cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Provider type influences adherence to lifestyle changes in chronic pancreatitis.

Abstract Background /Objectives: Alcohol and smoking cessation are recommended in chronic pancreatitis. The aim of this study is to measure the rates of alcohol and smoking cessation counselling among providers and adherence to recommendations. Methods Retrospective cohort study of chronic pancreatitis patients at a tertiary hospital. Provider types were defined as primary care (PCP), gastroenterologist, or pancreas specialist. Pairwise comparisons and multivariable analysis were conducted to assess the relation between provider type and smoking/alcohol cessation. Results Of 256 patients with chronic pancreatitis, 142 (55.5%) consumed alcohol and 130 (91.5%) were advised to stop. Alcohol cessation was advised to 88.9, 96.0 and 92.5% of patients followed by PCP, gastroenterologists and pancreas specialists, respectively. Sixty-one patients (46.9%) were compliant with the recommendation: 31.3, 44.0 and 54.1% of patients followed by PCP, gastroenterologists and pancreas specialists, respectively (Pairwise comparisons PCP vs Pancreas: p = 0.03, others nonsignificant). In multivariable analysis, patients followed by pancreas specialists were more likely to adhere to alcohol cessation recommendation compared to those followed by PCP (OR = 4.31, CI 1.52–12.20, p = 0.006). Smoking cessation was advised to all the 127 current smokers (100%). Fifty-six (44.1%) were compliant with the recommendation: 24.1, 58.3 and 47.3% of patients followed by PCP, gastroenterologists and pancreas specialists, respectively (Pairwise comparisons PCP vs Pancreas: p = 0.03, PCP vs. Gastroenterologist: p = 0.01, others nonsignificant). Multivariable analysis did not confirm this finding. Conclusions The majority of providers counsel for alcohol/smoking cessation. Less than half the patients follow the recommendations. Patients followed by pancreas specialists were more likely to adhere to alcohol cessation recommendation.
Impacts of El Niño-Southern Oscillation on surface dust levels across the world during 1982-2019.

Abstract Dust pollution has become a significant concern worldwide. Both human activities and climate conditions affect dust levels. This study investigates the influence of El Nino–Southern Oscillation (ENSO), an important large-scale climate phenomenon, on surface dust levels in different regions. We used surface dust concentrations from Retrospective analysis for Research and Applications version 2 reanalysis and Southern Oscillation index (SOI) as dust and ENSO indicators, respectively. First, we first described characteristics of the global surface dust concentrations spanning a period of 37 years (1982–2019). Subsequently, we investigated the associations between monthly surface dust concentrations and SOI in regions with relative high dust levels, (i.e., North Africa, Northwest China and Mongolia, the Middle East, and South Australia) using time-series generalized additive models, controlled for meteorological variables and normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI). In order to capture the delayed effects of ENSO on dust, we fitted the model for SOI with 13 different moving averages starting from 12 months before. The highest average surface dust concentration for our study regions was 306.68 μg/m3, observed in North Africa. The average dust concentrations in the Middle East, Northwest China, and South Australia were 193.18, 113.64, and 77.19 μg/m3, respectively. Our results showed that dust concentrations were positively related with SOI. The associations between dust and SOI were more significant and higher for North Africa and the Middle East. Our results indicated that for regions with high dust pollution, La Nina episodes are associated with increased dust concentrations, while El Nino events are associated with decreased dust concentrations.
Spatially Adaptive Morphometric Knowledge Transfer Across Neurodegenerative Diseases

We present a method to simultaneously learn several linear discriminative models with explicit information sharing. We use TV-Ll-regularized Logistic Regression in conjunction with a Tikhonov regularization term expressing shared information across disorders. The weighting of the crossdisorder term is spatially adapted based on the local mutual information between linear models. We apply the model to mesh-based morphometric features from 14 subcortical structures in Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s disease datasets, PPMI and ADNI. To assess the overall improvement in model performance with cross-disorder information sharing over the baseline TV-LI model, we sample out-of-fold ROC AUC scores using a shuffle-split procedure. Beyond improved prediction, the procedure can be used to formally test for the presence of shared morphometric signatures across diseases in specific regions of interest. Significantly higher ROC AUC scores were found for Parkinson’s prediction accuracy when regularized with the Alzheimer’s model based on putamen and caudate morphometry.
Neural correlates of individual differences in speech categorisation: evidence from subcortical, cortical, and behavioural measures

Categorisation is a fundamental cognitive ability to group different objects as the same. This ability is particularly indispensable for human speech perception, yet individual differences in speec...
Therapeutic Advances in Small Cell Lung Cancer Management

Small cell lung cancer is a recalcitrant malignancy that poses significant management challenges for the treating physician. Recent developments in our understanding of the biology of this disease have created opportunities to advance the field of small cell lung cancer treatment. Some of the most notable recent breakthroughs include immunotherapy, and novel approaches are being developed to leverage new targets for therapeutic intervention. Promising work is being done in many domains, including DNA repair, cell cycle regulation and epigenetics. With all of these discoveries, there is reason to be hopeful for further progress in the years ahead.
Health Insurance in the United States

