cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Characterization of early-onset motor deficits in the Pink1-/- mouse model of Parkinson disease.

Abstract In Parkinson disease (PD), a complex neurodegenerative disorder that affects nearly 10 million people worldwide, motor skills are significantly impaired. However, onset and progression of motor deficits and the neural correlates of these deficits are poorly understood. We used a genetic mouse model of PD (Pink1−/−), with phenotypic similarities to human PD, to investigate the manifestation of early-onset sensorimotor deficits. We hypothesized this mouse model would show early vocalization and gross motor dysfunction that would be progressive in nature. Pink1−/− mice, compared to wild type (WT) controls, were evaluated at 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6 months of age. To quantify deficit progression, ultrasonic vocalizations and spontaneous locomotor activity (cylinder test and pole test) were analyzed. Although somewhat variable, in general, Pink1−/− mice produced significantly more simple calls with reduced intensity as well as a larger percentage of cycle calls compared to WT counterparts. However, there were no significant differences in duration, bandwidth, or peak frequency for any of the ultrasonic call types between genotypes. Pink1−/− mice showed a significant impairment in limb motor skills with fewer hindlimb steps, forelimb steps, and rears and lands in the cylinder test compared to WT. Additionally, Pink1−/− mice took significantly longer to turn and traverse during the pole test. Immunohistochemical staining showed no significant difference in the number of tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) positive cells in the substantia nigra or density of TH staining in the striatum between genotypes. These data suggest the Pink1−/− mouse model may be instrumental in defining early motor biomarkers of PD in the absence of nigrostriatal dopamine loss.
Improving Folic Acid Supplementation Rates in Women of Childbearing Age With Epilepsy

Abstract Background This study aims to improve the rate of folic acid supplementation to adolescent women with epilepsy on an antiepileptic drug (AED) regimen seen by the pediatric neurology providers at the Children's Hospital at Montefiore, in compliance with the 2009 American Academy of Neurology and American Epilepsy Society practice parameter. Methods We designed a quality improvement study with implementation of a series of interventions and compared folic acid supplementation rates before and after intervention. We made additional comparisons based on specific age groups (12 to 15 years and 16 to 21 years) and a diagnosis with or without developmental impairment. Results A review of 1850 charts from 2004 to 2015 showed an average folic acid prescription rate of 41%. Supplementation rates gradually increased to 52.2%, 58.5%, 60.3%, and finally up to 81.6% after this respective intervention: initial email reminder, provider education, posting signs in examination rooms, and implementation of an electronic medical record best practice advisory. There was improvement across all categories, in both age groups (12 to 15 years and 16 to 21 years) and in those with or without developmental impairment. There was a trend for higher compliance rates in adolescents without developmental impairment. Conclusions Our interventions resulted in an increase in folic acid supplementation rates of adolescent women with epilepsy. These results are encouraging. We plan to extend education about the recommendations for folic acid supplementation to non-neurology providers, as well as expand to apply our interventions and assess adherence to other defined epilepsy quality measures.
Public budgeting and finance reforms in China: Introduction

Since the late 1970s, Chinese policymakers have implemented many policies to reform their country's administrative systems for the purpose of promoting economic development. In the area of public budgeting and finance, reform policies have been introduced to improve China's taxation system, budgeting system and intergovernmental fiscal relations. The implementation of these policies has resulted in many changes and improvement to China's society and has also created new challenges to China's future development. This symposium introduction provides a brief review of the development of reform policies and a summary of five articles that examine China's revenue system, public expenditure structure, budgeting control, incentive policy, and education finance.
Single Molecule Studies Enabled by Model-Based Controller Design

Optical tweezers have enabled important insights into intracellular transport through the investigation of motor proteins, with their ability to manipulate particles at the microscale, affording femto newton force resolution. Its use to realize a constant force clamp has enabled vital insights into the behavior of motor proteins under different load conditions. However, the varying nature of disturbances and the effect of thermal noise pose key challenges to force regulation. Furthermore, often the main aim of many studies is to determine the motion of the motor and the statistics related to the motion, which can be at odds with the force regulation objective. In this paper, we propose a mixed objective $H_2/H_\infty$ optimization framework using a model-based design, that achieves the dual goals of force regulation and real-time motion estimation with quantifiable guarantees. Here, we minimize the $H_\infty$ norm for the force regulation and error in step estimation while maintaining the $H_2$ norm of the noise on step estimate within user specified bounds. We demonstrate the efficacy of the framework through extensive simulations and an experimental implementation using an optical tweezer setup with live samples of the motor protein “kinesin”, where regulation of forces below 1 piconewton with errors below $\text{10}\%$ is obtained while simultaneously providing real-time estimates of motor motion.
Wolves in Yellowstone, Jackson Hole, and the North Fork of the Shoshone River: Simulating Ungulate Consequences of Wolf Revovery

