cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Histoplasmosis: Epidemiology, Diagnosis, and Clinical Manifestations

This review highlights the epidemiology, diagnosis, and clinical manifestations of histoplasmosis. There is an increasing awareness of histoplasmosis in Central and South America in patients with human immunodeficiency virus/acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (HIV/AIDS), and deaths from histoplasmosis in this region may outnumber deaths from tuberculosis. Diagnosis in this region is hampered by lack of rapid diagnostic tests. Growth of H. capsulatum in culture is definitive, but takes weeks. In areas in which antigen testing is available, this has become an important rapid diagnostic tool, and methods combining antigen and antibody testing appear to improve diagnostic accuracy for acute pulmonary and central nervous system histoplasmosis. Pulmonary histoplasmosis, although usually self-limited, rarely can lead to life-threatening complications. Uncommon, but serious and sometimes fatal complications of disseminated histoplasmosis include Addison’s disease, meningitis, culture-negative endocarditis, and hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis. The use of antigen testing has improved our ability to diagnose histoplasmosis, but these tests are not universally available. Complications of both pulmonary and disseminated histoplasmosis remain challenging.
Identifying fetal growth disorders using ultrasound in obese nulliparous women.

Objective: We evaluated the ability of third trimester ultrasound to diagnose fetal growth disorders among obese women.Methods: This is a retrospective cohort study of obese nulliparous women who d...
Coordinated Control of a Reconfigurable Multi-Vessel Platform: Robust Control Approach

We propose a feedback control system for a reconfigurable multi-vessel platform. The platform consists of N propeller-driven vessels each of which is capable of latching to another vessel to form a rigid body of connected vessels. The main technical challenges are that i) depending on configurations of the platform the dynamic model would be different, and ii) the number of control variables in control system design increases as does the total number of vessels in the platform. To address these challenges, we develop a coordinated robust control scheme. Through experiments we assess trajectory tracking and disturbance attenuation performance of the control scheme in various configurations of the platform. Experiment results yield that average position and orientation tracking error are approximately 0.09m and 3°, and the maximum tracking error-to-disturbance ratio is 1.12.
Massive Gluteal Muscle Necrosis after Iliac Arterial Embolization in Pelvic Trauma: A Literature Review and Illustrative Case Report.

Introduction Traumatic pelvic injuries causing retroperitoneal bleeding can be managed with angiographic embolization. This procedure carries a small but potentially devastating risk of gluteal muscle necrosis. Case report An 18-year-old trauma patient suffered from massive gluteal muscle necrosis following angiographic embolization for hemorrhage from pelvic fracture was reported. Conclusion To limit morbidity and mortality, the orthopedic surgeon should have a high suspicion for gluteal muscle necrosis to allow for early diagnosis and then treatment with decompression and debridement.
Three Modes of Protest Action

(1975). Three Modes of Protest Action. Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists: Vol. 31, No. 2, pp. 8-15.
An innovative ‘simultaneous’ bilingual approach in Senegal: promoting interlinguistic transfer while contributing to policy change

This paper describes an innovative bilingual education program developed and implemented in 208 primary classes in Senegal from 2009 to 2018 by a Senegalese NGO working with the national Ministry o...
Changing Hearts and Plates: The Effect of Animal-Advocacy Pamphlets on Meat Consumption

Social movements have driven large shifts in public attitudes and values, from anti-slavery to marriage equality. A central component of these movements is moral persuasion. We conduct a randomized-controlled trial of pro-vegan animal-welfare pamphlets at a college campus. We observe the effect on meat consumption using an individual-level panel data set of approximately 200,000 meals. Our baseline regression results, spanning two academic years, indicate that the pamphlet had no statistically significant long-term aggregate effects. However, as we disaggregate by gender and time, we find statistically significant effects within the first two months: reductions in poultry and fish for men and beef for women. We merge food purchase data with survey responses to examine mechanisms. Those participants who (i) self-identified as vegetarian, (ii) reported thinking more about the treatment of animals or (iii) expressed a willingness to make big lifestyle changes reduced meat consumption during the semester of the intervention.
Network Effects of Air-Travel Demand

As demand increases, airline carriers often increase flight frequencies to meet the larger flow of passengers in their networks, which reduces passengers’ schedule delays and attracts more demand. Focusing on the “network effects”, this paper develops and estimates a structural model of the U.S. airline industry. Compared with previous studies, the model implies higher cost estimates, which seem more consistent with the unprofitability of the industry; below-marginal-cost pricing becomes possible and appears on many routes. I also study airline mergers and find that the network effects can be the main factor underlying their profitability.
Peripheral nerve ischemia. Part 1. Experimental model.

