cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Acculturation-Related Stressors and Individual Adjustment in Asian American Families

As one of the largest and fastest growing immigrant populations, Asian Americans face various acculturative stressors (e.g., discrimination, perpetual foreigner stereotype, and intergenerational acculturation gap). This chapter discusses implications of these acculturative stressors on individual adjustment and family processes in Asian American families. Asian American individuals’ experiences of acculturative stressors can influence their own adjustment directly, as well as other family members’ adjustment indirectly, through family processes. Moreover, the association between acculturative stressors and individual adjustment can be moderated by demographic variables, personal attributes, and social resources. To provide a more comprehensive understanding of the relation between acculturative stressors and individual adjustment in Asian Americans, future studies can (a) incorporate a family systems approach, (b) examine the role of parental ethnic-racial socialization, (c) consider reciprocal relationships between stressors and individual outcomes, (d) explore potential positive changes associated with acculturative stressors, and (e) use a longitudinal design.
Una forma arquitectónica de planta mixta de la Sierra Gorda de Querétaro

El texto tiene como objetivo describir una estructura arquitectonica de planta mixta, que en Mesoamerica se refiere a una construccion de cierta importancia de caracter religioso, que suele construirse con un basamento cuadrangular o rectangular y, adosada a este, otro basamento en forma circular o semicircular. Encima de esto se ubica un templo. El conjunto recibe el nombre de “edificio de planta mixta” y esta dedicado a Quetzalcoatl-Ehecatl, Dios del Viento. El asentamiento que estudiamos esta en la poblacion de El Quirino, Queretaro, y fue localizado durante prospeccion de superficie y registrado en el marco del “Proyecto Arqueologico del Norte del Estado de Queretaro, Mexico”. En el articulo se hace una comparacion de este tipo de estructuras procedentes de diferentes epocas y espacios mesoamericanos.
Attitudes toward Sexuality and Aging

Findings from large scale national surveys of young, middle-aged, and older adults’ attitudes toward sexuality and aging suggest that our youth-oriented culture views aging as a tragic event rather than an opportunity for personal growth and change. Unfortunately, many older adults internalize and generalize such negative societal attitudes and ageist stereotypes, and diminish or stop their participation in sexual expression out of fear and shame. After one considers the availability of a partner and general health status, one of the most important determinants of older adults’ sexual activity is the positivity of their attitudes toward sexuality and aging. Attitudes toward sexuality and aging range from permissive to restrictive, curious to avoidant, and can be global or specific in relation to particular behaviors such as masturbation, oral sex, sexuality among LGBT individuals, or sexuality within an institutional context. As clinicians, it is not sufficient to be aware of both our clients’ and general society’s attitudes about sexuality and aging. We also must be cognizant of our own attitudes as individuals. To some extent, it does not matter as much whether our own attitudes are permissive or restrictive, as long as we become aware of them and override any personal biases (either positive or negative) to provide our clients with the most appropriate, objective information and care. A variety of exercises are offered for the self-assessment of both explicit (i.e., conscious) and implicit (i.e., automatic; unconscious) attitudes toward sexuality and aging. Clinicians also must be aware of their own, potentially sexualized feelings toward their older patients, and of the presence of any sexualized attitudes that may be directed at them by their clients. Although such sexualized attitudes represent some of the most challenging subjects to broach, the analysis of such feelings can provide some of the most valuable information regarding clients’ attitudes toward sexuality, sex role conflicts, their sense of intrinsic value, and difficulties with or needs for intimacy.
m-Functions and the Absolutely Continuous Spectrum of One Dimensional Almost Periodic Schrödinger Operators

Abstract We describe a program initiated by Moser [1], and Johnson-Moser [2], and then developed by Kotani [3] (Kotani's work was extended to the discrete case by Simon [4]) and Deift-Simon [5]. We discuss relations between the density of states, the Lyaponov exponent, and the classical m-function of Weyl. In particular, we obtain Kotani's results that the essential support of the absolutely continuous spectrum is precisely the set where the Lyaponov exponent vanishes, and that in the random non-deterministic case the Lyaponov exponent is a.e. positive. We also describe the Deift-Simon results that, in the discrete case, the Lebesgue measure of the set where the Lyaponov exponent vanishes is at most 4, and the construction of continuum eigenfunctions for the absolutely continuous spectrum.
Immobilized Enzymes in Milk Systems

Milk systems offer ideal media for studying the use of immobilized enzymes in food processing and analyses. For example, milk and many milk products are fluids which facilitate their processing with immobilized enzymes. Furthermore, some processes in the dairy industry already require the use of enzymes, e.g. the clotting of milk by rennin, pepsin and the microbial milk-clotting enzymes. Thus, there are excellent opportunities for integrating immobilized enzymes into present dairy processing situations, possibly in a continuous mode of operation. In addition, modification of milk constituents, such as milkfat with immobilized lipases, offers further opportunities for processing.
Sensor Network Security

