cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Evaluation of serum magnesium differences in hypertensive crises and control patients: A randomly matched case-control study.

Although the role of magnesium in blood pressure has been well studied among hypertensive patients, no study has explored the role of magnesium in hypertensive crises. The primary objective of this study is to evaluate the differences in serum magnesium levels between hypertensive crises patients and matched controls (age-, sex-, race-, and diabetes-matched) in a 1:1 random match. This study is a single-center, retrospective, chart review, case-control study of patients with hypertensive crises (case group) and patients without hypertensive crises (control group). Patients were included in the case group if they were 18 years of age or older with hypertensive crises and have a documented magnesium level. The control group patients were required to be 18 years of age or older, have no diagnosis of hypertensive crises, and have a documented magnesium level. The primary outcome of the study was to compare the mean serum magnesium in patients with hypertensive crises versus patients without hypertensive crises. Three hundred and fifty-eight patients were included in the study: 179 patients in both the case group and control group. The primary outcome results showed that serum magnesium concentration was not significantly different between the case group (1.89 ± 0.29 mg/dl) and control group (1.90 ± 0.31 mg/dl) (p = .787). This study found no significant difference in serum magnesium levels in patients with hypertensive crises compared to a random matched control group. Larger observational or experimental studies may be useful to evaluate the effect of magnesium on blood pressure in hypertensive crises.
Second Sets of Tympanostomy Tubes Extrude Sooner.

INTRODUCTION Some clinicians believe second sets of tympanostomy tubes extrude more quickly than first sets. STUDY DESIGN Retrospective case-control series. METHODS We identified children who were examined 12 months after placement of their second set of tympanostomy tubes and compared them to a similar number of children who were examined 12 months after their first set of tympanostomy tubes. Extrusion was determined by otoscopy, otomicroscopy, and/or tympanometry. RESULTS One hundred eighteen children had 12-month follow-up data available after their first set of tubes, 54 had 12-month follow-up data available for their second set, and 56 had 12-month follow-up data after their first and second sets. A total of 568 tubes were observed. Looking at each tube, second set tubes were significantly more likely to be extruded at 12 months (48%) compared to first set (28%) (P < .001). Patient age was not associated with extrusion rate. For patients who had 12-month follow-up for both their first and second set of tubes, there was no correlation between extrusion of first and second set tubes. CONCLUSION Second set tympanostomy tubes are significantly less likely to remain functional 12 months after placement than first sets, independent of patient age at placement and independent of whether the child's first tubes extruded by 12 months. Given the short duration of second tube function, delaying second set placement until the fall might be a better choice for some children. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE 3-Case-control studies Laryngoscope, 2021.
Disseminated gonococcal infection: a potential marker of failing sexually transmitted infection control and prevention services.

The SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) pandemic has affected routine STI testing leading to undiagnosed and untreated infections,1 a new obstacle among a series of issues related to STI control in the USA.2 In November 2020, the California Department of Public Health’s (CDPH) cited reports of disseminated gonococcal infection (DGI) as a result of “… people not seeking care or getting routine testing during the COVID-19 pandemic”.1 AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF)—a non-profit organisation providing free walk-in STI services—conducted a retrospective cohort review of all patients who tested gonorrhoea …
Towards a study of the effects of dynamical factorization breaking at LHCb

The factorization of short-distance partonic cross-sections from universal long-distance kinematic distributions is fundamental to phenomenology at hadron colliders. It has been predicted however that observables sensitive to momenta transverse to the direction of an energetic parton cannot be factorized in the usual way, even at high energies. It should be possible to study this factorization breaking using Z+jet production in high-energy proton-proton collisions by studying azimuthal correlations between a Z boson and associated charged hadrons. A plan to perform this measurement with data collected by LHCb will be discussed, along with related work.
Confronting the Threat

Trade with China threatens Western institutions. Protecting these institutions is not as simple as terminating trade with China, which is not a viable policy option. Some trade restrictions are in order, but these must be carefully crafted to put a stop to the institutional free riding. Necessary policies include reforming the regulatory structure of Western countries to maintain competitive advantage, maintaining a military presence, and leading multilateral action in the Asia-Pacific region to offer a counterweight to China. The underlying themes of all policy options presented in this chapter are to stop the institutional free riding and mitigate the influence that China has obtained through institutional free riding, while letting mutually beneficial trade continue.
A clustering approach for assessing external corrosion in a buried pipeline based on hidden Markov random field model

Abstract This paper describes the use of a clustering approach based on hidden Markov random field to extract potential homogeneous segments from a large length right-of-way of a pipeline structure with heterogeneous soil properties. This approach extends the conventional finite mixture model so that the spatial correlation of external corrosion sites can be taken into consideration. An algorithm is established for classifying corrosion defects using soil properties from an in-situ survey and location information from in-line inspection reports. The categorized corrosion defects reveal the hidden patterns of corrosion degradation in different segments along a pipeline structure. Stochastic simulation is employed to test this clustering approach. An example involving a 110-km pipeline interval is employed to illustrate the implementation of the clustering approach. The results indicate that the process of external corrosion propagation in a buried pipeline is position-dependent and is highly related to the soil environment. In addition, the results show that this phenomenon can be interpreted by segmentation using the proposed clustering method. A clustering-based inspection strategy is discussed as a way to apply the present approach.
6 – REVERSIBLE SOURCES AND RESERVOIRS

