cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation

The use of transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) in clinical neurology and neuroscience research has grown steadily during the past two decades. TMS represents a noninvasive method to induce electrical currents within the brain that in turn can be used to transiently disrupt the function of a targeted brain area, functionally map cortical areas, assess cortical excitability, and modulate cortical activity. TMS is being widely used to investigate complex facets of the human brain, including sensory and motor function as well as cognition. The technique also has potential therapeutic applications in the treatment of a variety of neurological and neuropsychiatric disorders. This article discusses the underlying principles of TMS and highlights its use in the study of motor function and cognitive neuroscience as well as its therapeutic potential.
White Resentment in Electoral Politics from 1964 to 1972: Baltimore, Maryland & Lowndes County, Alabama

Both Baltimore, Maryland and Lowndes County, Alabama were areas with high black populations that faced various hurdles to democracy and black political representation. White candidates used racial animus, whether coded in rhetoric or openly, as a cudgel of support in both areas and politics became an extended battle as to who was considered “acceptable” as a neighbor. Lowndes County was overruled by white supremacists without democratic legitimacy that were supported by a violently hostile white population who controlled the area’s economy while Baltimore’s white, particularly white working class, community worked to limit black opportunity by supporting City Council and gubernatorial candidates who opposed open-housing, coalescing to support William Schaefer in the 1971 election, and hindering the evolution of Baltimore from a majority-black population to a majority-black government to represent it through gerrymandering and powerful white political clubs in majority-black areas. What made the two distinct was that the Southern system of segregation was enforced through extrajudicial violence and intimidation while Baltimore’s segregation and hostility to black opportunity and black neighbors was done mostly behind the curtains of polling booths and in political clubs.
The effect of age on risk of retear after rotator cuff repair: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Hypothesis The purpose of this study was to perform a systematic review and meta-analysis to determine the effect of age on rotator cuff repair failure. The hypothesis of this study was that increased patient age would lead to a higher rate of retears and/or repair failures after rotator cuff repair. Methods We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of level I and II studies evaluating patients undergoing rotator cuff repair that also included an imaging assessment of the structural integrity of the repair. Univariate and multivariate meta-regression was performed to assess the dependence of the retear rate on the mean age of the cohort, imaging modality, time to imaging, and publication year. Results The meta-regression included 38 studies with a total of 3072 patients. Significant heterogeneity in retear rates was found among the studies (Q = 209.53, I2 = 82.34, P 30% at age 70 years. Time to imaging demonstrated a trend toward increased odds of retear (OR, 1.03 [95% CI, 1.00-1.07]; P = .056). Publication year was not associated with the retear rate on multivariate analysis (OR, 0.96 [95% CI, 0.90-1.02]; P = .195). Conclusion The risk of retear after rotator cuff repair is associated with increased age and doubles between the ages of 50 and 70 years.
Bicycling Rates and the Prevalence of Bicycle Helmet Usage in Wisconsin.

Introduction Bicycles are a source of transportation, recreation, and exercise throughout the world. Bicycling is associated with both health and environmental benefits but also poses a risk of injury. The use of bicycle helmets has been shown to reduce morbidity and mortality associated with cycling. It is unknown if helmet use differs across Wisconsin geographic areas and sociodemographic groups. Methods Data were obtained from the Survey of the Health of Wisconsin (SHOW). Bicycle use and helmet use frequency were determined from a self-administered questionnaire that contained questions specific to preventative health behaviors. Descriptive statistics summarized overall bicycle ridership. Chi-square and Student t tests were performed to assess relationships between bicycle and helmet use across geographic categories and sociodemographic groups. Results Differences between sex, race or ethnicity, and education level were found to be associated with bicycle ridership and the frequency of helmet use. Men were significantly more likely to report riding a bicycle and never wearing a helmet. Individuals from urban communities reported always wearing a helmet more often than rural communities. Higher education levels were associated with higher levels of bicycle and helmet use. Race or ethnicity was not associated with bicycle ridership but was associated with differences in helmet use frequency. Conclusion Nearly half of those who ride bicycles in Wisconsin report never wearing a helmet. Since bicycle ridership and helmet use were found to be associated with a number of sociodemographic characteristics, any solution should consider the role of equity when attempting to increase ridership or helmet use.
Approaches to low-cost infrared sensing

The Air Force Research Laboratory’s Sensors Directorate has multiple missions, including the development of next generation infrared sensors. These sensors reflect advancements in both academic and research communities, as well as requirements flow-down from operators. There has been a multitude of developments over the past decade in each community. However, there has also been consilience that low-cost infrared sensing will be necessary for the Air Force. This paradigm stands in contrast to the current generation of high performance infrared sensors, i.e., cryogenically cooled, hybridized HgCdTe, InSb, and III/V strained layer superlattices. The Sensors Directorate currently has a multi-pronged approach to low-cost infrared sensing to meet this paradigm shift, including research in silicides, SiGeSn, and lead salts. Each of these approaches highlights our integration of materials, devices, and characterization.
Psychometric evaluation of the Short-Form Vaping Consequences Questionnaire for use with high school adolescents who use and do not use e-cigarettes.

