cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Childhood stunting and wasting in Myanmar: Key drivers and implications for policies and programmes.

Child undernutrition is a public health and development problem in Myanmar that is jeopardizing children's physical and cognitive development and the country's social and economic progress. We identified key drivers of child stunting (low height-for-age) and wasting (low weight-for-height) in a nationally representative sample (n = 3,981) of children 0-59 months of age. The national prevalence of child stunting and wasting was 28% and 7%, respectively. Boys were more likely to be stunted or wasted than girls. Older children 24-35 months were at the highest risk of stunting compared with children under 6 months (risk ratios [RR] 10.34; 95% CI [6.42, 16.65]) whereas the youngest, under 6 months, were at the highest risk of wasting compared with children 36-59 months (RR 2.04; 95% CI [1.16, 3.57]). Maternal height <145 cm (RR 5.10; 95% CI [3.15, 8.23]), perceived small child size at birth (RR 2.08; 95% CI [1.62, 2.69]), and not benefiting from institutional delivery (RR 1.52; 95% CI [1.24, 1.87]) were associated with an increased risk of child stunting, as were maternal occupation, unimproved household drinking water, living in delta, coastal or upland areas, and poorer household wealth index quintile. Increased risk of child wasting was associated with maternal underweight (RR 1.64; 95% CI [1.11, 2.42]) and open defecation (RR 1.91; 95% CI [1.25, 2.92]) as well as maternal occupation and residence in a coastal area. Our findings indicate that the key drivers of child undernutrition in Myanmar are multifaceted and start in utero. Investing in scaling-up multisectoral approaches that include nutrition-specific and nutrition-sensitive interventions with a focus on improving maternal nutrition is essential for reducing child undernutrition and contributing to further gains in the country's human and economic development.
Faculty Attitudes Toward Residential and Distance Learning: A Case Study in Instructional Mode Preferences Among Theological Seminary Faculty

Twenty-first century learners have bought into a cafeteria-style mentality for obtaining higher education that learning should be available at the student's convenience. Institutions that ignore this postmodern trend will likely find their applicant pools dwindling along with significant reductions in entering class sizes. Students will simply choose other schools able to provide respected, accredited, and useful learning which fits their busy lifestyles. Since 1987, Dallas Theological Seminary (Texas), a 76-year-old graduate school of theology in the conservative, evangelical, free-church movement, has offered distance learning classes in both extension and print-based delivery models. Because the faculty plays a pivotal role in the successful or unsuccessful implementation of online courses (McKenzie, Mims, Bennett, & Waugh, 2000), the present study uncovered the attitudes of full-time, graduate theological faculty at Dallas Theological Seminary (DTS) regarding distance learning and the likelihood of faculty to adopt this delivery innovation. Bruce Manning's (1976) Trouble-Shooting Checklist (TSC) for Higher Education Institutions was the instrument used in the study. The TSC is a nonparametric test designed to uncover differences between the observed and expected levels of acceptance that a department, program, or institution possesses regarding change toward distance learning in contrast to residential learning. The checklist's two major purposes are to provide an overall norm-referenced, predictive score estimating the organization's likelihood of adopting and implementing an innovation and to profile the strengths and weaknesses of an organization's environment (culture) relative to the adoption and implementation of innovations. Five scales provide a comprehensive understanding of the organizational climate, personality and leadership characteristics of participants, communication pathways within the organization, the degree of sophistication or expertise within the organization, and the receptivity of the students. An official administration of the instrument was conducted involving all full-time faculty at DTS. Frequency counts, percentage distributions, and the chi-square goodness-of-fit statistic were used to analyze the data at the .05 alpha level. A summary of findings from the questionnaire was prepared indicating that significant change must take place within the faculty culture of DTS before distance learning innovations can be implemented.
A Virtual Internship to Prepare High School Students for Civic and Political Action.

We explored the impact of participating in a Virtual Internship (VI) computer-supported collaborative learning simulation, on high school students’ (n = 43) development of knowledge and skills for critiquing the political media with which they engage. Second, we evaluated the effect of this intervention on students’ self-efficacy for using specific media strategies to take political action. Finally, we explored the epistemic (knowledge-seeking) and non-epistemic aims that students set for themselves while participating within our VI, which was designed specifically to address students’ epistemic cognition. Analyses of both the quantitative and qualitative data revealed that students: (1) evinced gains in knowledge about what “fracking” is and also knowledge about why it is a controversial topic; (2) evinced gains in self-efficacy for civic engagement—a key indicator to students’ likelihood for acting; and (3) were able to understand the politicized nature of a social media post, and therefore reported wanting to pursue knowledge-seeking goals to understand both sides of the argument and the trustworthiness of the information sources. We discuss these results vis-a-vis the literature on epistemic games, which can help students develop the knowledge, skills, identity, and values of a profession.
A Novel Differential Power Processing Architecture for a Partially Shaded PV String Using Distributed Control

