cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Abstract 117: Statin Use Improves Limb Salvage After Intervention for Peripheral Arterial Disease

Background: Statin use is recommended in patients with peripheral arterial disease (PAD) due to its morbidity and mortality benefits. However, the effect of statins on limb salvage in PAD is unclea...
Subglacial Regelation Water Film

Recent studies of subglacially precipitated carbonate deposits and associated solutional furrows have provided interesting new insight on subglacial water films, as well as on chemical exchange at the glacier bed. Considerable information on the film thickness and its temporal and spatial variability has been gained by analyzing several properties of subglacial carbonate deposits including: (1) the morphology of surface features aligned parallel to ice flow, (2) the laminated structure, and (3) the size distribution of fine rock fragments presumably transported in the film prior to their incorporation in the deposits. Chemical analyses of water from pro-glacial streams, together with calculations of CaCO3 solubility and mass balance, show that the channelized water is chemically distinct from the film water in which CaCO3 precipitates, and that subglacial precipitation is not possible where there is a considerable water flux through the film in excess of that associated with regelation sliding. The principal implication of these studies is that a temperate cirque glacier is characteristically separated from its bed by a thin water film, probably micrometers in thickness; however, the film appears to occasionally thicken, at least locally by as much as a hundred fold in exceptional cases. Furthermore, the water flux and/or solute concentration in the basal film undergoes periodic, probably seasonal, variations possibly related to variations in the amount of water reaching and flowing through the basal film.
Risk Assessment in Stage II Colorectal Cancer

In the treatment of colon cancer today, the decision-making involved in the treatment of stage II disease is probably the most challenging aspect. The major question is whether or not these patients should receive postoperative adjuvant chemotherapy. Approximately 75% of stage II colon cancer is cured by surgery alone. For the remaining 25% of cases, there is great debate over whether adjuvant chemotherapy is sufficiently effective in enough patients to warrant the exposure to potentially toxic treatments. In the important QUASAR clinical trial, stage II patients were randomized to either fluorouracil (5-FU)-based therapy or observation. The results demonstrated an approximate 3% improvement in outcome for the 5-FU–treated patients. This leads to the assumption that treating all stage II patients with adjuvant chemotherapy is gross overtreatment, when essentially 97% of these patients will not benefit. Clearly the only way to approach this decision is through risk determination. In this article, I will describe the current state of defining high- and low-risk disease, which is mainly through histopathologic characteristics, as well as discuss emerging approaches such as molecular markers and genomic profiling
Embryonic Development of Identified Neurons in the Grasshopper

Several years ago we began to examine the embryonic development of the grasshopper nervous system. We hope that by someday understanding the cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying the development of this relatively simple and highly accessible nervous system, we will help answer some of the fundamental questions common to the development of all nervous systems. This chapter describes the beginning of such an approach. In particular, the chapter will examine the progeny of two different neuronal precursor cells (called the median neuroblast or MNB, and midline precursor 3 or MP3), and will describe the differentiation from birth to maturation of identified neurons that arise from specific cell divisions of these two precursors. After examining the lineage and differentiation of the progeny of these two precursors in a single segment, the development of these cells in other segments will be examined. Our results demonstrate how segmental specializations in the nervous system can arise by segment-specific differentiation and segment-specific cell death of identified neurons of known lineage.
Regional changes to forest understories since the mid-Twentieth Century: Effects of overabundant deer and other factors in northern New Jersey

Abstract Increased densities of white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) in eastern North America cause multiple impacts to forest understories, but few studies have documented their effects at large spatial and temporal scales. I studied long-term, regional changes in forest understories in northern New Jersey, comparing data from 62 stands in 2014–2018 to historical data gathered from the same stands in 1948–1973, when statewide deer densities were substantially lower. Significant declines occurred in nearly all forest layers, including densities of large seedlings (80%), saplings (75%) and trees (18%), with parallel declines in the cover of native herbs (76%) and shrubs (72%). In contrast, the cover of exotic shrubs, lianas, and herbs increased by 5×–40×, resulting in a major shift in species composition away from mostly native species cover (≥95%) to mostly exotic shrub and liana cover (54%). Significant changes in tree species composition were also observed in relation to deer browse preferences, especially in the large seedling and sapling layers, which exhibited the greatest declines. Sites with higher estimated deer populations show conspicuously lower sapling densities (R2 = 0.47). Experimental data from nine deer exclosures of different ages showed consistent increases in large seedling density and heights over time, and full recovery of large seeding abundance and species composition to historic levels after 11–20 yrs. Native lianas and herbs and exotic shrubs each increased or maintained their dominance in exclosures. Species afflicted by introduced pests and diseases (e.g., Cornus florida and Tsuga canadensis) also declined greatly, but their declines were not sufficient to explain overall forest understory declines. Declines in tree recruitment could not be explained by changes in disturbance regimes and/or light levels over time. Because deer strongly reduce tree recruitment, shift species composition, and reduce understory cover across large spatial scales, they represent a significant concern for forest managers and an issue that should be effectively addressed.
Do All Hospital Systems Have Market Power? Association Between Hospital System Types and Cardiac Surgery Prices.