Background Assessing youth vaping expectancies using a psychometrically sound measure can improve understanding of e-cigarette susceptibility and use. Methods We evaluated the psychometric properties of the Short-Form Vaping Consequences Questionnaire (SF-VCQ), an expectancy measure previously validated with adults, within a sample of 1,753 high school adolescents who completed an online, school-based survey in Fall 2020 (51.6% female; 15.56[1.22] years old; 46.6% non-Hispanic white; 26.9% reported lifetime but no past-30-day vaping; 12.6% reported past-30-day vaping). Analyses included confirmatory factor analysis, internal consistency, measurement invariance, between-group differences, and test-criterion relationships. Results The 4-factor structure was confirmed and was scalar invariant by lifetime and past-month vaping status, sex, and race. All subscales were internally reliable (mean α=0.94). The subscales were sensitive to differences based on sex, race, vaping susceptibility among never users, and lifetime and past-month vaping status. For example, students who vaped in the past-month held weaker expectancies for negative consequences but stronger expectancies for positive reinforcement, negative reinforcement, and appetite/weight control compared to lifetime vapers. Unadjusted relationships within the subsamples of lifetime and past-month vapers provided evidence of convergent validity. Evidence for concurrent validity was observed for all samples after accounting for covariates. For example, expectancies for positive reinforcement, negative reinforcement, and appetite/weight control remained significantly associated with past-month vaping frequency. Conclusions The SF-VCQ evidenced excellent internal reliability, scalar measurement invariance, and construct, convergent, and concurrent validity in samples of never, lifetime, and past-month adolescent e-cigarette users. Findings support using the SF-VCQ for assessing youths' vaping-related expectancies. Implications The current study established the psychometric properties of the SF-VCQ for use among adolescents with and without vaping experience, including measurement invariance that permits direct comparisons of expectancies across these two groups. When considered in concert with previously published research in adults, the SF-VCQ provides researchers with a measure that can be used with both youth and adult samples. Observed relationships between positive expectancies and vaping susceptibility in vaping naive youth and indices of vaping frequency in youth with vaping experience suggest that challenging positive expectancies may be a valuable addition to prevention and intervention efforts to reduce youth vaping.
Kinetics of malic-lactic transhydrogenase. Effect of the keto-enol tautomerism of oxalacetate on the kinetics of oxalacetate formation and utilization.

Abstract The optical assay for enol oxalacetate is a convenient method for studying the kinetics of reactions in which oxalacetate is formed or used. Difficulties with the technique arise because the spontaneous keto-enol tautomerism of oxalacetate is a slow reaction in the absence of certain transition metal ions. If valid assays are to be obtained, it is necessary to know how the tautomerism affects the kinetics of oxalacetate formation and disappearance. Under the experimental conditions used for assay of maliclactic transhydrogenase, the tautomerism of oxalacetate is catalyzed by the basic form of tris(hydroxymethyl)aminomethane (Tris base). Even in the presence of Tris buffer, however, the rate constants for tautomerism are small. In 0.10 m Tris buffer, at 24°, over the pH range 6.79 to 9.02, the following equation describes the relation between the first order constant for tautomerism (k1 + k2, the sum of the forward and reverse rate constants for tautomerism) and the Tris base concentration (T), expressed as moles per liter: k1 + k2 = T (1.22 x 102m-1 min-1) + 0.5 min-1 Hydroxyl ion is approximately 30 times as active a catalyst as Tris base. The effect of the keto-enol tautomerism of oxalacetate on the kinetics of oxalacetate formation and utilization can be accounted for by the rate equations presented in this paper. In conjunction with the data on the spontaneous keto-enol tautomerism, the equations make it possible to predict the conditions under which valid kinetic data can be obtained. Agreement between the theoretical models and the experimental data has shown, in addition, that the keto tautomer is the enzymically active form of oxalacetate for both the forward and reverse directions of the reversible reaction catalyzed by malic-lactic transhydrogenase.
Attachment-related differences in secrecy and rumination in romantic relationships

The study examined attachment-related predispositions and patterns of cognition and emotion that contribute to different secret-keeping experiences. Participants (n = 380) reported on their secret keeping, rumination, attachment anxiety, and attachment avoidance via online questionnaires. Results showed that both anxiety and avoidance were positively associated with keeping a secret from a romantic partner, while only avoidance was associated with a greater total number of secrets kept. The association between avoidance and rumination was partially mediated by perceptions of a partner's ownership rights to the secret and guilt for keeping the secret, such that those who were highly avoidant were less likely to perceive a partner's ownership rights. Finally, highly anxious participants reported higher levels of rumination, which were mediated by feelings of guilt for keeping a secret. The study extends research on the link between secrecy and rumination by offering a theoretical account based on attachment for why some people are more likely to ruminate about their secrecy than others.
Intravascular Hemolysis and Septicemia due to Clostridium perfringens Emphysematous Cholecystitis and Hepatic Abscesses