A central goal of this book is to propose secure mechanisms for broadcast communication applicable in a wide range of settings. To demonstrate the flexibility and generality of our techniques, we consider a highly resource-constrained broadcast environment and show that our methods can scale down to this environment, and achieve a secure system.
The UCSC Genome Browser Database: update 2006

The University of California Santa Cruz Genome Browser Database (GBD) contains sequence and annotation data for the genomes of about a dozen vertebrate species and several major model organisms. Genome annotations typically include assembly data, sequence composition, genes and gene predictions, mRNA and expressed sequence tag evidence, comparative genomics, regulation, expression and variation data. The database is optimized to support fast interactive performance with web tools that provide powerful visualization and querying capabilities for mining the data. The Genome Browser displays a wide variety of annotations at all scales from single nucleotide level up to a full chromosome. The Table Browser provides direct access to the database tables and sequence data, enabling complex queries on genome-wide datasets. The Proteome Browser graphically displays protein properties. The Gene Sorter allows filtering and comparison of genes by several metrics including expression data and several gene properties. BLAT and In Silico PCR search for sequences in entire genomes in seconds. These tools are highly integrated and provide many hyperlinks to other databases and websites. The GBD, browsing tools, downloadable data files and links to documentation and other information can be found at http://genome.ucsc.edu/.
2147: Relationships between medical complexity factors and medication confidence and adherence among older Singaporean adults

OBJECTIVES/SPECIFIC AIMS: To investigate whether medical complexity (indicated by multiple providers or healthcare visits) is associated with lower levels of confidence in medication use and lower medication adherence METHODS/STUDY POPULATION: Data on socio-demographics, health encounters, health status, and health attitudes and behaviors from a nationally representative sample of 1575 older Singaporean adults were utilized. The association of medical complexity factors with self-reported medication confidence and adherence was analyzed using logistic regression analysis controlling for age, gender, ethnicity, education, and number of health conditions. RESULTS/ANTICIPATED RESULTS: The survey had a 60% response rate. The mean age of respondents was 72, and 42% were male. We found no significant association between number of visits and either confidence about usage (OR=1.07, 95% CI 0.95–1.20) or medication adherence (OR=1.01, 95% CI 0.90–1.13). We similarly found no significant association between number of providers and either confidence about usage (OR=1.03, 95% CI 0.90–1.18) or medication adherence (OR=1.05, 95% CI 0.93–1.20). Lower confidence about medication use was less likely among males (OR=0.60, 95% CI 0.44–0.80), those with more education (OR=0.29, 95% CI 0.20–0.42) or more comorbidities (OR=0.89, 95% CI 0.82–0.96) and more likely with increasing age (OR=1.06, 95% CI 1.04–1.08). Nonadherence was more likely among Indians (OR=1.62, 95% CI 1.06–2.48) and those with more comorbidities (OR=1.10, 95% CI 1.02–1.18). DISCUSSION/SIGNIFICANCE OF IMPACT: Having more healthcare visits or providers were not independent correlates of lower medication confidence or adherence. Seniors with less education may benefit from interventions to improve confidence about medication use. Participants with more comorbidities expressed greater confidence but admitted to lower adherence. The role of other potential contributors to nonadherence in complex patients (eg, cost and access, patient preference, competing demands) should be evaluated next.
Bio-inspired approaches for security and resiliency of network traffic

This book chapter is organized into two main sections. The first describes several biological approaches that have led to applications in computational and computer science for computer networks, with particular emphasis on the aspects of those biological approaches that are essential for capturing the method's benefit. This section also includes discussions on how or under what conditions biological methods do not apply to computer networks. The second section describes recent work done in applying biological methods at several levels of network operations. Several examples of historical and recent research are given in these sections to illustrate the ways in which biology has been used to inspire novel applications for computer networks.
CAM: an alignment-free method to recover phylogenies using codon aversion motifs.

Background Common phylogenomic approaches for recovering phylogenies are often time-consuming and require annotations for orthologous gene relationships that are not always available. In contrast, alignment-free phylogenomic approaches typically use structure and oligomer frequencies to calculate pairwise distances between species. We have developed an approach to quickly calculate distances between species based on codon aversion. Methods Utilizing a novel alignment-free character state, we present CAM, an alignment-free approach to recover phylogenies by comparing differences in codon aversion motifs (i.e., the set of unused codons within each gene) across all genes within a species. Synonymous codon usage is non-random and differs between organisms, between genes, and even within a single gene, and many genes do not use all possible codons. We report a comprehensive analysis of codon aversion within 229,742,339 genes from 23,428 species across all kingdoms of life, and we provide an alignment-free framework for its use in a phylogenetic construct. For each species, we first construct a set of codon aversion motifs spanning all genes within that species. We define the pairwise distance between two species, A and B, as one minus the number of shared codon aversion motifs divided by the total codon aversion motifs of the species, A or B, containing the fewest motifs. This approach allows us to calculate pairwise distances even when substantial differences in the number of genes or a high rate of divergence between species exists. Finally, we use neighbor-joining to recover phylogenies. Results Using the Open Tree of Life and NCBI Taxonomy Database as expected phylogenies, our approach compares well, recovering phylogenies that largely match expected trees and are comparable to trees recovered using maximum likelihood and other alignment-free approaches. Our technique is much faster than maximum likelihood and similar in accuracy to other alignment-free approaches. Therefore, we propose that codon aversion be considered a phylogenetically conserved character that may be used in future phylogenomic studies. Availability CAM, documentation, and test files are freely available on GitHub at https://github.com/ridgelab/cam.
Solving systems of differential equations in the case of a defective coefficient matrix

