cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Participation in work: The necessity of addressing executive function deficits

Participation is a broad construct that occupational therapy uses to describe the satisfactory engagement in a client’s chosen occupations and roles in home, work, and community environments [5]. Participation is so central to the practice of occupational therapy that it is one of the three overarching concepts that is used to describe the outcomes of occupational therapy services in the OT Practice Framework-2nd Edition [2]. Working with clients to help them to participate in their chosen occupations and roles is a complex process and the argument can be made that helping them to engage in their role as a worker is the most complex. The complexity of all the interrelated factors associated with work including the clients goals and expectations, the constraints of rehabilitation service delivery systems, and the dynamic nature of work, all contribute to the difficulty of helping someone with a disability reintegrate back into the workforce [25]. While the rehabilitation community is aware that this is a complex process, the problem remains that overall rehabilitation professionals have not been successful in helping individuals with disabilities return to work. The 2004 U.S. census data shows that 44% of people with a non-severe disability work full time year-round and 13% percent with a severe disability work full time year-round [32]. This is a trend that has not changed over time. In 1995, research showed that despite best rehabilitation efforts the majority of Americans with disabilities were not working and this number has been constant since at least 1986 [25]. The majority of Americans with disabilities are not working even with legislation in place to protect their right to work and in spite of the fact that an overwhelming majority of individuals with disabilities have a desire to work [4]. It is time occupational therapy to embrace the fact that there is a lot of opportunity to expand our ability to help individuals with disabilities to reintegrate back into the workforce. To support our clients in fulfilling their work related goals, occupational therapists must have a comprehensive toolbox of knowledge, skills, and measures that will be able to address the complexity of work rehabilitation. Just like other areas of practice, this toolbox must address the broad range of internal, external, and occupational factors that underlie performance and participation. This article will review executive function, one area that is extremely underrepresented in the occupational therapist’s toolbox.
Psychological Well-being’s Link with Cardiovascular Health in Older Adults

Introduction Favorable cardiovascular health (FCH) is associated with healthy longevity and reduced cardiovascular mortality risk. However, limited work has investigated the distribution of FCH in older age or considered the antecedents of FCH. Based on prior work linking psychological well-being with cardiovascular endpoints, higher psychological well-being was hypothesized to be associated with increased likelihood of maintaining FCH over time. Methods Data were from the English Longitudinal Study of Ageing. The first study wave (2002–2003) included men and women aged ≥50 years. The analytic sample (N=4,925) was restricted to individuals without baseline cardiovascular disease and with clinical data from three follow-ups through 2013. Psychological well-being was assessed with 17 items from the Control, Autonomy, Satisfaction, and Pleasure scale. FCH was defined as being a non-smoker, diabetes-free, and having healthy levels of blood pressure, cholesterol, and BMI (FCH scores ranged from 0–5). Statistical analyses conducted in 2016–2017 used linear mixed models to examine associations between psychological well-being and FCH scores over time. Secondary analyses examined cardiovascular-related mortality. Results Only 1% of participants had achieved complete FCH at study baseline. Adjusting for sociodemographic factors and depression, greater psychological well-being was associated with higher FCH scores across time (β=0.05, 95% CI=0.02, 0.08), but not rate of change in FCH. Psychological well-being was also associated with a 29% reduced risk of cardiovascular-related mortality in multivariable-adjusted models. Conclusions Findings suggest that psychological well-being is associated with having FCH at older ages, and add to knowledge of assets that may increase likelihood of healthy aging.
Measuring In Vivo Changes in Extracellular Neurotransmitters During Naturally Rewarding Behaviors in Female Syrian Hamsters

The ability to measure neurotransmitter release on a rapid time scale allows patterns of neurotransmission to be linked to specific behaviors or manipulations; a powerful tool in elucidating underlying mechanisms and circuitry. While the technique of microdialysis has been used for decades to measure nearly any analyte of interest in the brain, this technique is limited in temporal resolution. Alternatively, fast scan cyclic voltammetry is both temporally precise and extremely sensitive; however, because this technically difficult method relies on the electroactivity of the analyte of interest, the possibility to detect nonelectroactive substances (e.g., the neurotransmitter glutamate) is eliminated. This paper details the use of a turn-key system that combines fixed-potential amperometry and enzymatic biosensing to measure both electroactive and nonelectroactive neurotransmitters with temporal precision. The pairing of these two powerful techniques allows for the measurement of both tonic and phasic neurotransmission with relative ease, and permits recording of multiple neurotransmitters simultaneously. The aim of this manuscript is to demonstrate the process of measuring dopamine and glutamate neurotransmission in vivo using a naturally rewarding behavior (i.e., sexual behavior) in female hamsters, with the ultimate goal of displaying the technical feasibility of this assay for examining other behaviors and experimental paradigms.
Examination of Wave Speed in Rotating Detonation Engines Using Simplified Computational Fluid Dynamics

