cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Epilepsy Management in Special Populations

Treatment of epilepsy in special populations, including individuals with intellectual disability, elderly patients, and women, requires special attention to some unique characteristics in these populations because of pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics peculiarities.
Just a thought: How mind-wandering is represented in dynamic brain connectivity

The neuroscience of mind-wandering has begun to flourish, with roles of brain regions and networks being defined for various components of spontaneous thought. However, most of brain activity does not represent immediately occurring thoughts. Instead, spontaneous, organized network activity largely reflects "intrinsic" functions that are unrelated to the current experience. There remains no consensus on how brain networks represent mind-wandering in parallel to functioning in other ongoing, predominantly unconscious processes. Commonly, in network analysis of functional neuroimaging data, functional connectivity (FC; correlated time series) between remote brain regions is considered over several minutes or longer. In contrast, dynamic functional connectivity (dFC) is a new, promising approach to characterizing spontaneous changes in neural network communication on the faster time-scale at which intra-individual fluctuations in thought contents may occur. Here I describe how a potential relationship between mind-wandering and FC has traditionally been considered in the literature, and I review methods and results pertaining to the study of the dFC-mind-wandering relationship. While acknowledging challenges to the dFC approach and to behaviorally capturing fluctuations in inner experiences, I describe a framework for describing spontaneous thoughts in terms of brain-network activity patterns that are comprised of connections weighted by time-varying relevance to conscious and unconscious processing. This perspective suggests preferential roles of certain anatomical communication avenues (e.g., via the default mode network) in mind-wandering, while also implying that a region's connectivity fluctuates over time in its immediate degree of relevance to conscious contents, ultimately allowing novelty and diversity of thought.
An Expanded View of the Phagocytic Respiratory Burst

Baldridge and Gerard in 19331 made the seminal observation that leukocyte consumption of ambient O2 increases markedly during the early stages of phagocytosis. Over the ensuing 43 years remarkable progress was made in characterizing the mechanisms and ramifications of this phenomenon, identified by Babior as the respiratory burst.2 Consumption of O2 by neutrophils and monocytes during phagocytosis leads to the purposeful formation of superoxide, a unique capacity of phagocytic cells. Production of superoxide and subsequent formation of other reactive oxygen intermediates (e.g., H2O2 and OCl-) is critical to the microbicidal activity of these cells.3 This is graphically demonstrated by the natural history of patients with chronic granulomatous disease (CGD) of childhood, whose phagocytes lack the capacity to develop a respiratory burst.3, 4
P36: Nitrite and nitrate concentrations and metabolism in breast milk, artificial milk, and parenteral nutrition of term and preterm infants

Background In the adult, dietary nitrate is converted to nitrite by bacteria in the mouth. In the acidic environment of the stomach, the ingested nitrite is converted to NO where it is has a protective effect by increasing blood flow and mucus production, and by modulating the microbial flora of the GI tract. Ingested nitrite has also been linked to improved cardiovascular function in adults. However, the intake and importance of nitrate and nitrite in newborn infants is largely unknown. The purpose of this work is to determine nitrite and nitrate concentrations in both the diet and total parenteral nutrition (TPN) of term and preterm infants, and to characterize the means by which nitrite is metabolized in fresh and freeze–thawed breast milk. Methods We measured nitrate and nitrite levels in breast milk collected from mothers of preterm and term infants, ten different brands of commonly used infant formula, and TPN. We also measured the effect of freeze–thawing, temperature and oxygen tension variation, and several metal-containing enzyme antagonists on the metabolism of nitrite in samples of breast milk. Results Nitrite concentrations averaged 0.07 ± 0.01 μM in the milk of mothers of preterm infants, significantly less than in the milk of mothers of term infants (0.13 ± 0.02 μM) ( P N -ethylmaleimide to block thiol groups, or the addition of allopurinol to block xanthine oxidase. The metabolism of nitrite was inhibited by the addition of ferricyanide. Nitrite metabolism was also inhibited through the use of three different blockers of lactoperoxidase, a normal constituent of breast milk, and was increased by the addition of purified lactoperoxidase, suggesting that this enzyme is involved in nitrite metabolism. Nitrite concentrations in infant formula varied widely and ranged from 0.01 to 1.3 μM, and nitrate concentrations ranged from 12 to 67 μM. The nitrite (0.08 ± 0.02 μM) and nitrate (9.5 ± 0.8 μM) concentrations in TPN were similar to those measured in fresh breast milk. Conclusions Overall nitrite and nitrate ingestion by term and preterm infants is low compared to adults, and decreases further in infants receiving freeze–thawed breast milk due to metabolism of nitrite by lactoperoxidase. Given recent evidence for the importance of dietary nitrite in adults, we speculate that low levels of ingestion may negatively impact the gastric and cardiovascular health of the newborn. Disclosure Nothing to disclose.
Centripetal Force and Acceleration

