cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Educating Future Physicians in Nutritional Science and Practice: The Time Is Now

The need to educate and train future physicians about nutrition and wellness has become increasingly apparent in the past decade. A rising incidence of chronic health conditions with a nutrition background (e.g., obesity, cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes) has led to an even greater need for nutrition educational content in medical school curricula so that physicians may counsel patients regarding their lifestyle factors. This review provides an overview of the successful development and integration of a nutrition thread in a 5-year medical school curriculum. Based on a survey conducted in our medical school program, students beginning medical school are lacking formal nutrition education, as only 8% arrived with some form of exposure. Despite this, nearly 85% of these medical students recognized that nutrition education is necessary in their training, and 70% state that the nutrition education they have received has influenced the way they care for patients. Key teaching points Physicians are faced with rising incidence of chronic health conditions that have a nutritional risk factor Physician self-care including optimal nutrition to support resilience is gaining importance. Nutrition education in medical schools is inadequate to address these rising needs. Implementing a comprehensive nutrition curricula that addresses personal wellness strategies, basic science concepts related to nutrition, and diagnosis and management of diseases that can be modified by or are related to nutrition as a topic thread that is woven throughout all years of the curriculum highlights the importance of nutrition in health and disease.
Landing the Helicopter: Orientation Processes for Students with Disabilities

Current models of orientation are missing a key component and, in doing so, are hindering the ability of an underrepresented and at-risk population to effectively transition to a university setting.
Bouba-Kiki: Cross-domain resonance and the origins of synesthesia, metaphor, and words in the human mind

Abstract We begin with sound-form symbolism (the “Bouba-Kiki effect”) and point out its relevance to a wide range of psychological phenomena such as (1) the origin of words, (2) cross-sensory metaphors (e.g., the “loud”-ness of a shirt and the “sharp”-ness of cheese), conceptual metaphors (“Juliet is the sun”), and (3) sensory-motor congruence exemplified by the mirror neuron system. We suggest that these diverse aspects of the mind involve cross-domain interactions. Such interactions, and the dissolution of rigid barriers between brain modules, appeared as an evolutionary novelty giving the human brain its unique, “abstract attitude”—resulting partly from the accelerated expansion of the dominant inferior parietal lobule and Wernicke's area. Cross activation from late to early stages of visual processing may also enable more vivid imagery in humans—an ability that is amplified in grapheme color and “calendar line” synesthetes.
Liver and Spleen

This chapter delves into the management of the most commonly injured solid intraabdominal organs. The liver and spleen are both highly vascular solid organs in which injuries span the spectrum from minor lacerations to major injuries requiring skilled operative intervention for hemorrhage control. Common operative techniques for hemorrhage control including packing maneuvers, vascular control, hepatorrhaphy, splenorrhaphy, and resection. These are essential skills in the management of hepatic and splenic trauma patients.
1962 Group selection

Abstract Vero Wynne-Edwards proposed a novel mechanism for the evolution of altruistic traits. He suggested that traits that would not be favored by individual selection, but which may be beneficial to the entire group could nevertheless increase in frequency by the differential extinction of whole groups.
The Role of Leadership in Healthy Library Cultures

Libraries are workplaces just like any other organization. Librarians and library staff have varying levels of engagement with their work and satisfaction with their jobs. Both workplace engagement...
The Louisiana Space Consortium Student Sounding Balloon Program

Since the fall of 2003 the Louisiana Aerospace Catalyst Experiences for Students (LaACES) program has been providing university students a two semester project that culminates with the flight of a scientific balloon experiment. During the first semester students complete the Student Ballooning Course (SBC) which teaches basic skills necessary to develop a working scientific payload. The SBC consists of a series of lectures and activities providing instruction in electronics, programming, project management, balloon payload design, and introductory circuit assembly. The SBC introduces the BalloonSat, a sub-assembly designed at LSU for LaACES which contains a microcontroller, real-time clock and a four channel analog-to-digital converter. The second semester is spent on the design, development, testing and calibration of the payloads. Upon completion of the Flight Readiness Review, students travel to the NASA Columbia Scientific Balloon Facility (CSBF) in Palestine, Texas for integration, launch, recovery and science presentations. A flight capable Automatic Packet Reporting System (APRS) radio beacon armed with GPS and command capable cut down was developed to track the balloon during flight and to cut-down the payloads. Tracking vehicles are outfitted with radios tuned to APRS frequency and laptops displaying maps of the payload location. Here we describe LaACES; program development, tools and technologies, implementation, program, management issues and flight experiences.
Osprey demo: a mmwave approach to tire wear sensing

