cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The Differential Performance Effects of Healthcare Information Technology Adoption1

This article examines the relationship between the adoption of healthcare information technology (HIT) and a hospital's operational performance. Combining primary survey data from Florida hospitals and secondary data from two government agencies responsible for hospital certification and licensing, the authors find differential performance effects for different clusters of HIT: administrative, clinical, and strategic. Only clinical HIT investments were found to have a statistically significant positive effect on operational performance.
Proximal rigid ureteroscopy is a safe and effective treatment modality in pediatric and adolescent patients

Abstract Introduction: Traditionally, rigid ureteroscopy in adults is reserved for only distal ureteral procedures due to the risk of injury with proximal procedures. However, this data in the pediatric and adolescent population is not well established. Methods: 20 consecutive children (aged 3 months to 12 years) and 10 consecutive adolescents (aged 13 to 19 years) underwent 22 and 17 proximal rigid ureteroscopic procedures, respectively. The indications for ureteroscopy were either hematuria or treatment of ureteral and/or renal pelvic calculi. The principles used for the pediatric ureteroscopic procedures were the same ones commonly used for the adult population except that active dilation of the ureteral orifice was not performed in these children. The size of the ureteroscopes ranged from 6 to 8 French. All patients were evaluated at least 4 weeks postoperatively with a renal and bladder ultrasound, and those treated for calculi underwent postoperative radiographic evaluation. Results: There was no intraoperative complication from the ureteroscopic procedure, including ureteral mucosal tears, perforation, or extravasation. Postoperatively, no flank pain, urinary tract infection, fever, hydronephrosis, or hydroureter was noted. All patients treated for calculi were rendered stone free on follow-up evaluations. Conclusions: Proximal rigid ureteroscopy is a safe and efficacious modality for the evaluation of hematuria and treatment of ureteral and renal pelvic calculi. In this study, the concerns associated with proximal rigid ureteroscopy in adults do not appear to be as prevalent in the pediatric or adolescent population.
Building customer trust in mobile commerce

Gaining customer trust in m-commerce is a daunting process, extending from initial trust formation to continuous trust development---but it can be done.
Security education on a budget: getting the most "bang for the buck" with limited time and resources

Recently, general understanding of the importance of system security has increased and has been reflected in undergraduate and graduate curricula that offer security courses. These security education components are certainly a step in the right direction and should contribute to increased attention to security during the design and development phases of software and system engineering. However, the importance of system security is not always reflected in the quantity of required security courses or the budget allocated for such courses. One way for getting the most "bang for the buck" when it comes to security education is to have a small set of concentrated security courses that pair hands-on labs and lasting security principles; then, augment these security courses with additional security components and activities in other required courses from the curriculum. To provide education that is both relevant now and in the future, we use a principles-based approach together with hands-on security labs. We offer seven strategies for making this approach successful. Based on direct observation, student surveys, anecdotal evidence, and job placement, we believe that this approach has been successful in producing graduates both conscious of security issues and capable of designing and developing secure systems.
Establishment success in introduced passeriforms of New Zealand: evidence for a Franklin Delano Roosevelt effect

Blackburn et al. (Biol Invasions doi: 10.1007/s10530-013-0451-x , 2013) have proposed a series of tests that are purported to evaluate the motivations and decisions of early acclimatization societies that introduced passeriform birds to New Zealand. We show that the data are not consistent with their predictions and, moreover, their predictions are consistent with our alternative hypothesis. Thus, species they identify as being apparently successful species were released in significantly higher numbers than those they claim as unequivocal failures; the apparently successful species were released significantly fewer times and in significantly lower numbers than those designated as unequivocally successful species; persistence time of unsuccessful species was significantly and positively correlated with number of releases; and among species released just a single time there was no difference in propagule sizes of unsuccessful versus successful species. Thus, despite their counter claims, the results of Blackburn et al. (Biol Invasions doi: 10.1007/s10530-013-0451-x , 2013) clearly show that patterns in establishment are consistent with the historical record and what they have termed a “Franklin Delano Roosevelt Effect”.
The AIDS Memorial Quilt as Cultural Resistance for Gay Communities

The AIDS Memorial Quilt, an historic fabric monument to many who have died of AIDS, originated within the gay community of San Francisco in 1987. This paper explores the quilt's inception as a response to discourses that developed with the appearance of the AIDS epidemic, discourses that promoted the further stigmatization and marginalization of gay men. I demonstrate that the images evoked within the quilt can be seen to counter and resist the condemning images of gay men constructed specifically within biomedical discourse about AIDS. The quilt's implications for certain gay communities are also discussed, including it's tendency to draw gay men out of physical and social isolation into a collective experience where the positive reconstruction of gay identity becomes possible.
Magnesium supplementation during pregnancy: a double-blind randomized controlled clinical trial.