The gray wolf (Canis lupus) was extirpated from Yellowstone National Park by U.S. Government personnel during 1914-1926. Since then, occasional reports of wolves in Yellowstone National Park have been recorded (Weaver 1978), but no recent records exist of wolves breeding in the park. In recent years, public attitudes towards predators have changed such that predators are more commonly viewed as an integral component of natural ecosystems (see e.g., Mech 1970, Despain et al. 1986, Dunlap 1988). An increasing proportion of the American public desires that wolves be reestablished in Yellowstone National Park (McNaught 1987, Bath 1991). ln 1987, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service approved a Recovery Plan for the Northern Rocky Mountain wolf (U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service 1987). Before proceeding with wolf recovery, however, Congress appropriated funds in 1988 and 1989 and directed that studies be conducted by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the National Park Service to determine the effects of wolf recovery on ungulate populations. Boyce (1990) developed a predator-prey model for ungulate populations in Yellowstone National Park as a part of this Congressional charge to determine the probable outcome of wolf recovery. Our purpose is to expand upon the simulation model of Boyce (1990) to predict the probable consequences of wolf reintroduction in Yellowstone National Park to ungulate populations in Jackson Hole and along the North Fork of the Shoshone River. As in the previous model, this model allows the user to choose among several likely management scenarios. By manipulating alternatives, the user of the model can explore the consequences of management actions. In particular, it is essential to be able to anticipate if wolves will be culled if they leave the parks, if poaching can be controlled within the park, and if hunting for bison and elk will continue in the Yellowstone River valley north of Gardiner, Montana. Any such model must incorporate the natural variability in the environment, because the vagaries of climate can have enormous effects on ecological processes. Therefore, the model is a stochastic one, i.e., it contains random variation in climatic variables. Such stochastic model structure is important because it helps to educate the user that it is impossible to predict precisely the consequences of wolf recovery. It is not the purpose of this effort to offer recommendations for whether wolf recovery should take place, but rather to provide resource managers with an additional tool which will assist them in making that decision.
Disparities in breast cancer incidence across racial/ethnic strata and socioeconomic status: a systematic review.

Objectives A higher incidence of breast cancer has been reported both in white women and women of higher socioeconomic status (SES) compared to women of other races and lower SES, respectively. We explored whether differences in SES can account for disparities in breast cancer incidence between races. Methods We identified several studies published between 1990 and 2007 that addressed disparities in breast cancer incidence across racial and socioeconomic strata. For each study, we calculated incidence rate ratios (IRRs) for breast cancer incidence in the highest strata to lowest strata of SES for white, black, Hispanic and Asian/Pacific-Islander populations. We then used these IRRs to compare trends in SES and breast cancer incidence between races and across studies. Results The studies we identified revealed that the magnitude of the disparity in breast cancer incidence between races decreases with increasing SES. While individual census-tract based studies’ methods of assessing the association between SES and breast cancer incidence did not identify consistent trends between races, adjustment for risk factors closely correlated with SES eliminated the statistical differences in breast cancer incidence between women of white, Hispanic and Asian/Pacific-Islander, but not black, ethnicity. Conclusion We found that racial differences in breast cancer incidence can largely be accounted for by ethnic differences in SES among white, Hispanic and Asian/Pacific-Islander women, but not between these populations and black women. We further highlight important differences in methodology between previously published studies that may account for their disparate findings.
Assessment of the Impact of Two-Dimensional Wall Deformation Shape on High-Speed Boundary-Layer Disturbances

Previous experimental and numerical studies showed that two-dimensional roughness elements can stabilize disturbances inside a hypersonic boundary layer and eventually delay the transition onset. T...
Compact 7-Channel SiN Wavelength De-multiplexer with Multi-core Fiber Fan-out

We have demonstrated a compact and low-loss, cascaded Mach-Zehnder interferometer based 7-channels wavelength de-multiplexer realized on a SiN platform over C-band with a multi-core fiber fan-out. The measured insertion loss and channel cross-talk are found below 0.5 dB and −8 dB for all the channels.
Blood flow-induced Notch activation and endothelial migration enable vascular remodeling in zebrafish embryos

Arteries and veins are formed independently by different types of endothelial cells (ECs). In vascular remodeling, arteries and veins become connected and some arteries become veins. It is unclear how ECs in transforming vessels change their type and how fates of individual vessels are determined. In embryonic zebrafish trunk, vascular remodeling transforms arterial intersegmental vessels (ISVs) into a functional network of arteries and veins. Here we find that, once an ISV is connected to venous circulation, venous blood flow promotes upstream migration of ECs that results in displacement of arterial ECs by venous ECs, completing the transformation of this ISV into a vein without trans-differentiation of ECs. Arterial blood flow initiated in two neighboring ISVs prevents their transformation into veins by activating Notch signaling in ECs. Together, different responses of ECs to arterial and venous blood flow lead to formation of a balanced network with equal numbers of arteries and veins.
Spectral-temporally modulated ripple test Lite for computeRless Measurement (SLRM): A Nonlinguistic Test for Audiology Clinics.