Tire wear is a leading cause of automobile accidents globally. Beyond safety, tire wear affects performance and is an important metric that decides tire replacement, one of the biggest maintenance expense of the global trucking industry. We believe that it is important to measure and monitor tire wear in all automobiles. Current approach to measure tire wear is manual and extremely tedious. Embedding sensor electronics in tires to measure tire wear is challenging, given the inhospitable temperature, pressure and dynamics of the tire. Further, off-tire sensors placed in the well such as laser range-finders are vulnerable to road debris that may settle in tire grooves. This paper presents Osprey, the first on-automobile, mmWave sensing system that can measure accurate tire wear continuously and is robust to road debris. Osprey's key innovation is to leverage existing, high volume, automobile mmWave RADAR, place it in the tire well of automobiles and observe reflections of the RADAR's signal from the tire surface and grooves to measure tire wear, even in the presence of debris. We achieve this through a super-resolution Inverse Synthetic Aperture RADAR algorithm that exploits the natural rotation of the tire and improves range resolution to sub-mm. We show how our system can eliminate debris by attaching specialized metallic structures in the grooves that behave as spatial codes and offer a unique signature, when coupled with the rotation of the tire. In addition to tire wear sensing, we demonstrate the ability to detect and locate unsafe, metallic foreign objects such as nails lodged in the tire. We evaluate Osprey on commercial tires mounted on mechanical, tire-rotation rig and passenger car. We test Osprey at different speeds, in the presence of different types of debris, different levels of debris, on different terrains, and different levels of automobile vibration. We achieve a median absolute tire wear error of 0.68 mm across all our experiments. Osprey also locates foreign objects lodged in the tire with an error of 1.7 cm and detects metallic foreign objects with an accuracy of 92%.
Analysis and identification method of transient overvoltage coupling characteristics of secondary equipment in substation caused by induced lightning

The induction lightning stroke over-voltage which is arising near Lightning substation is one of the important reasons to the secondary equipment damage. So the research and the identification, which are about the induction lightning stroke transient coupling characteristics of the substation secondary side equipment, have the great significance in transient protection and improvement of its reliability. This paper simulates the transient process which is arising from the of the induction lightning stroke impact to the substation secondary side cable using the laboratory equipment, analyzes the transient radiation signal which is arising from the induction lightning stroke impact coupling the shielded cable, and proposes a recognition of the induction lightning stroke based on wavelet packet energy spectrum characteristics entropy. Decompose the monitored transient disturbance signal into the reconstruction signals of different frequency bands by wavelet transform, construct high-band and low-band wavelet energy feature vector by wavelet energy spectrum method, and use it as the input of the recognition system. So the proposed method can better response the transient process characteristics which is arising by the induction lightning stroke, ensure the reliability of the identification results, and have certain theory and engineering applications value.
Blow-up analysis for Neri's mean field equation in 2D-turbulence

In this paper we study the blow-up analysis for some mean field equation on point vortices which is derived by C. Neri under a stochastic assumption. In particular, we derive some estimate which is...
Smart Contract Protocol for Authenticity and Compliance with Anonymity on Hyperledger Fabric

We consider a new class of business-to-business (B2B) blockchain applications that require the execution of specific subroutines to simultaneously satisfy authenticity, compliance, and anonymity. Existing blockchain smart contract protocols do not, either directly or with minor modifications, ensure all the three properties. We present the ACAn smart contract protocol guaranteeing authenticity and compliance over a set of anonymous (unlinkable) subroutine executions. ACAn achieves this through a novel combination of zero-knowledge proofs and multiple Merkle-Tree commitments. We specifically focus on implementing ACAn on Hyperledger Fabric, a popular platform for B2B blockchain applications, which processes transactions in the execute-order-commit framework. The latter, however, leads to performance degradation due to read-write conflicts arising out of multiple clients independently executing the ACAn protocol. We propose enhancements to Hyperledger Fabric’s smart contract API to support deferred changes to the shared ledger, allowing us to adapt ACAn so that such conflicts are effectively resolved. Our work provides evidence of significant performance gains due to the proposed enhancements, as well as experimental evaluation of the protocol’s privacy preserving components.
Pediatric Malignant Glomus Tumor of the Cervical Paraspinal Tissue: Case Report and Review of the Literature

Glomus tumors are mesenchymal tumors that arise from glomus bodies and most frequently occur in the distal extremities. These tumors can occur throughout the body and are typically benign. However, a very small fraction of glomus tumors displays aggressive features and are considered atypical or malignant. We report on our experience and management of the first case in the literature of a malignant glomus tumor in a child originating in the paraspinal region with involvement of the cervical spine. Malignant glomus tumors tend to be locally aggressive, and en bloc resection is difficult, especially when the tumors occur in the head and neck. Additional studies on disease progression and adjuvant treatment outcomes are necessary to determine the best treatment approach and long-term outcomes in patients with malignant glomus tumors.
Variable selection for partially linear models via Bayesian subset modeling with diffusing prior.

