cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
“You Said, I Heard”: Speaking the Subtext in Interracial Conversations

Medical trainees who come from racial and ethnic minority communities and/or from economically and educationally disadvantaged backgrounds face unique external and internalized challenges that may lead to academic difficulties. Given there are still few faculty members from racial and ethnic minority communities, supervision is likely to be cross-racial. Using illustrative cases and their own personal experience as supervisor and student, the authors, the director of the Social Stress and Health Research Unit in the Department of Psychology of St. John’s University and a PhD candidate in this program, review what is known about the dynamics of racism, its effects on mood, the pathways through which racism may affect academic performance. In particular, they discuss what is known about interracial communication styles, race-based stereotypes, and formation of schemas about self and others. They suggest strategies to combat the formation of judgments of which we are not even aware, to recognize stereotype threat and confirmation bias, and to address these issues within student and teacher relationships.
A Methodological Critique of the Moynihan Report

(1974). A Methodological Critique of the Moynihan Report. The Black Scholar: Vol. 5, The Black Family, pp. 18-24.
Association of perioperative transfusion with survival and recurrence after resection of gallbladder cancer: A 10-institution study from the US Extrahepatic Biliary Malignancy Consortium.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES Perioperative blood transfusion is associated with poor outcomes in several malignancies. Its effect in gallbladder cancer (GBC) is unknown. METHODS All patients with GBC who underwent curative-intent resection at 10-institutions from 2000 to 2015 were included. The effect of blood transfusion on overall survival (OS) and recurrence-free (RFS) was evaluated. RESULTS Of 262 patients with curative-intent resection for GBC, 61 patients (23%) received blood transfusions. Radical cholecystectomy was the most common procedure (80%), but major hepatectomy was more frequent in the transfusion versus no-transfusion group (13% vs 4%; P = 0.02). The transfusion group was less likely to have incidentally discovered disease (57% vs 74%) and receive adjuvant therapy (29% vs 48%), but more likely to have preoperative jaundice (23% vs 11%), T3/T4 tumors (60% vs 39%), LVI (71% vs 40%), PNI (71% vs 48%), and major complications (39% vs 12%) (all P < 0.05). Transfusion was associated with lower median OS compared to no-transfusion (20 vs 32 mos; P < 0.001), which persisted on multivariable (MV) analysis (HR:1.9; 95%CI 1.1-3.5; P = 0.035), controlling for comorbidities, serum albumin, INR, preoperative jaundice, major hepatectomy, incidental discovery, margin status, T-Stage, LN status, and major complications. Median RFS of transfused patients was 13mo compared to 49mo for non-transfused patients (P = 0.1). Transfusion, however, was an independent predictor of decreased RFS on MV analysis (HR:2.3; 95%CI 1.1-5.1; P = 0.035). CONCLUSIONS Perioperative blood transfusion is associated with decreased OS and RFS after resection for GCC, accounting for other adverse factors. Transfusions should thus be administered with well-defined protocols.
Runaway: Gregory Bateson, the double bind, and the rise of ecological consciousness

It is difficult to read widely about the 1960s without coming across names like Allen Ginsberg, Stokely Carmichael, and Gloria Steinem. It is easy to read about the decade without coming across the...
Was Content bewirken kann

Warum ist Content eigentlich so wichtig? Warum dreht es sich in vielen Unternehmen ausschlieslich um die Aussage „Wir benotigen Content, Inhalte!“? Warum tun wir, Texter und Content-Marketers, uberhaupt das, was wir tun? Ganz einfach: Um Interessierte auf uns aufmerksam zu machen und sie anschliesend mit etwas zu belohnen – etwas Gutem, etwas Einzigartigem. Nur so konnen wir den drei Kernstufen der Customer-Journey – Awareness, Consideration und Purchase – gerecht werden und ein optimales Nutzererlebnis schaffen. Wahrend das Unternehmen hinter der Website das Konsumverhalten motivieren mochte (Purchase), muss die Zielgruppe auf das Produkt/die Dienstleistung aufmerksam gemacht und abgeholt werden (Awareness). Denn nur dann kann das Angebot auch in Erwagung gezogen werden (Consideration). In diesem Kapitel werden die einzelnen Aspekte, auf die sich Content auswirkt, genauer betrachtet und vorgestellt.
Anterior Hip Dislocation from Post-injection Gluteal Muscular Fibrosis: Case Report.

