cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Developmental Outcomes of Internationally Adopted Children

This study followed the development of a sample of 106 (67 girls) internationally adopted children over a period of 18 months. Children were adopted from five birth regions, including China, Korea, Latin America, Eastern Europe, and other Asian countries. Mean age at adoption was 11 months. Mothers completed the Ages and Stages Questionnaire (ASQ) at 6, 12, and 24 months post-adoption, assessing children's gross and fine motor, communicative, personal-social, and problem solving skills. Results revealed that the sample as a whole demonstrated linear improvement over time in most developmental domains, but children with initially low scores remained significantly lower than other children at the 18-month follow-up. At the first time point, communication was the domain where children most commonly experienced delays. Children with medical problems had significantly lower developmental scores than those without medical diagnoses. ASQ scores were unrelated to age at adoption, but significant differences by birth country region were found. Across most domains, children adopted from Eastern Europe showed generally lower scores than children adopted from other birth regions.
Immersion Adoption: Design Principles for Self-Guided Learning in Virtual Learning Environments

Virtual learning environments, or VLEs, can offer a number of unique affordances for learning computational concepts. This paper offers three design principles for VLEs: adoption safety, immersion identity, and constructability; as well as a discussion of their implementation in one potential VLE: Second Life.
Blunted Decline in Systolic Blood Pressure After Exercise Predicts Future Acute Myocardial Infarction

Predicting an acute myocardial infarction (AMI), within the context of physicians’ or epidemiologists’ realms, is an important task. Accordingly, the recovery period after an exercise stress test has been subjected recently to scrutiny, with very fruitful results. Traditionally, the time after completion of an exercise stress test has been merely devoted to observing the patients for clinical symptoms, without much thought given to a possible diagnostic utility of information generated during the recovery period. However, in the past few years, diagnostically important data from the recovery period have been forthcoming. An early example was the observation that in >15% of patients subjected to exercise testing, electrocardiographic (ECG) ST-segment depression occurred only during recovery,1 a finding with a predictive value of significant coronary artery disease not different from that associated with ECG changes occurring during exercise. Also, recent work has documented a relationship between postexercise blunted drop of heart rate and subsequent morbidity and mortality.2–4 In the same context, delayed decrease of the systolic blood pressure (SBP) during the recovery period after exercise has been linked recently to an increased risk of coronary heart disease, stroke, and emergence of hypertension.5–8 According to these new ideas, SBP and heart rate, at various designated time points during recovery,4–8 become new “risk factors,” and it is the task …
Cementum engineering with three-dimensional polymer scaffolds

Cloned cementoblasts (OCCMs), periodontal ligament fibroblasts (SV-PDLs), and dental follicle (SV-F) cells obtained from mice were used as a tool to study periodontal tissue engineering. OCCM, SV-PDL, and SV-F cells were seeded onto three-dimensional poly lactic-co-glycolic acid (PLGA) scaffolds and cultured with the use of bioreactors or implanted subcutaneously in severe combined immune deficiency (SCID) mice for up to 6 weeks. We explored the behavior of these cells in porous PLGA sponges by cell growth, expression of mineral-associated genes using reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction, and mineralization by histologic analysis in vitro and in vivo. Results indicated that cells attached to PLGA scaffolds under either static or dynamic conditions in vitro. Only OCCM implants, retrieved from both in vitro bioreactors and SCID mice at 3-and 6-weeks post-cell implantation exhibited mineral formation. Types I and XII collagens, osteocalcin, and bone sialoprotein genes were detected in all implants retrieved from SCID mice. These results suggest that delivery of selected cells via PLGA scaffolds may serve as a viable approach for promoting periodontal tissue regeneration.
Evaluation of Diesel Exhaust Continuous Monitors in Controlled Environmental Conditions

Diesel exhaust (DE) contains a variety of toxic air pollutants, including diesel particulate matter (DPM) and gaseous contaminants (e.g., carbon monoxide (CO)). DPM is dominated by fine (PM2.5) and ultrafine particles (UFP), and can be representatively determined by its thermal-optical refractory as elemental carbon (EC) or light-absorbing characteristics as black carbon (BC). The currently accepted reference method for sampling and analysis of occupational exposure to DPM is the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) Method 5040. However, this method cannot provide in-situ short-term measurements of DPM. Thus, real-time monitors are gaining attention to better examine DE exposures in occupational settings. However, real-time monitors are subject to changing environmental conditions. Field measurements have reported interferences in optical sensors and subsequent real-time readings, under conditions of high humidity and abrupt temperature changes. To begin dealing with these issues,...
A Meta‐Model for Evaluating Counseling Programs

One of the problems associated with program evaluation is the selection of appropriate evaluation procedures. Given the existence of multiple evaluation models, counselors would benefit by having a systematic means for identifying the evaluation model best suited for the task at hand. This article responds to that need by presenting a conceptual framework or meta-model for appraising the utility of existing evaluation models and for identifying the evaluation procedure best suited to any particular situation.
Standing orders for influenza and pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccination: correlates identified in a national survey of U.S. Primary care physicians.