Abstract Most existing methods of variable selection in partially linear models (PLM) with ultrahigh dimensional covariates are based on partial residuals, which involve a two-step estimation procedure. While the estimation error produced in the first step may have an impact on the second step, multicollinearity among predictors adds additional challenges in the model selection procedure. In this paper, we propose a new Bayesian variable selection approach for PLM. This new proposal addresses those two issues simultaneously as (1) it is a one-step method which selects variables in PLM, even when the dimension of covariates increases at an exponential rate with the sample size, and (2) the method retains model selection consistency, and outperforms existing ones in the setting of highly correlated predictors. Distinguished from existing ones, our proposed procedure employs the difference-based method to reduce the impact from the estimation of the nonparametric component, and incorporates Bayesian subset modeling with diffusing prior (BSM-DP) to shrink the corresponding estimator in the linear component. The estimation is implemented by Gibbs sampling, and we prove that the posterior probability of the true model being selected converges to one asymptotically. Simulation studies support the theory and the efficiency of our methods as compared to other existing ones, followed by an application in a study of supermarket data.
A Bayesian Approach to Sequence Alignment Algorithms for Protein Structure Recognition

A theoretical basis for the alignment of a protein sequence lo a set ofprotein structure templates is presented, based on a Bayesian statistical analysis. The optimal H amiltonian for this threading is closely related to the Hamiltonian optimized for molecular dgnamics based on spin-glass iheory. The Bayesian theory provides the optimal penalty functions for inseriions and deletions in the alignment, which can be put in ihe form of a chemical potential. In contrast to standard methods for determining gap penalties, these penalties involve the logarithm of the probability disiribution of gaps in alignments against correci templates as compared to the probability distribution of gaps in alignments against random templates, as determined self-consistently. Sequences
How accurately does PSMA inhibitor 18F-DCFPyL-PET-CT image prostate cancer?

Current techniques for imaging prostate cancer (CT, MRI, and PET agents 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose, 11C-choline, 11C-acetate, and 18F-fluciclovine) are limited in sensitivity and specificity. PSMA PET agent 68Ga-PSMA-11 has recently been approved by the FDA. We comment on the performance of novel PSMA agent 18F-DCFPyL-PET/CT.
Teaching evidence-based practice piece by PEACE.

Teaching evidence-based practice (EBP) to nurse practitioner (NP) students creates a challenge. Practicing NPs are frequently called upon to develop EBP protocols and therefore, must be proficient in defining clinical problems, retrieving and appraising evidence, implementing protocols to change practice based on evidence, and evaluating the practice changes. A new faculty team integrated the constructivist approach using the PEACE framework to rebuild the EBP course. Course modules corresponded to each letter of the PEACE framework: problem identification, evidence retrieval, appraisal of evidence, changing practice or conducting more research, and evaluation. Students collaborated with a non-nursing professional as part of the college's commitment to interprofessional learning. Following the PEACE framework, students created an evidence-based poster of a proposed clinical practice change. Feedback from faculty and students was positive. Areas for improvement included eliminating redundancy in module content, standardizing all grading rubrics, and adding more virtual sessions for student/faculty interaction.
Severe vision impairment and blindness in hospitalized patients: a retrospective nationwide study.

BACKGROUND Outcomes among hospitalized patients with severe vision impairment or blindness have not been extensively explored. This study sought to determine clinical and resource utilization outcomes in patients with severe vision impairment/blindness (SVI/B). Because obesity is very common among those who are hospitalized, we also sought to understand its impact among patients with SVI/B. METHODS We conducted a retrospective study using the National Inpatient Sample for the year 2017; hospitalized adults with and without SVI/B were compared. In addition, for all patients with SVI/B, we compared those with and without obesity. Multiple logistic regression and linear analysis were used to evaluate mortality, disposition, length of stay, and hospital charges; the analyses were adjusted for multiple variables including age, sex, and race. RESULTS 30,420,907 adults were hospitalized, of whom 37,200 had SVI/B. Patients with SVI/B were older (mean age ± SEM: 66.4 ± 0.24 vs. 57.9 ± 0.09 years, p < 0.01), less likely to be female (50 % vs. 57.7 %, p < 0.01), more frequently insured by Medicare (75.7 % vs. 49.2 %, p < 0.01), and had more comorbidities (Charlson comorbidity score ≥ 3: 53.2 % vs. 27.8 %, p < 0.01). Patients with SVI/B had a higher in-hospital mortality rate (3.9 % vs. 2.2 %; p < 0.01), and had lower odds to be discharged home after hospital discharge (adjusted Odds Ratio {aOR} =0.54, [Confidence Interval (CI) 0.51-0.58]; p < 0.01) compared to those without SVI/B. Hospital charges were not significantly different (adjusted Mean Difference {aMD} = $247 CI [-$2,474-2,929]; p = 0.85) but length of stay was longer (aMD = 0.5 days CI [0.3-0.7]; p < 0.01) for those with SVI/B. Patients with vision impariment who were also obese had higher total hospital charges compared to those without obesity (mean difference: $9,821 [CI $1,375-$18,268]; p = 0.02). CONCLUSIONS Patients admitted to American hospitals in 2017 who had SVI/B had worse clinical outcomes and greater resources utilization than those without SVI/B. Hospital-based healthcare providers who understand that those with SVI/B may be at risk for worse outcomes may be optimally positioned to help them to receive the best possible care.
The Calcium-Activated Chloride Channel, Anoctamin-1, is a Critical Regulator of Proliferation in Amphibian Tail Regeneration and This Effect is Mediated via p44/42 MAPK Phosphorylation

