cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Evidence for separate PGD2 and PGF2 alpha receptors in the canine mesenteric vascular bed.

Abstract Potential interactions between PGD2 and PGF2α in the mesenteric and renal vascular beds were investigated in the anesthetized dog. Regional blood flows were measured with electromagnetic flow probes. PGD2, PGF2α and Norepinephrine (NE) were injected as a bolus directly into the appropriate artery, and responses to these agents were obtained before, during and after infusion of either PGD2 or PGF2α into the left ventricle. In each case, the infused prostaglandin caused vascular effects of its own. Left ventricular infusion of PGD2 reduced responses to local injections of PGD2 in the intestine, and a similar effect was observed for PGF2α, suggesting significant receptor or receptor-like interactions for each of the prostanoids. However, systemic infusion of prostaglandin F2α (20–100 ng/kg/min) had no effect on renal or mesenteric vascular responses to local injection of prostaglandin D2. Similarly, PGD2 administration (100 ng/kg/min) did not affect responses to PGF2α in the intestine. The present results therefore suggest that these prostaglandins, i.e., D2 and F2α, act through separate receptors in the mesenteric and renal vascular beds. In addition, increased prostaglandin F2α levels produced by infusion of F2α reduced mesenteric but not renal blood flow, suggesting that redistribution of cardiac output might participate in side effects often observed with clinical use of this prostaglandin, such as nausea and abdominal pain.
Pluralism, identity, and the state: national education policy towards indigenous minorities in Japan and Canada

This paper examines educational policies toward indigenous minorities in Japan and Canada during the period of nation‐building, from the latter half of the nineteenth century to the first half of the twentieth century. Both Japan and Canada first segregated indigenous children into separate educational institutions and then tried to assimilate them into mainstream society. Beneath these broad policy similarities, however, lie different rationales, with substantially different implications for education and social policy in diverse societies. In Japan, national integration was promoted through a cultural or ethnic rationale, a socially coherent approach that nonetheless allows little room for minorities. Canada approached national integration using a notion of citizenship that both allows considerable space for minorities but is challenged by unity. These two strategies can be seen in two polar models of the state – a civic‐assimilationist approach of the ‘French model’ and an ethnocultural exclusionist mo...
Bladder wall lipoma

Bladder wall lipoma is a rare finding that includes mature, well-encapsulated fatty tissue within the submucosa of the bladder wall. We present a case of a submucosal bladder wall lipoma that was discovered incidentally during a workup for microhematuria. This lesion was seen during cystoscopy and removed using cold cup biopsy forceps. This lipoma should be differentiated from pelvic lipomatosis in that it was confined to the submucosa of the bladder wall and did not cause compression of the pelvic viscera or its structures.
PROSTAGLANDIN METABOLISM AND PULMONARY VASCULAR RESPONSE TO CHANGES IN PC02 IN INFANTS

We examined the effects of graded changes in arterial pH and PCO2 on pulmonary and systemic hemodynamics and on thromboxane and prostacyclin metabolism in 15 infants following repair of their congenital heart disease. Right and left atrial, pulmonary and radial artery catheters were placed intraoperatively with a pulmonary artery (PA) thermistor for measurement of thermodilution cardiac index (CI). When hemodynamically stable on 40% inspired oxygen, baseline measurements, including mean airway pressures, were obtained. Ventilation was adjusted to obtain measurements at 5 levels of PCO2; PA and left atrial plasma samples were obtained for thromboxane and prostacyclin assays. Hyperventilation lowered pulmonary vascular resistance (PVRI) in 13/15 patients. Increases in pulmonary artery pressure (PAP) and PVRI occurred at elevated PCO2's in all patients (PAP>systemic in 2 patients). These changes occurred independently of thromboxane levels. Despite increases in mean airway pressure, moderate hyperventilation may decrease PVRI in the postoperative cardiac infant. Moderate hypercarbia raises PVRI and may be detrimental to ventricular performance.
Postsynthetic modification of gold nanoparticles with calix[4]arene enantiomers: origin of chiral surface plasmon resonance.

Gold nanoparticles postsynthetically modified with chiral 1,3-disubstituted diamino calix[4]arene ligands 2a and 2b are shown to exhibit a circular dichroism (CD)-active surface plasmon resonance absorption (SPR) band. Electronic communication between adsorbed ligand and the gold nanoparticle surface is evidenced in an almost 10-fold increase in the ligand molar ellipticity in the π−π* transition spectral range when bound to the gold surface relative to free solution. The footprint of ligand on the gold nanoparticle surface at saturation is measured to be 91 A2 via monitoring the red shift in the SPR band accompanying ligand adsorption. At ligand concentrations above that required for surface saturation, the ellipticity of the band in the SPR spectral range plateaus to a constant value, whereas the ellipticity of the band in the π−π* transition spectral range continues to increase in a manner that corresponds to free ligand in solution. This critical observation correlates ligand adsorption and the onset ...
Effect of Pore Size on Dehydrogenation Temperature of Carbon Cryogel-Ammoniaborane Nanocomposites