Background Standing orders programs (SOPs) allow non-physician medical staff to assess eligibility and administer vaccines without a specific physician's order. SOPs increase vaccination rates but are underutilized.
Application of Fmea to Nightclub Security

Nightclub security presents some of the most difficult reliability problems in the service industry. Crowds of people, social interaction, ego involvement, high-energy atmosphere, and the effects of alcohol make security failures seem almost inevi table. This paper applies failure mode and effects analysis (FMEA) to document potential nightclub-security failure modes, causes and effects, and to prioritize them according to risk. Interviews with 27 Los Angeles area nightclub operators are used to identify potential failure modes and effects. A review of the human reliability literature is then used to identify potential failure causes.
The Early Colombian Labor Movement: Artisans and Politics in Bogota, 1832-1919

Preface Acknowledgments 1. Artisan Socioeconomic Experiences 2. Colombian Political Culture 3. Artisan Mobilizations in the Era of Liberal Reforms 4. Artisan Republicanism 5. Mutual Aid, Public Violence, and the Regeneration 6. The Emergence of the Modern Labor Movement 7. Socioeconomic Change, Partisan Politics, and Artisan Organizations Notes Glossary Bibliography Index
Memory-based context-sensitive spelling correction at web scale

We study the problem of correcting spelling mistakes in text using memory-based learning techniques and a very large database of token n-gram occurrences in web text as training data. Our approach uses the context in which an error appears to select the most likely candidate from words which might have been intended in its place. Using a novel correction algorithm and a massive database of training data, we demonstrate higher accuracy on correcting real- word errors than previous work, and very high accuracy at a new task of ranking corrections to non-word errors given by a standard spelling correction package.
Increased hepatic fat in overweight Hispanic youth influenced by interaction between genetic variation in PNPLA3 and high dietary carbohydrate and sugar consumption.

Background: Recently, a genetic variant (rs738409; C/G) of the PNPLA3 gene was identified to be associated with increased hepatic fat deposition, and the effect was more pronounced in Hispanics. Animal models have also shown that PNPLA3 expression can be regulated by dietary carbohydrate. Objective: The aim of this study was to examine whether the influence of PNPLA3 genotype on hepatic fat is modulated by dietary factors in Hispanic children. Design: PNPLA3 was genotyped in 153 Hispanic children (75% female, ages 8‐18 y) by using the TaqMan method. Dietary intake was assessed by using three 24-h dietary recalls or diet records. Visceral adipose tissue (VAT), subcutaneous abdominal adipose tissue (SAAT), and hepatic fat fraction (HFF) were assessed in multiple abdominal slices by magnetic resonance imaging. Analysis of covariance was used to assess the diet · genotype interaction in liver fat, with the following a priori covariates: sex, age, energy, VAT, and SAAT. Results: HFF was influenced by a significant interaction between genotype and diet (genotype · carbohydrate, P = 0.04; genotype · total sugar, P = 0.01). HFF was positively related to carbohydrate (r = 0.31, P = 0.04) and total sugar (r = 0.34, P = 0.02) intakes but only in the GG group, independent of covariates. Dietary variables were not related to HFF in the CC or CG group or to other fat depots in all genotype groups. Conclusions: These findings suggest that Hispanic children carrying the GG genotype are susceptible to increased hepatic fat when dietary carbohydrate intake, specifically sugar, is high. Specific dietary interventions based on genetic predisposition in this population may lead to more effective therapeutic outcomes for fatty liver.
Solution structure of a type I dockerin domain, a novel prokaryotic, extracellular calcium-binding domain.

The type I dockerin domain is responsible for incorporating its associated glycosyl hydrolase into the bacterial cellulosome, a multienzyme cellulolytic complex, via its interaction with a receptor domain (cohesin domain) of the cellulosomal scaffolding subunit. The highly conserved dockerin domain is characterized by two Ca(2+)-binding sites with sequence similarity to the EF-hand motif. Here, we present the three-dimensional solution structure of the 69 residue dockerin domain of Clostridium thermocellum cellobiohydrolase CelS. Torsion angle dynamics calculations utilizing a total of 728 NOE-derived distance constraints and 79 torsion angle restraints yielded an ensemble of 20 structures with an average backbone r.m.s.d. for residues 5 to 29 and 32 to 66 of 0.54 A from the mean structure. The structure consists of two Ca(2+)-binding loop-helix motifs connected by a linker; the E helices entering each loop of the classical EF-hand motif are absent from the dockerin domain. Each dockerin Ca(2+)-binding subdomain is stabilized by a cluster of buried hydrophobic side-chains. Structural comparisons reveal that, in its non-complexed state, the dockerin fold displays a dramatic departure from that of Ca(2+)-bound EF-hand domains. A putative cohesin-binding surface, comprised of conserved hydrophobic and basic residues, is proposed, providing new insight into cellulosome assembly.
Reliable decentralized control with integral action