A simplified, two-dimensional, computational fluid dynamic (CFD) simulation, with a reactive Euler solver is used to examine possible causes for the low detonation wave propagation speeds that are consistently observed in air breathing rotating detonation engine (RDE) experiments. Intense, small-scale turbulence is proposed as the primary mechanism. While the solver cannot model this turbulence, it can be used to examine the most likely, and profound effect of turbulence. That is a substantial enlargement of the reaction zone, or equivalently, an effective reduction in the chemical reaction rate. It is demonstrated that in the unique flowfield of the RDE, a reduction in reaction rate leads to a reduction in the detonation speed. A subsequent test of reduced reaction rate in a purely one-dimensional pulsed detonation engine (PDE) flowfield yields no reduction in wave speed. The reasons for this are explained. The impact of reduced wave speed on RDE performance is then examined, and found to be minimal. Two other potential mechanisms are briefly examined. These are heat transfer, and reactive mixture non-uniformity. In the context of the simulation used for this study, both mechanisms are shown to have negligible effect on either wave speed or performance.
Everything’s negative about Nigeria: A study of US media reporting on Nigeria:

Previous research on international communication cites under-reporting and negative coverage as major problems of Western media reporting of the African continent. These problems are present specif...
Use of the STTGMA Tool to Risk Stratify 1-Year Functional Outcomes and Mortality in Geriatric Trauma Patients.

Objectives To determine whether a novel inpatient mortality risk assessment tool designed to be calculated in the emergency department setting can risk stratify patient-reported functional outcomes and mortality at 1 year. Design Prospective cohort. Setting Academic level 1 trauma center. Patients Six hundred eight-five patients >55 years of age who were orthopaedic surgery consults or trauma surgery consults in the emergency department between January 10, 2014, and September 30, 2015. Intervention Calculation of the validated score for trauma triage in the geriatric and middle-aged (STTGMA) using each patient's demographics, injury severity, and functional status. Main outcome measurements Mortality, EQ-5D questionnaire, and percent return to baseline function since their hospitalization at 1-year after hospitalization. Results Forty-five (6.6%) patients died within the year after hospitalization. Of remaining 639 patients available for follow-up, 247 (38.7%) were successfully contacted. There was no observed difference between patients who were successfully contacted and those who were not. The mean STTGMA score was 2.1% ± 3.6%. Patients reported on average a 76.4% ± 27.5% return to baseline function. When comparing patients between risk groups, there was a significant difference in EQ-5D scores and percent return to baseline. The Kaplan-Meier survival curve shows that high-risk patients had pronounced decreased survival within the initial days after discharge compared with other cohorts. Conclusions This study demonstrates that patients identified with the STTGMA tool as having an increased risk of inpatient mortality after trauma correlate with poorer functional outcomes at 1 year. The STTGMA risk score is also a valuable tool to stratify risk of mortality up to 1 year after discharge. Level of evidence Prognostic Level III. See Instructions for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.
Co-evolution With The Bierwirth-Mattfeld Hybrid Scheduler

by the job, (2) no two tasks for the same job execute simultaneously and (3) no machine can execute more than one task at a time. The total time required by a schedule is called the makespan. The overall goal of the JSSP is to nd a schedule with smallest makespan. Genetic algorithm approaches to the solution of JSSP have been studied for some time. Most often the chromosome represents a permutation of the tasks according to a particular scheduling rule. Three important and well studied classes of schedulers are non-delay, active and semi-active [2]. These generate solutions that possess distinct mathematical properties. Fitness is the value of the makespan using the permutation with a specic scheduling scheme. The operations of mutation and crossover are specialized for the application.
The Entwined Nature of the Aesthetic: A Discourse on Visual Culture

A middle ground between two rival visions of art education is explored. One side views the major purpose for education in the arts to be the aesthetic experiences they offer, while a rival position...
New Stable High- and Low-Copy Cloning Vectors for use in Agrobacterium and Rhizobium

Presented are a set of cosmids based on the unit copy Agrobacterium plasmid, pTAR, and the high copy number mutant plasmid, pUCD500, of pTiC58. In addition of a par function derived from pTAR to the vectors allowed them to be stably maintained throughout the cell population in the absence of selective pressure. These vectors, designed for Agrobacterium and Rhizobium, also work in E. coli. The vectors can be cotransferred to Rhizobiaceae from E. coli with the helper plasmid, RK2013. Noteworthy is the fact that the origins of DNA replication derived from native Agrobacterium plasmids also operate well in Rhizobium.
Distributionally Robust Games: Wasserstein Metric

Deep generative models are powerful but difficult to train due to its instability, saturation problem and high dimensional data distribution. This paper introduces a game theory framework with Wasserstein metric to train generative models, in which the unknown data distribution is learned by dynamically optimizing the worst-case payoff. In the game, two types of players work on opposite objectives to solve a minimax problem. The defenders explore the Wasserstein neighborhood of real data to generate a set of hard samples which have the maximum distance from the model distribution. The attackers update the model to fit for the hard set so as to minimize the discrepancy between model and data distributions. Instead of Kullback-Leibler divergence, we use Wasserstein distance to measure the similarity between distributions. The Wasserstein metric is a true distance with better topology in the parameter space, which improves the stability of training. We provide practical algorithms to train deep generative models, in which an encoder network is designed to learn the feature vector of the high dimensional data. The algorithm is tested on CelebA human face dataset and compared with the state-of-the-art generative models. Performance evaluation shows the training process is stable and converges fast. Our model can produce visual pleasing images which are closer to the real distribution in terms of Wasserstein distance.
A systematic analysis of parametric instabilities in nonlinear parabolic multimode fibers

