cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Substantial gap in primary care: older adults with HIV presenting late to care.

Late diagnosis of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is associated with increased morbidity and mortality, and represents a serious public health concern. A retrospective medical record review was conducted on 188 patients with newly diagnosed HIV at a large academic center’s HIV clinic from 1/2010 to 12/2019. Patient demographic data, HIV staging, and response to combination antiretroviral therapy (cART) as measured by HIV viral suppression at 12 weeks (HIV RNA < 50 copies) were collected. Bivariate analyses were applied to compare patients ≥50 years old to those < 50 years old. Over two-thirds of the older patients with a new diagnosis of HIV presented with a CD4 count < 200, or an AIDS-defining illness. Though not statistically significant, this same group also had a delay to viral suppression with only 59% achieving viral suppression after 12-weeks of cART initiation. This study suggests that older patients are presenting to care with advanced stages of HIV, and may also have a delay in achieving viral suppression after cART initiation. Future studies should aim to target HIV testing and treatment strategies for this at-risk older adult group.
We Fly Congress: Market Actions as Corporate Political Activity in the U.S. Airline Industry

The literature on corporate political activity (CPA) generally views nonmarket actions aimed at influencing political actors (e.g., lobbying or campaign contributions) as related but separate activ...
Forecasting Emergency Department Crowding by Discrete Event Simulation

Objective: To develop a discrete event simulation of ED patient flow for the purpose of forecasting near-future operating conditions, and to validate the forecasts using several measures of ED crowding. Methods: We developed a discrete event simulation of patient flow using evidence from the literature. Development was purely theoretical, while validation involved patient data from an academic ED. The model inputs and outputs, respectively, are six-variable descriptions of every present and future patient in the ED. We validated the model using a sliding-window design, ensuring separation of fitting and validation data in time series. We sampled consecutive 10-minute observations during 2006 (n= 52,560). The outcome measures all forecast 2, 4, 6, and 8 hours into the future from each observation were the waiting count, waiting time, occupancy level, length of stay, boarding count, boarding time, and ambulance diversion. Forecasting performance was assessed using Pearson's correlation, residual summary statistics, and area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC). Results: The correlations between crowding forecasts and actual outcomes started high and decreased gradually up to 8 hours into the future (lowest Pearson's r for waiting count=0.56; waiting time=0.49; occupancy level=0.78; length of stay=0.86; boarding count=0.79; boarding time=0.80). The residual means were unbiased for all outcomes except the boarding time. The discriminatory power for ambulance diversion remained consistently high up to 8 hours into the future (lowest AUC=0.86). Conclusion: By modeling patient flow, rather than operational summary variables, our simulation forecasts several different measures of near-future ED crowding with varying degrees of good performance.
The Interface Motion and Hydrodynamic Shear of the Liquid Slosh in Syringes

Interface motion and hydrodynamic shear of the liquid slosh during the insertion of syringes upon autoinjector activation may damage the protein drug molecules. Experimentally validated computational fluid dynamics simulations are used in this study to investigate the interfacial motion and hydrodynamic shear due to acceleration and deceleration of syringes. The goal is to explore the role of fluid viscosity, air gap size, syringe acceleration, syringe tilt angle, liquid-wall contact angle, surface tension and fill volume on the interface dynamics caused by autoinjector activation. A simplified autoinjector platform submerged in water is built to record the syringe and liquid motion without obstruction of view. The syringe kinematics is imported to the simulations based on OpenFOAM InterIsoFoam solver, which is used to study the effects of various physical parameters. The simulations agree with experiments on the air-liquid interface profile and interface area. The interfacial area and the volume of fluid subject to high strain rate decrease with the solution viscosity, increase with the air gap height, syringe velocity, tilt angle and syringe wall hydrophobicity, and hardly change with the surface tension and liquid column height. The hydrodynamic shear mainly occurs near the syringe wall and entrained bubbles. For a given dose of drug solution, the syringe with smaller radius and larger length will generate less liquid slosh. Reducing the air volume and syringe wall hydrophobicity are also helpful to reduce interface area and effective shear. The interface motion is reduced when the syringe axis is aligned with the gravitational direction.
Characterization of the isotopic composition and bulk ion deposition of precipitation from Central to West Hawaiʻi Island between 2017 and 2019

Abstract Study region The current study evaluates the isotopic and chemical compositions of rainfall from central to leeward Hawaiʻi Island, an area characterized by the interactions of Pacific trade wind flow with two 4,000-meter high mountains as well as one of the largest natural emitters of sulfur dioxide on the planet. Study focus Our study collected cumulative rainfall samples at regular intervals over a 28-month period from 20 stations spanning a range of elevations across this region and determined average isotopic and dissolved ion compositions in those samples. The study period included an extreme weather event (Hurricane Lane), a major volcanic eruption at Kīlauea in 2018, and the nearly complete cessation of long-term volcanic emissions following that eruptive event. New hydrological insights to the Region Consistent with previous literature, results show long-term variability through our establishment of an enhanced local meteoric water line (LMWL) for West Hawaiʻi. We hypothesize the two LMWL represent ends of a spectrum, due to the variability in atmospheric and climate processes in this region. Additionally, results of stable isotope compositions and bulk ion deposition highlight how extreme events, such as volcanic eruptions and hurricanes, can affect the chemistry of precipitation. Sulfate concentrations in bulk precipitation decreased by a mean of 70 % (p = 0.032) after the 2018 Kīlauea eruption ceased. The results from this study can be used to better quantify and characterize precipitation, which is the ultimate source of Hawai‘i’s groundwater.
CON: Propofol Is Better Than Etomidate for Induction in Cardiac Surgical Patients