Reliable stability with type-m integral action is considered in the linear, time-invariant, multi-input multi-output two-channel decentralized feedback system. The objective is to achieve closed-loop stability under normal operation of both controllers as well as the possible failure of either one of the two controllers. Necessary and sufficient conditions on the given plant are obtained for existence of reliable decentralized controllers achieving integral action. All reliable decentralized controllers with integral action are characterized using algebraic design methods.
Why Don't Moral People Act Morally? Motivational Considerations

Failure of moral people to act morally is usually attributed to either learning deficits or situational pressures. We believe that it is also important to consider the nature of moral motivation. Is the goal actually to be moral (moral integrity) or only to appear moral while, if possible, avoiding the cost of being moral (moral hypocrisy)? Do people initially intend to be moral, only to surrender this goal when the costs of being moral become clear (overpowered integrity)? We have found evidence of both moral hypocrisy and overpowered integrity. Each can lead ostensibly moral people to act immorally. These findings raise important questions for future research on the role of moral principles as guides to behavior.
Linear Estimation (T.Kailauth, A. H. Sayed, and B. Hassibi; 2000) [book review]

This book serves both as a capstone to the 20th Century developments in its eponymous field, and as a springboard for the further development of this field in the current century. It provides an exceptionally well written, insightful, and comprehensive treatment of the subject as it exists now. Moreover, it goes beyond the existing literature to advance the field, with every chapter offering something novel, and often something surprising, to the reader. Although a number of other excellent books have been written on this subject, no other treatment has been as complete and as literate as this one.
On Downlink Transmission Without Transmit Channel State Information and With Outage Constraints

This paper investigates downlink transmission over a quasi-static fading Gaussian broadcast channel (BC), to model delay-sensitive applications over slowly time-varying fading channels. System performance is characterized by the outage capacity region. In contrast to most previous work, here the problem is studied under the key assumption that the transmitter knows only the probability distributions of the fading coefficients, not their realizations. For scalar-input channels, two coding schemes are studied. The first scheme is called blind dirty paper coding (B-DPC), which utilizes a robustness property of dirty paper coding to perform precoding at the transmitter. The second scheme is called statistical superposition coding (S-SC), in which each receiver adaptively performs successive decoding with the process statistically governed by the realized fading. Both B-DPC and S-SC schemes achieve the outage capacity region, which dominates the outage rate region of time-sharing, irrespective of the particular fading distributions. The S-SC scheme can be extended to BCs with multiple transmit antennas.
Respiratory support of individuals with Duchenne muscular dystrophy: toward a standard of care.

Pneumonia and respiratory failure represent the leading cause of death and a frequent cause of morbidity for patients with Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) [1–5]. Respiratory muscle weakness is found in all individuals with DMD, although it may develop at varying rates [6]. Restrictive physiology is seen with reductions in lung volumes, including total lung capacity and vital capacity, resulting from muscle weakness and associated changes in the mechanical respiratory system. Vital capacity tends to increase in a normal pattern until age 10 years, after which a plateau phase and a more rapidly progressive decline is seen [6–9]. In addition to muscle weakness, the compliance of the respiratory system is reduced in DMD secondary to numerous causes, including concomitant scoliosis [10], fibrotic changes in the dystrophic chest wall muscles, stiffening of unstretched tissues [11], and microatelectatic changes [12]. Disorders in gas exchange as a result of respiratory muscle weakness often are seen first during sleep [13–16] for many reasons. First, during sleep and particularly during rapid-eye-movement sleep, neural output from the central nervous system is decreased, which when coupled with weak inspiratory muscles leads to an increase in carbon dioxide and central apnea. In addition, weakness in the upper airway muscles leads to upper airway instability and an increased likelihood of obstruction. Central and obstructive apneic events often are seen in individuals with DMD [14]. Prevention of sleep-disordered breathing is important because hypercarbia and hypoxemia may accelerate the progressive decline in respiratory and cardiac function [17].
Social stereotyping of female body image by elementary school age girls.

Abstract This study determined if elementary school girls stereotype body images socially as boys do. Subjects were chosen from grades 1–5 by agreement between a rating and a ponderal index designation of body type. Analysis of the assignment of adjectives to female body forms indicated that the ectomorph received favorable adjectives, the mesomorph a fewer number of favorable adjectives, most of which dealt with physical strength characteristics, and the endomorph unfavorable adjectives. These assignments differed from those of boys, in that boys favorably stereotype the mesomorph. The assignment of adjectives by girls was not related to the body build of the subject.
An asymptotic property of model selection criteria

Probability models are estimated by use of penalized log-likelihood criteria related to Akaike (1973) information criterion (AIC) and minimum description length (MDL). The accuracies of the density estimators are shown to be related to the tradeoff between three terms: the accuracy of approximation, the model dimension, and the descriptive complexity of the model classes. The asymptotic risk is determined under conditions on the penalty term, and is shown to be minimax optimal for some cases. As an application, we show that the optimal rate of convergence is simultaneously achieved for log-densities in Sobolev spaces W/sub 2//sup s/(U) without knowing the smoothness parameter s and norm parameter U in advance. Applications to neural network models and sparse density function estimation are also provided.
Interleukin-4 suppresses inflammatory cytokine gene transcription in porcine macrophages.