This chapter introduces a set of idealized auxiliary thermodynamic systems with special properties that they possess by definition. These systems are the reversible work, heat, and matter sources and reservoirs. They are called “auxiliary systems” because they serve as components in composite systems whose main component is to be investigated. Their primary purpose is to assure constancy of one or the other intensive parameter such as temperature, pressure, or chemical potential in the main component. A very large reversible work source is called a “work reservoir.” If the work is pressure–volume work, the pressure of a volume reservoir is constant. Such a work reservoir acts as a “manostat.” Similarly in case of heat reservoir, temperature is constant. A heat reservoir coupled to another system through a diathermal wall acts as a “thermostat.” In a matter reservoir, the chemical potential of the species of which it consists is constant and it thus acts as a “chemostat.” In the interaction of a given thermodynamic system with a reversible heat, work, or matter source the total change in entropy is zero because the processes are reversible.
pp125FAK in the Focal Adhesion

Integrins are a large superfamily of transmembrane adhesion molecules. In many types of cultured cells, integrins are concentrated in specialized sites called focal adhesions. Integrins are capable of transducing signals to the inside of the cell, which can effect cell migration, differentiation and growth, but the signaling mechanism of integrins has been obscure because their short cytoplasmic domains do not possess endogenous catalytic activity. The recent discovery of a tyrosine kinase called pp125FAK (for focal adhesion kinase) has led to a proposed model in which the binding of integrins to extracellular ligands activates FAK, which then generates a tyrosine phosphorylation cascade within the cell. Data both for and against this model have been obtained, and the precise function of FAK in cultured cells and organized tissues is still not clear. However, many interesting features (its unusual molecular structure, its functional and physical association with integrins, and its potential for participating in multiple signaling pathways) suggest that FAK may play a pivotal role in conveying information from the membrane to the inside of the cell.
Differential roles of heat shock protein 70 in the in vitro nuclear import of glucocorticoid receptor and simian virus 40 large tumor antigen.

Nuclear import of glucocorticoid receptors (GRs) was analyzed in vitro with digitonin-permeabilized cells (S. A. Adam, R. Sterne-Marr, and L. Gerace, J. Cell Biol. 111:807-816, 1990). Indirect immunofluorescence methods were used to monitor the transport of GRs from rat hepatoma and fibroblast cell cytosol into HeLa nuclei. In vitro nuclear import of GRs was shown to be hormone dependent and to require ATP and incubation at ambient temperatures (i.e., 30 degrees C). Hormone-dependent dissociation of GR-bound proteins, such as the 90-kDa heat shock protein, hsp90, is part of an activation process that is obligatory for the expression of the receptor's DNA-binding activity. Inhibition of in vitro GR activation by Na2MoO4 blocked hormone-dependent nuclear import, demonstrating that receptor activation is required for nuclear import. The addition to GR-containing cytosol of antiserum directed against the cytosolic 70-kDa heat shock protein, hsp70, while effective in blocking the nuclear import of simian virus 40 large tumor antigen (SV40 TAg), did not affect hormone-dependent nuclear import of endogenous, full-length GRs or an exogenously added truncated GR protein (i.e., XGR556) that lacks a hormone-binding domain but possesses a constitutively active nuclear localization signal sequence (NLS). Depletion of hsp70 from HeLa cell cytosol did not affect the nuclear import of exogenously added XGR556 but led to inhibition of SV40 TAg nuclear import. Thus, two closely related NLSs, one contained within GRs and the other contained within SV40 TAg, are distinguished by their differential requirements for hsp70 in vitro.
TRAIL-R2 expression correlates with the sensitivity of neuroblastoma cells to activated NK cells, but high TRAIL-R2 expression correlates with poor prognosis

