cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Adaptation of computerized posturography to assess seated balance in persons with spinal cord injury

Background: The ability to retain or improve seated balance function after spinal cord injury (SCI) may mean the difference between independence and requiring assistance for basic activities of daily living. Compared with assessments of standing and walking balance, seated balance assessments remain relatively underemphasized and under-utilized. Objective: To optimize tools for assessing seated balance deficits and recovery in SCI. Design: Cross-sectional observational study of different methods for assessing seated balance function. Setting: Veterans Affairs Center of Excellence for the Medical Consequences of Spinal Cord Injury. Participants: Seven able-bodied volunteers, seven participants with chronic motor-complete thoracic SCI. Interventions: A computerized pressure-plate apparatus designed for testing standing balance was adapted into a seated balance assessment system. Outcome measures: Seated section of Berg Balance Scale; modified functional reach test; and two posturography tests: limits of stability and clinical test of sensory integration on balance. Results: Seated posturography demonstrated improved correlation with neurological level of lesion compared to that of routinely applied subjective clinical tests. Conclusion: Seated posturography represents an appealing outcome measure that may be applied toward the measurement of functional changes in response to various rehabilitation interventions in individuals with paralysis.
OPIOID INHIBITION OF NEURALLY MEDIATED MUCUS SECRETION IN HUMAN BRONCHI

Capsaicin, which induces release of neuropeptides such as substance P from sensory nerves, stimulated mucus secretion in surgically resected human bronchi in vitro. Pretreatment of the tissue with the opioid antagonist naloxone significantly enhanced secretion, possibly by blocking the inhibitory effect of opiate premedication before surgery. Capsaicin-induced mucus secretion was completely blocked by morphine, and this effect was reversed by naloxone. Thus, sensory nerve stimulation increases mucus secretion in human airways, which might contribute to the mucus hypersecretion seen after inhalation of irritants such as cigarette smoke. Secretion can be completely inhibited by opioid drugs, so they may represent a new therapeutic approach to airway hypersecretion in chronic bronchitis and asthma, in which axon reflex mechanisms have been implicated.
Isotope Separation by Distillation: Design of a Carbon-13 Plant

This isotope separating plant has a great height with many long columns in parallel, low process flows compared with its boil-up, and a long time response. All these features result from dealing with a mixture whose separation factor is near unity, the carbon monoxide system. Considering that there are three isotopes of oxygen involved, six molecular species are being separated. Although CO molecules are unreacting within the columns, an exchange reactor is used when the separation is partially complete to assist in obtaining high quality product. These considerations have been formulated in a good theoretical design procedure along with excellent mechanical design, fabrication and assembly to yield a plant of high performance for carbon-13 production.
Specific 3' sequences flanking a minimal apolipoprotein B (apoB) mRNA editing 'cassette' are critical for efficient editing in vitro.

Abstract Apolipoprotein B (apoB) mRNA in mammalian intestine undergoes direct conversion of cytidine to uridine at nucleotide 6666, generating a UAA stop codon which defines the carboxyl-terminus of apoB 48 . We have identified three distinct sequence elements which are required for efficient apoB RNA editing in vitro and have defined a 20 nucleotide ‘editing cassette’ which will support efficient editing in the context of a variety of AT-rich apoB mRNA backgrounds. An important question remaining to be addressed is whether this cassette can support editing in a GC-rich background characteristic of other mRNAs. We demonstrate that the context into which the editing cassette is inserted may determine the efficiency of editing site utilization. When an editing cassette is placed in the context of human albumin mRNA sequence, editing is reduced 6-fold relative to a construct of similar length in which the cassette is surrounded by apoB mRNA sequence. Chimeric RNA substrates may be efficiently edited, however, when albumin sequence resides only 5′ of the editing cassette. The data suggest that the proximal of an AT-rich, apoB-like, mRNA sequence is only required 3′ of the editing cassette. These results should prove useful in evaluating the potential for editing on mRNAs where similar cassettes can be found.
The Ricardian Factor Endowment Theory of International Trade

In the Ricardian factor endowment theory of international trade all exchange is based on simple Ricardian comparative (technological) advantages. International trade takes place because different countries have different factor endowments of identical factors of production. This paper gives a popular introduction to the model and shows how it sheds new light on the age-old question of who gains form international trade. The paper also illustrates how the model can be used to analyze technology differences in international trade and the product cycle. [411]
A hemolytic assay for the measurement of equine complement

A hemolytic assay was developed for the measurement of functional equine complement activity. The assay utilizes antibody sensitized chicken erythrocytes as the target cell and was specific for classical pathway (antibody dependent) complement activity. The assay was found to be reproducible and more sensitive than previous reports using other species of target cells. Total serum complement (CH50) values were determined for five mares and their foals and followed over a period of 3 months.
Task interference in time-based, event-based, and dual intention prospective memory conditions☆