Inflammatory cytokines, including interleu- kin (IL)-la, IL-1f3, IL-8, and tumor necrosis factor a (TNF-a) are produced by macrophages in response to a variety of pathogenic stimuli. We show here that the ex- pression of inflammatory cytokines is suppressed by IL-4 at the transcriptional level. Interleukin-4, when added together with bacterial lipopolysaccharide (LPS), sup- pressed LPS-induced increases in mRNA levels of IL-la, IL-1f3, IL-8, and TNF-a in alveolar macrophages. The level of suppression was dependent on dose and time of exposure and reached a maximum of 75-80% of unin- duced values for IL-la, IL-8, and TNF. Interleukin-1f3 expression was completely inhibited by IL-4. The amount of secreted protein, as determined by TNF-a bio- assay, was also suppressed by IL-4. Half-maximal sup- pression occurred at IL-4 concentrations between 0.02 and 0.1 ng/ml for all inflammatory cytokines. Nuclear run-on assays showed that IL-4 suppressed transcrip- tional activity of all inflammatory cytokines. Messenger RNA stability was not changed by IL-4. The data suggest that IL-4 plays an important transcriptional role in the regulation of alveolar macrophage inflammatory activi- ties in respiratory disease and raise the possibility that IL-4 may function in vivo as a coordinator of inflamma- tory and immune responses.J. Leukoc. Biol. 56: 507-513; 1994.
Encephalization and Obstetrics in Primates with Particular Reference to Human Evolution

The existence of differences in pelvic morphology between Plio-Pleistocene hominids and modern humans is well documented (for a recent review see McHenry and Temerin, 1979). Pelvic remodeling during the evolution of the genus Homo has elicited two different interpretations: (1) it has been viewed as a reflection of increased efficiency in bipedalism (McHenry, 1975a; Zihlman, 1978), and (2) it has been interpreted in terms of rapid encephalization that would have generated selection pressure to increase birth canal dimensions (Lovejoy et al., 1973; Lovejoy, 1974, 1975, 1978). When the second hypothesis is scrutinized, the fossil evidence unambiguously indicates that the increase in brain size during human evolution was extraordinary both in magnitude and in rate (Pilbeam and Gould, 1974; Passingham, 1975; Sacher, 1975). This picture of encephalization from H. habilis to H. erectus to H. sapiens is based on estimated cranial capacities of a static series of adults. Obstetrical constraints and thus selection pressures on the pelvis are not, however, dependent on adult cranial dimensions but on those of the fetal cranium at term relative to birth canal dimensions. Moreover, evidence of differences between primate species in the growth rate of the brain and/or in the length of development during ontogeny (Schultz, 1941, 1956; Sacher and Staffeldt, 1974; Passingham, 1975) suggests that encephalization of adults cannot be expected to be proportionate to that of the neonate or to that of individuals at any particular developmental stage.
Pneumatically Driven Split-Cycle Cryogenic Refrigerator

The split-cycle cryogenic refrigerator with a remote cold finger offers many advantages for use in cooling infrared systems. The packaging flexibility of the remote cold finger, because of its small size and weight, offers the dual advantage of use in rapidly scanning gimbal aerial systems where gimbal weight is restricted to a minimum and in periscope-mounted ground systems where packaging space is restricted to a minimum. Although this type of cooler design offers many advantages, it previously has not been attractive for use in thermal imaging systems because of its low efficiency. This presentation describes a valveless split-cycle cryogenic refrigerator with a remote cold head which has demonstrated high efficiencies for a miniature cooler.
Stress-activated Protein Kinase Signaling in Drosophila

Genetic analyses in Drosophila have shown that the components of the Stress-Activated Protein Kinase (SAPK) pathways are structurally and functionally conserved in this organism. The genetic tractability of the fruit fly has facilitated in vivo analyses of SAPK signaling that would have been exceedingly difficult to carry out in mammalian systems. This approach has yielded important new knowledge about the in vivo functions of JNK in development, wound healing, innate immunity, developmental and TNF-mediated apoptosis, oxidative stress resistance and lifespan regulation. Similarly, the Drosophila p38 pathway appears to be involved in development, immunity, and stress response, but more research is needed to fully understand its components and functions. It is anticipated that genetic approaches in Drosophila will continue to produce novel insights into SAPK signaling that are directly relevant to rodent models and humans.
A Serologic Study of Herellea vaginicola and Its Identification by Immunofluorescent Staining

