cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Acute Decompensated Heart Failure: Classification, Epidemiology and Pathophysiology

Acute decompensated heart failure (ADHF) has emerged as a major public health problem. In the US, heart failure is the primary diagnosis accounting for greater than one million hospital discharges annually. Prospective observational registries have improved our understanding of the clinical characteristics of patients who need to be hospitalized for ADHF. ADHF disproportionately affects the elderly. Half of patients hospitalized have normal or near normal left ventricular systolic function, 80 % of patients have previously diagnosed heart failure, 70 % have a history of hypertension, and half have an initial systolic blood pressure > 140 mmHg. A small percentage of patients present in cardiogenic shock. Most patients present with shortness of breath and evidence of pulmonary congestion. Goals of therapy are to identify and treat acute causes of heart failure decompensation (especially acute coronary syndromes), stabilize respiratory status and blood pressure, relieve pulmonary and systemic venous congestion with intravenous diuretics, transition to oral medical therapy including a stable regimen of oral diuretics and an optimal regimen of guideline directed medical therapy (GDMT), and establish a discharge plan for transition of care and outpatient management.
The Use of Iptycenes in Rational Macromolecular Design for Gas Separation Membrane Applications

Iptycene molecules, featuring three-dimensional [2,2,2]-ring configurations with 120° contortion sites and unique internal free volume (IFV) elements, have recently been identified for their great potential in the design of polymers for gas separation membranes. Some of these novel iptycene-containing polymers have already displayed unprecedented separation performance. This review summarizes the progression of the gas separation membranes, utilizing iptycene structures over the past five years by dividing the polymers into three categories: nonladder polymers, semiladder polymers, and ladder polymers. The focus lies on examining macromolecular design strategies of these novel polymers and consequential effects on chain packing, free volume architecture, and gas transport properties to provide useful guidance on the design of new membrane materials. Finally, we provide some perspectives and future research directions for designing and utilizing iptycene-containing polymers for gas separation membranes.
Controlled Mobile Radiation Detection Under Stochastic Uncertainty

Building upon recent insights on the effect of sensor mobility on the detection performance of mobile radiation sensors, this letter analyzes the impact of stochastic noise in the motion of the sensors on their decision-making accuracy. A stochastic optimal control law for the sensors is designed to maximize decision-making performance. Numerical simulations indicate that noisy sensor motion significantly reduces decision-making accuracy, and is especially detrimental to the detection of weak radioactive sources.
Where is the value in care

In recent decades, medical science has headed in the direction of a remotely possible, albeit disillusioned utopia.
Emerging Roles of Vascular Cell Adhesion Molecule-1 (VCAM-1) in Immunological Disorders and Cancer

Tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNFα) is a pro-inflammatory cytokine that triggers the expression of inflammatory molecules, including other cytokines and cell adhesion molecules. TNFα induces the expression of intercellular cell adhesion molecule-1 and vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1). VCAM-1 was originally identified as a cell adhesion molecule that helps regulate inflammation-associated vascular adhesion and the transendothelial migration of leukocytes, such as macrophages and T cells. Recent evidence suggests that VCAM-1 is closely associated with the progression of various immunological disorders, including rheumatoid arthritis, asthma, transplant rejection, and cancer. This review covers the role and relevance of VCAM-1 in inflammation, and also highlights the emerging potential of VCAM-1 as a novel therapeutic target in immunological disorders and cancer.
Designing trials for drug combinations

Abstract This chapter proposes pragmatic considerations for designing early phase clinical trials as well as the molecular and pharmacological audit trail (MoPhAT) framework, which includes the steps needed to successfully develop molecular targeted combination regimens. Key definitions of biomarkers and how they should be developed, validated, and incorporated in combination clinical trials are outlined. Novel trial designs to develop early phase trials involving rational combinations of antitumor agents are also discussed. Clinical trial designs for combination regimens should ideally include toxicity monitoring strategies, mechanism-of-action combinatorial pharmacodynamic studies, detailed pharmacokinetic profiling, and exploratory studies to assess putative predictive biomarkers of response and resistance of the combination. Biomarker-based studies enable the clinical testing of rational combinatorial regimens of investigational agents using an evidence-based and hypothesis-driven approach. The MoPhAT approach may fully exploit our improved understanding of cancer biology and the latest technological advances, leading to accelerated drug development and improved outcomes for patients.
Comment on Redondo et al. Racial/Ethnic Minority Youth With Recent-Onset Type 1 Diabetes Have Poor Prognostic Factors. Diabetes Care 2018;41:1017-1024.