Proc Amer Assoc Cancer Res, Volume 47, 2006 625 TRAIL is a cell surface death ligand that can kill most tumor cell types expressing TRAIL-receptor 1 (TRAIL-R1) or TRAIL-R2. Observing that TRAIL was expressed by natural killer (NK) cells which were activated (aNK) with IL2 plus IL15, we characterized the role of TRAIL in aNK cytotoxicity against neuroblastoma cells, a tumor type reported to be resistant to soluble , recombinant TRAIL. We examined a panel of 17 human neuroblastoma cell lines (multi-drug sensitive and resistant) and found that sensitivity to cytotoxicity mediated by purified (>98%) aNK cells (calcein-AM 8 hr assay) correlated with expression of TRAIL receptor-2 (TRAIL-R2) mRNA expression (Affymetrix U133A oligonucleotide microarray analysis) and with surface protein expression (flow cytometry). mRNA correlated with surface TRAIL-R2 protein expression (p < 0.024). Little or no TRAIL-R2 was expressed by 4 of the 6 cell lines exhibiting partial resistance to aNK killing. TRAIL-R1 was not expressed by any of the cell lines, and no correlation was observed with TRAIL-R3 or TRAIL-R4. A neutralizing mAb (75411.11) that blocks TRAIL on aNK cells significantly increased the survival of 9 of the 13 TRAIL-R2+ tumor cell lines (median 14%, range 6%-27%), demonstrating a measurable role for TRAIL-R2 in aNK cytotoxicity in vitro . Even though TRAIL contributed to the cytotoxicity of aNK cells, perforin was the dominant pathway since concanamycin A, an inhibitor of the perforin pathway, almost completely inhibited killing in all 17 cell lines. Microarray analysis of primary neuroblastomas from 153 patients with stage 4 (metastatic) disease revealed that almost all expressed higher TRAIL-R2 mRNA levels than were expressed by most normal neural or neural crest derived tissues. Progression-free survival (PFS) for patients diagnosed after 12 months of age correlated inversely with expression of TRAIL-R2 independent of MYCN status; PFS associated with high and low expression (above and below the median value) was 35% and 75%, respectively (p<0.0012). This, as well as our in vitro data wherein 4 of 13 TRAIL-R2+ cell lines were insensitive to aNK expression of TRAIL, suggests that neuroblastoma cells with high expression can survive by disabling the TRAIL-R2 mediated death pathway. Definition of mechanisms of resistance may lead to therapeutic strategies that restore sensitivity to TRAIL.
Chimeric-antigen receptor engineered human T lymphocytes from induced pluripotent stem cells for cancer therapy. (VAC11P.1003)

We hypothesized that genetic engineering of induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSC) with Chimeric Antigen Receptors (CARs) would be an efficient strategy to generate readily available functionally enhanced T cells targeted to a tumor antigen of interest. Since combined CD28 and 4-1BB signaling promote T cell proliferation and survival, we genetically engineered iPSCs from peripheral blood lymphocytes (T-iPSC) to express 1928z, a second-generation CAR specific to the B-cell lineage antigen CD19, and 4-1BBL. Stably transduced 1928z/4-1BBL-T-iPS lines were then directed to differentiate in vitro into CD3+TCRαβ+ T cells that expressed the 1928z CAR and 4-1BBL on the surface (1928zBBL-TiPSC-T). Upon exposure to cells expressing CD19, 1928zBBL-TiPS-T cells rapidly responded by forming clusters, increased the expression of activation markers and secreted type 1 cytokines. We were able to expand 1928zBBL-TiPSC-T cells and expanded 1928zBBL-T-iPSC-T cells displayed high antigen-specific cytotoxic activity in vitro. Treatment of CD19+ tumor-bearing mice with 1928zBBL-TiPSC-T cells delayed tumor progression and resulted in a significant survival advantage. In summary, the combination of iPSC and CAR technologies we describe here offers a tantalizing new source of “off the shelf” T cells of predetermined antigen specificity and enhanced properties.
Transfer Function Approach to Disturbance Decoupling Problem

We give a necessary and sufficient condition for existence of a controller which decouples the disturbance signal. The condition is based on state space computations. If it is satisfied, we parametrize the set of all disturbance decoupling controllers.
Search for the algorithm of genes distribution during the process of microbial evolution

Previous two and three dimensional graph analysis of eco-physiological data of Archaea demonstrated specific geometry for distribution of major Prokaryotic groups in a hyperboloid function. The function of a two-sheet hyperboloid covered all known biological groups, and therefore, could be applied for the entire evolution of life on Earth. The vector of evolution was indicated from the point of hyper temperature, extreme acidity and low salinity to the point of low temperature and increased alkalinity and salinity. According to this vector, the following groups were chosen for the gene screening analysis. In the vector “High-Temperature → Low-Temperature” within extreme acidic pH (0-3), it is: 1) the hyperthermophilic Crenarchaeota – order Sulfolobales, 2) moderately thermophilic Euryarchaeota - Class Thermoplasmata, and 3) mesophilic acidophiles- genus Thiobacillus and others. In the vector “Low pH → High pH” the following groups were selected in three temperature ranges: a) Hyperthermophilic Archaea and Eubacteria, b) moderately thermophilic – representatives of the genera Anaerobacter and Anoxybacillus, and c) mesophilic haloalkaliphiles (Eubacteria and Archaea). The genes associated with acidophily (H+ pump), chemolitho-autotrophy (proteins of biochemichal cycles), polymerases, and histones were proposed for the first vector, and for the second vector the genes associated with halo-alkaliphily (Na+ pumps), enzymes of organotrophic metabolisms (sugar- and proteolytics), and others were indicated for the screening. Here, an introduction to the phylogenetic constant (ρη) is presented and discussed. This universal characteristic is calculated for two principally different life forms –Prokaryotes and Eukaryotes; Existence of the second type of living forms is impossible without the first one. The number of chromosomes in Prokaryotic organisms is limited to one (with very rare exceptions, to two), while in Eukaryotic organisms this number is larger. Currently, accumulation of data for genome sequences is in progress: about 3,500 draft sequences of genomes are available (of the total 12,000 species Bacteria and Archaea). The possibility of confirmation of the previously proposed mathematical model with an approach for genes screening in determined key groups of microorganisms in genomes databases is outlined and discussed in this article.
Clinical Effectiveness of Family Therapeutic Interventions Embedded in General Pediatric Primary Care Settings for Parental Mental Health: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis

The aim of this systematic review and meta-analysis was to synthesize the available evidence on embedded family therapy interventions in pediatrics and impacts on parental mental health and family functioning outcomes. The Cochrane Collaboration guidelines for systematic reviews and meta-analysis were used for this study. Six electronic databases were searched for randomized controlled trials and cluster randomized trials. The Cochrane Collaboration's Risk of Bias Tool and GRADE system were used to rate the quality of evidence of the included studies. The primary outcomes included parental distress, parental depressive symptoms, and dysfunctional parent-child interaction. Fixed effects models showed statistically significant reductions in parental distress at 6-month and 12-month post-intervention in favor of the intervention group. Family therapy model, intervention level, delivery modality, and dosage moderated intervention impacts on parental distress. Fixed effects models showed statistically significant reductions in parental depressive symptoms and in dysfunctional parent-child interaction in favor of the intervention group. Family therapy interventions can be successfully embedded in general pediatric primary care, and intended outcomes are achieved in this setting. Recommendations for future research and implications for policy development are discussed.
Building an atlas of Arctic climate dynamics

[1] The oceans and atmosphere act as a giant heat mixer. However, they do not spread energy evenly across the planet—the overall effect is a net poleward transfer of energy. While it is known that this energy is predominantly moved by traveling air packets and heat exchange between different media, what is less well understood is how these mechanisms interact over small scales to produce regional patterns of temperature. Understanding these interactions is particularly pressing in the Arctic, where an amplified response to greenhouse gas—induced global warming could potentially skew the relationship between these mechanisms, thereby triggering serious changes in climate dynamics. To sort out the primary forces dictating regional Arctic temperature anomalies and to determine if they are changing with global warming, Serreze et al. compiled records of sea surface temperature, sea ice extent, wind speed and direction, atmospheric temperature, and snow cover stretching back to 1979. The researchers determined that wind direction is overall one of the most powerful dictators of local weather, being associated with temperature swings of up to 10°C for some areas. The authors also found that if wind passes over regions affected by spikes in sea surface temperature or dips in sea ice cover, these anomalies could be spread to surrounding areas. (Journal of Geophysical Research-Atmospheres, doi:10.1029/2010JD015127, 2011)
Flexible, microscale inorganic LEDs and solar cells

This tutorial covers recent progress in the design of high-performance light emitting diodes with unusual sizes, shapes and forms. Applications range from large-area, flexible light sources for general illumination to cellular-scale, injectable systems for biomedicine.This tutorial covers recent progress in the design of high-performance light emitting diodes with unusual sizes, shapes and forms. Applications range from large-area, flexible light sources for general illumination to cellular-scale, injectable systems for biomedicine.
In vitro methylation of bacteriophage λ DNA by wild type (dam+) and mutant (damh) forms of the phage T2 DNA adenine methylase☆

Abstract The wild-type ( dam + ) and mutant ( dam h ) forms of the bacteriophage T2 DNA adenine methylase have been partially purified; these enzymes methylate the sequence, 5/t' … G-A-Py … 3′ (Hattman et al. , 1978 a ). However, in vitro methylation studies using phage λ DNA revealed the following: (1) T2 dam + and dam h enzymes differ in their ability to methylate λ DNA; under identical reaction conditions the T2 dam h enzyme methylated λ DNA to a higher level than did the dam + enzyme. However, the respective methylation sites are equally distributed on the l and r strands. (2) Methylation with T2 dam h , but not T2 dam + protected λ against P1 restriction. This was demonstrated by transfection of Escherichia coli (P1) spheroplasts and by cleavage with R· EcoP1 . (3) T2 dam + and dam h were similarly capable of methylating G-A-T-C sequences on λ DNA; e.g. λ· dam 3 DNA (contains no N 6 -methyladonine) methylated with either enzyme was made resistant to cleavage by R· Dpn II. In contrast, only the T2 dam h modified DNA was resistant to further methylation by M· EcoP 1 (which methylates the sequence 5′ … A-G-A-C-Py … 3′; Hattman et al. , 1978 b ). (4) λ· dam 3 DNA was partially methylated to the same level with T2 dam + or T2 dam h ; the two enzymes produced different patterns of G-A-C versus G-A-T methylation. We propose that the T2 dam + enzyme methylates G-A-C sequences less efficiently than the T2 dam h methylase; this property does not entirely account for the large difference in methylation levels produced by the two enzymes.
Thermodynamic theory of the lead zirconate-titanate solid solution system, part IV: Tilting of the oxygen octahedra

Abstract Values of coefficients related to the tilting of the oxygen octahedra in the low-temperature rhombohedral phase of the lead zirconate-titanate (PZT) solid solution system are needed in the development of a thermodynamic theory of the PZT system. In this paper these coefficients will be determined from experimental spontaneous strain and oxygen octahedral tilt angle data. Values of the tilt angle related coefficients β1,β11, and φ are assumed to be independent of temperature, and are then related to P L, θL, and T R, where P L and θL are the spontaneous polarization and tilt angle of the low-temperature rhombohedral phase at the transition temperature T R between tilted and untilted structures. P L and θL are derived from experimental data for the PZT 90/10 composition, and used together with spontaneous strain values at this composition to determine electrostrictive (Q 44) and rotostrictive (R 44) constants. These constants are then in turn used to derive P L and θL values for other PZT compositi...
Clinical Therapeutics in Pregnancy

