cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Rezum therapy for patients with large prostates (≥ 80 g): initial clinical experience and postoperative outcomes.

Rezum is a minimally invasive surgery for benign prostatic hyperplasia. Current guidelines recommend Rezum for prostates < 80 cc, but little data exist describing outcomes in patients with prostates ≥ 80 cc. We compare outcomes after Rezum between men with small < 80 cc (SP) and large ≥ 80 cc prostates (LP). Patients undergoing Rezum between Jan 2017–Feb 2020 were subdivided by prostate volume (< 80, ≥ 80 cc). Outcomes were documented pre- and postoperatively. Descriptive analyses of urodynamics data (Qmax, PVR), symptom scores (AUA-SS, SHIM), disease management (medications, catheterization, retreatments), and clinical outcomes were conducted. 36 (17.6%) men had prostates ≥ 80 cc (LP mean prostate size 106.8 cc). LP men had improved Qmax and PVR postoperatively; those with longitudinal follow-up exhibited improved Qmax, PVR, and AUA-SS. After one year, alpha-blocker usage decreased significantly (LP 94.44–61.11%, p = 0.001, SP 73.96–46.15%, p = 0.001); other medication usage and self-catheterization rates remained unchanged. Compared to SP patients, differences in passing trial void (LP 94.44%, SP 93.45%), postoperative UTI (LP 19.44%, SP 10.12%), ED visits (LP 22.22%, SP 17.86%), readmissions (LP 8.33%, SP 4.76%), and retreatment (LP 8.33%, SP 4.76%) were insignificant. However, mean days to foley removal (LP 9, SP 5.71, p = 0.003) and urosepsis rates (LP 5.56%, SP 0.00%, p = 0.002) differed. In select LP patients, Rezum provided short-term symptomatic relief and improved voiding function comparable to SP patients. Postoperatively, though alpha-blocker usage decreased significantly, use of other medications did not change, and nearly two-thirds of patients still needed alpha-blockade. Further efforts should explore the possibility of expanding Rezum’s inclusion criteria.
Utility of Framingham Score for Optimizing Preoperative Evaluation Among Patients Undergoing Liver Transplant Evaluation

ABSTRACT Background Cardiac testing of candidates for liver transplant (LT) requires balancing risks and benefits of cardiac procedures. The goal of this study was to evaluate the utility of the Framingham score (FS) for optimizing preoperative risk stratification for coronary artery disease (CAD). Methods In this single-center retrospective study of 615 adults undergoing LT evaluation from 2016 to 2019, data of preoperative evaluation, post-LT 1-year mortality, and post-LT cardiac events were reviewed. Patients >30 years of age with normal echocardiogram underwent FS calculation. Elevated FS (≥35%) patients were triaged to undergo angiogram for CAD evaluation; FS Results Of 615 patients referred for LT, 481 underwent cardiac testing. Ninety-five were excluded from the FS pathway because of age, abnormal baseline echocardiogram, or known CAD. Of the remaining 386 patients in the FS pathway, 342 had a low FS and 44 had a high FS. In patients with low FS, 90% underwent stress testing as initial test; 16% underwent invasive testing at some time. In those with elevated FS, 59% underwent invasive testing as initial test. Listing rate and posttransplant outcomes were similar between patients with low and high FS. Conclusion We demonstrated the feasibility of a simple algorithmic evaluation process using FS for optimizing pre-LT risk stratification for CAD. Although exceptions to the protocol occur, the proposed protocol allows for a streamlined approach by prioritizing testing based on cardiac risk. This approach may maximize diagnostic yield while limiting invasive procedures.
Disseminated intravascular coagulation (dic) as a predecessor of thromboinflammation and multiorgan organ failure in a patient with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), a case report

Introduction: Individuals with COVID-19 may have complex coagulation abnormalities in consistence with hypercoagulability. This manifests as high plasma level of certain coagulation factors, particularly fibrinogen. DIC, on the other hand, is characterized by consumption of these factors. We present a case of COVID-19 respiratory failure at which a DIC phase was followed by thromboinflammation and organ failure. Case Presentation: A 51-year-old male presented with 3-day duration of fever and dyspnea. He had laboratoryconfirmed COVID-19 infection a day prior to his presentation. He displayed significant hypoxia and respiratory distress which led to mechanical ventilation at 48 hours post presentation. His laboratory evaluation showed a platelet count of 45 x 1000/ mm3, International Normalized Ratio (INR) of 3.2, activated Partial Thromboplastin Time of 39 seconds, Fibrinogen of 30 mg/dl, D-Dimer of <4 mcg/ml and Fibrin Split Products of 320 unigram/ml. Peripheral blood smear showed schistocytes and ultrasound of the lower extremities showed bilateral deep venous thrombosis. Thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP) and Disseminated Intravascular Coagulation (DIC) were considered. Serum Disintegrin And Metalloprotease with a ThromboSpondin type 1 motif, member 13 (ADAMTS-13) level was ordered, plasmapheresis trial initiated and IV argatroban drip started. Platelet count normalized with 48 hours. ADAMTS-13 level was inconsistent with TTP. On the sixth day of admission, serum fibrinogen level increased to 457 mg/dl which coexisted with worsening ventilatory requirements. A similar pattern of increasing serum D-Dimer level, ferritin and creatinine was observed together with the development of shock and multiorgan failure syndrome. Patient eventually succumbed to his critical illness on the 28th day of admission. Discussion: Endothelial injury [1] and hypercoagulable status [2] cause COVID Coagulopathy. DIC is predominately a consumptive disorder associated with bleeding, COVID- associated coagulopathy is associated with increasing thrombosis. In s series that reported on thromboembolic events, none of the patients developed overt DIC[3]. While thromboembolic events in COVID-19 are associated with increased mortality, the clinical significance of this compensated form of DIC is unknown. Conclusion:Critically ill patients with COVID-19 may display “compensated” DIC. Whether this is a separate entity or lies within a large spectrum of different coagulation abnormalities is unknown. The clinical significance of it is unknown wither. Randomized clinical trials are needed for further understanding.
AoI-Driven Statistical Delay and Error-Rate Bounded QoS Provisioning for URLLC in the Finite Blocklength Regime