This study reports the effects of pore size of porous carbon scaffold on the dehydrogenation of ammoniaborane in the coherent carbon- ammoniaborane nanocomposites. Porous carbon scaffold is obtained from resorcinol formaldehyde derived carbon cryogels. The nanocomposites are made by simple soaking porous carbon scaffold in ammonia borane solution. Nitrogen sorption analysis and differential scanning calorimetry are used to investigate the structure and dehydrogenation of the nanocomposites. The results reveal that dehydrogenation temperature decreases in nanocomposites as compared to neat ammonia borane, and is lower in nanocomoposites with smaller pore sizes. These findings can be used to tune the dehydrogenation temperature to meet specific hydrogen storage applications. Also, dehydrogenation kinetics of nanocomposites is enhanced as compared to neat ammonia borane.
International liability for weather modification

Can a State be held liable to another State or to citizens of another State for damage caused by (a) the State's own weather modification activities; (b) weather modification activities conducted by a nongovernmental party within its borders, or (c) weather modification activities conducted by persons within its control but outside its borders? What measures can be taken by a State to minimize its liability for weather modification activities? This article tries to answer these questions. It focuses on liability under international law, and emphasizes issues related to cloud-seeding to affect precipitation and to hurricane modification.
Producibility of Z-technology focal planes in a rate production/highly automated CIM environment

The transition from the relatively costly, low-rate pilot production of Z-technology focal planes to high-rate production in a cost-effective environment is discussed. The use of computer-integrated manufacturing and automation in this transition is addressed. The proposal process and systems specification in the transition is reviewed.© (1990) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
HRP reacted with the chromogen o-tolidine produces whole-cell reaction product at light and electron microscope levels: negative effects of sucrose and golgi staining on benzidine reactions

Studies of pathway microcircuitry often require electron microscope analysis. To facilitate these analyses, methods for labeling cells in their entirety are extremely useful. Furthermore, such a method would be most useful if the label would be completely confined by the cell membrane so that second labels for synapse identification could be used. No existing method reliably and repeatably produces this kind of a result. In seeking to develop such a method, a seldom-used chromogen for horseradish peroxidase (HRP) was found which produced superlative results for light and electron microscope analysis. o-Tolidine (3,3'-dimethylbenzidine) reacted with HRP produces a very electron-dense reaction product distributed uniformly throughout the cytoplasm and nucleoplasm; membranes are unobscured so that mitochondria, lysosomes, Golgi apparati and endoplasmic reticula are well defined. The reaction product extends into cellular processes of all sizes, including processes with cell bodies not within the plane of section, and is easily visualized at even the lowest electron microscope magnification. The HRP reaction product is completely confined by the cell membrane, thus terminals presynaptic to labeled cells remain distinct. However, the o-tolidine/HRP reaction product is negatively affected by exposure to oxidizers. In tissue exposed to sucrose before or after being reacted with o-tolidine, the HRP reaction product is less electron dense and is found only in lysosomes outside the nucleus or occasionally in proximal cellular processes. The o-tolidine/HRP reaction product is similarly affected when exposed to potassium dichromate for Golgi staining. For some other benzidine compounds, the chromogen/HRP reaction product is also negatively affected by exposure to these chemicals. Therefore, o-tolidine is a superior chromogen for HRP, labeling cells with details similar to that found for cells intracellularly injected with HRP.
Optimization of ART network with Boltzmann machine

Optimization of large neural networks is essential in improving the network speed and generalization power, while at the same time reducing the training error and the network complexity. Boltzmann methods have been used as a statistical method for combinatorial optimization and for the design of learning algorithm. In the networks studied here, the Adaptive Resonance Theory (ART) serves as a connection creation operator and the Boltzmann method serves as a competitive connection annihilation operator. By combining these two methods it is possible to generate small networks that have similar testing and training accuracy and good generalization from small training sets. Our findings demonstrate that for a character recognition problem the number of weights in a fully connected network can be reduced by over 80%. We have applied the Boltzmann criteria to differential pruning of the connections which is based on the weight contents rather than on the number of connections.
Flow field analysis of a cavity transfer mixer

The cavity transfer mixer (CTM) was primarily designed as a distributive mixing device to be used as an add-on unit to existing extruders. In determining the CTM overall mixing efficiency as well as its potential use for various applications, the flow patterns/characteristics within this mixer must be well understood. In this work, a fluid dynamics analysis package, FIDAP, based on the finite element method was employed to simulate the flow patterns in a CTM with 6 rows and 4 cavities per row. A 3D, isothermal flow analysis was carried out and the fluid of choice was a flexible polyvinylchloride whose rheological behavior is described by a power-law model fluid. The flow field was characterized in terms of velocity profiles, pressure distributions, shear rates/shear stresses generated and a parameter λ quantifying the elongational flow components. The results of the flow simulations were compared with experimental data. The CTM potential use for dispersive mixing was discussed.
Overcoming the Heme Paradox: Heme Toxicity and Tolerance in Bacterial Pathogens