Case A female with 24 years of follow-up who received multiple intramuscular injections of penicillin in the buttock at age 2 years. By age 6 years, she had left hip subluxation and underwent operative soft-tissue release and femoral plating. At age 12 years, she developed progressive anterior hip dislocation and had release of the gluteal contracture, open reduction, and femoral osteotomy. Currently, she is aged 26 years, fully employed, and active at home. Conclusions This is the first reported case associated with anterior hip dislocation after progressive post-injection gluteus muscle fibrosis with a follow-up of 24 years.
Seasonal Starvation in Northern White-Tailed Deer

White-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) living in northern regions of the U.S. and southern Canada are subject to large seasonal variations in food supply. White-tails are browsing ruminants that consume leaves of forbs, shrubs, and low-hanging trees when available. When autumn frosts deprive them of that food supply, deer are commonly relegated to less nutritious twigs and evergreen fronds. Deep snows can restrict travel and foraging opportunities and increase energy demand, thus compounding winter’s nutritional challenges. Our studies of digestible energy (DE) and metabolizable energy (ME) requirements of white-tailed deer and the DE and ME supplied by typical winter browse show that maintenance energy requirements are rarely met, leading to increased winter mortality. Behaviors to minimize energy requirements include lying down on a sunny, wind-sheltered hillside, or seeking shelter on cloudy days or at night in protected locations such as cedar swamps. Here, deer curl up under overhanging branches to restrict radiant heat loss. Avoidance of death requires that sufficient accessible energy be stored in body fat depots during the previous summer and fall to sustain life until spring green-up. We have measured seasonal changes in food intake and lipogenic activity in subcutaneous and perirenal adipose tissue. These measures are markedly affected by photoperiod, presumably via the pineal gland and its response to day-length, and perhaps by other mechanisms. We also have reviewed and examined the effects of season, sex, and age on food intake and the corresponding morphological and physiological changes in white-tailed deer, along with other environmental factors that influence their welfare and that of other wild ruminants.
Numerical Investigations of Phase-Separation During Multi-Component Mixing at Super-Critical Conditions

We study the effect of phase separation in multi-component mixing at super-critical conditions using a novel framework based on vapor-liquid equilibrium (VLE) thermodynamics in a real gas mixture. This approach is combined with a non-conservative Double-Flux (DF) numerical model to overcome numerical instabilities that arise when high-pressure, low-temperature mixtures are considered. The formulation developed and validated can handle VLE in multi-component mixtures even though most of the initial studies are focussed on binary mixtures. The challenges to get a robust solution of VLE thermodynamics are highlighted and we demonstrate the ability and the accuracy of the algorithms to account for VLE in canonical test cases, as well as in a shear layer binary mixing in a canonical temporal-mixing layer. Results are also compared against the classical, “dense-fluid” approach where an equation of state (EoS) is used with the assumption of a single-phase within each computational cell. Differences are highlighted and explained from a thermodynamic point of view with emphasis on the relevance and the applicability of VLE.
Clinical Effectiveness of S2-Alar Iliac Screws in Spinopelvic Fixation in Pediatric Neuromuscular Scoliosis: Systematic Literature Review.

Study Design:Systematic literature review.Objectives:To comprehensively review the S2-alar iliac (S2-AI) screw technique for pelvic fixation in pediatric neuromuscular scoliosis.Methods:Articles id...
'Kill 'em and Sort it Out Later:' Signature Drone Strikes and International Humanitarian Law

This Article will use on-the-ground, eyewitness reports, recently leaked Justice Department legal analysis, and HELLFIRE missiles’ specifications and testing data to explore the legality of signature strikes under International Humanitarian Law ("IHL") insofar as the principles of distinction and proportionality are concerned. Additionally, it will interrogate claims that drone technology itself is inherently less likely to lead to civilian casualties due to claims of drones’ accuracy and precision, as well as assertions that U.S. drone pilots are unburdened by the psychological stresses that normally accompany "traditional" military operations. I begin with a short history of the use of drones in the global war on terror, before confirming that IHL applies where signature strikes have been most frequently used. The sections that follow will discuss signature strike protocol and its usefulness as a proxy for direct participation in combat, and then move on to an assessment of proportionality. After addressing arguments that drone technology inherently distinguishes and minimizes the danger of disproportionally, the final sections will discuss the relevance of IHL in a post-9/11 world. Finally, the Article will conclude with a discussion of the ramifications of signature drones strikes, both for local populations and for American strategic objectives.
Lipocalin‐2 is increased in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis

Background The exact mechanisms underlying neuroinflammation and how they contribute to amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) pathogenesis remain unclear. One possibility is the secretion of neurotoxic factors, such as lipocalin-2 (LCN2), that lead to neuronal death. Methods LCN2 levels were measured in human postmortem tissue using Western blot, quantitative real time polymerase chain reaction, and immunofluorescence, and in plasma by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. SH-SY5Y cells were used to test the pro-inflammatory effects of LCN2. Results LCN2 is increased in ALS postmortem motor cortex, spinal cord, and plasma. Furthermore, we identified several LCN2 variants in ALS patients that may contribute to disease pathogenesis. Lastly, while LCN2 treatment caused cell death and increased pro-inflammatory markers, treatment with an anti-LCN2 antibody prevented these responses in vitro. Conclusions LCN2 upregulation in ALS postmortem samples and plasma may be an upstream event for triggering neuroinflammation and neuronal death.
A Simulation Algorithm of a Digital Twin for Manual Assembly Process