We provide a systematic analysis of geometric parametric instabilities in nonlinear graded-index multimode fibers. Our approach implicitly accounts for self-focusing effects and considers dispersion processes to all orders. It is shown that the resulting parametric problem takes the form of a Hill’s equation that can be systematically addressed using a Floquet approach. The theory developed indicates that the unstable spectral domains associated with such geometric parametric instabilities can be significantly altered as the power levels injected in a parabolic multimode fiber increase. These predictions are in excellent agreement with experimental data gathered from graded-index multimode structures.
Zwitterionic liquid crystalline polythiophene as an antibiofouling biomaterial

To address a key challenge of conjugated polymers in biomedical applications having poor antifouling properties that eventually leads to the failure and reduced lifetime of bioelectronics in the body, herein we describe the design, synthesis, and evaluation of our newly designed multifunctional zwitterionic liquid crystalline polymer PCBTh-C8C10, which is facilely synthesized using oxidative polymerization. A conjugated polythiophene backbone, a multifunctional zwitterionic side chain, and a mesogenic unit are integrated into one segment. By DSC and POM characterization, we verify that the introduction of 3,5-bis(2-octyl-1-dodecyloxy)benzene as a mesogenic unit into the polythiophene backbone allows the formation of the liquid crystalline mesophase of the resulting polymer. We also demonstrate that the PCBTh-C8C10 coated surface exhibits good conductivity, stability, hydrophilicity, and remarkable antibiofouling properties against protein adsorption, cell growth, and bacteria attachment. This new zwitterionic liquid crystalline polymer having good antibiofouling features will be widely recognized as a promising biomaterial that is applicable in implantable organic bioelectronics via inhibiting the foreign body response. A deep understanding of structure-property relationships of zwitterionic conjugated polymers has also been provided in this study.
An Unusual Case of Human Papillomavirus–Related Anorectal Adenocarcinoma With Progression to Perianal Paget’s Disease:

Primary adenocarcinoma of the anorectum, compared with squamous cell carcinoma, is a rarer and more aggressive malignant neoplasm. Infection with human papillomavirus (HPV) has been identified as a...
Survey of Salmonella in raw tree nuts at retail in the United States

The objective of this survey was to estimate the prevalence, contamination level, and genetic diversity of Salmonella in selected raw, shelled tree nuts (Brazil nuts, cashews, hazelnuts, macadamia nuts, pecans, pine nuts, pistachios, and walnuts) at retail markets in the United States. A total of 3,374 samples of eight tree nuts were collected from different types of retail stores and markets nationwide between September 2015 and March 2017. These samples (375 g) were analyzed using a modified FDA's BAM Salmonella culture method. Of the 3,374 samples, 15 (0.44%) (95% confidence interval [CI] [0.25, 0.73]) were culturally confirmed as containing Salmonella; 17 isolates were obtained. Among these isolates, there were 11 serotypes. Salmonella was not detected in Brazil nuts (296), hazelnuts (487), pecans (510), pine nuts (500), and walnuts (498). Salmonella prevalence estimates in cashews (510), macadamia (278), and pistachios (295) were 0.20% (95% CI [<0.01, 1.09]), 2.52% (95% CI [1.02, 5.12]), and 2.37% (95% CI [0.96, 4.83]), respectively. The rates of Salmonella isolation from major/big-chain supermarkets (1381), small-chain supermarkets (328), discount/variety/drug stores (1329), and online (336) were 0.29% (95% CI [0.08, 0.74]), 0.30% (95% CI [0.01, 1.69]), 0.45% (95% CI [0.17, 0.98]), and 1.19% (95% CI [0.33, 3.02]), respectively. Salmonella prevalence in organic (530) and conventional (2,844) nuts was not different statistically (P = 0.0601). Of the enumerated samples (15), 80% had Salmonella levels ≤0.0092 most probable number (MPN)/g. The highest contamination level observed was 0.75 MPN/g. The prevalence and contamination levels of Salmonella in the tree nuts analyzed were generally comparable to previous reports. Pulsed-field gel electrophoresis, serotype, and sequencing data all demonstrated that Salmonella population in nuts is very diverse genetically. PRACTICAL APPLICATION: The prevalence, contamination level, and genetic diversity of Salmonella in eight types of tree nuts (3,374 samples collected nationwide) revealed in this survey could help the development of mitigation strategies to reduce public health risks associated with consumption of these nuts.
Text-message-based behavioral weight loss for endometrial cancer survivors with obesity: A randomized controlled trial.