This article proposes a differential power processing (DPP) configuration applied to a series photovoltaic (PV) string. The proposed configuration operates each PV element at its local maximum power point (MPP) while processing only a small portion of its total generated power through the modular-integrated converters. The current processed through each converter is the difference between the local PV element MPP current and the local PV string current. This leads to higher energy capture at an increased conversion efficiency while overcoming the difficulties associated with unmatched MPPs that result from partial shading, temperature gradients, manufacturing defects, and nonuniform cells aging. A state-space model of the proposed system is driven, and a comparative analysis is carried out with respect to the conventional DPP architectures. Additionally, modular and compact design is proposed for a large number of PV panels in a series PV string. The authors designed and built a hardware prototype for three PV panels connected in series to validate the proposed configuration effectiveness and experimentally demonstrate its robustness.
Outsize Influence of Central American Orography on Global Climate

General Circulation Models (GCMs) exhibit substantial biases in their simulation of tropical climate. One particularly problematic bias exists in GCMs' simulation of the tropical rainband known as ...
Microcrystal alignment in drawn fiber over sub-meter to kilometer length scales

This paper describes a method for aligning stiff, high-aspect-ratio microcrystals over macro-length scales using a polymer fiber drawing process. A composite preform was constructed with an interfacial, liquid shell layer of grapeseed oil suspending ytterbium-doped potassium lutetium fluoride microcrystals (30% Yb:K2LuF5, KLF) between adjacent cylindrical surfaces of acrylic (polymethyl methacrylate, PMMA). The mean length of synthesized KLF microcrystals was 67 microns, and the mean aspect ratio, equivalent to crystal length divided by diameter, was eight. The acrylic-host preform was drawn into fiber, resulting in uniform reduction of all cross-sectional dimensions by a factor of approximately 20 in the final fiber. A corresponding width reduction of the interstitial liquid-filled gap, containing microcrystals between the polymer surfaces, constrains the microcrystals and causes alignment of the crystal long axes parallel to the axis of the drawn composite fiber. Alignment was best for clearly separated microcrystals and improved even further with the longest lengths, or highest aspect-ratio microcrystals.
Combined mpMRI/US fusion targeted and concurrent standard biopsies in the detection of prostate cancer: a retrospective study.

In this retrospective study we compared the PCa detection rates between combined (combined MRI/US fusion targeted biopsy with concurrent standard biopsy) and standard systemic, combined and targeted (component), and targeted (component) and concurrent standard (component) biopsies. DESIGN Two cohorts, totaling 735 cases, were selected from the University of Wisconsin Pathology archive. 390 cases (cohort 1) were combined biopsies from 2017-2020 and 345 cases (cohort 2) were part of the standard US-guided systematic biopsies from the same period. PCa was stratified into three categories: low, intermediate, and high risks. RESULTS We found that combined biopsy was significantly better than the standard biopsy in detection of PCa (65.4% vs. 51.6%, P<0.01) and intermediate-risk PCa (18.7% vs. 10.4%, P=0.05) but only slightly better at detecting high-risk PCa (26.7% vs. 23.5%, P=0.32). Further examining the biopsy results in cohort 1, we found that combined biopsy was superior to targeted biopsy (65.4% vs. 56.9%, P=0.02) or concurrent standard biopsy (65.4% vs. 52.1%, P=0.0002) in PCa detection. Combined biopsy detected significantly more high-risk PCa than concurrent standard biopsy (26.7% vs. 17.4, P=0.002), but the difference in detecting high-risk PCa between combined and targeted biopsies was not significant (26.7% vs. 22.1%, P=0.133). Similarly, the differences in detecting PCa and high-risk PCa between targeted and concurrent standard biopsies were not significant (56.9% vs. 52.1%, P=0.172 and 22.1% vs. 17.4, P=0.133, respectively). Both targeted and concurrent standard biopsies missed PCa of each risk level. CONCLUSION Combined MRI/US fusion targeted plus standard prostate biopsy is a superior technique for the detection of PCa and clinically significant PCa.
Surgery for sexual impotence

Surgery for sexual impotency involves correction of aortoiliac disease, penile and pudendal arterial bypass and venous interruptions for cavernosal leak syndrome. Large vessel reconstructions, i.e. aortoiliac or aortofemoral bypass, aortoiliac endarterectomy and femorofemoral bypass, aneurysm or limb ischaemia are modified specifically to prevent postoperative impotence. Internal iliac endarterectomy or bypass are employed for vasculogenic impotence Small vessel microvascular reconstructions for impotence now comprise two procedures: bypasses into the dorsal artery or deep dorsal vein arterialization.
Multiphoton Infrared Excitation and Reaction of Organic Compounds

The field of infrared laser photochemistry has burgeoned in the past several years. Excitation with intense, pulsed, infrared laser radiation has been shown to promote molecules to high vibrational levels of the ground electronic state as the result of the absorption of many infrared photons, frequently in the absence of any collisions. As a consequence, the phenomenon is sometimes referred to as megawatt infrared photochemistry or photochemistry in the electronic ground state. Much interest has centered on laser isotope separation, probing the multiphoton absorption process, and observation of reactions that occur when a molecule finds itself suddenly immersed in a sea of infrared photons.
Distribution, Collection, and Evaluation of Gossypium

