cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Democratization, political affinity, and industrial policy in Brazil

Abstract With the continuing consolidation of democratic forms of government in Eastern Europe, Asia, and Latin America, people with advanced technical training play an increasingly influential role in shaping industrial policy in these regions. This is especially true in newly industrializing countries (NICs) such as Brazil, which are striving to maintain their technological competitiveness in the world economy — or at the very least, not fall further behind the more developed countries. The role of such technical elites 1 in the shaping of industrial policy during Brazil's transition to democracy, which occurred from the mid-1980s to the early 1990s, serves as a useful case study for demonstrating the influence these groups can have on industrial policy in NICs during democratic transitions. The Brazilian case further demonstrates that the political orientations of technical elites in various industries can significantly influence policy outcomes.
Augmentation of meniscus repair

Rates of healing following meniscus repair range from 63 to 91%. Meniscus tears in the well-vascularized periphery are able to mount a proper healing response, whereas tears in the avascular zone have limited healing capabilities. To increase healing rates, several techniques have been devised to enhance the healing of meniscal tears, especially those in avascular regions. This chapter reviews the techniques available for augmentation of meniscal repair, including vascular access channels, addition of fibrin clot, and microfracture of the intercondylar notch. Each of these techniques is designed to increase the vascular supply or induce blood and marrow elements at the site of meniscus repair, to increase the rate of meniscal healing.
Computerized 3-dimensional localization of a video capsule in the abdominal cavity: validation by digital radiography

Background Wireless video capsule endoscopy allows the noninvasive visualization of the small intestine. Currently, capsules do not provide localization information while traversing the GI tract. Objective To report on the radiological validation of 3-dimensional localization software incorporated in a newly developed capsule. By using radiofrequency transmission, the software measures the strength of the capsule's signal to locate the position of the capsule. Setting This study was performed at the University of Massachusetts Medical Center, Worcester, Mass. Patients Thirty healthy volunteers consented to the experimental procedure. Design After ingestion of the capsule, subjects had 5 sets of anteroposterior and lateral radiographs taken every 30 minutes while the software calculated the position of the capsule. By using the radiographs, we calculated the location of the capsule in the abdominal cavity and compared the results with those generated by the software. Results Average error (and standard deviation) among the 3-dimensional coordinates was X , 2.00 cm (1.64); Y , 2.64 cm (2.39); and Z , 2.51 cm (1.83). The average total spatial error among all measurements was 13.26 cm 3 (22.72). There was a correlation between increased subject body mass index and the 3-dimensional software measurement error. Limitations This study was performed in healthy volunteers and needs further validation in patients with small intestinal disorders. Conclusions The new 3-dimensional software provides localization of the capsule consistent with radiological observations. However, further validation of the software's clinical utility is required with a prospective clinical trial.
Reversible control of kinesin activity and microtubule gliding speeds by switching the doping states of a conducting polymer support

We describe a method for reversibly controlling the ATPase activity of streptavidin-linked kinesin by changing the doping states of a conducting polymer support. When the polymer (poly(CH2OH-EDOT)) was electrochemically switched from its dedoped (semiconducting) state to its doped (conducting) state, the ATPase activity of the adsorbed kinesin complex decreased by 35% with a concomitant decrease in the gliding speeds of kinesin-driven microtubules. When the polymer was switched back to its original dedoped state, nearly identical increases were observed in the kinesin ATPase activity and microtubule speeds. Use of a fluorescent ATP substrate analogue showed that the total amount of kinesin adsorbed on the poly(CH2OH-EDOT) surface remained constant as the doping state of the polymer was switched. The microtubules exhibited nearly identical speed differences on the doped and dedoped surfaces for both chemical and electrochemical doping methods. Michaelis–Menten modelling suggests that the doped surface acts as an 'uncompetitive inhibitor' of kinesin. This work represents an investigation into the phenomenon of an electrically switchable surface exerting a moderating effect on the activity of an adsorbed protein that does not contain a bound, electroactive metal ion.
Mechanics of Nanoindentation on a Monolayer of Colloidal Hollow Nanoparticles

We explore the collective mechanical behavior of monolayer assemblies composed of close-packed arrays of hollow silica nanoparticles using a spherical nanoindentor. Seven types of well-defined hollow nanoparticles are studied with their radii ranging from 100 to 300 nm and shell thickness ranging from 14 to 44 nm. Micromechanical models reveal the underlying deformation mechanisms during indentation, where the consecutive contacting of the indentor with an increasing number of nanoparticles results in a nonlinear increase in the indentation force with penetration depth. Each contacted hollow nanoparticle successively locally bends, flattens, and then locally buckles. The effective indentation modulus of the monolayer film, which is obtained by a Hertzian fit to the experimental data, is found to be proportional to the elastic modulus of the nanoparticle shell material and scales exponentially with the ratio of particle shell thickness t to radius R to the power of 2.3. Furthermore, we find that for a cons...
Word Recognition, Meaningfulness, and Familiarity

