cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A prognostic model for the outcome of liver transplantation in patients with cholestatic liver disease

We studied the outcome of 436 patients with primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC) or primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC) who underwent orthotopic liver transplant (OLT) at three major liver transplant centers. Univariate predictors of outcome included age, Karnofsky score, Child's class, Mayo risk score, United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS) status, nutritional status, serum albumin, serum bilirubin, international normalized ratio, and the presence of ascites, encephalopathy, renal failure (serum creatinine > 2 mg/dL), and edema refractory to diuretics. Using these predictors, we developed a four variable mathematical prognostic model to help the liver transplant physician predict the following: 1) the amount of intraoperative blood loss; 2) the number of days in the intensive care unit (ICU); and 3) severe complications after surgery. The model uses age, renal failure, Child's class, and United Network for Organ Sharing status. This study is the first to model the outcome of liver transplant in patients with a specific etiology of chronic liver disease (PBC or PSC). The model may be used to help select patients for OLT and to plan the timing of their transplantation.
Marketing alternatives for agriculture in developed countries

Abstract Alternatives, some new and some in use in parts of US agriculture, are examined for their possible application. Electronic markets for spot commodities and perhaps for future delivery contracts offer improvements for open markets. Exclusive agency bargaining may be the model for farmers with neither open markets nor vertically-integrated cooperatives. Those farmers who seek control of much of the market channel need to consider tighter forms of cooperation and forward integration. Governmental assistance would be needed in implementing several of the above as well as in provision of Marketing Orders or Boards, mandatory price reporting, and the ensuring of more competition in agribusiness.
Copolymerization of Bacterial Cell Wall Materials to Enhance Stability of Polyhydroxyalkanoate

This brief investigation reports copolymerizing polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs) with a durable bacterial cell wall component, peptidoglycan (PTG). PHAs are biodegradable polymers produced by some bacteria, but the environmental advantage is offset by the time, energy, and solvent use to separation PHAs from cell residues, including PTG. Here, a PHA was copolymerized with PTG (10, 25 wt%). Thermal stability and moisture uptake of the resulting polyesteramide showed copolymers absorbed up to 60% more moisture than the PHA but at 25 wt% peptidoglycan the onset of decomposition increased by nearly 125 °C. Less PTG in PHA gave lesser increases. The results suggest that useful materials might be produced with less rigorous purification strategies for bacterially produced PHAs.
441 SIMULATION OF THE “ADRENAL EXHAUSTION” PHENOMENON BY icv CRF

Intracerebroventricular (icv) bolus injection of cortico-tropin releasing factor (CRF) induces hypermetabolism, catecholamine surge and excess adrenocortical hormone secretion. Chronic icv CRF infusion in rats induces this stress-like picture for 2-3 days. However, corticosterone (B) excretion falls below that of sham rats by day 5. This dampened response to sustained CRF resembles the “adrenal exhaustion” phenomenon described in severe trauma and led to the present study: Jugular catheters were placed prior to icv cannulation and chronic delivery of CRF 20 ug/d or of saline. Hypersecretion of B on day 2 (0.7 ±0.15 ug/d) in CRF rats was suppressed on day 5 (0.3 ±.05, n=8, p<0.01). A 10 ug iv CRF bolus on day 5 caused exaggerated ACTH coupled with elevated plasma B: These results suggest: a suppressed adrenal function induced by chronic icv CRF similar to that after severe trauma and 2) a hypothalamic abnormality rather than primary pituitary or adrenal failure.
CD-PAN: a protocol for peer-to-peer content distribution in a weakly connected and heterogeneous personal area network

This paper presents CD-PAN, a mechanism to automatically distribute content objects to weakly connected heterogeneous content devices in a personal area network without a global namespace. The content devices under consideration range from cell phones to personal computers, each of which is capable of downloading content objects on its own. The proposed mechanism alleviates the need to manually synchronize content that is downloaded to each of these content devices. A simulation study shows that CD-PAN outperforms other prefetching schemes in all our workload experiments. The performance improvement tended to increase with increase in popularity distribution skew, temporal locality and frequency of content creation/updates. The performance of CD-PAN increases when pair-wise communication capabilities are higher, and also adapts well to increasing power and metadata constraints.
Demand-pull, technology-push, and government-led incentives for non-incremental technical change

Abstract Rising expectations about future demand for new technologies increase the incentives for investments in innovation by enlarging payoffs to successful innovations. How well does this notion of “demand-pull” apply to non-incremental technological change when demand is largely attributable to actions by governments? In this case, inventors of the most important inventions did not respond positively to strong demand-pull policies; filing of highly cited patents declined precipitously just as demand for wind power created a multi-billion dollar market. Three explanations for this apparent inconsistency with the demand-pull hypothesis played a role: (1) the rapid convergence on a single dominant design limited the market opportunity for non-incremental technical improvements; (2) even though the policies implemented were stringent enough to stimulate demand, uncertainty in their longevity dampened the incentives for inventions that were likely to take several years to pay off; and (3) alternative explanations, such as declining R&D funding and weakening presidential engagement on energy, appear to have been important.
Socioecological Approaches for Combining Ecosystem-Based and Customary Management in Oceania

