cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Eric Hobsbawm: a life in history: by Richard J. Evans, New York, NY, Oxford University Press, 2019, xii, 785 pp., $39.95 (hardback), ISBN: 978-019045964

“I believe I have become probably the internationally best known British historian, at least since Arnold Toynbee” (658). So commented Eric Hobsbawm in 2008. Biographer Richard J. Evans concurs, no...
Effects of Managed Fire on a Swale Grassland in the Chihuahuan Desert

Fire is considered a critical process for limiting shrub encroachment and maintaining grassland structure and functions. Fire can be detrimental to grasses in upland settings of arid desert grasslands, but no studies have been performed in more productive swale grasslands. Monitoring of a prescribed fire treatment in a swale grassland in southern New Mexico indicated that perennial grasses had not recovered after 5 years, even with above-average rainfall. Furthermore, indicators of erosion susceptibility increased, and shrubs resprouted rapidly.
Child Maltreatment Prevention and Family Preservation

This chapter discusses the importance of child maltreatment prevention in child welfare practice. The chapter outlines several prevention strategies, including evidence-based individual-, family-, and community-level approaches to preventing maltreatment, the reoccurrence of child maltreatment, and the preservation of families through treatment and provision of services and support. This chapter discusses family preservation models and approaches used by child welfare systems across the United States as well as their goals and what is known about outcomes. Information about the role of the child welfare professional in prevention and family preservation service delivery is also included.
A Campus Adaptive Resolution Model Targeted at Yellow-Zone Behavior (Cultural Breaches):

The usual campus responses to identity-based discrimination (gender, race, ethnicity, and pregnancy, for example) fail in addressing less severe forms of identity-based discrimination by mimicking ...
Epigenetic modulation of selected immune response genes and altered functions of T lymphocytes and macrophages collectively contribute to autoimmune diabetes protection

Abstract We have previously demonstrated that weekly treatment of female prediabetic NOD mice with a low dose of the histone deacetylase inhibitor Trichostatin A (TSA) bestowed long-lasting, irreversible protection against autoimmune diabetes. Herein we show that drug treatment diminished the infiltration of the pancreas with CD4+, CD8+ T cells, and Ly-6C+ monocytes. Significantly, TSA administration selectively repressed the expression of a set of genes exaggerated during diabetes and constitutively expressed primarily in the spleen and rarely in the pancreas. These genes encode lymphokines, macrophage-associated determinants, and transcription factors. Although the copy numbers of many histone deacetylases increased during diabetes in the spleen and pancreas, only those upregulated in the spleen were rendered sensitive to repression by TSA treatment. Mitogen-activated T lymphocytes derived from drug-treated donors displayed diminished diabetogenic potential following transfer into immunodeficient NOD.scid mice. In the immunocompromised recipients, diabetes caused by the transfer of activated T lymphocytes from untreated diabetic mice was hampered by the co-transfer of highly purified splenic CD11b+Ly-6C+ macrophages from drug-treated mice. However, the transfer of CD11b+Ly-6C+ macrophages from drug-treated mice failed to block ongoing diabetes in wild-type NOD mice. These data demonstrate that the modified gene expression and functional alteration of T lymphocytes and macrophages collectively contribute to diabetes protection afforded by the histone modifier in female NOD mice.
Detection of Acetylcholine at Nanoscale NPOE/Water Liquid/Liquid Interface Electrodes

The interface between two immiscible electrolyte solutions (ITIES) has become a very powerful analytical platform for sensing a diverse range of chemicals (e.g., metal ions and neurotransmitters) with the advantage of being able to detect non-redox electroactive species. The ITIES is formed between organic and aqueous phases. Organic solvent identity is crucial to the detection characteristics of the ITIES [half-wave transfer potential (E1/2), potential window range, limit of detection, transfer coefficient (α), standard heterogeneous ion-transfer rate constant (k0), etc.]. Here, we demonstrated, for the first time at the nanoscale, the detection characteristics of the NPOE/water ITIES. Linear detection of the diffusion-limited current at different concentrations of acetylcholine (ACh) was demonstrated with cyclic voltammetry (CV) and i-t amperometry. The E1/2 of ACh transfer at the NPOE/water nanoITIES was -0.342 ± 0.009 V versus the E1/2 of tetrabutylammonium (TBA+). The limit of detection of ACh at the NPOE/water nanoITIES was 37.1 ± 1.5 μM for an electrode with a radius of ∼127 nm. We also determined the ion-transfer kinetics parameters, α and k0, of TBA+ at the NPOE/water nanoITIES by fitting theoretical cyclic voltammograms to experimental voltammograms. This work lays the basis for future cellular studies using ACh detection at the nanoscale and for studies to detect other analytes. The NPOE/water ITIES offers a potential window distinct from that of the 1,2-dichloroethane (DCE)/water ITIES. This unique potential window would offer the ability to detect analytes that are not easily detected at the DCE/water ITIES.
Effects of Ion Implantation on the Tribological Behavior of a Cobalt Based Alloy