OBJECTIVES Many clinics are faced with the difficulty of evaluating performance in patients who speak a language for which there are no validated tests. It would be desirable to have a nonlinguistic method of evaluating these patients. Spectral ripple tests are nonlinguistic and highly correlated with speech identification performance. However, they are generally not amenable to clinical environments as they typically require the use of computers which are often not found in clinic sound booths. In this study, we evaluate the Spectral-temporally Modulated Ripple Test (SMRT) Lite for computeRless Measurement (SLRM), which is a new variant of the adaptive SMRT that can be implemented via a CD player. DESIGN SMRT and SLRM were measured for 10 normal hearing and 10 cochlear implant participants. RESULTS Performance on the two tests was highly correlated (r = 0.97). CONCLUSIONS The results suggest that SLRM can be used interchangeably with SMRT but can be implemented without a computer.
Colloid Cysts: Evolution of Surgical Approach Preference and Management of Recurrent Cysts

Background Optimal management of third ventricular colloid cysts remains debated. While microsurgery offers greater resection rates and lower recurrences, endoscopy offers a perceived less invasive option. Objective To describe the evolution of our practice to favor microsurgery and determine the optimal management of recurrent colloid cysts. Methods Any patient having undergone surgery for a colloid cyst by the senior author was identified and included in the study cohort. Clinical, radiographic, and operative records were reviewed, with attention paid to those patients requiring recurrent surgery. Results Thirty-three patients were treated for intracranial colloid cysts between 1995 and 2017. Two patients had initial surgical treatment at an outside institution prior to presentation at our institution. Microsurgery was used in 15/31 initial cases, endoscopy in 13 cases, and ventriculoperitoneal shunting in 3 cases. Between 1995 and 2005, 89% of colloid cysts (8/9 cases) were resected endoscopically, whereas 74% of colloid cysts (14/19 cases) were resected by microsurgery after 2005. Of the 13 patients treated endoscopically, 6 (46%) required surgery for recurrent cysts. Incomplete cyst wall resection at the initial operation increased the recurrence rate to 55%. There were no recurrences in the microsurgery cohort. Conclusion Surgical resection of recurrent colloid cysts should focus on complete removal of the cyst wall to minimize the chance of recurrence. Microsurgery has been shown to provide the highest success rates for cyst wall resection and lowest rates of recurrence and is therefore recommended for patients undergoing surgery for primary and recurrent colloid cysts.
Ring opening of epoxides with [18F]FeF species to produce [18F]fluorohydrin PET imaging agents

A simple technique for the preparation of [18F]HF has been developed and applied to the generation of an [18F]FeF species for opening sterically hindered epoxides. This method has been successfully employed to prepare four drug-like molecules, including 5-[18F]fluoro-6-hydroxy-cholesterol, a potential adrenal/endocrine PET imaging agent. This easily automated one-pot procedure produces sterically hindered fluorohydrin PET imaging agents in good yields and high molar activities.
Applying Technology to Enhance STEM Achievement for Students with Disabilities: The Blending Assessment with Instruction Program:

This article discusses the theoretical framework, instructional design, formative assessment results, capacity for national distribution, and generalization of the Blending Assessment with Instruction Program (BAIP) model to other content areas such as science. The BAIP, developed and validated at the University of Kansas, employs technology to align instruction in mathematics with National Council of Teachers in Mathematics Standards. BAIP consists of three sets of Web-based resources that are available 24/7 for students and teachers in grades three through high school. Resources include 276 self-contained mathematic lessons structured around five frameworks (i.e., contextual, teaching, lesson, application, and extension); 417 independent online tutorials that provide immediate feedback to students; and a data reporting system that provides teachers with immediate feedback on student performance to facilitate instructional decision making. The materials are suitable for all learners, with particular emph...
On the lower bound of energy functionalE 1 (I)—A stability theorem on the Kähler Ricci flow

In the present article, we prove a stability theorem for the Kaehler Ricci flow near the infimum of the functional E1 under the assumption that the initial metric has Ricci >−1 and ⋎Riem÷ bounded. At present stage, our main theorem still need a topological assumption (1.2) which we hope to be removed in subsequent articles. The underlying moral is: If a Kaehler metric is sufficiently closed to a Kaehler Einstein metric, then the Kaehler Ricci flow converges to it. The present work should be viewed as a first step in a more ambitious program of deriving the existence of Kaehler Einstein metrics with an arbitrary energy level, provided that this energy functional has a uniform lower bound in this kaehler class.
Development of Nomograms to Predict the Recovery of Erectile Function Following Radical Prostatectomy

Abstract Introduction Given the number of confounders in predicting erectile function recovery after radical prostatectomy (RP), a nomogram predicting the chance to be functional after RP would be useful to patients’ and clinicians’ discussions. Aim To develop preoperative and postoperative nomograms to aid in the prediction of erectile function recovery after RP. Main Outcome Measures International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF) erectile function domain score-based erectile function. Methods A prospective quality-of-life database was used to develop a series of nomograms using multivariable ordinal logistic regression models. Standard preoperative and postoperative factors were included. Main Outcome Measures The nomograms predicted the probability of recovering functional erections (erectile function domain scores ≥24) and severe erectile dysfunction (≤10) 2 years after RP. Results 3 nomograms have been developed, including a preoperative, an early postoperative, and a 12-month postoperative version. The concordance indexes for all 3 exceeded 0.78, and the calibration was good. Clinical Implications These nomograms may aid clinicians in discussing erectile function recovery with patients undergoing RP. Strengths & Limitations Strengths of this study included a large population, validated instrument, nerve-sparing grading, and nomograms that are well calibrated with excellent discrimination ability. Limitations include current absence of external validation and an overall low comorbidity index. Conclusions It is hoped that these nomograms will allow for a more accurate discussion between patients and clinicians regarding erectile function recovery after RP. Mulhall JP, Kattan MW, Bennett NE, et al. Development of Nomograms to Predict the Recovery of Erectile Function Following Radical Prostatectomy J Sex Med 2019;16:1796–1802.
Helical Miura Origami