Inspired by the new and dominating traffic services - ultra-reliable and low latency communications (URLLC), finite blocklength coding (FBC) has been developed to support delay and error-rate bounded quality-of-services (QoS) provisioning for time-sensitive wireless applications by using short-packet data communications. On the other hand, the age of information (AoI) has recently emerged as a new dimension of QoS performance metric in terms of the freshness of updated information. Since the status updates normally consist only of a small number of information bits but warrant ultra-low latency, exploring AoI in the finite blocklength regime creates another promising solution for supporting URLLC services. However, how to efficiently integrate and implement the above new techniques for statistical delay and error-rate bounded QoS provisioning in the finite blocklength regime has neither been well understood nor thoroughly studied. To overcome these challenges, we propose the AoI-driven statistical delay and error-rate bounded QoS provisioning schemes which leverage the AoI technique as a key QoS performance metric to efficiently support URLLC in the finite blocklength regime. First, we build up the AoI-metric based modeling frameworks in the finite blocklength regime. Second, we apply the stochastic network calculus (SNC) to characterize the upper-bounded peak AoI violation probability. Third, we jointly optimize the peak AoI violation probability and ∊-effective capacity and characterize their tradeoff in supporting statistical delay and error-rate bounded QoS provisioning for URLLC. Finally, we conduct the extensive simulations to validate and evaluate our developed schemes in the finite blocklength regime.
Reaction kinetics study of ethylene oligomerization into linear olefins over carbon-supported cobalt catalysts

Abstract Ethylene oligomerization over carbon-supported cobalt catalysts at 200 °C selectively produces linear olefins (>80% linearity up to C12 olefins at 30% LAO isomer distribution up to C8 olefins at
Interplay of septin amphipathic helices in sensing membrane-curvature and filament bundling.

Amphipathic helix (AH) domains enable septins to sense micron-scale membrane curvature. Here we report that Shs1, a nonessential septin, harbors a membrane curvature-sensitive AH domain, which beco...
Automated Risk Assessment of COVID-19 Patients at Diagnosis Using Electronic Healthcare Records

COVID-19 causes significant morbidity and mortality and early intervention is key to minimizing deadly complications. Available treatments, such as monoclonal antibody therapy, may limit complications, but only when given soon after symptom onset. Unfortunately, these treatments are often expensive, in limited supply, require administration within a hospital setting, and should be given before the onset of severe symptoms. These challenges have created the need for early triage of patients likely to develop life-threatening complications. To meet this need, we developed an automated patient risk assessment model using a real-world hospital system dataset with over 17,000 COVID-positive patients. Specifically, for each COVID-positive patient, we generate a separate risk score for each of four clinical outcomes including death within 30 days, mechanical ventilator use, ICU admission, and any catastrophic event (a superset of dangerous outcomes). We hypothesized that a deep learning binary classification approach can generate these four risk scores from electronic healthcare records data at the time of diagnosis. Our approach achieves significant performance on the four tasks with an area under receiver operating curve (AUROC) for any catastrophic outcome, death within 30 days, ventilator use, and ICU admission of 86.7%, 88.2%, 86.2%, and 87.8%, respectively. In addition, we visualize the sensitivity and specificity of these risk scores to allow clinicians to customize their usage within different clinical outcomes. We believe this work fulfills a clear clinical need for early detection of objective clinical outcomes and can be used for early screening for treatment intervention.
Single strand DNA cleavage reaction of duplex DNA by Drosophila topoisomerase II.

Abstract A unique reaction for type II DNA topoisomerase is its cleavage of a pair of DNA strands in concert. We show however, that in a reaction mixture containing a molar excess of EDTA over Mg2+, or when Mg2+ is substituted by Ca2+, Mn2+, or Co2+, the enzyme cleaves only one rather than both strands. These results suggest that the divalent cations may play an important role in coordinating the two subunits of DNA topoisomerase II during the strand cleavage reaction. The single strand and the double strand cleavage reactions are similar in the following aspects: both require the addition of a protein denaturant, can be reversed by low temperature or high salt, and a topoisomerase II molecule is attached covalently to the 5' phosphoryl end of each broken DNA strand. Furthermore, the single strand cleavage sites share a similar sequence preference with double strand cleavage sites. There is, however, a strand bias for the single strand cleavage reaction. We show also that under single strand cleavage conditions, topoisomerase II still possesses a low level of double strand passage activity: it can introduce topological knots into both covalently closed or nicked DNA rings, and change the linking number of a plasmid DNA by steps of two. The implication of this observation on the sequential cleavage of the two strands of the DNA duplex during the normal DNA double strand passage process catalyzed by type II DNA topoisomerases is discussed.
Técnicas grupales: una experimentación psicosocial

Group Techniques are considered the most suitable for achieving changes of attitudes. This work offers a psychosocial methodology, paying special attention to the control of the experimental procedure, which is adapted to the experimental study of groups. It presents the summary of a research conduced with a sample of Secondary School Teachers.
Herpes simplex virus-specified DNA polymerase is the target for the antiviral action of 9-(2-phosphonylmethoxyethyl)adenine.