Health insurance in the United States continues to be a complex mix of private and public programs. The advent of health-care reform legislation, the Patient Protection and Accountable Care Act (PPACA), portends significant new challenges and research opportunities. This chapter provides a historical overview of the US system and a summary of the key features of the PPACA that affect health insurance. Attention is then directed to the key issues in health insurance and an update on the research undertaken in the last decade. Key topics include adverse selection and moral hazard where the new research examines multidimensional selection, forward-looking behavior, prescription drug coverage, and utilization management as a mechanism to control moral hazard. Managed care continues to be the dominate form of private coverage and the research on its comparative advantage in selective contracting is reviewed along with the evidence on managed care backlash and the efforts at provider consolidation. New research is beginning to examine the market structure, conduct, and performance of the health insurance sector and this is reviewed. Much of the chapter is devoted to new research on important aspects of employer-sponsored health insurance. This includes premium sensitivity, compensating wage differentials, and the tax treatment of employer-sponsored coverage. Significant new research has also examined the role of the employer as agent for his/her workers. Individual, non-group markets have historically played a minor role in the USA. Knowledge of these markets is reviewed as is the immerging market in high-deductible health plans. Early research on state insurance regulation typically found only small effects. More recent research has tended to examine the effects of specific laws and to explore the effects among high- and low-risk individuals and firms. Finally, there has been substantial new research focusing in the Medicare program for older residents. This work examines the effects of risk adjustment in the Medicare Advantage program and the effects in the Medicare prescription drug program. Throughout the chapter attention is given to future avenues of research that are likely to emerge from the PPACA legislation.
Role of Metabolism in Pesticide Selectivity and Toxicity

Ideally, pesticides will be selectively toxic to target organisms and non-toxic to non-target or desirable organisms. Theoretically, this might be achieved by several means. First, a pesticidal chemical might be designed or selected which uniquely attacks a functional or structural bio-system that is peculiar to the pest organism and which is either absent in or less critical to the desirable organism. Examples of this would include: the use of red squill as a rodenticide, particularly useful because rats do not effectively vomit the material whereas other mammals do; or the use of chitin synthetase inhibitors which are selectively toxic to invertebrates with exoskeleton and nontoxic, or generally much less toxic, to mammalian organisms; or the use of juvenile hormones which affect the peculiar metamorphic development of insects.
What are the questions

This paper argues that, in attempting to provide accurate explanations of economic behavior, economists have to account, in the structures of their models, for the cultural backgrounds of the agents in question. In particular, utility and profit maximization (or their equivalent) cannot be used universally as motivating forces everywhere because cultural effects can lead to different thought processes, different motivations, and hence different decision rules. Failure to introduce such effects into economists' models can lead to errors in understanding and policy recommendations that do not produce intended results.
[9]Engineering 100- to 300-kb DNA as persisting extrachromosomal elements in human cells using human artificial episomal chromosome system

Publisher Summary This chapter focuses on the mechanism of engineering 100- to 300-kb DNA as persisting extrachromosomal elements in human cells by using human artificial episomal chromosome system. It also discusses the development of a human artificial episomal chromosome (HAEC) system for cloning and functional analysis of large DNA fragments in human cells. The HAEC system is based on the latent replication origin ( oriP ) of the Epstein–Barr virus (EBV), a large human herpes virus. This system permits the propagation and stable maintenance of large DNA inserts, ranging from 60–330 kb, in human cells as artificial episomal chromosomes. A pilot HAEC library containing 1500 independent colonies with insert sizes ranging from 100–200 kb has been constructed, which covers approximately 10% of the human genome. The HAEC DNA established at 50-100 copies per cell could be recovered as large intact supercoiled DNA. It was found during the experiment that most cell transformants carried one or two distinct HAEC clones and individual HAECs carried single human genomic inserts. The large genomic DNA inserts were found to be genetically distinct and derived from different regions of the human genome and appeared genetically stable. The multicopy DNA, clonality, and stability of the HAEC system make it suitable for cloning various large human sequences in human cells. It provides an experimental approach for the functional study of large DNA regions in human cells and potentially for episome-based gene therapy.
MASS LOSS FROM HOT STARS: MAIN SEQUENCE AND SUPERGIANT STARS

The determination of mass loss from early type stars by various methods is critically discussed. The reliability of the mass loss rates published in the literature is less than generally adopted.
Generating series for nonlinear cascade and feedback systems

Given two analytic nonlinear input-output systems represented as Fliess operators, four system interconnections are considered in a unified setting: the parallel connection, product connection, cascade connection and feedback connection. In each case, the corresponding generating series is produced, when one exists, and conditions for convergence of the corresponding Fliess operator are given. In the process, an existing notion of a composition product for formal power series is generalized to the multivariable setting, and its set of known properties is expanded. In addition, the notion of a feedback product for formal power series is introduced and characterized.
Neuroprotective preconditioning of rat brain cultures with ethanol: potential transduction by PKC isoforms and focal adhesion kinase upstream of increases in effector heat shock proteins.