At the outset of Book I of his Principia, Newton defined a centripetal force as one “by which bodies are drawn or impelled, or any way tend, towards a point as to a center.” Now, in Section II of Book I, Newton considers in more detail the effect that centripetal forces have on bodies. He is particularly interested in determining the characteristics of the motion generated by a centripetal force, and also the conditions under which one can legitimately infer the action of a centripetal force acting on a body. The theorems and propositions which Newton here develops in an abstract and general way will eventually be employed in Book III to the practical problem of understanding planetary motion.
Spatially Adaptive Varying Correlation Analysis for Multimodal Neuroimaging Data

In this paper, we study a central problem in multimodal neuroimaging analysis, i.e., identification of significantly correlated brain regions between multiple imaging modalities. We propose a spatially varying correlation model and the associated inference procedure, which improves substantially over the common alternative solutions of voxel-wise and region-wise analysis. Compared with voxel-wise analysis, our method aggregates voxels with similar correlations into regions, takes into account spatial continuity of correlations at nearby voxels, and enjoys a much higher detection power. Compared with region-wise analysis, our method does not rely on any pre-specified brain region map, but instead finds homogenous correlation regions adaptively given the data. We applied our method to a multimodal positron emission tomography study, and found brain regions with significant correlation between tau and glucose metabolism that voxel-wise or region-wise analysis failed to identify. Our findings conform and lend additional support to prior hypotheses about how the two pathological proteins of Alzheimer’s disease, tau and amyloid, interact with glucose metabolism in the aging human brain.
F-Box Protein-Mediated Resistance to PARP Inhibitor Therapy

PARP inhibitor (PARPi) therapy targets BRCA1/2 mutant tumor cells, but acquired resistance limits its effectiveness. In this issue of Molecular Cell, Marzio et al. (2019) identify a novel mechanism of resistance to PARPi through regulation of RAD51 protein stability via an SCF ubiquitin ligase dependent on EMI1.
Earnings management and forecast guidance as mechanisms to meet or beat analysts' earnings forecasts

Firms can use both earnings management and forecast guidance to meet or beat analysts' earnings forecasts. I examine if earnings management and forecast guidance to meet or beat analysts' earnings forecasts are influenced by context-specific factors such as accounting flexibility and information asymmetry. I expect that firms with less accounting flexibility in the sense that they are more constrained to manage earnings are less likely to use earnings management as a mechanism to meet or beat analysts' earnings forecasts. Furthermore, I expect firms with greater information asymmetry are more likely to use forecast guidance to meet or beat analysts' earnings forecasts. I consider the gap between unmanaged earnings and unguided analysts' earnings forecasts as the information asymmetry between management and analysts. To test these predictions, I examine the likelihood of meeting or beating analysts' earnings forecasts for 36,366 firm-quarters during 1993-2002. Consistent with my expectations, I find when firms are constrained by their degree of accounting flexibility they use less of earnings management, and when firms have more information asymmetry they use more of forecast guidance to meet or beat analysts' earnings forecasts.
The future of adjuvant therapy in ampullary cancer: should we offer it to our patients?

Ampullary carcinoma is a relatively rare and heterogenous neoplasm accounting for 0.2% of all gastrointestinal tract malignancies. The data from National Cancer Institute’s Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results Program have shown an increase in incidence of ampullary cancer over the last decade (1).
Protein Intake Greater than the RDA Differentially Influences Whole-Body Lean Mass Responses to Purposeful Catabolic and Anabolic Stressors: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.

Under stressful conditions such as energy restriction (ER) and physical activity, the RDA for protein of 0.8 g · kg-1 · d-1 may no longer be an appropriate recommendation. Under catabolic or anabolic conditions, higher protein intakes are proposed to attenuate the loss or increase the gain of whole-body lean mass, respectively. No known published meta-analysis compares protein intakes greater than the RDA with intakes at the RDA. Therefore, we conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis to assess the effects of protein intakes greater than the RDA, compared with at the RDA, on changes in whole-body lean mass. Three researchers independently screened 1520 articles published through August 2018 using the PubMed, Scopus, CINAHL, and Cochrane databases, with additional articles identified in published systematic review articles. Randomized, controlled, parallel studies ≥6 wk long with apparently healthy adults (≥19 y) were eligible for inclusion. Data from 18 studies resulting in 22 comparisons of lean mass changes were included in the final overall analysis. Among all comparisons, protein intakes greater than the RDA benefitted changes in lean mass relative to consuming the RDA [weighted mean difference (95% CI): 0.32 (0.01, 0.64) kg, n = 22 comparisons]. In the subgroup analyses, protein intakes greater than the RDA attenuated lean mass loss after ER [0.36 (0.06, 0.67) kg, n = 14], increased lean mass after resistance training (RT) [0.77 (0.23, 1.31) kg, n = 3], but did not differentially affect changes in lean mass [0.08 (-0.59, 0.75) kg, n = 7] under nonstressed conditions (no ER + no RT). Protein intakes greater than the RDA beneficially influenced changes in lean mass when adults were purposefully stressed by the catabolic stressor of dietary ER with and without the anabolic stressor of RT. The RDA for protein is adequate to support lean mass in adults during nonstressed states. This review was registered at www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero as CRD 42018106532.
Infection-related Glomerulonephritis and C3 Glomerulonephritis - Similar Yet Dissimilar: A Case Report and Brief Review of Current Literature.

