cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Clinical and Economic Impact of Widespread Rapid Testing to Decrease SARS-CoV-2 Transmission

ABSTRACT Background The value of frequent, rapid testing to reduce community transmission of SARS-CoV-2 is poorly understood. Objective To define performance standards and predict the clinical, epidemiological, and economic outcomes of nationwide, home-based, antigen testing. Design A simple compartmental epidemic model estimated viral transmission, clinical history, and resource use, with and without testing. Data Sources Parameter values and ranges informed by Centers for Disease Control guidance and published literature. Target Population United States population. Time Horizon 60 days. Perspective Societal.Costs include: testing, inpatient care, and lost workdays. Intervention Home-based SARS-CoV-2 antigen testing. Outcome Measures Cumulative infections and deaths, numbers isolated and/or hospitalized, and total costs. Results of Base-Case Analysis Without a testing intervention, the model anticipates 15 million infections, 125,000 deaths, and $10.4 billion in costs ($6.5 billion inpatient; $3.9 billion lost productivity) over a 60-day horizon. Weekly availability of testing may avert 4 million infections and 19,000 deaths, raising costs by $21.5 billion. Lower inpatient outlays ($5.9 billion) would partially offset additional testing expenditures ($12.0 billion) and workdays lost ($13.9 billion), yielding incremental costs per infection (death) averted of $5,400 ($1,100,000). Results of Sensitivity Analysis Outcome estimates vary widely under different behavioral assumptions and testing frequencies. However, key findings persist across all scenarios: large reductions in infections, mortality, and hospitalizations; and costs per death averted roughly an order of magnitude lower than commonly accepted willingness-to-pay values per statistical life saved ($5-17 million). Limitations Analysis restricted to at-home testing and limited by uncertainties about test performance. Conclusion High-frequency home testing for SARS-CoV-2 using an inexpensive, imperfect test could contribute to pandemic control at justifiable cost and warrants consideration as part of a national containment strategy. Primary Funding Sources Dr. Paltiel was supported by grant R37DA015612 from the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health. Dr. Sax was supported by grant R01AI042006 from the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases of the National Institutes of Health.
Betahydroxybutyrate Consumption in Autopsy Brain Tissue from Alzheimer's Disease Subjects.

Background Alzheimer's disease (AD) features perturbed brain glucose utilization, which could contribute to brain bioenergetic failure. This led some to consider using ketone bodies to enhance AD brain bioenergetics and treat AD. Objective We evaluated the rate at which brain homogenates from persons with Alzheimer's disease (AD) metabolize D-β-hydroxybutyrate (BHB). Methods We homogenized pieces of temporal cortex from frozen autopsy brains obtained from recently deceased AD subjects (n = 4), and age-matched subjects that did not have clinical AD (n = 3). Measuring the rate of CO2 production that followed the introduction of radiolabeled BHB to the homogenates yielded a BHB utilization rate. Results Compared to the control homogenates, the BHB-supported CO2 production rate was 66%lower in the AD homogenates (p < 0.05). Conclusions AD brains can utilize BHB, albeit less robustly than control brains. In conjunction with a previous study that demonstrated reduced glucose utilization in AD brain homogenates, our BHB data provide further evidence of AD brain mitochondrial dysfunction or altered mitochondrial biology.
Does the I-PSS Accurately Assess Urinary Function in Prostate Cancer Patients? Evidence From a Study of Nursing Verification of Patient Answers.

Purpose/Objective(s) The International Prostate Symptom Score (I-PSS) is a widely used tool for the evaluation of patient-reported lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS). Urologists and Radiation Oncologists frequently use the I-PSS to help determine a prostate cancer patient's eligibility for a type of treatment, and to follow up quality-of-life outcomes after treatment. I-PSS is also used to define clinical trial eligibility criteria, and is a common means of comparing patient-reported outcomes between studies. The I-PSS is almost 30 years old and has not been modified in the light of contemporary understandings of patient communication. We sought to assess the degree of patient understanding of I-PSS questions by nursing verification at the time of the patient visit. Materials/Methods Men with prostate cancer self-completed an online I-PSS questionnaire approximately one week prior to their visit with the physician. On the day of the visit, a nurse reviewed each I-PSS question with the patient to ensure they understood it, and then verified patient answers. Patient initial scores and nurse-verified scores were recorded, and the results analyzed for discrepancies. Results I-PSS scores were recorded for 105 men. Complete concordance between patient and nursing scores on all questions was reported for 62 men (59%; 95% C.I. 49%, 69%). The frequency of discordance was highest for urgency (20%), incomplete emptying (22%) and frequency (21%), with lower rates for intermittency (17%), nocturia (15%), weak stream (12%) and straining (7.6%). There was evidence that patients overstated scores compared to nurses for frequency (P = 0.010), weak stream (P = 0.036) and incomplete emptying (P = 0.012); for other domains, there was no evidence for either nurse or patient scores being higher (P≥0.3 for all). For incomplete emptying, nurse scores were lower for 19 men, 15 of whom had a score reduced to zero; for frequency, scores were lower for 14, with 7 reduced to zero. Conclusion Patient I-PSS scores were moderately concordant with scores obtained after nursing review and verification. Some men appear to have had a poorer understanding of the questionnaire, particularly with respect to items concerning incomplete emptying and frequency. Consideration should be given to rewording the I-PSS to improve patient understanding.
Clinical performance of a free-breathing spatiotemporally accelerated 3-D time-resolved contrast-enhanced pediatric abdominal MR angiography