This paper summarizes various integrated methodological approaches for studying Customary Management for the purpose of designing hybrid CM-Ecosystem-Based Management (EBM) systems in Oceania. Using marine conservation in the Western Solomon Islands as an example, the paper illustrates various interdisciplinary human ecological methods that can assist in designing hybrid conservation programs. The study of human-environmental interactions from a socio-ecological perspective allows us to discern people's understanding of their immediate environment, differential forms of local resource governance and use (e.g., sea tenure and foraging strategies), and existing conflicts between various stakeholders, among other social and ecological factors. More generally, the paper shows how coupled studies of natural and social processes can foster management regimes that are more adaptive and effective and that move toward holistic, ecosystem-based marine conservation in the Pacific Island region.
Effect of Capillary Properties on the Sensitivity Enhancement in Capillary/Fiber Optical Sensors

The sensitivity enhancement observed in fluorescence signals when a conventional fiber optical sensor is coupled with a quartz or glass capillary results from the partial reflection of the radiation at the sample/internal wall interface and from the internal reflection of the refracted portion within the capillary wall. Thus, the length and absorbing properties of the capillary as well as the nature of the surrounding medium affect the enhancement significantly. To interpret the dramatic changes in enhancement observed experimentally when the absorbing properties of the capillary were changed, a partial reflective waveguide model is reported.
Mobility enhancement in polymer organic semiconductors arising from increased interconnectivity at the level of polymer segments

We present a model to estimate the mobility in polymers and to gauge the effect of increased interconnectivity at the level of polymer segments. The model takes into account the finite length of the polymers and the two-dimensional nature of the transport. These results show that the presence of polymer segments extending from one ordered domain into another can enhance the mobility significantly provided the π-π coupling is sufficiently large.
THE ORGANIZATION OF SYNAPTIC AXOPLASM IN THE LAMPREY (PETROMYZON MARINUS) CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM

The fine structure of synapses in the central nervous system of lamprey (Petromyzon marinus) ammocoetes has been investigated. Both synapses within the neuropil and synaptic links between giant fibers (including Muller cells) and small postsynaptic units are described. The distribution of neurofilaments and microtubules in nerve profiles over a wide diameter range is described, and the possible role of these structures in intracellular transport is discussed. Electron micrographs indicate that small lucent "synaptic vesicles" occur sparsely throughout the axoplasm and in regular arrays in association with microtubules in the vicinity of synapses. Within a synaptic focus, immediately adjoining the presynaptic membrane, vesicles are randomly arranged and are not associated with microtubules. Neurofilaments are present, generally in large numbers, but these are not associated with vesicles or other particulates. The structural findings are considered in terms of current concepts of fast and slow transport in neurons and the mechanochemical control of intracellular movement of materials.
Lifestreams: a storage model for personal data

Conventional software systems, such as those based on the “desktop metaphor,” are ill-equipped to manage the electronic information and events of the typical computer user. We introduce a new metaphor, Lifestreams, for dynamically organizing a user's personal workspace. Lifestreams uses a simple organizational metaphor, a time-ordered stream of documents, as an underlying storage system. Stream filters are used to organize, monitor and summarize information for the user. Combined, they provide a system that subsumes many separate desktop applications. This paper describes the Lifestreams model and our prototype system.
Using Clinical Skills Exams to Evaluate Medical Student Skills in Prevention

Background In 2006, the Brody School of Medicine Regional Medicine–Public Health Education Center integrated the teaching of prevention into the curriculum for first-, second-, and third-year medical students. Purpose The purpose of this article is to report on the use of clinical skills exams (CSEs) in the evaluation of prevention health instruction for the period 2006–2010. Methods Two CSEs were employed to measure preventive skills at the end of the third year of medical school. CSE-1 was a woman aged 56 years with knee pain. The outcome measure is the percentage of students asking three or more prevention history items. CSE-2 was a boy, aged 15 years, undergoing a sports physical/preventive screening. The outcome measure is the number of prevention items queried. Results For CSE-1, the percentage of students who met the outcome measure increased to 83% in 2010 as compared to 62% in both 2009 and 2007. The improvement between 2007 and 2010 was significant with a p =0.0080 (Fisher's exact test). Of the 64 students taking the third-year medical student objective structured clinical examination-2 in June 2009, the greatest number queried the following preventive items: exercise (98%), alcohol misuse (98%), drug use (98%), school and grades (98%), sexual activity (98%), and tobacco use (97%). Conclusions By integrating prevention elements into CSE cases, the results are useful for student assessment and may be a powerful influence on curricular design, leading to an increase in prevention content.
Design of a real-fringe DASH interferometer for observations of thermospheric winds from a small satellite

We describe the design of a Doppler Asymmetric Spatial Heterodyne (DASH) interferometer for upper atmospheric wind observations of the O[1D] 630 nm emission from a small satellite.
Mechanism of cyst specific protein 21 mRNA induction during Acanthamoeba differentiation

