cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Investigation of itraconazole ternary amorphous solid dispersions based on povidone and Carbopol

We investigate a ternary system that consists of itraconazole (ITZ) and two polymers: povidone K12 and Carbopol 907. The interactions between these two polymers and their effects on the properties of ternary ITZ amorphous solid dispersions (ASDs) are studied. These two polymers can form a water-insoluble complex in acidic aqueous media. The critical pH is determined to be 4.17. The weight percentage of Carbopol 907 in the interpolymer complex range from 59 to 70%, depending on the initial ratios between these two polymers in the starting solutions. This complexation is driven by a negative enthalpy change from the H-bonding between the two polymers and a positive entropy change from the freed water molecules. Due to the slow precipitation of the interpolymer complex in aqueous media, the attempt to prepare ternary ASD using solvent-controlled coprecipitation is not successful. Melt extrusion is identified to be the only viable method to prepare this ternary ASD. We find that interpolymer complex-based ASDs are physically less stable and demonstrate the poorest drug-release properties when compared to individual polymer-based binary ASDs. This study illustrates that the too strong interaction between polymers in ternary ASDs is detrimental to their performance.
Evaluating the Impact and Cost-Effectiveness of Statin Use Guidelines for Primary Prevention of Coronary Heart Disease and Stroke.

Background:Statins are effective in the primary prevention of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease. The 2013 American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association (ACC/AHA) guideline expands ...
Gewinn- und Verlustframing in der Gesundheitskommunikation

Gewinn- und Verlustframing sind populare Persuasionsstrategien in der Gesundheitskommunikation und wurden in etlichen Studien zu diversen Gesundheitsrisiken und -verhaltensweisen empirisch untersucht. Wahrend theoretische Ansatze fur eine hohere Wirksamkeit von Verlust-Frames sprechen, sind die empirischen Ergebnisse inkonsistent. Meta-analytische Untersuchungen deuten darauf hin, dass Mediatoren und Moderatoren fur eine unterschiedliche Effektivitat der beiden Framing-Arten entscheidend sind und komplexe Zusammenhange zwischen den Einflussvariablen berucksichtigt werden sollten.
A Recursive Model for Changing Justice Concerns in Social Dilemmas

In 2003, we (Schroeder et al., 2003) presented an analysis of justice concerns and considerations of fairness within social dilemma situations. At that time, we perceived the various types of justice criteria (i.e., distributive, procedural, restorative, retributive) as evolving in a more or less sequential manner as the status of a common resource pool or the threat to a public good changed for the worse over time. Social dilemmas are intriguing mixed-motive situations in which those involved must make choices between acting in their own best interests versus acting for the well-being of a group, and the decisions made can lead to unequal outcomes among the group members. These asymmetries make social dilemma situations particularly well suited for the study of how members of these groups strive to find fair and just accommodations to the self-interest vs. communal interest conflicts operating upon them. Because many social dilemmas are iterative and dynamic, they also provide an excellent context within which to explore how these accommodations might shift over time as the parameters of the situation change as a consequence of the choices made by the group (see Ostrom, 1990, for examples). For instance, in the case of common pool dilemmas, as people repeatedly harvest from some resource pool and thereby alter the status of the resource, the consideration that needs to be given to the protection of the pool (and especially to the protection of one’s own outcomes) will be modified as well. We think individuals caught in social dilemmas look for solutions and social arrangements that will provide a measure of stability to answer the longitudinal concerns of how they are going to protect this common pool or how they are going to provide for the public good. In addition to concerns for the stability and continued viability of some common good, we believe potential or actual differences among the payoffs received by group members may challenge the cooperator’s sense of fairness and justice; individuals disadvantaged by the competitive actions of others may begin to question their role as “suckers” in their group settings. If, as former baseball manager Leo Durocher once said, “Nice guys finish last,” what are the “losers” to do? Overharvesters in common pools dilemmas and free riders in public-good dilemmas are always going to be at a competitive advantage relative to the cooperators, and we think that those who have been disadvantaged (as well as some who recognize the folly of defecting but have nonetheless continued to overharvest or free-ride to protect themselves from
Physiological responses of freeze-tolerant and -intolerant frogs: clues to evolution of anuran freeze tolerance

Freeze tolerance in the wood frog, Rana sylvatica, is promoted by multiple, integrated physiological responses to ice forming within body tissues. By analyzing the freezing responses of the sympatric, but freeze intolerant, leopard frog (R. pipiens), we sought clues to the evolution of anuran freeze tolerance. Physiological responses critical to R. sylvatica's freeze tolerance, such as the synthesis and distribution of the cryoprotectant glucose, protective dehydration of organs, and deferred cardiac failure, were present, but comparatively less pronounced, in R. pipiens. Both species were innately tolerant of hyperglycemia. Glucose supplements did not enhance the freezing viability of R. pipiens, although in vitro tests of cryoprotectant efficacy revealed that glucose and glycerol provided comparable protection to erythrocytes of both species. We conclude that the evolution of freeze tolerance in R. sylvatica is not only promoted by its desiccation tolerance and the fortuitous biophysical consequences of freezing (e.g., exothermic induction of cardioacceleration and moderation of cooling rate) but also involves a progressive enhancement of fundamental physiological stress responses.
Mammalian Carbohydrate-Lectin Interactions