Objective:This study explores the price implications of hospital systems by analyzing the association of system characteristics with selected cardiac surgery pricing.Data Source:Using a large priva...
Practice patterns of post-ERCP pancreatitis prophylaxis techniques in the United States: a survey of advanced endoscopists

Background and Aims The American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy recommends prophylactic pancreatic duct stent placement (PPS) and rectal nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) to reduce the incidence and severity of post-ERCP pancreatitis (PEP) in high-risk individuals and suggests that rectal indomethacin may decrease the risk and severity of PEP in average-risk individuals. The European Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy recommends rectal indomethacin for all patients undergoing ERCP. Previous surveys of European endoscopists revealed low adoption of PPS or rectal NSAIDs to prevent PEP. We sought to capture current practice in the prevention of PEP among endoscopists in the United States involved in advanced endoscopy fellowship programs. Methods An anonymous online 16-item survey was e-mailed to 233 advanced endoscopists involved in advanced endoscopy fellowship programs. Results Of the 233 endoscopists who were invited to participate, 62 responded (26.7%). Most respondents reported working in tertiary referral centers (57; 95.0%) and performing ERCP for greater than 5 years (44; 74.6%). All respondents (60; 100.0%) reported working with fellows. Most PPS users (41; 72.0%) reported use of PPS in high-risk patients only and using PPS for PEP in ≤25% of ERCPs (38; 64.4%). Most respondents reported using rectal NSAIDs for high-risk patients only (34; 59.7%) compared with respondents (23; 40.1%) who reported using rectal NSAIDs for prevention of PEP in average-risk patients undergoing ERCP. Most respondents (49; 83.0%) also reported using rapid intravenous fluids to prevent PEP. Conclusions Among endoscopists involved in advanced endoscopy fellowships in the United States, rectal NSAIDs are used more frequently than PPS in the prevention of PEP. Despite mounting evidence supporting the use of rectal NSAIDs to prevent PEP in average-risk patients, less than half of the respondents in this survey reported such practice.
Knee or Spine Surgery First? A Survey of Treatment Order for Patients With Concurrent Degenerative Knee and Lumbar Spinal Disorders.

Abstract Background Total knee arthroplasty (TKA) and lumbar spine surgery have been reported to affect the outcomes of each other. There is insufficient evidence to guide the choice of treatment order for patients with both disorders that are equally symptomatic. Methods Five clinical scenarios of concurrent, advanced, degenerative knee and lumbar spinal disorders were designed to survey surgeons’ choices of treatment order and rationale. The spinal disorder was consistently degenerative lumbar spinal stenosis, but the knee conditions varied to include (1) osteoarthritis (OA) with varus deformity, (2) OA with valgus deformity, (3) rheumatoid arthritis with a severe flexion contracture, (4) OA without deformity, and (5) bilateral OA with windswept deformities. The survey was distributed to selected clinical members of the Knee Society and Scoliosis Research Society in North America. The surgeons’ choices were compared among the 5 scenarios, and their comments were analyzed using text-mining. Results Responses were received from 42 of 74 (57%) knee arthroplasty surgeons and 55 of 100 (55%) spine surgeons. The percentages of knee arthroplasty surgeons recommending “TKA first” differed significantly among scenarios: 29%, 79%, 55%, 7%, and 81% for scenarios 1 through 5, respectively (P Conclusion For patients with concurrent degenerative knee and lumbar spinal disorders, the severity and type of knee deformity influenced the preference of treatment order in both specialties. Severe valgus deformity and windswept deformities of the knee would drive the decision toward “TKA first.”
Rising Tides: Challenges and Opportunities for Women in the Urologic Workforce.

The number of practicing female urologists has increased from < 2% in 1980 to 9.2% in 2018. Despite this increase, urology trails far behind medical fields overall, and surgical subspecialties, in achieving gender parity. Barriers, such as pervasive biases and institutional policies, exist at the medical student, resident, and practicing urologist levels. Once recognized as detrimental, action can be taken to combat these forces to allow for advancement of women in the field of urology. This will result in a richer workforce better able to serve its patient population and advance the field.
Perspective for change: establishing the need for clinical instructor competencies in physical therapist education

Current issue: Clinical instructors (CIs) are instrumental in the development of competent, entry-level physical therapist graduates. Despite this key role, CIs are often deficient in formal knowledge of the learning sciences that influence quality of clinical education experiences. Clinical education stakeholders also lack a standardized and consistent approach to defining and assessing clinical teaching skills, resulting in an inability to provide adequate feedback and growth opportunities for CIs. Perspective: A gap exists between qualitative descriptions of clinical teaching behaviors and the ability to objectively assess those behaviors in CIs. Grounded in the Model of Excellence in Physical Therapist Education, this perspective calls attention to and proposes steps toward excellence in clinical education. Defining essential competencies of clinical teaching in the physical therapy profession requires a systematic approach. The competencies established through this approach then become the foundation for creating a meaningful assessment tool of CI performance. Implications for clinical education: Developing educator competencies and a related assessment tool for CIs allows for the provision of meaningful feedback, the creation of targeted professional development programs, and opportunities for recognition of clinical teaching excellence. Without effective CIs, new graduates may be inadequately equipped to contribute to the profession’s vision of educational excellence.
Structural mapping of antibody landscapes to human betacoronavirus spike proteins