Thac the exposure time necessary for rhe correct recognirion of verbal materials, using an ascending method of limits, is inversely related to the frequency with which che material has been "experienced," in the past, has been established with considerable certainty. Two principal approaches have been used. The firsc indicated a correlation of about -.70 between the frequency of occurrence of words in the language and their recognirion chresholds ( 1 ) . The second approach established ddferencial experience for nonsense words as part of the experimental proced~~re (4). The firsc approach has been criticized (4) and the second suffers from an inapplicability to meaningful stimulus patterns. A third procedure, which overcomes some of the deficiencies of the earlier methods, involves using responses ro infer frequency of experience. The logic of this has been detailed by Noble (2, 3) who has provided a set of verbal materials scaled for meaningfulness (m) and familiarity (f). Meaningfulness is defined as the average number of different responses in association to a stimulus word per unit time, while familiarity is based on a racing scale technique. A brief experiment has been done in which recognition thresholds for words selected over the entire range of m values have been measured by the ascending method of limits in a Gerbrands cachistoscope. The procedure was similar to that employed by Solomon and Postman (5) except that step intervals of .03 sec. were used between durations less than .5 sec. and of .O5 sec. between greacer duracions. The resulcs, In Table 1, are averages for 15 Ss.
Prevention and reversal of delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol induced depression of natural killer cell activity by interleukin-2

Abstract The effects of delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) on NK cell activity were studied. Previously, we reported that incubation of human peripheral blood mononuclear cells in THC resulted in an inhibition of natural killer (NK) cell activity. The present study examined the mechanism(s) of the decrease in NK cell activity. The inhibition of killing by NK cells was not due to a failure of NK cells to bind to K562 target cells. Furthermore, indomethacin did not abrogate the THC-mediated effect, suggesting that prostaglandins are not involved in the process leading to suppression of NK cell activity. However, NK activity was partially restored if cells, pretreated with THC, were washed to remove excess drug and then incubated overnight in fresh medium before assay. Addition of 1 – 100 U IL-2, either during pretreatment with THC or during overnight incubation, precluded or promoted the reversal of the inhibition of NK cell cytotoxicity. We conclude that the regulatory mechanism(s) involved in depression of NK cell cytotoxicity by THC is significantly influenced by IL-2.
Evidence for enhanced mineral dissolution in organic acid-rich shallow ground water

Total concentrations of formate, acetate, and isobutyrate varied from less than 5 to greater than 9,000 micromole/l over distances of < 3 m in ground water from a shallow hydrocarbon contaminated aquifer. Laboratory incubations of aquifer material indicate that organic acid concentrations were dependent on the amount of hydrocarbon loading in the sediment and the relative rates of microbial organic acid production and consumption. In heavily contaminated sediments, production greatly exceeded consumption and organic acid concentrations increased. In lightly contaminated sediments rates were essentially equal and organic acid concentrations remained low. Concentrations of dissolved calcium, magnesium, and iron generally were one to two orders of magnitude higher in organic acid-rich ground water than in ground water having low organic acid concentrations. Carbonate and Fe(III)oxyhydroxide minerals were the likely sources of these elements. Similarly, concentrations of dissolved silica, derived from quartz and k-feldspar, were higher in organic acid-rich ground water than in other waters. The positive relation (r = 0.60, p < .05, n = 16) between concentrations of silica and organic acids suggests that the microbially mediated buildup of organic acids in ground water enhanced quartz/k-feldspar dissolution in the aquifer, although it was not the only factor influencing their dissolution. A model that included organic acid microequivalents normalized by cation microequivalents significantly strengthened the correlation (r = 0.79, p < .001, n = 16) between dissolved silica and organic acid concentrations, indicating that competition between silica and cations for complexation sites on organic acids also influenced quartz/k-feldspar dissolution. Physical evidence for enhanced mineral dissolution in organic acid-rich waters included scanning electron microscopy images of highly corroded quartz and k-feldspar grains from portions of the aquifer containing organic acid-rich ground water. Microporosity generated in hydrocarbon contaminated sediments may adversely affect remediation efforts that depend on the efficient injection of electron acceptors into an aquifer or on the recovery of solutes from an aquifer.
Catecholamine binding to CNS adrenergic receptors

The properties of 3H-catecholamine binding to alpha- and beta-adrenergic receptors in CNS are reviewed. 3H-epinephrine and 3H-norepinephrine label one class of alpha-receptors throughout the brain, with high affinities for agonists and some antagonists. Agonist affinities at this site are increased in low temperature conditions but are reduced by guanine nucleotides and monovalent cations. Divalent cations reverse both effects. This alpha-receptor may be coupled to adenylate cyclase by GTP and/or sodium, and uncoupled by divalent cations. 3H-epinephrine labels beta2, but not beta1, receptors in CNS, especially in bovine cerebellum. The same beta-receptor does not show agonist-specific GTP-sensitivity, but does exhibit Na+-sensitivity. This receptor appears to be linked to adenylate cyclase, and sodium rather than GTP may be the coupling agent.
Improving compliance in your dyslipidemic patient: an evidence-based approach.

