cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Implementation of a Recuperation Unit and Hospitalization Rates Among People Experiencing Homelessness With COVID-19.

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) may spread rapidly through homeless shelters because they are congregate settings1,2 where factors associated with the spread of the virus are common, including lack of personal protective equipment, overcrowding, and lack of recuperation spaces. As Boston experienced a COVID-19 surge that disproportionately affected persons experiencing homelessness (PEH) and threatened to overwhelm hospital capacity, a large safety-net hospital implemented a novel COVID-19 Recuperation Unit (CRU) for this population. The CRU, located adjacent to Boston Medical Center (BMC), provided isolation and quarantine for PEH and treatment for substance use.3 We aimed to determine the association of the care provided by the CRU with COVID-19 hospitalizations among PEH.
Reductions in parent interest for antibiotics following a 2-minute tablet-delivered intervention in pediatric outpatient clinics.

Purpose Approximately 11.4 million or 29% of prescriptions given to children with acute upper respiratory tract infections (ARTIs) annually in outpatient pediatric care are unnecessary. Providers consistently report pressure from parents as a contributing factor. While decreases in parental desire for antibiotics have been documented, some parents still harbor misconceptions that contribute to high interest in antibiotics. Enhancing parents’ understanding of appropriate antibiotic use may reduce their interest in antibiotics and support better parent-provider communication. Methods We investigated the impact of a 90 second gain-framed (i.e., emphasizing the positive aspects of a decision) animated, educational video promoting cautious …
Social Distancing in the Era of COVID-19: A Call for Maintaining Social Support for the Maternal Population.

Over the past year, the strategies used around the globe to slow the spread of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) have radically changed everyday life for millions of households. Conversing behind masks, avoiding physical proximity with people from outside the household, and viewing one another as potential biohazard carriers have severely disrupted the social and cultural connections that are vital for human communities, especially during crises. The adverse mental health effects of previous infectious disease outbreaks, such as Ebola, severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS), and H1N1 influenza epidemics, have been documented on a number of populations and subgroups.1,2 However, with the notable exception of HIV/AIDS, the literature on the mental health effects of recent epidemics has left out one particularly vulnerable group—expectant and new mothers.3,4 The current pandemic was different in this regard. There has been an increased awareness of its maternal mental health ramifications, with more than 2 dozen studies already published within a year on the mental health effects of the pandemic on pregnant and postpartum women.5,6 The majority of the studies highlighted the impact of containment measures implemented to stem the spread of COVID-19, such as social distancing, as core reasons for the increased maternal mental morbidity. Social distancing measures range from isolation of infected individuals, to closures of schools and nonessential businesses, to national lockdowns.7 As the world marks 1 year since the World Health Organization declared COVID-19 a global pandemic, nearly every country remains under some form of social distancing. Since the beginning of 2020, pregnant, laboring, and postpartum women have been navigating the challenges inherent to the perinatal period in the context of sudden, severe, and cumulative stressful events with concurrent reductions of vital social connections and protections. It is therefore critical to mitigate the enormous impact of COVID-19 on maternal mental health. In this article, we argue that formal and informal social support systems for mothers need to be prioritized, even during pandemics, and failure to do so will greatly affect the mothers, their infants, and their whole households. Furthermore, we call for the dissemination of feasible and innovative adaptive strategies that ensure continuation of social support to this population.
Controlling coherence time of silicon vacancy centers in diamond using phononic crystals

We design and fabricate phononic crystals in single-crystal diamond hosting silicon vacancy centers. The complete bandgap in the phononic crystals aims to improve coherence of optical transitions in silicon vacancy centers by suppressing phonon-driven processes.
Mirizzi Syndrome: The classic presentation

Abstract We recently cared for two children with Mirizzi Syndrome. Our first patient was a 12-year-old girl who had an unusual variant of Mirizzi syndrome: a cholecystohepatic fistula, which we stumbled upon during laparoscopic cholecystectomy [ 1 ]. The subject of this report is a 14-year-old young lady whose presentation was more typical (textbook). Cystic duct obstruction by an impacted stone caused acute cholecystitis. Because of the proximity of the ducts, the attendant inflammation “spilled over” onto the common bile duct (CBD) and caused partial obstruction. Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) with stent placement was followed by a laparoscopic cholecystectomy.
Political Issues Management: Framing the Issue of Climate Change

Politicians must identify and present issues in ways that resonate with the public, effectively establishing their legitimacy as issue managers. This public relations concept has primarily been studied in the corporate context. By bridging public relations and political communication scholarship, this analysis examines how democratic presidential candidates at CNN’s 2019 climate crisis town hall managed the issue of climate change using fact versus value-based frames, gain/loss frames, and responsibility frames. The results indicate that candidates predominantly used value-based frames, gains were almost exclusively presented in the context of the economy, and candidates were more likely to use prognostic frames over diagnostic responsibility frames when presenting the issue to the public. These findings speak to the value of framing in political issues management.
Equilibration Time of Solid Contact Ion-Selective Electrodes.

