cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Cognitive, Performance, and Electrophysiological Effects of Nicotine Deprivation and Nicotine Gum in Human Volunteers

Cigarette smokers often report that smoking improves their mood and concentration and that abstinence from tobacco is associated with impaired mood and concentration. In the present report, we describe the cognitive, performance, and electrophysiologic consequences of 9 days of nicotine deprivation. In a preliminary study nicotine gum was used in a substitution paradigm to assess the role of nicotine in the tobacco abstinence sequela.
Representing Discourse: The Rhetoric of Transcription

AbstractTranscription is the general procedure used in studies of discourse to re-present speech as written text. Different notation systems have been proposed, and emphasis is often placed on achieving a high level of precision and accuracy of transcripts. In this article, transcription is treated as an instance of the general problem of the representation of reality that appears in diverse fields, such as photography and the biological and natural sciences. Three studies are examined where alternative transcripts of the same stretch of speech were presented and analyzed. This comparison shows how different transcript formats both reflect and reflexively support theoretical aims and interpretations and serve rhetorical functions. The essential indeterminancy and ambiguity of the relationship be-tween language and meaning, which has emerged from the widespread critique of naive realism, both sets the problem and provides the context within which we can understand transcription as an interpretive practice. (Sociolinguistics)
The Use of Antiviral Drugs in the Prevention and Treatment of Kaposi Sarcoma, Multicentric Castleman Disease and Primary Effusion Lymphoma

Kaposi sarcoma-associated herpesvirus [KSHV, also known as human herpesvirus 8 (HHV-8)] is the most recently identified member of the human herpesvirus family. Kaposi sarcoma (KS), primary effusion lymphoma, and multicentric Castleman disease are all associated with KSHV infection. Although the incidence of KS has declined dramatically in areas with access to highly active antiretroviral therapy, it remains the most common AIDS-associated malignancy in the developed world and is one of the most common cancers in developing nations. Current treatment options for KSHV-associated disease are ineffective, unavailable, or toxic to many affected persons. A growing body of basic science, preclinical, and observational data suggests that antiviral medications may play an important role in the prevention and treatment of KSHV-associated disease.
Association of left atrial pressure with left atrial volume and N-terminal prohormone brain natriuretic peptide in children with cardiomyopathy

BACKGROUND Enlargement of the left atrium is a non-invasive marker of diastolic dysfunction of the left ventricle, a determinant of prognosis in children with cardiomyopathy. Similarly, N-terminal prohormone brain natriuretic peptide is a useful marker in the management of children with cardiomyopathy and heart failure. The aim of this study is to evaluate the association of left atrial pressures with left atrial volume and N-terminal prohormone brain natriuretic peptide in children with cardiomyopathy. METHODS This was a retrospective study reviewing the medical records of patients <18 years of age, who were diagnosed with cardiomyopathy or acute myocarditis with eventual development of cardiomyopathy. Left atrial volume by transthoracic echocardiogram and pulmonary capillary wedge pressure, a surrogate of left atrial pressure, obtained by means of cardiac catheterisation were analysed. In addition, N-terminal prohormone brain natriuretic peptide levels obtained at the time of the cardiac catheterisation were also reviewed. Statistical analysis was performed to evaluate the association of left atrial pressures with left atrial volume and N-terminal prohormone brain natriuretic peptide levels. RESULTS There was a linear correlation of left atrial pressure estimated in the cardiac catheterisation with indexed left atrial volume (r=0.63; p<0.001) and left atrial volume z-scores (r=0.59; p<0.001). We found no statistically significant association between the left atrial pressure and N-terminal prohormone brain natriuretic peptide levels. CONCLUSIONS Left atrial volume measured non-invasively by echocardiography can be used as a surrogate for left atrial pressure in assessing diastolic dysfunction of the left ventricle in children with cardiomyopathy. The larger the size of the left atrium, worse is the diastolic function of the left ventricle.
Characterization of the duration of treatment with diazoxide in infants with prolonged hyperinsulinism (PHI).

Background Prolonged neonatal hyperinsulinism (PHI) causes hypoglycemia in the neonatal period and is associated with perinatal stress. Even though diazoxide is an effective treatment option for PHI, it has serious adverse effects making an argument for safe yet expeditious wean off of diazoxide while ensuring normoglycemia. The objective of this study was to characterize clinical course, dose requirement and duration of treatment with diazoxide in our cohort of infants diagnosed with PHI. Methods A retrospective chart review of infants diagnosed with PHI during a 6-year period was done documenting the diagnostic workup and the duration of treatment with diazoxide. Results PHI was diagnosed (n = 20; mean ± standard deviation [SD]) at 14.3 ± 22.4 days. Elevated insulin (8.3 ± 8.4 mIU/L), normal cortisol (15.5 ± 6.6 μg/dL [6-21]), normal growth hormone (18.8 ± 15.7 ng/mL [0.1-6.2]) and inappropriate low serum free fatty acids (0.3 ± 0.2 mmol/L [>1.5]) levels were measured during hypoglycemia (plasma glucose <50 mg/dL). Detectable insulin at the time of hypoglycemia was measured in 17 of 20 infants while the same number (17/20) of infants had a positive glucagon stimulation test (GST). The dose of diazoxide was 10 ± 3.7 mg/kg/day and duration of treatment was 44.9 ± 27.9 days. Conclusions This study illustrates that the duration of treatment with diazoxide in infants with PHI can be shorter than previously reported in the literature. We speculate that active tapering of diazoxide started within a week after discharge from hospital as well an outpatient tapering of diazoxide based on glucose monitoring were possible reasons for this outcome.
What Is Novel in Hegel's Phenomenology of Spirit