We characterize the phase space of all helical Miura origami. These structures are obtained by taking a partially folded Miura parallelogram as the unit cell, applying a generic helical or rod group to the cell, and characterizing all the parameters that lead to a globally compatible origami structure. When such compatibility is achieved, the result is cylindrical-type origami that can be manufactured from a suitably designed flat tessellation and "rolled up" by a rigidly foldable motion into a cylinder. We find that the closed helical Miura origami are generically rigid to deformations that preserve cylindrical symmetry but are multistable. We are inspired by the ways atomic structures deform to develop two broad strategies for reconfigurability: motion by slip, which involves relaxing the closure condition, and motion by phase transformation, which exploits multistability. Taken together, these results provide a comprehensive description of the phase space of cylindrical origami, as well as quantitative design guidance for their use as actuators or metamaterials that exploit twist, axial extension, radial expansion, and symmetry.
Employment and Wages of Hmong and Other Southeast Asian Refugees in the United States

Hmong refugees fled from Laos to relocation camps in Thailand after the end of the Vietnam War, and thousands later resettled in the United States. We use Census microdata to explore measures of ec...
ALGEBRAIC FORMULAS CHARACTERIZING AN ALTERNATIVE TO GUYTON'S GRAPHICAL ANALYSIS RELEVANT FOR HEART FAILURE.

Although Guyton’s graphical analysis of cardiac output-venous return has become a ubiquitous tool for explaining how circulatory equilibrium emerges from heart-vascular interactions, this classical...
Advances in the Security Features of SATA Solid State Drives

This chapter focuses on advanced experiments and improvements in the security features of the SATA solid-state drives. In modern computer applications, the quantity of data is growing day by day, and accordingly, the size of storage media is also increasing rapidly. Flash memories are used in most storage devices, one of which is a Solid State drive. Solid-state drives, or SSDs, are non-volatile data storage devices that store data in NAND or NOR flash memories, providing features similar to traditional hard disk drives (HDD). This chapter provides a comparative study of Solid-state drives over Hard-disk drives. Further, a technique is designed and implemented to enhance SATA Solid-state drives security features in terms of user authentication, access control, and media recovery from the ATA security feature set.
A Collaborative Partnership between the Multicenter Handoff Collaborative and an Electronic Health Record Vendor.

Objectives The operating room is a specialized, complex environment with many factors that can impede effective communication during transitions of care between anesthesia clinicians. We postulated that an efficient, accessible, standardized tool for intraoperative handoffs built into standard workflow would improve communication and handoff safety. Most institutions now use an electronic health record (EHR) system for patient care and have independently designed intraoperative handoff tools, but these home-grown tools are not scalable to other organizations and lack vendor-supported features. The goal of this project was to create a standardized, intraoperative handoff tool supported by EHR functionality. Methods The Multicenter Handoff Collaborative, with support from the Anesthesia Patient Safety Foundation, created a working group of frontline anesthesia experts to collaborate with a development team from the EHR vendor (Epic Systems) to design a standardized intraoperative handoff tool. Over 2 years, the working group identified the critical elements for the tool and software usability, and the EHR team designed a standardized intraoperative handoff tool that is accessible to any institution using this EHR. Results The first iteration of the intraoperative handoff tool was released in August 2019, with a second version in February 2020. The tool is standardized but customizable by individual institutions. Conclusion We demonstrate that work on complex health care processes critical to patient safety, such as handoffs, can be performed on a national scale through cross-industry collaboration. Frontline experts can partner with health care industry vendors to design, build, and release a product on an accelerated timeline.
High power junction dynamics of the intra-step quantum well electroabsorption modulator

Novel DC and RF behaviors are experimentally observed for a high power p-i-n electroabsorption modulator using intra-step quantum well and single-sided large optical cavity. The phenomena are explained by the junction dynamics.
Hospital board effectiveness: relationships between governing board composition and hospital financial viability

Abstract OBJECTIVE. Two theories--agency and managerialism--are compared with respect to their usefulness in explaining the role of insiders on the hospital board: whether their participation enhances or impairs board financial decision making. DATA SOURCES/STUDY SETTING. The study used 1985 hospital financial and governing board data for a representative sample of acute care California hospitals. STUDY DESIGN. Relationships were examined cross-sectionally between the presence or absence of insiders on the board and measures of hospital financial viability while controlling for the organizational factors of system affiliation, ownership, size, region, and corporate restructuring. PRINCIPAL FINDINGS. Multiple regression analysis found significant relationships between insider (CEO, medical staff) participation and hospital viability. CONCLUSIONS. These results support the managerial theory of governance by suggesting that the CEO and medical staff provide informational advantages to the hospital governing board. However, the cross-sectional design points to the need for future longitudinal studies in order to sequence these relationships between insider participation and improved hospital viability.
The Jovian magnetosphere and magnetopause