Background Pediatric contrast-enhanced MR angiography is often limited by respiration, other patient motion and compromised spatiotemporal resolution.
The Ornithology of Cheyenne Religionists

Three kinds of Cheyenne religionists—priests, “war doctors,” and healers—have had specialized knowledge about the significance of birds in Cheyenne culture. The apprenticeships of these religionist...
Functional Verification of Class Invariants in CleanJava

In Cleanroom-style functional program verification, a program is viewed as a mathematical function from one program state to another, and the program is verified by comparing two functions, the implemented and the expected behaviors. The technique requires a minimal mathematical background and supports forward reasoning, but it does not support assertions such as class invariants. However, class invariants are not only a practical programming tool but also play a key role in the correctness proof of a program by specifying conditions and constraints that an object has to satisfy and thus defining valid states of the object. We suggest a way to integrate the notion of class invariants in functional program verification by using CleanJava as a specification notation and a verification framework as well; CleanJava is a formal annotation language for Java to support Cleanroom-style functional program verification. We propose a small extension to CleanJava to specify class invariants and to its proof logic to verify the class invariants. Our extension closely reflects the way programmers specify and reason about the correctness of a program informally. It allows one to use class invariants in the framework of Cleanroom-style functional specification and verification.
Enbucrilate for gastric varices: extended experience in 92 patients.

Summary Aim We assessed N-2-butyl-cyanoacrylate (enbucrilate) in 92 patients with gastric variceal bleeding under an FDA-approved investigation. These results extend our prior report of the first 44 patients. Method Injection was performed with enbucrilate and ethiodol (1:1). Eighty patients had portal hypertension and 12 had splenic vein thrombosis. Results In the portal hypertensive group, re-bleeding from gastric varices was seen in 4 of 80 (5%) from 0 to 72 h, 5 of 76 (6.5%) from > 72 h to 3 months and 9 of 51 (17%) from > 3 months to 1 year. Re-bleeding and survival were significantly related to the Child-Pugh class. In the splenic vein thrombosis group (n = 12), there was early rebleeding in 2 (17%) patients from 0 to 72 h, 1 (8%) from > 72 h to 3 months and none in the chronic phase (> 3 months to 1 year) although 1-year survival in this group was only 6 (50%) due to the underlying malignancy in most. Serious embolization was suspected in 2 patients (2%). Conclusion Enbucrilate offers an important intervention in gastric variceal bleeding which should be further studied in the US. A randomized trial is warranted to compare this intervention to radiological therapy.
5-Ethoxy-2′-deoxyuridine, a Novel Substrate for Thymidine Phosphorylase, Potentiates the Antitumor Activity of 5-Fluorouracil When Used in Combination with Interferon, an Inducer of Thymidine Phosphorylase Expression

Abstract Clinical studies have demonstrated that the combination of 5-fluorouracil (FUra) and IFN-α has activity in the treatment of advanced colorectal cancer. Treatment of human colon carcinoma cells with IFN caused a 5-fold increase in the level of thymidine phosphorylase (TP) mRNA and an 8-fold increase in TP enzyme activity. Since TP catalyzes the first step in the direct conversion of FUra to deoxyribonucleotides, its induction by IFN is a potential biochemical mechanism for the modulation of the antitumor activity of FUra. In contrast to the activity measured in cell extracts, however, thymine utilization by intact cells was increased less than 2-fold by IFN, suggesting that the metabolic activation of FUra by TP in the IFN-treated cells was similarly suboptimal. This was likely due to a rate-limiting amount of cosubstrate for TP, and in this study, a series of 5-substituted 2′-deoxyuridine analogues were synthesized and tested as potential deoxyribose donors for TP. One of the compounds, the novel pyrimidine analogue 5-ethoxy-2′-deoxyuridine (EOdU), was found to be a substrate for the transferase reaction of TP, to have little or no direct cytotoxicity, to selectively increase the cellular levels of 5-fluoro-dUMP, to enhance the inhibitory effect of FUra on thymidylate synthase activity, and to potentiate the cytotoxicity of FUra and IFN in human colon carcinoma cells. EOdU was tested in vivo against HT-29 cells grown as xenografts in nude mice. The combination of EOdU + FUra + IFN-α2a produced tumor regressions and a significantly greater delay in tumor growth when compared to FUra + IFN-α2a, FUra + EOdU, or FUra or IFN used alone; tumors were 72% smaller in the EOdU + FUra + IFN-α2a-treated animals compared to the saline control group. A comparable antitumor effect was also found when a related nucleoside analogue, 5-propynyloxy-2′-deoxyuridine, was used with FUra + IFN, and it also showed modulating activity when used with only FUra. The antitumor activity of the three agent combination (nucleoside + IFN + FUra) was comparable to that of a higher dose of FUra used alone, but it was substantially less toxic to the animals than the higher dose of FUra, indicating that the modulating agents improved the therapeutic index of FUra. The substitution of a hybrid recombinant IFN-αA/D, active in both human and murine tissues, in place of the species-specific human IFN-α2a did not further increase the efficacy of the combination, suggesting that a direct effect on the tumor cells rather than host-mediated actions of IFN was the predominant mechanism for antitumor effects observed in vivo . These studies demonstrate a potential novel approach to increase the efficacy and selectivity of FUra, which incorporates two complementary biochemical actions: the selective induction by IFN of expression of a gene regulating pyrimidine synthesis, coupled with the rational design of a cosubstrate for the induced enzyme.
Submarine Lava Flow Emplacement at the East Pacific Rise 9°50´N: Implications for Uppermost Ocean Crust Stratigraphy and Hydrothermal Fluid Circulation