Purpose To synthesize the evidence from landmark clinical studies of lipid-lowering pharma-cotherapy and nurse management of hyperlipidemia, discuss issues related to nonadherence, and proposes strategies for achieving long-term cholesterol control. Data Sources All publications of lipid-lowering clinical trials related to pharmacotherapy for dyslipidemias were accessed from a thorough Medline Search and reviewed by two nurse experts. Conclusions Randomized controlled studies provide com-pelling evidence that reduction of blood cho-lesterol with pharmacotherapy reduces both first and subsequent coronary events. Nonetheless, inadequate provider and patient adherence to guidelines for lipid lowering remains prevalent. Studies show that nurses provide safe and effective care for patients with abnormal lipids. Implications This article assists nurse practitioners in playing an active role in the implementation of the National Cholesterol Education Program Adult Treatment Panel III Report to be released in Spring 2001, where a strong emphasis will be placed on multidisciplinary approaches and adherence.
Topical Review: Use of Fetal Tissue in Foot and Ankle Surgery

Fetal tissues are well known for their therapeutic potential. They contain numerous growth factors, cytokines, and matrix components that promote regeneration of tissues while downregulating inflammation and scar formation. As a result, use of these treatments has expanded over the previous 20 years throughout various surgical specialties, including orthopaedics. With improved methods of sterilization, processing, and storage, surgeons need to be informed about the potential benefits of fetal tissue in foot and ankle surgery. The aim of this review is to provide a brief historical background, basic anatomy and physiology, and a current review of the literature in regard to chronic wounds, diabetic foot ulcerations, plantar fasciitis, tendon repair, adhesion prevention, nerve repair, and bone healing.Levels of Evidence: Level V: Expert Opinion
Complicated grief among individuals with major depression: prevalence, comorbidity, and associated features.

Background Growing data suggest that complicated grief (CG) may be common in clinical care settings, but there are few prior reports about CG in outpatients presenting with primary mood disorders.
Historical Trauma in American Indian/Native Alaska Communities A Multilevel Framework for Exploring Impacts on Individuals, Families, and Communities

Over multiple generations, American Indian communities have endured a succession of traumatic events that have enduring consequences for community members. This article presents a multilevel framework for exploring the impact of historically traumatic events on individuals, families, and communities. The critical connection between historically traumatic events and contemporary stressors is also discussed at length.
ISBN recognition using a modified probabilistic neural network (PNN)

Develops a modified probabilistic neural network (PNN) to recognize the international standard book number (ISBN). Effort is made for real time implementation of the recognition process. The authors used a simple but effective feature extraction approach, which takes the meshed averages of an isolated character as feature vector. To achieve better performance they modified the original PNN algorithm. Before normalizing the feature vectors onto a unit hyper-sphere, they are mapped into a one more dimension higher hyper-cube than the feature vector. The best result for correct characters classification is 99.62%. >
Neoadjuvant therapy for resectable and borderline resectable pancreatic cancer

Neoadjuvant chemoradiation for resectable and borderline resectable pancreatic cancer has been widely investigated in the past two decades. Research demonstrates that this therapy may help improve surgical margins, reduce rates of lymph node positivity, allow for earlier initiation of systemic therapy, and select for patients with aggressive disease in whom surgery may not be warranted. This review presents the data for neoadjuvant chemoradiation in pancreatic cancer with a focus on resectable and borderline resectable disease.
Improvement in the Health of HIV-Infected Persons in Care: Reducing Disparities

Background. Despite advances in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) treatment, major challenges remain in achieving access, retention, and adherence. Our inner-city HIV clinical practice in Baltimore has a diverse patient population with high rates of poverty, black race, and injection drug use (IDU), providing us the opportunity to compare health process and outcomes. Methods. Using data collected in a clinical HIV cohort in Baltimore, we compared receipt of combination antiretroviral therapy (ART), HIV type 1 (HIV-1) RNA, CD4, incidence of opportunistic illness, and mortality from 1995 to 2010. Comparisons were made of these outcomes by HIV risk group, sex, and race (black, white). Results. From 1995 to 2010, we followed 6366 patients comprising 27 941 person-years (PY) of follow-up. By 2010, 87% of patients were receiving ART; median HIV-1 RNA was <200 copies/mL, median CD4 was 475 cells/ mm 3 , opportunistic illness rates were 2.4 per 100 PY, and mortality rates were 2.1 per 100 PY, with no differences by demographic or HIV risk group. The only differences were that the IDU risk group had a median CD4 that was 79 cells/mm 3 lower and HIV-1 RNA 0.16 log10copies/mL higher compared with other risk groups (P< .01). In 2009 a 28-year-old HIV-infected person was estimated to have 45.4 years of life remaining, which did not differ by demographic or behavioral risk group. Discussion. Our results emphasize that advances in HIV treatment have had a positive impact on all affected demographic and behavioral risk groups in an HIV clinical setting, with an expected longevity for HIV-infected patients that is now 73 years.
The risk of rash associated with ipilimumab in patients with cancer: a systematic review of the literature and meta-analysis