Urodele amphibians have a unique ability among vertebrates to regenerate entire appendages including muscle, bone, neural and connective tissues. A better understanding of the cellular and molecula...
Comparison of Lysyl-Transfer Ribonucleic Acid Species from Vegetative Cells and Spores of Bacillus subtilis by Methylated Albumin-Kieselguhr and Reversed-Phase Chromatography

Lysyl-transfer ribonucleic acid (tRNA) species from a spore-forming strain of Bacillus subtilis (168 trp2 − ) and an early blocked asporogenous mutant ( spoA 12) were compared on reversed-phase and methylated albumin-kieselguhr columns. Lysyl-tRNA species from spores and the asporogenous mutant in stationary phase both exhibited altered chromatographic profiles compared to that of log-phase cells. The major peak in spore lysyl-tRNA species eluted later than that characteristic of vegetative cells, whereas the major peak of the lysyl-tRNA species from the asporogenous mutant in stationary phase eluted earlier. Although the early eluting lysyl-tRNA species was observable on methylated albumin columns, the late eluting peak was not detectable by that column technique. By using a shallower gradient on an RPC-2 column, the resolution of all lysyl-tRNA species increased. Several subspecies were revealed. The chromatographic comparisons clearly show that both the spore-forming strain and the asporogenous mutant undergo relative increases in different lysyl-tRNA species when grown to late stationary phase. No new species seem to be involved but rather altered amounts of minor species existing in log-phase cells. The experiments also demonstrate the usefulness of reversed-phase columns for such comparisons.
Decomposing Verification of Timed I/O Automata

This paper presents assume-guarantee style substitutivity results for the recently published timed I/O automaton modeling framework. These results are useful for decomposing verification of systems where the implementation and the specification are represented as timed I/O automata. We first present a theorem that is applicable in verification tasks in which system specifications express safety properties. This theorem has an interesting corollary that involves the use of auxiliary automata in simplifying the proof obligations. We then derive a new result that shows how the same technique can be applied to the case where system specifications express liveness properties.
Infiltration of liposome bupivacaine into the transversus abdominis plane for postsurgical pain management in a 39-year-old female undergoing laparoscopic cholecystectomy.

Introduction Pain after laparoscopic cholecystectomy is reportedly complex and multifaceted, and has been cited as the most frequent reason for prolonged convalescence. The use of opioid therapy, a common pain management strategy, can be limited by potentially severe adverse events. In this report, I describe the use of liposome bupivacaine, administered via transversus abdominis plane (TAP) infiltration, in a patient undergoing emergency laparoscopic cholecystectomy. Case The patient underwent an emergency laparoscopic cholecystectomy complicated by an unexpected correction of partially detached mesh implanted during prior ventral hernia repair. The patient was discharged to the post-anesthesia care unit, but reported a pain score of 8 (11-point scale; 10 = worst possible pain). Fentanyl rescue therapy failed to alleviate the pain. Liposome bupivacaine was administered via bilateral TAP infiltration as postsurgical rescue pain medication, part of a multimodal analgesic regimen. Results The patient tolerated the TAP infiltration well and subsequently reported a pain score of 2 and a pain satisfaction score of 10 (11-point scale; 10 = completely satisfied). No additional analgesics were required. The patient was discharged on postoperative day 1, resumed normal activities in <24 hours, and remained satisfied with the pain management for 5 days. Discussion TAP infiltration of liposome bupivacaine was associated with improvement in postsurgical pain control, eliminated the need for additional opioids, and reduced the length of hospital stay from the usual 3 days to <24 hours. Conclusions Liposome bupivacaine administered via TAP infiltration shows potential as part of a multimodal analgesic regimen in laparoscopic cholecystectomy.
Die Frage nach den Beziehungen Zwischen den Drei Verschiedenen Stufen bzw. Schichten der Apophantik und den Drei Verschiedenen Einstellungen im Urteilen

Die Antwort auf die Frage danach, wie sich die drei verschiedenen Stufen bzw. Schichten der Apophantik einerseits und die drei verschiedenen Begriffe von Urteil andererseits zueinander verhalten, ist dementsprechend auch schon durch den Versuch, festzustellen, um welche Stufen bzw. Schichten der Apophantik und um welche Begriffe von Urteil es sich bei den drei verschiedenen Stufen bzw. Schichten der Apophantik und bei den drei verschiedenen Begriffen von Urteil im Sinne der Dreischichtung der formalen Logik als formaler Apophantik bzw. apophantischer Analytik uberhaupt handelt — aber auch durch die Antwort auf die Frage nach den Beziehungen zwischen den drei verschiedenen Stufen bzw. Schichten der Apophantik und den drei verschiedenen Evidenzen im Urteilen —, weitgehend vorweggenommen worden und last sich also folgendermasen formulieren: In der Tat gibt es keine genaue „eis-zu-eins-correspondentia“ zwischen einerseits der Formenlehre, der Konsequenzlehre bzw. -logik und der Wahrheitslogik und andererseits dem verworrenen Urteil, dem deutlichen Urteil und dem klaren Urteil; vielmehr stimmen, erstens, die Formenlehre und der weiteste Urteilsbegriff bzw. das Urteil im weitesten Sinne, zweitens, die Konsequenzlehre bzw. -logik und das deudiche Urteil bzw. der Begriff des deutlichen Urteils und, drittens, die formale Logik der moglichen Wahrheit und das klarea Urteil bzw. der Begriff des klarena Urteils miteinander (uberein, und darin besteht auch die echte correspondentia zwischen den drei verschiedenen Stufen bzw. Schichten der Apophantik und den drei verschiedenen Begriffen von Urteil, die der Dreischichtung der apophantischen Analytik zugrunde liegt
Characterization of catechol-O-methyltransferase activity in human uterine decidua vera tissue.

