cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Optimal Benchmark for Evaluating Drug-Combination Dose-Finding Clinical Trials

Numerous dose-finding methods have been proposed for drug-combination trials. A head-to-head comparison of the performance of these designs is difficult and often not very meaningful because different designs use different models and decision rules that often require judicious calibration to obtain good small-sample performance. It is desirable to have a general benchmark that can be used to evaluate the absolute performance of combination dose-finding designs. In this article, we propose an optimal nonparametric benchmark for evaluating drug-combination dose-finding methods, which provides an upper bound of accuracy beyond which further improvements are generally not achievable without making parametric assumptions of the dose-toxicity relationship. Our method is based on a new concept called critical information, which provides an upper bound on the information that we could possibly learn from patients while explicitly accounting for the partial order of the dose combinations, a fundamental feature of drug-combination trials. Our numerical study shows that the proposed benchmark provides a sharp upper bound that is useful for evaluating the performance of combination dose-finding designs.
High dimensional censored quantile regression

Censored quantile regression (CQR) has emerged as a useful regression tool for survival analysis. Some commonly used CQR methods can be characterized by stochastic integral-based estimating equations in a sequential manner across quantile levels. In this paper, we analyze CQR in a high dimensional setting where the regression functions over a continuum of quantile levels are of interest. We propose a two-step penalization procedure, which accommodates stochastic integral based estimating equations and address the challenges due to the recursive nature of the procedure. We establish the uniform convergence rates for the proposed estimators, and investigate the properties on weak convergence and variable selection. We conduct numerical studies to confirm our theoretical findings and illustrate the practical utility of our proposals.
An Update of Sialendoscopy and the Management of Benign Salivary Disorders in Children

We aim to provide a review of recent advances in the treatment of benign salivary gland disorders as well as an overview of these disorders. Sialendoscopy is increasingly being used to diagnose and treat a variety of salivary gland disorders. Magnetic resonance sialography is emerging as a salivary gland imaging modality. Transoral submandibular gland excision is an evolving technique that eliminates external scars and potentially decreases the risk to surrounding structures. Finally, developments in oral appliances have decreased sialorrhea avoiding surgical management. Sialendoscopy is an effective and minimally invasive method of diagnosing and treating benign salivary gland disorders. Other promising developments in this field are magnetic resonance sialography, transoral submandibular gland excision, and oral appliance therapy.
Sphingolipid metabolism and analysis in metabolic disease.

Sphingolipids are an important class of structural and signaling molecules within the cell. As sphingolipids have been implicated in the development and pathogenesis of insulin resistance and the metabolic syndrome, it is important to understand their regulation and metabolism. Although these lipids are initially produced through a common pathway, there is no “generic” sphingolipid. Indeed, the biophysical and signaling properties of lipids may be manipulated by the subunit composition or isoform of their synthetic enzymes, via regulation of substrate integration. Functionally distinct pools of chemically-equivalent lipids may also be generated by de novo synthesis and recycling of existing complex sphingolipids. The highly integrated metabolism of the many bioactive sphingolipids means that manipulation of one enzyme or metabolite can result in a ripple effect, causing unforeseen changes in metabolite levels, enzyme activities, and cellular programmes. Fortunately, a suite of techniques, ranging from thin-layer chromatography to liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry approaches, allows investigators to undertake a functional characterization of all or part of the sphingolipidome in their systems of interest.
Enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli heat labile enterotoxin inhibits intestinal ascorbic acid uptake via a cAMP-dependent NF-κB-mediated pathway

Our findings demonstrate that heat-labile enterotoxin produced by enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli inhibits ascorbic acid uptake in intestinal epithelial cells and mouse intestine. This effect is m...
At the frontier of the global battle against emerging infections: surveillance and management of avian influenza A(H7N9) in Guangdong Province, China

# Background Guangdong, which stands at the frontier of emerging infections, has developed an innovative system approach to this threat. The province of 110 million inhabitants, a major hub for domestic and international trade, includes mega-cities side-by-side with small-scale agricultural areas in a region from which recent strains of influenza and other respiratory viruses have emerged. Guangdong residents consume chicken and purchase it at live poultry markets, which can accelerate the emergence of influenza strains and transmission to humans. We describe Guangdong's approach to surveillance and public health emergency response. # Methods We use H7N9 as a case study to illustrate how Guangdong's system functions. # Results Guangdong's approach includes five core elements -- real-time surveillance, risk assessment, rapid response, active and accurate intervention, and multilateral communication. This requires partnerships among governmental agencies at all levels as well as healthcare professionals and residents. Risk management, for instance, involves not only provincial and local Centers for Disease Control, other government agencies, hospitals and clinics, and wholesale and live poultry markets. The implementation of Guangdong's risk management strategy depends, in part, on available resources and existing capacities. Guangzhou and a majority of Guangdong Province implement "control risk" level strategies. However, the city of Shenzhen (as well as neighboring Hong Kong), implement "eliminate risk." level strategies. # Conclusions Effective disease surveillance requires vertical and horizontal coordination among public health agencies. Similarly, disease prevention and control efforts also require partnerships with other governmental agencies at all levels, as well as with healthcare professionals and civil society. Guangdong Province has developed an approach for surveillance and control of H7N9 that may represent a robust and potentially scalable model for China and other nations.
Development of Voice Commands in Digital Signage for Improved Indoor Navigation Using Google Assistant SDK