Forming the intention to complete an activity later is the standard definition of a prospective memory task. Recently, a debate has arisen concerning the degree to which near-term intentions usurp resources away from other ongoing activities. In four experiments the authors tested how much interference was caused by holding a variety of different intentions. In all but one case, possessing an intention to perform an activity later resulted in slowed decision latencies to a different, ongoing activity. Intentions that were well-specified interfered less than intentions that were more ill-specified. In dual intention conditions, evidence for subadditivity of interference was obtained, although not uniformly. In considering potential mechanisms that cause this interference, the explanation favored here is that people establish resource allocation policies based on their predictions of being able to successfully complete both the ongoing and prospective memory tasks.
Forgiving Features for Failed Entrepreneurs vs. Cost of Financing inBankruptcies

Anentrepreneur-friendly bankruptcy law lowers exit barriers by exposing failed entrepreneurs to comparatively less painful exit procedures. This in turn lowers the entry barriers and risks for entrepreneurs to launch new businesses. However, this reduced entry barrier may not come for free. From the standpoint of financial institutions a more lenient bankruptcy law means a higher risk of insolvency for their loans to entrepreneurs. In this study we examine the relationship between two forgiving features of a bankruptcy law (i.e., fresh start in personal bankruptcy law and automatic stay of assets in corporate bankruptcy law) and the rate of new firm entry, as well as the mediating effect of the cost of financing. We use a cross-country database of 28 countries spanning 15 years. While these two features share the same forgiving nature, we find that providing failed entrepreneurs with a “fresh start” encourages new firm entry but providing entrepreneurs an opportunity to recover from troubling situations with an “automatic stay of assets” does not. Most importantly, both “fresh start” and “automatic stay of assets” give financial institutions incentives to charge higher interest rate (i.e., lending rate) to entrepreneurs; this in turn lowers the rate of new firm entry.
A procedure for quantitative electron probe microanalysis of biological material

Abstract A quantitative electron probe microanalysis technique based on established metallurgical procedures has been developed for biological material. The technique utilizes a computer program that has been designed for flexibility and ease of operation. The error in quantitation is about ± 10% . An application is presented illustrating the use of the procedure.
Diffraction tomography based on McCutchen’s theorem

An early paper by McCutchen [J. Opt. Soc. Am.54, 240 (1964)] relates the modulation of a convergent spherical wave front to the Fourier transform of the complex amplitude near the geometrical focal point. This implies additional useful Fourier relationships between the wave-front modulations and the cross sections of the diffracted field, which contain the geometrical focal point. We show how these relations can be applied to diffraction tomography. To make use of McCutchen’s relations, particular emphasis is given to the analysis of diffraction tomography with point-source illumination. We derive a sufficient condition under which linear tomographic reconstruction can be applied to arbitrary incident fields and synthetic apertures. This suggests a modified filtered backpropagation algorithm. In addition, we use the results of McCutchen’s paper to obtain information about the symmetry of the object from the scattered field.
Disparities in the delivery of pediatric trauma care.

Background: Trauma is the leading cause of morbidity and mortality in children. During the last few decades, trauma systems have evolved to improve the care of the injured with an ultimate goal of saving lives. As a result, pediatric trauma centers (PTC) have been established to optimize outcomes for injured children. We sought to determine whether injured children treated at PTC or adult trauma centers (ATC) with added qualifications to treat injured children receive better trauma care than those treated at other hospitals or trauma centers. Methods: We reviewed more than 60 published studies on pediatric trauma outcomes. The studies included registry analysis: single and multihospital experience; abdominal, head and neck, and thoracic trauma; as well as functional outcomes. Results: The data show that most injured children are not treated at PTC due to the geographically limited distribution of such specialized care, lack of pediatric surgeons, and other specialists. These limitations create persistent disparities in outcomes for injured children depending on where they are treated. Some of the larger database analyses suggest lower mortality rate, better outcome for nonoperative treatment of blunt abdominal injuries, and improved overall functional outcome for those children treated at PTC. However, others fail to demonstrate differences for children treated at ATC or ATC with added qualifications. Conclusion: Although this analysis does not provide a definitive answer to the question as to which type of trauma center provides better care for injured pediatric patients, it identifies current gaps and disparities in the care of injured children that can be remedied through education and training.
One step integration methods of third-fourth order accuracy with large hyperbolic stability limits

Abstract One step integration methods of third and fourth order accuracy that use K function evaluations to solve the system of differential equations d y d t = A · y are proposed. These methods are shown to have a hyperbolic stability limit of y (K − 1)2 − 1 which approaches the theoretical maximum limit of K − 1 at large K obtained for methods of lower order accuracy.
Sequence of the 3′ end of the simian hemorrhagic fever virus genome

Abstract SHFV is a member of a new virus family which includes the genus arterivirus. We have cloned and sequenced 6,314 nt from the 3′ end of the SHFV genome. This sequence encompasses nine complete ORFs which is three additional ORFs as compared to the other arteriviruses. We have numbered these ORFs 2a, 2b, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9. At the 5′ end of this sequence is a partial ORF (ORF 1b) of 1590 nt and at the 3′ end is a poly(A) tract preceded by a 76 nt noncoding region. The coding capacity for each of the SHFV ORFs as well as the potential mass, p I and number of N-linked glycosylation sites for each of the encoded peptides was determined.
Quantitative models for statistical nucleosome occupancy prediction