The Acanthamoeba cyst specific protein 21 (CSP21) gene is tightly repressed in growing cells and highly induced early during differentiation into a dormant cyst. This increase is mediated by the rate of transcription of the CSP21 gene as determined by nuclear run-on assays. The promoter region of the CSP21 gene was analyzed by transcript start site mapping and in vitro transcription of wild-type or mutant templates, using extracts from growing cells. A sequence located 3' to a modified TATA box completely inhibits transcription and removal of this region permits robust transcription utilizing a start site approximately 35 base pairs downstream of the TATA box. Sequences 5' to the TATA box had no effect on transcription, suggesting that anti-repression is the only mechanism required for CSP21 induction. Fractionation of nuclear extracts yielded a fraction capable of transcription from the CSP21 promoter, and a fraction containing a promoter-specific repressing activity. Anti-repression may thus be a major mechanism regulating differentiation or maintenance of the proliferative cycle in Acanthamoeba.
Weekend Warriors and Sun Block: Game Wardens and the Use of Force

While the field of research related to game wardens is growing, there is almost no empirical research related to game wardens and the use of force. This study adds to this virtually non-existent, but important field. The data come from 261 self-reports from the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission Division of Law Enforcement from 2002 to 2009. The incidents were analyzed based on following factors: the time of the day, the day of the week, the season of the year, and the activity the suspect was engaged in prior to the contact. The results demonstrated the majority of use of force incidents occurred from 6:01 p.m. to midnight, during Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays or national holidays, during the summer, and when the suspect was participating in a non-hunting or fishing activity. While this research addresses a missing component of the literature, the generalizeability of the findings are limited. Still, additional research is needed in this area before more firm conclusions can be reached.
The crystal structure of Na4(UO2)(CO3)3 and its relationship to schröckingerite

Crystals of the compound Na 4 (UO 2 )(CO 3 ) 3 have been synthesized and the structure has been solved. It is trigonal with a = 9.3417(6), c = 12.824(1) A, V = 969.2(1) A 3 , space group P 3 c 1 and Z = 4. The structure was refined on the basis of F 2 ( wR 2 = 4.2%) for all unique data collected using Mo- K α X-radiation and a CCD-based detector. The final R 1 was 2.0%, calculated for 534 unique observed ( F o ≥ 4σ F ) reflections, and the goodness-of-fit ( S ) was 0.91. The structure contains a uranyl tricarbonate cluster composed of a uranyl hexagonal bipyramid that shares three equatorial edges with CO 3 triangles. The uranyl tricarbonate clusters are connected through NaO 6 and NaO 5 polyhedra, forming a heteropolyhedral framework structure. This compound may be related to a uranyl carbonate phase with the same composition which has been reported as an alteration phase on the surface of Chernobyl ‘lava’, and as a mineral in the Jachymov ore district, Czech Republic.
Boeck's sarcoid with coexisting carcinoma.

T HE histoIogic pattern seen in three cases in which Boeck’s sarcoid coexisted with carcinoma wilt be presented. Particular emphasis has been placed upon the pathologic alterations noted when the two conditions were juxtaposed within the same tissue, and upon the sequence followed in the healing phase of the sarcoid granuIoma. KnowIedge of the existence of this rather uncommon combmation of Iesions is of considerable importance to the surgeon as well as the pathoIogist since a biopsy report of sarcoid may obscure and prevent further search for an existing mahgnancy. * * * *
Volcanogenic effects on the rates of deposition of sediments in the Northwest Pacific Ocean

Abstract Seven piston cores, 7–16 m long, taken between the Kuril Islands and Emperor Seamounts, have been dated using radiolarian and diatom extinction levels and correlated using volcanic ash layers. The average rate of deposition in the cores decreases from 6 cm/1000 years near the Kuril Trench to about 3.5 cm/1000 years near the seamounts. Dispersed volcanic ash is the main constituent of the cores and it comprises up to 80% of the sediments. The percentage of the ash in the sediments decreases eastward from the Kuril Islands as the rates of deposition decrease. The total thickness of the sediments in the same latitudinal belt also decreases eastward. The thickness of the sediment inferred from seismic data near the Kuril trench is about 600 m and rates of deposition are approximately 6 cm/1000 years in the Pleistocene cores. Sediment thickness near the seamounts is about 300 m, and rates of deposition are approximately 3 cm/1000 years in the Pleistocene cores. Extrapolated rates of deposition in these cores suggest that the age of the base of the sediment to the east of the Kurils is only about 10 m.y. The anomalously young age for the base of the sediments obtained by extrapolation of an assumed constant rate of deposition can be explained by Deep Sea Drilling Project data from the northwest Pacific. The sediment thickness at DSDP site 192 east of Kamchatka includes sediments from all the Cenozoic epochs except the Paleocene. Rates of deposition of sediment younger than Middle Miocene are an order of magnitude higher than those prior to this time. At DSDP sites east of Japan, either Late Miocene sediments lie directly on the basement, or sediments older than Late Miocene are very thin. Post-Middle Miocene sediments are composed primarily of glass shards. Thus, about 90% of the total thickness of sediments in the northwest Pacific is composed of sediments younger than Middle Miocene with volcanic ash as the main constituent. The volcanic ash results from the present phase of explosive volcanic activity which began in the Late Miocene in the northwest Pacific volcanic arcs.
Spontaneous symmetry breaking in theO(2) σ-model

