cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Focal spot rotation for improving CT resolution homogeneity

Focal spot characteristics are one of the key determinants for system resolution. Focal spot size drives source blurring, focal spot aspect ratio using the line focus principle drives resolution loss away from isocenter, and focal spot deflection improves sampling. The purpose of this work is to introduce focal spot rotation as a possible new mechanism to fine-tune resolution tradeoffs. A conventional design orients a rectangular focal spot towards isocenter, with resolution decreasing with distance from isocenter. We propose rotating the focal spot so that it is pointed a small distance from isocenter (for example, to a point 10 cm right of isocenter). This improves resolution to the right of isocenter, decreases resolution slightly at isocenter and decreases resolution significantly to the left of isocenter. In a full scan, each ray passing through a point far from isocenter will be sampled twice, once with a larger and once with a smaller effective focal spot. This data can be appropriately combined during reconstruction to boost the limiting radial resolution of the scan, improving the resolution homogeneity of the scanner. Dynamic rotation of the focal spot, similar to dynamic deflection, can be implemented using electromagnetic steering and has other advantages.
Nanocomposite versus sol-gel processing of barium magnesium tantalate

Barium magnesium tantalate, Ba(Mg1/3Ta2/3)O3 (BMT) was prepared by a nanocomposite processing route. Density, particle size and microstructure were determined on the BMT nanocomposite pellets sintered at various temperatures and compared with those derived from a sol-gel process. BMT ceramics prepared by the nanocomposite process showed fine grains of about 2 μm and higher densities compared to that of BMT prepared by sol-gel processing, apparently due to a decreased temperature interval between crystallization and densification in the nanocomposite process.
Eye Complications of Diabetes

Diabetic retinopathy is a well-characterized, sight-threatening, chronic, ocular disorder that eventually develops, to some degree, in nearly all patients with diabetes mellitus. With experienced ophthalmic evaluation, diabetic retinopathy can be detected in its early stages. Existing therapies are remarkably effective at preventing some types of visual loss when administered at the appropriate time in the disease process. In addition, improved systemic glycemic control is associated with a delay in onset and slowing of progression of diabetic retinopathy. Nevertheless, diabetic retinopathy is the leading cause of new cases of legal blindness, as well as of severe and moderate visual loss among Americans between the ages of 20 and 74 years.
An Exploration of Off Topic Conversation

In a corpus of expert tutoring dialogue, conversation that is considered to be "off topic" (non-pedagogical) according to a previous coding scheme is explored for its value in tutoring dynamics. Using the Linguistic Inquiry and Word Count (LIWC) tool, phases of tutoring categorized as "off topic" were compared with interactive problem solving phases to explore how the two differ on the emotional, psychological, and topical dimensions analyzed by LIWC. The results suggest that conversation classified as "off topic" serves as motivation and broad pedagogy in tutoring. These findings can be used to orient future research on "off topic" conversation, and help to make sense of both previous coding schemes and noisy data sets.
Complications of Laparoscopic Radical Nephrectomy and Nephroureterectomy

Laparoscopic nephrectomy was first described almost 20 years ago by Clayman et al. [1]. Since then, laparoscopic surgical acumen has evolved, and the complexity of operations undertaken has grown in parallel. A body of literature has developed which sheds light on both the many advantages and the potential pitfalls of urologic laparoscopy for malignant disease of the kidney. It is, of course, this angle that we set out to explore in this chapter.
Factors Important for the Scholarship of Self-Study of Teacher Education Practices

This chapter links the scholarship on teaching to some central points in the scholarship on research approaches. It begins by presenting and analyzing some common adages regarding teacher education in order to clarify assumptions about the nature of teacher education. Each adage is examined to explicate its implicit views of knowledge, learning and schooling. The chapter then considers how the contexts of schooling a3ect the processes of teacher education and argues that complex contextual factors are central to our work in teacher education. It further argues that emotional reactions to the processes of growth encouraged in teacher education cannot be ignored. The chapter ends by arguing that all the factors discussed shape how our scholarship needs to be conducted in order to be useful and relates this to the wider literature on educational research.
Keys to Successful Mentoring Relationships.

Abstract: Mentoring is an effective method of helping inexperienced individuals develop and progress in their profession. Extension staff have many opportunities to mentor volunteers and other community partners. The keys to establishing a successful mentoring relationship include creating a relationship of trust, clearly defining roles and responsibilities, establishing shortand long-term goals, using open and supportive communication, and collaboratively solving problems.
Revise Guidelines/Standards to Reflect Clinical Evidence and New Technology

In recent years, professional medical societies and other organizations have developed clinical practice guidelines and standards to guide the work of wound care scientists, manufactures, researche...
Efficacy of Paired Electrochemical Sensors for Measuring Ozone Concentrations

Typical low-cost electrochemical sensors for ozone (O3) are also highly responsive to nitrogen dioxide (NO2). Consequently, a single sensor’s response to O3 is indistinguishable from its response t...
CLICK BAIT: PROBLEMATIC INTERNET PORNOGRAPHY USE AMONG OLDER ADULTS: Session 305