Abstract Objective To evaluate the ability of a personalized text-message-based intervention to increase weight loss among endometrial cancer survivors with obesity. Methods In this randomized, controlled trial, endometrial cancer survivors with obesity (BMI ≥30 kg/m2) were randomized to a personalized SMS text-message-based weight loss intervention or enhanced usual care. Primary outcome was weight loss at 6 months; secondary outcomes were weight loss at 12 months and changes in psychosocial measures. We also compared clinical characteristics and weight change between trial participants and non-participants. Results Between May 18 and December 31, 2017, 80 endometrial cancer survivors with obesity consented to participate in the randomized trial. There were no differences in clinical characteristics between the two arms. Weight changes were similar in the two arms (P = 0.08). At 6 months, no differences in quality of life, physical activity, or body image were noted. Of 358 eligible patients, 80 became trial participants and 278, non-participants. Trial participants were younger (59.3 vs. 63.4 years, P Conclusions This text-message-based intervention did not increase weight loss among endometrial cancer survivors with obesity, nor did participation in the trial. Other weight management interventions should be promoted to increase weight loss. Clinical Trial Registration: ClinicalTrials.gov , www.clinicaltrials.gov , NCT03169023 .
Reducing Inequalities and Empowering Youth through the Multi-Stakeholder SDG Network, RCE Greater Atlanta

Atlanta has one of the largest wealth gaps in the United States, and it is a racialized one: as of 2017, almost 75 percent of residents living below the poverty line were Black. Sustainable develop...
A Longitudinal Investigation of Reference Points: The Impact of Expectations on Risk-Taking Behavior

This study examines whether individuals’ reference points change over time based on expectations derived from prior economic outcomes. I apply expectations-based reference-dependent preferences theory to analyze if and how individuals’ reference points change over time in an economic setting. Specifically, the theory suggests that individuals develop reference points based on expectations of future outcomes (Koszegi and Rabin 2006). Moreover, these expectations are based upon prior economic outcomes. Therefore, this study examines whether individuals’ expectations affect the formulation of their reference point and how possible changes in reference points affect subsequent risk-taking behavior. A 1 x 2 between-subjects experiment was conducted over five periods to examine the research questions. Since expectations are likely to differ based on the budget level, budget target difficulty is manipulated at two levels: easy and moderate. The results of the experiment provide evidence that individuals’ reference points change over time. Moreover, the magnitude of the change in reference point was related to the number of times the budget target was attained. This implies that individuals who continually attained the budget target develop greater expectations of future economic outcomes, which lead to an increase in the reference point, consistent with expectations-based reference-dependent preferences theory. The results related to decision making, however, were inconclusive and thus did not provide evidence relating to the impact of changing reference points on risk-taking behavior.
Jewishness as an Explanation for Rejection of the Word

The present essay challenges prior accounts of the “literary echo” to Martin Luther’s 1523 treatise, That Jesus Christ Was Born a Jew, which called for “friendly” theological instruction of Jews. Focusing on a dialogue between a Christian and a Jew written by Caspar Guttel, I demonstrate that Guttel was not concerned with the persuasion of Jews. Rather, writing in 1527, Guttel deployed his knowledge of the ineffectiveness of Luther’s missionary overture as part of a larger strategy casting intra-Christian resistance to the Word as “Jewish.” Moreover, the primary influence on Guttel was not That Jesus Christ Was Born a Jew, but Luther’s Christmas Postils. From the latter, Guttel received and propagated an image of Jews as “blind with seeing eyes”—as unable to deny truth yet paradoxically unreceptive to it. Guttel’s case underlines the necessity of looking beyond Luther’s “Jewish writings” to locate the transmission and reception of the reformer’s anti-Judaism.
Lindahl and Equilibrium

This paper demonstrates that there is a discrepancy between the ideas expressed by Lindahl in 1919 and the current-day definition of Lindahl equilibrium. It describes how the ideas expressed by Lindahl developed into the equilibrium concept for public good economies that now carries Lindahl’s name. The paper also touches on a seemingly forgotten equilibrium concept for public good economies known as ratio equilibrium, and explains that from an axiomatic perspective this equilibrium concept is a better fit with the ideas expressed by Lindahl.
Whose finger is on the switch

David S. Goldfarb Proteins and nucleic acids are transported into and out of the cell nucleus through nuclear pores. In his Perspective, Goldfarb discusses two reports in this issue in which a central control switch in nuclear transport is identified as Ran, a small guanosine triphosphatase. Not only is this molecule a key component in turning the import and export processes on and off ( Richards et al .), but it is also a target for vesicular stomatitis virus, which turns off nuclear traffic while co-opting the protein synthetic machinery in the cytoplasm ( Her et al .).
Ducking Trouble: Supreme Court Agenda-Setting and Congressional Constraint

