cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Effects of propofol, etomidate, midazolam, and fentanyl on motor evoked responses to transcranial electrical or magnetic stimulation in humans.

The effects of propofol, etomidate, midazolam, and fentanyl on motor evoked responses to transcranial stimulation (tc-MERs) were studied in five healthy human volunteers. Each subject, in four separate sessions, received intravenous bolus doses of propofol 2 mg.kg-1, etomidate 0.3 mg.kg-1, midazolam 0.05 mg.kg-1, and fentanyl 3 micrograms.kg-1. Electrical tc-MERs (tce-MERs) were elicited with anodal stimuli of 500-700 V. Magnetic tc-MERs (tcmag-MERs) were elicited using a Cadwell MES-10 magnetic stimulator at maximum output. Compound muscle action potentials were recorded from the tibialis anterior muscle. Duplicate tce-MERs and tcmag-MERs were recorded before and up to 30 min after drug injection. Reproducible baseline tce-MERs (amplitude 4.7 +/- 0.43 (SEM) mV, latency 29.4 +/- 0.35 ms) and tcmag-MERs (amplitude 3.7 +/- 0.43 mV, latency 31.1 +/- 0.39 ms) were obtained in all subjects. Pronounced depression of tce-MER amplitude to 2% of baseline values (P less than 0.01) was observed 2 min after injection of propofol. Thirty minutes after injection of propofol, amplitude depression to 44% of baseline (P less than 0.05) was still present, despite an apparent lack of sedation. Midazolam caused significant (P less than 0.01) amplitude depression, e.g., tcmag-MER to 16% of baseline values 5 min after injection. Significant depression persisted throughout the 30-min study period. Fentanyl did not cause any statistically significant amplitude changes in this small population. Etomidate caused significant but transient depression of tc-MER amplitude. However, there was considerable intersubject variability. Latency did not change significantly after any drug.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Ethno-ophthalmology in the Egyptian delta: An historical systems approach to ethnomedicine in the Middle East

Abstract Ethnomedical studies of the Middle East may be enriched by a long-term historical perspective, which takes into consideration the complex syncretism, through time, of both literate and nonliterate medical systems in this region, as well as the tumultuous history of conquest and colonialism in the Middle East. In this paper, the authors place the seemingly idiosyncratic, local, ‘ethno-ophthalmological’ practices of one northern Egyptian community, which is afflicted by the blinding eye disease, trachoma, into a broader historico-political context, through examination of the four major literate medical systems of Egypt and the imperialistic forces responsible for their entrenchment.
Fueling activity in galactic nuclei

Theoretical models developed to explain the high luminosity of AGN are discussed, reviewing the results of recent investigations. It is pointed out that, whereas most models involve a central supermassive black hole accreting matter from the surrounding medium, various hypotheses as to the nature of the accreted material have been proposed. Consideration is given to nuclear sources (dense central star clusters or the tidal disruption of stars), galactic sources (stellar mass loss or torques in nonaxisymmetric potentials), and extragalactic sources (the infall of intergalactic gas or the accretion of gas-rich dwarfs). A hierarchical framework linking these mechanisms is outlined, and results obtained with the gasdynamic simulation code TREESPH (Hernquist and Katz, 1989) are presented in graphs and briefly characterized. 72 refs.
Alternate route for the biosynthesis of oleic acid in the rat

Abstract 1. 1. Adult rats were given by stomach tube 10 μC of methyl [1-14]stearate dissolved in either corn oil or Sterculia foetida seed oil. After 3 h they were injected with 200 μC of [3H]acetate and were sacrificed 1 h later. The 3H and 14C specific radioactivities of the stearic acid in the liver lipids of the corn oil controls were nine times as high as in the oleic acid. When S. foetida oil was in the diet, the 14C ratio was about 1500 whereas the 3H ratio was only 14, showing that stearic acid desaturation to oleic acid was inhibited but not acetate conversion to oleic acid. 2. 2. When a similar study was carried out in which methyl [1-14C]laurate and methyl [11,12-3H2]stearate were given, the 3H ratio in the corn oil controls was about 8 and the 14C ratio was about 2, indicating that laurate acted as a precursor for oleic acid biosynthesis. Inclusion of S. foetida seed oil resulted in an increase in the 3H ratio to about 1600 whereas the 14C ratio was increased to only 12, showing that lauric like acetate conversion is not inhibited by cyclopropene fatty acids. Permanganate oxidation studies of the isolated octadecenoic acids indicated that when S. foetida seed oil was given, about 90% of the octadecenoate radioactivity was in oleic, and 90% of the oleic acid activity due to 14C was in the azelaic acid fraction. This suggests the intact utilization of lauric acid for oleic acid synthesis, probably by β,γ-desaturation followed by elongation.
Effects of chain stiffness and penetrant size on penetrant diffusion in simple polymers: deduced relations from simulation and PRISM theory

Molecular dynamics simulations in the NVT ensemble were performed for a repulsive system of bead-spring polymer chains with angle constraints. The diffusion coefficients of spherical penetrants were measured for different size penetrants as the angle constraints were varied. The scaling of the diffusion coefficient with penetrant size varies as a function of chain stiffness from liquid-like behavior to polymeric behavior. Free volume distributions were calculated from both simulation and PRISM theory. It is found that free volume distributions and mean void size are constant with chain stiffness although the diffusion coefficient changes by a factor of two. This suggests that while free volume is necessary for diffusion to occur, binary collisions and chain relaxation also play a role in determining penetrant diffusion. The relative contributions of these factors to the diffusion coefficient may change as a function of chain stiffness.
The influenza virus M2 ion channel protein: probing the structure of the transmembrane domain in intact cells by using engineered disulfide cross-linking.