Abstract An increasing number of people over 60 years old accessing the internet. Some accounts report that over 65% of older people in developed countries use the internet. Problematic Internet Use (PIU) is a wide-spread phenomenon that is becoming increasingly prevalent in contemporary society. While only Internet Gaming Disorder was identified by the DSM-V as a condition of further study, growing evidence supports that a variety of other internet-based activities can impede function and cause distress. These online based activities include among others gambling, use of social media, online shopping and pornography. More evidence is emerging of problematic internet use among older population. Some authors suggest that older age predisposes to increased rates of certain kinds of PIU over others, including certain kinds of games and streaming of online media. Other studies conclude that older patients might be using more pornography as their ability to engage in sexual intercourse is more limited. This might have particular effects on the quality of their intimate relationships and their mental wellbeing. Gender seems to be another factor that associates with different PIU types. For example, while men in general might be more susceptible to all types of PIU, women tend to be more likely to engage in problematic online shopping, chatting and social media. PIU has been linked to worsening physical health due to sedentary lifestyle and worsening mental health due to suffering consequences such as financial strain and loneliness. Other risk factors for PIU in older populations include the presence of GAD or OCD symptoms. There are public health implications in terms of better understanding the risk of PIU in the elderly. The elderly may be especially vulnerable to PIU, because of decreased mobility and dwindling social circles which might lead to increased reliance on online shopping and social media for connecting to others. In turn increased internet use might lead to diminished use of other more adaptive coping mechanisms and at the expense of deepening or maintaining real world relationships. As pornography use increases in the elderly, so does the opportunity for compulsive or impulsive use of pornography. Diminishing cognitive reserve and executive function in the elderly may be predispose these individuals to engage in more PIU due to impaired impulse control. Furthermore, patients with Parkinson's disease who take agonists might be at higher risk of PIU. There is evidence that increased PIU may be increasing loneliness in older adults which in turn has been connected to increased incidence of suicide. Because certain platforms and activities might be more likely to lead to the development of PIU, targeting the delivery of online services and platforms to the elderly may positively affect public health.
Conceptualising Violence as a Problem of Epistemology

This chapter presents the idea that the underlying cause of violence is a specific type of epistemology which the author terms ‘violent epistemology’. The chapter presents a detailed a conceptual framework for understanding the specific cognitive mechanisms comprising violent epistemology, and how this is made possible by the nature of human consciousness and its agency. This multidisciplinary formulation draws on neuroscience, psychology, learning theory, and philosophy, including phenomenology and early Frankfurt School critical theory. The author explains how this formulation moves away from current relativistic definitions of ‘epistemic violence’ in which different epistemologies are perceived as having equal ‘truth’ (with the violence occurring when one group or individual’s epistemology is afforded primacy over others), presenting instead the argument that some epistemologies can be more or less violent, and produce more or less ‘truth’ than others, with violence occurring when a more violent epistemology is employed. The role of emotions and motivations in the enactment of violent epistemology is also discussed.
Adolescent Health Lifestyles and Educational Risk: Findings From the Monitoring the Future Study, 2010–2016

Introduction Research has linked educational risk to various risky health behaviors (e.g., drug use, violence, risky sexual behaviors). This study builds upon this research by examining the link between additional health lifestyle indicators—nutritional risk factors, low sleep quantity, and low exercise frequency—and academic risk factors among a recent, nationally representative sample of adolescents. Methods Data from the 7 most recent cohorts (2010–2016) of the Monitoring the Future survey were analyzed in 2018 (n=45,757–46,206). A multistage random sampling technique was used to acquire the sample. Results All examined risky health lifestyle indicators were associated with significantly greater odds of school disengagement and lower academic expectations. Youth were especially likely to exhibit educational risks when they engaged in multiple risky health behaviors. Each additional risky health lifestyle indicator conferred significant increases in the odds of every examined educational risk factor, with the odds of school disengagement increasing by a factor of 7.48 when youth engaged in 4 or more risky health behaviors (relative to none). Conclusions Findings suggest that activities that promote adolescent health across multiple dimensions (i.e., nutrition, physical exercise, and sleep) may also promote academic engagement and expectations for future academic achievements.
G1P3 (ISG 6-16), an interferon (IFN) stimulated survival factor antagonizes TRAIL/Apo2L induced apoptosis in myeloma cells

5152 TRAIL/Apo2L was one of the most potent pro-apoptotic genes induced (>100 fold) in myeloma cells following IFN-α2b. Yet 200 fold) and IFN-α1b, IFN-α2b and IFN-β markedly increased G1P3 expression in all myeloma cell lines tested. G1P3 encodes a 13 kD protein that has a putative mitochondrial localization sequence and belongs to the FAM protein family. Myeloma cells expressing G1P3 were resistant to TRAIL/Apo2L induced mitochondrial perturbation, cytochrome c release and apoptosis. TRAIL (50 ng/ml) for 24 hr markedly increased apoptosis (from 4% to 77.5%) of vector transduced cells and higher concentrations of TRAIL (100 ng/ml) resulted in a further increase to 93.6%. Compared to control cells only 4.3% of G1P3 cells underwent apoptosis with 50 ng/ml of TRAIL and 16.3% with 100 ng/ml of TRAIL. However, overexpression of G1P3 did not result in bortezomib (a proteasome inhibitor) resistance, suggesting specificity of G1P3 for the intrinsic apoptosis pathway. Further, 52% knockdown of IFN-α2b induced G1P3 mRNA with an siRNA resulted in a 10 fold increase in apoptosis (4.1% with control siRNA vs. 40.3% with G1P3 siRNA) of RPMI 8266 cells suggesting a pro-survival role for G1P3 upon IFNs stimulation. Data thus identified the direct role of a mitochondrial localized prosurvival ISG in antagonizing the effect of TRAIL/Apo2L, a pro-apoptotic ISG in myeloma. Ability to overcome G1P3 mediated anti-apoptotic signals could open new avenues for increasing the efficacy of therapies for myeloma or other malignancies.
Investigation of the mechanisms of cyclooxygenase-mediated mechanoreflex sensitization in a rat model of simulated peripheral artery disease