Lectins are proteins which bind to carbohydrates and must be neither of immune origin (e.g., not antibodies) nor catalytic (e.g., not enzymes) [1]. Carbohydrate recognition systems have been described as a functional triad of lectin, carrier (protein, peptide, or lipid), and carbohydrate [2]. Glycorecognition systems are important in the mediation of inflammation and immune response, protein trafficking, developmental regulation, cell adhesion and migration, cancer, nerve communication, cytotoxicity, fertilization, and the regulation of serum half-life of proteins and hormones, among other proposed or documented functions [2, 3]. A number of unrelated microorganisms utilize lectin-carrier- carbohydrate interactions to infect hosts and prolong their survival [3]. Lectins are often found in the seeds of legume plants where they exhibit a wide variety of carbohydrate specificities, often for saccharides which are not native to the legume where they are found [4, 5]. Legume lectins are nearly always oligomeric and are useful reagents for the agglutination of cells and precipitation of multivalent carbohydrates. Although little is known regarding the native functions of legume lectins, they have proved themselves valuable as in vitro tools for immunology and glycobiology [4].
Implementing a Program to Share User Experience Data for Medical Devices

People who make purchasing decisions about medical technology are often not the ones who will use it. It is challenging to systematically collect and present stakeholder impressions of medical tech...
Selective Synthesis of Site-Differentiated Fe4S4 and Fe6S6 Clusters

Obtaining rational control over the structure and nuclearity of metalloclusters is an ongoing challenge in synthetic Fe–S cluster chemistry. We report a new family of tridentate imidazolin-2-imine ligands L(NImR)3 that can bind [Fe4S4]2+ or [Fe6S6]3+ clusters, depending on the steric profile of the ligand and the reaction stoichiometry. A high-yielding synthetic route to L(NImR)3 ligands (where R is the imidazolyl N substituents) from trianiline and 2-chloroimidazolium precursors is described. For L(NImMe)3 (tris(1,3,5-(3-(N,N-dimethyl-4,5-diphenylimidazolin-2-imino)phenylmethyl))benzene), metalation with 1 equiv of [Ph4P]2[Fe4S4Cl4] and 3 equiv of NaBPh4 furnishes a mixture of products, but adjusting the stoichiometry to 1.5 equiv of [Ph4P]2[Fe4S4Cl4] provides (L(NImMe)3)Fe6S6Cl6 in high yield. Formation of an [Fe6S6]3+ cluster using L(NImTol)3 (tris(1,3,5-(3-(N,N-bis(4-methylphenyl)-4,5-diphenylimidazolin-2-imino)phenylmethyl))benzene) is not observed; instead, the [Fe4S4]2+ cluster [(L(NImTol)3)(Fe4S4C...
Using clinical decision support through the electronic medical record to increase prescribing of high-dose parenteral thiamine in hospitalized patients with alcohol use disorder.

Abstract Background Patients with alcohol use disorder (AUD) are at an increased risk of developing Wernicke's encephalopathy (WE), a devastating and difficult diagnosis caused by thiamine deficiency. Even as AUD is present in up to 25% of hospitalized patients on medical floors, appropriate thiamine supplementation in the hospital setting remains inadequate. These patients are particularly susceptible to thiamine deficiency and subsequent WE due to both their alcohol use and active medical illnesses. The electronic medical record (EMR) has become ubiquitous in health care systems and can be used as a tool to improve the care of hospitalized patients. Methods As a quality improvement initiative, we implemented a medication order panel in the EMR with autopopulated orders for thiamine dosing to increase the appropriate use of high-dose parenteral thiamine (HPT) for hospitalized patients with AUD. We conducted a retrospective cohort study of all inpatients with AUD who received an Addiction Psychiatry Consult Service consult three months before and after the EMR change. We compared the proportion of patients receiving HPT prior to consultation (primary outcome) and the length of stay (secondary outcome) between the historical control group and the EMR intervention group. Results Patients in the EMR intervention group were significantly more likely to receive HPT than the historical control group (20.2% vs. 2.7%, p Conclusion These results indicate that providing autopopulated thiamine order panels for patients with AUD can be an effective method for specialty services to increase appropriate care practices without additional education or training for providers. Further research should consider the clinical outcomes of increasing HPT for patients with AUD.
Safety and activity of a first-in-class oral HIF2-alpha inhibitor, PT2385, in patients with first recurrent glioblastoma (GBM).