Nucleosome is the basic unit of DNA in eukaryotic cells. As nucleosomes limit the accessibility of the wrapped DNA to transcription factors and other DNA-binding proteins, their positions play an essential role in regulations of gene activities. Experiments have indicated that DNA sequence strongly influences nucleosome positioning by enhancing or reducing their binding affinity to nucleosomes, therefore providing an intrinsic cell regulatory mechanism. While some sequence features are known to be nucleosome forming or nucleosome inhibiting, however, existing models have limited accuracy in predicting quantitatively nucleosomes occupancy (i.e., statistical nucleosome positioning) based on DNA sequence. In this paper, we propose new quantitative models for DNA sequence-based nucleosome-occupancy prediction based on dinucleotide-matching features, where the parameters are learned through regression algorithms. Experimental results on a genome-wide set of yeast dataset show that our models give more accurate predictions than existing models.
Electron-deuteron elastic scattering at high momentum transfer

A major contribution to the scattering is expected to be given by the diagrams in which the deuteron virtually dissociates into nucleons which undergo a one-photon exchange with the electron. In this paper a calculation of the scattering as given by these diagrams is made in terms of the possible form factors that can occur at the $\ensuremath{\gamma}\mathrm{NN}$ and $\mathrm{dnp}$ vertices. The treatment is manifestly relativistic and involves no series expansion. The $\ensuremath{\gamma}\mathrm{NN}$ vertex is set up to be manifestly gauge invariant and to allow for the nucleon to be off the mass shell. The $\mathrm{dnp}$ vertex is arranged to conserve the isospin-zero property of the deuteron and to allow for both interacting and spectator nucleons to be off the mass shell. The calculation of the matrix elements leads to integrals of complicated traces of products of Dirac matrices for which a numerical-evaluation process is developed. A preliminary comparison with the experimental data is made, in which form factors consistent with $\ensuremath{\gamma}\mathrm{NN}$ scattering and with the nonrelativistic properties of the deuteron are chosen. It is found that agreement with experiment can be obtained by a variety of plausible choices of form factors.
The edge function method and singular problems in rock mechanics

Abstract The edge function method is considered as an alternative to conventional numerical schemes for the solution of singular plane problems in isotropic and anisotropic rock masses. Particular interest is focused on the interaction of singularities, such as discontinuous loads and crack problems, with a gravity body force term. The essence of the edge function approach is the approximation of the solution by a linear combination of solutions of the field equations. The unknowns in the linear combination are obtained from a system of equations which follows from the approximation of the boundary conditions by a boundary Galerkin energy method. No mesh generation is required over the domain or boundary of the problem. In this paper, discontinuous loads are modeled using special solutions which satisfy polynomial boundary data in the neighborhood of a vertex. Crack behavior is modeled using special solutions which satisfy prescribed tractions on the crack faces. Accurate results are obtained for step loads and crack problems using approx. 100 degrees of freedom. The gravity term does not adversely affect the convergence and the high level of accuracy achieved in earlier edge function fracture work is maintained.
Non-Template-Centered, Closed Tetravanadium Phosphate and Phosphonate Clusters.

Tetranuclear V(III) complexes, [HB(pz)(3)](4)V(4)(m-C(6)H(5)OPO(3))(4) (I), its acetonitrile solvate (I.4CH(3)CN), and [HB(pz)(3)](4)V(4)(m-O(2)NC(6)H(4)OPO(3))(4).4C(7)H(8).H(2)O (II), and tetranuclear vanadyl complexes, (t-Bupz)(4)V(4)O(4)(m-C(6)H(5)PO(3))(4).2H(2)O (III) and (t-Bupz)(5)V(4)O(4)(m-C(6)H(5)PO(3))(4).4CH(3)CN.0.6 H(2)O (IV), have been prepared and characterized by spectroscopic, magnetic, and electrochemical methods (pz = pyrazole, t-Bupz = tert-butylpyrazole). The use of organic solvents and bulky organic groups as ancillary ligands leads to formation of neutral species instead of the anionic clusters commonly found in the hydrothermal synthesis of vanadium organophosphate/phosphonate systems. Complexes I.4CH(3)CN and IV have also been characterized by single-crystal X-ray diffraction. Crystal data: I.4CH(3)CN, triclinic, Po, a = 15.495(3) A, b = 17.000(3) A, c = 17.949(4) A, alpha = 89.17(3) degrees, beta = 86.00(3) degrees, gamma = 78.60(3) degrees, Z = 2; IV, triclinic, Po, a = 15.541(3) A, b = 16.340(2) A, c = 19.069(5) A, alpha = 83.58(2) degrees, beta = 79.67(2) degrees, gamma = 63.68(1) degrees, Z = 2. Both are closed clusters, the core structure of the first consisting of a cubane-like arrangement of metal octahedra and phosphate tetrahedra and the core structure of the second consisting of a distorted, collapsed variant of the first. Unlike other vanadium phosphate clusters, these compounds form in the absence of a central, templating agent. As such they represent the simplest form of a closed cluster in which steric forces and cluster connectivity requirements play the primary role in organizing the cluster framework.
Straggling Effects on Resonant Yields

