cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Overview of Specific Syndromes

Genes and memes have developed a symbiotic relationship in the brain. Imagination and fantasy are alternate realities which are created by memes and populated solely by memes. Abstraction is another purely memetic process that brings a memetic order to the universe. In the course of memetic evolution, memes developed that tended to take over brains and replicate at the expense of genes and their needs. When there is a harmonious relationship among the memes in the brain, and their overall function is in the service of the genetic needs of the organism, and when there is a harmonious relationship among the genes in the brain as a result of epigenesis, and they have a harmonious relationship with the goals and plans that the selfplexes are striving for, there is mental health. When there is conflict between the needs of the genes and the memes, or among the memes and genes, then there is distress of varying severity. When the distress reaches a certain threshold, an autonomous syndrome may ensue, which represents a final common pathway brain dysfunction. Exactly which symptom or syndrome occurs depends on specific gene × meme interaction and vulnerability determined through epigenesis and development of selfplex. On the basis of brain function/dysfunction, psychiatric conditions may be classified as follows:
Digital Workplace Management: Exploring Aspects Related to Culture, Innovation, and Leadership

The digitization of businesses is continuing to take place at a rapid pace as a result of key influences such as integrated technologies and digital transformation strategies. Such adoption is changing the way organizations conduct their business and it is crucial that this impact is fully understood in order to maximize its potential. This paper presents key elements of a digital workplace and how to build it. The paper also highlights a number of possible benefits and challenges related to digital workplaces including the workforce's productivity and innovation. Furthermore, the paper will examine crucial skills needed by business leaders when managing or leading digital workplaces. Finally, the paper will evaluate a number of key success factors for the effective management of digital workplaces. The paper will serve as a valuable source of information regarding how organizations best manage workforce culture related aspects when digital workplace settings are adopted.
Work, Family, and Community Ecologies and Their Influence on Work–Life Fit for Fathers of Children With Special Health Care Needs:

This study uses the theoretical model of life course fit to assess the interactions of work, family, and community resources in the context of work–life fit for fathers of children with special hea...
A novel patient derived orthotopic xenograft model of gastro-esophageal junction cancer: Key platform for translational discoveries.

64Background: Mouse models of gastroesophageal junction (GEJ) cancer strive to recapitulate the intratumoral heterogeneity and cellular crosstalk within patient tumors to improve clinical translati...
Abstract 289: Sirtuin-1 Inhibition by Peroxynitrite Contributes to Nicotine-induced Arterial Stiffness in Mice

Cigarette smoking is a key contributor to arterial stiffness, which is a major and independent risk factor for serious cardiovascular events. Sirtuin-1 (SIRT1), a nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide-...
Predicting with your head, not your heart: Forecasting errors and the impact of anticipated versus experienced elements of regret on well-being

Research suggests that when predicting our future emotions, affective forecasting errors are frequent (Wilson and Gilbert in Adv Exp Soc Psychol 35:345–411, 2003), influence motivation (Wilson and Gilbert in Curr Dir Psychol Sci 14:131–134, 2005), and drive decisions and behaviors (Dunn and Laham Affective forecasting: a user’s guide to emotional time travel, Psychology Press, London, 2006). Regret can fall prey to these same errors (Gilbert et al., in Psychol Sci 15:346–350, 2004). Recent research characterizes two distinct components of regret: an affective element and cognitive element associated with maladaptive and functional outcomes, respectively (Buchanan et al., in Judgment and Decision Making 11:275–286, 2006). We explored forecasting of these elements across two studies. In Study 1, we investigated how accurately individuals forecast each component of regret, and how this relates to well-being. Participants forecasted experiencing a greater amount of regret (including affective and cognitive components) than they actually experienced. Additionally, forecasted (compared to experienced) components of regret uniquely predicted well-being outcomes, suggesting that predicting more affective regret coincides with lower well-being. In Study 2, forecasting errors in overall regret were eliminated by asking participants to focus on cognitive elements of regret prior to forecasting.
Hippocampal subfield volumes in abstinent men and women with a history of alcoholism

Aims. Alcohol use disorder (AUD), also often referred to as alcoholism, has been associated with abnormalities in hippocampal volumes, but these relationships have not been fully explored with respect to gender or sub-regional volumes. Methods. Using Magnetic Resonance Imaging at 3 Tesla, we obtained brain images from 67 alcoholic (ALC) participants (31 women) and 63 nonalcoholic control (NC) participants (30 women). We used Freesurfer 6.0 to segment the hippocampus into 12 regions. These were imputed into mixed models to examine the relationships of brain volume with alcoholism group, gender, age, drinking history, and memory. Results. The ALC group had approximately 5% smaller CA1, hippocampal tail, and molecular layer regions than the NC group. Age was negatively associated with volumes for the ALC group in the hippocampal tail, subiculum, and presubiculum. The relationships for delayed and immediate memory with hippocampal tail volume differed for ALC and NC groups: Higher scores were associated with smaller volumes in the ALC group, but larger volumes in the NC group. Length of sobriety was associated with decreasing CA1 volume in women (0.02% per year) and increasing volume size in men (0.03% per year). Conclusions. These findings confirm and extend evidence that alcoholism, gender, and age differentially impact volumes of component parts of the hippocampus. The differential relationships of volume to age and memory could indicate a distinction in the impact of alcoholism on the function of the hippocampal tail. Further, the course of abstinence on CA1 volume differed for men and women.
Blood pressure variability and outcome after acute intracerebral hemorrhage

Intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) is life threatening neurologic event that results in significant rate of morbidity and mortality. Unfortunately, several randomized clinical trials aiming at limiting the hematoma expansion (HE) in the acute phase of ICH have not shown significant effects in improving the functional outcomes. Blood pressure variability (BPV) is common following ICH. High BPs have been associated with increased risk of bleeding and HE. Conversely, recurrent sudden decrease in BP promote perihematomal ischemia. However, it is still not clear weather BPV causes adverse prognosis following ICH or large ICHs cause fluctuations in BP. In the current review, we will discuss the mechanistic pathophysiology of BPV and the evidence regarding the role of BPV on the ICH outcomes.
Teaching leadership theory with television: Useful lessons from Game of Thrones

There has been a rise in scholarship on using prime-time television as an educational tool for teaching opportunities that link theory to practice in a Master of Public Administration (MPA) classro...
Clinical Psoriasiform Dermatitis Following Dupilumab Use for Autoeczematization Secondary to Chronic Stasis Dermatitis.

T helper 2 (Th2) and T helper 1 (Th1) mediated immune processes lie on a spectrum. Autoeczematization secondary to chronic stasis dermatitis may fall on the Th2 side of the spectrum due to skin stretch and chronic barrier dysfunction, supporting a primary Th2 response to self-antigen. In our patient, we posited that dupilumab would benefit autoeczematization secondary to chronic stasis dermatitis given its efficacy in atopic dermatitis, a Th2-mediated immune process. We report a case of clinical psoriasiform dermatitis, suggesting a shift toward a Th1-mediated immune process developing during dupilumab treatment for autoeczematization secondary to chronic stasis dermatitis.
What Do We Mean When We Talk about Artificial Intelligence?: (Part 2)

"...the step from not being able to do something at all to being able to do it a little bit is very much smaller than the next step - being able to do it well. In AI, this fallacious thinking seems to be all pervasive" -- Bar- Hillel.
THE SPILLOVER EFFECTS OF THE RE-IMPOSED UNITED STATES SANCTIONS ON IRAN ON MENA, THE PRC, RUSSIA, AND TURKEY

Iran has faced US sanctions in one form or another since its invasion of the US Embassy in Iran in 1979. The 2007-08 period marked the initiation of heightened international sanctions on Iran impos...
Management of the Axilla after Neoadjuvant Systemic Therapy

As the use of neoadjuvant systemic therapy (NAST) increases, the optimal management of the axilla has become increasingly complex. Consensus among professional organizations is that those patients with clinically negative axillary nodes who are being considered for NAST should undergo a sentinel lymph node (SLN) biopsy following NAST. If a positive SLN is subsequently identified, an axillary lymph node dissection (ALND) is the current standard of care. For patients with clinically node-positive disease, SLN biopsy is a reasonable option for those with a good response to NAST. Patients should undergo SLN mapping with a dual dye technique. Additionally, at least 2 lymph nodes should be removed, including the previously biopsied and marked lymph node with cancer. In this setting, the identification and false negative rates are acceptable. Patients found to have a negative SLN at this time may be spared the morbidity associated with ALND. Patients found to have persistently positive lymph nodes following NAST, either clinically or pathologically, should undergo a complete ALND.
Large chromosomal variants drive adaptation in sunflowers.

Analysis of genomic and phenotypic data in Helianthus species demonstrates that large chromosomal regions contribute to multiple traits associated with distinct ecotypes.
Biceps Tendinopathy: Causes and Solutions to This Problem

Tendinopathy of the long head of the biceps tendon is a common problem affecting a large patient population. It is generally characterized by anterior shoulder pain and is exacerbated by shoulder and elbow flexion. While acute tendinitis is characterized by inflammation, chronic tendinopathy has been found to contain little to no biochemical or histological evidence of inflammation and is characterized more by disorganization of collagen. Biceps tendinopathy is frequently associated with other pathology within the shoulder including rotator cuff tears. Workup of biceps tendinopathy includes obtaining a thorough clinical history, performing a complete physical exam, and obtaining imaging as needed including plain radiographs, ultrasound, and MRI. Nonsurgical management consists of rest, ice, activity modification, physical therapy, NSAIDs, and corticosteroid injections. If surgical intervention is pursued after failure of nonsurgical management, the two main techniques for addressing the diseased long head of the biceps tendon include performing a tenotomy or tenodesis. There are numerous different techniques for performing a biceps tenodesis, including performing it arthroscopically or via an additional open incision, placing the fixation suprapectoral or subpectoral, and using a multitude of fixation methods. In general, biceps tenotomy and tenodesis, as well as the different tenodesis techniques, have all resulted in comparable outcomes and improvements from patients’ preoperative baseline.
Frailty in Young and Middle-Aged Adults: An Integrative Review