2027Background: Hypoxia inducible factor 2-alpha (HIF2a) mediates cellular responses to hypoxia and is overexpressed in GBM. PT2385 is an oral HIF2a inhibitor with in vivo activity against GBM. Met...
Abstract 4190: Impact of comorbidities and nonclinical factors associated with sinonasal cancer all-cause mortality in the United States

Introduction: The anatomical complexity of the sinonasal region contributes to the poor prognosis and relative rarity of sinonasal cancer. While several studies have focused on the major clinical factors associated with survival, the burden of comorbidities and its impact on all-cause mortality of sinonasal cancer is unknown. Objective: This study aimed at describing the impact of comorbidities and nonclinical factors on all-cause mortality of sinonasal cancer in the United States. Methods: In this retrospective cohort study (n=10769), adult cases of sinonasal cancer (International Classification of Diseases for Oncology, third edition typology codes: C30.0, C30.1, C31.0-C31.3, C31.8, C31.9) diagnosed from 2004 through 2013. The outcome of interest was all-cause mortality. Independent variables included treatment type, time to treatment, staging, comorbidity scoring, histology, HPV test status, age, gender, race, facility type, distance to facility, insurance, local income, and urban level. Survival analysis was conducted via multivariable extended Cox regression with Heaviside adjustment for time-varying component of treatment variables. Results: In this cohort, 79% were whites, 60% males, and mean age of diagnosis was 63.5 years. Approximately 1-in-5 patients (18.6%) had a major comorbidity (Charlson-Deyo score ≥ 1) at the time of sinonasal cancer diagnosis. In the final model, after controlling for clinical factors including stage of presentation, treatment modality, HPV status, and histological subtypes, increasing Charlson-Deyo comorbid score was associated with a corresponding increase in hazard of mortality [(aHR score of 1 = 1.25; 95% CI 1.16, 1.35), (aHR score of 2+ = 1.62; 95% CI 1.42, 1.84). There were significant effects of race and socioeconomic status on all-cause mortality. Males (aHR = 1.11; 95% CI 1.05, 1.18); blacks (aHR = 1.12, 95% CI 1.02, 1.24); those uninsured (aHR = 1.40; 95% CI 1.21, 1.62) or covered by Medicaid (aHR = 1.48; 95% CI 1.31, 1.66); and patients living in zip-codes with lower median income quartile (aHR Note: This abstract was not presented at the meeting. Citation Format: Premal B. Desai, Aleksandr R. Bukatko, Matthew C. Simpson, Eric Adjei Boakye, Jason W. Greenberg, Greg M. Ward, Ronald J. Walker, Jastin L. Antisdel, Nosayaba Osazuwa-Peters. Impact of comorbidities and nonclinical factors associated with sinonasal cancer all-cause mortality in the United States [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2019; 2019 Mar 29-Apr 3; Atlanta, GA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2019;79(13 Suppl):Abstract nr 4190.
Migratory Neural Crest Cells Phagocytose Dead Cells in the Developing Nervous System

Summary During neural tube closure and spinal cord development, many cells die in both the central and peripheral nervous systems (CNS and PNS, respectively). However, myeloid-derived professional phagocytes have not yet colonized the trunk region during early neurogenesis. How apoptotic cells are removed from this region during these stages remains largely unknown. Using live imaging in zebrafish, we demonstrate that neural crest cells (NCCs) respond rapidly to dying cells and phagocytose cellular debris around the neural tube. Additionally, NCCs have the ability to enter the CNS through motor exit point transition zones and clear debris in the spinal cord. Surprisingly, NCCs phagocytosis mechanistically resembles macrophage phagocytosis and their recruitment toward cellular debris is mediated by interleukin-1β. Taken together, our results reveal a role for NCCs in phagocytosis of debris in the developing nervous system before the presence of professional phagocytes.
ETV7 limits antiviral gene expression and control of SARS-CoV-2 and influenza viruses

Abstract The type I interferon (IFN) response is an important component of the innate immune response to viral infection. Precise control of interferon responses is critical; insufficient levels of interferon-stimulated genes (ISGs) can lead to a failure to restrict viral spread while excessive ISG activation can result in interferon-related pathologies. While both positive and negative regulatory factors control the magnitude and duration of IFN signaling, it is also appreciated that a number of ISGs regulate aspects of the interferon response themselves. However, the mechanisms underlying these ISG regulatory networks remain incompletely defined. In this study, we performed a CRISPR activation screen to identify new regulators of the type I IFN response. We identified ETS variant transcription factor 7 (ETV7), a strongly induced ISG, as a protein that acts as a negative regulator of the type I IFN response; however, ETV7 did not uniformly suppress ISG transcription. Instead, ETV7 preferentially targeted a subset of known antiviral ISGs. Further, we showed the subset of ETV7-modulated ISGs was particularly important for IFN-mediated control of some viruses including influenza viruses and SARS-CoV-2. Together, our data assign a function for ETV7 as an IFN response regulator and also identify ETV7 as a therapeutic target to increase innate responses and potentiate the efficacy of interferon-based antiviral therapies. One Sentence Summary ETV7 is an interferon-induced, repressive transcription factor that negatively regulates antiviral interferon-stimulated genes essential for controlling influenza virus and SARS-CoV-2 infections.
Systematic characterization of gene function in a photosynthetic organism

