cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Psychological, mobility, and satisfaction variables mediate the relationship between baseline back pain intensity and long-term outcomes in individuals who underwent lumbar spine surgery

Abstract Background In patients who receive spine surgery, pain is relational to disability and quality of life, but exactly how this influence is mediated is not fully understood. Mediation analyses allow an understanding of a known relationship by exploring the underlying mechanism or processes by which one variable influences another. Objectives To determine the mediating influence of psychological, mobility, and satisfaction variables on the relationship between preoperative back pain intensity and 12-month disability and quality of life in individuals who underwent lumbar spine surgery. Design This mediation analysis study used data from the Quality Outcomes Database (QOD) Lumbar Spine Surgical Registry. Methods There were included individuals who received lumbar spine surgery for degenerative spine conditions. The exposure variable was preoperative back pain intensity. Mediator variables were depression/anxiety, mobility, and satisfaction. Outcomes included disability and quality of life. Separate multiple mediator models were conducted using the Hayes PROCESS, Model 4 with bias-corrected bootstrapping (5000 samples) to predict disability and quality of life. Results 26,130 individuals (n = 13,740 males, mean age 60.2 [SD = 13.8) were included. We observed a significant indirect effect through the mediators (anxiety/depression, mobility and satisfaction), for both disability (b = 0.31, 95%CI = 0.26, 0.35) and quality of life (b = −0.44, 95%CI = −0.48, −0.41). Conclusion Our study suggests that the relationship between preoperative back pain intensity (exposure) and long-term disability and quality of life (outcomes) is partially mediated by anxiety/depression, mobility, and patient satisfaction in individuals who received lumbar spine surgery.
Racial/Ethnic Residential Segregation, Poor Self-rated Health, and the Moderating Role of Immigration

Previous research has demonstrated a relationship between black residential segregation and poor health outcomes. However, this association is less clear for the segregation of other racial/ethnic minority groups in the United States, such as Latinos and Asians. We argue that immigration may moderate this relationship, and that this could help explain these disparate results. We test this using multilevel statistical models of individual-level health data nested within Census tracts in a study of the Houston area using the 2009–2014 Kinder Houston Area Survey, the 2010 U.S. Census, and the 2006–2010 American Community Survey. We find that black and Latino residential segregation is associated with greater poor health reporting, though not for Asian segregation. Further, we find that immigration moderates this relationship for Latino segregation, such that where tract-level immigration is low, Latino segregation is positively related to poor health, but that this slope becomes flatter as immigration increases.
Postoperative spondilodiscitis

Introduction Postoperative spondylodiscitis is a primary infection of the nucleus pulposus with secondary involvement of the cartilaginous endplate and vertebral bone. Although uncommon, postoperative spondylodiscitis causes major morbidity and may be associated with serious long-term sequelae. Several risk factors had been identified, including immunosuppression, obesity, alcohol, smoking, diabetes and malnutrition.
Developing a Rural Psychiatry Training Program on The Texas-Mexico Border: A Chance for Innovation

Creating residencies that produce psychiatrists who are skilled and interested in working in under resourced areas, especially in community and rural settings is challenging. State and private agency collaboration can be an effective approach to enhancing such training. These resources for education have the goals of improving access and services, addressing workforce shortages and improving physician retention. They can provide flexibility to implement innovations that enhance training and address community needs. This article describes the implementation of a psychiatry residency at the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley School of Medicine. Funding was obtained from state and private initiatives. This paper describes the implementation. Feedback was positive at all levels. This program illustrates some of the advantages of utilizing alternate funding in creating high quality residencies that are integral to the community, produce skilled collaborative physicians, provide necessary care that addresses specific community needs and potentially address workforce issues in underserved areas.
Ein mit der Formel von Bayes verbundener Markoff-Prozeß

Sind X1, X2, ....; unabhangige, identisch verteilte Zufallsvariablen, jede gemas f(×|θ) verteilt mit ϑ € θ, und ist φ eine Vorbewertung auf θ, so schreibt die Formel von Bayes vor, nach Beobachtung von X1 = x1,....;,Xn = xn dieses φ in $${{\rm{a}}^{\rm{n}}}(\varphi {\rm{, }}{{\rm{x}}_{\rm{1}}}, \ldots,{x_{\rm{n}}}) = \frac{{{\rm{f}}\left( {{{\rm{x}}_{{\rm{|1, }} \cdots {\rm{,}}{{\rm{x}}_{\rm{n}}}|}}\vartheta } \right)}}{{\left( {{\rm{f}}{{\rm{x}}_{{\rm{1,}}...{\rm{,}}{{\rm{x}}_{\rm{n}}}}}|\varphi } \right)}}{\rm{o }}\varphi $$ mit f(x1,…,xn|φ) = Eφ f (x1,…,xn|ϑ) abzuandern.
Molecular Cloning of a Complementary DNA Encoding a Prostate-specific Membrane Antigen