Abstract Digital twin (DT) is one of the key concepts for Industry 4.0 as it is a critical component in driving real-time simulation and decision making in complex systems. The existing scientific literature on Digital twin primarily refers to a product entity or a physical machine but the core concept can be applied to the entire product lifecycle, particularly the assembly process of a complex product system. In addition, majority of existing work focus on the Digital Twins of individual machines on a shop-floor. This paper focuses on aspects the process to build DTs of a production schedule for a complex defence weapon system. The process is inherently high variety and low quantity in a very manual assembly process. This paper consists of three elements. (1) It reviews the current state of art along with the research gap and discusses how DT can become a tool to the manual assembly process. (2) A data-driven simulation algorithm is proposed to model the complex and manual manufacturing process in a generic-reusable way. (3) Finally, an appropriate complex industrial case study is studied to exemplify the proposed framework. Results demonstrate that the production managers can make more informed early decisions that can help bring assembly schedules in check and limit wasteful efforts when disruptions in the supply chain of parts sourced for the assembly occur.
Outcomes With Liver-Directed Therapy for Genitourinary Malignancies: Single-Institution Experience.

Abstract Purpose Liver metastasis in genitourinary (GU) malignancies signifies a poor prognosis and has a negative effect on patient survival. Selected patients with metastatic GU malignancies have liver-dominant disease. Liver-directed therapies (LDT) with conventional transarterial chemoembolization (cTACE) and transarterial radioembolization (TARE) have been well studied in primary liver cancer and metastatic hepatic disease and proven to be safe and efficacious in selected populations. Materials and Methods From 2005 to 2016, 32 patients with metastatic renal, bladder, or prostate cancer and liver-dominant metastases treated with cTACE or TARE were identified. Retrospective review of patient records was performed to assess baseline characteristics, imaging treatment response, survival, and treatment toxicity. Results The median survival from diagnosis of liver metastasis was 37 months in renal cell carcinoma (RCC), 8 months in transitional cell carcinoma (TCC), and 6 months in prostate carcinoma. 90% of patients with RCC maintained their ECOG performance status one-month post-treatment, as did 64% of the bladder and prostate groups. LDT was well tolerated for the most part. Conclusion LDT in patients with metastatic GU cancer is well tolerated and can lead to improved survival for some patients. Further studies are necessary to determine which patients may benefit the most.
Role of SpoIVA ATPase Motifs during Clostridioides difficile Sporulation

The nosocomial pathogen Clostridioides difficile is a spore-forming obligate anaerobe that depends on its aerotolerant spore form to transmit infections. Functional spore formation depends on the assembly of a proteinaceous layer known as the coat around the developing spore. In C. difficile, coat assembly depends on the conserved spore protein SpoIVA and the clostridial-organism-specific spore protein SipL, which directly interact. Mutations that disrupt their interaction cause the coat to mislocalize and impair spore formation. In Bacillus subtilis, SpoIVA is an ATPase that uses ATP hydrolysis to drive its polymerization around the forespore. Loss of SpoIVA ATPase activity impairs B. subtilis SpoIVA encasement of the forespore and activates a quality control mechanism that eliminates these defective cells. Since this mechanism is lacking in C. difficile, we tested whether mutations in the C. difficile SpoIVA ATPase motifs impact functional spore formation. Disrupting C. difficile SpoIVA ATPase motifs resulted in phenotypes that were typically >104-fold less severe than the equivalent mutations in B. subtilis Interestingly, mutation of ATPase motif residues predicted to abrogate SpoIVA binding to ATP decreased the SpoIVA-SipL interaction, whereas mutation of ATPase motif residues predicted to disrupt ATP hydrolysis but maintain ATP binding enhanced the SpoIVA-SipL interaction. When a sipL mutation known to reduce binding to SpoIVA was combined with a spoIVA mutation predicted to prevent SpoIVA binding to ATP, spore formation was severely exacerbated. Since this phenotype is allele specific, our data imply that SipL recognizes the ATP-bound form of SpoIVA and highlight the importance of this interaction for functional C. difficile spore formation.IMPORTANCE The major pathogen Clostridioides difficile depends on its spore form to transmit disease. However, the mechanism by which C. difficile assembles spores remains poorly characterized. We previously showed that binding between the spore morphogenetic proteins SpoIVA and SipL regulates assembly of the protective coat layer around the forespore. In this study, we determined that mutations in the C. difficile SpoIVA ATPase motifs result in relatively minor defects in spore formation, in contrast with Bacillus subtilis Nevertheless, our data suggest that SipL preferentially recognizes the ATP-bound form of SpoIVA and identify a specific residue in the SipL C-terminal LysM domain that is critical for recognizing the ATP-bound form of SpoIVA. These findings advance our understanding of how SpoIVA-SipL interactions regulate C. difficile spore assembly.
Integrating the Philosophy and the Social Psychology of Science or a Plague on two Houses Divided

A few years ago at the conclusion to one of his papers, Norwood Russell Hanson wrote: … scientific observation and scientific interpretation need neither be joined nor separated. They are never apart, so they need not be joined. They cannot, not even in principle, be separated, and it is conceptually idle to make the attempt. Observation and interpretation are related symbiotically so that each conceptually sustains the other, while separation kills both. This will not be news to any practicing scientist, but it may seem heretical indeed to certain philosophers of science for whom Analysis has, alas, become indistinguishable from Division (1967, p. 99).
A Framework of Residential Demand Aggregation With Financial Incentives

