cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
3 A review of the magnitude of financial relationships with industry and disclosure practices among clinical practice guideline authors

Objectives Financial conflicts of interest (FCOI) with the pharmaceutical industry are associated with a sizeable, unidirectional, reproducible effect in favor of ‘positive’ research findings, per a recent Cochrane systematic review. In the context of clinical practice guidelines (CPG) — consensus documents that singularly guide most aspects of patient care — FCOI may result in biased treatment recommendations. Here, to derive a summary effect of the the magnitude of financial relationships with industry among CPG authors, and the accuracy of relationship disclosure, we synthesize both published and unpublished investigations. Method Our protocol is publicly available (https://osf.io/MXF4B/). Using a combination of a PubMed search and expert knowledge of available studies, we gathered all published investigations of CPG author financial relationships with industry. Included studies must have used the OpenPayments database to either: 1) quantify the magnitude of financial relationship or 2) assessed the accuracy of disclosure statements among CPG authors. Raw payments data were solicited from all previous studies and converted to money received per author per 1 year. We combined raw payment data to derive summary measures of central tendency (e.g., medians with interquartile ranges (IQR)) for all four categories of OpenPayments data: General (e.g., personal fees such as speaking or honoraria), Research (e.g., direct costs), Associated research (e.g., grants), and Ownership (e.g., stock). We use Stata 15.1 and the command metaprop to conduct a fixed-effect meta-analysis of the proportion of disclosure statements that were accurate across all eligible studies. Results All data (including area of medicine) and figures are available via OSF (https://osf.io/MXF4B/). A total of 10 studies (4 published, 6 under journal review by our team) with raw payments data comprising 494 CPG authors were retrieved for our analysis of the magnitude of financial relationships. Across all 494 CPG authors, the median total money received from industry per year was $14,286 (IQR $105,964). Authors who received money in each category received (median, IQR): General payments $4,141 (IQR $20,641); Research $3,155 (IQR $5,396); Associated Research $66,541 (IQR $253,552); Ownership $7,199 (IQR $121,417). A total of 9 studies investigated the accuracy of CPG author disclosure using OpenPayments database. The pooled accuracy of disclosure was 18% (95%CI 16% - 20%). One included study represented 62% of the weight in the meta-analysis. In a sensitivity analysis removing this study, the pooled accuracy of disclosure was 30% (95%CI 27% - 34%). Conclusions The results of this novel synthesis demonstrate that authors of medical CPGs are heavily conflicted and are likely not representative of most physicians. To curb the effects of FCOI on CPGs, international policy collaborations are necessary to 1) track payments to non-US based physician-authors; 2) improve disclosure of existing FCOIs; 3) encourage divestiture and prevention of future FCOIs.
Advances in the treatment of multiple sclerosis in children

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is one of the most important autoimmune diseases characterized mainly by white matter damage in the central nervous system.A total of 2.2% to 4.4% of MS population are children and adolescence, which has attracted increasing attention.About 80% of the pediatric cases and nearly all adolescent onset patients present with attacks typical to adult MS.Approximately 97% to 99% of the affected children suffer relapsing-remitting MS, which is higher than that of the adults.MS in children is associated with more frequent and severe relapses.The treatment of MS in children is similar with that in adults, but with their own characteristics.The review focuses on the progress in the treatment of MS in children. Key words: Multiple sclerosis; Treatment; Children
The use of LiDAR versus unmanned aerial systems (UAS) to assess rooftop solar energy potential

Abstract Remotely sensed data provide many opportunities for enhancing our understanding of the built and natural environment. Representations of the urban landscape from light detection and ranging (LiDAR) sensors and digital orthophotography from unmanned aerial systems (UAS) are quickly becoming essential for examining and maintaining infrastructure systems, estimating risk from extreme events, and improving urban sustainability. This includes community efforts toward energy resilience and the development of alternative energy systems, such as solar and wind. While LiDAR provides the means to model key characteristics of the urban landscape for solar energy planning, including slope, aspect and elevation, issues of spatial uncertainty and error persist in LiDAR data and have the potential to reduce the fidelity of solar energy assessments. In this paper, we use extremely high-resolution UAS data to improve solar energy audits and mitigate uncertainties associated with LiDAR data. The results suggest improvements in aggregate irradiation estimates by as much as 36 % when using digital orthophotos from a UAS when compared to LiDAR. This paper concludes with a detailed discussion of potential strategies for improving solar energy estimates for both researchers and practitioners.
Adaptable antigen matrix platforms for peptide vaccination strategies and T cell-mediated anti-tumor immunity.