Recently, a novel M(r) 100,000 prostate-specific membrane glycoprotein (PSM) has been detected by the prostate-specific monoclonal antibody 7E11-C5, raised against the human prostatic carcinoma cell line LNCaP. The PSM antigen is expressed exclusively by normal and neoplastic prostate cells and metastases. We now report the molecular cloning of a full-length 2.65-kilobase complementary DNA encoding the PSM antigen from a human LNCaP complementary DNA library by polymerase chain reaction using degenerate oligonucleotide primers. Analysis of the complementary DNA sequence has revealed that a portion of the coding region, from nucleotide 1250 to 1700, has 54% homology to the human transferrin receptor mRNA. The deduced polypeptide has a putative transmembrane domain enabling the delineation of intra- and extracellular portions of this antigen. In contrast to prostate-specific antigen and prostatic acid phosphatase which are secreted proteins, PSM as an integral membrane protein may prove to be effective as a target for imaging and cytotoxic targeting modalities.
A new enzyme with the glycolytic function of pyruvate kinase.

Abstract Extracts from Entamoeba histolytica trophozoites contain a new enzyme which catalyzed the reversible transformation of phosphoenolpyruvate to pyruvate according to the following equation P-enolpyruvate + AMP + PPi ⇄ pyruvate + ATP + Pi The enzyme has been purified 30-fold and freed from interfering amounts of adenylate kinase activity. Unlike known bacterial, yeast, and muscle pyruvate kinases, for which ADP is a substrate, the amebal enzyme employs AMP. It is inactive in the forward direction in the absence of inorganic pyrophosphate. It is suggested that the new enzyme be called pyruvate-phosphate ligase (AMP) and that for the trivial name this be shortened by dropping the parenthetical part.
Resolution and Feature Size Assessment in Soft X-Ray Microscopy Images

Soft X-ray microscopy images of nanostructures where analyzed with a method developed to simultaneously determine the object feature size and image resolution. This method is based on the correlation between the image and a set of templates of known resolution obtained from the original image. The analysis was applied to images obtained with a Fresnel zone plate microscope that uses 13.2 nm wavelength laser light for illumination. The object feature size and the resolution obtained with this method are shown to be in very good agreement with independent measurements of both magnitudes.
Limits on the Democratizing Influence of the Internet: Lessons from Post-Soviet States

Recent research on democratization has examined the relationship between exposure to information communication technology (ICT) and democratization. Supporters of the positive influence of ICT believe that it can further democratization by providing an alternative source of information and by helping activists organize against an authoritarian regime. However, cases where authoritarian governments have prevented successful democratic transition despite the use of ICT by the opposition challenge claims ICT promotes democracy. What is especially problematic for proponents of the democratizing influence of ICT are cases where a relatively unrestricted ICT coexists with an authoritarian regime. In other words, even when governments allow a “free” internet, ICT still has a minimal effect. Why? One, ICT does not always succeed in organizing protests against the regime because of the high level of coercive capacity and/or elite cohesion of the authoritarian regime, enabling leaders to resist pressure to democratize. Second, ICT will only have a limited impact if the local opposition forces are weak. Third, even if ICT helps facilitate mass mobilization, the resulting activities are often insufficient to bring about full democratization because of structural and institutional barriers to democratization. In this article, I test these hypotheses by explaining the cases of Armenia and Kyrgyzstan, both countries with authoritarian governments and relatively free access to ICT.
Viral presence in waste water and sewage and control methods

Abstract: This chapter discusses the occurrence of different virus types in wastewaters (sewage) and their removal by various treatment processes. Factors that influence the occurrence and concentration of viruses in wastewater are reviewed and the mechanisms involved in their removal discussed.
Effect of scanned quasi-cw CO2 laser irradiation on tissue thermal damage

Residual thermal damage produced by a scanned quasi cw CO 2 laser was measured in pig skin. The effects of scan speed on thermal damage distribution for laser dwell times ranging between 1 and 150 msec were examined. Significantly larger thermal damage zones were produced along the crater wall for laser dwell times longer than 50 msec. Thermal damage along the crater base was constant independent of dwell time. The preliminary experimental results suggest that quasi cw CO 2 can consistently produce less than 200 micrometers zones of thermal damage if laser parameters are carefully chosen.
Brane-induced-gravity shock waves.

We construct exact gravitational field solutions for a relativistic particle localized on a tensional brane in brane-induced gravity. They are a generalization of gravitational shock waves in 4D de Sitter space. We provide the metrics for both the normal branch and the self-inflating branch Dvali-Gabadadze-Porrati brane worlds, and compare them to the 4D Einstein gravity solution and to the case when gravity resides only in the 5D bulk, without any brane-localized curvature terms. At short distances the wave profile looks the same as in four dimensions. The corrections appear only far from the source, where they differ from the long distance corrections in 4D de Sitter space. We also discover a new nonperturbative channel for energy emission into the bulk from the normal branch, when gravity is modified at the de Sitter radius.
Syntheses of [2.2](2,6,2′,7′)naphthalenophane and [2.2](2,6,2′,7′)naphthalenophane-1, 11-diene and a study of their conformational flipping