Papers published on ion-selective electrodes (ISEs) generally report on the performance characteristics of these devices after long, extensive conditioning. Conditioning refers to the equilibration of the ion-selective electrode in an aqueous solution before the measurement of the sample. The requirement for long and repeated conditioning is a significant burden in a variety of applications, for example, single-use sensors aimed for in vivo or field applications and solid contact (SC) ISEs, which were developed to provide simple, mass-produced sensors that have the potential to be implemented without calibration and extensive conditioning. In this study we recorded the potential of SC K+, Na+, and H+ ISEs as a function of time following their first contact with an aqueous electrolyte solution and used these transients to determine their equilibration times. The SC electrodes were built on Au, Pt, and glassy carbon (GC) substrates using galvanostatically deposited conductive polymer (PEDOT(PSS–), poly(3,4-...
The Accounting Component of Discounted Residual Earnings: Some Theoretical and Empirical Implications

The question addressed in this paper is how accounting methods affect discounted residual earnings in all periods prior to the period in which the firm is assumed to liquidate and whenever the time horizon is "short enough" so that terminal values matter. The short-run viewpoint is used to analyze the impact of conservative accounting policies on discounted residual earnings and some recent empirical research involving a comparison between the discounted residual earnings model and the discounted dividends model. A regression of the value of the firm on opening book value and residual earnings is shown to be equivalent to a regression of the firm's value on dividends plus ending book value. Therefore, omitting ending book value from the regression based on the dividend model "biases" the results in favor of the residual earnings model.
Alterity Models in Counseling: When We Talk About Diversity, What Are We Actually Talking About?

In this article, the author identifies six distinct models of alterity (the state of being different) that guide counselors’ practice with clients from traditionally under-represented groups. The models are: political correctness, difference blindness, multiculturalism, structural diversity, social justice advocacy, and decolonization. The article involves (a) illustrating each model with a contextualizing vignette, (b) reviewing the interdisciplinary literature related to each model, and (c) arguing how each model may be expressed by counselors in potentially positive or negative ways.
Development and Operational Analysis of an All-Fiber Coherent Doppler Lidar System for Wind Sensing and Aerosol Profiling

A 1.5- $\mu\mbox{m}$ all-fiber coherent Doppler lidar system for wind sensing was developed and characterized. The system design and implementation is presented. The system employs a 20-kHz pulse repetition rate transmitter and samples return signals at 400 MHz. A field-programmable gate array is programmed to generate and accumulate real-time periodograms representing average power spectra of the Doppler shifted echo from a series of more than 60 range gates, where each range gate is 48 m. The accumulated periodograms are streamed to a host computer for subsequent processing to yield the line-of-sight wind velocity. Wind velocity estimates with a precision value of 0.08 m/s can be made under nominal aerosol loading and nominal atmospheric turbulence conditions for ranges up to 3 km. Wind velocities and aerosol profiles are obtained while scanning the pointing direction of the lidar, thus producing both horizontal and vertical representations of the wind vectors.
Numerical solution of nonlinear partial differential equations of mixed type

A review is presented of some recently developed numerical methods for the solution of nonlinear equations of mixed type. The methods considered use finite difference approximations to the differential equation. Central difference formulas are employed in the subsonic zone and upwind difference formulas are used in the supersonic zone. The relaxation method for the small disturbance equation is discussed and a description is given of difference schemes for the potential flow equation in quasi-linear form. Attention is also given to difference schemes for the potential flow equation in conservation form, the analysis of relaxation schemes by the time dependent analogy, the accelerated iterative method, and three-dimensional calculations.
Bayesian inversion of time-lapse seismic data for the estimation of static reservoir properties and dynamic property changes

Seismic conditioning of static reservoir model properties such as porosity and lithology has traditionally been faced as a solution of an inverse problem. Dynamic reservoir model properties have been constrained by time-lapse seismic data. Here, we propose a methodology to jointly estimate rock properties (such as porosity) and dynamic property changes (such as pressure and saturation changes) from time-lapse seismic data. The methodology is based on a full Bayesian approach to seismic inversion and can be divided into two steps. First we estimate the conditional probability of elastic properties and their relative changes; then we estimate the posterior probability of rock properties and dynamic property changes. We apply the proposed methodology to a synthetic reservoir study where we have created a synthetic seismic survey for a real dynamic reservoir model including pre-production and production scenarios. The final result is a set of point-wise probability distributions that allow us to predict the most probable reservoir models at each time step and to evaluate the associated uncertainty. Finally we also show an application to real field data from the Norwegian Sea, where we estimate changes in gas saturation and pressure from time-lapse seismic amplitude differences. The inverted results show the hydrocarbon displacement at the times of two repeated seismic surveys.
Seed Maturity and Desiccation Affect Carbohydrate Composition and Leachate Conductivity in shrunken-2 Sweet Corn