The kinetic coefficient of friction of a centrifugally cast cobalt based alloy was measured, using a ball on flat test configuration, during low speed (0.1 mm/sec) dry sliding. Friction tests were performed on nonimplanted, Ti- implanted and N-implanted alloy samples. In addition, an abrasive wear technique was used to investigate the effects of titanium and nitrogen implantation on the wear resistance of the alloy. Titanium implantation reduced the coefficient of friction of many (steel, hardface alloy)/alloy couples by 50%–70% and increased the abrasive wear resistance of the alloy about a factor of 4. Nitrogen implantation, on the other hand, did not reduce the friction of the alloy, although a change in the wear mode during dry sliding was observed. The abrasion resistance of the alloy was decreased about 1/2 by nitrogen implantation.
Process change and evolution

A change in the conditions of one stream affects the energy use of the overall plant. It is essential to understand this causality and find the optimum new conditions. Pinch technology provides an understanding by the use of process change analysis. Process changes save more energy at a shorter payback than additional heat exchangers. It involves either an alteration of operating conditions or a change in the process flowsheet to change the stream data, thus giving more opportunities for heat recovery—this reduces energy targets and gives simpler cheaper networks. They involve separation unit operations such as distillation and evaporation but may apply to any process stream. Process changes need to be investigated and checked in the early stages of targeting analysis, as they alter the stream data set and the resulting heat exchanger network. The “plus–minus principle” helps to show whether the changes are worthwhile.
Trade and Payments in Central and Eastern Europe's Transforming Economies

Illustrations Preface International Competitiveness and External Trade Specialization and Comparative Advantage of Central European Nations by Dominick Salvatore and Sergio Sgarbi Trade among the Post-Soviet States: Evolution and Policy Issues by Rolf J. Langhammer and Matthias Lucke Recent Developments in the Foreign Trade in Russia, 1993-1994 by Rafa/l Antczak Specialization between Poland and the European Union by Jozef Misala Trade Policy in the Czech and Slovak Republics, Hungary and Poland in 1989-1995--A Comparison by J=anos G=acs Reforms of Currency and Payments Systems Exchange Rate Policies in Transforming Economies of Central Europe by Lucjan T. Orlowski The Reasons for the Collapse of the Ruble Zone by Marek D,abrowski Financial Market Reform in Eastern Europe by Gerhard Fink and Peter R. Haiss Banking Reform in the Successor States of the Former Soviet Union by Claudia M. Buch Integration with the European Union and with the Global Economy CEFTA: A Free Trade Zone in Central Europe? by Gabor Bakos Transformation, Endogenous Growth, and the New East's Global Integration by Jozef M. van Brabant Conditions for the Accession of Transforming Economies of Central Europe to the European Union by Daniel Gros Poland's Association with the European Communities: Challenges and Opportunities by El:zbieta Kawecka-Wyrzykowska Integration of the Baltic States with Europe by Klaus Schrader The Record on Structural Adjustment Economic Reform and Structural Adjustment in East European Industry by Eduardo Borensztein and Jonathan D. Ostry Index
Tubular Cell and HIV-1 gp120 Interaction Products Promote Migration of Monocytes

Renal interstitial accumulation of monocytes is an important feature of HIV-associated nephropathy. We studied the effects of proximal tubular cell products (TCP) and proximal tubular cell-gp120 interaction products (TC-120IP) on the migration of monocytes across a modified Boyden chamber. TC-120IP promoted (P<0.001) the migration of monocytes when compared with TCP (TCP, 45.0 ± 5.9 vs. TC-120IP, 192.3 ± 39.5 migrated monocytes/field). This effect of TC-120IP on monocyte migration was dose dependent. Anti-MCP-1 (TCP, 24.7 ± 2.6; TC-120IP, 82.3 ± 5.5; TC120-IP + anti-MCP-1 antibody, 46.5 ± 3.5 migrated monocytes/field) as well as anti-TGF-β antibodies (TCP, 25.8 ± 3.4; TC120-IP, 80.3 ± 6.9; TC-120IP + anti-TGF-β antibody, 43.8 ± 5.6 migrated monocytes/field) partly attenuated TC-120IP-induced migration of monocytes across a filter. Moreover, anti-MCP-1 and anti-TGF antibodies showed an additive inhibitory effect on TC-1201P-induced migration of monocytes across a filter. These results suggest that TC-120IP-induced migration of monocytes may be mediated through the generation of MCP-1 and TGF-β by tubular cells. The present study provides the basis for a hypothesis that HIV-1 gp120 protein may be contributing to the infiltration of monocytes in the renal interstitium of patients with HIV-associated nephropathy.
Microbiology tray and pipette tracking as a proactive tangible user interface

Many work environments can benefit from integrated computing devices to provide information to users, record users’ actions, and prompt users about the next steps to take in a procedure. We focus on the cell biology laboratory, where previous work on the Labscape project has provided a framework to organize experiment plans and store data. Currently developed sensor systems allow amount and type of materials used in experiments to be recorded. This paper focuses on providing the last piece: determining where the materials are deposited. Using a camera and projector setup over a lab bench, vision techniques allow a specially marked well tray and pipette to be located in real time with enough precision to determine which well the pipette tip is over. Using the projector, the tray can be augmented with relevant information, such as the next operation to be performed, or the contents of the tray. Without changing the biologist’s work practice, it is possible to record the physical interactions and provide easily available status and advice to the user. Preliminary user feedback suggests this system would indeed be a useful addition to the laboratory environment.
170 CONJOINED TWINS – WHO LIVES? WHO DIES? WHO DECIDES?