Injection of antigenic peptides has been widely used as a vaccine strategy to boost T cell immunity. However, the poor immunogenicity of single peptides can potentially be strengthened through modification of the tertiary structure and the selection of the accompanying adjuvant. Here, we generated antigenic peptides into non-linear trimers by solid phase peptide synthesis, thereby enhancing antigen presentation by dendritic cells to CD8+ T cells in vitro and in vivo. CD8+ T cells from mice vaccinated with trimers showed an KLRG1+ effector phenotype and were able to recognize and kill antigen-expressing tumor cells ex vivo. Importantly, trimers outperformed synthetic long peptide in terms of T cell response even when equal number of epitopes were used for immunization. To improve the synthesis of trimers containing difficult peptide sequences, we developed a novel small molecule that functions as conjugation platform for synthetic long peptides. This platform, termed Antigen MAtriX (AMAX) improved yield, purity and solubility of trimers over conventional solid phase synthesis strategies. AMAX outperformed synthetic long peptides in terms of both CD8+ and CD4+ T cell responses and allowed functionalization with DC-SIGN-binding carbohydrates for in vivo dendritic cell targeting strategies, boosting T cell responses even further. Moreover, we show that agonistic CD40 antibody combined with MF59 (AddaVax) emulsion synergistically improves the antigen-specific T cell response of the AMAX in vivo. Also, tumor-associated antigens and neo-antigens could be incorporated in AMAX for tumor-specific CD8+ T cell responses. Importantly, immunization with a mix of neoantigen AMAX could reduce tumor growth in a pre-clinical syngeneic mouse model. Hence, we provide pre-clinical support for the induction of effector CD8+ T cells through the adaptable AMAX platform as easy implementable peptidic vaccination strategy against any antigen of choice, including neoantigens for anti-tumor immunity.
Distances and Cosmology from Galaxy Cluster Cosmic Microwave Background Data

The measurement of the angular diameter distance to galaxy clusters, through combined Sunyaev-Zel'dovich (SZ) effect data with X-ray emission observations, is now a well-known probe of cosmology. Using a combination of SZ data and a map of the lensed cosmic microwave background (CMB) anisotropies by the galaxy cluster potential, we propose an alternative geometric technique to measure distance information primarily through cluster-related multifrequency CMB measurements. We discuss the necessary requirements to implement this measurement, potential errors including systematic biases, and the extent to which cosmological parameters can be extracted. While individual cluster distances are not likely to be precise, with upcoming subarcminute-resolution wide-area CMB observations, useful information on cosmology, such as on the dark energy equation of state, can be obtained from a large sample of galaxy clusters. Alternatively, the proposed study provides a much needed method to calibrate and to understand evolutionary effects and systematics internally within cluster catalogs from wide-field blind SZ surveys.
Did the 2011 Change to NFL Rookie Compensation Alter How Sunk Costs Affect Utilization

The 2011 NFL collective bargaining agreement introduced significant changes to rookie compensation, including a rookie wage scale. We test if the new rules changed how sunk costs affect utilization...
Safety and efficacy of an implantable device for management of gastroesophageal reflux in lung transplant recipients.

Background Magnetic sphincter augmentation (MSA) is a promising minimally invasive surgical technique for management of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD); however, device implantation after transplantation has not been studied and may be concerning in these immunosuppressed patients. We explored the safety of the LINX Reflux Management System (MSA device) for management of GERD following lung transplantation (LTx). Methods Lung transplant recipients who underwent LINX implantation at our institution between 2017 and 2019 were followed prospectively in the Reflux Following Lung Transplantation and Associated Treatment Registry. Ambulatory pH testing and acid-suppressing medication use were compared before and after LINX implantation. One-year outcomes and change in pulmonary function were compared between matched LINX and fundoplication groups. Results Of 17 patients who underwent post-lung transplant LINX implantation, 8 (47.1%) agreed to undergo post-LINX pH testing. Three/eight (37.5%) patients achieved normal esophageal acid exposure time; 14 (82.4%) remained on acid-suppressing medication at one-year under the direction of their transplant teams. One-year patient survival and change in pulmonary function were similar between groups. LINX patients experienced more early side effects. Conclusions Use of the LINX MSA device in a cohort of lung transplant recipients at our institution was associated with similar short-term safety compared to traditional fundoplication, however assessment of efficacy was limited. Further investigation is needed to characterize the long-term efficacy of LINX implantation after LTx.
The EMIT mission information yield for mineral dust radiative forcing

Abstract The net direct radiative effect of mineral dust is a large uncertainty in global radiative forcing. To address this challenge, NASA's Earth Mineral dust source InvesTigation (EMIT) will map the surface mineralogy of Earth's desert dust source regions, constraining the composition of mineral dust aerosol for use in Earth system models (ESMs). This mission foreshadows multiple future global spectroscopic investigations for which coupling with ESMs will play a critical role. Planning such experiments requires a methodology for assessing the impact of uncertain remote observations on ESM accuracy. We design and implement an end-to-end simulation of the EMIT mission, leveraging Bayesian statistical methods and Monte Carlo sampling to analyze uncertainties in the retrieval and processing of EMIT data products. Special focus is placed on those uncertainties caused by atmospheric water vapor and aerosol loading conditions likely to be encountered by EMIT. We apply these results to a single-column configuration of the Community Earth System Model (CESM), revealing the potential impact of EMIT observations on radiative forcing estimates. We show that EMIT data stand to significantly reduce uncertainty in estimates of the dust direct radiative forcing attributable to uncertainties in surface mineralogies that are input to ESMs, and that the information gain for radiative forcing comes predominantly from better constraining iron oxides, which dominate the shortwave radiative effects of aerosol dust.
Putting Together Pieces of the Lateral Septum: Multifaceted Functions and Its Neural Pathways.