A serologic basis for the identification of Herellea vaginicola and its differentiation from Mima polymorpha was presented. The validity of this serologic typing was confirmed on the basis of a small number of physiologic tests given in this paper. Thus, the immediate need of the clinical laboratory for simple diagnostic methods to differentiate Herellea from Mima and other related organisms is met. Fluorescent antibody (FA) serotyping, with the current number of types, provided a rapid means of identifying 79% of all Herellea examined. Serotyping may prove useful in future epidemiologic studies. Twenty-eight serotypes of Herellea were established, using FA and Quellung reagents. Both tests were based on the detection of specific capsular antigens rather than on a mixture of capsular and broadly reactive somatic antigens. Serotyping with FA reagents proved to be a specific test and a simple one to interpret. Fluorescent antibody typing indicated that Herellea capsular antigens were, with very few exceptions, unrelated to those of Mima polymorpha . Agglutination tests, upon which most previous studies were based, were totally unreliable for separating the two genera. When accompanied by more sophisticated physiologic testing, FA typing may assist materially in the classification of the bacteria which make up the species Herellea vaginicola , Mima polymorpha , and related species or genera.
A comparison of nefazodone, the cognitive behavioral-analysis system of psychotherapy, and their combination for the treatment of chronic depression.

Background Patients with chronic forms of major depression are difficult to treat, and the relative efficacy of medications and psychotherapy is uncertain. Methods We randomly assigned 681 adults with a chronic nonpsychotic major depressive disorder to 12 weeks of outpatient treatment with nefazodone (maximal dose, 600 mg per day), the cognitive behavioral-analysis system of psychotherapy (16 to 20 sessions), or both. At base line, all patients had scores of at least 20 on the 24-item Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression (indicating clinically significant depression). Remission was defined as a score of 8 or less at weeks 10 and 12. For patients who did not have remission, a satisfactory response was defined as a reduction in the score by at least 50 percent from base line and a score of 15 or less. Raters were unaware of the patients' treatment assignments. Results Of the 681 patients, 662 attended at least one treatment session and were included in the analysis of response. The overall rate of response ...
Climate Change and Natural Hazards

Climate change is happening, and the consequences are likely to be bad. If we—the people and nations of the world—fail to take action soon to address its causes and mitigate its effects, the consequences may be very bad. What should we do? Bill McKibben calls this “the most important question that there ever was,” and many of the scientists who study the issue have described it as one of the most difficult and important challenges that human civilization has confronted. (The quote comes from a tribute McKibben gave for James Hansen. See Justin Gillis, “Climate Maverick to Retire from NASA,” The New York Times, April 1, 2013.) My goal in this chapter is to examine some of the moral dimensions of the problem. These turn out to be philosophically complicated and challenging. As a practical matter, the causes and consequences of climate change have unprecedented spatial and temporal scope. Others who have written on climate change ethics have pointed out that these facts about scope make the problem difficult to think about clearly. I will describe these issues, but my goal is to try to explain how the spatial and temporal dimensions interact to create a unique moral dilemma. There are ample grounds in this analysis for pessimism, but I believe it also suggests how we can most usefully think about constructive responses to McKibben’s question.
Epidemiological features of tetramethylene-disulfo-tetramine poisoning in 2005 in Anhui province

Objective To analyze epidemiological features of poisoning incidences caused by tetramethylene-disulfo-tetramine and take effective measures.Methods All seven cases in 2005 were analyzed by descriptive study.Results Seven cases were reported.44 persons were poisoned by tetramethylene-disulfo-tetramine and the case fatality was 22.7% in 2005.The cases had clustering of disease in family.Conclusion Because most poisoners are farmers in poisoning cases,of which most take place in countryside.It is necessary to take countermesures to prevent and control poisoning in future,including supervising rodenticide market,popularizing the knowledge of rodent control,publicizing common sense of first aid and taking emergency exercises.
Evaluation and analysis on emergency practical exercises of county-level Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Nanchang City

[Objective]According to the emergency exercises by the county-level Centers for Disease Control and Prevention(CDCs) in Nanchang City between 2010 and 2011,to analyze and evaluate the exercise modes of comprehensive exercise,single combat exercises and tabletop exercise,find out an emergency exercise mode and scientific evaluation method for county-level CDCs.[Methods]Descriptive analysis method was applied to analyze the 20 emergency practical exercises by 11 county-level CDCs in Nanchang City during 2010-2011.[Results]Three exercise modes had their own characteristics and insufficiency,and all can obtain the expected effect.[Conclusion]The tabletop exercise is more suitable for county-level CDCs.To establish the exercise evaluation scoring rules and quantitative indexes can promote the activity of emergency exercises.
Analysis of implementation of electronic medical records on record quality

Objective The medical record information in two years before and after the implementation of electronic medical records was extracted.The changes of medical record quality after the implementation of electronic medical record were evaluated by statistical analysis.Method The quality of medical records in four years was evaluated according to the "basic norms of medical writing,Guangdong Province".The defect rate and rate of Class A medical records in two years before and after the implementation of electronic medical records were compared by the T test and rank sum test in the application SPSS 13.0.Results The differences of defect rate and rate of Class A medical records of clinical department in two years before and after the implementation of electronic medical records from October 2008,are statistically significant.Conclusion The implementation of electronic medical records improves the overall quality of medical record.
Protocols for Bounded-Concurrent Secure Two-Party Computation in the Plain Model.