We recently cared for a set of thoracopagus conjoined twins that shared a complex 6 chamber heart and liver. This was the 10th reported case and attracted international attention on medical and ethical issues. No conjoined twin with a shared heart has survived longer than 3 months. Our infants were ventilator dependent since birth. The father was a substance abuser with a criminal record. After careful review and ethical consultation, we recommended extubation and humane care without surgical separation. Despite our pleas, the parents insisted on surgery. At 7 weeks of age, successful separation was accomplished with the sacrifice of one twin. At 7 months of age, she remains ventilator dependent with a medical bill exceeding 1.5 million dollars. Baby Doe regulations mandated treatment for the most seriously ill newborn. Is the U.S. health system geared to rescue rather than prevention? Do we continue to investigate the uninvestigated and try to achieve the unachievable? In a society which values individual freedom, do parents have the right to choose for their children regardless of costs and suffering? Can this surgery be considered an amputation? Is the sacrifice of one twin justifiable homicide? Faced with many unimmunized children as well as an expanding AIDS and aging population, could this money have been spent more wisely? In the emerging era of health care reform, who will have the ultimate decision to ration care? Exceptional cases as this will have to be scrutinized closely. The patient's welfare and physicians quest for knowledge must complement and not oppose each other.
Chapter 2 Diterpene Alkaloids From Aconitum, Delphinium, and Garry A Species: The C20-Diterpene Alkaloids

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses the chemistry of the C 20 -diterpene alkaloids. Many important developments have taken place. These include rigorous evidence for the presence of a bicyclo[2.2.2]-octane system in atisine, the correlation of ajaconine, atidine, and the Garrya alkaloids with atisine, the correlation of garryfoline with kaurene and stevane-B, the correlation of atisine with the resin acids, and the determination of the stereochemistry and absolute configuration of the diterpene alkaloids. The chapter discusses the stereochemistry of atisine. Conformational arguments relative to the structure of ajaconine have shown that A/B-trans stereochemistry is present in atisine. Differentiation between isomers L and LI in which a trans-anti backbone is present, involves the choice of locating the allylic alcohol group on the trans or cis branch of the bicyclo[2.2.2]octane system. Correlations and absolute stereochemistry of atisine and Garrya alkaloids are also discussed in the chapter.
Wideband/image-rejection distributed mixer integrated with a CRLH leaky wave antenna

In this paper, we propose a distributed mixer integrated with a CRLH leaky wave antenna. The down converting mixer uses GaAs MESFETs as the nonlinear mixing devices, consisting of a CRLH transmission line in the gate line and a microstrip line in the drain line. The RF signal is received from the free space through the CRLH leaky wave antenna, whereas the LO signal is injected from the port of the same CRLH transmission line operated in the guided wave region. To synchronize the phase and align the unit-cell between the gate and drain line, we periodically loaded capacitors on the microstrip line. Due to the cutoff frequency of the CRLH-TL dispersion relationship, the proposed distributed mixers can exhibit image frequency rejection.
Quantitation of transformed lymphocytes by flow cytofluorimetry: I. Phytohemagglutinin response

Abstract Flow cytofluorimetry of acridine orange (AO)-stained lymphocytes is used as a new method for the quantitation of phytohemagglutinin (PHA)-responsive “pyroninophilic” cells in culture. The increased red fluorescence of individual stimulated cells is shown to result from AO staining of RNA. Alterations of green fluorescence of individual cells also occur and are attributed partly to a change (increase) in double-stranded RNA content and partly to an increased number of sites for AO intercalation into DNA. The method provides rapid, precise differential counts of responding and nonresponding cells, and quantitates the degree of response (RNA and DNA content) of each cell in the population. It provides a convenient method for quantitating lymphocyte response to PHA which may not involve DNA synthesis. It will differentiate cases of abnormal immunologic response due to abnormal numbers of normally responding cells from cases in which normal numbers of cells respond abnormally.
Conscientious Objection and the Pharmacist

The recent deluge of media attention about conscientious objection and the role of the pharmacist in helping patients obtain medications that some consider morally objectionable (e.g., the "morning-after pill") presents an opportunity to find common ground in what has become a highly charged public debate. The author of this Policy Forum advises that pharmacists must balance their right to conscientious objection with respecting the patient9s right to access FDA-approved therapies. The issue is how to balance these divergent but important needs while simultaneously honoring the humanity of both patients and pharmacists
Towards optimal integrality gaps for hypergraph vertex cover in the lovász-schrijver hierarchy

“Lift-and-project” procedures, which tighten linear relaxations over many rounds, yield many of the celebrated approximation algorithms of the past decade or so, even after only a constant number of rounds (e.g., for max-cut, max-3sat and sparsest-cut). Thus proving super-constant round lowerbounds on such procedures may provide evidence about the inapproximability of a problem. We prove an integrality gap of k–e for linear relaxations obtained from the trivial linear relaxation for k-uniform hypergraph vertex cover by applying even Ω(loglog n) rounds of Lovasz and Schrijver's LS lift-and-project procedure. In contrast, known PCP-based results only rule out k–1–e approximations. Our gaps are tight since the trivial linear relaxation gives a k-approximation.
New conjunctive CubeSat and balloon measurements to quantify rapid energetic electron precipitation

