cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Liver Imaging Reporting and Data System Version 2018: Impact on Categorization and Hepatocellular Carcinoma Staging.

The purpose of this study was to assess the concordance in categorization and radiologic T staging using Liver Imaging Reporting and Data System (LI-RADS, LR) version 2017 (v2017), version 2018 (v2018), and the Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network (OPTN) criteria. All magnetic resonance imaging and computed tomography reports using a standardized LI-RADS macro between April 2015 and March 2018 were identified retrospectively. The major features (size, arterial phase hyperenhancement, washout, enhancing capsule, or threshold growth) were extracted from the report for each LR-3, LR-4, and LR-5 observation. Each observation was assigned a new category based on LI-RADS v2017, v2018, and OPTN criteria. Radiologic T stage was calculated based on the size and number of LR-5 or OPTN class 5 observations. Categories and T stages assigned by each system were compared descriptively. There were 398 patients (66.6% male; mean age, 63.4 years) with 641 observations (median size, 14 mm) who were included. A total of 73/182 (40.1%) observations categorized LR-4 by LI-RADS v2017 were up-categorized to LR-5 by LI-RADS v2018 due to changes in the LR-5 criteria, and 4/196 (2.0%) observations categorized as LR-5 by LI-RADS v2017 were down-categorized to LR-4 by LI-RADS v2018 due to changes in the threshold growth definition. The T stage was higher by LI-RADS v2018 than LI-RADS v2017 in 49/398 (12.3%) patients. Compared with the OPTN stage, 12/398 (3.0%) patients were upstaged by LI-RADS v2017 and 60/398 (15.1%) by LI-RADS v2018. Of 101 patients, 5 (5.0%) patients with T2 stage based on LI-RADS v2017 and 10/102 (9.8%) patients with T2 stage based on LI-RADS v2018 did not meet the T2 criteria based on the OPTN criteria. Of the 98 patients with a T2 stage based on OPTN criteria, 2 (2.0%) had a T stage ≥3 based on LI-RADS v2017 and 6 (6.1%) had a T stage ≥3 based on LI-RADS v2018.
A Graphical Modeling Environment for the Generation of Workflows for the Globus Toolkit

Grid computing aims at managing resources in a heterogeneous distributed environment. The Globus Toolkit provides a set of components that can be used to build Grid-enabled applications. Presently, applications are typically hand-crafted either by using a set of command line interfaces, or by using a set of Java packages provided by the Java CoG Kit. The purpose of this work is to introduce a high-level layer that abstracts and simplifies the development of applications within the Globus Toolkit context by creating graphical workflows of applications using domain-specific modeling techniques.
Black College Women's Interpersonal Communication in Response to a Sexual Health Intervention: A Mixed Methods Study.

ABSTRACTWe investigated interpersonal communication generated from a successful sexual health intervention for Black college women attending a Historically Black College/University (HBCU). Guided b...
Prognostication in Serious Illness

Prognostication is a vital aspect of decision making because it provides patients and families with information to establish realistic and achievable goals of care, is used in determining eligibility for certain benefits, and helps in targeting interventions to those likely to benefit. Prognostication consists of 3 components: clinicians use their clinical judgment or other tools to estimate the probability of an individual developing a particular outcome over a specific period of time; this prognostic estimate is communicated in accordance with the patient's information preferences; the prognostic estimate is interpreted by the patient or surrogate and used in clinical decision making.
Prostaglandin Biosynthesis Reinforces Cellular Senescence Through a RAS/p53 Feedback Loop and Allows Detection of Senolysis

SummaryCellular senescence is a stress or damage response that results in a permanent proliferative arrest and secretion of numerous factors with potent biological activities. This senescence-associated secretory phenotype (SASP) has been characterized largely for secreted proteins that participate in embryogenesis, wound healing, inflammation and many age-related pathologies. By contrast, lipid components of the SASP have been understudied. We show that senescent cells activate the biosynthesis of several eicosanoids that promote segments of the SASP and reinforce the proliferative arrest. Notably, senescent cells synthesize an unstudied intracellular prostaglandin, 1a,1b-dihomo-15-deoxy-delta-12,14-prostaglandin J2, which, together with other prostaglandin D2 derivatives, promote the senescence arrest and SASP by activating RAS signaling. Further, 15-deoxy-delta-12,14-prostaglandin J2 is a biomarker of senolysis in culture and in vivo. These data identify an important new aspect of cellular senescence and a novel method to detect senolysis.
A Mode-Jumping Algorithm for Bayesian Factor Analysis

Exploratory factor analysis is a dimension-reduction technique commonly used in psychology, finance, genomics, neuroscience, and economics. Advances in computational power have opened the door for ...
Sudden PSA rise to ≥20 ng/ml and prostate cancer diagnosis in the United States: A population-based study.