The development of intelligent demand-side management with automatic control enables a large amount of residential demands to provide efficient demand-side ancillary services for load serving entities. In this paper, we introduce the concept of a comfort indicator, present an advanced reward system, and finally propose a framework for aggregating residential demands enrolled in incentive-based demand response (DR) programs. The proposed framework not only allocates load serving entities’ demand reduction requests among residential appliances quickly and efficiently without affecting residents’ comfort levels but also rewards residential consumers based on their actual participation. Also, since the framework is designed with the practical considerations of simplicity and efficiency, it can be utilized as a quick implementation for existing pilot development works. The effectiveness and merit of this framework are demonstrated and discussed in the comparison studies with conventional incentive-based DR.
The right side of COVID, right heart hemodynamic changes in the setting of COVID-19: An observational study

Rationale: Covid-19 infection is most commonly associated with respiratory symptoms, the most serious being acute hypoxic respiratory failure, often requiring intubation and mechanical ventilation with an elevation in inflammatory markers often seen. Of note are also the observed elevations in D-dimer which correlated with disease severity and mortality. It has also has been theorized that microthrombi may play a role in the dysfunction of the respiratory system which may correspond with the elevation of D-dimer. We decided to observe the relationship between D-dimer on presentation and changes in right heart function and hemodynamics as measured by right ventricular systolic pressure (RVSP). Methods: This was a retrospective analysis of 21 patients who had D-dimer measured on arrival to the hospital and also had transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) done during the course of their hospital stay. RVSP was calculated on each of the 21 patients. Results: In our sample of 21 patients, there was a statistically significant association between D-dimer levels and RVSP. Conclusions: Based on our results, there is evidence that elevated D-dimer levels in patients infected with Covid-19 are associated with elevated RVSP. This raises the question as to whether or not there would be benefit in treatment (i.e. therapeutic anticoagulation) to try and prevent right ventricular dysfunction in patients with Covid-19;this question would require further research to fully answer.
PETRA: A 22nm 6.97TFLOPS/W AIB-Enabled Configurable Matrix and Convolution Accelerator Integrated with an Intel Stratix 10 FPGA

PETRA is a configurable FP16 matrix multiplication and convolution accelerator designed to be 2.5D integrated using Advanced Interface Bus (AIB). PETRA is built upon four 16×16 systolic arrays, but it employs a configurable H-tree accumulation to improve both the latency and the utilization by up to 8×. A 22nm 3.04mm2 PETRA prototype provides 1.433TFLOPS in computing matrix-matrix multiplication (MMM) and convolution (conv) at 0.88V, and it achieves a 6.97TFLOPS/W peak efficiency at 0.7V. PETRA is integrated with an Intel Stratix 10 FPGA in a multi-chip package (MCP) to provide the flexibility of FPGA and the performance and efficiency of PETRA.
Observation of Ultraslow Shock Waves in a Tunable Magnetic Lattice

The combination of fast propagation speeds and highly localized nature has hindered the direct observation of the evolution of shock waves at the molecular scale. To address this limitation, an experimental system is designed by tuning a one-dimensional magnetic lattice to evolve benign waveforms into shock waves at observable spatial and temporal scales, thus serving as a ``magnifying glass'' to illuminate shock processes. An accompanying analysis confirms that the formation of strong shocks is fully captured. The exhibited lack of a steady state induced by indefinite expansion of a disordered transition zone points to the absence of local thermodynamic equilibrium and resurfaces lingering questions on the validity of continuum assumptions in the presence of strong shocks.
Drinking Water Fluoridation: Controversy and Issues

The fluoridation of public drinking water provided by local government agencies is a practice that has been adopted for decades in the U.S and some other countries around the world to prevent tooth decay. Fluoridation of community water is accepted by many to be one of the greatest public health and disease-preventive measures of the last few decades. Supporters of fluoridation see the implementation as effective, easy to deliver, safe, and most importantly, cost efficient. However, opposing views consider water fluoridation to be a form of enforced “mass medication” and find it to be an unethical practice. Furthermore, some others link fluoridation to enamel fluorosis and many chronic illnesses that present widely all around the world. This discussion paper examines both sides of the argument in detail with relevant examples. Although the current data on effectiveness and safety of the fluoridation are compelling, future studies are necessary to eliminate controversy and improve public health by adopting only essential actions. This study aims at creating a combined resource and, in this way, highlighting the facts for determining the future direction of the fluoridation practice.
Effect of regional myocardial ischemia on sympathetic nervous system as assessed by fluorine-18-metaraminol.