Background Ipilimumab is a human antibody that inhibits cytotoxic T-lymphocyte–associated antigen 4, leading to increases in T-cell activation and interleukin 2 secretion and has been approved for the treatment of advanced melanoma. Dermatologic adverse events such as rash, pruritus, and vitiligo have been reported in trials, with varying incidences. The overall incidence and risk of rash to ipilimumab is unknown. Objective We conducted a systematic review of the literature and performed a meta-analysis to ascertain the incidence and risk of developing rash among patients receiving ipilimumab. Methods Databases from PubMed and Web of Science from January 1998 until July 2011 and abstracts presented at the American Society of Clinical Oncology meetings from 2004 through 2011 were searched to identify relevant studies. The incidence and relative risk of rash were calculated using random effects or fixed effects model depending on the heterogeneity of included studies. Results A total of 1208 patients from clinical trials were included in this analysis. The overall incidence of all-grade rash was 24.3% (95% confidence interval [CI] 21.4%-27.6%), with a relative risk of 4.00 (95% CI 2.63-6.08, P P = .13). Limitations The ability to detect rash may vary among institutions. Conclusion There is a significant risk of developing rash in patients with cancer receiving ipilimumab. There was no statistically significant difference in the risk of rash based on dose or underlying tumor. Adequate monitoring and early intervention are recommended to prevent decreased quality of life and inconsistent dosing.
Integrated adaptive guidance and control of constrained nonlinear air-breathing hypersonic vehicle models

This paper presents the design of an adaptive flight control systems for constrained air-breathing hypersonic vehicle models. The proposed architecture comprises a robust adaptive nonlinear inner-loop controller, and a self-optimizing guidance scheme that shapes the reference to be tracked in order to avoid the occurrence of control input saturations. The scheme is explicitly designed to account for the presence of a state-dependent input saturation on the control loop for the vehicle longitudinal velocity, arising from physical limitations in the propulsion system. The approach is based on the integration of a previously-developed adaptive controller with a self-tuning pre-filter which shapes the reference command to maintain the control signal within feasible values. The reference command are left unaltered whenever there is sufficient control authority for stable tracking. Simulation results are provided to show the effectiveness of the method.
A novel three-unit tRNA splicing endonuclease found in ultrasmall Archaea possesses broad substrate specificity

tRNA splicing endonucleases, essential enzymes found in Archaea and Eukaryotes, are involved in the processing of pre-tRNA molecules. In Archaea, three types of splicing endonuclease [homotetrameric: α(4), homodimeric: α(2), and heterotetrameric: (αβ)(2)] have been identified, each representing different substrate specificity during the tRNA intron cleavage. Here, we discovered a fourth type of archaeal tRNA splicing endonuclease (e(2)) in the genome of the acidophilic archaeon Candidatus Micrarchaeum acidiphilum, referred to as ARMAN-2 and its closely related species, ARMAN-1. The enzyme consists of two duplicated catalytic units and one structural unit encoded on a single gene, representing a novel three-unit architecture. Homodimeric formation was confirmed by cross-linking assay, and site-directed mutagenesis determined that the conserved L10-pocket interaction between catalytic and structural unit is necessary for the assembly. A tRNA splicing assay reveal that e(2) endonuclease cleaves both canonical and non-canonical bulge-helix-bulge motifs, similar to that of (αβ)(2) endonuclease. Unlike other ARMAN and Euryarchaeota, tRNAs found in ARMAN-2 are highly disrupted by introns at various positions, which again resemble the properties of archaeal species with (αβ)(2) endonuclease. Thus, the discovery of e(2) endonuclease in an archaeon deeply branched within Euryarchaeota represents a new example of the coevolution of tRNA and their processing enzymes.
Decay of Apparent Individual Distinctiveness in the Begging Calls of Adult Female White-Throated Magpie-Jays

Abstract Individual recognition, the ability to correctly identify an individual, relies upon individual distinctiveness in a trait being used to determine identity. However, if such distinctiveness is not stable over time, its usefulness is limited. The purpose of this study was to assess individual distinctiveness in the begging calls of female White-throated Magpie-Jays (Calocitta formosa) recorded over different time periods. Such food solicitation calls could be selected to encode caller identity if multiple individuals within a group or neighborhood produce them. On average, a discriminant function analysis of 29 call parameters correctly assigned 51% of each female's calls to the appropriate female, suggesting that begging calls are individually distinctive. However, females that were recorded on many days were more likely to have their calls incorrectly assigned than were females recorded on one or a few days. On a short time scale, females produce calls consistently, but calls vary over longer ti...
Civic Engagements: Resolute Partisanship or Reflective Deliberation

Why do people practice citizenship in a partisan rather than in a deliberative fashion? We argue that they are not intractably disposed to one type of citizenship, but instead adopt one of two different modes depending on the strategic character of current circumstances. While some situations prompt partisan solidarity, other situations encourage people to engage in open-minded deliberation. We argue that the type of citizenship practiced depends on the engagement of the emotions of anxiety and aversion. Recurring conflict with familiar foes over familiar issues evokes aversion. These angry reactions prepare people for the defense of convictions, solidarity with allies, and opposition to accommodation. Unfamiliar circumstances generate anxiety. Rather than defend priors, this anxiety promotes the consideration of opposing viewpoints and a willingness to compromise. In this way, emotions help people negotiate politics and regulate the kinds of citizenship they practice.
RF voltage measurement