PURPOSE While prostate-specific antigen (PSA) screening protocols vary, many clinicians have anecdotes of screened men with low PSA levels that rise significantly and are associated with high-risk prostate cancer (PC). We sought to better understand the frequency of high-risk cases that appear suddenly in a screened population. METHODS We utilized data from a Commercial and Medicare advantage claims database to identify all US men ages 50 and above undergoing PSA screening who then had a sudden interval rise in PSA (e.g., PSA ≥ 20) and diagnosis of PC. We determined associations with age, race, screening intensity, and baseline PSA levels. RESULTS In all, 526,120 men met entry criteria with an average age of 60.7 and follow-up of 5.6 years. As the baseline PSA increased, the rate of high-risk PC increased from 2/10,000 persons among men with the lowest baseline PSA (<1 ng/ml) to 14/10,000 person-years among men with a baseline PSA < 5 ng/ml. Moreover, as a man's age at baseline PSA increased, the rate of high-risk PC also increased. In contrast, the incidence of high-risk PC did not vary significantly by race/ethnicity. More screening PSAs and shorter intervals between PSA screenings were associated with a lower incidence of high-risk PC. CONCLUSIONS The incidence of high-risk PC in a screened population is low (<0.1%). Our findings suggest that systematic screening cannot eliminate all PC deaths and provide an estimate for the risk of the rapid development of high-risk cancers that is comparable to that observed in active surveillance populations.
Suicidal Mental Imagery: Investigating a Novel Marker of Suicide Risk:

Rates of suicidal ideation and behavior are high and increasing in emerging adulthood. Research focused on suicidal ideation as a predictor of suicidal behavior has nearly exclusively conceptualize...
Theoretical Repositioning of Automated Remote Sensing Archaeology: Shifting from Features to Ephemeral Landscapes

Automated remote sensing has made substantial breakthroughs for archaeological investigation. Over the past 20 years, the reliability of these methods has vastly improved, and the total number of practitioners has been increasing. Nonetheless, much of the work conducted, to date, focuses almost exclusively on specific topographic features and monumental architecture, ignoring the potential of automation to readily assess more ephemeral components of the archaeological record. Likewise, the emphasis on specific feature types overlooks broader landscape patterns, thus delegating automated remote sensing analysis as a method in and of itself, mostly disconnected from larger archaeological and anthropological investigations. Here, I review recent attempts to rectify this shortcoming by using automated analysis methods to record and explain ephemeral archaeological material distributions. While such research is limited, I argue that the successes achieved in these recent studies offer a pathway forward for automated remote sensing to become more fully integrated with archaeological work beyond the detection of specific topographically distinct features.
L'Ralph Integration and Testing

This paper describes the plans, flows, key facilities, components and equipment necessary to fully integrate, functionally test, qualify and calibrate the L'Ralph instrument on the Lucy observatory. Lucy is currently in the final design and fabrication phase (phase C) of mission development. It is scheduled to launch out of Cape Canaveral, Florida, in October 2021. Lucy will be the first space mission to study the Trojan asteroids associated with Jupiter, that are thought to be remnants of the primordial material that formed the outer planets. Lucy will fly by and carry out remote sensing on six different Trojan asteroids. The mission takes its name from the fossilized human ancestor (called “Lucy” by her discoverers) whose skeleton provided unique insight into humanity's evolution. Likewise, the Lucy mission will revolutionize our knowledge of planetary origins and the formation of the solar system. L'Ralph is one of the instruments on Lucy and it is provided by the NASA Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC). L'Ralph is a combined multi-band visible imager (the Multispectral Visible Imaging Camera, MVIC, 0.4-0.85 microns) and wedge-filter infrared spectrometer (Linear Etalon Imaging Spectral Array, LEISA, 1-3.6 microns). LEISA will allow the team to look for the absorption lines that serve as the fingerprints for different silicates, ices and organics that likely will be on the surface of the Trojan asteroids. MVIC will take color images of the Trojan asteroid targets, and help determine how active they are. This paper will focus on the Integration and Test (I&T) activities for L'Ralph while it is at the NASA GSFC. L'Ralph has two assemblies, the telescope detector assembly (TDA) and main electronics box (MEB). The TDA is a single telescope feeding two focal planes, MVIC and LEISA. L'Ralph integration consists of assembly and alignment of the telescope, electronics box integration, thermal systems integration and the final assembly and testing. This I&T phase will be followed by the L'Ralph calibration and characterization, environmental tests which include electromagnetic interference (EMI)/electromagnetic compatibility (EMC), vibration with sine sweep, acoustics, shock, thermal balance, thermal vacuum, mass properties and center of gravity determination. This paper will briefly discuss L'Ralph shipment and delivery to the spacecraft vendor for observatory level I&T as well as some launch preparation activities.
Microfluidic modeling of the glomerulus and tubular appartus

Abstract The kidneys are responsible for blood filtration, osmoregulation, and reuptake and receive ~ 25% of cardiac output. This highlights the importance of understanding interactions between kidneys and new drug candidates, and why kidney toxicity is one of the most widely reported adverse effects during drug development. Preclinical studies using static human cell cultures lack the physiological stimuli and tissue architecture found in vivo. Animal studies have allowed for a greater understanding of disease mechanisms, but their value in predicting drug efficacy for disease treatment and prevention remains uncertain. Organ on a chip or microphysiological systems are a technology that can overcome some of the in vitro cell-based and in vivo animal model shortcomings.
REVIEWING AND REVISING