While it has long been commonplace to advert to the Phenomenology of Spirit's peculiar prosaic form, there has been no sustained, thematic attempt to understand the relationship between that form—as a continuous, quasi-fictional narrative—and the work's philosophical content. I argue that some of what has been felt to be outlandish about the form may be better accounted for by reading it as connected to purposeful literary decisions, decisions in turn exhibiting philosophical claims about the new mode of modern self-understanding that the argument is concerned with advancing. Extending Allen Speight's suggestions that Hegel sees literature as closely connected to his theory of agency, I argue that the Phenomenology's narrative should be understood as itself specifically and deliberately novelesque. I focus on three points that help clarify the book's form as not simply in keeping with, but as expressing aspects of its content: (1) the narrative structure of consciousness (as a unified, unfolding activity through which Hegel explores the notion of actuality), (2) the theatricalizing counterpoint between the ‘in itself’ and ‘for itself’ (as a dramatic device that Hegel connects to the social underpinnings of consciousness), and (3) the role of confession and forgiveness in the argument (as a theme that Schlegel had singled out as essential to the novel, and that Hegel repurposes both to criticize and to overcome Romanticism). I do not say that the Phenomenology is itself a novel, but that construing some of its formal features and gestures as evoking the genre of the novel can help us to see more of what is philosophically at stake in them, and therefore in the work as a whole.
The Polar Bear Treaty and the Changing Geography of the High Arctic

Concerned with overhunting, the five circumpolar states with polar bear populations entered into the Polar Bear Treaty in 1973 to promote conservation by limiting the hunt or take. Since that time, new challenges—such as climate change and renewed recreational hunting markets in some member states—have raised a renewed specter of polar bear population decline. This article analyzes the effectiveness of the treaty regime, combining doctrinal analysis and reports of empirical trends to assess modern challenges. After examining the history, negotiation process, and doctrinal structure and effects of the treaty, I examine how the treaty regime has changed between 1973 and 2009, focusing on how the Polar Bear Specialist Group has adapted to changing circumstances such as climate change. To do so, I review scientific evidence about trends in population dynamics and in the changing geography of the high Arctic. Throughout this discussion runs a concern about inadequate attention to threat change: are the parties to the Treaty effectively and adequately regulating the polar bear populations? Are the states parties tracking other present or emerging threats to critically analyze their conservation approaches? I briefly present developments in bilateral and end-user agreements contributing to conservation efforts, then concludes with normative implications for habitat protection efforts if we understand the treaty regime as aligned toward conservation, and not simply restricting take.
Delayed union and nonunion of long bone shaft fractures in children after elastic stable intramedullary nailing

Objective To analyze the causes of delayed union or nonunion of long bone shaft fractures in children after elastic stable intramedullary nailing(ESIN).Methods We studied a series of children treated by ESIN for long bone shaft fractures from 2005 to 2010.Twelve cases did not get bony consolidation after 4 months of ESIN,including 2 femur fracture,2 tibia and fibula fracture,6forearm fracture and 2 humeral fracture,the patients age ranged from 2.58 years to 12.25 years.Results Seven patients healed after the removal of the nail,4 patients healed after removed the nail with bone graft and changed to another fixation.Conclusions Using the elastic stable intramedullary nailing to treat the long bone shaft fractures of limbs in children is no doubt a good method.However,since it also has some defects in the control of rotation,it is recommended to use it more individually. Key words: Fracture fixation,intramedullary; Fractures, nounion
From the Common Cold to a Chaotic Contagion: the Potential for Coronaviruses To Cause Outbreaks of Severe Respiratory Disease Representing a Global Health Threat

Coronaviruses are a family of RNA viruses that typically cause mild respiratory disease in humans. However, over the past 20 years, three novel/variant coronaviruses have spilled over from animals into humans and have been associated with severe respiratory illness. In late 2002, severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) coronavirus (CoV) emerged in China and, over the following year, went on to cause approximately 8,100 cases and 774 deaths. A decade later, a cluster of severe pneumonia cases occurred on the Arabian Peninsula, marking the beginning of the Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS)-CoV outbreak, which has resulted in nearly 2,500 confirmed cases and 850 deaths. Now in 2020, we are in the midst of a global pandemic caused by SARS-CoV-2, which, at the time of this writing, has claimed the lives of over 83,500 people and has been confirmed in over 1,500,000 cases. These outbreaks highlight the pathogenic potential of CoVs and the importance of infection prevention and diagnostic testing to reduce the spread of infectious diseases representing a global health threat.
Granulomatosis with polyangiitis presenting as recurrent, multifocal orbital myositis.