The lateral septum (LS) is implicated as a hub that regulates a variety of affects, such as reward, feeding, anxiety, fear, sociability, and memory. However, it remains unclear how the LS, previously treated as a structure of homogeneity, exhibits such multifaceted functions. Emerging evidence suggests that different functions of the LS are mediated largely by its diverse input and output connections. It has also become clear that the LS is a heterogeneous region, where its dorsal and ventral poles play dissociable and often opposing roles. This functional heterogeneity can often be explained by distinct dorsal and ventral hippocampal inputs along the LS dorsoventral axis, as well as antagonizing connections between LS subregions. Similarly, outputs from LS subregions to respective downstream targets, such as hypothalamic, preoptic, and tegmental areas, also account for this functional heterogeneity. In this review, we provide an updated perspective on LS subregion classification, connectivity, and functions. We also identify key questions that have yet to be addressed in the field. Significance Statement The lateral septum (LS) is a major relay that connects the hippocampus with various subcortical regions; however, how the LS communicates with these regions and processes relevant information has not been well studied. The past several years has brought a number of publications using multidisciplinary approaches, including optogenetics, electrophysiology, and calcium imaging, to elucidate the neural circuitry and functions of the LS. Here, we summarize and integrate current knowledge about the LS circuitry to inspire further research. We propose that the multifaceted functions of the LS are mainly mediated by its diverse input and output connections, and that LS subregions often antagonize each other in competition for controlling behavioral outputs.
TLym 1, a stage-specific transforming gene which shares homology to MHCI genes and encodes a secreted protein.

We previously reported the identification of five different genes activated in human and mouse leukemias and lymphomas [1]. Three of these genes were found to be activated in a stage-specific manner in B cell lineage neoplasms. The gene activated in multiple human intermediate B stage tumors, BLym 1 which shares substantial homology with chicken BLym 1 [2] was isolated from human Burkitt’s lymphomas. This gene encodes a small protein of about 8 kilodaltons, the bulk of which is present in the nucleus of transformed cells (Nieman and Cooper, personal communication).
MODAL SPLIT MODEL CONSIDERING CARPOOL MODE

Modal split remains a primary concern of transportation planners as the state-of-the-art has developed from diversion curves to behavioral models. The approach taken here is to formulate the mode-choice decision for the work trip as a linear combination of real and perceived characteristics of the modes considered. The logit formulation is used with three modes being considered,i.e., two automobile modes (drive-alone and carpool) and a public transit mode (bus). The final model provides insight to what factors are important in travel decisions among these three modes and the importance of examining traveler’s perceptions of the differences among modes relative to actual measureable differences.
The functional relationship between polymerization and catalytic activity of beef liver glutamate dehydrogenase. I. Theory.

In our initial report on this subject (Cohen et al. , 1975) we presented evidence that the reversible polymerization of beef liver glutamate dehydrogenase may play an important role in the allosteric control of this enzyme. At that time we proposed a simple quantitative model for analyzing the detailed relationship between the distribution of enzyme polymers and the catalytic activity of the enzyme solution. The model was tested by means of quasi-elastic light-scattering spectroscopic determinations of polymer distribution and biochemical determinations of enzyme activity. In this present paper we complete the mathematical development of the original model. In addition, subsequent more extensive experimental investigations have led us to modify the original model to obtain even closer aggreement between theory and experiment. Hence we present, in addition to the original model, two alternative versions of the model. The original model presumed that the enzyme polymers must be homogeneous, in that all of the constituents of a given polymer had to be in the same conformational state. The two alternative models deal explicitly with the possibility of forming polymers composed of elements in different conformational states. In the final section of this paper we develop the theoretical framework necessary to relate the distribution of polymers predicted by any of the three models with the distribution of diffusion constants measured by quasi-elastic light-scattering spectroscopy. In the following paper (Cohen et al. , 1976) we compare the predictions of each of the three models with a detailed set of experimental investigations.
Prognostic significance of the labor pattern in multiparas.