We study, through the Schrodinger picture on lattice, the vacuum structure of theO(2) σ-model. The analysis proceeds with an approximation which is an improvement of the usual perturbation method. We find in this work that no spontaneous symmetry breaking occurs, contrary to what is expected with the semi-classical approximation.
Neocortico-limbic relations in the cat

Abstract Dorsolateral and medial neocortical areas of the cat's brain were stimulated with single shocks of 15 V, and responses were recorded from the septum, hippocampus and amygdala. The predominant relationships resulting from this method are as follows: 1. 1. Stimulation of the sylvian, ectosylvian, inferior portions of the lateral and suprasylvian gyri, and the sigmoid, coronal and cingulate gyri evoke responses from the septum. 2. 2. With the exception of the sigmoid gyrus, stimulation of these same cortices, together with the medial lateral and suprasplenial gyri, more consistently evoke responses from the basal and lateral amygdala and from the dorsal and ventral hippocampus. 3. 3. More specific cortico-limbic relations demonstrated by the evoked potential method are: (a) the sigmoid gyrus is related to the basal amygdala and ventral hippocampus; (b) the lateral gyrus is related to the dorsal hippocampus and (c) the suprasylvian gyrus is related to the dorsal and ventral hippocampus. 4. 4. With the exception of most of the areas of the medial surface, but with few exceptions of those of the dorsolateral surface, strychninization of the same cortical areas evoked strychnine spikes from the septum, amygdala and hippocampus. 5. 5. Functional implications of neocortico-limbic relations are discussed.
Hot carrier excitation of adlayers: Time-resolved measurement of adsorbate-lattice coupling.

Picosecond time-resolved infrared absorption measurements of CO/Cu(100) following visible and ultraviolet laser pumping allow a determination of the time scales for photoexcited carriers and lattice phonons to couple to the CO frustrated translation vibrational mode.
Androgen Receptor Expression in the Levator Ani Muscle of Male Mice

The spinal nucleus of the bulbocavernosus (SNB) is a sexually dimorphic group of motoneurones that innervates the bulbocavernosus (BC) and levator ani (LA), skeletal muscles that attach to the base of the penis. In many species, including mice, rats and hamsters, the LA and BC have been found to be highly responsive to androgen and, in rats, these muscles mediate several effects of androgen on the SNB system. However, characterising the SNB system in mice is important because of the availability of genetic models in this species. In the present study, we examined AR expression in skeletal muscles of C57/BlJ6 adult male mice using immunoblotting and immunocytochemistry, comparing the BC/LA to the androgen-unresponsive extensor digitorum longus (EDL). We found similar differences in AR expression for these muscles in the mouse as previously reported for rats. In mice, the BC/LA contains more AR protein than does the EDL. At the cellular level, the LA contains a higher percentage of AR positive myonuclei and fibroblasts than does the EDL. Finally, AR expression is enriched at the neuromuscular junction of mouse LA fibres. The increased expression of AR in the LA compared to the EDL in both muscle fibres and fibroblasts indicates that each cell type may critically mediate androgen action on the SNB system in mice.
Localized illumination of the Aplysia and Bulla eye reveals new relationships between retinal layers

Abstract The cellular organization of the opisthobranch retina is of interest since the eyes of several of these molluscs express circadian rhythms in optic nerve impulse frequency. In a model for retinal organization proposed by Audersirk, photoreceptors make electrical contancts with higher order cells which generate the compound action potential (CAP) recorded in the optic nerve. However, using micro-illumination on selected retinal regions, we now find that cells near the base of the retina are responsible for light transduction leading to CAPs. Illumination of the distal segments of photoreceptors surrounding the lens generates low-amplitude unitary activity in the optic nerve without CAPs. Furthermore, illumination of this region leads to inhibition of spontaneous CAPs or those generated by illumination of the retinal base. This inhibition is blocked by high magnesium-low calcium solutions and thus we conclude that inhibition and a secretory step comprise at least part of the pathway between the photoreceptor layer and neurons giving rise to the CAP.
Self-rated health among vulnerable older adults in rural Appalachia.

ABSTRACT: Context: Self-rated health (SRH) predicts service use, morbidity, and mortality. Additionally, SRH has been associated with indices of psychological well-being. Purpose: The main focus of the study was to investigate important differences among the lower spectrum of SRH (ie, fair and poor) on indices of well-being. Methods: In-person interviews collected data from 207 (M age = 75.8) older rural adults. Data were used to examine differences between those reporting poor, fair, and good or excellent SRH on measures of demographics, and physical and psychological health. Results: Significant differences emerged between levels of SRH in relation to measures of physical and psychological health. Specifically, individuals with poor SRH were significantly more likely to have (1) illnesses, (2) problems with basic and cognitive tasks of daily living, and (3) depressed affect than individuals reporting good or excellent health. Individuals with poor SRH were significantly more likely to have problems with basic and cognitive tasks of daily living than individuals with fair SRH. No significant differences were found between people reporting fair and good or excellent SRH on illnesses and depressed affect. Conclusions: Results suggest that future research should investigate the expansion of the lower-end of the SRH measure to more accurately assess SRH among vulnerable, rural older adults. Such efforts would better inform health care providers, practitioners, and policy makers in rural areas as to how SRH affects the well-being of vulnerable older adults.
Residents With DEMENTIA in Assisted Living Facilities: The Role of Behavior in Discharge Decisions