A 43-year-old woman was referred with a 10 month history of persistent pain in the left orbit. Two years prior, she experienced similar pain in the right orbit. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) at ...
JUAN C. ZAMORA MUNNE and JORGE M. GUITART. Dialectología hispanoamericana

(1992). JUAN C. ZAMORA MUNNE and JORGE M. GUITART. Dialectologia hispanoamericana. WORD: Vol. 43, No. 3, pp. 498-499.
Early postmarket results with embotrap II stent retriever for mechanical thrombectomy: a multicenter experience

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: EmboTrap II is a novel stent retriever with a dual-layer design and distal mesh designed for acute ischemic stroke emergent large-vessel occlusions. We present the first postmarket prospective multicenter experience with the EmboTrap II stent retriever. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A prospective registry of patients treated with EmboTrap II at 7 centers following FDA approval was maintained with baseline patient characteristics, treatment details, and clinical/radiographic follow-up. RESULTS: Seventy patients were treated with EmboTrap II (mean age, 69.9 years; 48.6% women). Intravenous thrombolysis was given in 34.3%, and emergent large-vessel occlusions were located in the ICA (n = 18), M1 (n = 38), M2 or M3 (n = 13), and basilar artery (n = 1). The 5 × 33 mm device was used in 88% of cases. TICI ≥ 2b recanalization was achieved in 95.7% (82.3% in EmboTrap II–only cases), and first-pass efficacy was achieved in 35.7%. The NIHSS score improved from a preoperative average of 16.3 to 12.1 postprocedure and to 10.5 at discharge. An average of 2.5 [SD, 1.8] passes was recorded per treatment, including non-EmboTrap attempts. Definitive treatment was performed with an alternative device (aspiration or stent retriever) in 9 cases (12.9%). Some hemorrhagic conversion was noted in 22.9% of cases, of which 4.3% were symptomatic. There were no device-related complications. CONCLUSIONS: Initial postmarket results with the EmboTrap II stent retriever are favorable and comparable with those of other commercially available stent retrievers. Compared with EmboTrap II, the first-generation EmboTrap may have a higher first-pass efficacy; however, data are limited by retrospective case analysis, incomplete clinical follow-up, and small sample size, necessitating future trials.
Revealing the complexity of high temperature oxide formation in a 38Ni-21Cr-20Fe-13Ru-6Mo-2W (at. %) multi-principal element alloy

Abstract The oxide film formed on a corrosion-resistant multi-principal element alloy 38Ni-21Cr-20Fe-13Ru-6Mo-2W (at. %) was characterized via transmission electron microscopy and atom probe tomography. Oxidation in air at 600°C for 1080 minutes resulted in a complex, layered film with multiphase inner and outer oxide scales, and localized recrystallization in the underlying base alloy. The outer oxide scale is dominated by two phases: a Ni-Fe spinel (≈NiFe2O4) and a Ni-rich monoclinic phase (NiMoO4). The inner oxide consists of a near surface Ni-Fe-Cr spinel and RuO2, and semi-continuous Cr2O3 with oxygen-rich Ru-Mo metal inclusions. Local recrystallization and concomitant elemental partitioning in the base alloy was influenced by a high dislocation density in the as-prepared sample surface.
The Cascade GIS Diffusion Model for Measuring Housing Absorption by Small Area with a Case Study of St. Lucie County, Florida

The geographer's spatial diffusion theory is combined with Geographic Information Systems (GIS) technology to provide a new framework for predicting residential single-family development patterns. We refer to the model as a multiple-stage "Cascade" GIS diffusion model. Parameter calibration is done using two-stage least squares. The model predicts new housing built and purchased by small submarket. Our example submarket is at the census tract level; a smaller submarket could have been chosen. The contribution to housing forecasting literature is a structural model that captures the spatial diffusion process at various geographical scales. Model estimation and forecasts are facilitated using GIS technology via a high resolution and high precision database using county property tax rolls.
Price Responsiveness of Informed Investors to Increases in Financial Statement Disclosure Quality

Rather than helping to "level the playing field" between uninformed and informed investors, an increase in the precision of publicly released financial statement information may be more useful to informed investors in valuing a firm. I find that the price responsiveness to earnings which is jointly associated with greater equity ownership by informed (institutional) investors and increased financial statement disclosure quality (as measured by the Association for Investment and Management Research industry committees) is significantly greater than responsiveness in the absence of quality increase, or responsiveness when quality has increased but institutional ownership is low. Greater responsiveness under the condition of quality increase and high institutional ownership is consistent with informed investors making greater use of accounting disclosures to form more precise earnings expectations. I also find that price responsiveness to earnings is decreasing in institutional ownership, consistent with institutional investors making greater use of alternative non-earnings information. This alternative information may be privately acquired, or obtained through costly use of financial statements.
Evidence for adaptive brain tissue reduction in obligate social parasites (Polyergus mexicanus) relative to their hosts (Formica fusca)