Meter scale seafloor topography and sidescan backscatter imagery of volcanic terrain along the axis of the fast-spreading northern East Pacific Rise (EPR) near 9° 50'N, coupled with visual and photographic observations provide data that constrain spatial relationships between hydrothermal vents and primary volcanic features and processes along the EPR axis. High-temperature (>350°C) hydrothermal vents are present in several areas within the EPR axial trough where recent eruptions have been focused and where drainback of lava into the primary eruptive fissure occurred. Chaotic collapse crusts and draped sheet lava surfaces along the margin of eruptive fissures typify sites where drainback primarily occurred. These areas are also coincident with ∼10-30 m-wide channels that serve to transport lava across the crestal plateau. Regions of diffuse hydrothermal flow at low temperatures (<35°C) and vent animal communities are concentrated along the primary eruptive fissure that fed the 1991 eruption at the 9° 50'N EPR area. The relationship between seafloor eruption processes and hydrothermal vent locations within the EPR axial trough is linked to the formation of high permeability zones created by: focusing of eruptions along discrete portions of fissures; volcanic episodicity during eruptive phases lasting hours to days; and drainback of lava into the primary fissure at these same locations during waning stages of seafloor eruptions.
SRY and the Standoff in Sex Determination

SRY was identified as the mammalian sex-determining gene more than 15 yr ago and has been extensively studied since. Although many of the pathways regulating sexual differentiation have been elucidated, direct downstream targets of SRY are still unclear, making a top down approach difficult. However, recent work has demonstrated that the fate of the gonad is actively contested by both male-promoting and female-promoting signals. Sox9 and Fgf9 push gonads towards testis differentiation. These two genes are opposed by Wnt4, and possibly RSPO1, which push gonads toward ovary differentiation. In this review, we will discuss the history of the field, current findings, and exciting new directions in vertebrate sex determination.
Dexamethasone Reverses Adrenalectomy-Induced Neuronal De-differentiation in Midbrain Raphe-Hippocampus Axisa

Differentiation leads to specific morphological and biochemical characteristics. We examined whether epigenetic factors (e.g., glucocorticoids) are required to maintain neuronal differentiation in the adult brain. In the midbrain, adrenalectomy (ADX) (1-2 wk) reduced the size of tryptophan hydroxylase (WH)-immunoreactive (IR) neurons. ADX rats exposed to short-term (24-72-h) dexamethasone (ST-DEX) in the drinking saline (10 mg/l) showed an increase in WH protein, somal area and dendritic size of WH-IR neurons. In the hippocampus, ADX for 2-3 mo (long-term; LT) reduced Nissl staining, calbindin (CBD)-IR and 5-HT1A receptor mRNA in the granular cell layer, and the size of the molecular layer and its CBD-IR dendrites. Small vimentin (Vim)-IR glial cells emerged in the granular layer. ST-DEX after LT-ADX rapidly induced a recovery of 5-HT1A mRNA, Nissl labeling and CBD-IR in the granule cell layer. In the molecular layer, there was an increase in the area and in the number of CBD-IR dendrites. Furthermore, the Vim-IR glial cells were enlarged in size and branching. The rate of cell proliferation was studied in these animals. Immunostaining with antibodies against proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) and use of bromouridine argue against enhanced neurogenesis after ST-DEX in LT-ADX. We propose that glucocorticoids induce and maintain differentiation of serotonergic and CBD-IR neurons in the midbrain-hippocampal axis. A neuronotrophic role for the glial 5-HT1A receptor is suggested.
Social anxiety and disordered overeating: an association among overweight and obese individuals.

Abstract Objective The study objectives were to evaluate the relationship between social anxiety, binge eating, and emotional eating in overweight and obese individuals and to evaluate the relationship between weight and social anxiety. Methods Using an internet based survey, overweight and obese men and women (n = 231; mean age = 36.0 ± 12.8; mean BMI = 33.7 kg/m2 ± 6.7) completed several self-report measures including: social anxiety, social physique anxiety, binge eating, and emotional eating. The relationships among variables were evaluated using Spearman's correlations, ANOVAs, and linear and logistic regression equations. Results Clinically significant levels of social anxiety were reported in 59% of participants, and binge eating disorder criteria were met by 13%. Social anxiety was significantly associated with binge eating (r = .36; OR = 1.06, CI = 1.02–1.10) and emotional eating (r = .46; β = 0.36), but was not associated with restrained eating. The association between social physique anxiety and emotional and binge eating did not remain significant in regression equations. BMI was associated with binge eating (r = .19) but not emotional eating. Level of social anxiety was not significantly higher among extremely obese participants, compared to overweight and obese participants. Conclusions In this study, social anxiety was associated with binge eating and emotional eating in overweight and obese men and women. When appropriate, interventions could address social anxiety as a barrier to normative eating patterns and weight loss.
Position paper on fatal abusive head injuries in infants and young children