I read with interest an article by Redondo et al. (1) that reported a significantly lower rate of partial clinical remission in African Americans (AAs) compared with non-Hispanic whites (NHWs) in the first 3 years of diagnosis with type 1 diabetes and no differences in the lipid profile between the groups. This interesting report may represent a key drawback of the gold-standard test for partial clinical remission, the insulin dose–adjusted hemoglobin A1c (IDAA1c) of ≤9.0%. The IDAA1c has been criticized for its shortcomings, including the underestimation of the prevalence of partial clinical remission in older, obese European girls who are more insulin resistant (2), as it cannot discriminate between insulin sensitivity and insulin secretion (2). The …
Preterm Neuroimaging and School-Age Cognitive Outcomes

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Children born extremely preterm are at risk for cognitive difficulties and disability. The relative prognostic value of neonatal brain MRI and cranial ultrasound (CUS) for school-age outcomes remains unclear. Our objectives were to relate near-term conventional brain MRI and early and late CUS to cognitive impairment and disability at 6 to 7 years among children born extremely preterm and assess prognostic value. METHODS: A prospective study of adverse early and late CUS and near-term conventional MRI findings to predict outcomes at 6 to 7 years including a full-scale IQ (FSIQ) RESULTS: A total of 386 children had follow-up. In unadjusted analyses, severity of white matter abnormality and cerebellar lesions on MRI and adverse CUS findings were associated with outcomes. In full regression models, both adverse late CUS findings (odds ratio [OR] 27.9; 95% confidence interval [CI] 6.0–129) and significant cerebellar lesions on MRI (OR 2.71; 95% CI 1.1–6.7) remained associated with disability, but only adverse late CUS findings (OR 20.1; 95% CI 3.6–111) were associated with FSIQ CONCLUSIONS: Severe but rare adverse late CUS findings were most strongly associated with cognitive impairment and disability at school age, and significant cerebellar lesions on MRI were associated with disability. Near-term conventional MRI did not substantively enhance prediction of severe early school-age outcomes.
History and Future of the Solo Papaya

Dioecious papayas were probably introduced into Hawaii shortly after Cook’s first visit in 1778, but they were supplanted for commercial purposes by the gynodioecious “solo” papaya brought from the Caribbean in 1911. The positive characteristics of solo fruits included 12–15 % TSS, agreeable flavor and texture, and size suitable for consumption by a single individual (hence, “solo”). Growth of the local, solo-based papaya industry accelerated after genetic analysis of sex segregation in gynodioecious lines allowed the planting of predictably uniform fields of hermaphrodite plants. Early cultivar improvement efforts focused on symmetrical fruits of high quality, free of stamen carpellody and carpel abortion (Lines 5 and 8). Expansion into export markets was facilitated in the 1950s by selection of “Kapoho,” a cultivar with excellent postharvest qualities, well adapted to Hawaii’s unique rainforest environment. Breeding objectives of subsequent releases have included red flesh color (“Sunrise” and “Sunset”), low-bearing habit and, serendipitously, tolerance to Phytophthora root and fruit rots (“Waimanalo” and “Kamiya”), and genetically engineered resistance to papaya ring spot virus (“SunUp,” “Rainbow,” and “Laie Gold”). Future goals will necessitate major changes in the wild phenotype, including true-breeding hermaphrodites, redirection of vegetative vigor into precocious root development rather than shoot elongation, and limiting fruit production to a single ovary per node.
Role of Protein Kinase C and Phosphatases in 12(S)-Hete-Induced Tumor Cell Cytoskeletal Reorganization

Adherent B16 amelanotic melanoma (B16a) cells exposed to fatty acid 12(S)-HETE, a lipoxygenase metabolite of arachidonic acid, demonstrated a gradual dissolution of stress fibers and bundling-together of vimentin. The 12(S)-HETE effects on tumor cell cytoskeleton appeared 5 min after treatment, became prominent -15 min following stimulation, and generally disappeared by 30 min. Simultaneous treatment of cells with 12(S)-HETE and okadaic acid (OA) prevented disappearance of the 12(S)-HETE effects by 30 min. Quantitative double immunoblotting of actin and vimentin indicated that actin, but not vimentin, underwent a time-related depolymerization. On the other hand, enhanced phosphorylation of vimentin but not of actin was observed after 12(S)-HETE treatment. 12(S)-HETE-enhanced vimentin phosphorylation was abolished by protein kinase C (PKC) inhibitor calphostin C., thus suggesting the involvement of PKC.
Feasibility Study of a Soluble Boron–Free Small Modular Integral Pressurized Water Reactor

The elimination of soluble boron in the operation of small modular integral pressurized water reactors creates several advantages. Most of these advantages are realized by the core simplification b...
Feasibility of laparascopic telesurgery

A telesurgical system was created to allow an endoscopic specialist at a remote site to offer guidance and assistance to a surgeon during laparoscopic surgery. The remote and operative sites were connected by a single T1 link. The system provided real-time video, audio, telestration, and robotic arm control of the laparoscope. Seven patients underwent successful procedures using this system. This study demonstrates the feasibility, effectiveness, and safety of telementoring.
Unexpected Irregularities in the Distribution of Prime Numbers

In 1849 the Swiss mathematican ENCKE wrote to GAUSS, asking whether he had ever considered trying to estimate Π(x), the number of primes up to x, by some sort of “smooth” function. On Christmas Eve 1849, GAUSS replied that “he had pondered this problem as a boy” and had come to the conclusion that “at around x, the primes occur with density 1/log x.” Thus, he concluded, π(ϰ) could be approximated by $$Li(x): = \int_2^x {\frac{{dt}}{{\log t}} = \frac{x}{{\log x}} + \frac{x}{{{{\log }^2}x}} + O(\frac{x}{{{{\log }^3}x}})}$$ .
Computational Modeling Applied to the Dot-Probe Task Yields Improved Reliability and Mechanistic Insights.

