Atomic force microscopy (AFM) revealed two distinct forms of protofibrillar α-synuclein: rapidly formed spherical protofibrils and annular protofibrils, which were produced on prolonged incubation of spheres. The spherical protofibrils bound to brain-derived membrane fractions much more tightly than did monomeric or fibrillar α-synuclein, and membrane-associated annular protofibrils were observed. The structural features of α-synuclein annular protofibrils are reminiscent of bacterial pore-forming t...
Automatic data structure selection in SETL

SETL is a very high level programming language supporting set theoretical syntax and semantics. It allows algorithms to be programmed rapidly and succinctly without requiring data structure declarations to be supplied, though such declarations can be manually specified later, without recoding the program, to improve the efficiency of program execution. We describe a new technique for automatic selection of appropriate data representations during compile-time for undeclared, or partially declared programs,and present an efficient data structure selection algorithm, whose complexity is comparable with those of the fastest known general data-flow algorithms of Tarjan [TA2] and Reif [RE].
Secure Information Transmission Over Microwave and Telephone Channels

Communications systems are often used for transmission of control signals where the possibility of false outputs must be minimized. To minimize erroneous system outputs, special design considerations are involved.
Patterns of failure after primary local therapy for prostate cancer and rationale for secondary therapy

The timing and type of treatment for patients with biochemical disease recurrence after local therapy for prostate cancer remains controversial. This is because of many unresolved issues surrounding the natural history of disease progression in such patients, including the limited ability of clinical measures to accurately define local versus distant disease recurrence. Clinicians generally rely on clinical tumor characteristics, such as tumor stage, grade, and prostate specific antigen (PSA) kinetics after local therapy, to distinguish local from distant recurrence. This determination is important, because patients with local recurrence may be candidates for a second, potentially curative treatment, whereas those with distant recurrence are generally treated with androgen deprivation therapy (ADT). Data from a national disease registry of patients with prostate cancer, the Cancer of the Prostate Strategic Urologic Research Endeavor (CaPSURE), suggest that the use of secondary cancer treatment after local therapy for prostate cancer is common. For patients initially treated with radical prostatectomy, secondary treatment appears to be nearly equally divided between postoperative radiation and ADT, whereas >90% of patients receiving a secondary treatment after radiation are treated with ADT. Serum PSA at diagnosis, Gleason score, and type of initial treatment appear to be predictors of secondary treatment use in this setting. Patient age, lymph node status, and margin status appear to be predictors of secondary treatment with ADT or radiation for patients initially treated with radical prostatectomy.
Wanted: A Theoretical Roadmap to Research and Practice Across Individual, Interpersonal, and Structural Levels of Analysis

Investigators routinely acknowledge the existence and relevance of the different systems that regulate behavior, yet their empirical work remains focused on processes that operate within a single system. In order for investigators to conduct basic and applied initiatives that cross levels of analysis, theoretical principles are needed that delimit the interplay between different systems. Thus, a systematic effort is needed to integrate behavior change principles across levels or systems. As shown in this supplement, the proposed integration is necessary, likely impactful, and timely, and derived from the work of researchers from basic and applied areas who agreed to undertake this initiative as part of expert teams who would interact in person during a 2-day conference that took place Atlanta, GA in 2009. A number of observations detailed below motivated the organization of the team work leading to this supplement of AIDS and Behavior.
Large-scale density structures in the outer heliosphere

The Plasma Science experiment on the Voyager 2 spacecraft has measured the solar wind density from 1 to 38 AU. Over this distance, the solar wind density decreases as the inverse square of the heliocentric distance. However, there are large variations in this density at a given radius. Such changes in density are the dominant cause of changes in the solar wind ram pressure in the outer heliosphere and can cause large perturbations in the location of the termination shock of the solar wind. Following a simple model suggested by Suess, we study the non-equilibrium, dynamic location of the termination shock as it responds to these pressure changes. The results of this study suggest that the termination shock is rarely if ever at its equilibrium distance and may depart from that distance by as much as 50 AU at times.
Perceptual organization in an interactive sketch editing application

