cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Cardiac Resynchronization Therapy and Reverse Molecular Remodeling: Importance of Mitochondrial Redox Signaling

See related article, pages 750–757 Congestive heart failure is a devastating clinical syndrome characterized by progressive decline in cardiac performance with chamber dilation and multiple abnormalities of molecular signaling that adversely affect cell function and survival.1 Nearly 6 million Americans experience congestive heart failure, and more than 250,000 individuals die annually.2 Despite major advances in medical management, a large number of patients with advanced heart failure (HF) are refractory to optimal medical therapy, and HF remains one of the leading causes of death worldwide.2,3 Importantly, left ventricular dyssynchrony resulting from an intraventricular conduction delay is present in ≈30% of HF patients and is considered an independent predictor of adverse cardiovascular outcomes in patients with HF.3 Dyssynchrony exacerbates HF, causing cardiac inefficiency, as well as pathological alterations at the organ, cellular, biochemical, and molecular levels. In addition to optimal medical therapy, device therapy has gained acceptance to treat left ventricular dyssynchrony in selected patients. Importantly, cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) has emerged as a well-established therapy for advanced HF because it prolongs survival, improves symptoms, and increases exercise capacity in patients with HF (New York Heart Association class III/IV), left ventricular ejection fraction ≤35%, and QRS duration of ≥120 ms in electrocardiogram.2,3 Interestingly, the greatest improvements with CRT are reported in patients with a nonischemic cause of HF.6 Although one third of CRT recipients are nonresponders, CRT is safe and efficacious even in patients receiving optimal medical therapy.4 Oxidative stress is an important pathogenic feature of many cardiovascular diseases, including coronary atherosclerosis, myocardial infarction, and HF.5–7 Chronic oxidative/nitrative stress can lead to oxidative cardiomyopathy due to altered intracellular Ca2+ homeostasis, mitochondrial damage, oxidative modification of essential cardiac contractile proteins, and direct cardiac toxicity of reactive oxygen species …
Empowerment and Critical Consciousness: A Conceptual Cross-Fertilization

Empowerment and critical consciousness are concepts with shared roots. Both are associated with attempts at overcoming oppression and fostering human development, community participation, and wellbeing. Both concepts have been influential in theoretical accounts and empirical studies of youth civic development. This is particularly true in studies of young people’s involvement and leadership in change efforts such as community organizing, activism, and social movements. The differences between the concepts, however, are often difficult to discern, even for those conducting research informed by these concepts. For instance, although critical consciousness provides a greater relative emphasis on cognitive aspects of civic development in contrast to empowerment’s accentuation of emotional aspects, both have been theorized as overarching conceptual frames spanning emotional and cognitive aspects of civic development. In this article, we examine these two kindred concepts and their associated bodies of research literature. Our analysis identifies opportunities for cross-fertilization between critical consciousness and psychological empowerment that can lead to more holistic understanding of youth civic development.
APOBEC3A and APOBEC3B Preferentially Deaminate the Lagging Strand Template during DNA Replication

APOBEC family cytidine deaminases have recently been implicated as powerful mutators of cancer genomes. How APOBECs, which are ssDNA-specific enzymes, gain access to chromosomal DNA is unclear. To ascertain the chromosomal ssDNA substrates of the APOBECs, we expressed APOBEC3A and APOBEC3B, the two most probable APOBECs mediating cancer mutagenesis, in a yeast model system. We demonstrate, using mutation reporters and whole genome sequencing, that APOBEC3A- and APOBEC3B-induced mutagenesis primarily results from the deamination of the lagging strand template during DNA replication. Moreover, our results indicate that both genetic deficiencies in replication fork-stabilizing proteins and chemical induction of replication stress greatly augment the mutagenesis of APOBEC3A and APOBEC3B. Taken together, these results strongly indicate that ssDNA formed during DNA lagging strand synthesis is a major substrate for APOBECs and may be the principal substrate in human cancers experiencing replication stress.
Saliva: A fluid in search of a diagnostic use

Since saliva has been studied for more than 50 years and is relatively easy to collect, it is reasonable to ask why saliva is not in wider use as a diagnostic fluid. Here we discuss the criteria for diagnostic tests for diseases, barriers to use saliva for diagnostic testing, and the possibility of overcoming barriers to acceptance of saliva for diagnosis.
High-Fidelity Simulations of a Flexible Heaving Finite-Aspect-Ratio Wing