With the introduction of radiolabeled catecholamine analogues, the noninvasive evaluation of the cardiac sympathetic nervous system has become possible. This study evaluated the effect of regional ischemia on myocardial retention of the new norepinephrine analogue 6-({sup 18}F) fluorometaraminol (FMR) in the open chest dog model. Six dogs were injected intravenously with FMR following 30-min occlusion of the left anterior descending artery. Six sham animals served as control group. Regional myocardial blood flow as determined by microspheres decreased 87% during ischemia (p less than 0.01), but was not significantly different from control myocardium following reperfusion. Regional myocardial 18F activity as determined postmortem was significantly reduced in reperfused myocardium (-34%), which paralleled an 18% reduction of tissue norepinephrine concentration. Thus, short time periods of coronary occlusion affect neuronal function indicating the sensitivity of the sympathetic nerve terminals to ischemia. FMR provides a new tracer approach for the characterization of neuronal integrity in postischemic myocardium.
Analyzing Deception in Trap Functions

Abstract A flat-population schema analysis is performed to find conditions for full deception in trap functions. It is found that the necessary and sufficient condition for an l-bit fully deceptive trap function is that all order l — 1 schemata are misleading, and it is observed that the trap functions commonly used in a number of test suites are not fully deceptive. Further analysis suggests that in a fully deceptive trap function, the locally optimal function value may be as low as 50% of the globally optimal function value. In this context, the limiting ratio of the locally and the globally optimal function value for a number of fully deceptive functions currently in use are calculated. The analysis indicates that trap functions allow more flexibility in designing a deceptive function. It is also found that the proportion of fully deceptive functions in the family of trap functions is only O(l−1 ln l)) and that more than half of the trap functions are fully easy functions.
Immune response by microglia in the spinal cord

Microglia are the resident immune cells of the central nervous system (CNS) and share many immunological characteristics with peripheral macrophage. Microglia exist in a quiescent state in the healthy CNS, however, upon injury or infection, microglia become activated immune cells. Microglia have been implicated in playing an important role in several neurological diseases that affect the spinal cord, especially multiple sclerosis (MS) and neuropathic pain. However, most studies, which examined the immune response by microglia have been conducted using microglia cultures generated from brain microglia. Therefore, our studies examined the immune response by microglia in the spinal cord compared to the immune response by microglia in the brain. Microglia in the spinal cord of mice expressed higher levels of surface immune molecules than microglia in the brain, and upon virus infection, microglia in the spinal cord expressed higher levels of immune molecules than microglia in the brain. These studies suggest that microglia in the spinal cord may have different immune reactivity than microglia in the brain, which may contribute to spinal cord diseases.
Direct Measurement of the Velocity Gradient in a Fluid Flow

Conclusions Results of the present experiments show increasing plateau pressure and decreasing length of the interaction region with decreasing Reynolds number and decreasing wall-to-recovery temperature ratio. Values of plateau pressure coefficient were proportional to the square root of the skin-friction coefficient of the undisturbed boundary layer, a scaling law derived from Chapman's formulation of free interaction, and maximum static pressure gradients were found to agree reasonably well with Zukoski's correlation of adiabatic data.
Modulation of transcytotic and direct targeting pathways in a polarized thyroid cell line.

Abstract Two biosynthetic pathways exist for delivery of membrane proteins to the apical surface of epithelial cells, direct transport from the trans-Golgi network (TGN) and transcytosis from the basolateral membrane. Different epithelial cells vary in the expression of these mechanisms. Two extremes are MDCK cells, that use predominantly the direct route and hepatocytes, which deliver all apical proteins via the basolateral membrane. To determine how epithelial cells establish a particular targeting phenotype, we studied the apical delivery of endogenous dipeptidyl peptidase IV (DPPIV) at early and late stages in the development of monolayers of a highly polarized epithelial cell line derived from Fischer rat thyroid (FRT). In 1 day old monolayers, surface delivery of DPPIV from the TGN was unpolarized (50%/50%) but a large basal to apical transcytotic component resulted in a polarized apical distribution. In contrast, after 7 days of culture, delivery of DPPIV was mainly direct (85%) with no transcytosis of the missorted component. A basolateral marker, Ag 35/40 kD, on the other hand, was directly targeted (90-98%) at all times. These results indicate that the sorting machinery for apical proteins develops independently from the sorting machinery for basolateral proteins and that the sorting site relocates progressively from the basal membrane to the TGN during development of the epithelium. The transient expression of the transcytotic pathway may serve as a salvage pathway for missorted apical proteins when the polarized phenotype is being established.
Melatonin as a Hormone and as a Marker for Circadian Phase Position in Humans

Publisher Summary This chapter reveals that melatonin is a hormone produced by the pineal gland and secreted in a nocturnal circadian pattern under the control of the endogenous circadian pacemaker (ECP) in the suprachiasmatic nucleus of the hypothalamus. The ECP itself is entrained by photic stimuli from the 24-hr light/dark cycle. The secretory pattern of melatonin can be used to assess the phase of the ECP, and both bright light exposure and exogenous melatonin can influence its phase. This information can be put to therapeutic use in a number of clinical situations. Totally blind people often have free-running circadian rhythms that are not entrained to the 24-hr day/night cycle. In these blind free-runners (BFRs), circadian phase drifts each day, causing recurrent insomnia. Properly administered melatonin can advance the circadian rhythms of BFRs, and most of them can be entrained to the 24-hr day/night cycle.
Central pulmonary artery growth patterns after the bidirectional Glenn procedure