We demonstrate that the mechanoreflex is sensitized by the cyclooxygenase (COX) pathway within hindlimb skeletal muscles in the rat chronic femoral artery ligation model of simulated peripheral art...
CYCLOHEXITOL TRANSPORT IN THE CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM

SUMMARY: Mammalian brain and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) normally contain about 100 and 5 times respectively as much unbound myo-inositol as does plasma (0.1 mM). In brain, about 50 percent of the accounted for unbound myo-inositol is synthesized from glucose and 50 percent enters brain from blood by a saturable transport system. In CSF, about 33 persent of the accounted for unbound myo-inositol is synthesized from glucose in brain whereas 67 percent enters CSF from blood by a saturable transport system. The choroid plexus, the anatomical location of the blood-CSF barrier, is a locus for myo-inositol transport from blood into CSF. The myo-inositol transport system within the choroid plexus is saturable, concentrative and energy-dependent. Of the 8 cyclohexitol stereoisomers tested, only myo-inositol and scyllitol had high affinity (0.1 mM) for the cyclohexitol transport system in choroid plexus. In vivo, the choroid plexus helps maintain the CSF (and indirectly brain) myo-inositol concentration at fairly constant levels by regulating myo-inositol transport from plasma into CSF.
Cross-sectional evaluation of perceived health care provider engagement, self-efficacy, and ART adherence in people living with HIV/AIDS.

Despite advancements in the treatment and prevention of HIV/AIDS, adherence to antiretroviral therapy (ART) remains suboptimal. Research indicates that health care provider (HCP) engagement is rela...
Deformation mechanisms and post-yielding behavior of additively manufactured lattice structures

Abstract This study develops an anisotropic generalization of the volumetric hardening model (VHM) to investigate the governing deformation mechanisms at the onset of yielding of additively manufactured lattice structure (AMLS) made of a nickel-based superalloy, Inconel 718 (IN718), under quasi-static loading. The discussion of deformation mechanisms relies on defining a new yield surface using a combination of experimental measurements and finite element simulations that enable the representation of three distinct behavioral features of IN718 lattice structures under mechanical loading including (1) tension-compression asymmetry of strut-level response; (2) tension-compression asymmetry of the aggregate response; and (3) hydrostatic pressure sensitivity of the strut-level response. Typically, the VHM is used to describe the aggregate response of lattice or foam materials to global loading. The VHM model could be directly applied at the strut-level; however, this would assume a one-to-one correspondence between the local and global response. Such an assumption is not justified a priori and could alter the evolution of the local deformation mechanisms and the resulting analysis of failure modes and structural degradation. Therefore, we introduce a modified VHM (or MVHM), which represents a more appropriate yield criterion. The Johnson-Cook damage criterion and damage evolution law, which is based on Hillerborg's fracture energy method, are coupled with the MVHM to investigate the damage initiation and evolution, and their influence on the global stress-strain response using finite element simulations.
Integrating High-Fidelity Simulation into a Medical Cardiovascular Physiology Curriculum.

Introduction The challenges of transitioning from basic sciences to clerkships are well identified in medical education. High-fidelity simulations, which have established a track record of improving clinical reasoning and clinical skills, have been proposed as a viable approach to bridge the gap between basic sciences and clerkships. However, little is known about the results of using simulation to address the gap. Methods In 2018, Morehouse School of Medicine enhanced the first-year cardiovascular physiology curriculum by integrating the high-fidelity simulation iStan into the cardiovascular physiology curriculum, with the purpose of early clinical exposure, cardiovascular concept mastery, and increased clinical associations. The integration included three structural design elements: (a) simulated clinical case introduction; (b) simulated clinical case development; and (c) student-led clinical case study. Results The first-year medical (MD1) students' cardiovascular physiology learning outcomes have significantly improved compared to the last two cohorts of MD1 students, and the students' test-taking time was significantly reduced compared to the performance of the last two counterpart cohorts. Students reported increased engagement in the simulation-enhanced cardiovascular physiology curriculum. Conclusion The findings provide preliminary evidence to suggest that the structural integration of high-fidelity simulation in the cardiovascular physiology curriculum proved successful in terms of students' learning experience and learning outcomes. The three central elements of high-fidelity simulation integration can inform future endeavor as a structural solution to effectively bridge the gaps between basic science concepts and clinical reasoning by using high-fidelity simulations.
Costs of Follow-Up After Implantation of Prosthetic Devices