The finite nature of energy loss processes for a charged particle in a material leads to a ringing'' effect in the thick-target yield curve. The effect is described and evaluated. (auth)
SU‐E‐J‐151: An Off‐Line QA Tool for Evaluating Reproducibility of Deep Inhalation Breath‐Hold Treatment for Breast Radiotherapy

Purpose: To develop an off‐line QA tool for evaluating reproducibility of deep inhalation breath hold (DIBH) breast treatment using a spirometer‐based breathing control system with video guidance. Methods: Tangential beam plans (open medial field; lateral IMRT field) used for whole breast radiation with DIBH‐guided by a spirometer‐based breathing control system have been studied. An imaging sequence was set‐up at the treatment machine to acquire multiple (>15) EPID image frames during beam‐on with source‐to‐imager distance 150cm. Images were exported from the EPID and imported into an off‐line QA tool developed in‐house for evaluation of intra‐and inter‐fractional uncertainties for DIBH treatments. The user defines a region of interest (ROI) (e.g., expander, clip(s), chestwall) on the first (reference) image. A rectangular imaging template is created from the ROI with a defined expansion (e.g., 1cm). The template is then matched to each of the following image frames using cross‐correlation. Template movement is used to estimate breast motion during one or multiple breath‐hold sessions. The breath‐hold lung volume information is extracted from the spirometer and compared to the corresponding motion curve estimated from the EPID images. Results: Motions of different regions of the breast can be visualized and shown to be constant within 1mm at the imager (∼.7mm in the breast) for some patients. Both drifting and random motions can be identified on individual patients on specific days. Off‐line analysis of these data may provide a useful tool to assure that individual patients are adequately performing the DIBH technique, and to identify patients who require new margins or planning strategies. Conclusion: An off‐line QA motion evaluation tool has been designed for DIBH breast treatment, and is an effective method for evaluation of DIBH reproducibility both intra‐and inter‐fraction.
Multipliers on complex homogeneous spaces

1. Let G be a real Lie group, represented as a transitive group of analytic automorphisms of a simply-connected complex analytic manifold D; if gEG and zED, the action of the transformation representing g on the point z will be denoted by gz. A multiplier for the group G, with respect to its representation as a transformation group on D, is a C?? complex-valued function ,(g; z) on G XD which is holomorphic in z and which satisfies A(g9g2; z) =A(g1; g2Z)A(g2; z) for every gi, g2GG; to exclude the obvious trivial case, we further assume that ,b(g; z) 0. Such functions are sometimes considered in examining the group G and its representations,2 but also arise as the continuous analogs of some structures of interest in the study of automorphic functions;3 our purpose here is to determine the possible multipliers which may arise in connection with the second of the above points of view. We shall always assume here that G is connected. Notice that the set of all multipliers for G forms an abelian group i(G; D) under multiplication. The universal covering group G* of G also acts as a transformation group on D, the action of the transformation representing g*EG* on the point zED being defined by g*z=gz whenever g* covers g; we shall consider firstly the group M(G*; D) of multipliers for G*. Let H* be the isotropy subgroup of G* at some point zo, which point is to be held fixed subsequently, and let K* be the subgroup of G* consisting of all elements represented by the trivial transformation which leaves D pointwise fixed. For our purposes, in particular for Siegel's modular groups, there is no loss of generality in assuming: (i) that there are local CIO mappings z->g* of D into G* such that g*zo =z; (ii) that K* is the center of G*; (iii) that K*G [G*, G*] =e*, that is, the intersection of the center and the commutator subgroup of G* is the trivial subgroup consisting of the identity e* alone; and (iv) that elements of finite order are everywhere dense in the group H*/K*. Whenever f(z) is holomorphic and nowhere vanishing on D,
Self-duality for interacting fields: Covariant field equations for six-dimensional chiral supergravities

We determine the supersymmetric coupling of chiral N = 4b supergravity in six dimensions to an arbitrary number n of anti-self-dual tensor multiplets. In a novel phenomenon, the five self-duality and n anti-self-duality conditions for the two-index tensors are modified by the scalar interactions to be non-diagonal in terms of the elementary tensor gauge fields, which transform irreducibly under a global SO(5, n) invariance. The 5n scalar fields parametrize the coset manifold SO(5,n)[SO(5) × SO(n)]. The truncated N = 2 systems, in which the n scalar parameterize the space SO(n, 1)SO(n), are derived and found to have analogous properties. In general the theories do not admit action principles possessing manifest linearly realized Lorentz invariance, so the construction is effected at the level of the supersymmetry transformations and field equations. Finally, we speculate on generalizations including N = 2 vector matter, and comment on the possible implications of our results for chiral superstring models.
Dielectric Behavior of Strontium Barium Niobate Relaxor Ferroelectrics in Ceramics and Single Crystal Fibers

Ferroelectric strontium barium niobate (SBN) single crystal fibers are fabricated from congruent Sr0.61Ba0.39Nb2O6 ceramics by the laser heated pedestal method. For these crystals, the phase components are detected by X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis and dielectric properties are measured and compared. No other solid solutions during crystal growth are detected by XRD analysis. Two relaxations are observed by dielectric spectroscopy in a distinct temperature range and the relaxation mechanisms are investigated to explain the difference in dielectric behavior. The poling effect on the relaxation is also discussed.
Beautiful People Build Better Networks: A Social Capital Explanation for Why Beauty Pays

