cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Comparison of G-CSF Administration Starting Day +5 Versus Based on White Blood Count Following Autologous Peripheral Blood Stem Cell Transplantation.

Granulocyte colony stimulating factor (G-CSF) is commonly used following autologous peripheral blood stem cell transplantation (PBSCT) to promote bone marrow recovery. However, the optimal timing of G-CSF in this setting is unknown. We randomized 23 patients undergoing autologous PBSCT for a variety of malignant disorders to G-CSF administration 5 μg/kg/day starting day +5 (Arm A) versus when white blood count (WBC) recovered to 0.2 x 109/L or 0.1 x 109/L for 2 consecutive days (Arm B). Results: All patients engrafted. The median time to absolute neutrophil count (ANC) > 1.0 x 109/L in Arms A and B was 12.1 vs. 12.8 days (p=0.77). There was no significant difference in number of days of temperature >38.3°C (4.3 vs. 4.4 days, p=0.71) or hospital stay (23.8 vs. 22.1 days, p=0.93) between Arms A and B respectively. The mean amount of G-CSF administered was 3210 μg/patient in Arm A vs. 2384 μg/patient in Arm B, a significant reduction (p=0.035). Conclusion: Waiting for early signs of engraftment after autologous PBSCT before starting G-CSF administration is associated with a decrease in amount of G-CSF administration by 25%, with no increase in days with fever, time to neutrophil recovery, or length of hospital stay.
Economic Analysis of Music Copyright: Songwriters and Composers

The preceding chapter looked at the publishing side of music from a ‘business’ perspective and illustrated the many sources of income for both the songwriter and the publisher. In this chapter, we look at the songwriter from the perspective of creative and business processes involved in making music. The creative process for a songwriter starts with the song and will involve many months of intense planning, writing, and rewriting. In the highly competitive music industry, it can be challenging to produce songs that are sufficiently distinctive, original, unique, and inspirational that consumers will love, want to purchase, and the record labels can easily market. The songwriter, composer, or lyricist will be collaborating with many others including other writers, the record labels, music managers, agents, producers, attorneys, sound studio owners, and publishers to produce and market a song. Once a song has been recorded, released, and registered with a PRO, the songwriter/composer then expects a flow of income from the performance rights attached to the composition. In this monograph we sometimes treat the author, composer, and lyricist as a single entity, calling him or her a songwriter; however, the division of labor can be distinct, but in a collaborative fashion.
An agent-based model for the evidence-basec long term planning of power and water critical infrastructures

The comfort, mobility, and economic well-being of the U.S. population depends on reliable and affordable electric power services. Sustainable water supplies are required for operating conventional power plants and long-term planning across these sectors is not well coordinated. It is increasingly important to analyze the security, sustainability, and resilience of mid- and long-term electric utility and water system capacity expansion plans in an integrated fashion with respect to potential challenges posed by climate change and other risks to this critical infrastructure. We develop an agent-based model (ABM) of a typical regional power system that incorporates the features of specific plant types and their cooling systems that are dependent on abundant water supplies at appropriate temperatures and quantities to support full power operation. The effects of potential water restrictions and constraints to power plant cooling systems (cooling towers, cooling ponds, and once-through condensers) are analyzed to estimate the potential impact of climate change or water temperature restrictions on a particular long-term expansion plan.
Residual stress measurements via neutron diffraction of additive manufactured stainless steel 17-4 PH.

Abstract Neutron diffraction was employed to measure internal residual stresses at various locations along stainless steel (SS) 17-4 PH specimens additively manufactured via laser-powder bed fusion (L-PBF). Of these specimens, two were rods (diameter=8 mm, length=80 mm) built vertically upward and one a parallelepiped (8×80×9 mm3) built with its longest edge parallel to ground. One rod and the parallelepiped were left in their as-built condition, while the other rod was heat treated. Data presented provide insight into the microstructural characteristics of typical L-PBF SS 17-4 PH specimens and their dependence on build orientation and post-processing procedures such as heat treatment. Data have been deposited in the Data in Brief Dataverse repository (doi:10.7910/DVN/T41S3V).
Double insertion of benzophenone into thorium-phosphorus bonds

Abstract The reactivity of thorium-phosphorus bonds was investigated with benzophenone. The insertion of two equivalents of benzophenone into both thorium-phosphorus bonds in (C5Me5)2Th[PH(2,4,6-R3C6H2)]2, R = Me or iPr, was observed. In addition, a new thorium polyphosphide complex, (C5Me5)2Th(P3Ph3) is reported from the reaction of (C5Me5)2ThCl2 with Na2(P4Ph4)(DME)3.
A study on Retailing of Leather Products in Vellore District

Using survey method, the present study aims at finding out the marketing activities carried out by the retailers of leather products, the price range, which their customers prefer, factors considered by buyers while making a buy and factors which contribute to success of business. Findings indicate, customers prefer high price goods, retailers rely on price reduction and discount but not on credit facility. Customers decide on the basis of product design but reasons for success of business are mainly found to be price and quality.
The bioethics of enhancement: transhumanism, disability, and biopolitics