Follow-up after implantation of prosthetic devices is a much neglected research topic. There are few widely accepted practice guidelines, weak attempts at measuring costs, and the potential exists for unrestrained costs. It is estimated that 20 to 25 million patients have some type of implanted medical device (1). Of these patients, the percentage that will develop infections or require device repair or reimplantation varies widely by type of prosthetic device.
The Virtues of Testimony

Ernest Sosa’s views on testimony and testimonial knowledge are rich, insightful, and subtle and have been developed in a number of papers and chapters spanning over 20 years. He has made important contributions to many of the central debates in this area of philosophy, but here I will limit my discussion to only three of them. I should say at the outset that though there is much that I agree with in Sosa’s writings, I will focus mostly on our areas of disagreement in what follows.
Phosphate Brain Energy Metabolism and Cognition in Alzheimer's Disease: A Spectroscopy Study Using Whole-Brain Volume-Coil 31Phosphorus Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy at 7Tesla.

Introduction Mitochondrial dysfunction is a neurometabolic hallmark signaling abnormal brain energy metabolism (BEM) targeted as a potential early marker of Alzheimer's disease (AD). Advanced imaging technologies, such as 31phosphorus magnetic resonance spectroscopy (31P MRS) at ultra-high-field (UHF) magnetic strength 7T, provide sensitive phosphate-BEM (p-BEM) data with precision. The study's first goal was to develop a methodology to measure phosphate energy and membrane metabolites simultaneously across the whole-brain using volume-coil 31P MRS at 7T in three groups-cognitively normal (CN), amnestic mild cognitive impairment (aMCI), and AD. The second aim investigated whether p-BEM markers in the four brain regions-frontal, temporal, parietal, and occipital were significantly different across the three groups. The final goal examined correspondence between the p-BEM markers and cognition in the three groups. Methods Forty-one participants (CN = 15, aMCI = 15, AD = 11) were enrolled and completed cognitive assessment and scan. The cognitive domains included executive function (EF), memory, attention, visuospatial skills, and language. The p-BEM markers were measured using energy reserve index (PCr/t-ATP), energy consumption index (intracellular_Pi/t-ATP), metabolic state indicator (intracellular_Pi/PCr), and regulatory co-factors [magnesium (Mg2+) and intracellular pH]. Results Thirteen metabolites were measured simultaneously from the whole brain for all three group with high spectral resolution at UHF. In the aMCI group, a lower p-BEM was observed compared to CN group based on two markers, i.e., energy reserve (p = 0.009) and energy consumption (p = 0.05) indices; whereas in AD a significant increase was found in metabolic stress indicator (p = 0.007) and lower Mg2+ (p = 0.004) in the temporal lobes compared to aMCI using ANOVA between group analytical approach. Finally, using a linear mixed model, a significant positive correlation was found between Mg2+ and cognitive performance of memory (p = 0.013), EF (p = 0.023), and attention (p = 0.0003) in CN but not in aMCI or AD. Conclusion To our knowledge, this is the first study to show that it is possible to measure p-BEM in vivo with precision at UHF across the three groups. Moreover, the findings suggest that p-BEM may be compromised in aMCI even before an AD diagnosis, which in future studies should explore to examine whether this energy crisis contributes to some of the earliest neuropathophysiologic changes in AD.
The gut bacterial natural product colibactin triggers induction of latent viruses in diverse bacteria

Colibactin is a chemically unstable small molecule genotoxin produced by multiple different bacteria, including members of the human gut microbiome. While the biological activity of colibactin has been extensively investigated in mammalian systems, little is known about its effects on other microorganisms. Here, we discover that colibactin targets bacteria carrying prophages, inducing lytic development via the bacterial SOS response. DNA, added exogenously, protects bacteria from colibactin, as does expressing a colibactin resistance protein (ClbS) in non-colibactin-producing cells. The prophage-inducing effects we observe apply broadly across taxonomically diverse phage-bacteria systems. Finally, we identify bacteria that possess colibactin resistance genes but lack colibactin biosynthetic genes. Many of these bacteria are infected with predicted prophages, and we show that the expression of their ClbS homologs provides immunity from colibactin-triggered induction. Our study reveals a mechanism by which colibactin production could impact microbiomes and highlights an underappreciated role for microbial natural products in influencing population-level events such as phage outbreaks.
Systematic Review of Injuries in the Men’s and Women’s National Basketball Association:

Background:Numerous studies have reported the incidence and outcomes of injuries in the men’s and women’s National Basketball Association (NBA and WNBA, respectively).Purpose:To synthesize publishe...
Unrecognized Respiratory Manifestations of Stiff Person Syndrome (SPS) (P5.463)