Virtually all bacterial pathogens require iron to infect vertebrates. The most abundant source of iron within vertebrates is in the form of heme as a cofactor of hemoproteins. Many bacterial pathogens have elegant systems dedicated to the acquisition of heme from host hemoproteins. Once internalized, heme is either degraded to release free iron or used intact as a cofactor in catalases, cytochromes, and other bacterial hemoproteins. Paradoxically, the high redox potential of heme makes it a liability, as heme is toxic at high concentrations. Although a variety of mechanisms have been proposed to explain heme toxicity, the mechanisms by which heme kills bacteria are not well understood. Nonetheless, bacteria employ various strategies to protect against and eliminate heme toxicity. Factors involved in heme acquisition and detoxification have been found to contribute to virulence, underscoring the physiological relevance of heme stress during pathogenesis. Herein we describe the current understanding of the mechanisms of heme toxicity and how bacterial pathogens overcome the heme paradox during infection.
Tight control of hyperglycemia in type 2 diabetes mellitus

Abstract Background: In the past decade, a number of new therapeutic agents have been introduced for the treatment of patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM). These agents target the metabolic disturbances that characterize this disease, specifically insulin resistance, excessive hepatic gluconeogenesis, and β-cell failure. Objective: The goal of this article was to review the options available for obtaining glycemic control in patients with type 2 DM. Methods: Materials for this article were identified through searches (1965-present) of MEDLINE (English language only). Search terms included treatment of type 2 diabetes, insulin therapy, oral hypoglycemic therapy, and exenatide . Results: Large randomized controlled trials have shown that the incidence of microvascular complications of DM can be greatly reduced by improving glycemic control. The cornerstone of glycemic control continues to be successful implementation of a diet and exercise program. These dietary modifications reduce obesity, lower glucose levels, and improve insulin sensitivity. Lifestyle changes, however, are difficult to achieve and sustain in unsupervised settings. For patients who do not respond adequately to diet and exercise therapy alone after a 3-month trial, the addition of pharmacotherapy to the treatment regimen is indicated. Five classes of oral agents are now approved by the US Food and Drug Administration for the treatment of type 2 DM: the sulfonylureas and meglitinides (both secretagogues), the biguanides (metformin), the a-glucosidase inhibitors (acarbose and miglitol), and the thiazolidinediones (rosiglitazone and pioglitazone). The recently approved glucagon-like peptide-1 analogue exenatide is an injectable hypoglycemic agent that may also be considered before starting patients on insulin. Long-term clinical trials have found that over time, most patients will require combination therapy to achieve adequate glycemic control. Insulin therapy is indicated when glycemic control cannot be achieved and maintained with lifestyle intervention, including diet and exercise, and pharmacologic treatment with oral antidiabetic agents or exenatide. Conclusions: By combining lifestyle interventions with selected pharmacologic agents, clinicians are now able to individualize treatment regimens to better control hyperglycemia, and to help prevent the development of diabetic microvascular and macrovascular complications.
Bacterial, but not baculoviral infections stimulate Hemolin expression in noctuid moths

Abstract Lepidopteran larvae are regularly infected by baculoviruses during feeding on infected plants. The differences in sensitivity to these infections can be substantial, even among closely related species. For example, the noctuids Cotton bollworm ( Helicoverpa zea ) and Tobacco budworm ( Heliothis virescens ), have a 1000-fold difference in sensitivity to Autographa californica multiple nucleopolyhedrovirus (AcMNPV) infection. Recent data were interpreted to indicate that the lepidopteran immunoglobulin protein, Hemolin , is synthesized upon viral injection and therefore to participate in anti-viral responses. To investigate whether Hemolin synthesis is affected by a natural viral infection, specific transcription in fat bodies and hemocytes of H. zea and H. virescens larvae was monitored following per os infection with the baculovirus HzSNPV ( H. zea single nucleopolyhedrovirus). Both moths showed the same expression pattern as seen in uninfected animals and coincided with ecdysone responses, previously known to induce Hemolin expression. In contrast, injection of lyophilized Micrococcus luteus resulted in increased Hemolin expression supporting a role for Hemolin as an immuno-responsive protein in these species. The combined data are consistent with the suggestion that while Hemolin seems to participate in the response to virus infection in the superfamily Bombycoidea, this is not true in the Noctuoidea.
Conjugated linoleic acid decreases prostaglandin synthesis in bovine luteal cells in vitro.