For almost any craft or art form, the initial rough creation has to be reshaped, sanded, revised, polished, or fine-tuned, as do the draft and subsequent forms of a scientific paper. In other words, good scientific communication is not the product of an initial attempt by a talented writer, but the end result of repeated reviewing and revising. This chapter provides a walkthrough of the things that should be done while reviewing and revising a paper. A well-written paper should be reviewed and revised at least three to six times before it is acceptable to the audience. The reviewer's role is to peruse the entire contents with full attention to all details and accuracy in the communication. He or she should be knowledgeable about the subject of the manuscript, must have read much of the literature on the subject, and should be familiar with the journal to which the manuscript is submitted. The reviewer must express an opinion on the overall values of the manuscript, and strengths and weaknesses in its component parts.
The mouse S-antigen gene. Comparison with human and Drosophila.

We have characterized a gene for mouse S-antigen and compared its sequence with that of corresponding human and two recently published Drosophila S-antigen genes. The mouse S-antigen gene was approximately 50 kbp in length and consisted of 16 exons and 15 introns. The length of most exons was less than 100 bp and the smallest one was only 10 bp. In contrast, the length of most introns was larger than 2 kbp and the gene consisted of 97% intron and 3% exon. Both splice sites for donor and accepter were in good agreement with the GT/AG rule. S-antigen genes in human and mouse were highly conserved. In contrast, genes for the Drosophila 49-kDa arrestin homolog and arrestin consist of three introns and four exons and two introns and three exons, respectively. The 5′-flanking region of the mouse S-antigen gene, approximately 1.0 kbp long, had no regulatory elements for transcription such as the TATA, CAAT and GC boxes, while a Drosophila arrestin gene has TATA and CAAT boxes. Interestingly, the 5′-flanking region of the mouse gene had promoter activity in an in vitro transcription assay using a nuclear extract of rat brain. A major transcription start site was found at 387 bp upstream from the translation start codon ATG in mouse. From our results, and those of others, we suggest that the S-antigen gene has evolved from a comman ancestor gene by either insertion or deletion of introns. Such an alteration of gene structure may have played a role in the evolution of the S-antigen.
An Improved Model for the Earth’s Gravity Field

Precision orbit determination methods, along with a new technique to compute relative data weights, have been applied to the determination of the Earth’s gravity field and other geophysical parameters from the combination of satellite ground based tracking data, satellite altimetry data, and the surface gravimetry data. The University of Texas Earth’s gravity field models, PTGF-4 and PTGF-4A, were determined from data sets collected for fifteen satellites, spanning the inclination ranges from 15° to 115°, and surface gravity data. The satellite measurements include laser ranging data, doppler range-rate data, and satellite-to-ocean radar altimeter data, which include the direct height measurement and the differenced measurements at ground track crossings (crossover measurements). The surface gravity data were used in terms of geopotential normal equations (complete to degree and order 50) derived from the Ohio State University 1°×1° gravity anomaly data. PTGF-4 was computed using satellite tracking data and altimeter crossover data, whereas PTGF-4A was determined using these data sets as well as direct altimeter data and surface gravity data. The estimated parameters for PTGF-4A included geopotential coefficients for a model complete to degree and order 50, tidal coefficients, tracking station coordinates and models for the quasi-stationary sea surface topography. Error analysis and calibration of the formal covariance indicate that GEOSAT orbits can be computed radially at the 15–21 cm level.
Neurological Changes with Abnormal Brain Reactivity Following Coiling of Cerebral Aneurysm. Possible Reactivity to Endovascular Devices and Material

A 65-year-old woman presented with headaches and underwent coiling of an unruptured posterior communicating artery aneurysm. A few days later, she developed left-sided weakness. MRI revealed enhancing white matter lesions in the ipsilateral hemisphere. The patient underwent extensive work-up and was treated with a prolonged course of immunosuppression. Thirty months post-coiling, the patient had resolution of all clinical symptoms. Imaging revealed improvement in the white matter changes. Six months after tapering the immunosuppressants, follow-up MRI showed interval development of new white matter lesions. The patient was restarted on immunosuppression, and was clinically stable at 47 months post-coiling. We present a case with abnormal brain reactivity following elective coiling of an aneurysm, with a review of clinical outcome at 47 months. We discuss the radiological findings, along with management of this phenomenon, and review the literature.
Techniques of hepatic resection

Liver resections are high risk procedures performed by experienced surgeons. The role of liver resection in malignant disease has changed over the last 100 years with great improvement in morbidity, mortality and long term survival. New understanding in liver anatomy, improved perioperative care, anesthesia techniques, and technological advances has improved this aspect of patient care. With improved techniques, patients previously considered unresectable have an opportunity to undergo curative surgery. This review article describes the various approaches and techniques for liver resection. The relevant anatomy and terminology of hepatic resections is discussed, as well as the role of anatomic vs. nonanatomic resection. Methods of vascular control are examined and the multiple strategies of parenchymal transection are compared, as well as minimally-invasive techniques. Finally, a brief review of the authors’ practice in terms of surgical technique is offered.
A Short-Form Scale to Measure Alcohol Abuse:

This article reports the findings of a study undertaken to validate partially a new short-form scale, the Index of Alcohol Involvement (IAI), that was designed to measure the degree or magnitude of alcohol abuse. The purpose of the article is to provide basic psychometric characteristics of the IAI and to provide guidelines for administration and scoring.
Liver volume assessment by conventional vs. helical CT

Background: Accurate noninvasive measurement of the volume of the liver has many potential clinical applications and is an important element in the preoperative evaluation of the liver transplant recipient. Helical (or spiral) computed tomography (CT) has theoretical advantages over conventional CT in this application because the entire liver can be imaged in a single breath-hold, limiting inaccuracies related to patient motion and respiratory variation.
Speeding solar energy commercialization: A Delphi research of marketplace factors

Abstract A two-stage Delphi research study was undertaken to determine and measure the attitudes of the public regarding factors that may either inhibit or stimulate solar energy commercialization today and over the next 10 years. Some factors judged important were product cost, lack of product knowledge, lack of governmental support, and public concern over the energy crisis. The factors were determined by a group of energy conscious respondents who completed the Delphi research. They also indicated the likely and desirable actions to be taken by government and business. These included more funding of research and development, tax incentives, increased public education, and reduced prices. The Delphi research proved to be an effective method for investigating solar energy commercialization, as the attitudes expressed in the second survey converged with those identified during the first stage. Furthermore, governmental and business actions suggested in the study could help to initiate greater solar energy use and developmental efforts.
Single-dose pharmacokinetics of ceftibuten (SCH 39720) in infants and children.

Ceftibuten (CFB), a new broad-spectrum cephalosporin for oral administration, possesses potent activity in vitro against a wide range of gram-negative and certain gram-positive pathogens frequently encountered in pediatric patients. Its antimicrobial spectrum and dosage formulation suggest a use for CFB in the treatment of otitis media and upper and lower respiratory and urinary tract infections in infants and children. To assess the pharmacokinetic characteristics of CFB in pediatric patients, we completed a multicenter investigation of 49 children (26 females) between the ages of 6 months and 17 years who had normal hepatic and renal functions and no evidence of chronic disease. Pharmacokinetic parameters were determined from repeated blood samples (n = 12) and, when possible, quantitative urine collections (n = 7) obtained over a 12- to 24-h period following a single oral CFB dose of either 4.5 or 9.0 mg/kg of body weight. CFB was quantitated from plasma and urine samples by using a sensitive, microanalytical high-pressure liquid chromatography method. The drug was rapidly absorbed (mean time to maximum concentration in serum = 140 min) and produced apparent peak concentrations in plasma (Cmax) ranging from 5.0 to 19.0 mg/liter. Average CFB pharmacokinetic parameters (+/- standard deviations) were as follows: apparent elimination half-life, 2.0 +/- 0.5 h; mean residence time, 3.9 +/- 1.1 h; apparent steady-state volume of distribution, 0.4 +/- 0.2 liter/kg; and apparent total plasma clearance (CL/F), 2.5 +/- 0.9 ml/min/kg. No significant differences in any of the pharmacokinetic parameters were observed between the two dosing groups. Significant (P 10 years of age (2.0 +/- 0.6 ml/min/kg; P < 0.005). The increased CL/f for CFB (3.0 +/- 0.5 ml/min/kg) was corroborated by a validation study performed with 11 infants (1.0 +/- 0.5 ml/min/kg) with CL/F for 19 subjects suggested that appreciable nonrenal clearance (1.3 +/- 0.6 ml/min/kg) of CFB occurred in children, a finding different from preliminary data for adults.
Graph weight design for Laplacian eigenvalue constraints with multi-agent systems applications

We adjust the node and edge weightings of graphs using convex optimization to impose bounds on their Laplacian spectra. We first derive necessary and sufficient conditions that characterize the feasibility of spectral bounds given positive node and edge weightings. Next, we propose algorithms that exploit convexity to achieve these bounds. The design and analysis tools are useful for a variety of stability and control problems in multi-agent systems.
Predicting lateral surface interactions through density functional theory: application to oxygen on Rh(100)

Abstract First-principle density functional quantum chemical calculations are used to predict the binding energies and lateral interactions of adsorbed atomic oxygen on Rh(100). The DFT results are subsequently used to parameterize two general models for the a priori prediction of adsorbate interactions on surfaces. The first model is based on pairwise interactions where the lateral effects are assumed to be additive. The second model is based on bond-order conservation (BOC) principles. The parameters for these models are determined by performing a series of DFT calculations on Rh cluster and slab models of the Rh(100) surface. Rh(8,3), Rh(9,4), and Rh(12,17) clusters are used to determine the O/Rh(100) binding energy and lateral interaction energies for different adsorbate–surface configurations. The O/Rh(100) binding energy on the Rh(100) surface is calculated to be 117±5 kcal/mol. Lateral interactions involving metal atom sharing are repulsive, ranging from 2 to 7 kcal/mol per oxygen on a pairwise additive basis for both clusters as well as extended surfaces. We develop and analyze pairwise additive and bond-order conservation models for use in predicting lateral interaction energies. An unaltered BOC approach is found to overestimate the interaction energies. However, a modified BOC approach in which the basic interactions are scaled against DFT predictions proved to be significantly better in its predictions. Comparison of the modified BOC model with experiments suggests that this is a viable mean for predicting lateral interaction energies.
Effect of an interchain bandwidth on Peierls transitions at low temperatures