Abstract Following simultaneous ligation of the abdominal aorta and the femoral artery, extensive lesions were consistently produced in the nerves of the hind limb in the absence of gangrene in the ischemic leg. Total necrosis of all elements of nerve bundles was seen to involve most of the segment of tibial and peroneal nerves between the knee and the ankle. Distal portions of these nerves in the first days after vascular ligation appeared either morphologically normal or showed only minor changes. Later they underwent Wallerian degeneration. The morphologic features and dynamics of changes in the necrotic portion differed from the axonal degeneration seen in the more distal portions of the affected nerves. This model of peripheral nerve ischemia has two advantages in comparison to models used before, namely that: marked changes are produced in every cat, and there is no compression or stretching, or any manipulation of investigated nerves and thus there is no doubt that the changes are related to ischemia.
Liquid chromatographic determination of nystatin in pharmaceutical preparations.

A rapid, reversed-phase liquid chromatographic method was developed for the assay of nystatin in the bulk drug and a variety of dosage forms. Analysis was performed on a Symmetry C 18 reversed-phase column using a mobile phase of methanol-water-dimethylformamide (DMF; 55 + 30 + 15, v/v/v), with detection by UV at 305 nm. Quantitation is based on the sum of the peak areas of the 2 major isomers of nystatin. The linearity of the assay was determined for a concentration range of 0.05 to 0.2 mg/mL (correlation coefficient > 0.999). Accuracies and precision showed good reproducibility.
Bayesian sediment transport model for unisize bed load

[1] Fluvial sediment transport studies have long underscored the difficulty in reliably estimating transport model parameters, collecting accurate observations, and making predictions because of measurement error, natural variability, and conceptual model uncertainty. Thus, there is a need to identify modeling frameworks that accommodate these realities while incorporating functional relationships, providing probability-based predictions, and accommodating for conceptual model discrimination. Bayesian statistical approaches have been widely used in a number of disciplines to accomplish just this, yet applications in sediment transport are few. In this paper we propose and demonstrate a Bayesian statistical approach to a simple sediment transport problem as a means to overcome some of these challenges. This approach provides a means to rigorously estimate model parameter distributions, such as critical shear, given observations of sediment transport; provides probabilistically based predictions that are robust and easily interpretable; facilitates conceptual model discrimination; and incorporates expert judgment into model inference and predictions. We demonstrate a simple unisize sediment transport model and test it against simulated observations for which the “true” model parameters are known. Experimental flume observations were also used to assess the proposed model's robustness. Results indicate that such a modeling approach is valid and presents an opportunity for more complex models to be built in the Bayesian framework.
Targeting Wnt pathway in mantle cell lymphoma-initiating cells.

Mantle cell lymphoma (MCL) is an aggressive and incurable form of non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma. Despite initial intense chemotherapy, up to 50 % of cases of MCL relapse often in a chemoresistant form. We hypothesized that the recently identified MCL-initiating cells (MCL-ICs) are the main reason for relapse and chemoresistance of MCL. Cancer stem cell-related pathways such as Wnt could be responsible for their maintenance and survival. We isolated MCL-ICs from primary MCL cells on the basis of a defined marker expression pattern (CD34-CD3-CD45+CD19-) and investigated Wnt pathway expression. We also tested the potential of Wnt pathway inhibitors in elimination of MCL-ICs. We showed that MCL-ICs are resistant to genotoxic agents vincristine, doxorubicin, and the newly approved Burton tyrosine kinase (BTK) inhibitor ibrutinib. We confirmed the differential up-regulation of Wnt pathway in MCL-ICs. Indeed, MCL-ICs were particularly sensitive to Wnt pathway inhibitors. Targeting β-catenin-TCF4 interaction with CCT036477, iCRT14, or PKF118-310 preferentially eliminated the MCL-ICs. Our results suggest that Wnt signaling is critical for the maintenance and survival of MCL-ICs, and effective MCL therapy should aim to eliminate MCL-ICs through Wnt signaling inhibitors.
Prevalence of Suicide Attempts in a Mexican-American Population: Prevention Implications of Immigration and Cultural Issues

Self-reported suicide ideation and suicide attempts were examined among 2,393 Mexican-Americans (706 born in Mexico, 538 born in the United States) and non-Hispanic whites (1,149 born in the United States). Mexican-Americans born in Mexico reported significantly lower age- and gender-adjusted lifetime rates of suicide thoughts (4.5%, 2.7-6.3%) than Mexican-Americans born in the United States (13.0%, 10.0-15.9%), who reported significantly lower rates than non-Hispanic whites born in the United States (19.2%, 17.4-21.0%). Adjusted rates of suicide attempt were lowest among Mexican-Americans born in Mexico (1.6%, 0.6-2.6%) and higher among both Mexican-Americans (4.8%, 2.4-7.2%) and non-Hispanic whites (4.4%, 3.4-5.4%) born in the United States. Rates were not affected by degree of acculturation when immigration status was controlled. High schools and the Catholic church are suggested as sites for programs designed to prevent suicide and suicide attempts among Mexican-Americans.
Topological anomaly detection performance with multispectral polarimetric imagery