One of the most challenging aspects of trying to navigate in a new indoor place can be making sense of the navigational tools available. Traditionally, static maps have been used to provide guidance to people in indoor spaces. Recently, a new category of signage has begun to gain prominence in this area: digital signage. With the advent of such devices, many approaches have been taken to provide information to people in a more useful way. Some digital signs simply provide information in a predetermined manner, while others allow for user interaction using buttons or touchscreens. Although many digital signs allow for a more dynamic display of information, few are able to easily provide custom information based on easily acquired user input. We propose a novel type of digital signage that is voice-forward, using voice input and natural language processing to allow the users to find information faster than a standard touchscreen-only modality.
Environmental Contact and Self-contact Patterns of Healthcare Workers: Implications for Infection Prevention and Control

BACKGROUND Respiratory viruses on fomites can be transferred to sites susceptible to infection via contact by hands or other fomites. METHODS Care for hospitalized patients with viral respiratory infections was observed in the patient room for 3-hour periods at an acute care academic medical center for over a 2 year period. One trained observer recorded the healthcare activities performed, contacts with fomites, and self-contacts made by healthcare workers (HCWs), while another observer recorded fomite contacts of patients during the encounter using predefined checklists. RESULTS The surface contacted by HCWs during the majority of visits was the patient (90%). Environmental surfaces contacted by HCWs frequently during healthcare activities included the tray table (48%), bed surface (41%), bed rail (41%), computer station (37%), and intravenous pole (32%). HCWs touched their own torso and mask in 32% and 29% of the visits, respectively. HCWs' self-contacts differed significantly among HCW job roles, with providers and respiratory therapists contacting themselves significantly more times than nurses and nurse technicians (P < .05). When HCWs performed only 1 care activity, there were significant differences in the number of patient contacts and self-contacts that HCWs made during performance of multiple care activities (P < .05). CONCLUSIONS HCWs regularly contact environmental surfaces, patients, and themselves while providing care to patients with infectious diseases, varying among care activities and HCW job roles. These contacts may facilitate the transmission of infection to HCWs and susceptible patients.
Textured vegetable proteins to alleviate world food problems.

There is now an increasing awareness of, and a growing concern for future nutrition requirements of affluent nations as well as developing countries. Demand for foods of familiar texture, flavor, color, appearance, and bite has resulted in the development of textured vegetable protein products. The technology of these products makes it possible to convert nutritious but unappetizing high-protein oilseed meals to familiar foods of any culture, ethinc, or geographic requirement. The resulting products provide both the organoleptic qualities and nutritional requirements which a high-protein food must contribute to the diet.
B220- bone marrow progenitor cells from New Zealand Black autoimmune mice exhibit an age-associated decline in pre-B and B-cell generation

New Zealand Black (NZB) autoimmune mice exhibit progressive, age-dependent reduction in bone marrow pre-B cells. To ascertain the capacity of NZB bone marrow B220- cells to generate pre-B cells in a supportive environment, B-lineage (B220+) cell-depleted and T-cell-depleted bone marrow cells from NZB mice at 1 to 3, 6, and 10 to 11 months of age were adoptively transferred into irradiated (200R) C.B17 severe combined immunodeficient (SCID) mice. Bone marrow pre-B cells (sIgM- CD43[S7]- B220+) were assessed 3 and 10 weeks posttransfer. Pre-B cells and B cells were reconstituted in SCID recipients of older NZB progenitor cells by 10 weeks posttransplant, in contrast to the very low numbers of pre-B cells present in the donor bone marrow. However, B220- bone marrow progenitor cells from greater than 10-month-old NZB donors were deficient in the reconstitution of both pre-B and B cells in SCID recipients at 3 weeks post-transfer. This reflected a slower kinetics of repopulation, because older NZB-->SCID recipients had numbers of both pre-B and B cells similar to recipients of young NZB progenitor cells by 10 weeks posttransplant. Adoptive transfer of equal mixtures of BALB/c and older NZB bone marrow B220- progenitor cells into irradiated C.B17 SCID recipients failed to demonstrate active suppression. These results suggest that, with age, NZB bone marrow has reduced numbers and/or function of early B220- B-lineage progenitors. Consistent with this hypothesis, B220- bone marrow cells from older NZB mice were deficient in progenitors capable of yielding interleukin-7 (IL-7) responsive pre-B cells in vitro on stimulation with the pre-B-cell potentiating factor, insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1).
Short-Term Mental Health Sequelae of Bereavement Predict Long-Term Physical Health Decline in Older Adults: U.S. Health and Retirement Study Analysis.