Abstract Background Biased patterns of attention are implicated as key mechanisms across many forms of psychopathology and have given rise to automated mechanistic interventions designed to modify such attentional preferences. However, progress is substantially hindered by limitations in widely used methods to quantify attention, bias leading to imprecision of measurement. Methods In a sample of patients who were clinically anxious (n = 70), we applied a well-validated form of computational modeling (drift-diffusion model) to trial-level reaction time data from a two-choice “dot-probe task”—the dominant paradigm used in hundreds of attention bias studies to date—in order to model distinct components of task performance. Results While drift-diffusion model–derived attention bias indices exhibited convergent validity with previous approaches (e.g., conventional bias scores, eye tracking), our novel analytic approach yielded substantially improved split-half reliability, modestly improved test-retest reliability, and revealed novel mechanistic insights regarding neural substrates of attention bias and the impact of an automated attention retraining procedure. Conclusions Computational modeling of attention bias task data may represent a new way forward to improve precision.
DiscreteL-splines

In this paper discrete functions associated with a linear difference operatorL are constructively defined so as to parallel the development of continuousL-splines. The discrete analogoues of the various types of interpolatory splines are given, along with summation relations, minimum norm property and best approximation property. Some simple examples and possible applications are also presented.
SW06 Data Analysis, Slope-Canyon Experiment Planning, and Long-Range Sound Propagation with Applications to the Arctic

Abstract : The long term goals of our shallow water acoustics work are to: 1) understand the nature of low frequency (10-1500 Hz) acoustic propagation and scattering in shallow water when strong oceanic variability is present in the form of fronts, eddies, boundary layers, and internal waves and 2) begin planning a 2016 field experiment to look at the complicated boundary between deep and shallow water, i.e. the slope/canyon region. Our primary objectives this year were: 1) to continue the analysis of the vast data set collected by the SW06 experiment, model it with theory and numerical models, and publish the results in a JASA Special Issue. 3-D acoustics and oceanographic effects were of particular interest. 2) Begin 2016 experimental planning, both on an individual basis, and in conjunction with the whole ocean acoustics community.
Customer satisfaction in gourmet food trucks: Exploring attributes and their relationship with customer satisfaction

Gourmet food trucks (GFTs) have emerged as a new and unique restaurant segment with attributes of service similar to quick service restaurants and attributes of food quality similar to fine dining ...
Autonomous readers: the impact of news customisation on audiences’ psychological and behavioural outcomes

Customisation features on news websites and apps provide news readers with increased control over their reading experience by allowing them to choose what they can read next. This study investigate...
Dynamic quantitative nonenhanced magnetic resonance angiography of the abdominal aorta and lower extremities using cine fast interrupted steady-state in combination with arterial spin labeling: a feasibility study

Cine fast interrupted steady-state in combination with arterial spin labeling is a recently described nonenhanced magnetic resonance angiography (MRA) technique that relies on bolus tracking for time-resolved digital subtraction angiography-like displays of blood flow patterns. We evaluated the feasibility of applying this technique to display in-plane flow patterns in two regions: the abdominal aorta and lower extremity peripheral arteries. We performed an institutional review board-approved study in healthy subjects and patients. In 7 healthy subjects, in-plane flow was imaged at 4 stations ranging from the lower legs to the aorto-iliac bifurcation (junction of the distal thigh and upper calf, mid-thigh, junction of the upper thigh and pelvis, upper pelvis). In 5 healthy subjects and 6 patients without abdominal aortopathy, images were acquired through the suprarenal abdominal aorta. Ten patients with known peripheral arterial disease and two patients with stable disease of the abdominal aorta were also evaluated. Peak velocity was compared at each of the 4 stations for cine fast interrupted steady-state in combination with arterial spin labeling and two-dimensional cine phase contrast in patients with normal vessels. In-plane flow patterns were well visualized in all peripheral arterial stations and in the abdominal aorta, providing a high quality display of hemodynamic patterns along extensive lengths of the vessels. There was very strong positive correlation (r = 0.952, P < 0.05) and excellent agreement (intraclass correlation coefficient, 0.935; 95% confidence interval, 0.812–0.972) between peak flow velocities measured by cine fast interrupted steady-state in combination with arterial spin labeling and two-dimensional cine phase contrast. In 10 patients with peripheral artery disease and 2 patients with aortic pathology, cine fast interrupted steady-state in combination with arterial spin labeling provided a visual demonstration of abnormal hemodynamics. This feasibility study suggests that cine fast interrupted steady-state in combination with arterial spin labeling provides an efficient, high quality and physiologically accurate display of in-plane flow patterns over extensive lengths of the lower extremity peripheral arteries, which can be difficult to achieve using other MRA techniques.
Implementation of sexual and gender minority health curricula in health care professional schools: a qualitative study.

Lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, and intersex people—inclusively termed “sexual and gender minorities”—have unique health and health care needs that are not being met by most healthcare providers due to lack of training in health care professional schools. The purpose of this qualitative study was to examine implementation factors for advancing sexual and gender minority health professional student curricula in academic settings. Semi-structured interviews guided by the Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research (CFIR) were conducted with sixteen curricular champions to identify factors relevant to curricular adoption, integration, and sustainment. Themes were coded using a hybrid of deductive and inductive approaches and reported using major CFIR domains. Facilitators supporting implementation of sexual and gender minority health curricula included collaboration among multiple stakeholders, alignment of formal and hidden curricula, fostering an organizational culture that valued inclusion and diversity, engagement with external subject matter experts or faculty with content expertise, and thoughtful and inclusive planning. This study contributes to health care professional education research as well as to implementation science. Facilitators that were identified in this study can be used to increase the adoption, integration, and sustainment of sexual and gender minority health curricula in diverse academic settings.
Feasibility study of PET dynamic imaging of [18F]DHMT for quantification of reactive oxygen species in the myocardium of large animals.

We aimed to develop a dynamic imaging technique for a novel PET superoxide tracer, [18F]DHMT, to allow for absolute quantification of myocardial reactive oxygen species (ROS) production in a large animal model. Six beagle dogs underwent a single baseline dynamic [18F]DHMT PET study, whereas one animal underwent three serial dynamic studies over the course of chronic doxorubicin administration (1 mg·kg−1·week−1 for 15 weeks). During the scans, sequential arterial blood samples were obtained for plasma metabolite correction. The optimal compartment model and graphical analysis method were identified for kinetic modeling. Values for the left ventricular (LV) net influx rate, Ki, were reported for all the studies and compared with the LV standard uptake values (SUVs) and the LV-to-blood pool SUV ratios from the 60 to 90 minute static images. Parametric images were also generated. [18F]DHMT followed irreversible kinetics once oxidized within the myocardium in the presence of superoxide, as evidenced by the fitting generated by the irreversible two-tissue (2Ti) compartment model and the linearity of Patlak analysis. Myocardial Ki values showed a weak correlation with LV SUV (R2 = 0.27), but a strong correlation with LV-to-blood pool SUV ratio (R2 = 0.92). Generation of high-quality parametric images showed superior myocardial to blood contrast compared to static images. A dynamic PET imaging technique for [18F]DHMT was developed with full and simplified kinetic modeling for absolute quantification of myocardial superoxide production in a large animal model.
Analysis of iodine nutritional status and iodine salt supply among residents in Beijing, 2012

Objective To investigate the nutritional status among residents and salt iodine content in Beijing,and to provide a basis for iodine deficiency disorders(IDD) prevention and control.Methods A crosssectional investigation of 120 families from Chaoyang District and Daxing District in Beijing was carried out in 2012.Twenty-four hours urine samples were collected from 360 family members to test urine iodine level.Household salt samples were collected and detected of salt iodine; Iodine nutrition per capita intake and daily family salt consumption were investigated to calculate the contribution rate of iodine by salt iodine.Results The median of urinary iodine concentration in children aged 8-10,adult females and males were 165.40,138.85 and 155.65 pg/L,respectively.Iodine nutrition per capita intake for children aged 8-10,adult females and males were 263.54,286.68 and 328.02 μg/d,respectively.Salt iodine supply contributed 84.68％ of human iodine nutrition intake among residents in Beijing.Conclusions Per capita iodine nutrition intake among residents in Beijing has reached the recommended nutrient intake.Iodine in salt is the main source of dietary intake of iodine. Key words: Iodine; Urinary; Iodine nutrition; Data collection; Outcome evaluation
Parathyroid Identification and Preservation: Is Autofluorescence a Game Changer?

Identification and preservation of the parathyroid glands (PGs) are a critical step during neck endocrine surgery. Permanent hypoparathyroidism is a devastating sequela of such procedures and can r...
Can an e-bike share system increase awareness and consideration of e-bikes as a commute mode? Results from a natural experiment

Electric-assisted bicycles (e-bikes) may encourage commuters to shift from car to bike by improving perceptions of bicycling safety and increasing destination accessibility. Awareness of e-bikes is...
Camp Employment as a Developmental Setting for Emerging Adults: A National Mixed-Methods Study

Emerging adults engage in a range of education, employment, and other experiences that provide opportunities to build skills necessary for future success. The camp industry employs 1.5 million individuals each summer, and its potential as a setting for development is important to understand. The purpose of this study was to identify the outcomes of camp employment and compare these outcomes across settings. Participants were 254 individuals engaged in a longitudinal study, all of whom were camp staff during summer 2018. This study employed an explanatory sequential design. Quantitative survey data were analyzed using RMANOVAs and paired t-tests. Qualitative data were analyzed using a multi-step coding process including open (survey responses) and utilitarian coding (interviews). Findings indicated emerging adults learned relationship skills, leadership, and appreciation for being present and that camp employment is a rich setting for emerging adults to learn skills they may not learn elsewhere. Subscribe to JOREL
Impact of elevated ozone on yield and carbon-nitrogen content in soybean cultivar 'Jake'.