Abstract The influenza A virus M2integral membrane protein is an ion channel that permits protons to enter virus particles during uncoating of virions in endosomes, and it also modulates the pH of thetrans-Golgi network in virus-infected cells. M2protein is a homo-oligomer of 97 residues with a single transmembrane (TM) domain whose residues encompass the pore region of the channel and the biologically active form of the channel is a homotetramer. To understand the structural arrangement of the TM domains, each residue of the TM domain was changed in turn to cysteine, and oxidative disulfide cross-linking used to identify residues in close proximity. Oxidative treatment of M2protein in membranes using iodine resulted in maximum cross-linking at TM domain residues 27, 34, and 41. Oxidation of M2protein in membranes using the catalyst Cu(II)(1,10-phenanthroline)3resulted in cross-linking of many TM domain residues when the reaction was allowed to proceed at 37°C, suggesting that rotational movements of the TM domains in the membrane can occur. However, analysis of the kinetics of disulfide-linked dimer formation showed that TM domain residues 27, 30, 34, 37, and 41 formed most rapidly. Furthermore, when oxidation was performed at 4°C, maximum cross-linking occurred at TM domain residues 27, 30, 34, 37, and 41. These positions correspond to theaanddpositions of a heptad repeat. Thus these biochemical data are consistent with the TM domain region of the M2tetramer forming a four-helix bundle. Analysis of the disulfide bonds that formed when oxidation of M2protein in membranes was performed at pH 5.2 showed greatly reduced cross-linking at TM domain residues 40, 42, and 43 than that found at pH 7.4. This pH-dependent change in cross-linking of residues toward the cytoplasmic side of the TM domain parallels with the activation of the M2ion channel at low pH.
Military Persuasion, Intelligence and the War on Terror

(2006). Military Persuasion, Intelligence and the War on Terror. Defense & Security Analysis: Vol. 22, No. 1, pp. 61-72.
IL-12– and IL-23–modulated T cells induce distinct types of EAE based on histology, CNS chemokine profile, and response to cytokine inhibition

The interleukin (IL)-12p40 family of cytokines plays a critical role in the development of experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE). However, the relative contributions of IL-12 and IL-23 to the pathogenic process remain to be elucidated. Here, we show that activation of uncommitted myelin-reactive T cells in the presence of either IL-12p70 or IL-23 confers encephalogenicity. Adoptive transfer of either IL-12p70– or IL-23–polarized T cells into naive syngeneic hosts resulted in an ascending paralysis that was clinically indistinguishable between the two groups. However, histological and reverse transcription–polymerase chain reaction analysis of central nervous system (CNS) tissues revealed distinct histopathological features and immune profiles. IL-12p70–driven disease was characterized by macrophage-rich infiltrates and prominent NOS2 up-regulation, whereas neutrophils and granulocyte–colony-stimulating factor (CSF) were prominent in IL-23–driven lesions. The monocyte-attracting chemokines CXCL9, 10, and 11 were preferentially expressed in the CNS of mice injected with IL-12p70–modulated T cells, whereas the neutrophil-attracting chemokines CXCL1 and CXCL2 were up-regulated in the CNS of mice given IL-23–modulated T cells. Treatment with anti–IL-17 or anti–granulocyte/macrophage-CSF inhibited EAE induced by transfer of IL-23–polarized, but not IL-12p70–polarized, cells. These findings indicate that autoimmunity can be mediated by distinct effector populations that use disparate immunological pathways to achieve a similar clinical outcome.
Obesity in BSB mice is correlated with expression of genes for iron homeostasis and leptin