Technology can increasingly give us the possibility of overcoming our physical limitations, of extending life indefinitely and even of improving our intellectual, moral, emotional and social capabi...
Topology in a Metric Space

In this chapter we define several topological concepts such as open, closed, and compact sets. They will turn out to be quite important when studying functions on a metric space.
Global relationships between biodiversity and nature-based tourism in protected areas

Abstract The relationships between biodiversity conservation and ecosystem services (ES) are widely debated. However, it is still not clear how biodiversity conservation and ES interact with different strategies in and surrounding protected areas (PAs), the cornerstone for biodiversity conservation. Here, we present results on the interplay between biodiversity conservation and nature-based tourism (a cultural ES), while controlling for environmental and socioeconomic factors in and surrounding terrestrial PAs worldwide. Results indicate that nature-based tourism is more frequent in PAs that are of higher biodiversity, older, larger, more accessible from urban areas and at higher elevation. High population density surrounding PAs and national income levels are also major socioeconomic factors related to nature-based tourism. Furthermore, PAs managed mainly for biodiversity conservation have nearly 35% more visitors than those managed for mixed use. Strict management for biodiversity is also associated with increased biodiversity. These results show the importance of biodiversity in addressing nature-based tourism and suggest this interrelationship could be altered by different management strategies used by PAs.
Hegel’s Critique of Greek Ethical Life

Hegel was attracted to the Greek ideal, but he ultimately rejected it as a model for the modern world. This article discusses four deficiencies he identified in ancient Greek ethical life: the immediate relationship between the subjective will of the individual and the ethical norms of the polis, the absence of institutions that mediated citizens’ private goals with the polis, the deficient conception of the human being which underlay slavery, and the granting of recognition on the basis of natural categories rather than politically integrative norms. These deficiencies explain not only why Hegel thought the Greek polis had to disintegrate under the onslaught of subjective particularity, but also why he rejected the Greek ideal as a model of social membership for modern ethical life. In addition, they illuminate his rejection of Fries and provide grounds for criticizing Rousseau. His account of the highly articulated modern state represents a response to the question of how the deficiencies of Greek ethical life can be overcome.
QD-FRET-based biosensing of small molecule analytes using transcription factor-DNA binding

An alternative molecular recognition approach was developed for sensing small molecule analytes using the differential binding of an allosteric transcription factor (TF, specifically TetR) to its cognate DNA as the molecular recognition element coupled with fluorescent resonance energy transfer (FRET) to yield an internally calibrated optical signal transduction mechanism. Sensors were evaluated comprising Cy5-modified DNA (FRET acceptor) with either a tdTomato-TetR fusion protein (FP-TF) or quantum dot-TetR conjugate (QD-TF) as the FRET donor by measuring the ratio of acceptor and donor fluorescence intensities (FA/FD) with titrations of a derivative of the antibiotic tetracycline, anhydrous tetracycline (aTc). A proof-of-concept FRET-based biosensor was successfully demonstrated through the modulation of FA/FD signal intensities based on varying analyte concentrations. Sensor design parameters affecting overall signal-to-noise ratio and sensitivity of the sensors are also identified.
On the log canonical inversion of adjunction

We prove a result on the inversion of adjunction for log canonical pairs that generalizes Kawakita's result to log canonical centres of arbitrary codimension.
Combating Conservativeness in Data-Driven Optimization under Uncertainty: A Solution Path Approach

In data-driven optimization, solution feasibility is often ensured through a "safe" reformulation of the uncertain constraints, such that an obtained data-driven solution is guaranteed to be feasible for the oracle formulation with high statistical confidence. Such approaches generally involve an implicit estimation of the whole feasible set that can scale rapidly with the problem dimension, in turn leading to over-conservative solutions. In this paper, we investigate a validation-based strategy to avoid set estimation by exploiting the intrinsic low dimensionality among all possible solutions output from a given reformulation. We demonstrate how our obtained solutions satisfy statistical feasibility guarantees with light dimension dependence, and how they are asymptotically optimal and thus regarded as the least conservative with respect to the considered reformulation classes. We apply this strategy to several data-driven optimization paradigms including (distributionally) robust optimization, sample average approximation and scenario optimization. Numerical experiments show encouraging performances of our strategy compared to established benchmarks.
Validation of Deflection Monitoring for Ancillary Traffic Structures via Wireless Accelerometers

Large ancillary structures (e.g., traffic lights, light poles, signage structures) are prone to unusual or extreme dynamic behavior, especially during high winds events. The associated risks of fatigue failure and distractions to drivers require long-term dynamic monitoring solutions. Some of the major obstacles to wide-spread deployment are that traditional wired methods require lengthy lane closures, extensive data storage, and may measure only a single axis of vibration. This motivates the need for alternatives that are both easy to deploy and intuitive to interpret. The accuracy of the Embedor Technology XNode Smart Sensor for these purposes was studied using a 20-foot cantilevered traffic pole in the Thomas M. Murray Structures Lab at Virginia Tech. A double integrating and filtering approach was tested to estimate displacement from the acceleration readings and found to have a maximum uncertainty of one eighth of an inch when compared to a laser displacement sensor. The XNode’s ability to integrate other hardware, perform data processing on the edge, communicate on its own wireless network and provide accurate displacement estimates has potential to unseat the current state of the art for dynamic monitoring of ancillary traffic structures.
Shoulder: Rotator Cuff Repair