Most drugs are not tested for use during pregnancy, consequently, labeling, which may include information about fetal safety, includes nothing about dosing, efficacy, or maternal safety. Yet these are concerns of health care providers considering treatment of disease during pregnancy. Therefore, the practitioner treats the pregnant woman with the same dose recommended for use in adults (typically men) or may decide not to treat the disease at all. However, is the choice of not treating a woman during pregnancy better than dealing with the challenges which accompany treatment? This paper, which summarizes metabolic and physiologic changes induced by pregnancy, illustrates that standard adult dosing is likely to be incorrect during pregnancy.
On the critical thickness of protective films at sliding interfaces

Abstract Friction and wear experiments were conducted on couples consisting of Invar and Fe-3%Si steel pins sliding against a tool steel disk in a mild vacuum (0.1 mmHg) at room temperature. At loads below a critical value, protective films, identified as compacted oxides, were observed on the sliding surfaces. The resulting friction and wear values were very low. A critical film thickness was observed that was thinner for Invar (6 μm) than for Fe-3%Si steel (22 μm), presumably because of a larger difference between the thermal expansion coefficients of oxide and metal for Invar than for Fe-3%Si steel. This critical thickness was found to be independent of sliding speed or applied load. However, at higher loads, the critical thickness was reached at lower sliding times, probably as a result of a higher flash temperature.
On the computational complexity of ordered subgraph recognition

Let (G, <) be a finite graph G with a linearly ordered vertex set V. We consider the decision problem (G, <)ORD to have as an instance an (unordered) graph Γ and as a question whether there exists a linear order ≤ on V(Γ) and an order preserving graph isomorphism of (G, <) onto an induced subgraph of Γ. Several familiar classes of graph are characterized as the yes-instances of (G, < )ORD for appropriate choices of (G, <). Here the complexity of (G, <)ORD is investigated. We conjecture that for any 2-connected graph G, G ≠ Kk, (G, <)ORD is NP-complete. This is verified for almost all 2-connected graphs. Several related problems are formulated and discussed. © 1995 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Treatment placement decisions: How substance abuse professionals assess and place clients

Abstract Initial client assessment and treatment decisions are critical in determining a client's success with a substance abuse treatment program. But what criteria do professionals use to determine the appropriate treatment? These issues were the subject of this study. Interviewers used a five-part in-depth interview protocol with twenty-five substance abuse specialists to determine the assessment criteria used to place clients in particular treatment modalities. The interviews consisted of five parts: (1) a review of recent clients' characteristics; (2) a discussion of five fictional client case descriptions; (3) an assessment factor ranking exercise; (4) a writing assignment designed to elicit key assessment questions from respondents; and (5) an exercise designed to determine how assessment results are used in the treatment placement process. Data analysis revealed high congruence across the five different interview approaches, and the case study exercise produced a high degree of consistency among respondents' placement selections. The primary assessment criteria that professionals apply were as follows: past and present substance abuse; past treatment experiences (with special weight attributed to prior treatment failures); motivation for treatment; family and social networks, mental health problems; and treatment facilities' ability to address special client needs.
CAVITY QED WITH HIGH-Q WHISPERING GALLERY MODES

We report measurements of cavity-QED effects for the radiative coupling of atoms in a dilute vapor to the external evanescent field of a whispering-gallery mode (WGM) in a fused silica microsphere. The high Q (5 x 10^(7)), small mode volume (10^(-8) cm^(3)), and unusual symmetry of the microcavity evanescent field enable velocity-selective interactions between fields with photon number of order unity in the WGM and (N) over bar(T) similar to 1 atoms in the surrounding vapor.
The Second Somatic Revolution1

This paper proposes a dynamic theory of embodiment that aims to get beyond the absent moving body in embodied social theory. The first somatic revolution, inspired by Merleau Ponty, provided theories based on the feeling and experience of the body. The theory of dynamic embodiment focuses instead on the doing itself as embodied social action, in which the embodied person is fore-grounded as a complex resource for meaning making. This represents a theoretical enrichment of the earlier turn to the body in social theory, which tended to separate the semiotic, as necessarily representational and/or linguistic, from the somatic as a wide range of corporeal processes and practices assumed to be separated from mind, language and/or conscious thought. We argue that overcoming this persistent Cartesianism requires a New Realist approach to the proper location of human agency as a causal power, one that promotes a bio-psycho-social concept of personhood. Part one of the paper presents a general framework for this perspective, while part two applies this paradigm ethnographically to illustrate how bringing semiosis and somatics together requires a robust conception of multi-sensory modalities.
Montezuma: Warlord of the Aztecs – By Peter Trouras

This brief biography of the final Aztec emperor, Motecuhzoma Xocoyotzin, is part of a series called “Military Profiles.” The reviewer began to read the book with the hope that a military historian ...
Dental burs--what bur for which application? A survey of dental schools