There is an ongoing debate regarding the choice of ideal induction agent between propofol and etomidate for cardiac surgical patients. Etomidate appears to be better than propofol as the induction agent due to the superior hemodynamic stability. However, the adrenal suppression due to etomidate can pose challenges to the anesthesiologist in certain clinical situations.
A Diagnostic Guide for Pythium Damping-Off and Root and Stem Rot of Cucurbits

All major commercially cultivated species of Cucurbitaceae are susceptible to Pythium damping-off and root and stem rot. Twenty-four species of Pythium and Phytopythium helicoides have been reporte...
Men Aged 15-44 in Need of Preconception Care

Preconception care for men focuses on prevention strategies implemented prior to conception of a first or subsequent pregnancy to improve pregnancy and infant outcomes. Little is known about U.S. men in need of preconception care. This analysis describes the proportion of men in need of preconception care and associations of these needs by background characteristics, related health conditions, access to care and receipt of services. Data from men aged 15–44 in the National Survey of Family Growth 2006–2010 were analyzed to describe men in need of preconception care, based on future childbearing intentions and self and partner fecundity status (among sexually experienced only), and associated factors with these needs using weighted bivariate analyses. About 60 % of men are in need of preconception care. Higher prevalence of being in need was observed among men aged 15–29 than older; living in urban than non-urban settings; in school than not in school regardless of working status; not in a coresidential union than married or cohabiting; who were recent immigrants than U.S. born; and reporting never having had a child than ≥1 child(ren). Men in need were overweight/obese (56 %), ever binge drank in the last year (58 %), and have high STI risk (21 %). The majority of men in need reported access to care in the last year (>70 %), but few reported receipt of services including STD/HIV testing (<20 %) or counseling (<11 %). Findings from this analysis have implications for promoting preconception care among U.S. men.
The College Entrance Examination in China: An Overview of Its Social-Cultural Foundations, Existing Problems, and Consequences

(2010). The College Entrance Examination in China: An Overview of Its Social-Cultural Foundations, Existing Problems, and Consequences. Chinese Education & Society: Vol. 43, No. 4, pp. 3-10.
The Optimal Mix of Passive and Active Control in Structures

This paper shows how to redesign a structure to make it easier to control. Beginning with any active controller (say, designed to give the "ideal" performance), we divide this controller into two parts - one that can be synthesized simply by structure redesign (called the passive control) and one that is to be synthesized as an active controller. Given that the total closed loop response must not be changed from the "ideal", the passive part of the controller is designed so as to minimize the amount of control power needed for the active part. Necessary and sufficient conditions for a globally optimum structure is given, and gradient calculation are not required. The algorithm converges to the globally optimum in a finite number of iterations.
Matrix Capital Management (A) (CW)

Ben Balbale, a partner at hedge fund Matrix Capital, must decide whether to exit their investment in Rovi Corporation, a company with a diverse portfolio of patents used primarily for digital interactive guides. Rovi's shares are up over 50% from the time Balbale initiated a position in the middle of 2009.Learning Objective: Students have an opportunity to consider Matrix Capital's investment philosophy, to evaluate the role of analyst estimates in investment strategies and market efficiency, and to model the valuation of a publicly traded company, Rovi, using discounted cash flow and multiples analysis.
Pyruvate carboxylase. VII. A possible role for tightly bound manganese.