It is convenient to divide the magnetosphere into three regions. The inner magnetosphere extends from the surface to about 25 7R J and is dominated by the basically dipolar field. The outer magnetosphere, on the sunward side, occupies a layer roughly 15R J thick just inside the magnetopause. Here the field direction was found by Pioneers 10 and 11 to have a strong southward component, 5 to 10 times as strong as expected if one scales the observations in the Earth’s magnetosphere. The middle magnetosphere is the remaining region. Its thickness, again on the sunward side, varies greatly as the magnetopause moves in and out. In this region the field direction turns as one goes outward from nearly dipolar to nearly radial but with a persistent southward component. The field is outward in the northern hemisphere, inward in the southern, separated by a thin (~;1 or 2R J) warped current sheet in which the magnetic field appears to be very weak and mainly southward.
Improved mesh algorithms for straight line detection

The problem of detecting lines in an image with N edge pixels on mesh-connected computers with N processors is considered. Four efficient algorithms that detect lines by performing a Hough transform are presented. The first algorithm runs in O(N/sup 1/2/+n) time on a 2-D mesh, where n is the number of theta values considered. The second algorithm runs in O((N/n)/sup 1/2/+n) time on a 3-D mesh. The third algorithm runs in O(log(N/n)+n) time on an augmented mesh. The fourth algorithm runs in O(n log N/log n) time on a mesh with a reconfigurable bus. All of the algorithms have smaller time complexities than algorithms in the literature. >
Characteristics of a transport-deficient mutant (nap) of Neurospora crassa

Abstract nap , previously characterized by Jacobson and Metzenberg as a neutral and acidic amino acid transport mutant, was found in this study to be reduced in transport activity for a variety of metabolites. Analysis of glycoprotein molecules involved in amino acid binding indicates that the deficiency is not at this level. The deficiency appears to be in some common component of all active transport systems.
Roles of Parental and Progeny DNA in Two Mechanisms of Phage S13 Recombination

THERE are at least two mechanisms for genetic recombination of phage S13–primary and secondary. They are distinguished by the amount of phage recombination observed in recombination-deficient (recA) bacterial hosts. An S13 cross performed in either of the recA hosts, Escherichia coli JC15531 or AB24632, yields a recombination frequency that is greatly reduced from that found in a rec+ host3, 4; this suggests that the recA gene is required for the primary mechanism of S13 recombination. But even in a recA host the phage undergoes a small residual amount of recombination3 which has been attributed to a minor, secondary mechanism. Apparently the secondary mechanism functions in a recA cell and is only revealed when the primary mechanism is eliminated.
Effects of Local Plasma Environment on Dynamics of Electrodynamic Tether Systems

An electrodynamic tether system consists of two satellites connected by a long tether that generates current to produce either power or thrust via the system’s electromagnetic interaction with the space environment. A complete system model for an electrodynamic tether that combines a high-fidelity tether dynamics model and a model for the tether current governed by local space plasma properties is developed. The International Reference Ionosphere is used to generate the plasma parameters for the tether current collection model. Variations in the tether system dynamics due to the tether current are investigated and compared to experimental data from the Plasma Motor Generator mission. The current profiles generated throughout the system’s orbit are found to match the day–night current variations observed during the experiment. These natural diurnal current variations do not introduce a significant difference in the system’s orbit. However, new modes of oscillation in the tether’s in-plane and out-of-plane ...
Growing trend of network-based, smart green buildings towards automatic energy-saving performance: A study based on Advantech’s energy-saving system

The concept of smart green buildings — based on energy saving and environment protection, combined with smart living technologies — is catching on globally. These buildings have an average lifespan of several decades and lots of energy intensive facilities. As a result, the effect of scientific solutions to energy saving on global carbon reduction can be enormous. This also may create huge market benefits, as most smart green buildings require input from ICTs (information and communication technologies) and construction industries for high-level, cross-sector integration.
Next Generation Cancer Protection: The Bivalent HPV Vaccine for Females.

Nearly a half a million women throughout the world develop cervical cancer every year Parkin and Bray (“Chapter 2. The burden of HPVrelated cancers,” Vaccine, vol. 24, no. 3, pp. S11–S25, 2006); 80% of these women are in countries without a quality-assured cytology screening program. It is in this setting that Cervarix could reduce the incidence of cervical cancer to about 9.5/100,000 women. New evidence indicates that this might be able to be accomplished with a single dose of Cervarix, a great advantage to public health implementation programs Kreimer et al. (“Proof-of-principle evaluation of the efficacy of fewer than three doses of a bivalent HPV16/18 vaccine, The Journal of the National Cancer Institute, vol. 103, no. 19, pp. 1444–1451, 2011). In countries with screening programs, adenocarcinoma is the most difficult to detect and treat with later-stage presentation and higher mortality Smith et al. (“The rising incidence of adenocarcinoma relative to squamous cell carcinoma of the uterine cervix in the United States—a 24-year population-based study,” Gynecologic Oncology, vol. 78, no. 2, pp. 97–105, 2000) and Gunnell et al. (“A longitudinal Swedish study on screening for squamous cell carcinoma and adenocarcinoma: evidence of effectiveness and overtreatment,” Cancer Epidemiology Biomarkers and Prevention, vol. 16, no. 12, pp. 2641–2648, 2007). With additional cross-protection to HPV 31, 33, and 45 and protection against HPV 16 and 18 lasting at least 9.4 years, Cervarix may reduce adenocarcinomas in screened populations by more than 90%. This paper will detail the evidence about the efficacy, immunogenicity, and safety of Cervarix in the studied populations contrasting public health goals with individual health options.
Aspirin and galactose-induced cataract formation in rats