Frailty is a public health priority resulting in poor health outcomes and early mortality in older adults. Early identification, management, and prevention of frailty may reduce frailty trajectory into later life. However, little is known about frailty in younger adults. Describe frailty prevalence, definitions, study designs, and components contributing to multidimensional frailty in 18 to 65-year-olds and impart guidance for future research, practice, and policies with potential to positively impact frail individuals. Integrative review approach was selected to explore frailty allowing for inclusion of diverse methodologies and varied persepectives while maintaining rigor and applicability to evidence-based practice initiatives. CINAHL, Embase, PsycInfo, PubMed databases were searched for studies describing frailty in adults age 18 to 65. Articles were excluded if published prior to 2010, not in English, lacked frailty focus, or non-Western culture. Twelve descriptive correlational studies were included. No intervention or qualitative studies were identified. No standard conceptual definition of frailty was discovered. Studied in participants with health disparities (n=3) and chronic conditions (n=8); HIV was most common (n=4). Frailty prevalence ranged from 3.9% (313 of 8095) to 63% (24 of 38). Many factors associated with frailty were identified among physical (18) and social (14), and fewer among psychological (11) domains. Universal frailty definition and multidimensional assessment tool is needed to generate generalizable results in future studies describing frailty in young and middle-aged adults. Early frailty identification by clinicians has potential to facilitate development and implementation of targeted interventions to prevent or mitigate frailty progression, but additional research is needed because risk factors in younger populations may be different than older adults.
Comparison of the antimicrobial efficacy of chlorhexidine gluconate and povidone iodine as preoperative surgical preparation solutions in cattle under field conditions

Antimicrobial substances are used in the preoperative period to reduce the number of resident skin flora and prevent surgical wound infection. Most standing abdominal surgeries in cattle are classified as clean contaminated and are performed on potentially immune-compromised cattle in a contaminated area. Thus, the antiseptic used must quickly reduce the number of microbes present while at the same time preventing bacterial recolonization following the procedure. This can be particularly difficult in field conditions where many environmental contaminants cannot be controlled by the surgeon. Environmental conditions are a major contributing factor in determining the efficacy and residual effects of antiseptic agents. Therefore, a preparation procedure with a high percentage of bacterial reduction and prolonged residual activity would prove favorable in the surgical management of cattle in a field setting. The few studies that have been completed on surgical site preparation in cattle have either been conducted in a sterile hospital surgical suite or only using 1 product in 2 different manners in a field situation. The purpose of this study was to document the comparative efficacy of a standard iodophor and alcohol preparation and a chlorhexidine and alcohol preparation in cattle under field conditions.
On-chip surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS)-linked immuno-sensor assay (SLISA) for rapid environmental-surveillance of chemical toxins

The increasing threat of an intentional (attack) or accidental release of toxins, in particular chemical toxins, including chemical warfare agents (CWAs) and toxic industrial chemicals (TICs) has increased public fear. The major problem in such attacks/accidents is to detect toxins present in very low levels. Indeed, several detection techniques are currently being used for the same. However, none of them meet the most critical requirements of a RISE (Rapid, Inexpensive, Simple and Effective) detect-to-protect class of biosensors. To address this critical demand our group has developed a prototype lab-on-a-chip (LOC) using a colloidal silver-based, surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS)-linked immuno-sensor assay (SLISA). The LOC-SLISA was tested for the measurement of RAD54, a stress-marker protein expressed by yeast in response to hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), a toxin in the EPA priority list of chemical toxins. We found SLISA has good correlation in accuracy with the traditional ELISA technique and outperforms the latter by being rapid and easy-to-use. SLISA is more sensitive, provides qualitative information on immuno-sensor’s chemical characterization and antigen-antibody binding, and allows direct detection with minimal or no chance of uncertainty, which is a stringent limitation of all label-based biosensor technologies including ELISA. For translational significance of our work, we correlated our results to U.S. EPA (environmental protection agency) defined risk exposure guideline levels of H2O2 to validate the commercial potential of our on-chip SLISA. The label-free, cell-based and RISE detection offered by SERS can allow development of biomedical and environmental sensor technology (BEST) needed for direct, rapid and continuous monitoring of human health and environment
Landscape indicators of human impacts to riverine systems

Detecting human impacts on riverine systems is challenging because of the diverse biological, chemical, hydrological and geophysical components that must be assessed. We briefly review the chemical, biotic, hydrologic and physical habitat assessment approaches commonly used in riverine systems. We then discuss how landscape indicators can be used to assess the status of rivers by quantifying land cover changes in the surrounding catchment, and contrast landscape-level indicators with the more traditionally used approaches. Landscape metrics that describe the amount and arrangement of human-altered land in a catchment provide a direct way to measure human impacts and can be correlated with many traditionally used riverine indicators, such as water chemistry and biotic variables. The spatial pattern of riparian habitats may also be an especially powerful landscape indicator because the variation in length, width, and gaps of riparian buffers influences their effectiveness as nutrient sinks. The width of riparian buffers is also related to the diversity of riparian bird species. Landscape indicators incorporating historical land use may also hold promise for predicting and assessing the status of riverine systems. Importantly, the relationship between an aquatic system attribute and a landscape indicator may be non-linear and thus exhibit threshold responses. This has become especially apparent from landscape indicators quantifying the percent impervious surface (or urban areas) in a watershed, a landscape indicator of hydrologic and geomorphic change.
Antecedentes, rol y desafío de la digitalización del patrimonio arquitectónico