Abstract Pyruvate carboxylase contains firmly bound manganese which affects the longitudinal relaxation rate of the protons of water as measured by pulsed nuclear magnetic resonance. The manganese shows an enhanced effect (ϵb = 4.2) on the relaxation rate when bound to the enzyme. Studies on the effect of added substrates and inhibitors on the proton relaxation rate have shown that components of the second partial reaction, e.g. the carboxylation of pyruvate by the enzyme-biotin ∼ CO2 complex, interact with the bound manganese of the enzyme and cause a reduction in the enhancement. In contrast, components of the first partial reaction, the formation of enzyme-biotin ∼ CO2 from adenosine triphosphate and HCO3-, do not significantly affect the enhancement. Examination of the enhancement of the bound manganese as a function of substrate or inhibitor concentration has permitted the determination of dissociation constants and enhancement values for the enzyme-substrate and enzyme-inhibitor complexes. The rate of inactivation of pyruvate carboxylase by avidin is increased by pyruvate and oxalacetate, and decreased by certain dissociable inhibitors, e.g. oxalate. Analysis of these data permits an independent determination of the dissociation constants of the enzyme-substrate and enzyme-inhibitor complexes. The dissociation constants derived from the proton relaxation rate measurements are in good agreement with those obtained from their effects on the rate of inactivation by avidin and also with inhibitor constants obtained from initial rate studies of the over-all reaction. These data strongly support the thesis that the bound manganese plays a functional role in the transcarboxylation portion of the pyruvate carboxylase reaction, i.e. the transfer of a carboxyl group from the enzyme-biotin ∼ CO2 intermediate to pyruvate. This locus of action differs from that of the added divalent metal ion which is required for this reaction and which participates in the formation of the enzyme-biotin ∼ CO2 intermediate from HCO3- and ATP. While dissociable inhibitors such as oxalate probably act by direct chelation of the bound manganese since the enhancement of the enzyme-inhibitor complex has a very low value (ϵc l 0.3), the corresponding values for the enzyme-substrate complexes are considerably higher (ϵc = 1.5 to 2.5), suggesting either that fewer metal-H2O ligands are displaced by substrates or that conformational changes in the protein contribute to the situation in a different way with the substrates and the inhibitors. Several possible mechanisms for the involvement of the bound manganese in this reaction are discussed, and a mechanism is suggested which is compatible with the kinetic and magnetic resonance data.
The Decision Making of Adolescent Mothers during Labor and Birth

Poster Presentation Objective To explore decision making during labor among a group of U.S. urban adolescent mothers. Design Constructivist grounded theory study employing Schatzman's dimensional analysis and Clarke's situational analysis. Setting Urban clinics, schools, and support programs for adolescent mothers in the San Francisco Bay area. Sample Eighteen adolescent mothers age 16 to 20 from diverse ethnic and racial backgrounds. Methods Prenatal and postpartum interviews with adolescent mothers and observations of childbirth classes for adolescents. Results Adolescent mothers felt their decision making during labor indicated their inherent mothering abilities. Decisions were made in the context of their belief that the strength to give birth and care for a child emerged naturally during labor. Conditions affecting decisions included the mother's expectations, available support, and others' control over decisions and communication. Key processes included going natural versus going epidural; being strong for the baby; and interpreting the perceived cues of others. After birth, mothers who felt empowered by their decisions during labor felt more confident, whereas mothers who felt pressured into unwanted decisions felt regretful and anxious about their ability to cope with their mothering responsibilities. Conclusion/Implications for Nursing Practice Adolescent mothers' experiences of decision making during labor may have lasting effects. Empowering decision making during labor for adolescent mothers may support optimal transition to motherhood and postpartum health in this vulnerable population.
Epidemiology of Seizure Disorders

Summary This chapter contains sections titled: Incidence and prevalence of epilepsy Incidence and prevalence of acute symptomatic seizures Looking beyond epidemiology: the state of epilepsy care in the United States Risk factors for epilepsy Conclusion References
The Nature of Attention

What is attention? Attention is often seen as a subject matter for the hard sciences of cognitive and brain processes, and is understood in terms of sub-personal mechanisms and processes. Correspondingly, there still is a stark contrast between the central role attention plays for the empirical investigation of the mind in psychology and the neurosciences, and its relative neglect in philosophy. Yet, over the past years, several philosophers have challenged the standard conception. A number of questions concerning the nature of attention arise. This article provides an introduction to contemporary debates concerning these questions. In particular, it discusses the question of how the pre-theoretic conception of attention might be reconciled with a scientific conception, arguments that provide support for an anti-reductionist theory of attention, and sketches several recent anti-reductionist theories and their inter-relations.
Adjunctive oral electrolyte therapy for uncontrolled seizures in children

Experimental studies in animals have suggested that alteration of extracellular volume, ion concentration and osmolarity may affect the epileptic process. We report persistent beneficial effects of add-on oral electrolyte therapy (OET) in seven children with uncontrolled epilepsy. Three patients treated with OET remained seizure free, one patient became free of absence seizures but persisted with generalized convulsions and two other patients had improved seizure control. One patient did not improve and discontinued treatment after 3 weeks. No significant side effects or complications were observed. Rice-based OET, used alone or in addition to standard antiepileptic drugs, may provide a therapeutic effect in children with uncontrolled epilepsy. Larger controlled studies are needed to validate this finding.
Personhood, Flourishing, Disability, Leisure, and a Profession

The purpose of this article is to articulate a philosophical foundation for a profession aimed at enhancing the well-being or flourishing of people with disabilities through engagement in leisure practices. The core beliefs comprising the foundation are that people with disabilities are human beings who can flourish and experience leisure; leisure is essential to flourishing; and leisure promotes flourishing among people with disabilities. These beliefs emerged from an examination of the interrelationships among flourishing, people with disabilities, and leisure. The article concludes with a discussion of how the philosophical foundation meshes with the profession of thera-peutic recreation and how the core beliefs guide the efforts of professionals who choose to promote human flourishing through leisure.
Optical constants of V(1-x)W(x)O(2) Films.