The effect of aspirin ingestion on the outcome of cataract formation in rats fed a galactose-containing diet was tested. Male, weanling Sprague Dawley rats were fed diets containing 35% galactose, and were pair-fed to rats eating similar diets but supplemented with 0.05% aspirin in their drinking water, or in their food. After 63 days, the level of free tryptophan in plasma was lower among rats given the aspirin. However, the rate of cataract formation did not differ between the experimental and control groups. Thus, aspirin did not influence the outcome of galactose-induced cataract formation in these rats.
Postconstruction Evaluation of Horizontal Directional Drilling Installations

Recently, questions have arisen concerning the compactive nature of drilling fluids within the annular space during horizontal directional drilling (HDD) operations. To address these concerns, a field and laboratory study was conducted to provide both a qualitative and a quantitative assessment of the annular space. The study consisted of installing 61 m (200 ft) bore lengths of 100 mm (4 in.) , 200 mm (8 in.) , and 300 mm (12 in.) SDR 17 high density polyethylene pipe in two different soil mediums: clay and sand. Subsequently, the pipes were excavated with visual and strength measures of each of the installations taken at time periods of 1 day , 1 week , 2 weeks , 4 weeks , and 1 year after installation to assess the annular space region over time. Additionally, samples of the drilling fluid were evaluated both in the field and at a laboratory. This paper presents the results of this research initiative and provides qualitative and quantitative information on borehole annular space integrity during HDD i...
Sesquiterpene lactones of Montanoa guatemalensis and Montanoa tomentosa subsp. Xanthiifolia

Abstract New 4,5-epoxygermacra-12,6β-olides from Montanoa guatemalensis and a Guatemalan disjunct collection of M. tomentosa subsp. xanthiifolia are reported. These compounds were unlike those from the 10 other Mexican collections of M. tomentosa previous investigated.
Valproate therapy for agitation in dementia: open-label extension of a double-blind trial.

Objective The authors describe an open-label extension of a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled study of divalproex sodium in 56 nursing home patients with agitation and dementia. Methods Participants (N = 46) were treated for 6 weeks in an open fashion with clinically optimal doses of divalproex sodium (range: 250 mg/day–1,500 mg/day; mean: 851 mg/day). Behavior was assessed with the Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale (BPRS) and Clinical Global Impression of Change (CGI) by new raters. Safety, tolerability, and laboratory data were obtained regularly. Results The mean BPRS Agitation Factor decreased by 3.1 points from baseline; 86% of those completing the open phase were rated as improved on the CGI. These changes were mirrored by changes in other behavior rating scales. Sixty percent of subjects had no side effects; 33% had side effects that were rated as mild. There were no clinically significant changes in laboratory values. Conclusion Ongoing open-label treatment with divalproex was associated with improvement in measures of agitation. Doses, levels, and tolerability were similar to those in the blinded phase of the study. These findings help confirm and extend the results from the placebo-controlled phase of the trial and suggest that divalproex may be beneficial for some patients with this clinical problem.
Abnormal hepatic sinusoidal bile acid transport in an Amish Kindred is not linked to FIC1 and is improved by ursodiol

Abstract Background & Aims: The mechanism for abnormal hepatic bile acid transport was investigated in an 18-month-old Amish boy who presented with pruritus, poor growth, and severe bleeding episodes. Serum bilirubin, γ-glutamyltranspeptidase, and cholesterol levels were normal, but prothrombin time and partial thromboplastin time were prolonged and bone alkaline phosphatase level was elevated. Methods and Results: Cholic acid plus chenodeoxycholic acid levels measured by capillary gas-chromatography were 32 times higher than control in serum (34.7 vs. 1.1 ± 0.4 μg/dL) but were not detected in liver and were reduced in gallbladder bile. Treatment with ursodiol, a more hydrophilic bile acid, improved pruritus, produced 37% weight gain, and after 2 years reduced serum primary bile acid concentrations about 85%, while accounting for 71% of serum and 24% of biliary bile acid conjugates. On ursodiol therapy, hepatic bile acid synthesis was enhanced 2-fold compared with controls, and microscopy revealed chronic hepatitis without cholestasis. Three younger sisters with elevated serum bile acids responded positively to ursodiol. Microsatellite markers for the FIC1 (gene for Byler's disease) region in these 4 children were inconsistent with linkage to FIC1 . Conclusions: Conjugated cholic acid and chenodeoxycholic acid were synthesized in the liver and secreted into bile but could not reenter the liver from portal blood and accumulated in serum. In contrast, unconjugated ursodiol entered the liver and was conjugated and secreted into bile. Thus, the enterohepatic circulation of all conjugated bile acids was interrupted at the hepatic sinusoidal basolateral membrane. Unconjugated ursodiol bypassed the hepatic uptake block to enlarge the biliary and intestinal bile acid pools. A mutation in FIC1 recognized among the Amish and linkage of the disorder to FIC1 were excluded. GASTROENTEROLOGY 2000;119:188-195
Infrared spectra of the B-halogenated derivatives of N-trimethyl-borazine