The current work seeks to explore the effect of structural flexibility for a finite-aspectratio wing under low Reynolds number conditions (Rec = 10, 000), undergoing plunging oscillations at a post-stall angle of attack. A high-order implicit LES approach is used to solve mixed laminar/transitional/turbulent flowfields present at low Reynolds numbers. The wing structure is modeled using a geometrically nonlinear p-version Reissner-Mindlin finite element plate model. Structural deflections and aerodynamic forces are implicitly coupled through a sub-iteration process. The effects of passive flexibility on flow structure and aerodynamic forces are explored for both static and a purely plunging motion. Wing dynamics produced for the flexible wing resulted in significantly enhanced lift due in part to a progressive root-to-tip leading-edge formation and a strengthened tip vortex. A highly flexible wing produced a structural response with an inflection point near 3/4 outboard along the span and an improved operating efficiency. The implications of flexibility were shown to include lift-enhancement and the ability of flexible structures to serve as energysaving mechanisms by reducing power requirements. Applications to mitigate the effects of unsteadiness, such as gust-response, were also apparent in the most flexible wings.
Adsorption and Surface Complexation Study of L-DOPA on Rutile (α-TiO2) in NaCl Solutions

Dihydroxyphenylalanine (DOPA) and similar molecules are of considerable interest in studies of bioadhesion to minerals, solar cells involving titanium dioxide, and biomedical imaging. However, the extent and mechanisms of DOPA adsorption on oxides in salt solutions are unknown. We report measurements of DOPA adsorption on well-characterized rutile (α-TiO2) particles over a range of pH, ionic strength, and surface coverage as well as a surface complexation model analysis establishing the stoichiometry, model surface speciation, and thermodynamic equilibrium constants, which permits predictions in more complex systems. DOPA forms two surface species on rutile, the proportions of which vary strongly with pH but weakly with ionic strength and surface loading. At pH 4.5 a species involving only two attachment points via the phenolic oxygens (“standing up”) predominates. Based on evidence of strong attachment of DOPA t...
Strategy of Characteristic Agriculture in Original Central Soviet Areas Based on SWOT Analysis

This paper analyzes the advantages, weaknesses, opportunities and menaces of the characteristic agriculture of the original central soviet areas by the method of SWOT and puts forward the development strategy as follows: to strengthen infrastructure construction of agriculture to improve production environment of characteristic agriculture, to support the development of leading enterprises and drive the integration of native and advantageous industries, to enlarge the support of science and technologies on agriculture and enhance the content of science and technologies among characteristic agriculture, to strengthen the brand construction to boost the production competitiveness, and to, build a logistics system of characteristic produce to improve the market share of advantage produce.
Jointly optimal design for mimo radar frequency-hopping waveforms using game theory

Using a colocated multiple input/multiple output (MIMO) radar system, we consider the problem of joint design of amplitudes and frequency-hopping codes for frequency-hopping waveforms. The joint design method yields better combined code and amplitude matrices that result in improved performance over that of separate designs. We propose a game theory framework for the joint design. First, we present the MIMO radar signal model and the sparse representation. Then the problem formulation is constructed based on sparse recovery and the ambiguity function of the MIMO radar system for frequency-hopping waveforms. For amplitude design, we propose two strategies: amplitude design with separate constraints and amplitude design by fusing all transmitters. We formulate a novel game model and propose two joint design algorithms, one applying a noncooperative scheme and the other applying a cooperative scheme. Owing to the extremely large size of the feasible set of the discrete code, we propose to use these algorithms to obtain the є-approximate equilibrium. We demonstrate the improvement of the resulting codes and amplitudes through numerical examples.
Examining the Curvilinear Relationship Between Income and Job and Pay Satisfaction

Abstract. Previous research has shown that income is related to both job satisfaction and pay satisfaction. However, this research has assumed that these relationships are linear. The current study investigated whether the relationship between income and job and pay satisfaction might be better understood using curvilinear models. Self-report data was obtained from 25,465 working adults in the US using a company rating web site, www.careerbliss.com. Results indicated that the relationship between income and job satisfaction was linear. However, income and pay satisfaction were found to have a significant curvilinear relationship such that people began reporting decreased pay satisfaction above income levels of $260,000. Additionally, supplementary analyses demonstrated that other facets of job satisfaction also had significant curvilinear relationships with income.
NEW REALITIES, NEW RELATIONSHIPS: New realities, new relationships for academic and research librarians: The new presidential theme

Valeurs defendues par l'ACRL (Association of College and Research Libraries) et programme d'action de son president
Overview of Verbs and Verb Phrases: The Heart of the Sentence

In this chapter we begin examining verbs. The chapter is divided into five sections, with each section looking at a different aspect of verbs. Section 5.1 discusses how to identify verbs. Section 5.2 explores two main categories of verbs, main verbs and auxiliary verbs. Section 5.3 examines two types of main verbs, transitive and intransitive. Section 5.4 considers infinitives and gerunds, and Sect. 5.5 delves into a special type of verb called phrasal verbs.
Gluconeogenesis: An ancient biochemical pathway with a new twist