Abstract In the present investigation, we characterized the activity of catechol-O-methyltransferase (COMT) in homogenates prepared from human decidua vera tissue. The specific activity of COMT in decidua vera is greater than that in liver and myometrium and much greater than that in adipose tissue and erythrocytes. The specific activity of COMT in decidua vera obtained at term was significantly greater (p
KCa1.1 inhibition attenuates fibroblast-like synoviocyte invasiveness and ameliorates disease in rat models of rheumatoid arthritis.

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic and systemic inflammatory disease that preferentially targets diarthrodial joints (1, 2). It is characterized by extensive synovial hyperplasia and cartilage and bone damage, leading to disability. While the etiology of RA is not fully understood, it involves the activation of endothelial and synovial cells, as well as the activation and recruitment of immune cells to the synovium. Fibroblast-like synoviocytes (FLS) are prominent in the RA pannus where they secrete proteases that degrade collagen, cytokines and chemokines that induce the accumulation and activation of inflammatory cells, and growth factors that induce angiogenesis (3, 4). Importantly, FLS from patients with RA (RA-FLS) are highly invasive and can migrate from affected to healthy joints (5). Their ex vivo invasive properties tightly correlate with histological and radiographic damage in RA and its experimental models (6, 7); this damage itself being correlated with disease severity and an increased risk of disability, deformities, and premature death (8). Thus, reducing the pathogenic properties of RA-FLS represents an attractive target for the treatment of RA, particularly since no RA therapies have been developed to specifically target these cells. We have previously identified the KCa1.1 channel (BK, maxi-K, Slo1, KCNMA1) as the major potassium channel expressed by RA-FLS (9). Inhibiting the function of this channel in RA-FLS through blocking its pore-forming α subunit ex vivo perturbs the calcium homeostasis of the cells and inhibits their proliferation, migration, and invasiveness, as well as their production of proteases, chemokines, and growth factors (9). These results suggest KCa1.1 channels as important regulators of the destructive phenotype of RA-FLS and as therapeutic target for RA by attenuating these pathogenic functions. We tested this possibility in the current study, using experimental arthritis in rats. We first demonstrated that functional KCa1.1 are the major potassium channels at the plasma membrane of FLS from rats with the pristane-induced arthritis (PIA) model of RA and are expressed in larger numbers by PIA-FLS when compared to FLS from healthy animals. Blocking KCa1.1 inhibited the proliferation of PIA-FLS and reduced their ability to produce the matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) pro-MMP-2. Importantly, blocking KCa1.1 or reducing its expression reduced the invasiveness of PIA-FLS. In contrast, opening native KCa1.1 or over-expression of the channel enhanced the invasiveness of PIA-FLS and of healthy rat FLS. Treatment of rats at onset of clinical signs in two models of RA with a KCa1.1-specific blocker reduced disease severity, synovial inflammation, cartilage and bone damage, and inhibited the ex vivo invasiveness of FLS.
A Review of “A History of Modern Latin America: 1800 to the Present”

Textbook authors face a number of unenviable tasks, principal among them deciding which examples to select from an ever-growing secondary literature. They confront the tricky challenges of ensuring...
Average Composition of Granites, the Genesis of Tektites, and Petrogenesis

THE recent article by Lovering1, in which the average chemical composition of tektites was compared and contrasted with the average composition of terrestrial shales, calcalkaline granites and granophyres, involves an important question which is too frequently ignored. Comparison was made with the average bulk chemical composition of shales (78 analyses from Clark's Tables), granites (72 analyses quoted by Nockolds) and acid granophyric differentiates of basic magma (35 analyses available in the literature). As a basis of discussion, it may be assumed that the bulk chemical analyses are accurate representations of each of the 185 samples involved. Probably it is reasonable to assume that each of the 185 specimens was chosen by a competent geologist as a ‘typical sample’ to represent the rock-mass concerned.
Incidence of Squamous Cell Carcinoma in Mice fed 9, 10-Dimethylbenz( a )anthracene