Purpose The purpose of this study was to survey North American dental schools regarding recommendations for rotary instrumentation for fixed prosthodontic and operative procedures at the predoctoral and postgraduate level. Materials and Methods A 25-question survey was sent to 64 North American dental schools, of which 15 questions specifically related to rotary instrument recommendations. One questionnaire was addressed to the individual at each school having administrative responsibility for teaching tooth preparation techniques. A high response rate was assured by follow-up telephone calls and faxes. The distributions of bur recommendations for both predoctoral and advanced prosthodontic programs were analyzed by chi-squared tests at an a priori α= 0.05. Results Completed surveys were received from 58 of 64 dental schools, a response rate >90%. Medium grit burs predominate in predoctoral education for gross tooth reduction for fixed prosthodontics, whereas coarse grit burs predominate at the graduate level (p .05) and were principally tungsten carbide (WC) burs. Carbide burs are the instrument of choice for internal walls, but the WC bur alone or in combination with diamond burs is preferred for refining composite margins (p < .05). Conclusions There is a broad consensus within North American dental schools on rotary instrumentation used by dental students. There is a greater use of coarser grit burs for gross tooth reduction in fixed prosthodontics at the postgraduate than predoctoral level.
Proarrhythmic Potential of Mesenchymal Stem Cell Transplantation Revealed in an In Vitro Coculture Model

Background— Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are bone marrow stromal cells that are in phase 1 clinical studies of cellular cardiomyoplasty. However, the electrophysiological effects of MSC transplantation have not been studied. Although improvement of ventricular function would represent a positive outcome of MSC transplantation, focal application of stem cells has the potential downside of creating inhomogeneities that may predispose the heart to reentrant arrhythmias. In the present study we use an MSC and neonatal rat ventricular myocyte (NRVM) coculture system to investigate potential proarrhythmic consequences of MSC transplantation into the heart. Methods and Results— Human MSCs were cocultured with NRVMs in ratios of 1:99, 1:9, and 1:4 and optically mapped. We found that conduction velocity was decreased in cocultures compared with controls, but action potential duration (APD80) was not affected. Reentrant arrhythmias were induced in 86% of cocultures containing 10% and 20% MSCs (n=36) but not in con...
Recreational Setting and Characteristics' Influence on Mental Restoration

According to Attention Restoration Theory (ART), one's directed attention, or one's ability to focus, can tire from overuse and overstimulation, which results in stress that requires time away from the stimulus for rest and recovery (R. Kaplan & S. Kaplan, 1989; Kaplan, S., 1995). Environments and activities that aid in this mental recovery are said to possess restorative qualities. They are described as being interesting in and of themselves, and can hold one's attention with little or no effort. In particular, the outdoor, natural environment is thought to be optimal for inducing mental restoration (R. Kaplan & S. Kaplan, 1989; Kaplan, S., 1995). Many studies suggest that contact with outdoor, natural settings foster a restorative outcome in terms of attention performance and positive affect (Berto, 2005; Grahn, 2003; Hartig, Mang, & Evans, 1991; Taylor, 2001; Tennessen, 1995). In addition, research suggests that some physical activities and exercise also produce positive moods and lower reported levels of stress (Hansen, Stevens, & Coast, 2001; Hassmen, 2000; Lee, 2001; Ray, 2001; Rocheleau, 2004; Salmon, 2001) This paper seeks to examine the interplay of two forces, environment/setting and characteristics of the activity, that affect one's mental restoration. This study investigates the influence of semester-long participation in a range of recreational activities occurring in a range of different settings. Two general variables, setting and activity are analyzed to observe effects on mental restoration. In particular, the study investigated the role of gender, perceived autonomy, physical challenge of the activity, and setting characteristics on a range of affective restorative outcomes.
Surface stress effects on the resonant properties of silicon nanowires

The purpose of the present work is to quantify the coupled effects of surface stresses and boundary conditions on the resonant properties of silicon nanowires. We accomplish this by using the surface Cauchy–Born model, which is a nonlinear, finite deformation continuum mechanics model that enables the determination of the nanowire resonant frequencies including surface stress effects through solution of a standard finite element eigenvalue problem. By calculating the resonant frequencies of both fixed/fixed and fixed/free ⟨100⟩ silicon nanowires with unreconstructed {100} surfaces using two formulations, one that accounts for surface stresses and one that does not, it is quantified how surface stresses cause variations in nanowire resonant frequencies from those expected from continuum beam theory. We find that surface stresses significantly reduce the resonant frequencies of fixed/fixed nanowires as compared to continuum beam theory predictions, while small increases in resonant frequency with respect to continuum beam theory are found for fixed/free nanowires. It is also found that the nanowire aspect ratio, and not the surface area to volume ratio, is the key parameter that correlates deviations in nanowire resonant frequencies due to surface stresses from continuum beam theory.
PREVENTION OF SOFT CENTER DEVELOPMENT IN LARGE WHOLE CUCUMBER PICKLES BY CALCIUM

Large whole cucumbers (size no. 4) were fermented and held in solutions containing low NaCl (14.5° salometer) with and without CaCl2 at 24° C for 1 and 4 months. Firmness of pericarp and locular tissues (centers) of pickles exposed to CaCl2 was much greater than of pickles not exposed to CaCl2 (control) after 1 and 4 months in storage. Locular tissue of pickles not exposed to CaCl2 softened dramatically between 1 and 4 months in storage and after 4 months centers were extremely soft. In contrast, centers of pickles exposed to CaCl2 were firm and intact after 1 and 4 months. Addition of CaCl2 to fermentation and storage brines appears to provide a simple method for pickle processors to prevent soft center development in large pickles.
DETERMINATION OF e/h, USING MACROSCOPIC QUANTUM PHASE COHERENCE IN SUPERCONDUCTORS. I. EXPERIMENT.