Postoperative imaging of the rotator cuff remains challenging despite accumulated years of experience and technical advancements in both MRI and ultrasound. Both MRI and ultrasound are highly effective imaging modalities for evaluating a repaired rotator cuff tendon for potential re-tear. The early postoperative period (less than 6 months) remains the most challenging period for imaging evaluation given the persistence of normal changes seen caused by the surgery itself. Those changes often dissipate with time. Serial imaging is very helpful to evaluate for re-tears after a new injury or new symptom development. The diagnosis of a tendon re-tear should rely on the unequivocal identification of a tendon defect rather than simply heterogeneity or small cleft. Small tendon defects may disappear over time and fill in with granulation tissue. Equivocal imaging findings of the rotator cuff after repair should be followed up serially to determine their clinical significance.
Intrapartum Sonography Dystocia, from Diagnosis to Operative Delivery: Use of the Right Tool at the Right Time

The eutocic labor and subsequent delivery is the result of a series of maternal and fetal changes that occur in a specific temporal sequence. Overtime, different factors will play each a fundamental role: onset and maintenance of uterine contraction (with a specific pattern of frequency, intensity and duration), cervical remodeling, cervical dilatation, fetal head position, fetal head flexion, fetal head passage and progression into the maternal pelvis, proportion between fetal head and maternal pelvis diameters, formation of caput and excessive molding, and tone and activity of maternal pelvic musculature [1, 2].
Pathology of Colorectal Neoplasia

Although colorectal cancer is the third most common malignancy of the internal organs some basic terms used in describing this disease are often misused or poorly understood. The purpose of this chapter is to minimize confusion by defining these terms and explaining them in the context of their underlying genetic changes.
Awareness, Knowledge, and Attitudes Toward Screening and Treatment of Masked Hypertension in Primary Care.

Background Hypertension guidelines recommend screening and treatment for masked hypertension (MHT). Yet, few primary care providers (PCPs) screen for MHT, and little is known about PCP awareness, knowledge, and attitudes toward MHT. Methods Three focus groups involving 30 PCPs from 3 medical centers in New York were conducted. Focus group transcripts were analyzed using thematic content analysis. Results Awareness of MHT varied, and only 2 providers had diagnosed MHT. There was also low knowledge about the prevalence and impact of MHT. While some PCPs were receptive to MHT screening after learning about its significance, others viewed the current evidence as insufficient to change practice. Providers were discomforted by labeling patients with non-elevated office BP as hypertensive and reluctant to add another screening test to their workload without stronger evidence. There was distrust in the accuracy of home BP monitoring to screen for MHT. There was more confidence in ambulatory BP monitoring (ABPM) for MHT screening, but ABPM was viewed as largely inaccessible. There was broad agreement with lifestyle changes for MHT. There were concerns that antihypertensive medication lacked evidence from randomized trials and could induce harmful side-effects. Conclusions Limited PCP knowledge about MHT, concerns about the accuracy and accessibility of screening tests, overloaded PCPs, and insufficient evidence were major barriers to screening and treatment for MHT. Prior to broad uptake by PCPs, randomized trials demonstrating the net benefits of MHT screening and treatment may be needed, along with increased dissemination of knowledge about MHT and improved access to ABPM.
Tune Out, Buy Nothing, and Get Educated

Embracing personal sustainability can involve significant lifestyle changes. Rejecting consumerism is an important step toward having a softer footprint on the planet. In addition, social media has become more like an unregulated circus instead of a source for real information. Misinformation on environmental issues is often peddled by those that seek to gain profit from the status quo. Developing clear lifestyle change goals, both big and small, will help make measurable sustainability improvements. By learning from leaders and from a range of educational materials we can help better understand the importance of the big and small decisions we make in our personal lives, in our occupations, and in our communities. In so doing, we will help to transform the world into one that values nature, protects the environment, and supports a just and equitable society.
KSHV/HHV8-mediated hematologic diseases.