Objective Spousal death is a common late-life event with health-related sequelae. Evidence linking poor mental health to disease suggests the hypothesis that poor mental health following death of a spouse could be a harbinger of physical health decline. Thus, identification of bereavement-related mental health symptoms could provide an opportunity for prevention. Methods We analyzed data from N=39,162 individuals followed from 1994-2016 in the US Health and Retirement Study; N=5,061 were widowed during follow-up. We tested change in mental and physical health from pre-bereavement through the 5-years following spousal death. Results Bereaved spouses experienced an increase in depressive symptoms following their spouses' deaths but the depressive shock attenuated within one year. Bereaved spouses experienced increases in disability, chronic-disease morbidity, and hospitalization, which grew in magnitude over time, especially among older respondents. Bereaved spouses were at increased risk of death compared to non-bereaved respondents. The magnitude of depressive symptoms in the immediate aftermath of spousal death predicted physical-health decline and mortality risk over 5 years of follow-up. Discussion Bereavement-related depressive symptoms indicate a risk for physical health decline and death in older adults. Screening for depressive symptoms in bereaved older adults may represent an opportunity for intervention to preserve healthy lifespan.
Aggregate effects of imperfect tax enforcement

"This paper studies an economy in which the government is not able to perfectly enforce tax compliance among operating firms, and compares it with a similar economy but with perfect tax enforcement. I develop a competitive general equilibrium model where imperfect tax enforcement may affect aggregate outcomes through two mechanisms. First, it may distort firms' optimal output level as long as the probability of avoiding tax compliance is related to the firm's size. Second, poor tax enforcement may lead to a low provision of the public goods that complement firms' productivity. The results for a calibrated version of the model suggest that in economies with tax enforcement problems, aggregate output might be reduced by 12 percent. I also conclude that sizable aggregate effects can be obtained only when the public goods mechanism is at work. " from authors' abstract
The history of automotive EM research at the OSU ElectroScience Laboratory

The ElectroScience Laboratory has a long history of automotive antenna and EM research. Today, one can buy a car with antennas for AM, FM, FM diversity, 4-way diversity TV, GPS, cellular, satellite, digital keyless entry, garage door opener, automatic toll, and radar. Radar applications include backup warning, side airbag deployment, intelligent cruise control, collision warning and automatic driving. The antennas must be very low cost (sometimes zero cost) and must be acceptable to the consumer (often invisible). We have also studied electromagnetic interference due to electrical systems on the vehicle, and electromagnetic compatibility issues. The ElectroScience laboratory has been involved in all of these applications. This paper will discuss the history of the involvement of the ESL and the types of projects and techniques that the ESL has evolved to solve these problems.
Scalable decentralized control for sensor networks via distributed lattices

A network of embedded devices needs to be able to execute queries for dynamically changing content. Even in a completely reliable network, this is a formidable task because of the enormous scale of the networks, severely limited resources of individual devices (bandwidth and battery power) and the heterogeneity of resources being managed. In this work we introduce a novel information query methodology for designing online solutions for heterogeneous sensor networks with various resources (e.g., battery, bandwidth, CPU). This provides a route selection and query management mechanism that will enable a sensor network to find sensor level information without a routing algorithm specialized for the particular form of information. In order to execute such a methodology in a scalable, limited resource environment such as sensor networks we employ a novel lattice data structure, which is basically a combination of trees with small overlap that provably enables extension of any routing or directory infrastructure to an arbitrary scale, with only small overhead. We show how to use such data structures (lattices) that will enable scaling to millions of devices with an overhead that only grows logarithmically in the number of network nodes and with provably small distortion of paths. Moreover, we show a completely distributed implementation of such structures, that creates minimal overload on the client sensors.
Do I Belong?: Gender, Peer Groups, and STEM Achievement

Women’s underrepresentation in many STEM fields is due to a combination of individual and sociocultural factors. Among these, the peer group is one potentially powerful force reviewed in this article. First, I describe key processes associated with group belonging. The social identities associated with group belonging can shape individuals’ task and interpersonal values. Second, I consider how the values reinforced in many girls’ and women’s peer groups may conflict with their perceptions of STEM. In addition, girls and women may experience rejection and hostility from their male peers regarding STEM achievement. Conversely, when important peer groups value and support STEM, they may validate girls’ and women’s sense of belongingness in STEM fields. Next, I highlight some strategies for reducing peer sexism and foster STEM belonging. Finally, I close with some recommendations for future research.
Targeting TLR4 signaling by TLR4 Toll/IL-1 receptor domain-derived decoy peptides: identification of the TLR4 Toll/IL-1 receptor domain dimerization interface.