Abstract The vapor phase infrared spectra of N-trimethylborazine and the twelve B-halogenated derivatives of N-trimethylborazine were recorded in the 4000-650 cm−1 region. The spectra are interpreted on the basis of frequency correlations and the bands arising from boron-halogen stretching modes have been assigned.
Ethnic and women's representation under mixed election systems

Abstract This paper examines the effects of mixed election systems on group representation in post-Communist Europe. The central hypothesis, that compared to pure proportional and majoritarian rules, combined elections provide minorities and women with intermediate levels of representation is tested with data from 15 East European countries. I examine ethnic and female representation across mixed-system tiers and across systems, while controlling for the possible effects of the socio-economic and political context. The results of the multivariate regression analysis support the intermediate-level hypothesis, and also help to identify demographic characteristics and elements of the mixed systems which play an important role in providing groups with access to power.
Augmentation of Macrophage Phagocytic Activity by Cell-Free Extracts of Selected Lactic Acid-Producing Bacteria

Oral and intraperitoneal administration of lactic acid-producing bacteria can significantly augment the immune response in murine models; however, the immunopotentiating effects in these studies differ significantly. Murine macrophagelike cell line J774 was cultured in the presence of cell-free extracts of Lactobacillus acidophilus and Bifidobacterium longum, and the effect on macrophage function was evaluated by measurement of synthesis of selected enzymes and their ability to take up either acrylamide particles or live Salmonella typhimurium. Lysozyme activity of J774 cells was significantly decreased by cell-free extracts of B. longum, but not of L. acidophilus, whereas extracts of both strains induced morphological changes and significantly enhanced phagocytosis of inert particles or viable Salmonella. Whole cell extracts of lactic acid-producing bacteria are therefore capable of altering macrophage function in a strain-dependent manner.
LONG SWINGS IN AMERICAN INEQUALITY: THE KUZNETS CONJECTURE REVISITED

In the two hundred year history of American macroeconomic development there have been four great surges in inequality. Each followed a stagflation crisis and was accompanied by a turn of the electorate to more conservative commercially-oriented candidates for the presidency and congress. Each stage was followed, in turn, by an egalitarian backlash in which a political agenda dominated by technological innovation, efficiency and growth was replaced by one concerned with social innovation, equity and redistribution. These interlocking macroeconomic and political rhythms point to a long wave reinterpretation of the Kuznets conjecture on the relations of the inequality and economic growth within the contact of a containing dialectic between capitalism and democracy in America.
Corpus-based statistical sense resolution

The three corpus-based statistical sense resolution methods studied here attempt to infer the correct sense of a polysemous word by using knowledge about patterns of word cooccurrences. The techniques were based on Bayesian decision theory, neural, networks, and content vectors as used in information retrieval. To understand these methods better, we posed a very specific problem: given a set of contexts, each containing the noun line in a known sense, construct a classifier that selects the correct sense of line for new contexts. To see how the degree of polysemy affects performance, results from three- and six-sense tasks are compared.The results demonstrate that each of the techniques is able to distinguish six senses of line with an accuracy greater than 70%. Furthermore, the response patterns of the classifiers are, for the most part, statistically indistinguishable from one another. Comparison of the two tasks suggests that the degree of difficulty involved in resolving individual senses is a greater performance factor than the degree of polysemy.
Internal deletions in the yeast transcriptional activator HAP1 have opposite effects at two sequence elements.

Abstract In this report we study the effects of internal deletions of the yeast transcriptional activator HAP1 (CYP1) on activity at two dissimilar DNA binding sites, upstream activation sequence 1 (UAS1) of CYC1 (iso-1-cytochrome c) and CYC7 (iso-2-cytochrome c). These deletions remove up to 1061 amino acids of the 1483-residue protein and bring the carboxyl-terminal acidic activation domain closer to the amino-terminal DNA-binding domain. Surprisingly, the deletions have opposite effects at the two sites; activity at UAS1 increases with deletion size, while activity at CYC7 decreases. The mutant with the largest deletion, mini-HAP1, has no measurable activity at CYC7 but binds normally to the site in vitro. In contrast, a protein with the DNA-binding domain of HAP1 fused to the acidic activation domain of GAL4 is active at both UAS1 and CYC7. These findings are discussed in the context of two models that suggest how the DNA sequence can alter the activity of the bound HAP1. In a separate experiment, we generate a mutation in the DNA-binding domain of HAP1 that requires the addition of zinc for binding to either UAS1 or CYC7 in vitro. This finding shows that a zinc finger anchors DNA binding to both types of HAP1 sites.
Ligand Binding Sites in Escherichia coli Inorganic Pyrophosphatase: Effects of Active Site Mutations†