Abstract Tropospheric ozone (O3) is a pollutant that leads to significant global yield loss in soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.]. To ensure soybean productivity in areas of rising O3, it is important to identify tolerant genotypes. This work describes the response of the high-yielding soybean cultivar ‘Jake’ to elevated O3 concentrations. ‘Jake’ was treated with either low O3 [charcoal-filtered (CF) air, 12 h mean: 20 ppb] or with O3-enriched air (12 h mean: 87 ppb) over the course of the entire growing season. In contrast to the absence of O3-induced leaf injury under low O3, elevated O3 caused severe leaf injury and decreased stomatal conductance and photosynthesis. Although elevated O3 reduced total leaf area, leaf number, and plant height at different developmental stages, above-ground and root biomass remained unchanged. Analyzing carbon and nitrogen content, we found that elevated O3 altered allocation of both elements, which ultimately led to a 15 % yield loss by decreasing seed size but not seed number. We concluded that cultivar ‘Jake’ possesses developmental strength to tolerate chronic O3 conditions, attributes that make it suitable breeding material for the generation of new O3 tolerant lines.
Modifiable risk factors for homebound progression among those with and without dementia in a longitudinal survey of community-dwelling older adults.

Being homebound is independently associated with increased mortality but the homebound population is heterogeneous. In order to improve precision medicine, we analyzed potentially modifiable factors that contribute to homebound progression (from independent to needing assistance, to homebound), stratified by dementia status. Using National Aging and Trends Survey (NHATS), a nationally-representative, longitudinal annual survey from 2011 to 2017 (n = 11,528), we categorized homebound progression if one transitioned from independent or needing assistance to homebound, including competing risks of institutionalization or death between 2011 and last year of data available for each unique respondent. Using proportional hazards regression, we calculated hazard ratios of potentially modifiable risk factors on homebound progression. Depressive symptoms, mobility impairment, and pain increased risk of homebound progression regardless of dementia status. Social isolation increased risk of homebound progression only among those without dementia at baseline. Future clinical care and research should focus on the treatment of depressive symptoms, mobility, and pain to potentially delay progression to homebound status.
fSHAPE, fSHAPE-eCLIP, and SHAPE-eCLIP probe transcript regions that interact with specific proteins.

Summary Selective 2′-hydroxyl acylation analyzed by primer extension (SHAPE) structure probing techniques characterize the secondary structure of RNA molecules, which influence their functions and interactions. A variation of SHAPE, footprinting SHAPE (fSHAPE), probes RNA in the presence and absence of protein to identify RNA bases that hydrogen-bond with protein. SHAPE or fSHAPE coupled with enhanced crosslinking and immunoprecipitation (SHAPE-eCLIP or fSHAPE-eCLIP) pulls down RNAs bound by any protein of interest and returns their structure or protein interaction information, respectively. Here, we describe detailed protocols for SHAPE-eCLIP and fSHAPE-eCLIP and an analysis protocol for fSHAPE. For complete details on the use and execution of these protocols, please refer to Corley et al. (2020) .
Public Confederate Monuments and Racial Identity among White Americans

This study draws on identity theory to examine the relationship between the presence of public Confederate monuments and white racial identity. Data for this study come from a novel census of Confederate monuments collected by the Southern Poverty Law Center and a nationally representative sample of white Americans from the American Mosaic Project (n = 986). Results show that having a greater number of Confederate monuments in the state of residence, but not the county of residence, is associated with increased likelihood of identifying white racial identity as very important. We argue that public Confederate monuments are related to the prominence of whiteness for white Americans because monuments represent observable cues of white supremacy and state-sanctioned black-white boundary maintenance. Our findings extend identity theory by demonstrating that cultural artifacts can factor into the strength of a social identity.
Determinants of e-government readiness: A literature review

In all countries, some services are being provided and delivered through the use of information and communication technologies (ICT). Over the past decade, the use of electronic services (e-services) has proved to be efficient and effective in the private sectors providing much needed financial viability and business growth. Governments around the world have since joined the bandwagon, and empirical research provides evidence that countries that have mature electronic government (e-government) systems enjoy improved efficiency and effectiveness in the public service provision and delivery. There are many measurement instruments that measure a country's readiness for use of ICT or e-government, and these measurements are commonly used for comparative purposes at regional, international and global levels. The instruments measure the capacity of a country to use ICT in the provision and delivery of services. This paper reviews these instruments and explores literature on existing methodologies on determining a country's readiness to adopt and use information and communication technologies in public services. The objective of these reviews is to identify critical determinants of a country's electronic readiness (e-readiness).
Role of the Adipocyte in Type 2 Diabetes