The paper shows how techniques from computational vision can be deployed to support interactive sketch editing. While conventional computer supported drawing tools give users access to visible marks or image objects at a single level of abstraction, a human user's visual system rapidly constructs complex groupings and associations among image elements according to his or her immediate purposes. We have been exploring perceptually supported sketch editors in which computer vision algorithms run continuously, behind the scenes, to afford users efficient access to emergent visual objects in a drawing. We employ a flexible image interpretation architecture based on token grouping in a multiscale blackboard data structure. This organization supports multiple perceptual interpretations of line drawing data, domain specific knowledge bases for interpreting visual structures, and natural gesture based selection of visual objects. >
The Pecking Order and Marginal Debt Issuance: An International Perspective

This paper studies the marginal debt issuance behavior of publicly traded companies using firm-level data from 42 countries. The implications of the strict version of the pecking order theory regarding marginal debt financing are rejected in the international data overall. However, and more importantly, we might expect reliance on marginal debt issuance to be higher in markets with less transparent financial systems since in those countries information asymmetry and adverse selection would be expected to be more of a problem. Using the framework of Shyam-Sunder and Myers (1999), that is what is found. This provides empirical support for the underlying assumptions of the pecking order theory regarding information asymmetry and dependence on debt financing. I also find empirical evidence that firms from developing countries are successful in their attempt to reduce this information asymmetry problem by exchange listing ADRs, as indicated by the Shyam-Sunder and Myers (1999) metric.
Polarization and Charge Dynamics in Ferroelectric Materials with SPM

Domain structures and polarization-related surface properties in ferroelectric materials are investigated using electrostatic Scanning Probe Microscopies. Polarization charge on BaTiO3 (100) is completely screened by surface adsorbates in ambient and the sign of domain potential is inverse to polarization charge, i.e. c + domains are negative and c - domains are positive on potential image. The surface potential dynamics of ferroelectric materials are governed by the interplay between fast polarization charge and slow screening charge, resulting in the effects of potential retention above Curie temperature and temperature induced potential inversion. The photochemical activity of ferroelectric surface is strongly dependent on polarization orientation. Combination of piezoresponse lithography with domain-selective metal photodeposition is explored as a new route for nanostructure fabrication.
Characterization of a conjugative transposon integrase, IntDOT

Summary Sequence analysis revealed that the integrase of the Bacteroides conjugative transposon CTnDOT (IntDOT) might be a member of the tyrosine recombinase family because IntDOT has five of six highly conserved residues found in the catalytic domains of tyrosine recombinases. Yet, IntDOT catalyses a reaction that appears to differ in some respects from well-studied tyrosine recombinases such as that of phage λ. To assess the importance of the conserved residues, we changed residues in IntDOT that align with conserved residues in tyrosine recombinases. Some substitutions resulted in a complete loss or significant decrease of integration activity in vivo. The ability of the mutant proteins to cleave and ligate CTnDOT attachment site (attDOT) DNA in vitro in general paralleled the in vivo results, but the H345A mutant, which had a wild-type level of integration in vivo, exhibited a slightly lower level of cleavage and ligation in vitro. Our results confirm the hypothesis that IntDOT belongs to the tyrosine recombinase family, but the catalytic core of the protein seems to have somewhat different organization. Previous DNA sequence analyses showed that CTnDOT att sites contain 5 bp non-homologous coupling sequences which were assumed to define the putative staggered sites of cleavage. However, cleavage assays showed that one of the cleavage sites is 2 bp away from the junction of CTnDOT and coupling sequence DNA. The site is in a region of homology that is conserved in CTnDOT att sites.
The effect of haze on the visibility of Martian surface features

Mars surface features contrast reduction, discussing forward scattering haze as possible cause
Documenting Mutuality: Testing a Dyadic and Communicative Model of Marital Commitment

