cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Systematic collection of patient-reported adverse drug reactions: a path to patient-centred pharmacovigilance.

1 IntroductionOver the past 15 years, evidence has mounted that patientself-reporting of symptomatic adverse drug reactions isboth feasible and informative. Multiple recent reports havedescribed programmes internationally in which patientself-reports provide data beyond reporting by health pro-fessionals [1–5]. Various models have been used and thereare several essential lessons to be learned from theseexperiences, in addition to work using patient-reported datain related contexts such as clinical trials and routine clin-ical practice.2 It is Essential to Systematically Collect Informationfrom Patients Rather than Rely on SpontaneousReportingMany adverse event reporting systems rely on volun-tary (spontaneous) reports by patients and/or clinicians.Although submitted information can be informative insome cases, the denominator of potential reporters isunknown, and many adverse reactions are missed due tolack of interest, willingness, availability, or awareness ofstakeholders to report. As a result, the absolute number ofreports collected via these systems is generally low andoften does not reﬂect the experience of patients comparedwith systematic collection [6]. Patients are not engaged aspartners in the data collection enterprise.Systematic elicitation of information from patientsprovides a known denominator and a more comprehensivepicture within a population. This can be achieved in limitedpopulations via registries, or through wide implementationusing existing or envisioned infrastructure to engagepatients. The paper by Leone et al. in this issue of DrugSafety [7] describes successful implementation of a regio-nal programme through the mechanism of local pharma-cies. Information is systematically elicited from patientswho are engaged by their local pharmacists. This approachdoes more than use an existing infrastructure of localpharmacies for distribution of questionnaires–it creates apartnership between practitioners and patients in anendeavour to understand the experience of both the indi-vidual patient and the broader population.This programme mirrors successful engagement approa-ches in other contexts, such as clinical trials where datamanagers form relationships with patients to encouragereporting, or routine practice settings where customizedinvitation letters are sent to patients from their doctor ornurse.3 Backup Data Collection Systems ReduceMissing DataA lesson learned from the collection of patient-reportedinformation in prospective clinical trials and registries isthat the frequency of missing patient reports is highlydependent on how this information is collected. In partic-ular, data can be recovered from those who are initiallyunable or unwilling to self-report, through the use ofbackup data collection methods. These may include elec-tronic reminders via mail, email or telephone, with ahuman call to those who continue not to report. This
TRANSMISSION OF HERPES-SIMPLEX VIRUS TYPE 1 IN A NURSERY FOR THE NEWBORN IDENTIFICATION OF VIRAL ISOLATES BY D.N.A. "FINGERPRINTING"

Abstract The occurrence of herpes-simplex-virus type-1 infections in two newborn infants in a nursery within a one-month period suggested the possibility of transmission in the nursery. One infant may have been infected by his father, who had active herpes labialis at the time of the child's birth. The source of the second infant's infection was not apparent. Viruses isolated from the two infants were "fingerprinted" by cleaving the virus-specific D.N.A. with several restriction endonucleases and comparing the electrophoretic patterns. Isolates from the two infants were identical and differed from other isolates from epidemiologically unrelated cases. This observation confirmed the possibility of transmission of herpes-simplex virus type 1 in the nursery, but did not define the mode of transmission. Type-1 infections are serious in neonates: one of the infants died and an œsophageal stricture developed in the other. The "fingerprinting" technique provides a useful epidemiological technique for tracing the transmission of herpesvirus infections.
Catchment geomorphology and the dynamics of runoff contributing areas

Abstract This paper stresses the dynamic nature of runoff-contributing areas and their relationship to the geomorphological structure of catchments. Example calculations show that both runoff and flood frequency predictions may be very sensitive to assumptions about the nature of the contributing area. An extension of the Beven-Kirkby model is proposed to predict variable contributing areas. The results presented are sufficiently encouraging to suggest that the improved model is worthy of further study.
Buffer overflow in a store-and-forward network node

Equilibrium behavior of a store-and-forward network node with finite buffer capacity is studied via a network-of-queues model. The positive acknowledgment protocol is explicitly modeled and consumes part of the buffer pool. The principal results are the buffer overflow probability, the mean delays, and the distribution of queue lengths as functions of the buffer capacity and traffic levels.
The Effect of Substituents on Pyridinium Cation Formation on Pt(110)

In a recent paper we found that pyridinium cations (C5H5NH+) form during the coadsorption of pyridine and hydrogen on Pt(110) in UHV. In this paper the coadsorption of hydrogen and 2- or 3-fluoropyridine is examined with EELS to see how changes in molecular properties affect the stability of the ions. We find fluoropyridinium cations (C5H4FNH+) can form when 2-fluoro- or 3-fluoropyridine is adsorbed on a hydrogen precovered Pt(110) surface. However, the ion concentration is much lower with the fluorinated pyridines than with pyridine as expected since the proton affinity of the substituted pyridines is much lower than that of pyridine. Detailed analysis shows that the trends in the data cannot be explained by simply considering the variations in the proton affinity. Instead it appears that the strength of the pairwise repulsions between adjacent cations on the Pt(110) surface plays a key role in the stability of the cations.
Analysis of thermally induced stresses on the core node bonds of a co-cured sandwich panel