The purpose of this exploratory qualitative study was to identify behaviors that contribute to the decision to discharge the resident with dementia from an assisted living facility to a skilled nursing facility. Administrators of 14 assisted living facilities in Missouri were interviewed. The administrators were asked to describe occasions when residents with dementia were discharged. The findings of the study were based on analysis of the audiotapes of the interviews. According to the administrators, resident behaviors that influenced discharge decisions included behaviors indicating progression of dementia, behaviors indicating the need for more assistance with activities of daily living, incontinence, wandering, behaviors that did not meet the facility's expectations, behaviors reflecting changes in physical condition, and aggressive behaviors. These findings have implications for the role of nurses in assisted living facilities and for further research.
Design strategies for monolithic adjustable-radius metal mirrors

The design principles and special advantages of monolithic adjustable-radius metal mirrors are now well established. Such mirror systems are usually cut from a single block of metal by a wire-electric-discharge machining system, and they consist of a bendable mirror joined to its bending device by thin webs of metal that can be treated as hinges. Analysis is provided for understanding the response of such mirrors to the unintended couples they receive from these flexural hinges when the hinge angle is not zero. The rigidity (the couple per unit angle) of the usual types of flexural hinge and of the most common mirror shapes are calculated thus allowing the hinge-induced distortions of any mirror surface to be estimated. The analysis includes mirrors both with and without water-cooling channels. Two strategies for reducing the errors are proposed. One involves the design of sufficiently flexible hinges and the other the elimination of the hinge rotations (and therefore their couples) altogether by means of a new design principle. Some analysis of the latter scheme is provided including a prescription for choosing suitable design parameters.
Effect of particle interaction on recording media noise

Abstract The theory of noise in noninteracting particulate systems is extended to include interacting systems using the Preisach approach. The effect of interaction is to produce excess Barkhausen noise, which is present neither in noninteracting models nor in the classical Preisach models. Extended Preisach modeling, which now includes accommodation and noncongruency effects, is capable of describing excess Barkhausen noise and classifying the types of interaction. This paper will analyze specifically how the moving model and the accommodation model affect media noise.
Influence of Electron-Deficient Ruthenium(I) Carbonyl Carboxylates on the Vinylogous Reactivity of Metal Carbenoids

Highly electrophilic ruthenium(I) mixed carbonyl carboxylate complexes exhibit catalytic activity in the cyclopropanation of styrene with methyl phenyldiazoacetate. A particular advantage of these catalysts is their propensity to enhance vinylogous reactivity in the reactions of vinyldiazoacetates. The catalytic study was conducted on four known ruthenium(I) mixed carbonyl carboxylate complexes and four new complexes, namely, [Ru2(O2C(2,3,4-F)3C6H2)2(CO)5], [Ru2(O2C(2,4,6-F)3C6H2)2(CO)5], [Ru2(O2CC6F5)2(CO)5], and [Ru2(O2C(3,5-CF3)2C6H3)2(CO)4]. All complexes have been prepared by a combination of solvent-free techniques: melt reactions of ruthenium carbonyl with a benzoic acid followed by gas-phase sublimation−deposition of the products under reduced pressure. X-ray crystallographic characterization revealed a tetranuclear “dimer of dimers” type of structure for the [Ru2(O2CR)2(CO)5] complexes and a polymeric chain for [Ru2(O2C(3,5-CF3)2C6H3)2(CO)4]. Both motifs are built on diruthenium(I,I) units linked...
The effect of high-frequency electrical stimulation and norepinephrine on cyclic AMP levels in normal versus norepinephrine-depleted rat hippocampal slices.

Cyclic 3′,5′-adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) generation by neuronal activity and norepinephrine (NE) was studied in rat hippocampal slices. High-frequency perforant path stimulation increased cAMP levels 2.5-fold in the dentate gyrus 1 min, but not 30 min, post-stimulation. This increase was abolished by depletion of NE with 6-hydroxydopamine. NE (50 μM) also caused a 3-fold rise in cAMP in whole slices and this stimulation was not altered by NE depletion. These results are consistent with our previous data 29 suggesting that cAMP production is involved in the expression of long-term potentiation and NE-induced long-lasting potentiation in the dentate gyrus.
The Moral Codes of Executives: A Watergate-inspired Look at Barnard's Theory of Executive Responsibility

Chester Barnard's treatment of the functions of the executive climaxes in his largely neglected consideration of executive morality. A high priority needs to be given to the study of executive morality, in efforts to better understand executive behavior. Barnard provides a promising point of departure.
Once-daily lisinopril compared with twice-daily captopril in the treatment of mild to moderate hypertension: assessment of office and ambulatory blood pressures.