[1] Relativistic electron precipitation into the atmosphere can contribute significant losses to the outer radiation belt. In particular, rapid narrow precipitation features termed precipitation bands have been hypothesized to be an integral contributor to relativistic electron precipitation loss, but quantification of their net effect is still needed. Here we investigate precipitation bands as measured at low earth orbit by the Colorado Student Space Weather Experiment (CSSWE) CubeSat. Two precipitation bands of MeV electrons were observed on 18–19 January 2013, concurrent with precipitation seen by the 2013 Balloon Array for Radiation belt Relativistic Electron Losses (BARREL) campaign. The newly available conjugate measurements allow for a detailed estimate of the temporal and spatial features of precipitation bands for the first time. We estimate the net electron loss due to the precipitation bands and find that ~20 such events could empty the entire outer belt. This study suggests that precipitation bands play a critical role in radiation belt losses.
Molecular line parameters for the atmospheric trace molecule spectroscopy experiment

During its first mission in 1985 onboard Spacelab 3, the ATMOS (atmospheric trace molecule spectroscopy) instrument, a high speed Fourier transform spectrometer, produced a large number of high resolution infrared solar absorption spectra recorded in the occultation mode. The analysis and interpretation of these data in terms of composition, chemistry, and dynamics of the earth's upper atmosphere required good knowledge of the molecular line parameters for those species giving rise to the absorptions in the atmospheric spectra. This paper describes the spectroscopic line parameter database compiled for the ATMOS experiment and referenced in other papers describing ATMOS results. With over 400,000 entries, the linelist catalogs parameters of 46 minor and trace species in the 1-10,000/cm region.
High-efficiency Cu(In,Ga)Se/sub 2/-based thin-film solar cells: 16.8% total-area 1-sun and 17.2% total-area 22-sun device performance

We report here on a confirmed world-record MgF/sub 2//ZnO/Cu(In,Ga)Se/sub 2//Mo/soda-lime solar cell with a total-area (active-area) efficiency of 16.8% (17.5%) under air mass (AM)1.5 test conditions. Improvements relative to previous record devices are in the short-circuit current (J/sub SC/). We additionally report on a 15.3% efficient, 4.85-cm/sup 2/ cell that confirms good area uniformity. This structure was also utilized in a device fabricated for operation under concentration. The 1-sun, direct spectrum measurement yielded a 15.1% efficient cell. Under 5- and 22-sun concentration, the cell improved to 16.5% and 17.2%, respectively. This achievement is significant in that it proves a compatibility of polycrystalline thin-film and concentrator technologies. Further optimization could yield 1-sun performance in excess of 17% and concentrator performance in excess of 20%. A path to this goal is outlined.
Validation of Ultrasound for Intussusception at Pediatric Emergency Department

Background and Aims: Intussusception is the one of the most common acute abdomen in children. Ultrasound is being increasingly used the diagnosis of intussuscption. Ultrasound was performed by gastroenterologists at our hospital but not available at night and holidays. The ultrasound training was conducted for pediatric emergency physician. We analyzed our experience to evaluate the validation of ultrasound performed by pediatric emergency physician for the diagnosis of intussusception at emergency department.
Noradrenergic facilitation of motor neurons : localization of adrenergic receptors in neurons and nonneuronal cells in the trigeminal motor nucleus

Abstract Both α- and β-adrenergic receptors (ARs) are involved in the facilitation of the monosynaptic jaw-closing reflex in the trigeminal motor nucleus (MoV) caused by norepinephrine (NE). The amplitude of muscle spindle afferent-evoked EPSPs in masseter motor neurons is 65% greater when noradrenergic axons to the motor nucleus are concomitantly activated and seems to be due to a presynaptic mechanism (Vornov, J. J., and J. Sutin. 1986. J. Neurosci. 6: 30–37). To determine the subtypes of ARs located on motor neurons and other cells, the cytotoxic lectin Ricin communis was injected into the masseter nerve of the trigeminal motor root to eliminate motor neurons in the masseter subnucleus of MoV. Autoradiography following incubation of tissue sections in the α 1 ligand 125 IBE 2254 ( 125 I-HEAT) or the nonselective β ligand [ 125 I]iodocyanopindolol ( 125 ICYP) showed a decrease in α 1 -AR binding related to the motor neuron degeneration and an increase in β-AR binding associated with the glial reaction. To determine the extent to which glial proliferation was responsible for the increase in β-ARs, cytosine arabinofuranoside (AraC) was administered to inhibit mitosis. Following AraC treatment, the total number of glial cells in the ricin-treated MoV was similar to that in normal MoV. Both β-AR density and GFAP immunoreactivity remain increased, but to a lesser degree than following the ricin treatment alone. AraC also partially prevented the increase of immunolabeled or histochemically visualized microglia and capillary endothelial cells. The coincidence of the increases in β-AR binding and GFAP in a region devoid of neurons argues that reactive astrocytes and other nonneuronal cells express β-ARs in vivo . To determine whether the increase in astroglial β-ARs was due to an up-regulation resulting from transynaptic degeneration of NE terminals, NE content was measured in MoV tissue punches, and NE terminals were visualized by immunocytochemical labeling of dopamine-β-hydroxylase. NE content and NE terminal density remained unchanged following ricin-induced motor neuron degeneration.
Structure and Activation Mechanism of the CHK2 DNA Damage Checkpoint Kinase