The fundamental physical constant $\frac{e}{h}$ has been experimentally determined with high accuracy, using the ac Josephson effect in systems of weakly coupled superconductors (Josephson junctions). The measurement depends on the validity of the Josephson frequency-voltage relation $\ensuremath{\nu}=\frac{2eV}{h}$, which relates the frequency of the oscillating supercurrent between two weakly coupled superconductors to the potential difference between them. The frequency-voltage ratio was measured using two effects: (a) constant-voltage steps induced in the dc current-voltage characteristics of Josephson junctions by microwave radiation and (b) microwave radiation emission by Josephson junctions biased at nonzero voltages. The ratio was found to be independent of the type of superconductor and the type of Josephson junction used, nonlinear harmonic and subharmonic effects, temperature, magnetic field, and microwave power and frequency. These results justify confidence in the general validity of the Josephson frequency-voltage relation and in the identification of the frequency-voltage ratio with $\frac{2e}{h}$. The final experimental result is $\frac{2e}{h}=483.5976\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.0012$ MHz/\ensuremath{\mu}${\mathrm{V}}_{\mathrm{nbs}}$ (standard deviation) referred to the volt as maintained by the U. S. National Bureau of Standards prior to January 1, 1969. The result in terms of the NBS volt as maintained after this date, ${\mathrm{V}}_{69\mathrm{nbs}}$, is 483.5935 \ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{} 0.0012 MHZ / ${\mathrm{\ensuremath{\mu}}}_{69\mathrm{nbs}}$.
Stigmatization, HIV/AIDS, and communities of color: exploring response to human service facilities

HIV and AIDS are rapidly becoming leading causes of death for men and women in large cities across the US. Epidemiological data indicate that persons of color in particular have been disproportionately affected by HIV/AIDS. The continuing growth in the incidence of HIV/AIDS among persons of color implies that human service facilities will be needed in close proximity. However, there has been little research exploring response to human service facilities associated with HIV/AIDS in communities of color. This paper explores community response to facilities associated with HIV/AIDS by analyzing in-depth interviews with fifteen Vietnamese and Latino/Latina informal opinion leaders in Orange County, California. These interviews indicate that the stigma surrounding HIV/AIDS emanates to a large degree from the social construction of "HIV/AIDS as homosexuality". Even with the deviance and marginalization associated with HIV/AIDS, however, creative coping strategies have been developed by families within the Latino and Vietnamese communities to enable the maintenance of family ties with persons living with HIV/AIDS.
Optimum filtering and control of randomly sampled systems

Kalman's concept of optimum filtering is interpreted in such a way that it can be applied to both nonlinear and linear systems with Gaussian or non-Gaussian statistics. The essential idea is to synthesize a generalized Kalman filter in two stages, a) propagation and b) measurement and correction. The analysis of each stage is independent of the other, and the generalized results are quite simple. In the present paper, the application of the above result is confined to linear systems: 1) Optimum filtering and interpolation of randomly sampled signals; for the interpolation problem it is assumed that the signals are measured exactly at the sampling instant. 2) Optimum filtering of related continuous and randomly sampled signals. 3) Optimum control of randomly sampled linear systems with quadratic cost criterion.
Order measurements in plasma membranes from duchenne dystrophy fibroblasts

Plasma membranes have been isolated using different methods from Duchenne dystrophy and control human skin fibroblasts. Fluorescence techniques were utilized to resolve the rotational properties and the degree of hindered rotation of the fluorescent probe, 1,6-diphenyl-1,3,5-hexatriene in the membranes. Under specific conditions of fibroblast processing and membrane fractionation, plasma membranes from Duchenne fibroblasts showed significantly less order (0.0125 >P < 0.0025) and less hindrance to probe rotation than membranes from control fibroblasts. The order differences did not seem to be the result of heterogeneity in the membrane environment sampled by the probe. The frequency dependence of the fluorescence lifetime for diphenylhexatriene indicated no measurable contribution by a short lifetime component. Analysis of diphenylhexatriene rotation in the plasma membranes using the ‘wobbling-in-cone’ theory suggested that both the angle of probe rotation (θc) and the rotational rate (Dw) were important parameters in understanding the variations between Duchenne and control membranes at 16, 22 and 30°C. Electron spin resonance studies with 5′-doxylstearic acid at 25°C confirmed our fluorescence results. The segmental motion exhibited by the spin label revealed less order in the Duchenne membranes.
Prevalence of Oral Candida Species in a North American Pediatric Population

Oral candidiasis caused by species other than Candida albicans has been observed. This study evaluated the prevalence of oral yeast species among 196 children during routine oral exam. Based on standard mycological testing, 130 (66%) subjects had fungal growth. Candida albicans isolates were recovered in 56% of children, but an extensive diversity in the non-albicans species was observed. Intrinsic differences in the pediatric population may favor the presence of yeast species other than C. albicans
Studies on the photooxidation of manganese by isolated chloroplasts.