Abstract Syntheses of [2.2](2,6,2′,7′)naphthalenophane and its corresponding diene have been accomplished by standard procedures from 2,13-dithia[3.3](2,6,2′,7′)naphthalenophane. The transition state for conformational flipping of [2/2](2,6,2′,7′)naphthalenophane requires the two naphthalene rings to become perpendicular to each other with insertion of the 1- and 8-hydrogens of one naphthalene ring into the cavity of the π-electron cloud of the other naphthalene ring. The kinetic parameters for the conformational flipping process have been measured by a selective pulse Fourier transform NMR technique.
Dislocation mechanisms for the relaxation of thermal stress at metal-ceramic interfaces

Abstract Thermal stresses in the vicinity of the interface between metal and ceramic components result from the difference in the thermal expansion coefficients between the two materials when the temperature is changed. The dislocation structure in and near NiO Pt interfaces that survived large temperature changes was studied in order to understand how a metal-ceramic couple accomodates thermal stresses that frequently can exceed the yield stress of the metal and the fracture stress of the ceramic. The interface structure for the exact (001) epitaxial orientation relationship between Pt and NiO is a square grid of misfit dislocations. A larger misfit dislocation spacing is expected to be present at room temperature than at the high temperature used during hot pressing to form the metal-ceramic bond. A dislocation mechanism based on climb and glide was suggested to produce this change of spacing and relieve the thermal stress. Experimental observations were obtained which are consistent with this mechanism.
Societal and Workplace Responses to Perinatal Loss: Disenfranchised Grief or Healing Connection

Perinatal loss is a life-altering event for a mother, affecting every aspect of her existence, including her work and career. Fifteen women describe how such loss affected their work and how the responses of others influenced their healing. I consider the effects on grief of silence, disenfranchisement, attachment, trauma, shame, secrecy, and the social context. I note patterns of healing: connection to the self, attachment to the dead child, and linking the self and child to the family and community. Community attachments include those made in the workplace. Relationships at work and work itself can contribute to disenfranchised grief or healing from perinatal loss.
Correlation of Hydrogen Heat Transfer in Boiling and Supercritical Pressure States

The use of hydrogen as a working fluid in both chemical and nuclear propulsion systems necessitates convective heat transfer information over a broad range of fluid states. Current heat transfer correlation schemes available in the literature are discussed in terms of their applicability to hydrogen heat transfer. Similarities in the subcritical and supercritical (pressure) heat transfer mechanisms and associated experimental data are reported. Summarized are correlation schemes formulated from heated tube data which apply to: 1) film boiling of liquid hydrogen; 2) hydrogen at supercritical pressure just above and below critical temperature; and 3) low temperature hydrogen (150 to 250 deg R) above the critical pressure. Parts 1 and 2 have required correlation schemes that depart from the conventional convective pipe flow concepts. It does appear that the conventional pipe flow heat transfer theory can be applied to part 3. (auth)
Adult attachment orientations and college student distress: Test of a mediational model

A model for predicting college student distress that included measures of negative life event impacts, adult attachment orientations, and several indexes of self-organization was tested. Results demonstrated that, controlling for age and negative life impacts, attachment anxiety along with 2 self-organizing predictors (self-splitting, self-concealment) each made unique contributions and collectively explained nearly half of the variance in student distress. In addition, self-splitting and self-concealment effectively mediated the relationship between attachment anxiety and distress. Implications for the counseling of distressed college students are discussed.
Real-Time Analysis of Cardiac Catheterization Data Using a Computer System

A computer system for real-time analysis of hemodynamic data from the cardiac catheterization laboratory has been developed. The system utilizes a small digital computer and is compatible with the analog recording equipment generally used in a catheterization laboratory. Calculated results are transmitted to the laboratory by closed circuit TV and are available to the operator instantaneously during the course of the procedure. A permanent hard-copy report is prepared on a teletypewriter at the termination of the catheterization procedure. Comparisons of pressures and value gradients calculated by the computer and physician demonstrate excellent agreement. By utilizing a small computer and programs generally applicable in any cardiac catheterization laboratory, this system can be exported without costly modifications into many laboratories. Additional personnel are not required for implementation.
A network intrusion detection system based on a Hidden Naïve Bayes multiclass classifier

With increasing Internet connectivity and traffic volume, recent intrusion incidents have reemphasized the importance of network intrusion detection systems for combating increasingly sophisticated network attacks. Techniques such as pattern recognition and the data mining of network events are often used by intrusion detection systems to classify the network events as either normal events or attack events. Our research study claims that the Hidden Naive Bayes (HNB) model can be applied to intrusion detection problems that suffer from dimensionality, highly correlated features and high network data stream volumes. HNB is a data mining model that relaxes the Naive Bayes method's conditional independence assumption. Our experimental results show that the HNB model exhibits a superior overall performance in terms of accuracy, error rate and misclassification cost compared with the traditional Naive Bayes model, leading extended Naive Bayes models and the Knowledge Discovery and Data Mining (KDD) Cup 1999 winner. Our model performed better than other leading state-of-the art models, such as SVM, in predictive accuracy. The results also indicate that our model significantly improves the accuracy of detecting denial-of-services (DoS) attacks.
Protective effect of heparin on immunologically induced tracheal smooth muscle contraction in vitro.