Being attractive brings better pay and faster promotions. So, too, does having a social network that features more structural holes and weaker ties (Burt & Ronchi, 2006; Seibert, Kraimer & Liden, 2...
Stabilization under capital controls

Abstract This paper considers a stabilization program consisting of a fixed exchange rate rule and a delayed fiscal adjustment. In contrast to the existing literature, it is assumed that there is no private capital mobility. The effects of such a program are substantially different than under capital mobility, since the access to international capital markets affects the ability of the private sector to smooth consumption prior to the fiscal component of the program.
Diversification strategy, profit performance and the entropy measure

Several industrial organization studies, using diversification index measures, examined corporate diversification and economic performance and failed to find any significant relationship between them. Rumelt and other strategy researchers used a semisubjective classification scheme and uncovered a systematic relationship between diversification strategies and performance. This study combines the strengths of the index approach, namely, simplicity, objectivity and replicability, with the essential richness of Rumelt's methodology. Using the Jacquemin-Berry entropy measure of diversification and the line-of-business data, this study finds that firms with predominantly related diversification show significantly better profit growth than firms with predominantly unrelated diversification.
Sequential azacitidine and lenalidomide in patients with high-risk myelodysplastic syndromes and acute myeloid leukaemia: a single-arm, phase 1/2 study

Summary Background The standard of care for myelodysplastic syndromes is hypomethylating agents such as azacitidine. However, responses to azacitidine are generally temporary, and outcomes after hypomethylating agent failure are dismal. Therefore, the development of more effective treatments is crucial to improve outcomes in patients with myelodysplastic syndromes. We aimed to assess azacitidine and lenalidomide in patients with high-risk myelodysplastic syndromes and acute myeloid leukaemia. Methods We did this single-arm phase 1/2 study at the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, TX, USA. Patients of any age were eligible for phase 1 and 2a if they had relapsed or refractory acute myeloid leukaemia or myelodysplastic syndrome with bone marrow blasts more than 10%. For phase 2b, eligible participants were previously untreated with myelodysplastic syndrome with an International Prognostic Scoring System (IPSS) score of intermediate-1 or higher with up to 30% blasts. All participants received 75 mg/m 2 azacitidine once a day for days 1–5 for each 28 day cycle. We gave patients oral lenalidomide for 5 or 10 days starting on day 6. We assessed seven lenalidomide doses in a 3 + 3 phase 1 design (n=28). The primary endpoint in phase 1 was the maximum tolerated dose, and the primary endpoint in phase 2 was overall survival. Outcome analyses were by intention to treat. This study is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, number NCT01038635. Findings Between Dec 30, 2009, and June, 17, 2013, we enrolled 88 patients (28 in phase 1 and 60 in phase 2). One patient unexpectedly died in the phase 1 study at the highest dose level, six more patients were recruited with no further serious adverse events. We recorded no dose-limiting toxic effects, and the maximum tolerated dose of lenalidomide in combination with azacitidine in patients with acute myeloid leukaemia and myelodysplastic syndrome was initially established at 50 mg per day for 10 days. In the first 20 patients in phase 2, we noted a high rate of myelosuppression and myelosuppression-related toxic effects; therefore, we amended the lenalidomide dose to 25 mg per day for 5 days. We also adjusted the inclusion criteria to include patients with less than 30% blasts to focus mainly on patients with myelodysplastic syndromes. Median overall survival was 75 weeks (IQR 25–not reached) for the 40 patients in phase 2b. The most common grade 3–4 adverse events overall were neutropenic fever (n=27) and pneumonia (n=18). Interpretation We have identified a safe and active sequential treatment combination of azacitidine and lenalidomide for patient with myelodysplastic syndrome and have preliminary evidence that this dose is also safe for patients with acute myeloid leukaemia. Funding MD Anderson Cancer Center and Celgene.
Annealing Markov chain Monte Carlo with applications to ancestral inference

Abstract Markov chain Monte Carlo (MCMC; the Metropolis-Hastings algorithm) has been used for many statistical problems, including Bayesian inference, likelihood inference, and tests of significance. Though the method generally works well, doubts about convergence often remain. Here we propose MCMC methods distantly related to simulated annealing. Our samplers mix rapidly enough to be usable for problems in which other methods would require eons of computing time. They simulate realizations from a sequence of distributions, allowing the distribution being simulated to vary randomly over time. If the sequence of distributions is well chosen, then the sampler will mix well and produce accurate answers for all the distributions. Even when there is only one distribution of interest, these annealing-like samplers may be the only known way to get a rapidly mixing sampler. These methods are essential for attacking very hard problems, which arise in areas such as statistical genetics. We illustrate the methods wi...
"Like a Frog in a Well": Young People's Views of the Future Expressed in Two Collaborative Research Projects in Sri Lanka