Sin duda, el uso de herramientas digitales en la documentacion del patrimonio arquitectonico ha revolucionado la forma en la que sitios historicos son identificados, difundidos y valorizados virtualmente. Sin embargo, estas nuevas oportunidades conllevan nuevos desafios para garantizar la exactitud cientifica y la fiabilidad de la informacion utilizada para documentar y proteger los sitios patrimoniales a largo plazo y asi poder garantizar que estos registros se transmitan y se mantengan para usos futuros.Esta contribucion no solo esta destinada a subrayar los desafios, sino tambien a ofrecer opciones, teniendo en cuenta la nocion de requisitos para la eficacia y la forma de captar y difundir el conocimiento de los bienes patrimoniales. Estos objetivos seran alcanzados teniendo como punto de partida las necesidades del sitio desde un enfoque integral y participativo, centrado en la importancia de la informacion para comprender el significado y su integridad. En este sentido es fundamental tambien poder evaluar el radio de deterioro causado por perturbaciones/amenazas y riesgos potenciales a dichos recursos culturales. En cuanto a patrimonio cultural, el enfasis de este trabajo es dado a los edificios historicos y sitios arqueologicos.Palabras clave: Digitalizacion, nuevas tecnologias, patrimonio, arquitectura.
Constitutional Chicken Soup

I find myself largely convinced by Professor Ran Hirschl’s account in Towards Juristocracy of the politics of constitutional entrenchment and the embrace of judicial review.1 Moreover, his hegemonic preservation thesis2 does a good job of explaining courts’ broad interpretation of those rights going to matters of procedural justice and negative liberties, on one hand, and their failure to advance in significant ways progressive notions of distributive justice on the other. Indeed, the pattern documented in Towards Juristocracy confirms empirically what many feminist critics, including this one, have long worried about: the prioritization of a concept of anti-statism and the protection of an expanding private sphere over a concern with hierarchies of private power.3 I am, however, left wondering precisely what lessons we can draw from this insight. In his introduction, Professor Hirschl invokes and paraphrases Ronald Dworkin to make the point that “[o]nce we have settled on a given normative meaning of the term ‘social justice,’ . . . the question of democracy versus constitutionalism . . . becomes an empirical question: What type of fundamental governing principle . . . is likely to produce practical outcomes closest to . . . social justice?”4 But I wonder whether the choice is quite that stark; that is to say, either constitutionalism or democracy? We might re-cast it as a choice between
Characterization of heme oxygenase activity in Leydig and Sertoli cells of the rat testes. Differential distribution of activity and response to cadmium.

Abstract Leydig and Sertoli cells of the rat testes differ with respect to the activities of the enzymes of the heme and hemoprotein degradative pathway and in their responses to Cd 2+ treatment. The microsomal heme oxygenase activity in the Leydig cell preparations was nearly 9- to 10-fold greater than in Sertoli cell preparations, but the characteristics of the enzyme appeared to be similar in both cell populations, as judged by the cofactor requirements and the inhibitory action of heme ligands. Differences between the two cell preparations also were detected in the activity of NADPH-cytochrome c (P-450) reductase and in the contents of cytochrome P-450 and heme, with Leydig cells possessing the higher values. The activities of the cytosolic biliverdin reductase were comparable in both cell preparations. The significantly higher levels of porphyrins and the activities of δ-aminoleuvinate synthetase and uroporphyrinogen-I synthetase suggest that Leydig cells constitute the primary site of heme and hemoprotein biosynthetic activities. The mode of regulation of heme oxygenase activity in the testes and in the liver was compared. The responses of heme oxygenase to Cd 2+ treatment (20 μmoles/kg, 24 hr) in the two testicular cell populations were dissimilar and both differed from that of the liver. In Leydig cells, heme oxygenase activity was decreased dramatically, whereas in the liver the activity was greatly increased. Heme oxygenase activity in Sertoli cells was refractory to Cd 2+ . The Cd 2+ -mediated decrease in heme oxygenase activity in Leydig cells did not reflect a direct inhibitory action of Cd 2+ on the enzyme or a decreased total content of the microsomal protein. The dissimilarity between the mode of regulation of heme metabolic activities in the testes, when determined in Leydig cells, and that in the liver involved the inability of bromobenzene to evoke an increase in heme oxygenase activity and the age-related changes in the activities of heme oxygenase and δ-aminoleuvinate synthetase. In contrast to heme oxygenase activity, the heme concentration in Sertoli cells was remarkably sensitive to Cd 2+ treatment, where a 7-fold increase in heme concentration was observed. The same treatment caused only a 2-fold increase in heme concentration in Leydig cells. In the latter cells, however, the increase in heme concentration was accompanied by a marked reduction in cytochrome P-450 levels. The cytochrome could not be measured in Sertoli cell preparations. The heme biosynthetic pathway in the testes was essentially insensitive to Cd 2+ treatment as judged by unaltered or modestly affected activities of the enzymes of heme biosynthesis and the total porphyrin content of Leydig cell preparations. The findings described in this report define the testicular tissue as unique with respect to heme metabolic capability and the regulation of heme metabolic processes. However, these processes in the two cell populations are heterogenous.
Going beyond “beyond being there”: An inquiry into the use of brain-computer interface technologies and intelligent machine agents to facilitate inconspicuous communication