The Kaposi sarcoma herpesvirus (KSHV), also known as human herpesvirus 8 (HHV-8), is the causal agent of Kaposi sarcoma (KS), but is also pathogenetically related to several lymphoproliferative disorders, including primary effusion lymphoma (PEL)/extra-cavitary (EC)-PEL, KSHV-associated multicentric Castleman disease (MCD), KSHV-positive diffuse large cell lymphoma (DLBCL) and germinotropic lymphoproliferative disorder (GLPD). These different KSHV-associated diseases may co-occur and can have overlapping features. KSHV, similar to the Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), is a lymphotropic gamma herpesvirus which is preferentially present in abnormal lymphoid proliferations occurring in immune compromised individuals. Notably, both KSHV and EBV can infect and transform the same B cell, which is frequently seen in the KSHV-positive, EBV-positive PEL/EC-PELs. The mechanisms by which KSHV leads to lymphoproliferative disorders is thought to be related to the expression of a few transforming viral genes that can affect cellular proliferation and survival. There are critical differences between KSHV-MCD and PEL/EC-PEL, the two most common KSHV-associated lymphoid proliferations, including the viral associations, the patterns of viral gene expression and the cellular differentiation stage reflected by the phenotype and genotype of the infected abnormal B cells. Advances in treatment have improved outcomes, but mortality rates remain high. Our deepening understanding KSHV biology, the clinical features of KSHV-associated diseases, and newer clinical interventions should lead to improved and increasingly targeted therapeutic interventions.
Mapping and Identifying Community Risk Factors for COVID‐19 Nursing Home Deaths

Research Objective Although emerging research has identified facility-level or community-level risk factors for nursing home COVID-19 infection cases, little research has been conducted to understand the risk factors for nursing home COVID-19 death rates. This study has two aims: 1) identify geographic clusters with high nursing home COVID-19 death rates;2) understand facility-level and community-level risk factors for facilities residing within the hot spots versus those not in the hot spots. Study Design This is a cross-sectional research design. We utilized nursing home COVID data from Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (as of November 13th, 2020) linked with Brown University's LTCfocus data and Nursing Home Compare, along with zip code-level data from American Community Survey. Geospatial hot spot analysis (Getis-Ord Gi*) was applied to identify statistically significant hot spots of COVID-19 death rates in nursing homes. We compared facility-level and community-level factors associated with COVID death rates by performing multivariate regressions stratified by whether the nursing home was located in the hot spot area identified. Population Studied The sample included 15,341 nursing homes. Principal Findings 322 zip code areas were identified as having a significantly high level of nursing home COVID death rates at the 95% confidence level. We found statistically significant clustering of COVID-19 death rates in nursing homes in Northeastern United States (New Jersey, Massachusetts, Connecticut, and New York), South Carolina, Georgia, Florida, Kentucky, and parts of Texas, Mississippi and Louisiana. The hot spot areas tend to be communities with lower household income, higher household sizes, and higher unemployed rates. Regression results indicated common facility-level risk factors as low total nursing staffing levels, high proportion of Medicaid residents, and low deficiency/quality ratings. Significant zip code-level factors included household income, average household size, unemployed rate, and proportion of Hispanic residents. However, among nursing homes residing in hot spot zip code areas, total nursing staffing levels (? = ?0.04, p?<?0.001) and proportion of Medicaid residents (? = 0.03, p?<?0.001) had greater effects on death rates. Conclusions Nursing homes located in communities of lower social-economic status were hit the hardest in terms of having high death rates. Among nursing homes located in hot spot communities, nurse staffing and facility resources (i.e. proportion of Medicaid) play more critical roles in preventing further damage to residents. Implications for Policy or Practice Policymakers should target resources to nursing homes in the hot spot areas identified, particularly nursing homes with low staffing and high Medicaid census in those areas.
ABL allosteric inhibitors synergize with statins to enhance apoptosis of metastatic lung cancer cells

Targeting mitochondrial metabolism has emerged as a treatment option for cancer patients. The ABL tyrosine kinases promote metastasis, and enhanced ABL signaling is associated with a poor prognosis in lung adenocarcinoma patients. Here we show that ABL kinase allosteric inhibitors impair mitochondrial integrity and decrease oxidative phosphorylation. To identify metabolic vulnerabilities that enhance this phenotype, we utilized a CRISPR/Cas9 loss-of-function screen and identified HMG-CoA reductase, the rate-limiting enzyme of the mevalonate pathway and target of statin therapies, as a top-scoring sensitizer to ABL inhibition. Combination treatment with ABL allosteric inhibitors and statins decreases metastatic lung cancer cell survival in vitro in a synergistic manner. Notably, combination therapy in mouse models of lung cancer brain metastasis and therapy resistance impairs metastatic colonization with a concomitant increase in animal survival. Thus, metabolic combination therapy might be effective to decrease metastatic outgrowth, leading to increased survival for lung cancer patients with advanced disease.
Chapter 17 – Carcinoma of the Small Intestine

The causes of carcinoma of the small intestine are largely unknown. These tumors occur more commonly in persons who have had carcinoma of the large intestine, in those with certain rare genetic conditions, and in persons with Crohn's disease, an autoimmune condition of the small intestine that is at least partly under genetic control. Most small intestine carcinomas occur in the region of the small intestine near the ducts that empty bile and pancreatic fluid into the lumen of the intestine, leading to the suspicion that these fluids play a causal role. Small bowel carcinoma is slightly more common in men than women. In contrast to carcinomas of the large bowel, small-bowel cancers have been diagnosed less frequently in Los Angeles County than in other parts of the country, especially in comparison with Utah. African-Americans are at increased risk of this disease. Any specific reason for that difference, or for any feature of the local pattern, is unknown.
Education, outreach and the future of remote sensing in human health