Seventeen in-depth, semistructured interviews were conducted to discover whether the conceptualizations proposed in our communicative theory of marital commitment (Thompson-Hayes & Webb, 2004) comported with the lived experience of marital dyads. Each spouse validated the conceptualizations of commitment (the extent to which spouses experience mutual desire to remain in their marriage as a function, in part, of their interaction), projected longevity (the extent to which marital partners imagine themselves growing older together), and marital quality (the extent to which marital dyads recognize that their marriage has outstanding valued features evaluated as superior to comparable features in other relationships they have had, could be having, and are likely to have). Strong support was found for the conceptualization of communication maintenance behavior (the extent to which marital dyads successfully employ specific interaction activities to sustain, to repair, and to redefine their relationships).
Parallel hybrid electric vehicle dynamic model and powertrain control

Contains a description of mathematical modeling, analysis, and simulation in an iterative process including development of parallel hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) hardware, system performance measures, computer control software, and complete PHEV powertrain system synthesis. A PHEV is synthesized using a conventional spark ignited (SI) internal combustion engine (ICE) power plant-alternator combination, a dry clutch, and manual transmission/differential with an AC induction traction motor attached after the differential. An operating strategy for this PHEV is presented.
Money Market Funds: An Introduction to the Literature

This article provides an overview of the literature on various aspects of the money market fund industry. It also serves as an introduction to a much larger research project on comparative regulation in the context of the global money market and cash management. The study of a relationship between MMFs and an efficient global financial market is in its early stages. Here we provide just a glimpse of the major driving forces behind the MMFs popularity. The article examines studies related to funds’ investment management practices, but also explores a number of issues raised by the emerging money market fund industry under the securities and banking laws in the U.S. and Europe. An open question is whether the MMFs will continue to play an important role as one of the major cash management vehicles and a source of financing given certain structural deficiencies and unresolved regulatory issues. We hope that our further research will help to better understand the role of money market funds in more efficient functioning of the global financial markets and capital formation.
A bootstrap approach to moment selection

Summary This paper proposes a bootstrap-based procedure for selecting the best moment conditions among a set of correctly specified moment conditions. The proposed method can be motivated by Edgeworth expansions and chooses moment conditions that minimize the approximate coverage error of confidence intervals and hypothesis tests for parameters. Because of the analytical intractability of Edgeworth expansions, we estimate the coverage error by the bootstrap. The proposed method can be applied to a wide class of estimators for possibly non-linear and possibly dynamic models. We investigate the small sample performance of the proposed method in Monte Carlo experiments.
The Protein Phosphatases of Synechocystis sp. Strain PCC 6803: Open Reading Frames sll1033 and sll1387 Encode Enzymes That Exhibit both Protein-Serine and Protein-Tyrosine Phosphatase Activity In Vitro

The open reading frames (ORFs) encoding two potential protein-serine/threonine phosphatases from the cyanobacterium Synechocystis sp. strain PCC 6803 were cloned and their protein products expressed in Escherichia coli cells. The product of ORF sll1033, SynPPM3, is a homologue of the PPM family of protein-serine/threonine phosphatases found in all eukaryotes as well as many members of the Bacteria. Surprisingly, the recombinant protein phosphatase dephosphorylated phosphotyrosine- as well as phosphoserine-containing proteins in vitro. While kinetic analyses indicate that the enzyme was more efficient at dephosphorylating the latter, replacement of Asp608 by asparagine enhanced activity toward a phosphotyrosine-containing protein fourfold. The product of ORF sll1387, SynPPP1, is the sole homolog of the PPP family of protein phosphatases encoded by the genome of Synechocystis sp. strain PCC 6803. Like many other bacterial PPPs, the enzyme dephosphorylated phosphoserine- and phosphotyrosine-containing proteins with comparable efficiencies. However, while previously described PPPs from prokaryotic organisms required the addition of exogenous metal ion cofactors, such as Mg2+ or Mn2+, for activity, recombinantly produced SynPPP1 displayed near-maximal activity in the absence of added metals. Inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry indicated that recombinant SynPPP1 contained significant quantities, 0.32 to 0.44 mol/mole total, of Mg and Mn. In this respect, the cyanobacterial enzyme resembled eukaryotic members of the PPP family, which are metalloproteins. mRNA encoding SynPPP1 or SynPPM3 could be detected in cells grown under many, but not all, environmental conditions.
A parallel symmetric block-tridiagonal divide-and-conquer algorithm