Our previous studies have shown that heparin, a competitive inhibitor of inositol triphosphate receptors, inhibits airway anaphylaxis in vivo. In the present study, we tested the hypothesis that heparin blocks immunologically induced tracheal smooth muscle (TSM) contraction in vitro. TSM was obtained from sheep allergic to Ascaris suum antigen, and was suspended in an organ bath containing oxygenated (95% O2, 5% CO2) Krebs-Henseleit buffer at 39°C. After an equilibration period, the tissues were treated with heparin dissolved in 10 μl DMSO, at concentrations of 1, 10, or 100 U/ml (final concentration in the bath). Two types of controls were used: vehicle (10 μl DMSO)-treated tissues and tissues treated with the anti-asthmatic nedocromil sodium (10––5M). After 30 min pretreatment, tissues were challenged with 10, 30 and 100 μl of antigen. Contractions induced by antigen were expressed as percentage of the contraction elicited by the maximum effective concentration of acetylcholine (ACh, 10––2M). Antigen produced dose-dependent increases in tension, which were blocked by heparin and nedocromil sodium; maximal inhibition was 43 and 52%, respectively. Neither heparin nor nedocromil sodium affected the dose-response curve or the maximum response to ACh. The addition of the heparin preservative (benzyl alcohol) did not reverse ACh-induced contractions, or inhibit antigen-induced contractile responses. These results suggest that heparin blocks immunologically induced TSM contraction, without affecting the contractile response to the airway smooth muscle agonist, ACh. This action of heparin is similar to that of the anti-asthmatic nedocromil sodium and may be related to inhibition of mast cell mediator release.
Inhibition of hepatic lipogenesis by cyclic-3',5'-nucleotide monophosphates.

Summary The incorporation of acetate-l-14C into lipids of liver slices from fed and fasted (3 hours) chickens was inhibited by the addition to the media of N6, O2 -dibutyryl cyclic-3′,5′-adenosine monophosphate (DiBu-c-AMP) or cyclic-3′,5′-guanosine monophosphate. Lipogenesis in liver slices from fed and fasted (6 hours) rats was also inhibited by DiBu-c-AMP. Short-term fasting caused a reduction in lipogenesis in liver slices from both species. It is suggested that very short-term effects of diet on hepatic fatty acid synthesis may be due to a change in hepatic cyclic-3′,5′-adenosine monophosphate content, which is known to be influenced by glucagon and insulin.
Molecular constants of nitrous oxide, 14N216O

Abstract The zero-order frequencies, anharmonic and vibration-rotation coupling constants up to fourth order have been calculated for the molecule of nitrous oxide, 14N216O, from a careful analysis of all available experimental data on the vibration-rotation energy levels of the molecule. It was found inevitable to include the fourth-order constants in the energy expression in order to reproduce the recent accurate measurements to within their experimental uncertainties. A thorough study has been made of the various anharmonic interactions influencing the energy levels. To obtain a stable solution for the molecular constants in a least-squares adjustment to the observed energy levels involved in these interactions, it was found necessary to treat the vibrational (J = 0) and vibrational-rotational (J > 0) terms simultaneously; a general procedure effecting this calculation is described in detail. With the inclusion of the Fermi interaction connected with matrix elements of the type 〈v 1 v 2 lv 3 J∥v 1 −1v 2 +2 lv 3 J〉 the observed levels up to 5700 cm−1 could be reproduced with a standard deviation of 0.006 cm−1. On the other hand, to attain a satisfactory fit also for the high levels observed in the photographic infrared region (8700 to 12000 cm−1), additional interactions of the type 〈v1v2lv3 | v1-2 v2l v3+1〉 had to be taken into account. However, the values obtained for the constants respousible for these interactions are not considered entirely satisfactory due to the somewhat inferior accuracy of the available photographic infrared data.
A practical approach for recognizing eating moments with wrist-mounted inertial sensing

Recognizing when eating activities take place is one of the key challenges in automated food intake monitoring. Despite progress over the years, most proposed approaches have been largely impractical for everyday usage, requiring multiple on-body sensors or specialized devices such as neck collars for swallow detection. In this paper, we describe the implementation and evaluation of an approach for inferring eating moments based on 3-axis accelerometry collected with a popular off-the-shelf smartwatch. Trained with data collected in a semi-controlled laboratory setting with 20 subjects, our system recognized eating moments in two free-living condition studies (7 participants, 1 day; 1 participant, 31 days), with F-scores of 76.1% (66.7% Precision, 88.8% Recall), and 71.3% (65.2% Precision, 78.6% Recall). This work represents a contribution towards the implementation of a practical, automated system for everyday food intake monitoring, with applicability in areas ranging from health research and food journaling.
Short-Term Depression, Temporal Summation, and Onset Inhibition Shape Interval Tuning in Midbrain Neurons