In recent years a great deal of attention has been devoted to the nature of the strategic interaction between the Justices of the U.S. Supreme Court and members of Congress. In particular, several studies have asked whether the Court moderates its rulings when faced with an ideologically hostile Congress. Epstein et al (2002) extend this analysis of interbranch interaction to the agenda setting or certiorari stage of the Court's decisionmaking. They ask whether the Supreme Court is constrained in its certiorari decisions by the ideological composition of the sitting Congress. Specifically, they ask whether the Court is more likely to issue constitutional as opposed to statutory rulings when it faces an ideologically distant Congress, or when it is unable to insulate itself from congressional pressure via opinion supermajorities. They find evidence in support of both these propositions, and conclude that the Court is indeed constrained by congressional preferences at the certiorari stage. We question the logic of the Epstein et al research design given recent evidence that the Court is constrained by congressional preferences even in constitutional cases. We also reexamine the Epstein et al findings using more sophisticated estimates of preferences scaled in interinstitutional space, and find no evidence that the proportion of constitutional rulings issued by the Court is responsive to congressional preferences. We then follow an alternative research strategy of testing the influence of Congress on the Court's agenda by estimating the probability that the constitutionality of a congressional statute will be reviewed by the Supreme Court, conditional on the expected utility gains to the median Justice from the final ruling on the merits. Using this research design we find strong support for the hypothesis that the Court is constrained by congressional preferences at the certiorari stage.
Region-based image retrieval using color and texture features on irregular regions of interest

The Content-based image retrieval (CBIR) systems and their application in different areas of development, are current research topics, however many of this systems are likely to fail due to use global features which cannot sufficiently capture the important properties of individual objects [1] because generally a typical query image includes relevant objects (e.g., Eiffel Tower), but also irrelevant image areas (including background). Then recently, many research has focused on region-based techniques that allow the user to specify a particular region of an image and the system will return images with similar regions to the query. For that reason this paper proposes a method of retrieval image based on irregular regions of interest where the user can to select one region. Preliminary experimental results show that the proposed method provides better retrieving result than retrieval using some of the existing methods.
Physiological parameters related to running performance in college trackmen.

Submaximal and maximal oxygen consumption (VO2) and heart rate (HR) were correlated with running performance in events ranging from 100 yards to 2 miles, using as subjects 20 members of a college track team. In the first of two studies (n=11) a multi-stage walking test was used to determine VO2 and HR. Max VO2 expressed in ml/kg/min, was significantly related to 1 mile run performance but not to any of the other runs. Submaximal HR was significantly related to performance in both the 1 mile and 2 mile runs. Correlations between these physiological parameters and performance in the 220, 440, and 880 yard runs were nonsignificant. Multiple R's using max VO2 (ml/kg/min) and submaximal H were .758 and 9671, respectively, for the 1 and 2 mile runs. In study two (n=9) a running test for VO2 and HR was used, which resulted in a mean max VO2 about 7 ml higher than than elicited in the walking test, implying that for trained runners a running test was a more valid test of aerobic power. Marked relationships were found between body weight and performance, positive for the 100 yard dash and negative for the 2 mile run. Submaximal HR was again significantly related to performance in the 1 and 2 mile runs. Max VO2 was positively related to 2 mile performance and negatively related to 100 yard dash performance. Multiple R's using max VO2 and submaximal HR were .799 and .925 for the 1 and 2 mile runs, respectively. Using submaximal HR and weight the multiple R's were .777 and .945, showing that these two can account for a large amount of the variance in distance running performance. In neither study was submaximal VO2 significantly related to running performance.
AACR Special Conference: SNPs, haplotypes, and cancer – applications in molecular epidemiology, Key Biscayne, Florida, USA, 13–17 September 2003

This American Association for Cancer Research Special Conference brought together scientists with diverse expertise to address issues related to use of appropriate epidemiological, statistical, and laboratory methods to study the genetic epidemiology of cancer. Discussions focused on experiences with association studies using single nucleotide polymorphisms and haplotypes, their limitations, and what is needed to improve on the current 'state of the art'. Various studies were presented in different contexts, ranging from candidate gene studies to whole genome scans, and conducted in prospective cohorts, case–control studies, and other study designs. Common problems such as determining the probability that observed associations are false negative or false positive, the potential effects of admixture, and determining which polymorphisms to examine in which genes and in which populations were examined. Problems specific to haplotype analysis were discussed, with emphasis on haplotype block structures and on how to use haplotypes in analysis. Questions were also posed as to determining the functional relevance of single nucleotide polymorphisms in molecular epidemiology. Finally, future directions, using specific examples, were addressed.
Ruminal and Postruminal Carbohydrate Utilization in Steers Fed Processed Sorghum Grain

Four yearling Angus steers fitted with permanent abomasal fistulas were used in a 4 × 4 latin square experimental design to measure relative sorghum grain carbohydrate digestion in different segments of the digestive tract, and to study the effects of various methods of grain processing on starch utilization in the rumen and/or postruminal digestive tract. Processing methods studied were: dry-ground, steam-flaked, reconstituted-ground and micronized. The location of maximum starch digestion varied with processing method. Total starch digestibility was significantly improved (P .05)
Theory of colossal magnetoresistance

Abstract The history and recent developments in studying (colossal) magnetoresistance in perovskite manganese oxides show that there is growing evidence for strongly coupled spin, charge and lattice degrees of freedom. Together with disorder, these provide the microscopic driving forces for local and inhomogeneous textures. The modeling and experimental probes for localized charge—spin—lattice (polaron) structures, and their multiscale ordering, can be considered in terms of a growing synergy of solid state physics and materials science perspectives.
Changes in intraocular pressure associated with topical dorzolamide and oral methazolamide in glaucomatous dogs.