Abstract 9-(2-Phosphonylmethoxyethyl)adenine (PMEA) is a new antiviral compound with activity against herpes simplex virus (HSV) and retroviruses including human immunodeficiency virus. Although it has been suggested that the anti-HSV action of PMEA is through inhibition of the viral DNA polymerase via the diphosphorylated metabolite of PMEA (PMEApp), no conclusive evidence for this has been presented. We report that in cross-resistance studies, a PMEA-resistant HSV variant (PMEAr-1) was resistant to phosphonoformic acid, a compound which directly inhibits the HSV DNA polymerase. In addition, phosphonoformic acid-resistant HSV variants with defined drug resistance mutations within the HSV DNA polymerase gene were resistant to PMEA. Furthermore, the HSV DNA polymerase purified from PMEAr-1 was resistant to PMEApp in comparison with the enzyme from the parental virus. Moreover, PMEA inhibited HSV DNA synthesis in cell culture. These results provide strong evidence that HSV DNA polymerase is the major target for the anti-viral action of PMEA. Further studies showed that HSV DNA polymerase incorporated PMEApp into DNA in vitro, while the HSV polymerase-associated 3'-5' exonuclease was able to remove the incorporated PMEA. Thus, the inhibition of HSV DNA polymerase by PMEApp appears to involve chain termination after its incorporation into DNA.
A Head Start for Some Redstarts

Most ornithologists working in Europe, Canada, and North America arduously study breeding patterns of migratory birds, while ignoring molting, migration, and the time migratory birds spend in their southern wintering grounds. In his Perspective, [Hill][1] comments that the introduction of new techniques that measure, for example, isotope ratios in bird feathers is enabling ornithologists to analyze these long-ignored aspects of the annual life cycle of migratory birds ([ Norris et al .][2]). [1]: http://www.sciencemag.org/cgi/content/full/306/5705/2201 [2]: http://www.sciencemag.org/cgi/content/short/306/5705/2249
Epstein-Barr virus latent membrane protein-1 oncogene deletions: correlations with malignancy in Epstein-Barr virus--associated lymphoproliferative disorders and malignant lymphomas.

LMP-1, an Epstein-Barr viral (EBV) latency protein, is considered a viral oncogene because of its ability to transform rodent fibroblasts in vivo and render them tumorigenic in nude mice. In human B cells, EBV LMP-1 induces DNA synthesis and abrogates apoptosis. LMP-1 is expressed in EBV-transformed lymphoblastoid cell lines, nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC), a subset of Hodgkin's disease (HD), and in EBV-associated lymphoproliferative disorders (EBV-LPDs). Recently, focused deletions near the 3′ end of the LMP-1 gene (del-LMP-1, amino acids 346–355), in a region functionally related to the half-life to the LMP-1 protein, have been reported frequently in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)- associated HD (100%) and EBV+ Malaysian and Danish peripheral T-cell lymphomas (100%, 61% respectively), but less frequently in cases of HD not associated with HIV (28%, 33%) and infectious mononucleosis (33%). To further investigate the potential relationship of del-LMP-1 to EBV- LPDs associated with immunosuppression or immunodeficiency, we studied 39 EBV-associated lymphoproliferations (10 benign, 29 malignant) from four distinct clinical settings: posttransplant (4 malignant, 1 reactive); HIV+ (18 malignant, 2 reactive); nonimmunodeficiency malignant lymphoma (ML) (7 cases); and sporadic EBV infection with lymphoid hyperplasia (7 cases). The presence of EBV within lymphoid cells was confirmed by EBV EBER1 RNA in situ hybridization or by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) analysis. EBV strain type and LMP-1 deletion status were determined by PCR. EBV strain types segregated into two distinct distributions: HIV+ (9 A; 11 B) and non-HIV (19 A, 0 B), consistent with previous reports. Overall, del-LMP-1 were found in 1 of 5 (20%) Burkitt lymphomas (BL); 17 of 24 (71%) aggressive non- Hodgkin's lymphoma (agg-NHL), and 2 of 10 (20%) reactive lymphoid proliferations. Of the agg-NHLs, del-LMP-1 were present in 4 of 4 PT-ML (100%); 10 of 15 HIV+ ML (67%); and 3 of 5 nonimmunodeficiency malignant lymphoma (ML, 60%). A total of 2 of 7 (28%) sporadic EBV- associated lymphoid hyperplasias contained a del-LMP-1. All del-LMP-1 were identical by DNA sequence analysis. No correlation was identified between the presence of del-LMP-1 and the EBV strain type observed. The high incidence of del-LMP-1 observed in agg-NHLs (71%), in contrast to the relatively low incidence observed in reactive lymphoid proliferations (28%), suggests that the deleted form may be preferentially selected in lymphomatous processes. All posttransplant agg-NHLs contained a del-LMP-1, and a similar frequency of del-LMP-1 was observed in both HIV-associated ML (66%) and nonimmunodeficiency ML (60%), suggesting that impairment of immune function alone is not a requirement for the expansion of malignant cells infected by EBV stains containing the deleted LMP-1 gene.
Hard thermal loop resummation of the thermodynamic potential