Infection-related glomerulonephritis (IRGN) is an immune complex-mediated glomerulonephritis (GN), often preceded by infection with subsequent recovery of renal function after the resolution of the infection. C3 deposition in the absence of immune complex deposits can be seen in patients with IRGN, but with the emergence of C3 glomerulonephritis (C3GN), the distinction is difficult as the clinical and pathological presentation may be similar. However, their treatment and clinical course vary significantly. A 64-year-old man with a history of hypertension and bioprosthetic aortic valve presented to the Emergency Department with left upper quadrant (LUQ) pain and a purpuric rash on bilateral lower extremities. The patient became septic, and further workup during the hospitalization revealed endocarditis secondary to Streptococcus viridans. On admission, the patient had acute kidney injury (AKI) with a serum creatinine of 3.79 mg/dl, which peaked at 5.72 mg/dl during the hospitalization. Renal biopsy demonstrated segmental necrotizing glomerulonephritis on light microscopy, predominant C3 deposition on immunofluorescence (IF) staining, and mesangial and paramesangial deposits on electron microscopy. This histologic picture can be seen both in IRGN and C3GN. The patient was treated with intravenous ceftriaxone for six weeks for endocarditis and the kidney injury was managed with supportive care. The patient’s renal function improved and complement levels normalized, supporting the diagnosis of IRGN retrospectively. IRGN can mimic C3GN, and evaluation for alternate pathways of the complement system may be warranted in patients with atypical presentation of IRGN.
Generation of cerebral cortical GABAergic interneurons from pluripotent stem cells.

The cerebral cortex functions by the complex interactions of intrinsic and extrinsic neuronal activities, glial actions, and the effects of humoral factors. The intrinsic neuronal influences are mediated by two major subclasses: excitatory glutamatergic neurons that generally have axonal projections extending beyond the neuron's locality and inhibitory GABAergic neurons that generally project locally. These interneurons can be grouped based on morphological, neurochemical, electrophysiological, axonal targeting, and circuit influence characteristics. Cortical interneurons (CIns) can also be grouped based on their origins within the subcortical telencephalon. Interneuron subtypes, of which a dozen or more are thought to exist, are characterized by combinations of these subgrouping features. Due to their well-documented relevance to the causes of and treatments for neuropsychiatric disorders, and to their remarkable capacity to migrate extensively following transplantation, there has been tremendous interest in generating cortical GABAergic interneurons from human pluripotent stem cells. In this concise review, we discuss recent progress in understanding how interneuron subtypes are generated in vivo, and how that progress is being applied to the generation of rodent and human CIns in vitro. In addition, we will discuss approaches for the rigorous designation of interneuron subgroups or subtypes in transplantation studies, and challenges to this field, including the protracted maturation of human interneurons.
Graphite Particle Adhesion to Hastelloy X: Measurements of the Adhesive Force with an Atomic Force Microscope

In high-temperature gas reactors, graphite particle adhesion and resuspension from structural surfaces play a role in source term estimations. This paper describes measurements of the adhesion forc...
Locally administered heparin-binding epidermal growth factor-like growth factor reduces radiation-induced oral mucositis in mice.

Oral mucositis refers to lesions of the oral mucosa observed in patients with cancer being treated with radiation with or without chemotherapy, and can significantly affect quality of life. There is a large unmet medical need to prevent oral mucositis that can occur with radiation either alone or in combination with chemotherapy. We investigated the efficacy of locally administered heparin-binding epidermal growth factor-like growth factor (HB-EGF), a potent epithelial proliferation and migration stimulator of the oral mucosa as a potential therapy to prevent radiation induced oral mucositis. Using a single dose (20 Gy) of radiation to the oral cavity of female C57BL/6 J mice, we evaluated the efficacy of HB-EGF treatment (5 µl of 10 µg/ml) solution. The results show that HB-EGF delivered post radiation, significantly increased the area of epithelial thickness on the tongue (dorsal tongue (42,106 vs 53,493 µm2, p < 0.01), ventral tongue (30,793 vs 39,095 µm2, *p < 0.05)) compared to vehicle control, enhanced new epithelial cell division, and increased the quality and quantity of desmosomes in the oral mucosa measured in the tongue and buccal mucosa. This data provides the proof of concept that local administration of HB-EGF has the potential to be developed as a topical treatment to mitigate oral mucositis following radiation.
Patients' and Health Care Providers' Perception of Stressors in the Intensive Care Units