During process development testing of the ARES I composite interstage, large regions of node disbonds were observed in the aluminum honeycomb core. The sandwich panels were composed of carbon fiber/epoxy face sheets and one-eighth inch cell size aluminum core co-cured in an autoclave. Node disbonds were initially observed after cure with ultrasonic inspection and subsequently confirmed with X-ray inspection and cross sectioning. A stress analysis was performed on the residual thermal stresses resulting from post-cure cool down. Analysis indicated that the thermal stresses in the aluminum core are a function of foil thickness of the aluminum core. Thermal stresses are relieved through disbonding of the adhesive node. The node disbonds were shown to significantly reduce the shear capability of the sandwich structure. Funding was provided by the ARES I Upper Stage Project.
A peptidyl derivative of [3H]aniline as a sensitive, stable, protease substrate.

Abstract A peptidyl derivative of [ 3 H]aniline, Gly-Gly-Arg-[ 3 H]anilide, can be used as a substrate in a convenient and sensitive assay procedure for trypsin, urokinase, and plasminogen activator from transformed cells. The extent of hydrolysis can be determined simply by selective extraction of the product [ 3 H]aniline into an organic phase containing a scintillant. (The uncleaved peptide is not appreciably soluble in this phase and is not counted.) The reaction is of comparable sensitivity to fluorimetric assays, but has the advantage that no cleanup of the biological sample is required, since it is far less subject to interference from fluorescence quenching. Other peptidyl anilides should be useful for assaying proteolytic enzymes with widely varying specificities.
Comments on Maganti R et al. Nonconvulsive status epilepticus. Epilepsy & Behavior 2008;12:572-586

Early in the review, the authors discuss the difficulties both in defining NCSE and in diagnosing it — not unrelated problems. The late, eminent epileptologist and clinical neurophysiologist, Ernst Niedermeyer, said, “There is no disease named epilepsy” [2], and, similarly, the section on nosology in this paper reinforces the point that there is no single illness called nonconvulsive status epilepticus. Indeed, there are no “universally accepted definitions,” and there may never be. As the authors point out, the differential diagnosis of ongoing spells without convulsions is large. Although some clinical manifestations are characteristic or strongly suggestive of NCSE, NCSE may have no overt clinical signs. Of course, it may also have clinical signs that are not convulsive, e.g., aphasic seizures or status epilepticus (SE) [3]. The diagnosis often rests on the EEG, but as the authors state, there are no pathognomonic EEG patterns of NCSE (below). As they note also, even the duration of seizure activity (clinical or electrographic) cannot be a reliable criterion, as different types of nonconvulsive seizures may have different durations before they become a “fixed and lasting condition” [4]. Finally, response to treatment is a good way of diagnosing NCSE — when it works quickly! After long episodes of NCSE, however, the response to treatment may be quite delayed, often asmuch as 24 h or longer [5,6], so this diagnostic “criterion”maynot be reachedwithin the timewhen the clinician needs to make decisions about further treatment.
Order from disorder, corralling cholesterol with chaotic lipids. The role of polyunsaturated lipids in membrane raft formation.

Abstract A myriad of health benefits including the prevention of cancer and heart disease accompanies consumption of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA). Of special importance is the ω-3-PUFA docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), with 22 carbons and six double bonds that constitute the most highly unsaturated fatty acid naturally occurring. Our experiments target the membrane as a likely site of action and focus upon the interaction of cholesterol with PUFA-containing phospholipids. They support the idea that steric incompatibility of the rigid steroid moiety for highly disordered PUFA chains promotes lateral segregation of lipids into PUFA-rich/sterol-poor and PUFA-poor/sterol-rich regions. Solid state 2H NMR and X-ray diffraction demonstrate that the solubility of cholesterol is low in polyunsaturated bilayers. In mixed membranes of phosphatidylethanolamine (PE) with the lipid raft-forming molecules sphingomyelin (SM) and cholesterol, diminished affinity of the sterol for 1-[2H31]palmitoyl-2-docosahexaenoylphosphatidylethanolamine ([2H31]16:0-22:6PE) relative to 1-[2H31]palmitoyl-2-oleoylphosphatidylethanolamine ([2H31]16:0-18:1PE) is identified by 2H NMR order parameters. Here, lies the origin of a potential biological advantage of the relatively modest increase in PUFA content of plasma membranes that would be conferred by dietary supplementation. We hypothesize that the enhanced propensity to form SM-/cholesterol-rich rafts as well as PUFA-rich/cholesterol-poor microdomains would modify the function of proteins for which these respective regions provide a platform.
Canonical Partition Relations

Several canonical partition theorems are obtained, including a simultaneous generalization of Neumer's lemma and the Erdos-Rado theorem. The canonical partition relation for infinite cardinals is completely determined, answering a question of Erdos and Rado. Counterexamples are given showing that in several ways these results cannot be improved.
Intelligent control workstation