Obesity is a major risk factor for several pathophysiological disorders including type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease. Obese individuals, particularly those with excess adipose tissue around their major organs, lose the ability to respond to insulin and eventually develop hyperinsulinemia and hyperlipidemia. If left untreated, these individuals are at risk for developing type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease. Investigations during the last few years have focused on the adipocyte as a potential link between obesity and insulin resistance. The conclusions drawn from this research implicate the adipocyte as a central player in the development of insulin resistance, affecting muscle and liver of individuals with excess adipose tissue. In fact, the role of the adipocyte in regulating overall energy balance has been significantly redefined. Specifically, in addition to storing excess energy as triglycerides, adipocytes secrete many biologically active molecules that regulate mechanisms related to energy balance in other metabolically active tissues including the brain, muscle, and liver. These bioactive molecules include hormones and several cytokines, collectively referred to as adipocytokines, which include leptin, tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α), adiponectin/ACRP30/adipoQ/apM1, and resistin. Certain adipocytokines have been directly linked to insulin resistance in obese humans as well as in various animal models. An approach to combating type 2 diabetes mellitus, therefore, is to understand the molecular and physiological mechanisms that regulate the formation and function of adipocytes in specific adipose tissue depots. This chapter discusses the role of adipogenic transcription factors in regulating adipogenesis and metabolic homeostasis. Attention is given to the nuclear hormone receptor PPAR-γ (peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ) which is a master regulator of adipocyte differentiation and the target of the thiazolidinedione family of antidiabetic drugs. In this regard, the mechanism of action of the thiazolidinediones is discussed and other adipocyte proteins are proposed as alternative targets for the development of antidiabetic therapeutics. Keywords: obesity; insulin resistance; type 2 diabetes; adipocyte; adipocytokines; adipogenic transcription factors; peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR-γ); insulin sensitizers; thiazolidinediones
Environment and the Shaping of Civilization

(1970). Environment and the Shaping of Civilization. Environmental Education: Vol. 2, No. 2, pp. 6-8.
Relational Theory and the Practice of Psychotherapy

Context and Relationship in Psychotherapy: An Introduction. How Do We Understand Another Person? One-person and Two-person Perspectives. The Dynamics of Personality: One-person and Two-person Views. From Two-person to Contextual: Beyond Infancy and the Consulting Room. Drives, Relationships, and the Foundations of the Relational Point of View. The Limits of the Archaeological Vision: Relational Theory and the Cyclical-contextual Model. Self-states, Dissociation, and the Schemas of Subjectivity and Intersubjectivity. Exploration, Support, Self-acceptance, and the "School of Suspicion". Insight, Direct Experience, and the Implications of a New Understanding of Anxiety. Enactments, New Relational Experience, and Implicit Relational Knowing. Confusions About Self-disclosure: Real Issues, Pseudo-issues, and the Inevitability of Trade-offs. The "Inner" World, the "Outer" World, and the Lived-in World: Mobilizing for Change in the Patient's Daily Life.
Space Shuttle Main Engine Plume Diagnostics: OPAD Approach to Vehicle Health Monitoring

The process of applying spectroscopy to the Space Shuttle Main Engine (SSME) for plume diagnostics, as it exists today, originated at Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Alabama, and its implementation was assured largely through the efforts of Sverdrup, AEDC, in Tullahoma, Tennessee. This process, Optical Plume Anomaly Detection (OPAD), has formed the basis for various efforts in the development of in-flight plume spectroscopy and in addition produced a viable test stand vehicle health monitor. The purpose of this paper will be to provide an introduction to the OPAD system by discussing the process of obtaining data as well as the methods of examining and interpreting the data.
Variegation mutants and mechanisms of chloroplast biogenesis

Variegated plants typically have green- and white-sectored leaves. Cells in the green sectors contain normal-appearing chloroplasts, whereas cells in the white sectors lack pigments and appear to be blocked at various stages of chloroplast biogenesis. Variegations can be caused by mutations in nuclear, chloroplast or mitochondrial genes. In some plants, the green and white sectors have different genotypes, but in others they have the same (mutant) genotype. One advantage of variegations is that they provide a means of studying genes for proteins that are important for chloroplast development, but for which mutant analysis is difficult, either because mutations in a gene of interest are lethal or because they do not show a readily distinguishable phenotype. This paper focuses on Arabidopsis variegations, for which the most information is available at the molecular level. Perhaps the most interesting of these are variegations caused by defective nuclear gene products in which the cells of the mutant have a uniform genotype. Two questions are of paramount interest: (1) What is the gene product and how does it function in chloroplast biogenesis? (2) What is the mechanism of variegation and why do green sectors arise in plants with a uniform (mutant) genotype? Two paradigms of variegation mechanism are described: immutans (im) and variegated2 (var2). Both mechanisms emphasize compensating activities and the notion of plastid autonomy, but redundant gene products are proposed to play a role in var2, but not in im. It is hypothesized that threshold levels of certain activities are necessary for normal chloroplast development.
Polarity and gradients in lepidopteran wing epidermis. I. Changes in graft polarity, form, and cell density accompanying transpositions and reorientations.