This article represents the work of the National Association of Medical Examiners Ad Hoc Committee on shaken baby syndrome. Abusive head injuries include injuries caused by shaking as well as impact to the head, either by directly striking the head or by causing the head to strike another object or surface. Because of anatomic and developmental differences in the brain and skull of the young child, the mechanisms and types of injuries that affect the head differ from those that affect the older child or adult. The mechanism of injury produced by inflicted head injuries in these children is most often rotational movement of the brain within the cranial cavity. Rotational movement of the brain damages the nervous system by creating shearing forces, which cause diffuse axonal injury with disruption of axons and tearing of bridging veins, which causes subdural and subarachnoid hemorrhages, and is very commonly associated with retinal schisis and hemorrhages. Recognition of this mechanism of injury may be helpful in severe acute rotational brain injuries because it facilitates understanding of such clinical features as the decrease in the level of consciousness and respiratory distress seen in these injured children. The pathologic findings of subdural hemorrhage, subarachnoid hemorrhage, and retinal hemorrhages are offered as "markers" to assist in the recognition of the presence of shearing brain injury in young children.
A comparison among different technological processes for the fabrication of polysilicon-based thermoelectric transducers

We propose a comparison among different solutions for realizing polysilicon thermoelectric transducers, with five different types of thermoelements based on Al/polysilicon and two level polysilicon design, using different doping (of p and n-type) for the poly layers. The device performances are evaluated on a test geometry with electrical measurements and the performance obtained with the various solutions are compared.
Antisense GAP-43 Inhibits the Evoked Release of Dopamine from PC12 Cells

To investigate the role of the neuronal growth-associated protein GAP-43 (neuromodulin, B-50, F1, P-57) in neurotransmitter release, we transfected PC12 cells with a recombinant expression vector coding for antisense human GAP-43 cRNA. Two stable transfectants, designated AS1 and AS2, were selected that had integrated the recombinant sequence and expressed antisense GAP-43 RNA. Immunoblot analysis of proteins from AS1 and AS2 cells indicated that the level of GAP-43 in these cell lines was reduced. In the presence of extracellular calcium, a depolarizing concentration of K+ (56 mM) evoked dopamine release from control cells, but not from AS1 and AS2 cells. Similarly, the calcium ionophore A23187 evoked dopamine release from control cells, but was ineffective in stimulating dopamine release from AS1 and AS2 cells. The antisense transfectants, as well as the control cells, contained appreciable quantities of dopamine and secretory granules with a normal appearance. Because the expression of antisense GAP-43 RNA in PC12 cells leads to a decrease in GAP-43 expression and to the loss of evoked dopamine release, these results provide evidence of a role for GAP-43 in calcium-dependent neurotransmitter release.
A nonlinear version of the Coburn, Forster and Kane model of blood carboxyhemoglobin

Abstract We provide an integrated form of the preferred nonlinear form of the Coburn, Forster and Kane (1965, J. clin. Invest . 41 , 1899–1910) model. The new technique guarantees numerical accuracy, yet substantially reduces the computational burden.
Characterization of an optically stimulated dosimeter for dentomaxillofacial dosimetry.

Objective The objective of this study was to examine the suitability of optically stimulated luminescent dosimeters (OSLD) for point dosimetry of maxillofacial radiographic examinations. Study design The dose response of OSLD nanoDot dosimeters was evaluated over the range of 10 μGy to 4900 μGy x-radiation. The angular dependence of the OSLD nanoDots was examined and compared with that of thermoluminescent dosimeter (TLD) chips. The concordance between OSDL- and TLD-measured absorbed doses at selected anatomic sites in an anthropomorphometric phantom was examined. Results OSLD-measured doses were not significantly different from the actual delivered dose, as determined by an ionization chamber. The dose response is linear over the dose response over the examined dose range. Angular variation of OSLD dosimeters ranged from 88% to 109%; however, the magnitude of this variation was not significantly different from that of TLDs. There was a good concordance between OSLD- and TLD-measured absorbed doses. Conclusions The OSLD nanoDots dosimeter system performs as well as currently used TLD systems and effective dose estimates using this new system did not differ significantly from current TLD-based dose estimates.
Effect of intravenous nitroglycerin on heparin dosage requirements in coronary artery disease

Abstract Patients admitted to the coronary care unit who received both intravenous nitroglycerin and heparin were studied to evaluate heparin dosage requirements. Physicians ordered all nitroglycerin and heparin doses as well as coagulation studies without knowledge of this study. Activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT) values obtained during steady-state heparin administration were considered therapeutic if the ratio of APTT/APTT-baseline was ≥1.5. Sixty patients with myocardial infarction or unstable angina were included in the study. The initial therapeutic heparin dose of 1,014 ± 151 units/hour produced an APTT ratio of 2.0 ± 0.5. At the time of the initial therapeutic dose, the nitroglycerin dose was 110 ± 108 μg/min. There was a significant correlation between the initial therapeutic dose and both total (r = 0.56; p = 0.0001) and lean (r = 0.26; p
Isolation and identification of a polar metabolite of tetrachlorobiphenyl from bile of rainbow trout exposed to 14C-tetrachlorobiphenyl.