The authors describe an intelligent control laboratory that can be used to teach undergraduate and graduate process control courses and to design intelligent control systems for real-time applications. A software library accessible by a workstation consists of several numerical simulation packages and expert systems, which cover a wide spectrum of process control knowledge. The 'wet' laboratory section features a prototype biochemical reactor with complete PID control systems interfaced with the microcomputers, which are located in the 'dry' section of the laboratory. Artificial intelligence techniques are implemented to control and manage the laboratory experiments and to serve as an intelligent teaching tool for chemical and biochemical engineering. >
Association of Prokaryotic and Eukaryotic Chaperone Proteins with the Human 1α,25-Dihydroxyvitamin D3 Receptor

Abstract Steroid hormone receptors (SHR) form complexes with heat shock proteins (hsps). The 1α,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 receptor (VDR) has not been previously shown to interact with hsps. During expression and purification of VDR–glutathione S-transferase (VDR–GST) fusion proteins encompassing full-length, DNA, and ligand-binding domains of the VDR (FL-VDR, DBD-VDR, and LBD-VDR), we observed binding of bacterial hsps with VDR–GST constructs. All VDR constructs bound DnaK in amounts greater than GST alone and bound smaller amounts of DnaJ or GrpE. GroEL bound only to FL-VDR. GroES did not bind to VDR. When VDR–GST constructs were incubated with a reticulocyte lysate system that has been used previously to examine SHR–hsp interactions, eukaryotic hsc70 was detected bound to FL-VDR and DBD-VDR. Binding of hsp90 to VDR was not detected. However, geldanamycin, an hsp90 inhibitor, reduced 1α,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3-mediated gene activation in osteoblasts. Our data show that the bacterial and eukaryotic hsps associate with the VDR and might be involved in VDR function.
Judicial Backlash or Just Backlash? Evidence from a National Experiment

The question about whether there is a distinctive public reaction when the Supreme Court decides constitutional issues — the question of judicial backlash — permeates our discussions of constitutional law, yet we have little to no empirical research about how people think about this issue. To answer this question, we conducted an experiment before the midterm congressional elections in the fall of 2010. We hypothesized that people respond to an institution based on whether the institution is seen as supporting or threatening their cultural worldview. Half of study subjects were assigned to a condition in which a constitutional right to gay marriage was protected and the other half were assigned to a condition in which a constitutional right to carry a concealed weapon was protected (with half of each of these subject populations being told the Court decided the issue and half being told that Congress did). Our results support the hypothesis that the cultural valence of the decision by the Court or Congress triggered the institutional choice of subjects. The Court does polarize underlying opinions on the constitutional issue and voting preferences more than Congress does. Our results suggest complications for efforts to decide constitutional issues in a manner appealing to all Americans. Our results also suggest that the Court and Congress might be able aggressively to decide constitutional issues because the public has no fixed sense of their respective institutional roles. We conclude by discussing what our results mean for interested communities outside of government, including social movements and constitutional theorists.
Vibration-rotation spectrum of BH X1Σ+ by Fourier transform emission spectroscopy

Abstract The vibration-rotation emission spectrum of the BH X 1 Σ + state was observed with the McMath Fourier transform spectrometer at Kitt Peak. The 1-0, 2-1, and 3-2 bands were observed in a microwave discharge of B 2 H 6 in He. Spectroscopic constants of the individual vibrational levels and equilibrium molecular constants were determined. An RKR potential curve was calculated from the equilibrium constants.
Constitutive Activation of rac1 Results in Mitochondrial Oxidative Stress and Induces Premature Endothelial Cell Senescence

Objective— Oxidative stress has been implicated in cellular senescence and vascular aging. We determined the role and mechanism of the small GTPase rac1 in vascular endothelial cell senescence. Methods and Results— Adenoviral-mediated expression of the constitutively active allele of rac 1 ( rac 1V12) in human umbilical vein endothelial cells resulted in mitochondrial oxidative stress with induction of biochemical, molecular, and morphological features of senescence. Suppression of mitochondrial oxidative stress abrogated rac 1-induced premature senescence. Rac 1V12 expression also resulted in an increase in endothelial ceramide levels. Moreover, premature endothelial cell senescence induced by an exogenous cell-permeable ceramide analog was not suppressed by inhibiting endogenous rac 1 signaling. Finally, in human umbilical vein endothelial cells that had undergone replicative senescence, rac 1 was not activated, and expression of the dominant-negative rac 1 allele ( rac 1N17) did not suppress mitochondrial oxidative stress. Conclusions— These findings paint a picture in which the constitutive activation of rac 1, via the generation of ceramide, results in mitochondrial oxidative stress and premature endothelial cell senescence. However, they speak against a role for endogenous rac1 activation in the induction of mitochondrial oxidative stress associated with replicative senescence of endothelial cells.
Comparison of genomic and traditional BLUP-estimated breeding value accuracy and selection response under alternative trait and genomic parameters