Context. Clostridium perfringens septicemia is often associated with translocation from the gastrointestinal or gastrourinary tract and occurs in patients who have malignancy or are immunocompromised. Clostridium perfringens septicemia is usually fatal without early identification, source control, and antibiotics. Case. We present a case of a 65-year-old female with Clostridium perfringens septicemia secondary to emphysematous cholecystitis, with progression to hepatic abscesses. Conclusion. Septicemia secondary to Clostridium perfringens is generally fatal if not detected early. Source control with surgery or percutaneous drainage and early antibiotic therapy is imperative. Hyperbaric oxygen therapy may reduce mortality. Clinicians caring for patients with sepsis and intravascular hemolysis must have Clostridium perfringens septicemia on their differential diagnosis with a low threshold for starting antibiotics and pursuing source of infection.
Characteristics of 4H-SiC P-i-N diodes on lightly doped free-standing substrates

This paper presents static and dynamic electrical characteristics of implanted 4H-SiC PiN diodes fabricated on Si-face and C-face of lightly doped free-standing substrates. The device performance is found to be comparable to conventional diodes. Carrier lifetime of about 2.5 μs was measured for the drift region.
An update on high peak power (HPP) RF processing of 3 GHz nine-cell niobium accelerator cavities

Two 3 GHz, nine-cell niobium accelerator structures have been fabricated and tested multiple times. An unambiguous improvement in cavity performance can be shown due to high peak power (HPP) RF processing of the cavities. The average achieved accelerating gradient prior to HPP processing was E/sub acc/=12 MV/m, (standard deviation=3 MV/m). The average maximum accelerating gradient following all HPP processing was E/sub acc/=17 MV/m, (standard deviation=2 MV/m). Gains in cavity performance can be directly correlated with magnitude of field reached during pulsed HPP processing. Durability of processing gains has been tested by exposing processed cavities to filtered air, at room temperature, and unfiltered air, under both room temperature and cryogenic conditions. Filtered air had no discernable effect on cavity performance. Unfiltered air degraded cavity performance, through increased emission, however much of the cavity performance could be regained through further RF processing. >
Physical and Biological Responses to an Alternative Removal Strategy of a Moderate-sized Dam in Washington, USA

Dam removal is an increasingly practised river restoration technique, and ecological responses vary with watershed, dam and reservoir properties, and removal strategies. Moderate-sized dams, like Hemlock Dam (7.9 m tall and 56 m wide), are large enough that removal effects could be significant, but small enough that mitigation may be possible through a modified dam removal strategy. The removal of Hemlock Dam in Washington State, USA, was designed to limit channel erosion and improve fish passage and habitat by excavating stored fine sediment and reconstructing a channel in the former 6-ha reservoir. Prior to dam removal, summer daily water temperatures downstream from the dam increased and remained warm long into the night. Afterwards, a more natural diel temperature regime was restored, although daily maximum temperatures remained high. A short-lived turbidity pulse occurred soon after re-watering of the channel, but was otherwise similar to background levels. Substrate shifted from sand to gravel–cobble in the former reservoir and from boulder to gravel–cobble downstream of the dam. Initially, macroinvertebrate assemblage richness and abundance was low in the project area, but within 2 years, post-removal reaches upstream and downstream of the dam had diverse and abundant communities. The excavation of stored sediment and channel restoration as part of the dam removal strategy restored river continuity and improved benthic habitat while minimizing downstream sedimentation. This study provides a comparison of ecological effects with other dam removal strategies and can inform expectations of response time and magnitude. Published 2015. This article is a U.S. Government work and is in the public domain in the USA.
A DISCRETE PREDICTING CONTROLLER

This paper describes an attempt to develop a control device which has some of the characteristics of human processing rather than of the lead-lag formulations of control theory. The controller's sensory limitations, the way in which it internally represents the behaviour of the system under control, and its control strategy, are described. A digital computer simulation of the controller has been subjected to two performance tests; and the limitations of its behaviour are discussed.
Thermal poling studies in phosphate glasses with low and high alkali content

Second-order nonlinearities were induced in lanthanum phosphate and sodium aluminum phosphate glasses. Maker fringe experiments show that the induced nonlinearities in the two glass systems have different magnitudes and spatial profiles. The microscopic origin of X(2) is discussed in terms of different charge migration models.
Biological production of nitrite in seawater