Preexisting immunity against seasonal coronaviruses (CoV) represents an important variable in predicting antibody responses and disease severity to Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome CoV-2 (SARS-2) infections. We used electron microscopy based polyclonal epitope mapping (EMPEM) to characterize the antibody specificities against {beta}-CoV spike proteins in sera from healthy donors (HDs) or SARS-2 convalescent donors (CDs). We observed that most HDs possessed antibodies specific to seasonal human CoVs (HCoVs) OC43 and HKU1 spike proteins while the CDs showed reactivity across all human {beta}-CoVs. Detailed molecular mapping of spike-antibody complexes revealed epitopes that were differentially targeted by antibodies in preexisting and convalescent serum. Our studies provide an antigenic landscape to {beta}-HCoV spikes in the general population serving as a basis for cross-reactive epitope analyses in SARS-2 -infected individuals. One-Sentence summaryWe present the epitope mapping of polyclonal antibodies against beta-coronavirus spike proteins in human sera.
Aging and Stress

There exists an interplay between the process of aging and the experience of stress such that an individual's physical and mental health can be greatly affected by the stressful events that are experienced over time. While some of these events can be considered normal and expected occurrences of an individual moving through the life course, others can be described as a product of the historical context in which the individual resides. The combination of these stressful events, whether in the form of major role transitions, the development of chronic conditions, or the perpetuation of daily hassles, can have significant consequences on the health of aging individuals, and these consequences can be mediated by a host of other factors such as individual control of events, coping strategies, and social support. Keywords: health; life course sociology; sociology of aging; stress
X-Ray-Enhanced Reactivation of Ultraviolet-Irradiated Human Virus

When CV-1 mammalian cells were X-irradiated before infection with ultraviolet (UV)-irradiated herpes simplex virus, an increase in survival of this virus was observed. X-ray reactivation is proposed as the name of this phenomenon by analogy with UV reactivation. The amount of survival enhancement was about the same as that found for UV reactivation in the same virus-host system. The enhancement reached a plateau at approximately 1000 rads and appeared to be radiation-insensitive at high doses.
How Strong are Fiscal Multipliers in the GCC? An Empirical Investigation

The effectiveness of fiscal policy in smoothing the impact of shocks depends critically on the size of fiscal multipliers. This is particularly relevant for the GCC countries given the need for fiscal policy to cushion the economy from large terms of trade shocks in the absence of an independent monetary policy and where fiscal multipliers could be weak dues to substantial leakages through remittances and imports. The paper provides estimates of the size of fiscal multipliers using a variety of models. The focus is on government spending since tax revenues are small. The long-run multiplier estimates vary in the 0.3-0.7 range for current expenditure and 0.6-1.1 for capital spending, depending on the particular specification and estimation method chosen. These estimates fall within the range of fiscal multiplier estimates in the literature for non-oil emerging markets.
Efectos del prestigio de los colegios de enseñanza media, de las universidades y el aprendizaje del empleador sobre los salarios en Chile

espanolEste estudio examina los efectos de haber asistido a un colegio privado, el ranking de universidades y el aprendizaje del empleador sobre los salarios en Chile. La estrategia empirica se basa en regresiones de salarios tipo Mincer. El analisis se realizo usando una muestra de egresados universitarios. Los principales resultados dan cuenta de un efecto importante y significativo de haber asistido a colegios privados y a universidades prestigiosas sobre los salarios de los trabajadores al inicio de su carrera laboral. Estos resultados son consistentes con un modelo de discriminacion estadistica y aprendizaje por parte del empleador dado que los efectos estimados disminuyen con la experiencia laboral de los trabajadores. Utilizando este modelo, se encuentra que los empleadores reducen en un 50 por ciento la ponderacion que le dan al ranking de universidades de sus trabajadores luego de tres anos. Mis hallazgos, ademas, indican que incorporar rankings basados en el percentil de la prueba de admision universitaria en las solicitudes de empleo puede mejorar significativamente la capacidad del mercado para asignar adecuadamente los sueldos, reduciendo la brecha informativa entre potenciales empleados y empleadores. EnglishThis paper studies the effects of attending a private high school, the university ranking and the employer learning on wages. The empirical strategy is based on the Mincer-type wage regressions. The analysis was carried out using individual-level data from Chile. I find a large and significant effect on wages at the beginning of workers’ careers from attending a private high school and from attending a highly ranked university. These findings can be rationalized by the statistical discrimination and employer learning model since the effects of attending a private high school or highly ranked university decrease with experience. I construct an employer learning model to explain these decreases and find employers decrease by 50 per cent the weight they place on university ranking when setting wages in three years. My findings further indicate that incorporating university admission test percentile rankings in employment applications can significantly improve the market’s ability to appropriately assign wages by decreasing the information gap between potential employees and employers.
Hospital admissions: An examination of race and health insurance