Accuracy of prediction of estimated breeding values based on genome-wide markers (GEBV) and selection based on GEBV as compared with traditional Best Linear Unbiased Prediction (BLUP) was examined for a number of alternatives, including low heritability, number of generations of training, marker density, initial distributions, and effective population size (Ne). Results show that the more the generations of data in which both genotypes and phenotypes were collected, termed training generations (TG), the better the accuracy and persistency of accuracy based on GEBV. GEBV excelled for traits of low heritability regardless of initial equilibrium conditions, as opposed to traditional marker-assisted selection, which is not useful for traits of low heritability. Effective population size is critical for populations starting in Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium but not for populations started from mutation-drift equilibrium. In comparison with traditional BLUP, GEBV can exceed the accuracy of BLUP provided enough TG are included. Unfortunately selection rapidly reduces the accuracy of GEBV. In all cases examined, classic BLUP selection exceeds what was possible for GEBV selection. Even still, GEBV could have an advantage over traditional BLUP in cases such as sex-limited traits, traits that are expensive to measure, or can only be measured on relatives. A combined approach, utilizing a mixed model with a second random effect to account for quantitative trait loci in linkage equilibrium (the polygenic effect) was suggested as a way to capitalize on both methodologies.
Robust stochastic mapping towards the SLAM problem

This paper presents a robust extended Kalman filter (REKF) applied to the simultaneous localization and mapping (SLAM) problem. Conventional Kalman filter methods suffer from the assumption of Gaussian noise statistics, which often lead to failures when these assumptions do not hold. Additionally, the linearization errors associated with the implementation of the standard EKF can also severely degrade the performance of the localization estimate. Currently, stochastic mapping provides a framework for the concurrent mapping of landmarks and localization of the vehicle with respect to the landmarks. However, the stochastic map is essentially an augmented EKF with the limitations thereof. This research addresses the linearization and Guassian assumption errors as they relate to the SLAM problem by proposing a new method, robust stochastic mapping. The robust stochastic map uses a Robust EKF (REKF) in order to address these limitations through the implementation of the bounded Hinfin norm. Experimental data are presented to illustrate the advantage of the localization using the proposed estimation procedure
The Use of Internal Maxillary Distraction for Maxillary Hypoplasia: A Preliminary Report

Purpose Distraction osteogenesis is a useful alternative to advance the maxilla in complicated cases of maxillary hypoplasia. The purpose of this article is to review the workup, experience, and preliminary results with the use of internal distraction osteogenesis for maxillary hypoplasia at one teaching institution. Patients and Materials Over a 5-year period, more than 300 patients with craniofacial and dentofacial defects have undergone oral and maxillofacial surgery at our center to correct their skeletal discrepancies. Of these, 10 have had maxillary distraction osteogenesis done with internal distractors. Follow-up of 6 months or more was available for 8 patients. Stereolithographic models were used to bend distractors prior to surgery in 6 patients. Results Latency prior to the start of distraction was 3 to 7 days and varied with the age of the patient. Distraction occurred at approximately 1 mm per day with an average distraction length of 8.5 mm (range, 6-10 mm). Excellent occlusal results were obtained in 5 patients. Major complications including nonunion and failure to achieve acceptable occlusal results were observed in 3 patients. Minor complications including pain and loosening of the distracter devices were observed in 2 patients, but did not appear to affect the esthetic and functional results. Conclusions Distraction osteogenesis is a useful alternative to traditional orthognathic surgery to treat maxillary hypoplasia. Internal distractions are attractive to patients, but are more difficult to place and can cause discomfort to patients when trying to achieve an ideal primary vector of distraction. Stereolithographic models can help with placement of the device. Changes in design of distractors may help with patient discomfort.
High-risk subgroups of patients with non-Q wave myocardial infarction based on direction and severity of ST segment deviation.

Abstract To determine the significance of the direction of ST segment deviation on admission of patients who evolved non-Q wave myocardial infarction (MI), 97 patients with initial ST segment depression were compared to 207 patients with initial ST segment elevation. Patients with ST segment depression developed smaller infarcts than those with ST segment elevation (creatine kinase MB isoenzyme 8.2 vs 13.3 gmEq/m 2 , p p p
Cerebrospinal fluid: implications in oral and maxillofacial surgery.

Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) is an essential component of the central nervous system. It serves as a cushion and lubricant for the cerebral hemispheres, the cerebellum, and the layers of meninges. CSF pathology, including leaks and fistulas, has been documented in a variety of clinical situations, ranging from trauma to skull base surgery, including functional endoscopy and spontaneous. Galen, in the second century AD, was the first to document a description of a CSF fistula (identified as rhinorrhea).1,2 The first correlation between CSF rhinorrhea and craniomaxillofacial trauma was made in the seventeenth century by Bidloo the Elder.3-5 Before World War I, the etiology of CSF leaks was believed to be primarily spontaneous, but after the war, the majority were then identified as rhinorrhea secondary to trauma.2 CSF fistula is a serious and potentially fatal condition. Successful management requires a thorough understanding of the pertinent anatomy and pathophysiolgy. The purpose of this article is to review the anatomy and physiology of CSF, elaborate on the clinical significance of CSF fistulas, and highlight the etiology and management of CSF leaks as seen in oral and maxillofacial surgery.
Analysis of the component architecture overhead in open MPI