Photosynthetic organisms are essential for human life, yet most of their genes remain functionally uncharacterized. Single-celled photosynthetic model systems have the potential to accelerate our ability to connect genes to functions. Here, using a barcoded mutant library of the model eukaryotic alga Chlamydomonas reinhardtii, we determined the phenotypes of more than 58,000 mutants under more than 121 different environmental growth conditions and chemical treatments. 78% of genes are represented by at least one mutant that showed a phenotype, providing clues to the functions of thousands of genes. Mutant phenotypic profiles allow us to place known and previously uncharacterized genes into functional pathways such as DNA repair, photosynthesis, the CO2-concentrating mechanism, and ciliogenesis. We illustrate the value of this resource by validating novel phenotypes and gene functions, including the discovery of three novel components of a defense pathway that counteracts actin cytoskeleton inhibitors released by other organisms. The data also inform phenotype discovery in land plants: mutants in Arabidopsis thaliana genes exhibit similar phenotypes to those we observed in their Chlamydomonas homologs. We anticipate that this resource will guide the functional characterization of genes across the tree of life.
On the Grotesque: Strategies of Contradiction in Art and Literature

The Description for this book, On the Grotesque: Strategies of Contradiction in Art and Literature, will be forthcoming.
The Rapid Adjustment to Tele-analysis and Therapy Due to COVID-19

The COVID-19 pandemic resulted in a need to be physically distant from our patients while we were all experiencing a massive life-threatening change in our lives Analysts and therapists had to stop seeing patients in-person The overnight shift to teletreatment required many adjustments This was particularly difficult for child analysis Exploring these changes allows us to further our understanding of the differences between child and adult analysis as well as to better understand what analysis is
Maternity Experiences and Perceptions of Emergency Medicine Physicians.

# INTRODUCTION Postpartum employment has been recognized as a significant obstacle to breastfeeding continuation rates in the general population. Multiple additional factors can influence emergency medicine (EM) physician mothers' ability to continue breastfeeding upon return to work. These include the unpredictable nature of emergency room volumes and acuity, absence of protected lactation time or facilities, and varying levels of support from colleagues. This study investigated a sample of female EM physicians' current perceptions and experiences regarding breastfeeding practices and identified modifiable work-place factors affecting their decision to wean. The authors hypothesized that EM physician mothers would have excellent breastfeeding initiation rates but be largely unable to maintain breastfeeding practices upon returning to work. # METHODS A 34-item survey questionnaire evaluated demographics, perceptions, and experiences with breastfeeding with a convenience sample of EM attending and resident physicians from two Michigan academic community hospitals. # RESULTS Thirty-nine surveys were completed, representing a participant response rate of 88.6%. Breastfeeding had been initiated by all respondent mothers, all of whom returned to full-time employment after delivery. Upon return to work, 15 (75%) respondents continued to exclusively breastfeed. The goal of participants was to breastfeed for an average of 7.1 months (± 4.1 months), although the average duration children were exclusively breastfed was 5.8 months (± 4.0 months). # CONCLUSIONS Based on these results, the reasons for decreased breastfeeding after return to work in an EM residency program setting are multifactorial and include some modifiable interpersonal and institutional influences. These findings support the implementation of work-place strategies and policies to promote successful breastfeeding practices among EM resident and attending physician mothers returning to work.
The Sino-Laos Railway and the Connectivity Potential for a Small State

The Laos National Railway network is a milestone in the country’s transportation history. From the Chinese perspective, the China–Laos Economic Corridor (CLEC) is a vital sub-component of China’s B...
Utilising Paralympic skill lab in higher education: exploring the student experience

The purpose of this exploratory study was to understand the impact of Paralympic Skill Lab (PSL) including how students experienced the skill lab, feelings about the experience, and the manner in w...
Space-charge limited current in planar and cylindrical crossed-field diodes using variational calculus

Crossed-field space-charge limited current (CF-SCLC) represents the maximum stable current that can be produced in crossed-field devices (CFDs); prominent CFDs include magnetrons and cyclotrons, critical technologies in vacuum electronics. While planar crossed-field geometries have the most developed theoretical models, cylindrical geometries are far more common and useful in practical applications. CFDs are characterized by the strength of the externally applied magnetic field B, orthogonal (crossed) to the electric field; this is often normalized to the magnetic insulation condition, the Hull cutoff field BH. We apply variational calculus to derive a new theoretical model for CF-SCLC for planar and cylindrical devices below and above BH. The variational model offers a concise derivation for planar results without transforming to the time domain and gives the first analytic results from first principles for cylindrical CF-SCLC. We implement a fully three-dimensional simulation in CST Particle Studio which, in addition to additional derived simple theoretical models, explains the often overlooked experimental current scaling ∝1−B/BH21/2 which decreases to zero current as B→BH−. These additional simple models reduce the maximum mismatch magnitude between theory and experiments or simulations by up to 68% compared to the variational model, with the most improvement at the critical limit B→BH−. Justification for the variational model and future applications are discussed.
DNA Fingerprinting of Gray Wolves