This study was conducted to determine if changes in the raffinose : sucrose ratio in embryos of shrunken-2 sweet corn (Zea mays L.) hybrids were related to differences in seed leachate conductivity between two hybrids harvested at four maturities and artificially dried to 0.10 g H 2 O/g fresh weight. The ratio of raffinose : sucrose differed for 'Crisp N' Sweet 710' (CNS) and 'How Sweet It Is' (HSII). The mass ratio of raffinose : sucrose in CNS was >0.3 in seed harvested between 0.44 to 0.64 g H 2 O/g fresh weight and increased as seed dried from the initial harvest moisture to 0.10 g H 2 O/g fresh weight. Raffinose : sucrose ratios of HSII were <0.3 at all harvests between 0.55 to 0.72 g H 2 O/g fresh weight, but changes during desiccation were not as pronounced. Leachate conductivity of whole seeds of CNS and HSII decreased as seeds were harvested at progressively lower moisture contents. We suggest that a higher raffinose : sucrose ratio may be indicative of increased seed vigor in shrunken-2 hybrids.
The issue of violence in revolution within Arab secular and Islamic political thought

There seems to be a disparity between the ideas and goals of revolutionaries who struggle to end authoritarian rule and achieve liberty and the violent means they often use to achieve their ends. This paper first addresses how violent revolutions are positioned by secular Arab and Islamic Arab political scholars and, specifically, how they address the question of violence. It explores whether such scholars have been influenced by the French Revolution, and whether or not their thoughts derive from their own political experiences and political reality, or if they have merely been influenced by Western political experiences.
ENHANCEMENT OF SALMONELLOSIS AND EMERGENCE OF SECONDARY INFECTION IN MICE EXPOSED TO COLD

Miraglia, Gennaro J. (Bryn Mawr College, Bryn Mawr, Pa.) and L. Joe Berry. Enhancement of salmonellosis and emergence of secondary infection in mice exposed to cold. J. Bacteriol. 84:1173–1180. 1962.—The ld50 dose for mice of Salmonella typhimurium, strain RIA, is 4.1 × 105 for animals individually housed without bedding and maintained at 25 C. It is 3.8 × 103 for animals similarly housed but kept at 5 C. An intravenous injection of 0.1 ml of Proferrin 2 hr prior to infection with RIA lowers the ld50 to 4.9 × 103 and to 4.0 × 101 for mice kept, respectively, at 25 and at 5 C. Low environmental temperature and “blockade” of the reticuloendothelial system (RES) lower the resistance of mice to about the same degree, but low temperature and RES impairment together lower resistance as if each were acting independently. No effect of cold could be detected in mice infected with the highly virulent SR-11 strain of S. typhimurium, since all animals died after infection with only a few cells. Mice that were natural carriers of salmonellae, as judged by fecal discharge, were highly resistant to challenge and responded to cold in a manner similar to normal mice infected with RIA. Strain RIA could be isolated from the tissues of infected animals with greater frequency and persisted longer in mice maintained at 5 C than those at 25 C. Staphylococci were isolated from livers of animals that survived salmonella infection for 14 days at 5 C, and the incidence of staphylococci was proportional to the number of salmonellae injected. At 25 C, only a small percentage of mice had staphylococci in tissues and these occurred independent of the infectious dose of salmonellae. These observations were made on normal mice infected with RIA and on carrier mice infected with SR-11.
Vitamin C as a Radioprotector Against Iodine-131 In Vivo

The capacity of vitamin C (ascorbic acid) to mitigate radiation damage resulting from the tissue-incorporated radionuclide 131I is examined. Spermatogenesis in mice is the experimental model and spermhead survival is the biological endpoint. When a small nontoxic amount of vitamin C was injected, followed by a similar injection of 131I, the 37% spermhead survival dose (D37) increased by a factor of 2.2 compared with the D37 in animals receiving only the radionuclide. Similar radioprotection was also observed when the animals were maintained on a diet enriched with 1% vitamin C (by weight). These results suggest that vitamin C may play an important role as a radioprotector against accidental or medical radiation exposures, especially when radionuclides are incorporated in the body and deliver the dose in a chronic fashion.
Effects of Surface Evaporation and Condensation on the Dynamics of Thin Liquid Films for the Porous Wetted Wall Protection Scheme in IFE Reactors

A numerical investigation has been conducted to analyze the fluid dynamic aspects of the porous wetted wall protection scheme for IFE reactor first walls. A level contour reconstruction method has been used to track the three-dimensional evolution of the liquid film surface on porous downward facing walls with different initial film thickness, liquid injection velocity through the porous wall, surface disturbance amplitude, configuration and mode number, liquid properties, and surface inclination angle. Here, we report on the effects of evaporation and condensation at the liquid film surface on the dynamics of film flow, the free surface topology, the frequency of liquid droplet formation and detachment, the minimum film thickness between explosions, and the equivalent diameter of detached droplets. Generalized charts, which allow designers of conceptual IFE reactors to identify appropriate 'windows' for successful operation of the wetted wall protection concept for different coolants are presented.
Soil organic carbon and fly-ash distributions in eroded phases of soils in Illinois and Russia