Agonist-induced dimerization of TLR4 Toll/IL-1R (TIR) domains initiates intracellular signaling. Therefore, identification of the TLR4-TIR dimerization interface is one key to the rational design of therapeutics that block TLR4 signaling. A library of cell-permeating decoy peptides, each of which represents a nonfragmented patch of the TLR4 TIR surface, was designed such that the peptides entirely encompass the TLR4 TIR surface. Each peptide was synthesized in tandem with a cell-permeating Antennapedia homeodomain sequence and tested for the ability to inhibit early cytokine mRNA expression and MAPK activation in LPS-stimulated primary murine macrophages. Five peptides--4R1, 4R3, 4BB, 4R9, and 4αE--potently inhibited all manifestations of TLR4, but not TLR2 signaling. When tested for their ability to bind directly to TLR4 TIR by Forster resonance energy transfer using time-resolved fluorescence spectroscopy, Bodipy-TMR-X-labeled 4R1, 4BB, and 4αE quenched fluorescence of TLR4-Cerulean expressed in HeLa or HEK293T cells, whereas 4R3 was partially active, and 4R9 was least active. These findings suggest that the area between the BB loop of TLR4 and its fifth helical region mediates TLR4 TIR dimerization. Moreover, our data provide direct evidence for the utility of the decoy peptide approach, in which peptides representing various surface-exposed segments of a protein are initially probed for the ability to inhibit protein function, and then their specific targets are identified by Forster resonance energy transfer to define recognition sites in signaling proteins that may be targeted therapeutically to disrupt functional transient protein interactions.
Photochemical activation of the carboxyl group via n-acyl-2-thionothiazolidines

Abstract Photolysis of N-acyl derivatives of 2-thionothiazolidine in the presence of ethanol affords ethyl esters; a mechanism involving γ-hydrogen abstraction by sulfur is postulated.
Archean inheritance in zircon from late Paleozoic granites from the Avalon zone of southeastern New England: an African connection

Abstract In southeastern New England the Narragansett Pier Granite locally intrudes Carboniferous metasedimentary rocks of the Narragansett basin, and yields a monazite U Pb Permian emplacement age of 273 ± 2Ma. Zircon from the Narragansett Pier Granite contains a minor but detectable amount of an older, inherited component, and shows modern loss of lead. Zircon from the late-stage, aplitic Westerly Granite exhibits a more pronounced lead inheritance —permitting the inherited component to be identified as Late Archean. Such old relict zircon has not been previously recognized in Proterozoic to Paleozoic igneous rocks in New England, and may be restricted to late Paleozoic rocks of the Avalon zone. We suggest that the Archean crustal component reflects an African connection, in which old Archean crust was underplated to the Avalon zone microplate in the late Paleozoic during collision of Gondwanaland with Avalonia.
Estimation and prediction of cell cycle specific effects of anticancer drugs

Abstract A mathematical model is used to estimate the cell cycle phase specific action of a new anticancer drug, CI-921, based on results of a short term (8 hr) stathmokinetic (blocked divisions) study on Friend leukemia cells. The estimate obtained is in the form of a sequence of fractions of the cell flow blocked in successive subcompartments of the cell cycle. At specific drug concentrations, the information contained in this estimate is sufficient to correctly predict the results of long term (24 hr) continuous drug exposure. The result obtained seems to be of interest, since the ability to predict the cell cycle phase specific effects of anticancer drugs is crucial for any attempt to improve the existing chemotherapeutic treatment schedules for cancer. This study required developing new mathematical techniques, among them a nonparametric method for estimation of the distributions of cell residence times in the G 1 phase of the cell cycle (Appendix). The methods developed are general enough to be applicable, in principle, to any chemotherapeutic agent the action of which is distributed throughout the cell cycle.
Kinetics of in Vivo Nuclear Translocation of the Male and Female Rat Liver Estrogen Receptors

The distribution of putative liver estrogen receptors (ER) between redissolved 30% ammonium sulfate-precipitated liver cytosol (AS cytosol) and dense sucrose-Triton-X-100- purified liver nuclei (purified nuclei) has been examined in female and male rats. The total and occupied ER of AS cytosol and purified nuclei were determined by exchange assays using 17β-[3H]estradiol. After administration of 100 μg nonradioactive ethinyl estradiol to either adult females or adult males, the total ER of AS cytosol decreased. Concomitant with the decrease in ER of AS cytosol, the total and occupied ER of purified nuclei increased. The binding specificity of the total ER of purified nuclei from ethinyl estradiol-treated males resembled that of the total ER of AS cytosol from vehicle-treated (control) males. In females, a maximal level of ER was observed in purified nuclei 0.5 h after ethinyl estradiol administration. The levels of ER were lower at 1, 2, and 4 h. Unlike the female, high levels of ER in the male were maint...
Phase II trial of vinblastine in previously treated patients with ovarian cancer: A southwest oncology group study

Sixty-eight patients with relapsing, epithelial type ovarian carcinoma were entered into a Phase II study of vinblastine. Vinblastine was administered as a continuous intravenous infusion over five days at a starting dose of 1.7 mg/m2/day every 3 weeks. There were 44 fully evaluable and 6 partially evaluable patients. Forty-one of these patients had had only one prior treatment regimen. Grade 3 or 4 leukopenia occurred in 12 patients (24%), but Grade 3 or 4 thrombocytopenia occurred in only 2 patients. There were two clinical complete responses of 18 and 36 weeks duration and one partial response of 6 weeks for an overall response rate of 7%. We conclude that vinblastine, administered in optimal dose and schedule, has little clinical activity in previously treated patients with ovarian cancer.
Nucleotide sequence of the Q gene and the Q to S intergenic region of bacteriophage lambda.