Preconditioning rat hippocampal-entorhinocortical (HEC) slice or cerebellar cell cultures with moderate concentrations of ethanol (20-30 mm) neuroprotects against pro-inflammatory proteins such as HIV-1 glycoprotein 120 (gp120) or amyloid-β. The neuroprotective mechanism of ethanol is unclear, but it conceivably involves sensors→transducers→effectors, analogous to other preconditioning modalities. We initially found that the preconditioning augmented two likely heat shock protein (HSP) 'effectors', HSP70 and HSP27, and that precluding HSP upregulation abolished neuroprotection. Here we examined whether pro-survival kinases are transducers potentially leading to HSP effectors. In cerebellar cultures, protein kinase C (PKC) activity increased modestly after 2 days of 30 mm ethanol and was significantly induced after 6 days, when neuroprotection against gp120 becomes manifest. After 4 and particularly after 6 days of preconditioning, immunoblots showed highly elevated PKCe levels and moderately increased PKCα and PKCδ, accompanied by increased membrane translocation (activation) of these isoforms. Also, at the latter preconditioning duration, focal adhesion kinase (FAK), an important actin-associated kinase, and its Y397-phosphorylated form (p-FAK) were elevated, along with parallel increases in HSP27, S85p-HSP27 and HSP70. Furthermore, while confirming increased HSP27 and HSP70 in HEC slices ethanol-preconditioned for 6 days, we detected elevations in PKC isoforms, FAK, p-FAK and p-HSP27 in these organotypic cultures. Importantly, PKC inhibition with GF109203X suppressed FAK, HSP70 and HSP27 amplification/activation in ethanol-preconditioned cerebellar cultures, indicating that PKC is an upstream transducer of FAK and the HSP effectors. Neuroprotection associated with increases in HSP27/HSP70 from ethanol preconditioning entails upregulation/activation of PKC isoforms and FAK, the latter kinase implicating actin cytoskeletal prosurvival pathways in brain preconditioning.
General Covariance and Strings

It may be that (super)strings are part of the elusive quantum theory of gravity. If so, one obvious question is whether or not string field theory is generally covariant.
Handbook of International Economics Law Chapter on International Trade: Regionalism

This paper, prepared as a chapter of the forthcoming Handbook of International Economic Law (Guzman & Sykes, eds.), describes the basic international legal issues raised by regionalism, including the establishment of free trade agreements and customs unions. Its focus is on the WTO law regulating the establishment of these entities.
The association between a history of concussion and variability in behavioral and neuroelectric indices of cognition

Associations between a history of concussion and variability in behavioral and neuroelectric indices of cognition were assessed in college-aged adults with a history of concussion and a healthy control group, in response to a stimulus discrimination task and a more attentionally demanding flanker task. Greater intra-individual variability was observed only for behavioral indices of reaction time in response to the flanker task for those with a history of concussion. An association was also observed between the number of concussions resulting in a loss of consciousness and greater variability of reaction time regardless of the type of task. Relative to neuroelectric measures, a concussive history was associated with smaller P3 amplitude only in response to the flanker task; with no differences between groups observed in response to the oddball task or for intra-individual variability measures. Thus, increased variability associated with a history of concussion appears to be behavior and process specific. The behavioral metrics and functions assessed are important considerations for identifying subtle, yet persistent influences of concussion on cognitive performance. Further, factors such as loss of consciousness associated with a concussive injury may moderate the extent to which these increases in behavioral variability manifest. Thus, the identification of persistent cognitive impairment following concussive injuries necessitates the utilization of appropriate tasks and may be facilitated by going beyond behavioral measures of central tendency.
Mir-17 modulates smooth muscle cell markers, apoptosis and BMPR-II levels in human pulmonary artery smooth muscle cells

Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension (PAH) is a progressively devastating disease characterized by excessive proliferation of the Pulmonary Arterial Smooth Muscle Cells (PASMCs). Recently micro RNA (miR) have been shown to play an important role in the pathogenesis of PAH. We describe in the present study the effects of over expression of miR17/92 as a cluster or miR17 alone on human pulmonary artery smooth muscle cells (HPASMC). HPASMC were commercially obtained and were transfected with miR17/92 or miR17 encoding plasmid or control vector by electroporation. Proliferation and apoptosis resistant state of PASMC transfected with miR was assessed by MTS and caspase3/7 Glo assays respectively. RNA and protein levels of important target genes in PAH were measured using Real-time RT-PCR and western blots. HPASMC transfected with miR17/92 or miR17 show decreased cell numbers and showed an increased apoptosis as assessed by increased caspase activity. Real-time RT-PCR analysis reveal that proliferation markers such as PCNA and Cyclin D1 are not significantly altered. SMC marker calponin and bone morphogenetic protein receptor-II levels were down regulated in both miR17/92 or mir17 transfected cells. Voltage gated potassium channel (Kv1.5) was up regulated in PASMCS treated with mir17/92 cluster but not miR17 alone indicating that different miRs in the 17/92 cluster differentially may regulate key molecules in the development of PAH.
Beyond traces and independence