Abstract A group of 163 multiparas with secondary arrest of dilatation in the active phase, arrest of descent in the second stage, or prolonged deceleration phase was studied. They were found to have distinctive characteristics with respect to age, obstetric history, fetopelvic relationships, and fetal size and position. More than 40 per cent required operative delivery. Aggressive obstetric practices, many potentially or actually traumatic, were encountered. Fetal morbidity and mortality were significantly high. The value of the labor pattern as a prognostic index was duly noted.
Higher Education and the Market

Neoclassical economists make the case for profit seeking firms in the private sector because they supply goods and services efficiently, meeting consumer demand at the least possible price and the highest quality. The government also supplies some goods and services directly, and also has made provisions for non-profit firms to do so, recognizing that in some cases for-profit firms will not supply them efficiently, because of a variety of market failures. In the United States, higher education has been one of those services that has traditionally been supplied to a large extent by non-profits and the government sector, and not by the for-profit sector. Over the last few decades, that has been changing radically, with much of the growth in enrollments in higher education taking place in the for-profit sector. Understanding the evolving roles of for-profits, non-profits and the public sector in the provision of higher education over the past several decades is important because they can have public policy implications. The government’s response to market failure, in particular, has welfare implications for both individuals and society.
A new design for a SPECT small-animal imager

We demonstrate, using computer models, the feasibility of a new SPECT system for imaging small animals such as mice. This system consists of four modular scintillation cameras, four multiple-pinhole apertures, electronics, and tomographic reconstruction software. All of these constituents have been designed in our laboratory. The cameras are 120 mm/spl times/120 mm with a resolution of approximately 2 mm, the apertures can have either single or multiple pinholes, and reconstruction is performed using the OS-EM algorithm. One major advantage of this system is the design flexibility it offers, as the cameras are easy to move and the apertures are simple to modify. We explored a number of possible configurations. One promising configuration had the four camera faces forming four sides of a cube with multiple-pinhole apertures employed to focus the incoming high-energy photons. This system is rotated three times, so that data are collected from a total of sixteen camera angles. It is shown that this hybrid system has some superior properties to single-aperture-type systems. We conclude that this proposed system offers advantages over current imaging systems in terms of flexibility, simplicity, and performance.
Parental bereavement and the loss of purpose in life as a function of interdependent self-construal.

Children are often inextricably linked to their parents’ hopes and dreams. As such, the loss of a child often represents one of the most traumatic experiences possible. The current research explores how this specific loss relates to one’s sense of purpose in life. We further explore whether the loss of a child is particularly detrimental to one’s sense of purpose for highly interdependent parents. Analyses of parents from the Midlife in the United States data set revealed, as expected, that the loss of child negatively predicts one’s sense of purpose in life, and that this effect is most pronounced for parents high in interdependent self-construal. Potential mechanisms and implications of the present findings are discussed.
A hybrid connectionist, symbolic learning system

This paper describes the learning part of a system which has been developed to provide expert systems capability augmented with learning. The learning scheme is a hybrid connectionist, symbolic one. A network representation is used. Learning may be done incrementally and requires only one pass through the data set to be learned. Attribute, value pairs are supported as a variable implementation. Variables are represented by groups of connected cells in the network. The learning algorithm is described and an example given. Current results are discussed, which include learning the well-known Iris data set. The results show that the system has promise.
Reaffirmation of God's anointed prophet: The use of chiasm in Martin Luther King's “Mountaintop” speech

This textual analysis of Martin Luther King's “Mountaintop” speech shows how form and message work together to create meaning. The chiastic form reveals a logical and well planned narrative style. King's purpose was to revitalize his movement at a time of crisis through the reaffirmation of his leadership. Because he did not so much want the audience to see him just as the persona of Moses leading it on a contemporary Exodus, King subsumed the persona of Moses into the wider persona of Jesus, anointed prophet, as presented in the Gospel of Luke. This authoritative persona gave him legitimacy with his audience at a time when his leadership was being questioned.
Computer science can use more science

Software developers should use empirical methods to analyze their designs to predict how working systems will behave.
The next revolution: vehicle user interfaces

Imagine having to think about safety, usability, and aesthetics issues for the user interface of a two-ton mobile device hurtling through space at 100 km/hr. Now you get the picture.
Univariate selection: The effects of size of correlation, degree of skew, and degree of restriction

Pearson's formula for univariate selection was derived with the assumption of normality of variates before and after selection. This study examined the influence of skew upon estimates from Pearson's formula under certain conditions. It was found that even with essentially symmetric distributions, a large proportion of the data is necessary to obtain reasonably precise estimates of low correlations. With increasing skew, estimates become increasingly erroneous, the direction of the error depending upon which tail of the distribution is the basis of the estimates. Difficulties in applying correction for univariate selection in several studies of the predictability of college-grades for Negroes from scores on standard aptitude tests are discussed.
Validity of police-reported alcohol involvement in fatal motor carrier crashes in the United States between 1982 and 2005.