This study examined the effects of racial differences and differences in insurance status on source of hospital admissions. The data source was the 2001 National Hospital Discharge Survey and included a sub-sample of 104,185 patients. 58.3% of patients were admitted through the emergency room, 75.0% of patients were White, 19.7% were Black, and 61.5% were on government insurance or uninsured. Black patients were found to have significantly higher levels of emergency room admissions (69.1%=p < .0001), regardless of insurance status (gov’t/self-pay, 73.7%=p < .0001, private insurance, 59.5%=p < .0001). Patients on government insurance or self-payment had significantly higher levels of emergency room admissions (65.8%=p < .0001). Regression analysis showed that both race and insurance type are significant predictors (p < .0001) of Source of Admission to the hospital. Percent probabilities confirmed this finding. Thus, it was concluded that racial differences witnessed in source of admission were not mediated by insurance type and that race and insurance type are significant, independent predictors of hospital admission source.
Prototypical prospection: future events are more prototypically represented and simulated than past events

The results of four experiments support the hypothesis that mental time travel is more prototypical in the future tense than in the past tense. That is, prospection more than retrospection is grounded in scripts, schemas, stereotypes, and other prototypical mental representations of what people, places, and events are typically like. People reported that events in prospection rather than retrospection were more similar to each other and more similar to a prototypical event (encounters with homeless people in Experiment 1, ordering pizza in Experiment 2). Because prototypes tend to be abstract, people selected higher levels of action identification during prospection than during retrospection (Experiment 3) an effect that was not moderated by distance. Finally, drawings of future vacations that were generated by one sample of people were judged by a different sample of people, who were unaware of the drawings' tense, as more prototypical compared with drawings of past vacations (Experiment 4). Discussion centers on the underlying explanations of prototypical prospection and on the implications of these temporal asymmetries for theories of psychological distance. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
The consequences of trust in shared secret schemes

By accepting a shared secret or shared control scheme specified by an access structure ?, an issuing authority also implicitly accepts all of the access structures that can be realized as a result of trust relations that may exist among some of the participants in &Gamma. An algorithm is presented here that makes it possible to fully analyze the consequences of trust to such schemes.
Solidification of Undercooled Sn-Bi and Pb-Sb Alloys

In hypoeutectic and eutectic alloys of Sn-Bi and Pb-Sb, the first phase to solidify from the melt is the nonfaceted phase, tin and load, respectively. Since primary tin and lead are poor nucleants for the second phase of the eutectic, the faceted phase, substantial undercooling below the equilibrium eutectic temperature occurs before the eutectic is nucleated. Once nucleated the faceted phase does not grow preferentially to return the melt composition to the equilibrium eutectic composition. Instead growth of a complex regular structure takes place from a melt whose composition is displaced from the equilibrium eutectic composition towards the faceted component. Reheating experiments have confirmed that the complex regular structure is rich in the faceted component. This structure grows at a temperature depressed several degrees below the equilibrium eutectic temperature. An hypothesis is presented to explain the growth of a structure rich in the faceted component at a depressed temperature.
Pediatric health-related quality of life after intestinal transplantation

Ngo KD, Farmer DG, McDiarmid SV, Artavia K, Ament ME, Vargas J, Busuttil RW, Colangelo J, Esmailian Y, Gordon-Burroughs S, Duffy J, Venick RS. Pediatric health-related quality of life after intestinal transplantation. Pediatr Transplantation 2011: 15: 849–854. © 2011 John Wiley & Sons A/S. Abstract: As outcomes after ITx improve, greater emphasis is needed on HRQOL. The primary aims of this study were to (i) assess the feasibility of measuring HRQOL in pediatric ITx recipients, (ii) measure HRQOL using validated instruments, and (iii) compare HRQOL in ITx recipients to healthy normal (NL) children. The CHQ and Pediatric Quality of Life (PedsQL4.0) instruments were administered to both patients and parents at outpatient visits. All 24 eligible patients were enrolled. The median age at study enrollment was 6.0 yr (range: 2–18 yr), and the median time from transplant to study enrollment was 2.8 yr (range: 0.5–11.8 yr). The majority of subjects were male (58%), Latino (58%), and liver-inclusive (92%) recipients. For CHQ and PedsQL4.0, parental responses were significantly lower in multiple categories including physical health and social functioning compared to healthy norms. Patient responses were not different from NL using CHQ but using PedsQL4.0 were significantly lower in the school functioning subcategory and psychosocial health summary score. HRQOL as reported by children and families after ITx is significantly lower in multiple categories compared to NL.
Effective Approaches to Patient Education for the Busy Pediatrician