The formal methods, fault-tolerance, and cyber-security research communities explore models that differ from each other. The differences frustrate efforts at cross-community collaboration. Moreover, ignorance about these differences means the status quo is likely to persist. This paper discusses two of the key differences: (i) the trace-based semantic foundation for formal methods and (ii) the implicit notions of independence.
A generalized user interface for applications programs (II)

A general method for using disk files (instead of a more conventional parameter-passing mechanism) to transfer control information from a user interface to a set of related applications programs is described. This technique effectively moves much of the user interface, including command decoding and limited parameter checking, from the applications programs to a table-driven executive.
The southern black widow spider, Latrodectus mactans (Araneae, Theridiidae), as a predator of the red imported fire ant, Solenopsis invicta (Hymenoptera, Formicidae), in Texas cotton fields

In cotton fields of east Texas, the southern black widow spider, Latrodectus mactans (F.), was observed to capture the red imported fire ant, Solenopsis invicta Buren, which constituted 75% of the prey of L. mactans. Remains of workers, queens, and males of S. invicta were found in the spider webs. L. mactans were observed to feed on ants captured in the webs indicating that S. invicta were used as a food source. Juveniles as young as third instar were observed capturing S. invicta workers. In the same area, 16 other species of spiders were observed to be predators of S. invicta. Zusammenfassung Latrodectus mactans (Araneae, Theridiidae), ein Rauber von Solenopsis invicta (Hymenoptera, Formicidae) in Baumwollfeldern von Texas Die Sudliche Schwarze Witwe, Latrodectus mactans (F.), wurde im ostlichen Teil von Texas in Baumwollfeldern beim Fang der Roten Importierten Feuerameise, Solenopsis invicta Buren beobachtet. Feuerameisen stellten 75% der Beute von L. mactans. In den Spinnennetzen wurden erbeutete Arbeiterinnen, Koniginnen und Mannchen von S. invicta gefunden. L. mactans wurde im Feld beim Aussaugen von S. invicta beobachtet, was Beweis dafur ist, das diese in die Netze geratenen Feuerameisen von den Spinnen als Nahrungsquelle genutzt werden. Juvenile Spinnen bis zum 3. Nymphenstadium hinunter wurden beim Fang von S. invicta-Arbeiterinnen beobachtet. In derselben Gegend wurden noch 16 weitere Spinnenarten als naturliche Feinde von S. invicta nachgewiesen.
Two-decade-long trends (1975-1997) in the incidence, hospitalization, and long-term death rates associated with complete heart block complicating acute myocardial infarction: a community-wide perspective.

Abstract Background The purpose of this community-wide study was to describe a >2-decade-long experience (1975-97) in the incidence and death rates associated with complete heart block (CHB) in patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI). Limited population-based data exist describing recent, and changes with time therein, incidence and case-fatality rates associated with CHB complicating AMI. Methods We conducted an observational study of 9082 metropolitan Worcester, Mass, residents (1990 census = 437,000) hospitalized with validated AMI in all greater Worcester hospitals during 11 1-year periods between 1975 and 1997. Results Overall, CHB developed in 5.0% of patients with AMI. The incidence rates of CHB declined in the periods studied (6.0% in 1975/78 vs 3.1% in 1997). Declines in the occurrence of CHB were noted in patients with anterior or inferior/posterior MI. These trends remained after adjustment for other factors that might affect the risk of CHB. Patients in whom CHB developed experienced significantly higher hospital death rates than patients in whom CHB did not develop (46.8% vs 14.6%). However, improving trends in the hospital survival rate of patients with CHB were observed between 1975/78 (47.4% surviving) and 1997 (61.3% surviving). Patients in whom CHB developed during hospitalization were not at increased risk for dying after hospital discharge. Conclusions Our findings indicate that the incidence of CHB complicating AMI has declined with time. The hospital prognosis of patients in whom CHB developed has improved, but these patients remain at an increased risk of hospital mortality. The long-term prognosis of patients with inferior MI and CHB is similar to that of patients in whom CHB did not develop. Patients with anterior MI and CHB may be at an increased risk of long-term mortality. (Am Heart J 2003;145:500-7.)
Effect of Growth Hormone on Milk Production and Feed Utilization in Dairy Cows

Abstract Highly purified bovine growth hormone was prepared relatively free of thyrotrophin and prolactin contamination. In three short experiments, milk production 4 to 6 days pretreatment was compared to production for 4 to 10 days following the start of injection with bovine growth hormone or saline with four or five cows per treatment. In a fourth experiment, cows were injected three times weekly with bovine growth hormone for 10 wk. In one experiment, injection of the hormone daily for 10 days resulted in a continued rise in milk production with a net increase in milk production of 18% and a reduction in feed per kg of milk of 29%. Injection of bovine growth hormone every third day improved milk production as much as the same total dose given daily. When the hormone was injected over 10 wk, milk production was stimulated for the entire period and there was no measurable development of antibodies to it.
Anterior spinal cord injury with preserved neurogenic 'motor' evoked potentials.