In this paper, we present a discussion on the potential use of intelligent machine agents and brain-computer interface (BCI) technologies to help facilitate inconspicuous communication. Members of a university marching band participated in interviews and two focus groups to examine how a marching band needs to communicate during a live performance. Results showed the need for an inconspicuous communication channel that goes beyond the normal human communication modalities. Some insights regarding the use of BCI as a means of inconspicuous communication, such as how it can be used to facilitate both one-to-one and one-to-many communication nodes as well as the need for further research and education as to its use and potential were gleaned. In addition, how intelligent agents might be used as mediators of communication, and implications for the design and the future direction of research are also discussed.
Accounting information systems, a cycle approach

Information Systems Concepts and Procedures. Controls and Auditing. Information Systems Analysis and Design. The Spending Cycle. The Conversion Cycle. The Revenue Cycle. The Administrative Cycle. Appendices. Glossary. Index.
Celebrating 50 years of experimental mechanics

This year, Experimental Mechanics celebrates its 50th anniversary. The Journal was launched in January of 1961 by the then Society for Experimental Stress Analysis (SESA) now the Society for Experimental Mechanics (SEM). Benjamin J. Lazan, who is credited as the individual most responsible for the creation of the Journal, wrote an editorial in the first issue of Experimental Mechanics where he articulated the reasons for the creation of the journal. He pointed out that the new journal was the result of the society growth, the broader realm of experimental mechanics, and the role of experimental studies in verification and improvement of theory. In his visionary editorial, Lazan wrote “the solution of the increasingly complex engineering problems must rely more and more on experimental mechanics studies to indicate limitations in current theories, to formulate more realistic and general, yet simple, assumptions required for developing new theories, and later to check the compatibility of these new theories with still newer engineering situations or simulations thereof.”
Experiments on page size, program access patterns, and virtual memory performance

The assumption about virtual memory systems that as overhead (time for access and software page management) decreases page size should be reduced is not alwayas good one. Recent experiments indicate that larger page sizes can provide better performance for programs that make highly localized use of memory space.
Fluorination of dimethylmercury, tetramethylsilane and tetramethylgermanium. Synthesis and characterization of polyfluorotetramethylsilanes, polyfluorotetramethylgermanes,bis(trifluoromethyl)mercury and tetrakis(trifluoromethyl)germanium

Abstract It has been found possible to preserve metal—carbon and metalloid—carbon bonds during direct fluorination. The reaction of dimethylmercury with fluorine gives bis(trifluoromethyl)mercury in 6.5% yield. Fluorination of tetramethylsilane has led to the isolation of the new polyfluorotetramethylsilanes of the following type, Si(CH3)x(CH2F)y(CHF2)z, x + y + z = 4. Also characterized were compounds containing SiCF3. It has been possible to synthesize tetrakis(trifluoromethyl)germanium in 63.5% yield from the reaction of fluorine with tetramethylgermanium. Also characterized were many polyfluorotetramethylgermanes of the following type, Ge(CF3)x(CF2H)y(CFH2)z (x + y + z = 4).
A serostatus-based approach to HIV/AIDS prevention and care in Africa

Africa’s HIV/AIDS epidemic has stimulated calls for increased resources1–3 science-based public-health interventions4–6 and access to treatment.27 The declaration of commitment8 from the United Nations General Assembly Special Session on HIV/AIDS in 2001 called for a 20% reduction in the proportion of infants infected with HIV by 2005 and 50% by 2010 (in this article HIV is used to mean HIV-1 and HIV-2). Describing lack of access to antiretroviral therapy as a global emergency WHO and UNAIDS launched an initiative to treat 3 million people by 2005.7 To address prevention and care WHO estimated that up to 180 million individuals per year will need HIV testing by 2005.9 Current practice around HIV testing counselling and consent is an obstacle to scale-up of services and attainment of targets. How to use testing is perhaps the most challenging question in HIV/AIDS policy today. We argue that universal voluntary knowledge of HIV serostatus should be a prevention goal and that facilitation of HIV testing is central to responding effectively to the epidemic in Africa. (authors)
Synthesis and characterization of a homologous series of aromatic-aliphatic polyesters with non-coplanar 2,2′-dimethylbiphenylene units