Polarimetric imaging has demonstrated utility for increasing contrast of manmade targets above natural background clutter. Manual detection of manmade targets in multispectral polarimetric imagery can be challenging and a subjective process for large datasets. Analyst exploitation may be improved utilizing conventional anomaly detection algorithms such as RX. In this paper we examine the performance of a relatively new approach to anomaly detection, which leverages topology theory, applied to spectral polarimetric imagery. Detection results for manmade targets embedded in a complex natural background will be presented for both the RX and Topological Anomaly Detection (TAD) approaches. We will also present detailed results examining detection sensitivities relative to: (1) the number of spectral bands, (2) utilization of Stoke's images versus intensity images, and (3) airborne versus spaceborne measurements.
SELECTION AMONG EMPLOYER-SPONSORED PENSION PLANS: THE ROLE OF INDIVIDUAL DIFFERENCES

Recognizing the explosive growth and increasing importance of alternative forms of retirement plans, this study investigated determinants of employees' choice among the three major types of employer-sponsored pension plans: defined benefit, defined contribution, and hybrid cash balance. Using a field survey of 2,400 employees who participated in a state sponsored retirement system covering 60 participating employers, we tested a general model of public employee pension choice, and examined the roles of plan feature preferences, employee attitudes, and demographics in pension plan participation choices. The results identified primary predictors distinguishing plan selection and indicated that employees' preferences for plan features explained significant variation in their selection among pension plans. The results challenged the conventional wisdom regarding the nature of pension plan choice and highlighted the critical role played by individual differences.
Advanced firmware verification using a code simulator for the IBM System z9

Our methods for simulating host firmware of the IBM System z9TM facilitated rapid development From first power-on of the system to achieving a platform with a functional operating system. Hundreds of code bugs were eliminated before the code was run on System z9 hardware for the first time. This paper describes the methods used in host firmware simulation for early and efficient firmware tests. The central element for firmware simulation is the Central Electronic Complex Simulator (CECSIM), which offers new facilities to manage the hardware of the simulated system. This management includes concurrent configuration changes of processors, memory, and I/O along with the ability to automatically test complex system functions. To verify correct implementation of the z/ArchitectureTM, we introduced a new test-case framework called the Verification Interface for System Architecture, or VISA, which is used in simulations as well as on the actual system. All of these features are used separately and in combination. A comprehensive and flexible regression environment ensures periodic execution of the test scenarios, and code path coverage measurements show the degree to which the code was actually verified.
LIGA-fabricated two-dimensional quadrupole array and scroll pump for miniature gas chromatograph/mass spectrometer

A 3X3 array of hyperboloid quadrupole mass filters with a 3 mm pole length was fabricated using the LIGA (LI thographic G alvanoformung and A bformung) process. Electrical connectivity and spatial orientation are established by bonding the pole array to a low temperature co-fired ceramic (LTCC) substrate. A miniature scroll pump for vacuum pumping with a scroll height of 3 mm was also fabricated using the LIGA process. New LIGA fabrication steps (e.g. expose and developed freestanding PMMA, compression bonding of electroplating base and PMMA, low-stress electroplated films) have been developed to fabricate ultra thick PMMA molds with high aspect ratios (70:1) and high precision. Computational analysis was performed to estimate the miniature scroll pump performance characteristics.© (2003) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Instrumentation and Data Acquisition System for an Air-Sea Interaction Buoy

Abstract Instrumentation and data acquisition system for a typical air-sea interaction experiment are described. The experiments were conducted with the help of a stable air-sea interaction buoy anchored 5 km offshore in the Atlantic Ocean near Long Island. Errors due to the tilting motions of the buoy are discussed. The instruments were designed to survive the hostile marine environment and maintain their calibration and relatively high frequency response. A line-of-sight RF telemetry system was used to obtain data at a fast rate. Unique power supply features such as a wind charger and a solar panel were used to extend the life of the batteries. Future plans regarding data transmission through geostationary satellites are presented.
Intermittency and non-gaussian statistics in turbulence

Intermittency effects in turbulence are discussed from a dynamical point of view. A two-fluid model is developed to describe quantitatively the non-gaussian statistics of turbulence at small scales. With a self-similarity argument, the model gives rise to the entire set of inertial range scaling exponents for normalized velocity structure functions. The results are in excellent agreement with experimental and numerical measurements. The model suggests a physical mechanism of intermittency, namely the self-interaction of turbulence structures.
Generating Particle Beams of Controlled Dimensions and Divergence: II. Experimental Evaluation of Particle Motion in Aerodynamic Lenses and Nozzle Expansions

A particle-beam-forming apparatus for producing narrow particle beams was developed based on the theory discussed in paper I of this series. It consists of a variable number of aerodynamic lenses (short capillaries and/or thin-plate orifices with diameters ranging from 3.5 to 7.0 mm) followed by an accelerating nozzle (3 mm). It was evaluated using monodisperse DOS and NaCl particles (0.02–0.24 μm) at upstream pressures on the order of 1 torr. The particle beams produced by the lens-nozzle system were focused through a skimmer (1 mm) into a high vacuum chamber (10−4–10−5 torr) where the beam widths, velocities and transport efficiencies were measured. The experiments showed that as more lenses were added the particle beam widths were reduced asymptotically to the minimum values. For spherical particles (DOS) these minimum values are in good agreement with the Brownian limit derived in paper I. For nonspherical particles (NaCl) these minimum widths are much larger than the Brownian limit, indicating that b...
The data behind the dissemination: A systematic review of trauma-focused cognitive behavioral therapy for use with children and youth