Pediatricians spend 35% to 41% of their direct patient care time on patient education and counselling. However, studies indicate that teaching alone generally is ineffective. It is logical that the patient or parent must have an understanding of the basics of the regimen in order to follow the pediatrician's advice. However, teaching, even when supplemented by pamphlets or audiovisual programs, generally is not sufficient to bring about behavior change. A "stepped approach" to patient education is recommended. This approach consists of three steps: (1) using interpersonal skills to establish rapport and provide reassurance; (2) teaching about the illness, regimen, and other health matters; and (3) identifying and overcoming obstacles to behavior change. Step 3 is not necessary if steps 1 and 2 have been successful in achieving patient adherence to physician recommendations. By questioning the patient or parent at the follow-up visit, the pediatrician can identify the obstacles that are interfering with acceptance of his or her advice--this process is the "behavioral diagnosis." Once the cause of the problem has been determined, selection of the appropriate solution is usually straight-forward. This three-step approach to patient education can be more effective and less time-consuming than traditional approaches.
Infection and the IUD. A preliminary report.

Abstract This is a preliminary report to answer the question: “Does the IUD increase the incidence of pelvic infection?” From one hospital, the percentage of young women with a discharge diagnosis of Pelvic Inflammatory Disease (PID) who were wearing an IUD at the time of admission was calculated. With precisely the same definitions, the percentage of young women utilizing an IUD who were discharged from the same hospital as having had appendicitis was determined. Thus far, a statistically significant correlation between IUD usage and P.I.D. could not be demonstrated. A larger study is current.
Elements of an Employee Responsibilities and Rights Paradigm

Taking as its point of departure the striking increase in attention to employee (and employer) rights and responsibilities, this article sifts through the fragmented interdisciplinary body of knowledge to identify the elements of the paradigm on which the subjectfocuses. It examines the notions of rights and responsibilities and their characteristics, such as the nature of the issues and the relevant approaches. It explores the significance of workplace responsibilities and rights and suggests a paradigmatic matrix to guide and promote future management research and practice.
Renal effects of cyclic AMP in normal and congenital diabetes insipidus rats

Abstract The administration of dibutyryl cyclic AMP to normal rats undergoing water diuresis and to rats with congenital diabetes insipidus resulted in a rise in the excretion of Na + and K + . A reduction in free water clearance was also observed in the normal rat, but this could not be entirely attributed to the effect of the nucleotide alone. Infusion of cyclic AMP to Brattleboro rats led to a modest rise in urine osmolality and a fall in urine flow, free water clearance and solute excretion, all of which could be explained on the basis of a fall in GFR. From the present experiments, it may be concluded that at the doses used neither cyclic AMP nor its dibutyryl derivative mimic the effects of ADH on water reabsorption by the kidney in vivo .
Single-Conformation Ultraviolet and Infrared Spectroscopy of Model Synthetic Foldamers: β-Peptides Ac-β3-hPhe-β3-hAla-NHMe and Ac-β3-hAla-β3-hPhe-NHMe

The conformational preferences and infrared and ultraviolet spectral signatures of two model beta-peptides, Ac-beta3-hPhe-beta3-hAla-NHMe (1) and Ac-beta3-hAla-beta3-hPhe-NHMe (2), have been explored under jet-cooled, isolated-molecule conditions. The mass-resolved, resonant two-photon ionization spectra of the two molecules were recorded in the region of the S0-S1 origin of the phenyl substituents (37,200-37,800 cm(-1)). UV-UV hole-burning spectroscopy was used to determine the ultraviolet spectral signatures of five conformational isomers of both 1 and 2. Transitions due to two conformers (labeled A and B) dominate the R2PI spectra of each molecule, while the other three are minor conformers (C-E) with transitions a factor of 3-5 smaller. Resonant ion-dip infrared spectroscopy was used to obtain single-conformation infrared spectra in the 3300-3700 cm(-1) region. The infrared spectra showed patterns of NH stretch transitions characteristic of the number and type of intramolecular H-bonds present in the beta-peptide backbone. For comparison with experiment, full optimizations of low-lying minima of both molecules were carried out at DFT B3LYP/6-31+G*, followed by single point MP2/6-31+G* and selected MP2/aug-cc-pVDZ calculations at the DFT optimized geometries. Calculated harmonic vibrational frequencies and infrared intensities for the amide NH stretch vibrations were used to determine the beta-peptide backbone structures for nine of the ten observed conformers. Conformers 1B, 1D, and 2A were assigned to double ring structures containing two C6 H-bonded rings (C6a/C6a), conformers 1A and 2B are C10 single H-bonded rings, conformers 1C and 2D are double ring structures composed of two C8 H-bonded rings (C8/C8), and conformers 1E and 2E are double ring/double acceptor structures in which two NH groups H-bond to the same C=O group, thereby weakening both H-bonds. Both 1E and 2E are tentatively assigned to C6/C8 double ring/double acceptor structures, although C8/C12 structures cannot be ruled out unequivocally. Finally, no firm conformational assignment has been made for conformer 2C whose unusual infrared spectrum contains one very strong H-bond with NH stretch frequency at 3309 cm(-1), a second H-bonded NH stretch fundamental of more typical value (3399 cm(-1)), and a third fundamental at 3440 cm(-1), below that typical of a branched-chain free NH. The single conformation spectra provide characteristic wavenumber ranges for the amide NH stretch fundamentals ascribed to C6 (3378-3415 cm(-1)), C8 (3339-3369 cm(-1)), and C10 (3381-3390 cm(-1)) H-bonded rings.
Psychosocial characteristics of preschool siblings of handicapped and nonhandicapped children.