Brain investment is evolutionarily constrained by high costs of neural tissue. Several ecological factors favour the evolution of increased brain investment; we predict reduced brain region investment will accompany the evolution of organismal or social parasitism when parasites rely on host behaviour and cognition to solve ecological problems. To test this idea we investigated whether brain region investments differed between obligate slave-making Polyergus mexicanus ant workers and their Formica fusca slave workers. Polyergus workers perform little labour for their colonies; enslaved workers of Formica host species forage, excavate nests and tend the brood. We focused on the calyces of the mushroom bodies, central processing brain regions that are larger in social insect workers that perform complex tasks. As predicted we found lower relative investment in mushroom body calyx in P. mexicanus workers than in F. fusca workers; by contrast, enslaved and free F. fusca workers did not differ in mushroom body calyx volume. We then tested whether slave-makers and hosts differed in brain investment among sensory modalities. Polyergus slave-makers employ several unique classes of pheromones during raids, and eye size relative to head size was smaller in P. mexicanus workers than in F. fusca workers. The size of antennal brain tissues relative to visual tissues was greater in Polyergus, both in the peripheral sensory lobes and in the mushroom body calyx, suggesting greater relative investment in antennal processing by slave-makers. © 2014 The Linnean Society of London, Biological Journal of the Linnean Society, 2014, 113, 415–422.
Avian communities in baylands and artificial salt evaporation ponds of the San Francisco Bay estuary

San Francisco Bay wetlands, seasonal and tidal marshes between the historic low and high tide lines, are now highly fragmented because of development during the past 150 years. Artificial salt pond systems in the Bay are hypersaline and typically support simple assemblages of algae and invertebrates. In order to establish the value of salt ponds for migratory waterbirds, we used datasets to conduct a meta-analysis of avian communities in the baylands and salt ponds of San Pablo Bay. Fifty-three species of waterbirds in the salt ponds represented six foraging guilds: surface feeders, shallow probers, deep probers, dabblers, diving benthivores and piscivores. The total number of species and the Shannon-Weiner diversity index was higher in baylands than in salt ponds during all four seasons. However, overall bird density (number/ha) was higher in salt ponds compared with baylands in the winter and spring, primarily because of large concentrations of benthivores. Cessation of salt production in 1993 and subsequent reduction in water depth resulted in a decline of some diving duck populations that used the salt ponds.
Hierarchical Linkage Clustering with Distributions of Distances for Large-Scale Record Linkage

Distance-based clustering techniques such as hierarchical clustering use a single estimate of distance for each pair of observations; their results then rely on the accuracy of this estimate. However, in many applications, datasets include measurement error or are too large for traditional models, meaning a single estimate of distance between two observations may be subject to error or computationally prohibitive to calculate. For example, in many of today’s large-scale record linkage problems, datasets are prohibitively large, making distance estimates computationally infeasible. By using a distribution of distance estimates instead (e.g. from an ensemble of classifiers trained on subsets of recordpairs), these issues may be resolved. We present a large-scale record linkage framework that incorporates classifier ensembles and “distribution linkage” clustering to identify clusters of records corresponding to unique entities. We examine the performance of several different distributional summary measures in hierarchical clustering. We motivate and illustrate this approach with an application of record linkage to the United States Patent and Trademark Office database.
Decision Making in Complex Multiagent Contexts: A Tale of Two Frameworks

Decision making is a key feature of autonomous systems. It involves choosing optimally between different lines of action in various information contexts that range from perfectly knowing all aspects of the decision problem to having just partial knowledge about it. The physical context often includes other interacting autonomous systems, typically called agents. In this article, I focus on decision making in a multiagent context with partial information about the problem. Relevant research in this complex but realistic setting has converged around two complementary, general frameworks and also introduced myriad specializations on its way. I put the two frameworks, decentralized partially observable Markov decision process (Dec-POMDP) and the interactive partially observable Markov decision process (I-POMDP), in context and review the foundational algorithms for these frameworks, while briefly discussing the advances in their specializations. I conclude by examining the avenues that research pertaining to these frameworks is pursuing.
Improving generalisation using neural bidirectional convergence

This paper considers the performance of cross-validation across runs in terms of efficiency and accuracy and a method for improving it. A heuristic method loosely inspired by Mitchell's concept and version spaces technique is proposed for recognising when and to what extent the learning runs obtain an optimal generalisation performance. The approach used, the neural bidirectional convergence (NBDC), converges towards a solution from dual pairs of directions. The pair members provide complementary information for each other that is unavailable to uni-directional learning and which allows candidate concept elimination. Tests are carried out on classification problems in comparison with standard uni-directional cross-validation. The results indicate that NBDC is able to terminate learning at either more efficient junctures or with better generalisation accuracy or both depending on the problem.
Displacement of a deep brain stimulator lead during placement of an additional ipsilateral lead.