The spectral complex optical constants in the visible and the near-infrared region of VO2 and V1-xWxO2 films deposited on glass substrates were determined from observed reflectance and transmittance spectra for which the least-squares method was used. In the metallic phase, the optical properties were characterized by the Drude model in wavelength regions longer than 750 nm.
Learning from the neo-liberal movement: towards a global justice education movement

This commentary suggests that a countermovement for educational and social justice must learn from the dominant global neo-liberal movement and its successes in creating institutions and knowledge-making processes and networks. Local struggles for educational justice are important, but they need to be linked to a broader educational justice movement. Such a movement itself has to be seen as part of a struggle for genuine democracy.
Disorders of Hypopigmentation and Depigmentation

Disorders of hypopigmentation and depigmentation are of great concern to patients of skin of color because of the marked contrast between the affected skin and normal skin. These disorders can be psychologically devastating in this patient group. There are a number of disorders of hypopigmentation and depigmentation that are clinically relevant. Those that will be discussed in this chapter are idiopathic guttate hypomelanosis, pityriasis alba, progressive macular hypomelanosis, postinflammatory hypopigmentation, oculocutaneous albinism 2B, piebaldism, and vitiligo.
Integrated power system vulnerability analysis considering protection failures

Protection system failure is one of the main causes of cascading outages. This paper proposes an integrated scheme to study power system vulnerability considering protection system failures. In this scheme, both adequacy and security reliability analysis are conducted. A protection system reliability model including two major failure modes is adopted to demonstrate their effects on power system reliability. The mechanism and scheme of protection systems have been analyzed for their contribution to cascading outages as well as system stability after a fault occurs. All contingencies and the consequent responses in the power system are depicted in their inherent stochastic manner. The power system vulnerability is assessed by both adequacy indices such as BIP (bus isolation probability), LOLP (loss of load probability), EPL (expected power loss) and the security index POS (probability of stability). In addition, a new vulnerability index, ISV (integrated system vulnerability), is introduced to give a more comprehensive description of the system vulnerability. Nonsequential Monte Carlo simulation approach is used to implement the stochastic properties of contingencies, protective response and protection system failures. The WSCC-9 bus system is used as the test system.
Units and numerical values of the effective couplings in perturbative heterotic string vacua

We determine the units and numerical values for a class of couplings in the effective theory of perturbative heterotic string vacua, with the emphasis on the correct translation between the canonical gauge coupling g and Planck scale M{sub Planck}{approximately}1.2{times}10{sup 19}GeV as used in the effective theory description and the string coupling g{sub string} and string tension {alpha}{sup {prime}} as used in the S-matrix amplitude calculation. In particular, we determine the effective couplings in the superpotential and reexamine the Fayet-Iliopoulos (FI) term in a class of models with an anomalous U(1). We derive the values of the effective Yukawa couplings (at the third and fourth order) after the restabilization of vacuum along a particular F- and D-flat direction and show that they are {ital comparable} in magnitude. The result corrects results quoted in the literature, and may have implications for the string derived phenomenology, e.g., that of fermion textures. {copyright} {ital 1999} {ital The American Physical Society}
Formation of Nanoparticle-Loaded Microcapsules Based on Hydrogen-Bonded Multilayers

We show that hydrogen-bonded multilayer thin film coatings assembled on colloidal particles can be used as templates for the in situ synthesis of nanoparticles. The concentration and size of nanoparticles grown within the coatings can be tuned by the number of loading cycles. The hydrogen-bonded multilayer thin films were coated on polystyrene micrometer-sized colloidal particles and subsequently cross-linked via water-soluble carbodiimide chemistry. We show that metal nanoparticles (e.g., Ag and Pd) can be synthesized via the nanoreactor scheme, where corresponding metal ions are loaded into the coating and then subsequently reduced to create nanoparticles dispersed within the coating. In addition, we demonstrate the multiple loading capability of the hydrogen-bonded multilayer coatings. UV−vis spectroscopy and direct observation by transmission electron microscopy confirm that the nanoparticles are well-dispersed within the thin film coating. Finally, the polystyrene particles can be extracted by treati...
Mindfulness: The Present Moment in Clinical Social Work

Mindfulness-based psychotherapies are increasingly found in the evidence-based practice realm of clinical social work. This paper provides an understanding of the concept of mindfulness as well as the research into the neurological and behavioral benefits of mindfulness skills training. Mindfulness skills training is explored as both the foundation of specific therapy protocols and as a method to foster clinician attention, affect regulation, attunement and empathy. Clinical case examples are provided to demonstrate the impact of mindfulness skills training on both clients and on the helping relationship.
Low Serum Vitamin D Levels and Recurrent Inflammatory Spinal Cord Disease