The human health community has been slow to adopt remote sensing technology for research, surveillance, or control activities. This chapter presents a brief history of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration's experiences in the use of remotely sensed data for health applications, and explores some of the obstacles, both real and perceived, that have slowed the transfer of this technology to the health community. These obstacles include the lack of awareness, which must be overcome through outreach and proper training in remote sensing, and inadequate spatial, spectral and temporal data resolutions, which are being addressed as new sensor systems are launched and currently overlooked (and underutilized) sensors are newly discovered by the health community. A basic training outline is presented, along with general considerations for selecting training candidates. The chapter concludes with a brief discussion of some current and future sensors that show promise for health applications.
Hepatitis B antigen: A review of its importance in the practice of obstetrics and gynecology

Surgeons engaged in the practice of obstetrics and gynecology should have a clear understanding of the hepatitis B antigen (Australia antigen) serologic test. When positive, it serves as a marker either for the carrier state or for subclinical to overt hepatitis B (serum hepatitis). Patients or health personnel with a positive test are potentially infectious and appropriate precautions should be taken. Surgeons are at increased risk for hepatitis B and, when acutely exposed, should receive standard serum globulin, or perhaps high-titer hepatitis B immune globulin in the future. Infants born to mothers with a positive test may become hepatitis B antigen positive and develop chronic hepatitis.
Bilingual Education in China: Practices, Policies and Concepts by Anwei Feng (Ed.)

This volume is an inaugural collective contribution to the exploration of the unique and complex landscape of China's bilingualism and bilingual education. Except for the editor's introduction and ...
Radiotherapy for Endothelial Myeloma

Like the movement of radiant energy, the acquisition of knowledge seems to proceed by quanta. For long periods knowledge in certain directions may remain at a standstill, while at other times it may increase either by small accretions or by one or a series of more important steps. In the field of bone tumors, knowledge had been practically stationary for many years. Most malignant tumors affecting the skeleton were designated as one or another variety of sarcoma, and for a pathologist to violate this tradition was to risk incurring discredit. With reference to the character of neoplasms in general, the medical profession had largely come to accept, and still accepts, the dictum of the pathologist as law. In many quarters, in fact, the verdicts of the pathologist are accepted altogether too blindly, and often clinical, radiologic, and other factors are not given due consideration. In 1921 Ewing described a variety of bone tumor usually affecting the tibia, fibula, humerus, ulna, femur, ischium, and skull or scapula of young subjects, growing rather slowly, requiring months to attract attention, and accompanied by swelling, intermittent pain, disability, and sometimes by fever. Such growths commonly involve a large portion of the shaft of long bones, although flat bones also may be affected; they usually spare the extremities of the bones, and present roentgenologic features which, at certain stages and in the majority of cases, are almost pathognomonic.
Toward a Theory of Liking

In the current essay, Kevin Burke and Adam Greteman challenge this thing called love by looking at how we might instead “like” in education. Within education, multiculturalism can be viewed as a way of loving, or learning to love, diversity and, as such, learning to love the self; this tendency is notably apparent in the recent rise of concern expressed about student self-esteem. According to the authors, however, critical research on multiculturalism demonstrates how, in loving diversity, multicultural discourses limn the possibilities for subjects to come into being and be liked for their differences. Drawing on James Alison's On Being Liked, Burke and Greteman reframe the problem of relating in education instead through the language of liking. How does the shift from loving to liking — either our students, our teachers, or ourselves — create different social dynamics and ethical paradigms? In engaging this question, Burke and Greteman offer an alternative model of liking that is based on the practice of cruising.
Influence of glucocorticoid on macromolecular absorption and passive immunity in neonatal lambs.

The relationship of serum cortisol to immunoglobulin absorption and gut closure in cesareanderived neonatal lambs was evaluated in two trials. In trial 1, 21 lambs were obtained on d 136 to 138 of gestation, and in trial 2, 17 lambs were obtained on d 140 to 142 of gestation. At birth, lambs were assigned randomly to four treatments: 1) control (CO), 1 ml salinekg BW every 4 h; 2) a drug to lower cortisol (LC), 5 mg metyrapone/kg BW every 4 h; 3) single-peak cortisol (SP), 10 IU ACIWkg BW at 0 h; or 4) elevated cortisol (HC), 5 mg cortisovkg BW every 4 h in trial 1 or 10 IU ACJWkg BW every 4 h in trial 2. The treatment period was 24 and 48 h after delivery for trial 1 and 2, respectively. Lambs were fed pooled bovine colostrum every 4 h for 48 h after birth at 2 and 3.5% BW for trial 1 and 2, respectively. Compared with CO, HC increased serum cortisol, LC decreased serum cortisol and SP elevated serum cortisol concentrations through at least 8 h for both trials. In trial 1, HC and SP lambs exhibited elevated serum IgG, IgM and IgA concentrations by 20 h compared with CO. However, no difference in serum immunoglobulin concentration was observed at 36 h among CO, HC and SP. Conversely, LC had the lowest immunoglobulin concentration at 36 and 48 h, and precocious closure to immunoglobulin absorption had occurred by 20 h (P < .05). No treatment effects were observed in trial 2 for serum immunoglobulin concentrations, although LC tended to have depressed immunoglobulin concentrations beyond 24 h. Premature closure also was observed in trial 2 for LC lambs; closure had occurred by 16 h. (Key Words: Lambs, Cortisol, Passive Immune Response, Absorption.)
Effect of C-fiber-mediated, ozone-induced rapid shallow breathing on airway epithelial injury in rats