Abstract Objective : To describe two cases in which intraoperative monitoring of neurogenic ‘motor’ evoked potentials (NMEPs) did not identify a spinal cord injury that resulted in paraplegia. Methods : Bilateral tibial nerve somatosensory evoked potential (SEP) and NMEP testing was performed in two patients during spinal deformity corrective surgery using standard stimulation and recording parameters. These potentials were obtained repetitively throughout the primary procedures and were performed again during a subsequent procedure that took place after the discovery of paraplegia. Results : SEP and NMEP signals were preserved in both patients and no adverse events were identified during the initial procedures. Postoperatively, paraplegia was identified immediately upon recovery from anesthesia and preserved posterior column function was apparent on clinical exam. In the procedures following the discovery of paraplegia, SEP and NMEP signals remained comparable with signals elicited in the initial surgeries. Conclusions : Based on these cases and previously published experimental evidence, we conclude that while ‘NMEPs’ remain a useful second test of spinal cord function, they are not reliable indicators of motor tract function. An alternate term, such as ‘spinally-elicited peripheral nerve responses’ should be used.
The effect of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease on quality of life

Lazarus and Folkman's (1984) theory of stress, coping, and adaptation served as the framework for a path model of quality of life in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). It was hypothesized that psychosocial variables (depression, anxiety, self-esteem, optimism, and social support) would mediate the effects of demographic (age, socioeconomic status) and disease (dyspnea, disease severity, and functional status) variables on life quality in COPD. Interview, pulmonary function, and 6-minute walk test data obtained from 126 subjects with COPD resulted in support for the majority of the hypothesized relationships. Variables having direct effects on life quality were self-esteem, depression, social support, and age. Anxiety and optimism did not have their hypothesized effects on quality of life, suggesting the need to reconsider their importance in influencing life quality in COPD.
Probopyrus pandalicola: discontinuous ingestion of shrimp hemolymph.

Abstract Grass shrimp, Palaemonetes pugio , were injected with 14 C-labelled amino acids to determine hemolymph losses caused by an ectoparasite, the isopod Probopyrus pandalicola (Packard) (Epicaridea; Bopyridae). The female parasites were removed from labelled shrimp at intervals over 36 hr to monitor hemolymph ingestion. The parasites were found to feed discontinuously throughout the host's molt cycle, ingesting an average of 7–9 μl of hemolymph over a 24-hr period. Feeding was curtailed in darkness; probopyrids consumed only 2–3 μl of hemolymph after 12 hr in the dark. In all experiments, a number of parasites did not feed. The results of this study indicate that significant losses of the host's hemolymph result from the feeding activity of P. pandalicola . The determination of these losses is essential to begin testing the hypotheses that losses of hemolymph inhibit gonadogenesis in the host by either (i) creating a nutrient imbalance or (ii) depleting titers of reproductive hormones.
Thyroïdectomie endoscopique pour nodules thyroïdiens isolés

Resume Introduction. – Le but de cette etude etait d’evaluer la faisabilite et la surete des resections thyroidiennes par endoscopie. Materiel et methodes. – De septembre 1998 a fevrier 2000, 18 patients porteurs d’un nodule thyroidien isole ont subi une thyroidectomie endoscopique, dans une meme institution. Les besoins en analgesiques, la duree de convalescence et les resultats esthetiques ont ete compares avec une serie de 18 patients operes consecutivement par un abord classique. Resultats. – Seize femmes et deux hommes, d’un âge moyen de 43 ans (17–66 ans) ont ete operes par voie endoscopique. Les indications chirurgicales comprenaient une cytologie indeterminee (n = 8), une tumeur folliculaire (n = 8), une tumeur a cellules de Hurthle (n = 1), ou un nodule toxique (n = 1). Le diametre moyen des nodules etait de 2,7 cm (0,6–7 cm). Seize operations sur 18 (89 %) ont pu etre realisees par voie endoscopique, avec une duree operatoire moyenne de 220 minutes (120–330 minutes). Il n’y a pas eu de complication majeure, mais trois patients ont developpe une hypercapnie moderee et un patient a subi une parathyroidectomie accidentelle. Compares a la serie de patients operes de maniere conventionnelle, ceux operes sous endoscopie ont eu un resultat cosmetique superieur (p Conclusion. – Les thyroidectomies endoscopiques sont techniquement faisables et sures, et semblent offrir des resultats esthetiques superieurs et une duree de convalescence reduite. Une thyroidectomie classique reste cependant indiquee quand un cancer est suspecte.
High rates of comorbid OCD in patients with bulimia nervosa

Abstract There have been several suggestions in the literature that anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa, and obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) may be related. To assess in a controlled fashion the incidence and lifetime prevalence of OCD in patients with bulimia nervosa, we administered portions of the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-III-R (SCID) to 25 females with a primary diagnosis of bulimia nervosa. We also assessed current obsessive-compulsive symptomatology using the YBOCS, Symptom Checklist 90-R, and the Maudsley Obsessive Compulsive Inventory. After excluding core bulimic symptoms, the lifetime prevalence of OCD was 32%; an additional 24% met Subthreshold criteria for OCD at some point in their lives. Core anorexia/bulimia nervosa symptoms to ensure that bulimic symptoms would not create a false-positive for OCD. Again, After excluding core bulimic symptoms, the mean score on the YBOCS score on the YBOCS obsessions subscale was 12.0 ± 11.6 and on the compulsions subscale was 5.04 ± 4.75....
Discriminant method for the mobility identification of single degree-of-freedom double-loop linkages