Abstract Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT) is one of the most widely disseminated mental health interventions for children and youth. The purpose of this study is to systematically review the evidence of TF-CBT's ability to reduce symptoms of post-traumatic stress, depression and behavior problems in children and youth who have survived trauma. A search was conducted to locate studies that evaluated TF-CBT or interventions highly similar to TF-CBT. Ten studies (twelve articles) were selected for inclusion in three sets of meta-analyses. Findings were consistent amongst meta-analyses; pooled estimates were similar whether we were analyzing the effects of interventions that were highly similar to TF-CBT, or if we were exclusively analyzing the effects of the branded intervention. Results show that there is a significant difference between the TFCBT condition and comparison conditions in its ability to reduce symptoms of PTSD (g = .671), depression (g = .378) and behavior problems (g = .247) immediately after treatment completion. This difference held for PTSD at twelve months after treatment completion (.389) but did not hold for depression or behavior problems. There was not a significant difference between the TF-CBT condition and alternative active control conditions immediately after treatment completion. Therefore, TF-CBT is an effective intervention for the treatment of PTSD in youth.
Simultaneous Perception of Both Interpretations of Ambiguous Figures

When viewing ambiguous figures like the classic duck/rabbit, people alternately perceive one interpretation and then the other, but not both interpretations at once. When two identical ambiguous figures appear together, the majority of observers perceive them as identical, and they typically alternate in unison. Just as most observers cannot see a single figure as both a duck and a rabbit, most cannot see one figure in a pair as a duck and the other as a rabbit even though the two figures and their features are spatially distinct. Is this inability to see both interpretations an inherent limitation of the visual system or is it just due to differences in top–down processing? We show that a simple prompt immediately allows people to see both interpretations, to their own surprise.
Germanium Based Field-Effect Transistors: Challenges and Opportunities

The performance of strained silicon (Si) as the channel material for today's metal-oxide-semiconductor field-effect transistors may be reaching a plateau. New channel materials with high carrier mobility are being investigated as alternatives and have the potential to unlock an era of ultra-low-power and high-speed microelectronic devices. Chief among these new materials is germanium (Ge). This work reviews the two major remaining challenges that Ge based devices must overcome if they are to replace Si as the channel material, namely, heterogeneous integration of Ge on Si substrates, and developing a suitable gate stack. Next, Ge is compared to compound III-V materials in terms of p-channel device performance to review how it became the first choice for PMOS devices. Different Ge device architectures, including surface channel and quantum well configurations, are reviewed. Finally, state-of-the-art Ge device results and future prospects are also discussed.
CGG repeats associated with DNA instability and chromosome fragility form structures that block DNA synthesis in vitro

A large increase in the length of a CGG tandem array is associated with a number of triplet expansion diseases, including fragile X syndrome, the most common cause of heritable mental retardation in humans. Expansion results in the appearance of a fragile site on the X chromosome in the region of the CGG array. We show here that CGG repeats readily form a series of barriers to DNA synthesis in vitro. There barriers form only when the (CGG)n strand is used as the template, are K(+)-dependent, template concentration-independent, and involve hydrogen bonding between guanines. Chemical modification experiments suggest these blocks to DNA synthesis result from the formation of a series of intrastrand tetraplexes. A number of lines of evidence suggest that both triplet expansion and chromosome fragility are the result of replication defects. Our data are discussed in the light of such evidence.
Monocytes in HIT: an evolving story.

In this issue of Blood , Kasthuri and colleagues have examined the role of Fcγ receptors and signaling molecules in monocytes in HIT.[1][1] Heparin-induced thrombocytopenia (HIT) is a paradoxical disorder. Patients with HIT develop thrombocytopenia while on heparin, yet the clinical manifestations
"I'll be your cigarette—Light me up and get on with it": Examining smoking imagery on YouTube

Introduction: Smoking imagery on the online video sharing site YouTube is prolific and easily accessed. However, no studies have examined how this content changes across time. We studied the primary message and genre of YouTube videos about smoking across two time periods. Methods: In May and July 2009, we used “cigarettes” and “smoking cigarettes” to retrieve the top 20 videos on YouTube by relevance and view count. Eliminating duplicates, 124 videos were coded for time period, overall message, genre, and brand mentions. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics. Results: Videos portraying smoking positively far outnumbered smoking-negative videos in both samples, increasing as a percentage of total views across the time period. Fifty-eight percent of videos in the second sample were new. Among smokingpositive videos, music and magic tricks were most numerous, increasing from 66% to nearly 80% in July, with music accounting for most of the increase. Marlboro was the most frequently mentioned brand. Discussion: Videos portraying smoking positively predominate on YouTube, and this pattern persists across time. Tobacco control advocates could use YouTube more effectively to counterbalance prosmoking messages.
Integrating the lot-sizing and sequencing decisions for scheduling a capacitated flow line