Objective: The use of Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS) has been increasing. It follows the premise of neuromodulation in that it is reversible, as compared to previous lesioning procedures. Materials and Methods: Complications with DBS are inherently low and range from short-term complications during surgery such as hemorrhage to long-term complications that include lead fractures and infection. Over time, the authors have experienced indications for additional lead placements or change in position of the lead on the ipsilateral side. There is the inherent possibility of direct contact between leads or the microelectrode. This can lead to malpositioning, displacement of a lead placed previously, and malfunctioning. Result: We report a case in which a lead placed previously becomes displaced during microelectrode recording on the ipsilateral side. Conclusion: This scenario was corrected and had no clinical or functional complication. Placement of an additional ipsilateral DBS lead can be a safe and effective treatment option.
The 3-tier structured access protocol to control unfairness in DQDB MANs

Presents a 3-tier structured access protocol to address the unfairness problems in DQDB. These domains subdivide the access mechanism (depending on the aggregate network traffic) and address the dominating cause of unfairness. At low loads, the 802.6 mechanism is retained. The second domain addresses latency-related unfairness. At heavy loads, access protection is applied. Emphasis is given to the graded (or symmetric) load type, which is the most natural load pattern in a unidirectional channel. The proposed fair access protocol is studied under different load types and traffic demand. A tuning scheme is also outlined that extends the potential for dynamic bandwidth allocation. >
Phosphine Oxide Based Electron Transporting and Hole Blocking Materials for Blue Electrophosphorescent Organic Light Emitting Devices

We report the design, synthesis, thermal, and photophysical properties of two phosphine oxide based electron transport/hole blocking materials, 2,6-bis(4-(diphenylphosphoryl)phenyl)pyridine (BM-A11) and 2,4-bis(4-(diphenyl-phosphoryl)phenyl)pyridine (BM-A10), for blue electrophosphorescent organic light emitting devices (OLEDs). The use of these materials in blue OLEDs with iridium(III) bis[(4,6-difluorophenyl)-pyridinato-N,C2′]picolinate (Firpic) as the phosphor was demonstrated. Using the dual host device architecture with BM-A10 as the electron transport material (ETM) yields a maximum external quantum efficiency (EQE) of 8.9% with a power efficiency of 21.5 lm/W (4.0 V and 35 cd/m2). When BM-A11 is used as the ETM, the maximum EQE and power efficiency improves to 14.9% and 48.4 lm/W, respectively (3.0 V and 40 cd/m2).
Circulation of Cholesterol between Lysosomes and the Plasma Membrane

The cholesterol in the lysosomes of cultured human fibroblasts was determined to constitute ∼6% of the cell total. This pool was enlarged by as much as 10-fold in Niemann-Pick type C cells. Certain amphiphiles (e.g. U18666A, progesterone, and imipramine) caused lysosomal cholesterol to increase to similarly high levels at a rate of ∼0.8% of cell cholesterol/h. Lysosomal cholesterol accumulated even in the absence of exogenous lipoproteins. Furthermore, nearly all of the lysosomal cholesterol in both of the two perturbed systems was shown to be derived from the plasma membrane. Oxysterols known to alter cholesterol movement and homeostasis blocked lysosomal cholesterol accretion in amphiphile-treated cells, suggesting that this process is regulated physiologically. Treating cells with amphiphiles slightly reduced the efflux of cholesterol from lysosomes and slightly increased the influx from the plasma membrane, causing the lysosomal cholesterol compartment to double in size in ∼15 h. After more prolonged amphiphile treatments, a population of buoyant lysosomes appeared that exchanged cholesterol with the plasma membrane completely but slowly. Niemann-Pick type C lysosomes were similarly buoyant and sluggish. We conclude that cholesterol circulates bidirectionally between the plasma membrane and lysosomes. The massive accumulation of lysosomal cholesterol in the perturbed cells does not appear to reflect disabled lysosomal transport but rather the formation of lysosomes modified for lipid storage, i.e. lamellar bodies.
General Relativistic Models of Binary Neutron Stars in Quasiequilibrium

We perform fully relativistic calculations of binary neutron stars in corotating, circular orbit. While Newtonian gravity allows for a strict equilibrium, a relativistic binary system emits gravitational radiation, causing the system to lose energy and slowly spiral inwards. However, since inspiral occurs on a time scale much longer than the orbital period, we can treat the binary to be in quasiequilibrium. In this approximation, we integrate a subset of the Einstein equations coupled to the relativistic equation of hydrostatic equilibrium to solve the initial value problem for binaries of arbitrary separation. We adopt a polytropic equation of state to determine the structure and maximum mass of neutron stars in close binaries for polytropic indices n = 1, 1.5 and 2. We construct sequences of constant rest-mass and locate turning points along energy equilibrium curves to identify the onset of orbital instability. In particular, we locate the innermost stable circular orbit and its angular velocity. We construct the first contact binary systems in full general relativity. These arise whenever the equation of state is sufficiently soft (n ≳ 1.5). A radial stability analysis reveals no tendency for neutron stars in close binaries to collapse to black holes prior to merger.
Leigh Goodmark. A Troubled Marriage: Domestic Violence and the Legal System. New York: New York UP, 2012

Leigh Goodmark's A Troubled Marriage: Domestic Violence and the Legal System traces the history of domestic-violence law over the past 40 years and argues that the current legal system is inadequat...
Meta-analysis: oral anti-viral agents in adults with decompensated hepatitis B virus cirrhosis.