The CHK2 protein kinase is an important transducer of DNA damage checkpoint signals, and its mutation contributes to hereditary and sporadic cancer. CHK2 activation is triggered by the phosphorylation of Thr68 by the DNA damage-activated ATM kinase. This leads to transient CHK2 dimerization, in part through intermolecular phosphoThr68-FHA domain interactions. Dimerization promotes kinase activation through activation-loop autophosphorylation, but the mechanism of this process has not been clear. The dimeric crystal structure of CHK2, described here, in conjunction with biochemical and mutational data reveals that productive CHK2 dimerization additionally involves intermolecular FHA-kinase domain and FHA-FHA interactions. Ile157, mutated in the Li-Fraumeni cancer-predisposition syndrome, plays a central role in the FHA-kinase domain interface, explaining the lack of dimerization and autophosphorylation of this mutant. In the dimer, the kinase active sites face each other in close proximity, indicating that dimerization may also serve to optimally position the kinase active sites for efficient activation loop transphosphorylation.
VENOUS THROMBOSIS PROPHYLAXIS FOR UROLOGICAL LAPAROSCOPY: FRACTIONATED HEPARIN VERSUS SEQUENTIAL COMPRESSION DEVICES

ABSTRACTPurpose:: Venous thromboembolism (VTE) is a significant postoperative complication. Common methods of VTE prophylaxis include subcutaneous fractionated heparin (FH) and lower extremity sequential compression devices (SCD). There is no conclusive evidence supporting 1 method compared to the other for urological laparoscopy. We examined the rates of postoperative hemorrhagic and thrombotic complications after laparoscopic urological procedures in patients treated with FH or SCD as VTE prophylaxis.Materials and Methods:: A prospective database augmented by retrospective chart review included all patients who underwent urological laparoscopic surgery of the upper retroperitoneum at our institution from June 2000 to December 2002. Patients nonrandomly received FH or SCD as VTE prophylaxis beginning on the day of surgery.Results:: A total of 344 patients were included in this study, 172 in the FH group and 172 in the SCD group. Thrombotic complications included VTE and/or pulmonary embolism. Hemorrhagic...
Cholesterol monohydrate growth in model bile solutions

Abstract The growth of cholesterol monohydrate from solutions of bile salt, lecithin, and small electrolytes has been studied by microscopy and with the Coulter Counter. The crystal forms found by microscopy are the same as those seen in human gallstones and in squirrel monkey cholesterol microliths. The cholesterol growth rates determined with the Coulter Counter vary slowly with cholesterol concentration at low degree of supersaturation but become exponential at higher cholesterol concentrations. Growth is accelerated by the presence of calcium and magnesium but inhibited by potassium. These results can be combined with previous measurements of cholesterol dissolution rates to give a more accurate picture of the dynamics of gallstone formation.
First Report of Bacterial Leaf Scorch Caused by Xylella fastidiosa on Southern Highbush Blueberry in Florida.

In May of 2008, samples of southern highbush blueberry (interspecific Vaccinium corymbosum hybrids) exhibiting marginal leaf necrosis were collected at a farm in Interlachen, FL. The cv. Star showed severe leaf scorch, partial defoliation, and a generally unthrifty growth structure of many thin twigs as has been observed in Georgia (1). The block of Star plants was approximately 10 years old and incidence of the disease was 100%. The grower reported the planting had become increasingly unproductive in the most recent 4 to 5 years. Plants of the cv. Windsor also showed scorch symptoms and yellow-to-red discoloration of leaves. Proportionally fewer Windsor plants showed disease symptoms than Star plants and the disease was not as severe on this cultivar on the basis of visual estimates at the time. Each sample consisted of 5 to 10 cuttings of spring wood with attached leaves showing marginal necrosis taken from a single plant. Three samples, two from Star plants and one from a Windsor plant, were divided in...
The comparative performance of for-profit and nonprofit home health care services in the US.

ABSTRACT Objective: To determine, by way of an exhaustive, systematic, and comprehensive review and summary of all scientific published studies, whether or not there are any performance differences between private for-profit and private nonprofit home health care providers. The second objective is to discover the proportion of all research on this topic that is devoted to home health care services compared to all other health services providers. Data Sources: Computerized bibliographic searches of relevant databases and published indexes and abstracts were undertaken. They included Medline (Ovid and Pubmed versions), Web of Science (Social Sciences Citation Index and Science Citation Index), ABI/Inform, and Sociological Abstracts. Follow-up searches of reference lists in each article obtained from the computerized search were then completed. Study Design: This systematic review retained for analysis all published studies that compared the performance of for-profit and nonprofit health care providers on ac...
Audience Costs and Interstate Crises: An Empirical Assessment of Fearon's Model of Dispute Outcomes

In a recent article, James Fearon advances an innovative approach to the study of interstate crises. He adds to the traditional view (that crisis outcomes are influenced by the balance of capability and the balance of resolve) the notion that domestic political audiences exert a strong influence over which state in a crisis is likely to achieve a successful outcome. His game-theoretic analysis yields a number of interesting hypotheses, which are tested in this study using data on militarized disputes, the structure of polities, and national capability. In general the results strongly support Fearon's model, though we find that relative national capabilities do tend to affect the outcomes of crises. This study highlights the importance of combining formal models of political events with large-N empirical tests.
Pleural effusion from a candy wrapper

A 60-year-old man presents with worsening shortness of breath and productive cough. Flexible bronchoscopy reveals the surprising cause.
Induction and prevention of radiocontrast-induced nephropathy in dogs with heart failure.