Synthesis of sugars from simple carbon sources is critical for survival of animals under limited nutrient availability. Thus, sugar-synthesizing enzymes should be present across the entire metazoan spectrum. Here, we explore the evolution of glucose and trehalose synthesis using a phylogenetic analysis of enzymes specific for the two pathways. Our analysis reveals that the production of trehalose is the more ancestral biochemical process, found in single cell organisms and primitive metazoans, but also in insects. The gluconeogenic-specific enzyme glucose-6-phosphatase (G6Pase) first appears in Cnidaria, but is also present in Echinodermata, Mollusca and Vertebrata. Intriguingly, some species of nematodes and arthropods possess the genes for both pathways. Moreover, expression data from Drosophila suggests that G6Pase and, hence, gluconeogenesis, initially had a neuronal function. We speculate that in insects-and possibly in some vertebrates-gluconeogenesis may be used as a means of neuronal signaling.
Just and Lasting Change: When Communities Own Their Futures by Daniel C. Taylor and Carl E. Taylor (review)

Taylor, Daniel C. and Carl E. Taylor. Just and Lasting Change: When Communities Own Their Futures , 2nd ed. Baltimore, MD: The Johns Hopkins University Press, 2016. Review by Ann Dobbs Riley-Adams.
The Relationship Between Personality and Schadenfreude in Hypothetical Versus Live Situations

This study sought to investigate how individual differences are related to schadenfreude (pleasure derived from another's misfortune) by replicating past findings and extending them to additional personality traits. Because most past research on schadenfreude has relied heavily on the use of reactions to hypothetical scenarios, an attempt was made to demonstrate external validity by also including a reaction to a live event (confederate misfortune). For the scenarios, schadenfreude was positively correlated with the Dark Triad and just world beliefs; negatively correlated with empathy and agreeableness; and uncorrelated with dispositional envy, self-esteem, or the remaining Big Five traits. For the live event, no personality traits were correlated with schadenfreude, suggesting responses to hypothetical situations may not be representative of real-life schadenfreude events.
Removal of hemangiosarcoma cells from canine blood with a cell salvage system and leukocyte reduction filter.

Objective To determine the ability of an intraoperative cell salvage (IOCS) system and a leukocyte reduction filter (LRF) to remove hemangiosarcoma (HSA) cells from canine blood. Study design Cultured HSA cells were added to canine blood to simulate intraoperative hemorrhage and address hemoabdomen from ruptured splenic HSA. The blood/HSA cell mixture was processed through an IOCS, followed by LRF processing. Sample population Whole blood from 3 healthy dogs combined with cultured HSA cells. Methods The ability of quantitative reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR), multiparameter flow cytometry, and cytologic examination to detect 50 HSA cells per milliliter of culture media was confirmed. RT-PCR, multiparameter flow cytometry, and cytologic examination were used to determine the presence of cultured HSA cells at 4 points during processing. Results HSA cells were found in all control samples and in all samples after IOCS but prior to LRF processing with all 3 cell detection methods. HSA cells were not found after IOCS/LRF processing with all 3 cell detection methods. Conclusion IOCS combined with LRF processing is able to remove cultured HSA cells from canine blood. The addition of LRF to IOCS may allow application of IOCS in dogs with HSA. Clinical significance A combination of IOCS and LRF processing may provide an alternative to allogeneic blood transfusion in dogs with hemoabdomen due to HSA.
Inclusive sensory ethnography: Studying new media and neurodiversity in everyday life:

Media and communication studies has recently begun to ethnographically explore the sensory dimensions of how individuals experience and perceive technology. This turn toward the sensorial has cente...
Cytogenetic Aspects of Brain Dysfunction

The demonstration of the normal human chromosomal complement by Tjio and Levan in 1956(1) opened a new field of human genetics, i.e., Cytogenetics. (A normal male karyotype, 46,XY,* is shown in Fig. 1.) The rapid progress in human Cytogenetics during the past 15 years has resulted not only in delineation of a wide variety of syndromes but also in demonstration of the causal relationship between various chromosomal abnormalities and phenotypic manifestations. Mental retardation is a constant and obvious finding in all autosomal unbalanced aberrations. In sex chromosome aberrations, mental deficiency, although frequently found in individuals with greater than normal numbers of X or Y chromosomes, occurs to a lesser degree than in autosomal aberrations. This difference is now understandable on the basis that only one X chromosome is genetically active in somatic cells and any extra X chromosome material in excess of one is inactivated during early life.(2)
Towards Precision Behavioral Medicine with IoT: Iterative Design and Optimization of a Self-Management Tool for Type 1 Diabetes