In a Sri Lankan context of rising youth unemployment, a long ethnic war, and neoliberal economic policies on the reprivatized tea estates, this article discusses two 2004 collaborative research projects with young people that focused on their views of the future. One project, designed by a group of university students, concerned the high rate of unemployment of young adults in Sri Lanka. This was an issue of grave import to the students that was largely unmentioned in national discourses, e.g., electoral rhetoric. The other project concerned the future of young, mostly Tamil, people on tea estates in Sri Lanka. This project was organized in response to the view expressed by middle-aged decision-makers in Sri Lanka's tea industry that young people on the estates will not choose agricultural work in the future. They anticipated a labor shortage in the tea sector, but had not consulted young people directly about their future hopes and plans. Contrary to views attributed to them by others, the young tea esta...
Visual Interventions and the "Crises in Representation" in Environmental Anthropology: Researching Environmental Justice in a Hungarian Romani Neighborhood

Participatory visual research, or "visual interventions" (Pink 2007), allow environmental anthropologists to respond to three different "crises of representation": (1) the critique of ethnographic representation presented by postmodern, postcolonial, and feminist anthropologists; (2) the constructivist critique of nature and the environment; and (3) the "environmental justice" critique demanding representation for the environmental concerns of communities of color. Participatory visual research integrates community members in the process of staking out a research agenda, conducting fieldwork and interpreting data, and communicating and applying research findings. Our project used the Photovoice methodology to generate knowledge and documentation related to environment injustices faced by Roma in Hungary. I discuss the promise and limitations of "visual interventions" as a pathway leading applied environmental anthropologists beyond the three "crises in representation."
P02-242 Teaching cultural competence in medicine

Introduction Understanding how different cultures perceive illness and treatment are fundamental elements of cultural competence in medicine. Knowledge alone is not sufficient; physicians must be open to these cultures and, as appropriate, inclusive of such in comprehensive treatment plans. Medical schools increasingly address this important issue by accepting student bodies with broad cultural diversity and focus education on attaining cultural competence. This paper addresses the unusual circumstance when medical students’ cultures are in direct conflict with western medicine and analyzes the perception of appropriate intervention. Method Composite case analysis with literature review. Result A 24-year-old male medical student of Asian heritage was asked to comment on how he would treat cancer patients who were expected to die without chemotherapy. He responded: “teach alternatives/benefits/risks; patients can be persuaded with knowledge but one must accept their decisions; patients may have had enough and want to start anew.” This last point addressed the Hindu concept of “peaceful death with reincarnation” which was consistent with his heritage. He had not considered refusal of chemotherapy in the context of western cultures wherein reincarnation may not be a belief and the desire to die may be secondary to depression. Conclusion Cultural knowledge and diversity may lead to inappropriate approaches toward medical care in western cultures. As much as medical schools need to diversify, learn about other cultures, and incorporate such in patient-care, it is critical that medical schools teach students from other cultures about western culture.
A Factor-Analytic Investigation of Child Animism

Summary From a factor analysis of 33 variables on 83 first-grade children an animism factor, involving children's conceptions of life, was identified. Animism was found to be relatively independent of operational thought, Piagetiantype problem solving, and the ability to give causal explanations of physical phenomena. In a second study, a similar animism factor emerged from a factor analysis of 11 variables, Animistic conceptions were unrelated to children's reasoning about various interpersonal situations: i.e., morality, justice, and psychological causality. In addition to an interpretation of the factor involving possible differences in criteria used for life attribution, the specificity of the factor was underscored.
Determination of the instrumental detection limits of commercial nonylphenol ethoxylates with a wide range of molecular masses using matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry

Recent interest in the environmental fate and impact of nonylphenol ethoxylates (NPEs) has necessitated the need for the development of specific, and yet efficient, analytical methodologies for their detection. Using seventeen commercial NPEs, all having the general formula 4-(C(9)H(19))-C(6)H(4)-(OCH(2)CH(2))(n)-OH, we have established minimum concentrations at which matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization (MALDI)/time-of-flight (TOF)/mass spectrometry (MS) can be used in their detection. The NPEs were dissolved in an acetonitrile/tetrahydrofuran (3:1) solvent system prior to mixing with the matrix (alpha-cyano-4-hydroxycinnamic acid, dissolved in acetonitrile/tetrahydrofuran) solution, and the resulting MALDI-TOF mass spectra produced mostly sodiated molecules [M + Na](+).For the NPEs in which the major components contain three to ten ethoxy units, the sodiated molecules were detected at a minimum analyte concentration of 10 mg/L, whereas those in which the major components contain eight to fifteen ethoxy units were detected at a minimum concentration of 30 mg/L. Those NPEs containing oligomers in excess of twenty ethoxy units were only detectable at much higher concentration. For examples, Surfonic(R) N-300, N-400, N550, N-700, N-800, and N-1000 had detection limits of (mg/L): 1000, 1600, 2000, 2600, 3500 and 4500, respectively. These variations in instrumental detection limits must be considered when analyzing environmental samples for the presence of nonylphenol ethoxylates. Copyright 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
The effects of a high-fat sucrose diet on functional outcome following cortical contusion injury in the rat.