Abstract This paper presents the first successful attempt that extends the discriminant method to the mobility analysis of non-bimodal linkages. The singularity condition and the joint rotation space are expressed and identified by the discriminant functions. The method is algebraic and the discriminant function is derived based on the form of equations essential for the displacement analysis of the linkage. Therefore, its applicability is not restricted by the type of joints or the physical appearance of the linkage. It is applicable to any single degree-of-freedom planar and spherical double-loop linkages regardless the choice of the input, output, or fixed link. It is also applicable to spatial linkages with the similar displacement equation form. The method is ideal for automated mobility rectification and is demonstrated with single-DOF planar six-bar linkages.
Estimation of extra risk and benchmark dose in dose-response models

An important goal in quantitative risk/safety analysis of chemical toxins or pharmaceutical agents is determination of toxic risk posed by exposure to the agent. For purpose of assessing exposure risks, the extra risk function is defined as the risk above the background level corrected for non-response in the unexposed population. Our interest, in this paper, is in statistical methods for obtaining upper confidence limits on the extra risk and lower confidence limits on the dose level at which a certain benchmark risk is achieved. Existing method on the above problem is examined and several examples from literature are provided. In addition, a new method of obtaining the desired confidence intervals is investigated and the results are compared with those obtained by the existing method.
MO-B-224A-01: Shielding I: New NCRP Report: General Report Background and Formulation

This Report was prepared through a joint effort of the AAPM Task Group 57 and the NCRP Scientific Committee 46‐13. It addresses the structural shielding design and evaluation for medical use of megavoltage x rays and gamma rays for radiotherapy and supersedes related material in NCRP Report No. 49, which was issued in 1976. This first presentation will review the general formalisms used for primary and secondary barrier designs at energies below and above the 10MeV maximum energy that was considered by the old Report 49. While most of the formalisms and data can be found in the published literature, the goal of the report was to bring together in one work all the required methods for shielding modern radiotherapy accelerators. This overview will be followed on the second day by a review of the methods and equipment that are necessary to survey the final facility and then the equations and data presented will be used extensively in the third day's presentation to work a number of detailed example calculations. Learning Objectives: 1. Understand the history and rationale behind this report. 2. Understand the appropriate use of the equations and data for calculating shielding for medical accelerators. 3. Understand the limitations of the proposed methods.
Harmonic radar tagging for tracking movement of Nezara viridula (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae).

ABSTRACT Harmonic radar tagging was investigated as a method for monitoring the movement of the southern green stink bug, Nezara viridula (L.) (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae). Because adhesive toxicity and tag weight limit the use of this technology, initial efforts focused on selection of the optimal adhesive and design of harmonic radar tags to reduce impact on the movement of stink bugs. A design consisting of a 6-cm-long 0.10-mm-thick silver-plated copper monopole on the anode terminal of a three-contact Schottky barrier diode attached with Gorilla super glue provided a compromise between unimpaired movement and tracking range, adding an additional 8% to the weight of the stink bug while not significantly (P > 0.05) reducing walking or flying mobility in the laboratory. Recovery of tagged stink bugs in cotton, Gossypium hirsutum (L), and fallow fields ranged from 10 to 75% after 24 h, whereas marked stink bugs were recovered at rates of 0–35% by using sweep net or drop cloth sampling. The distance dispersed...
Etienne Félix d'Hénin de Cuvillers: A Founder of Hypnosis

Etienne Felix d'Henin de Cuvillers (1755-1841) was one of the few followers of Mesmer who continued to study, practice, and refine animal magnetism after its eclipse resulting from the 1784 publication of the essentially negative investigatory reports of the French commissions. He differed from Mesmer in that he denied the existence of a magnetic fluid, emphasized the role of mental processes in mesmerism and in general behavior, and anticipated the much later psychodynamic constructs of transference and countertransference. In addition, he used and publicized a system of scientific nomenclature based upon the "hypn-" prefix for which Braid has usually, but inaccurately, been given credit for originating.
Generation of coherent radiation at 61.6 nm by fifth harmonic conversion of radiation from a XeCl laser

Abstract Fifth harmonic conversion of radiation from a XeCl laser in Ar and Kr, generating radiation at 61.6 nm, is reported. Fifth power law variation of the generated energy with the pump energy is observed. The effects of continuum absorption are observed in the width of the phase matching peak in Ar.
Chemical patterns from surface grafted resists for directed assembly of block copolymers.