Starting from the {Phi}-derivable approximation scheme at leading-loop order, the thermodynamic potential in a hot scalar theory, as well as in QED and QCD, is expressed in terms of hard thermal loop propagators. This nonperturbative approach is consistent with the leading-order perturbative results, ultraviolet finite, and, for gauge theories, explicitly gauge invariant. For hot QCD it is argued that the resummed approximation is applicable in the large-coupling regime, down to almost twice the transition temperature.
The bureaucratic turn: Weber contra Hempel in Fuller's social epistemology

Like the positivists, Fuller is concerned to demarcate and systematically evaluate scientific claims and practices. Fuller corrects and reforms the positivist enterprise in light of his sociological naturalism. What Fuller's analysis brings to the fore is how the naturalization of epistemology makes the power‐knowledge relation into an epistemological issue. Yet, in his writings. Fuller is radically divided with respect to how to react to this fact. Specifically, Fuller vacillates between, on the one hand, a concern for democratizing norms and, on the other hand, a Machiavellian impulse for the maximization of the norms of knowledge production. I argue that his commitment to being both a democratizer and a Machiavellian is inconsistent, and, moreover, that his argument for democratizing normative pursuits rules out, in fact, his more Machiavellian proclivities regarding how most efficiently to realize the norms of knowledge production.
Nonlinear theory of localized standing waves

An investigation of the nonlinear dispersive equations of continuum mechanics reveals localized standing-wave solutions that are domain walls between regions of different wave number. These states can appear even when the dispersion law is a single-valued function of the wave number. In addition, we calculate solutions for kinks in cutoff and noncutoff modes, as well as cutoff breather solitons.
At-risk drinking and outpatient healthcare expenditures in older adults.

Objectives: To compare 12-month outpatient healthcare expenditures of at-risk and not-at-risk drinkers aged 60 and older. Design: Secondary analysis of data from Project Senior Health and Alcohol Risk Education, a cluster, randomized trial to test the efficacy of an intervention to reduce at-risk drinking. Setting: Seven primary care clinics in or near Santa Barbara, California. Participants: Current drinkers aged 60 and older who completed a baseline survey (N = 2,779) and did not receive the study intervention, including 628 at-risk drinkers and 2,151 not-at-risk drinkers. Measurements: Comparisons of at-risk and not-at-risk drinkers for baseline demographic characteristics, health indicators, alcohol consumption, and adjusted and unadjusted outpatient healthcare expenditures incurred over 12 months after baseline. Results: At-risk drinkers were younger, more often male, and more likely to be married and had higher education and incomes than not-at-risk drinkers. Unadjusted 12-month mean outpatient healthcare expenditures were $1,333 ± 2,973 for at-risk drinkers and $1,417 ± 2,952 for the not-at-risk drinkers. There were no statistically significant differences in expenditures between groups before and after controlling for sociodemographic and health characteristics. Conclusion: In this short-term study, no adjusted differences in healthcare expenditures were observed between at-risk and not-at-risk older drinkers. Future study is warranted to determine the role of at-risk drinking in long-term healthcare expenditures in older adults.
A Restorative Environmental Justice for Prison E-Waste Recycling

The Consumer Electronics Association estimates that U.S. Americans own approximately 25 electronic products per household. Eighty percent of U.S. Americans have no qualms about tossing their unwant...
Structure and properties of rare earth silicates with the apatite structure at high pressure

The pressure-induced structural transformation of rare earth, non-stoichiometric silicates, (REE9.33(SiO4)6O2, RE = La, Ce, Nd, Eu, and Gd) with the apatite structure type, were investigated by X-ray diffraction, photoluminescence, far-infrared spectroscopy, and DFT calculations. A pressure-induced degradation of symmetry from P6 3 /m to P6 3 occurs with increasing pressure. The transition is due to the tilting of SiO4 tetrahedra and reduced symmetry constraints on one of the O atoms in the tetrahedron. The critical transition pressure increased from ~13 GPa in La9.33(SiO4)6O2 to ~25 GPa in Gd9.33(SiO4)6O2 with the decrease in lanthanide cation size. The high-pressure phase shows an unexpectedly low value for the bulk modulus over a narrow pressure range (below ~30 GPa), as compared with the low-pressure phase, especially for the structure with larger rare earth elements. High-pressure studies of alkaline earth-doped samples (Nd8 A 2(SiO4)6O2 where A = Ca, Sr) showed that the pressure for the phase transition is mainly related to the size of lanthanides that occupy the large channels along the c axis of the apatite structure type.
Is T-wave alternans as good or better than programmed ventricular stimulation?