The majority of signal amplitude or level measurements made at RF and microwave frequencies are measurements of power rather than voltage. Voltage measuring instruments such as RF millivoltmeters are still in frequent use but are nowadays less common than in the past. Probably, the most widespread test instrument is the oscilloscope, and modern oscilloscopes have bandwidths that extend well into the RF and microwave frequency ranges. There are a variety of tests and measurements of high speed waveforms made with oscilloscopes and similar signal analysis instruments that rely on accurately probing and capturing signals at RF and microwave frequencies. This chapter overviews a variety of RF and microwave measuring instruments, including digitising and sampling oscilloscopes. It briefly describes their operating principles and characteristics, discusses probing and loading issues, and considers traceability and calibration for these instruments.
Spatial heterogeneity of restitution properties and the onset of alternans

Traditionally, it was believed that cardiac rhythm stability was governed by the slope of the restitution curve (RC), which relates the duration of an action potential to the preceding diastolic interval. However, a single RC does not exist; rate-dependence leads to multiple distinct RCs. We measure spatial differences in the steady-state action potential duration (APD), as well as in three different RCs: the S1-S2 (SRC), constant-basic-cycle-length (BRC), and dynamic (DRC), and correlate these differences with the tissue’s propensity to develop alternans. The results show that spatial differences in APD, SRC slope, and DRC slope are correlated with the tissue’s propensity to exhibit alternans. These results may lead to a new diagnostic approach to identifying patients with vulnerability to arrhythmias, which will involve pacing at slow rates and analyzing spatial differences in restitution properties.
Association between depressive symptoms and sleep disturbances in community-dwelling older men

OBJECTIVES: To examine the association between depressive symptoms and subjective and objective measures of sleep in community-dwelling older men. DESIGN: Cross-sectional. SETTING: Six U.S. clinical centers. PARTICIPANTS: Three thousand fifty-one men aged 67 and older. MEASUREMENTS: Depressive symptoms assessed using the 15-item Geriatric Depression Scale and categorized as 0 to 2 (normal, referent group), 3 to 5 (some depressive symptoms), and 6 to 15 (depressed); objective sleep measures ascertained using wrist actigraphy (mean duration 5.2 nights); and subjective sleep measures assessed using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index and Epworth Sleepiness Scale. RESULTS: There was a strong multivariable-adjusted association between level of depressive symptoms and subjective sleep disturbances (P-trend <.001). For example, the odds of reporting poor sleep quality were 3.7 times (95% confidence interval (CI)=2.5–5.3) higher for depressed men as for normal men, and 2.1 times (95% CI=1.7–2.6) higher for men with some depressive symptoms. For objectively measured sleep disturbances, men with more depressive symptoms had greater odds of sleep latency of 1 hour or more (P-trend=.006). There was no association between level of depressive symptoms and sleep efficiency, awakening after sleep onset, multiple long-wake episodes, or total sleep time. Excluding 384 men taking antidepressants, benzodiazepines, or other anxiolytic or hypnotics did not alter the results. CONCLUSION: Depressive symptoms have a strong, graded association with subjective sleep disturbances and are moderately associated with objectively measured prolonged sleep latency. Future studies should address temporality of depression and sleep disturbances.
Ramp-hold relaxation solutions for the KVFD model applied to soft viscoelastic media

The standard step-hold load-relaxation profile can yield variable estimates of mechanical properties due to the difficulty in achieving a step strain experimentally. A ramp-hold profile overcomes this limitation if appropriate model functions can be derived. Utilizing Boltzmann hereditary integral operators for two indentation geometries, analytical ramp solutions for load-relaxation were developed based on the Kelvin-Voigt fractional derivative (KVFD) model. The results identify three model parameters for characterizing viscoelastic behavior from a single model curve fit to the data: the elastic modulus E0, fractional-order parameter α, and relaxation time constant τ. The quantitative nature of the analysis was validated through measurements on gelatin emulsion samples exhibiting viscoelastic behavior. KVFD-model-based solutions provide mathematically simple and experimentally flexible descriptions of load-relaxation behavior for a range of viscoelastic properties and experimental conditions; e.g. one closed-form solution can fit the ramp and the hold phases of the relaxation time series. Experiments show that the solution for a spherical indenter and plate compressor each fit well to the corresponding experimental relaxation curves with a coefficient of determination R2 > 0.98. Parameters obtained from the spherical-tip indentation and plate-compression geometries agree within one standard deviation, confirming that the ramp solution based KVFD model yields consistent measurements for characterizing viscoelastic materials.
A Shroud of Secrecy

A new survey by Steve Hanke and Matt Sekerke suggests that while central banks pay lip service to transparency, many of them do not practice it.
Perceived Barriers and Potential Strategies to Improve Self-Management Among Adults with Type 2 Diabetes: A Community-Engaged Research Approach.

Objective Type 2 diabetes (T2D) is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality that disproportionately affects adults living in urban areas in the USA. Our goal was to actively engage community members in research to identify strategies to improve T2D self-management in an urban community in Baltimore, MD.
Arginine enhances glycogen synthesis in response to insulin in 3T3-L1 adipocytes.