This multicenter, double-blind, parallel-group study compared the antihypertensive effects of two angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors, lisinopril and captopril, in 70 patients (35 lisinopril, 35 captopril) with mild-to-moderate essential hypertension. Doses of 10, 20, and 40 mg once-daily lisinopril or 25, 50, and 100 mg bid captopril were increased at biweekly intervals until patients responded to treatment, as defined by a decrease in office diastolic pressure to less than 90 mm Hg or at least a 10 mm Hg decrease from baseline. Patients who responded to a 2-week titration dose remained at that dose for another 2 weeks. Blood pressure assessments were made using both office and ambulatory blood pressure monitoring. Area under the curve analysis of ambulatory blood pressure reductions showed significant differences between treatment groups for both systolic (P = .023) and diastolic (P = .007) blood pressures, with lisinopril-treated patients showing the most significant reduction in pressure. Greater reductions (P less than .05) were also noted in patients receiving lisinopril at hours 10 to 12, suggesting two blood pressure troughs for those receiving captopril. Both drugs were well tolerated, and no patients withdrew from either treatment group. The authors concluded that after at least 4 weeks of therapy, once-daily lisinopril administration was more effective than twice-daily captopril administration in reducing blood pressure, when measured by 24-hour ambulatory blood pressure monitoring.
Sustained cerebral vasoconstriction during bilateral sympathetic stimulation in anesthetized rabbits

Abstract Temporal aspects of bilateral sympathetic nerve stimulation on cerebral blood flow (CBF) were examined in anesthetized rabbits ( n = 7). CBF ranged from 32 to 50 ml/min per 100 g. Bilateral stimulation reduced blood flow by 17–31% to cerebrum, diencephalonmesencephalon and cerebellum, and responses were constant between 2 and 6 min of stimulation. Sustained cerebral vasoconstriction is consistent with an important role for sympathetic nerves in the regulation of CBF.
Immunocytochemical detection of XIAP in body cavity effusions and washes

Body cavity effusions may be the first manifestation of malignancy or of recurrence or relapse. We surveyed effusions and washes for expression of X-linked inhibitor of apoptosis (XIAP), a potent constituent of the inhibitor of apoptosis (IAP) family of proteins. IAPs prevent apoptosis by blocking the activation of caspases, thereby preventing caspase-mediated cell degradation. Elevated expression of XIAP could be an underpinning of relapse and/or resistance to apoptosis-inducing cancer therapy. We performed an immunocytochemical survey of XIAP expression in cell blocks from benign and malignant body cavity effusions and washes. In all, 116 alcohol-fixed, formalin postfixed paraffin-embedded cell block specimens from 82 pleural effusions, 22 ascites, 11 pelvic/peritoneal washes and one pericardial effusion were evaluated immunocytochemically with monoclonal anti-XIAP (#610763, BD Biosciences, San Jose, USA) 1:250, 4 degrees C x 72 h, and developed using EnVision-Plus reagents (Dako) and diaminobenzidine as chromagen. Particulate cytoplasmic staining was considered positive. The prevalence of staining for specific malignancies varied with the tissue of origin as follows: ovarian (13/13, 100%); lung (9/11, 82%), breast (6/13, 46%); gastric (4/7, 57%), colon (0/4, 0%), pancreas (2/3, 67%), gallbladder (1/1, 100%), fallopian tube (1/3, 33%), endometrial (6/7, 86%), mesothelioma (4/5, 80%), carcinoma of unknown primary (5/5, 100%) and hematopoietic malignancies (3/9, 33%). Overall, 54 out of 81 (67%) malignant effusions displayed XIAP positivity. Benign effusions (n = 35) were virtually XIAP-negative except for two cases (6%) in which histiocytes showed moderate staining. Weak nonspecific staining was sometimes noted in inflammatory cells or histiocytes. XIAP immunostaining, when strong, allows for ready distinction of malignant from benign and reactive cell populations. Strong XIAP staining was most prevalent in ovarian carcinomas and less prevalent in mammary carcinomas. The degree of XIAP staining of tumor cells may be a means of identifying the most therapy-resistant cases (ie, those with strong XIAP expression), and allow additional triaging to XIAP-blocking drugs presently being developed and clinically tested.
Neuromuscular variables affecting the magnitude of force loss after eccentric exercise.