Abstract We report on the synthesis and characterization of a series of semiflexible polyesters containing a non-coplanar biphenylene unit and a flexible alkylene spacer of variable length. The number of methylene groups in the spacer was varied from three to eight. The polyesters were synthesized by interfacial polycondensation. The polymer properties were characterized by thermal analysis, optical microscopy and wide-angle X-ray diffraction. Melting transitions and glass transition temperatures show a strong odd-even effect with respect to the number of methylene groups in the flexible spacer. The crystallinity is reduced by the incorporation of the 2,2′-dimethylbiphenylene unit. In the polyesters with an odd number of methylene groups the crystallization is suppressed and indications of a crystalline phase were only observable after extensive annealing.
A mathematical model for continuous hydride generation with inductively coupled plasma spectrometry-II. pH dependence of hydride forming elements

Abstract The solution pH dependencies of four hydride forming elements. As, Pb, Se and Sn, have been studied theoretically and experimentally. All of the main chemical reactions related to the hydride forming systems are considered, and detailed mathematical calculations are experimentally verified with ICP spectrometry.
Is the spliceosome a ribonucleoprotein enzyme

New work suggests that Prp8, a highly conserved protein in the heart of the spliceosome, both orients the substrate and participates in catalysis.
New methodologies for the pathologic diagnosis of placental infections-immunohistochemistry, immunofluorescence, in situ nucleic acid hybridization and polymerase chain reaction

Summary A variety of highly sensitive laboratory techniques is now available for the detection and localization of infectious agents in the placenta. This communication discusses, the role of immunohistochemistry, immunofluorescence, in situ nucleic acid hybridization, and polymerase chain reaction for infectious disease diagnosis in formalinfixed placental tissues. These techniques, as well as other sophisticated molecular methods currently in development, will greatly facilitate characterizing the role of infectious agents in a variety of perinatal and pediatric conditions, including birth defects, intrauterine growth retardation, and stillbirth.
Treating acute myeloid leukemia via HSC transplantation: A preliminary study of multi-objective personalization strategies

Older subjects with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) or those with co-morbid conditions may not withstand conventional conditioning chemotherapy/radiation prior to hematopoietic stem cell (HSC) transplantation. A relatively mild conditioning is therefore being investigated prior to HSC transplantation. This study investigates the potential to describe personalization of conditioning for each subject using nonlinear model predictive control. A nonlinear ordinary differential equation (ODE) mathematical model of the conditioning regimen and HSC engraftment dynamics is presented. Its simulated dynamics are compared with averaged values from a de-identified clinical white blood cell engraftment data. The controller determines the optimal conditioning strategy administered to patients prior to HSC transplantation. A multi-objective controller designs the conditioning regimen to minimize the number of cancerous cells while limiting collateral damage to the patients tissues. The study serves as a preliminary investigation into the capability of mathematical modeling to optimize conditioning prior to HSC transplantation for treatment of acute myeloid leukemia (AML) in humans.
Comparative analysis of prostate specific antigen and its indexes in the detection of prostate cancer

AbstractPurpose: Prostate specific antigen (PSA) density and age referenced PSA have been proposed in an attempt to improve the power of PSA in the detection of early prostate cancer. Reported results have been controversial and disappointing. Because the association of gland volume with PSA is stronger than that of age we developed a new index, volume referenced PSA, and compared it to PSA density and other indexes.Materials and Methods: Volume referenced PSA was developed from a control group of 408 men without clinical evidence of prostate cancer using a standardized Z score. A retrospective analysis was performed comparing PSA and all its indexes in 580 men who underwent prostate biopsy. In addition to overall analysis, PSA and its indexes were evaluated with receiver operating characteristic curves by age and volume subcategories.Results: Cancer was identified in 35 percent of the 580 men. The number of missed cancers using established thresholds significantly favored volume referenced PSA clinically...
Academic focus: graduate study in biological materials at Northwestern University.

This is the first of a series of presentations which we will publish irregularly. This new dimension in the literature will be of considerable interest to the many academicians involved in the teaching of biomedical sciences.—Ed.
Developing an item bank to measure economic quality of life for individuals with disabilities.

Abstract Objective To develop and evaluate the psychometric properties of an item set measuring economic quality of life (QOL) for use by individuals with disabilities. Design Survey. Setting Community settings. Participants Individuals with disabilities completed individual interviews (n=64), participated in focus groups (n=172), and completed cognitive interviews (n=15). Inclusion criteria included the following: traumatic brain injury, spinal cord injury, or stroke; age ≥18 years; and ability to read and speak English. We calibrated the items with 305 former rehabilitation inpatients. Interventions None. Main Outcome Measure Economic QOL. Results Confirmatory factor analysis showed acceptable fit indices (comparative fit index=.939, root mean square error of approximation=.089) for the 37 items. However, 3 items demonstrated local item dependence. Dropping 9 items improved fit and obviated local dependence. Rasch analysis of the remaining 28 items yielded a person reliability of .92, suggesting that these items discriminate about 4 economic QOL levels. Conclusions We developed a 28-item bank that measures economic aspects of QOL. Preliminary confirmatory factor analysis and Rasch analysis results support the psychometric properties of this new measure. It fills a gap in health-related QOL measurement by describing the economic barriers and facilitators of community participation. Future development will make the item bank available as a computer adaptive test.
Antecedents of collegiate drinking.