The changes in pulmonary artery size and hemodynamics in 30 patients with univentricular cardiac anatomy were examined before and after bidirectional Glenn procedures done between October 1989 and February 1992. Serial angiographic and hemodynamic examinations before and 17.6 ± 1.6 months after bidirectional Glenn procedures were compared. At the follow-up study there was no significant change in diameter of the pulmonary artery ipsilateral to the bidirectional Glenn shunt, however, a significant decrease was noted in the diameter of the pulmonary artery contralateral to the bidirectional Glenn shunt (p = 0.04). There was also a 32 % decrease in the Nakata index of total cross-sectional pulmonary artery area after the bidirectional Glenn procedure (p = 0.004). Total pulmonary blood flow and mean pulmonary artery pressure had decreased, and arterial oxygen saturation had increased at follow-up. These changes, however, did not correlate with the observed changes in pulmonary artery size. By linear regression analysis, a significant relationship was identified between the Nakata index before the bidirectional Glenn procedure and the absolute change in Nakata index (r = 0.83). A significant decrease in Nakata index occurred only in patients with a bidirectional Glenn shunt in place more than 15 months. Sixteen of the 30 patients subsequently underwent total caves pulmonary anastomosis with 7 requiring concurrent surgical pulmonary artery reconstruction. Changes in pulmonary artery size observed more than 15 months after the bidirectional Glenn procedure may have implications for subsequent Fontan repair in children with univentricular anatomy.
Reliability-oriented design of gate driver for SiC devices in voltage source converter

High reliability of semiconductor power devices is one of the key design objectives for power conversion systems. Fast switching SiC devices are susceptible to cross-talk, and these devices also have limited over-current capability. Both of these issues significantly threaten the reliable operation of SiC-based voltage source converters. This paper proposes two gate assist circuits capable of suppressing cross-talk and preventing shoot-through faults to promote the reliable use of SiC devices within a voltage source converter. Experimental results and detailed analysis are presented to verify the feasibility of the proposed approach.
Annual summary of vital statistics--1960.

Each year the National Vital Statistics Division (formerly, National Office of Vital Statistics), a unit of the Public Health Service, publishes a summary of the provisional vital statistics of the United States of America, based on estimates derived from monthly reports on certificates filed in registration offices around the country. For 1960, this is published in Volume 9, No. 13, May 31, 1961, of the Monthly Vital Statistics Report. Previous experience has shown that the estimates reflect quite well, with certain reservations, the final reports available much later. As in previous years1 an abstract of the data most likely to interest pediatricians is presented herewith.
THE EFFECTS OF PARASITE-DERIVED IMMUNE-SUPPRESSIVE FACTORS ON THE CELLULAR INNATE IMMUNE AND AUTOIMMUNE RESPONSES OF DROSOPHILA MELANOGASTER*

Immune-suppressive factors (ISFs) introduced into larvae of Drosophila melanogaster during infection by virulent endoparasitic wasps effectively block the innate immune response mediated by blood cells (hemocytes) but have little influence on the autoimmune response made by a tumor strain in which the blood cells manifest a similar response but instead target and destroy endogenous tissues. Quantitative hemocyte analyses indicate that ISFs interfere with the immune effector responses downstream of nonself recognition, hemocyte activation and differentiation, because these responses were manifested by tumor hosts, in which the parasitoids developed. The data suggest that once activated to encapsulate aberrant tissues, the target specificity of the autoimmune-activated hemocytes, and the genetic program underlying tumor formation, cannot be blocked by parasitoid-derived ISFs, which effectively inhibit identical hemocyte-mediated responses during parasitization.
Glucose and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol lowering in elderly patients with type 2 diabetes: focus on combination therapy with colesevelam HCl.

The prevalence of type 2 diabetes mellitus is high among the elderly population. Treatment of elderly patients with type 2 diabetes presents challenges because of co-morbidities and the potential increase in the risk of adverse effects. Hyperlipidaemia is also common in the elderly population. Glucose-and lipid-lowering treatment in elderly patients should be individualized on the basis of the patient’s life expectancy, health status and cardiovascular risk factors, and evidence-based guideline recommendations. Because elderly patients often have impaired renal and hepatic function, careful considerations must be made when selecting appropriate glucose- and lipid-lowering therapy. There are a number of potential safety issues associated with various glucose- and lipid-lowering therapies that are relevant to elderly patients, including increased risk of heart failure exacerbations, weight loss, increased risk of hypoglycaemia, increased risk of myopathy, and contraindications of some agents in patients with hepatic or renal impairment. The bile acid sequestrant colesevelam HCl is unique compared with other glucose- and lipid-lowering therapies because it is the only product approved by the US Food and Drug Administration, as an adjunct to diet and exercise, to lower both glucose and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) in adults with type 2 diabetes and primary hyperlipidaemia, respectively. Furthermore, colesevelam has been shown to have similar glucose- and lipid-lowering efficacy in patients aged <65 years and those aged ≥65 years. Colesevelam was not associated with weight gain, was associated with a low incidence of hypoglycaemia, and can be safely combined with a broad range of glucose-lowering agents (metformin, sulfonylureas and insulin) and lipid-lowering statins. Currently, colesevelam is available in tablet form and as a powder for oral suspension formulation; the latter may be of benefit to elderly patients with swallowing difficulties. As colesevelam has both glucose- and lipid-lowering effects, its use may reduce the drug burden in elderly patients receiving multiple agents for glucose and lipid lowering. Colesevelam may be a valuable treatment option as an add-on to existing glucose- and/or lipid-lowering therapy to help improve haemoglobin A1c and to lower LDL-C levels in elderly patients with type 2 diabetes and primary hyperlipidaemia.
Reaction of nitrosamines in the Udenfriend system: principal products and biological activity