Summary Background The optimal oral anti-viral agent to use in patients with decompensated HBV cirrhosis remains unclear. Aim We performed a meta-analysis of the oral nucleos(t)ide analogues in patients with decompensated HBV cirrhosis. Methods One year efficacy and safety outcomes in 22 studies published in English between95 and 2010 were analysed. Results Substantial heterogeneity was noted in the inclusion/exclusion criteria, controls, and sensitivity of the HBV DNA assay used. Pooled 1-year data showed benefit favouring lamivudine (LAM) vs. untreated controls for Child-Turcotte-Pugh (CTP) score improvement by ≥2 (OR: 117 (15 921), P ≤ 0.0001) and transplant-free survival (OR: 3.2 (1.2, 9), P = 0.022). Adefovir (ADV) led to undetectable HBV DNA at 1-year in 41% compared to 83% with LAM and 80% with entecavir (ETV). Overall, 1-year transplant-free survival rates varied from 78% with LAM to 95% and 94% with Tenofovir (TDF) and Telbivudine (TBV), respectively. The 1-year incidence of drug resistant HBV was 0% with ADV, ETV and TDF and 11% with LAM although TBV was associated with a 29% incidence at 2 years. Drug-related adverse events were infrequently reported. Conclusions All the oral anti-viral agents were associated with improved virological, biochemical and clinical parameters at 1-year. However, the efficacy of lamivudine and telbivudine is limited by drug resistance, and adefovir is limited by its potency and slower onset of action. Additional studies of tenofovir and entecavir are needed to determine the optimal agent(s) for treatment naive patients and in those with drug-resistant decompensated HBV cirrhosis.
Changes in cell and plasma volumes produced by total body x radiation.

Summary and conclusionFollowing irradiation of rabbits by 1,000 r of X-rays there is a large drop in erythrocyte volume as measured by 32P-tagged cells beginning with the 3rd day and reaching a depth at about the 17th day after irradiation, followed by a slow recovery. There is at first a slight concomitant plasma-volume drop followed by a rise on about the 10th day that elevates the lowered total volume but does not bring it up to normal in 23 days.Similar changes occur in mice that have been exposed to 575 r.
Growth dynamics of cordgrass,Spartina alterniflora loisel., on control and sewage sludge fertilized plots in a Georgia salt marsh

Seasonal plant growth dynamics were followed for a year in undisturbed plots of tall and short formSpartina alterniflora Loisel. and in plots of short formS. alterniflora which were enriched with sewage sludge at a rate of 100 g dry sludge m−2wk−1, corresponding to a nitrogen enrichment of 2 g N m−2wk−1. Monthly determinations of aboveground live and dead biomass, density of live stems, the ratio of number of young shoots to total number of shoots, and belowground mass of macro-organic matter to a depth of 30 cm were made for each area. Sludge fertilization increased the live biomass of the short formS. alterniflora by up to 150% of the control live biomass, but had little effect on the dead biomass, stem density, or proportion of young shoots. There was a trend of increased amount of belowground macro-organic matter in fertilized compared to control plots during the last 6 months of the study. In all areas, there was a marked decrease in the proportion of young shoots from winter to early summer, followed by a rapid increase in the percent of young shoots from late summer to fall. Sampling of plots 7 and 20 months after termination of sludge enrichment showed higher plant biomass and % N content in surface soils, but no difference in N content of live plant tissue, in fertilized compared to unfertilized marsh. After 20 months, about half of the sludge nitrogen remaining in the soils of the fertilized plots had disappeared.
Syntheses and spectral properties of functionalized, water-soluble BODIPY derivatives.

The objective of this work was to form water-soluble 4,4-difluoro-4-bora-3a,4a-diaza-s-indacene (BODIPY) derivatives. Sulfonation conditions were developed for several BODIPY dyes to give the monosulfonated products 1a−3a and the disulfonated products 1b−3b. Compounds 1 are functionalized with an aryl iodide for organometallic couplings. Similarly, 2 has an aromatic bromide but also two chlorine atoms that could be replaced via SNAr reactions. The amine 3 is amenable to couple to biomolecules via acylation reactions. A diazotization/azide reaction sequence was used to convert the amines 3 into azides 4; the latter may be functionalized via click reactions as illustrated by conversion of 4b into 5. Compound 5 was designed to have an acid-functional group to facilitate activation and coupling to amines. Spectral data for these materials indicate they are highly fluorescent probes in aqueous environments.
Optimality of mutation and selection in germinal centers.