Objective: We searched for genes whose alleles cause obesity and novel pathways correlated with obesity. Research Methods and Procedures: BSB mice are a model of complex obesity due to interactions among genes from C57BL/6J (B) and Mus spretus (SPRET) in (B × SPRET) × B backcross mice. Stringent criteria identified 50 genes differentially expressed in epididymal adipose tissue from 7 pairs of lean vs. obese BSB mice. Quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction of adipose tissue RNA from 48 BSB mice with a range of obesity was assayed. Leptin was evaluated in inbred (SPRET/Ei) and outbred (SPRET/Pt) BSB mice. Results: Leptin (Lep) and adipsin expressions had the greatest fold differences between obese and lean mice. Four genes involved in iron homeostasis were included in the 50 differentially expressed genes [hemochromatosis (Hfe), diaphorase 1, transferrin receptor (Trfr) 2, and protoporphyrinogen oxidase] and two additional iron-related genes did not quite meet the stringent criteria for differential expression (Trfr and lactotransferrin). Hfe and Trfr mRNA levels and liver iron were negatively correlated with fat mass. Variation in obesity phenotypes explained 49%, 40%, and 37%, respectively, of the variance in Hfe, Lep, and Trfr mRNA levels. Leptin differed by haplotype at the Lep locus in outbred BSB. The quantitative trait locus identified in the outbred cross did not occur in inbred BSB. Discussion: Our results suggest that iron homeostasis in BSB mice is coordinately regulated in vivo in adipose depots in response to obesity. Lep alleles derived from outbred, but not inbred, SPRET are a positional candidate for the chromosome 6 quantitative trait locus in BSB mice.
Water transpired by trees is indicated by heat pulse velocity

Abstract Daily total transpiration was linearly related to heat pulse velocities measured once each day at mid-day or averaged for 4- to 14-hour periods centred on mid-day. The correlation coefficients were higher than 0.98 in every case. Because the sky was clear throughout most of this study, heat pulse velocities were quite constant throughout the daylight hours. If variable cloudiness had occurred, HPV's for the longer time periods would probably have shown significantly higher correlations than the one reading at mid-day. Heat pulse velocity was shown to be a function of transpiration and water movement into storage. If HPV's were negligible during darkness, then an HPV taken during daylight was fairly indicative of the same hour's transpiration. Significant HPV's during darkness indicated movement into stem storage rather than vapor loss alone, so that any hour's transpiration value was essentially independent of the comparable hour's velocity reading.
Dose–Response Characteristics of Uterine Responses in Rats Exposed to Estrogen Agonists

Abstract Assays for uterine response have played major roles in developing an understanding of estrogen-mediated processes and for identifying compounds with hormonal activity. Data from assays measuring increases in uterine wet weight in rats were evaluated in terms of their dose–response characteristics. Analysis using a Hill equation found inconsistent estimates for the ED 50 (concentration giving half-maximal response) and n (steepness of response) among the assays. This variability reflects disparate assay protocols and limitations of the dose–response data collected in the experiments. Although uterine wet weight is easily measured, it arises from several physiological processes (e.g., water retention, cell proliferation). This contributes to the assay variability with different protocols. The potential use of the Hill equation for dose–response analysis to estimate a benchmark dose was also considered using these data sets as surrogates for receptor-mediated toxicological effects. Strengths and weaknesses were identified, but overall the Hill equation should likely become a favored option for determining a benchmark dose, particularly when a data set demonstrates a maximal response. For screening purposes, empirical analysis using the Hill equation provides adequate information for classifying and prioritizing compounds. To develop an understanding of how incremental exposures to compounds with estrogen agonist activities would affect intact adult females, quantitative analyses are required that account for the pharmacokinetics of estradiol and subsequent interactions of the receptor complexes in regulating the responses.
Steady-state and transient response model of multi-winding layers transformer due to lightning surge

Abstract Modeling of multi-layers winding transformer has been developed by this author in three dimensional system which took into consideration space variations of electromagnetic components along a transverse axis with respect to the two dimensional plane used before as the approximate model for the transformer in calculating the operational performance parameters.
Physician Burnout: Coaching a Way Out

Twenty-five to sixty percent of physicians report burnout across all specialties. Changes in the healthcare environment have created marked and growing external pressures. In addition, physicians are predisposed to burnout due to internal traits such as compulsiveness, guilt, and self-denial, and a medical culture that emphasizes perfectionism, denial of personal vulnerability, and delayed gratification. Professional coaching, long utilized in the business world, provides a results-oriented and stigma-free method to address burnout, primarily by increasing one’s internal locus of control. Coaching enhances self-awareness, drawing on individual strengths, questioning self-defeating thoughts and beliefs, examining new perspectives, and aligning personal values with professional duties. Coaching utilizes established techniques to increase one’s sense of accomplishment, purpose, and engagement, all critical in ameliorating burnout. Coaching presumes that the client already possesses strengths and skills to handle life’s challenges, but is not accessing them maximally. Although an evidence base is not yet established, the theoretical basis of coaching’s efficacy derives from the fields of positive psychology, mindfulness, and self-determination theory. Using a case example, this article demonstrates the potential of professional coaching to address physician burnout.
Assessing gait changes in firefighters due to fatigue and protective clothing