We study the effect that an intercahin bandwidth has on the Peierls transition in quasi-one-dimensional metallic systems within the random-phase approximation. If the transition occurs at temperatures low compared with the interchain bandwidth, we find that the wave vector of the soft mode can be different from ($2{k}_{F},\ensuremath{\pi}$). We also study the displacement-displacement correlation functions and find a power-law falloff at large distances in the low-temperature region and an exponential falloff for higher temperatures.
Surgically induced astigmatism after hyperopic and myopic photorefractive keratectomy.

Abstract Purpose To compare the axis and magnitude of surgically induced refractive astigmatism (SIA) after hyperopic and myopic photorefractive keratectomy (PRK). Setting Department of Ophthalmology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas, USA. Methods In this single-center retrospective study, the VISX Star S2 excimer laser was used to create a peripheral annular ablation profile to correct spherical hyperopia in 23 eyes of 16 consecutive patients. Attempted corrections ranged from +0.50 diopter (D) to +4.25 D with 0 to 1.00 D of astigmatism. The same laser was used to create a central ablation profile to correct spherical myopia in 25 eyes of 17 consecutive patients. Attempted corrections ranged from –2.25 to –6.50 D with 0 to 1.00 D of astigmatism. The absolute change in refractive astigmatism was calculated by taking the difference in magnitudes of astigmatism before and after laser treatment without regard to axis. Axis and magnitude of SIA were analyzed by vector differences. Magnitudes were compared using the Student t test, and axial shifts were compared using the chi-square test. All patients were followed for a minimum of 6 months. Results The mean changes in absolute astigmatism were 0.29 ± 0.28 D at 3 months and 0.34 ± 0.29 D at 6 months after hyperopic PRK and 0.40 ± 0.35 D at 3 months and 0.39 ± 0.36 D at 6 months after myopic PRK. The mean vectoral magnitudes were 0.49 ± 0.29 at 3 months and 0.52 ± 0.25 at 6 months after hyperopic PRK and 0.48 ± 0.39 at 3 months and 0.44 ± 0.38 at 6 months after myopic PRK. The mean values for SIA (the centroid) were 0.10 ± 0.57 D × 113 degrees at 3 months and 0.15 ± 0.57 D × 131 degrees at 6 months after hyperopic PRK and 0.04 ± 0.63 D × 160 degrees at 3 months and 0.08 ± 0.58 D × 171 degrees at 6 months after myopic PRK. There was no statistically significant difference between the 2 groups in vectoral axis or magnitude of SIA. Conclusion Surgically induced astigmatism after hyperopic PRK was comparable to astigmatism induced by myopic PRK. A peripheral annular ablation for hyperopic correction, similar to a central ablation in myopic PRK, did not appear to result in uneven corneal healing causing astigmatism.
Examining Travel Preferences of Older Canadian Adults Over Time

Abstract This study was designed to examine changes over time in older cohorts? preferences for pleasure travel. Cohorts rather than multiple age groups were employed in an effort to control for the confounding problem of age and historical or period effects. The results indicated that there were significant changes in the importance of travel preferences to cohorts in general and over time. Tourism suppliers and marketers must acknowledge the differences between cohorts and develop products and services that meet their needs.
Leaving the United States The Black Nationalist Themes of Orisha-Vodu

The above words appear on a sign posted at the entrance to the village of Oyotunji in Sheldon, South Carolina. Named after Oyo, a major ancient Yoruba city in Nigeria, Oyotunji literally means "Oyo rises again" or "the ancient city of Oyo returned" (Hunt, 1979, p. 53; Morales, 1995, p. 126). Constructed on a 10-acre tract of land, Oyotunji is modeled on a Nigerian Yoruba village, with a palace for the king and his several wives and children, residences for other families, a market bazaar, and temples dedicated to various orisha' (deities). The land is owned collectively and is portioned out by the Ogboni society (the governing body) to married men or single female heads of households according to the size of their families (Omari, 1991, p. 70). The village today is ruled over by a 72-year-old man with the royal Yoruba title of Oba Ofuntola Oseijeman Adelabu Adefunmi I. Born Walter Eugene King into a Baptist family in Detroit in 1928, Adefunmi as a young man grew increasingly dissatisfied with his Baptist upbringing and began a search for a new religious expression for Black Americans. He found what he was looking for in the
Selective and Quickly Reversible Inactivation of Mammalian Neurons In Vivo Using the Drosophila Allatostatin Receptor