The relative importance of 3 different sources for biological production of nitrite in seawater was studied. Decomposition of fecal pellets of the copepod Calanus helgolandicus (at a concentration of approximately 12 μg-at N/l), in seawater medium, released small amounts of ammonia over a 6 week period. It nitrifying bacteria were added to the fecal pellets nitrite was barely detectable over the same period. Decomposition of phytoplankton (present at a concentration of about 8 μg-at particulate plant N/l) with added heterotrophic bacteria, released moderate amounts of ammonia over a 12 week period. If the ammonia-oxidizing bacterium Nitrosocystis oceanus was added to the decomposing algae, nitrite was produced at a rate of 0.2 μg-at N/l/week. Heterotrophic nitrification was not observed when 7 open-ocean bacteria were tested for their ability to oxidize ammonia. The diatom Skeletonema costatum, either non-starved or starved of nitrogen, produced nitrite when growing with 150 or 50 μg-at NO2--N/l at a light intensity of about 0.01 ly/min. When nitrate in the medium was exhausted, S. costatum assimilated nitrite. If starved of vitamin B12, both non-N-starved and N-starved cells of S. costatum produced nitrite in the medium with 150 μg-at NO3--N/l. Nitrate was not exhausted and cell densities reached 2x105/ml due to vitamin B12 deficiency. If light intensity was reduced to 0.003 ly/min under otherwise similar conditions, cells did not grow due to insufficient light, and nitrite was not produced. In the sea, it appears that, in certain micro-environments, decomposition of particulate matter releases ammonia with its subsequent oxidation to nitrite. The amounts of these nutrients and the rate at which they are produced are dependent upon the nature of the materials undergoing decomposition and the associated bacteria. In certain other areas of the sea, where phytoplankton standing stock is high and nitrate is non-limiting, excretion by these organisms is a major source of nitrite.
Knowledge of cervical dysplasia and human papillomavirus among women seen in a colposcopy clinic.

Abstract Objective. This study was undertaken to evaluate knowledge of cervical dysplasia and human papillomavirus (HPV) among women seen in a colposcopy clinic. Study design. Demographics, knowledge, and psychological distress were assessed in structured interviews with 175 women before, during, and after colposcopy. Results. Respondents had low knowledge scores before and after colposcopy; however, their overall knowledge improved slightly ( P = 0.013) following the exam. When responses were examined by question, respondents demonstrated a significant increase of correct answers to only one question: Does dysplasia, or precancerous cells on the cervix, always go away without treatment? Pre-exam knowledge was positively associated with educational level and was lower among Hispanics and patients recruited at the clinic. Post-exam knowledge was positively associated with pre-exam knowledge and educational level. Conclusion. Routine clinical education during colposcopy can improve patients' understanding of cervical cancer; however, the low level of knowledge that persisted after colposcopy is a cause for concern.
Systemic markers of collagen metabolism and vitamin C in smokers and non-smokers with pelvic organ prolapse

Abstract Objective To evaluate systemic markers of collagen metabolism and vitamin C in female smokers with pelvic organ prolapse (POP). Secondary aims were to compare these levels in women based on prolapse or smoking history alone. Study design This was a cross-sectional study with four groups: smokers with POP, non-smokers with POP, smokers without POP and non-smokers without POP. Subjects were age-matched based on smoking history and presence of POP. All underwent a fasting blood panel, including plasma procollagen 1-N propeptide (P1NP), matrix metalloproteinase 9 (MMP-9), and vitamin C. Results Ninety-six subjects were enrolled. There were no differences for any demographics other than stage of prolapse, which was highest in non-smokers with POP. Significant variations in the levels of vitamin C and MMP-9 were noted among the four groups. Smokers with POP had lower levels of vitamin C and higher levels of MMP-9, compared to non-smokers with POP, but this relationship was not statistically significant. However, when contrasting smokers without POP to non-smokers without POP, significant differences in both vitamin C and MMP-9 were documented, confirming an impact of smoking on these markers. Notwithstanding, when evaluated independent of smoking status, vitamin C and MMP-9 levels in women with POP were similar to those of women without POP. Conclusion Lower vitamin C and higher MMP-9 among smokers confirms the usefulness of such markers in documenting the smoking's impact on collagen. However, the lack of a difference based on POP suggests these are poor measures for understanding the pathophysiology of this disorder.
Reported cases of measles in international air travelers to the United States, August 2005-March 2008.

Background In countries with high rates of measles immunization, imported cases of measles represent an important continuing source of measles infection. Methods Airlines and state health departments report cases of suspected measles in international travelers to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Quarantine Stations. We reviewed these reports, maintained in an electronic database, to determine the demographic and epidemiologic characteristics of international air travelers infected with measles. Results We reviewed 35 confirmed cases of measles in air travelers and analyzed their demographic and epidemiologic characteristics. The median age of case travelers was 17 (range: 4 months–50 years). These travelers arrived from all regions of the world, including 10 countries with immunization rates of measles‐containing vaccine below 90% and five others experiencing local outbreaks. Of 17 travelers for whom immunization status was known, 2 had been adequately immunized with at least two doses of a measles‐virus containing vaccine, 9 were inadequately immunized, and an additional 6 infants had not been immunized because of age. Conclusions Measles importations continue in the United States. Travelers should be aware of the importance of assuring up‐to‐date immunizations, especially when visiting countries experiencing a local measles outbreak. In addition, parents traveling with infants, and their physicians, should be aware of recommendations regarding the early administration of a dose of measles‐containing vaccine for infants at least 6 months old traveling internationally.
State Regulatory Principals and Local Bureaucratic Agents: The Politics of Local Solid Waste Management