Each year, roughly 11,000 firefighters are injured as a result of slips, trips and falls, which account for over 25% of all fireground injuries. Wearing personal protective equipment (PPE) can increase risk of fall-related injuries due to its weight, restrictiveness, and increased heat stress. Modification of PPE may serve to mitigate firefighter injuries related to loss of balance and falls. We examined the effects of choosing 'enhanced' protective clothing (lightweight, breathable, and less restrictive compared to typical firefighting PPE) and simulated firefighting tasks (18-min bout over four activities) on subsequent gait performance. To assess the effect of wearing protective clothing and firefighting activity, seven gait parameters and three movement errors were assessed during level and obstacle-crossing walking tasks. Forty-four firefighters wore one of two types of PPE ('Standard', 'Enhanced') during three testing conditions (baseline in station uniform, pre-firefighting activity in PPE, and post-firefighting activity in PPE). The effect of donning any PPE was found to significantly impair gait performance. Fatigue may impact effective mobility since more movement errors were observed during post-activity than pre-activity assessments. Although the Enhanced PPE did not lead to any significant differences in gait parameters compared to Standard PPE, participants in Enhanced PPE made twice as many movement errors, potentially attributed to lack of familiarity with the gear. These results suggest that wearing firefighting PPE and heat-stress induced fatigue are associated with reduced gait performance and increased risk for tripping over obstacles.
Expression of Telomerase after Retroviral Transduction Increases Lifespan of Primary Human Fibroblasts

Expression of Telomerase after Retroviral Transduction Increases Lifespan of Primary Human Fibroblasts
THE ECONOMIC IMPACT OF LIFE INSURANCE INVESTMENTS ON THE AMERICAN ECONOMY

THE ECONOMIC IMPACT of life insurance investments on the American economy is considerable. The level premium plan together with the savings features included in most policy forms have placed large volumes of reserves in the hands of the life companies. In fact, institutionally they attract more savings from the American people than any other medium. Evaluating the impact of the investment of these reserve funds, there are both positive and negative effects on the welfare of the economy. Relative to economic growth, the most glaring negative consideration is the fact that the life companies have not participated actively in supplying equity capital. This indictment is especially valid in this present century, since the large accumulation of reserves accompanying the growth of the industry warranted the taking of additional risks. The experience of the life companies themselves with equity investments reveals the possibility of achieving higher yields even without additional risk. At the same time in the area of debt securities, where the life companies are a dominant influence, they have made a definite contribution. Witness their support of the railroads and subsequently the public utilities in their developmental period. In recent years they have been channeling large sums to meet the financial needs of the industrial sector of the economy. In addition, their support of the mortgage market during both postworld-war building booms, as well as limited construction of residential housing projects, is significant. Similarly, the investment of the substantial volume of funds at the disposal of the life insurance companies has had an important impact on the current level of economic activity. Although they do increase their cash holdings somewhat in times of recession or depression, their lack of need for liquidity and their policy of remaining as fully invested as possible at all times enable the life companies to refrain from contributing to an economic decline. As to their effect on the inflationary phase of the cycle, the life companies generally reduce their cash holdings during these periods,
"Push-pull" gastrostomy: a new technique for percutaneous gastrostomy tube insertion in the neonate and young infant.

Objective. To evaluate a newly developed method combining antegrade and retrograde techniques for percutaneous gastrostomy tube (PGT) insertion in the neonate and young infant. Materials and methods. From January 1994 to December 2000, 85 children (47 male, 38 female), mean age 4.5 months (range 0.44–9.13 months) underwent PGT insertion using the “push-pull” technique. With the addition, 57 children had a jejunostomy tube placed as well at or within 24 h of the PGT procedure. The mean weight was 3.74 kg, range 1.5–7.0 kg. The indications for the procedure included failure to thrive in 40 patients (25 %), static encephalopathy in 21 (25 %), neurological/congenital abnormalities in 12 (14 %), aspiration in 7 (8 %), and cardiac problems in 5 (6 %). Results. Eighty-five PGTs were successfully inserted in 85 children. One procedure was initially unsuccessful due to failed conscious sedation and was completed under general anesthesia. Four of 85 patients initially had attempted antegrade placement that failed, and the procedure was successfully completed using the “push-pull” method. One major complication occurred: a gastrocolic fistula at day 5 post-procedure, which was surgically repaired without sequelae. Tube-related problems included; tube dislodgement (n = 1) and procedure-related stomal infection (n = 3). Conclusion. The “push-pull” gastrostomy technique is a safe, effective method of percutaneous gastrostomy tube placement in neonates. It facilitates successful placement of the PGT in patients in whom the classic antegrade method is not possible. It has become the procedure of choice in this group.
STDs and AIDS in Ghana.

Gonorrhea and other infectious diseases were introduced to Ghana prior to the colonial period by European settlers. By the 1920s both gonorrhea and syphilis were widespread in southern Ghana (3760 and 1503 cases respectively in 1925-26) and soon disseminated throughout the country. By 1946 there were 82430 cases of gonorrhea and 9340 cases of syphilis--an increase exacerbated by the influx of laborers and troops during World War II. Although there was no government department responsible for the control of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) sulpha drugs were widely utilized and distributed through the black market. It was not until 1986 when the first case of acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) was diagnosed in Ghana that government health officials gave serious attention to STDs. At that time the most prevalent STDs were gonorrhea chlamydia and trichomonas. By 1992 10285 AIDS cases had been reported to the National AIDS Control Program and high rates of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection existed in prostitutes and blood donors. Awareness of the role that STDs play as co-factors in HIV acquisition prompted in 1993 the decision to integrate AIDS and STD control programs. Campaigns to train health workers in AIDS/STD detection treatment and prevention were initiated. Womens subordinate socioeconomic status which renders them unable to insist on condom use and denies them access to STD treatment remains a major obstacle.
The separation of panic and agoraphobia from other anxiety disorders: Introduction to the conference proceedings