The present study was undertaken to define the role of L-arginine (L-Arg) in glucose metabolism in differentiated 3T3-L1 adipocytes in culture. L-Arg alone had no effect on 2-deoxyglucose uptake or basal glycogen synthesis, but this amino acid increased by 153 +/- 10% (P < 0.01) the incorporation of glucose into glycogen in insulin-treated cells. L-Glutamate (L-Glu), a major metabolite of L-Arg, also enhanced insulin-stimulated glycogen synthesis. The response to insulin was not altered by L-lysine (L-Lys), but the effect of L-Arg was markedly attenuated by L-Lys. Cell incubation with L-Arg markedly enhanced arginase-mediated urea synthesis, whereas L-Lys abolished this response. The stimulatory effect of L-Arg on insulin-stimulated glycogen synthesis did not appear to be accounted for by the generation of polyamines or the production of nitric oxide, both potentially derived from the enzymatic conversion of L-Arg. In the presence of insulin, cellular ATP levels were significantly increased by L-Arg, L-Gl...
The Genus Teratothrix (Acari: Trombiculidae), with Descriptions of Three New Species and a Key to the Species

The genus Teratothrix is redefined. Teratothrix leberi, T. steffani and T. higae are described from marsupials and rodents collected in Colombia, Costa Rica and Peru. A key to the species of Teratothrix is given.
Exploring the Out-of-School Time Program Ecology of Boy Scouts

Youth development programs, such as Boy Scouts of America, and other out-of-school time programs (e.g., sport), may represent important ecological assets in the lives of youth. Participation in such programs has been linked to indicators of positive youth development, including character virtues. Nuanced relationships exist, however, between involvement in specific sets of out-of-school time programs and indicators of positive youth development. The present study examined character virtues of youth (N = 667) who participated in Boy Scouts of America and in other out-of-school time programs (e.g., sport, band/music, or faith-based activities). Scouts participated in an average of two other out-of-school time programs. There was relatively limited variability, however, in the intensity of out-of-school time program participation. Sport was the other out-of-school time program most frequently engaged in by Scouts. In general, character virtues did not vary in relation to participation breadth or intensity. L...
31 CEREBRAL PERFUSION IN NEONATES UNDERGOING REPAIR OF COMPLEX CONGENITAL HEART DEFECTS IS DETERMINED BY CARBON DIOXIDE PREOPERATIVELY BUT BY BLOOD PRESSURE POSTOPERATIVELY.

Background Preoperative studies of neonates with congenital heart disease have demonstrated that increased pCO2 results in increased cerebral perfusion, while hyperventilation with lower levels of pCO2 results in both less cerebral perfusion and pathologic changes on MRI brain scans. However, because hyperventilation with lower levels of pCO2 is often essential immediately post-neonatal cardiac surgery in order to correct acidosis and promote hemodynamic stability, post-cardiopulmonary bypass ventilatory strategy is both critically important and highly controversial. In order to determine the optimal management strategy in infants undergoing heart surgery, we examined the relationship between mean arterial pressure (MAP), end tidal CO2 (ETCO2), peripheral oxygen saturation (SaO2), and left cerebral oxygen saturation (LSaO2) pre- and post-cardiopulmonary bypass in an anatomically homogeneous cohort of neonates undergoing primary complete cardiac repair. Methods 15 neonates with interrupted aortic arch and ventricular septal defect undergoing primary complete repair at Kosair Children9s Hospital were enrolled in this study. Serial simultaneous measurements of MAP, SaO2, ETCO2, and LSaO2 using near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS Somenetics Inc.) were made at 5-minute intervals pre- and postseparation from cardiopulmonary bypass. Linear and parametric regression analysis was used to look for relationships between percent change in MAP, SaO2, ETCO2, and LSaO2. Results Pre-cardiopulmonary bypass, changes in cerebral saturation were related to changes in ETCO2 in a linear fashion (R2 = .421), while there was no observed relationship to MAP (R2 = .078). Post-cardiopulmonary bypass, changes in cerebral saturation were tightly related to changes in MAP (R2 = .357) but not to changes in ETCO2 (R2 = .086). No relationship existed between changes in cerebral saturation and changes in SaO2 either pre- or post-cardiopulmonary bypass. Conclusions Consistent with theories of cerebral autoregulation, cerebral saturation pre-cardiopulmonary bypass was determined by changes in end tidal CO2 but not by changes in blood pressure or peripheral oxygenation. However, this relationship was obliterated post-cardiopulmonary bypass, where changes in blood pressure became the major determinate of changes in cerebral saturation. This dysautoregulation may be secondary to cerebral edema or injury occurring during the cardiopulmonary bypass run and suggests that immediately postoperatively a strategy of hyperventilation in order to maintain mean arterial pressure is justified.
Normal Structure and Antipodal Points in Banach Spaces