Regulatory agencies often delegate responsibility for implementing policy to agencies at lower levels of government. This article models strategic bargaining between New York State regulatory principals at the Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) and county landfill agents as an iterated prisoner’s dilemma game. Data are drawn from regional DEC and county records over a 7-year period. Local regulatory agents balance local political pressures, career aspirations, and the probability of being caught and punished in deciding whether to cooperate or defect with regional DEC regulators. Regional DEC regulatory principals balance their support from governor and legislature, the importance of the regulatory issue, and the constraints of scarce resources in deciding whether to cooperate or defect with local landfill operators.
Clinical predictors of treatment reduction in hypertensive patients

Objective:To demonstrate that some hypertensive patients under good blood pressure (BP) control can reduce medications, and to identify predictors of successful reduction.
International Christian University : an adventure in Christian higher education in Japan

(1966). International Christian University: An Adventure in Christian Higher Education in Japan. The Journal of Higher Education: Vol. 37, No. 2, pp. 116-117.
Evidence for solar‐cycle forcing and secular variation in the Armagh Observatory temperature record (1844–1992)

A prominent feature of previous long-term temperature studies has been the appearance of warming since the 1880s, this often being taken as evidence for anthropogenic-induced global warming. In this investigation, the long-term, annual, mean temperature record (1844-1992) of the Armagh Observatory (Armagh, North Ireland), a set of temperature data based on maximum and minimum thermometers that predates the 1880s and correlates well with northern hemispheric and global standards, is examined for evidence of systematic variation, in particular, as related to solar-cycle forcing and secular variation. Indeed, both appear to be embedded within the Armagh data. Removal of these effects, each contributing about 8% to the overall reduction in variance, yields residuals that are randomly distributed. Application of the 10-year moving average to the residuals, furthermore, strongly suggests that the behavior of the residuals is episodic, inferring that (for extended periods of time) temperatures at Armagh sometimes were warmer or cooler (than expected), while at other times they were stable. Comparison of cyclic averages of annual mean temperatures against the lengths of the associated Hale cycles (i.e., the length of two, sequentially numbered, even-odd sunspot cycle pairs) strongly suggests that the temperatures correlate inversely (r = -0.886 at less than 2% level of significance) against the length of the associated Hale cycle. Because sunspot cycle 22 ended in 1996, the present Hale cycle probably will be shorter than average, implying that temperatures at Armagh over this Hale cycle will be warmer (about 9.31 q 0.23 C at the 90% confidence level) than average (= 9.00 C).
LiCaAlF/sub 6/:Cr/sup 3+/: a promising new solid-state laser material

LiCaAlF/sub 6/:Cr/sup 3+/ (Cr/sup 3+/:LiCAF) exhibits an intrinsic (extrapolated maximum) slope efficiency of 67%. For comparison, the intrinsic slope efficiencies of BeAl/sub 2/O/sub 4/:Cr/sup 3+/ (alexandrite), Na/sub 3/Ga/sub 2/Li/sub 3/F/sub 12/:Cr/sup 3+/ and ScBO/sub 3/:Cr/sup 3+/ were found to be 65, 28, and 26%, respectively. The tuning range of LiCaAlF/sub 6/:Cr/sup 3+/ was determined to be at least 720-840 nm. The conventional spectroscopic properties, such as the absorption, emission, and emission lifetimes as a function of temperature, are reported as well. >
Gastric vagal-splanchnic interactions in the brainstem of the cat

Abstract Brainstem unitary responses to gastric vagal-splanchnic nerve interactions were evaluated in anesthetized cats during electrical stimulation of the nerves. The gastric branches of the dorsal and ventral vagal trunks which serve the proximal stomach were electrically stimulated while recording in nucleus solitarius in the brainstem to identify evoked unitary responses. The vagally evoked brainstem responses were orthodromic in nature as evidenced by a slight variability in latency, reduction in the number of spikes upon decreasing stimulus strength and failure to follow higher stimulus frequencies. Interactions between gastric vagal input from the proximal stomach and left greater splanchnic nerve were evaluated by simultaneously stimulating the nerves electrically. Forty-three (16%) of the 265 gastric vagally evoked brainstem responses recorded were inhibited by simultaneously activating the left greater splanchnic nerve. The gastric vagally evoked responses inhibited by splanchnic input were nearly equally divided between the dorsal and ventral vagal trunks. Eighty-eight percent of those vagally evoked brainstem units inhibited by splanchnic input showed complete inhibition suggesting secure synaptic coupling. In addition, 3 gastric vagally activated brainstem units were identified which were also activated by greater splanchnic input. The latency of the splanchnic evoked brainstem response in these 3 units ranged from 55 to 89 ms compared to a mean latency of 290 ms (S.D.± 50ms) for the vagally evoked brainstem response. Splanchnic electrical stimulation usually produced an inhibitory effect upon the vagally evoked brainstem response which persisted for approximately 30 s following termination of splanchnic stimulation. This study identified single neurons in nucleus solitarius in the caudal brainstem of the cat which received: (1) excitatory input from gastric vagal fibers serving the proximal stomach, which travel in the dorsal and/or ventral vagal trunks; and (2) inhibitory input from fibers in the left greater splanchnic nerve. The gastric vagal-splanchnic brainstem interactions may be involved in receptive relaxation and gastric accomodation during ingestion.
Complementary and Alternative Medicine in the Management of Pain, Dyspnea, and Nausea and Vomiting Near the End of Life: A Systematic Review