Lepidopteran wing epidermis has certain advantages for studying the spatial organization of cell populations: ease of accessibility and manipulation, large size, an essentially two-dimensional structure, and direct expression by the scale cells of their polarity. Grafting experiments reveal that polarity and density of graft cells as well as overall graft form are functions of a graft9s source and its transplantation site; graft polarity is also determined by the orientation of the graft. The results are consistent with the existence of at least one morphogenetic gradient along the proximo-distal axis of the wing9s upper epidermal layer. Various gradient models that might explain the experimental observations are considered.
Intra-aortic balloon pump: nursing implications for patients with an iliac artery approach

Long-term use of an intra-aortic balloon pump is often necessary for patients with severe left ventricular dysfunction who are awaiting cardiac transplantation. Complications caused by prolonged bed rest and immobility can occur when the traditional femoral approach is used for insertion of the balloon catheter. Insertion of the intra-aortic balloon catheter through the iliac artery is an alternative technique that allows patients to sit, stand, and walk while receiving counterpulsation. This approach is now being used to prevent the complications of immobility in patients awaiting cardiac transplantation. In this article, the special considerations, potential complications, and nursing interventions unique to the iliac artery approach are delineated.
Hydrostatic compression of Fe1‐x O Wüstite

Hydrostatic compression measurements on Fe(0.95)O wuestite up to 12 GPa yield a room temperature value for the isothermal bulk modulus of K(ot) = 157 (+ or - 10) GPa at zero pressure. This result is in accord with previous hydrostatic and nonhydrostatic measurements of K(ot) for wuestites of composition: 0.89 = Fe/O 0.95. Dynamic measurements of the bulk modulus by ultrasonic, shock-wave and neutron-scattering experiments tend to yield a larger value: K(ot) approximately 180 GPa. The discrepancy between static and dynamic values cannot be explained by the variation of K(ot) with composition, as has been proposed. This conclusion is based on high-precision compression data and on theoretical models of the effects of defects on elastic constants. Barring serious errors in the published measurements, the available data suggest that wuestite exhibits a volume relaxation under pressure.
A Cooperative Catalysis Approach to the Morita—Baylis—Hillman Reaction of Aryl Vinyl Ketones.

The novel protocol for the successful reaction includes a combined catalyst of L-proline and brucine N-oxide.
Range of tricuspid regurgitation velocity at rest and during exercise in normal adult men: implications for the diagnosis of pulmonary hypertension.

Abstract OBJECTIVES The aim of this study was to explore the full range of tricuspid valve regurgitation velocity (TRV) at rest and with exercise in disease free individuals. Additionally we examined the relationship of stroke volume (SV), cardiac output (CO) and TRV to exercise capacity. BACKGROUND Doppler evaluation of TRV can be used to estimate pulmonary artery systolic pressure (PASP). Most studies have assumed TRV ≤2.5 m/s as the upper limits of normal. The full range of TRV with exercise has been incompletely defined. METHODS Highly conditioned athletes (n = 26) and healthy, active, young male volunteers (n = 14) underwent standardized recumbent bicycle exercise. Exercise parameters included: TRV, SV, CO, systolic (SBP) and diastolic (DBP) systemic blood pressure. RESULTS Tricuspid valve regurgitation, SV, HR and CO were significantly higher in athletes than in nonathletes over all workloads, including rest. Systolic blood pressure and DBP did not show significant differences between the two groups. CONCLUSIONS This study defines the upper physiologic limits of TRV at rest and during exercise in normals and provides a noninvasive standard for the diagnosis of pulmonary hypertension.
Improving Student Outcomes via Comprehensive Supports: Three-Year Outcomes from CUNY's Accelerated Study in Associate Programs (ASAP).

Community colleges are grappling with low rates of degree completion and transfer. The City University of New York’s (CUNY) Accelerated Study in Associate Programs (ASAP) aims to improve graduation rates by providing a range of comprehensive support services to community college students in select majors. Using student-unit record data, we employed propensity score matching to examine short-term and 3-year outcomes from ASAP’s first cohort, as well as logistic regression to identify program factors related to graduation. We found that ASAP participation was significantly positively related to retention, credit accrual, transfer, and degree attainment. Regression analyses indicated that a key influence on graduation is participation in advisement sessions. This study provides evidence that encouraging academic momentum via structured and comprehensive support can significantly improve community college graduation rates. It also provides evidence that ongoing and intrusive advisement can encourage positive ...
NASPGHAN Nutrition University as a model for continuing education within pediatric nutrition.

Abstract The North American Society for Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology, and Nutrition Nutrition Committee developed the North American Society for Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology, and Nutrition Nutrition University (N2U) as an education resource designed to address the nutrition topics identified by pediatric gastroenterologists. N2U was initially designed as a series of lectures. Participants completed a precourse, immediate postcourse, and 6-month postcourse assessment. The average pretest score was 74%. Participants reported learning "a great deal" and immediate postcourse test score average was 90%. Feedback from N2U participants will shape future course design, focusing on the interactive learning sessions. N2U may serve as a model for offering topic-directed continuing medical education based on targeted physician responses and feedback.
Species differences in methemoglobin reductase activity.