Abstract A 1982 Research Conference on anxiety disorders identified three issues that clinical research could clarify: how should the anxiety disorders, including panic disorder and agoraphobia, be subdivided? Can anxiety conditions be separated from depression? How should panic attacks be measured? The outcome of the conference was a cross-national panic study, a collaboration between The Massachusetts General Hospital's Psychiatric Epidemiology Research Unit and The Upjohn Company. This 1500-patient study was designed to address these three issues and to test the efficacy of alprazolam in treating panic disorders. Preliminary results of the first phase of the study were reported in 1985 at various scientific meetings; the second phase is underway.
Intraoperative neurophysiologic monitoring: its impact on the practice of a pediatric neurosurgeon.

Introduction From its introduction in the early 1970s, intraoperative neurophysiological monitoring has evolved into an extremely useful and reliable adjunct for operating on the central and peripheral nervous system.
Magnetoresistance of multilayered structures for currents perpendicular to the plane of the layers

While most transport measurements on multilayered structures have been done for currents in the plane of the layers, there is an emerging interest in the geometry where the currents are perpendicular to the plane of the layers. We discuss the field and current patterns in these two cases. For the latter, the elastic mean free path is not a relevant length scale; rather, it is the spin-flip mean free path that is important. In the case of currents perpendicular to the plane of the layers, one must distinguish between models which allow spin mixing of the currents and those in which the currents from the spin-up and spin-down electrons do not mix
Metabolic alterations in postmortem Alzheimer’s disease brain are exaggerated by Apo-E4

Abstract Alterations in phospholipid metabolites are a characteristic abnormality of Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Many of these alterations have been demonstrated by magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) studies of postmortem tissue. Phosphodiesters appear to be elevated late in the disease and phosphomonoesters appear to be elevated early in the disease and then decrease. Second to aging, the most robust risk factor for AD identified to date is the presence of the E4 allele of apolipoprotein-E (Apo-E). Because apolipoproteins are intimately involved in lipid metabolism, this study was performed to determine if the presence of the Apo-E4 allele affects the abnormalities in phospholipid metabolites in AD brain. Perchloric acid extracts from 12 Apo-E 3/3, 31 3/4, 6 4/4 AD brains and 5 Apo-E 3/3 control brains were studied by both proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy and phosphorus-31 magnetic resonance spectroscopy. When the E4-positive AD samples were compared with the 3/3 AD samples, an exaggeration in both phosphomonoester and phosphodiester abnormalities was observed. The decrease in N-acetyl- l -aspartate (NAA) was also exaggerated. These results suggest membrane phospholipid metabolite alterations observed in AD are more severe in the presence of the Apo-E4 allele.
SYMPTOM DEVELOPMENT OF ASH YELLOWS AND FLUCTUATION OF MYCOPLASMA-LIKE ORGANISM POPULATION IN WHITE ASH (Fraxinus americana L.)

Summary White ashes (Fraxinus americana) naturally infected with ash yellows mycoplasma-like organism (MLO) were observed monthly, from September 1986 to August 1989. The symptoms were witches'-broom (WB), foliar chlorosis (CHL), deliquescent branching (DB), tufting (TF), premature spring bud break (PSB), and premature autumn colour (PAC). Every August each tree was rated for decline in less vs. more than half the crown. All symptoms except PSB and PAC differed between these two groups. In more than the 1 and 2 groups, incidence of WB, CHL and TF increased significantly each year, but DB, PSB and PAC did not. WB and TF were the strongest indicator of ash yellows even though those symptoms were found at the late stage of the disease. MLO was verified monthly by DAPI staining. MLO population fluctuated in the infected tree over time. In twigs, MLO population was high during the growing season and quite low during the dormant season. In contrast, the MLO population in root tissues was highest during the dorm...
Muscle sodium channel inactivation defect in paramyotonia congenita with the thr1313met mutation

Mutations of the skeletal muscle sodium (Na) channel have been reported in families with paramyotonia congenita (PC), an autosomal dominant disorder with cold and/or exercise induced stiffness and myotonia. Functional consequences of specific Na channel mutations responsible for PC have not been described. Patch clamp recording of single Na channels were made in cultured myotubes at 22 and 34 degrees C from a PC patient with the thr1313met mutation. Cell-attached and outside-out recordings of mutant PC channels contained long duration and late openings. The mean open time was increased and the ensemble average showed a prolonged inward Na current. This membrane depolarization could cause repetitive action potentials and the clinical syndrome.
Anisotropic effects on full and partial stacks

Nonhyperbolic moveout resulting from localized variations in anisotropy can create many misleading artifacts such as apparent faults, folds, channels, flat spots, dim spots, bright spots, and AVO anomalies on fully and partially stacked seismic sections. This tutorial shows how these interpretation pitfalls may result when isotropy is assumed in processing.
Community, character, and gender: women and the work of Stanley Hauerwas