A variety of synaptic mechanisms can contribute to single-neuron selectivity for temporal intervals in sensory stimuli. However, it remains unknown how these mechanisms interact to establish single-neuron sensitivity to temporal patterns of sensory stimulation in vivo. Here we address this question in a circuit that allows us to control the precise temporal patterns of synaptic input to interval-tuned neurons in behaviorally relevant ways. We obtained in vivo intracellular recordings under multiple levels of current clamp from midbrain neurons in the mormyrid weakly electric fish Brienomyrus brachyistius during stimulation with electrosensory pulse trains. To reveal the excitatory and inhibitory inputs onto interval-tuned neurons, we then estimated the synaptic conductances underlying responses. We found short-term depression in excitatory and inhibitory pathways onto all interval-tuned neurons. Short-interval selectivity was associated with excitation that depressed less than inhibition at short intervals, as well as temporally summating excitation. Long-interval selectivity was associated with long-lasting onset inhibition. We investigated tuning after separately nullifying the contributions of temporal summation and depression, and found the greatest diversity of interval selectivity among neurons when both mechanisms were at play. Furthermore, eliminating the effects of depression decreased sensitivity to directional changes in interval. These findings demonstrate that variation in depression and summation of excitation and inhibition helps to establish tuning to behaviorally relevant intervals in communication signals, and that depression contributes to neural coding of interval sequences. This work reveals for the first time how the interplay between short-term plasticity and temporal summation mediates the decoding of temporal sequences in awake, behaving animals.
Exercising the Pregnant Mare from Day 16 to Day 80 of Gestation

Our previous research has demonstrated moderate exercise can be detrimental to early pregnancy in the mare, but little work has examined exercise after pregnancy has been detected. We exercised mares (n = 8) 6 days a week for 45 min from Day 16 until Day 80 of gestation. Color Doppler ultrasonography was used to evaluate embryonic vesicle size, fetal length, and uterine blood flow. Blood was sampled every other day to analyze cortisol and progesterone concentrations. Results indicated that exercising pregnant mares (n = 4) led to greater (P < .01) cortisol concentrations 30 min after the exercise period. No overall treatment effect could be detected in progesterone concentrations; however, following Day 60 of gestation, progesterone concentrations were lower (P < .05) in exercised mares. Additionally, progesterone concentrations peaked earlier in exercised mares at Day 52 of gestation compared to peak levels at Day 68 of gestation for control mares. No significant effects were detected in embryonic vesicle size. Fetal length tended (P = .06) to be longer in the conceptus of exercised mares. Uterine blood flow did not differ between groups but increased as pregnancy progressed (P < .001) in both groups. All mares in this study went on to deliver healthy foals and suffered no difficulties during parturition. These results indicated that moderate exercise was not detrimental to mare pregnancy.
Active geodesics: Region-based active contour segmentation with a global edge-based constraint

We present an active geodesic contour model in which we constrain the evolving active contour to be a geodesic with respect to a weighted edge-based energy through its entire evolution rather than just at its final state (as in the traditional geodesic active contour models). Since the contour is always a geodesic throughout the evolution, we automatically get local optimality with respect to an edge fitting criterion. This enables us to construct a purely region-based energy minimization model without having to devise arbitrary weights in the combination of our energy function to balance edge-based terms with the region-based terms. We show that this novel approach of combining edge information as the geodesic constraint in optimizing a purely region-based energy yields a new class of active contours which exhibit both local and global behaviors that are naturally responsive to intuitive types of user interaction. We also show the relationship of this new class of globally constrained active contours with traditional minimal path methods, which seek global minimizers of purely edge-based energies without incorporating region-based criteria. Finally, we present some numerical examples to illustrate the benefits of this approach over traditional active contour models.
Effects of daily snack food intake on food reinforcement depend on body mass index and energy density

Background: The reinforcing value of food plays a role in food consumption. We have shown previously that daily intake of a high-energy-density (HED) snack food decreases food reinforcement and food liking in nonobese women but increases food reinforcement and decreases food liking in obese women. Objective: These previous studies were conducted with the use of only HED snack foods. The purpose of this study was to determine whether these effects generalize to low-energy-density (LED) foods. Design: Participants (n = 53) had food reinforcement and food liking tested at baseline and then again after 2 wk of daily consumption of 60-g portions of an HED (n = 26) or an LED (n = 27) snack food. Results: We observed a decrease in food reinforcement in women with a lower body mass index (BMI) and an increase in food reinforcement in women with a higher BMI after 14 d of consumption of an HED snack food. Food liking decreased in all women, regardless of BMI, after repeated consumption of HED foods. Conversely, all women, regardless of BMI, showed a decrease in food reinforcement after 14 d of LED snack food consumption. Women with a lower BMI who consumed LED snacks also showed a decrease in liking, but women with a higher BMI who consumed LED foods reported no change in liking. Conclusions: These findings suggest that changes in food reinforcement after daily snack food intake are influenced by both BMI and the energy density of the foods. In addition, changes in food reinforcement cannot be explained by changes in food liking.
Resistive switching and resonant tunneling in epitaxial perovskite tunnel barriers