Publisher Summary Cotton is of enormous importance to the world today. It is not only important economically in international trade, but is also used to clothe a substantial portion of the world's population. Cotton is both comfortable and utilitarian in nature. As a natural fiber and feed source, cotton is a renewable agricultural resource, which may help to keep it competitive with synthetic fibers from an environmental and ecological standpoint. Continued research with Gossypium germplasm is essential, as this is a complex genus. Though much has been accomplished in the understanding of the genus, much remains to be done. The genus contains differing ploidy levels that yield a high degree of variability, from highly improved allotetraploid species to wild diploid forms, and this variability has only begun to be tapped as a source of beneficial characteristics. Additionally, much variability may yet be found. A new species has been discovered every two to three years since the late 1950s, and as old areas are explored again, because of better access, and new areas become accessible, more species are likely to be found that provide additional variability and a better understanding of the genus.
Abstract W P223: Treatment of Cervical Artery Dissection with Different Antithrombotic Agents

Background and Purpose: Antiplatelet agents and anticoagulants are both accepted and commonly used agents for treatment of cervical artery dissection (CAD), though randomized clinical trials are lacking. We report on the use of novel oral anticoagulants for CAD and compared their efficacy and safety to traditional anticoagulants. Methods: We retrospectively identified patients diagnosed with CAD at a single academic center between July 2010 and December 2012. Patients treated with novel anticoagulants (NOAC: dabigatran or rivaroxaban), other anticoagulants (AC: warfarin, heparin, or low molecular weight heparin), or antiplatelet agents (AP: aspirin, clopidogrel, or aspirin-dypyridamole) were compared for baseline characteristics, recurrent stroke, vessel recanalization on follow-up, and bleeding complications using Fisher’s exact and student t-tests. Results: During the study period, 110 patients with CAD were included, of whom 20 (18%), 61 (55%), and 29 (26%) were treated initially with a NOAC, AC, and A...
Cations increase activity and enhance permeation of pectinesterase in ultrafiltration

Abstract The effect of pH and cation concentration on pectinesterase (PE) activation and permeation on 30 kD MWCO ultrafiltration (UF) membrane was evaluated. In order of increasing effectiveness, PE activity was stimulated by monovalent and divalent cations, polyamines and trivalent cations. A similar trend was observed for permeation on UF membranes. Cation addition and higher pH releases PE from an inactive complex, increases activity, and increases permeation. Higher cation concentration decreases activity and permeation. These results suggest a common mechanism is involved in PE activation and permeation.
Optimal Algorithms for Finding Connected Components of an Unknown Graph

We want to find the connected components of an unknown graph G with a known vertex set V. We learn about G by sending an oracle a query set S⊂V, and the oracle tells us the vertices connected to S. We want to use the minimum number of queries, adaptively, to find the components. The problem is also known as interconnect diagnosis of wiring networks in VLSI. The graph has n vertices and k components, but k is not part of the input. We present a deterministic algorithm using O(min{k,log n}) queries and a randomized algorithm using expected O(min{k, log k+log log n}) queries. We also prove matching lower bounds.
Receptor-mediated internalization of insulin requires a 12-amino acid sequence in the juxtamembrane region of the insulin receptor beta-subunit.

The juxtamembrane region of the insulin receptor (IR) beta-subunit contains an unphosphorylated tyrosyl residue (Tyr960) that is essential for insulin-stimulated tyrosyl phosphorylation of some endogenous substrates and certain biological responses (White, M.F., Livingston, J.N., Backer, J.M., Lauris, V., Dull, T.J., Ullrich, A., and Kahn, C.R. (1988) Cell 54, 641-649). Tyrosyl residues in the juxtamembrane region of some plasma membrane receptors have been shown to be required for their internalization. In addition, a juxtamembrane tyrosine in the context of the sequence NPXY [corrected] is required for the coated pit-mediated internalization of the low density lipoprotein receptor. To examine the role of the juxtamembrane region of the insulin receptor during receptor-mediated endocytosis, we have studied the internalization of insulin by Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells expressing two mutant receptors: IRF960, in which Tyr960 has been substituted with phenylalanine, and IR delta 960, in which 12 amino acids (Ala954-Asp965), including the putative consensus sequence NPXY [corrected], were deleted. Although the in vivo autophosphorylation of IRF960 and IR delta 960 was similar to wild type, neither mutant could phosphorylate the endogenous substrate pp185. CHO/IRF960 cells internalized insulin normally whereas the intracellular accumulation of insulin by CHO/IR delta 960 cells was 20-30% of wild-type. However, insulin internalization in the CHO/IR delta 960 cells was consistently more rapid than that occurring in CHO cells expressing kinase-deficient receptors (CHO/IRA1018). The degradation of insulin was equally impaired in CHO/IR delta 960 and CHO/IRA1018 cells. These data show that the juxtamembrane region of the insulin receptor contains residues essential for insulin-stimulated internalization and suggest that the sequence NPXY [corrected] may play a general role in directing the internalization of cell surface receptors.
Enumerating the Classes of Local Equivalency in Graphs