This essay explores the intersection between feminism and the work of Stanley Hauerwas. The recent critiques of Hauerwas's writings by Gloria Albrecht and Linda Woodhead are examined and a general assessment of the relationship between feminist theology (in its various guises) and Hauerwas's work is offered. It is suggested that the intersection of Hauerwas's theology with some strands of feminism reveals some surprisingly similar theological convictions and faith commitments, and that these areas of common concern offer unique opportunities for mutual engagement and enhancement.
Mitochondrial Transport Dynamics in Axons and Dendrites

Mitochondrial dynamics and transport have emerged as key factors in the regulation of neuronal differentiation and survival. Mitochondria are dynamically transported in and out of axons and dendrites to maintain neuronal and synaptic function. Transport proceeds through a controlled series of plus- and minus-end directed movements along microtubule tracks (MTs) that are often interrupted by short stops. This bidirectional motility of mitochondria is facilitated by plus end-directed kinesin and minus end-directed dynein motors, and may be coordinated and controlled by a number of mechanisms that integrate intracellular signals to ensure efficient transport and targeting of mitochondria. In this chapter, we discuss our understanding of mechanisms that facilitate mitochondrial transport and delivery to specific target sites in dendrites and axons.
In Vitro Activities of LY333328 and Comparative Agents against Nosocomial Gram-Positive Pathogens Collected in a 1997 Global Surveillance Study

The in vitro activity of LY333328 was evaluated for 1,479 nosocomial gram-positive pathogens isolated in 12 countries during 1997. LY333328 MICs at which 90% of the isolates tested were inhibited for Enterococcus faecalis (n = 351), Enterococcus faecium (n = 100), Staphylococcus aureus (n = 593), coagulase-negative Staphylococcus species (n = 325), and Streptococcus pneumoniae (n = 110) were 1, 1, 2, 2, and 0.015 μg/ml, respectively. LY333328 demonstrated potent activity against isolates of vancomycin-resistant enterococci, oxacillin-resistant staphylococci, and penicillin-resistant pneumococci.
Compliance with a 12-Month Assessment in an Elderly Cohort Participating in a Preventive lntervention Study: The San Diego Medicare Preventive Health Project

Non-compliance in long-term cohort studies contributes to bias in the estimation of study parameters and loss of power in hypothesis testing. This paper identifies baseline factors associated with non-compliance in a 12-month health assessment among elderly participants in the San Diego Medicare Preventive Health Project, a randomized preventive intervention study. A non-complier was defined as a study subject contacted by telephone by study personnel to schedule an appointment for the 12-month health assessment but who would not or could not attend. Of the almost 1600 contacted subjects, 14.1% did not participate in the evaluation. Using logistic regression, non-compliance was found to be associated with older age, intervention group assignment, nonsingle family residence, no alcohol use, and, to a lesser extent, depression. No interactions between group assignment and other baseline factors were detected. These results may be useful in designing cohort maintenance strategies where greater resources may be devoted to participants at higher risk of non-compliance and attrition.
Sublayer-specific microcircuits of corticospinal and corticostriatal neurons in motor cortex

The mammalian motor system is organized around distinct subcortical subsystems, suggesting that the intracortical circuits immediately upstream of spinal cord and basal ganglia might be functionally differentiated as well. We found that the main excitatory pathway in mouse motor cortex, layer 2/3-->5, is fractionated into distinct pathways targeting corticospinal and corticostriatal neurons, which are involved in motor control. However, connections were selective for neurons in certain sublayers: corticospinal neurons in upper layer 5B and corticostriatal neurons in lower 5A. A simple structural combinatorial principle accounts for this highly specific functional circuit architecture: potential connectivity is established by neuronal sublayer positioning and actual connectivity in this framework is determined by long-range axonal projection targets. Thus, intracortical circuits of these pyramidal neurons are specified not only by their long-range axonal targets or their layer or sublayer positions, but by both, in specific combinations.
An Algorithm for Scheduling Certifiable Mixed-Criticality Sporadic Task Systems

Many safety-critical embedded systems are subject to certification requirements. However, only a subset of the functionality of the system may be safety-critical and hence subject to certification, the rest of the functionality is non safety-critical and does not need to be certified. Certification requirements in such "mixed-criticality" systems give rise to some interesting scheduling problems, that cannot be satisfactorily addressed using techniques from conventional scheduling theory. In prior work, we have studied the scheduling and analysis of mixed criticality systems that are specified as finite collections of jobs executing on a single shared preemptive processor. In this paper, we consider mixed criticality systems that are comprised of finite collections of recurrent tasks, specified using a mixed-criticality generalization of the widely-used sporadic tasks model. We design a priority-based algorithm for scheduling such systems, derive an algorithm for computing priorities, and obtain a sufficient schedulability condition for efficiently determining whether a given mixed-criticality system can be successfully scheduled by this algorithm.
Periodic nulls in the pulsar B1133+16