Genetic strategies for perturbing activity of selected neurons hold great promise for understanding circuitry and behavior. Several such strategies exist, but there has been no direct demonstration of reversible inactivation of mammalian neurons in vivo. We previously reported quickly reversible inactivation of neurons in vitro using expression of the Drosophila allatostatin receptor (AlstR). Here, adeno-associated viral vectors are used to express AlstR in vivo in cortical and thalamic neurons of rats, ferrets, and monkeys. Application of the receptor's ligand, allatostatin (AL), leads to a dramatic reduction in neural activity, including responses of visual neurons to optimized visual stimuli. Additionally, AL eliminates activity in spinal cords of transgenic mice conditionally expressing AlstR. This reduction occurs selectively in AlstR-expressing neurons. Inactivation can be reversed within minutes upon washout of the ligand and is repeatable, demonstrating that the AlstR/AL system is effective for selective, quick, and reversible silencing of mammalian neurons in vivo.
Unraveling health disparities: Examining the dimensions of hypertension and diabetes through community engagement

The contexts of people's lives can perpetuate racial and ethnic health disparities. In this work, community members from four racial/ethnic groups (Hispanic, Native American, African American, Asian) engaged in an investigative process to analyze their own life conditions, and to explore dimensions of their health behaviors and lifestyles when managing diabetes and/or hypertension. Principal conclusions of the researchers: (1) Respondents were knowledgeable about their health conditions, but had no knowledge of health disparities. (2) Respondents felt the media portrays members of racial/ethnic minorities as hopeless and helpless; this discourages them from believing they can live healthier or better lives. (3) The over-abundance of fast food and unhealthy food eateries in minority communities contradicts the advice of the public health industry. (4) The majority of all respondents were in one of two stages relative to their willingness to change unhealthy behaviors: not interested or already doing it.
Contentious mass politics in Southeast Asia: Knowledge accumulation and cycles of growth and exhaustion

The study of mass contentious politics in Southeast Asia has accumulated significant knowledge over the last 40 years. This politics is instructive because it presents distinctive problems for analysis whose solutions will be useful to future analysts there and elsewhere. Two areas of knowledge where this literature has made special contributions are peasant resistance and the politics of insurgency and counterinsurgency. In addition, the peculiarities of the scholarship on this topic offer an opportunity to engage two different debates. First, because of the diverse methods employed to tackle this topic, the literature is useful for evaluating claims often made by partisans to methodological debates that only one’s own method can accumulate knowledge while others cannot. Second, given the high geopolitical stake Southeast Asia once held for the United States in its fight against world communism, the scholarship on contentious mass politics in this region provides an appropriate test case for the common argument that postwar American scholarship has been dominated by American “imperial designs.” This article examines the different genres of analysis in the literature and shows how these genres hold different normative and ontological assumptions, conceptualize problems differently, and accumulate knowledge in different modes. A key finding of the essay is that knowledge accumulation by different genres has experienced cycles of growth and exhaustion. The evolution of these genres indicates the often neglected fact that knowledge accumulation consumes exhaustible knowledge resources that need to be replenished. The changing fortunes of the genres with different normative orientations also suggest a loose link between scholarship on this topic and broad ideological shifts in the United States, although “imperial interests” did not always prevail as often claimed.
Fourth nerve palsy in pseudotumor cerebri

A 13-year-old white female with a past medical history of facial acne treated with minocycline presented with headaches, normal visual acuity, bilaterally enlarged blind spots on visual field testing due to bilateral disc edema, and a right fourth nerve palsy. Neuroimaging studies were normal and a lumbar puncture revealed an elevated opening pressure but normal cerebrospinal fluid contents. The diagnosis of pseudotumor cerebri was made and the patient was treated with acetazolamide. The papilledema improved over several weeks and the fourth nerve palsy resolved completely. Fourth nerve palsy is an uncommonly reported nonlocalizing sign in pseudotumor cerebri.
Introducing baselines for therapeutic use of regulatory T cells and cytokines in autoimmunity.

The concept of therapeutic immune regulation aiming to treat autoimmune diseases has been validated in multiple animal models, yet, the development of strategies for treatment of human autoimmune diseases remains problematic. Main obstacles are the contradictory findings in different model systems, as well as the contrasting functions of regulatory lymphocytes and cytokines. By drawing examples primarily from experimental type 1 diabetes, we propose that regulatory cells and cytokines can be classified according to the baseline at which they operate in healthy individuals and disease states that are not accompanied by severe systemic immune deficiency or skewing. Consequently, deletion or neutralization of regulatory cells or cytokines operative at high levels to maintain systemic homeostasis should constitute a therapeutic strategy for immune enhancement (e.g. tumor- and pathogen-specific immunity), whereas boosting these factors will have limited effects if the therapeutic goal is a downmodulation of immune responses (e.g. autoimmunity). Conversely, regulatory cells and cytokines operative at low homeostatic levels should unfold therapeutic capacities by further embellishment but not additional reduction.
Risk behavior in adolescence: A psychosocial framework for understanding and action*1

Abstract A social-psychological framework for the explanation of adolescent risk behavior is presented. The framework incorporates attention to both person and situational variables, and it differentiates both sets of variables into risk factors and protective factors. Risk is then considered to be a resultant reflecting the balance of risk and protection. The framework makes clear that being “at risk” for onsetting or initiating risk behaviors is an earlier developmental stage than being “at risk” for the compromising health- and life-outcomes of actually engaging in risk behaviors. The person-situation interactionist perspective that informs the framework provides an alternative to the formulation presented by Arnett (1992) to account for “reckless” behavior in adolescence.
Antigen-specific stimulation of amino acid transport in bovine lymphocytes.