Abstract In this paper we consider a general problem of scheduling a single flow line consisting of multiple machines and producing a given set of jobs. The manufacturing environment is characterized by sequence dependent set-up times, limited intermediate buffer space, and capacity constraints. In addition, jobs are assigned with due dates that have to be met. The objectives of the scheduling are: (1) to meet the due dates without violating the capacity constraints, (2) to minimize the makespan, and (3) to minimize the inventory holding costs. While most of the approaches in the literature treat the problem of scheduling in flow lines as two independent sub-problems of lot-sizing and sequencing, our approach integrates the lot-sizing and sequencing heuristics. The integrated approach uses the Silver-Meal heuristic (modified to include lot-splitting) for lot-sizing and an improvement procedure applied to Palmer's heuristic for sequencing, which takes into account the actual sequence dependent set-up times and the limited intermedite buffer capacity. We evaluate the performance of the integrated approach and demonstrate its efficacy for scheduling a real world SMT manufacturing environment.
Understanding complex magnetic order in disordered cobalt hydroxides through analysis of the local structure

In many ostensibly crystalline materials, unit-cell-based descriptions do not always capture the complete physics of the system due to disruption in long-range order. In the series of cobalt hydroxides studied here, Co(OH)${}_{2\ensuremath{-}x}$(Cl)${}_{x}$(H${}_{2}$O)${}_{n}$, magnetic Bragg diffraction reveals a fully compensated N\'eel state, yet the materials show significant and open magnetization loops. A detailed analysis of the local structure defines the aperiodic arrangement of cobalt coordination polyhedra. Representation of the structure as a combination of distinct polyhedral motifs explains the existence of locally uncompensated moments and provides a quantitative agreement with bulk magnetic measurements and magnetic Bragg diffraction.
Formation of a fluorescent glucocorticoid receptor-steroid complex in HTC cell cytosol.

Abstract An intensely fluorescent rhodamine derivative of dexamethasone (i.e. Dex-C2-Rho) was synthesized. Dex-C2-Rho possessed high affinity for HTC cell glucocorticoid receptors in cell-free systems. Whole cell activity and receptor affinity of Dex-C2-Rho were both much lower, apparently due to problems with cell permeability and/or metabolism. A specific, fluorescent receptor-steroid complex at concentrations as low as 1 × 10−9 M could readily be observed with crude HTC cell receptors after removal of the free Dex-C2-Rho. This appears to be the first report of a fluorescent glucocorticoid receptor-steroid complex.
Cerebral atrophy, apolipoprotein E ɛ4, and rate of decline in everyday function among patients with amnestic mild cognitive impairment

Abstract Background Patients with amnestic mild cognitive impairment (MCI) demonstrate decline in everyday function. In this study, we investigated whether whole brain atrophy and apolipoprotein E ( APOE ) genotype are associated with the rate of functional decline in MCI. Methods Participants were 164 healthy controls, 258 MCI patients, and 103 patients with mild Alzheimer's disease (AD), enrolled in the Alzheimer's Disease Neuroimaging Initiative. They underwent brain MRI scans, APOE genotyping, and completed up to six biannual Functional Activities Questionnaire (FAQ) assessments. Random effects regressions were used to examine trajectories of decline in FAQ across diagnostic groups, and to test the effects of ventricle-to-brain ratio (VBR) and APOE genotype on FAQ decline among MCI patients. Results Rate of decline in FAQ among MCI patients was intermediate between that of controls and mild AD patients. Patients with MCI who converted to mild AD declined faster than those who remained stable. Among MCI patients, increased VBR and possession of any APOE ɛ4 allele were associated with faster rate of decline in FAQ. In addition, there was a significant VBR by APOE ɛ4 interaction such that patients who were APOE ɛ4 positive and had increased atrophy experienced the fastest decline in FAQ. Conclusions Functional decline occurs in MCI, particularly among patients who progress to mild AD. Brain atrophy and APOE ɛ4 positivity are associated with such declines, and patients who have elevated brain atrophy and are APOE ɛ4 positive are at greatest risk of functional degradation. These findings highlight the value of genetic and volumetric MRI information as predictors of functional decline, and thus disease progression, in MCI.
Influence of a reactive terpolymer on the properties of in situ composites based on polyamides and thermotropic liquid crystalline polyesters

Abstract Small amounts of a reactive terpolymer added to a binary blend of polyamides and thermotropic liquid crystalline polyesters prior to injection moulding yielded in situ composites with significantly higher modulus and strength along the machine/reinforcement direction and substantially higher strength and toughness along the transverse direction of injection moulded parts. These were attributed to enhanced fibrillation of the liquid crystalline polymer (with fibril formation observed along the core regions of injection moulded parts also) when injection moulded in the presence of the terpolymer and improved interfacial adhesion characteristics between the components of the in situ composite. Finally, in situ composites injection moulded in the presence of the terpolymer displayed smoother surfaces
Conflict management for agent guidance