Plans and proposals for the restoration of gray wolves (Canis lupus) in Yellowstone National Park are being considered. An important aspect that is contemplated within these plans is the monitoring of the genetic structure of the pack(s) which might be reintroduced. This means that the restored animals, which have known and defined genotypes, could be distinguished from other unrelated and genetically different gray wolves that could be found in the Park. It also means that for every offspring observed within the pack(s) its genetic relationship with the translocated animals could be monitored; that is, establishment of parentage could be routinely carried out. Because distinguishing unrelated wolves phenotypically is practically impossible, it is necessary to rely on a technique capable of revealing sufficient genetic variation to allow individual identification of the relocated wolves, and assignment of parents to the offspring produced within the pack(s). We used the molecular biological technique called DNA fingerprinting (Jeffreys et al. 1985a) to address this aspect of the gray wolf relocation plans. This technique is based on finding particular DNA regions called hypervariable minisatellites (Jeffreys et al. 1985b), that consist of very short nucleotide sequences repeated many times in tandem and show multiallelic variation in the number of repeating units in each allele. DNA fingerprinting involves the extraction of DNA from almost any fresh tissue (blood, skin, semen, etc.), followed by its digestion with an enzyme (restriction endonuclease), that cuts the DNA molecule at specific base sequences. The DNA fragments produced by this enzymatic digestion are then separated by size along an electrical gradient in an agarose gel. A record of the fragment distribution pattern within the gel is made by blotting the DNA onto a nylon membrane (Southern blotting), to which it is permanently bonded. Those fragments among the total that carry a particular nucleotide sequence are identified via hybridization with a radioactively labeled "probe" molecule carrying the complementary nucleotide sequence (in this case, the core sequence of the tandem repetitive units). The positions at which the probe attaches are recorded by exposing X-ray film to the hybridized membrane. The resulting autoradiograph shows dozens of bands that correspond to the many different fragment sizes bearing the core sequence. This is the "fingerprint".
Human hepatic N-acetylglutamate content and N-acetylglutamate synthase activity. Determination by stable isotope dilution.

N-Acetyl-L-glutamate (N-acetylglutamate) content and N-acetylglutamate synthase activity ranges were established in human liver tissue homogenates by stable isotope dilution. The methods employ N-[methyl-2H3]acetyl[15N]glutamate as internal standard, extraction of N-acetylglutamate by anion-exchange technique and its determination by g.l.c.-mass spectrometry by using selected ion monitoring. Hepatic N-acetylglutamate content in 16 different human livers, normal in structure and function, ranged from 6.8 to 59.7 nmol/g wet wt. (25.0 +/- 13.4 mean +/- S.D.) or from 64.6 to 497.6 nmol/g of protein (223.2 +/- 104.2 mean +/- S.D.). In vitro, N-acetylglutamate synthase activity in liver tissue homogenate ranged from 44.5 to 374.5 (132.0 +/- 90.6 mean +/- S.D.) nmol/min per g wet wt. or from 491.7 to 3416.9 (1159.6 +/- 751.1 mean +/- S.D.) nmol/min per g of protein. No correlation was found between hepatic N-acetylglutamate concentrations and the respective maximal enzymic activities in vitro of N-acetylglutamate synthase. The marked variability in this system among individual livers may reflect its regulatory role in ureagenesis.
Oxidation of Carbon Monoxide by Bacteria

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses the oxidation of carbon monoxide (CO) by bacteria. The CO generated in soil and in the lower layers of the atmosphere is oxidized to CO 2 locally by biological agents, principally microbes. CO is added to the atmosphere in significant amounts through the incomplete combustion of fossil fuels and by atmospheric reactions. Bacteria that oxidize CO may be subdivided according to their ability to use CO as an energy source for growth (utilitarian oxidation) or based on whether the oxidation process is a gratuitous one (nonutilitarian oxidation) resulting from the acceptance of CO as a pseudosubstrate for an enzyme system evolved to catalyze another process. CO is inhibitory for all aerobic respiratory organisms. Even in aerobic carboxydobacteria, the high concentrations of CO reduce the growth rate and cellular yield, thereby indicating that CO tolerance is a necessary part of the ability to use CO at higher concentrations. Phototrophic bacteria may remove significant amounts of CO formed during the degradation of photosynthetic pigments in decaying vegetative materials in anaerobic sediments. The chapter also discusses the applications of the bacterial CO oxidation.
Observable Effects of Rotation on Stellar Abundances

This is a review of our understanding of the effects of rotation on the stellar interior through an examination of observed surface stellar abundances. First, the evolution of angular momentum from the pre-main sequence through the giant phase is summarized. Attempts are then made to decipher the signature of abundance anomalies due to meridional circulation and rotational braking with reference to available theoretical models. Finally, special cases such as tidally-locked binaries and chromospherically-active giants are examined to determine if their rotational peculiarites have induced abundance anomalies.
Scheduling in the Grid application development software project

Developing Grid applications is a challenging endeavor that at the moment requires both extensive labor and expertise. The Grid Application Development Software Project (GrADS) provides a system to simplify Grid application development. This system incorporates tools at all stages of the application development and execution cycle. In this chapter we focus on application scheduling, and present the three scheduling approaches developed in GrADS: development of an initial application schedule (launch-time scheduling), modification of the execution platform during execution (rescheduling), and negotiation between multiple applications in the system (metascheduling). These approaches have been developed and evaluated for platforms that consist of distributed networks of shared workstations, and applied to real-world parallel applications.
Specification of the occurrence of equatorial ionospheric scintillations during the main phase of large magnetic storms within solar cycle 23