9,10-Dimethylbenz(a)anthracene (DMBA) has been used to induce neoplasms in experimental animals for some years1. However, the oral route of administering this compound has received little attention. Engelbreth-Holm and Poulsen2 increased the incidence of leukaemia and mammary carcinoma at an early age, and Saxen et al.3 induced carcinoma of the forestomach by feeding DMBA to mice of strain Street (then, not an inbred strain). Saxen4 used irradiated C57Br mice for his DMBA feeding experiments. It was considered of interest to extend these observations on feeding DMBA under different experimental conditions and on other strains of mice. This communication reports the successful induction of neoplasms with a low total dose of the carcinogen. It gives the incidence and describes the pathological changes observed when C57Br and C3H mice were tube fed with a DMBA emulsion.
When the Earth Stops Shaking: Earthquake Sequelae Among Children Diagnosed for Pre-Earthquake Psychopathology

ABSTRACT Objective To examine risk and protective processes for posttraumatic stress reactions and negative sequelae following the Northridge earthquake (EQ) among youths diagnosed for pre-EQ psychopathology. Method Symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), depression, general anxiety, and social Impairment were evaluated using telephone interviews among 66 children participating in a family-genetic study of childhood-onset depression at the time of the EQ. Results Significant predictors of PTSD symptoms 1 year after the EQ included perceived stress and resource loss associated with the EQ, a pre-EQ anxiety disorder, and more frequent use of cognitive and avoidance coping strategies. PTSD symptoms were associated with high rates of concurrent general anxiety symptoms, depressive symptoms, and social adjustment problems with friends. The only significant correlation between sibling scores was on measures of sibling reports of objective exposure. Conclusions Preexisting anxiety disorders represent a risk factor for postdisaster PTSD reactions. Postdlsaster services need to attend to the needs of these youths as well as those of youths experiencing high levels of subjective stress, resource loss, and/or high exposure. That children within families show significant variation in postdisaster reactions underscores the need for attention to individual child characteristics and unshared environmental attributes. J. Am. Acad. Child Adolesc. Psychiatry , 1999, 38(8):1016–1023.
Bicarbonate effects on chlorophyll a fluorescence transients in the presence and the absence of diuron

Abstract We investigated the effect of HCO − 3 addition to CO 2 -depleted thylakoids by means of fluorescence techniques. (1) In the presence of diuron (3-(3,4-dichlorophenyl)-1,1-dimethylurea), the net reduction of the primary quinone-type electron acceptor (Q) of Photosystem (PS) II is about 2-times faster in the absence of HCO − 3 than in its presence, whether normal, heat-treated or NH 2 OH-treated samples are used. This effect of HCO − 3 is, therefore, not on the O 2 -evolving apparatus. It is, however, interpreted to be due to an influence of HCO − 3 on the kinetics of the reduction of Q, perhaps combined with an effect on the back reaction of Q − with P -680 + , the oxidized form of the PS II reaction center chlorophyll a . (2) Fluorescence experiments in the absence of diuron indicate that the absence of HCO − 3 results in a complete block at the quinone level; the area over the fluorescence induction curve in the absence of HCO − 3 was found to be 2.2-times higher in the absence than in the presence of diuron, pointing to a complete block of BH 2 oxidation in the absence of HCO − 3 . (3) No change in the midpoint potential of Q is observed when HCO − 3 is added to CO 2 -depleted membranes. HCO − 3 not only has a large (on/off) effect on the reoxidation of BH 2 , but also a smaller effect between P -680 and Q. We propose that HCO − 3 binding to its specific site in the thylakoid membrane results in a conformational change, allowing normal electron transport between the two photosystems.
Development of a homologous transformation system for Aspergillus parasiticus with the gene encoding nitrate reductase

The nitrate reductase structural gene (niaD) and an niaD mutant strain were isolated from Aspergillus parasiticus and used to develop a homologous transformation system. A transformation frequency of 110 to 120 transformants per microgram linear DNA was obtained with the 10.9 kb plasmid pSL82, which contained the niaD gene of A. parasiticus. Plasmid pSL82 was also capable of complementing Aspergillus nidulans FGSC A691, a niaD mutant, though at lower frequencies. Southern hybridization analyses of A. parasiticus niaD transformants showed that the niaD gene of pSL82 had integrated into the fungal genome. In addition, vector (bacterial plasmid) sequences were also present in one of the niaD transformants.
Switching Behavior in π-Conjugated Molecules Bridging Nonmetallic Electrodes: A Density Functional Theory Study

We report a first-principles study to investigate the switching behavior in a nitro-oligo(phenylene ethylene) molecule bridged between a silicon slab and a single wall carbon nanotube (SWCNT) mat. Our results suggest that the switching in the device may be driven by conformational changes in the molecule upon the application of an electric field. In addition, we find that the nature of the contact at the interface of the SWCNT mat plays an important role in the switching.
The effects of recognition and recall instructions on short-term and long-term retention of unfamiliar visual information

The effect of temporal placement of instructions and processing demands on long- and short-term retention was studied using random visual patterns to minimize effects of verbal coding and prior learning. Long-term recognition was superior to long-term recall under the recognition but not the recall-demand condition. Errors in short-term memory perseverated across trials, and repetition enhancement of short-term recall accuracy (learning) occurred under a pre- but not a poststimulus instruction to recall, suggesting that temporal placement of recall instructions is critical to coding accuracy.
Experimental stroke in gerbils: Effect on translation and transcription