Until recently, most research on the topic of secure computation focused on the stand-alone model, where a single protocol execution takes place. In this paper, we construct protocols for the setting of bounded-concurrent self composition, where a (single) secure protocol is run many times concurrently, and there is a predetermined bound on the number of concurrent executions. In short, we show that any two-party functionality can be securely computed under boundedconcurrent self composition, in the plain model (where the only setup assumption made is that the parties communicate via authenticated channels). Our protocol provides the first feasibility result for general two-party computation in the plain model, for any model of concurrency. All previous protocols assumed a trusted setup phase in order to obtain a common reference string. On the downside, the number of rounds of communication in our protocol is super-linear in the bound on the number of concurrent executions. However, we believe that our constructions will lead to more efficient protocols for this task.
Posttranslational inhibition of Ito cell type I collagen production by triiodothyronine

Increased Ito cell collagen production occurs during in vivo liver fibrogenesis. Regulation of the overproduction of collagen was studied in cultured rat hepatic Ito cells, which resemble the myofibroblast associated with liver fibrosis. Previous studies suggest that the steroid hormones, retinoic acid, and glucocorticoids may have antifibrogenic properties in vitro and in vivo when used at pharmacological doses. Their potential roles at physiological levels are not well understood. The current study examined the potential regulation of the overproduction of type I collagen in cultured rat hepatic Ito cells by another steroid hormone, 3,5,3'-triiodo-L-thyronine (T3). T3 induced a 3.4-fold reduction in type I collagen production. The effect was dose dependent and was maximal with physiological levels of T3 (10(-9) M). The effect of T3 was independent of any suppression in total protein synthesis. The mechanism of the suppressive effect of T3 on collagen production was explored and was found to be at a post...
Using Photoactivatable GFP to Track Axonal Transport Kinetics

The advent of photoactivatable tools has revolutionized imaging of dynamic cellular processes. One such application is to visualize axonal transport-an intricate and dynamic process by which proteins and other macromolecules are conveyed from their sites of synthesis in the cell bodies to their destinations within axons and synapses. High-quality dynamic imaging of axonal transport using photoactivatable vectors can now be routinely performed using epifluorescence microscopes and CCD cameras that are standard in most laboratories, yet this is largely underutilized. Here we describe detailed protocols for imaging cargoes moving in fast and slow axonal transport in axons of cultured hippocampal neurons.
Topography and numerical densities of intramembrane particles in chemical carcinogen-induced urinary bladder carcinomas in Fischer rats

Integral membrane proteins are visualized as intramembrane particles (IMP) at the cleaved surfaces of freeze-fractured plasma membranes. Topographical distributions of the IMP of the urinary bladder epithelial cells membranes in normal Fischer rat bladder and noninvasive and invasive N-(4-(5-nitro-2-furyl)-2-thiazolyl)formamide (FANFT)-induced bladder tumors are shown to be significantly different. Using several statistical methods that test IMP topography vis-a-vis the Poisson (random) hypothesis, it is demonstrated that IMP are mathematically randomly distributed in the large majority of plasma membranes of cells in normal rat bladder epithelium and in invasive N-(4-(5-nitro-2-furyl)-2-thiazolyl)formamide tumors. In noninvasive rat bladder carcinomas, IMP are in a lattice-like arrangement in half of the tumor cells and randomly distributed in the remainder. IMP numerical densities are also altered in the course of neoplastic transformation. IMP are equally increased above control values in both noninvasive and invasive N-(4-(5-nitro-2-furyl)-2-thiazolyl)formamide tumors. Although transformation into noninvasive tumors is associated with increased numbers of IMP, there is no evidence that this parameter is specifically related to tumor biologic behavior in this model system.
Abstract # 1720 T lymphocytes are required for resolution of inflammatory pain and depression-like behavior

Transient pain and depressed mood commonly develop in response to inflammation. While normally reversible once the peripheral inflammation has resolved, depression and pain persist in some individuals. On the basis of previous studies showing that T lymphocytes contribute to homeostasis and repair in the nervous system, we hypothesized that T lymphocytes promote endogenous resolution of comorbid depression-like behavior and pain. Transient pain and depression-like behavior were induced by systemic administration of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) or by intraplantar injection of complete Freund’s adjuvant (CFA). In both models, depression-like behavior, mechanical allodynia and ongoing pain (measured by analgesic-induced conditioned place preference) were substantially prolonged in mice lacking mature lymphocytes (Rag1 and Rag2 KO mice). Reconstitution of Rag KO mice with T cells normalized resolution of depression-like behavior, mechanical allodynia and ongoing pain. Increased expression of the tryptophan-metabolizing enzyme indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase (IDO1) in the brain which mediates depression-like behavior in response to peripheral inflammation was also prolonged in absence of T cells. The anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-10 and the ATP-degrading enzyme CD73 were upregulated in the prefrontal cortex (PFC) of WT mice after they had recovered, but not in Rag KO mice at the same time point. These findings demonstrate an important role for T lymphocytes in the endogenous resolution of inflammatory pain and depression.
Interaction Between Atypical Antipsychotics and the Gut Microbiome in a Bipolar Disease Cohort.