To review the evidence for efficacy of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) modalities in treating pain, dyspnea, and nausea and vomiting in patients near the end of life, original articles were evaluated following a search through MEDLINE, CancerLIT, AIDSLINE, PsycLIT, CINAHL, and Social Work Abstracts databases. Search terms included alternative medicine, palliative care, pain, dyspnea, and nausea. Two independent reviewers extracted data, including study design, subjects, sample size, age, response rate, CAM modality, and outcomes. The efficacy of a CAM modality was evaluated in 21 studies of symptomatic adult patients with incurable conditions. Of these, only 12 were directly accessed via literature searching. Eleven were randomized controlled trials, two were non-randomized controlled trials, and eight were case series. Acupuncture, transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation, supportive group therapy, self-hypnosis, and massage therapy may provide pain relief in cancer pain or in dying patients. Relaxation/imagery can improve oral mucositis pain. Patients with severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease may benefit from the use of acupuncture, acupressure, and muscle relaxation with breathing retraining to relieve dyspnea. Because of publication bias, trials on CAM modalities may not be found on routine literature searches. Despite the paucity of controlled trials, there are data to support the use of some CAM modalities in terminally ill patients. This review generated evidence-based recommendations and identified areas for future research.
Moon-magnetosphere interaction and estimates of possible lunar core size

It is shown that estimates of the size of a possible lunar core are negligibly affected by currents due to a directed plasma flux toward the moon. A theory for the compression of an induced lunar dipole by an incoming sub-Alfvenic flux of cold plasma is presented for the time-independent case where the external magnetic field, induced dipole moment, and plasma velocity vector are all aligned, and it is demonstrated that, at very long time periods, effects due to the inertia of an incoming flow of cold plasma can be ignored. A theory for time-dependent fluctuations in a stationary plasma is modified to include the effects of incoming flux.
Mouse mutants for the nicotinic acetylcholine receptor ß2 subunit display changes in cell adhesion and neurodegeneration response genes.

Mice lacking expression of the s2 subunit of the neuronal nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (CHRNB2) display abnormal retinal waves and a dispersed projection of retinal ganglion cell (RGC) axons to their dorsal lateral geniculate nuclei (dLGNs). Transcriptomes of LGN tissue from two independently generated Chrnb2−/− mutants and from wildtype mice were obtained at postnatal day 4 (P4), during the normal period of segregation of eye-specific afferents to the LGN. Microarray analysis reveals reduced expression of genes located on the cell membrane or in extracellular space, and of genes active in cell adhesion and calcium signaling. In particular, mRNA for cadherin 1 (Cdh1), a known axon growth regulator, is reduced to nearly undetectable levels in the LGN of P4 mutant mice and Lypd2 mRNA is similarly suppressed. Similar analysis of retinal tissue shows increased expression of crumbs 1 (Crb1) and chemokine (C-C motif) ligand 21 (Ccl21) mRNAs in Chrnb2−/− mutant animals. Mutations in these genes are associated with retinal neuronal degeneration. The retinas of Chrnb2−/− mutants are normal in appearance, but the increased expression of these genes may also be involved in the abnormal projection patterns of RGC to the LGN. These data may provide the tools to distinguish the interplay between neural activity and molecular expression. Finally, comparison of the transcriptomes of the two different Chrnb2−/− mutant strains reveals the effects of genetic background upon gene expression.
Acoustics in fisheries research--A perspective

Simple extension of existing fishery acoustics procedures will result in unnecessary delays in adding acoustical fishery survey data to the existing fishery management techniques. Progress in the coupled collection of amplitude - and frequency - domain acoustical data from fish aggregation promise useful advances in the utility of fishery acoustic studies. Fishery management problems are listed and transitions in the management of acoustics development, in the technology, and the biological studies are recommended.
Adjoint Sensitivity and Predictability of Tropical Cyclogenesis

AbstractThe sensitivity of tropical cyclogenesis and subsequent intensification is explored by applying small perturbations to the initial state in the presence of organized mesoscale convection and synoptic-scale forcing using the adjoint and tangent linear models for the Coupled Ocean–Atmosphere Mesoscale Prediction System (COAMPS). The forward, adjoint, and tangent linear models are used to compare and contrast predictability characteristics for the disturbance that became Typhoon Nuri and a nondeveloping organized convective cluster in the western Pacific during The Observing System Research and Predictability Experiment (THORPEX) Pacific Asian Regional Campaign (T-PARC) and the Tropical Cyclone Structure-2008 (TCS-08) experiments.The adjoint diagnostics indicate that the intensity (e.g., maximum surface wind speed, minimum surface pressure) of a tropical disturbance is very sensitive to perturbations in the moisture and temperature fields and to a lesser degree the wind fields. The highest-resolution...
A New Approach for Managing Information Technology