Component architectures provide a useful framework for developing an extensible and maintainable code base upon which large-scale software projects can be built.Component methodologies have only recently been incorporated into applications by the High Performance Computing community, in part because of the perception that component architectures necessarily incur an unacceptable performance penalty.The Open MPI project is creating a new implementation of the Message Passing Interface standard, based on a custom component architecture the Modular Component Architecture (MCA) to enable straightforward customization of a high-performance MPI implementation. This paper reports on a detailed analysis of the performance overhead in Open MPI introduced by the MCA. We compare the MCA-based implementation of Open MPI with a modified version that bypasses the component infrastructure. The overhead of the MCA is shown to be low, on the order of 1%, for both latency and bandwidth microbenchmarks as well as for the NAS Parallel Benchmark suite.
Factors affecting the retention of sentential negation in heritage Egyptian Arabic

This study investigates the areas of resilience and vulnerability in sentential negation in heritage Egyptian Arabic and explores their theoretical implications. Egyptian heritage speakers completed three narrative production tasks, five experimental production tasks, and a acceptability judgment task. The results indicate that they have a full grasp of the location of negation and its configurational properties, but diverge from native speakers in such aspects of sentential negation as merger with lexical heads and dependency or licensing relations. We propose that these asymmetric patterns are due to various factors, including the age at which a structure is typically acquired in the L1, as well as its morphological and syntactic characteristics. The results of this study have implications for the ongoing debate in heritage language research about the linguistic areas that display greater stability/vulnerability. For example, phrase structure seems less vulnerable than licensing dependencies and the mapping between syntax and the morphological interface.
On-line fault detection for bus-based field programmable gate arrays

We introduce a technique for on-line built-in self-testing (BIST) of bus-based field programmable gate arrays (FPGAs). This system detects deviations from the intended functionality of an FPGA without using special-purpose hardware, hardware external to the device, and without interrupting system operation. Such a system would be useful for mission-critical applications with resource constraints. The system solves these problems through an on-line fault scanning methodology. A device's internal resources are configured to test for faults. Testing scans across an FPGA, checking a section at a time. Simulation on a model FPGA supports the viability and effectiveness of such a system.
Hepatitis C and alcohol.

Background: Alcohol abuse and hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection frequently coexist in patients with chronic liver disease. It is widely believed that alcohol and HCV act synergistically in these patients to promote the development and progression of liver damage. Methods: A review of the relevant medical literature, identified by computer assisted literature search, was conducted. Results: It has been established that alcohol consumption is associated with the accelerated progression of liver injury, higher frequency of cirrhosis, and higher incidence of hepatocellular carcinoma. Alcohol abuse is also associated with decreased response to interferon treatment, and there are reports to suggest that patients with HCV cirrhosis, who abuse alcohol, have higher mortality than those who do not. Abstinence may reverse some of these deleterious effects of alcohol, and may even improve the ultimate response to treatment. The mechanism for the synergistic effect of alcohol and HCV is not fully understood, but has been attributed to alcohol's effect on viral replication, or to its effect on the immune system, hepatic iron content, or hepatic regeneration. Conclusions: Alcohol has a deleterious effect on HCV associated liver disease. It is recommended that patients with HCV infection abstain from alcohol consumption.
EXPRESSION OF INTER-α INHIBITOR RELATED PROTEINS IN KIDNEYS AND URINE OF HYPEROXALURIC RATS

Purpose: To investigate the involvement of the inter-α inhibitor family of proteins in calcium oxalate stone formation we determined immunohistochemical distribution in the kidneys and excretion in the urine of these proteins in normal and hyperoxaluric rats. Various members of the family have been shown to inhibit the formation and retention of calcium oxalate crystals in the kidneys.Materials and Methods: Hyperoxaluria was induced in male Sprague-Dawley rats by administering 0.75% ethylene glycol. The inter-α inhibitor family consists of inter-α inhibitor, pre-α inhibitor, the so-called heavy chains H1, H2 and H3, and the light chain bikunin. Antibodies against these molecules were used to localize various proteins in rat kidneys by immunohistochemical techniques. Urine was analyzed by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and Western blot analysis to determine the expression of various members of the inter-α inhibitor family.Results: In normal kidneys staining for inter-α inhibitor ...
Relationships Between Driving Distance, Rheumatoid Arthritis Diagnosis, and Disease‐Modifying Antirheumatic Drug Receipt