The aim of this study was to examine neuromuscular variables contributing to differences in force loss after participants were exposed to the same relative bout of eccentric exercise. Thirty-six males performed 50 maximal eccentric contractions of the elbow flexors and were stratified into high responders (n = 10) and low responders (n = 10) based on force loss 36 h after exercise. Maximal voluntary isometric contractions (MVCs) and electromyography (EMG) were measured at baseline and 36 h after exercise. During eccentric exercise, mean peak torque, mean end-range torque from the final 25% of each trial and total angular impulse were computed over 25 contractions in each of two bouts. The slope of the change in these values for each 25 eccentric contractions was calculated for each participant using linear regression. At baseline, MVC was not different between groups (low responders: 97.0 ± 9.6 N · m; high responders: 82.7 ± 6.4 N · m; P = 0.08). High responders demonstrated a 68% (range 62-78%) reduction...
SVM Classifier – a comprehensive java interface for support vector machine classification of microarray data

Motivation Graphical user interface (GUI) software promotes novelty by allowing users to extend the functionality. SVM Classifier is a cross-platform graphical application that handles very large datasets well. The purpose of this study is to create a GUI application that allows SVM users to perform SVM training, classification and prediction.
Combinatorial constructions of low-density parity check codes for iterative decoding

This paper introduces several new combinatorial constructions of low-density parity-check (LDPC) codes, in contrast to the prevalent practice of using long, random-like codes. The proposed codes are well structured, and unlike random codes can lend themselves to a very low-complexity implementation. Constructions of regular Gallager codes based on cyclic difference families, cycle-invariant difference sets, and affine 1-configurations are introduced. Several constructions of difference families used for code design are presented, as well as bounds on the minimal distance of the codes based on the concept of a generalized Pasch configuration.
Using Case Studies Based on a Nursing Conceptual Model to Teach Medical-Surgical Nursing

Nurse educators are continually challenged to develop teaching strategies that enhance students' critical thinking, problem-solving, and decision-making skills. Case studies are a creative learning strategy that fosters these skills through the use of in-depth descriptions of realistic clinical situations. Conceptual models of nursing provide a unique body of knowledge that can be used to guide construction of case studies and enhance application of didactic course content to nursing practice. In this column, the author discusses the use of case studies constructed within the context of the Roy adaptation model for a senior level medical-surgical nursing course.
p57KIP2 regulates radial glia and intermediate precursor cell cycle dynamics and lower layer neurogenesis in developing cerebral cortex

During cerebral cortex development, precise control of precursor cell cycle length and cell cycle exit is required for balanced precursor pool expansion and layer-specific neurogenesis. Here, we defined the roles of cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor (CKI) p57KIP2, an important regulator of G1 phase, using deletion mutant mice. Mutant mice displayed macroencephaly associated with cortical hyperplasia during late embryogenesis and postnatal development. Embryonically, proliferation of radial glial cells (RGC) and intermediate precursors (IPC) was increased, expanding both populations, with greater effect on IPCs. Furthermore, cell cycle re-entry was increased during early corticogenesis, whereas cell cycle exit was augmented at middle stage. Consequently, neurogenesis was reduced early, whereas it was enhanced during later development. In agreement, the timetable of early neurogenesis, indicated by birthdating analysis, was delayed. Cell cycle dynamics analyses in mutants indicated that p57KIP2 regulates cell cycle length in both RGCs and IPCs. By contrast, related CKI p27KIP1 controlled IPC proliferation exclusively. Furthermore, p57KIP2 deficiency markedly increased RGC and IPC divisions at E14.5, whereas p27KIP1 increased IPC proliferation at E16.5. Consequently, loss of p57KIP2 increased primarily layer 5-6 neuron production, whereas loss of p27KIP1 increased neurons specifically in layers 2-5. In conclusion, our observations suggest that p57KIP2 and p27KIP1 control neuronal output for distinct cortical layers by regulating different stages of precursor proliferation, and support a model in which IPCs contribute to both lower and upper layer neuron generation.
Associated X-Ray Absorption in High Redshift Quasars

When ROSAT was launched in June 1990 it provided X-ray astronomy with the capability to study fainter sources that had hitherto been accessible. This opened up the range of AGN quasars that could be reached to virtually the whole span of their properties. So, instead of revisiting the same objects made famous by earlier missions, we adopted a strategy of exploring this new parameter space (Elvis 1994). The most obvious of the parameters to push was redshift, since almost no X-ray spectra of quasars at z > 0.5 were then available. Redshift three quasars were the most distant for which we could obtain strong ROSAT detections.
Blind forces: Ethical infrastructures and moral disengagement in organizations

This review integrates research regarding organizations’ ethical infrastructure and moral disengagement to illustrate the complicated relationship between these constructs. We argue that employee p...
Issues in modeling stiction in process control valves

Stiction has been reported as the most commonly occurring nonlinearity in control valves. In the literature, mechanistic and data based models have been proposed to characterize stiction. In this paper, the available models are critically analyzed. The complexities associated with modeling stiction are highlighted. It is shown through experiments on industrial valves that in the presence of static and dynamic friction, the valve behavior is dependent on the rate of the valve input. An approach to model this rate dependent valve behavior - which is not considered in existing data driven models - is proposed.
NEMS Tunable VCSEL

We present a novel electrostatic actuated nano-electromechanical (NEMS) tunable surface emitting lasers utilizing a movable single-layer large-index-contrast subwavelength grating. Single mode emission and continuous tuning were obtained at room temperature under CW operation
What are the bias, imprecision, and limits of agreement for finding the flexion-extension plane of the knee with five tibial reference lines?