Soil organic carbon (SOC) dynamics are affected by tillage, soil erosion and depositional processes. The objectives of this paper are to evaluate soil organic carbon and fly-ash distribution methods for identifying eroded phases of soils in Illinois and Russia and quantifying the extent of soil loss from erosion. The effect of accelerated erosion on soils is recorded on National Cooperative Soil Survey maps as phases of soil series that reflect the percentage of the original A horizon materials remaining. Identification depends on knowledge of the original A horizon thicknesses, SOC and fly-ash contents at uncultivated and uneroded sites when determining erosion phases of soil at cultivated and eroded sites. However, locating uncultivated and uneroded comparison sites with similar landscape and slope characteristics can be difficult. The amount of A horizon materials within the plow layers (Ap horizons) or topsoils are often determined by soil colors which reflect the SOC contents. Soil erosion phases based on original A horizon materials remaining in the topsoils may underestimate the extent of soil losses from topsoils and subsoils, particularly where soils have been cultivated for hundreds of years and are severely eroded. The SOC contents and soil erosion phases can be affected by losses or gains of organic C-rich sediments from tillage translocation and erosion, by management input level differences, oxidation, or as a result of land use and landscape position variations. Fly-ash was found to be more stable and act as a better indicator of soil erosion phase than SOC content.
The Role of Ballistic Erosion and Sedimentation in Lunar Stratigraphy

Aspects of base surge transport are considered along with questions regarding the applicability of base surge transport to lunar sedimentation, the ballistic transport of crater and basin ejecta, Copernicus crater ballistics, and the effects of ejecta impact on preexisting lunar ground. An ejecta emplacement model is discussed and attention is given to the structure of the surface of continuous deposits of craters and basins, the thickness of crater and basin deposits, and the characteristics of impact melts.
Coiled nucleocapsid configuration in subacute sclerosing pancencephalitis (SSPE).

In this case of documented subacute sclerosing panencephalitis (SSPE), electron microscopy of a brain biopsy revealed a previously unreported “fingerprint” configuration of tubular inclusions or nucleocapsids. The pattern resembled that of the whorled filamentous nuclear bodies which are so frequently encountered in ultrastructural studies of this disease. Furthermore, an apparent tubule was seen running parallel to filaments within the nucleus of still another affected cell. These findings lend support to the concept that nuclear bodies are converted into and/or synthesize nucleocapsids.
Leading Causes of Death and All-Cause Mortality in American Indians and Alaska Natives

Objectives. We present regional patterns and trends in all-cause mortality and leading causes of death in American Indians and Alaska Natives (AI/ANs).Methods. US National Death Index records were linked with Indian Health Service (IHS) registration records to identify AI/AN deaths misclassified as non-AI/AN. We analyzed temporal trends for 1990 to 2009 and comparisons between non-Hispanic AI/AN and non-Hispanic White persons by geographic region for 1999 to 2009. Results focus on IHS Contract Health Service Delivery Area counties in which less race misclassification occurs.Results. From 1990 to 2009 AI/AN persons did not experience the significant decreases in all-cause mortality seen for Whites. For 1999 to 2009 the all-cause death rate in CHSDA counties for AI/AN persons was 46% more than that for Whites. Death rates for AI/AN persons varied as much as 50% among regions. Except for heart disease and cancer, subsequent ranking of specific causes of death differed considerably between AI/AN and White per...
Complex phenotypes and phenomenon of genome-wide inter-chromosomal linkage disequilibrium in the human genome

Abstract Studies of non-human species show that loci on non-homologous chromosomes can be in linkage disequilibrium (LD). I focus on the Framingham Heart Study (FHS) participants to explore whether the phenomenon of inter-chromosomal LD can be caused by non-stochastic bio-genetic mechanisms in the human genome and be associated with complex, polygenic phenotypes. This paper documents remarkably strong and extensive LD among SNPs at loci on multiple non-homologous chromosomes genotyped using two independent (Affymetrix 50 K and 500 K) arrays. The analyses provided compelling evidences that the observed inter-chromosomal LD was unlikely generated by stochasticity, population or family structure, or mis-genotyping. The analyses show that this LD is associated with complex heritable phenotypes characterizing poor health. The inter-chromosomal LD was observed in parental and offspring generations of the FHS participants. These findings suggest that inter-chromosomal LD can be caused by bio-genetic mechanisms possibly associated with favorable or unfavorable epistatic evolution. This phenomenon can challenge our understanding of the role of genes and gene networks in regulating complex, polygenic phenotypes in humans.
A Suboptimal Reference Generation Technique for Robotic Manipulators Following Specified Paths