Classroom Capsules are short (1–3 pages) notes that contain new mathematical insights on a topic from undergraduate mathematics, preferably something that can be directly introduced into a college ...
Structural coordination of polymerization and crosslinking by a SEDS–bPBP peptidoglycan synthase complex

The shape, elongation, division and sporulation (SEDS) proteins are a highly conserved family of transmembrane glycosyltransferases that work in concert with class B penicillin-binding proteins (bPBPs) to build the bacterial peptidoglycan cell wall1–6. How these proteins coordinate polymerization of new glycan strands with their crosslinking to the existing peptidoglycan meshwork is unclear. Here, we report the crystal structure of the prototypical SEDS protein RodA from Thermus thermophilus in complex with its cognate bPBP at 3.3 A resolution. The structure reveals a 1:1 stoichiometric complex with two extensive interaction interfaces between the proteins: one in the membrane plane and the other at the extracytoplasmic surface. When in complex with a bPBP, RodA shows an approximately 10 A shift of transmembrane helix 7 that exposes a large membrane-accessible cavity. Negative-stain electron microscopy reveals that the complex can adopt a variety of different conformations. These data define the bPBP pedestal domain as the key allosteric activator of RodA both in vitro and in vivo, explaining how a SEDS–bPBP complex can coordinate its dual enzymatic activities of peptidoglycan polymerization and crosslinking to build the cell wall. The crystal structure of the RodA–PBP2 complex from Thermus thermophilus elucidates how binding between these two proteins regulates their abilities to polymerize and crosslink peptidoglycan during bacterial cell wall synthesis.
Approximation speed-up by quadratization on leadingones

We investigate the quadratization of LeadingOnes in the context of the landscape for local search. We prove that a standard quadratization (i.e., its expression as a degree-2 multilinear polynomial) of LeadingOnes transforms the search space for local search in such a way that faster progress can be made. In particular, we prove there is a \(\varOmega (n/\log n)\) speed-up for constant-factor approximations by RLS when using the quadratized version of the function. This suggests that well-known transformations for classical pseudo-Boolean optimization might have an interesting impact on search heuristics. We derive and present numerical results that investigate the difference in correlation structure between the untransformed landscape and its quadratization. Finally, we report experiments that provide a detailed glimpse into the convergence properties on the quadratized function.
Prenatal Injury and the Nonidentity Problem

I argue that, given certain prominent views of personal identity and prudence, the nonidentity problem, or a very similar problem, can arise postconception. I clarify and defend this claim by considering the implications of these views for prenatal injury.
Role of B Cells in Responses to Checkpoint Blockade Immunotherapy and Overall Survival of Cancer Patients

The role of B cells in the tumor microenvironment and B-cell-mediated antitumor immune responses remains relatively understudied. Recent seminal studies have discovered that B cells and associated tertiary lymphoid structures correlate with responses to checkpoint blockade immunotherapy and are prognostic for overall survival of cancer patients. B-cell subsets have remarkable functional diversity and include professional antigen-presenting cells, regulatory cells, memory populations, and antibody-producing plasma cells. Importantly, secreted antibodies can independently activate innate immune responses and induce the cancer immunity cycle. Thus, B cells and B-cell-mediated antibody responses comprise the largely underappreciated second arm of the adaptive immune system and certainly deserve further attention in the field of oncology. Here, we review the known functions of B cells in the tumor microenvironment, the contribution of B cells to the antitumor activity of immunotherapies, and the role of B cells in the overall survival of cancer patients.
Electrochemical Reactions of Molybdenum Nitride Electrodes in H2SO4 Electrolyte

The electrochemical reaction of polycrystalline Mo x N (x=1 or 2) thin film electrodes in 4.4 M H 2 SO 4 electrolyte has been investigated. The films were prepared by a temperature programmed procedure involving the reaction of MoO 3 , and NH 3 The electrochemical voltage stability of these films in the electrolyte, referenced to a standard hydrogen electrode (SHE), was + 0.70 V (-0.01 to + 0.69). Below + 0.69 V, cyclic voltammetry and AC impedance spectroscopy indicated that Mo x N electrodes were capacitive. However, above this value an electrochemical reaction of the Mo x N films was observed. The formation of an amorphous phase in the reacted Mo x N films was indicated by X-ray diffraction (XRD) patterns. Secondary ion mass spectroscopy (SIMS) detected the presence of hydrogen, oxygen, and sulfur. The voltage bias (+ or -) applied to the electrodes influenced the chemical composition of the reacted Mo x N films.
The spillover effect of product recalls on competitors’ market value: The role of corporate product reliability