We present a parallel implementation of the block-tridiagonal divide-and-conquer algorithm that computes eigensolutions of symmetric block-tridiagonal matrices to reduced accuracy. In our implementation, we use mixed data/task parallelism to achieve data distribution and workload balance. Numerical tests show that our implementation is efficient, scalable and computes eigenpairs to prescribed accuracy. We compare the performance of our parallel eigensolver with that of the ScaLAPACK divide-and-conquer eigensolver on block-tridiagonal matrices.
Goal-Based Scenarios: A Radical Look at Education

(1994). Goal-Based Scenarios: A Radical Look at Education. Journal of the Learning Sciences: Vol. 3, No. 4, pp. 429-453.
Development and Validation of a Bioreactor System for Dynamic Loading and Mechanical Characterization of Whole Human Intervertebral Discs in Organ Culture

Intervertebral disc (IVD) degeneration is a common cause of back pain, and attempts to develop therapies are frustrated by lack of model systems that mimic the human condition. Human IVD organ culture models can address this gap, yet current models are limited since vertebral endplates are removed to maintain cell viability, physiological loading is not applied, and mechanical behaviors are not measured. This study aimed to (i) establish a method for isolating human IVDs from autopsy with intact vertebral endplates, and (ii) develop and validate an organ culture loading system for human or bovine IVDs. Human IVDs with intact endplates were isolated from cadavers within 48h of death and cultured for up to 21 days. IVDs remained viable with ~80% cell viability in nucleus and annulus regions. A dynamic loading system was designed and built with the capacity to culture 9 bovine or 6 human IVDs simultaneously while applying simulated physiologic loads (maximum force: 4kN) and measuring IVD mechanical behaviors. The loading system accurately applied dynamic loading regimes (RMS error 85% viable cells throughout the 3 week culture period. This organ culture loading system can closely mimic physiological conditions and be used to investigate response of living human and bovine IVDs to mechanical and chemical challenges and to screen therapeutic repair techniques.
Differential effects of hormone therapy on serotonin, vascular function and mood in the KEEPS.

AbstractBackground Serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine, 5-HT) is modulated by sex steroid hormones and affects vascular function and mood. In the Kronos Early Estrogen Prevention Cognitive and Affective Ancillary Study (KEEPS-Cog), women randomized to oral conjugated equine estrogens (oCEE) showed greater benefit on affective mood states than women randomized to transdermal 17β-estradiol (tE2) or placebo (PL). This study examined the effect of these treatments on the platelet content of 5-HT as a surrogate measure of 5-HT synthesis and uptake in the brain.Methods The following were measured in a subset (n = 79) of women enrolled in KEEPS-Cog: 5-HT by ELISA, carotid intima-medial thickness (CIMT) by ultrasound, endothelial function by reactive hyperemic index (RHI), and self-reported symptoms of affective mood states by the Profile of Mood States (POMS) questionnaire.Results Mean platelet content of 5-HT increased by 107.0%, 84.5% and 39.8%, in tE2, oCEE and PL groups, respectively. Platelet 5-HT positively cor...
Imaging of Nontraumatic Mediastinal and Pulmonary Processes

Thoracic complaints including cough, shortness of breath, and pleuritic chest pain are common but nonspecific presenting symptoms in the emergency department, and as many as 5 % of visits are due to acute chest pain (19). Acute chest pain in the absence of trauma remains a diagnostic challenge because of extensive etiology that ranges from benign to potentially lethal. After cardiac and aortic etiologies are ruled out, three main categories of disease origin should be considered: mediastinum (including pulmonary vasculature only), lung, and pleura. Nontraumatic, noncardiac mediastinal processes which can present with chest symptoms include, but are not limited to, pulmonary embolism (technically lung but will be considered with mediastinum), esophageal perforation, mediastinitis, and abscess. Pulmonary pathology also tends to affect the pleural space so these two categories will be considered together. Pneumonia and pulmonary edema are the most common pulmonary diagnoses in the emergency room. It is equally important to delineate any associated complications including pulmonary abscess and empyema. Pneumothorax can also be nontraumatic in etiology and present with acute thoracic symptoms (18).
Rabbit endometrial response to intravenously administered progesterone.