Purpose The purposes of this study is first, to investigate intensive care patients' perceptions of stressors; second, to investigate the health care provider's perception of what constitutes a stressor from the patient's perspective; and third, to describe how health care providers manage their patients' stressors. This was a mixed-methods study; the quantitative section replicated Cornock's 1998 study of stress in the intensive care unit (ICU), with difference in sampling to include all health care providers in the ICU, in addition to nurses. The qualitative section added information to the current literature by describing how health care providers manage their patient's stressors. This article reports the quantitative findings of this study, as the qualitative section is presented in a separate article. Background and significance It is important to describe ICU patients' stressful experiences to assess patient's stressors, provide holistic care to eliminate stressors, and provide feedback to health care providers. There is a need to describe the clinical practice related to stress perception and management of stressors in the critical care environment. Methodology A mixed-methods comparative descriptive design was used for the quantitative section, and a phenomenological approach guided the qualitative section. Lazarus and Folkman's theory formed the bases for integrating all variables investigated in this study. The sample included 70 ICU patients and 70 ICU health care providers. After consenting to participate in this study, subjects were given a demographic form and a paper-based tool, the Environmental Stressors graphic data form Questionnaire. Questionnaires were filled out by subjects anonymously in the ICU and returned to the researcher in the same setting. Findings Descriptive statistics were analyzed using SPSS data analysis software. The top 3 most stressful items ranked by the patients included "being in pain," followed by "not being able to sleep" and "financial worries"; on the other hand, health care providers perceived "being in pain" followed by "not being able to communicate" and "not being in control of yourself" as the top 3 stressors perceived by their patients. Implications for practice The findings of this study are crucial and may inform nursing assessments and care of the ICU patient. In addition, this information may encourage the ICU staff to manipulate and redesign the ICU environment to be less stressful. Also, the findings of this study guided the development of an ICU stressor control policy.
An Empirical Investigation of the Determinants of Online Information Disclosure

Organizations collect customer information in order to understand and meet their customers' needs. However, consumers are becoming increasingly aware of the potential value of their personal information and the potential risks associated with disclosing it. Using the Theory of Reasoned Action and Transaction Cost Theory, a model was developed that examines the central role of risk in disclosure decisions as well as the factors (risk and information relevance) that mitigate individuals' risk perceptions. Overall, our findings provide insight into the nomological network of salient beliefs that affect individuals' intent to share information with a website. The analysis of the measurement model demonstrated satisfactory validity for the instrument, while the testing of the structural model provided support to all of the hypotheses proposed. The high variance (>50%) explained for attitudes and intent reflects the strength of our model. Theoretical and practical implications are also discussed.
Action of Insulin on Transport of l-Alanine into Rat Diaphragm in Vitro EVIDENCE THAT THE HORMONE AFFECTS ONLY ONE NEUTRAL AMINO ACID TRANSPORT SYSTEM

Abstract A study has been made of the ability of insulin to stimulate the transport of l-[14C]alanine into paired "intact" rat hemidiaphragms in vitro, and the results have been compared with those obtained with α-amino[14C]isobutyrate and l-[14C]leucine. A variety of agents and conditions have been tested for their relative abilities to alter total saturable uptake of the amino acids on the one hand, and the insulin stimulation of uptake on the other. Transport of alanine (0.5 mm) was increased about 20% by the presence of insulin (0.1 unit per ml) under the conditions of the experiment. A 10 to 20 mm level of α-aminoisobutyrate eliminated the insulin stimulation of alanine uptake while decreasing its total saturable uptake by only about 10%. Leucine, in contrast, could inhibit at least three-fourths of the total saturable alanine uptake without decreasing the increment in uptake produced by insulin. Omitting Na+ from the incubation medium decreased total alanine uptake by about 60%, but abolished insulin stimulation. Decreasing the pH of the incubation medium progressively from 7.4 to 5.4 brought a regular reduction in the insulin stimulation, but at the same time the total saturable alanine uptake was increased. Other agents and conditions gave less sharp distinction between the transport systems used by alanine. α-Aminoisobutyrate transport was more than doubled by 0.1 unit of insulin per ml in 1 hour. The pattern of its inhibition by different conditions suggests that this amino acid is transported in diaphragm nearly completely by one system, which is Na+-dependent as well as sensitive to insulin. Leucine transport, on the other hand, showed relatively little response to insulin, and was essentially unaltered by changes in buffer [Na+] or pH, or by the presence of competitive inhibitors other than leucine and isoleucine. The results suggest that l-alanine enters rat diaphragm by at least three saturable routes. One is Na+-independent; another is Na+-dependent and sensitive to insulin; while the third is Na+-dependent but not affected by insulin. The insulin-sensitive route accounts for no more than about 10 to 20% of the total saturable uptake at the alanine levels used. These facts support the hypothesis that insulin acts on only one neutral amino acid transport system in diaphragm; and that the hormone does not increase alanine transport greatly in this tissue because alanine does not use the insulin-sensitive system extensively.
A COMMENT ON DANIEL KLEIN'S "A PLEA TO ECONOMISTS WHO FAVOR LIBERTY"