Abstract Background Internal–external (I–E) malrotation of the tibial component is associated with poor function after total knee arthroplasty (TKA). Kinematically aligned (KA) TKA uses a functionally defined flexion–extension (F–E) tibial reference line, which is parallel to the F–E plane of the extended knee, to set I–E rotation of the tibial component. Methods Sixty-two, three-dimensional bone models of normal knees were analyzed. We computed the bias (mean), imprecision (± standard deviation), and limits of agreement (mean ± 2 standard deviations) of the angle between five anatomically defined tibial reference lines used in mechanically aligned (MA) TKA and the F–E tibial reference line (+ external). Results The following are the bias, imprecision, and limits of agreement of the angle between the F–E tibial reference line and 1) the tibial reference lines connecting the medial border (− 2° ± 6°, − 14° to 10°), medial 1/3 (6° ± 6°, − 6° to 18°), and the most anterior point of the tibial tubercle (9° ± 4°, − 1° to 17°) with the center of the posterior cruciate ligament, and 2) the tibial reference lines perpendicular to the posterior condylar axis of the tibia (− 3° ± 4°, − 11° to 5°), and a line connecting the centers of the tibial condyles (1° ± 4°, − 7° to 9°). Clinical relevance Based on these in vitro findings, it might be prudent to reconsider setting the I–E rotation of the tibial component to tibial reference lines that have bias, imprecision, and limits of agreement that fall outside the − 7° to 10° range associated with high function after KA TKA.
International Capital Mobility and Trade Politics: Capital Flows, Coalitions and Lobbying

Conventional wisdom holds that increasing international capital mobility reduces incentives for firms to lobby for trade protection. This paper argues that the effects of increased international capital mobility on the lobbying incentives of firms depend critically upon levels of inter-industry mobility. General-equilibrium analysis reveals that if capital is highly industry-specific, greater international mobility among some types of specific capital may increase lobbying incentives for owners of other specific factors and thereby intensify industry-based rent-seeking in trade politics. Evidence on levels of inward and outward investment in US manufacturing industries between 1982 and 1996, and on industry lobbying activities, indicate that these effects may be quite strong.
Insulin Resistance and Preeclampsia

Insulin resistance syndrome is a cluster of physiologic abnormalities including hyperinsulinemia and glucose intolerance, dyslipidemia, and hypertension. Patients with this cluster of physiologic disturbances are at increased risk for stroke, renal failure, and heart disease. Insulin resistance is the causal mechanism of gestational diabetes and may be involved in the pathogenesis of preeclampsia. Implications of diagnosing a population that may be at future risk for stroke and heart disease are discussed, along with therapeutic strategies that may decrease long-term complications in this group.
Differential Expression of Metastasis-Associated Genes in Papilla of Vater and Pancreatic Cancer Correlates With Disease Stage

PURPOSE: Papilla of Vater cancer has a much better prognosis than pancreatic cancer. It is not known whether this is the result of differences in the tumor biology of the two malignancies. Because metastasis formation is a critical step in tumor progression and a negative prognostic factor, we compared the expression of nm23-H1 and KAI1, two metastasis-suppressing genes, in papilla of Vater cancer and pancreatic cancer. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Analysis was performed in nine normal human papilla of Vater samples, 27 papilla of Vater cancers, 16 normal pancreatic samples, and 29 pancreatic cancers. Expression of nm23-H1 and KAI1 was analyzed by Northern blot analysis and in situ hybridization. In addition, immunohistochemistry was performed to localize the respective proteins. RESULTS: There was no difference in nm23-H1 and KAI1 mRNA expression levels in normal versus cancerous papilla of Vater samples. In contrast, nm23-H1 and KAI1 RNA expression was upregulated in early tumor stages of pancreatic cancer and...
Bardhaman (B): Shrachi and the Township Design Decision

A real estate developer in West Bengal chooses between two master plans for a 260 acre new township considering design, financing, and phasing. Two detailed master plans are considered, one with a radial design and an internal town square and one with a grid design and internal focus on parks and water features. The designs have different revenue potential, different cost implications, and different phasing decisions. The analysis includes soft issues and aesthetic issues including what contributes to a feel of place and what contributes to various land uses supporting each other (retail, residential, office). The analysis also included a detailed proforma for each plan. This case build on "Bardhaman (A): Shrachi and the West Bengal Housing Board."
Psychopharmacological interventions in autism spectrum disorder.

ABSTRACTIntroduction: Individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) commonly present for treatment of emotional and behavioral disturbances associated with ASD’s “core” symptoms. Psychotropic medications are widely utilized in alleviating associated emotional and behavioral symptoms.Areas covered: Emotional and behavioral disturbances associated with ASD include irritability/severely disruptive behavior, which comprises the heaviest symptom burden; hyperactivity and other Attention-Deficit-Hyperactivity-Disorder (ADHD)-type symptoms; repetitive/stereotyped behaviors; and social withdrawal. Existing evidence for medications for each of these symptom clusters will be examined in this review.Expert opinion: Psychopharmacological treatment of core and associated symptoms in ASD is challenging, in large part because of the heterogeneity in the presentation of ASD. Furthermore, children and adolescents with ASD are more vulnerable to the side effects of psychopharmacological intervention than their age-matche...