Abstract Prior studies on product recalls have found that product recalls hurt the recalling firm’s market value. However, little is known about how a product recall affects the market value of the recalling firm’s competitors. It is not clear whether a recall helps or hurts the market value of the recalling firm’s competitors. Using data from the US automobile industry, we find that a product recall by a firm with high corporate product reliability hurts the market value of its competitor (negative spillover). Corporate product reliability refers to a firm’s reputation for providing reliable products. However, the negative spillover effect is buffered or attenuated by the corporate product reliability of the competitor. Further, the negative spillover effect of a recall on a competitor’s market value can be detected even when the competitor makes a positive announcement in the form of a new product pre-announcement (NPPA) after a recall in the industry. This effect is again attenuated by the strength of the competitor’s corporate product reliability.
Investigation of Protein Denaturation and Textural Changes of Atlantic Salmon (Salmo salar) During Simulated Cooking

The production of plant-based fish alternatives that look, feel, taste, and cook like real fish is critical for widespread consumer acceptance. Consequently, a thorough understanding of the properties of real fish is critical for the successful design of high-performance plant-based fish analogs. In this study, we investigated changes in the optical, mechanical, and water holding properties of Atlantic salmon during simulated cooking at different temperatures. Differential scanning calorimetry and diffusive wave spectroscopy exhibited characteristic peaks around 40 °C (myosin and collagen) and 72 °C (actin), which caused appreciable changes in the salmons’ physicochemical properties. The textural properties of salmon during simulated cooking were characterized using a dynamic shear rheometer and texture analyzer. Changes in color, cook loss, and surface area were related to the cooking temperature. This study provides valuable insights into the relationship between protein denaturation, protein aggregation, microstructural changes, and texture of real fish. This information will be useful for creating higher quality plant-based fish analogs.
Dynamic shearing resistance of a polymer-bonded energetic simulant: Composite of sucrose and hydroxyl-terminated polybutadiene (HTPB)

The mechanical behavior of polymer-bonded explosives (PBXs) and polymer-bonded simulants has been widely studied under normal impact. However, their shearing response under large pressures and shear strain-rates has not been explored, to the best of our knowledge. Such measurements are crucial in informing constitutive models that aim to predict hot-spot formation and ignition behavior of PBXs subject to multi-axial loading. Pressure-shear plate impact experiments have been conducted on a composite of hydroxyl-terminated polybutadiene (HTPB) binder and sucrose (an energetic simulant) under normal stresses of 3–10 GPa nominally and shear strain-rates of the order of 105 s−1. The shear strength of the composite shows a dramatic drop after reaching a critical shear strain. Such a drop could be due to fracture or localization in either of the two phases, further compounded by other mechanisms such as friction between the resulting interfaces or collapse of voids. It is also observed that the shear strength of the composite is highly pressure-sensitive, increasing from 176 to 453MPa as the normal stress increases nominally from 3 to 9.5 GPa. Comparison of the shearing behavior of the composite with that of a granular aggregate of sucrose grains at low normal stresses (∼3 GPa) indicates that the binder plays the role of a lubricant between the sucrose grains at those normal stresses. However, at normal stresses of ∼9–10 GPa, the shear strength of HTPB becomes similar to sucrose, and beyond these normal stresses, a transition in the failure mode and its location is expected.
Asian American/Pacific Islander and Hispanic ethnic enclaves, neighborhood socioeconomic status, and hepatocellular carcinoma incidence in California: An update.

Background: Using more recent cancer registry data, we analyzed disparities in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) incidence by ethnic enclave and neighborhood socioeconomic status (nSES) among Asian American/Pacific Islander (AAPI) and Hispanic populations in California. Methods: Primary, invasive HCC cases were identified from the California Cancer Registry during 1988-1992, 1998-2002, and 2008-2012. Age-adjusted incidence rates (per 100,000 population), incidence rate ratios, and corresponding 95% confidence intervals were calculated for AAPI or Hispanic enclave, nSES, and the joint effects of ethnic enclave and nSES by time period (and the combination of the three periods), sex, and race/ethnicity. Results: In the combined time period, HCC risk increased 25% for highest versus lowest quintile of AAPI enclave among AAPI males. HCC risk increased 22% and 56% for lowest versus highest quintile of nSES among AAPI females and males, respectively. In joint analysis, AAPI males living in low nSES areas irrespective of enclave status were at 17-43% increased HCC risk compared to AAPI males living in areas of non-enclave/high nSES. HCC risk increased by 22% for Hispanic females living in areas of low nSES irrespective of enclave status and by 19% for Hispanic males living in areas of non-enclave/low nSES compared to their counterparts living in areas of non-enclave/high nSES. Conclusions: We found significant variation in HCC incidence by ethnic enclave and nSES among AAPI and Hispanic populations in California by sex and time period. Impact: Future studies should explore how specific attributes of enclaves and nSES impact HCC risk for AAPI and Hispanic populations.
The Model Description Language (MDL)