Background Low 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels have been associated with a higher risk of developing multiple sclerosis and increased relapse rates in patients with multiple sclerosis. As a sterol hormone involved in multiple immunologic pathways, vitamin D may play a role in preventing monophasic immune-mediated central nervous system attacks from developing into recurrent disease. Objective To investigate the association between low serum vitamin D levels and recurrent spinal cord disease. Design, Setting, and Patients We performed a retrospective analysis at Johns Hopkins Transverse Myelitis Center, Baltimore, Maryland, evaluating 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels in 77 patients with monophasic and recurrent inflammatory diseases of the spinal cord. Main Outcome Measure Levels of 25-hydroxyvitamin D. Results Vitamin D levels are significantly lower in patients who developed recurrent spinal cord disease, adjusting for season, age, sex, and race. Conclusions This study provides a basis for a prospective trial of measuring 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels in these patient populations and assessing the influence of vitamin D supplementation on the frequency of relapses in those with recurrent inflammatory spinal cord disease.
Unitarity and partial wave amplitudes

Abstract In the last few years considerable effort has been invested in the single boson exchange approach to the nucleon-nucleon interaction. A crucial problem in this scheme is the calculation of amplitudes satisfying unitarity from nonunitary Born terms, and various methods have been applied. The present work is a comparison of these methods based on applying them to some simplified problems with no inelastic effects and numerically evaluating the resulting expressions for k cot δ. We consider S wave scattering from an exponential and a separable Yukawa potential and compare the following methods: (1) N D ; (2) Determinantal Approximation; (3) Schrodinger equation; (4) “Heitler damping” or “ K -matrix” method. We find that these methods do not, in general, agree at all well. We are also able to draw some conclusions about the dependence of solutions (1), (2), and (4) on remote singularities and find that it is not small. The significance of these results is discussed.
Experimental Biology 2000 Symposium on Differential Control of Sympathetic Outflow DIFFERENTIAL PATTERNS OF SYMPATHETIC RESPONSES TO SELECTIVE STIMULATION OF NUCLEUS TRACTUS SOLITARIUS PURINERGIC RECEPTOR SUBTYPES

SUMMARY 1. Studies are described that indicate that stimulation of different purinergic receptor subtypes (A1, A2A and P2X) located in the sub-postremal nucleus tractus solitarius (NTS) evokes qualitatively and quantitatively different regional haemodynamic and efferent sympathetic responses. 2. Stimulation of A2A receptors evoked the most diverse pattern of regional sympathetic responses: preganglionic adrenal nerve activity (pre-ASNA) was increased, lumbar sympathetic nerve activity (LSNA) did not change, while renal (RSNA) and post-ganglionic adrenal (post-ASNA) sympathetic nerve activity was decreased. Stimulation of A1 receptors evoked qualitatively uniform, although quantitatively different, sympathoactivation: pre-ASNA > RSNA >LSNA. Stimulation of P2X receptors evoked qualitatively uniform, although quantitatively different, sympathoinhibition: RSNA = post-ASNA > LSNA = pre-ASNA. 3. These qualitatively and quantitatively different patterns of regional sympathetic responses strongly suggest that purinergic receptor subtypes may be specifically located and differentially expressed on NTS neurons/neural terminals that control different sympathetic outputs. Different NTS purinoceptors may contribute to patterned autonomic responses observed in specific physiological or pathological situations.
Wavefronts and construction tolerances for a cat's-eye retroreflector

A retroreflector (a device that reflects an incident beam of light through exactly 180 degrees ) constructed from a primary concave mirror and a small secondary mirror near its paraxial focus, the so-called cat's-eye retroreflector, has been investigated. Ray-tracing of systems with both spherical and parabolic primaries suggests that the latter are considerably superior to the former and comparable to a cube-corner retroreflector. The investigation has also enabled mechanical tolerances for the construction of a cat's-eye retroreflector to be deduced. The predicted tolerances may be much easier to attain than those for a cube-corner retroreflector.
Epidemiology of depressive symptoms in young adolescents

Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scales, completed by 677 junior high school students, were used to investigate the significance and measurement of depressive symptoms in young adolescents. Responses differentiated transient and more persistent symptoms. Few students noted the most persistent symptoms (less than 15% for any one item). Minority race, lower social economic status, lower school grade, family constellation, and poorer school progress were associated with higher depressive symptom scores. Findings from this study suggest that high persistent depressive symptomatology is not a universal adolescent experience and that persistent depressive symptoms may be associated with other adverse events.
The evolving role of lipid rafts and caveolae in G protein‐coupled receptor signaling: implications for molecular pharmacology