Improved prognostic indices are needed to identify risk for sudden cardiac arrest (SCA) from ventricular arrhythmias (VT/VF). Current methods rely upon reduced left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) and symptomatic heart failure, but in this way assign high-risk to many patients who never experience events (1). Although indices of ventricular stretch, such as elevated B-type natriuretic peptide (2), of enhanced sympathetic activation (3), or of ventricular scar (4) show promise, ‘electrical’ indices are natural candidates. Inducing sustained VT/VF at programmed ventricular stimulation (‘positive’ PVS) adds prognostically to reduced LVEF (5), and provided 1 and 2-year negative predictive values (NPV) of ≈ 93 % and 88 % for arrhythmic events in the Multicenter Unsustained Tachycardia Trial (MUSTT) (6) (table). However, debate on whether the 7–12 % risk of arrhythmias at 1–2 years in a patient with negative PVS was low enough to withhold implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) therapy has motivated the search for alternative indices. This list includes heart rate variability (7), signal-averaged ECG (8) and widened QRS duration (9,10), but much recent interest has focused on T-wave alternans. Table Negative Predictive Values for Endpoints That Include Arrhythmias T-wave alternans (TWA) is defined as alternate-beat fluctuations in the ECG T-wave, and reflects repolarization dispersion that is mechanistically linked with ventricular arrhythmias (11–13). Clinically, TWA is attractive because it is non-invasive and has a high NPV for arrhythmic events, so that patients who test negative for TWA may not require ICDs (14) (table). This NPV must be maintained as TWA is more widely applied in risk stratification guidelines (15). This is especially relevant given the recently presented negative result of the TWA substudy of the Sudden Cardiac Death in Heart Failure Trial (SCD-HefT) (16), in which TWA failed to predict SCA, sustained VT/VF or appropriate ICD therapy (hazard ratio 1.28, p=0.46) in 490 patients with class II/III NYHA heart failure and LVEF≤ 35%.
Application of frequency domain ARX features for linear and nonlinear structural damage identification

Many different vibration-based dynamic input-output and output only data features have been used to identify structural damage and assess structural integrity. Since structural damage introduces linear or nonlinear variations into all of these features, all of them might give positive indications of damage but may not distinguish between linear or nonlinear types of damage. This information can sometimes be used to more reliably diagnose damage by first, helping to distinguish between damage, which is inherently nonlinear, and healthy nonlinearities in a baseline structure; and second, serving as an absolute damage prognosis indicator which, together with prior information about the structural mechanics, determined the degree to which a structure is damaged. A set of potential features that distinguish between linear and nonlinear damage are discussed here. These features are auto-regressive exogenous dynamic transmissiblity model coefficients in the frequency domain. The auto-regressive coefficients are used to characterize the nonlinear nature of damage states and the exogenous coefficients are used to characterize the linear nature of such states. After reviewing the theoretical development of this data model, experimental measurements from a three-story test structure are analyzed using these model coefficients and statistical features are extracted from the coefficients. By using two complementary features, a better indication of the severity of damage is obtained.© (2002) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Investment Opportunities and Share Repurchases

Abstract We examine the over-investment motivation for share repurchases using a sample of 139 Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs) between 1996 and 2010. By combining a REIT's property portfolio data with project ROAs from the underlying real estate market, we are able to create a unique measure of the firm's investment opportunity set. Controlling for other possible buyback rationales, we find that poor investment opportunities are related to higher levels of share repurchases. Conditioning on investment opportunities, we find that the level of cash is positively related to repurchases only for low investment opportunity set firms. We also find a negative relationship between share repurchase announcement returns and investment opportunities.
Constructivist Models of Mind, Contemporary Psychoanalysis, and the Development of Culture Theory

Researchers in a number of fields, including contemporary psychoanalysis, are contributing to the development of a dynamic model of mind that acknowledges the contributions of biology and social experience to the construction of human consciousness and subjectivity. In this paper, I examine this emerging model of mind and I discuss its implications for the development of Culture theory. I argue that theories of culture must reflect the fluidity and complexity of the psychological states that underlie the culture process, and I suggest that even highly conventional models of action, thought, and feeling are rarely, if ever, internalized, appropriated, or reproduced without some degree of modification, refashioning, and personalization. I propose person-centered ethnography as one of the methods by which we can explore the complex relations among culture, mind, and behavior, [constructivist models of mind, contemporary psychoanalysis, culture theory, self and subjectivity, person-centered ethnography]
Perspectives on Intertextuality in Dante's Divina Commedia

This article examines the various ways in which Dante employs the principles of textual citation—intertextuality—to establish authority and to generate meaning in his works, primarily in the Divine Comedy and to a lesser degree in the Vita Nuova. Among the cited texts are the Bible, Virgil's Aeneid, Ovid's Metamorphoses, Andreas Capellanus's De amore, the hymns of Venantius Fortunatus, and the poetry of Guido Guinizzelli. Dante's practice, however, extends beyond the textual limits of the cited work to include the written and visual traditions associated with that specific text. Thus it happens that, while some citations are employed for their immediate evocative purpose, many others may be fully understood only through a careful consideration of these various sources, analogues, and materials, and their associations and interconnections. Several passages from Inferno and Purgatorio are examined as examples of Dante's practice of textual citation.
Russia at GHG Market