In this chapter, we will expound the precise syntax and semantics of the language with which to model design objects. To facilitate understanding it, we will first describe the overall structure and behavior of an application agent, that is, a model constructor.
The Human Right to a Green Future: Toward a Global Consensus on Environmental Human Rights

Think not forever of yourselves, O Chiefs, nor of your own generation. Think of continuing generations of our families, think of our grandchildren and of those yet unborn, whose faces are coming from beneath the ground. Peacemaker, Founder of the Iroquois Confederacy Our consideration in the last chapter of nationalism within a globalized world of human rights and environmental obligations reveals a paradox within current human rights thinking and application. Human rights theory and practice today manifest both an increasing global consensus on human rights as a category of legitimacy, while at the same time expressing a “third-generation” insistence on honoring the diversity of individual cultures and their right to maintain their historic norms. On the one hand, Jack Donnelly (2007, 282) insists that human rights “have become ideologically hegemonic in international society. Not only do few states today directly challenge international human rights, a surprisingly small number even seriously contend that large portions of the Universal Declaration [of Human Rights] do not apply to them.” Conversely, James N. Rosenau (2002, 153) notes what he calls the “fragmentation” of human rights as they are “localized” into the many specific cultures once devoid of any sensitivity to the idea of rights. As Michael Ignatieff (1999) concludes, “human rights has gone global, but it has also gone local.” In terms of the argument for environmental human rights and intergenerational justice that I have presented thus far, this paradox of globalism and parochialism has an interesting manifestation.
RNA sequence complexity in central nervous system development and plasticity.

Publisher Summary Several lines of research with brain RNA have developed since the initial RNA complexity studies began. This chapter assesses the present understanding of brain transcription, with reference to hybridization studies with nonrepetitive and complementary DNA. Recent advances in the understanding of RNA processing and its relation to brain RNA are reviewed. The chapter discusses the studies showing effects of development, aging, and sensory-environmental factors on gene expression. The conclusions of studies on the RNAs of clonal cell lines of neural origin are presented, and the implications of these data for characterization of the transcriptional pattern in brain are also discussed. Unlike studies focusing on the expression of individual gene products in brain or on the specific physiological properties of nerve cells, studies on the expression of nonrepetitive DNA are able to define the total transcriptional or translational response of the brain to such key neurobiological events as differentiation and synapse formation.
Unsmoothing the Cyborg: Technology and the Body in Integrated Dance

Contemporary cyborg theory tends to approach the integration of human bodies and technology innovations as if the cyborg were a unified whole. And, because of the potential of the cyborg body to help ameliorate disability, the cyborg has been suggested as a way to restore function to individuals living with disabilities. We investigate the deployment of the cyborg integrated dance company using theoretical concepts provided by Gilles Deleuze. Rather than observing a smoothly integrated whole, our ethnographic research reveals tensions within the cyborg body. Our analysis revealed three types of creative/reactive forces. Each of these forces comes from the effects/functions of the three striations of the cyborg body: (1) the effects/functions from the machine stria; (2) those from the human stria; and (3) those from the animal stria. Although together these striae constitute the assemblage of the cyborg, as each one takes on greater intensity such that the others are of decreased intensity, the hybridized whole of the cyborg becomes less functional as one is becoming-machine, becoming-human, or becoming-animal.
Dear Sir or Madam: The Lost Art of Letter Writing

In this era of texting and Twitter, it is easy to forget that much of the practice of law still revolves around letter writing. This article outlines key elements in drafting legal letters. Letters should be concise and accurate, and take their audience into account. They should reflect well on their authors, and on the clients those authors represent. There is a tendency to think of litigation as a matter of briefs and pleadings but, in truth, a good part of the action takes place in the form of letters between the attorneys.
ERUF: early regulation of unresponsive best-effort traffic

We propose router mechanisms to regulate unresponsive best-effort traffic. By unresponsive traffic we mean flows that do not reduce their sending rate in response to congestion. The goal of the proposed mechanisms is to drop undeliverable packets as close to the periphery of the network as possible. The key ideas of our approach are: (1) edge routers keep track of incoming flows and their arrival rates; (2) core routers use random early detection (RED) for queue management and generate rate-limited source quenches on packet drops to advice sources to reduce their sending rates; and (3) edge routers snoop an source quenches passing through them and use them to control per-flow regulators. Regulators adjust their maximum sending rate using a multiplicative-decrease, additive-increase discipline. A decrease is triggered by the arrival of a source quench; an increase is triggered by non-arrival of source quenches for a time period. We examine the impact of these mechanisms for a variety of simulated network topologies and traffic patterns.
Abstract MP28: Heart Rate At Hospital Discharge Is Associated With Adverse Long Term Outcomes In Patients With Heart Failure