Objectives The atypical antipsychotic (AAP) class is often associated with metabolic disease, but the mechanistic underpinnings of this risk are not understood. Due to reports linking gut bacteria function to metabolic disease, we hypothesize that AAP-treatment in adults results in gut dysbiosis potentiating metabolic criteria. This report describes recent findings linking AAP-treatment with differences in gut microbiota communities in a human cohort with bipolar disorder (BD). Methods In a cross- sectional design, we obtained 16S ribosomal sequences from 117 BD patients (49 AAP-treated, 68 non-AAP treated). Analysis of molecular variance (AMOVA) was used to detect significant clustering of microbial communities between groups and the inverse Simpson index was used to calculate alpha diversity. Detection of differentially abundant operational taxonomic units (OTUs) between groups was performed using linear discriminant analysis effect size. Results The AAP-treated cohort was significantly younger and had increased BMI compared to non-AAP treated patients. Groups did not differ in other psychotropic medication use with the exception of higher use of benzodiazepines in the AAP-cohort. We detected significant separation between microbiota communities of AAP-treated and non-treated subjects (AMOVA; p=0.04). AAP-treated females showed significant decreased species diversity when compared to non-AAP treated females (p=0.015). Males showed no significant diversity between treatment groups (p=0.8). Differentially abundant OTUs between treatment groups were OTU1, OTU25, and OTU32 that classified to Lachnospiraceae, Akkermansia, and Sutterella respectively. Conclusions These data suggest that AAP-treatment associates with specific representation of gut bacterial families in AAP-treated patients. Additionally, AAP-treatment is associated with decreased species richness in female AAP-treated patients. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.
Lipid–Drug Conjugate for Enhancing Drug Delivery

Lipid–drug conjugates (LDCs) are drug molecules that have been covalently modified with lipids. The conjugation of lipids to drug molecules increases lipophilicity and also changes other properties of drugs. The conjugates demonstrate several advantages including improved oral bioavailability, improved targeting to the lymphatic system, enhanced tumor targeting, and reduced toxicity. Based on the chemical nature of drugs and lipids, various conjugation strategies and chemical linkers can be utilized to synthesize LDCs. Linkers and/or conjugation methods determine how drugs are released from LDCs and are critical for the optimal performance of LDCs. In this review, different lipids used for preparing LDCs and various conjugation strategies are summarized. Although LDCs can be administered without a delivery carrier, most of them are loaded into appropriate delivery systems. The lipid moiety in the conjugates can significantly enhance drug loading into hydrophobic components of delivery carriers and thus ge...
Municipal service bundling: the case of san antonio’s neighborhood sweep program

Local governments play important roles in creating public value for their residents. Recognizing this, they have made improving local quality of life a high priority. Such emphasis has led to the development of various service innovations designed to make urban areas better places to live and work. This article examines one such innovation, the city of San Antonio’s Neighborhood Sweep program (or, simply, “Sweeps”). Sweeps is an example of a general service delivery strategy we term “municipal services bundling” (or MSB). MSB entails targeting resources to particular neighborhoods and tailoring bundles of public services designed to meet neighborhoods' respective needs. Analysis of survey data collected from residents of “swept” neighborhoods from 1999 to 2002 suggests that MSB can have positive effects on overall levels of neighborhood satisfaction and, in the case of Sweeps, may empower local residents while promoting their sense of individual responsibility for neighborhood appearance.
Recurrent Mesenteric Ischemia from Celiomesenteric Trunk Stenosis

A common origin of the celiac trunk and superior mesenteric artery (SMA), also termed as celiomesenteric trunk (CMT), is a rare occurrence. We report a rare case of symptomatic CMT stenosis requiring multiple interventions. The patient underwent an initial superior mesenteric artery bypass graft but required a subsequent endoluminal intervention. We present this case for the rarity of CMT stenosis and its potential to cause recurrent mesenteric ischemia. The treatment outcome in this patient suggests that revascularization of the SMA alone can result in adequate perfusion of the entire mesenteric bed and resolve symptoms of mesenteric ischemia including weight loss and food avoidance.
Mitigation of radiation myelopathy and reduction of microglial infiltration by Ramipril, ACE inhibitor.