Objective: To evaluate respiratory manifestations in Stiff-person Syndrome (SPS) patients. Background: Approximately 50% of SPS patients report dyspnea contributing to their functional impairment. This study investigates the frequency and severity of dyspnea and associated pulmonary function abnormalities in SPS. Design/Methods: SPS patients were recruited prospectively from neurology clinic in a single university center. Dyspnea was assessed for each subject via a vertical Visual Analogue Scale on the day of study visit and during the preceding two weeks, and by the University of San Diego Shortness Of Breath Questionnaire. Standardized assessments of SPS severity: Heightened Sensitivity Scale and the Distribution of Stiffness Scale were obtained by an experienced neurologist. Spirometry was performed on all patients on the same day as assessment of dyspnea. Results: Mean patients’ age was 56.1 ±13.1 SD years. 15/16 were women. 14/15 complained of dyspnea: 10 both at rest and with exertion, 3 only with exertion, and 1 only at rest. Mean UCSD-SOBQ score was 61.2 ± 37.95. Group mean FVC % predicted was 76.5 ±17.99; FEV1 % predicted 81.6 ±19.72; FEV1/FVC 85.2 ±10.02. 5/15 patients showed a restrictive pattern on spirometry, 9 had normal spirometry, and 1 patient with concomitant bronchiectasis showed a combined restrictive/obstructive pattern. There was a significant inverse correlation between VAS2 weeks and FVC %predicted (r = −0.61, p=0.017) and FEV1 %predicted (r = −0.65, p=0.008). There was no significant association between pulmonary function and the following: VAS1 day, UCSD-SOBQ, Distribution of Stiffness, or Heightened Sensitivity. No correlation between dyspnea scores and the measures of SPS disease severity was found. Conclusions: Many SPS patients show a restrictive spirometry pattern, and there is some association between simple measures of dyspnea and pulmonary function. Chest wall constriction and/or superimposed truncal muscles spasms may be the underlying mechanism to sensation of dyspnea and objective respiratory compromise. Potential involvement of diaphragmatic muscles is unknown. Study Supported by: N/A Disclosure: Dr. Allen has nothing to disclose. Dr. Rakocevic has nothing to disclose. Dr. Woodford has nothing to disclose. Dr. Pack has nothing to disclose. Dr. Sexauer has nothing to disclose.
The Inequities of Equitable Subordination

The Supreme Court originated the doctrine of equitable subordination to reform contracts by prioritizing the claims of innocent creditors over those of creditors who engage in malicious misconduct. In recent decades, though, equitable subordination has devolved into a standardless doctrine under which judges sometimes subordinate claims in a no-fault manner according to their personal views of equity. The resulting uncertainty distorts commercial expectations and raises the cost of credit. Bold action is needed to correct this distortion. To that end, this Article reconceptualizes equitable subordination by analyzing how the doctrine should be reformulated to protect innocent creditors, while penalizing misconduct and preserving commercial expectations. Among other requirements, it argues that courts should adhere to a fault-based doctrine and that they should assess misconduct by a business judgment rule, similar to how courts assess corporate governance. Accordingly, courts should only find non-insider creditors, who are not otherwise conflicted, to have engaged in misconduct—making their claims subject to equitable subordination—if there is no rational business purpose for their alleged misconduct. To give lenders sufficient clarity and ex ante guidance, the Article explains why the reformulated doctrine should be legislatively implemented. Congress could accomplish that by amending 11 U.S.C. § 510 along the lines proposed in the Appendix to the Article. Finally, the Article compares the related doctrines of recharacterization and equitable disallowance. Often conflated with equitable subordination, those doctrines are shown to be confusing and irrelevant. The Article argues for their elimination.
Recursion Brings Speedup to Out-of-Core TensorCore-based Linear Algebra Algorithms: A Case Study of Classic Gram-Schmidt QR Factorization

Out-of-core processing aims to handle large amount of data when the memory is limited. There exists several out-of-core applications including disk-memory and CPU-GPU processing. Ideally, these out-of-core applications can be expected to be close to the peak performance of the in-core computations, if the data movement between different memory hierarchies can be overlapped by the in-core computations effectively. However, with the emergence of matrix accelerators such as TensorCore GPU, the imbalance between the speed of computations and data movement is further exacerbated, such that even high computation intensity kernels can be dominated by data movement cost. In such cases, the algorithms need to be redesigned to reduce communication volume and overlap the data movement by pipelines. In this paper, we select classic Gram-Schmidt QR factorization as an example to illustrate our recursive strategy, which shows smaller amount of data movement and higher overlapping ratio than the conventional blocking QR factorization algorithm. The results suggest this technique can potentially be applied to broader matrix computations kernels.
Supporting the expatriate social scientist: Faculty research and information access in post-Soviet Kazakhstan:

Librarians in America and Europe find that social scientists rely heavily on journal articles, specialized data, and feedback from colleagues in directing their research. This project uses 21 ethnographic interviews with librarians, students, and faculty at “Atameken University” in post-Soviet Kazakhstan to explore how social scientists adjust such research habits to a context of distant information sources and limited access. By developing technological adaptations to the local context, expatriate scholars can surmount most barriers to access—and yet librarians are then less able to effectively support research. Increased access to information and skilled librarians remains essential for Eurasian universities seeking to support world-class research in the developing world.
A Perspective on the Effects of Stress and Coping on Disease and Health

The purpose of this paper is to provide a perspective for our discussions of the effects on health of coping with stress. I shall also cover briefly some topics, such as neurophysiological mechanisms, epidemiological evidence, and the effects of stress on the cardiovascular and immune systems, not strongly represented in other papers, pose some key issues for theoretical clarification, and suggest some urgent problems for further research. Although I shall discuss possible neurophysiological mechanisms first, the historical sequence often has been from clinical observations, to experimental models, and then to neurophysiological mechanisms.
P0778 : The effect of HCV antiviral therapy on fibrosis progression