The presence of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) in a wide variety of fish has been reported by VEITH and LEE (1971) and STALLING and MAYER (1972). Laboratory studies have demonstrated the uptake of dietary PCB by rainbow trout (LIEB, et al., 1974) and lake trout (SCHOETTGER, 1973), and aqueous PCB by goldfish (HATTULA and KARLOG, 1973), spot and pinfish (HANSEN, et al., 1971) and yellow perch and rainbow trout (MELANCON, 1974). Once absorbed by fish the PCBs do not appear to be readily eliminated. Although over 50% of the PCB accumulated by spot and pinfish during preexposume to 1 ppb PCB was released during 8 weeks following exposure (HANSEN, et al., 1971; HANSEN, eta!., 1974) this extent of PCB elimination is not typical of fresh water fish. HATTULA and KARLOG (1973) reported that goldfish released almost 80% of accumulated PCBs during a i0-week washout period, but the amount of fat tissue in these fish showed an unexpected comparable decrease such that PCB levels in fat tissue remained constant at about 3000 ppm. LIEB, et al. (1974) examined the elimination of previously accumulated dietary PCBs by rainbow trout utilizing a PCB-f-ree diet (16 weeks) or fast (8 weeks). As the trout receiving the PCB-free diet grew, the PCB level decreased, but the total amount of PCB per fish remained constant. The fasted fish lost weight and the PCB level increased but the total amount of PCB per fish remained constant. Another study of the elimination of previously accumulated dietary PCB was reported by SCHOETTGER (1973). In this case, lake trout showed slightly reduced PCB concentrations, but it was not reported if this was simply a growth effect.
Democracy Plaza: A Campus Space for Civic Engagement

This article examines “Democracy Plaza,” a campus space dedicated to written and spoken communication about issues of public concern. The Plaza gives students opportunities to become civically engaged through self-expression and the exchange of ideas. A series of chalkboards on the Plaza allows them to write their thoughts and read the comments of others, and events where students can speak and deliberate about important civic matters are hosted in this space. This article discusses the concept of Democracy Plaza and its development, maintenance, and utilization as a campus space for civic engagement.
High Temperature Stability of Oxycarbide Glasses

The stability of silicon oxycarbide glasses has been studied at temperatures up to 1500°C. The silicon oxycarbide glasses were synthesized using a sol/gel process. The pyrolysis treatment in argon influenced the structure and composition of the synthesized glasses, and in turn, their high temperature stability in oxidizing atmosphere. The oxycarbide glasses pyrolyzed at > 1000°C had lower hydrogen concentration and a more polymerized network structure, and thereby were more resistant to oxidation and crystallization at higher temperatures.
Lipopolysaccharide-Binding Protein Plasma Levels in Children: Effects of Obstructive Sleep Apnea and Obesity

Background: Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) has been linked to obesity, inflammation, and metabolic syndrome. The gut microbiota, which serves as reservoir for bacterial lipopolysaccharides (LPS), could be altered by OSA and trigger inflammation. LPS-binding protein (LBP) serves as a surrogate marker of underlying low-grade endotoxemia by LPS from the gut. We hypothesized that systemic LBP levels would be higher in obese children and in those with OSA. Methods: Consecutive snoring and nonsnoring children (mean age 6.8 ± 1.3 y) were included after overnight polysomnography, and fasting levels of lipids, insulin glucose, and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein were obtained. Children were subdivided into four subgroups based on the presence of obesity or OSA. Plasma LBP levels were assayed using ELISA. Results: Of 219 participants, nonobese controls had the lowest levels of LBP, and the presence of obesity without OSA was associated with significant LBP increases. Nonobese children with OSA exhibited increase...
The induction of energized configurational changes in plant mitochondria,in vivo

Configurational changes in the mitochondrial membranes of the salt gland ofTamarix aphylla, which are dependent on the biochemical state of the mitochondria, are demonstrated. In the energized state the cristae expand and become closely associated. There is also an increase in the density of the matrix and a formation of strands of material in the matrix and between the closely associated cristae membranes. The energized condition can be discharged by incubation in a medium containing 2,4-dinitrophenol and the mitochondria are comparable to those observed in glands fixed by typical methods for electron microscopy.
CONTINUOUS EXPONENTIAL FAMILIES: AN EQUATING TOOL

Continuous exponential families may be employed to find continuous distributions with the same initial moments as the discrete distributions encountered in typical applications of classical equating. These continuous distributions provide distribution functions and quantile functions that may be employed in equating. To illustrate, an application is considered for a randomly equivalent groups design.
Interferometric Measurements of 142 Solar Wavelengths