Abstract The Q gene of bacteriophage lambda codes for a positive regulator which is responsible for turning on late transcription during lytic growth. We have determined the nucleotide sequence of this gene as well as the region between genes Q and S , which includes a site of Q action. The Q protein is predicted by its nucleotide sequence to have a molecular weight of 22.5 (207 amino acids). It appears to have no homology with either N or the sigma subunit of RNA polymerase. The Q to S intergenic region includes the 6 S RNA coding region, the late promoter (p′ r ) and an open reading frame indicating a possible new gene of unknown function which we term orf-64. The orf-64 protein product would have a molecular weight of 7083 (64 amino acids). It starts within the 6 S RNA coding sequence and extends 11 amino acids beyond it and suggests a possible “leader peptide” function. No other peptide larger than 15 residues could be coded by the DNA between Q and S . The position of the S gene was located by mapping a Tn5 insertion in gene S with restriction endonucleases. The distance between Q and S is 672 nucleotides and it is not known where within this large area Q acts. Analysis of the sequence for inverted repeats revealed a number of possible loop-stem structures which could be involved in transcription termination, RNA processing, or Q-mediated transcription activation.
The Generation of Hepplewhite-Style Chair-Back Designs

A parametric shape grammar is given for the generation of Hepplewhite-style chair-back designs.
The effect of tocolytic agents (indomethacin and terbutaline) on fetal breathing and body movements: a prospective, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial.

Abstract OBJECTIVE : The null hypothesis of this study is that maternal administration of indomethacin orterbutaline will not affect fetal breathing and body movements. STUDY DESIGN : Thirty patients with a low-risk pregnancy, gestational age 26 to 32 weeks, and no signsof preterm labor were randomly assigned to receive either terbutaline (5 mg), indomethacin (50 mg), or a placebo. Ultrasonographic evaluation of fetal breathing and body movements was performed for 1 hour before and 1 hour after treatment. The total amount of time of fetal breathing and body movements in each group was subject to statistical analysis that included analysis of variance and covariance and a multiple comparison procedure. RESULTS : Indomethacin increased fetal breathing from 20.8 ± 13.1 minutes to 42.2 ± 14.8 minutes( p p CONCLUSION : Between 26 and 32 weeks' gestation, a single dosage of indomethacin or terbutalineincreases fetal breathing movements by 103% and 78%, respectively. (Am J Obstet Gynecol 1992;167:1059–63.)
Expanding North American perspectives on medical geography.

By the end of the 197Os, contributions by North American geographers in the area of spatial aspects of human health problems had increased at such an exponential rate that previous definitions of the term “medical geography” were expanded to include an increasing variety of conceptual approaches and empirical investigations. This expansion can be attributed to the efforts of many to bring such “fringe area” topics as disease ecology and the geography of health care into the mainstream of geographic research via the use of continuously evolving modern scientific methodologies without the loss of important traditional techniques. As a result of these broadened perspectives, the key to understanding medical geography of the 1980s appears to be the acceptance of diversity without sacrificing meaningful spatial perspectives. The actual diversity has resulted in important exchanges of ideas wherein geographers have moved beyond previously established disciplinary boundaries, applied new analytical techniques to problems in medical geography (thus adding strength within the discipline), and subsequently collectively communicating in a multidisciplinary context to a wider scientific co~unity. Many of the papers developed for five separate medical geography sessions held during the 75th Anniversary Meeting of The Association of American Geographers in Philadelphia in April, 1979 can be considered seminal with respect to expectations over the next decade, while others reinforced important established associa&ons. Since there were more papers presented during the five sessions than could be placed in a single issue of this journal, additional articles will sub~quently appear within Volume 14D. The 14 papers selected for this issue have been arranged in a sequence ranging from more traditional field studies to innovative analyses of attitudes and behavior.
Sums, products, and ratios for downton’s bivariate exponential distribution

Motivated by environmental applications, we derive the exact distributions of R = X+Y, P = X Y and W = X/(X+Y) and the corresponding moment properties when X and Y follow Downton’s bivariate exponential distribution. The expressions turn out to involve several special functions. For practical purposes, we also provide extensive tabulations of the percentage points associated with the distributions.
Consequences of False-Positive Screening Mammograms