The many components of G-protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) signal transduction provide cells with numerous combinations with which to customize their responses to hormones, neurotransmitters, and pharmacologic agonists. GPCRs function as guanine nucleotide exchange factors for heterotrimeric (alpha, beta, gamma) G proteins, thereby promoting exchange of GTP for GDP and, in turn, the activation of 'downstream' signaling components. Recent data indicate that individual cells express mRNA for perhaps over 100 different GPCRs (out of a total of nearly a thousand GPCR genes), several different combinations of G-protein subunits, multiple regulators of G-protein signaling proteins (which function as GTPase activating proteins), and various isoforms of downstream effector molecules. The differential expression of such protein combinations allows for modulation of signals that are customized for a specific cell type, perhaps at different states of maturation or differentiation. In addition, in the linear arrangement of molecular interactions involved in a given GPCR-G-protein-effector pathway, one needs to consider the localization of receptors and post-receptor components in subcellular compartments, microdomains, and molecular complexes, and to understand the movement of proteins between these compartments. Co-localization of signaling components, many of which are expressed at low overall concentrations, allows cells to tailor their responses by arranging, or spatially organizing in unique and kinetically favorable ways, the molecules involved in GPCR signal transduction. This review focuses on the role of lipid rafts and a subpopulation of such rafts, caveolae, as a key spatial compartment enriched in components of GPCR signal transduction. Recent data suggest cell-specific patterns for expression of those components in lipid rafts and caveolae. Such domains likely define functionally important, cell-specific regions of signaling by GPCRs and drugs active at those GPCRs.
Nitric oxide flux-dependent bacterial adhesion and viability at fibrinogen-coated surfaces

Nitric oxide (NO) is an endogenous antibacterial agent produced by immune cells in response to pathogens. Herein, the NO fluxes necessary to reduce bacterial adhesion of different bacteria (S. aureus, methicillin-resistant S. aureus, S. epidermidis, E. faecalis, E. coli, and P. aeruginosa) were investigated to ascertain the sensitivity of these bacteria to NO. S-Nitrosothiol NO donor-modified xerogels were selected as a model NO-release surface due to their extended NO-release kinetics relative to other NO donor systems. The xerogels were coated with poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC) to achieve consistent surface energy between NO-releasing and control substrates. Fibrinogen was pre-adsorbed to these materials to more accurately mimic conditions encountered in blood and promote bacteria adhesion. Nitric oxide fluxes ranging from 20–50 pmol cm−2 s−1 universally inhibited the bacterial adhesion by >80% for each strain studied. Maximum bacteria killing activity (reduced viability by 85–98%) was observed at the greatest NO payload (1700 nmol cm−2).
Oridonin inhibits hepatic stellate cell proliferation and fibrogenesis.

Abstract Background Liver fibrosis is a common response to liver injury and, in severe cases, leads to cirrhosis. The hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) become activated after liver injury and play a significant role in fibrogenesis. The activated HSC is characterized by increased proliferation, overexpression of α smooth muscle actin, and excessive production of extracellular matrix (ECM) proteins. Oridonin, a naturally occurring diterpenoid, has been shown to induce apoptosis in liver and gastric cancer cells. However, its effects on the HSC are unknown. Methods We tested the effects of oridonin on the activated human and rat HSC lines LX-2 and HSC-T6, and the human hepatocyte cell line C3A. Transforming growth factor β1 (TGF-β1) was used to stimulate LX-2 cells. Results Oridonin significantly inhibited LX-2 and HSC-T6 proliferation. In contrast, oridonin had no antiproliferative effect on C3A cells at our tested range. Oridonin induced apoptosis and S-phase arrest in LX-2 cells. These findings were associated with an increase in p53, p21, p16, and cleaved Poly (ADP-ribose) Polymerase (PARP), and with a decrease in Cyclin-dependent kinase 4 (Cdk4). Oridonin markedly decreased expression of α smooth muscle actin and ECM protein type I collagen and fibronectin, blocked TGF-β1-induced Smad2/3 phosphorylation and type I collagen expression. Conclusions Oridonin induces apoptosis and cell cycle arrest involving the p53-p21 pathway in HSC and appears to be nontoxic to hepatocytes. In addition, oridonin suppressed endogenous and TGF-β1-induced ECM proteins. Thus, oridonin may act as a novel agent to prevent hepatic fibrosis.
From the Digital Divide to the Democratic Divide: Internet Skills, Political Interest, and the Second-Level Digital Divide in Political Internet Use

Digital divide research is now focused on the so-called second-level divide, which concerns Internet “usage” divides. This article suggests that while the first-level divide was associated with sociodemographic factors, the second-level divide is associated with factors such as motivations and Internet skills. It then illustrates an example of the second-level digital divide—the democratic divide. The democratic divide concerns the differences between those who actively use the Web for politics and those who do not. Analysis of General Social Survey data shows there is a democratic divide where political Internet users are individuals with high Internet skills and political interest.
Primary user emulation attack in dynamic spectrum access networks: a game-theoretic approach

Cognitive radio (CR) enabled dynamic spectrum access (DSA) networks are designed to detect and opportunistically utilise the unused or under-utilised spectrum bands. However, due to the open paradigm of CR networks and lack of proactive security protocols, the DSA networks are vulnerable to various denial-of-service threats. The authors propose a game-theoretic framework to study the primary user emulation attack (PUEA) on CR nodes. A non-cooperative dynamic multistage game between the secondary nodes and the adversaries generating the PUEA is formulated. The pure-strategy and mixed-strategy Nash equilibria for the secondary user and malicious attacker are investigated. Moreover, a novel belief updating system is proposed for the secondary user to learn the state of the primary user as the game evolves. Simulation results demonstrate that the proposed belief updating system achieves better performance than other models for the secondary user in terms of greater payoff, lower probability of missing primary user and better robustness to the inaccurate estimation of the primary user's state.
Bayesian theory of visual search