Abstract The effect of cerebral ischemia on polypeptide synthesis with isolated microsomes and DNA-dependent RNA polymerase activity with isolated nuclei was investigated by occlusion of right common carotid artery of gerbils. There was a prompt decline of microsomal polypeptide synthesis already at 30 min after occlusion of the artery, and at 4–5 h the specific radioactivity (dpm per μg protein) was 50% of the control value. At 24 h, when the animals were only slightly responsive to external stimuli, the specific radioactivity of ischemic brain was only 20% of the control value. DNA-dependent RNA polymerase activity was unaffected for 1 h, and clear suppression did not appear until 3 h after occlusion. However, the extent of suppression was similar between polypeptide synthesis and RNA polymerase activity beyond 3 h after occlusion. Although more selective vulnerability of polypeptide synthesis thus exists in cerebral ischemia, the difference between two biochemical processes was not as striking as seen in cerebral anoxia. Focal progression of cerebral ischemia to diffuse infarction in gerbils was suggested as a possible explanation for the disparity in comparison to the diffuse effect in cerebral anoxia along with the difference in the magnitude of acidosis and depletion of energy reserve.
Probing the structural domains and function in vivo of Escherichia coli DNA topoisomerase I by mutagenesis.

Abstract Insertion and deletion mutagenesis within the gene topA of Escherichia coli encoding DNA topoisomerase I was carried out to test the existence of subdomains in the enzyme and the relationship between the slow-growth topA − phenotype and the known DNA relaxation activity of the enzyme. All mutants that show no detectable DNA relaxation activity in cell extracts fail to complement the temperature-sensitive growth defect of strain AS17 topA am harboring a plasmid-borne temperature-sensitive suppressor tRNA. All mutants that show partial or full levels of DNA relaxation activity in cell extracts (relative to activity in extracts of wild-type cells) can complement this defect. The carboxyl-proximal 25% of the enzyme appears to be in a domain that is dispensable both in terms of the catalytic function of the enzyme and its biological role. Analysis of the mutant enzyme also indicates that the formation of the covalent topoisomerase-DNA complex is correlated with the DNA relaxation activity, which supports the notion that the covalent complex is an obligatory intermediate in the catalysis of DNA topoisomerization.
A data mining framework for time series estimation

Time series estimation techniques are usually employed in biomedical research to derive variables less accessible from a set of related and more accessible variables. These techniques are traditionally built from systems modeling approaches including simulation, blind decovolution, and state estimation. In this work, we define target time series (TTS) and its related time series (RTS) as the output and input of a time series estimation process, respectively. We then propose a novel data mining framework for time series estimation when TTS and RTS represent different sets of observed variables from the same dynamic system. This is made possible by mining a database of instances of TTS, its simultaneously recorded RTS, and the input/output dynamic models between them. The key mining strategy is to formulate a mapping function for each TTS-RTS pair in the database that translates a feature vector extracted from RTS to the dissimilarity between true TTS and its estimate from the dynamic model associated with the same TTS-RTS pair. At run time, a feature vector is extracted from an inquiry RTS and supplied to the mapping function associated with each TTS-RTS pair to calculate a dissimilarity measure. An optimal TTS-RTS pair is then selected by analyzing these dissimilarity measures. The associated input/output model of the selected TTS-RTS pair is then used to simulate the TTS given the inquiry RTS as an input. An exemplary implementation was built to address a biomedical problem of noninvasive intracranial pressure assessment. The performance of the proposed method was superior to that of a simple training-free approach of finding the optimal TTS-RTS pair by a conventional similarity-based search on RTS features.
Characterization of Ligand-Functionalized Microcantilevers for Metal Ion Sensing

A sensor for metal cations is demonstrated using single and binary mixtures of different thiolated ligands as self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) functionalized on silicon microcantilevers (MCs) with gold nanostructured surfaces. Binding of charged metal ions to the active surface of a cantilever induces an apparent surface stress, thereby causing static bending of the MC that is detected in this work by a beam-bending technique. A MC response mechanism based on changes in surface charge is discussed. The monodentated ligands arranged as SAMs on the MC surface are not expected to fully satisfy the coordination sphere of the detected metals. This leads to lower binding constants than would be expected for chelating ligands, but reversible responses. The modest binding constants are compensated in terms of the magnitudes of responses by the inherent higher sensitivity of the nanostructured approach as opposed to more traditional smooth surface MCs. Response characteristics are optimized in terms of SAM formation time, concentration of ligand solution, and pH of working buffer solution. Limits of detection for the tested mono-, di-, and trivalent metal ions are in low to submicromolar range. The results indicated that shapes and magnitudes of response profiles are characteristics of the metal ions and type of SAM. The response factors for a given SAM with the tested metal ions, or for a given metal with the tested SAMs, varied by roughly 1 order of magnitude. While the observed selectivity is not large, it is anticipated that sufficient ionic recognition contrast is available for selective metal ion identification when differentially functionalized arrays of MCs (different ligands on different cantilevers in the array) are used in conjunction with pattern recognition techniques.
Heat Transfer at High Rotation Numbers in a Two-Pass 4:1 Aspect Ratio Rectangular Channel With 45-Degree Skewed Ribs