Type I soluble inorganic pyrophosphatases (PPases) are well characterized both structurally and mechanistically. Earlier we measured the effects of active site substitutions on pH−rate profiles for the type I PPases from both Escherichia coli (E-PPase) and Saccharomyces cerevisae (Y-PPase). Here we extend these studies by measuring the effects of such substitutions on the more discrete steps of ligand binding to E-PPase, including (a) Mg2+ and Mn2+ binding in the absence of added ligand; (b) Mg2+ binding in the presence of either Pi or hydroxymethylbisphosphonate (HMBP), a competitive inhibitor of E-PPase; and (c) Pi binding in the presence of Mn2+. The active site of a type I PPase has well-defined subsites for the binding of four divalent metal ions (M1−M4) and two phosphates (P1, P2). Our results, considered in light of pertinent results from crystallographic studies on both E-PPase and Y-PPase and parallel functional studies on Y-PPase, allow us to conclude the following: (a) residues E20, D65, D70, ...
Varicocelectomy: incidence of external spermatic vein involvement in the clinical varicocele

The vascular anatomy of the clinical varicocele, and the incidence of involvement of the external spermatic vein were studied. Dilation of the external spermatic vein (4 mm) was found in 49.5 percent of 93 varicoceles in 67 patients. The location of this vein, its potential involvement in a varicocele, and its management were reviewed.
β-Agostic Interactions in 15-Valence-Electron 9-BBN Hydroborate Half-Sandwich Titanium(III) Complexes

A series of new mono-Cp- or Cp*-based titanium(III) 9-BBN hydroborate derivatives with either 15- or 17-valence-electron configurations were synthesized, and their structures were determined by single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis. These studies revealed that the 15-valence-electron complexes [Cp*Ti(III)Cl{(μ-H)2BC8H14}(THF)] (2) and [Cp*Ti(III){(μ-H)2BC8H14}2] (6) show the presence of β-agostic interactions between the Ti(III) metal center and the α-hydrogens on the 9-BBN ligand in the solid state, while the 17-valence-electron complexes [CpTi(III){(μ-H)2BC8H14}2(THF)] (3), [Cp*Ti(III){(μ-H)2BC8H14}2(THF)] (4), and [Cp*Ti(III){(μ-H)2BC8H14}2(NC5H5)] (7) display no agostic interactions. Agostic interactions in Ti(III) species are uncommon. While the Ti···H distance can be indicative of an agostic interaction, other structural parameters provide more reliable indication of such an interaction. These are the shortening of the Ti−B distance, the lengthening of the B−C(α) distance, the sharpening of the ...
Lactational ethanol exposure: Brain enzymes and [3h]spiroperidol binding

Long-Evans lactating rats were fed 27% calories as ethanol in a liquid diet to determine whether alcohol received through the milk would alter normal brain development in the offspring. On days 16, 21 and 30, brains of the female offspring were removed, corpus striatum dissected and assayed for choline acetyltransferase activity, glutamic acid decarboxylase activity and [3H]spiroperidol binding activity. At day 16, there were no differences among the three treatment groups for the enzyme activities assayed. At day 21, glutamic acid decarboxylase activity in the pairfed group was higher than in ET and CT groups. Choline acetyltransferase activity in PF group was higher when compared to ad libitum controls and [3H]spiroperidol binding was not affected. At 30 days of age, animals exposed to ethanol had higher choline acetyltransferase activity and [3H]spiroperidol binding activity when compared to pairfed and ad libitum controls; and higher glutamic acid decarboxylase activity when compared to ad libitum controls. Data from the present study suggest that ethanol exposure during the brain growth spurt has a toxic effect on the late development of dopaminergic, cholinergic and GABAergic systems in the corpus striatum. These results may be related to the clinical symptoms of hyperactivity and problems with motor control in children exposed to alcohol during the third trimester and during lactation.
A novel mercapto-bisphosphonate as an efficient anticalcification agent for bioprosthetic tissues

Abstract The synthesis of 2-(2-mercaptoethylamino)ethylidene–1,1-bisphosphonic acid (2) is reported (overall yield >90%), via nucleophilic addition of cystamine to vinylidene–bisphosphonic acid (1) followed by reduction of disulfide bonds with Me3P. Reaction of 1 with cysteamine forms the isomeric 2-(2-aminoethylthio)ethylidene–1,1-bisphosphonate (3) in an almost quantitative yield. Thiol groups of 2 in water at pH 7 react with epoxy rings more than 30 times faster compared to the known 2-mercaptoethylidene–1,1-bisphosphonate. Elimination of the thiol group is observed as a side-reaction in the reduction of disulfides with phosphines. Stabilization of bioprosthetic tissues with triglycidylamine in the presence of 2 results in covalent immobilization of 2 via an epoxy-SH reaction; this inhibits the long-term calcification of bioprosthetic heart valve tissues to almost undetectable levels.