The optimal reference generation problem deals with finding a tracking velocity versus time profile which will move the end effector of a multiple degree of freedom robotic manipulator through a general spatial curve in minimum time subject to hard actuator torque limits. While reference generation techniques exist which solve this problem, they are typically computationally intensive, limiting their usefulness in practical situations. In this technical brief, a modification is made to the formulation of the optimal reference generation problem, resulting in a slightly suboptimal solution which is numerically simpler than optimal methods
On the comparative statics of the dominant-firm model

This paper examines the effect of a change in demand upon a dominant firm's share of the market. The direction of change in market share is not readily determined in the general form of the model. It depends upon the values of a number of parameters. In the linear and log-linear forms of the model, however, the number of crucial parameters reduces to two. The market share of the dominant firm varies directly (inversely) with demand when the y-intercept of its marginal cost curve is greater (less) than the y-intercept of the supply curve of the fringe in the linear model and, in the log-linear model, when the elasticity of marginal cost with respect to output is less (greater) for the dominant firm than it is for the fringe.
The inadequacy of selflessness: God's suffering and the theory of love

IT IS COMMONPLACE in Western religious ethics to depict the highest form of love as utterly heedless of self. We imagine the saint, who stands high above the sphere of ordinary human experience, to be wholly devoid of self-concern. It is typical to sharply distinguish the self-referential motives of mutual love from the heights of love at its selfless best. Thus Dostoevsky's image of the saintly monastic Zosima, who counsels the faithless Mrs. Khokhlakov: "And if you achieve complete self-abnegation in your love for your fellow man, you will certainly gain faith, and there will be no room in your soul for any doubt whatsoever" (64-65). The seventeenth-century French Quietist Francois de F6nelon wrote on the "degree of absolute indifference" to reciprocation necessary for love to qualify as "pure" (46). Kierkegaard extolled love for the dead, since it eliminates "every possibility of repayment" (320). Respecting twentieth-century ethics, Anders Nygren's condemnation of "all self-love whatsoever" has left a lasting impression (131). Such idealization of selfless love not only misleadingly exaggerates the valid principle of unselfishness, it rests on an unsatisfactory concept of God. Mutual love or reciprocity is the only appropriate fundamental norm for human interrelations, and for the divine-human encounter as well. The idealization of selfless love inevitably obscures divine suffering, a serious negative consequence that has yet to be adequately considered. Divine love, so often understood as the perfect example to which human love must conform, is mistakenly interpreted as containing no element of self-concern. This view is based on the false assumption that the divine neither needs nor seeks the mutual good of fellowship with humanity.
Optimal control of systems with multiple criteria when disturbances are present

Optimal control problems with a vector performance index and uncertainty in the state equations are investigated. Nature chooses the uncertainty, subject to magnitude bounds. For these problems, a definition of optimality is presented. This definition reduces to that of a minimax control in the case of a scalar cost and to Pareto optimality when there is no uncertainty or disturbance present. Sufficient conditions for a control to satisfy this definition of optimality are derived. These conditions are in terms of a related two-player zero-sum differential game and suggest a technique for determining the optimal control. The results are illustrated with an example.
Stepanov-like almost automorphic solutions of nonautonomous semilinear evolution equations with delay

Abstract We consider the existence and uniqueness of a Stepanov-like almost automorphic solution to the nonautonomous semilinear evolution equations with a constant delay: u ′ ( t ) = A ( t ) u ( t ) + f ( t , u ( t − h ) ) , t ∈ R where A ( t ) , t ∈ R , generates an exponentially stable evolution family { U ( t , s ) } and f : R × X → X satisfies a Lipschitz condition with respect to the second argument.
Hopanoid lipids compose the Frankia vesicle envelope, presumptive barrier of oxygen diffusion to nitrogenase

Biological nitrogen fixation in aerobic organisms requires a mechanism for excluding oxygen from the site of nitrogenase activity. Oxygen exclusion in Frankia spp., members of an actinomycetal genus that forms nitrogen-fixing root-nodule symbioses in a wide range of woody Angiosperms, is accomplished within specialized structures termed vesicles, where nitrogen fixation is localized. The lipidic vesicle envelope is apparently a functional analogue of the cyanobacterial heterocyst envelope, forming an external gas-diffusion barrier around the nitrogen-fixing cells. We report here that purified vesicle envelopes consist primarily of two hopanoid lipids, rather than of glycolipids, as is the case in cyanobacteria. One envelope hopanoid, bacteriohopanetetrol phenylacetate monoester, is vesicle-specific. The Frankia vesicle envelope thus represents a layer specific to the locus of nitrogen fixation that is biosynthetically uniquely derived.
Pseudo-open functions are monotonic decreasing for ordinal and cardinal invariants