Objective To examine the validity of police-reported alcohol data for drivers involved in fatal motor carrier crashes.
Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Immunoglobulins Increase Intracellular Calcium in a Motoneuron Cell Line

Abstract A hybrid motoneuron cell line (VSC4.1) was used as a model system to study the relationship between alterations in intracellular calcium and subsequent cell death induced by immunoglobulin fractions purified from sera of patients with ALS. Using fluo-3 fluorescence imaging, immunoglobulins from 8 of 10 patients with ALS were found to induce transient increases in intracellular calcium ([Ca2+]i) in differentiated VSC4.1 cells. These transient [Ca2+]iincreases required extracellular calcium entry through voltage-gated calcium channels sensitive to synthetic FTX and to high concentrations (>1 μM) of ω-agatoxin IVa. The incidence of transient [Ca2+]iincreases induced by ALS immunoglobulins correlated with the extent of cytotoxicity induced by the same ALS immunoglobulins in parallel cultures of VSC4.1 cells. Furthermore, manipulations which blocked transient [Ca2+]iincreases (addition of synthetic FTX or ω-agatoxin IVa) also inhibited the cytotoxic effects of ALS immunoglobulins. No transient calcium increases were observed in VSC4.1 cells following addition of immunoglobulins from 7 neurologic disease control patients. However, transient [Ca2+]iincreases were observed following addition of immunoglobulins from 4 of 5 patients with myasthenia gravis (MG). The [Ca2+]ichanges induced by MG immunoglobulins were not blocked by s-FTX, suggesting that they result from a different mechanism than those induced by ALS immunoglobulins. These results suggest that immunoglobulins from patients with ALS can induce transient increases in intracellular calcium in a motoneuron cell line, which may represent early events in the cascade of processes leading to injury and death of susceptible cells.
A neutrophil elastase inhibitor, sivelestat, improved respiratory and cardiac function in pediatric cardiovascular surgery with cardiopulmonary bypass

Several reports indicate that a neutrophil elastase inhibitor, sivelestat, may have prophylactic efficacy against a systemic inflammatory response after cardiovascular surgery with cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB). We evaluated the clinical pulmonary and cardiac effects of sivelestat. We performed a retrospective study of 25 pediatric patients who underwent elective cardiovascular surgery with CPB for ventricular septal defect with pulmonary hypertension. Ten patients received 0.2 mg·kg−1·h−1 sivelestat; the other is patients were the control group. There were no significant differences in demographic characteristics between the two groups. The $$ P_{a_{O_2 } } $$ /fractional inspired oxygen ( $$ F_{I_{O_2 } } $$ ; P/F) ratio, the respiratory index (RI), and the fractional area change (FAC) of the left ventricle (LV) in the postoperative course were measured. The P/F ratio was higher in the sivelestat group compared with the control group and there were significant differences between the two groups immediately after weaning form CPB, and at 12 h after weaning from CPB (P < 0.05). The RI was lower in the sivelestat group compared with the control group and there were significant differences between the two groups at immediately after weaning from CPB, and at 6 h and 12 h after CPB (P < 0.05). The FAC of the LV was significantly better in the sivelestat group and there was a significant difference between the two groups on postoperative day (POD) 3 (P < 0.05). We have shown that pediatric patients who underwent cardiovascular surgery with CPB who received sivelestat had a higher P/F ratio, a lower RI, and better FAC of the LV in the postoperative course.
A 40 Gb/s Asynchronous Optical Packet Buffer Based on an SOA Gate Matrix for Contention Resolution

We demonstrate a 40 Gb/s optical packet buffer with asynchronous and autonomous control for use in contention resolution. Layer-2 (packet recovery) measurements are presented with less than 1 dB power penalty up to 10 circulations.
Barbiturate resuscitation from focal cerebral ischemia — A review

Abstract Barbiturate therapy has been shown to be of benefit in certain instances for focal cerebral ischemia. This therapy can, however, result in a deleterious outcome. Early institution in combination with revascularization appears to be important for successful barbiturate application. Whether combinations of agents designed to act on different mechanisms in the pathophysiology of cerebral ischemia can prolong the ‘therapeutic window’ of barbiturate application is an area for future investigation.
On PAC learning using Winnow, Perceptron, and a Perceptron-like algorithm

In this paper we analyze the PAC learning abilities of several simple iterative algorithms for learning linear threshold functions, obtaining both positive and negative results. We show that Littlestone’s Winnow algorithm is not an efficient PAC learning algorithm for the class of positive linear threshold functions. We also prove that the Perceptron algorithm cannot efficiently learn the unrestricted class of linear threshold functions even under the uniform distribution on boolean examples. However, we show that the Perceptron algorithm can efficiently PAC learn the class of nested functions (a concept class known to be hard for Perceptron under arbitrary distributions) under the uniform distribution on boolean examples. Finally, we give a very simple Perceptron-like algorithm for learning origin-centered halfspaces under the uniform distribution on the unit sphere in Unlike the Perceptron algorithm, which cannot learn in the presence of classification noise, the new algorithm can learn in the presence of monotonic noise (a generalization of classification noise). The new algorithm is significantly faster than previous algorithms in both the classification and monotonic noise settings.
Scaling up shape memory alloy actuators using a recruitment control architecture