The wavelengths of 142 solar absorption lines, in light taken from the center of the solar disk, and in the wavelength region 4675 A to 6275 A, have been determined by interferometric comparison with the standard wavelengths of Hg198. A Fabry-Perot interferometer was crossed with a high dispersion, Wadsworth type spectrograph by a method similar to that used at Allegheny and Mount Wilson Observatories in the original determinations of the IAU solar wavelength standards of 1928. The wavelengths of 68 solar iron lines are compared with hollow cathode wavelengths, and differences between the resulting wavelength shift and that predicted by relativity theory calculated.
Data Strengthen to Support Recommending Anticoagulant Therapy for All Atrial Fibrillation Patients With a CHA2DS2-VASc Score ≥1

Management of patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) can be considered a 3-legged stool. Physicians caring for AF patients must consider the issues of rate control, rhythm control, and stroke prevention and then make specific recommendations to their patients that address each of these issues.
Responsibility: The tie that binds

Abstract People share significantly more money with others in common lab paradigms like the dictator game than they do in real life. What accounts for this difference? Paradigms like the dictator game link each recipient to a single dictator with the implication that each recipient can receive funds from only one person. We argue that this “burden” of responsibility to a single recipient helps to explain high levels of laboratory sharing. In two experiments—a modified dictator game experiment and a charitable giving experiment—participants donated significantly more to others when they were solely responsible for a recipient's outcome than when the responsibility for a recipient was potentially shared. Taken together with past findings from social psychology and experimental economics, the results show how unambiguous responsibility for a single recipient increases generosity.
Origin and distribution of noradrenergic innervation in the habenula: A neurochemical study

The distribution of norepinephrine (NE) was chemically mapped in discrete regions of the rat habenula (Hb). In addition, the contribution of both peripheral sympathetic and central noradrenergic sources to habenula NE was quantified following selective deafferentations. It was found that NE is distributed hetereogeneously in discrete Hb regions. Furthermore, it was demonstrated that after superior cervical ganglionectomy a small (26%) but significant (P less than 0.05) decrease in NE occurred only in the medial Hb (MHb), while NE in the lateral Hb (LHb) remained unaltered. In contrast, deafferentation of central noradrenergic innervation, such as lesions in the ascending dorsal noradrenergic bundle (DNB), caused a marked decrease in NE in both MHb (53%) and LHb (50%). Lesioning the dorsal longitudinal fasciculus resulted in NE loss in both MHb and LHb by 31%. These data corroborate the histofluorescent demonstration of the noradrenergic innervation of the Hb.
Passing the “Breakfast Test”: Exploring the Effects of Varying Degrees of Graphicness of War Photography in the New Media Environment

In the context of new media to which young audiences are exposed, this study examined whether the level of graphicness depicted in images of conflict influenced viewers’ war perceptions. Results showed that higher levels of graphicness in images of the Israeli/Palestinian conflict did not affect beliefs regarding the severity of this issue or attitudes toward US involvement in the conflict. However, findings did suggest that highly graphic visuals led to increased negative mood states. The study also found that level of graphicness moderated the impact of preexisting attitudes toward Middle Easterners on perceived severity of the Israeli/Palestinian conflict, suggesting that the graphicness of visuals may play more of a moderating role in explaining war perceptions. Overall, results indicate that journalistic concerns about presenting highly graphic images to viewers might have now become unfounded.
Twisted vortices, string solitons, and world sheets instantons

Abstract Twist modes of oscillation for Higgs vortices are discussed. In the pure gauge case these are described by a two-dimensional massive photon carrying a twist in the magnetic flux tube. These twists can decay by a two-dimensional instanton. With fermions the twist mode has a vacuum current of the broken U(1) symmetry running along the zero of the Higgs field. The case of bosonic charge carriers, where the charge is also There are world sheet solitons acting as a source of twist, and for certain couplings the vortex has a non-cylindrically symmetric profile. These phenomena have relevance to cosmic string models and possibly other areas of physics.
The Leaders of French Intellectual Life—At Home and in Exile

This article attempts to outline what little is known concerning those well-known French writers and artists who have been forced into comparative obscurity in France. Many of those famous in the French intellectual world have come to the United States and have already contributed largely to American cultural life. The article covers the period only up to November 1943.
Institutional Design and Democratic Consolidation in the Third World

Recent scholarship on democratization has produced several dominant hypotheses concerning the role of institutional design in promoting stable democracy. This article tests these hypotheses by exam...
Deeper sentiment analysis using machine translation technology

This paper proposes a new paradigm for sentiment analysis: translation from text documents to a set of sentiment units. The techniques of deep language analysis for machine translation are applicable also to this kind of text mining task. We developed a high-precision sentiment analysis system at a low development cost, by making use of an existing transfer-based machine translation engine.
Relationships Among Health Literacy, Knowledge About Hormone Therapy, Self-Efficacy, and Decision-Making Among Postmenopausal Health

Little is known about how health literacy affects women's decisions about their menopausal health care. This exploratory study provides a crucial first step in gaining an understanding of the relationship between health literacy and potential factors such as knowledge, self-efficacy, and intent to take hormone therapy among postmenopausal women. Data were collected for 106 participants, age range 45–65, who were attending a family clinic. Participants completed a questionnaire that included questions on hormone therapy knowledge, self-efficacy, behavioral intent concerning hormone therapy, and health literacy as well as demographic data. Inferential statistical tests were used to assess the relationships among health literacy, knowledge, self-efficacy, and behavioral intent concerning hormone therapy. Pearson correlations indicated a positive relationship between both health literacy and knowledge about hormone therapy (r = .64; p ≤ .01) and between health literacy and self-efficacy regarding hormone ther...
Three-Dimensional gated EPR imaging of the beating heart: Time-resolved measurements of free radical distribution during the cardiac contractile cycle