Abstract A new property of pseudo-open functions is presented in this paper. Pseudo-open functions are monotonic decreasing with respect to ordinal and cardinal invariants defined by compact and sequential closures. A weak form of continuity, called k -continuous, is defined, characterized and used in the proof of the monotonicity properties of pseudo-open mappings. The relationships between the classes of k -continuous and sequentially continuous mappings in the category of all topological spaces and the continuous mappings in the subcategories of k -spaces and sequential spaces are presented.
Give Peace a Chance: Exploring the Vietnam Antiwar Movement: Essays from the Charles DeBenedetti Memorial Conference

This work offers an introduction to the best-known antiwar movement in United States history, written by veterans of the Vietnam War and participants in the movement. It examines how the activities of the movement affected the lives of most Americans.
Device Therapy to Modulate the Autonomic Nervous System to Treat Heart Failure

Heart failure is the final common pathway in many forms of heart disease, and is associated with excessive morbidity and mortality. Pathophysiologic alterations in the interaction between the heart and the autonomic nervous system in advanced heart failure have been noted for decades. Over the last decade, great advances have been made in the medical and surgical treatment of heart failure – and some of these modalities target the neuro-cardiac axis. Despite these advances, many patients progress to end-stage heart failure and death. Recently, device-based therapy targeting the neuro-cardiac axis with various forms of neuromodulatory stimuli has been shown to improve heart function in experimental heart failure models. These include spinal cord stimulation, vagal nerve stimulation, and baroreflex modulation. Human trials are now underway to evaluate the safety and efficacy of these device-based neuromodulatory modalities in the heart failure population.
Surface waves and free oscillations in a regionalized earth model.

The linearized equation is derived which relates observed long-period seismic waveforms to the aspherical perturbations of a spherically symmetric earth model. This is accomplished by formulating the theory of spectral splitting in the time domain. It is shown to be possible greatly to simplify the resulting equations in a way which makes it apparent that for each modal multiplet the ‘scattered’ field depends only upon three local functionals of earth structure. The effect of regional structural variations may then be quantified in a manner analogous to that assumed in the ‘pure path technique’, but without making the usual asymptotic approximations. These results are used to investigate the validity of the asymptotic result for the locations of the centroids of spectral peaks in individual recordings, for a regionalized model of the Earth. A technique is suggested for retrieving information about geographical structural variations from low-frequency waveform data.
The design of rent-seeking competitions

In the standard Tullock model of rent-seeking as a noncooperative game, aggregate expenditures by seekers can equal, exceed, or fall short of total rents depending on what is assumed about the number of seekers and the marginal return to a seeker's investment. If the supply of an input into the rent-seeking process is controlled by a politician who receives payment from seekers for it, the indeterminacy of the process becomes a less serious problem. He supplies it and designs the rent-seeking game to maximize his wealth. The author derives expressions for the number of seekers and the marginal return parameter which maximize the politician's wealth in one-input and two-input rent-seeking processes.
Hothousing: The clinical and educational concerns over pressuring young children concerns over pressuring young children

Abstract Demographic changes regarding ages of parents, divorce rates, the number of dual career couples, and the impact of maternal development, have produced a generation of parents who have less time to spend with their children, and higher anxiety in relation to themselves and their offspring. Parents whose children are in hothousing may overstructure their toddlers' learning because of their own inadequacy and guilt. Furthermore, the messages inadvertently conveyed to children in hothousing tend to de-personalize children into representations of ideals created by a competitive society. Children who spend inadequate time in an intimate parent-child relationship may have great achievement capacity, but feel a sense of emptiness. Hothousing has shifted preschool curriculum to an overemphasis on “readiness” training for early reading and a concomitant reduction in time for play. Researchers of infancy must carefully communicate their findings and caution against simplistic applications. Teachers must responsibly evaluate research findings and communicate them to parents, who must then protect their children against the dangers of hothousing.
Intracellular uptake and α-amylase and lactate dehydrogenase releasing actions of the divalent cation ionophore A23187 in dissociated pancreatic acinar cells

Intracellular uptake of A23187 and the increased release of amylase and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) accompanying ionophore uptake was studied using dissociated acinar cells prepared from mouse pancreas. Easily detected changes in the fluorescence excitation spectrum of A23187 upon transfer of the ionophore from a Tris-buffered Ringer's to cell membranes were used to monitor A23187 uptake. Uptake was rapid in the absence of extracellular Ca2+ and Mg2+ (t1/2=1 min) and much slower in the presence of Ca2+ or Mg2+ (t1/2=20 min). Cell-associated ionophore was largely intracellular as indicated by fluorescence microscopy, lack of spectral sensitivity to changes in extracellular Ca2+ and Mg2+, and by equivalent interaction of ionophore with membranes of whole and sonicated cells. A23187 (10 μm) increased amylase release 200% in the presence of extracellular Ca2+ and Mg2+. In the absence of Ca2+ (but in the presence of Mg2+) A23187 did not increase amylase release. A23187 (10 μm) also produced Ca2+-dependent cell damage, as judged by increased LDH release, increased permeability to trypan blue, and by disruption of cell morphology. The cell damaging and amylase releasing properties of A23187 were distinguished by their time course and dose-response relationship. A23187 (1 μm) increased amylase release 140% without increasing LDH release or permeability to trypan blue.
Protozoa of the Mountain Lake Region, Giles County, Virginia*