Internet of Things (IoT) technologies are revolutionizing healthcare, providing many so-called "smart health" opportunities, ranging from remote monitoring of health statistics to self-management of chronic conditions. This paper describes an IoT-based approach to the management intervention of type 1 diabetes (T1D), which is a major chronic disease with significant economic and social impact worldwide. Specifically, we focus on the structure, functionality, and development process of MyDay, which is an IoT-based, multi-faceted self-management problem solving tool for pediatric T1D patients. By leveraging IoT technologies, MyDay can connect with various devices to integrate traditionally paper-documented physiological data (e.g., blood glucose values) in real-time with psychosocial and contextual data, such as mood, stress, and social activities. By integrating relevant–but heterogeneous–data sources, MyDay can create personalized feedback for self-awareness of factors associated with diabetes self-management patterns and promote data sharing and problem solving. Iterative user-centered design cycles were used throughout the development of MyDay to document and/or troubleshoot feasibility and technical stability, optimize feedback for effective health communication through data visualization, identify barriers to app use, optimize assessment, and evaluate capability of the app as a problem solving tool. Each iterative design round identified technical and design issues that were addressed in subsequent rounds by incorporating user input and expertise. An in-vivo case study and one-month pilot study of the system indicated high feasibility and use of our IoT-based MyDay tool.
Distributed Localization and Control of Quadrotor UAVs Using Ultra-Wideband Sensors

In this paper, we propose a distributed control algorithm for Quadrotor UAVs. The main objective is to design practically implementable distributed hierarchical control for coordinated formation flying of UAVs. Based on the use of Ultra-Wideband sensors for localization, the experimental results using a number of nano Crazyflie quadrotors are also reported in the paper by implementing a simplified hierarchical control strategy. The experimental system setup and the basic formation flying control results using Ultra-Wideband sensors pave the way for the full implementation of the proposed distributed hierarchical control algorithms in the future work. The Crazyflie 2.0 quadrotor UAVs produced by Bitcraze are adopted in experiments. The conducted research provides a useful design guideline for applications of UAVs swarms in real situations.
Stress vulnerability in the first year of teaching

Stress is increasingly being linked to teacher turnover. This study examined 1,750 first-year U.S. public school teachers’ classroom-specific appraisals of demands and resources as indices of risk ...
Reduced tactile acuity in chronic low back pain is linked with structural neuroplasticity in primary somatosensory cortex and is modulated by acupuncture therapy.

Abstract Prior studies have shown that patients suffering from chronic Low Back Pain (cLBP) have impaired somatosensory processing including reduced tactile acuity, i.e. reduced ability to resolve fine spatial details with the perception of touch. The central mechanism(s) underlying reduced tactile acuity are unknown but may include changes in specific brain circuitries (e.g. neuroplasticity in the primary somatosensory cortex, S1). Furthermore, little is known about the linkage between changes in tactile acuity and the amelioration of cLBP by somatically-directed therapeutic interventions, such as acupuncture. In this longitudinal neuroimaging study, we evaluated healthy control adults (HC, N ​= ​50) and a large sample of cLBP patients (N ​= ​102) with structural brain imaging (T1-weighted MRI for Voxel-Based Morphometry, VBM; Diffusion Tensor Imaging, DTI) and tactile acuity testing using two-point discrimination threshold (2PDT) over the lower back (site of pain) and finger (control) locations. Patients were evaluated at baseline and following a 4-week course of acupuncture, with patients randomized to either verum acupuncture, two different forms of sham acupuncture (designed with or without somatosensory afference), or no-intervention usual care control. At baseline, cLBP patients demonstrated reduced acuity (greater 2PDT, P ​= ​0.01) over the low back, but not finger (P ​= ​0.29) locations compared to HC, suggesting that chronic pain affects tactile acuity specifically at body regions encoding the experience of clinical pain. At baseline, Gray Matter Volume (GMV) was elevated and Fractional Anisotropy (FA) was reduced, respectively, in the S1-back region of cLBP patients compared to controls (P ​
Diversity and Distance Learning: An Exploratory Study of the Relationships between Online and Minority Enrollment at Private Nonprofit Christian Colleges.

Despite changing demographics in the U.S., many private nonprofit Christian colleges have been unable to recruit and retain racially diverse students, and most are experiencing declining undergradu...
Third-trimester placentas of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2)-positive women: histomorphology, including viral immunohistochemistry and in-situ hybridization.

AIMS: The wide variety of affected organ systems associated with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection highlights the need for tissue-specific evaluation. We compared placentas from SARS-CoV-2-positive and SARS-CoV-2-negative women in our hospital in New York City, which became the epicenter of the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic in March 2020. To date, some limited studies have been published on placentas from SARS-CoV-2-positive women. The aim of our study, in addition to describing histomorphology, was to utilize in-situ hybridization (ISH) for the S-gene encoding the spike protein and immunohistochemistry (IHC) with the monoclonal SARS-CoV-2 spike antibody 1A9 for placental evaluation. METHODS AND RESULTS: In this study, 51 singleton, third-trimester placentas from SARS-CoV-2-positive women and 25 singleton, third-trimester placentas from SARS-CoV-2-negative women were examined histomorphologically according to the Amsterdam Criteria and with ISH and/or IHC. The corresponding clinical findings and neonatal outcomes also were recorded. Although no specific histomorphologic changes related to SARS-CoV-2 were noted in the placentas, evidence of maternal-fetal vascular malperfusion was identified, with placentas from SARS-CoV-2-positive women being significantly more likely to show villous agglutination (P = 0.003) and subchorionic thrombi (P = 0.026) than placentas from SARS-CoV-2-negative women. No evidence of direct viral involvement was identified with ISH and IHC. CONCLUSIONS: In this study, third-trimester placentas from SARS-CoV-2-positive women were more likely to show evidence of maternal-fetal vascular malperfusion; however, ISH and IHC provided no evidence of direct viral involvement or vertical transmission.
Equilibrium binding of isolated and in-plasma high-density lipoproteins (HDLs) to polystyrene nanoparticles