Abstract The photooxidation of manganese by isolated chloroplasts has been investigated in some detail in order to evaluate the possible relationship of this reaction to that of the normal Hill reaction. Comparable kinetics were observed for the effects of light intensity and temperatue. The photooxidation of manganese is inhibited by typical poisons of photosystem II, i.e. , 3,(3,3-dichlorophenyl)-1,1-dimethylurea and simazine, and by sodium cyanide. Removal of light petroleum-soluble components from chloroplasts decreases their capacity for manganese oxidation. This effect is partially reversed by addition of plastoquinone A. Several additional components of chloroplasts were examined for their effects upon manganese oxidation. Photosynthetic pyridine nucleotide reductase, purified ferredoxin, and a chloroplast diaphorase were ineffective at low concentration and inhibitory at high concentrations. FMN, at low concentrations, causes a marked stimulation of manganese oxidation. Both the normal and FMN-stimulated reaction is inhibited by the flavin-antagonized acriflavin. The requirement for flavin, the need for oxygen in the photooxidation of manganese, and the observed inhibition by cyanide, suggest that peroxide is a product of the reaction and furthermore that peroxidase, and perhaps also catalase, stimulates manganese oxidation through the removal of the newly formed peroxide. The photooxidation Mn 2+ to Mn 3+ is dependent upon reactions of photosystem II but it was not possible to conclude definitely that the process is exclusively a photosystem II reaction.
Demographic and sociological determinants of alcohol use by U.S. military personnel

Using a worldwide sample of U.S. military personnel, this study examines the demographic characteristics and the drink‐related determinants of alcohol use. Scales are developed to describe four use predictors: personal benefit, problem situation, peer influence, and normative definition. Findings using multiple regression and path analysis indicate that personal benefit is the most important determinant in predicting alcohol use. The effects of problem situations on alcohol use are largely mediated by personal benefit. Moreover, peer influence not only directly influences alcohol use, but also mediates the effect of age on alcohol use. Inconsistent with previous research with civilian populations, normative definitions of alcohol use were not found to be a good predictor of alcohol use.
Continuous nasoenteral feeding: inverse relation between infusion rate and serum levels of bilirubin.

The relation between nasoenteric formula caloric infusion rate and the serum bilirubin level was examined in 15 healthy subjects. The study protocol spanned 3 days and included fasting studies on day 1, continuous maintenance nasogasteric feeding of a formula diet on day 2, and continuous feeding at a rate twice the maintenance level on day 3. Blood studies were performed in the early morning of each day. Fifteen subjects underwent the fasting measurements and the maintenance infusion, while 11 underwent all 3 days of the protocol. With the maintenance infusion serum bilirubin fell from the fasting value of (X ± SD) 0.77 ± 0.53 to 0.63 ± 0.49 mg/dl for a reduction of 18% (p < 0.05). For the subgroup of 11 subjects receiving two levels of formula infusion, fasting and maintenance serum bilirubin levels were 0.81 ± 0.57 and 0.65 ± 0.47 mg/dl, respectively, (p < 0.05). With the twice maintenance infusion the plasma bilirubin decreased further to 0.46 ± 0.29 mg/dl, a decrement of 43% relative to fasting (p < ...
Toward an Anthropology of Immunology: The Body as Nation State

In this article I describe the main imagery currently used in popular and scientific descriptions of the immune system in the United States: the body as nation state at war over its external borders, containing internal surveillance systems to monitorforeign intruders. Although in some respects this is a boundary-oriented, internally flat system, in other respects it contains suppressed hierarchies that draw on cultural concepts of race and gender. I suggest what kinds of ideological work such imagery may be doing and what uses people make of it. Other models of the body and immune responses that build on different imagery are described.
Exploring the Relationship Between Social Anxiety and Bulimic Symptoms: Mediational Effects of Perfectionism Among Females.

Previous findings indicate that social anxiety and bulimia co-occur at high rates; one mechanism that has been proposed to link these symptom clusters is perfectionism (Silgado et al. in Cogn Ther Res 34(5):487–492, 2010). We tested meditational models among 167 female undergraduates in which maladaptive evaluative perfectionism concerns (MEPC; i.e., critical self-evaluative perfectionism) mediated the relationship between social anxiety and bulimic symptoms. Results from a first model indicated that MEPC mediated the relationship between fear of public scrutiny and bulimia symptoms. This indirect effect was significant above and beyond the indirect effects of maladaptive body-image cognitions and perfectionism specific to pure personal standards. A second model was tested with MEPC mediating the relationship between social interaction anxiety and bulimia symptoms. Similar results were obtained; however, in this model, a significant direct effect remained after partialing out the indirect effect of the mediators. Theoretical implications are discussed.