Let X be a Banach space and S(X)={x∈X, ‖x‖=1} be the unit sphere of X . Four new parameters J e(X)=sup{β e(x), x∈S(X)}, j e(X)=inf{β e(x), x∈S(X)}, G\-e(X)=sup{α e(x),x∈S(X)}, and g\-e(X)= inf {α e(x),x∈S(X)} where β e(x)= sup { min {‖x+ey‖, ‖x-ey‖, y∈S(X)}}, and α e(x)=inf{max{‖x+ey‖, ‖x-ey‖, y∈S(X)}} 0e1 and x∈S(X), are introduced and studied. The main result is that a Banach space X with J\-e(X)1+e2, or g\-e(X)1+e3 for some 0e1 has uniform normal structure.
Experimental Investigation of a Hypersonic Inlet with Variable Sidewall for Flow Control

The main function of a scramjet inlet is to decelerate and compress the air for subsequent reaction with the fuel inside the combustor and, of course, contribute toward meeting the thrust requirement for the entire mission by providing adequate mass flow. It is desirable that the inlet be lightweight and that its geometry be capable of producing a uniform flow in an appropriate state to permit efficient mixing and subsequent combustion. Engine cycle analysis indicates that high contraction ratios CR are desirable for achieving high overall engine efficiency.
Study of Albumin Synthesis in Relation to Urea Synthesis

Albumin synthesis in the isolated perfused rabbit liver was simultaneously measured immunologically and by the 14C-CO2 method. Since this 14C method requires the assay of synthesized urea carbon-specific activity, urea synthesis was varied by dietary alterations and by perfusion with alcohol, tryptophan, arginine, and ornithine. Albumin synthesis rates, determined by the two methods agreed well over a 10-fold range of albumin and urea synthesis rates. Perfusion with arginine or ornithine increased albumin synthesis 3-fold compared with fasted control values. These data suggest that, kinetically, arginine can be considered to act as a single precursor pool for albumin and urea synthesis, and support the validity of the 14C-CO2 method in vitro.
A Variation on the Money-Changing Problem

AbstractThe classical money-changing problem is to determine what amounts of money can be made with a given set of denominations. We present a variation on this problem and ask the following question:For what denominations of money a1, a2, …, at is there exactly one way, using the fewest number of coins possible, to make change for every amount that can be made?We provide a solution to this problem when we have at most three denominations.
Effects of bacterial endotoxin on the fibrinolytic activity of normal human leukocytes.

Two modifications of Todd’s histochemical fibrin slide technique were used to study the effect of bacterial endotoxin on the plasminogen activator activity of intact normal human leukocytes in vitro. Leukocyte suspensions were obtained from heparinized peripheral blood by dextran sedimentation. Plasminogen activator activity was measured as the percentage of individual cells producing zones of fibrinolysis in plasminogen-rich fibrin. Of the cells from normal individuals, 27 ± 2 per cent were fibrinolytically active. The addition of lipopolysaccharide B from Salmonella abortus equi resulted in a marked increase in the percentage of active cells without impairment of cell viability. The stimulation of plasminogen activator release appeared to be dose-related, since at higher endotoxin concentrations the number of active cells gradually approached the granulocyte level. Maximum effect on leukocytes was observed 2 hours after addition of endotoxin, followed by a steady decline in activity. Plasminogen activator activity in the suspending medium became detectable after 2 hours’ incubation. Simultaneous assays of beta-glucuronidase revealed increasing amounts of this lysosomal enzyme in the suspending medium during incubation. Addition of endotoxin enhanced the rate of this increase. The parallel appearance of plasminogen activator and beta-glucuronidase activities without concomitant cell destruction from unstimulated and endotoxin-treated leukocytes is consistent with the release of both compounds from lysosomes following noncytocidal stimulation.
Building interconnected membrane networks

Reconstituted replica cell membranes are easily created by contacting two lipid-monolayer-encased aqueous droplets under an oil phase. Called the droplet interface bilayer (DIB), this technique has been used to study a wide range of membrane processes. Importantly, this method is compatible with electrical measurements, meaning that membrane protein activities are easily observed in DIBs. By positioning droplets in two- and three-dimensional networks, sophisticated interconnected systems can be created that possess collective properties. The methods described here summarize the approaches used to create DIB networks and how to operate the devices that have been constructed so far.
Ketogenic Diet in Refractory Focal Seizures

The efficacy of the ketogenic diet in the treatment of intractable focal seizures was studied retrospectively in 34 patients (mean age, 7.5 yrs; range, 4 months to 29 yrs) and compared to 100 patients with generalized seizures at the Cleveland Clinic, OH.
Impact of Matrix Dynamic Properties on Stem Cell Viability

Mechanical stiffness of extracellular matrices (ECMs) is believed to be a major physical cue for stem cell growth and differentiation. Here, we demonstrate that dynamics of ECM networks, namely, mechanical relaxation, also significantly affect stem cell biology. We compare two hydrogels in their support of stem cell growth. The two hydrogels are assembled from peptides with identical amino acid sequences but differ in N-terminal acetylation and C-terminal amidation. These two hydrogels have the same stiffness but differ in their capacity to release mechanical stress. The hydrogel with more motional flexibility and, hence, higher stress release capacity better supports stem cell growth in both 2-D and 3-D cell culture. This result shows that ECM dynamics, in addition to ECM stiffness, also serve as a physical cue for stem cells. As N-terminal acetylation and C-terminal amidation are two commonly encountered posttranslational modifications (PTMs) of proteins, this finding suggests that PTMs could be a useful strategy to fine-tune the mechanical properties of engineered ECMs.
The “New Black Theology” and the Dream of Post-Racialization