Reaction of diethylnitrosamine in the non-enzymatic, ascorbic acid-dependent, hydroxylating system of Udenfriend yielded N-nitroso-2-(ethylamino)-ethanol as the major product extracted into methylene chloride. The major product derived from nitrosopiperidine in the same system was N-nitroso-4-piperidone. These products, however, were mutagenic to Salmonella typhimurium TA 1535 only when activated by a rat liver microsomal preparation.
Reperfusion injury in the equine intestine

At the cellular level, reperfusion of ischemic tissue results in rapid generation of oxygen-derived free radicals, which overwhelm endogenous protective antioxidants and induce cell injury. Xanthine oxidase activation is key to post-ischemic mucosal injury in the small intestine, but the lack of significant xanthine dehydrogenase and xanthine oxidase in the large colon suggests that an alternative source of reactive oxygen species may prevail there. Endothelial cells regulate blood flow and tissue perfusion by altering the balance of endothelium-derived vasoconstrictors and vasodilators, and are considered to be the primary initiators of reperfusion injury. Damage to the endothelium results in the loss of endothelium-derived vasodilators (e.g. nitric oxide), causing an increased sensitivity to vasoconstrictive agents (certain eicosanoids and endothelin-1). Endothelial cell swelling also decreases blood flow to the tissue, causing a “no-reflow phenomenon.” Endothelial cells stimulated by oxygen radicals or platelets generate cytokines, which attract and activate neutrophils, and thereby induce the second phase of reperfusion injury. The resulting injury is characterized by cell necrosis and programmed cell death, or apoptosis. Potential treatments in horses include DMSO, manganese chloride, ascorbic acid, 21-aminosteroids, lidocaine, and multimodal treatments, such as a customized rinse solution or Carolina Rinse. The latter is a combination of substances that improve circulation, preserve endothelium, and scavenge free radicals. Evidence is also emerging about treatments that have the potential to facilitate rapid mucosal repair, particularly specific COX-2 inhibitors and glutamine.
Mechanisms of infectivity and replication of HIV-1 and implications for therapy

Human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1), a retrovirus, is the etiologic agent of AIDS. Like all retroviruses, the viral genes are carried in the viral particle in the form of single-stranded RNA. Once inside a susceptible host cell, this RNA template is reverse-transcribed by virally supplied enzyme functions into a DNA copy, which becomes integrated permanently into the host's own genetic material. The genome of HIV-1, comprising approximately 10,000 bases, is much more complex than those of classic retroviruses, encoding a minimum of six gene products in addition to the gag, pol , and env genes characteristic of all retroviruses. These genes encode regulatory functions that act at diverse points in the virus life cycle. Together, they provide HIV-1 with an exceptional ability to modulate its replication depending on its host environment. This characteristic is reflected in the different stages presented by the disease and the diverse behaviors of the virus in different types of host cells. A greater understanding of the mechanics of this regulation and the factors that influence it may someday permit therapeutic intervention in the disease process that will halt virus replication and the progression of pathology in infected individuals.
Effects of scrotal insulation on viability characteristics of cryopreserved bovine semen.

The effect of a 48-h scrotal insulation on spermatozoal viability (motility and acrosomal integrity), before and after semen cryopreservation, was studied in six young Holstein bulls whose semen was collected twice in succession at 3-d intervals. Motility and acrosomal integrity were measured before and after incubation of semen at 37 degrees C for 3 h. For assessment of results, collection days were grouped: period 1 (control) = d -6, -3, and 0, where d 0 = initiation of scrotal insulation after semen collection; period 2 = d 3, 6, and 9 (sperm presumed in the epididymis or rete testis during scrotal insulation); period 3 = d 12, 15, ... 39 (sperm presumed in spermatogenesis during scrotal insulation). Semen was cryopreserved each collection day until morphologically abnormal cells exceeded 50% of the ejaculate (d 12 to 21). Semen viability before and after freezing was lower in period 3 than in period 1 (P less than .05). These differences coincided with the appearance in period 3 of abnormal sperm morphology and depressed undiluted semen motility, which began on d 12 (P less than .01). Semen collected during period 2 that was extended but unfrozen did not differ from that collected during period 1 in morphology or viability. However, for frozen semen, period 2 was significantly poorer than period 1 for both viability measurements, but only after incubation for 3 h at 37 degrees C postthaw (P less than .05). We conclude that epididymal sperm are adversely affected by elevated testicular temperatures, as noted by their decreased ability to maintain motility and acrosomal integrity following cryopreservation.
Density fractionation and 13C reveal changes in soil carbon following woody encroachment in a desert ecosystem