Four hundred young normotensive primigravid women between 13 and 24 weeks' gestation were randomly allocated to one of two study groups. One group received placebo tablets and the other group received 365 mg of elemental magnesium daily (as magnesium aspartate hydrochloride). Three hundred seventy-four patients completed the study, 189 in the placebo group and 185 in the treatment group. There were no significant differences between the two groups regarding serum calcium, uric acid, or electrolyte levels. However, the magnesium-supplemented group had significantly higher magnesium levels at delivery (1.68 ± 0.03 mg/dl vs. 1.56 ± 0.03 mg/dl, p p
Does increased arterial stiffness increase the risk for postural hypotension

This study tests the hypothesis that increased arterial stiffness is associated with postural hypotension in older adults. Aortic pulse wave velocity and postural blood pressure (BP) response were assessed in 49 nondiabetic community-dwelling normotensive (n=27) and hypertensive (n=22) older adults (mean age+/-SD, 71+/-6.7 years) who were not receiving vasoactive medications. During the 5-minute period of upright posture, 13 subjects had no change or a postural increase in systolic BP (SBP)(+10.6+/-14.6 mm Hg), 27 had a postural decrease of 20 mm Hg (-29.1+/-8.1 mm Hg). Contrary to the proposed hypothesis, pulse wave velocity was significantly greater in subjects with a postural increase in SBP than in those with a postural decrease in SBP 20 mm Hg (10.2+/-0.68 m/s vs. 8.5+/-0.73 m/sec; p=0.11). Higher pulse wave velocity was associated with a more positive postural SBP response at 1 minute (r=0.42; p=0.024), 3 minutes (r=0.38; p=0.007), and 5 minutes (r=0.45; p=0.001). This study does not support a relationship between arterial stiffness and a postural decrease in BP among healthy older adults; other age-related factors regulating BP homeostasis likely play a greater role.
Antigen processing and presentation by macrophages

The classical macrophage is one of the most important cells involved in presenting antigen to helper T cells, because of its ability to regulate its expression of Ia molecules and to encounter and process particulate and soluble antigens. We have summarized in this report studies examining the handling by macrophages of two different antigens, the bacteria Listeria monocytogenes and the protein hen egg white lysozyme (HEL). The purpose was to identify potential sources of immunogenic peptides. Presentation of Listeria required an intracellular processing stage sensitive to lysosomotropic drugs. The Listeria required internalization and processing, after which immunogenic molecules were recognized by T cells on the macrophage surface. Metabolic studies showed that Listeria-derived peptides were released by macrophages that had phagocytosized the bacteria. The release of these peptides was a temperature-dependent process, unaffected by inhibiting lysosomal catabolism by treatment with chloroquine. Listeria-derived peptides were also detected on the surface of the macrophage. These peptides behaved like integral membrane proteins, some of which persisted for at least 24 hr at the macrophage surface. When tested for immunogenicity, the released peptides were very weakly immunogenic. The membrane-associated peptides alone could not stimulate Listeria-specific T cells, but could be reprocessed by additional macrophages and subsequently stimulate the T cells. A defined antigen system using HEL-specific T-cell hybridomas was used to examine the processing of HEL. Presentation of HEL required a chloroquine-sensitive intracellular processing stage. In examining two T-cell hybridomas, a differential requirement for antigen processing was determined.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
SU-GG-T-120: The Role of IMRT and IMAT in Targets of Varying Complexity

Purpose: To evaluate the treatment plan quality and delivery efficiency of fixed‐field IMRT and IMAT with different target complexities Method and Materials: Four target shapes with different complexities (circular, “L”, inverse “U” and “V” shapes) for a head and neck phantom and a pelvic‐prostate phantom were used for treatment planning of IMRT and IMAT. Dose prescriptions of 70 Gy and 75.6Gy were given to the head and neck and prostate, respectively. Seven/nine‐beam IMRT plans were generated using Pinnacle3 planning system and in‐house developed sequential linear program (SLP). Single‐arc and double‐arc IMAT plans were generated using Pinnacle SmartArc 9.0. Plan quality was compared with DVHs and isodose curves and delivery efficiency was compared with MUs and aperture number. Results: Two‐arc plans improve the plan quality compared to single‐arc plans. For simple targets and large volume cases such as prostate, IMAT provides better plans than IMRT. As the target complexity increases, conventional fixed‐field IMRT can provide better plan quality than IMAT plans. SLP provides even better quality plans than conventional IMRT and IMAT, especially for complex cases. 180 and 360 apertures were used in single‐arc and double‐arc plans respectively. Conventional IMRT plans reduce the number of aperture by 25–80% comparing to single‐arc plans. SLP can further reduce 5–20% of the apertures, but used 1–7% more MUs. Two‐arc plans used 10–50% more MUs than single‐arc plans. IMAT plans used fewer MUs compared with IMRT.Conclusion: Our results indicate that (1) as the complexity of the target increases, fixed‐field IMRT plans (particularly the ones optimized using the SLP approach) become more competitive in dosimetric quality compared with IMAT and (2) IMAT plans result in greater delivery efficiency compared with IMRT. Thus, for complex cases involving concave targets, dosimetric plan quality is inversely proportional to plan delivery efficiency. Conflict of Interest: NIH grant CA130814
Experiments toward non-contact safety standards for automated industrial vehicles