SYNOPSIS. A survey of protozoa was made from twelve varied sites in the region of the Mountain Lake atop Salt Pond Mountain, about 8 direct miles NNW of Newport, in Giles County, Virginia. Identifications for these sites and for 6 others previously sampled by other investigators which are recorded in unpublished reports are included. Species identified total 576; in 243 other instances genus is identified, but not species. Organisms seen but not identified to generic level are omitted. One hundred fifty-one mastigophoran species are listed; with 101 instances of generic, but not specific identification being made. Of these 102 are phytomastigophorean species; and generic placements 77 times are also listed. Seven orders, 7 suborders and 49 genera are represented. Forty-nine zoomastigophorean species are noted; and 24 other times a genus was identified. Five orders, two suborders, 18 families and 35 genera are included. Eighty-one species of sarcodina are noted. Seventy-four of these are rhizopods, and 7, actinopods. Genus, but not species was established for certain sarcodina in 52 instances. Three orders, 10 suborders, 13 families and 44 genera are represented. Ciliophora, including opalinids and suctorians, number 144 species in this list. Three are opalinds, and 141 (including the suctorians) are euciliates. In 88 observations, genus, but not species of ciliophorans was identified. Two classes, two subclasses, 11 orders, 8 suborders, 43 families and 97 genera are included. Two sporozoa are included, being unidentified species of the telosporidian genus Eimeri a, and the sarcosporidian genus, Sarcocystis Some data are given relative to the nature of the sites of collection. The restricted distribution of certain organisms in certain habitats is discussed. The sites are geographically located by altitude, latitude and longitude, as well as on a map of the region. Many other protozoa are undoubtedly present in the area, the ubiquity of many protozoa being well-known. Little has been done to survey parasitic species, and other studies should later reveal more of the free-living ones.
Numerical analysis of dynamic stability under random excitation

It is well known that an elastic column subjected to a harmonically-varying axial force exhibits parametric resonance over a range of applied frequencies and amplitudes. In this paper, the effect of white noise on the dynamic stability properties of a model system is investigated. Because of the complex nature of the applied loads and the nonlinearity of the governing equilibrium equation, three different numerical integration procedures are considered for determining the response of the model structure, and the accuracy of each scheme is studied. Results from the numerical investigation show that the method of Successive Symmetric Quadratures provides greater accuracy than the conventional Newmark Method or Harmonic Acceleration Method for nonlinear dynamic systems under random excitation. Computation of the model response shows that band-limited low frequency noise can limit the maximum deformation of the model system relative to the unperturbed case. Wide-band white noise, however, was observed only to enhance the destabilizing effect of the applied loads.
Reply: Prostate cancer, insulin and androgen deprivation therapy

Sir, Stattin and Kaaks's data show that insulin levels increase with tumour stage, which is what we reported. They do not have a large enough sample size (sufficient statistical power) to conclude that there is no difference in the insulin levels of the groups in the table. I suggest that Stattin and Kaaks collect a larger sample after determining the sample size; they need to provide 90% power of detecting a significant (P=0.05 two-tailed) result. Also, they might want to measure fasting insulin before breakfast to reduce the variability of the data, since insulin levels fluctuate throughout the day and after meals. In the meantime, I refer Stattin, Kaaks and all interested readers to the article by Altman and Bland (1995), which eloquently explains the pitfalls of concluding clinical insignificance when differences between sets of small sample size are found to be statistically nonsignificant.
The effects of naloxone and picrotoxin on the sedative and anticonflict effects of benzodiazepines

Abstract Interactions between naloxone and the benzodiazepine, chlordiazepoxide (CDP), were investigated in rats in a Conditioned Suppression of Drinking Test (CSD), which is a model of experimental conflict behavior. Naloxone reversed the anticonflict activity of CDP in this test. Naloxone and picrotoxin were then tested against CDP in rats using the Geller Conflict Test, which is an operant model of conflict behavior. Both naloxone and picrotoxin antagonized the anticonflict effects of CDP. Naloxone and picrotoxin were also tested for their abilities to reverse CDP-induced loss of righting reflexes in mice. Both naloxone and picrotoxin antagonized the loss of righting reflexes induced by CDP. Naloxone had no effect on the loss of righting reflexes induced by barbiturates or meprobamate. These results suggest that naloxone may be useful in the management of benzodiazepine overdoses.
The Role of the Probation Officer in the Sentencing Process Independent Professional or Judicial Hack