We demonstrate a direct e-beam patternable one-component block copolymer (BCP) resist to fabricate a chemical pattern for the directed assembly of a symmetric block copolymer. The resist consists of a low molecular weight poly(styrene-block-methyl methacrylate) with a hydroxyl group at the PMMA chain end (PS-b-PMMA-OH), which anchors the chains to the surface. This short-tethered PMMA block provided sufficient sensitivity to allow scission by e-beam. The length of the untethered PS block was fine-tuned to impart the required contrast between the patterned and the unpatterned region for 1:1 assembly of an overlying BCP blend. Two BCP resists with a PS fraction of 0.25 (16SM) and 0.34 (18SM), with a total molecular weight less than 20K, were synthesized, and the assembly of a ternary BCP blend was studied. 16SM- and 18SM-anchored substrates showed nonpreferential and PS preferential surfaces, respectively. Both 18SM and 16SM could be patterned by e-beam to fabricate a 1:1 chemical pattern with a line pitch ...
Immunotoxicity of sulfuric acid aerosol: effects on pulmonary macrophage effector and functional activities critical for maintaining host resistance against infectious diseases

Despite the widespread occurrence of acidic sulfur oxides in the ambient environment and their potential risks to human health, effects associated with pulmonary immune defenses have been poorly studied. The current in vivo study was designed to provide some insight into this relatively unexplored area by investigating the impact of inhaled sulfuric acid on immune defense mechanisms critical for maintaining pulmonary resistance against infectious diseases. Results of this study demonstrate that repeated inhalation of sulfuric acid reduces the uptake and intracellular killing of pathogenic bacteria by exposed pulmonary macrophages, and depresses the activity/production of important biological modifiers critical for maintaining pulmonary immunocompetence. These findings have important implications for human health, and may contribute to a better understanding of the possible mechanism(s) underlying the epidemiological evidence which suggests an association between total sulfates in the ambient air and increased incidence of acute bronchitis and lower respiratory illness in school-age children.
Aberrant expression of laminin-332 promotes cell proliferation and cyst growth in ARPKD.

Basement membrane abnormalities have often been observed in kidney cysts of polycystic kidney disease (PKD) patients and animal models. There is an abnormal deposition of extracellular matrix molec...
Rate-Dependent Stiffening and Strain Localization in Physically Associating Solutions

Model physically associating solutions of acrylic triblock copolymer molecules in a midblock-selective solvent displayed nonlinear strain-stiffening behavior which transitioned to rapid strain softening during shear start-up experiments at reduced rates spanning almost 4 orders of magnitude. Softening was believed to result from the shear-induced formation of highly localized regions of deformation in the macromolecular network. This behavior was accurately captured by a model that incorporated the strain energy and relaxation behavior of individual network strands in the solution. Flow curves predicted from the model were nonmonotonic, consistent with the onset of flow instabilities at high shear rates. The nonlinear stress response reported here, coupled with the wide range of accessible relaxation times of these thermoreversible solutions, makes them ideal model systems for studies of failure-mode transitions in physically associating solutions and gels.
Introduction: occupational therapy practice and research with persons with multiple sclerosis.

(2004). Introduction: Occupational Therapy Practice and Research with Persons with Multiple Sclerosis. Occupational Therapy In Health Care: Vol. 17, No. 3-4, pp. 1-4.
Myocardial lipases and catecholamines in burn shock.

SummaryIn anesthetized dogs subjected to 4 hr of shock from infrared burns, lipolytic activity of cardiac muscle was found significantly below the activity determined in normal heart muscle. Myocardial homogenates from control and burned dogs responded to the addition of epinephrine with an increase in rate of lipolysis after incubation for 10 min. Incubation of the media for 1 hr showed a further increase in lipolysis, although no difference was noted in activity between epinephrine-treated and untreated homogenates from either the control or burn group of dogs. The addition of inhibitors or activators to the lipolytic mixture prepared from normal hearts suggested that cardiac lipolytic activity results from both an epinephrine-sensitive lipase and a lipoprotein lipase. The epinephrine-sensitive lipase could not be classified as a monoglyceride lipase, since epinephrine as well as ATP and cyclic AMP failed to increase the rate of lipolysis in cardiac muscle homogenates containing monopalmitin substituted...
Solute and penetrant diffusion in swellable polymers. VII: A free volume-based model with mechanical relaxation

Penetrant transport through and solute release from continuously swelling polymers is viewed as a process associated with major structural changes in the polymer morphology. Changes in the diffusivities of penetrant and solute reflect a free volume mechanism for transport. The polymer is initially glassy with a uniform dispersion of solute. After the system is placed in contact with a thermodynamically good penetrant, a glassy/rubbery phase transition occurs at a well defined swelling interface. The Fickian equations with concentration-dependent diffusivities and moving boundaries are solved simultaneously in polymer-fixed coordinates. A constitutive relation is used to describe the effect of macromolecular relaxations on the rate of volume expansion as the polymer swells. The penetrant fractional uptake, solute fractional release, sample dimensions, swelling front position, and instantaneous swelling interface number are determined and related to the nature of the swelling process.
DNA Damage and Repair in Rodent and Human Cells after Exposure to JANUS Fission Spectrum Neutrons: A Minor Fraction of Single-strand Breaks as Revealed by Alkaline Elution is Refractory to Repair