Human performance in searching for a tilted target among vertical distractors is well described by signal detection theory (SDT) models which combine the outputs of noisy detectors using a maximum or summation operation [1]. These theories assume that each detector is a neuron best tuned to the target, and that a detector’s response to the target or distractor follows a Gaussian distribution. However, recent work has questioned the validity of SDT measures in search tasks with more complex stimulus distributions, for instance ones in which distractors flank the target in orientation space [2]. Instead, a saliency-based signal-to-noise ratio was proposed to measure task difficulty. A drawback of this theory is that it cannot predict receiver operating characteristics (ROCs).
A comparison of human brain dissection by drill versus saw on nucleic acid quality

This study examined the effect of two dissection techniques on the quality of human brain specimens. Frozen cerebellar samples were obtained from postmortem brains of 10 subjects free from neurological and psychiatric disease. These tissues were tested for RNA and DNA concentration and quality after being dissected with either an electric dental drill or a small handsaw. RNA and DNA were extracted separately from each sample, and the concentrations and quality of each were measured. We found that dissection technique does not significantly affect RNA or DNA quality/yield. RNA and DNA yields, as well as RNA integrity showed no significant differences between the two dissection techniques. Therefore, these results support the use of a high-speed hand-held electric dental drill as an efficient and anatomically precise means of human brain dissection without compromising tissue quality.
CRITERIA FOR HUMAN PERFORMANCE RESEARCH.

The heart of human factors performance research is the development of an appropriate criterion or effectiveness measure. Typical criteria employed in research from 1941 to 1963 by the U.S. Army Personnel Research Office have included grades, ratings, and situational performance measures, each selected for use according to critical methodological, operational, and administrative considerations. Emphasis is placed upon predicting individual effectiveness.Today's military manager desires an evaluation of a system or subsystem as a totality and is likely to give more wholehearted acceptance to that research product expressed in quantitative units reflecting his goals and mission. Examples are given of the roles human factors scientists play today in helping develop the systems output criterion, similar to human factors performance criteria in some respects but which requires more attention to the need for simulation and to decisions with respect to laboratory vs. field experimentation. A framework of human fa...
Metabolic inhibitors: Effects on metamorphosis and flight muscle mitochondrial development in the moth, Heliothis virescens

Abstract Acriflavin, aminotriazole, chloramphenicol, and cycloheximide were tested for their effects on the initiation of metamorphosis, adult morphogenesis and mitochondriogenesis in Heliothis virescens . The experiments evaluated the contributions of mitochondrial and cytoplasmic biosynthetic processes to metamorphosis. Acriflavin had little effect on metamorphosis. All other agents were inhibitory with cycloheximide having the greatest effect. All affected morphogenesis at doses lower than those preventing the initiation of metamorphosis. Moths which appeared to emerge normally after treatment with aminotriazole died within 24 hr. Respiratory development was not affected by chloramphenicol or aminotriazole. Acriflavin prevented cytochrome c oxidase development but had no effect on cytochrome c reductase.
Biomimetic approaches to modulate cellular adhesion in biomaterials: A review

Abstract Natural extracellular matrix (ECM) proteins possess critical biological characteristics that provide a platform for cellular adhesion and activation of highly regulated signaling pathways. However, ECM-based biomaterials can have several limitations, including poor mechanical properties and risk of immunogenicity. Synthetic biomaterials alleviate the risks associated with natural biomaterials but often lack the robust biological activity necessary to direct cell function beyond initial adhesion. A thorough understanding of receptor-mediated cellular adhesion to the ECM and subsequent signaling activation has facilitated development of techniques that functionalize inert biomaterials to provide a biologically active surface. Here we review a range of approaches used to modify biomaterial surfaces for optimal receptor-mediated cell interactions, as well as provide insights into specific mechanisms of downstream signaling activation. In addition to a brief overview of integrin receptor-mediated cell function, so-called “biomimetic” techniques reviewed here include (i) surface modification of biomaterials with bioadhesive ECM macromolecules or specific binding motifs, (ii) nanoscale patterning of the materials and (iii) the use of “natural-like” biomaterials.
In‐situ densification of combustion synthesized coatings

Dense intermetallic and ceramic (alumina based) coatings can be formed in situ during simultaneous combustion synthesis and densification in the field of centrifugal forces. Both microstructure and composition of alumina-based coatings formed during alumino-thermal reduction of oxides can be altered by an introduction of additives such as ZrSiO 4 , SiO 2 , Na 2 CrO 4 , and carbon. The activation energy and frequency factor for the Ni-Al reacting system consisting of equal atomic amounts of Ni and Al powders with an average particle size of 5 μm were measured using a nonisothermal technique, which were equal to 1.05 X 10 5 J/mol and 1.017 x 10 8 s -1 , respectively. A mathematical model of in-situ densification of a single-phase combustion product (NiAl) in the field of centrifugal forces was developed and explored.
A canine venereal tumor with metastasis to the brain.