Background: Heart rate (HR) has been identified as a risk factor for adverse long-term outcomes in patients with and without heart disease. However, the relationship between discharge HR and outcomes in patients receiving guideline based therapy for HF remains unknown. Hypothesis: Heart rate at hospital discharge in patients with HF is an independent predictor of mortality and readmission rates at 1 year. Methods: Using the American Heart Association Get With The Guidelines Heart Failure national quality assurance registry linked with Medicare data, long term outcomes for patients ≥65 years of age hospitalized from 2005-2011 were obtained. Univariable and multivariable analyses were performed to examine the relationship between 1-year outcomes (death or all cause readmission) and discharge HR. Heart rate was analyzed as a categorical (tertiles) or continuous variable. Crude and adjusted odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals for the association between discharge HR and the risk of death or hospitalization by 1-year were obtained from logistic regression modeling. Results: The analysis sample was comprised of 45,672 patients with a valid link to Medicare data and 1 year outcome status. The mean age was 80 ±8 years; % male was 45.7; and the mean ejection fraction was 43.5 ±16. Median discharge HRs for the first, second and third tertiles significantly differed (61, 72 and 87 bpm, respectively, p Conclusion: In hospitalized patients with HF, HR at the time of discharge is an independent predictor of mortality. Despite optimal adherence to current guideline based therapy, the odds for all-cause mortality increased by 13% for every 10 beat increases in HR. The use of HR both as a prognostic variable, as well as potentially modifiable risk factor, may be of value in risk-stratification algorithms at discharge.
Investigation of lysine acrylate containing poly(N‐isopropylacrylamide) hydrogels as wound dressings in normal and infected wounds

The design of materials for cutaneous wound dressings has advanced from passive wound covers to bioactive materials that promote skin regeneration and prevent infection. Crosslinked poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) (PNIPAAm)-based hydrogels have been investigated for a number of biomedical applications. While these materials can be used for drug delivery, limited cell interactions restrict their biological activity. In this article, acryoyl-lysine (A-Lys) was incorporated into poly(ethylene glycol) crosslinked PNIPAAm to enhance biological activity. A-Lys could be incorporated into the hydrogels to improve cellular interaction in vitro, while maintaining swelling properties and thermoresponsive behavior. Polyhexamethylene biguanide, an antimicrobial agent, could be encapsulated and released from the hydrogels and resulted in decreased bacteria counts within 2 hours. Two in vivo animal wound models were used to evaluate the hydrogel wound dressing. First, application of the hydrogels to a rodent cutaneous wound healing model resulted in significant increase in healing rate when compared with controls. Moreover, the hydrogels were also able to decrease bacteria levels in an infected wound model. These results suggest that PNIPAAm hydrogels containing A-Lys are promising wound dressings due to their ability to promote healing and deliver active antimicrobial drugs to inhibit infection.
Weakly coupled motion of individual layers in ferromagnetic resonance

We demonstrate a layer- and time-resolved measurement of ferromagnetic resonance (FMR) in a Ni{sub 81}Fe{sub 19}/Cu/Co{sub 93}Zr{sub 7} trilayer structure. Time-resolved x-ray magnetic circular dichroism has been developed in transmission, with resonant field excitation at a FMR frequency of 2.3 GHz. Small-angle (to 0.2 deg), time-domain magnetization precession could be observed directly, and resolved to individual layers through elemental contrast at Ni, Fe, and Co edges. The phase sensitivity allowed direct measurement of relative phase lags in the precessional oscillations of individual elements and layers. A weak ferromagnetic coupling, difficult to ascertain in conventional FMR measurements, is revealed in the phase and amplitude response of individual layers across resonance.
The evaluation of chronic axonal polyneuropathies.

Abstract In this article, we present an easy-to-remember method of evaluating neuropathies. Our proposed method is based on asking four questions about the neuropathy and the patient: "What?," "Where?," "When?," and "What setting?" Answering these questions helps characterize the neuropathy, and this characterization enables the clinician to develop a focused differential diagnosis and plan. After presenting this approach to evaluating neuropathy, we discuss many of the most common chronic axonal neuropathies in the context of this paradigm. Acquired demyelinating neuropathies and inherited neuropathies are discussed in other articles in this issue of SEMINARS IN NEUROLOGY.
Study of laser ablation in the in vivo rabbit brain with MR thermometry