Objective Disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs) are recommended for all patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Some estimate that approximately one-half of patients with RA do not receive DMARDs. We hypothesized that patients with RA living farther from rheumatologists would be less likely to receive RA diagnoses and to receive DMARDs. Methods US-based Medicare patients ages >65 years were study eligible. We calculated driving distance from patients' homes to the nearest rheumatologist. Using multivariable logistic regression, we assessed relationships between driving distance and RA diagnosis and between driving distance and DMARD receipt. In one set of analyses, distance was divided into quartiles: 0–2, 2.1–5, 5.1–15.9, and ≥16 miles. In a second set of analyses, we used predefined categories: 0–15, 15.1–30, 30.1–60, and >60 miles. Results Among 59,426 Medicare beneficiaries, 918 had diagnosed RA. Compared to the first quartile, increased distance was associated with decreased odds of RA diagnosis (odds ratio [OR] 0.96 [95% confidence interval (95% CI) 0.80–1.16] in second quartile, OR 0.88 [95% CI 0.72–1.07] in third quartile, and OR 0.72 [95% CI 0.56–0.93] in fourth quartile; P < 0.01 for trend). Similar results were observed using predefined categories. Among those with RA, increased distance was associated with increased odds of DMARD receipt across quartiles (OR 1.15 [95% CI 1.06–1.25] in second quartile, OR 1.41 [95% CI 1.29–1.54] in third quartile, and OR 1.32 [95% CI 1.18–1.46] in fourth quartile; P = 0.001 for trend). There was no relationship between predefined categories and DMARD receipt (P = 0.45 for trend). Conclusion Increased driving distance to rheumatologists was associated with decreased odds of RA diagnosis. Among those with diagnosed RA, the odds of DMARD receipt rose as distance increased from <2 to 16 miles, but not beyond. Urban residents living closer to rheumatologists may have barriers to DMARD use besides geographic access.
Current concepts and review of efalizumab in the treatment of psoriasis.

Efalizumab is a recombinant humanized monoclonal IgG 1 antibody that targets CDlla, a cell surface protein that plays a key role in the T-cell-mediated steps leading to the pathogenesis of psoriasis. The efficacy and safety of efalizumab have been studied extensively in patients with moderate to severe chronic plaque psoriasis. Clinical trial data developed in several large phase 3 studies have demonstrated that efalizumab rapidly improves both physician- and patient-assessed measures of clinical efficacy, and that the observed changes are sustainable over extended periods of continuous treatment, with a favorable safety profile. Efalizumab represents a new therapeutic option for the long-term management of moderate to severe chronic plaque psoriasis.
Arthropods That Stress Waterhyacinth

Abstract More than 70 species of arthropods were found to feed on waterhyacinth, Eichhornia crassipes (Mart.) Solms, in South America, the United States, and India. Those that were destructive were divided into categories based on the type of damage produced, that is, (1) defoliators and external leaf feeders, represented by Cornops spp. (Orthoptera: Acrididae), and adult Neochetina spp. (Coleoptera: Curculionidae); (2) petiole borers, represented by Acigona infusella (Walker) and Epipagis albiguttalis (Warren) (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae), Arzama densa Walker (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae), and larval Neochetina spp.; (3) leaf tunnel producers, represented by Orthogalumna terebrantis Wallwork (Acarina: Galumnidae); and (4) scavenger species such as Dyscinetus spp. (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae), which enhance the effect of attack by other insects. This damage is also often amplified by pathogens and other less abundant arthropods.
SENSITIVITY OF A WAVE ENERGY CONVERTER DYNAMICS MODEL TO NONLINEAR HYDROSTATIC MODELS

A three dimensional time-domain model, based on Cummins equation, has been developed for an axisymmetric point absorbing wave energy converter (WEC) with an irregular cross section. This model incorporates a number of nonlinearities to accurately account for the dynamics of the device: hydrostatic restoring, motion constraints, saturation of the power-take-off force, and kinematic nonlinearities. Here, an interpolation model of the hydrostatic restoring reaction is developed and compared with a surface integral based method. The effects of these nonlinear hydrostatic models on device dynamics are explored by comparing predictions against those of a linear model. For the studied WEC, the interpolation model offers a large improvement over a linear model and is roughly two orders-of-magnitude less computationally expensive than the surface integral based method.Copyright © 2015 by ASME
Ion movements in adult rat heart myocytes.

Recent improvements in methodology for the isolation of adult heart cells (6, 9, 10, 18, 22, 25, 31, 36, 46) yield myocytes that are more suitable for the study of cellular and intracellular ion movements than those previously available. For example, 92% of the cells in the myocyte preparations currently in use in our laboratory are viable by trypan blue exclusion, 85% show the elongated, rod-like configuration of heart cells in situ (Fig. 1A), and the rod cells show morphology in the electron microscope that is indistinguishable from cells in intact heart tissue (Fig. 2). These cells also contain enzyme profiles corresponding to those of heart cells in situ (34) and ATP, total adenine nucleotide, and creatine phosphate at levels quite comparable to those found in intact heart tissue (19,24, and 34 nmol • mg protein-1, respectively; Ref. 22).
Optimal Resource Allocation for Delay Constrained Users in Self-Coexistence WRAN

On Demand Frame Contention (ODFC) is designated as a solution to exclusive self-coexistence in wireless regional area networks. According to ODFC, contention winners are selected in a random manner regardless of the users' delay constraints and frame demands. As a result, ODFC may freeze some users due to that their delay constraints are not satisfied. Moreover, it may lead to a unfair resource distribution in terms of frame demands. To fully consider various delay constraints and frame demands, in this paper we formulate the resource allocation optimization problem as an integer programming problem and present a new approach termed \emph{On Demand Delay-constrained Fair Distribution} (ODDFD). ODDFD utilizes an iterative approach to solve the resource allocation problem considering delay constraints and frame demands. The distinguished feature of ODDFD is that it is able to deal with both delay sensitive networks and delay insensitive networks. Specifically, for a delay sensitive network, ODDFD minimizes jitter variance and average unexpected delay. For a delay insensitive network, the resource is allocated based on their frame demands and achieve a fair distribution in terms of their demands. Extensive simulations are conducted and verify that the jitter variance and average unexpected delay are decreased in a delay sensitive network, and the fairness of frame demands is increased in a delay insensitive network.
INTEGRATED TERMINAL AREA AND FLIGHT SIMULATION CAPABILITIES