Economists can to some extent enlighten policymakers and the public and influence public policy. That enlightenment is achieved more by concrete policy work and application of basics than by fancy models and fancy statistical significance. There is a trade-off between relevance/importance and rigor/precision. Because many economists concentrate on rigor and precision, their influence in public affairs is not as good as it could be. The professional emphasis on scholastic crafts forsakes the Smithian character of political economy. A more Smithian character for the economics profession would lead to better government policy. The primary article by Daniel B. Klein is followed by comments by Gordon Tullock, Deirdre McCloskey, Israel M. Kirzner, C.A.E. Goodhart, Robert H. Frank and James K. Galbraith and a rejoinder by Daniel B. Klein.
Estimation of Renyi exponents in random cascades

We consider statistical estimation of the Renyi exponent τ (h) , which characterizes the scaling behaviour of a singular measure μ defined on a subset of R d . The Renyi exponent is defined to be lim δ →0 [{logM δ (h)}/(-logδ)] , assuming that this limit exists, where M δ (h)=∑ i μ h(Δ i) and, for δ >0 , { Δ i} are the cubes of a δ -coordinate mesh that intersect the support of μ . In particular, we demonstrate asymptotic normality of the least-squares estimator of τ (h) when the measure μ is generated by a particular class of multiplicative random cascades, a result which allows construction of interval estimates and application of hypothesis tests for this scaling exponent. Simulation results illustrating this asymptotic normality are presented.
Investigating Rumor Propagation with TwitterTrails

Social media have become part of modern news reporting, used by journalists to spread information and find sources, or as a news source by individuals. The quest for prominence and recognition on social media sites like Twitter can sometimes eclipse accuracy and lead to the spread of false information. As a way to study and react to this trend, we introduce {\sc TwitterTrails}, an interactive, web-based tool ({\tt this http URL}) that allows users to investigate the origin and propagation characteristics of a rumor and its refutation, if any, on Twitter. Visualizations of burst activity, propagation timeline, retweet and co-retweeted networks help its users trace the spread of a story. Within minutes {\sc TwitterTrails} will collect relevant tweets and automatically answer several important questions regarding a rumor: its originator, burst characteristics, propagators and main actors according to the audience. In addition, it will compute and report the rumor's level of visibility and, as an example of the power of crowdsourcing, the audience's skepticism towards it which correlates with the rumor's credibility. We envision {\sc TwitterTrails} as valuable tool for individual use, but we especially for amateur and professional journalists investigating recent and breaking stories. Further, its expanding collection of investigated rumors can be used to answer questions regarding the amount and success of misinformation on Twitter.
Accounting for the inuence of aquifer heterogeneity on spatial propagation of pumping drawdown

It has been previously observed that during a pumping test in heterogeneous media, drawdown data from dierent time periods collected at a single location produce dierent estimates of aquifer properties and that Theis type-curve inferences are more variable than late-time Cooper-Jacob inferences. In order to obtain estimates of aquifer properties from highly transient drawdown data using the Theis solution, it is necessary to account for this behavior. We present an approach that utilizes an exponential functional form to represent Theis parameter behavior resulting from the spatial propagation of a cone of depression. This approach allows the use of transient data consisting of early-time drawdown data to obtain late-time convergent Theis parameters consistent with Cooper-Jacob method inferences. We demonstrate the approach on a multi-year dataset consisting of multi-well transient water-level observations due to transient multi-well water-supply pumping. Based on previous research, transmissivities associated with each of the pumping wells are required to converge to a single value, while storativities are allowed to converge to distinct values.
Exploring The Distinct Hip-Hop Culture Of Urban Students

Abstract: Despite Hip-Hop culture's transition from urban ghettos to the mainstream, it is often viewed as deficient or deviant and not appreciated as a formal culture. This view on the part of educators has resulted in an unwillingness to deliver culturally relevant pedagogy to this distinct culture, contributing to the academic achievement gap between urban students and their peers. Effective urban teachers recognize this distinct culture and overcome dominant cultural assumptions in order to understand the communities in which they teach. This article focuses on a qualitative study designed to provide urban educators with a description of the Hip Hop culture, as well as identify skills and competencies associated with cultural competence. Findings from this study highlight the need for recognition, acceptance, understanding, and respect for Hip Hop culture, and the significance of building relationships by penetrating urban students' "street tough" persona (often mistaken for lack of interest).
The Engagement controversy: a victory for the English republic

In the fall of 1649, the newly created English commonwealth required that all men over the age of eighteen take an Engagement to demonstrate loyalty to the regime that had executed King Charles I. Historians have long argued that the Engagement was a political disaster for the commonwealth, as it provided its opponents with an opportunity to reveal the illegal and hypocritical nature of the new government. However, this article argues that the Engagement was actually a political success. Not only did people throughout England take the Engagement, but the royalists themselves acknowledged its achievement during the winter and spring of 1650.
Vitamin D status in adolescents and young adults with HIV infection.