It is hypothesized that plasma proteins bind nanoparticles in vivo as they do in vitro, forming a protein corona. The resulting decorated nanoparticle surface could potentially alter nanoparticle pharmacokinetics, efficacy, and toxicity in vivo. A subset of the in vitro corona are high-density lipoproteins (HDLs). Since HDLs vary in patients based on diet, weight, and genetics, it is crucial to determine the affinity of HDLs for nanoparticles to generate a predictive model, which would provide information on the extent of HDL decoration on nanoparticles in the blood. Experiments that determined equilibrium affinities of HDLs for nanoparticles utilized isolated HDLs or HDL structural protein components such as ApoA-I. Thus, the effects of whole plasma on HDL-nanoparticle equilibrium binding are unclear. It is possible that competition from other plasma proteins for the nanoparticle surface could drastically change the affinity of HDLs for nanoparticles both in vitro and in vivo. Here, we determined effective equilibrium binding constants of Kdeff = 3.1 ± 0.7 μM, 1.2 ± 0.4 μM, and 2.0 ± 0.4 μM for polystyrene (PS), PS-COOH, and PS-NH2 nanospheres for ApoA-I, the main structural component of HDLs in whole mouse plasma. In comparison, binding constants were Kd = 400 nM, 900 nM, and 25 nM for PS, PS-COOH, and PS-NH2 nanospheres and HDLs isolated from mouse plasma. We utilized a binding model that is characterized by a nanoparticle with multiple identical and independent binding sites for HDLs. Our data show that HDL binding to nanoparticles could play a significant role in nanoparticle behavior in the vasculature of mammals.
Biological Aging Marker p16INK4a in T Cells and Breast Cancer Risk

Prior research has demonstrated that altered telomere length, a well-known marker for biological aging, is associated with various types of human cancer. However, whether such association extends to additional hallmarks of biological aging, including cellular senescence, has not been determined yet. In this two-stage study, we assessed the association between p16INK4a mRNA expression in T cells, a marker of cellular senescence, and breast cancer risk. The discovery stage included 352 breast cancer patients and 324 healthy controls. p16INK4a mRNA expression was significantly higher in individuals who were older, Black, and had family history of cancer than their counterparts in both cases and controls. p16INK4a mRNA expression also differed by marital status, annual income, and smoking status in cases. In the discovery stage, we found that increased p16INK4a mRNA expression was associated with 1.40-fold increased risk of breast cancer (OR = 1.40; 95%CI: 1.21, 1.68; p < 0.001). A marginally significant association was further observed in the validation stage with 47 cases and 48 controls using pre-diagnostic samples (OR = 1.28; 95%CI: 0.98, 2.97; p = 0.053). In addition, we found that p16INK4a mRNA expression was higher in tumors with selected aggressive characteristics (e.g., poorly differentiated and large tumors) than their counterparts. In summary, our results demonstrate that higher p16INK4a mRNA expression in T cells is a risk factor for breast cancer and further support the role of biological aging in the etiology of breast cancer development. Novelty and Impact Statements: The results from this study provide evidence that cellular senescence, a process of biological aging, plays a role in breast cancer etiology. In addition, our results also support that social demographics may modify cellular senescence and biological aging.
Multi-Level Systems Engineering Analyzer Dashboard: A Semi-Automated Content Analysis for Interview Data

Helix is a multi-year project that aims to develop an understanding of systems engineers and organizational systems engineering (SE) effectiveness. Since 2013, the Helix team has conducted over 180 interview sessions with over 480 individuals from 31 organizations and resulted in over 6,500 pages of text data. As the team continued to gather more interview data, the manual qualitative content analysis methods originally employed was no longer adequate to keep pace with the expanding dataset. In this study, the team proposes a computer assisted method – a multi-level SE analyzer dashboard – to extract, analyze and visualize interview data customized specifically for SE knowledge. The dashboard developed in this study is able to “stay true” to the interviewees’ actual feedback, while automating some aspects of the content analysis to generate useful insights. The multi-level SE analyzer dashboard enables: (1) exploring how critical factors contributing to SE effectiveness in the literature appear in the Helix interviews; (2) comparing SE implementations and processes among various industry sectors; (3) deriving an organizational profile on SE capability; and (4) gathering major concerns and accomplishments from individual systems engineers and senior leadership.
Clinical Outcomes for Young Children Diagnosed With Asthma Versus Reactive Airway Disease.