For agent technology to be accepted in real-world applications, humans must be able to customize and control agent operations. One approach for providing such controllability is to enable a human supervisor to define guidance for agents in the form of policies that establish boundaries on agent behavior. We consider the problem of conflicting guidance for agents, making contributions in two areas: (a) outlining a space of conflict types, and (b) defining resolution methods that provide robust operation in the face of conflicts. These resolution methods combine a guidance-based preference relation over plans with extensions to the set of options considered by an agent when conflicts arise.
Efficacy of diltiazem for control of symptoms of coronary arterial spasm

Abstract To evaluate the efficacy of the calcium antagonist diltiazem for therapy of active coronary arterial spasm, 13 patients with clinical variant angina attributed to documented coronary arterial spasm completed a prospective randomized double-blind crossover trial of diltiazem (120 and 240 mg/ day) versus placebo. Response was assessed with the diary technique measuring frequency of angina, consumption of nitroglycerin and percent of pain-free days. When 120 mg of diltiazem/day was compared with the paired placebo period there was a significant increase in percent of pain-free days (from 43 to 71 percent [p = 0.03]), but no significant decrease in frequency of angina (p = 0.06) or consumption of nitroglycerin (p = 0.32). When 240 mg of diltiazem/day was compared with the paired placebo period there was a significant increase in percent of pain-free days (from 50 to 79 percent [p = 0.03]) and a significant decrease in both frequency of angina (from 1.6 to 0.4 episodes/day [p = 0.03]) and consumption of nitroglycerin (from 1.3 to 0.4/day [p = 0.01]). Diltiazem was found to be a highly effective drug for control of symptoms of active coronary arterial spasm, without side effects and with excellent patient tolerance.
Planning and meta-planning (MOLGEN: Part 2)

Abstract The selection of what to do next is often the hardest part of resource-limited problem solving. In planning problems, there are typically many goals to be achieved in some order. The goals interact with each other in ways which depend both on the order in which they are achieved and on the particular operators which are used to achieve them. A planning program needs to keep its options open because decisions about one part of a plan are likely to have consequences for another part. This paper describes an approach to planning which integrates and extends two strategies termed the least-commitment and the heuristic strategies. By integrating these, the approach makes sense of the need for guessing; it resorts to plausible reasoning to compensate for the limitations of its knowledge base. The decision-making knowledge is organized in a layered control structure which separates decisions about the planning problem from decisions about the planning process. The approach, termed meta-planning, exposes and organizes a variety of decisions, which are usually made implicitly and sub-optimally in planning programs with rigid control structures. This is part of a course of research which seeks to enhance the power of a problem solvers by enabling them to reason about their own reasoning processes. Meta-planning has been implemented and exercised in a knowledge-based program (named MOLGEN) that plans gene cloning experiments in molecular genetics.
CELLULOSE DIGESTION IN Monochamus marmorator Kby. (COLEOPTERA: CERAMBYCIDAE): Role of Acquired Fungal Enzymes

Larvae of the balsam fir sawyer,Monochamus marmorator Kby. (Coleoptera, Cerambycidae), contain midgut digestive enzymes active against hemicellulose and cellulose. Cellulases from larvae fed on balsam fir wood infected with the fungus,Trichoderma harzianum Rifai (Deuteromycetes, Moniliales, Moniliaceae), were found to be identical to those of the cellulase complex produced by this fungus when compared using chromatography, electrophoresis, and isofocusing. When larvae are maintained on a fungus-free diet, their midgut fluids lack cellulolytic activity, and they are unable to digest cellulose. Cellulolytic capacity can be restored by feeding the larvae wood permeated by fungi. We conclude that the enzymes which enableM. marmorator larvae to digest cellulose are not produced by the larvae. Instead, the larvae acquire the capacity to digest cellulose by ingesting active fungal cellulases while feeding in fungus-infected wood.
The relationship between metacognition and intelligence in normal adolescents: some tentative but surprising findings

This study explored the relationship between metacognition and intelligence in a group of normal adolescents. The relationship has strong theoretical support in current conceptions of intelligence. For the purposes of this study metacognition was assessed across three different cognitive problem sets. Correlational analyses indicated a nonsignificant relationship between intelligence and metacognition. These results suggest that tests of metacognition and intelligence may tap unrelated aspects of cognition and that additional research will be required to understand the relationship between these two constructs.
Chronic hypoxia increases β-adrenergic receptor density in the lungs of young and old rats

Abstract To test the hypothesis that the ability to regulate β-adrenergic receptor (BAR) density in response to chronic hypoxic stress is impaired by aging, we measured BAR density in the lungs of young (age 3 months) and aged (age 20 months) rats exposed to hypobaric hypoxia ( 1 2 atm ) for 3 weeks. BAR density increased by 63% in the lungs of both young and aged rats exposed to chronic hypoxia. Lung BAR density was unaffected by aging, independent of hypoxic conditions. We conclude that the ability to respond to chronic hypoxic stress with increased lung BAR density is unaffected by aging in rats.
Flight experience with a fail-operational digital fly-by-wire control system