Vitamin D status affects immune function and thus may affect the progress of HIV infection. Our goals were to assess vitamin D intake and status in subjects with HIV infection and in matched control subjects and to determine whether HIV infection was associated with vitamin D insufficiency. Plasma 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] concentrations and vitamin D intake were measured in a cross-sectional study of members of the Reaching for Excellence in Adolescent Health (REACH) cohort. The subjects were aged 14-23 y; 74% were female and 72% were black. Mean (±SE) vitamin D intake from food was 30% greater (P = 0.023) in HIV-positive subjects (295 ± 18 I/d; n = 237) than in HIV-negative subjects (227 ± 26 I/d; n = 121). The prevalence of vitamin D supplement use was 29% (104 of 358 subjects) and did not differ significantly by HIV status (P = 0.87). Mean plasma 25(OH)D did not differ significantly (P = 0.62) between the HIV-positive (20.3 ± 1.1 nmol/L; n = 238) and HIV negative (19.3 ± 1.7 nmol/L; n = 121) subjects nor was HIV status a significant predictor of plasma 25(OH)D when multiple regression analysis was used to adjust for other variables. The prevalence of vitamin D insufficiency [plasma 25(OH)D = 37.5 nmol/L] in the subjects was 87% (312 of 359 subjects). HIV infection did not influence vitamin D status. The prevalence of vitamin D insufficiency in both HIV-positive and HIV-negative REACH subjects was high perhaps because these disadvantaged largely urban youth have limited sun exposure. (authors)
CONCEPTUAL DESIGN OF A 200 keV, 1 MW NEGATIVE-ION-BASED NEUTRAL BEAM LINE

We present a design for a 200 keV, 1 MW negative-ion-based beam line which is intended to serve as a proof-of-principle demonstration for the LBL surface-conversion negative ion source. The design is straightforward and conservative, and uses existing technology for all major components. An alternate beam line design is also presented, to demonstrate the advantages of reduced size and gas load and increased neutral beam power accruing from the introduction of a laser photo-detachment neutralizes This design is less conservative, but requires only reasonable extrapolations from existing technology.
Learning the phonetic cues to the voiced-voiceless distinction: a comparison of child and adult speech perception*

The present study explored children's perceptual capabilities with regard to the temporal acoustic cue of differential vowel duration, comparing children's perceptual identifications to those of adults. Three-year-old children, six-year-old children, and adults participated in two experiments, in which they were asked to identify (as voiced or voiceless) CVC words with uniformly voiceless final obstruents, but in which vowel duration was systematically varied. Children were also asked to identify a set of CONTROL stimuli, in which both closure voicing and vowel duration differences were present. Results indicate that both subject age and vowel duration of the TEST stimuli significantly affect identification responses. Adults and six-year olds evidence perceptual cross-over in their judgements for the TEST stimuli, while three-year-olds do not seem to change their identifications, regardless of variations in vowel duration. However, for both groups of children, the accuracy of identifications was greater for originally voiced stimuli on the CONTROL set of words, in which more than one potential cue to the voicing distinction was present. These results suggest that there is a complex and somewhat paradoxical relationship between developing production and perception which deserves further research. Children may consistently produce a phonetic difference (vowel duration) which they are unable to use as the SOLE perceptual cue for a phonological contrast.
HIDDEN in PLAIN SIGHT Marketing Prescription Drugs to Consumers in the Twentieth Century

Although the public health impact of direct-to-consumer (DTC) pharmaceutical advertising remains a subject of great controversy, such promotion is typically understood as a recent phenomenon permitted only by changes in federal regulation of print and broadcast advertising over the past two decades. But today's omnipresent ads are only the most recent chapter in a longer history of DTC pharmaceutical promotion (including the ghostwriting of popular articles, organization of public-relations events, and implicit advertising of products to consumers) stretching back over the twentieth century. We use trade literature and archival materials to examine the continuity of efforts to promote prescription drugs to consumers and to better grapple with the public health significance of contemporary pharmaceutical marketing practices.
Virtual battery charging station utilizing power-hardware-in-the-loop: Application to V2G impact analysis

With the issues of fuel cost and environmental impact on the rise, the concept of replacing conventional vehicles with plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs) has become essential. The main goal of PHEV implementation focuses on the ability to utilize electrical propulsion to assist the internal combustion engine. However, the batteries for the PHEV must be recharged using grid energy. This paper will study the effects of PHEV charging at the sub-transmission level through modeling/simulation and power hardware in the loop including an actively controlled drive system and controllable load.
Seeking the Big Picture on Science: Taking an Integrated Approach to Teaching Scientific Literacy

One of my favorite undergraduate microbiology teachers used to remind us that the study of biology was important because “we are all biological citizens in a biological world.” Authors James Trefil and Robert Hazen would probably modify that statement, and say that studying science is important because “we are all physical citizens in a physical universe.” In the two books they have coauthored, The Sciences - An Integrated Approach, and Science Matters, the authors undertake the grand task of conveying “Science,” with a capital “S,” from atoms to ecosystems and from the scientific method to the very latest advances in biotechnology.
Importance of a Regular Source of Medical Care Among the Elderly