We examined the relationship between C-fiber-mediated, ozone-induced rapid shallow breathing and airway epithelial cell injury at different airway sites within the lower respiratory tract of consci...
RESEARCH AND PRACTICE NOTE REAGANOMICS AND MIDWESTERN CITIES: AN INITIAL ASSESSMENT*

President Ronald Reagan, shortly after taking office in January, 1981, announced a series of budget and tax proposals which were labeled “Reaganomics.” At the center of these proposals was the need to reduce federal spending for domestic programs. The research summarized here explores the anticipated impact these programs would have on cities over 25,000 in the states of Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, and Wisconsin.
Effect of orally administered sodium estrone sulfate on total 17-ketosteroid excretion in female rabbits.

SummaryThe oral administration of sodium estrone sulfate in doses ranging from 0.6 mg to 2.5 mg to normal female rabbits or 2.5 mg to castrate female rabbits has been found to have no effect on the total urinary 17-ketosteroid excretion over a period of 192 hours.
Role of Forkhead Transcription Factors in Diabetes-Induced Oxidative Stress

Diabetes is a chronic metabolic disorder, characterized by hyperglycemia resulting from insulin deficiency and/or insulin resistance. Recent evidence suggests that high levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and subsequent oxidative stress are key contributors in the development of diabetic complications. The FOXO family of forkhead transcription factors including FOXO1, FOXO3, FOXO4, and FOXO6 play important roles in the regulation of many cellular and biological processes and are critical regulators of cellular oxidative stress response pathways. FOXO1 transcription factors can affect a number of different tissues including liver, retina, bone, and cell types ranging from hepatocytes to microvascular endothelial cells and pericytes to osteoblasts. They are induced by oxidative stress and contribute to ROS-induced cell damage and apoptosis. In this paper, we discuss the role of FOXO transcription factors in mediating oxidative stress-induced cellular response.
Fast-digital multiplication using multizero neural networks

The multi-zero artificial neural network was derived from a study of the stability and convergence properties of a feedback (or auto-associative) neural system. The nonlinear response function of neurons in the system is an odd polynomial (or a topologically similar) function of 2M + 1 zeros with odd zeros equal to a set of consecutive integers. If the connection matrix is programmed correctly, the system will then perform stable operations exhibiting the following characteristics: (1) The system will transform any N-bit analog input to an N-bit, M-ary (or M-valued), digital output. (2) The output will be locked in when the input is removed. It will be changed to another locked in digital vector when it receives another input. (3) The speed is fast because the circuit is free-running, parallel, and M-ary. The accuracy is high because the computation is digital. Because of these unique properties, the network can be used in the design of a fast computing system. This paper reports the origin of this multizero system, the analysis of its properties, and the design of a fast, M-ary, digital multiplier using this system.© (1991) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Peripheral Vascular Volumes and Whole Body Hematocrit During Human Heart Lung Bypass

Indicator-dilution curves were obtained across the peripheral vascular bed in 15 patients soon after the beginning of heart lung bypass, and in eight of these persons they were repeated just prior to the conclusion of bypass. A bolus containing labelled red cells and albumin was injected into the arterial inflow line just proximal to the aorta. Serial blood samples were obtained at intervals of 1 second from the venous return line, just distal to the right atrium, and the radioactivity was measured. The interposed volume of blood in the pump oxygenator delayed recirculation, allowing extrapolation of the exponential downslope and calculation of flow rates and indicator distribution volumes by the Hamilton-Stewart equations. The distribution volume of albumin (average, 56.3 ml/kg) was always greater than that of red cells (average, 44.8 ml/kg). The average ratio of whole body hematocrit to perfusate hematocrit was 0.873. The absence of significant differences between data obtained at the beginning and just...
Separating Processes within a Trial in Event-Related Functional MRI: II. Analysis