Induction and prevention of radiocontrast-induced nephropathy in dogs with heart failure. Radiocontrast-induced nephropathy (RCIN) is a clinically important cause of acute renal failure with no effective treatment. Recognizing the high incidence of RCIN in humans with severe congestive heart failure (CHF), this study was designed to test the hypotheses that dogs with experimental CHF are at increased risk for RCIN and that pharmacologic renal levels of atrial natriuretic factor (ANF) can prevent RCIN in this model. In chronic experiments, three groups of five conscious dogs received intravenous radiocontrast (7 ml/kg). One group consisted of normal controls, while the two other groups had experimental CHF induced by eight days of ventricular pacing at 250 beats per minute. One of the CHF groups received an infusion of ANF (30 ng/kg/min) into the suprarenal aorta for one hour before, during and after the infusion of radiocontrast to achieve pharmacologic renal plasma levels. Renal function remained stable in the normal controls in contrast to the consistent decreases in daily creatinine clearance during the five days following radiocontrast in experimental CHF. In addition, ANF prevented radiocontrast-induced reductions in creatinine clearance in dogs with experimental CHF. Additional studies performed in two groups of anesthetized dogs with experimental CHF demonstrated that, in this model of RCIN, the reduction in renal function appears biphasic, and the action of ANF may be to increase glomerular filtration rate prior to radiocontrast, thus allowing a maintenance of renal function during and after radiocontrast.
Synthesis of methyl α- and β-d-xylopyranoside-5-18O

Abstract Methyl α- and β- d -xylopyranoside-5- 18 O ( 5 and 6 ) were prepared by way of oxygen exchange between 18 O -water and the periodate-oxidation product ( 1 ) obtained from 1,2- O -isopropylidene-α- d -glucofuranose. The isotopic enrichment of 5 and 6 was determined by hydrolysis of each to d -xylose-5- 18 O ( 3 ), conversion of the sugar into 1,2,3,4-tetrakis- O -( tert -butyldimethylsilyl)-β- d -xylopyranose- 5 - 18 O ( 7 ), and determination of the 18 O content of the latter by use of a quadrupole, mass spectrometer.
The relative importance of predictors of body mass index change, overweight and obesity in adolescent girls

AbstractObjective. To determine the relative importance of familial, dietary, behavioral, psychological and social risk factors for predicting body mass index (BMI) change, and onset of overweight and obesity among adolescent girls. Methods. Data from the NHLBI Growth and Health Study (n = 2 150), a longitudinal cohort of girls, were used to identify the most important predictors of change in BMI percentile between the ages of 9 and 19 years, and second, risk for becoming overweight and obese. Forty-one baseline predictors were assessed using a tree-based regression method (Random forest) to rank the relative importance of risk factors. Results. The five factors that best predicted change in BMI percentile (p < 0.05) were related to family socio-economic position (income and parent education) and drive to restrict eating and weight (body dissatisfaction, drive for thinness and unhappiness with physical appearance). The factors that were statistically significant (p < 0.05) predictors of both onset of over...
Irregular colorings of regular graphs

Abstract An irregular coloring of a graph is a proper vertex coloring that distinguishes vertices in the graph either by their own colors or by the colors of their neighbors. In algebraic graph theory, graphs with a certain amount of symmetry can sometimes be specified in terms of a group and a smaller graph called a voltage graph . In Radcliffe and Zhang (2007) [3] , Radcliffe and Zhang found a bound for the irregular chromatic number of a graph on n vertices. In this paper we use voltage graphs to construct graphs achieving that bound.
Genesis of liver mitochondria in the neonatal rat

Abstract The total volume and nitrogen content of the mitochondrial fraction of rat liver increases markedly per unit liver weight and per cell during early postnatal development. The increase in nitrogen content as a function of postnatal age is closely related to a corresponding three-fold increase in the number of mitochondria. This stimulation phase of mitochondrial genesis in the neonatal rat liver, characterized by a population which expends in both total mass and number per unit liver weight, continues for several days until a concentration of mitochondria in the adult range is reached. An improved method for counting mitochondria is also described.
Photoionization of the scandium atom. III. Experimental and theoretical spectra from an excited state

We have carried out a relative measurement of the photoionization cross section of the excited Sc (3${\mathit{d}}^{3}$${)}_{3}^{2}$${\mathit{D}}_{3/2}$ state which lies 36 276.63 ${\mathrm{cm}}^{\mathrm{\ensuremath{-}}1}$ above the ground state. These experimental results are compared with a calculated photoionization cross section. The theoretical cross section was obtained from scattering parameters and dipole matrix elements that were calculated prior to completion of the experiment and were not adjusted after we obtained the experimental data. The calculated cross section thus demonstrates the predictive power of this theoretical method. The observed features are accurately reproduced in a complicated region of the Sc autoionizing spectrum where numerous interacting channels converge to their respective ionization thresholds.
Habitat and commodity production trade-offs in coastal Oregon