In recent years health services researchers have become increasingly aware of the importance of a regular doctor to whom the patient usually goes when sick or in need of advice about health, as a means of providing a point of entry to needed medical care. For example, persons who have a regular source of care seem more likely to receive an annual physical examination, to experience continuity of care when needed, and to be satisfied with the care received. Yet, despite the importance of an established tie to a regular treatment source, evidence is scanty with respect to the aged. To address the issue, this study employs data from a national probability sample of 11,619 persons, of whom 1,506 were aged 65 or older. The findings indicate that several factors (e.g., sex, race, education, and community size) which traditionally have served as important indicators of the use of health services fail to emerge as strong determinants regarding the regular source of care among the aged. The consequences of these findings and implications for future research are discussed.
Socioeconomic Status and College: How SES Affects College Experiences and Outcomes

This study investigated college experiences and outcomes for low and high SES students utilizing data from a longitudinal database. Low SES students engaged in fewer extracurricular activities, worked more, studied less, and reported lower GPAs than their high SES peers. Nine years after entering college, the low SES students had lower incomes, educational attainment, and graduate school attendance than high SES students. These experiential and outcome differences are tied to differences in cultural capital and habitus.
The Effect of Chronic Exogenous Androgen on Myocardial Function Following Acute Ischemia-Reperfusion in Hosts with Different Baseline Levels of Sex Steroids

Background Gender differences exist in the myocardial response to acute ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury and may be attributed to the effects of the sex hormones estrogen and testosterone. The role of estrogen in myocardial injury has been extensively studied but little information exists regarding the myocardial involvement of testosterone. Based on the deleterious effects of chronic endogenous and acute testosterone exposure observed in our previous studies, we postulated that chronic exogenous testosterone administration would also exhibit deleterious effects on myocardial function following I/R. Methods Langendorff perfused rat hearts were subjected to 25 min ischemia, 40 min reperfusion, and left ventricular developed pressure (LVDP) was recorded. Control and 5α-dihydrotestosterone (DHT) treated groups each consisted of normal males, castrated males, ovariectomized (OVX) females, and senescent females. P Results Chronic DHT replacement therapy showed no difference in functional ischemic recovery as measured by LVDP after 40 min reperfusion in castrated males (65.1 ± 8.13% versus 66.3 ± 4.54%), OVX females (64.5 ± 10.6% versus 50.2 ± 5.97%), and senescent females (42.1 ± 0.04% versus 41 ± 0.05%). Interestingly, LVDP was greater in DHT treated males than control males after I/R (65.2 ± 8.20% versus 47.6 ± 5.19%). Also, DHT treatment resulted in significantly increased recovery of LVDP after only 10 min reperfusion in castrated males, OVX females, and senescent females compared with their untreated counterparts (54.8 ± 11.9% versus 32.9 ± 5.75%, 66.7 ± 11.5% versus 43.1 ± 8.15%, 53.4 ± 10.1% versus 32.9 ± 5.75%, respectively). Conclusion Contrary to the adverse effects we observed in earlier studies with both endogenous and brief exogenous testosterone in myocardium injured by I/R, the present study revealed that chronic exogenous testosterone neither improved nor worsened myocardial functional recovery following 25 min ischemia and 40 min reperfusion.
Query-based debugging of object-oriented programs

Object relationships in modem software systems are becoming increasingly numerous and complex. Programmers who try to find violations of such relationships need new tools that allow them to explore objects in a large system more efficiently. Many existing debuggers present only a low-level, one-object-at-a-time view of objects and their relationships. We propose a new solution to overcome these problems: query-based debugging. The implementation of the query-based debugger described here offers programmers an effective query tool that allows efficient searching of large object spaces and quick verification of complex relationships. Even for programs that have large numbers of objects, the debugger achieves interactive response times for common queries by using a combination of fast searching primitives, query optimization, and incremental result delivery.
Tonsils and adenoids: an update.

Pediatricians frequently face the decision of whether to recommend that a child undergo a tonsillectomy, an adenoidectomy, or both. The reputation and the indications for these procedures have evolved over the years and continue to evoke controversy. The total number of tonsillectomies and adenoidectomies performed in the United States has decreased substantially over the past 30 to 40 years, although the proportion of procedures performed for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) has increased. We will address the indications (Table), techniques, and complications of tonsillectomies and adenoidectomies, as well as current ideas concerning OSA. The palatine tonsils, adenoids, and lingual tonsils comprise a circle of lymphoid tissue in the nasopharynx and oropharynx, sometimes referred to as Waldeyer ring (Fig. 1). Although this tissue is immunologically active, no postoperative immune deficits generally have been acknowledged other than an increased risk of complications from polio1 prior to the availability of polio vaccines. Clinical Aspects The most common problems attributed to the tonsils and adenoids are recurrent infection and OSA, or its milder manifestation, adenotonsillar hypertrophy with obstruction. Chronic middle ear disease can be related to adenoid pathology. OBSTRUCTIVE SLEEP APNEA OSA either is becoming more common in children or is being recognized more frequently. Sleep disturbances, cor pulmonale, pulmonary hypertension, and congestive heart failure are potential complications of OSA.
A conceptual and empirical comparison of three market orientation scales