Many cognitive processes occur on time scales that can significantly affect the shape of the blood oxygenation level-dependent (BOLD) response in event-related functional MRI. This shape can be estimated from event related designs, even if these processes occur in a fixed temporal sequence (J. M. Ollinger, G. L. Shulman, and M. Corbetta. 2001. NeuroImage 13: 210-217). Several important considerations come into play when interpreting these time courses. First, in single subjects, correlations among neighboring time points give the noise a smooth appearance that can be confused with changes in the BOLD response. Second, the variance and degree of correlation among estimated time courses are strongly influenced by the timing of the experimental design. Simulations show that optimal results are obtained if the intertrial intervals are as short as possible, if they follow an exponential distribution with at least three distinct values, and if 40% of the trials are partial trials. These results are not particularly sensitive to the fraction of partial trials, so accurate estimation of time courses can be obtained with lower percentages of partial trials (20-25%). Third, statistical maps can be formed from F statistics computed with the extra sum of square principle or by t statistics computed from the cross-correlation of the time courses with a model for the hemodynamic response. The latter method relies on an accurate model for the hemodynamic response. The most robust model among those tested was a single gamma function. Finally, the power spectrum of the measured BOLD signal in rapid event-related paradigms is similar to that of the noise. Nevertheless, high-pass filtering is desirable if the appropriate model for the hemodynamic response is used.
Phylogenetic and Gene Expression Analysis of Cyanobacteria and Diatoms in the Twilight Waters of the Temperate Northeast Pacific Ocean

In this study, to explore the microbial community structure and its functionality in the deep-sea environments, we initially performed a 16S ribosomal RNA (rRNA)-based community structure analyses for microbial communities in the sea water collected from sites of 765–790 m in depth in the Pacific Ocean. Interestingly, in the clone library we detected the presence of both photoautotrophic bacteria such as cyanobacteria and photoheterotrophic bacteria, such as Chloroflexus sp. To further explore the existence and diversity of possible light-utilizing microorganisms, we then constructed and analyzed a 23S rRNA plastid gene cloning library. The results showed that the majority of this cloning library was occupied by oxygenic photoautotrophic organisms, such as diatoms Thalassiosira spp. and cyanobacterium Synechococcus sp. In addition, the diversity of these oxygenic photoautotrophic organisms was very limited. Moreover, both reverse-transcription PCR and quantitative reverse-transcription PCR approaches had been employed to detect expression of the genes involved in protein synthesis and photosynthesis of photoautotrophic organisms, and the positive results were obtained. The possible mechanisms underlying the existence of very limited diversity of photosynthetic organisms at this depth of ocean, as well as the positive detection of rRNA and mRNA of diatom and cyanobacteria, were discussed.
Sickle cell disease.

Sickle cell disease is a serious and life threatening disease that affects approximately 1 in 600 African-Americans. Since its first description in 1910 by Herrick, our understanding and treatment of this disease has grown tremendously. Most pediatricians will encounter one or more children with sickle cell disease and should have a thorough understanding of the disease, its complications, and treatment. This article summarizes present day knowledge about the complications and potential treatments for patients with sickle cell disease.
How to detect tampering of data

Abstract A method of nested coding is described. It can be used to detect tampering of data.
Electron tunneling dynamics in anharmonic bath.

Tunneling transition probability for a particle interacting with an anharmonic bath is found in a time-dependent Hartree approximation. The general expression is presented in terms of medium Keldysh functions that are assumed to be known. Furthermore, the transition probability is calculated in the noninteracting-blip approximation where the rate constant does not exhibit an activation dependence at high temperatures. The reorganization energy E r and the renormalized reaction heat e are experessed in terms of the correlation matrix for a solvent and internal modes in both quantum and classical regimes. It is shown that E r and e are temperature dependent.
Evolution equation for the void volume growth rate in a viscoplastic-damage constitutive model

Abstract A mathematical model for the rate of growth of microvoids under mean tensile stress in dynamic processes is developed, which represents an extension of previous analysis of ductile void growth rates using the hollow sphere model. A viscoplastic material is assumed for which the isotropic hardening saturates as the strain progresses. The microvoid growth model is used as an internal damage variable in Perzyna's elasto-viscoplastic constitutive theory for solids experiencing ductile modes of material, having been taken from our application of the viscoplastic-damage constitutuve theory to model shock-induced high strain-rate deformation and spall fracture in polycrystalline solids.
Immobilized enzymes: The application of immobilized urate oxidase to the chemical analysis of uric acid in biological fluids☆

Abstract Urate oxidase has been successfully immobilized and utilized for uric acid determination in urine and serum with a substantial reduction of sample preparation and unit assay cost of enzyme. Satisfactory reproducibility and accuracy for clinical work has been demonstrated. The immobilized enzyme displayed excellent stability both in use and in storage. The quantitative results presented attest to the versatility and accuracy of a system employing an immobilized oxidative enzyme and an oxygen detector system for routine clinical analysis of uric acid.
Cyclosporine in Severe Ulcerative Colitis Refractory to Steroid Therapy

Background There has been no new effective drug therapy for patients with severe ulcerative colitis since corticosteroids were introduced almost 40 years ago. In an uncontrolled study, 80 percent of 32 patients with active ulcerative colitis refractory to corticosteroid therapy had a response to cyclosporine therapy. Methods We conducted a randomized, double-blind, controlled trial in which cyclosporine (4 mg per kilogram of body weight per day) or placebo was administered by continuous intravenous infusion to 20 patients with severe ulcerative colitis whose condition had not improved after at least seven days of intravenous corticosteroid therapy. A response to therapy was defined as an improvement in a numerical symptom score (0 indicated no symptoms, and 21 severe symptoms) leading to discharge from the hospital and treatment with oral medications. Failure to respond to therapy resulted in colectomy, but some patients in the placebo group who had no response and no urgent need for surgery were subseque...
Treatment of high strength acidic wastewater with a completely mixed anaerobic filter