The transmissible venereal tumor of the dog is predominantly a neoplasm of the external genitalia. This tumor is unique in that it can be transplanted experimentally to randomly selected dogs and after a period of relatively rapid growth the neoplasm frequently regrcsses spontaneously. Subsequent to surgical interference or spontaneous regression the dog is refractive to further implants of the tumor. There appears to be little agreement concerning the metastatic potential of this neoplasm. KARLSON and MANN~~ thought metastasis was rare but others21 4211 have reported metastasis to the inguinal lymph nodes, spleen, liver, pancreas, and eye. Recently HIGCINS~ reported that extra-genital lesions were frequent in naturally occurring cases in the Bahamas; spread to the inguinal lymph nodes occurred early and, in the female, metastasis to the cervix, uterus, and fallopian tubes was frequent. Only 2 references in the literature were found that described metastatic lesions of this tumor in the central nervous system7, *. As a part of an etiological study on the venereal tumor, observations have been made on 37 cases of this tumor during a 3-year period. The dogs bearing this tumor were of various breeds and many more were males. The median age of affected dogs has been 2.7 years. In this group of dogs evidence of metastasis has been restricted to the inguinal and iliac lymph nodes, spleen, and, in 1 animal, the eye and brain. Because of the rarity of metastasis to the brain from a spontaneous venereal tumor, the latter case is being reported.
Diverse roles of conserved asparagine-linked glycan sites on tyrosinase family glycoproteins.

The tyrosinase family of genes has been conserved throughout vertebrate evolution. The role of conserved N-glycan sites in sorting, stability, and activity of tyrosinase family proteins was investigated using two family members from two different species, mouse gp75/tyrosinase-related protein (TRP)-1/Tyrp1 and human tyrosinase. Potential N-linked glycosylation sites on the lumenal domains of mouse gp75/TRP-1/Tyrp1 and human tyrosinase were eliminated by site-directed mutagenesis (Asn to Gln substitutions). Our results show that selected conserved N-glycan sites on tyrosinase family members are crucial for stability in the secretory pathway and endocytic compartment and for enzymatic activity. Different glycan sites on the same tyrosinase family polypeptide can perform distinct functions, and conserved sites on tyrosinase family paralogues can perform different functions.
Night Comes to the Chromosomes: Inbreeding and Population Genetics in Southern Appalachia

Assimptions about the prevalence of inbreeding in Appalachia have long been used to account for certain characteristics of the mountain people and their culture. Such premises continue to be accepted as valid explanations even though little quantitative evidence has ever been presented on the subject. Inbreeding has become part of the popular stereotyped image of Appalachia, and has even been used to imply that mountain people are inherently to blame for their disadvantage! political and economic situation. This article presents a less speculative view of consanguineous marriage in Appalachia, based on the author's fieldwork, in which rates of isonymy (marriage between persons with the same surname) were used to estimate levels of inbreeding in a remote four-county area of Eastern Kentucky over a 140-year time period. The findings, along with data from previous studies of marriage patterns in mountain communities, suggest that inbreeding levels in Appalachia do not seem extreme enough to justify labeling inbreeding as unique or particularly common to the region, when compared with those reported for populations elsewhere or at earlier periods in American history.
Investigation of plate boundaries in the eastern Indian Ocean using Magsat data

Abstract Plate boundaries are regions of significant tectonic activity. In the area between the Ninety East Ridge and Sumatra, seismicity and bathymetry suggest the presence of differing plate boundaries and other tectonic features (e.g. N-S trending fracture zones and the Southwest Asian continental margin). A Magsat anomaly map was made of this area in order to study the magnetic signature of these major plate boundaries at satellite altitude. Forty (16 descending and 24 ascending) low-altitude (340–360 km) Magsat orbits were selected over this region (90°–105°E, 8°S–4°N). These profiles were chosen to ensure the most noise-free data. A magnetic anomaly map was derived from these data using the technique of minimizing orbital cross-over errors, and was contoured at 0.5 nT. The largest magnetic anomaly, a positive (3 nT), is located over the most conspicuous, younger volcanic complex of the southeastern half of Sumatra. Because these data are from the southern magnetic hemisphere ( I = −25°), a positive Magsat anomaly implies an aggregate reverse remanent magnetization. Further northwest along Sumatra, where the volcanic rocks are less prevalent, there are no distinct anomalies. The Ninety East Ridge has a small anomaly ( − 2 nT) which has been modeled as indicating normal magnetization. While several other positive bathymetrie features exhibit satellite altitude anomaly signatures, however, the Sunda Trench does not present a distinct magnetic anomaly. In addition, the existence of a diffuse plate boundary across the Wharton Basin was not supported by these data. At an altitude of 350 km the presence of a continental-oceanic magnetic “edge effect” was not detectable. A much lower orbiting magnetometer bearing satellite will be required to delineate these smaller tectonic elements.