In the first Kyoto commitment period Russia could be the major supplier for the greenhouse gases (GHG) emissions market. Potential Russian supply depends on the ability of Russia to keep GHG emissions lower than the Kyoto target. In the literature there is no common understanding of the total trading potential of Russia at the international carbon market. In this paper we focus on CO2 emission, which constituted nearly 80%of Russian GHG emission. We compare different projections of Russian CO2emission and analyze the most important factors, which predetermine the CO2emission growth. In a transition economy these factors are: Gross Domestic Product(GDP) dynamic, changes of GDP structure, innovation activity, transformation of export-import flows and response to the market signals. The input-output macroeconomic model with the two different input-output tables representing old and new production technologies has been applied for the analysis to simulate technological innovations and structural changes in the Russian economy during transition period. The Russian supply at the international GHG market without forest sector may be up to 3 billion metric ton of CO2 equivalent. Earlier actions to reduce CO2 emission are critical to insure theRussiansupply at the international carbon market. With regard to the current status of the Russian capital market, the forward trading with OECD countries is only the possibility to raise initial investments to roll no-regret and low-cost GHG reduction. This paper discusses uncertainties of RussianCO2emission dynamics and analyzes the different incentives to lower the emission pathway.
Momentum transfer in climbing film flow in annular duct

The characteristics of upward gas–liquid flow in a vertical annular duct were investigated. The flow regime studied was the climbing film regime in which water flowed as a film up the inner core of the annulus while air flowed in the annular space, the outer wall of the annulus remaining dry. Friction losses, air velocity distributions, and film characteristics were studied, the latter by photographing the climbing film through the transparent outer tube. Friction loss and film thickness were correlated with Lockhart–Martinelli parameters, X, Φ, and RL. The presence of the climbing film caused the point of maximum velocity of the air profile to move toward the outer tube, indicating that the film created a rough wall condition. The inner portion of the velocity profile was correlated by Nikuradse's rough tube equation, while the outer portion was correlated by a logarithmic equation which previous workers have reported for single-phase flow. Kapitza's theory of wave formation was applied to the climbing film and was found to predict reasonable values for the mean film thickness. However, it failed to predict reliable values for the wavelength of surface waves.
The solubility of uranium(IV) hydrous oxide in sodium hydroxide solutions under reducing conditions

Abstract The solubility of hydrous UO2 in sodium hydroxide solutions containing sodium dithionite and/or Zn metal powder as reductants has been measured. The results provide no firm evidence for any amphoteric behavior of U(IV) but do set an upper limit of K ≤ 2 x 10−23 for the hypothetical reaction: The results provide no evidence for such a reaction.
The complexities of hepatic drug transport: current knowledge and emerging concepts.

Recently, hepatic transport processes have been recognized as important determinants of drug disposition. Therefore, it is not surprising that characterization of the hepatic transport and biliary excretion properties of potential drug candidates is an important part of the drug development process. Such information also is useful in understanding alterations in the hepatobiliary disposition of compounds due to drug interactions or disease states. Basolateral transport systems are responsible for translocating molecules across the sinusoidal membrane, whereas active canalicular transport systems are responsible for the biliary excretion of drugs and metabolites. Several transport proteins involved in basolateral transport have been identified including the Na+-taurocholate co-transporting polypeptide [NTCP (SLC10A1)], organic anion transporting polypeptides [OATPs (SLCO family)], multidrug resistance-associated proteins [MRPs (ABCC family)], and organic anion and cation transporters [OATs, OCTs (SLC22A family)]. Canalicular transport is mediated predominantly via P-glycoprotein (ABCB1), MRP2 (ABCC2), the bile salt export pump [BSEP (ABCB11)], and the breast cancer resistance protein [BCRP (ABCG2)]. This review summarizes current knowledge regarding these hepatic basolateral and apical transport proteins in terms of substrate specificity, regulation by nuclear hormone receptors and intracellular signaling pathways, genetic differences, and role in drug interactions. Transport knockout models and other systems available for hepatobiliary transport studies also are discussed. This overview of hepatobiliary drug transport summarizes knowledge to date in this rapidly growing field and emphasizes the importance of understanding these fundamental processes in hepatic drug disposition.
Electronic and vibronic structure of TiS2 and TiSe2

Abstract A comparison of the diverse properties of 1T-TiSe 2 and 1T-TiS 2 shows interesting similarities and differences. Electron diffraction on both materials at room temperature, reveals a hexagonal pattern except for diffuse streaking suggestive of short range 2 a 0 × 2 a 0 order. A commensurate 2 a 0 × 2 a 0 × 2 c 0 superlattice forms in the selenide below T c ⋍ 200K. So far, a locked-in superlattice of this type has not been observed in the sulphide. Good crystals of both materials have similar conductivity at room temperature but differ greatly at a low temperature. In particular, the phase transition in the selenide has profound effects on DC conductivity and also on infrared reflectivity, which has been measured as a function of temperature in both stoichiometric and nonstoichiometric crystals over a wide frequency range 40 to 4000 cm -1 . Both infrared and Raman scattering data on TiSe 2 below T c can be well correlated with folding of zone boundary frequencies as measured by inelastic neutron scattering. It does appear that quasi soft-mode behavior of certain vibrational branches occurs in connection with the periodic lattice distortion of the selenide. On the other hand, changes in the electronic structure must also be important. Recent angle resolved photoemission measurements on both compounds confirm that TiSe 2 is a semimetal with small band overlap, whereas TiS 2 is a defect semiconductor. The experimental results are in remarkable agreement with recent self-consistent energy band calculations, which detail the electron-hole negative energy gap behavior of TiSe 2 and the small positive energy gap in TiS 2 .
PRESIDENTIAL SUPPORT DURING THE IRAN-CONTRA AFFAIR An Individual-Level Analysis of Presidential Reappraisal