[1] Satellite communication and navigation systems operating at low latitudes suffer outages due to ionospheric scintillations during large magnetic storms that are not currently specified by any model. This paper describes and demonstrates how in the framework of an eastward electric field penetration from high to low latitudes at dusk during the main phase of a large storm, for which the rate of change of Dst ≤ −50 nT/h and the Dst minimum index ≤ −100 nT, it is possible to specify the longitude interval within the low-latitude ionosphere where scintillations and plasma bubbles are most likely to occur. It is known that the eastward prompt penetration electric field becomes enhanced near sunset due to the day-to-night conductivity gradient. Such enhanced eastward electric fields generally set off the Rayleigh-Taylor plasma instability at F region heights and cause the formation of plasma bubbles and irregularities of electron density that give rise to scintillations of satellite signals. We first discuss two individual magnetic storms that satisfy the criterion of large magnetic storms mentioned above and for which the onsets of the main phase are about 15 h apart. We show that the dusk sectors corresponding to these two storms are such that irregularities and scintillations were observed in the Atlantic-Peruvian longitude sector for one storm and in the Pacific sector for the other. We then present a statistical study with 30 large magnetic storms during solar cycle 23 which satisfy the two criteria of large magnetic storms and we attempt to specify the longitude interval of irregularity and scintillation occurrence during the main phase of such storms. We have tracked globally the occurrence of equatorial scintillations during magnetic storms by the use of scintillation observations made by the Air Force Research Laboratory's Scintillation Network Decision Aid (SCINDA) network and the DMSP satellite in situ measurements of plasma bubbles at 840 km. The statistical study reveals that during large magnetic storms, scintillations and plasma bubbles occur over a specific longitude sector for which the local dusk corresponds to the time interval of the main phase of storms. The magnetic storm induced scintillations may enhance the general seasonal/longitudinal pattern of quiet time scintillations at the station but may also occur where it is least expected in accordance with climatology. The storm time response of the equatorial ionosphere discussed in this paper will be implemented in the SCINDA algorithm to enhance its capability to specify scintillations during large magnetic storms.
Axial length decrease accompanying successful glaucoma filtration surgery.

Abstract Objective To evaluate change in axial length measurement after successful glaucoma filtering surgery. Design Retrospective consecutive case series. Participants Sixty-two patients with phakia who underwent primary trabeculectomy. Intervention The A-scan biometry of ocular axial length before and after trabeculectomy. Main outcome measures Changes in ocular axial length measurement after successful trabeculectomy were analyzed. Results The mean decrease in axial length measurement was 0.423 mm (range, −2.8 to +0.5 mm). Regression analysis yielded a statistically significant association between decrease in axial length measurement and age ( P = 0.0001) and post-trabeculectomy intraocular pressure decrease greater than 30 mmHg ( P = 0.01). Analysis of variance revealed a significant association between decrease in axial length measurement and use of antimetabolite ( P = 0.005). Pseudophakic axial length measurements increased an average of 0.275 mm compared to the axial length after trabeculectomy and before cataract surgery. Conclusions Axial length measurement decreased in 32 of 62 eyes after successful initial trabeculectomy. A decrease in axial length measurement may have an influence on intraocular lens calculations. Therefore, the authors recommend that an axial length measurement be obtained on phakic eyes before an initial trabeculectomy to reduce the risk of an inaccurate intraocular lens power calculation based on post-trabeculectomy axial length measurements.
Electronic structure and chemical bonding of a highly stable and aromatic auro-aluminum oxide cluster.

We have produced an auro–aluminum oxide cluster, Au2(AlO)2–, as a possible model for an Au–alumina interface and investigated its electronic and structural properties using photoelectron spectroscopy and density functional theory. An extremely large energy gap (3.44 eV) is observed between the lowest unoccupied and the highest occupied molecular orbitals of Au2(AlO)2, suggesting its high electronic stability. The global minima of both Au2(AlO)2– and Au2(AlO)2 are found to have D2h symmetry with the two Au atoms bonded to the Al atoms of a nearly square-planar (AlO)2 unit. Chemical bonding analyses reveal a strong σ bond between Au and Al, as well as a completely delocalized π bond over the (AlO)2 unit, rendering aromatic character to the Au2(AlO)2 cluster. The high electronic stability and novel chemical bonding uncovered for Au2(AlO)2 suggest that it may be susceptible to chemical syntheses as a stable compound if appropriate ligands can be found.
The methodological basis of Hirschman's development economics: Pattern model vs general laws

Abstract This paper attempts to understand the methodological foundations of Albert Hirschman's work in development economics. His work clearly differs from the formal and econometric approach of standard economics. Because of this Hirschman is often dismissed as a pamphleteer. This paper argues that Hirschman's work can be understood as an example of what philosophers of social science call holistic pattern modeling.
Against All Odds: A Case Study of one White, Middle‐Class, Female Teacher Becoming an Engaged Intellectual

Brooke eagerly made the drive from her upstate suburban home to the urban busyness of New York City, where she would begin a Masters programme in Literacy Education. After taking out a costly loan ...
Cerebrospinal Fluid Concentration of Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor and Cognitive Function in Non-Demented Subjects