P0777 SOFOSBUVIR-BASED TREATMENT UNDER REAL LIFE CONDITIONS IN GERMANY (THE SOFGER TRIAL) P. Buggisch, C. Sarrazin, S. Mauss, H. Hinrichsen, K.-G. Simon, J. Vermehren, D. Hueppe, J. Petersen. Leberzentrum Hamburg, IFI, Hamburg, Johann Wolfgang Goethe University Hospital, Frankfurt, Center for HIV and Gastroenterology, Duesseldorf, Center for Gastroenterology, Kiel, Center for Gastroenterology, Leverkusen, Center for Gastroenterology, Herne, Germany E-mail: Buggisch@ifi-medizin.de
Diabetes care among older urban American Indians and Alaska Natives.

Objective: To assess the prevalence of, and quality of care for, diabetes mellitus among the understudied, yet growing, population of older, urban American Indians and Alaska Natives (AI/ANs). Design: Medical record review. Setting: Urban Indian primary care clinic in Seattle, Washington. Patients: All (N5550) AI/AN patients >=50 years of age. Main Outcomes Measures: Provider-documented medical diagnoses and indicators of quality of care of diabetes. Results: Diabetes mellitus was documented in 113 (21%) of the medical records. Persons with diabetes were more likely than those without (P$.05) to be obese, and to have hypertension, coronary artery disease, and depression. Most patients with diabetes were treated with either insulin (43%) or oral hypoglycemic medication (39%), but 16% received neither. Screening rates within 12 months were high for glycosylated hemoglobin (72%), lipid profile (84%), and foot examination (72%), but were low for urinalysis (23%), ophthalmology referral (23%), and in¯uenza vaccination (46%). Only 46% of patients had ever received pneumococcal vaccination, and even fewer (26%) had received tuberculin skin testing (24%). Although 65% of patients had ever been referred to a dietitian, only 40% had received exercise counseling. The total number of health problems was the factor most often associated with quality of care indicators. Conclusions: The prevalence rate of diabetes among this urban clinic population of older AI/ANs was high. Although performance of quality indicators was suboptimal, it was comparable to, or better than, that found in other older populations for many measures.
The Esterase Activity of Bovine Mercaptalbumin THE REACTION OF THE PROTEIN WITH p-NITROPHENYL ACETATE

Abstract The results of a kinetic investigation of the reactions of bovine serum mercaptalbumin with p-nitrophenyl acetate are described. At pH 6.3 to 7.8 these reactions are biphasic and consist of (a) an initial phase during which the release of p-nitrophenol results from a monoacetylation of the albumin and from an albumin-catalyzed hydrolysis of the p-nitrophenylacetate and (b) a second phase during which the release of p-nitrophenol results only from the albumin-catalyzed hydrolysis of the ester. Second order rate constants for both the acetylation reaction and albumin-catalyzed hydrolytic reaction are reported. Results are also presented which indicate that the acetylation site and the catalytic site on the albumin are separate sites and that the conformational integrity of the protein is necessary for its catalytic activity. Analysis of albumin which has reacted with p-nitrophenyl acetate indicate that two tyrosyl hydroxyl groups on the protein are rapidly acetylated by the ester. One of these tyrosyl groups is at the acetylation site of the protein and the other is postulated to be adjacent to the catalytic site. A model compatible with the kinetic and analytical data is proposed in which the acetyl group of an acetyl protein intermediate in the catalytic reaction is transferred to a tyrosyl residue adjacent to the catalytic site.
LIPID CLEARING IN PREMATURE INFANTS. RESPONSE TO INCREASING DOSES OF INTRALIPID (IL): I-CIRCULATING LIPOPROTEIN LIPASE(LPL) AND HEPATIC LIPASE(HL)

Plasma levels of lipase (LPL, HL) and free fatty acids (FFA) were measured in 21 infants (gest. age 26-35 wks) aged 1-8 days, maintained on total parenteral nutrition with heparin (1 U/ml) and given 1, 2 and 3 g IL/kg/day (over 15 h) on day 1, 2 and 3, respectively. Blood samples were drawn before and at the end of IL administration.
Livelihoods Limitations: The Political Economy of Urban Poverty in Dhaka, Bangladesh

Frameworks for understanding urban poverty have taken an asset-based approach that assesses livelihoods strategies on the basis of a household?s portfolio of assets. Research in Dhaka, Bangladesh reveals the limitations of such approaches. Their narrow focus on households and depoliticized definition of social capital may capture experiences of urban poverty, but cannot reconcile these with the significance of the structural drivers of urban poverty. Our understanding of urban poverty must recognize the informal systems of governance that dominate resource distribution at the community-level and keep the resources necessary for household improvement confined to a relatively small elite. Excluded from the accumulation networks that provide a platform for household mobility for the well-connected, most urban poor households are reliant upon survival networks in their search for security. Only through extending our analysis beyond the household to explore their position within this local political economy can we recognize the significant limitations placed on their efforts to extend and improve their livelihoods.
Ground-state structures of atomic metallic hydrogen.