The NASA Dryden Flight Research Center is flight testing a triply redundant digital fly-by-wire (DFBW) control system installed in an F-8 aircraft. The full-time, full-authority system performs three-axis flight control computations, including stability and command augmentation, autopilot functions, failure detection and isolation, and self-test functions. Advanced control law experiments include an active flap mode for ride smoothing and maneuver drag reduction. This paper discusses research being conducted on computer synchronization, fault detection, fault isolation, and recovery from transient faults. The F-8 DFBW system has demonstrated immunity from nuisance fault declarations while quickly identifying truly faulty components.
Convexity Results for the Erlang Delay and Loss Formulae When the Server Utilization Is Held Constant

This paper proves a long-standing conjecture regarding the optimal design of the M/M/s queue. The classical Erlang delay formula is shown to be a convex function of the number of servers when the server utilization is held constant. This means that when the server utilization is held constant, the marginal decrease in the probability that all servers are busy in the M/M/s queue brought about by the addition of two extra servers is always less than twice the decrease brought about by the addition of one extra server. As a consequence, a method of marginal analysis yields the optimal number of servers that minimize the waiting and service costs when the server utilization is held constant. In addition, it is shown that the expected number of customers in the queue and in the system, as well as the expected waiting time and sojourn in the M/M/s queue, are convex in the number of servers when the server utilization is held constant. These results are useful in design studies involving capacity planning in service operations. The classical Erlang loss formula is also shown to be a convex function of the number of servers when the server utilization is held constant.
Resonance ionization spectroscopy schemes for Ar, Kr and Xe

Abstract Laser schemes are suggested for the efficient ionization of Ar, Kr and Xe and the related two-photon transition rates are given. Ionization yields are calculated for each gas with reasonable laser parameters.
Language matters: an introduction.

That language and sexuality are closely connected is one of the enduring themes in human sexuality research. The articles in this special issue of the Journal of Homosexuality explore some of these...
The Dark and Stingy Muse of Nikolai Oleinikov

In an article describing the literary atmosphere of Petersburg in the later 1920s, the eminent Russian literary historian, Lidiia Ginsburg, summed up the range of poetic interests of her contemporaries in the following terms: "All of us were connoisseurs and passionate enthusiasts of poetry-from the works of Derzhavin and Batiushkov to Oleinikov."' While the names of Derzhavin and Batiushkov will come as little or no surprise to readers acquainted with the history of Russian poetry and the interests of the Russian poets of the 1920s, Ginsburg's invocation of Nikolai Oleinikov will certainly surprise most of us. For one thing, many readers are only dimly aware of the name Nikolai Makarovich Oleinikov; and among those who have more knowledge, most think of him as an important editor and writer of children's literature who at best dabbled in lightweight humorous and ironic "adult" poetry. The reasons for this unmerited obscurity and incomprehension are many. For one, like so many writers who emerged after 1925, Oleinikov's work was, until relatively recently, largely unpublished.2 Also, the crucial role that the Oberiu poets Harms, Vvedensky, and Zabolotsky, and Chinar' philosophers Druskin and Lipavsky, played in Oleinikov's poetic development has been either underplayed or ignored altogether, for reasons to be discussed below.3 Another reason has to do with Oleinikov himself: an extremely paradoxical, contradictory, and ultimately tragic figure, Oleinikov publicly derided his own poetry and lived something of a double life, as a Communist children's writer and editor "by day" and avant-gardist "by night." The combination of these factors has conspired to generate a fundamental misconception about Oleinikov's poetry: far from light and frivolous, Oleinikov at bottom is one of the darkest and most philosophically uncompromising of Russia's modern poets. His poetic oeuvre can in fact be read as a critique, or even outright rejection, of
An atomic layer deposition chamber for in situ x-ray diffraction and scattering analysis

The crystal structure of thin films grown by atomic layer deposition (ALD) will determine important performance properties such as conductivity, breakdown voltage, and catalytic activity. We report the design of an atomic layer deposition chamber for in situ x-ray analysis that can be used to monitor changes to the crystal structural during ALD. The application of the chamber is demonstrated for Pt ALD on amorphous SiO2 and SrTiO3 (001) using synchrotron-based high resolution x-ray diffraction, grazing incidence x-ray diffraction, and grazing incidence small angle scattering.
A search for activating N-ras mutations in malignant histiocytosis of the bernese mountain dog

Activated ras alleles have been detected in a wide range of human neoplasms, and c-N-ras mutations predominate in haematopoietic neoplasms. Ras oncogenes have been implicated in several animal and human models of multistep carcinogenesis. Malignant histiocytosis is a rare neoplasm of dogs that appears unique to the Bernese Mountain Dog. In the present study, we have examined the c-N-ras gene in two normal and 16 neoplastic Bernese Mountain Dog tissues by a polymerase chain reaction sequencing strategy. No activation of c-N-ras alleles was detected at codons 12, 13 or 61- those sites for ras proto-oncogene activations in human neoplasms. Indeed, in those regions of the first and second exons of canine c-N-ras examined, the nucleotide sequences derived from malignant histiocytosis specimens were identical to those derived from normal tissues, and the Bernese Mountain Dog sequence was identical to that which we have previously described in the Beagle dog. c-N-ras mutation does not appear to be associated with the aetiopathogenesis of malignant histiocytosis in the Bernese Mountain Dog.
CONSERVING SPECIES IN A WORKING LANDSCAPE: LAND USE WITH BIOLOGICAL AND ECONOMIC OBJECTIVES