Feeding conjugated linoleic acids (CLA) improves reproductive performance in dairy cows; however, the molecular mechanisms by which CLA improves reproduction are not understood. The effect of the CLA isomers, trans-10, cis-12 CLA and cis-9, trans-11 CLA on synthesis of progesterone, PGE2, and PGF2α, in bovine luteal cells was determined in this study. Luteal cells from three cows were cultured in medium containing 0 or 0.1 µM of trans-10, cis-12 CLA and cis-9, trans-11 CLA in varying ratios in the presence and absence of 1 µM of forskolin. Prostaglandin and progesterone concentrations were not altered by CLA isomer and ratio. Luteal cells cultured in the presence of CLA had lower PGF2α concentrations (62.6 ± 13.4 pg/ml vs. 55.7 ± 12.2 pg/ml; P = 0.005) and, in the absence of forskolin, lower PGE2 concentrations (65.3 ± 15.1 pg/ml vs. 32.4 ± 14.1 pg/ml; P = 0.002) in culture media, while progesterone concentrations were not altered (P = 0.63). Relative steady-state mRNA amounts of COX-2 (1.7-fold decrease; P = 0.002), PGE synthase (1.5-fold decrease; P = 0.03) and 3β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (1.6-fold decrease; P = 0.0003) were lower in CLA-treated cultures, but CLA did not significantly alter mRNA amounts of PGE2 9-keto-reductase, StAR, and cytochrome P450 side chain cleavage enzyme. In conclusion, a potential mechanism exists by which trans-10, cis-12 CLA and cis-9, trans-11 CLA may improve reproductive performance in dairy cows, by suppressing PGF2α synthesis in luteal cells via attenuation of COX-2 gene expression. Mol. Reprod. Dev. 78:328–336, 2011. © 2011 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Flexible integration of both high imaging resolution and high power arrays for Thermal Strain Imaging (TSI)

Thermal Strain Imaging (TSI) for carotid artery plaque characterization benefits from both high imaging resolution (<;75 μm) and sufficient heating to elevate tissue temperature (~1-3°C within 1-3 cardiac cycles) to produce a noticeable change in sound speed in the targeted tissues. Optimization of imaging and heating in a single array or set of arrays is challenging however. Our flexible approach utilizes independent ultrasound arrays which can be mechanically joined in a low cost, but high performance manner. The approach presented should enable the beginning of a new era in dual-arrays: high resolution dedicated arrays combined with high power custom arrays to produce a desired beam overlap function. Low cost and quick integration changes are possible which permit high investigational flexibility. The key innovations of this work utilize 3D printing in the creation of array manifolds, and a high efficiency RF power splitter. The 3D printer used is capable of 16 micron accuracy in the construction of rigid polymer manifold which supports the heating transducer array elements. For our particular application of TSI on carotid plaque characterization, the tissue target site is 15 to 30mm deep, with a typical target volume of 2mm (ele) X 5mm (azi) × 7mm (depth). The fully characterized early design comprises 6 high power PZT array elements, each at 8.8 mm in diameter, which can be integrated with a multitude of commercially available imaging probes; we have used the MS250 (13-24 MHz) on the Vevo 2100 VisualSonics imaging platform. Both analytical and simulation methods were used in the selection of the best heating frequency (3.5 MHz) to use at the tissue targeting depth. The custom heating array performance was compared against KLM modeling and can easily deliver 30W of total acoustic power which produces intensities beyond 100 W/cm2 in the 2mm by 5mm tissue target region resulting in a 3°C rise in 2 sec. Custom beam modeling software was used to optimize sets of beam shapes of the custom arrays, and then implemented in the desired array manifold configuration. This low cost, flexible, and very effective new method for combining very different array functions demonstrates a means for rapid growth in this research area as designs are refined towards eventual commercialization.
Ventricular premature depolarizations triggered by incremental dose isoproterenol infusion: common electrocardiographic features

Purpose To identify the prevalence of adrenergically mediated ventricular premature depolarizations (VPDs) and characterize their electrocardiographic (ECG) features and specific anatomically determined sites of origin within the ventricles.
Reviews of a Diode-Pumped Alkali Laser (DPAL): a potential high powered light source

Diode pumped alkali vapor lasers (DPALs) were first developed by in W. F. Krupke at the beginning of the 21th century. In the recent years, DPALs have been rapidly developed because of their high Stokes efficiency, good beam quality, compact size and near-infrared emission wavelengths. The Stokes efficiency of a DPAL can achieve a miraculous level as high as 95.3% for cesium (Cs), 98.1% for rubidium (Rb), and 99.6% for potassium (K), respectively. The thermal effect of a DPAL is theoretically smaller than that of a normal diode-pumped solid-state laser (DPSSL). Additionally, generated heat of a DPAL can be removed by circulating the gases inside a sealed system. Therefore, the thermal management would be relatively simple for realization of a high-powered DPAL. In the meantime, DPALs combine the advantages of both DPSSLs and normal gas lasers but evade the disadvantages of them. Generally, the collisionally broadened cross sections of both the D1 and the D2 lines for a DPAL are much larger than those for the most conventional solid-state, fiber and gas lasers. Thus, DPALs provide an outstanding potentiality for realization of high-powered laser systems. It has been shown that a DPAL is now becoming one of the most promising candidates for simultaneously achieving good beam quality and high output power. With a lot of marvelous merits, a DPAL becomes one of the most hopeful high-powered laser sources of next generation.
Immunochemical specificity of cytoplasmic inclusions induced by viruses in the potato Y group.