This project examined psychosocial characteristics of 24 preschool-aged siblings of handicapped children in relation to a control group of 22 siblings of nonhandicapped children. Subjects were matched on family size and income, sibling age, birth order, sex, age spacing, and marital status of their parents. Results indicated no statistically significant differences between groups of children on measures of perceived self-competence and acceptance, understanding of developmental disabilities, empathy, and child care responsibility. Significant group differences were found where brothers of handicapped children were rated by their mothers as being more depressed and aggressive than brothers of nonhandicapped control children. Sisters of handicapped children were rated by mothers as being more aggressive than sisters of nonhandicapped children. Sisters of handicapped children and brothers of nonhandicapped children had significantly fewer privileges and more restrictions on their home activities than other groups. Results are discussed in relation to previous research on older silbings of handicapped children and the general literature on family stress and childhood disability and disease. The importance of examining sibling functioning via multiple measures of child behavior is stressed.
Modeling of Guided-wave Excitation by Finite-dimensional Piezoelectric Transducers in Composite Plates

This paper addresses modeling of guided-wave excitation by surface-bonded piezoelectric wafer transducers in multi-layered composite plate structures. Each of the individual layers is assumed to have unidirectional fibers in an epoxy matrix and is modeled as being transversely isotropic. The piezoelectric actuators are modeled as causing shear traction along their edges on the plate surface and uncoupled actuator-substrate dynamics are assumed. The formulation is generic enough to accommodate arbitrary shape actuators, and specific expressions are derived for the cases of rectangular and ring-shapes. The surface and interfacial conditions are implemented using the global matrix approach. Since the three-dimensional guided-wave field is modeled without using reduced structural formulations, all possible guided-wave modes are captured. The two-dimensional spatial Fourier transform is used to solve the problem, and a rigorous inversion procedure is outlined. These models are implemented numerically and results in the form of harmonic radiation plots are presented for various configurations.
Chloride-Inducible Expression Vector for Delivery of Antimicrobial Peptides Targeting Antibiotic-Resistant Enterococcus faecium

Antibiotic-resistant enterococcal infections are a major concern in hospitals where patients with compromised immunity are readily infected. Enterococcus faecium bacteria are of particular interest as these pathogens account for over 80% of vancomycin-resistant enterococcal infections. Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) produced at the site of infection by engineered bacteria may offer a potential alternative to traditional antibiotics for the treatment of resistant bacteria such as E. faecium. For this mode of delivery to be effective, it is essential to identify a suitable protein expression system that can be used in the desired delivery bacterium. In this study, we describe a promising chloride-inducible promoter and its application in the bacterial delivery of AMPs from Lactococcus lactis to reduce counts of E. faecium bacteria in vitro. Reporter gene studies show that at chloride concentrations found within the human intestines, the chloride-inducible promoter exhibits high levels of protein expression compared to those of the commonly used nisin-inducible promoter. These results indicate that this system is powerful and would not require the exogenous administration of an inducer molecule. In its application for AMP production against E. faecium in vitro, L. lactis producing AMPs under the chloride promoter rapidly decreased E. faecium counts by nearly 10,000-fold. As an extension of this application, we also demonstrate the potential in using this type of delivery system in combination with traditional antibiotics to slow the development of resistance. Collectively, this study shows the promise of using a chloride-inducible promoter for the bacterial delivery of AMPs in the body for the treatment of vancomycin-resistant enterococci (VRE) and other antibiotic-resistant bacteria.
Robust facet model for application to speckle noise removal

A robust facet model is developed, and applied to speckle noise removal in synthetic aperture radar (SAR) images. The parameters of a facet model are usually estimated by a least-squares (LS) method under the Gaussian assumption. In many applications, such as speckle removal in SAR images, the noise process is not Gaussian, and conventional estimators do not work. A robust estimation algorithm is developed, and applied to remove speckle noise in synthetic aperture images. Conventional adaptive filtering approaches in speckle filtering smoothes the image selectively depending on the details of underlying textures, and tend to blur details after speckle removal. In the proposed approach, the image is assumed to be composed of structural and stochastic components, and the stochastic component is modeled by a robust facet model. The proposed method is applied to real synthetic aperture images to demonstrate the validity and effectiveness of the algorithm.
Abnormality in tissue isoferritin distribution in idiopathic haemochromatosis