There are local operators on (labeled) graphs G with labels (gij) coming from a finite field. If the filed is binary, in other words, if the graph is ordinary, the operation is just the local complementation. That is, to choose a vertex and complement the subgraph induced by its neighbors. But, in the general case, there are two different types of operators. The first type is the following. Let v be a vertex of the graph and a ∈ Fq, the finite field of q elements. The operator is to obtain a graph with labels g ′ = gij + agvigvj. For the second type of operators, let 0 6 b ∈ Fq and the resulted graph is a graph with labels g ′′ = bgvi and g ′′ = gij, for i, j unequal to v. The local complementation operator (binary case) has appeared in combinatorial theory, and its properties have studied in the literature, [4, 5, 6]. Recently, a profound relation between local operators on graphs and quantum stabilizer codes has been found [7, 2], and it has become a natural question to recognize equivalency classes under these operators. In the present article, we show that the number of graphs locally equivalent to a given graph is at most q 2n+1 , and consequently, the number of classes of local equivalency is q n2 2 −o(n) .
Comparing the Establishment of Judicial Review in Canada and the United States

Judicial review cannot be established without support from the incumbent regime. The early U.S. Supreme Court exercised a great deal of caution in asserting its power because it feared the ruling Jeffersonian coalition would ignore its decisions. After enactment of the Charter of Rights and Freedoms, the Supreme Court of Canada has been more aggressive in striking down legislation. Legislative bodies have not responded by invoking the Notwithstanding Clause because public opinion has created a political barrier to utilizing this clause. Accordingly, Canadian political elites have chosen more cooperative tactics in dealing with judicial nullifications.
Engineering academic performance with selective retrieval: the benefits of implied ability

Research on retrieval fluency suggests that, under different recall constraints, recalling past failures might be as effective as past successes for engineering task performance. In the current study, students recalling three instances of academic success correctly answered more items on a knowledge task than those recalling nine instances. Other students, asked to recall nine instances of failure, answered more items correctly than those recalling three failures and more than those recalling nine successes. This pattern was partially mediated by the assessments of one's ability as compared with other students. The results are interpreted as extending previous research in retrieval fluency by suggesting that the ease of retrieving task-related instances informs individuals about their comparative ability that, in turn, influences performance.
Informed consent and the prescription of nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs

Objective. To examine disclosure of side effects of nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and to identify patient- and physician-specific factors associated with greater disclosure. Methods. Forty-six encounters between rheumatologists and new adult outpatients who were prescribed an NSAID they had not been taking prior to the visit were audiotaped. Reviewers coded the NSAID prescribed, specific side effects mentioned, demographic features of patients and physicians, and patient clinical characteristics. Neither patients nor physicians were aware that side effect disclosure was being studied. Results. A mean of 1.7 side effects was mentioned per encounter. Epigastric discomfort was mentioned in 72% of encounters, while other side effects, including hepatic, renal, hematologic, or central nervous system effects, were mentioned in ≤15% of encounters. Three factors were identified as independent predictors of less disclosure of side effects: senior clinician (versus less experienced), patient not taking another NSAID immediately prior to the visit, and patient age <40. Increased disclosure by less experienced clinicians occurred exclusively with patients who were taking another NSAID prior to the visit. Conclusion. Disclosure of side effects other than epigastric discomfort to patients who are prescribed a new NSAID is limited. Patients not taking NSAIDs previously, who presumably have the most to gain from such discussions, are told the least. These results have implications with regard to doctor—patient decision-making and malpractice litigation in the outpatient setting.
One Bridge Too Far: Why the Employee Free Choice Act Has, and Should, Fail

The Employee Free Choice Act has had enjoyed strong academic support. but thus far has been stymied by fierce political resistance to its central positions that first institute a card-check for the selection of a union and then requires mandatory arbitration if the parties cannot agree to a new contract within 130 days of union recognition. This article critiques the arguments made in support of this fundamental revision of labor law offered by Craig Becker, Benjamin Sachs, and Catherine Fisk & Adam Pulver, all of which purport to show that flaws in the current system of collective bargaining need major prounion adjustments. The key theoretical insight of the paper is that no ad hoc justifications for particular changes in the statute can be considered in isolation of the fundamental decision under the National Labor Relations Act to impose a system of mandatory collective bargaining. Once an employer may not refuse to bargain to a union, it must receive in exchange a broad number of offsetting rights, such as the ability to speak during organizing campaigns, and to reject in good faith those offers that it finds unacceptable, as current law provides. EFCA has failed because of the widespread political perception that it would usher in a new wave of union dominance that would destroy job opportunities and create major administrative burdens and political dislocations.
Parsing the relations between SES and stress reactivity: examining individual differences in neonatal stress response

In an effort to further delineate the reported relations between socioeconomic status (SES) and stress reactivity in children, associations between three domains of perinatal risk: socio-demographic, obstetrical complications, and maternal psychological factors during the perinatal period, and cortisol and behavioral reactivity were examined in 100 healthy African American neonates whose families resided in low-income environments. Behavioral and cortisol response to a heel stick and the Neonatal Behavioral Assessment Scale (NBAS) was measured within the first 2 days of life. Significant associations were found between socio-demographic risk, obstetrical complications, and maternal psychological factors and neonatal behavior and cortisol in the context of the NBAS; few significant associations were found in the context of the heel stick. Greater magnitude of perinatal risk was associated with both higher and lower than average neonatal stress reactivity. The results provide preliminary data on the types of perinatal experiences that may have significant effects on stress reactivity in humans, especially in the context of families living in poverty. Application of these data to the hypothesis that prenatal stress results in programming of the fetal/neonatal stress response system is discussed.
Ferroelectric thin film photonic crystal waveguide and its electro-optic properties