The great majority of analyses of presidential support utilize aggregate data and, consequently, are not appropriate for the analysis of individual-level changes in support in response to events within an administration. Using National Election Studies panel data, we investigate presidential support both before and after the major revelations of the Iran-Contra affair to determine the reasons behind the erosion of President Reagan's support base and the characteristics of individuals who did, and did not, adjust their views of the president subsequent to the revelations. While Reagan maintained his image of integrity, respondents did downgrade his competence; his performance was most seriously questioned by those disapproving of his Central American policy.
TGF-β1 mediated activation of Rho kinase induces TGF-β2 and endothelin-1 expression in human hepatic stellate cells

Background & Aims TGF-β1 a key pro-fibrotic factor activates signaling via the canonical ALK/SMAD as well as the Rho GTPase pathways. Rho kinase is a major downstream effector of Rho GTPase signaling. To understand the contribution of Rho kinase activation towards the synthesis of fibrotic mediators by hepatic stellate cells (HSC), we first profiled activated HSC and fibrotic liver tissues to identify common transcripts that were most significantly up-regulated across all samples. We then applied a pharmacologic as well as a genomics approach in a TGF-β1 activated human HSC line (LX-2) to study the involvement of Rho kinase signaling in the expression of a subset of these up-regulated fibrotic genes. Methods Total RNA was profiled using microarray chips. Data analysis was performed using Ingenuity Pathway Analysis software. LX-2 cells were activated with 10ng/ml of TGF-β1 for 24h. Activation of downstream pathways was assessed by Western blotting with phospho-specific target biomarker antibodies. Targeted knockdown of Rho kinase isoforms 1 and 2 was achieved with RNAi. Secreted levels of endothelin-1, TGF-β2, and thrombospondin-1 were measured by ELISA. Results TGF-β1 activated Rho kinase and Smad pathways in LX-2 cells. The syntheses of endothelin-1 and TGF-β2 were significantly inhibited in TGF-β1 treated LX-2 cells, by isoform non-selective Rho kinase inhibitors. siRNA knockdown of each isoform suggested that endothelin-1 synthesis was largely mediated by the Rho kinase-1 isoform, while both isoforms contributed to the synthesis of TGF-β2. Conclusions The TGF-β1 mediated secretion of endothelin-1 and TGF-β2 is mediated by Rho kinase activation in human HSC.
Early perception-action coupling: Eye movements and the development of object perception.

We investigated the scanning strategies used by 2- to 3.5-month-old infants when viewing partly occluded object displays. Eye movements were recorded with a corneal reflection system as the infants observed stimuli depicting two rod parts above and below an occluding box. Stimulus parameters were chosen on the basis of past research demonstrating the importance of motion, occluder width, and edge alignment to perception of object unity. Results indicated that the infants tailored scanning to display characteristics, engaging in more extensive scanning when unity perception was challenged by a wide occluder or misaligned edges. In addition, older infants tended to scan the lower parts of the displays more frequently than did younger infants. Exploration of individual differences, however, revealed marked contrasts in specific scanning styles across infants. The findings are consistent with views of perceptual development stressing the importance of information processing skills and self-directed action to the acquisition of object knowledge.
Vaxign: The First Web-Based Vaccine Design Program for Reverse Vaccinology and Applications for Vaccine Development

Vaxign is the first web-based vaccine design system that predicts vaccine targets based on genome sequences using the strategy of reverse vaccinology. Predicted features in the Vaxign pipeline include protein subcellular location, transmembrane helices, adhesin probability, conservation to human and/or mouse proteins, sequence exclusion from genome(s) of nonpathogenic strain(s), and epitope binding to MHC class I and class II. The precomputed Vaxign database contains prediction of vaccine targets for <path id="x30" d="M241 635q53 0 94 -28.5t63.5 -76t33.5 -102.5t11 -116q0 -58 -11 -112.5t-34 -103.5t-63.5 -78.5t-94.5 -29.5t-95 28t-64.5 75t-34.5 102.5t-11 118.5q0 58 11.5 112.5t34.5 103t64.5 78t95.5 29.5zM238 602q-32 0 -55.5 -25t-35.5 -68t-17.5 -91t-5.5 -105 q0 -76 10 -138.5t37 -107.5t69 -45q32 0 55.5 25t35.5 68.5t17.5 91.5t5.5 105t-5.5 105.5t-18 92t-36 68t-56.5 24.5z" /> genomes. Vaxign also performs dynamic vaccine target prediction based on input sequences. To demonstrate the utility of this program, the vaccine candidates against uropathogenic Escherichia coli (UPEC) were predicted using Vaxign and compared with various experimental studies. Our results indicate that Vaxign is an accurate and efficient vaccine design program.
Reconstructive Options in Genitourinary Rhabdomyosarcoma