We report on the relationship between resonant tunneling, resistive switching, and memory phenomena in tunnel junctions with epitaxial ${\text{SrTiO}}_{3}$ barriers. Opening and closing of tunneling channels in these barriers are correlated with resonant tunneling from a specific defect that can be eliminated by oxygen annealing. Furthermore, strong coupling of the tunneling electrons with this specific localized state or vibrational mode is responsible for bistable switching, a memory effect, and negative differential resistance. The results impact the interpretation of a wide range of transport phenomena in high-permittivity thin films in metal/insulator/metal structures.
Prolactin Stimulates Phosphorylation of the Human T-Cell Antigen Receptor Complex and ZAP-70 Tyrosine Kinase: A Potential Mechanism for Its Immunomodulation

Prolactin (PRL) is an immunomodulatory hormone which promotes T-cell activation and proliferation. However, the intracellular mechanisms of this action in normal lymphocytes are unknown. Because the PRL receptor (PRLR) activates several signals also activated by the T-cell antigen receptor (TCR)/CD3 complex, we evaluated whether signaling“ cross-talk” occurs between these distinct receptors. Using human thymocytes, human peripheral blood lymphocytes and the rat Nb2 lymphoma T-cell, we found that PRL induced rapid phosphorylation of multiple, TCR/CD3 complex proteins, an event required for lymphocyte activation. Two of these phosphorylated proteins were identified to be CD3 epsilon and ZAP-70 tyrosine kinase, molecules essential for TCR function. Further, PRL induced tyrosyl phosphorylation of ZAP-70 in each population of T-lymphocytes tested, demonstrating for the first time that ZAP-70 is a target of PRL action. Taken together, our results suggest that the PRLR directly affects T-lymphocyte activation by...
SIV-associated myocarditis: viral and cellular correlates of inflammation severity.

Myocarditis is a common finding in HIV-infected people. Cardiac inflammatory lesions and functional abnormalities similar to those documented in HIV infection are frequently seen in SIV infection of rhesus monkeys, suggesting a shared disease mechanism. A retrospective analysis of cardiac tissue collected at necropsy was performed to assess correlates of myocardial inflammation in SIV-infected rhesus monkeys. Intramyocardial SIV-infected cells were identified in 7 of 21 hearts from SIV-infected animals, with viral protein consistently colocalizing with the macrophage marker HAM 56. Productively infected cells occurred in low numbers, and did not correlate with the presence or quantity of inflammation or necrosis. Intramyocardial CMV was identified in 6 of 21 hearts from SIV+ animals, but also did not correlate with the presence or quantity of inflammation or necrosis. In contrast, T cell infiltration correlated inversely with DC-SIGN+ cell numbers, which occurred in significantly higher numbers in SIV+ an...
A finite element alternative to infinite elements

Abstract In this paper, a simple idea based on midpoint integration rule is utilized to solve a particular class of mechanics problems; namely static problems defined on unbounded domains where the solution is required to be accurate only in an interior (and not in the far field). By developing a finite element mesh that approximates the stiffness of an unbounded domain directly (without approximating the far-field displacement profile first), the current formulation provides a superior alternative to infinite elements (IEs) that have long been used to incorporate unbounded domains into the finite element method (FEM). In contrast to most IEs, the present formulation (a) requires no new shape functions or special integration rules, (b) is proved to be both accurate and efficient, and (c) is versatile enough to handle a large variety of domains including those with anisotropic, stratified media and convex polygonal corners. In addition to this, the proposed model leads to the derivation of a simple error expression that provides an explicit correlation between the mesh parameters and the accuracy achieved. This error expression can be used to calculate the accuracy of a given mesh a-priori. This in-turn, allows one to generate the most efficient mesh capable of achieving a desired accuracy by solving a mesh optimization problem. We formulate such an optimization problem, solve it and use the results to develop a practical mesh generation methodology. This methodology does not require any additional computation on the part of the user, and can hence be used in practical situations to quickly generate an efficient and near optimal finite element mesh that models an unbounded domain to the required accuracy. Numerical examples involving practical problems are presented at the end to illustrate the effectiveness of this method.
Inverse relationship between long-chain n-3 fatty acids and risk of sudden cardiac death in patients starting hemodialysis.

Experimental and clinical evidence suggests that long-chain n-3 fatty acids may protect against sudden cardiac death, the leading cause of mortality in hemodialysis patients. Here we investigated whether long-chain n-3 fatty acids have a protective relationship with sudden cardiac death in 100 patients who died of sudden cardiac death during the first year of starting hemodialysis and 300 patients who survived. Individuals were selected from a nationally representative cohort of over 1000 US hemodialysis units in 2004–2005. The odds of sudden cardiac death were calculated by quartile of long-chain n-3 fatty acid levels over the first year. There was a significant inverse relationship between long-chain n-3 fatty acids and the risk of sudden cardiac death even after adjusting for relevant comorbid conditions, biochemical values, and dietary fats. The odds of sudden cardiac death at 1 year for the second, third, and fourth quartile groups of long-chain n-3 fatty acids were 0.37, 0.22, and 0.20, respectively, compared with the lowest quartile. This significant inverse relationship was maintained even during the highest-risk first few months on hemodialysis. Thus, long-chain n-3 fatty acids are strongly and independently associated with a lower risk of sudden cardiac death in hemodialysis patients throughout the first year of hemodialysis.
Review: Lipid lowering drugs, inflammation and cardiovascular disease