The performance evaluation of an obstacle detection and segmentation algorithm for Automated Guided Vehicle (AGV) navigation in factory-like environments using a new 3D real-time range camera is the subject of this paper. Our approach expands on the US ASME B56.5 Safety Standard, which now allows for non-contact safety sensors, by performing tests on objects specifically sized in both the US and the British Safety Standards. These successful tests placed the recommended, as well as smaller, material-covered and sized objects on the vehicle path for static measurement. The segmented (mapped) obstacles were then verified in range to the objects and object size using simultaneous, absolute measurements obtained using a relatively accurate 2D scanning laser rangefinder. These 3D range cameras are expected to be relatively inexpensive and used indoors and possibly used outdoors for a vast amount of mobile robot applications building on experimental results explained in this paper.
Sensory Deprivation: Arousal and Rapid Eye Movement Correlates of Some Effects

Three Ss in sensory deprivation were continuously monitored by electroencephalographic (EEG) and electrooculographic (EOG) recordings. Retrospective reports of their mental states were given upon receipt of a signal. Ratings of report contents were compared with EEG determined levels of arousal and with the occurrence of rapid eye movements (REMs). Results indicate that the incidences of hallucinations and thought disorganization vary inversely with level of arousal, and hallucinations are not accompanied by REMs as occurs during dreaming.
Medical DNA sequencing.

Purpose of review To discuss implications of information garnered through whole-genome and exome sequencing in the practice of cardiovascular medicine. Recent findings Whole-genome and exome sequencing unveils medical information embedded in individual genomes and exomes, which could be incorporated into the practice of medicine for diagnostic and therapeutic gains. The human, however, has considerable genetic diversity, as each genome encompasses about 4 million DNA sequence variants (DSVs). The challenging task is to identify the variants that have clinical implications. DSVs exert a continuum of effect sizes on the phenotype that ranges from negligible to large. From a clinical perspective, selected categories, in order of their significance, are disease-causing, likely disease-causing, disease-associated, biologically functional but unknown clinical significance, and unknown functional and clinical significance variants. The frequency of DSVs in the genome also follows a gradient from rare for the disease-causing variants to common for variants with unknown clinical and biological significance. A subset of DSVs might have implications in accurate and preclinical diagnosis, prognostication and individualization of therapy. Clinical phenotypes, however, are too complex to be determined solely by a single DSV. Even in the case of disease-causing variants, the severity of the disease is determined by multiple additional genetic and nongenetic factors. Summary Medical DNA sequencing is expected to retool clinicians with the information content of DSVs. DSVs with large effect sizes are likely to offer clinical utility in early and preclinical diagnosis, prognostication and individualization of therapy.
Questioning Tocqueville in Africa: continuity and change in civil society during Nigeria's democratization

The democratization literature commonly claims that democratic transitions require an independent civil society. However this view, which builds upon Tocqueville, reifies boundaries between state and society. It also over-predicts the likelihood that independent civil society organizations will engage in confrontation with the government. Drawing upon Hegel, I develop a two-dimensional model of civil society that clusters organizations according to goal orientation and autonomy. This illustrates how high levels of autonomy combined with goals that extend beyond an internal constituency are linked to democratization. I then examine Nigeria's civil society during the era of democratization between 1985 and 1998, and identify important changes in the political opportunity structure. I attribute changes in autonomy and goal orientation of organizations to three factors: transnational organizing, coalition building, and victimization. My findings question the assumption that autonomous organizations will chall...
Age, depression, and attrition in the national survey of families and households

It might seem that following people over time provides the best indication of how people change with age. Sample attrition can undermine that assumption. This study describes the impact of health, impairment, and depression on attrition in the National Survey of Families and Households. It analyzes the impact of that attrition on estimates of the age-specific changes in depression over a six-year period. In doing so, it illustrates methods for assessing and perhaps correcting the effects of attrition. Results show that the cross-sectional relationship of baseline depression to age differs sharply for those who later drop out compared with those who stay in. Much of the difference, but not all, vanishes with adjustment for health and impairment. The probability of dropping out increases with poor health, impairment, and depression at baseline. The impact of impairment and depression on attrition increases with age. Panel models that ignore the attrition imply that depression decreases in old age. Models th...
Awareness of infection, knowledge of hepatitis C, and medical follow-up among individuals testing positive for hepatitis C: National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2001-2008.