Importance False-positive mammograms, a common occurrence in breast cancer screening programs, represent a potential screening harm that is currently being evaluated by the US Preventive Services Task Force. Objective To measure the effect of false-positive mammograms on quality of life by measuring personal anxiety, health utility, and attitudes toward future screening. Design, Setting, and Participants The Digital Mammographic Imaging Screening Trial (DMIST) quality-of-life substudy telephone survey was performed shortly after screening and 1 year later at 22 DMIST sites and included randomly selected DMIST participants with positive and negative mammograms. Exposure Mammogram requiring follow-up testing or referral without a cancer diagnosis. Main Outcomes and Measures The 6-question short form of the Spielberger State-Trait Anxiety Inventory state scale (STAI-6) and the EuroQol EQ-5D instrument with US scoring. Attitudes toward future screening as measured by women’s self-report of future intention to undergo mammographic screening and willingness to travel and stay overnight to undergo a hypothetical new type of mammography that would identify as many cancers with half the false-positive results. Results Among 1450 eligible women invited to participate, 1226 (84.6%) were enrolled, with follow-up interviews obtained in 1028 (83.8%). Anxiety was significantly higher for women with false-positive mammograms (STAI-6, 35.2 vs 32.7), but health utility scores did not differ and there were no significant differences between groups at 1 year. Future screening intentions differed by group (25.7% vs 14.2% more likely in false-positive vs negative groups); willingness to travel and stay overnight did not (9.9% vs 10.5% in false-positive vs negative groups). Future screening intention was significantly increased among women with false-positive mammograms (odds ratio, 2.12; 95% CI, 1.54-2.93), younger age (2.78; 1.5-5.0), and poorer health (1.63; 1.09-2.43). Women’s anticipated high-level anxiety regarding future false-positive mammograms was associated with willingness to travel overnight (odds ratio, 1.94; 95% CI, 1.28-2.95). Conclusions and Relevance False-positive mammograms were associated with increased short-term anxiety but not long-term anxiety, and there was no measurable health utility decrement. False-positive mammograms increased women’s intention to undergo future breast cancer screening and did not increase their stated willingness to travel to avoid a false-positive result. Our finding of time-limited harm after false-positive screening mammograms is relevant for clinicians who counsel women on mammographic screening and for screening guideline development groups.
Reforming The Medicaid Disproportionate-Share Hospital Program

Congress and the Obama administration are considering redirecting federal spending on the Medicaid disproportionate-share hospital (DSH) program to help pay for health reform. In this paper, we propose linking federal Medicaid DSH funding to state-level Medicaid enrollment or uninsured populations, or both. This approach could produce as much as $44 billion in federal savings over time without exposing hospitals to uncertain or across-the-board spending cuts. It could also gradually address state variations in Medicaid DSH funding. We also offer ideas to ensure that DSH spending is more directly connected than it is now to improvements in care for vulnerable populations.
Identification and dissociation of cardiovascular neurons from the medulla for patch clamp analysis

Abstract This study describes a preparation that will enable us to study, using voltage clamp techniques, ionic currents from dissociated cardiovascular neurons that have retained their anatomical and functional identity of the intact animal. To identify dispersed preganglionic cardiac motorneurons various fluorescent dyes (rhodamine, fluorogold, microspheres, bizbenzimide and dextrans) were examined to determine which can be absorbed by preganglionic cardiac motorneuron nerve terminals (without surgical penetration of cardiac tissue), transported retrogradely to their soma in the medulla and retained during dissociation of the neurons. Rhodamine fulfilled these criteria. Dissociated preganglionic cardiac motorneurons had resting membrane potentials of −52.4 ± 3 mV and input resistances of 236 ± 71 M Ω (mean ± S.E.M., n = 10). Depolarizing voltage steps to −50 mV or above evoked a tetrodotoxin (TTX) sensitive inward sodium current followed by a biphasic outward current.
Further proof of the “bios” character of crystalline bios 223.∗:

ConclusionsThe isolation of a crystalline substance from an active sub strate always leaves existent the doubt as to whether the activity is due to the crystals themselves or to adhering traces of the potent factor. The complete inactivation of Bios 223 crystals by forming the crystalline benzene sulfonamide and the recovery of activity by hydrolysing this inactive crystalline product seems to remove all reasonable doubt and to demonstrate that the yeast stimulating power of Bios 223 resides in the crystals themselves. The nature of the addition compound also suggested that the NH2, group is concerned in the exercise of this function.We also take pleasure in acknowledging the suggestions and advice of Professor John M. Nelson of Columbia University in developing these results.
A cytoplasmic exoribonuclease from HeLa cells.

Abstract An exoribonuclease has been purified from the cytoplasm of HeLa cells. The enzyme produces 5′-AMP as the only product from poly(A). The degradation proceeds in a 3′ to 5′ direction, and a 3′-OH terminus is required. In addition to poly(A), the enzyme degrades other synthetic homopolymers as well as natural messenger, and ribosomal RNAs. The enzyme can also degrade the poly(A) tract of messenger RNA. DNA and double-stranded RNA are resistant to the enzyme.
The effect of cooling on the vibrotactile sensitivity of the tongue

Two experiments were carried out to investigate the effect of cooling on the sensitivity of the tongue to vibration. In the first experiment the temperature of the tongue was held at 36°, 28°, or 20° C while the thresholds for detecting 30- and 250-Hz vibrations were measured using a two-alternative forced-choice paradigm. Cooling the tongue to 20° reduced the sensitivity to 250-Hz vibration but did not disturb the sensitivity to 30-Hz vibration. The second experiment established that cooling continued to reduce the sensitivity to the 250-Hz stimulus even when intensity levels were raised to 30 dB SL. The results are discussed in relation to (1) which types of mechanoreceptors mediate the perception of vibration on the dorsal surface of the tongue, (2) the effect of a rigid surround on lingual vibrotactile sensitivity, and (3) the possible impact of temperature on perception of the mechanical characteristics of foods.
Seasonal variation in stereotypic pacing in an American black bear Ursus americanus.