This study explores the role of the probation officer in the sentencing process. There is no consensus in the literature regarding the importance of this role. Viewing the high rate of agreement often noted between probation officers' recommendations and sentences imposed has led some authors to view the probation officer as a highly competent “agent of individualization.” Others view this high rate of agreement as merely reflecting the ability of “judicial hacks” to “second guess” judges. Our data support the first of these interpretations. Probation officers' recommendations have a substantial direct effect on actual sentences. We noted that officers' recommendations varied significantly between liberal and conservative officers, and between male and female officers. More important, actual sentences also varied consistently with these criterion variables, thus arguing strongly for the independent role of probation officers in the sentencing process.
Hydroxyphaseollin, an induced antifungal compound from soybeans

Abstract The antifungal compound produced by soybeans in response to infection by the fungus Phytophthora megasperma is assigned structure Ia on the basis of spectral and chemical evidence.
Negative ion photoelectron spectroscopy of teo

Abstract We have recorded the photoelectron spectrum of Te0 − using a hot-cathode discharge ion source and a negative ion photoelectron spectrometer. The adiabatic electron affinity of TeO is determined to be 1.697±0.022 eV. The negative ion parameters determined in this work are: ( w e ″(TeO − ) = 690 ± 80 cm −1 , r e ″(TeO − ) = 1.884 ± 0.028 A. and D o
A Problem of Selection of Points from the Unit Interval

(1993). A Problem of Selection of Points from the Unit Interval. Mathematics Magazine: Vol. 66, No. 2, pp. 116-120.
Seasonal Patterns of Frankliniella spp. (Thysanoptera: Thripidae) in Tomato Flowers

Western flower thrips, Frankliniella occidentalis (Pergande), has become a pest of tomato in the Southeast by causing direct cosmetic damage to fruit and by transmitting tomato spotted wilt virus. Other vectors of tomato spotted wilt virus in the region are tobacco thrips, F. fusca (Hinds); and onion thrips, Thrips tabaci Lindeman. Commercial tomato fields were sampled during the spring cropping seasons of 1987, 1988, and 1989, and during the fall cropping seasons of 1987 and 1988 to determine seasonal abundance of thrips inhabiting tomato flowers. Adult F. occidentalis , F. fusca, and F. tritici (Fitch) accounted for ≈88% of the total thrips collected. All species were common between late April and early June, with greatest densities during May. Densities were very low at other times, especially during each fall cropping season. The effects of sample location within a field, sample location on individual tomato plants, and time of day when sampling on density estimates were investigated. Adult F. occidentalis and F. tritid were more abundant on flowers on the upper half of tomato plants compared with flowers on the lower half of plants. Densities of adult F. occidentalis were greater near field margins. Density estimates were not influenced by time of day when sampling.
Cell-cycle and radiosensitivity of the chromosomes of human leukocytes.

SummaryCultures of human peripheral leukocytes were irradiated in the different stages of the cell-cycle, i.e., G1, S and G2. The data show the G2 cells had more aberrations per unit dose than cells in S or G1, and G1 cells had more two-break aberrations. These apparent variations in stage sensitivity are interpreted as resulting from spatial relations of the chromosomes in the interphase nucleus and not from differences in the sensitivity of the chromosome strand to breakage.
The effects of injury to dynamic neural networks in the mature and developing brain.

This special section emphasizes three key factors relevant to understanding brain responses to injury. First, it is important to consider the impact of injury on brain networks rather then just the localized neuropathology. In contrast to older localizationist models, neural systems views emphasize that the effects of localized injury cascade through the neural system altering function at multiple levels. Thus, effective remediation must accommodate the multiple effects of brain injury. Second, the role of neural plasticity in the brain response to injury is critical. Rehabilitation implies that neural system is adaptive and capable of changing in response to input. Thus exploiting the brain's inherent plasticity is central to remediation. Finally, the timing of injury is an essential consideration. Adult injury disrupts stable neural systems and plasticity operates to regain functional balance. In contrast, early injury affects fundamental development processes and alters the emerging organization and functioning of neural systems. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Dev Psychobiol 54:343-349, 2012. Language: en
Mesothelioma in an HIV/AIDS patient without history of asbestos exposure: possible role for immunosuppression in mesothelioma: a case report

We describe a 41-year-old African-American male who initially presented in respiratory distress. He had a positive history of asthma, cigarette smoking, and only recent possible asbestos exposure six months prior to onset of symptoms. Mesothelioma was suspected after chest radiography and PET-CT, and confirmed by immunohistochemical tissue analysis. We postulate that immunosuppression enhances susceptibility to mesothelioma, since weakened immune systems are present in both HIV/AIDS patients like this 41-year-old man, and elderly patients who compose the population that classically presents with mesothelioma. Furthermore, immunosuppression may be a prerequisite to the development of mesothelioma.