ABSTRACT“New Black theologians” Brian Bantum, J. Kameron Carter and Willie James Jennings aim to move theology beyond racialization. Their conceptual linkage of this modern problem to the ancient Christian attitude of supersessionism opens up promising possibilities for both Christian self-understanding and the history of racism. I maintain, however, that as currently articulated, the “new Black theology” is unlikely to accomplish its goal of post-racialization. I contend that in order to have a chance of bringing the still mostly White theological academy along on their post-racializing journey, the “new Black theologians” should consider refining at least three elements of their theories: their use of conventional theological methodology, their approach to Judaism, and their treatment of gender. In conclusion, I reflect on the continuing relevance for White theologians of traditional Black and womanist theologies.
Parental guided self-help family based treatment for adolescents with anorexia nervosa: A feasibility study.

Objective Family-based treatment (FBT) is an evidence-based treatment for adolescent anorexia nervosa (AN), but many families cannot access it. This study evaluated feasibility, acceptability, and preliminary treatment effects of a parental guided self-help (GSH) version of FBT for adolescent AN. Method This was a case-series design. Parents of medically stable adolescents (11–18 years) with DSM-5 AN were recruited over 12 months. Parents received online training in parental GSH FBT and 12 20–30 min GSH sessions by phone or online over 6 months. Recruitment, dropout, changes in weight, and eating-related psychopathology were assessed. Analyses used mixed modeling that included all data for all participants. Results Of the 19 families that participated, most were white (94%) and from intact families (88%). Baseline median BMI (mBMI) percent was 85.01% (SD = 4.31). Participants’ mBMI percent increased to 97.31% (SD ± 7.48) at the end of treatment (EOT) (ES = 2.06; CI= 0.13–3.99). Eating-related psychopathology improved by EOT (ES = 0.58; CI=.04–1.21). Dropout rate was 21% during treatment and 33% during follow-up. Discussion Parental GSH-FBT is feasible and acceptable to families willing to undertake online treatment. Follow-up data was only available for nine families (47%); thus further systematic evaluation is required before reaching conclusions about the efficacy of this approach.
Intracranial meningioma in mice: Noninvasive bioluminescence imaging

Meningioma research is undertaken to assess possible future treatment options for surgically or biologically incurable tumors. To date, additional surgery, radiation, and systemic therapies have been disappointing. In this chapter, we outline in vivo and in vitro meningioma research models, focusing on the intracranial meningioma mouse model that uses a novel bioluminescence imaging (BLI) system. In vitro and in vivo meningioma research utilizes cells grown from operative specimens and immortal cell lines (CH-157-MN and IOMM-Lee). In vivo models involve the injection of these cells into the flanks or heads of mice. The ease of monitoring tumor growth in the subcutaneous flank model is its primary advantage. The intracranial BLI mouse model places xenograft tumors in their natural location and enables sequential noninvasive measurement in a cost-­effective manner. The BLI system uses the luciferase gene transfected into immortal meningioma cell lines to obtain cells that express the luciferase enzyme, which oxidizes luciferin in a reaction that releases photon energy that can be measured noninvasively. Both flank and intracranial meningioma mouse tumors exhibit microscopic, immunohistochemical, and ultrastructural features characteristic of meningiomas. Intracranial tumors exhibit characteristics of aggressive meningiomas by insinuating along arachnoid planes and invading brain. Future research with these models may hold promise for patients with refractory meningiomas.
Association Between Obesity and Acute Severity Among Patients Hospitalized for Asthma Exacerbation.

Background Although studies have demonstrated relations between obesity and incident asthma, little is known about the association of obesity with acute severity in adults hospitalized for asthma exacerbation. Objectives To investigate the association of obesity with acute severity of asthma exacerbation. Methods This is a retrospective cohort study using population-based data of 8 geographically diverse US states from 2010 through 2013. We included adults (age 18-54 years) hospitalized for asthma exacerbation. The outcome measures were markers of acute severity—use of mechanical ventilation (defined by noninvasive positive pressure ventilation and/or invasive mechanical ventilation) and hospital length of stay. To determine the association of obesity with each outcome, we fit multivariable models adjusting for patient-level confounders (eg, age, sex, race/ethnicity, primary insurance, quartiles for household income, residential status, and comorbidities) and potential patient clustering within hospitals. Results Among the 72,086 patients hospitalized for asthma exacerbation, 24% were obese. Obesity was associated with a significantly higher risk of any mechanical ventilation use (8.3% vs 5.0%; adjusted odds ratio [OR], 1.77; 95% CI, 1.63-1.92; P Conclusions In this population-based study of adults hospitalized for asthma exacerbation, obesity was associated with higher acute severity.