AbstractPurpose: We attempted to develop a rational and consistent scheme for surgical reconstruction in patients with genitourinary rhabdomyosarcoma.Materials and Methods: We reviewed the records of 35 patients with resectable genitourinary rhabdomyosarcoma treated from 1970 to 1993.Results: Primary sites included bladder in 11 cases, prostate in 13, vagina/uterus in 9 and pelvic tumors of uncertain origin in 2. A total of 33 patients underwent surgery, including partial and radical cystectomy in 17 (bowel conduit diversion in 10, continent urinary diversion in 6 and ureterosigmoidostomy in 1). Overall 30 of the 33 surgical patients are free of disease 4 months to 24 years after diagnosis.Conclusions: A nonrefluxing colon conduit is appropriate at cystectomy. Continent diversion fashioned from the original conduit may be planned as the patient achieves a durable disease-free status.
OMIP-003: phenotypic analysis of human memory B cells

This panel was developed to characterize the phenotypic diversity of human memory B cells, with an emphasis on discriminating cell subsets within both the conventional memory population (CD27+) and the more recently described isotype switched (IgD−) population lacking expression of CD27 (1). It has been tested on fresh and cryopreserved peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC), as well as bone marrow aspirates and tonsillar cells. The multicolor panel described herein has been used extensively to analyze large numbers of PBMC samples obtained from healthy controls in steady state and in response to infection (HIV, influenza, RSV) and vaccination (influenza, tetanus) as well as in hundreds of patients with autoimmune diseases (Systemic Lupus Erythematosus, Rheumatoid Arthritis, Sjogren’s syndrome, Psoriatic Arthritis and Type 1 Diabetes) and conditions characterized by allogeneic immune responses (renal transplantion and chronic graft versus host disease). This panel is also being applied in a longitudinal study in which 150 SLE patients are to be followed quarterly for a period of two years.
Standing in the shadows : Of matrilocality and the role of women in a village election in northern Thailand

In this article, I analyze a village election in Thailand to show how anthropological insights into kinship systems can provide important avenues into understanding the gender dynamics of electoral politics. Because few women hold public office in Thailand, Thai politics has been considered a male domain. Exploring four social dramas in which conflicts made the hidden role of women visible, I argue that the public domain of electoral politics in rural Thailand is embedded within village practices of matrilocality and matrilineal kinship. [politics, elections, public sphere, women, matrilocality, matrilineages, Thailand]
Synthesis and characterization of heteroscorpionate dioxo-tungsten(VI) complexes

Twelve new dioxo W(VI) complexes of a family of heteroscorpionate ligands of the type [(L)WO2Y], where L = N2X ligand and Y = Cl or OR, have been synthesized and characterized. With the more sterically bulky ligands we show that these complexes exist as isolable cis and trans isomers and compare the rate of such isomerization with their corresponding dioxo Mo(VI) analogs. � 2006 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
Ontogeny of rat hepatic glucocorticoid receptors.

Some glucocorticoid-inducible hepatic enzymes fail to respond to hormone administration prenatally but do respond soon after birth. One possible mechanism for this lack of responsivity is incomplete development of the glucocorticoid receptor system in the fetus. To evaluate this hypothesis, 3H-dexamethasone binding was studied in vitro in liver cytosol from fetuses (days 19–20) and young rats (days 1–29). Glucocorticoid receptors are present as early as days 19–20 of gestation and resemble adult receptors in affinity for 3H-dexamethasone and specificity for other steroid hormones. By Scatchard analysis the concentration of receptors is lower in the fetus (0.11 pmoles/mg cytosol protein) than at any postpartum date studied (0.26–0.55). However, since only unoccupied receptors are detected by the assay, this apparent difference in receptor concentration is felt to be the result of elevated levels of endogenous corticosterone in the fetus (37.8 μg/100 ml) compared to young rats (1.3–6.4 μg/100 ml). The fetal...
Randomized Clinical Trial of Balance-Based Torso Weighting for Improving Upright Mobility in People with Multiple Sclerosis

Background. Torso weighting has sometimes been effective for improving upright mobility in people with multiple sclerosis, but parameters for weighting have been inconsistent. Objective. To determine whether balance-based torso weighting (BBTW) has immediate effects on upright mobility in people with multiple sclerosis. Methods. This was a 2-phase randomized clinical trial. In phase 1, 36 participants were randomly assigned to experimental and control groups. In phase 2, the control group was subsequently randomized into 2 groups with alternate weight-placement. Tests of upright mobility included: timed up and go (TUG), sharpened Romberg, 360-degree turns, 25-foot walk, and computerized platform posturography. Participants were tested at baseline and again with weights placed according to group membership. In both phases, a physical therapist assessed balance for the BBTW group and then placed weights to decrease balance loss. In phase 1, the control group had no weights placed. In phase 2, the alternate ...
The analysis of the efficacy of an adhesive sleep apnea mask

A Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) mask was augmented to increase compliance amongst obstructive sleep apnea patients (OSA). Bioflex Silicone Gel® adhesive was tested to determine the lifetime and whether it could withstand the highest output pressure of a CPAP machine, 20 cmH 2 O. A NPC-100 NovaSensor® pressure sensor was used to gather the data. The silicone gel has a lifetime of approximately 180 days and was able to endure maximum pressure output in humidified and non-humidified environments. A modified mask containing Bioflex Silicone Gel® is efficacious and will increase patient compliance as a result of the comfort and fit it will provide. Clinical testing will be necessary in the future to confirm the results.