Antisera were produced to the cytoplasmic inclusions induced by Bidens mottle, pepper mottle, potato Y, tobacco etch, and turnip mosaic viruses. Immunodiffusion tests with sodium dodecyl sulfate-denatured antigens showed that the inclusion proteins induced by each virus were immunochemically unique, although related in some cases. No changes in the antigenic specificities of the inclusions were detected by propagating the viruses in different plant species. These findings are taken as new evidence that the inclusions are coded by the viral genome, and it is proposed that immunochemical properties of the inclusions may be useful in classifying and diagnosing viruses in the potato Y group.
A controlled trial of CPAP therapy on metabolic control in individuals with impaired glucose tolerance and sleep apnea.

STUDY OBJECTIVES To address whether treatment of sleep apnea improves glucose tolerance. DESIGN Randomized, double-blind crossover study. SETTING Sleep clinic referrals. PATIENTS 50 subjects with moderate to severe sleep apnea (AHI > 15) and impaired glucose tolerance. INTERVENTIONS Subjects were randomized to 8 weeks of CPAP or sham CPAP, followed by the alternate therapy after a one-month washout. After each treatment, subjects underwent 2-hour OGTT, polysomnography, actigraphy, and measurements of indices of glucose control. MEASUREMENTS AND RESULTS The primary outcome was normalization of the mean 2-h OGTT; a secondary outcome was improvement in the Insulin Sensitivity Index (ISI (0,120). Subjects were 42% men, mean age of 54 (10), BMI of 39 (8), and AHI of 44 (27). Baseline fasting glucose was 104 (12), and mean 2-h OGTT was 110 (57) mg/dL. Seven subjects normalized their mean 2-h OGTT after CPAP but not after sham CPAP, while 5 subjects normalized after sham CPAP but not after CPAP. Overall, there was no improvement in ISI (0,120) between CPAP and sham CPAP (3.6%; 95% CI: [-2.2%, 9.7%]; P = 0.22). However, in those subjects with baseline AHI ≥ 30 (n = 25), there was a 13.3% (95% CI: [5.2%, 22.1%]; P < 0.001) improvement in ISI (0,120) and a 28.7% (95%CI: [-46.5%, -10.9%], P = 0.002) reduction in the 2-h insulin level after CPAP compared to sham CPAP. CONCLUSIONS This study did not show that IGT normalizes after CPAP in subjects with moderate sleep apnea and obesity. However, insulin sensitivity improved in those with AHI ≥ 30, suggesting beneficial metabolic effects of CPAP in severe sleep apnea. Clinical trials information: ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT01385995.
Challenges and opportunities in autonomic computing

Significant advances are required to make systems more adaptive to the growing range of impulses affecting them and to reduce their total cost of management. Progress seems to require significant innovation in adaptive techniques, systems architecture, software engineering, and standards. In this presentation, I will survey the space of the requirements and draw example problems from real systems. I'll then discuss the space of our research at IBM and highlight some of the more compelling research projects we are doing in the area. I'll conclude with a summary of some key challenges for the broader community as they relate to autonomic computing.
Broadening of the Mössbauer Line

The thermal excitation of the solid which leads to a temperature- dependent shift of the Mossbauer line could conceivably cause a broadening of this line. It is shown, through a quantum-mechanical treatment, that for a perfect crystalline solid such a broadening does not occur. (auth)
Social costs and benefits and the transfer pricing problem

This paper points out a strong similarity between the problems ofdealing with externalities and the intra-firm transfer pricing problem.Asolution suggested for the latter problem by Ronen and McKinney (1970) is applied to the social cost problem. Several systems have been suggested to deal with the problem of divergence between social costs and social benefits, e.g., Buchanan and Stubblebine (1962), Mishan (1971), and Turvey (1963). Many of them rest on governmental intervention via regulation or various tax methods. None of these systems, however, provides incentives to individual firms, either producing or suffering harmful side effects,’ to supply information necessary for a social arrangement that minimizes resource misallocation. The framework discussed in this paper which was suggested for the transfer pricing problem by Ronen and McKinney (1970) leads to such incentives.
High-Titer Antineutrophil Cytoplasmic Antibodies in Type-1 Autoimmune Hepatitis

Abstract Background/Aims: Autoimmune hepatitis (AIH), an unresolving liver inflammation characterized by periportal hepatitis and presence of serum autoantibodies, is distinguished by smooth muscle antibody and/or antinuclear antibody seropositivity. Type-2 AIH is characterized by antibodies to liver/kidney microsome type-1. Antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies (ANCAs) are highly specific for ulcerative colitis, primary sclerosing cholangitis, and, in this report, type-1 AIH determined by positive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay confirmed by perinuclear indirect immunofluorescence staining. The studies described characterize the frequency and nature of ANCA in severe type-1 AIH patients and define AIH-ANCA specificity and diagnostic significance. Methods: One hundred four patients, characterized by clinical, immunoserological, virological, histological, and antigenic criteria, were studied. ANCA expression was assayed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Results: High-titer ANCA is present in 96% of patients with type-1 AIH with 92% showing a perinuclear staining pattern (pANCA). Whereas many patients were seropositive for antinuclear antibodies, the titer of ANCA did not correlate with the titer of antinuclear antibodies. ANCA expression did not correlate with the presence or absence of other autoimmune disorders. Finally, 80% of patients with AIH examined expressed only immunoglobulin G1 pANCA contrasting with the 33% of patients with PSC with pANCA subclass specificity. Conclusions: The presence of ANCA seems to be an independent and selective marker for type-1 AIH.
The Economic Implications of Case-Mix Medicaid Reimbursement for Nursing Home Care:

In recent years, there has been large growth in the nursing home industry in the use of case-mix adjusted Medicaid payment systems that employ resident characteristics to predict the relative use of resources in setting payment levels. Little attention has been paid to the access and quality incentives that these systems provide in the presence of excess demand conditions due to certificate-of-need (CON) and construction moratoria. Using 1991 to 1998 panel data for all certified U.S. nursing homes, a fixed-effects model indicates that adoption of a case-mix payment system led to increased access for more dependent residents, but the effect was modified in excess demand markets. Quality remained relatively stable with the introduction of case-mix reimbursement, regardless of the presence of excess demand conditions. These results suggest that CON and construction moratoria are still important barriers within the nursing home market, and recent quality assurance activities related to the introduction of case-mix payment systems may have been effective.
PyroHMMvar: a sensitive and accurate method to call short indels and SNPs for Ion Torrent and 454 data.

Motivation: The identification of short insertions and deletions (indels) and single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) from Ion Torrent and 454 reads is a challenging problem, essentially because these techniques are prone to sequence erroneously at homopolymers and can, therefore, raise indels in reads. Most of the existing mapping programs do not model homopolymer errors when aligning reads against the reference. The resulting alignments will then contain various kinds of mismatches and indels that confound the accurate determination of variant loci and alleles. Results: To address these challenges, we realign reads against the reference using our previously proposed hidden Markov model that models homopolymer errors and then merges these pairwise alignments into a weighted alignment graph. Based on our weighted alignment graph and hidden Markov model, we develop a method called PyroHMMvar, which can simultaneously detect short indels and SNPs, as demonstrated in human resequencing data. Specifically, by applying our methods to simulated diploid datasets, we demonstrate that PyroHMMvar produces more accurate results than state-of-the-art methods, such as Samtools and GATK, and is less sensitive to mapping parameter settings than the other methods. We also apply PyroHMMvar to analyze one human whole genome resequencing dataset, and the results confirm that PyroHMMvar pre
Distribution and correlates of sonographically detected carotid artery disease in the Cardiovascular Health Study. The CHS Collaborative Research Group.

This article describes the prevalence of extracranial carotid atherosclerosis assessed by ultrasonography, its association with risk factors, and its relation to symptomatic coronary disease and stroke in men and women aged > or = 65 years.Maximum percent stenosis, maximum common carotid artery wall thickness, and maximum internal carotid artery wall thickness were assessed using duplex ultrasound in 5,201 men and women aged > or = 65 years in the Cardiovascular Health Study, a study of the risk factors and natural history of cardiovascular disease in the elderly. Existing coronary disease and stroke were assessed by physical examination and participant history.Detectable carotid stenosis was present in 75% of men and 62% of women, although the prevalence of > or = 50% stenosis was low, 7% in men and 5% in women. Maximum stenosis and maximum wall thickness measurements increased with age and were uniformly greater at all ages in men than in women (p < 0.00001). Established risk factors for atherosclerosis...
Orthogonal Polynomials of Several Variables

Preface to the second edition Preface to the first edition 1. Background 2. Orthogonal polynomials in two variables 3. General properties of orthogonal polynomials in several variables 4. Orthogonal polynomials on the unit sphere 5. Examples of orthogonal polynomials in several variables 6. Root systems and Coxeter groups 7. Spherical harmonics associated with reflection groups 8. Generalized classical orthogonal polynomials 9. Summability of orthogonal expansions 10. Orthogonal polynomials associated with symmetric groups 11. Orthogonal polynomials associated with octahedral groups and applications References Author index Symbol index Subject index.
Concavity of the second law of thermodynamics

The second law of thermodynamics states that entropy increases. We interpret this as a physical statement and as an information theoretic statement. We ask to what extent the increase of entropy is built into stochastic processes independently of the physics. Does the increase of entropy provide an arrow of time? What are the assumptions behind Boltzmann's famous H theorem (proving entropy increase) and the quantum version? Do the proofs of the H theorem rely on physical assumptions that imply Markovity or stationarity?.
Ribbon worm relationships: a phylogeny of the phylum Nemertea

We present the most extensive phylogenetic analysis to date, to our knowledge, of higher-level nemertean relationships, based on sequence data from four different genes (the nuclear genes for nuclear large subunit rRNA (28S rRNA) and histone H3 (H3), and the mitochondrial genes for mitochondrial large subunit rRNA (16S rRNA) and cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI)). Well-supported clades are, in general, compatible with earlier, more limited, analyses, and current classification is largely in agreement with our results, although there are some notable exceptions. Bdellonemertea (represented by Malacobdella) is found to be a part of Monostilifera, and Polystilifera is the monophyletic sister group to Monostilifera. Cratenemertidae is the sister group to the remaining monostiliferans (including Malacobdella), a group to which we apply the new name Distromatonemertea. Heteronemertea is monophyletic and forms a clade with Hubrechtella; for this clade we introduce the name Pilidiophora. Finally, Pilidiophora and Hoplonemertea (with Malacobdella) form a monophyletic group, and we introduce the name Neonemertea to refer to this group. Palaeonemertea is found to be non-monophyletic and basal among nemerteans.
Psychiatric comorbidity in pediatric chronic daily headache.