The estimated number of persons with chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection increased from 2.7 million during 1988-19941 to 3.2 million during 1999-2002.2 Many infected persons, however, are unknown to the healthcare system because they may be asymptomatic for years, have not been tested for HCV, and only seek medical care for their infection when complications occur as part of the natural progression of untreated infection.3 Currently, HCV infection is the etiology most frequently associated with newly diagnosed chronic liver disease,4 and the effect on healthcare utilization is high. The number of healthcare visits associated with hepatitis C increased in ambulatory care settings during 1992-20035 and has remained at a high level through at least 2006.6 Ideally, infected persons would have medical management, both to prevent further liver damage and to limit transmission to others.7 Few infected persons, however, receive antiviral treatment,6,8 in large part because they may be unaware of their infection.8 Understanding the characteristics of persons who are unaware of their infection can help target appropriate education, but unfortunately, little is known about such individuals. In addition, little is known about the implementation of management guidelines by providers. In this study, we analyzed data from participants who tested positive for past or current HCV infection and were interviewed as part of the Hepatitis C Follow-up Survey during the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) conducted from 2001 through 2008. Three primary objectives of the follow-up survey were (1) to determine the percentage of participants testing positive for past or current HCV infection who were aware of their HCV status before being notified by NHANES, (2) to learn what actions participants took after becoming aware of their first positive test result, regardless of when they were made aware of the first positive test result, and (3) to find out what participants or the parents of participants <18 years in age knew about hepatitis C.
The emission of X-rays by fission fragments

Approximately 5% of the γ-ray transitions in fission fragments are internally converted, giving rise to X-rays. X-ray energies are characteristic of Z, but yields depend strongly and not smoothly on Z and A of the fragments and on time. If these biases can be accepted, X-rays can be used to identify the atomic number of fission fragments. More generally, internal conversion and X-ray emission must be interpreted in the context of detailed knowledge of γ-ray transitions.
Oscillator strengths for electron-hole complexes (A0X)

Demonstrates the importance of using the correct basis functions in evaluating transition matrix elements for many-particle systems containing both electrons and holes and resolves an inconsistency in the theoretically determined oscillator strength ratios for radiative decay of the (A0X) complex.
Environmental and endocrine correlates of tactic switching by nonterritorial male tree lizards (Urosaurus ornatus)

Animals often exhibit individual variation in their behavioral responses to the same stimuli in the biotic or abiotic environment. To elucidate the endocrine mechanisms mediating such behavioral variation, we have been studying a species of lizard with two distinct male phenotypes. Here we document behavioral variation across years in one of the two male phenotypes of the tree lizard, Urosaurus ornatus, and present hormone data that support an endocrine mechanism underlying this behavioral variation. Nonterritorial male tree lizards appear to be nomadic rovers in some years and sedentary satellites in others, whereas territorial males are always territorial. This behavioral variation by nonterritorial males was correlated with environmental conditions. In environmentally harsher years (as assessed by rainfall), nonterritorial males appear to behave as nomads, whereas in more benign years they are more site-faithful. A between-year comparison of levels of corticosterone and testosterone for the two male phenotypes supports a model for how hormones underlie the males' reproductive tactics, particularly the nonterritorial males' behavioral plasticity. In an environmentally harsher (drier) year, both types of males had higher corticosterone levels than in a milder (wetter) year, but only nonterritorial males had lower testosterone in the relatively harsher year. We propose that disruptive selection for individual variation in hormonal responses to environmental cues may be a common mechanism underlying the evolution of alternative male reproductive tactics in this and other species.
P-MIP: paging in mobile IP

As the number of Mobile IP users grows, so will the signaling overhead associated with Internet mobility management in the core IP network. This presents a significant challenge to Mobile IP as the number of mobile devices scale-up. In cellular networks, registration and paging techniques are used to minimize the signaling overhead and optimize the mobility management performance. Currently, Mobile IP supports registration but not paging. In this paper, we argue that Mobile IP should be extended to support paging to improve the scalability of the protocol to handle large populations of mobile devices. To address this, we introduce P-MIP, a set of simple paging extensions for Mobile IP, and discuss the construction of paging areas, movement detection, registration, paging and data handling. We present analysis and simulation results for Mobile IP with and without paging extensions, and show that P-MIP can scale well supporting large numbers of mobile devices with reduced signaling under a wide variety of system conditions. The ns-2P-MIP source code used to evaluate the protocol in this paper is available on the web (comet.columbia.edu/pmip).
A genetic analysis of the Epworth Sleepiness Scale in 1560 World War II male veteran twins in the NAS-NRC Twin Registry

Responses to the eight-item Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS) obtained from 1560 World War II male veteran twin pairs [818 monozygotic (MZ), 742 dizygotic (DZ)] were analysed to determine the extent to which genetic influences are involved in self-reported daytime sleepiness in the elderly. Average ESS score (± SD) in this sample was 7.1 ± 3.9, range 0–24. More than half of the twins (65%–67%) reported a moderate to high chance of falling asleep while lying down to rest; fewer than 3% admitted that this would occur while sitting and talking to someone or while stopped in traffic. Daytime sleepiness was not associated with age but was significantly and positively associated with obesity. The intraclass twin correlation on ESS scores was 0.39 in MZ pairs and 0.21 in DZ pairs (both P < 0.001). Structural equation modeling of the observed variance–covariance matrices for MZ and DZ twins estimated the heritability of ESS to be 38% (95% confidence interval 33%–44%). Environmental influences not shared by twin brothers accounted for the remaining variance in daytime sleepiness. A reasonable interpretation of the heritability of ESS in this healthy cohort of elderly male twins is a genetic susceptibility for disordered breathing during sleep.
Pupil functions for aberration correction in 3D microscopy