Treatment of bovine lymphocytes isolated from animals which were either infected with Mycobacterium bovis or sensitized to a purified protein derivative (PPD-B) from this organism induced an increase in the transport of a-aminoisobutyric acid (AIB) and a-methylaminoisobutyric acid (MeAIB). PPD-B did not stimulate these transport activities in lymphocytes from nonsensitized animals. The transport stimulation was first measurable after about 7 hours of treatment, reached about a two-fold enhancement after 20 hours, and continued to increase to 30- to 40-fold after 6 days. The stimulation of AIB transport was inhibited by both ouabain and cycloheximide. Experiments to determine transport system specificities in nonstimulated lymphocytes showed that MeAIB transport was primarily by the Na/sup +/-dependent, A-system,and leucine transport was mostly by Na/sup +/-independent system(s). In contrast, AIB transport was about 25% by the A-system, 25% by at least one Na/sup +/-dependent, non-A-system, and 50% by one or more Na/sup +/-independent system(s). Analysis of the three components of AIB transport after treatment with PPD-B showed that: 1) transport by both the A-system and the Na/sup +/-independent system(s) was stimulated; 2) A-system transport was stimulated to a larger extent than Na/sup +/-independent transport; and 3) Na/sup +/-dependent, non-A-system transport was not stimulated significantly.
On the relation between global insolation on horizontal and tilted surfaces

Abstract Global insolation has been measured at many sites on a horizontal surface, but is needed on a tilted surface. A study has been made of patterns of global insolation for 12 months at Fort Hood, Texas, where measurements are made on both horizontal and tilted surfaces. The results indicate that, during clear weather, use of a geometrical formula for converting horizontal to tilted insolation for direct rays result in values 3.3% high. For the twelve month period March, 1976–February, 1977, including all weather, but only hours where the insolation on the tilted surface is greater than 22 Langleys/hr, the geometrical formula is 4.6% high. It is concluded that the geometrical formula can be used with small corrections.
Eddy Heat Flux Convergence in the Troposphere and Its Effect on the Meridional Circulation and Ozone Distribution

In this study the vertical convergence of the eddy heat flux, found as a forcing term in the thermodynamic energy equation of the transformed Eulerian mean formulation, is estimated in the troposphere and in the lower stratosphere from climatalogical data. Results show that while the heating rates caused by these eddy effects are small in the stratosphere they may play an important role in tropospheric circulation. The eddy-caused additions to the forcing field are seen as a region of significant cooling in the midladitudes at the midtroposphere level and of weak heating throughout the tropical region. This net global cooling is important in balancing net global heating. In addition, the heating due to meridional heat flux is found to dominate compared to heating due to the vertical heat flux. To study circulation changes, the residual mean circulation is calculated with and without the estimated eddy heating effects. The added forcing causes additional circulation in each hemisphere that coincides with the primary circulation due to zonal-mean diabatic heating. Therefore, the eddy heat flux convergence has a significant role in enhancing the zonal-mean residual circulation in the troposphere. 26 refs., 9 fig.
Some thoughts on generalized Weber location models

Abstract The Weber and inverse Weber location problem is defined for a continuous one-dimensional convex region in the plane and solved using constructive numerical techniques. It is conjectured that the Weber functional for a continuous one-dimensional convex region is concave. The equivalence between the one-dimensional inverse Weber model and a polar geometric optimization problem is demonstrated, and an alternative symbolic expression for the integral functional is described.
A characterization of generalized staircases

Abstract This is a sequel to the first author's paper ‘Dual equivalence with applications, including a conjecture of Proctor.’ One result of that paper is that certain shifted and unshifted shapes (the generalized staircases) have the property that Schutzenberger's total promotion operator acts as the identify or the transpose. Here we prove that generalized staircases are essentially the only shapes with these promotion properties.
The chemical specificity of the mucopolysaccharides of the cornea.

The chondroitin sulfate fraction of bovine cornea has been shown to be sulfated in the 4-position of the hexosamine moiety. It shares with chondroitin 4-sulfate of cartilage the β-elimination by alkali leading to 66% destruction of serine. It differs from chondroitin 4-sulfate of cartilage in having a considerable quantity of glucose. It contains considerably less serine and more glutamic acid and proline than comparable fractions of cartilaginous chondroitin 4-sulfate. The peptide chain of corneal chondroitin 4-sulfate differs remarkably in amino acid composition and alkali lability from the peptide chain of corneal keratansulfate.
Existence of solitary waves in optical fibers owing to the mutual support between bright and dark pulses