The integrated terminal area and flight simulation capabilities, a portion of the MITRE/CAASD Integrated Air Traffic Management (ATM) laboratory, was developed to provide a medium fidelity simulation environment that enables end-to-end evaluations from both flight deck and air traffic controller (ATC) perspectives. These evaluations can be conducted across terminal and surface domains to provide a more complete picture of the overall concept of use. The capabilities are used to support the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) in evaluating new operational concepts, developing flight deck and ATC procedures, defining cockpit display requirements, supporting the certification of new avionics, and conducting flight tests. This paper describes in detail the functionality of this integrated system and highlights a portion of the programs and research projects that utilize these capabilities.
Chagas Disease Awareness Among Latin American Immigrants Living in Los Angeles, California

Approximately 300,000 persons have Chagas disease in the United States, although almost all persons acquired the disease in Latin America. We examined awareness of Chagas disease among Latin American immigrants living in Los Angeles, California. We surveyed 2,677 persons (age range = 18-60 years) in Los Angeles who resided in Latin America for at least six months. A total of 62% of the participants recalled seeing triatomines in Latin America, and 27% of the participants reported triatomine bites at least once per year while living abroad. A total of 86% of the participants had never heard of Chagas disease. Of persons who had heard of Chagas disease, 81% believed that it was not serious. More than 95% of those who had heard of Chagas disease would want to be tested and treated. Most Latin American immigrants living in Los Angeles recalled exposure to vectors of Chagas disease. However, they have little knowledge of this disease. Increasing awareness of Chagas disease is needed in this high-risk population.
Results of surveillance of severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome bunyavirus in Yixing

Objective To monitor the epidemic situation of severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome in Yixing andinvestigate the seroprevalence of severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome bunyavirus(SFTSV) in human and animals, soas to provide evidence for working out prevention and control strategies. Methods From 2010 to 2011, monitoring of severefever with thrombocytopenia and surveillance of SFTSV infection among healthy people and host animals were carried out insentinel hospitals from five selected monitoing towns in hilly areas. Serum samples from patients were collected for PCRamplification and sequence analysis,serum samples from healthy people and animals were collected to detect the overallantibodies to SFTSV by DAg S-ELISA method. The positive rates of anribodies to SFTSV in population of different regions werecompared with each other. Results During 2010-2011, totally 5 confirmed cases were reported in Yixing. The positive rateof SFTSV-specific antibodies in the 866 healthy people was 0.23%,and that in the 215 samples from animals was 2.79%.Conclusion SFTSV was prevalent in hilly and mountainous areas in Yixing city and the capacity in identification, treatmentand control of severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome in Yixing city be strengthened.
Haematological values in healthy cats.

SUMMARY Haematological values obtained on two large groups of healthy adult cats kept under similar husbandry conditions are presented. One group of cats was from a specific pathogen-free cattery and the other group had been exposed to common feline illnesses three to six months previously, The frequency distribution of red and white blood cell parameters was skewed and, therefore, results are presented as median values together with 95% limits. The ranges for normal values are extended as compared with most other domestic animal species. White blood cell count was particularly variable, ranging from 4 000 to 28 000 cells/μl. The data suggested normal values of neutrophils and lymphocytes should be expressed as percentage of total leucocyte concentration rather than in terms of absolute concentration. The median values for non-segmented neutrophils was 10% of total leucocytes and the ratio of segmented to band neutrophils (S/B) was 6 : 1. A third group of acutely ill cats was studied. In that group 77% of cats had neutrophil concentrations within the range found in normal cats, but the median percentage of band neutrophils was 25% and the S/B ratio was 1.5 : 1. The results suggested that the S/B ratio rather than the total blood leucocyte concentration may have useful application in feline medicine as an index to neutrophil response to tissue injury.
Development toward School Readiness: A Holistic Model.

This article describes a systemic analysis of the early childhood development factors that explain the variance in readiness for school among representative 5-year-olds in the United States. The mo...
Mammary carcinogenesis by 3-methylcholanthrene. I. Hormonal aspects in tumor induction and growth.