Purpose To investigate the peak temperature and thermal dose (T43) as tissue damage indicators for thermal therapy. Materials and Methods The proton resonant frequency (PRF) shift thermal coefficient was calibrated on six in vivo rabbit brains during interstitial laser ablation. The peak temperature and T43 were correlated with the lesion boundary observed on T2-weighted spin-echo (SE) MRI at 4 hours post-heating in seven thermal lesions using direct MR measurement and analysis based on a binary discriminate model. Results The peak temperature and T43 were 48.3 ± 1.7°C and 191 ± 219 minutes, respectively, from the direct MR measurement. The values derived by the binary discriminate analysis were 47.8 ± 2.2°C and 28 ± 41 minutes, respectively. Conclusion Our results suggest that tissue damage in rabbit brain 4 hours after thermal ablation can be predicted reliably from a threshold temperature of approximately 48°C. J. Magn. Reson. Imaging 2002;16:147–152. © 2002 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Finite element formulation of orthotropic piezoceramic patch actuator laminated plates

Constitutive and finite element models of a piezoceramic laminated plate are derived using shear deformation (Mindlin plate) theory for each layer, where constraints are added to ensure the elastic deformation continuity at the interface. The major difference of this study compared to previous studies is that the finite element formulation is applicable to both thin and thick laminated plates with thick PZT wafers where electro-mechanical coupling occurs due to either electrical or mechanical input. This formulation allows the cross section of each layer to rotate individually, which increases the accuracy compared to conventional formulations in the literature. An experimental study is conducted to identify the piezoelectric constants of the PZT wafer in 31 and 32 directions and the effect of the directional piezoelectric actuation (g31 ≠ g32) is embedded in the formulation where the PZT layer is formulated as an orthotropic structure. A combination of Lagrange bilinear and Serendipity quadratic elements with 4 and 8 nodes, respectively, are used for approximating the degrees of freedom of the system and to apply the finite element procedure in MATLAB. The proposed FE solution with directional actuation that accounts for orthotropic properties is compared to an FE solution based on thin plate theory with isotropic piezoelectric actuation (g31 = g32) and isotropic material properties. Modeling accuracy is evaluated by comparison with experimental measurements along with a passive control application.
Evaluation of neoadjuvant chemotherapeutic response of locally advanced breast cancer by magnetic resonance imaging.

BACKGROUND. The implementation of new treatment protocols for locally advanced breast cancer is currently limited by inaccurate evaluation of response to neoadjuvant chemotherapy. A recently developed dedicated breast magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) method (RODEO MRI) was evaluated as a tool for determining tumor response and extent of residual disease after neoadjuvant chemotherapy. METHODS. Thirty-nine patients with Stage II, III, or IV breast carcinoma were prospectively evaluated prior to and following neoadjuvant chemotherapy by MRI, physical examination, and mammography. Assessment of response determined by the three methods was compared. In addition, detailed pathologic correlation of residual disease was determined by serial sectioning of 31 mastectomy specimens from 30 patients. Nine patients had breast conservation, and were included in the response evaluation only. Estimates of tumor response were made by both surgical and medical oncologists. Independent interpretations of MRI studies without knowledge of clinical response were made by three radiologists. RESULTS. The surgical oncologists assessed complete response (CR), partial response (PR), and no response (NR) in 11, 22, and 7 cases, respectively. The medical oncologists assessed CR, PR, and NR in 12, 21, and 7 cases, respectively. The surgical and medical oncologists' clinical assessment of response agreed with the results of MRI in 52% and 55% of cases, respectively, and with each other in 30 of 40 cases (75%). Mammography correlated with MRI response in only 52% of cases. However, MRI accurately predicted the pathologic determination of residual disease in 30 of 31 cases (97%). There was no disagreement in the assessments of residual disease or response among the three radiologists. CONCLUSIONS. RODEO breast MRI accurately estimates residual disease after induction chemotherapy. It assesses response to neoadjuvant chemotherapy better than traditional methods of physical examination or mammography. The information obtained from this MRI technique may be used as an objective tool during clinical trials, and to select patients better for breast conservation after neoadjuvant chemotherapy for locally advanced disease.
Magnetic viscosity measurements reveal reversal asymmetry in exchange-biased bilayers

We have used time-dependent magnetization measurements to probe the asymmetry in the magnetization-reversal mechanisms in exchange-biased ${\mathrm{MnF}}_{2}/\mathrm{F}\mathrm{e}$ bilayers. Analysis of the magnetic viscosity on the magnetizing and demagnetizing sides of the exchange-shifted hysteresis loops reveals a striking asymmetry. This is due to different mechanisms for reversal on the two sides of the loop as elucidated previously by polarized-neutron reflectometry and anisotropic-magnetoresistance measurements. The viscosity data reveal asymmetric features that are intrinsically related to the nature of the exchange anisotropy.
Anticipated inflation and rates of return in a search-theoretic monetary model

Abstract How does anticipated inflation of fiat money affect the real return of a near money—an asset with real value used to mediate trades? This essay studies a search model in which decentralized trade takes place under a fixed bargaining rule. The essay analytically studies the comparative statics of a near money's real return as it varies with inflation. The effects diverge markedly over the parameter space. There exist parameters for which higher inflation lowers the real asset return, as suggested by asset substitution theories. There also exist parameters for which inflation has the opposite effect.
Demonstration of cells bearing the OKT6 determinant in human tonsil and lymph node