Abstract Sodium nitrite induced equivalent levels of methemoglobin in washed erythrocytes from cat, dog, and man, all suspended in Krebs-Ringer phosphate-glucose (pH 7·4). The same levels occurred in human cells with or without aded substrate (glucose or lactate). In all these incubations, reduction of methemoglobin was minimal or absent over a 2-hr period. When 10−5M methylene blue was added with glucose, equivalent increases in rates of methemoglobin reduction occurred in the cells of all three species. Similar rates were seen in rabbit and mouse red cells even without added methylene blue, as long as lactate or glucose was present. Methylene blue further enhanced reductase activity in mouse cells but only in the presence of glucose. Rabbit cells responded much less dramatically, if at all, to methylene blue. Lysates of human, rabbit, and mouse cells were equally sensitive to nitrite, and no spontaneous reduction occurred. These findings suggest that the high reductase activity of rabbit and mouse erythrocytes is NADH-dependent. The mouse but not the rabbit appears to possess also a NADPH-dependent reductase like man, dog and cat.
Comparative evaluation of factors involved in Fe stress response in tomato and soybean

Abstract Iron‐efficient and Fe‐inefficient tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill; T3238FER and T3238fer, respectively) and soybean (Glycine max (L.) Merr.; A7 and T203, respectively) were grown in modified Hoagland solutions with varying levels of Fe (0, 0.025, 0.05, and 0.75 mg Fe L‐1). The release of H+ ions, reductants and reduction of Fe3+ to Fe2+ by the root, and concentration of nutrients in plant leaves and roots were measured to determine if these factors interact during the Festress response mechanism. The FER tomato responded to Fe stress by increasing H ion and reductant release concurrently with increased reduction of Fe3+ by the roots; all three reached maximum levels at the same time (day 7). Iron‐stressed A7 soybean responded first with increased H+ ion release and reduction by the roots, while reductant release lagged about 1 day behind. In both cases, increased concentration of leaf Fe corresponded to the time of maximum Fe‐stress response. The Fe‐inefficient T3238fer tomato and T203 soybe...
Rhodium Complexes of a New Structurally Adaptive PNN-Pincer Type Ligand

A new PNN-pincer type ligand with pyrazolyl and diphenylphosphine flanking donors on a diarylamido anchor has been prepared. Its bis(tert-butyl isocyanide)rhodium(I) complex exhibits hemilabile behavior in solution, and its solid-state structure verified the elusive κ2P,N coordination mode for this type of ligand. Reactions between (PNN)Rh(CNtBu)2 and iodomethane afford both fac- and cis,mer-[(PNN)Rh(CNtBu)2(Me)](I), which further showcases the structural versatility of the ligand.
On the Origin of Impulsive Electron Events Observed at 1?AU

A statistical survey of 12 impulsive electron events detected at energies down below 1 keV and 58 events detected above 25 keV observed at 1 AU by the 3-D Plasma and Energetic Particles experiment on the Wind spacecraft is presented. Timing analysis of the velocity dispersion reveals two different kinds of electron events: (1) events released from the Sun at the onset of a radio type III burst, which suggest that these electrons are part of the population producing the type III radio emission; and (2) events in which the electrons are released up to half an hour later than the onset of the type III burst. These electrons therefore may be produced by a different acceleration mechanism than the population producing the radio emission. Both types of behavior can be observed during the same impulsive electron event at different energies, but most events show the same timing at all energies. At lower energies ( 25 keV), events not related to type III bursts are more numerous (41 of 58). However, events of both classes are observed below 1 keV. Impulsive electron events not related to type III radio bursts are observed to be proton rich, with an order-of-magnitude lower electron-to-proton ratio than events related to type III bursts. For roughly 3/4 of the events not related to type III bursts, large-scale coronal transient waves, also called EIT waves or coronal Moreton waves, are observed by the Extreme Ultraviolet Imaging Telescope (EIT) on board SOHO. Temporal and spatial correlations together with hydromagnetic simulations show that at least some impulsive electron events are more likely related to the propagating Moreton wave than to the flare phenomenon itself.
Metabolomic investigations of anaerobic hydrocarbon-impacted environments

Metabolomics is a powerful tool for the assessment of expressed (in vivo or in situ) biological processes. Metabolite profiling is often employed during field investigations of hydrocarbon-laden environments for the purpose(s) of determining the extent of intrinsic or enhanced natural attenuation of contaminants, developing remediation strategies, and/or gaining a better understanding of microbial processes. During the last twenty-five years, the elucidation of anaerobic biodegradation pathways has not only provided metabolic and molecular biomarkers for environmental assessments of anaerobic hydrocarbon metabolism, but also an avenue for integrative field studies. The combination of metabolomics with compound-specific isotope analysis, molecular surveys and/or microcosm studies has demonstrated the need for multiple assessment methods for better resolution of in situ microbial activity.