Background Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) is an activity-dependent secreted protein that is critical to organization of neuronal networks and synaptic plasticity, especially in the hippocampus. We tested hypothesis that reduced CSF BDNF is associated with age-related cognitive decline. Methodology/Principal Findings, and Conclusions/Significance CSF concentration of BDNF, Aβ42 and total tau were measured in 128 cognitively normal adults (Normals), 21 patients with Alzheimer's disease (AD), and nine patients with Mild Cognitive Impairment. Apolipoprotein E and BDNF SNP rs6265 genotype were determined. Neuropsychological tests were performed at baseline for all subjects and at follow-up visits in 50 Normals. CSF BDNF level was lower in AD patients compared to age-matched Normals (p = 0.02). CSF BDNF concentration decreased with age among Normals and was higher in women than men (both p<0.001). After adjusting for age, gender, education, CSF Aβ42 and total tau, and APOE and BDNF genotypes, lower CSF BDNF concentration was associated poorer immediate and delayed recall at baseline (both p<0.05) and in follow up of approximately 3 years duration (both p<0.01). Conclusions/Significance Reduced CSF BDNF was associated with age-related cognitive decline, suggesting a potential mechanism that may contribute in part to cognitive decline in older individuals.
Smooth and collision-free navigation for multiple robots under differential-drive constraints

We present a method for smooth and collision-free navigation for multiple independent robots under differential-drive constraints. Our algorithm is based on the optimal reciprocal collision avoidance formulation and guarantees both smoothness in the trajectories of the robots and locally collision-free paths. We provide proofs of these guarantees and demonstrate the effectiveness of our method in experimental scenarios using iRobot Create mobile robots navigating amongst each other.
THYROID-OVARIAN RELATIONS I. INFLUENCE OF OVARIAN HORMONES ON THYROID HYPERPLASIA1

THE TREMENDOUS INCREASE in the use of estrogenic substances in the treatment of various functional disturbances of women has brought with it a bewildering array of claims and counterclaims regarding their efficacy. This unhappy state of affairs is due largely to our limited knowledge of the behavior of ovarian hormones in the presence of functional disturbances originating in other endocrine glands. This is particularly true as it relates to the disturbances of thyroid function, probably the commonest endocrine disturbance encountered in women during the reproductive and menopausal periods. We long have been under the impression that altered thyroid states materially affect the efficacy of a given estrogenic substance, and it seems to us that this subject deserves more intensive study along experimental as well as clinical lines. As yet, we are not in a position to present sufficient clinical data to permit conclusions.
Acute effects of gabapentin on laboratory measures of aggressive and escape responses of adult parolees with and without a history of conduct disorder.

Rationale The possible role of GABA in human aggression was evaluated by administering gabapentin to subjects with and without a history of conduct disorder and comparing the effects on laboratory measures of aggression and escape.
Interpersonal Dependency Constructs and Male Perpetrators of Intimate Partner Violence

This study analyzed the subscales of the Interpersonal Dependency Inventory to investigate the levels of dependency among men court ordered to enter a batterers intervention program, determine associations between the subscales and violence, and evaluate the treatment's ability to change dependency on program completers. A secondary analysis with 114 men was used. Results indicated that using negotiation tactics and psychological aggression were significantly associated with emotional reliance on another person. Furthermore, the level of injury inflicted on a partner was associated with 2 subscales. No change in the level of dependency was found. Implications regarding treatment were explored and discussed.
Experiments and Target-Gas Storage at the Cea at the Time of the July 5, 1965 Accident and Fire

This paper is concerned with the experimental systems and the materials which contributed to the explosion and fire of July 5, 1965, at the Cambridge Electron Accelerator (CEA) [1].
An architecture for online semantic labeling on UGVs

We describe an architecture to provide online semantic labeling capabilities to field robots operating in urban environments. At the core of our system is the stacked hierarchical classifier developed by Munoz et al., which classifies regions in monocular color images using models derived from hand labeled training data. The classifier is trained to identify buildings, several kinds of hard surfaces, grass, trees, and sky. When taking this algorithm into the real world, practical concerns with difficult and varying lighting conditions require careful control of the imaging process. First, camera exposure is controlled by software, examining all of the image's pixels, to compensate for the poorly performing, simplistic algorithm used on the camera. Second, by merging multiple images taken with different exposure times, we are able to synthesize images with higher dynamic range than the ones produced by the sensor itself. The sensor 's limited dynamic range makes it difficult to, at the same time, properly expose areas in shadow along with high albedo surfaces that are directly illuminated by the sun. Texture is a key feature used by the classifier, and under /over exposed regions lacking texture are a leading cause of misclassifications. The results of the classifier are shared with higher-lev elements operating in the UGV in order to perform tasks such as building identification from a distance and finding traversable surfaces.
Interleukin-22-Producing Natural Killer Cells and Lymphoid Tissue Inducer-like Cells in Mucosal Immunity