The electro-optical properties of a tunable photonic crystal (PhC) thin film waveguide structure are simulated using a 2D finite difference time domain (FDTD) method. For a 2D PhC consisting of a square lattice array, the dependence of the bandgap on the air hole radius, lattice constant and filling factor are calculated. For the simulation ferroelectric barium titanate (BTO) PhC is chosen as the nonlinear medium. The calculated spectral range of the PhC waveguide is 187–207 THz with a bandwidth of 20 THz. A tunable superlattice PhC wide band filter was designed and its properties simulated. The passband center frequency decreases linearly with applied voltage over the frequency range of 187–194 THz. Due to the large electro-optic coefficient of BTO, the calculated tunability dfc/dV is −0.18 THz V−1. Simulation indicates that the proposed PhC superlattice structure has significant advantages over conventional devices including both a much reduced size (24 × 4 µm2) and large tunability of the bandgap required for future medium scale photonic integrated circuits.
Incidence and Risk Factors for Chronic Uveitis following Cataract Surgery

AbstractPurpose: To determine the incidence of and associated risk factors for uveitis after cataract surgery.Methods: A total of 17,757 eyes were identified and records of 42 eyes that developed uveitis and 2320 eyes that did not were reviewed. Postsurgical uveitis was defined as persistent inflammation for ≥6 months after surgery.Results: Forty-two eyes of 35 patients developed uveitis (0.24%). Eleven patients underwent consecutive cataract surgery but developed unilateral uveitis, and intraoperative complications occurred in 55% of uveitic eyes compared to 0% in fellow eyes (p < 0.05). Median duration of inflammation was 8 and 11.5 months in eyes with and without vitrectomy (p < 0.05). Intraocular complications occurred in 44 and 8.3% of eyes that did and did not develop uveitis, respectively (p = 0.01).Conclusions: Postsurgical uveitis developed after approximately 1 in 400 cataract surgeries and occurred more frequently in eyes experiencing intraoperative complications.
4-Amino-6-hydroxy-1H-pyrrolo[3,2-c] pyridine (3,7-dideazaisoguanine)

The preparation of 4-amino-6-hydroxy-1H-pyrrolo[3,2-c]pyridine (3,7-dideazaisoguanine) (1) in five steps from 1H-pyrrolo[3,2-c]pyridin-4,6(5H,7H) dione (3,7-dideazaxanthine) (2) is described. Furthermore, prolonged treatment of 1 with 10% aqueous sodium carbonate solution is reported to lead to ring opening of the pyridine of 1 resulting in 3-carboxamidopyrrole-2-acetic acid (3).
Duration of Oral Port Constriction in Normal and Cleft Palate Speech

Duration of constriction, determined from measurements of intraoral pressure, was studied in 25 cleft palate and 20 normal subjects. The cleft palate group consisted of 15 subjects who achieved ade...
IS ONE ITEM AN ADEQUATE MEASURE OF COGNITIVE LEARNING

While the “learning loss” scale is a valid means of estimating cognitive learning, the test is valid only when used as designed—with two items.
A direct inlet for surface-ionization mass spectrometry of airborne particles

Abstract An inlet has been developed for admitting airborne particles directly into a surface-ionization mass spectrometer. The inlet consists of a capillary nozzle through which ambient air is drawn, generating a beam of the entrained particles; a skimmer which diverts most of the air expanding into a vacuum while simultaneously transmitting the particle beam; and a collimator through which the particle beam also passes and by which another stage of differential pumping is obtained. The particles impinge upon a hot rhenium filament where the constituent materials are ionized by surface ionization. The air sampling capacity of the inlet is 0.5 I min−1. Particle transmission efficiency varies with size and exceeds 50% for cesium nitrate particles 1.6 μm in diameter. The inlet has been incorporated into a mass spectrometer for continuous, real-time analysis of airborne particles.
The impact of medical issues on the job stress and job satisfaction of jail staff

The work environment of corrections has received a great deal of attention, with several empirical studies focusing on the causes and consequences of employee job stress and job satisfaction. Resea...
The trace problem and hardy operator for non-isotropic function spaces on the heisenberg group

It is present here the direct and inverse trace theorems for the functions from non-isotropic Sobolev and Besov spaces on the Heisenberg group onto submanifolds of the codimention ≥ 1.
Improved near-term coronary artery disease risk classification with gated stress myocardial perfusion SPECT.