Abstract Ecological, economic, and social goals are important in natural resource management, and should be analyzed in concert when, for example, one wishes to consider the impact(s) of potential forest policies on such goals. The current article describes a large-scale, integrated trade-off analysis, for coastal Oregon (USA). It considers two key management goals for both private and public forest landowners—producing timber and developing and maintaining wildlife habitat—using variations on typical management policies. The proposed model employs a heuristic to schedule harvests in an attempt to produce a high, even level of timber volume. Constraints include those related to the maximum clearcut size, green-up period, and minimum harvest age. Habitat capability for the northern spotted owl (Strix occidentalis caurina) is computed using a spatial model, and reported as an output of the forest plan. The spatial model we used is the most advanced methodology for estimating spotted owl habitat quality. The problem formulation accounts for many of the concerns regarding strategic and tactical planning voiced by forest managers in the Pacific Northwest (USA) region. Our analysis suggests that increasing the minimum harvest age of forests in coastal Oregon has the greatest effect (vs. maximum clearcut size and minimum green-up [regrowth] period) on spotted owl habitat capability index levels. At the same time, however, even-flow harvest levels (highest and most even level of timber volume produced over time) are negatively affected as near-term harvests become more difficult to schedule.
Ka-band MMIC array feed development for deep space applications

Ka-band MMIC transmitter arrays are under development at NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory for future deep space and ground communication needs. A high efficiency full aperture active antenna array is desired to demonstrate solid state array technology for future NASA missions. This paper reports on a 5 watt Ka-band phased array feed and a full aperture active array for a mobile terminal which are being developed to characterize the design tradeoffs and potential of solid state Ka-band MMIC array communication systems.
The BARD1-CstF-50 interaction links mRNA 3' end formation to DNA damage and tumor suppression.

Abstract The mRNA polyadenylation factor CstF interacts with the BRCA1-associated protein BARD1, and this interaction represses the nuclear mRNA polyadenylation machinery in vitro. Given the suspected role of BRCA1/BARD1 in DNA repair, we tested whether inhibition of mRNA processing is linked to DNA damage. Strikingly, we found that 3′ cleavage in extracts from cells treated with hydroxyurea or ultraviolet light was strongly, but transiently, inhibited. Although no changes were detected in CstF, BARD1, and BRCA1 protein levels, increased amounts of a CstF/BARD1/BRCA1 complex were detected. Supporting the physiological significance of these results, a previously identified tumor-associated germline mutation in BARD1 (Gln564His) reduced binding to CstF and abrogated inhibition of polyadenylation. Together these results indicate a link between mRNA 3′ processing and DNA repair and tumor suppression.
Evaluation of portable CT scanners for otologic image-guided surgery.

Purpose Portable CT scanners are beneficial for diagnosis in the intensive care unit, emergency room, and operating room. Portable fixed-base versus translating-base CT systems were evaluated for otologic image-guided surgical (IGS) applications based on geometric accuracy and utility for percutaneous cochlear implantation.
More Compactification for Differential Systems

This article is a review and promotion of the study of solutions of differential equations in the “neighborhood of infinity” via a non traditional compactification. We define and compute critical points at infinity of polynomial autonomuos differential systems and develop an explicit formula for the leading asymptotic term of diverging solutions to critical points at infinity. Applications to problems of completeness and incompleteness (the existence and nonexistence respectively of global solutions) of dynamical systems are provided. In particular a quadratic competing species model and the Lorentz equations are being used as arenas where our technique is applied. The study is also relevant to the Painleve property and to questions of integrability of dynamical systems.
Natural convection in large He II baths

Abstract Natural convection is important in systems of large dimensions where heated sections may develop over a significant length of the vertical boundary. In superconducting magnetic energy storage (SMES) systems the postulated design includes baths 20 m high housing superconductive coils. It is of interest to determine how natural circulation evolves in such a bath when a significant number of turns become normal, and what additional heat capacity is afforded by natural circulation. In this paper the circulation velocity resulting from the natural convection process is evaluated. A coupled set of energy, mass and momentum equations is solved in two dimensions. These equations are formulated using the two-fluid model, which describes He II as consisting of two interpenetrating fluids, the normal and superfluid. They are also solved for a one-fluid model treating He ll as a single fluid. The two models are compared to show that the two-fluid model illustrates the existence of a counterflow resulting from the motion of the two fluids with or opposite to the applied heat flux. A well established single-fluid numerical method, the marker and cell (MAC) method, has been adapted to solve the two-fluid equations. Results indicate that natural convection cells in superfluid helium evolve in a fundamentally different way than those in ordinary fluids, because of the counterflow that develops in the presence of temperature gradients.
Sporadic inclusion body myositis and hereditary inclusion body myopathy

Sporadic inclusion body myositis (s-IBM) is a common but under-recognized myopathy in individuals over 50 years of age. An awareness of the clinical phenotype and of the electrodiagnostic and histopathologic features should lead to improved recognition, and should minimize confusion with polymyositis, motor neuron disease, and other neuromuscular disorders. Treatment efficacy has been difficult to judge because of the insidious progression of the disease over many years, but immunomodulating therapy is generally less effective than in polymyositis and dermatomyositis, and may not be effective at all in many patients. The hereditary inclusion body myopathies (h-IBM) are a heterogeneous group of recessively and dominantly inherited vacuolar myopathies that share some histologic features with s-IBM. Oxidative stress may play a role in the pathogenesis of both s-IBM and h-IBM.
Synthesis and Phase Behavior of Polysiloxane Nematic Liquid Crystal Elastomers