When a confocal fluorescence microscope with a high numerical aperture oil immersion objective is focused deep into an aqueous medium, aberrations result which weaken and blur the observed image. We have designed, fabricated and tested a two-level binary phase mask which partially corrects these aberrations, improving image brightness and resolution. A four- level mask was also designed, fabricated and tested with further brightness and resolution improvement. The mask designs and simulated and measured results are presented in this paper.
Direct observation of defect-induced surface covalency in ionic CoO (1 0 0)

Abstract The electronic structures of both cleaved and defective CoO (1 0 0) surfaces have been studied using synchrotron radiation. We report a direct observation of the reduction in the number of ionic CoO bonds by Ar + -ion bombardment, in conjunction with the appearance of strong covalent bonding at isolated oxygen vacancy defects on the CoO (1 0 0) surface.
Laws, Modalities and Counterfactuals

There is a close-knit complex of philosophical problems which has been with us since antiquity. These problems involve such concepts as potentiality and disposition; necessity, actuality, and possibility; and even material and subjunctive implication. They are philosophically ubiquitous, cropping up in a range of fields broad enough to include metaphysics, epistemology, philosophy of science, logic, philosophy of language, and ethics. They seem, moreover, to be strangely recalcitrant. It is to this set of perennial philosophical problems that Hans Reichenbach’s 1954 monograph — originally published under the title Nomological Statements and Admissible Operations, but reissued in 1976 under the title Laws, Modalities, and Counterfactuals — is addressed. The new title has been adopted to provide the philosophical community with a clearer idea of the subject matter of the book (the original pagination is retained).
Spectrum Allocation and QoS Provisioning Framework for Cognitive Radio With Heterogeneous Service Classes

Cognitive radio (CR) networks will enable dynamic spectrum re-use and thereby accelerate the adoption of high band- width services in available licensed frequencies with better chan- nel characteristics. However, the possibility of the licensed user reclaiming the channel raises additional concerns on how best to reserve resources for secondary users (SUs) that are likely to have different qualities of service (QoSs) depending on their application requirements. This paper addresses the problem of spectrum resource management for co-located SUs with both streaming and intermittent data by efficiently identifying the number of backup channels that will ensure seamless end to end service. The contributions of this paper are threefold: First, a comprehensive analytical framework based on queueing theory is devised to calculate the theoretical delay in accessing the spectrum depending on the required QoS, with guidelines on how to optimize the set of back-up channels for possible future use; second, a method of spectrum allocation for SUs with these different QoS demands is formulated, especially as they co-exist and affect the performance of each other; third, a case study of applying these techniques in a novel application area of wireless medical telemetry is presented. Results reveal that the simulated spectral efficiency of the channel allocation using our approach matches closely with our theoretical predictions, within a 5% bound.
Simultaneous noncontiguous cervical spine injuries in a pediatric patient: case report.

Objective and importance Noncontiguous traumatic injuries of the cervical spine in children are rare. We present the case of a child who simultaneously sustained a separation of the odontoid synchondrosis and a C6-C7 dislocation with a complete spinal cord injury. The management of simultaneous cervical spine injuries is discussed. Clinical presentation A boy aged 4 years and 2 months was a restrained back-seat passenger involved in a head-on motor vehicle accident. The patient lacked neurological function below C7. Imaging studies revealed a separation of the odontoid synchondrosis as well as a traumatic dislocation of the spine at C6-C7. Intervention The patient was placed in a halo vest shortly after admission. Four days after his injury, he underwent a posterior wiring and fusion of C6 to C7. As the C6-C7 dislocation was reduced by posterior element wiring, intraoperative x-rays showed a gradual increase in the subluxation of C1 on C2. This increase in C1-C2 subluxation required intraoperative repositioning of the halo crown on the ventral halo vest posts to maintain acceptable C1-C2 alignment. Postoperatively, ideal alignment of the odontoid peg on the body of C2 could not be achieved by halo adjustments alone. The patient required a custom-made posterior neck cushion attached to the halo vest to maintain cervical lordosis and good alignment of the odontoid peg on the body of C2. Conclusion Simultaneous traumatic cervical spine injuries in pediatric patients are rare. The intraoperative reduction of one spine injury can affect the alignment at the location of the second injury. In this case, a custom adjustment of the halo vest improved the alignment of the odontoid peg on the body of C2.
Lipopolysacharide (LPS) induced iNOS expression and gastric injury: Role for prostaglandins (PGs)