Abstract Although the topic of a market orientation has attracted considerable research attention, there still is no clear consensus on its definition and on how to measure it. The authors attempt to improve market orientation conceptualization and measurement by conceptually and empirically comparing three different scales of market orientation, the scales of Kohli and Jaworski, Narver and Slater and a newly developed extended market orientation (EMO) scale. Implications of the results and a future research agenda are also offered.
Differential quadrature for multi-dimensional problems

The technique of differential quadrature for the solution of partial differential equations, introduced by Bellman et al., is extended and generalized to encompass partial differential equations involving multiple space variables. Approximation formulae for a variety of first and second order partial derivatives and typical weighting coefficients are presented. Application of these formulae is demonstrated on the solution of the convection-diffusion equation for the two- and three-dimensional space dependent cases and for both the transient and steady-state dispersion of inert, neutrally buoyant pollutants from continuous sources into an unbounded atmosphere.
Detection and Confirmation of β-Agonists in Bovine Retina Using LC/APCI-MS

β-Adrenergic receptor agonists are growth-promoting drugs with the potential for illegal use in livestock, and human toxicity has resulted from consumption of contaminated meat. On-line liquid chromatography with atmospheric pressure chemical ionization mass spectrometry (LC/APCI-MS) was used for sensitive detection of several β-agonists in retina, a tissue reported to concentrate and retain such residues for extended periods. Multiresidue extraction, separation, detection, and confirmation procedures were developed for retinal tissue and applied to eyes from cattle treated with clenbuterol (69−201 ppb) and to control eyes spiked with salbutamol (100 ppb) and terbutaline (25−100 ppb). Rapid switching of the potential difference between sampling cone and skimmer in the transport region of the API source was used to optimize acquisition of the protonated molecules and characteristic fragment ions obtained by collision-induced dissociation reactions. The respective selected ions were simultaneously acquired ...
Expression of recombinant calcium channels support secretion in a mouse pheochromocytoma cell line.

We have characterized a recently established mouse pheochromocytoma cell line (MPC 9/3L) as a useful model for studying neurotransmitter release and neuroendocrine secretion. MPC 9/3L cells express...
Weak signal detection using coherent control

We describe a technique based upon the principles of two-pathway coherent control that allows one to amplify the magnitude of a weak atomic or molecular transition. In our initial demonstrations, we amplify a weak Stark-induced transition (the 6s {sup 2}S{sub 1/2}{yields}8s {sup 2}S{sub 1/2} transition in atomic cesium) by coherently beating it with a stronger two-photon transition. We describe the measurements in detail, provide a quantitative discussion of the effects of beam overlap and alignment on the depth of modulation, and discuss the enhancement in the signal-to-noise ratio for this measurement technique over that of direct detection of the weak transition rate.
Differential habituation of fear and disgust during repeated exposure to threat-relevant stimuli in contamination-based OCD: an analogue study

In the present study, participants (N=20) displaying marked contamination concerns were provided 30 min of repeated in vivo exposure to threat-relevant stimuli (cleaning a 'dirty' bed pan), during which time their fear and disgust levels were repeatedly assessed. Results indicated that repeated exposure led to a significant decline in fear but not disgust. The observed decline in fear remained significant after accounting for changes in disgust and vice versa. Although initial disgust was higher than initial fear ratings, differences between the two slopes were not statistically significant. Baseline trait anxiety and global disgust sensitivity levels prior to exposure did not moderate the level of fear or disgust activation during exposure. However, sensitivity specifically related to core and contamination disgust was marginally associated with fear and disgust parameters during outcome. There was also evidence that less fear decline during repeated exposure was associated with higher disgust ratings after the exposure was completed. Theoretical and clinical implications of the present findings for the treatment of contamination concerns in obsessive-compulsive disorder are discussed.
Results of Penetrating Keratoplasty after Epikeratophakia for Keratoconus in the Nationwide Study

In the Nationwide Study of Epikeratophakia, 22 eyes underwent penetrating keratoplasty (PKP) after epikeratophakia for keratoconus. Reasons for PKP included visual acuity unsatisfactory to the patients (6 eyes), recipient corneal scarring (4 eyes), recipient Descemet's folds (3 eyes), scarring in the tissue lens (2 eyes), vascularization of the tissue lens (2 eyes), astigmatism (2 eyes), failure of the tissue lens to reepithelialize (1 eye), corneal ulcer (1 eye), and scarring of the donor and recipient cornea (1 eye). After PKP, all patients had clear grafts and 20/40 or better visual acuity. Average follow-up was 17 months. Three of the 22 patients (13.6%) had graft reaction episodes, all of which were treated successfully, resulting in clear grafts. The authors conclude that previous epikeratophakia does not adversely affect the outcome of subsequent PKP for keratoconus.