The effects of pregnancy parturition lactation and pseudopregnancy on the induction and growth of mammary cancer in rats was studied. Results indicate a 2-stage mechanism in mammary carcinogenesis induced by 3-methylcholanthrene: an initiating process provided by the carcinogen and an activating process regulated by hormones. Sprague-Dawley albino rats were used either 35-days-old or 50-55 days old. 3-methylcholanthrene was fed daily through a stomach tube 6 days a week in doses of 10 mg in sesame oil for 20 days. Mammary tumors were the only types observed. Tumors decreased in size after oophorectomy or hypophysectomy and showed a change in histologic appearance. Tumors developed in 45% of animals treated within 5 months. When the carcinogen was given for 60 days at the same dose cancer developed in all rats in 50-92 days. Pregnancy shortened the latent period and caused an increase in tumor incidence. The growth rate of tumors was rapid during pregnancy. Pseudopregnancy produced the same results. Regression of the cancers occurred after parturition. Increased progesterone stimulation seemed to be a factor in the rapid induction of tumors during pregnancy. Lactation caused tumor regression whether continued for a normal period or suppressed after a limited period. The failure to induce mammary cancer in males suggests that estrogens are important in mammary carcinogenesis induced by 3-methylcholanthrene.
The Enigma of Minor Standstills

For many decades it has been an unrelenting puzzle in cultural astronomy how such an obscure and elusive phenomenon as minor lunar standstill could have been of interest to ancient societies. Its declination has become part of the “tool kit” of cultural astronomy, often regardless of whether minor standstills had any cultural meaning. In his discussion of minor standstill, Lionel Sims has developed a theory for the meaning of minor standstill in Neolithic cultures, using Stonehenge as a test bed for alternative models. Sims draws upon the theory of dark/new Moon seclusion rituals linked metaphorically to death, blood, and rebirth developed by Knight (1991). A basic element of Knight’s theory is that hunter-gatherer women organized sex strikes and controlled their menstrual cycles to force men into sharing meat from the large game animals they had procured. Sims uses Knight’s model of lunar scheduling of hunting, feasting, menstruation, and sex to support his own ideas about minor lunar standstills at Stonehenge. In his model the dark Moon signalled an onset of sex strikes and was a time for celebratory dancing and singing. Unfortunately, Knight’s assertions about sexual divisions of labour among hunter-gatherers and the restricted access by women to food resources is not confirmed by ethnographic or ethnohistoric studies (Brumbach and Jarvenpa 2006). Hunter-gatherer women had direct access to small game, fish shellfish, eggs, amphibians, and insects and have no problem in acquiring protein. They did not need to rely upon male hunters and big game. In societies where women handle the processing, preservation, and management of stored foods, women may actually have greater access to a variety of food supplies than do men. It is significant that hunter-gatherer women in general have better nutrition than agricultural women. Brumbach and Jarvenpa criticize anthropological theories such as that of Knight:
Abstract 1556: Tumor-associated osteoblasts are major mediators in facilitating bone metastatic breast cancer cell quiescence

Breast cancer (BC) has a predilection for bone metastasis, where the five-year survival rate is bleak ( MC3T3-E1 murine OBs were grown to various stages of maturity: 4 (growth), 10 (early differentiation), and 20 days (late differentiation) and incubated with conditioned medium (CM) from human BC MDA-MB-231 cell variants (parental MDA-231 or metastasis-suppressed MDA-231BRMS) to produce tumor-associated osteoblasts (TAOs). TAO-derived exosomes were assayed for microRNAs (miRs) using species-specific Qiagen miScript miRNA PCR arrays. Also, tumors from mice inoculated via flank injection with TAO cells plus MDA-231-GFP BC cells were assayed ex-vivo for RUNX2 production. Metastasis-suppressed BC cells formed Connexin 43 gap junctions and exchanged cellular material with TAOs as determined by a parachute assay. Additionally, TAO cells produced substantial amounts of exosomes, with the largest induction seen in TAOs generated from metastasis-suppressed BC CM, that were taken up by the BC cells. TAO-derived exosomes were found to contain increased amounts of microRNAs that decrease cellular proliferation and induce G0 phase of the cell cycle (miR 320a), and repress cellular proliferation and regulate cyclin D1 expression (miR 193b). Knock-down of miRs 320a and 193b in BC cells resulted in a reduced number of cells in G0 and increased numbers of cells in G1/S/G2/M phases of the cell cycle as indicated by acridine orange and propidium iodide staining. This same phenomenon was found in-vivo in mice inoculated with TAO cells plus proliferatively quiescent BC cells. Tumors composed of an admix of TAO cells plus BC cells grew slower and were not as large as tumors composed of OBs plus BC cells, or BC cells alone. Furthermore, after over 60 days in-vivo, tumors composed of TAO cells plus BC cells exhibited the presence of OB differentiation marker RUNX2, indicating that TAOs were still present in the tumor population, contributing to the tumor microenvironment through culmination of the experiment. Combined, these data suggest that TAOs produce exosomal miRs that contribute to the induction of BC cell proliferative quiescence in the bone. The nature of this study also suggests the importance of OBs and their crosstalk in orchestrating the proliferative quiescence of disseminated BC cells in the bone. Thus, these findings clearly implicate the bone microenvironment and cancer cell manipulation thereof in facilitating disseminated tumor cell colonization and survival. Supported by NIH 1RC1 CA146381, 1R01NS06994, P50 CA083639 for FCM; (NRSA) T32 CA079448, NIH 2 K99 CA178177 for KMB. Citation Format: Karen M. Bussard, Frank C. Marini. Tumor-associated osteoblasts are major mediators in facilitating bone metastatic breast cancer cell quiescence. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 107th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2016 Apr 16-20; New Orleans, LA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2016;76(14 Suppl):Abstract nr 1556.