Abstract Introduction: LPS renders the stomach more susceptible to injury in part due to increased expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS). Cyclo-oxygenase inhibition with salicylate enhances these effects of LPS. Because PGs influence iNOS expression in some tissues, we hypothesized that the detrimental effects of salicylate on LPS induced iNOS expression and gastric injury might be reversed by exogenous PGs. Methods: Adult rats were given salicylate (100mg/kg, IP) or saline one hour before LPS (20mg/kg, IP) with PGE2 (1mg/kg, sq) or saline. After 5 hours, rats were sacrificed, and gastric mucosa assessed for iNOS (Western immunoblot) In similar treatment groups, gastric injury was assessed (computerized planimetry) in an anesthetized model, using 3 ml of 5 mM acidified taurochlorate as the luminal irritant for 10 minutes. Results exresssed as mean +/− SEM. Results: PGE2 blunted LPS induced upregulation of iNOS, attenuated the effects of salicylate on iNOS, and increased the resistance of the gastric mucosa to injury in all groups (Table 1). Additionally, LPS decreased gastric mucosal PGE2 by 50% but not prostacyclin, whereas salicylate diminished gastric mucosal synthesis of both PGs by 98% (data not shown; radio immunoassay). ∗ . Sal/ Sal Sal/ LPS NASA/ Sal NASA/ LPS NASA/ LPS + PGE2 Sal/ LPS + PGE2 Injury 1.38 ± .38 2.7 ± .97 ∗ 4.78 ± 1.4 ∗ 10.9 ± 1.6 ∗ 1.82 ± .25 ∗∗ 1.3 ± .42 ∗∗ iNOS 0 .28 ± .03 ∗ .08 ± .04 .40 ± .01 ∗ .21 ± .03 ∗∗ .17 ± .03 ∗∗ N > 5, ANOVA. ∗ p ∗∗ p Conclusions: These data suggest that locally produced PGE2 may play a major role in maintaining gastric mucosal integrity during endotoxemia by limiting expression of the pro-inflammatory iNOS gene. Moreover, non-selective cyclo-oxygenase inhibitors should be used with caution in septic patients at risk for gastritis due to their ability to alter gastric iNOS. (Supported by NIGMS 38529)
Determinants of the political participation of women

Recently considerable attention has focused on the status of women in the American political system. The decade of the seventies was marked by accelerated competition of women for public office. Between 1970 and 1980 women's total representation showed substantial gains at all levels, with the most striking advances at the state level.1 Since 1968, the number of women elected to state legislatures more than tripled, from 305 in 1968 to 992 in 1983. Even though state legislatures are predominantly male, there is considerable variation from state to state in the degree of male domination. Since once in state legislative offices, women, unlike men, are less likely to seek higher office, and since their proportional representation is considerably greater in state legislatures than in Congress, the state legislature is a particularly interesting area for research. Differing explanations have been offered by political scientists as to why women have a lower rate of participation as public officials than men. These explanations include (1) physiological constraints (women lack the psychosocial characteristics associated with political leadership); (2) cultural constraints (politics is man's work); (3) role constraints (women have been socialized into the lifetime role of wife/mother); (4) male conspiracy (men seek to preserve their power positions by imposing restraints barring women from access to positions of influence).2 The economics literature suggests several factors that are important determinants of voter support. Stigler (1971) argues that self-interest in voting influences a voter's support for a candidate. The greater the perceived net personal economic gain from a candidate's position on various issues the more likely an individual voter will support the candidate. Conversely the greater the perceived net economic cost that a candidate's position imposes on a voter, the less likely the voter will support the candidate. A second important factor influencing voter support is ideology. Kau and Rubin (1979) suggest that ideology plays an important role in explaining voter behavior. An individual voter is more likely to support a candidate
Effect of using composites on the dynamic response of multi-body systems

A finite element scheme is presented for studying the dynamic response of multi-body systems with components manufactured from orthotropic materials. The formulation presented is exemplified by using fiber-reinforced cornposite laminates. The multi-body system considered in this investigation consists of interconnected rigid and flexible components, each undergoing large angular rotations. The configuration of the elastic components is identified by using two sets of generalized co-ordinates, reference and elastic co-ordinates. Reference co-ordinates describe the location and orientation of a selected body reference while elastic co-ordinates describe the deformation with respect to the body reference. Component modes of elastic components in the system are used to reduce the number of generalized co-ordinates. The system differential equations of motion and the algebraic constraint equations describing mechanical joints in the system are written in terms of mixed sets of reference and modal co-ordinates. Two numerical examples, for a slider crank mechanism and a Peaucellier mechanism, are presented in order to demonstrate the effect of the use of the composites on the dynamic response of multi-body systems. Numerical results showed that the use of composites represents an effective passive control strategy.
Beneficial effect of enteral glycine in intestinal ischemia/reperfusion injury