Objective To compare the reduction in intraocular pressure (IOP) by topical 2% dorzolamide to oral methazolamide (5 mg/kg) in dogs, and determine if the combination of both drugs would reduce IOP more than either drug administered alone. Animals studied Thirteen glaucomatous beagles. Procedures Measurements, including applanation tonometry, pupil size and heart rate, were obtained at 8 am, 12 noon, and 5 pm on days 1, 3 and 5. The 5-day drug studies included placebo (0.5% methylcellulose); 2% dorzolamide administered in one eye twice daily (8 am and 5 pm), and repeated again in one eye three times (8 am, 12 noon and 5 pm) daily; methazolamide (5 mg/kg per os administered at 8 am and 5 pm); 2% dorzolamide instilled twice daily (5 days) combined with oral methazolamide on the last 3 days, and methazolamide (5 days) combined with 2% dorzolamide on the last 3 days and instilled twice daily. Statistical comparisons between drug groups included control (nondrug) eye and treated (placebo/drug) eyes for days 1, day 3 and 5. Results Topical 2% dorzolamide, administered twice and three times daily, significantly decreased IOP (mean +/- SEM) in glaucomatous dogs on the first day (twice daily 7.6 +/- 2.4 mmHg, and three times daily 16.4 +/- 3.6 mmHg) that was even greater by day 5 (twice daily 10.4 +/- 2.0 mmHg, and three times daily 13.9 +/- 2.7). Oral methazolamide also significantly lowered IOP in both eyes. Oral methazolamide (administered from day 1 through to day 5) combined with 2% topical dorzolamide (instilled in the drug eye for day 3 through to day 5) also significantly lowered IOP of both eyes for all days, and for day 5 the mean +/- SEM IOP was decreased by 7.9 +/- 1.7 mmHg (methazolamide plus dorzolamide) and 7.5 +/- 2.6 mmHg (methazolamide only). Topical dorzolamide (instilled in the drug eye for day 1 through to day 5) combined with oral methazolamide (administered from day 3 through to day 5) significantly lowered IOP in the drug eye on day 1 (5 pm: 9.6 +/- 1.9 mmHg), for day 3 (11 am and 5 pm) and for all of day 5 for both eyes (5 pm: control eye 9.5 +/- 1.8 mmHg; drug eye 9.2 +/- 1.9 mmHg). Topical dorzolamide (2%) instilled three times daily produces similar IOP declines compared to the combination of oral methazolamide and 2% dorzolamide administered twice daily. Conclusions Dorzolamide (2%) instilled twice or three times daily causes significant decreases in IOP in glaucomatous dogs. Twice daily instillations caused progressive declines in IOP from day 1 to day 5. Dorzolamide (2%) combined with oral methazolamide (5 mg/kg per os twice daily) produces similar but not additional declines in IOP.
Model-based morphology

Filtering by morphological operations is particularly suited for removal of clutter and noise objects which have been introduced into noiseless binary images. The morphological filtering is designed to exploit differences in the spatial nature (shape, size, orientation) of the objects (connected components) in the ideal noiseless images as compared to the noise/clutter objects. Since the typical noise models (union, intersection set difference, etc.) for binary images are not additive, and the morphological processing is strongly nonlinear, optimal filtering results conventionally available for linear processing in the presence of additive noise are not directly applicable to morphological filtering of binary images. In this paper, a morphological filtering analog to the classic Wiener filter is described.© (1991) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Defects, Solvent Quality, and Photonic Response in Lamellar Block Copolymer Gels

Stimuli-responsive photonic gels are made from the lamellar block copolymer (BCP) poly(styrene-b-2-vinylpyridine) (PS–P2VP), where the photonic responses are triggered by swelling/deswelling of the P2VP block with a selective solvent. When compared to isotropic swelling in chemically cross-linked homopolymer gels, the P2VP block in the lamellar BCP shows significantly lower degrees of swelling in alcohol–water cosolvents. The glassy PS layers completely constrain the lateral expansion of the P2VP gel layers and the dislocation defect network that develops during BCP self-assembly provides a counter force to vertical swelling. A model based on Flory–Huggins mixing and dislocation network strain energy is proposed to capture the swelling behavior of the BCP and is then used to estimate the dislocation network density in the lamellar BCP. This work establishes the quantitative relationship between the reflective color of the photonic gel, the effective χ parameter of the swellable block and the solvent, and ...
Modular Software Design for Brachytherapy Image-Guided Robotic Systems

— Modular software design is a technique that increase reusability and portability of software composed from separate parts, called modules. We have designed and developed a reusable integrated software solution for robotic prostate brachytherapy procedure. The application is capable of concurrent handling of all aspects of the image-guided brachytherapy procedure: ultrasound image acquisition, anatomic delineation, target modeling, dosimetry planning and analysis, seed delivery, and visualization of all surgerical steps involved in the procedure. Based on force feedback and visual feedback, the control module of the application is capable of controlling the robotic system (i.e. motions of the ultrasound probe and the needles), supervising the flow of the procedure via built-in strategies for emergency handling and recovery, collision avoidance, manual takeover (if necessary), needle tracking and real-time dose updates. The implementation of the developed software solution to the two brachytherapy robotic systems has been presented.
Azito: Opening a New Era of Power in Africa