Habitat loss and fragmentation are major threats to biodiversity. Establishing formal protected areas is one means of conserving habitat, but socio-economic and political constraints limit the amount of land in such status. Addressing conservation issues on lands outside of formal protected areas is also necessary. In this paper we develop a spatially explicit model for analyzing the consequences of alternative land-use patterns on the per- sistence of various species and on market-oriented economic returns. The biological model uses habitat preferences, habitat area requirements, and dispersal ability for each species to predict the probability of persistence of that species given a land-use pattern. The eco- nomic model uses characteristics of the land unit and location to predict the value of commodity production given a land-use pattern. We use the combined biological and eco- nomic model to search for efficient land-use patterns in which the conservation outcome cannot be improved without lowering the value of commodity production. We illustrate our methods with an example that includes three alternative land uses, managed forestry, agriculture, and biological reserve (protected area), for a modeled landscape whose physical, biological, and economic characteristics are based on conditions found in the Willamette Basin in Oregon (USA). We find that a large fraction of conservation objectives can be achieved at little cost to the economic bottom line with thoughtful land-use planning. The degree of conflict between conservation and economic returns appears much less using our joint biological and economic modeling approach than using a reserve-site selection ap- proach, which assumes that species survive only inside of reserves and economic activity occurs only outside of reserves.
Increased hospitalizations and death in patients with ESRD secondary to lupus.

Background: Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is an autoimmune disease that can affect almost any organ system, including the kidneys. Using a large national dataset, our goal was to compare the m...
Prothrombotic Effects of Erythrocytes on Platelet Reactivity Reduction by Aspirin

Background Aspirin effectively reduces the incidence of secondary vascular occlusive events in only 25% of patients. Low-dose aspirin as currently used blocks platelet production of prothrombotic thromboxane A2 and allows endothelial synthesis of antithrombotic prostacyclin. This regimen minimizes gastrointestinal toxicity. We previously showed that intact erythrocytes markedly enhance platelet reactivity. Therefore we investigated whether supplementation of low-dose aspirin with a single high dose at 2-week intervals could more effectively block erythrocyte promotion of platelet reactivity. Methods and Results Effects of different aspirin regimens on erythrocyte enhancement of platelet reactivity in normal volunteers were measured with the use of an assay that evaluates both platelet activation and recruitment. After 15 days of daily ingestion of 50 mg aspirin, reactivity of platelets alone was inhibited. However, erythrocyte promotion of platelet activation and recruitment was only inhibited by ≈50% and...
TWO YEAR ANALYSIS OF THE SAFETY AND TOLERABILITY OF EVOLOCUMAB: THE OSLER-1 STUDY

The OSLER-1 study previously reported that SC evolocumab, a monoclonal antibody against PCSK9, markedly lowered and maintained LDL-C levels with a favorable safety profile, over 52 weeks. We now evaluate the efficacy, safety and persistence of evolocumab treatment over ~2 years (y). OSLER
Evolution of a Strain of CJD That Induces BSE-Like Plaques

Bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) has become a public health issue because a recently evolved BSE agent has infected people, yielding an unusual form of Creutzfeld-Jakob disease (CJD). A new CJD agent that provokes similar amyloid plaques and cerebellar pathology was serially propagated. First-passage rats showed obvious clinical signs and activated microglia but had negligible PrP-res (the more protease-resistant form of host PrP) or cerebellar lesions. Microglia and astrocytes may participate in strain selection because the agent evolved, stabilized, and reproducibly provoked BSE-like disease in subsequent passages. Early vacuolar change involving activated microglia and astrocytes preceded significant PrP-res accumulation by more than 50 days. These studies reveal several inflammatory host reactions to an exogenous agent.
Structural relationship between the enzymatic and streptococcal binding sites of human salivary α-amylase

Previous studies have demonstrated that human salivary alpha-amylase specifically binds to the oral bacterium Streptococcus gordonii. This interaction is inhibited by substrates such as starch and maltotriose suggesting that bacterial binding may involve the enzymatic site of amylase. Experiments were performed to determine if amylase bound to the bacterial surface possessed enzymatic activity. It was found that over one-half of the bound amylase was enzymatically active. In addition, bacterial-bound amylase hydrolyzed starch to glucose which was then metabolized to lactic acid by the bacteria. In further studies, the role of amylase's histidine residues in streptococcal binding and enzymatic function was assessed after their selective modification with diethyl pyrocarbonate. DEP-modified amylase showed a marked reduction in both enzymatic and streptococcal binding activities. These effects were diminished when DEP modification occurred in the presence of maltotriose. DEP-modified amylase had a significantly altered secondary structure when compared with native enzyme or amylase modified in the presence of maltotriose. Collectively, these results suggest that human salivary alpha-amylase may possess multiple sites for bacterial binding and enzymatic activity which share structural similarities.