Ab initio random structure searching using density functional theory is used to determine the ground-state structures of atomic metallic hydrogen from 500 GPa to 5 TPa. Including proton zero-point motion within the harmonic approximation, we estimate that molecular hydrogen dissociates into a monatomic body-centered tetragonal structure near 500 GPa (${r}_{s}=1.23$) that remains stable to 1 TPa (${r}_{s}=1.11$). At higher pressures, hydrogen stabilizes in an $\dots{}ABCABC\dots{}$ planar structure that is similar to the ground state of lithium, but with a different stacking sequence. With increasing pressure, this structure compresses to the face-centered cubic lattice near 3.5 TPa (${r}_{s}=0.92$).
Notas sobre la estimación de la distribución por edades de los hijos emigrantes sobrevivientes

Se describe un procedimiento para obtener una distribucion por edades de los hijos emigrantes sobrevivientes a partir de las declaraciones sobre dichos hijos obtenidas de de las mujeres a traves de un censo o encuesta. Se demuestra que un procedimiento sencillo que exige un minimo de calculos da practicamente los mismos resultados que uno mas complejo, recomendandose aquel para la mayoria de los usos.
Early efficacy of CABG care delivery in a low procedure-volume community hospital: operative and midterm results

The Leapfrog Group recommended that coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) surgery should be done at high volume hospitals (>450 per year) without corresponding surgeon-volume criteria. The latter confounds procedure-volume effects substantially, and it is suggested that high surgeon-volume (>125 per year) rather than hospital-volume may be a more appropriate indicator of CABG quality. We assessed 3-year isolated CABG morbidity and mortality outcomes at a low-volume hospital (LVH: 504 cases) and compared them to the corresponding Society of Thoracic Surgeons (STS) national data over the same period (2001–2003). All CABGs were performed by 5 high-volume surgeons (161–285 per year). "Best practice" care at LVH – including effective practice guidelines, protocols, data acquisition capabilities, case review process, dedicated facilities and support personnel – were closely modeled after a high-volume hospital served by the same surgeon-team. Operative mortality was similar for LVH and STS (OM: 2.38% vs. 2.53%), and the corresponding LVH observed-to-expected mortality (O/E = 0.81) indicated good quality relative to the STS risk model (O/E 3%), respectively. Postoperative leg wound infections, ventilator hours, renal dysfunction (no dialysis), and atrial fibrillation were higher for LVH, but hospital stay was not. The unadjusted Kaplan-Meier survival for the LVH cohort was 96%, 94%, and 92% at one, two, and three years, respectively. Our results demonstrated that high quality CABG care can be achieved at LVH programs if 1) served by high volume surgeons and 2) patient care procedures similar to those of large programs are implemented. This approach may prove a useful paradigm to ensure high quality CABG care and early efficacy at low volume institutions that wish to comply with the Leapfrog standards.
The adhesive and cohesive properties of a bacterial polysaccharide adhesin are modulated by a deacetylase.

Bacterial exopolysaccharide synthesis is a prevalent and indispensible activity in many biological processes, including surface adhesion and biofilm formation. In Caulobacter crescentus, surface attachment and subsequent biofilm growth depend on the ability to synthesize an adhesive polar polysaccharide known as the holdfast. In this work, we show that polar polysaccharide synthesis is a conserved phenomenon among Alphaproteobacterial species closely related to C. crescentus. Among them, mutagenesis of Asticcacaulis biprosthecum showed that disruption of the hfsH gene, which encodes a putative polysaccharide deacetylase, leads to accumulation of holdfast in the culture supernatant. Examination of the hfsH deletion mutant in C. crescentus revealed that this strain synthesizes holdfast; however, like the A. biprosthecum hfsH mutant, the holdfasts are shed into the medium and have decreased adhesiveness and cohesiveness. Site-directed mutagenesis at the predicted catalytic site of C. crescentus HfsH phenocopied the ΔhfsH mutant and abolished the esterase activity of HfsH. In contrast, overexpression of HfsH increased cell adherence without increasing holdfast synthesis. We conclude that the polysaccharide deacetylase activity of HfsH is required for the adhesive and cohesive properties of the holdfast, as well as for the anchoring of the holdfast to the cell envelope.
Microiontophoretic injection of calcium ions or of cyclic AMP causes rapid shape changes in fertilized eggs of Ilyanassa obsoleta.

Abstract Microiontophoretic injection of calcium ions or of adenosine 3′:5′-cyclic monophosphoric acid (3′:5′-cAMP) causes fertilized eggs of Ilyanassa obsoleta to form a large lobe-like protuberance near the micropipet tip within 15–30 sec. A protuberance can be induced to form anywhere on the egg surface, i.e., animal hemisphere as well as vegetal hemisphere. Injections of comparable amounts of Na+, K+, Mg2+, Hepes buffer, seawater, guanosine 2′:3′-cyclic monophosphoric acid (2′:3′-cGMP), or guanosine 3′:5′-cyclic monophosphoric acid (3′:5′-cGMP) have no effect on cell shape. Injection of 2′:3′-cAMP causes slight changes in cell shape. Injection of Ca2+ generates a shape change in spherical eggs, as well as during all phases of normal polar lobe formation, but not when polar lobes are being resorbed. Injection of Ca2+ elicits a shape change only when injection currents exceed 120 nA and only when Ca2+ also is present in the exogenous bath solution. Cell shape changes causes by injection of 3′:5′-cAMP also are dependent upon a minimum current (approximately 300 nA) and upon the presence of exogenous Ca2+. These shape changes may depend upon exogenous Ca2+ either because the injections trigger a change in membrane permeability, or because exposure of eggs to Ca2+-free seawater lowers intracellular [Ca2+] to such an extent that threshold levels of Ca2+ are not attained during injection.
Differences in retail store images within husband-wife dyads