The Azito power project in Cĉte d9Ivoire is the first major infrastructure project in West Africa to receive term finance from commercial banks. The project involves innovative guarantee structures for both institutional and financial performance. Azito involves a major restructuring of the power sector (including pre-existing concession structures) and significant coordination between the government, nongovernmental organizations (NGOs), project sponsors, and multilateral and commercial financial institutions. The social, economic, and financial issues involved have significant lessons for project finance in Africa.
Comparative analysis of the 15.5kD box C/D snoRNP core protein in the primitive eukaryote Giardia lamblia reveals unique structural and functional features.

Box C/D ribonucleoproteins (RNP) guide the 2'-O-methylation of targeted nucleotides in archaeal and eukaryotic rRNAs. The archaeal L7Ae and eukaryotic 15.5kD box C/D RNP core protein homologues initiate RNP assembly by recognizing kink-turn (K-turn) motifs. The crystal structure of the 15.5kD core protein from the primitive eukaryote Giardia lamblia is described here to a resolution of 1.8 A. The Giardia 15.5kD protein exhibits the typical α-β-α sandwich fold exhibited by both archaeal L7Ae and eukaryotic 15.5kD proteins. Characteristic of eukaryotic homologues, the Giardia 15.5kD protein binds the K-turn motif but not the variant K-loop motif. The highly conserved residues of loop 9, critical for RNA binding, also exhibit conformations similar to those of the human 15.5kD protein when bound to the K-turn motif. However, comparative sequence analysis indicated a distinct evolutionary position between Archaea and Eukarya. Indeed, assessment of the Giardia 15.5kD protein in denaturing experiments demonstrated an intermediate stability in protein structure when compared with that of the eukaryotic mouse 15.5kD and archaeal Methanocaldococcus jannaschii L7Ae proteins. Most notable was the ability of the Giardia 15.5kD protein to assemble in vitro a catalytically active chimeric box C/D RNP utilizing the archaeal M. jannaschii Nop56/58 and fibrillarin core proteins. In contrast, a catalytically competent chimeric RNP could not be assembled using the mouse 15.5kD protein. Collectively, these analyses suggest that the G. lamblia 15.5kD protein occupies a unique position in the evolution of this box C/D RNP core protein retaining structural and functional features characteristic of both archaeal L7Ae and higher eukaryotic 15.5kD homologues.
Dependence of EGF-induced increases in corneal epithelial proliferation and migration on GSK-3 inactivation.

PURPOSE: This study was designed to determine in human corneal epithelial cells (HCEC) whether the balance between epidermal growth factor (EGF)-induced increases in proliferation and migration is dependent on the duration and magnitude of extracellular signal-regulated kinase (Erk)1/2 activation. METHODS: Western blot analysis evaluated the phosphorylation status of Erk1/2 and phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3-K) along with cell cycle kinases, paxillin, and mitogen kinase protein phosphatase (MKP)-1. Proliferation and migration rates were determined by [(3)H]-thymidine incorporation and scratch wound healing assay, respectively. RESULTS: EGF induced increases in paxillin Ser-126 phosphorylation and cyclin D1 expression through transient Erk1/2 phosphorylation. However, preinhibition of glycogen synthase kinase (GSK)-3 activation with 20 microM SB415286 prolonged and augmented this Erk1/2 response to EGF but decreased cyclin D1 expression, whereas p27Kip1 levels rose. In turn, the mitogenic response fell, whereas paxillin phosphorylation occurred 45 minutes sooner than without SB415286. In contrast, blocking PI3-K activation with LY294002 (50 microM) eliminated EGF-induced GSK-3 inhibition and Erk1/2 phosphorylation as well as increases in proliferation and migration. SB415286 or U0126 (10 microM) suppression of Erk1/2 phosphorylation blocked EGF-induced MKP-1 phosphorylation. Inhibition of EGF-induced increases in proliferation and migration by LY294002 was associated with sustained MKP-1 phosphorylation induced by GSK-3. Prolonging MKP-1 phosphorylation by LY294002 increased p27Kip1, whereas cyclin D1 levels fell. CONCLUSIONS: GSK-3-induced MKP-1 phosphorylation mediates negative feedback control between EGF receptor-linked PI3-K and ERK signaling pathways. Inhibition of such control prolongs Erk1/2 activation and alters the balance between EGF-induced increases in proliferation and migration. Therefore, these responses to EGF can be modulated through altering the feedback between these two pathways.
Cross-tissue translational capacities. I. The adequacy of tRNAs from heterologous tissues in the translation of hemoglobin message.