Abstract Objective Clinical diagnoses of asthma and reactive airway disease (RAD) in young children are subjective. We examined how often children were diagnosed with asthma versus RAD, and whether preventive care and 2-year clinical outcomes differed based on initial diagnosis. Methods We conducted a retrospective cohort analysis of children (2–7 years) from a university-based general pediatrics practice who had been diagnosed with RAD or asthma. We performed adjusted comparisons between groups for time until subsequent asthma-related care. We also compared delivery of asthma-related healthcare services, corticosteroid and controller prescriptions, and action plans within 2 years of index diagnosis, using bivariate and regression analyses. Results Four hundred three children were included (64% male, 67% Black, 25% Hispanic). RAD was diagnosed in 62% of index visits, and was more likely than asthma to be diagnosed in emergency settings. In the full sample, the time between index visit and subsequent asthma care did not differ between groups, after adjustment for index location. For subjects with complete 24-month follow-up (N = 300), no between-group differences were found in adjusted analyses. Most children with RAD received action plans and controller medications only after a subsequent asthma diagnosis, on average, 9 months after their index visit. Conclusions RAD diagnoses were linked to delayed delivery of preventive care measures, but within 2 years of initial diagnosis, clinical outcomes for those diagnosed with RAD and asthma did not differ. To facilitate clear communication and timely treatment, a prompt diagnosis of asthma, rather than RAD, should be considered for children with asthma symptoms.
Wasted Talents? China’s Higher Education Reforms Experienced through Its Visiting Scholars Abroad

China’s post-1978 modernization plans include an internationally competitive higher education system. Central to this effort are researchers and professors capable of advancing China’s technologica...
Public Policy for Cloud TV

We are in the midst of the emergence of a new video media system, based on large-scale and global cloud providers. This system challenges traditional regulatory policy in the media field. The paper analyzes the emerging new policy issues and the persistence of several old issues. This will lead to an analysis of the tools available for government policy in the media sector.
Radar Identification and Detection Using Ultra-Wideband/Short-Pulse Radars

An ultra-wideband/short-pulse (UWB/SP) radar has promising potential for target identification due to its ultra-high resolution capability and for target detection due to its clutter-suppression capability. This paper describes various research topics studied at Michigan State University on target identification and detection using a UWB/SP radar.
Decision Criteria for Hotel Selection Segments

Travelers reported how they had chosen their hotel for a specific trip. The trip specific choice groups were compared with the respondent's usual method of hotel selection by multiple discriminant analysis. Business and pleasure travel segments emerge as being different not only in reason for travel, but also in their method of choosing a hotel. Business travelers were more inclined to have chosen the hotel where the convention was being held or to let the secretary make the reservation. Pleasure travelers seemed more inclined to go with a friend’s recommendation, or to have stayed there before. A second dimension of hotel selection emerged relating to the use, or nonuse, of a travel agent.
The nerve growth factor family

Abstract The neurotrophin family now contains five members. The properties of the prototype, nerve growth factor, studied for more than 40 years, are well known and reasonably well-understood. The structure of nerve growth factor has been solved by X-ray diffraction and its gene has been cloned. Nerve growth factor is readily available through the recombinant route. The mechanism by which it acts, while not completely clear, is known in outline and is the subject of detailed research interest. A robust debate is in progress over the clinical use of nerve growth factor to ameliorate some of the most catastrophic and costly human diseases. This debate has been fueled by some early indications of clinical utility. Molecular techniques have accelerated the discovery and exploration of several new neurotrophins, brain-derived neurotrophic factor and neurotrophins 3, 4/5, and 6. These molecules share substantial homology and are of the same general physical character as nerve growth factor, but with complementary and sometimes overlapping target specificities. Information about the first two makes it likely that they will also share several aspects of their action mechanisms. Their clinical utility is, as yet, a matter of speculation.
Tightly Closed Ideals of Small Type

We study the smallest possible type of tightly closed ideals that are cofinal with the powers of the maximal ideal; this numerical invariant yields information about the tight closure of arbitrary ideals in the ring.
Approaches to crystallizing P450s.

Publisher Summary This chapter summarizes the methods that have been used to crystallize P450s and considers the strategies for crystallizing the membrane bound P450s. One approach for crystallizing eukaryotic P450s is to use site-directed mutagenesis for the purpose of producing soluble, monodisperse P450s. The inclusion of glycerol or other polyols also should be included in crystallization trials. The commercial crystallization kits are highly recommended. Another new and important tool that shows some promise is light scattering. New commercial devices are available that enable a rapid screen of protein solutions to check the state of aggregation and whether or not the sample is monodisperse. As membrane-bound P450s may have a tendency to aggregate, a check on the state of aggregation prior to setting up a large number of crystallization trials can save a considerable amount of time and frustration.
Forecasting Analogous Time Series