The population dynamics theory of B cells in a typical germinal center could play an important role in revealing how affinity maturation is achieved. However, the existing models encountered some conflicts with experiments. To resolve these conflicts, we present a coarse-grained model to calculate the B cell population development in affinity maturation, which allows a comprehensive analysis of its parameter space to look for optimal values of mutation rate, selection strength, and initial antibody-antigen binding level that maximize the affinity improvement. With these optimized parameters, the model is compatible with the experimental observations such as the ∼100-fold affinity improvements, the number of mutations, the hypermutation rate, and the “all or none” phenomenon. Moreover, we study the reasons behind the optimal parameters. The optimal mutation rate, in agreement with the hypermutation rate in vivo, results from a tradeoff between accumulating enough beneficial mutations and avoiding too many deleterious or lethal mutations. The optimal selection strength evolves as a balance between the need for affinity improvement and the requirement to pass the population bottleneck. These findings point to the conclusion that germinal centers have been optimized by evolution to generate strong affinity antibodies effectively and rapidly. In addition, we study the enhancement of affinity improvement due to B cell migration between germinal centers. These results could enhance our understanding of the functions of germinal centers.
Long‐term care nurses’ moral convictions

Moral certainty and uncertainty have a profound impact on nurses' ethical choices. In order to describe these concepts, the author examined long-term care nurses' convictions about the issue of withholding or withdrawing artificial nutrition and hydration from elders. A convenience sample of 25 BSN and MSN-prepared long-term care nurses were interviewed and asked to describe their experiences with this issue. A qualitative analysis utilizing Colaizzi's (1978) methodology was performed. Five categories of conviction emerged from the data. These five categories included absolute moral conviction, strong moral conviction, moderate moral conviction, moral uncertainty with conviction and moral uncertainty. Eighty-four per cent of the sample was convinced that tube feeding was not always in the resident's best interest. Sixteen per cent of the sample were uncertain, but were convinced that the resident should not suffer. A pattern emerged from the interview results and the answers to three additional questions. The pattern suggests that the more experience a nurse has with nontreatment the more likely she or he is to agree with it. In this paper, the five categories of conviction are compared and contrasted, the pattern of conviction described, and the implications of the findings for nursing discussed.
Assembly and test-induced distortions of the FUSE mirrors: lessons learned

The Far UV Spectroscopic Explorer (FUSE), currently undergoing integration and scheduled for a 1998 launch, is an astrophysics satellite designed to provide high spectral resolving power over the interval 905-1187 angstrom. It consists of four normal incidence primary mirrors which illuminate separate Rowland circle spectrograph channels equipped with holographic gratings and delay line microchannel plate detectors. The mirrors are fabricated from Zerodur blanks, which were 70 percent lightweight and then figured to off-axis parabolas with (lambda) /40 RMS surface figure errors. Each mirror is mounted to its own composite sandwich plate, which serves as a bed for heaters and also isolates the mirror from forces and moments induced by the tip/tilt/focus actuators. A flight-like qualification unit is built up in order to verify that the mirror maintains an acceptable optical figure after assembly and environmental testing. Unexpected optical distortions during assembly and environmental testing of the qualification unit resulted in substantial modifications to the assembly procedure, as well as alteration of component and satellite thermal test limits. Known or suspected sources of distortion which warranted investigation included: assembly- induced thermal test limits. Known or suspected sources of distortion which warranted investigation induced: assembly- induced strain, thermal relaxation of the mirror flexure adhesive, changes in the moisture content of the composite plate facesheets, and warpage of the composite plate with initial thermal cycling. This paper describes how these problems were diagnosed and addressed in order to provide mirrors meting the optical performance requirements of the FUSE program.
Fermentability and Nutritive Value of Corn and Forage Sorghum Silage When in Mixture with Lablab Bean

Intercropping legumes with nonlegume crops has shown benefi ts in improving dry matter (DM) yield, but additional information is needed when crop mixtures are ensiled. This study assessed the fermentation characteristics of forage corn silage (Zea mays L.) (CS) and forage sorghum silage [Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench] (FS) when mixed with different proportions of lablab bean [Lablab purpureus (L.) Sweet] (LB). Corn, FS, and LB were grown in separate fi elds at two locations in 2009. At each location, crops were cut and chopped separately and taken to the laboratory for ensiling. Six mixtures were handmade on a percentage fresh weight basis for each CS–LB and FS–LB combination, including (i) 100:0, (ii) 90:10, (iii) 75:25, (iv) 50:50, (v) 25:75, and (vi) 0:100. For each mixture, a 1-L glass jar (mini-silo) was fi lled with 500 g of fresh material, with four jars per treatment. Forage in mini-silos was fermented for 60 d at room temperature (25°C). Analysis was conducted for nutritive value and fermentation characteristics. The greatest impact of mixing LB with CS or FS was on crude protein (CP) and acid detergent fi ber (ADF) concentrations, with no signifi cant impact on neutral detergent fi ber (NDF). Averaging across CS and FS, CP concentration increased from 87 to 173 g kg −1 and ADF concentration from 253 to 306 g kg −1 as LB increased from 0 to 75% in the mixture. Increasing LB in the mixture also increased other constituents, such as pH and lactic and acetic acid concentrations. Adding LB to CS or FS for silage can have a positive effect on the fi nal nutritive value, but additional research is needed to assess the impact in cattle.
Systematic Immunohistochemistry Screening for Lynch Syndrome in Early Age-of-Onset Colorectal Cancer Patients Undergoing Surgical Resection