Numerous studies of the brightest Cambridge pulsar, B1133+16, have revealed little order in its individual pulses, apart from a weak 30-odd-rotation-period fluctuation feature and that some 15 per cent of the star's pulsars are `nulls'. New Arecibo observations confirm this fluctuation feature and that it modulates all the emission, not simply the `saddle' region. By replacing each pulse with a scaled version of the average profile, we were able to quench all subpulse modulation and thereby demonstrate that the star's `null' pulses exhibit a similar periodicity. A subbeam carousel model with a sparse and irregular `beamlet' population appears to be compatible with these characteristics.
"Endogenous" benzodiazepine activity in body fluids of patients with hepatic encephalopathy

Abstract Body fluids from patients with hepatic encephalopathy and from controls with no renal or hepatic disease were assayed for benzodiazepine immunoreactivity and benzodiazepine-receptor-binding activity. The subjects had taken no synthetic benzodiazepines for at least 3 months. Benzodiazepine receptor binding in cerebrospinal fluid was significantly higher in hepatic encephalopathy patients than in controls (210 [SE 50·2] vs 40·7 [7·3] oxazepam equivalents [ng/ml]). The severity of hepatic encephalopathy was directly and significantly correlated with the level of benzodiazepine activity by radioreceptor assay or radioimmunoassay in urine and in plasma. Benzodiazepine activity equivalent to levels of more than 900 ng/ml was found in patients with advanced encephalopathy. Although the chemical identity and source of this substance (or substances) are still unknown, its properties and the estimated levels of activity suggest it may have a role in the pathogenesis of the neural inhibition seen in hepatic encephalopathy.
A case study of an African American Teacher's self-efficacy, stereotype threat, and persistence

Abstract The purpose of this qualitative investigation was to understand the sources of self-efficacy (Bandura, 1997) for an African American teacher in a suburban high school in the United States. As one of only three African American teachers in the school, she encountered many challenges that could have threatened her sense of efficacy and thus caused her to leave the school, yet she persevered. We attempted to identify and interpret the sources of efficacy that encouraged the teacher's persistence in an unsupportive environment. In addition, we considered how the concept of stereotype threat might help us better understand the teacher's situation. Findings of the case study have implications for teacher self-efficacy theory and research, as well as teacher persistence.
Robotic Tracking of Coherent Structures in Flows

Lagrangian coherent structures (LCSs) are separatrices that delineate dynamically distinct regions in general dynamical systems and can be viewed as the extensions of stable and unstable manifolds to general time-dependent systems. Identifying LCS in dynamical systems is useful for many applications, including oceanography and weather prediction. In this paper, we present a collaborative robotic control strategy that is designed to track stable and unstable manifolds in dynamical systems, including ocean flows. The technique does not require global information about the dynamics, and is based on local sensing, prediction, and correction. The collaborative control strategy is implemented with a team of three robots to track coherent structures and manifolds on static flows, a time-dependent model of a wind-driven double-gyre flow often seen in the ocean, experimental data that are generated by a flow tank, and actual ocean data. We present simulation results and discuss theoretical guarantees of the collaborative tracking strategy.
Correction to “Commonalities in social and non-social cognitive impairments in adults with autism spectrum disorder and schizophrenia” [Schizophr. Res. 148 (2013) 24–28]

a School of Social Work, University of Pittsburgh, United States b Western Psychiatric Institute and Clinic, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, United States c Massachusetts Mental Health Center Public Psychiatry Division of the Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States d Department of Psychiatry, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, United States e Department of Neurology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, United States
The Effect of Body Mass Index on Fluoroscopic Time and Radiation Dose During Intra-articular Hip Injections

Abstract Background Intra-articular hip injections are commonly performed for both diagnostic and therapeutic interventions. Because of the risk of damage to neurovascular structures, fluoroscopic guidance with injection of contrast material has been established as the gold standard to ensure proper needle placement into the intra-articular space. However, fluoroscopically guided intra-articular hip injections put patients at risk due to radiation exposure. Objective To examine the relationship between body mass index (BMI) and fluoroscopy time and radiation dose during intra-articular hip injections. Design Retrospective study. Setting The study was conducted at an academic orthopedic center. All procedures were performed by physicians board-certified in PM&R and/or with subspecialty certification in sports medicine, or by a trainee under close supervision from an attending physician. Participants All patients who underwent fluoroscopically guided intra-articular hip injections between the years 2003-2014 with a documented height/weight, fluoroscopy time, and radiation dose. Interventions All patients received unilateral or bilateral intra-articular hip injections with fluoroscopic guidance. Fluoroscopy time and dose were recorded. Main Outcome Measures The main outcome measures were fluoroscopy time and radiation dose. A Bonferroni correction was implemented for multiple comparisons, defining statistical significance at P Results A total of 438 subjects (446 injections) were included. Mean fluoroscopy times were 17.4 ± 9.9, 17.5 ± 11.4, and 19.1 ± 13.4 seconds for normal, overweight, and obese body mass (BMI) index groups, respectively, with no significant difference between groups ( P = .148). The mean radiation doses were 601 ± 690, 678 ± 558, and 1049 ± 812 mGy-cm 2 , respectively ( P P = .03), needle length ( P = .34) or trainee involvement ( P = .159) with fluoroscopy time. Conclusion This study demonstrates that increasing BMI leads to elevated radiation dose during fluoroscopically guided intra-articular hip injections. The increased radiation experienced by patients with a larger BMI, however, is likely negligible.
Immunogenicity of Therapeutic Protein Aggregates