Objectives We compared analytical approaches to estimate the added value of myocardial perfusion single-photon emission computed tomography (MPS) variables in estimating coronary artery disease (CAD) outcomes. Background Stress MPS markers of regional ischemia are strong estimators of prognosis. Evidence published to date has not compared analytical methods to establish the added value of stress MPS and to define a clinically meaningful approach to detect improve classification of risk. Methods A total of 4,575 patients were consecutively and prospectively enrolled in the Myoview Prognosis Registry. Multivariable Cox proportional hazards model were employed to estimate CAD death or myocardial infarction (MI). Risk reclassification methods were also calculated. Results In risk-adjusted models (including age, sex, presenting symptoms, stress type, CAD history, and risk factors), stress MPS ischemia, rest and post-stress left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) (all p Conclusions Stress-induced ischemia is independently predictive of near-term CAD outcomes. Analytical approaches that establish the reclassification of events provide a unique approach and may serve as a quality imaging metric for estimation of improved health outcomes for stress MPS as well as for comparison to other imaging modalities.
Wacker oxidation catalysis in a supported aqueous phase

Adsorption of palladium (II) and copper (II) salts onto the controlled pore glass CPG-240, in the presence of water, yields a supported aqueous phase Wacker oxidation catalyst. Conversions of 1-heptene to 2-heptanone of up to 24% under batch conditions are observed. The activity and selectivity of the catalysts are sensitive to water content, oxygen pressure and temperature.
Association between Gene Expression Profile, Proliferation and Metastasis in Uveal Melanoma

Purpose: Uveal melanomas cluster into two molecular groups based on their gene expression profile. Tumors with the class 1 signature rarely metastasize, whereas those with the class 2 signature have a very high rate of metastasis. However, the biological basis for this metastatic propensity of class 2 tumors remains unclear. Towards such an explanation, this study was conducted to determine whether class 2 tumors have a higher proliferative rate than class 1 tumors.Materials and Methods: The study included 28 primary uveal melanomas with extensive clinical, pathologic, and genetic annotation, including age, gender, ciliary body involvement, tumor basal diameter, thickness, cell type, gene expression profile, status of chromosomes 3 and 8p, aneuploidy, and clinical outcome. Immunopositivity for Ki-67 was determined by counting all positive nuclei in representative whole tumor sections.Results: Ki-67 positivity was significantly associated with class 2 gene expression profile, loss of chromosome 3 and incre...
Finite-difference vectorial-beam-propagation method using Yee’s discretization scheme for modal fields

A novel finite-difference vectorial-beam-propagation method using Yee’s mesh is demonstrated to be a simple, efficient, and versatile method to analyze the modal characteristics of waveguide structures with arbitrary cross section. The method is derived from directly discretizing Maxwell’s equations with the use of Yee’s mesh. A von Neumann stability analysis indicates that there is a stable region for the wave front to propagate along the imaginary waveguide axis. Such a direct propagation method is efficient in terms of CPU time and memory requirements. Therefore the propagation constants and their corresponding vectorial-modal-field distributions for waveguides of variable cross sections are obtained efficiently and simultaneously. Results in close agreement with published results using either analytic or numerical methods for several waveguides are shown.
Cloned “anomalous” killer cells derived from allogeneic mixed leukocyte culture☆

In addition to allospecific cytotoxic lymphocytes, cytolytic effector cells capable of killing a broad range of targets are generated during mixed leukocyte culture (MLC). These cells, which have been previously called anomalous killer cells, are a distinct functional subset separate from natural killer cells or allospecific cytotoxic lymphocytes but display many characteristics of lymphokine-activated killers. In order to isolate anomalous killer cells for detailed analysis, we generated the cytolytic effectors from an allogeneic MLC using heat-inactivated stimulators. This treatment of the stimulator population abrogated the generation of classical allospecific cytotoxic lymphocytes but allowed the generation of anomalous killer cells which were subsequently cloned via limiting dilution. The clones derived by this method displayed the functional properties of anomalous killers seen in bulk MLCs. The clones demonstrated potent cytolytic activity against both NK-sensitive and NK-resistant tumor targets in vitro and also suppressed tumor growth in vivo. Ultrastructural studies revealed features similar to those of cloned antigen-specific cytolytic cells and clones with NK-like function. The cells expressed surface glycoproteins associated with both NK and T lymphocytes including Thy-1, Ly-2, T200, Qa-5, asialo GM1, and the antigens defined by the NK alloantisera NK-2.1 and NK-3.1. These cells may play an important role during early phases of the immune response, since cytolytic cells of broad specificity may protect the host until classical cytotoxic lymphocytes with restricted specificity are generated.
Vasodilator drug effects on internal mammary artery and saphenous vein grafts