SummaryWe have examined the induction and repair of breaks induced in the DNA of Chinese hamster V79 and human P3 epithelial teratocarcinoma cells by JANUS fission-spectrum neutrons (mean energy 0·85 MeV) and 60Co gamma radiation in the biological dose range, using alkaline filter elution methods. Fission-spectrum neutrons induce fewer immediate single-strand breaks (ssb) per gray of absorbed dose than do gamma rays, as measured by alkaline elution methods. Previous survival measurements have indicated incomplete recovery after neutron exposures. The present data demonstrate that whereas most ssb caused by exposure to fission-spectrum neutrons can be rapidly repaired by both cell lines, a small but statistically significant fraction of the ssb induced by exposure to 6 Gy of neutrons is refractory to repair. In contrast, all measurable ssb induced by 3 Gy gamma rays are rapidly repaired.
The impact of mergers on acquiring firm shareholder wealth: The 1905–1930 experience

From the standpoint of investors successful acquisitions increase profitability and stock Contemporary studies find acquiring firm shareholders earning small gains before and large losses after consolidation. Using modern financial market procedures, we examine a portfolio of 191 acquiring firms from 1905 to 1930 to determine the impact on firm owners of early industrial acquisitions in the United States and the effect of institutional changes on takeover gains. Acquisitions from 1905 to 1930 raised shareholder wealth by more than 3 percent, an increase exceeding gains from more recent mergers. Stock price continued to rise after completion for acquisitions before World War I, but fell dramatically for acquisitions during the oligopoly merger wave of the late 1920s.
Do Assault-Related Variables Predict Response to Cognitive Behavioral Treatment for PTSD?.

This study examined the hypothesis that variables such as history of prior trauma, assault severity, and type of assault, previously found to be associated with natural recovery, would also predict treatment outcome. Trauma-related variables were examined as predictors of posttreatment posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) severity in a sample of 73 female assault victims with chronic PTSD who completed treatment in a comparative outcome study (E. B. Foa et al., 1999). Results indicated that after controlling for initial severity of PTSD symptoms, the experience of trauma in childhood and sustaining physical injury during the adult assault were predictive of greater PTSD severity following treatment.
Vector fields tangent to foliations I: Reeb foliations

Let M denote a compact, oriented n-mamfold of class C2 and let TM denote the tangent bundle of M. A vector jield on lW is a Cl cross section m TM, and afohztion is an integrable, orientable, Cl vector subbundle of TM. The basic properties of manifolds, vector fields, and vector bundles are described in [3, Chaps. II-VI], and the basic properties of foliations are described in [2]. A vector field 5 is tangent to a foliation % if [ is a cross section in 9 which is never zero. In this paper, basic properties of tangent vector fields to 2-dimensional foliations of 3-manifolds are studied. In the first section, the relevant obstruction theory for tangent vector fields to foliations is reviewed. Since integrability does not enter, these obstructions are precisely the obstructions for nonzero cross sections of tangent plane fields. In computmg these obstructions, it is clear that the topology of M and of the leaves of F must enter the considerations. For example, a necessary condition for a foliation of a 3-manifold to have a tangent vector field is that every compact leaf be a torus. General theorems relating the homotopy classes of nonsingular vector fields on the torus to their qualitative properties have been obtained by B. L. Reinhart [7]. These results are reviewed in the second section. It follows from the continuity of the foliation and the vector field, that Reinhart’s conditions impose constraints on vector fields tangent to leaves which spiral to the tori. In Section 3, these constraints are described in terms of the winding numbers of the vector field along certain curves. From these considerations, global qualitative properties of the vector field can be deduced. Applications are made to Reeb components and the Reeb foliations of the 3-sphere. For example, it is shown that every tangent vector field to a Reeb foliation has at least two periodic solutions, they are unknotted, and every pair of periodic solutions links once.
Inhibitory effect of alcohol on cyclic GMP accumulation in human platelets

The effects of ethanol on cyclic GMP (cGMP) in washed human platelets were studied in the presence and absence of sodium nitroprusside (SNP), a nitric oxide donor which stimulates guanylate cyclase. SNP stimulated cGMP accumulation in a dose-dependent fashion. After 1 min exposure to 100 μM SNP, the level of cGMP was approximately four-fold that in vehicle-treated platelets. Alcohol had no effect on basal cGMP, but inhibited SNP-induced cGMP accumulation at 17, 85 and 170 mM. In further experiments, platelets were incubated for 0, 0.5, 1, 2 or 5 min with 10 μM SNP, with or without 100 μM zaprinast, a selective cGMP-phosphodiesterase (PDE) inhibitor and 85 mM ethanol. In the presence of zaprinast but not alcohol, cGMP levels rose continuously, to 10-fold the basal level at 5 min. Without zaprinast, cGMP levels were lower and reached a plateau by 2 min. Accumulation of cGMP was attenuated by alcohol 2 and 5 min after SNP addition, both in zaprinast-treated platelets and those without zaprinast. Thus, alcohol inhibits platelet cGMP accumulation stimulated by a nitric oxide donor. Its mechanism probably does not involve a major effect on PDE, because the inhibition was observed in the presence or absence of zaprinast. We hypothesize that alcohol inhibits guanylate cyclase, contributing to its complex functional effects in platelets.