Woody encroachment has dramatically changed land cover patterns in arid and semiarid systems (drylands) worldwide over the past 150 years. This change is known to influence bulk soil carbon (C) pools, but the implications for dynamics and stability of these pools are not well understood. Working in a Chihuahuan Desert C4 grassland encroached by C3 creosote bush (Larrea tridentata), we used two density fractionation techniques (2 and 7 pool density fractionations) and isotopic analysis to quantify changes in C pools and dynamics among vegetation microsites typical of an encroachment scenario (remnant intact grassland, shrub subcanopies, and in shrub intercanopy spaces within a shrub-encroached area). The C concentration of bulk soils varied with microsite, with almost twice the C in shrub subcanopies as in intercanopy spaces or remnant grasslands. Estimated SOC accumulation rates from Larrea encroachment (4.79 g C m−2 year−1 under canopies and 1.75 g C m−2 year−1 when intercanopy losses were taken into account) were lower than reported for higher productivity Prosopis systems, but still represent a potentially large regional C sink. The composition of soil C varied among microsites, with the shrub subcanopy C composed of proportionally more light fraction C (<1.85 g cm−3) and C that was soluble in sodium polytungstate. Grassland soils contained very little carbonate C compared to shrub subcanopies or shrub intercanopy spaces. Stable isotope analyses indicate that inputs from C3 shrubs were incorporated into all density fractions, even in heavy fractions in which shrub inputs did not change overall C concentration. The seven density fractionation yielded unexpected δ13C patterns, where the two heaviest fractions were strongly depleted in 13C, indicating strong fractionation following organic matter inputs. These results suggest that the utility of isotope mixing models for determining input sources may be limited in systems with similar fractionation patterns. We propose a five pool model for dryland soil C that includes a relatively dynamic light fraction, aggregate and heavy fractions that are stable in size but that reflect dynamic inputs and outputs, a potentially large and seasonally dynamic pool of soluble C, and a large pool of carbonate C. Combined, these results suggest that dryland soil C pools may be more dynamic than previously recognized.
Lipoprotein(a) and the Atherothrombotic Process: Mechanistic Insights and Clinical Implications

Although many epidemiologic studies have pointed at an association between plasma levels of lipoprotein(a) (Lp(a)) and cardiovascular risk, the data obtained have been conflicting because of a number of factors, particularly those dealing with plasma storage, lack of assay standardization, population sample size, age, gender, ethnic variations, and variable disease endpoints. Moreover, the attention has been primarily focused on whole Lp(a), with relatively less emphasis on its constituent apolipoprotein(a) and on the apolipoprotein B100-containing lipoprotein, mainly low-density lipoprotein (LDL), to which apolipoprotein(a) is linked. According to recent studies, small-size apolipoprotein(a) isoforms may represent a cardiovascular risk factor either by themselves or synergistically with plasma Lp(a) concentration. Moreover, the density properties of the LDL moiety may have an impact on Lp(a) pathogenicity. It has also become apparent that Lp(a) can be modified by oxidative events and by the action of lipolytic and proteolytic enzymes with the generation of products that exhibit atherothrombogenic potential. The role of the O-glycans linked to the inter-kringle linkers of apolipoprotein(a) is also emerging. This information is raising the awareness of the pleiotropic functions of Lp(a) and is opening new vistas on pathogenetic mechanisms whose knowledge is essential for developing rational therapies against this complex cardiovascular pathogen.
Selected morphological and functional properties of extruded acetylated starch-cellulose foams.

Starch acetates with degrees of substitution (DS) of 1.68 and 2.3 were extruded with 10%, 20% and 30% (w/w) cellulose and 20% (w/w) ethanol in a twin screw extruder at 150, 160 and 170 °C barrel temperatures and 170, 200 and 230 rpm screw speeds. X-ray diffractogram (XRD), differential scanning calormetry (DSC) and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) were used to analyze the morphological properties of extruded foams. A central composite response surface design was applied to analyze the effects of starch type, cellulose content, barrel temperature and screw speed on specific mechanical energy requirement of extruding foams and the radial expansion ratio and compressibility of the extruded foams. XRD showed losses of DS starch and cellulose crystallinity and the formation of new complexes. FTIR spectra revealed that functional groups and chemical bonds were maintained after extrusion. Melting temperatures changed significantly when higher DS starch acetate was used. Cellulose content, barrel temperature and screw speed showed significant effects on thermal, physical and mechanical properties of extruded foams and the specific mechanical energy requirement.