The behaviour of a male American black bear Ursus americanus was observed for over 2400 h across all seasons of the year. Stereotypic pacing was most frequent, oriented away from the exhibit, and performed mainly after feeding during the period May-July; from August-November pacing was oriented towards the exhibit and performed mainly around feeding time. Placing bear odors in the enclosure slightly reduced pacing and increased exploring/foraging in the late spring. Hiding small food items in the exhibit almost completely eliminated pacing in the fall and replaced it with foraging. Comparison with seasonal changes in the behaviour of wild bears suggest that the stereotypy of this bear, and probably zoo bears in general, developed from two main primary behaviours that cannot be performed in a barren zoo environment: mate-seeking behaviour predominating in the late spring and foraging behaviour in the late summer and fall.
Morphological changes in erythrocytes induced by malarial parasites.

Host cell alterations induced by Plasmodium falciparum, P. brasillanum, P. vivax and P. malariae were described by electron microscopy and post-embedding immunoelectron microscopy. P. falciparum infection induces knobs, electron-dense material and clefts in the erythrocyte. Clefts are involved in exporting P. falciparum antigen from the parasite to the erythrocyte membrane. P. falciparum antigen is present in knobs which adhere to endothelial cells causing the blockage of cerebral capillaries and ensuing pathological changes in cerebral tissues. P. brasilianum infection induces knobs, short and long clefts and electron-dense material. These structures appear to contain different P. brasilianum antigens. This indicates that each structure functions independently in trafficking P. brasilianum protein to the erythrocyte surface. P. vivax infection induces caveola-vesicle complexes and clefts in the erythrocyte. These structures are also involved in trafficking P. vivax protein from the parasite to the erythrocyte membrane. P. malariae induces caveolae, electron-dense material, vesicles, clefts and knobs in the erythrocyte. Although vesicles and caveolae are seen in the erythrocyte cytoplasm, they do not form caveola-vesicle complexes as seen in P. vivax-infected erythrocytes. They also appear to be involved in trafficking of malaria antigens. These studies, therefore, indicate that host cell changes occur in order to facilitate the transport of malarial antigens to the host cell membrane. The significance of these phenomena is still not clear.
Cultural Transformation as Transdisfiguration in Pasternak’s Doctor Zhivago

This article offers an innovative reconsideration of Boris Pasternak’s Doctor Zhivago by examining the author’s understanding of Orthodox asceticism. Kelly shows how Pasternak opposes traditional Orthodox notions of asceticism with the cold materialism of Marxism. But the author does more than merely prefer the former over the latter. According to Kelly, Pasternak poses an asceticism rooted not in the severe abnegation of carnal desires, but in the embracing of the passions and full acceptance of humanity. Kelly argues that Doctor Zhivago offers a timely and necessary tweak of Orthodox asceticism (ascesis) and religious transfiguration (theosis) as a palliative and possible salvation for a Russia torn apart intellectually and spiritually, as well as politically and militarily, by revolution.
Increased Mutation Rate of E. coli K12λ Cultures Maintained in Continuous Logarithmic Growth

Continuous logarithmic growth of E. coli K12λ in an automatic culture cell resulted in marked increases in the proportion of several mutants. The P1 phage-resistant cells increased 10 to 3000 times, the T2 phage-resistant cells 1 to 1000 times, the neomycin-resistant cells 1 to 10 times, and the virus-producing cells 30 to 70 times. No change occurred in the penicillin-resistant cells. Calculation of the growth curves and direct determination of the mutation rates by the null fraction method showed that the increases in the proportion of mutants were due to increases in the mutation rates.
Cadherin Function Is Required for Axon Outgrowth in Retinal Ganglion Cells In Vivo

Abstract The cell–cell adhesion molecule N-cadherin strongly promotes neurite outgrowth in cultured retinal neurons. To test whether cadherins regulate process outgrowth in retinal neurons in vivo, we have blocked cadherin function in single cells by expression of a dominant negative N-cadherin mutant. We report that when cadherin function is inhibited, axon and dendrite outgrowth are severely impaired, particularly in retinal ganglion cells. Laminar migration and cell type specification, by contrast, appear unaffected. Further, expression of the catenin-binding domain of N-cadherin, which blocks cadherin-mediated adhesion in early embryos, does not affect axon outgrowth, suggesting that outgrowth and adhesion are mediated by distinct regions of the cytoplasmic domain. These findings indicate that cadherins play an essential role in the initiation and extension of axons from retinal ganglion cells in vivo.
Do retail store environmental factors affect consumers' price acceptability? An empirical examination

Abstract This paper explores the influence of retail store environmental cues on consumers' price acceptability. An empirical study examines the effects of three types of environmental factors; ambient, social and design. Results indicate that the price of an item (a picture frame) is more acceptable in a high-social store environment than is the same product at the same price in a low-social store environment. The results also provide partial support for the effects of store ambient and design factors on the acceptability of the price of the picture frame. Finally, consumers' price acceptability is positively related to purchase intentions.
Reduction of hippocampal-kindled seizure activity in rats by stereotactic radiosurgery