We introduce a new type of solitary wave in a lossless single-mode fiber in which a bright solitonlike pulse in the anomalous-dispersion range propagates together with a stationary dark pulse in the normal-dispersion range. Such a solitary wave can be generated by launching a bright pulse in the anomalous-dispersion range together with a long pulse of the same speed in the normal-dispersion range into a fiber. The results of numerical simulations show that the dark pulse is not a dark soliton. The generation and maintenance of such a solitary wave are attributed to the mutual chirping through cross-phase modulation between those two waves in the anomalous- and normal-dispersion ranges.
Thyroid disease in the elderly

Thyroid disease in the aged, both hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism, may be subtle or may be present with no clinical symptoms and signs, and is therefore difficult to diagnose on the basis of clinical evaluation. The help of the laboratory is essential in making the diagnosis of disease of the thyroid. Therapeutic strategies are different in the aged than in the younger adult with thyroid disease. It is essential for geriatricians, and all clinicians who care for the elderly, to have a solid understanding of thyroid function and dysfunctions in this group of patients so that they diagnose diseases of the thyroid correctly and treat them appropriately.
Cotton Fiber Cell Walls of Gossypium hirsutum and Gossypium barbadense Have Differences Related to Loosely-Bound Xyloglucan

Cotton fiber is an important natural textile fiber due to its exceptional length and thickness. These properties arise largely through primary and secondary cell wall synthesis. The cotton fiber of commerce is a cellulosic secondary wall surrounded by a thin cuticulated primary wall, but there were only sparse details available about the polysaccharides in the fiber cell wall of any cotton species. In addition, Gossypium hirsutum (Gh) fiber was known to have an adhesive cotton fiber middle lamella (CFML) that joins adjacent fibers into tissue-like bundles, but it was unknown whether a CFML existed in other commercially important cotton fibers. We compared the cell wall chemistry over the time course of fiber development in Gh and Gossypium barbadense (Gb), the two most important commercial cotton species, when plants were grown in parallel in a highly controlled greenhouse. Under these growing conditions, the rate of early fiber elongation and the time of onset of secondary wall deposition were similar in fibers of the two species, but as expected the Gb fiber had a prolonged elongation period and developed higher quality compared to Gh fiber. The Gb fibers had a CFML, but it was not directly required for fiber elongation because Gb fiber continued to elongate rapidly after CFML hydrolysis. For both species, fiber at seven ages was extracted with four increasingly strong solvents, followed by analysis of cell wall matrix polysaccharide epitopes using antibody-based Glycome Profiling. Together with immunohistochemistry of fiber cross-sections, the data show that the CFML of Gb fiber contained lower levels of xyloglucan compared to Gh fiber. Xyloglucan endo-hydrolase activity was also higher in Gb fiber. In general, the data provide a rich picture of the similarities and differences in the cell wall structure of the two most important commercial cotton species.
Analytical prediction of moisture absorption/desorption in resin matrix composites exposed to aircraft environments

The moisture absorption/desorption behavior of resin matrix composites was mathematically modeled by classical diffusion theory using an effective diffusion coefficient. Good agreement was found between calculated moisture content and published data for T300/5208 graphite fiber reinforced epoxy matrix composite. Weather Bureau data for Langley Air Force Base and Norfolk, Va., were used to calculate the amount of moisture a T300/5208 composite panel would contain if exposed outdoors. Results obtained by using average monthly weather data for several high aircraft usage locations around the world suggest that, except for desert areas, geographical locations should have only minimal effect on the moisture absorption level reached in composites. Solar radiation data together with cloud and wind information were included in the analysis to estimate an effective temperature of the composite panel during ground exposure.
The Contours and Etiology of Whites' Attitudes Toward Black-White Interracial Marriage1

Significant, positive changes have taken place in Whites' racial attitudes since the 1960s, yet resistance to change in the racial status quo continues. One area in which progress has been markedly slower involves attitudes toward interracial marriage. This is an important aspect of racial attitudes to consider because intermarriage can be viewed as a barometer of the extent to which racial boundaries are atrophying. Although others have studied attitudes toward Black-White intermarriage, we continue to know relatively little about the sources of opposition to this form of racial integration. Using previous research on stereotypes and racial attitudes as a point of departure and taking advantage of nationally representative data, the author set out to investigate the role of racial stereotypes in Whites' opposition to Black-White intermarriage. To sort out the influence of stereotypes relative to other factors, she includes psychological, contextual, sociodemographic, and political predictors in her analysis.
The affective consequences of artistic and scientific problem solving

Abstract Although the influence of affect on creativity has received some theoretical and empirical attention, the role of affect as a consequence of creative problem solving has been neglected. This study is the one of the first to examine empirically the affect that results from creative problem solving. In a 2 (group) × 3 (time period) × 2 (task) factorial design, 122 art and science students were randomly assigned to complete an art or science task and to report on the kind and intensity of affect before, during, and after creative problem solving. It was predicted that art and science students would report different levels of affect only after the insight, not before or during, and that the effects of task, not just group, would contribute to affective variability between art and science students. Science students reported similar levels of (positive) affective intensity before and during creative insight as art students. It was only after the insight that art students reported more intense affective...