This paper describes the synthesis of new side chain nematic liquid crystalline elastomers (LCEs) by a one-step hydrosilication reaction. The phase behavior and mesomorphism were investigated by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), polarizing optical microscopy (POM), and x-ray diffraction (XRD). The effect of the content of crosslinking units on the phase behavior and mesomorphism of elastomers P1 – P8 was discussed. The nematic LCEs exhibit elasticity, reversible phase transitions, and nematic thread texture. The experimental results demonstrate that the glass transition temperature and isotropic temperature of nematic LCEs decreased with increasing the content of crosslinking unit.
The application of computational methods to explore the diversity and structure of bacterial fatty acid synthase

Acyl carrier protein (A111111111222222206) is a central element in the bacterial, type II dissociated fatty acid synthase (FAS II) system. ACP delivers the fatty acyl intermediates to a variety of enzymes with different biochemical functions and 3-dimensional (3-D) structures. Computational techniques have proved invaluable in guiding the experimental designs that have uncovered the recognition helix on ACP and the common features on its target enzymes responsible for specific protein•protein interactions. Escherichia coli has been the model organism for the study of FAS II, but the availability of complete genomic sequences of a growing number of bacteria coupled with computational bioinformatics has led to new discoveries on the mechanisms that regulate E. coli FAS II and allowed the differences between the E. coli paradigm and major groups of pathogens to be identified and experimentally addressed. Computational methods facilitated the discovery of the E. coli fatty acid synthesis transcriptional regulator, FabR, and led to the identification of novel bacterial FAS II proteins in Gram-positive pathogens, including enoyl-ACP reductases (FabK and FabL) and trans-2-cis-3-decenoyl-ACP isomerase FabM. As more genomic sequences and 3-D coordinates are added to the databases, the power and resolution of the computational approaches will increase to offer deeper insight into the structure, diversity and function of lipid metabolic pathways.
Asthma Prevalence Among US Children in Underrepresented Minority Populations: American Indian/Alaska Native, Chinese, Filipino, and Asian Indian

OBJECTIVES. The purpose of this work was to estimate asthma prevalence among US children in racial minority subgroups who have been historically underrepresented in the pediatric asthma literature. These subgroups include American Indian/Alaska Native, Chinese, Filipino, and Asian Indian children. We also explored the association between these race categories and asthma after adjusting for demographic and sociodemographic characteristics and explored the effect of place of birth as it relates to current asthma. PATIENTS AND METHODS. Data on all 51944 children aged 2 to 17 years from the 2001–2005 National Health Interview Survey were aggregated and analyzed to estimate the prevalence of current asthma, lifetime asthma, and asthma attacks according to race and place of birth. Logistic regression was used to determine adjusted odds ratios for current asthma according to race and place of birth while controlling for other demographic and sociodemographic variables. RESULTS. National estimates of current asthma prevalence among the children in the selected minority subgroups ranged from 4.4% in Asian Indian children to 13.0% in American Indian/Alaska Native children. Overall, children born in the United States had greater adjusted odds of reporting current asthma than did children born outside of the United States. CONCLUSIONS. Smaller racial and ethnic minority groups are often excluded from asthma studies. This study reveals that, among children from different Asian American subgroups, wide variation may occur in asthma prevalence. We also found that children born in the United States were more likely than children born outside of the United States to have current asthma.
Preparation and crystal structures of MnII, mixed-valent MnII/MnIII, and MnIII polymeric compounds

Abstract The preparation and crystal structures of three polymeric Mn compounds are reported. The comproportionation reaction between Mn(OAc)2·4H2O and KMnO4 in MeOH–AcOH (2:3) leads to isolation of {[Mn(OH)(OAc)2]·AcOH·H2O}n (1). The structure consists of chains of [Mn(μ-OH)(μ-OAc)2Mn] triply-bridged units. The chains are linked into 3D networks by hydrogen-bonding interactions involving the AcOH and H2O molecules of crystallization. Oxidation of [Mn12O12(O2CPh)16(H2O)4] by controlled potential electrolysis in CH2Cl2 with NBun4PF6 as supporting electrolyte yields a brown solution which slowly turns purple and then pale yellow. Deep purple crystals, obtained by addition of hexanes, were identified crystallographically as {(NBun4)[Mn2(O2PF2)6]·2/3CH2Cl2}n (2), which is mixed-valent and consists of a chain of [MnII(μ-O2PF2)3MnIII] triply-bridged units. Bond distances, bond valence sum calculations, and a Jahn–Teller (JT) axial elongation at the MnIII sites confirm a trapped-valence situation. Dissolution of Mn(OAc)2·4H2O in EtOH results in a subsequent crystallization of a white solid analyzing as [Mn(OAc)2·3/8H2O] (3a). Crystals grown from MeOH–Et2O were structurally identified as [Mn4(OAc)8(MeOH)2]n (3b), and consist of Y-shaped Mn4 units bridged by AcO− groups to give a 3D network. Variable-temperature, solid-state magnetic susceptibility studies establish that 1, 3a and 3b are antiferromagnetically coupled to give diamagnetic ground states.