SummaryThe biologic effectiveness of intravenously administered progesterone is approximately 25,000 times less than intrauterine administration of progesterone and 25 times less effective than the intramuscular route.
Dynamics of microtubules and their associated proteins: Recent insights and clinical implications.

Microtubules are dynamic components of the cytoskeleton that are critical for the normal structure, function, and survival of neurons. They provide the major tracks for intracellular transport and local cues for positioning of mitochondria and other organelles; microtubules also interact with actin microfilaments to generate intracellular forces for both cell migration and dynamics of dendrites and axons, both during development and in response to synaptic activity. Microtubules are polymers composed of tandem repeats of α-β tubulin heterodimers; these heterodimers arrange to form a sheath of protofilaments and eventually a hollow tube. Microtubules are dynamically unstable and undergo periods of growth, shrinkage, and rest, depending on the continuous balance between filament assembly and disassembly. There are several groups of proteins that interact with microtubules. Important examples are the microtubule-associated protein tau, which promotes microtubule stabilization and bundling, and motor proteins such as kinesin and the dynein. Microtubule-based transport is essential for neuronal function. The specificity, directionality, and delivery of neuronal cargos via microtubule-based transport depend on local microtubule cues, as well as the opposing activity of kinesin and dynein motors. Genetic or neurodegenerative disorders affecting microtubules or their associated proteins produce a wide variety of clinical manifestations. For example, mutations in α- or β-tubulin are linked to developmental disorders such as lissencephaly; mutations affecting kinesin, dynein, or dynactin produce axonal neuropathies and motor neuron disease. Abnormal accumulations of hyperphosphorylated tau have been directly linked to several neurodegenerative tauopathies manifested with dementia, parkinsonism, or both. All these topics have been the subject of several reviews.1–10
A policy of dedicated follow-up improves the rate of removal of retrievable inferior Vena Cava Filters in trauma patients.

Retrievable Inferior Vena Cava Filters (IVCF) for prophylaxis against pulmonary embolus have been associated with low rates of removal. Strategies for improving the rates of retrieval have not been described. We hypothesized that a policy of dedicated follow-up would achieve a higher rate of filter removal. Trauma and Nontrauma patients who had a retrievable IVCF placed during 2006 were identified. A protocol existed for trauma patients with chart stickers, arm bracelets, and dedicated follow-up by nurse practitioners from three trauma teams. No protocol existed for nontrauma patients. Statistical analysis was performed using χ 2 analysis or analysis of variance. One hundred sixty-seven retrievable IVCFs were placed over 12 months; 91 in trauma patients and 76 in nontrauma patients. Trauma patients were more likely to have their IVCF removed than nontrauma patients, 55 per cent versus 19 per cent, P < 0.001. There were differences between the three trauma teams, with removal rates of 44 per cent, 42 per cent, and 86 per cent respectively (P < 0.05). On multivariate analysis young age and trauma patient status were independent predictors of filter removal. A policy of dedicated follow-up of patients with IVCFs can achieve significantly higher rates of filter removal than have been previously reported. Similar policies should be adopted by all centers placing retrievable IVCFs to maximize retrieval rates.
P04.31 Study among injectable drugs users (idus)