A model designed to explain variations in the use of alcohol among undergraduates draws together three categories of variables: (1) sociocultural-race, sex, and population of student's hometown; (2) familial characteristics-father's occupation, parents' marital status, and closeness to a problem drinker; and (3) the onset of student drinking-age at first drinking and extent of drinking at its onset. A 10% random sample was drawn from the undergraduate students enrolled in two state-supported universities in the southeastern U.S. The present analysis focuses on 856 nonmarried, full-time undergraduate students. Overall, the findings show that race, degree of closeness to a problem-drinker, age at the onset of drinking, and its extent markedly influence the level of alcohol consumption among undergraduates. The strongest overall predictor of undergraduate drinking is the extent of adolescent consumption.
Preparation of Al2O3/DLC/Au/MoS2 chameleon coatings for space and ambient environments

Abstract We have investigated the tribological properties of nanocomposite “chameleon” coatings, which adapt their low friction behavior with the surrounding environmental humidity and temperature. The material system of interest included alumina (Al2O3) in an Au matrix with diamond-like carbon (DLC) and MoS2 nanoparticle inclusions. The coating design included formation of nanocrystalline hard oxide particles for wear resistance, embedding them into an amorphous matrix for toughness enhancement, and inclusion of nanocrystalline and/or amorphous solid lubricants for friction adaptation to different environments. Chemical analysis was used to ascertain a correlation between chemical bonding of species and frictional properties. Friction measurements were studied in cycling between humid air and dry nitrogen conditions at room temperature and during heating in air to 500 °C. It was observed that both graphitic carbon and MoS2 worked together to give low friction in variable humidity environment, while Au was valuable for a low friction at elevated temperatures. Friction coefficients were found to be 0.02–0.03 in dry nitrogen, 0.1–0.15 in humid air, and 0.1 in air at 500 °C. Thus the tribological property results have shown that the system provides “chameleon” type adaptation behavior in different environments relevant for aerospace systems.
Barriers to risk-understanding and risk-reduction behaviors among individuals with a family history of melanoma

SUMMARY Family members of melanoma patients are often called upon to provide support, ranging from monetary to medical assistance. Consanguineal relatives of melanoma patients are also at greater risk of developing the disease themselves. However, as a group, they have limited understanding of their melanoma risk and they demonstrate inadequate primary and secondary prevention behaviors. The optimal intervention strategies for improving the consistent use of such behaviors (i.e., improving rates of sun-protection behaviors and screening) remains unclear, necessitating further research.
Pain's evils

The traditional accounts of pain's intrinsic badness assume a false view of what pains are. Insofar as they are normatively significant, pains are not just painful sensations. A pain is a composite of a painful sensation and a set of beliefs, desires, emotions and other mental states. A pain's intrinsic properties can include inter alia depression, anxiety, fear, desires, feelings of helplessness and the pain's meaning. This undermines the traditional accounts of pain's intrinsic badness. Pain is intrinsically bad in two distinct and historically unnoticed ways. First, most writers hold that pain's intrinsic badness lies either in its unpleasantness or in its being disliked. Given my wider conception of pain, I believe it is both. Pain's first intrinsic evil lies in a conjunction of all the traditional candidates for its source. Pain's second intrinsic evil lies in the way it necessarily undermines the self-control necessary for intrinsic goods like autonomy.
Gα12 and Gα13 Are Phosphorylated during Platelet Activation

The ubiquitously expressed G-proteins G12 and G13 whose function is currently not clear have been shown to be activated in platelet membranes through receptors that stimulate platelet aggregation. We used intact human platelets to determine whether alpha subunits of both G-proteins can be phosphorylated under physiological conditions. Activation of human platelets by thrombin and the thromboxane A2 receptor agonist U46619 lead to phosphorylation of Galpha 12 and Galpha 13. Phosphorylation occurred rapidly after addition of thrombin and was not mediated by glycoprotein IIb/IIIa (integrin alpha IIbbeta 3) activation. Phosphorylation of Galpha 12 and Galpha 13 could be mimicked by phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate, and thrombin-induced phosphorylation was inhibited by the protein kinase C inhibitor calphostin C indicating an involvement of protein kinase C in Galpha 12/13 phosphorylation induced by thrombin in human platelets. The phosphorylation of both G protein alpha subunits was reconstituted in COS-7 cells cotransfected with Galpha 12 or Galpha 13 and different protein kinase C isoforms. Among the protein knase C isoforms tested, protein kinase C beta , delta , and epsilon were most effective in promoting phosphorylation of Galpha 12 and Galpha 13 in a phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate-dependent manner. These data demonstrate that Galpha 12 and Galpha 13 are phosphorylated under in vivo conditions and that this phosphorylation involves protein kinase C.
Downward Longwave Surface Radiation from Sun-Synchronous Satellite Data: Validation of Methodology

Abstract An extensive study has been carried out to validate a satellite technique for estimating downward longwave radiation at the surface. The technique, mostly developed earlier, uses operational sun-synchronous satellite data and a radiative transfer model to provide the surface flux estimates. The satellite-derived fluxes were compared directly with corresponding ground-measured fluxes at four different sites in the United States for a common one-year data period. This provided a study of seasonal variations as well as a diversity of meteorological conditions. Dome heating errors in the ground-measured fluxes were also investigated and were corrected prior to the comparisons. Comparison of the monthly averaged fluxes from the satellite and ground sources for all four sites for the entire year showed a correlation coefficient of 0.98 and a standard error of estimate of 10 W m−2. A brief description of the technique is provided, and the results validating the technique are presented.
Unexpected IR Characteristics of Hydrogen Bonds in the 18-Crown-6-Ether Complex of the H3O+ Hydronium Ion. Can the Location of the Protons Be Specified?