Abstract Experiments designed to test the theory that translational modulation is a major agent in the control of development have been conducted. These experiments employed a cell-free hemoglobin synthesizing system derived from rabbit reticulocytes. Comparison of protein synthesis rates observed when non-mitochondrial tRNAs derived from brain, kidney, liver or reticulocytes were employed indicates that heterologous tissue tRNA complements are quite capable of supporting a nearly maximum rate of protein synthesis. Heterologous tRNAs translate reticulocyte messages more slowly than do reticulocyte tRNAs at non-saturating concentrations of equivalent acceptor activity. The results appear to indicate that hemoglobin production is not limited in vivo by the translational capacities of tRNAs present in these specific differentiated cell types.
Digoxin Disrupts the Inflammatory Response in Experimental Pneumococcal Pneumonia

Digoxin was administered to normal CD-1 mice (4 micrograms/kg per 24 hr), and the mice were inoculated intratracheally with Streptococcus pneumoniae in order to assess the effects of the cardiac glycoside on pulmonary antibacterial mechanisms. Digoxin-treated animals experienced a worse survival rate than did controls (19 of 50 versus 33 of 50; P less than .01). When challenged with a high inoculum (1 X 10(6) cfu), animals given the glycoside demonstrated a significant impairment in their capacity to clear viable pneumococci from the lungs; the depression in pulmonary clearance was associated with a marked attenuation in the ability of digoxin-treated mice to recruit granulocytes and macrophages into the bronchoalveolar spaces. Following low inoculum challenge (1 X 10(5) cfu), animals treated with the cardiac glycoside exhibited an inefficient pulmonary clearance and a blunted macrophage influx. At clinically relevant concentrations, digoxin demonstrated no effect on the in vitro pneumococcidal activity of resident murine alveolar macrophages. We conclude that digoxin can disrupt host defense against pneumococcus by impeding the normal inflammatory response to organisms deposited into the lower respiratory tract.
Surface effects in a pulsed, packed column

Mass transfer rates and flooding limits are basic to the use of packed columns for liquid-liquid extraction. The input of pulsing energy increases transfer rates and promotes counterflow of the two phases. The wetting characteristics of the packing influence performance. The toluene-benzoic acid-water system was used to observe the performance of a 2-in. diam. column containing ceramic (hydrophilic) rings, polyethylene (hydrophobic) rings, or a sieve-plate cartridge. The packed columns showed lower flooding limits than the plate column, but polyethylene packing gave highest transfer rates and capacities. The pulsing energy input was much lower for the plastic packing to effect a higher transfer rate. Flooding limits for the pulsed, packed columns were lower than for packed columns which were not pulsed. Columns packed with rings so that the ratio of diameter to packing size was 4:1 gave higher flooding limits and better performance than a ratio of 8:1. The use of the two types of packing in alternating bands resulted in a performance intermediate between that of each packing employed separately, and no advantage was indicated in reference to flooding limits or transfer rates.
Antioxidative activity of chitosans with varying molecular weights

Abstract Antioxidant activity of chitosans of different molecular weights (30, 90 and 120 kDa chitosan) in salmon ( Salmo salar ) was investigated. The progress of oxidation was monitored by employing the 2-thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances (TBARS) and 2, 2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) scavenging assays. In general, all chitosans exhibited antioxidative activities in salmon. The addition of chitosans to salmon reduced lipid oxidation for seven days of storage. The TBARS values of salmon containing chitosan were significantly lower than those of the control ( p
Effect of Interictal Spikes on Single‐Cell Firing Patterns in the Hippocampus

Summary: Purpose: The interictal EEG spike(s) is the hallmark of the epileptic EEG. While focal interictal spike (IS) have been associated with transitory cognitive impairment, with the type of deficit dependent on where in the cortex the IS arises, the mechanism by which IS result in transitory dysfunction is not known. The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of IS on single-cell firing patterns in freely moving rats with a prior history of seizures. Methods: We studied IS in two seizure models; pilocarpine-induced status epilepticus and recurrent flurothyl models. The effect of spontaneous hippocampal spikes on action potentials (APs) of CA1 cells in rats walking in a familiar environment was investigated using 32 extracellular electrodes. We also compared the effect of spikes on two types of hippcampal cells; place cells that discharge rapidly only when the rat's head is in a specific part of the environment, the so-called firing field, and interneurons, which are a main source of inhibition in the hippocampus. Results: IS were associated with a decreased likelihood of AP compared with IS-free portions of the record. Compared to pre-IS baseline, IS were followed by significant decreases in CA1 APs for periods up to 2 s following the IS in both models. When occurring in flurries, IS were associated with a pronounced decrease in APs. The response to IS was cell-dependent; IS resulted in decreases in AP firing after the IS in interneurons but not place cells. Conclusions: This study demonstrates that IS have substantial effects on cellular firing in the hippocampus and that these effects last far longer than the spike and slow wave. Furthermore, the effect of IS on cellular firing was cell specific, affecting interneurons more than place cells. These findings suggest that IS may contribute to seizure-induced cognitive impairment by altering AP firing in a cell-specific manner.
Found: a cellular activating ligand for NKp44.

In this issue of Blood , Baychelier et al identify a ligand for a major natural killer (NK) cell receptor that mediates natural cytotoxicity toward tumor cells, thus ending a search that lasted well over a decade.[1][1] ![Figure][2] The natural cytotoxicity receptor NKp44, expressed on