In vivo or ex vivo EPR imaging, EPRI, has been established as a powerful technique for determining the spatial distribution of free radicals and other paramagnetic species in living organs and tissues. While instrumentation capable of performing EPR imaging of free radicals in whole tissues and isolated organs has been previously reported, it was not possible to image rapidly moving organs such as the beating heart. Therefore instrumentation was developed to enable the performance of gated-spectroscopy and imaging on isolated beating rat hearts at L-band. A synchronized pulsing and timing system capable of gated acquisitions of up to 256 images per cycle, with rates of up to 16 Hz was developed. The temporal and spatial accuracy of this instrumentation was verified using a specially designed beating heart-shaped isovolumic phantom with electromechanically driven sinusoidal motion at a cycle rate of 5 Hz. Gated EPR imaging was performed on a series of isolated rat hearts perfused with nitroxide spin labels. These hearts were paced at a rate of 6 Hz with either 16 or 32 gated images acquired per cardiac contractile cycle. The images enabled visualization of the time-dependent alterations in the free radical distribution and anatomical structure of the heart that occur during the cardiac cycle.
Working/Touring the Past: Latin American Identity and the Political Frustration of Heritage

This article explores the pervasive impact of the pre-Hispanic past on contemporary Latin American identity, using the Ecuadorian Indian movement and the Yucatacan town of Izamal as two symbolic sites where many of these factors vie for official recognition. Therefore, the central topic of this article is also an essential element of the debate contained within the global development discourse: How is it possible for Latin American to face the constant onslaught of powerful North America and European iconic images and not in some way embody its own inherent internalized forms of colonial oppression?
Bilateral hand-assisted laparoscopic nephrectomy for autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease using a single midline HandPort incision.

Abstract Objectives. To present one of the first known series of bilateral, transperitoneal laparoscopic nephrectomy for autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease using a hand-assisted technique by way of a single, midline HandPort incision. Synchronous, bilateral nephrectomy for autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease is an infrequently performed procedure, with only a few reports using laparoscopy. Methods. We retrospectively reviewed the charts of 4 patients undergoing bilateral hand-assisted laparoscopic nephrectomy for symptomatic autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease between June 2000 and January 2001. Follow-up consisted of chart review and telephone survey. Results. All 4 patients underwent successful bilateral hand-assisted laparoscopic nephrectomy, with a mean operative time of 286 minutes. This included 1 patient who underwent simultaneous laparoscopic marsupialization of symptomatic hepatic cysts. The average size of the polycystic kidneys removed was 1582 g. Complications included acute tubular necrosis of a renal allograft in 1 patient that resolved spontaneously and retained retroperitoneal cystic fluid that required percutaneous drainage in another patient. All patients did well postoperatively, with complete resolution of their presenting symptoms. Those with renal allografts had stable function at the last follow-up visit. Conclusions. Bilateral hand-assisted laparoscopic nephrectomy using a single HandPort incision is a feasible alternative for the removal of symptomatic polycystic kidneys. It offers the advantage of easier identification and control of hilar structures that are often obscured by the distorted renal anatomy. In addition, it allows the simultaneous performance of other intra-abdominal procedures.
THE USE OF SERUM ENZYME DETERMINATIONS TO DETECT ANICTERIC HEPATITIS.

The distribution of transaminase values in a series of 1,906 sera drawn from clinically normal Republic of Korea Army recruits has been analyzed statistically. The data have indicated the existence of two normally distributed populations, and the hypothesis has been presented that one of these populations represents the normal population, characterized by absence of hepatocellular damage; and the other represents an “abnormal” population characterized by the presence of definite hepatocellular damage. The data have been analyzed, and interpreted, with reference to the concept of “normal values,” frequency of anicteric serum hepatitis carriers, ratio of anicteric to icteric serum hepatitis, and the problem of exclusion of anicteric serum hepatitis carriers from blood bank procedures. It is suggested that climination of bloods having SGPT concentrations of greater than 25 units, in this or similar populations, may result in elimination of approximately SO per cent of cases of anicteric hepatitis, with an associated loss of only about 15 per cent of available blood.
Quantum well model of a conjugated polymer heterostructure solar cell