Inflammation is an integral part of atherosclerosis, both in its early phases and in acute coronary syndromes. Markers of inflammation, especially C-reactive protein (CRP) are increasingly recognised as predictors of cardiovascular events. At the same time, evidence is growing that the statins have anti-inflammatory properties which may at least in part be independent of their effect on lipids. Statins can rapidly lower levels of CRP and this may be paralleled by changes in cardiovascular risk which precede reductions in serum cholesterol levels. This therefore represents an additional rationale for the use of statins in cardiovascular disease prevention, both primary and secondary. It must be noted that the fibrates also possess anti-inflammatory activity, although by different mechanisms: this has not been explored to the same extent as is the case for the statins. Equally, the statins may ultimately be useful in other forms of chronic inflammatory disease.
SU-E-T-627: Evaluation of Dose-Volume Histogram of Inguinal Nodal Bed in Vulvar Cancer Patients Treated with Photon/Electron Beams

Purpose: To evaluate retrospectively dosimetry of inguinal nodal bed irradiation using Dose Volume Histogram (DVH) in vulvar cancer patients treated with Photons/Electron beams. Methods: Treatment plans from eleven patients treated in our institution were used in this study. For all patients, each inguinal nodal region has been re‐contoured. The photon and/or electron beamtreatment plans previously used were recalculated using identical beam parameters to create the DVH for Rt Inguinal, Lt Inguinal, Rt hip, Lt hip etc. Inguinal prescription dose was 45 Gy delivered using photon beams (6X and/or 18X) and electron beams (6 to 20 MeV). The total dose to the Vulva went up to 61.2 Gy delivered using photon beams (6X and/or 18X) and/or electron beams. DVHs for Rt Inguinal, Lt Inguinal, Rt hip and Lt hip were generated. Minimum, Mean, Maximum and D90 doses for both Inguinal; and mean and maximum doses for both Rt and Lt hips were also recorded. Results: The average mean, maximum and D90 doses for Rt Inguinal were 48.72, 58.72 and 39.27 Gy; and for Lt Inguinal were 48.75, 59.59, and 41.27 Gy, respectively. The average mean and maximum doses for Rt hip were 31.61 and 48.13 Gy; and for left hip were 31.78 and 48.66 Gy, respectively. Conclusions: The DVH results from this study will provide important information to evaluate the treatment plan for vulvar cancer based on the dose/volume characteristic of the inguinal nodal beds. It may prove to be a better optimization technique for treating inguinal nodal bed in vulvar cancertreatment.
Distinct Phosphoinositide 3-Kinases Mediate Mast Cell Degranulation in Response to G-protein-coupled VersusFcεRI Receptors

Phosphoinositide (PI) 3-kinases are critical regulators of mast cell degranulation. The Class IA PI 3-kinases p85/p110 and p85/p110δ but not p85/p110α are required for antigen-mediated calcium flux in RBL-2H3 cells (Smith, A. J., Surviladze, Z., Gaudet, E. A., Backer, J. M., Mitchell, C. A., and Wilson, B. S. et al., (2001)J. Biol. Chem. 276, 17213–17220). We now examine the role of Class IA PI 3-kinases isoforms in degranulation itself, using a single-cell degranulation assay that measures the binding of fluorescently tagged annexin V to phosphatidylserine in the outer leaflet of the plasma membrane of degranulated mast cells. Consistent with previous data, antibodies against p110δ and p110 blocked FceR1-mediated degranulation in response to FceRI ligation. However, antigen-stimulated degranulation was also inhibited by antibodies against p110α, despite the fact that these antibodies have no effect on antigen-induced calcium flux. These data suggest that p110α mediates a calcium-independent signal during degranulation. In contrast, only p110 was required for enhancement of antigen-stimulated degranulation by adenosine, which augments mast cell-mediated airway inflammation in asthma. Finally, we examined carbachol-stimulated degranulation in RBL2H3 cells stably expressing the M1 muscarinic receptor (RBL-2H3-M1 cells). Surprisingly, carbachol-stimulated degranulation was blocked by antibody-mediated inhibition of the Class III PI 3-kinase hVPS34 or by titration of its product with FYVE domains. Antibodies against Class IA PI 3-kinases had no effect. These data demonstrate: (a) a calcium-independent role for p110α in antigen-stimulated degranulation; (b) a requirement for p110 in adenosine receptor signaling; and (c) a requirement for hVPS34 during M1 muscarinic receptor signaling. Elucidation of the intersections between these distinct pathways will lead to new insights into mast cell degranulation.
Indexed files on the parallel file environment

Abstract A parallel file system design is presented. The implementation of B-tree indices on the system is described. It is shown that by the use of some special purpose hardware, the bound on the height of the B-tree index can be significantly reduced over what can be achieved by simply employing the divide and conquer approach to using the parallelism in the file system.
Interaction of biotin with Mg-O bonds: bifunctional binding and recognition of biotin and related ligands by the Mg(15-crown-5)2+ unit.