C ompanies that have learned to harness the power of technology have been able to open up markets, improve the quality of business operations and products, and increase profits. Companies that have ignored the management requirements of information technology or have adopted a “technology for technology's sake” stance have frequently fallen prey to complex and inflexible management structures, physical and operational limitations, eroding service quality, and increased costs. A key question is: Who will be responsible for guiding this strategic application of technology?
Improved discovery of molecular interactions in genome-scale data with adaptive model-based normalization.

Background High throughput molecular-interaction studies using immunoprecipitations (IP) or affinity purifications are powerful and widely used in biology research. One of many important applications of this method is to identify the set of RNAs that interact with a particular RNA-binding protein (RBP). Here, the unique statistical challenge presented is to delineate a specific set of RNAs that are enriched in one sample relative to another, typically a specific IP compared to a non-specific control to model background. The choice of normalization procedure critically impacts the number of RNAs that will be identified as interacting with an RBP at a given significance threshold – yet existing normalization methods make assumptions that are often fundamentally inaccurate when applied to IP enrichment data. Methods In this paper, we present a new normalization methodology that is specifically designed for identifying enriched RNA or DNA sequences in an IP. The normalization (called adaptive or AD normalization) uses a basic model of the IP experiment and is not a variant of mean, quantile, or other methodology previously proposed. The approach is evaluated statistically and tested with simulated and empirical data. Results and Conclusions The adaptive (AD) normalization method results in a greatly increased range in the number of enriched RNAs identified, fewer false positives, and overall better concordance with independent biological evidence, for the RBPs we analyzed, compared to median normalization. The approach is also applicable to the study of pairwise RNA, DNA and protein interactions such as the analysis of transcription factors via chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) or any other experiments where samples from two conditions, one of which contains an enriched subset of the other, are studied.
Excessive hepatic glycogen storage in glucosephosphate isomerase deficiency.

. Excessive amounts of glycogen were found in liver and erythrocytes of a patient suffering from generalized glucosephosphate isomerase deficiency. A low carbohydrate diet, frequent meals and avoidance of peak carbohydrate challenges resulted in a significant decrease of liver volume without affecting the haematological condition. The possible mechanism of these findings are discussed.
Nuclear magnetic resonance experiments and theory of the magnetic properties of NaCrS2

Abstract The sublattice magnetization of the antiferromagnet NaCrS2 is measured by an NMR-method. The results of this, susceptibility and bulk magnetization experiments are interpreted theoretically using a two-sublattice and a helical model.
The Relationship of the BODE Index to Oxygen Saturation During Daily Activities in Patients with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease

The frequency of oxygen desaturation during daily activities in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is poorly defined. The BODE index predicts survival in COPD. The purpose of this study was to determine the relationship between BODE scores and oxygen saturation during daily activities. Seventy-eight patients with COPD (FEV1 = 37%) underwent ambulatory oximetry and activity monitoring. We defined four activity categories: Walking, Slow-Intermittent-Walking (SIW), Active-Not-Walking (ANW), and Rest. We quantified oxygen desaturation during activity using a desaturation index (DSI = % time oxygen saturation <90%). BODE scores were categorized into three groups: group I (0–3), II (4–6), and III (7–10). The percentage of patients demonstrating oxygen desaturation (DSI ≥ 10%) during each activity was 55% for Walking, 35% for SIW, 15% for ANW, and 28% for Rest. There was a strong association between BODE score and desaturation for Walking and SIW. During Walking, 21, 44, and 86% of patients in BODE groups I, II, and III, respectively, demonstrated desaturation. The DSI for Walking and SIW was increased in patients in BODE groups II and III compared to group I (P < 0.006, P < 0.007, respectively). BODE score was also linked to long-term oxygen therapy (LTOT) usage; the majority of patients not on LTOT (89%) had a BODE score <7. The majority of patients on LTOT (84%) demonstrated desaturation during Walking, but 42% of patients not on LTOT also demonstrated desaturation. In this subgroup of patients not on LTOT, all patients with a BODE score ≥7 demonstrated desaturation during Walking. The link between the BODE index and oxygen desaturation during daily activities suggests that desaturation is linked to disease severity. Our data suggest that patients with a BODE score ≥7 should be evaluated for desaturation during daily activities. Use of the BODE index to screen for exertional desaturation may have value as a tool that can lead to the earlier identification of patients who may be candidates for LTOT.
The Vector-Thread Architecture