It has been shown in vitro that glycine can protect renal tubules and hepatocytes from hypoxic injury. Glycine also attenuates ischemic injury in transplanted livers. The present study investigated the effect of enteral glycine in a murine model of ischemia/reperfusion injury of the small intestine. Mice (n = 12 in each group) were randomized to receive two gastric gavages of either a 20% glycine (Gly) or 23% balanced amino acid (AA) solution with a 6-hour interval between each gavage. One hour after the second gavage, mice underwent superior mesenteric artery clamping for 20 minutes. The clamp was then released for reperfusion. Another group of mice (n = 8) underwent a sham operation and served as additional control animals. Six hours after ischemia/reperfusion, the mice were killed in order to assess the intestinal injury (intestinal protein content, mucosal disaccharidase activity, and intestinal histologic findings) and the systemic consequences (bacterial translocation, serum interleukin-6, and lung myeloperoxidase activity). A second set of mice (n = 55) underwent identical gavages and ischemia/reperfusion and they were followed for survival. Compared to AA, enteral glycine administered prior to intestinal ischemia/reperfusion injury significantly preserved mucosal indices and intestinal histology and decreased lung myeloperoxidase activity. Survival was also significantly increased in animals receiving glycine compared to AA control mice. These data suggest that enteral glycine supplementation may be beneficial in attenuating intestinal ischemia/reperfusion injury and its related systemic effects in this murine model.
Legal constraints, environmental variability, and the limits of innovative environmental governance

Abstract Using CALFED as a case study, this article explores problems with a conventional conceptual framework for understanding environmental crises. That framework, which both derives from and influences legal regimes, posits that environmental managers should fulfill the protective requirements of environmental laws, but should discern exactly where the brink of non-compliance lies and should allow or even facilitate resource consumption right up to that perceived edge. In contexts like CALFED, where environmental conditions are uncertain and institutions are unavoidably somewhat rigid and inflexible, that approach will function poorly, and this article therefore articulates an alternative conceptual approach capable of improving the reliability of resource allocation patterns. That alternative approach posits that in conditions of scarcity, environmental uncertainty, and rigidly constraining environmental laws, the intensity and reliability of resource use are likely to be inversely proportional, and reducing the intensity of consumptive use will tend to increase the stability and reliability of consumptive patterns.
Variable adaptations: Micro-politics of environmental displacement in the Okavango Delta, Botswana

Abstract Increasing environmental variability associated with global climate change is expected to produce social instability and human displacement in future decades. As such, there remains a pressing need to understand the implications of environmental changes for human populations and their adaptive capacities. This paper analyzes governmental and intra-community responses to environmental variability through a case study from the Okavango Delta, Botswana. We report findings from fieldwork conducted during May–June 2011 and October 2012–May 2013 in the village of Etsha 13. Following an increase in annual flooding in 2009, 2010, and 2011, the Government of Botswana permanently relocated hundreds of residents to a nearby dryland area, asserting that this new settlement was necessary to reduce future risks from flooding variability. While some residents accepted this position, others elected to return to the floodplain or to illegally divert the flow of the water to protect their homes. This paper explores the micro-politics of these relocation efforts and competing responses in order to examine differential adaptive responses to increased flooding levels. We situate these findings within the burgeoning literature on transformative adaptation and suggest that micro-political dynamics are critical in shaping the limitations to, and possibilities for, effective adaptive responses to global environmental change.
The role of presynaptic activity in monocular deprivation: Comparison of homosynaptic and heterosynaptic mechanisms

Although investigations in computational neuroscience have been extensive, the opportunity (that has made such a marked difference in physical sciences) to test detailed and subtle quantitative consequences of a theory against experimental results is rare. In this paper, we outline a testable consequence of two contrasting theories of synaptic plasticity applied to the disconnection in visual cortex of the closed eye in monocular deprivation. This disconnection is sometimes thought to be the consequence of a process that stems from a competition of inputs for a limited resource such as neurotrophin. Such a process leads to what we call spatial competition, or heterosynaptic synaptic modification. A contrasting view—exemplified by the Bienenstock, Cooper, and Munro (BCM) theory—is that patterns of input activity compete in the temporal domain. This temporal competition is homosynaptic and does not require a conserved resource. The two mechanisms, homosynaptic and heterosynaptic, are the distinguishing characteristics of two general classes of learning rules we explore by using a realistic environment composed of natural scenes. These alternative views lead to opposite dependence on the level of presynaptic activity of the rate of disconnection of the closed eye in monocular deprivation. This strong and testable consequence sets the stage for a critical distinguishing experiment. This experiment has been done and supports the second view. These results have important implications for the processes of learning and memory storage in neocortex.
Equine Osteosarcoma: A Series of 8 Cases:

In horses, osteosarcoma is a rare tumor, with the majority of reported cases occurring in the head, and, more specifically, in the mandible of young horses. The following report documents 8 cases of equine osteosarcoma, the majority occurring in male horses aged 7 years or older with a lack of metastasis identified in any horse. Six arose in the maxilla or mandible and one in the proximal tibia. The predominant subtype was fibroblastic osteosarcoma with fewer osteoblastic type tumors. All had osteoid and most had a chondromucinous matrix. Surgical excision was attempted in the majority of cases. An inability to completely excise the tumor and progressive disease typically resulted in euthanasia. To the authors' knowledge, this case series also documents the first report of an equine extraosseous osteosarcoma within the subcutaneous tissue caudal to the shoulder. Surgical excision appears successful with no recurrence of disease 14 months later. Further investigations of equine osteosarcoma and various chemotherapeutic agents are warranted to present additional treatment options.
Di­hydro­nium 3-nitro­benzene­sulfonate

The title compound, H5O2+·C6H4NO5S−, crystallized slowly over a period of several years. It is stable and the di­hydro­nium cation is well determined; all of the H-atom positions in the cation were refined. The strong hydrogen bond between the O atoms is nearly linear, with the H atom near the midpoint of the two O atoms. The refined O—H distances are 1.15 (2) and 1.27 (2) A, respectively.
Abortive versus Productive Viral Infection of Dendritic Cells with a Paramyxovirus Results in Differential Upregulation of Select Costimulatory Molecules

Dendritic cells are the most potent antigen-presenting cell for priming naive T cells. Optimal activation of T cells requires that dendritic cells undergo a process of maturation resulting in the increased expression of costimulatory molecules, such as CD40, CD86, and CD80, and the production of cytokines. In this study we analyzed the effect of infection of dendritic cells obtained from two strains of mice, BALB/c and C57BL/6, with the paramyxovirus simian virus 5 (SV5). Our results show that C57BL/6 bone marrow-derived dendritic cells (BMDC) are much more permissive to infection with SV5 at a multiplicity of infection (MOI) of 10 PFU/cell compared to BALB/c BMDC, as determined by the production of viral proteins and progeny. However, infection of BALB/c BMDC with a higher MOI of 50 PFU/cell resulted in a productive infection with the production of significant amounts of viral proteins and progeny. Regardless of the permissivity to infection, both BALB/c and C57BL/6 BMDC efficiently upregulated CD40 and CD86. However, CD80 upregulation correlated with the level of expression of viral proteins and the production of viral progeny. While secreted alpha/beta interferon was required for increased expression of all three molecules, optimal CD80 expression was dependent on an additional signal provided by a productive viral infection. These findings provide evidence that the signals controlling the expression of costimulatory molecules following viral infection are distinct. Further, they suggest that the amount of virus encountered and/or the permissivity of a dendritic cell to infection can alter the resulting maturation phenotype and functional capacity of the infected dendritic cell.
Ocean currents at Axial Volcano, a northeastern Pacific seamount

[1] Axial Volcano is a magmatically active seamount that straddles the Juan de Fuca Ridge (JdFR). With a summit depth of ∼1400 m, the volcano intercepts deep ocean flows at a height well above that of the linear ridge adjoining it to the north and south. Multiyear, yearlong observations of currents at Axial show that mean flow circles the seamount in an anticyclonic sense, consistent with dynamical constraints, with means as large as 6.6 cm s−1. Spectra of currents indicate prominent tidal, inertial, and in some cases weather-band period (3- to 7-day) peaks, as has been seen elsewhere along the JdFR ridge. For K1, O1, and S2 tidal currents at the seamount, amplitudes are several times larger than the corresponding background amplitudes and rotation around the tidal current ellipses is anticyclonic. M2 tidal currents show none of the same properties. Energy at the inertial frequency decreases by more than an order of magnitude from 100 m above to 400 m below the volcano's summit. In contrast, weather-band (WB) period energy increases tenfold over the same depth range, with WB energy all but unobservable at summit depth. The presence of WB oscillations makes Axial unlike other seamounts where long observations have been made. The current meter observations also provide a picture of seasonal trends. As expected, during the period Summer 1996 to Spring 1997, largest amounts of WB energy are found during autumn and winter; in contrast, WB motion at Axial Volcano during Winter 2000 was summer-like in intensity. A linear, baroclinic model of forced damped azimuthal mode-one oscillatory flow around an idealized axisymmetric seamount shows that amplification of diurnal flow should occur principally at the seamount summit while amplification of the WB should occur, as the observations show, on the seamount flanks. Model and measured phase relationships for temperature and current time series pairs circumscribing Axial support the view that azimuthal mode-one oscillations are prominent. Over the 0.8- to 6-day range for forcing period (TC) the model indicates that the principal topographic resonance, as indicated by kinetic energy (KE) amplification, occurs for a TC greater than 1 and less than 2 days with only mild dependence in that range on background stratification and seamount shape. Additional but weaker topographic resonances can occur at longer periods in model results, but as TC becomes slightly larger than the frictional timescale, topographic resonances no longer appear. High dissipation and thus short frictional timescales reported by others in regions of rough, sloping topography make topographic resonances at Axial at periods greater than a few days somewhat unlikely. The relatively broad WB spectral peaks at some Axial sites are consequently more likely the result of spectral peaks in forcing than of topographic resonance.