Aggregate measures of purchasing influence generally produce similar results whether husbands or wives serve as the respondents. However, this study indicates that wives should not be used as surrogates for husbands in studies measuring retail store images. The findings of this study indicate that developing marketing strategies based on the images held by wives may not be successful in dealing with the male segment of the market. There is substantial within-couple variation in the evaluation of specific aspects of specific retail stores. However, both groups do appear to use similar evaluative criteria. The differences are in the evaluation of the store characteristics, not in the underlying criteria.
Cooperative jahn-teller coupling in the manganites

The cooperative Jahn-Teller coupling between the Mn ${e}_{g}$ electrons and the oxygen octahedral distortions in ${\mathrm{LaMnO}}_{3}$ is studied using ab initio density-functional calculations and tight-binding models. The linear and quadratic vibronic coupling parameters are calculated using density-functional methods. It is shown that the cooperative Jahn-Teller coupling, primarily due to the interoctahedral electron hopping (band structure term), leads to the ordering of the octahedral distortion and simultaneously to orbital ordering. The coupling results in a two-minima adiabatic potential surface in the solid, instead of the three-minima ``Mexican-hat'' surface for the isolated octahedron.
Mass spectrometric analysis of sialylated glycans with use of solid-phase labeling of sialic acids.

The analysis of sialylated glycans is critical for understanding the role of sialic acid in normal biological processes as well as in disease. However, the labile nature of sialic acid typically renders routine analysis of this monosaccharide by mass spectrometric methods difficult. To overcome this difficulty we pursued derivatization methodologies, extending established acetohydrazide approaches to aniline-based methods, and finally to optimized p-toluidine derivatization. This new quantitative glycoform profiling method with use of MALDI-TOF in positive ion mode was validated by first comparing N-glycans isolated from fetuin and serum and was then exploited to analyze the effects of increased metabolic flux through the sialic acid pathway in SW1990 pancreatic cancer cells by using a colabeling strategy with light and heavy toluidine. The latter results established that metabolic flux, in a complementary manner to the more well-known impact of sialyltransferase expression, can critically modulate the si...
General two-loop analysis of SO(10) symmetry breaking with one intermediate scale: Neutral-current couplings and proton decay

Abstract We analyze all possible patterns of symmetry breaking from SO(10) to SU(2) L × SU(2) L × U(1) Y in the left-right decomposition with one intermediate energy scale. We use two-loop renormalization-group equations to find the allowed neutral-current couplings at low energy in each case, and compare these with experiment to deduce the allowed domains for the intermediate and grand-unification energy scales, from which we estimate the allowed range of lifetimes for proton decay.
The metabotropic glutamate receptor 5 antagonist MPEP decreased break points for nicotine, cocaine and food in rats

The metabotropic glutamate (mGlu5) receptor subtype 5 antagonist MPEP attenuates self-administration of numerous drugs of abuse. The purpose of the present study was to explore whether MPEP-induced decreases in nicotine and cocaine self-administration reflect attenuation of the reinforcing and incentive motivational effects of nicotine and cocaine. The effects of MPEP on breaking points maintained by nicotine, cocaine or food were assessed using a progressive ratio schedule of reinforcement. Breaking points obtained under such schedules are postulated to reflect both the reinforcing and incentive motivational properties of reinforcers. Rats were allowed to respond for nicotine (0.05 mg/kg per infusion, free base), cocaine (0.18 mg/kg per infusion, salt), or food (45 mg pellets) under a progressive ratio schedule of reinforcement. After establishing stable and equivalent levels of responding for all three reinforcers, rats underwent one test session where no rewards were presented to assess the effects of 1-day extinction, similar to 1-day pharmacological-induced extinction, on performance in this schedule. Subsequently, rats were again allowed to respond for nicotine, cocaine or food until reestablishment of stable levels of responding. Then, MPEP (1–9 mg/kg) was administered intraperitoneally according to a within-subjects Latin square design, 30 min prior to the testing sessions. Responding in the absence of a primary reinforcer was significantly decreased compared to responding under baseline conditions. Further, MPEP decreased break points maintained by nicotine, cocaine and food. The mGlu5 receptor is implicated in mediating the reinforcing and incentive motivational properties of nicotine, cocaine and food.
Sample spinning at the magic angle with rotation-synchronized rf pulses

Abstract A new technique for obtaining chemical shift anisotropies in solids consists in applying a train of six 180° rf pulses per revolution of the magic-angle sample spinner. Results on dimethyl sulfone (CH 3 ) 2 SO 2 are in good agreement with those obtained by analysis of the static powder pattern. The method can be incorporated into two-dimensional NMR spectroscopy of more complex samples.