IDIOPATHIC haemochromatosis (IHC) is generally considered to result from an inherited abnormality of iron metabolism in which excess iron accumulates in tissues such as liver, heart and pancreas, causing structural and functional abnormalities1. The clinical and pathological features of the disease have been well characterised1,2 although the mode of inheritance is uncertain because of the lack of a reliable genetic marker. In spite of several theories3–11, the metabolic abnormality leading to excess iron storage remains unknown.
Desiccation tolerance in vegetative plant cells

Plants that can withstand desiccation of their vegetative tissues represent all but one class (the gymnosperms) within the kingdom Plantae. Phylogenetic evidence suggests that this trait has evolved a minimum of twelve separate occasions. Nevertheless desiccation-tolerant plants can be grouped into two categories: (1) the desiccation-tolerant plants whose internal water content rapidly equilibrates to the water potential of the environment and (2) the modified desiccation-tolerant plants that all employ mechanisms to retard and control the rate of water loss. Desiccation tolerance can be achieved by mechanisms that incorporate one of two alternatives, viz, cellular protection or cellular recovery (repair). The majority of plants probably utilize aspects of both. Studies to date indicate that modified desiccation-tolerant plants (angiosperms and pteridophytes) appear to rely more heavily upon drying-induced (abscisic acid controlled) cellular protection strategies for survival. Desiccation-tolerant species, in particular the moss Tortula ruralis, appear to utilize a tolerance strategy that combines a constitutive protection system and a rehydration-inducible recovery mechanism. The moss is capable of storing mRNAs during slow drying that are rapidly utilized upon rehydration. Rapidly dried moss has to rely on rapid synthesis of the same mRNAs upon rehydration. Analysis of protein profiles upon rehydration has facilitated the identification of several “rehydrins,” proteins whose synthesis is specific to the rehydration phase. Northern analysis of rehydrin cDNAs confirm the importance of translational controls in producing rehydrin proteins and an additional role of transcription and/or mRNA stability in the response of Tortula to desiccation. These studies indicate that there is more to desiccation tolerance mechanisms than protection of the cells from drying, but rather rehydration-induced events are important in the overall manifestation of desiccation tolerance.
In vivo adaptive optics microvascular imaging in diabetic patients without clinically severe diabetic retinopathy

We used a confocal adaptive optics scanning laser ophthalmoscope (AOSLO) to image the retina of subjects with non-proliferative diabetic retinopathy (NPDR). To improve visualization of different retinal features, the size and alignment of the confocal aperture were varied. The inner retinal layers contained clearly visualized retinal vessels. In diabetic subjects there was extensive capillary remodeling despite the subjects having only mild or moderate NPDR. Details of the retinal microvasculature were readily imaged with a larger confocal aperture. Hard exudates were observed with the AOSLO in all imaging modes. Photoreceptor layer images showed regions of bright cones and dark areas, corresponding in location to overlying vascular abnormalities and retinal edema. Clinically undetected intraretinal vessel remodeling and varying blood flow patterns were found. Perifoveal capillary diameters were larger in the diabetic subjects (p<0.01), and small arteriolar walls were thickened, based on wall to lumen measurements (p<.05). The results suggest that existing clinical classifications based on lower magnification clinical assessment may not adequately measure key vascular differences among individuals with NPDR.
Scale Drift in On-Line Calibration.

Abstract : Recent advances in psychometrics and computer technology encourage the development of model-based methods of individualized testing on a microcomputer, where each examines receives short tests and the number of pretest items that can be administered is severely restricted. On-line (i.e., data is collected on operational equipment) methods for calibrating pretest items in this setting face new challenges. In the context of adaptive testing, two LOGIST-based methods of on-line calibration were developed and are described. These two methods are tried out and compared in a simulation study using data for the CAT-ASVAB.
Some immunochemical properties of beef liver esterase

Abstract 1. 1. A procedure for the purification of beef liver carboxylesterase (carboxylicester hydrolase, EC 3.1.1.1) is described. The molecular weight of the purified enzyme was found to be 54 000 when examined by gel filtration and electrophoresis on sodium dodecyl sulfate containing acrylamide. 2. 2. Antiserum to the beef enzyme was prepared and the immune system was examined. This antiserum reacts to the same extent with native beef carboxylesterase and with acid-treated enzyme, whereas anti-pig esterase differentiates between native and acid-treated pig liver esterase. Antibodies to the pig carboxylesterase cross-react with beef liver carboxylesterase, but these cross-reacting antibodies also do not distinguish between native and acid treated beef liver esterase. These results are interpreted as evidence for the existence of beef liver carboxylesterase as one unit.
Chronic disease self-management program: insights from the eye of the storm.

This is a personal 22-year retrospective look at insights gained as the CDSMP has moved from concept to translation. This retrospective look has been both surprising and humbling. I look forward to learning what comes next.
Financial analysis of needlescopic versus open adrenalectomy.