Abstract The internal mammary artery is a dynamic conduit used for myocardial revascularization in which potential exists for spasm as well as for vasodilation. This study investigated vasodilator drug effects on the mammary artery using nitroprusside and nitroglycerin in vitro to measure the inhibition of contraction of human internal mammary artery and in vivo to examine blood flow through a canine mammary artery. In the in vitro study, ring segments of human internal mammary arteries were suspended on strain gauges in muscle baths containing 37 °C Krebs solution for measurement of isometric tension in vitro. Arterial contraction was stimulated with 70 mMpotassium and 10 μM norepinephrine, and inhibition of contraction by vasodilators was measured. Nitroprusside was more potent and effective than was nitroglycerin in inhibiting potassium and norepinephrine contraction. The in vivo study utilized a canine (n = 8) right heart bypass preparation that allowed precise control of cardiac output, blood pressure and heart rate, which were maintained constant. The internal mammary artery graft and the saphenous vein graft perfused the same coronary artery bed. Electromagnetic flow probes measured graft flow (with the other graft occluded) before and after 15 min of drug infusion (1 μg/kg per min). Nitroglycerin significantly increased mammary artery flow 36 ± 13%, whereas nitroprusside significantly decreased it 12 ± 2%. Saphenous vein grafts responded differently; graft blood flow decreased with nitroglycerin and increased with nitroprusside. Thus, although nitroprusside was more effective than nitroglycerin in inhibiting mammary artery contraction in vitro, it decreased internal mammary artery graft flow measured in vivo. Nitroglycerin had the opposite effect, increasing mammary graft flow. In addition, saphenous vein grafts responded differently from the mammary artery to vasodilator administration. These divergent findings in the in vivo canine and in vitro human studies may have resulted from the effects of the vasodilators on the regional vasculature. However, the in vivo response in canine vessels may not necessarily predict the in vivo response of human vessels to vasodilators.
The scattering of He atoms from an ordered layer of Xe atoms on Cu(001) with energy analysis

Abstract The scattering of He atoms from an ordered layer of Xe atoms deposited on Cu(001) is described. Energy analysis was carried out using a LiF crystal analyser. Energy gain and loss events were observed, the values of which were independent of the parallel momentum transfer. Results are shown for varying degrees of coverage where at large coverages a change in the energy spectrum of the scattered atoms was observed. Adsorption of Xe on a Cu surface damaged by ion bombardment yielded no inelastic information — only an elastic component was detected.
Functional expression of the alpha 2 and alpha 3 isoforms of the Na,K-ATPase in baculovirus-infected insect cells.

Abstract Multiple isoforms of both the alpha and beta subunits of Na,K-ATPase have been identified. Elucidating their roles has been complicated by the fact that most tissues express multiple isoforms and purification techniques specific for each isoform have not been achieved. The baculovirus expression system, which uses the baculovirus Autographica californica to infect insect cells, is an ideal system for studying the Na,K-ATPase isoforms since high amounts of foreign proteins can be produced and some insect cell lines have low levels of endogenous Na,K-ATPase. Recombinant baculoviruses containing the cDNAs for the alpha 2, alpha 3, and beta 1 isoforms of the rat Na,K-ATPase were prepared and used to infect Sf-9 cells, an insect cell line derived from the ovary of the fall armyworm Spodoptera frugiperda. By using this system, Na,K-ATPase alpha 2 and alpha 3 subunits that were antigenically and electrophoretically indistinguishable from the native subunits were produced. When each subunit is expressed independently in the Sf-9 cells, it is primarily delivered to the plasma membrane. Although the isolated expression of each Na,K-ATPase subunit did not render active Na,K-ATPase molecules, the coexpression of alpha 2 or alpha 3 with beta 1 resulted in catalytically active molecules. This activity could be measured as a ouabain-sensitive ATPase activity or directly demonstrated using either [gamma-32P]ATP or 32Pi to identify the phosphorylated intermediates of the alpha 2 and alpha 3 isoforms. [3H]Ouabain binding studies showed that both isoforms are capable of binding the cardiotonic steroid with high affinity, alpha 3 being more sensitive to ouabain. These results demonstrate that the baculovirus system is suitable for the expression of the Na,K-ATPase isoforms and should provide a useful method for the characterization of the enzymatic properties of each isoform.
GC Behavior of 3-Ketosteroid Methoximes. Application to GC Studies of Adrenocortical Steroid Hormone MO-TMS Derivatives

Abstract 3-Ketosteroid methoximes (MO derivatives) undergo a degradation when injected into columns that contain acidic materials or supports with acidic sites. Degradation products can usually not be isolated; they result from a Beckmann fission reaction. The extent of sample loss is dependent on the amount of acidic material (pyridine hydrochlo-ride), and decreases with time as the column is “healed” by sweeping or silylation treatment. Lanost-8-ene-3-one MO derivative, where the methoxime group is adjacent to a tertiary carbon atom, gives an unsaturated nitrile by Beckmann fission. An appropriate analytical technique was developed to prevent sample loss. About 1–3 cm of 10% coated support at the head of the column will prevent permanent damage to the column; the solution of the analytical sample should also contain an excess of silylation reagent. When this is done, no sample loss is observed in GC studies of adrenocortical steroid hormones as MO-TMS derivatives.
Synthesis and magnetic properties of BaCeLn(O,N)4, Ln = La, Ce

Abstract The CaFe2O4-type oxidenitrides BaCeLn(O,N)4 (Ln = La, Ce) have been synthesized by reaction of perovskite-type BaCeO3 with LnN at 800°C. X-ray powder diffraction and magnetic data are presented. Composition data for BaCeLn(O,N)4 and observed magnetic moments which are smaller than would be expected for only a Ce3+ electronic configuration suggest a mixed-valence state for cerium. Ca Ce2(O,N)4 and BaThCe(O,N)4 could not be synthesized by this procedure.
Laser Beam Deflection Induced by Transverse Plasma Flow