Experimental study. To evaluate the efficacy of Angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor Ramipril, as a mitigator of radiation-induced spinal cord injury. Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY, USA. Total of 22 rats were irradiated with single doses of 23.6–33 Gy at the C4-T2 spinal levels. After irradiation, the rats were randomized to the radiation only control group and the Ramipril-treated (radiation + Ramipril) experimental group. Ramipril 1.5 mg/kg/day was given in the drinking water starting 1 week after radiation through the study duration. All the rats irradiated with 28.5–33 Gy became paralyzed at 125 ± 4 days, whereas no rats became paralyzed after 23.6 Gy. The time to develop paralysis was delayed to 135 ± 4 days in Ramipril-treated group (P < 0.001). H&E and LFB showed microscopic structural restoration and remyelination with Ramipril treatment. VEGF expression was increased in the irradiated spinal cord, and the number of VEGF-positive cells was significantly decreased by Ramipril treatment (P < 0.001). Immunohistochemical stain with Iba-1 showed increased microglial infiltration in the irradiated spinal cords. The number of Iba-1-positive microglia was significantly reduced by Ramipril treatment (P < 0.05). Ramipril reduced the rate of paralysis even at the paralysis-inducing radiation doses. It also significantly delayed the onset of paralysis. Neuroinflammation and endothelial cell damage may be the key mediators of radiation injury. Ramipril can be readily translatable to clinical application as a mitigatory of radiotherapeutic toxicity.
Protected Environmental Rooms in Buffalo

As in other centers where the availability of blood component replacement in acute leukemia has decreased the mortality from thrombocytopenia, infection is the major cause of death in our clinic. Pseudomonas epidemics have occurred on our ward—as on others, and constitute one environmental hazard. Attempts to modify infectious complications by microbial suppression in the patient have moved simultaneously with efforts to provide a pathogen-free environment. The early and pioneering work of Mathe and colleagues and Bagshawe provide background experience in which medical personnel were surgically garbed to enter the isolation suite. The “Life Island” enclosure of Matthews, Inc., first studied extensively in cancer chemotherapy by the group at the National Cancer Institute in the United States, provided a barrier between personnel and patient, but did so at the expense of eliminating the conventional room structure in which man is accustomed to live.
Axiomatization of a Functional Logic Language

Functional logic languages incorporate logic programming capabilities of constraint solving within a functional language framework. We consider a prototypical functional logic language which supports definite descriptions, i.e., terms of the form “the x such that p”. Its semantics is defined in terms of flat ordered structures with ⊥ and ⊺ elements. These elements are used to represent the absence and ambiguity, respectively, of objects denoted by descriptions. We provide an equational axiomatization of the language and show that it is complete for this semantics.
Reflections on Making the Case

From a rhetorical perspective, arguing involves making a case in an attempt to convince a relevant audience of a claim about what we collectively should do or how we should act. Arguments are often made in public contexts, where norms and conventions are less clearly established than in dialogic situations. While grounded in particular situations, rhetorical argument also reaches beyond them to relate specific cases to more general theories or strategies. It seeks both to use or establish general claims and to enrich our understanding of the specific case. These two goals exist in productive tension. Both practitioners and analysts of rhetoric engage in making the case.
Minimal Hausdorff Spaces — Then and Now

The partially ordered collection of all Hausdorff topologies on a set is a complete upper semilattice; this semilattice always contains a maximum element (the discrete topology) but only contains a minimum element whenever the set is finite. When the set X is infinite, there are minimal elements in the semilattice. The minimal elements of the collection of all Hausdorff topologies on a set are called minimal Hausdorff topologies. A compact Hausdorff topology is minimal Hausdorff. In 1940, Katětov characterized those Hausdorff spaces which are minimal Hausdorff and produced an example of a minimal Hausdorff space which is not compact. The theory of the minimal elements of the semilattice of all Hausdorff topologies on a set is presented and developed in this paper.
Diversity of Naturally Occurring Prokaryotes

Understanding the patterns of naturally occurring microbial diversity, how these patterns vary in space and time, and how they relate to ecosystem structure and function, remains a significant challenge for microbiologists. A variety of levels of microbial diversity are important and relevant from the perspective of microbial ecology, including trophic, physiological or functional diversity, intraspecific genetic diversity, or phylogenetic diversity of species and higher taxa. For the purpose of this chapter, “diversity” will be used to refer to phylogenetic variety at the level of species and higher taxa. One of the very first tasks necessary for assessing naturally occurring prokaryote diversity is to identify accurately those prokaryotic species predominant in a given habitat. This fundamental goal, representing the basis of understanding of the ecology or natural history of microbes, has rarely, if ever, been achieved for any naturally occurring microbial assemblage. We have a long way to go to catch up with the rest of biology!
Effects in Disguise: The Importance of Controlling for Constructs at Multiple Levels in Macro–Level Immigration and Crime Research:

Contemporary research suggests that immigrant communities often have lower rates of crime despite their disadvantaged status. Yet prior work often examines the immigration and crime association usi...
UAV swarm communication and control architectures: a review

Unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) have significantly disrupted the aviation industry. As technology and policy continue to develop, this disruption is only going to increase in magnitude. A specific ...