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a major public health issue affecting 1.7 million Americans each year, of which approximately 50,000 are fatal. High-fat sucrose (HFS) diets are another public health issue which can lead to obesity, hypertension, and many other debilitating disorders. These two disorders combined can lead to more complicated issues. It has recently been shown that HFS diets can reduce levels of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) leading to reductions in neuronal and behavioral plasticity. This reduction in BDNF is suspected of increasing the susceptibility of the brain to injury. To test the effects of a HFS diet on recovery of function post-TBI, male Sprague-Dawley rats were used in this study. Eight weeks prior to TBI, rats were placed on a special HFS diet (n = 14) or a standard rodent diet (n = 14). Following this eight-week period, rats were prepared with bilateral frontal cortical contusion injuries (CCI) or sham procedures. Beginning two days post-TBI, animals were tested on a battery of behavioral tests to assess somatosensory dysfunction and spatial memory in the Morris water maze, with a reference memory and a working memory task. Following testing, animals were sacrificed and their brains processed for lesion analysis. The HFS diet worsened performance on the bilateral tactile adhesive removal test in sham animals. Injured animals on the Standard diet had a greater improvement in somatosensory performance in the adhesive removal test and had better performance on the working memory task compared to animals on the HFS diet. The HFS diet also resulted in significantly greater loss of cortical tissue post-CCI than in the Standard diet group. This study may aid in determining how nutritional characteristics or habits interact with damage to the brain.
Effects of inhibitors of Na and Cl transport on oxygen consumption in the bullfrog cornea

Abstract The oxygen consumption of isolated bullfrog corneas in NaCl, Na 2 SO 4 (Cl-free) and choline Cl (Na-free) Ringer's solution was studied, and also the effects on oxygen consumption of the inhibitors of Cl transport: furosemide, ethacrynic and dihydroethacrynic acids. The removal of Cl from the bathing medium inhibited oxygen consumption by 19% while its addition to a Cl-free medium stimulated oxygen consumption by 14%. Na removal from the bathing medium inhibited oxygen consumption by 36%. Furosemide inhibited oxygen consumption (16%) only in NaCl Ringer's solution. Ethacrynic and dihydroethacrynic acids inhibited oxygen consumption in NaCl and Cl-free media but their effects were less specific. The inhibitors of Na and Cl transport: ouabain and tryptamine, inhibited oxygen consumption in NaCl Ringer's solution by 34 and 26%, respectively. In Cl-free Ringer's solution, ouabain and tryptamine inhibited oxygen consumption by 18 and 14%, respectively. These results are pertinent for characterizing the coupling between aerobic metabolism and transepithelial active transport of Na and Cl. The fractions of suprabasal oxygen consumption supporting Na and Cl transport are found to be nearly equal while the rate of net transepithelial Cl transport is known to be at least four times as large as the rate of net active Na transport. Based on the furosemide effect on oxygen consumption and the electrical energy dissipation through the active Cl transport pathway, an energy efficiency utilization by Cl transport of about 50% is calculated.
Comparative evaluation of red cell-labeling parameters of three lipid-soluble-111In-chelates: Effect of lipid solubility on membrane incorporation and stability constant on transchelation

A rabbit red cell model was used to determine the cell labeling properties of three lipid-soluble 111In-complexes: 111In-oxine, 111In-acetylacetone, and 111In-tropolone. Partition coefficients (olive oil/buffer) were measured to determine the lipid solubility and were 3.54, 7.93, and 18.18 for 111In-oxine, 111In-acetylacetone, and 111In-tropolone respectively. The effect of the concentration of these three chelating agents on labeling efficiencies was studied. The factors influencing the labeling efficiencies of these complexes such as cell density, time of incubation, influence of temperature, pH, effect of plasma proteins, and citrate ion concentration in the cell-labeling medium were studied. Labeling yields as high as 95.15±4.15% were achieved with 111In-tropolone after a 10-min incubation at 37° C. The optimum pH for cell labeling was 6.5. Excess citrate ion (>3.02 mg/ml) and small amounts of plasma proteins (>10 μl/ml) decreased the labeling efficiencies in all three cases. Distribution of these 111In-complexes in membrane, membrane fragments, and hemoglobin was studied after hemolysis. In spite of the higher lipid solubility of 111In-tropolone, the transchclation capacity appears to be similar to that of 111In-oxine. 111In-acetylacetone had the highest transchelation capacity.
Oscillations of a thin hollow cylinder: Carbon nanotubes

The classical vibrational modes are calculated for a thin-walled hollow cylinder of isotropic material. An analytical solution is obtained for all of the modes. The results are applied to calculate the low-frequency vibrational modes of a single-wall carbon nanotube. Analytical formulas are obtained for the Raman frequencies, and for the velocities of acoustical modes.
Src Family Kinase-independent Signal Transduction and Gene Induction by Leukemia Inhibitory Factor