Organizations that use time-series forecasting regularly, generally use it for many products or services. Among the variables they forecast are groups of analogous time series (series that follow similar, time-based patterns). Their covariation is a largely untapped source of information that can improve forecast accuracy. We take the Bayesian pooling approach to drawing information from analogous time series to model and forecast a given time series. In using Bayesian pooling, we use data from analogous time series as multiple observations per time period in a group-level model. We then combine estimated parameters of the group model with conventional time-series-model parameters, using so-called weights shrinkage. Major benefits of this approach are that it (1) requires few parameters for estimation; (2) builds directly on conventional time-series models; (3) adapts to pattern changes in time series, providing rapid adjustments and accurate model estimates; and (4) screens out adverse effects of outlier data points on time-series model estimates. For practitioners, we provide the terms, concepts, and methods necessary for a basic understanding of Bayesian pooling and the conditions under which it improves upon conventional time-series methods. For researchers, we describe the experimental data, treatments, and factors needed to compare the forecast accuracy of pooling methods. Last, we present basic principles for applying pooling methods and supporting empirical results. Conditions favoring pooling include time series with high volatility and outliers. Simple pooling methods are more accurate than complex methods, and we recommend manual intervention for cases with few time series.
Development of an operational medical network (MEDNET) model

This investigation describes the development of a new fault tolerant medical network (MEDNET) model based on the existing public switch telephone network (PSTN), integrated services digital network (ISDN) and internetworking (Internet). This research includes the original design, development and testing of the required hardware and software interfaces to provide a complete medical network model. MEDNET ties the doctor, the patient, the hospital, the medical lab, and the pharmacy for near real time and fault tolerant exchange of medical information the MEDNET model includes the following modules: central database server, remote client access, and communication interface. This work proves that medical images and data can be exchanged between healthcare providers which are not geographically adjacent, in a cost effective, timely, and secure manner.
Nonorthogonality and the MO energy level patterns of molecules deduced directly from structural formulas by the new VIF method as compared with machine computations

TheMoenergy level patterns of molecules deduced directly from the pictures of molecules (VIF method) are shown to implicitly include the overlap integrals between highly nonorthogonal AO's and to be invariant under crucial nonunitary transformations. Further, machine-computed MO levels are found to readily yield chemically interpretable information such as the nonbonding MO levels and the nature of the HOMO and LUMO once the proper invariant quantity found here is subtracted out from the numerical energies. The resulting EHT, Gaussian STO-3G, … type computed MO energy level patterns then show correspondence with the VIF-pictorially deduced level patterns obtained without point group symmetries. © 1992 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Internships in dentistry: what are they made of?

What is an internship? Who actively supervises the intern staff? Does the dental service offer rotations in other clinical services of the hospital? Who finally decides the treatment for a patient? Answers to these questions, as well as many others, are not usually found in brochures or documents. So that he can completely assess each program, the applicant must ask the right questions.
Effects of lidocaine on regional intraventricular conduction in patients with coronary artery disease.

Studies of isolated heart muscle and canine models of myocardial ischemia have demonstrated that lidocaine slows conduction in abnormal but not in normal tissues. To determine lidocaine's effects on intraventricular conduction (IVENT) in patients with coronary artery disease (CAD), we studied this agent in seven patients following left anterior descending coronary artery (LAD) bypass surgery. Epicardial electrodes were placed on the right atrium, left ventricle (LV) in the distribution of the LAD, and on the right ventricle (RV). On postoperative day 7, lidocaine was administered as 100 mg bolus followed by 4 mg/minute infusion for 2 hours. At constant atrially paced rate, bipolar electrograms were recorded from the LV and RV for the 2 hours of infusion and for 2 hours after discontinuation of infusion. Conduction intervals were measured from the earliest onset of QRS in three simultaneously recorded surface ECG leads to the major deflection of the electrogram from each ventricle. At peak effect, with mean lidocaine level of 2.7 ± 0.5 mg/ml, lidocaine slowed LV conduction by a mean of 6 ± 1 msec (14 ± 2%) (p < 0.001) and in the RV by 1 ± 0.3 msec (4 ± 1%) (p < 0.01). QRS duration changed 1 ± 1 msec (1 ± 1%) (NS). The values returned to baseline within 2 hours after discontinuation of lidocaine infusion. The difference in lidocalne's effect between the diseased LV and the normal RV was significant (p < 0.001).
Interrupting Inevitability: Globalization and Resistance

Recent and past events indicate that the meanings, effects, and outcomes of globalization are highly contested. Despite this, an underlying assumption of inevitability characterizes dominant globalization discourses. How is it possible that inevitability claims persist despite multiple contestations? In this article, the author makes two arguments. The first corrects a pervasive problem in the literature that separates contingency and inevitability as two competing logics of globalization; the second proposes a new analytic approach, based on a postcolonial critique, that more appropriately challenges teleological arguments while explaining their persistence. This approach is illustrated through an examination of an encounter that took place during an antiglobalization rally in Washington, D.C., in April 2000 and in a rethinking of our current economic crisis and the “new thrift” that has changed US consumer behavior.
Electrochemical Recovery of Lithium Ions in the Aqueous Phase