Background Afghanistan is a country of low HIV prevalence but high risk factors for a number of reasons: There is no information on the prevalence rates of HIV amongst general population- there are neither HIV sentinel surveillance sites nor case reporting system. There have also been no general population household studies of Behavioural surveillance in general population. Methodology Rapid Assessment techniques comprising qualitative methods were used, in the first instance, to elicit salient key themes to inform questionnaire design for the quantitative component of the study. Key information interview were conducted in each five research sites with administrator and services provides who had knowledge of injecting drug use. Secondly, the free list technique was employed with information in all five research area to elicit responses to thematically- focused question on injecting drug use and lifestyle. Blood sample were drawn from each 250 participants to test HIV, HCV, HBS and Syphilis Study aims Describe the range of characteristics of IDUs in major cities of Afghanistan. Examine the injecting –related HIV risk behaviours of IDUs. Suggest necessary intervention to prevent HIV transmission among IDUs and their family and sex partners. Conclusion Study of characteristics and drug user pattern of IDUs conducted through in- depth interview with 250 IDUs in five area: Herat; Kabul; Bamyan; Jalalabad and Mazar-e-Sharif by the criteria of: demographics; ethnicity; place of birth; time spent outside Afghanistan during the past ten years; length of time of return to Afghanistan; education and literacy level; marital status; income; drug availability; drugs use and injection; condom use; sexual history and practices; knowledge and attitudes about HIV; services use and satisfaction. Disclosure of interest statement I would like to clear that I was the principle investigator of this study, I have approval letter from ministry of Public Health of Afghanistan.
Rate Control in Atrial Fibrillation

Atrial fibrillation is a developing, progressive disease and its treatment is a significant topic of discussion. Several trials have reviewed the risks and benefits of rate control versus rhythm control as well as strict versus lenient rate control. These trials conclude that rhythm control is not superior to rate control and that rate control is generally safer. Moreover, lenient rate control is most cost-effective with same outcomes as strict rate control. In choosing optimal therapy for stable atrial fibrillation, special consideration needs to be given to patients with heart failure, preexcitation, and cocaine use.
Using collar-worn sensors to forecast thermal strain in military working dogs

Military working dogs (MWDs) are at high risk of heat strain both during training and missions. Body heat in a MWD increases due to work, and the primary means for reducing this heat are resting and panting. Body-worn sensors can enable monitoring of work level and respiratory rate in real time. They can thereby provide real-time objective indicators of thermal strain in MWDs. In this paper a system is proposed for using collar-worn accelerometer, global positioning system (GPS), and audio recorder sensors to provide real-time estimates of work level and respiration (breathing and panting) rate. Automated methods are demonstrated for using a collar-worn accelerometer and GPS sensor to estimate work levels during multiple short-duration activities, and for estimating respiration rates from a collar-worn audio recorder. The potential utility of these estimates for forecasting and monitoring thermal strain is assessed based on performance in out of sample prediction of core temperature (Tc) statistics, which are obtained from ingestible sensors. Using cross-validation, regression models are trained from accelerometer- and GPS-based activity estimates to predict rate of change in Tc, obtaining a correlation of r=0.59 between actual and predicted Tc change rates. Regression models are also trained from audio-based respiration rate estimates during recovery to predict the Tc values immediately prior to recovery, obtaining a correlation of r=0.49 between actual and predicted Tc.
Excisional Body Contouring Surgery and Vaser

Sophisticated body contouring surgery combines excision with liposuction. Liposuction of flaps and neighboring tissues requires fat removal that best preserves residual cytoarchitecture. Following the assessment of a variety of modalities, the author has discovered that Vaser provides the gentlest extraction of fat along with capability to harvest for lipoaugmentation.
Synthesis of Catalytic Materials by Spray Pyrolysis

Publisher Summary For the preparation of a thin film, spray pyrolysis involves spraying an atomized solution containing an appropriate precursor onto a heated substrate. The composition and properties of the resulting deposited film depends on the atmosphere, temperature, and constituents of the sprayed solution. For the production of a polycrystalline powder, the solution is sprayed into a silica tube that is maintained at a desired temperature. The desired product deposits on the wall of the tube and can be readily removed on completion of the process. Solution atomization is a major consideration in spray pyrolysis. This determines the droplet size and size distribution that play important roles in determining the nature and composition of the product formed. A major limitation of ultrasonic nebulization has to do with the nature of the solution being sprayed. Because the atomization process depends on setting a liquid film into motion, the more viscous the liquid, the more difficult it becomes to create vibratory motion sufficient for atomization. To some extent this situation can be offset by increasing input energy, making the atomizing surface vibrate with greater amplitude.
Comparative and International Education in Teacher Training Programs: The Case of North Park University in Chicago.