Abstract A completely mixed anaerobic filter, in which the influent organic matter concentration is diluted with recirculated effluent, was found to effectively remove organic matter concentrations in high strength acidic wastewater, at a range of organic loadings and shockloads. The methane in the generated gas accounted for 93% of the COD removal in the unit, while a solids balance indicated that only 0.012 g VSS was produced per g COD removed. Due to the low solids production and the initial seeding of the unit with digested sludge no nutrient additions were required during the 518 day period even though the COD:P and COD:N ratios were as high as 4360:1 and 39:1, respectively. Although a possible heavy metal toxicity was observed in the unit, this was eliminated after sulfide addition.
Diagnosing ulnar neuropathy at the elbow using magnetic resonance neurography

Early diagnosis of ulnar neuropathy at the elbow is important. Magnetic resonance neurography (MRN) images peripheral nerves. We evaluated the usefulness of elbow MRN in diagnosing ulnar neuropathy at the elbow. The MR neurograms of 21 patients with ulnar neuropathy were reviewed retrospectively. MRN was performed prospectively on 10 normal volunteers. The MR neurograms included axial T1 and axial T2 fat-saturated and/or axial STIR sequences. The sensitivity and specificity of MRN in detecting ulnar neuropathy were determined. The mean ulnar nerve size in the symptomatic and normal groups was 0.12 and 0.06 cm2 (P < 0.001). The mean relative signal intensity in the symptomatic and normal groups was 2.7 and 1.4 (P < 0.01). When using a size of 0.08 cm2, sensitivity was 95% and specificity was 80%. Ulnar nerve size and signal intensity were greater in patients with ulnar neuropathy. MRN is a useful test in evaluating ulnar neuropathy at the elbow.
Psychometric evaluation of the arabic language version of the profile of mood states

We estimated the psychometrics of the parent and a short form of the Arabic language version of the Profile of Mood States (POMS). A sample of 537 Arab immigrants completed the POMS and a battery of other measures. Data analyses included confirmatory factor analyses and tests of reliability and concurrent validity. The fit of the proposed factor structure was acceptable if 14 pairs of error terms were allowed to correlate, but a better fit was obtained by creating a short form. The short form demonstrated good reliability and concurrent validity, but some factors were highly correlated. High factor correlations were not explainable by group differences in education or level of distress.
Instability of short stiffened composite cylindrical shells under bending with prebuckling displacements

Abstract This paper presents results for buckling of a stiffened cylindrical shell with cutouts and both isotropic and composite shells without cutouts acting under end bending moments. The STAGS-C program has been used in the analysis.
Marek's disease virus-induced transient paralysis: A comparison of lesions in susceptible and resistant lines of chickens

A study was conducted to determine the causative lesion of Marek's disease virus-induced transient paralysis. Brain histologic lesions were quantitated and compared in genetically resistant and susceptible inbred chickens. Comparisons were made 11 days post inoculation (PI) of virus when clinical signs were evident in susceptible birds and on day 17 PI when these signs had remitted. Clinically-affected birds from the susceptible line on day 11 PI had consistent evidence of neuropil vacuolation compatible with brain edema; two of these birds also had vasculitis. These lesions were absent in both clinically-recovered birds from this line evaluated on day 17 PI and genetically resistant birds studied on day 11 PI. Our findings suggest that the causative lesion of transient paralysis is vasogenic brain edema.
Comments on "Convergence properties of a class of pointwise control strategies"

This note discusses certain mathematical difficulties with the feasibility definition and stability theorem given in the above paper.
Six Motivational Reasons for Low School Achievement

Reiss (The normal personality: a new way of thinking about people. Cambridge University Press, New York, 2008) empirically derived a reliable and valid taxonomy of 16 life motives (“psychological needs”). The model suggests six motivational reasons for low achievement in school. Low achievement may be motivated by fear of failure (high need for acceptance), incuriosity (low need for cognition), lack of ambition (low need for power), spontaneity (low need for order), lack of responsibility (low need for honor), and combativeness (high need for vengeance). For junior and senior high school students, the Reiss School Motivation Profile provides a standardized assessment of the six motivational forces. Each motive for low achievement has different implications for intervention.
Reaction of trichloro-2-thienyllithium with hexafluorobenzene; 1,2,4,5-tetrakis (trichloro-2-thienyl) difluorobenzene

Abstract Trichloro-2-thienyllithium reacts with hexafluorobenzene in THF to give tetrakis (trichloro-2-thienyl) difluorobenzene in good yield. The corresponding Grignard reagent, and the lithium reagent in ether, give lower yields and require higher temperature and longer times for reaction. Fluorobenzene and pentafluorobenzene do not undergo substitution under comparable conditions.