Recent experiments in gas-filled hohlraums suggest that laser beams refract more than calculated by the hydrocode {lt}emph type={double_prime}6{double_prime}{gt}LASNEX. Three-dimensional simulations show that filamentation or forward Brillouin scattering in flowing plasma causes a deflection in the inferred direction of the appropriate magnitude. Simulations also show that temporal beam smoothing can suppress this effect. {copyright} {ital 1996 The American Physical Society.}
Importance of computed radiography image display parameters in orthopedic imaging

In this study, we used a DuPont Linx CR system to generate film images of the AP & lateral views of a foot phantom. Images were printed using a 2 on 1 CR image output format. Image display parameters for one of these two images was varied in a systematic fashion while the second image remained at the constant default settings recommended by the manufacturer. Twelve radiologists evaluated the relative image quality of each pair of images for four anatomic areas: osseous detail in the fore foot, mid foot and hind foot, and soft tissue detail. The resultant data were analyzed to investigate the influence of the display parameters on radiologist preference. The results of this study demonstrate that significant improvements are achievable for the CR display parameters when compared to the default values. This improvement in radiologist preference depends on the anatomical regions under consideration.
Inflammatory cytokines enhance muscarinic-mediated arachidonic acid release through p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase in A2058 cells.

The human melanoma cell line A2058 expresses the Gq-coupled M5 subtype of muscarinic receptor. Stimulation with the cholinergic agonist, carbachol, induces a dose-dependent increase in arachidonic acid release. The carbachol-induced arachidonate release is potentiated two- to threefold by pretreatment of A2058 cells with either of the inflammatory cytokines, tumor necrosis factor-alpha or interleukin-1beta . Cytokine-induced enhancement of muscarinic-mediated arachidonic acid release peaks near 1 h. Western analysis suggests that both cytokines are capable of activating the nuclear factor-kappaB (NF-kappaB) and p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathways. Anisomycin (1 microM) treatment mimics the cytokine-induced enhancement of arachidonic acid production and activates the p38 MAPK pathway, but does not activate the NF-kappaB pathway. Furthermore, pre-treatment of A2058 cells with the putative p38 MAPK inhibitor, SB202190, ablates the cytokine-dependent augmentation without interfering with the muscarinic-mediated arachidonic acid release in untreated cells. Moreover, cytokine treatment does not affect other M5-coupled pathways (e.g., phospholipase C activity or intracellular Ca2+ mobilization), suggesting that p38 MAPK activation principally modulates muscarinic-mediated phospholipase A2 activity. Finally, in primary cultures of cells taken from rat cerebellum, key aspects of this finding are repeated in cultures enriched for glia, but not in cultures enriched for granule neurons.
The Retroperitoneal, Left Flank Approach to the Supraceliac Aorta for Difficult and Repeat Aortic Reconstructions

Between 1986 and 1990, 11 patients with relative or absolute contraindications to standard infrarenal reconstructions underwent supraceliac aortofemoral bypass. The operation was performed through a left-flank incision extended into the eleventh intercostal space with retroperitoneal and extrapleural dissection. Indications included multiple failed infrarenal reconstructions in four patients, previous removal of infected aortofemoral bypass graft with failure of extra-anatomic bypass in five patients, prior para-aortic lymph node dissection and radiotherapy in one patient, and aortic aneurysmal disease proximal to the renal arteries in one patient. Bypass conduits included either a bifurcated Dacron graft or a tube graft to the left femoral artery with a femorofemoral cross-over graft; concomitant left renal artery reconstruction was performed in three patients. The mean supraceliac cross-clamp time was 24 minutes, and only one patient experienced transient postoperative acute tubular necrosis. There was no operative mortality. The graft limb patency was 95% after mean follow-up extending to 17 months (range: 5 months to 5 years). We conclude that the supraceliac aorta is a useful inflow source for aortofemoral reconstruction in difficult repeat cases. It can be approached easily without thoracotomy and avoids difficult infrarenal aortic dissection in a scarred field. The tunneling is easier than with descending thoracic aorta or ascending aorta inflow sources. In addition, this bypass is likely to be more durable than inflow reconstructions based on the axillary artery.
Picrylamino‐substituted heterocycles. IV. Pyrazoles

This paper describes the synthesis of various picryl- and picrylamino-substituted pyrazoles. These compounds were prepared by condensing the appropriate pyrazole or aminopyrazole with a picryl halide or picrylpyrazole. Some of these materials could be nitrated under carefully controlled conditions to the corresponding nitropyrazole derivatives. The products were identified by n.m.r. spectroscopy, and their crystal densities and thermal stabilities were determined. Drop-weight impact sensitivities were measured for some of the more interesting compounds.
Internship Experience: Engaging in the Big Discourse

The AECT internship provided each of us with experiences appropriate to our individual interests and expertise. Our all-access pass did help introduce us to the many larger discussions taking place across the organization. We were able to connect with other graduate students and to develop new ties with some of the pillars of the field.