This paper presents new experimental results from a human-size robotic forearm, created to demonstrate the effectiveness of recruitment-based control architectures for large actuators made from shape memory alloys (SMA) and other active materials. The robot arm is actuated antagonistically by two actuators made up of 60 small SMA springs arranged in parallel, which are activated in an on/off fashion using Joule heating. The force and stiffness of each actuator is controlled by recruiting a desired number of springs to contract. The joint position is then controlled using equilibrium point servo control. The results presented in this paper show that the combination of equilibrium point control of the arm joint and recruitment-based control of each actuator's stiffness solve some of the major problems of scalability and response speed often associated with active material actuators.
Molecular and Electrophysiological Characterization of a Novel Cation Channel of Trypanosoma cruzi

We report the identification, functional expression, purification, reconstitution and electrophysiological characterization of a novel cation channel (TcCat) from Trypanosoma cruzi, the etiologic agent of Chagas disease. This channel is potassium permeable and shows inward rectification in the presence of magnesium. Western blot analyses with specific antibodies indicated that the protein is expressed in the three main life cycle stages of the parasite. Surprisingly, the parasites have the unprecedented ability to rapidly change the localization of the channel when they are exposed to different environmental stresses. TcCat rapidly translocates to the tip of the flagellum when trypomastigotes are submitted to acidic pH, to the plasma membrane when epimastigotes are submitted to hyperosmotic stress, and to the cell surface when amastigotes are released to the extracellular medium. Pharmacological block of TcCat activity also resulted in alterations in the trypomastigotes ability to respond to hyperosmotic stress. We also demonstrate the feasibility of purifying and reconstituting a functional ion channel from T. cruzi after recombinant expression in bacteria. The peculiar characteristics of TcCat could be important for the development of specific inhibitors with therapeutic potential against trypanosomes.
A Digitally Controlled Stimulator for Neurophysiological Applications

A stimulator circuit is presented which is capable of generating pulse train waveforms suitable for neurophysiological experiments are available, as well as special test conditions such as dishabituation. Digital and linear integrated circuits are used to provide precise control over the stimulus parameters.
Fluorescence polarization studies of fluorescein isothiocyanate conjugates of bovine lens crystallins

Bovine lens alpha-, beta H- and gamma-crystallin were labeled with the amine-specific fluorescent probe, fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC) and studied with steady-state polarization measurements. Rotational relaxation times (rho) were estimated for various crystallins and were compared with calculated values. The observed rho value is considerably faster for alpha- and beta H-crystallin conjugate than the calculated value, indicating existence of a segmental motion of the probe on these two crystallins. The segmental flexibility may result from a less tightly folded structure in these crystallins. alpha-Crystallin isolated from the cow lens nucleus shows a smaller rho value than the young cortical alpha-crystallin. The protein partial unfolding process appears to be age-related, and a possible consequence is that crystallin becomes more susceptible to chemical modifications.
Utility and outcomes of fine-needle aspiration biopsy in Hodgkin's disease.

We present our 10-year experience, including clinical utilization and outcomes, with fine-needle aspiration biopsy (FNAB) in Hodgkin's disease (HD). Eighty-six cases from 68 patients with HD that were evaluated by FNAB were identified over a 10-year period. Medical records of these 68 patients were reviewed. Thirty-seven patients with primary HD underwent 41 aspirates. A diagnosis of HD was yielded in 12 and suggested in 13 cases (sensitivity 86.2%, false-positive 0%). Nine were diagnosed as atypical lymphoid cells, four as hyperplasia/other, and three as unsatisfactory. With these diagnoses, six patients began treatment without tissue exam. Thirty-five patients with suspected recurrent HD underwent 45 FNABs. Recurrent HD was confirmed in 15 and suggested in 12 aspirates (sensitivity 81.3%, false-suspicious 14.3%). With these diagnoses, 22 patients began treatment for recurrence without tissue exam. FNAB is useful both for establishing a primary diagnosis and confirming recurrence in HD and thus has a high utilization at our institution. In many instances, patients can begin therapy, negating the need for formal tissue exam.
EXPLAINING ETHNIC POLITICAL PARTICIPATION

Most concepts of ethnicity are unsuitable for political analysis because they ignore either subjective or objective aspects, and because they ignore the fluid and situational nature of ethnicity. The approach flowing from the concept proposed here permits the observer to examine empirical variations that tend to be treated as rigid assumptions by modernization analysts on the one hand and class analysts on the other. The concept is applied to a study of the Nubians of Uganda because of the intermixture of class and ethnic features involved in their fall from status at the beginning of the colonial period and their subsequent sudden rise following the 1071 coup d'etat of Idi Amin. The fairly recent creation of the Nubians as an ethnic category and the relative ease with which others can become members illustrate other features of the proposed concept of ethnicity. Finally, this concept is used to examine and criticize overly restrictive notions of ethnicity found in theories based upon both cultural pluralism and consociationalism.
Latino households and schooling: economic and sociocultural factors affecting students’ learning and academic performance