Radiosurgery may provide an alternative therapy for intractable epilepsy by eliminating or modifying abnormally active pacemaker neurons in epileptic foci. In the present study, the effect of radiosurgery on rat hippocampal kindling was examined. Rats received daily hippocampal stimulus trains until they were fully kindled. They then underwent radiosurgery of the kindled focus, receiving a single-dose of 0-, 10-, or 40-Gy. The 40-Gy group demonstrated an acute decrease in seizure threshold (3-5 days). Three months after radiosurgery, the threshold for seizures increased and the duration of afterdischarges decreased in the 40-Gy radiosurgery group compared to controls. The changes to both seizure threshold and afterdischarge duration were not significant in the 10-Gy group. These data suggest that radiosurgery is an effective means of reducing the epileptogenic activity of seizure foci.
Muscle ring finger protein-1 inhibits PKCε activation and prevents cardiomyocyte hypertrophy

Much effort has focused on characterizing the signal transduction cascades that are associated with cardiac hypertrophy. In spite of this, we still know little about the mechanisms that inhibit hypertrophic growth. We define a novel anti-hypertrophic signaling pathway regulated by muscle ring finger protein-1 (MURF1) that inhibits the agonist-stimulated PKC-mediated signaling response in neonatal rat ventricular myocytes. MURF1 interacts with receptor for activated protein kinase C (RACK1) and colocalizes with RACK1 after activation with phenylephrine or PMA. Coincident with this agonist-stimulated interaction, MURF1 blocks PKCe translocation to focal adhesions, which is a critical event in the hypertrophic signaling cascade. MURF1 inhibits focal adhesion formation, and the activity of downstream effector ERK1/2 is also inhibited in the presence of MURF1. MURF1 inhibits phenylephrine-induced (but not IGF-1–induced) increases in cell size. These findings establish that MURF1 is a key regulator of the PKC-dependent hypertrophic response and can blunt cardiomyocyte hypertrophy, which may have important implications in the pathophysiology of clinical cardiac hypertrophy.
Nutrient Dynamics of a Swarm‐founding Social Wasp Species, Polybia occidentalis (Hymenoptera: Vespidae)

The kinds, rates of acquisition, inter-individual transfers, and intra-colonial movements of nutrients were ascertained for the advanced eusocial paper wasp Polybia occidentalis (Olivier). Foraging worker wasps (“foragers”) bring arthropod prey and nutritive liquids (“nectar”) to the nest, and these are usually transferred to nest workers (“receivers”) on the outer nest envelope. Arthropod prey items, which are brought intact to the nest, are malaxated by one or more receivers before being fed to larvae; malaxating adults retain a portion of the hemolymph for their own nourishment. Nectar is usually transferred (via adult-adult torphallaxis) from foragers to receivers on the nest envelope; some nectar is given to larvae, and all adults that imbibe it retain at least some for their own nourishment. Larval saliva of P. occidentalis contains glucose, protein, and free amino acids and so is highly nutritive; the nutrient content of the saliva closely resembles that of the saliva of other social wasp taxa. Adult wasps imbibe larval saliva, but very little is apparently transferred by those adults (via trophallaxis) to nestmates. Brood cannibalism was infrequent during this study. Adult worker and male wasps possess chymotrypsin-like and trypsin-like enzyme in their midguts and so are likely capable of protein digestion. The midgut proteases show an age-correlated variation in concentration. Pulp foragers are significantly smaller and lighter in weight than are receivers.
A modification of the Bianchi intestinal lengthening procedure with a single anastomosis

Abstract Background/Purpose: Intestinal lengthening, as described by Bianchi, is the most commonly used method of gastrointestinal reconstruction for the therapy of short bowel syndrome. It divides the bowel in two longitudinal halves based on the bifurcated mesenteric blood supply, then reconnects the two halves in series with the rest of the small intestine. This requires three end-to-end narrow anastomoses in addition to the two longitudinal sutures lines. The authors describe a modification of the Bianchi procedure that lengthens the small intestine with a single wide end-to-end anastomosis thus avoiding two suture lines and their potential complications. Methods: The anatomic principle used in this modification is the same as that described by Bianchi. The mesentery is separated based on the bifurcated vessels. With sequential firings of the stapler, the division of the intestine begins obliquely, proceeds longitudinally as in the Bianchi procedure, then ends obliquely at the other end of the intestine. This results in two divided segments that remain attached to the proximal and distal intestine and end in tapered staple lines. The two ends are sewn into a wide tapered anastomosis, reestablishing intestinal continuity with a single anastomosis instead of three. Conclusions: This simple modification, which we have used on two patients so far, decreases the number of anastomoses in an intestinal lengthening procedure from three narrow ones to one that is wider and tapered, thus reducing the risk of leaks and strictures. Because the end result is a lengthened intestinal segment similar to the Bianchi procedure, it should be equally effective in the therapy of short bowel syndrome.