Abstract The electrochemical insertion of lithium ions into a Pt/λ-MnO2 electrode was investigated in various metal chloride solutions. The Li+ insertion occurred effectively in LiCl solutions with higher concentration than 10 mmol/dm3, but it could hardly occur in a 0.1 mmol/dm3 LiCl solution. Alkaline earth metal ions showed a stronger inhibition effect against the Li+ insertion into the Pt/λ-MnO2 electrode than alkali metal ions. However, since only Li+ ions were taken up from a mixed solution of lithium and alkaline earth metal chlorides, a high selectivity of the electrode for lithium ions was shown. It was possible to recover lithium ions from geothermal water by this electrochemical method using the Pt/λ-MnO2 electrode; the lithium uptake was 11 mg/g-MnO2.
Shakespeare's Miracle Plays

The essay argues that with regard to the doctrine of miracles, Shakespeare travelled outside the pathways of, on the one hand, Catholic belief in saints' wonderworks and, on the other, philosophical scepticism about and Protestant disdain for miracle stories.Henry V,All's Well that Ends Well, and all four of Shakespeare's romances are “miracle plays” that embrace and exult in a new kind of miracle. The wonders achieved in these plays are secular, often erotic, and always conspicuously theatrical. In an Age of Reformation, Shakespeare claimed miracles for the stage. Shakespeare worked not against but within a culture which for some time had wedded miracles to stagecraft. To this tradition he added a heightened self-consciousness, or metatheatre. Representing miracles as plays, Shakespeare gave centre stage not to the wonders, but to the plots and contrivances that produced them.
Does ambient ozone pose a serious public health concern as a widespread environmental mutagen

Based on bacterial, plant, animal and human studies, it is evident that O3 is a general mutagen. However, there is still considerable uncertainty as to the extent to which O3 is a human mutagen. Attempts to develop dose-response relationships have not yielded consistent results in the several studies thus far reported. At the present time there is a complete lack of data concerning human responses from ambient exposure. In light of the extent of the photochemical oxidant problem in the U.S. and the potential genetic effects of O3, it is suggested that a major research effort be directed at both the elucidation of the potential mutagenic effects of O3 as well as the implementation of effective oxidant control strategies.
An Analysis of Countercyclical Policies of The FHLBB

Three policies of the Federal Home Loan Bank Board, the Specially Priced Advances Program in 1970–1, a program of advances at a reduced interest rate in 1974, and changes in the minimum liquidity ratio, are analyzed. A model of portfolio allocation is developed and estimated for savings and loan associations. Most of the net increase in advances borrowed under the first two programs have not been lent in the mortgage market. Reductions in the minimum liquidity requirement have resulted in an increase in mortgage lending, but substantial effects are not felt until a year after the liquidity requirement is reduced.
Building virtual teams: experiential learning using emerging technologies:

Currently, virtual teams are being used exponentially in higher education and business because of the development of technologies and globalization. These teams have become an essential approach fo...
Observation of an exceptionally high apparent kinetic order in the thermal desorption of D2 from the Si(100) surface

Isothermal desorption and angular distribution measurements of D2 recombinatively desorbing from the Si(100)-(2 × 1) surface are reported for the coverage range of 0.5 to 1.0 monolayer (ML). Above 0.9 ML, the apparent kinetic order of the desorption process is ≥5, far larger than the order of ∼1, for which this reaction is now well known in the surface science community. Below 0.9 ML, the order declines monotonically until it reaches a constant value of ∼1 at a coverage of 0.7 ML. Correspondingly, as the coverage decreases, the activation energy for thermal desorption increases from 1.96 eV to 2.45 eV, while the angular distribution of desorbing D2 molecules sharpens from a cos2 θ det distribution to a cos5 θ det distribution. The changing kinetics and dynamics as the coverage decreases from 1 ML can be understood in terms of a transition at ∼0.8–0.9 ML from the 4H (and perhaps 3H) desorption mechanism to the 2H mechanism. We propose that the high apparent kinetic order is due to an unexpectedly rapid de...
Performance-Based Reliability Analysis of Laterally Loaded Drilled Shafts

AbstractAnalysis of laterally loaded piles or drilled shafts is a complex soil–structure interaction problem for which the p–y method has been widely accepted as a computational tool for predicting the load-displacement behavior. This paper presents a sampling-based method that can be applied to reliability analysis of the load-deflection behavior for laterally loaded piles. Various sources of uncertainties arising from soil properties, analysis model, and p–y criteria can be taken into account in the proposed method. In particular, soil properties needed as input for determining site-specific p–y curves were modeled as random fields. To statistically characterize the random field of a soil parameter, the field mean, the field variance, and the correlation structure are required. The performance of a pile under lateral loading is evaluated using a different set of random samples in each realization. The probability of failure, in which failure is defined as the event of not meeting the prescribed performa...