Background Lynch syndrome (LS), defined by a deleterious (pathogenic) germline mutation in a mismatch repair (MMR) gene, is characterized by early age-of-onset colorectal cancer (CRC). Because clinical criteria for LS, such as the Amsterdam II Criteria, may miss cases, reflex tumor tissue testing of all CRC patients for LS has been proposed. Our study describes the impact of routine immunohistochemistry (IHC) analysis of tumor tissue for loss of MMR protein expression in early age-of-onset CRC patients undergoing resection. Study Design A prospective institutional program was established to perform IHC analysis on all early age-of-onset (≤50 years) CRC patients undergoing resection. Patients with abnormal IHC analysis were referred to the Clinical Genetics Service for further evaluation. The study cohort excluded patients with other polyposis syndromes and inflammatory bowel disease. Results IHC was performed on 198 patients from July 2006 to June 2010. The median age was 42.8 years (range 23.1 to 50.6 years). Abnormal IHC was reported in 38 (19.1%) patients, and 22 (57.8%) with abnormal IHC analysis had germline genetic testing. Seventeen (77.2%) had an alteration detected in an MMR gene: 10 were known to be deleterious mutations and 7 were variants of uncertain significance. Overall, LS was detected in 5.1% of patients. Only 2 of the 10 (20%) with a deleterious mutation actually met the Amsterdam II Criteria. Conclusions Reflex IHC testing for LS on early age-of-onset CRC patients undergoing resection is feasible at the institutional level. This strategy identifies a substantial number of LS patients who would have been missed if genetic testing was based on the Amsterdam II Criteria alone.
A nuclear magnetic resonance study of molecular motion in liquid and solid ammonia

Abstract Proton spin-lattice relaxation times have been measured in polycrystalline solid ammonia (purity 99.999 %) in the temperature interval from 62.5 to 195.4 K and at resonance frequencies of 10.8, 16.5, 20.8, and 35.0 MHz using spin-echo apparatus. Experimental results are compared with Hilt-Hubbard theory. Relaxation is dominated by thermally activated molecular rotation about the C3 axis of the molecule. A T1 minimum is observed. The activation energy for hindered rotation is 2.30 ± 0.04 kcal/mole and the temperature dependence of the correlation time is given by τc = (1.32 ± 0.43)10−13 exp (1155/T) sec. Proton lineshapes were recorded by means of continuous wave NMR for temperatures from 2 to 195.4 K. A transition occurs in linewidth (between points of maximum slope) at about 65 K but is not detected in the second moment M2. The experimental M2 at 2 K is 17.5 G2 whereas the theoretical static lattice value is approximately 48 G2. The reduction is attributed to quantum mechanical tunneling of protons and the linewidth transition at 65 K is believed to be due to onset of thermally activated rotation. A second linewidth transition, which is associated with a change in M2, begins at about 160 K and continues to the melting point. A small gradual decrease in M2 over the entire temperature range is attributed to thermal expansion. Spin-lattice relaxation of 14N was measured in the liquid between 195.4 and 239.8 K and analyzed to obtain the correlation time τQ for molecular reorientation. The associated activation energy is 1.6 ± 0.3 kcal/mole. Comparison with other work implies a significant degree of hydrogen bonding in the liquid.
Interpretation of the solar continuum from 1680 to 600 Å. Model of the transition region photosphere-chromosphere and of the chromosphere

An interpretation is given of the observations of the continuous solar radiation in the spectral range 600–1700 A. The model allows for deviations from LTE of H, C, Si and S, and is in hydrostatic equilibrium. The predicted intensity from 1680 to 1520 A has virtually no dependence on the electron temperature variation in the optical depth range 10−3–4 × 10−5, at 5000 A; the brightness temperature is compatible with a low electronic temperature minimum near the optical depth 10−4. The model of the low chromosphere is characterized by a steep temperature gradient. The model satisfies observations at millimeter wavelengths.
A discrete-time Bayesian network reliability modeling and analysis framework

Dependability tools are becoming an indispensable tool for modeling and analyzing (critical) systems. However the growing complexity of such systems calls for increasing sophistication of these tools. Dependability tools need to not only capture the complex dynamic behavior of the system components, but they must be also easy to use, intuitive, and computationally efficient. In general, current tools have a number of shortcomings including lack of modeling power, incapacity to efficiently handle general component failure distributions, and ineffectiveness in solving large models that exhibit complex dependencies between their components. We propose a novel reliability modeling and analysis framework based on the Bayesian network (BN) formalism. The overall approach is to investigate timed Bayesian networks and to find a suitable reliability framework for dynamic systems. We have applied our methodology to two example systems and preliminary results are promising. We have defined a discrete-time BN reliability formalism and demonstrated its capabilities from a modeling and analysis point of view. This research shows that a BN based reliability formalism is a powerful potential solution to modeling and analyzing various kinds of system components behaviors and interactions. Moreover, being based on the BN formalism, the framework is easy to use and intuitive for non-experts, and provides a basis for more advanced and useful analyses such as system diagnosis.