For decades, scholars have claimed the importance of implementing comparative and international education courses in teacher education programs. Although there are countless benefits of doing so, information or evidence about offering comparative and international education in the teacher education curricula, is negligible. To date, it is uncertain how many teacher education programs include such a course. The current article aims to describe how and why CIE became a required graduate level course within a teacher education program in Chicago. It also discusses the various pedagogical approaches, theories, themes, and content that were selected for the framework of this course. Lastly, the article brings forth teachers' comments and views regarding the benefits of incorporating comparative and international education in teacher education programs and how after completing the class, they perceived themselves to be more effective and globally competent teachers. The full text of the article can be found at 10.18275/fire201603011065
Hyperamylinemia Contributes to Cardiac Dysfunction in Obesity and Diabetes A Study in Humans and Rats

Rationale: Hyperamylinemia is common in patients with obesity and insulin resistance, coincides with hyperinsulinemia, and results in amyloid deposition. Amylin amyloids are generally considered a pancreatic disorder in type 2 diabetes. However, elevated circulating levels of amylin may also lead to amylin accumulation and proteotoxicity in peripheral organs, including the heart. Objective: To test whether amylin accumulates in the heart of obese and type 2 diabetic patients and to uncover the effects of amylin accumulation on cardiac morphology and function. Methods and Results: We compared amylin deposition in failing and nonfailing hearts from lean, obese, and type 2 diabetic humans using immunohistochemistry and Western blots. We found significant accumulation of large amylin oligomers, fibrils, and plaques in failing hearts from obese and diabetic patients but not in normal hearts and failing hearts from lean, nondiabetic humans. Small amylin oligomers were even elevated in nonfailing hearts from overweight/obese patients, suggesting an early state of accumulation. Using a rat model of hyperamylinemia transgenic for human amylin, we observed that amylin oligomers attach to the sarcolemma, leading to myocyte Ca 2+ dysregulation, pathological myocyte remodeling, and diastolic dysfunction, starting from prediabetes. In contrast, prediabetic rats expressing the same level of wild-type rat amylin, a nonamyloidogenic isoform, exhibited normal heart structure and function. Conclusions: Hyperamylinemia promotes amylin deposition in the heart, causing alterations of cardiac myocyte structure and function. We propose that detection and disruption of cardiac amylin buildup may be both a predictor of heart dysfunction and a novel therapeutic strategy in diabetic cardiomyopathy.
Mechanisms underlying parent–child occupational consistency: a critical review

ABSTRACTParents’ and children’s occupations are often similar on a variety of dimensions, including income, gender typicality, and Holland’s job types [Whiston, S. C., & Keller, B. K. (2004). The influences of the family of origin on career development: A review and analysis. The Counseling Psychologist, 32, 493–568]. The mechanisms underlying this phenomenon are not well understood, limiting both research and application to real-world contexts such as career counseling settings. The present article has three main goals: (1) To critically examine individual mechanisms underlying parent–child occupational consistency; (2) To propose a multiple mechanisms model that accounts for the limitations and assumptions of individual mechanisms; and (3) To propose future research directions while critically examining implicit assumptions of past research and research methodology. By addressing these goals, this paper has the potential to inform future research on parent–child occupational consistency and vocational i...
Integrating brain, cognition and culture

Why should there now appear a journal devoted to integrating cognition and culture? We argue that new methods for examining the origin of brain networks that shape the developing mind provide the basis for such integration. These methods include imaging the human brain at rest or when performing tasks and examining individual differences in network efficiency by studying people with different forms of critical genes. In this article we outline a framework for studying attention, and then apply it to the study of language and number processing. Each domain illustrates how cultural differences influence the brain networks involved in cognition. In each case caregivers often serve as representative of the culture in helping to shape the brain.
Pluralist Democracy Evolves: Free Expression, Judicial Conservatism, and the Cold War

How did pluralist democracy evolve after World War II? The onset of the Cold War triggered strong impulses to suppress dissent and to emphasize traditional moral (religious) values that supposedly differentiated America from the Soviet Union. Yet, the Cold War also had a flip side. It created an imperative for the United States to champion the principles of pluralist democracy and helped undermine Jim Crow in the South.