Objectives:The objectives of this study were to assess comorbid psychiatric diagnoses in youth with chronic daily headache (CDH) and to examine relationships between psychiatric status and CDH symptom severity, as well as headache-related disability.Methods:Standardized psychiatric interviews (Kiddie Schedule for Affective Disorders and Schizophrenia, KSADS) were conducted with 169 youth ages 10–17 diagnosed with CDH. Participants provided prospective reports of headache frequency with a daily headache diary and completed measures of symptom severity, headache-related disability (PedMIDAS) and quality of life (PedsQL).Results:Results showed that 29.6% of CDH patients met criteria for at least one current psychiatric diagnosis, and 34.9% met criteria for at least one lifetime psychiatric diagnosis. No significant relationship between psychiatric status and headache frequency, duration, or severity was found. However, children with at least one lifetime psychiatric diagnosis had greater functional disabilit...
Habitat Connectivity and Ecosystem Productivity: Implications from a Simple Model

Abstract: The import of resources (food, nutrients) sustains biological production and food webs in resource‐limited habitats. Resource export from donor habitats subsidizes production in recipient habitats, but the ecosystem‐scale consequences of resource translocation are generally unknown. Here, I use a nutrient‐phytoplankton‐zooplankton model to show how dispersive connectivity between a shallow autotrophic habitat and a deep heterotrophic pelagic habitat can amplify overall system production in metazoan food webs. This result derives from the finite capacity of suspension feeders to capture and assimilate food particles: excess primary production in closed autotrophic habitats cannot be assimilated by consumers; however, if excess phytoplankton production is exported to food‐limited heterotrophic habitats, it can be assimilated by zooplankton to support additional secondary production. Transport of regenerated nutrients from heterotrophic to autotrophic habitats sustains higher system primary product...
Partitioning and the online-world design problem for multi-player games

A problem encountered in online multi-player gaming communities involves the following: given a set of p players each of whom has strength pj, and a set of m monsters, each of whom has strength mi, is it possible to partition the players into groups such that each monster is assigned a group of players that is capable of overcoming said monster? A feasibility algorithm for the class restricted version of the problem, which has computational complexity O(p2(q-1) log2m) is developed, where q is the number of classes.
Phase I and pharmacologic study of the alkylating agent modulator novobiocin in combination with high-dose chemotherapy for the treatment of metastatic breast cancer

PURPOSEResistance to alkylators may potentially be overcome by drugs that inhibits DNA repair, thus improving the efficacy of high-dose chemotherapy. This trial was performed to determine if novobiocin, an agent that inhibits DNA repair, could be given with high-dose alkylators. Study aims were to define the toxicities and maximal-tolerated dose (MTD) of novobiocin and the pharmacokinetics of novobiocin and high-dose cyclophosphamide and thiotepa.PATIENTS AND METHODSThirty-eight women with responsive metastatic breast cancer received high-dose cyclophosphamide (3 to 6 g/m2 over 4 days), thiotepa (400 to 800 mg/m2), and novobiocin (0.5 to 5.0 g/d x 7, orally) with autologous marrow support. Toxicity was monitored. The pharmacology of novobiocin, cyclophosphamide, and thiotepa was evaluated.RESULTSThere were no toxic deaths. The MTD of novobiocin was 4 g/d. All seven patients treated at 5 g/d developed grade III/IV mucositis and vomiting. The severity of mucositis correlated with the plasma levels of novobi...
Transformational Education and Critical Music Pedagogy: examining the link between culture and learning

This essay seeks to uncover liberatory practice in an epistomological appraisal of culture, foregrounding two very different views of its role in education. A traditional view of aesthetics, as promulgated by Mathew Arnold, will emphasise the power of culture or the arts to transform or uplift. Examples from the revolutionary writings of Karl Marx will argue that culture's primary function is not artistic production or aesthetic satisfaction, but rather education—or indoctrination. Viewed from opposing angles, both writers saw culture as teacher and subject. The results of their thinking gave birth to 20th-century critical theory. The author asserts that a critical review of the meaning of culture, particularly the relationship between education—formal or otherwise—and our society's dominant culture must lead to action. Teaching examples will illustrate a sense of possibility, of transformation, attempting to reconnect music education with real life. Ambiguities, however, surround such attempts. By way of...
A fused lasso latent feature model for analyzing multi-sample aCGH data