The interaction between biotin and the macrocyclic magnesium complex Mg(15-crown-5)(Otf)2 (15-crown-5 is 1,4,7,10,13-pentaoxacyclopentadecane, Otf- is trifluoromethanesulfonate anion) in solution was studied as a model for metal−biotin interactions that may be important in its speciation and function. Shifts in the solution IR spectrum establish that the interaction is dominated by ligation between the carbonyl oxygen of the ureido ring of biotin and the Mg2+ cation. However, comparative binding studies using NMR spectroscopy and conductivity reveal a substantial enthalpic contribution to binding that arises from interactions between the ureido −NH moiety and the macrocyclic ring. This is interpreted in terms of a weak-to-moderate hydrogen bond formed between the −NH group and an oxygen from the crown, which is simultaneously coordinated to Mg2+. This hypothesis is reinforced by quantitative examination of the binding of N-methylated derivatives of 2-imidazolidone, which shows that N,N’-dimethylation decr...
Comparison of active phase labor between triplet, twin, and singleton gestations.

To characterize the active phase of labor in triplet pregnancies and compare it with gestational age-matched twins and singletons. Active phase rates were calculated beginning at 5 cm of dilation for women with triplet gestations longer than 24 weeks who labored and reached the second stage. Twin and singleton cohorts that also completed the first stage of labor were matched for gestational age at deliverty (± 1 week), parity, and epidural use. Intrapartum variables included oxytocin use (induction or augmentation, duration of infusion, and maximum dosage), cervical dilation at membrane rupture, and active phase dilation rate. Thirty-two triplet pregnancies met inclusion criteria between January 1994 and September 1998 and were each compared with twin and singleton cases in a 1:2 ratio. Triplet and twin active phase rates, while similar (1.8 versus 1.7 cm/hour, respectively), were significantly lower than the mean singleton dilation rate (2.3 cm/hour, P = .02). No other intrapartum variables differed between the three groups. Despite controlling for gestational age of delivery, mean birth weights were significantly higher in singletons and correspondingly lower in twins and triplets (2493 versus 2112 and 1968 g, respectively; P = .001). An analysis of active phase dilation rates as a function of the cumulative birth weight per pregnancy demonstrated an inverse correlation, with slower progress in active labor associated with increasing total fetal weight (R = − .24; P = .002). Triplet and twin active phase dilation proceeds at a slower rate than that observed in singleton pregnancies. The rate of active phase dilation is inversely correlated to total fetal weight.
Analysis of strength distributions of multi-modal failures using the EM algorithm

Analysis of various multi-modal strength distributions are studied by using competing risks models. This multi-modality may arise due to several kinds of flaws in a material. The fracture of a material is controlled by the most severe of all the flaws, the so-called ‘weakest-link theory’, which is also commonly referred to as ‘competing risks’ in the statistics literature. These multi-modal problems can also be further complicated due to possible censoring. In practice, censoring is very common because of time and cost considerations on experiments. Moreover, in certain situations, it is observed that the mode of failure is not properly identified due to lack of appropriate diagnostics, expensive and time-consuming autopsy, etc. This is known as the masking problem. Several studies have been carried out, but they have mainly focused on bi-modal Weibull distributions with no censoring or masking considered. In this paper, we deal with the strength distribution of multi-modal failures when censoring and mas...
Spinal cord hamartoma: case report.

OBJECTIVE AND IMPORTANCE: Spinal cord hamartomas are infrequently mentioned in the literature. The authors present a unique report detailing the clinical presentation of a spinal cord hamartoma, with supporting radiographic and pathological data. CLINICAL PRESENTATION: A 26-year-old man presented with progressive right upper extremity weakness. Imaging studies revealed an exophytic cervical spinal cord mass. INTERVENTION: Open biopsy was undertaken and revealed tethering of the lesion to the dura. A pathological examination revealed a spinal cord hamartoma. CONCLUSION: The patient's symptoms improved postoperatively, suggesting that tethering of the spinal cord was responsible for the symptoms. Although unusual, hamartoma should be included in the differential diagnosis of an exophytic spinal cord lesion.
DOMAIN APPROXIMATION AND DETERMINISTIC PROGRESSION IN GENETIC CROSSOVER

Abstract The fitness difference between two strings is usually neglected by most Genetic Algorithm crossover operators. The neglect of this useful information often results in the less efficient propagation of search trials toward fitness improved regions, and leads to a general increase in the number of function evaluations required to converge to a solution. An alternative crossover strategy is presented in this paper which considers this information, often significantly accelerating and enhancing the search process. The presented strategy involves components of solution domain approximation and the deterministic estimation of the “optimal” genetic composition for progeny. The implementation of this crossover scheme has empirically demonstrated its effectiveness in significantly reducing the required number of function evaluations, and improving solution quality compared with some conventional crossover strategies
Introduction to small bowel endoscopy methods

Abstract Over the past decade, endoscopic technology has changed our approach to small bowel disorders. This chapter reviews newer endoscopic modalities, including indications, techniques, and limitations pertaining to their use. Concluding thoughts center on concepts and equipment for small bowel endoscopy that remain investigational.