Blood, lymphoid tissues, and placenta contain diverse subpopulations of natural killer (NK) cells that possess distinct immune functions. Recent studies have shown that human and mouse gut-associated lymphoid tissues harbor a unique NK cell subset that specializes in production of interleukin (IL)-22. This cytokine plays a role in host defense of mucosal barriers, although dysregulated secretion may cause autoimmune disease. In parallel, human fetal lymphoid tissue inducer (LTi) cells and mouse adult LTi-like cells in secondary lymphoid tissues were found to release IL-22, as well as IL-17, a proinflammatory cytokine that mediates host defense against extracellular pathogens. Here, we compare these recently identified immune cells, reviewing what is known about their anatomical location, differentiation requirements, function, and potential involvement in host defense and autoimmunity. Finally, we discuss the challenges faced in furthering our understanding of the developmental relationships and role of NK and LTi-like cells in mucosal immune responses.
Relationships Between Drinking Motives and Smoking Expectancies Among Daily Smokers Who Are Also Problem Drinkers

Objective: There is a high co-occurrence of problem drinking and regular cigarette smoking, and cognitive processes (e.g., motivation to use, expectations about the consequences of use) related to each are positively associated with one another. We explored drinking motives in relation to cognitive-based smoking processes among smokers with problematic drinking. We expected that drinking coping motives would be associated with smoking consequences related to negative reinforcement and negative personal outcomes and inflexibility of smoking behavior; observed effects for coping motives would be unique from shared variance with other motives and incrementally evident beyond the variance accounted for by tobacco-related health problems, smoking rate, negative affectivity, cannabis use, and gender.Methods: The sample included 195 individuals recruited into a larger study of smoking cessation treatments (i.e., they were interested in quitting), who were heavy drinkers and smoked daily. Participants were primar...
Invariant Subspaces of Operators on lp-Spaces

While the algebra of infinite matrices is more or less reasonable, the analysis is not. Questions about norms and spectra are likely to be recalcitrant. Each of the few answers that is known is considered a respectable mathematical accomplishment.P.R. Halmos [3, p. 24]A continuous operator T: X → X on a Banach space is quasinilpotent at a pointx0 whenever limn→∞||Tnx0||1/n = 0. Several results on the existence of invariant subspaces of operators which act on lp-spaces and are quasinilpotent at a non-zero point are obtained. For instance, it is shown that if an infinite positive matrix A = [aij] defines a continuous operator on an lp-space (1 ≤ p < ∞) and A is quasinilpotent at a positive vector, then for any bounded double sequence of complex numbers {wij: i,j = 1, 2, ... } the operator defined by the weighted infinite matrix [wijaij] has a non-trivial complemented invariant closed subspace.
Differential effects of chromosome 3p deletion on the expression of the putative tumor suppressor RARβ and on retinoid resistance in human squamous carcinoma cells

Retinoids' effects on cell growth and differentiation are mediated by nuclear retinoid receptors, which are ligand-activated transcription enhancing factors. Because the expression of the retinoic acid receptor beta (RARbeta) gene, which is located on chromosome 3p24, is diminished in premalignant and malignant tissues it has been proposed that it acts as a tumor suppressor. To test the hypothesis that RARbeta loss leads to retinoid resistance, we studied several karyotyped head and neck squamous carcinoma (HNSCC) cell lines (UMSCC-17A, -17B, -22A, -22B, and -38) with deletion of one chromosome 3p arm. RARbeta mRNA was neither detected nor induced by retinoic acid in these cells, whereas it was expressed and induced by retinoic acid in two other HNSCC cell lines (1483 and 183) without 3p deletion. Methylation of the RARbeta gene promoter was detected in the 17B and 22B cells that failed to express RARbeta but no methylation was found in 183A cells that did express RARbeta mRNA. Responsiveness of HNSCC cells to several retinoids in assays of growth inhibition and colony formation, was rank ordered as: 22B>1483>38>183>17B. Additionally, retinoid response elements were transactivated in 22B more efficiently than in 17B cells. These results indicate that loss of RARbeta expression does not necessarily lead to loss of growth inhibition by retinoids or to a block of retinoid signaling.
Total Dietary Fiber Content of Selected Nuts by Two Enzymatic–Gravimetric Methods

Abstract Eight nuts (almond, cashew, macadamia, peanut, pecan, pistachio, sunflower, and walnut) were analyzed for total dietary fiber content using a simplified enzymatic–gravimetric method and a AOAC/MES–TRIS buffer method. Mean total dietary fiber values for three brands of each type of nut ranged from 3.6% for cashew to 14.9% for macadamia, with the other nuts having values between 6.2 and 10.5%. Variability between brands for a given nut is greater than that between the mean of two methods. Chemical analysis of selected dietary fiber residues for nonstarch polysaccharides (the sum of neutral sugars and uronic acids) indicated that for certain nuts, for example macadamia and almonds, high total dietary fiber values may be due to components other than nonstarch polysaccharides and lignin.
Measuring the photochemical production of carbon dioxide from marine dissolved organic matter by pool isotope exchange.

CO2 is the major known product of solar photolysis of marine dissolved organic matter (DOM). Measuring the rate of this globally significant process is hindered by low rates per unit volume, high b...