The vector-thread (VT) architectural paradigm unifies the vectorand multithreaded compute models. The VT abstraction providesthe programmer with a control processor and a vector of virtualprocessors (VPs). The control processor can use vector-fetch commandsto broadcast instructions to all the VPs or each VP can usethread-fetches to direct its own control flow. A seamless intermixingof the vector and threaded control mechanisms allows a VT architectureto flexibly and compactly encode application parallelismand locality, and a VT machine exploits these to improve performanceand efficiency. We present SCALE, an instantiation of theVT architecture designed for low-power and high-performance embeddedsystems. We evaluate the SCALE prototype design usingdetailed simulation of a broad range of embedded applications andshow that its performance is competitive with larger and more complexprocessors.
Integrals for non-Born–Oppenheimer calculations of molecules with three nuclei

Variational molecular calculations without assuming the Born–Oppenheimer approximation of states corresponding to zero total angular momentum require the use of spherically symmetric basis functions explicitly depending on the electron–electron, electron–nucleus, and nucleus–nucleus distances. In our calculations, such functions have been the explicitly correlated Gaussians. For molecules with three nuclei, the Gaussians have to be multiplied by powers of all three internuclear distances to describe the highly correlated motion of the nuclei. In this work we have derived formulae for the overlap and the Hamiltonian matrix elements for such basis functions. Implementation of the formulae presents some unconventional numerical difficulties related to maintaining the required precision of the calculation. The implementation problems are discussed.
New treatment paradigms in neonatal metabolic epilepsies.

Neonatal seizures represent a major challenge among the epilepsies vis-a-vis seizure classification, electroclinical correlation, inherent excitability of neocortex, ontogenic characteristics of neurotransmitter receptors, and responsiveness to standard antiepileptic drugs. Each of these factors renders neonatal seizures more difficult to treat, and therapy has been a vexing area for recent advances in this seizure category. Conversely, specific metabolic disorders have very special therapeutic considerations in the clinical setting of neonatal seizures which require a high index of clinical suspicion and rapid intervention for a successful outcome. The prototype is pyridoxine dependency, although pyridoxal 5′-phosphate dependency is a recently recognized but treatable neonatal epilepsy that deserves earmarked distinction. Clinicians must remain vigilant for these possibilities, including atypical cases where apparent seizure-free intervals may occur. Folinic acid-dependent seizures are allelic with pyridoxine dependency. Serine-dependent seizures and glucose transporter deficiency may present with neonatal seizures and have specific therapy. A vital potassium channel regulated by serum ATP/ADP ratios in the pancreas and brain may be mutated with a resultant neuroendocrinopathy characterized by development delay, epilepsy, and neonatal diabetes (DEND). This requires oral hypoglycaemic therapy, and not insulin, for neurological responsiveness. The startle syndrome of hyperekplexia, which mimics neonatal epilepsy, has been associated with laryngospasm and sudden death but is treated with benzodiazepines.
Microinjection of opioid antagonists into the substantia nigra reduces stress-induced eating in rats.

Abstract Stress produced by pinching the tail has been shown to cause satiated animals to eat and to display oral stereotypies. Endogenous opioids and central dopamine systems have been implicated in the mediation of these effects. In order to test the possibility that the substantia nigra (SN) might be involved, the amount of food intake and gnawing produced by mild tail pinch were assessed following bilateral microinjections of opioid antagonists into the SN. Evaluations of nociceptive thresholds were also conducted using tail flick and hot plate tests. Eating induced by tail pinch was reduced by microinjections of the non-selectve opioid antagonist naloxone (3, 10, 20 and 30 nmol) and by the μ-selective antagonist Cys2, Tyr3, Orn5, Pen7 Amide (CTOP) (1, 3, and 10 nmol). These effects on eating occured in the absence of effects of gnawing. κ- and δ-antagonists (10 nmol) had no effect on eating or gnawing. Naloxone did not alter either tail flick or hot-plate response latencies. The highest dose of CTOP increased response latency on the hot-plate test only. The results are interpreted as suggesting that the SN may be an important central site of action for opioid antagonists in reducing stress-induced eating. The possibility that the SN may be a central site mediating the effects of dopamine on this phenomenon is also discussed.
Results of tuberculosis contact tracing: Blackburn 1982–1990

Abstract Between 1982 and 1990, 649 index cases of tuberculosis were seen of which 429 (66·1%) were of Indian Subcontinent (ISC) ethnic origin: 7017 close contacts of these cases were screened, 50 cases of tuberculosis were detected (7·7% of notifications) and 372 children given chemoprophylaxis. All cases of tuberculosis detected in the white ethnic group were contacts of smear-positive pulmonary disease, six (46%) found at initial screening, five (38%) at 1 year and one (8%) at 2 year follow-up. Of 37 cases detected in the ISC ethnic group, only 14 (38%) were contacts of smear-positive disease, 17 (46%) being contacts of other respiratory disease, and six (16%) contacts of non-respiratory disease. Eighteen (49%) of ISC cases detected were at initial screening, with six (16%), eight (22%) and three (8%), respectively, at 6 month, 1 year and 2 year follow-up. The results support the revised Joint Tuberculosis Committee advice on contact tracing, with differential contact programmes depending on type of disease and ethnic group of index cases.