In current study we analyzed the performance of a conjugated polymer heterostructured solar cell using quantum well representation for 100A thin polymer layers. The electrical field across the polymer layer is extremely strong to dissociate all excitons generated by sunlight. The behavior of free electrons appearing as a result of exciton dissociation was analyzed using wavefunctions and set of available energy levels. We came to the conclusion that small but finite probability exists to collect free electrons by the anode of the solar cell. The analyzed device was comprised of layers of bulk heterojunctions, namely, 100nm layers of poly[2-methoxy-5-(3',7'-dimethyloctyloxy)-1-4-phenylene vinylene]:phenyl C61-butyric acid methylester MDMO-PPV:PCBM (1:4), (poly-3-hexylthiophene): phenyl C61-butyric acid methylester P3HT:PCBM (1:1) and poly[2,6-(4,4-bis-(2-ethylhexyl)-4H-cyclopen[2,1-b;3,4-b']dithiophene)- alt-4,7-(2,1,3-benzothiadiazole)] PCPDTBT:PCBM (1:3). Set of these layers are designed to be connected using transparent cathodes of lithium fluoride/aluminium/gold LiF/Al/Au, which are compatible with PCBM LUMO.
An improved enzymatic assay for glucose determination in blood serum using a l,1′-dimethylferricinium dye

l,l′-dimethylferricinium (DMFe+),a stable and pH-insensitive blue dye, was prepared via enzymatic oxidation of a 1,1′-dimethylferrocene (DMFe):2-hydroxypropyl-β-cyclodextrin (HPCD) watersoluble inclusion complex, using bilirubin oxidase immobilized onto porous aminopropyl glass beads via glutaraldehyde activation. In the presence of glucose, DMFe+ was reduced to DMFe by reacting with the reduced glucose oxidase (FADH2), and the absorbance decrease was followed at 650 nm. In acetate pH 5.2 buffer, the response to glucose in blood serum was nonlinear, especially in the low concentration range, because of a competition for the reduced glucose oxidase between the DMFe+ dye and oxygen. At this pH, endogenous ceruloplasmin was also observed to oxidize residual DMFe (16%) in the dye preparation, causing an increase in absorbance at 650 nm. An assay protocol was then developed using maleate buffer, pH 6.5, to overcome these interferences as well as mutarotation of α-D-glucose. The results obtained for glucose in the blood serum samples agreed well with those of the reference hexokinase/glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase method.
Association of iron with colorectal cancer

Many studies indicate that animals and humans burdened with excess iron are at increased risk of neoplasia at various sites. This review focuses on inquiries that involve iron and colorectal cancer. Relevant studies reported in the past decade are briefly described and evaluated. The studies in animal models and in relatively large groups of humans point to a positive association of excessive iron with colorectal oncogenesis. Phytic acid, a chelator of iron and zinc, may be useful in withholding iron from the carcinogenic process. Sufficient evidence is available to justify construction of long-term prospective studies in humans in which would be monitored (i) levels of iron and phytate intake, (ii) serum transferrin iron saturation and ferritin, (iii) fecal levels of iron and hydroxyl radicals, and (iv) appearance of colorectal polyps, adenomas and carcinomas.
THE USE OF A DESCRIPTIVE COVER LETTER AND SECRETARY PRE-LETTER TO INCREASE RESPONSE RATE IN A MAILED SURVEY

This study examined the effects of two variables—descriptive cover letter and pre-letter to respondent's secretary—on response rate to a mailed survey. Two hundred randomly selected Michigan elementary school principals were sent the Eysenck Personality Inventory. There was no significant difference (χ2= .55, p > .05) in the rate of response between those administrators who received the descriptive cover letter and those who received no descriptive cover letter. However, those whose secretaries had been sent a pre-letter responded at a higher rate (χ2= 11.70, p < .001) than those whose secretaries received no pre-letter.
Complete subcompositional independence testing of closed arrays

Abstract The problem of testing for correlations in closed data, where all components sum to a constant, has undermined confidence in many inferences concerning geologic data. By their nature, much data of geologic interest are closed. Fortunately, significant progress has occurred recently in the rigorous treatment of closed data. The program documented here exploits these advances to provide a test for complete subcompositional independence. If the hypothesis of complete subcompositional independence can be demonstrated, then no nonoverlapping subvectors of the data display correlations beyond those induced solely through closure.
Development of L2 word-meaning inference while reading

Abstract Ability to infer the meaning of unknown words encountered while reading plays an important role in learners’ L2 word-knowledge development. Despite numerous findings reported on word-meaning inference, how learners develop this ability is still unclear. In order to provide a developmental inquiry into L2 word-meaning inference while reading, this study examined 5 Japanese college-level ESL learners’ meaning-inference behaviors for a 4 week period, focusing on their inference success rates and strategy use. The learners were engaged in a weekly reading and meaning-inference session, in which they read an academic text for comprehension, identified unknown words in the text, and inferred the meanings of the unknown words. The think-aloud technique was used to observe their meaning-inference performance. The results demonstrated that (a) the learner who had the lowest score on a reading comprehension test showed a constant increase in success rate, the number of strategies used, and the variety of strategy types used; (b) the more successful learners did not show a considerable change but had a more structured approach; and (c) the learners showed a shift from local strategies to global strategies. Pedagogical implications of these findings are discussed in terms of training effect.
Implied and realized volatility: empirical model selection

The paper studies the nonparametric connection between realized and implied volatilities. No-arbitrage identities and comparison inequalities are found. We formulate the multi-factor trading system on the volatility scale. To empirically determine the number of factors, we develop a high frequency analysis for sequential F-testing. We also design a cross validated estimate of quadratic variation.
Atmospheric Concentrations and Inventory of Krypton-85 in 1973

Measurements of the concentrations of 85Kr in the atmosphere were made in 1973 between 1.5 and 20 kilometers. The global inventory of 85Kr for 1973 calculated from these data is 53 megacuries. The ...