A recent report on the condition of education for Latinos in the US presents a grim picture. For example, the high school dropout rate for Latino students is 28%. This figure is twice as high as th...
Experimental Investigation of the Effects of Flame Phenomenology on the Wall Temperature Distribution of Mesoscale Nonadiabatic Ducts

Infrared thermography was used in order to examine the effects of flame phenomenology in mesoscale ducts on the temperature profile of the duct walls. Rich methane-oxygen mixtures of were burned in straight mesoscale ducts of a circular cross-section. Equivalence ratio was varied to produce different flame behaviors, including externally stabilized flames at the tube exit, stationary flame fronts within the tube, and oscillating flame fronts that propagated within the tube. Infrared thermometry was used in order to measure the axial temperature distribution of the duct walls. The temperature distributions were examined as a function of flame phenomenology, and the effectiveness of each behavior in heating the duct and providing a uniform temperature distribution were evaluated. Quartz and steel tubes were used in order to probe the impact of the duct thermal conductivity on the temperature profile, and to investigate why stable oscillating flames can only be established in ducts made of materials with low...
Parental attitudes toward child nutrition and weight have a limited relationship with child's weight status

Childhood overweight is an increasing health concern; better understanding of parental attitudes related to child nutrition is needed to moderate the trend. This study investigated parental attitudes related to childhood overweight and differences between families with children at risk for overweight or overweight (age- and sex-specific body mass index at or above the 85th percentile) and families with children not at risk for overweight. Surveys were administered to parents of second graders, and anthropometric measurements were collected on second graders (N = 169 matched surveys and measurements). Surveys assessed parental concern for overweight, parental control over child feeding, attitudes toward potential causes of overweight, and support for potential mediating efforts. Although 41.4% of children were classified as at risk for overweight, only 12.4% of parents considered their children to be overweight. Parents of children at risk for overweight or overweight expressed similar levels of concern about health/developmental issues, control over child feeding, and attitudes toward contributors to overweight and moderators of overweight. It was found that parents of children at risk for overweight or overweight were more likely to attribute overweight to dietary factors, whereas parents of children not at risk for overweight were more likely to attribute overweight to sedentary activity. Efforts should be made to increase awareness about the identification of and causes of overweight and to act upon parent-supported mediators of overweight in the school setting and environment.
Infant color vision: A search for short-wavelength-sensitive mechanisms by means of chromatic adaptation

Abstract Incremental thresholds for short- and middle-wavelength test spots, projected upon blue and yellow backgrounds, were determined for 2 mth old infants. Three out of four infants tested showed a change in relative sensitivity to 460 and 560 nm test spots with a change in the wavelength composition of the backgrounds, indicating the existence of at least two separately adaptable chromatic mechanisms. When infant spectral sensitivity under yellow adaptation was examined in more detail, however, it did not agree with that of adults tested under comparable conditions. In adults, the yellow background revealed a short-wavelength mechanism (λmax = 440 nm) in isolation, but did not do so in most 2 and 3 mth old infants. The infants who were least sensitive to short wavelengths on an absolute scale also deviated most from adult-like spectral sensitivity. We tentatively interpret this difference between adults and infants as an immaturity of the infant's short-wavelength-sensitive mechanism.
Digging Foundations for the “Royal Road”

H.N. Russell and Z. Kopal both liked the metaphor of the “Royal Road” to scientific discovery; I discuss which one used it first. I present some personal reminiscences of Professor Kopal and then consider his attitude to the determination of the elements of eclipsing binaries from their observed light changes, comparing it with that of Russell. This leads me to discuss Kopal’s work on the evolution of binary stars and his opposition to the prevailing belief in the importance of mass transfer between the components. Kopal’s attitudes on these matters puzzle me, but I suggest that at least part of his motivation was to act as a critic of “normal science” within the paradigm that most of us have accepted.
Abductor avulsion after primary total hip arthroplasty. Results of repair

The results of reoperation and repair of abductor musculature avulsion that occurred as a complication of a primary total hip arthroplasty performed through an anterolateral approach were reviewed in nine patients 2 to 13.5 years (mean, 4.8) after repair. Limp was markedly decreased in five of nine patients, and need for ambulatory aids also was reduced in five of the nine. Improvement continued for 1 to 3 years after the repair. Objectively, three of the four patients (75%) without significant preoperative pain had a good or excellent result, whereas only one of five patients (20%) with significant preoperative pain had a good or excellent result. In all three cases where hip instability was a presenting symptom, it was successfully treated. Four patients felt they were much better, three felt somewhat better, and two felt they gained no improvement by repair. This information suggests that the best indications for repair are symptoms of marked abductor weakness or hip instability; significant preoperative pain is less likely to be decreased.
Study of primary amines for nucleophilic cleavage of cyanylated cystinyl proteins in disulfide mass mapping methodology