Heat transfer measurements are reported for a rotating 4:1 aspect ratio (AR) coolant passage with ribs skewed 45 degree to the flow. The study covers Reynolds number (Re) in the range of 10,000–70,000, rotation number (Ro) in the range of 0–0.6, and density ratios (DR) between 0.1–0.2. These measurements are done in a rotating heat transfer rig utilizing segmented copper pieces that are individually heated, and thermocouples with slip rings providing the interface between the stationary and rotating frames. The results are compared with the published data obtained in a square channel with similar dimensionless rib-geometry parameters, and with the results obtained for a 4:1 AR smooth channel. As in a 1:1 AR channel, rotation enhances the heat transfer on the destabilized walls (inlet-trailing wall and outlet-leading wall), and decreases the heat transfer ratio on the stabilized walls (inlet-leading wall and outlet-trailing wall). However, the rotation-induced enhancement/degradation for the 4:1 rectangular channel is much weaker than that in the square ribbed channel, especially in the inlet (the first passage). The results on the inlet-leading wall are in contrast to that in the smooth channel with the same AR, where rotation causes heat transfer to increase along the inlet-leading wall at lower Reynolds number (Re = 10,000 and 20,000). Higher DR is observed to enhance the heat transfer on both ribbed walls in the inlet (the first passage) and the outlet (the second passage), but the DR effects are considerably weaker than those in a ribbed square channel. Measurements have also been parameterized with respect to the buoyancy parameter and results show the same general trends as those with respect to the rotation number. In addition, pressure drop measurements have been made and the thermal performance factor results are presented.© 2006 ASME
Venous Thromboembolic Disease and Hematologic Considerations in Obesity

Venous thromboembolic disease continues to be a major source of morbidity and mortality, with obese patients who are critically ill presenting some of the most at-risk patients. As the literature evolves, it has become clear that there is a complex relationship between obesity and thrombosis and atherogenesis. It is true that many of these conditions are reversible with weight loss; however, obesity remains on the rise. Management of obese patients must incorporate and consider these intricate changes in an attempt to improve patient outcomes.
Using a Newport refractive beam shaper to generate high-quality flat-top spatial profiles from a flashlamp-pumped commercial Nd:YAG laser

We've generated high-quality flat-top spatial profiles from a modified Continuum Powerlite 9010 Nd:YAG laser using the Gaussian-to-flat-top refractive beam shaper available from Newport Corporation. The Powerlite is a flashlamp-pumped, Q-switched, injection-seeded Nd:YAG laser manufactured in 1993 that delivers 1.6 J at 10 Hz using an oscillator and two 9 mm diameter amplifier rods. While its pulse energy is impressive, its beam quality is typically poor, an all too common characteristic of research-grade Nd:YAG lasers manufactured in the late 1980's and early 1990's. Structure in its near-field spatial fluence profile is reminiscent of round-aperture diffraction that is superposed with additional hot spots. These characteristics are largely due to poor beam quality from the oscillator coupled with over-filled amplifier rods, and reflect a design philosophy from the era of organic dye lasers. When these older laser systems are used for tasks like pumping optical parametric oscillators (OPO's), or for other applications demanding good beam quality, their designs are simply inadequate. To improve the 9010's beam quality we spatially filter the oscillator beam and remove the resulting Airy rings with an iris, then collimate and magnify the remaining central disk so its diameter is appropriate for input to the refractive shaper. The output of the beam shaper is then double-pass amplified through two amplifier rods with thermally induced focusing compensated by a negative lens before the first pass and by a convex mirror before the second pass. Using this approach we've obtained single-pass energy exceeding 250 mJ with little degradation of the flat-top profile and 950 mJ after double pass amplification. After double-passing the two amplifier rods the beam suffers some degradation in symmetry and uniformity, but is still much improved compared to the beam obtained using the 9010's original factory configuration. We find the modified 9010's flat-top profile improves conversion efficiency when used for our applications in crystal nonlinear optics.
Large-amplitude oscillations of oblique panels with an initial curvature

Von Karman field equations for flexible oblique plates with an initial curvature are extended to a dynamical case Using series iepresentation of initial and additional deflections and Galerkin's procedure, the governing equation for an admissible mode time function is established Using this single assumed modal deflection, and assuming built-in edge fiee to move in the inplane directions, the following particular cases are discussed: buckling of an oblique plate under uniaxial compressive load, free linear vibrations of a square plate, large deflections of a uniformly loaded square plate, snap-through phenomena of a curved oblique plate under uniform transverse load, and free nonlinear vibrations A numeiical example concerning a rhombic plate is discussed in more detail The well-known fact of a decrease of the period of nonlinear vibrations with an increasing amplitude is corroborated, this relation being less pronounced for larger sweep angles