An immunoperoxidase study was carried out on human tonsil (15 specimens) and human lymph node (5 specimens) using OKT6, a monoclonal antibody which was raised against a determinant on immature thymocytes. OKT6-positive cells were identified in the crypt epithelium of all tonsils examined and in occasional clusters in the interfollicular areas of two lymph nodes. OKT6 has recently been shown to react with epidermal dendritic cells (Langerhans' cells). This study confirms that OKT6-reactive cells may be found outside the thymus. The pattern of staining obtained suggests that OKT6 reactivity belongs to a dendritic subpopulation. The significance of the finding in relation to physiology and pathology is discussed. These physiological findings may also be relevant to the immunotherapy of T-cell lymphomas.
Analyzing the patient load on the hospitals in a metropolitan area

This research documents the patient load trends on the Richmond metropolitan hospitals. The work is based on applying systems and information engineering analyses to data that hospitals routinely collect and store for billing their patients. The research is motivated by two recent events in the Richmond VA metropolitan area. On January 9, 2001 and on January 8, 2003, all of the metropolitan hospitals reached their maximum patient capacity in rapid succession. During these events, patients inbound via ambulance or rescue squad to a hospital that was full were diverted to a hospital with remaining capacity. Patient data for 2000, 2001, 2002, and 2003 for metropolitan Richmond hospitals are analyzed to characterize the patient load on these hospitals. This type of data analysis has not been reported previously in the literature.
Selective Amplification of Luteinizing Hormone by Adenosine in Rat Luteal Cells

Adenosine amplification of LH-stimulated cAMP accumulation in rat luteal cells is rapid and dependent on mitochondrial ATP production. The objective of the present studies was to determine if this effect of adenosine is specific for LH and to gain information on the mechanism of the ATPdependent amplification of LH action in rat luteal cells. Adenosine significantly amplified maximum cAMP accumulation in response to LH, isoproterenol, forskolin, and cholera toxin. However, amplification of this response by adenosine was significantly greater for LH than for the other agonists. The relative order of amplification by adenosine was LH > isoproterenol > forskolin > cholera toxin; the relative magnitudes of amplification by adenosine were 1, 0.6, 0.2, and 0.2, respectively. Neither LH, isoproterenol, forskolin, nor cholera toxin had any effect on cellular levels of ATP, and adenosine produced a similar rate of increase and maximal levels of ATP in the presence of all agonists. Ionomycin, a calcium ionophore, i...
Coping patterns of mothers of Poor Boys

Using the same 201 impoverished, urban dwelling black and Cuban refugee mothers from their previous study “Psychopathology & Fatherlessness in Poor Boys,” Adams and Horovitz examine the coping styles of these women. The differing groups of mothers were classified according to their firstborn son's ages, their ethnicity and the presence or absence of a father in their household. Scored according to scales L, F, K, 1–4, and 6–9 of the MMPI, the women were profiled and a descriptive comparison employed. In most instances the null hypothesis was confirmed: mothers of fathered boys did not differ in their coping strategies from mothers of fatherless boys regardless of the family's ethnicity and the boy's psychopathology or age. Of note was the high scores in the “paranoia” scale of MMPI, indicating that it may be functional and adaptive to use projection in an urban slum.
Methodological and practical challenges for personalized cancer therapies

Many experts agree that personalized cancer medicine, defined here as treatment based on the molecular characteristics of a tumor from an individual patient, has great potential in the therapy of many types of cancer. Although targeted therapy agents are increasingly available for clinical applications, many of these promising drugs have produced disappointing results when tested in clinical trials, indicating that there are many challenges that must be addressed to advance this field. We propose that a new generation of clinical trials requiring biopsies to obtain relevant tumor specimens, as well as novel statistical designs, will be essential to improve treatment outcomes. However, these novel clinical trials will only be successful if appropriate biomarkers are identified to help guide the selection of the most beneficial treatments for the participating patients. Although biomarkers based on single gene mutations are the most commonly used in clinical applications today, gene-expression or protein-expression 'signatures' and new imaging technologies have the potential to play important roles as biomarkers in the future. Therefore, it is of crucial importance that we identify and resolve existing challenges that may impede the rapid identification and translation of validated biomarkers with acceptable sensitivity and specificity from the laboratory to the clinic. These challenges include limitations of current biomarker development methodologies and regulatory and reimbursement policies and practices.
The complex capacitance of silicon inversion layers in strong inversion as a function of frequency and resistance

Abstract We have examined the capacitance of Si inversion layers at kHz frequencies under strong inversion, low temperatures and modest magnetic fields. We find that the real and imaginary parts can be well described by a one dimensional diffusion equation providing that H is not too large.