Members of the interleukin-6 (IL-6) family of cytokines exert their biological effects via binding to their cognate ligand-binding receptor subunit on a target cell. The subsequent recruitment of the common signal transducer glycoprotein 130 and activation of the JAK/STAT and SHP-2/Ras/mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathways are responsible for the majority of cellular responses elicited by IL-6 cytokines. Several types of experiments suggest that the Src family of kinases (SFK) also participates in IL-6 family cytokine-mediated signaling events. SYF cells, which lack expression of SFKs Src, Yes, and Fyn, were used to determine the role of SFKs in IL-6 family cytokine signaling and gene induction. SYF and wild type (WT) control fibroblasts displayed similar activation of signaling intermediates following stimulation with leukemia inhibitory factor (LIF). LIF-stimulated tyrosine phosphorylation of SHP-2 and subsequent activation of MAPK in SYF cells were identical to that seen in LIF-stimulated WT cells. Both LIF-stimulated tyrosine phosphorylation of STAT1 and STAT3, as well as LIF-stimulated DNA binding activity of STAT-containing nuclear complexes were indistinguishable when compared in SYF and WT cells. In addition, the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase-sensitive Akt kinase and p38 MAPK were activated by LIF in both SYF and WT cells. Furthermore, LIF-stimulated expression of c-fos, egr-1, and suppressor of cytokine signaling-3 was retained in SYF cells. The IL-6 family cytokine oncostatin M was also capable of activating MAPK, STAT3, STAT1, Akt, and p38 in both WT and SYF cells. These results demonstrate that IL-6 family cytokines can activate a full repertoire of signaling pathways and induce gene expression independent of SFKs.
Diphenhydramine Intoxication in a Dog1

Summary We report a case of diphenhydramine intoxication in a dog. A five month old intact male Labrador Retriever was presented after ingesting approximately 36 diphenhydramine tablets (50 mg/tablet; approximate ingested dose of 1800 mg or 67 mg/kg). Physical examination findings included severe ataxia, profound disorientation, severe continuous spastic muscle tremors, hyperthermia, tachycardia, tachypnea, and hyperesthesia. The dog was unresponsive to intravenous diazepam and phenobarbital, but rapidly responded to an intravenous bolus and subsequent continuous infusion of guaifenesin and supportive fluid therapy. The serum diphenhydramine level on admission was 537 ng/ml. The toxic level is not reported for dogs, but is considered>60 ng/ml in people. The dog was discharged 24 hours after admission with no apparent residual effects.
Verification Bias in a Diagnostic Accuracy Study of Symptom Screening for Tuberculosis in HIV-Infected Pregnant Women

TO THE EDITOR—We read with interest the article by Gupta et al on symptom screening among pregnant women infected with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) [1]. This work examines the diagnostic accuracy of the World Health Organization (WHO) symptom screen for active tuberculosis [2] among HIV-infected pregnant women, a population in whom tuberculosis screening is important because tuberculosis increases maternal mortality and HIV perinatal transmission [3, 4]. Diagnosis of maternal tuberculosis is also important in the prevention of infant tuberculosis. In total, 799 women were screened using the WHO symptom screen and tuberculin skin test. Symptomatic women and those with a positive skin test were assessed by chest radiography. Women suspected of active tuberculosis based on symptom screen, positive skin test, suspicious chest radiograph, or physician findings were requested to provide a sputum sample for microscopy and culture. Sputum smear and culture were used to verify tuberculosis disease in 107 of 799 women. This differential verification of tuberculosis disease means there is no reference standard against which the screening test can be evaluated in the entire population, which can lead to verification bias. Unless the WHO symptom screen had perfect sensitivity, misclassification of false-negatives as true-negatives results in underestimated disease prevalence and overestimated sensitivity and specificity of the symptom screen [5]. In the case of this study, where only 11 tuberculosis cases were identified, the impact of misclassification of even a few women could be significant. This bias may be corrected under certain conditions with additional information on the study population [6, 7]. Two other concerns are worth noting. First, the authors emphasize the high negative predictive value of 99.3%, with exact 95% confidence limits estimated at 98.4% and 99.8%. Given the reported prevalence of 1.4%, the negative predictive value of assuming no one has tuberculosis is 98.6% (1 – prevalence). The gain of screening in terms of negative predictive value, therefore, is somewhat uncertain, demonstrating the difficulty in interpreting the negative predictive value where disease prevalence is low. Second, the authors state that the WHO symptom screening test was effective in ruling out tuberculosis. However, 5 of the 11 cases of tuberculosis were asymptomatic. Reliance on the WHO screen alone would therefore have missed nearly half the cases of tuberculosis in this population. In light of these issues, we must be cautious in interpreting the reported diagnostic accuracy for the symptom screen and the reported prevalence of tuberculosis in this study population of HIV-infected pregnant women.
Laboratory Simulation Methods for Studying Complex Collaborative Tasks

This paper describes a new laboratory model developed for studying complex CSCW phenomena. In our prior work a more ecological laboratory approach was developed to study activity awareness issues derived directly from earlier fieldwork. In the first study participants worked on a simulated long-term project with a confederate who introduced collaborative breakdown scenarios. Although the study produced many realistic behaviors, findings indicated that there was room for improving the model by making the simulation more ecological and engaging for participants. This paper examines the results of a follow-up study conducted with the goal of improving the laboratory model. The follow-up study varied two important elements of simulation from the first study. A real long-term project was used, and the confederate was replaced with another participant. Differences in results from the two studies indicate how the changes made to the model impacted its effectiveness.