Array-based comparative genomic hybridization (aCGH) enables the measurement of DNA copy number across thousands of locations in a genome. The main goals of analyzing aCGH data are to identify the regions of copy number variation (CNV) and to quantify the amount of CNV. Although there are many methods for analyzing single-sample aCGH data, the analysis of multi-sample aCGH data is a relatively new area of research. Further, many of the current approaches for analyzing multi-sample aCGH data do not appropriately utilize the additional information present in the multiple samples. We propose a procedure called the Fused Lasso Latent Feature Model (FLLat) that provides a statistical framework for modeling multi-sample aCGH data and identifying regions of CNV. The procedure involves modeling each sample of aCGH data as a weighted sum of a fixed number of features. Regions of CNV are then identified through an application of the fused lasso penalty to each feature. Some simulation analyses show that FLLat outperforms single-sample methods when the simulated samples share common information. We also propose a method for estimating the false discovery rate. An analysis of an aCGH data set obtained from human breast tumors, focusing on chromosomes 8 and 17, shows that FLLat and Significance Testing of Aberrant Copy number (an alternative, existing approach) identify similar regions of CNV that are consistent with previous findings. However, through the estimated features and their corresponding weights, FLLat is further able to discern specific relationships between the samples, for example, identifying 3 distinct groups of samples based on their patterns of CNV for chromosome 17.
Assembly of highly infectious rotavirus particles recoated with recombinant outer capsid proteins.

Assembly of the rotavirus outer capsid is the final step of a complex pathway. In vivo, the later steps include a maturational membrane penetration that is dependent on the scaffolding activity of a viral nonstructural protein. In vitro, simply adding the recombinant outer capsid proteins VP4 and VP7 to authentic double-layered rotavirus subviral particles (DLPs) in the presence of calcium and acidic pH increases infectivity by a factor of up to 10 7 , yielding particles as infectious as authentic purified virions. VP4 must be added before VP7 for high-level infectivity. Steep dependence of infectious recoating on VP4 concentration suggests that VP4-VP4 interactions, probably oligomerization, precede VP4 binding to particles. Trypsin sensitivity analysis identifies two populations of VP4 associated with recoated particles: properly mounted VP4 that can be specifically primed by trypsin, and nonspecifically associated VP4 that is degraded by trypsin. A full complement of properly assembled VP4 is not required for efficient infectivity. Minimal dependence of recoating on VP7 concentration suggests that VP7 binds DLPs with high affinity. The parameters for efficient recoating and the characterization of recoated particles suggest a model in which, after a relatively weak interaction between oligomeric VP4 and DLPs, VP7 binds the particles and locks VP4 in place. Recoating will allow the use of infectious modified rotavirus particles to explore rotavirus assembly and cell entry and could lead to practical applications in novel immunization strategies.
Interactions of exercise training and ACE inhibition on insulin action in obese Zucker rats.

Exercise training or chronic treatment with angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors can ameliorate glucose intolerance, insulin resistance of muscle glucose metabolism, and dyslipidemia asso...
Comparing public, private, and informal preschool programs in a national sample of low-income children

Abstract Recent research has found that center-based early education and care (EEC) programs promote gains in cognitive skills for low-income children, but knowledge is limited concerning diverse types of EEC arrangements. This paper contrasts the primary EEC arrangements (Head Start, public centers, private centers, and home care) attended by economically disadvantaged children in the US with data on 4250 low-income children from the nationally-representative ECLS-B cohort. Results found public centers and Head Start programs provided children with the most educated and highly trained teachers and with the most enriching learning activities and global quality, with private centers showing moderate levels and home EEC very low levels of quality. Nonetheless, after adjusting for differential selection into EEC through propensity score weighting, low-income children who attended private EEC centers showed the highest math, reading, and language skills at age 5, with children attending Head Start and public centers also showing heightened math and reading skills in comparison to children experiencing only parent care. No differences were found in children’s behavioral skills at age five in relation to EEC type. Results support enhanced access to all center preschool programs for low-income children, and suggest the need for greater understanding of the processes through which EEC affects children’s school readiness skills.
A programmable, computer-controlled cone-plate viscometer for the application of pulsatile shear stress to platelet suspensions.

Abstract Described is a special purpose cone-plate viscometer that is capable of acceleration or deceleration through a step change in speed in less than 0.7s. The speed of the rotating cone is controlled by a microcomputer which can be programmed to generate speed vs time ramp functions of variable slope. Prior calibration of motor power required to shear Newtonian fluids of known viscosity at various speeds provides the basis for determination of apparent suspension viscosity and enables the viscometer automatically to compensate for changing sample viscosity during shear. The viscometer was used to carry out a series of preliminary studies in which platelet-rich plasma (PRP) was subjected to continuous and pulsatile shear stress at 37 degrees C. Shear-induced platelet aggregation (SIPAG) was significantly greater in response to pulsatile versus continuous shearing except at the lowest applied stress (10 dyn/cm2). Increases ranged from about 40 percent at a stress amplitude of 25 dyn/cm2 to nearly 55 percent at dyn/cm2. This increasing trend with stress amplitude might be interpreted as a positive correlation between SIPAG and the loading rate. Dense granule release, as indicated by serotonin release, was dependent on both stress amplitude and number of pulses even at the higher stress where SIPAG was independent of pulse number.