In a study of primary (methyl to butyl) amines as nucleophiles for cyano-induced cleavage of cysteinyl proteins, methylamine was found to be superior to ammonia for cyanylation (CN)-based disulfide mass mapping methodology. Reaction conditions such as nucleophile concentration, temperature, and reaction time were systematically studied using ribonuclease A as a model protein. The CN-induced cleavage products were monitored using reverse-phase chromatography and matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization mass spectrometry. Results showed that low temperature, short reaction time, and high nucleophile concentration optimize the cleavage reaction and minimize side reactions. These conditions shorten the analysis time and substantially improve the yield of cleavage products. Further, the concurrent use of homologous nucleophiles (e.g., ammonia and methylamine) facilitates recognition and identification of cleavage products.
MAGNETIC RESONANCE IMAGING OF THE DYSPLASTIC RENAL MOIETY AND ECTOPIC URETER

Purpose: We determined the role of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in symptomatic children with clinically suspected and radiologically occult dysplastic renal moieties and ectopic ureters.Materials and Methods: We reviewed clinical, imaging, cystoscopic, surgical and histological findings in 6 symptomatic children 1 to 15 years old with dysplastic renal moieties.Results: After multiple conventional imaging studies failed to delineate urinary tract anatomy MRI provided detailed multiplanar images of dysplastic renal moieties that were diagnostic and predictive of subsequent intraoperative findings. Dysplastic upper pole moieties identified in 4 children were associated with ectopic ureters inserting into the vagina, prostatic urethra, bladder neck and bladder neck ureterocele in each. A solitary kidney with contralateral blind-ending ectopic ureters inserted into the bladder base in 2 cases. Pelvic cystic structures visualized by ultrasound in 3 patients were tortuous distal ureters on MRI. MRI specifica...
Prothrombin Complex Concentrates: Use in Treatment of Hemophiliacs With Factor VIII Inhibitors

• The development of factor VIII inhibitors has been a major problem in the management of hemophiliacs. The use of prothrombin complex concentrates (PCC) has been advocated as a method of overcoming this problem. We utilized PCC in the treatment of nine hemophiliac patients who had significant levels of inhibitor. Acute bleeding episodes were successfully treated in all nine patients. Single infusions of PCC were usually adequate for control of joint and soft tissue bleeding episodes, while multiple infusions were usually required for more serious hemorrhages. In addition, programs of repeated infusions were used to heal chronically inflamed joints in three patients. The only side effect of treatment was one episode of asymptomatic elevation of liver function values that resolved spontaneously. There were no thrombotic events associated with the PCC infusions. Therapy with PCC is recommended for the management of hemophiliacs with factor VIII inhibitors. ( Am J Dis Child 132:291-293, 1978)
A population-based study of acute stroke and TIA diagnosis

Background: Acute stroke therapy is heavily dependent on the diagnostic acumen of the physician in the emergency department (ED). Objective: To determine this diagnostic accuracy in a population-based multiethnic stroke study. Methods: The Brain Attack Surveillance in Corpus Christi (BASIC) Project prospectively ascertained all acute stroke or TIA cases in an urban Texas county of 313,645 residents without an academic medical center. Cases were validated by board-certified neurologists using source documentation. Case validation was used as the gold standard to compare the diagnosis given by the ED physician. Results: From January 2000 to August 2002, a total of 13,015 patients were screened. Of these, 1,800 were validated as stroke/TIA. Overall sensitivity of the emergency physician for the BASIC-validated diagnosis was 92%, and positive predictive value was 89%. Of the cases that the emergency physician thought were stroke, 11% were validated as no stroke. In multivariable modeling, motor symptoms was an independent predictor of protection from false-negative ED diagnosis of stroke/TIA (odds ratio [OR] = 0.61; 95% CI 0.41 to 0.89). Protection from false-positive stroke/TIA diagnosis was predicted by sensory symptoms (OR = 0.43; 95% CI 0.28 to 0.66), motor symptoms (OR = 0.44; 95% CI 0.32 to 0.62), and severe neurologic deficit (OR = 0.33; 95% CI 0.14 to 0.78). History of stroke/TIA predicted false-positive stroke diagnosis (OR = 1.72; 95% CI 1.23 to 2.40). The majority of disagreements occurred in patients with generalized neurologic or acute medical, nonneurologic syndromes. Conclusions: Physicians practicing in the ED are sensitive for stroke/TIA diagnosis. The modest positive predictive value argues for a systems approach with neurology support so that proper decisions regarding acute stroke therapy can be made.