ABSTRACTPurpose: Needlescopic adrenalectomy, partially incorporating 2 mm. instrumentation, is currently our preferred technique for transperitoneal endoscopic adrenalectomy. Although this minimally invasive technique results in decreased morbidity and shorter hospital stay, to our knowledge financial implications vis-a-vis open adrenalectomy have not been elucidated. We retrospectively compared the costs of needlescopic adrenalectomy to traditional open adrenalectomy.Materials and Methods: From September 1997 through March 1998, 15 patients underwent needlescopic adrenalectomy. Financial records of these patients were compared to those of 15 contemporary patients undergoing open adrenalectomy between January 1995 and May 1997. Adrenal pathology and tumor size were comparable between the 2 groups. Yearly costs were adjusted for inflation to 1998 dollars using a 4% annual rate. Needlescopic financial data are expressed as a ratio of open adrenalectomy costs, which are expressed as a unit of 1.Results: Over...
A Note on the Classical Dickson Invariants

Let &#x1d53d;q be the finite field with q elements, where q is a power of some prime p. In the classical paper [2], Dickson defined the polynomial , where e1,…, en are non-negative integers. He observed that any [e1,…, en] is divisible by [0,1,…,n-1], and the quotient is GLn(&#x1d53d;q)-invariant. He then went on to show that one can pick n of these invariants to generate the entire invariant subring of GLn(&#x1d53d;q). In this paper, we answer the following two natural questions: How to express any given [e1,…, en]/[0,1,…,n-1] in terms of the fundamental generators? In general, when does [e1,…, en] divide [f1,…, fn]? The answers are Theorems 1.2 and 1.3, respectively.
The effect of alcohol consumption on craving to smoke

This research investigated the effect of alcohol consumption on smokers' general levels of craving for cigarettes and their reactivity to smoking-related cues. Cue reactivity was evaluated across multiple trials of exposure to both imaginal and in vivo presentations of smoking and non-smoking stimuli. On imagery trials, subjects imagined either smoking and non-smoking scenarios; during in viva trials subjects watched an experimenter either smoke a cigarette or drink water. Measures included self-reported craving to smoke and selected somatovisceral responses. Subjects (n = 60) completed two sessions, the first examined cue reactivity in the absence of alcohol. In Session 2 subjects were told they were consuming alcohol; half received placebo and the other half were given ethanol (0. 75 ml/kg). Following beverage consumption, subjects were exposed to the cue manipulation. In both sessions, exposure to smoking stimuli enhanced craving in each presentation mode and increased skin conductance levels in the in vivo mode. Alcohol intoxication produced a generalized increase in craving but did not selectively enhance craving or physiological reactivity to smoking stimuli. The results are discussed in terms of models of craving and processes through which alcohol may influence craving to smoke.
Mass spectrometric kinetic analysis of human tyrosylprotein sulfotransferase-1 and -2

Protein tyrosine O-sulfation, a widespread post-translational modification, is mediated by two Golgi enzymes, tyrosylprotein sulfotransferase-1 and-2. These enzymes catalyze the transfer of sulfate from the universal sulfate donor 3′-phosphoadenosine-5′-phosphosulfate (PAPS) to the hydroxyl group of tyrosine residues to form tyrosine O-sulfate ester and PAP. More than 60 proteins have been identified to be tyrosine sulfated including several G protein-coupled receptors, such as CC-chemokine receptor 8 (CCR8) that is implicated in allergic inflammation, asthma, and atherogenesis. However, the kinetic properties of purified tyrosylprotein sulfotransferase (TPST)-1 and −2 have not been previously reported. Moreover, currently there is no available quantitative TPST assay that can directly monitor individual sulfation of a series of tyrosine residues, which is present in most known substrates. We chose an MS-approach to address this limitation. In this study, a liquid chromatography electrospray ionisation mass spectrometry (LC/ESI-MS)-based TPST assay was developed to determine the kinetic parameters of individual TPSTs and a mixture of both isozymes using CCR8 peptides as substrates that have three tyrosine residues in series. Our method can differentiate between mono-and disulfated products, and our results show that the Km,app for the monosulfated substrate was 5-fold less than the nonsulfated substrate. The development of this method is the initial step in the investigation of kinetic parameters of the sequential tyrosine sulfation of chemokine receptors by TPSTs and in determining its catalytic mechanism.
General I and Q data processing on a multichannel AO system.

A multichannel space-integrating acoustooptic (AO) correlator is discussed with attention to its frequency selectivity and its ability to produce complex correlations. General I and Q channel data are considered. By using two properly tilted acoustooptic cells, the system allows frequency selectivity, a complex correlator, and coherent and noncoherent demodulation. By using one multichannel AO cell, we achieve minicorrelations, and by properly adding several such correlations we can process signals of larger duration and time–bandwidth product. Applications for this architecture in synchronization and demodulation are described and include its use in processing frequency-hopped encoded data.
Drug resistance in viruses

The mechanisms of action of antiviral drugs and of drug resistance are known in remarkable detail, partly because X-ray crystallographic structures are known for many target viral proteins. Resistance usually involves amino acid substitutions in the target protein that prevent drug binding or prevent an enzyme from accepting the drug as a substrate. This information allows more effective use of available drugs and aids the development of new drugs.