The νas(COC) IR spectral signatures of polyethers in H-bonded hydronium ion complexes have been established in studies of H3O+ and H5O2+ complexes with 15-crown-5, 18-crown-6, dibenzo-18-crown-6, a...
Blockade of N- and Q-type Ca2+ channels inhibit K(+)-evoked [3H]acetylcholine release in rat hippocampal slices.

Abstract In the present study, we examined the contribution of specific Ca 2+ channels to K + -evoked hippocampal acetylcholine (ACh) release using [ 3 H]choline loaded hippocampal slices. [ 3 H]ACh release was Ca 2+ -dependent, blocked by the nonspecific Ca 2+ channel blocker verapamil, but not by blockade of L-type Ca 2+ channels. The N-type Ca 2+ channel blocker, ω-conotoxin GVIA (ω-CgTx GVIA; 250 nM) inhibited [ 3 H]ACh release by 44% and the P/Q-type Ca 2+ channel blocker ω-agatoxin IVA (ω-Aga IVA; 400 nM) inhibited [ 3 H]ACh release by 27%, with the combination resulting in a nearly additive 79% inhibition. Four hundred or one thousand nM ω-Aga IVa was necessary to inhibit [ 3 H]ACh release, ω-Conotoxin MVIIC (ω-CTx-MVIIC) was used after first blocking N-type Ca 2+ channels with ω-CgTx GVIA (1 μM). Under these conditions, 500 nM ω-CTx-MVIIC led to a nearly maximal inhibition of the ω-CgTx GVIA-insensitive [ 3 H]ACh release. Based on earlier reports about the relative sensitivity of cloned and native Ca 2+ channels to these toxins, this study indicates that N- and Q-type Ca 2+ channels primarily mediate K + -evoked hippocampal [ 3 H]ACh release.
Ultrasound-based transient elastography for the detection of hepatic fibrosis: systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background & Aims: Ultrasound-based transient elastography is a promising noninvasive alternative to liver biopsy for detecting hepatic fibrosis. However, its overall test performance in various settings remains unknown. The aims of this study were to perform a systematic review and meta-analysis of diagnostic accuracy studies comparing ultrasound-based transient elastography with liver biopsy for hepatic fibrosis. Methods: Electronic and manual bibliographic searches to identify potential studies were performed. Selection of studies was based on reported accuracy of ultrasound-based transient elastography compared with liver biopsy. Data extraction was performed independently by 2 reviewers. Meta-analysis combined the sensitivities, specificities, and likelihood ratios of individual studies. Extent and reasons for heterogeneity were assessed. Results: Nine studies in full publication were identified. For patients with stage IV fibrosis (cirrhosis), the pooled estimates for sensitivity were 87% (95% confidence interval [CI], 84%–90%), specificity 91% (95% CI, 89%–92%), positive likelihood ratio 11.7 (95% CI, 7.9–17.1), and negative likelihood ratio 0.14 (95% CI, 0.10–0.20). Among 7 investigations reporting patients with stages II–IV fibrosis, the pooled estimates for sensitivity were 70% (95% CI, 67%–73%), specificity 84% (95% CI, 80%–88%), positive likelihood ratio 4.2 (95% CI, 2.4–7.2), and negative likelihood ratio 0.31 (95% CI, 0.23–0.43). Diagnostic threshold (or cut-off value) bias was identified as an important cause of heterogeneity for pooled results in both patient groups. Conclusions: Ultrasound-based transient elastography appears to be a clinically useful test for detecting cirrhosis.
Characteristic Exponents and Stability of Hill’s Equation

The methods of strained parameters and multiple scales are used to determine a second-order uniform expansion for the solutions of Hill’s equation near the transition curves. Second-order explicit expansions are presented for the characteristic exponents and the transition curves.
Local compliance of composite cracked bodies

Abstract In many circumstances material flaws are present in structures made of anisotropic composites. Such cracks can be detected by vibrational analysis based on the variation of the local compliance as the crack gradually grows. Accordingly, the variation of the mixed term in the energy release rate equation is studied at various angles of inclination of the material axes of symmetry. The significance of this term on the local flexibility of a centrally-cracked plate is discussed by presenting a numerical example for a graphite-fiber reinforced polyimide composite. The prospect of crack diagnosis of composite components on the basis of coupled deformation modes due to the crack presence is signified by analyzing the compliance matrix of a prismatic beam containing a central crack.
Rademacher-type formulas for restricted partition and overpartition functions

A collection of Hardy-Ramanujan-Rademacher type formulas for restricted partition and overpartition functions is presented, framed by several biographical anecdotes.