Therapeutic proteins have a propensity for aggregation during manufacturing, shipping, and storage. The presence of aggregates in protein drug products can induce adverse immune responses in patients that may affect safety and efficacy, and so it is of concern to both manufacturers and regulatory agencies. In this vein, there is a lack of understanding of the physicochemical determinants of immunological responses and a lack of standardized analytical methods to survey the molecular properties of aggregates associated with immune activation. In this review, we provide an overview of the basic immune mechanisms in the context of interactions with protein aggregates. We then critically examine the literature with emphasis on the underlying immune mechanisms as they relate to aggregate properties. Finally, we highlight the gaps in our current understanding of this issue and offer recommendations for future research.
The Mechanical Characteristics of 2-D Braided Textile Composites Using Geometrical Representation

*† A simple geometrical model to predict effective moduli of the 2-D braided textile composites is developed. To calculate homogenized material properties for 2-D braids, the concept of a Repeating Unit Cell (RUC) along with the iso-strain assumption and equivalence of strain energy of the RUC are used. The geometrical surface equations of the braid yarns, in terms of sinusoidal functions are introduced to describe three-dimensional braided yarn shapes. The micro-mechanical constitutive equations are employed to obtain appropriate elastic properties for the 2-D braided yarns. For a parametric study, various yarn sizes, yarn aspect ratios and braid angles are considered to investigate various characteristics of effective elastic moduli of the 2-D braided textile composites. Results from our analytical model for determining effective modulus for a 2-D braided textile composite were compared with available results in the existing literature. The comparison between our geometrical model and other models indicates excellent agreement, and the dependency of effective constitutive properties of a 2-D braided textile composite are established from a number of numerical examples. Nomenclature br θ + = the braid angle for the br θ + yarns br θ − = the braid angle for the br θ − yarns br c + θ = the crimp angle for the br θ + yarns br c − θ = the crimp angle for the br θ − yarns H = the total thickness for the 2-D braids’ RUC 1 u = the undulation length for the br θ + yarns in the x-y-z coordinate 2 u = the undulation length for the br θ − yarns in the x-y-z coordinate * 1 u = the undulation length for the br θ + yarns in the 1-2-3 coordinate * 2 u = the undulation length for the br θ − yarns in the 1-2-3 coordinate * 1 u u = the undulation arc-length for the br θ
A Relational Database Information System for a Small Clinical Laboratory

A customized, computer-based laboratory data management system was developed for the IBM PC/XT microcomputer. Six data storage forms were linked by defined relationships using the Data Ease software program. Among the variety oftabular and custom formatted reportsthat are used regularly are standard test result reports, work orders for technicians, bills for physicians, monthly administrative summaries, and financial logs. The system, which has successfully replaced a manual system and has beenin daily use for the past 3 years, was developed within the budget of a small laboratory; the total cost for hardware and software was less than $5,000 and all custom programming was done by laboratory personnel. We believe that similar systems would be cost effective for many laboratories.
On the Production Capacity of Automatic Transfer Lines with Unlimited Buffer Space

Abstract In this paper we derive a general formula for the production capacity of automatic transfer lines where partially processed units may have to be scrapped when the machine fails. In the derivation of this formula it is assumed that the buffer spaces between adjacent work stations are unlimited.
Histochemical studies of muscle development in decapitated and hypophysectomized pig fetuses: blood vessel development.

In Exp. 1, fetuses were decapitated in utero on d 45 of gestation and examined at 110 d of gestation; in Exp. 2, fetuses were hypophysectomized (hypox) in utero with a cauterizing needle at d 70 of gestation and examined at 110 d of gestation. Semitendinosus muscles were sampled and transverse cryostat sections were cut from the medial portion of the muscle. Quantitative analysis of lectin-stained sections showed that capillary:fiber ratios (C/F) were lower (P less than .01) for sections from decapitated and hypox fetuses than for sections from control fetuses. The superficial and deep aspects of muscle sections from control fetuses had markedly different C/F ratios (deep region, 24.1 +/- 2; superficial region, 11.2 +/- .5). Fetal decapitation and hypophysectomy abolished differences in C/F ratios between deep and superficial regions of muscle sections (hypox fetuses; deep region, 6.9 +/- 1; superficial region, 6.4 +/- .6). Capillaries in sections from control fetuses were reactive for several enzymes, whereas capillaries in sections from experimental fetuses (decapitated and hypox) were not reactive for these enzymes. The number of small arterioles was reduced in sections from experimental fetuses (decapitated and hypox) compared with sections from control fetuses. These studies demonstrate that lowering the levels of pituitary hormones in the fetus retards the development of blood vessels in muscle tissue both quantitatively and qualitatively.